Chapter Two: Friendship
Ian has taught me many things. He taught me about Mother Nature: the clouds, the wind, the earth, and most important of all, the great blazing Sun above us. Without it, he said, life could not exist on earth.
Ian taught me everything he knew about the modern technology of this world. Computers, phones, airplanes...more than I ever imagine existed.
What is the meaning of this bond? What is the meaning of what the men call "friendship?"
Ian walked slowly out of the jail cell, and took care to lock the door behind him. It had been a long day. Ian continued to interrogate the boy, but he still had no clue to who he was or where he was from. It was clear the interrogations weren't going to get anywhere, so Ian decided to make the best out of the situation: he taught the clueless child everything he needed to know about the world.
"Hey, chief. What were you doing in there the whole time?" a guard called out to him.
"Trying, once again, to get some idea of the guy's identity. But he is as clueless as a stray dog...no idea who he is...no idea where he is from."
"Chief, why don't you just give up on him! Your job is to guard the cell, not go in a have some chit-chat with him!"
Ian did not respond. The guards were obviously beginning to think that he was growing soft for the boy.
"Well, perhaps I am." he thought, "I don't understand why everyone dislikes him so much..."
Ian looked forward to plopping down in his big fluffy recliner with a coke and a bag of chips. Guarding the boy was hard work. He constantly needed attention, for he always seemed lonely. Ian had to be there to watch over the guards; without proper supervision, the guards would cruelly abused and poked fun at the poor boy.
"This is strange...all the other guards hate the boy. Why am I the only one who can find something good in him? I have taught him the basics of everything in this world...why the earth spins around the Sun...why there are stars in the sky at night...I have taught him about family, about emotions. And he seemingly understands everything I say. But yet, everyone alienates him." Ian thought.
"But let's save the analyzing for another day...it's been a long day, and I, too, need my sleep. I wonder how he is doing right now..."
Ian is different from the other guards. Most of the guards threw trash into my cell to annoy me, and they insulted me with the most horrid curses...I'd rather not elaborate on their foul language. Ian, however, treated me kindly. Like I noted earlier, he taught me everything about his world. When I am at the utmost peak of frustration, sadness, and loneliness, Ian is the one that helped me out.
Is this what "friendship" is all about? Is friendship about helping others, and being there when others need it? I have believed it is...and I am glad that something like friendship existed in this world.
Prime Minister's Office
Superintendent Thompson knocked on the door to the Prime Minister's office. The Prime Minister had personally demanded a private meeting with him. Thompson did not know the reason for the private meeting, but it could not be any good.
"Who is it?"
"It's Thompson, Sir."
"Superintendent Thompson...we have not met in a long time. How has it been, old friend? Please, come in."
The Superintendent slowly opened the door, and walked in with as much composure as he could muster.
"Everything is going well, Prime Minister."
"Hmm...really? What about that boy, hmm?"
Superintendent Thompson cursed under his breathe.
"But...Prime Minister! I thought that information was being kept a secret!"
"Of course, Superintendent. But MI6 did not keep this information from me. Are you saying that this information is so secretive that not even the leader of your country can know what it is about?"
"No...of course not, Sir. But...something like this has never happened before. If word gets out to the public, all the citizens of Great Britain will question us. If we cannot give them an explanation of what is going on, they will begin to doubt our authority!"
"Your argument is valid, Superintendent. Why don't you start by telling me everything."
Thompson cursed once again, but he did not have a hope of shaking off the Prime Minister now. He might as well just explain everything that had been going on; hopefully, the Prime Minister will accept it.
"Very well, Sir. This boy is of unknown identity. According to witnesses, he appeared out of thin air during a thunderstorm in the countryside. Even after a large number of investigations, no clue to the boy's identity has been found."
"This is not possible, Superintendent. Surely no one can appear out of thin air just like that!"
"This boy did, Sir. And even, worse, he may be dangerous. It is clear that this boy is mentally ill...possibly even insane. The guards report that he speaks nothing but gibberish all day long, and refuses food from them."
"Superintendent...I'm afraid that there you are wrong. Check the documented files of Officer Ian Balza, Service No. 8923892."
Thompson turned on his laptop, and immediately accessed Officer Balza's files on this matter:
file begin "Despite what everyone might think, my experiences with this boy has been rather pleasant. I have been teaching him about our planet and everything around us. He seems to understand. The guards say that he speaks only "gibberish", but I find him highly linguistic. We have had many good conversations.
Superintendent, this child is intelligent and not dangerous at all. He is being mistreated! All the guards are harsh and cruel to him, and he does not get enough food at all. I guarantee you, Superintendent, if the boy is treated humanely, his behavior will change for the better." file end
Thompson could not believe what was being said by the Officer. Was he out of this mind? This animal was insane, and perhaps dangerous!
"Prime Minister, I'm afraid he is mistaken..."
"Mistaken? I say that you're mistaken until you can prove that he is mentally ill and dangerous. Until you can prove that he is, I demand that he is treated in a more humane way than he is now."
"Yes...at once Sir." replied Thompson shakily.