Tom, he was a piper's son...
The streets of London were cold and dark nearly every evening... as he remembered. Residences were not homes and pebbles were not cobblestones... that was the streets of London. Beggars walked down alleyways... the common people feared them... they feared the common people... most of the time, they feared each other the most. To live with the beggars, the poor... it had been so all his life in the streets of London. He had no choice... he was born that way. But he was not the only one... many children roamed the streets of London because, like him, they were without chances or dreams... nothing in their future existed beyond the streets of London. They were poor and hungry... could not they earn money to buy food? He, he... not in the streets of London. It was hard enough for adult beggars to survive... and even if they did, their life was their life... no portions were given in the streets of London.
Everyone was a class, he soon came to learn, like regal positions in the streets of London. At the top was the Queen... he knew that only because of what others around him had said... for most, if not, all the poor Englishmen and women, did not know or simply not except this fact. Next came the Noblemen and then the Noblewomen... he had been told to stay away from people with titles in their name. Then came the common folk, which he knew quite well... they are the ones you beg to if you need food or money. And lastly, of course, was the poor... now, you would think he would be the lowest of the low... in reality, he was much, much lower. He had a handicap... a step down, but he was also a child... another step to hell... the only thing lower then he were handicapped girls... they were the weakest of them all in the streets of London. It was a survival of the fittest... being so low made him even more weak. Then why? Why did he choose to live day in and day out in the streets of London? He was doomed for the workhouse... a boy of sixteen was the first to go. Perhaps it was because he knew the struggle would be even greater there. He had to... try and live his life to the fullest in the streets of London... he might never have had the chance to do so again.
And so, the poor boy wept the tears for all in the streets of London, inside of himself, away from true reality in cool night air. He was strong, very strong... built up to his fullest. So, rather, it was a fact that because of what he suffered through and forced to learn whilst in the streets of London did he gain his strength and mentality. He learned to laugh at sad things and cry when things were beautiful... it was his way... it was his nature. He was greatly deprived as a child... as a teen, he somehow managed to bring happiness into his life...
And then there was that day...
"Momma, momma! Can I have some chocolate?".
"Sure, sweety! As soon as we get home!".
"Ha, ha, ha!".
He watches as a mother and her child walk on the cobbled streets... shopping, perhaps. He frowns. He looks down. "Chocolate, huh? Boy, could I go for some right about now...", he says to himself. Something hits his sleeve. He looks to his right. A boy with dark brown hair is limping past him, heading towards the mother and child. He grabs onto his collar and pulls him back. "Hey, what do ya think you're doing, you crazy nut?", he exclaims, not letting go of the boy's collar.
"I wanna getta cap!", the boy shouts, struggling in his grasp. He looks at him with a frown.
"What for? To use as a puffy dish?", he says, not amused.
"No! It's gonna rain an' I don't wanna get wet again!", the boy shouts, struggling. He sighs.
"That's inevitable...".
"I don't care if it's in good'er something, I wanna cap!", the boy exclaims. He sighs again.
"Can't you use a tarp or something?".
"No, no, no!", the boy exclaims.
"Look boy, that leg of yours isn't getting you anywhere near a cap!".
"Well, what am I gonna do?", the boy says, nearly weeping. He puts his hand on the boy's shoulder and looks at him.
"Let me handle it... I'll get you one...", he says. The boy smiles slightly. He sighs and looks up at the sky with a frown. "Damn, it is gonna rain...", he thinks to himself. The last time it rained, he got a severe cold that nearly killed him. He sighs. "Oh, well... it's not like I can control the weather... guess I'll have to find a cap, too... and I hate wearing hats...". He looks down at his shoes... holes in the soles, as always. He walks over to a wall and sits down against it. He removes his shoes, throwing them on the ground in displeasure. A crackle of thunder is heard above him. A flash of lightening lights up his face. His saddened purple eyes look up. A drop of rain falls on his nose. And then... BOOM! He cowers underneath his arm, his eyes closed tight. A downpour makes him wet quickly. He looks foreword, his arm still over his head. A group of kids are covered in a tarp across from him, also cowering near a wall in the alleyway. They stare back at him with frowns on their faces. He looks down and, for some strange reason, closes his eyes and starts to laugh. His laughter is low at first, but then increases to a full blown hysteria. Here he is, a poor, hungry boy on the streets, laughing up a storm within a storm. He stops suddenly and looks up at them again. He smiles slyly. "You think I'm gonna die, don't you?", he says, not loud enough for them to hear and yet not really to himself. "Well, you're mistaken!", he shouts, this time loud enough for them to hear. "I've got a purpose...", he says, somewhat to himself. "Why else would I STILL, BE, LIVING?", he shouts angrily. "Damn God... damn world... damn life... curse it ALL if I don't get what's coming to me!". His eyes are madly radiant now. He holds his knees in his arm and looks down with a frown, clenching his teeth together in anger.
