Eric didn't know which way to look as he made his way through town. He was so engrossed in what was going on that he didn't notice the odd looks that people were giving him. He held the wooden boat carefully in both hands to avoid any chance of dropping it or damaging it. His mother and father had never given him anything to play with. On Birthday's and Christmases, the three year old received encyclopaedias and novels from his father and clothing from his mother (most of which didn't fit him anyway). Despite his parent's lack of care when selecting presents, Eric always thanked them and hand-made presents for them both. Presents which were often thrown away the very same day.
Eric was distracted from his thoughts when his stomach made a soft grumble. Eric suddenly became aware of just how hungry he was. He had missed breakfast and had therefore had nothing to eat or drink since dinner last night. The young Prince stopped and looked around but only to realise that he was lost. Having never been into town before he didn't recognise a single shop, and was too small to see the palace from where he was standing. People were just beginning to enter the town to begin their morning shopping, with only a few of them taking any notice of Eric. But Eric didn't know any of the faces he saw. Part of him had been hoping to see one of the maids on their break, someone he could stay with and follow back to the palace. But there was no one. Eric's heart began slamming against his chest. What if he never got back? What if he was lost forever? A few hours ago he had been over the moon about going outside, and wandering into town had seemed like the best idea ever. But now, in all truth, Eric was scared.
Looking around desperately, Eric tried to remember if Grimsby had taught him anything about what to do if he got lost. But he couldn't think of anything. His breaths quickened slightly as he began to panic, and a small whimper escaped his lips.
As tears began slipping down his cheeks, Eric felt a hand on his shoulder and spun around quickly, backing off slightly as he did so.
"It's alright," said an older looking woman, "I'm not going to hurt you." Eric sniffed, and looked up at the woman with wide eyes. Her flaxen hair was tied in a neat bun on the top of her head and her face was beginning to wrinkle. She wore a pale pink pinafore with a white apron tied around her waist, and her face bore a friendly smile, with green eyes that seemed to stare into Eric's very soul. But not in the way his father's did. No, this woman's eye were full of kindness, and rested softly on Eric; whereas his father's eyes pierced the air and had a way of making Eric feel guilty even if he'd done nothing wrong.
"Are you lost" asked the woman, her voice gentle as if she were afraid she might scare Eric? Eric nodded, sobbing softly. The woman looked sympathetically upon the young Prince and quickly glanced round for any sign of the King.
"If you father around" she asked, bending down to Eric's level?
"I went off by m-myself" said Eric quietly. The woman sighed softly and immediately felt sorry Eric.
"Why don't you come with me until somebody finds you" she said? Eric hesitated but then nodded. The woman held out her hand and Eric gripped her index finger, as she led him into a small café. She sat Eric behind the counter before serving the few customers that had begun arriving. Once she'd finished with them, she turned back towards Eric who had stopped crying, but sat very quietly on the stool she had given him.
"Are you hungry" she asked? Eric looked up and nodded, for he could honestly say that he was starving.
"I missed breakfast" he said timidly. The woman smiled, and went to select a cupcake for Eric, when a larger man with thinning grey hair came through from the back of the café.
"Mary where are my-" he began before noticing Eric and trailing off.
"Where are your what, dear" asked the woman, turning to face what Eric could only assume to be her husband? But the man ignored her question and kept on staring at Eric.
"Who the hell's that" he asked, he voice booming almost as loudly as Eric's own father's?
"John that's Prince Eric" said Mary calmly.
"A Prince eh," mused John, "what's it doing here?"
"He got lost, so I said he could stay here for a little while" explained Mary, holding out the cake to Eric. But just as Eric reached out to take it, John quickly snatched it away; earning himself a stern look from his wife.
"Oh come on Mary, he's a Prince, you ain't givin' him nothing for free" said John, glaring at Eric.
"John, do you honestly think a boy so young has any money on him," asked Mary? "And besides, the poor thing hasn't had a bite to eat all day." John scoffed, causing Eric to wince, for he seemed so much like his father.
"If you give anything to him without taking some form of payment there'll be trouble" spat John, before turning back the way he'd come.
There was silence in the café for what seemed like forever before the customers began to slowly talk amongst themselves again. Mary placed the cake back on display a looked sadly at Eric.
"Is your name Mary" asked Eric, his situation not putting him off making new friends?
"Yes dear, that's my name" replied Mary, smiling slightly before turning to serve her new customers.
Mid-day came slowly, and soon the café was full of people eating lunch. This didn't help Eric in the slightest. His stomach had been rumbling for hours and every time someone took a bite of food it made Eric even hungrier. On top of this, his head had started hurting and he was beginning to very much need the bathroom. Eric thought about asking Mary where the bathroom was, but she was far too busy at the moment and Eric felt it best to stay out of her way. The only other person he could ask was John, but Eric was too scared to speak to him, so for now at least, he knew he'd just have to hold it in. Trying to take his mind off things, Eric wondered how long it would take his father to find him, or whether he'd even noticed his absence yet.
The lunch-time rush died down, and by this time, Eric's bladder felt full enough to pop. He carefully lowered himself to the floor, whimpering slightly at the discomfort the movement caused him, and hobbled towards Mary, who was busy cleaning the tables. Eric moved slowly, keeping his legs together to try and stop himself from having an accident. But every step just increased the amount of discomfort he was in, and his bladder throbbed uncomfortably, aching for release. He grabbed his crotch to try and prevent what was looking more and more like the inevitable with each passing second and tugged desperately on Mary's apron. The old lady turned round to see Eric doubled over and practically in tears.
"Oh, dear what-" she began? But she soon saw the state Eric was in. "Dear why didn't you tell me sooner" she gasped? But Eric couldn't answer; he didn't even feel as though he could move another inch. He screwed his eyes shut and let out a soft sob. Mary picked up the young Prince slowly, being very careful not to move him about to vigorously. Eric whimpered softly as tears began spilling down his face, the pressure on his lower abdomen becoming too much to bear as a spurt escaped his bladder, dampening both his trousers and his hands. Eric sobbed as he struggled to stem the flow; managing it eventually but causing a wave of pain to travel through his abdomen.
"Just hold it in for a little while longer dear" cooed Mary, trying her best to soothe Eric as she headed towards the bathroom.
Words couldn't describe the relief Eric felt when they finally reached the bathroom and he was able to relieve himself. Of course, having such a strict father, Eric could hold his bladder for a while, but he was still only a child and reached breaking point fairly quickly once it became painful. He stood on his tiptoes to wash his hands, using the sink to steady himself as he swayed uneasily.
"Alright now" asked Mary, when Eric finally appeared from the bathroom? Eric nodded; his eyes unfocused as the pain in his head intensified. Despite Eric's response, Mary could see quite clearly that he was feeling unwell. Best for him to get home she thought, leading Eric back to the café. She lifted him back onto the stall, and noticed the dark area around his crotch. The next thing she noticed was the sullen look on Eric's face, his head hung in embarrassment.
"Dear don't worry about it" she said softly, pulling out a tissue and wiping it cross Eric's tear stained cheeks. But Eric barely noticed she'd spoken at all as his stomach gave a loud rumble. He wrapped both arms around himself to try and make the sound less obvious. Mary sighed, she wanted so much to help the young Prince, but could offer him nothing.
"Shall we go and find somebody to take you home" she asked? Eric sniffed and nodded, rubbing his eyes with shaky hands. Mary smiled slightly and took Eric's hand, exiting the shop and looking round for any sign of the King. But she was greeted by a different sight. Every single person in town had stopped what they were doing, and were now staring at her and Eric. And upon turning around she realised exactly why.