"I've seen the likes of him before...", a woman whispers in the dark. "Next he'll cry before he's driven mad...".
"Are you sure he isn't already?", another woman says to her. The first looks up at him, smiling slightly.
"No... he still has hope.". A young girl from underneath the tarp looks up at the women. She looks at them with gleaming eyes. She then looks at the boy cowering in the darkness of his world, also with gleaming eyes and curiosity. And then, as if it is a miracle, the rain stops. The boy looks up and, as though weight was lifted from his shoulders, stands up. He smiles, looking at the children underneath the tarp.
"See? I'm still livin'...", he says with a sly grin.
"AHHH!". He looks over his right shoulder. He sees a young girl struggling with the cap boy. He frowns. The boy manages to steal her bonnet. The boy limps towards him, bonnet in hand and with a grin on his face.
"I gotta cap!", the boy exclaims, holding it in the air. He frowns and swipes the bonnet from the boy. He makes him sit on the muddy ground and starts to walk towards the girl.
"Yeah and that's not the only thing you're gonna get!", he says, rather angrily. He ignores the boy as he is walking. He can tell that the girl is crying. He walks up from behind, holding his left hand out to her with the wet bonnet in it. He looks down at her and is immediately in awe. Her face... her hair... never before had he seen such beauty in a girl. Was it even possible? "Hey...", he says, trying to get her attention, something that would perhaps stop her from crying. She looks up at him. Her eyes are gleaming. He clenches his teeth again, this time not from anger, but from nervousness. Sweat falls down his face. She grabs onto his hand after a minute or so. He pulls her up to him, rather close. He backs up a little, in fear of violating her in any way. He looks into her eyes. Sweat falls down his face. "Why am I here again? Oh!", he thinks to himself, looking down at the bonnet. He quickly throws up the bonnet, right in front of her face. "Oh! I wanted to return your bonnet...", he says, laughing underneath his breathe. "You dumb fool! Pay attention!", he thinks, giving himself a slap in the face in his mind. "Now explain to her! Explain!".
"Sorry about that... my friend can't go very far with one leg and I just couldn't let him steal anything today, not today, at least...". Another face palm. His birthday! How could he forget his own damn birthday? He knew it was today... he had to... it just seemed a day not worth celebrating. Oh, well. It is kind of funny. He laughs. The girl frowns at him.
"Why? What's today?", she says, somewhat displeased with his laughter, apparently.
"Ha!", he says, closing his eyes and smiling. "My birthday, of course!". Birthday... what a joke. She looks at him with a puzzled expression, tilting her head to the left.
"Everyone knows that! Then again, you don't look like you're from around these parts...", he says, tilting his head to the left and with a frown. He thought it seemed fitting to play around with her... it was his way of flirting, so to say. He opened his eyes, looking at her directly.
"N-No...", she says, looking down at her bonnet. He looks down.
"Oh...", he says, with a sigh. He really wanted to say, "Oh, that's too bad... I want to see you more often...". Then maybe there was the chance that he could. He looks up.
"Where are you from?", he says, holding back the anticipation.
"Not here.", she says, looking down. He smiles. "Good...", he thinks. "I guess it's better that way...".
"Well, I suppose anyplace is better than here!", he says, closing his eyes and with a smile. "And a young lady such as yourself...". He stops. He opens his eyes. He looks at her. Covered in mud... he tries to keep himself from laughing. A young regal girl, covered in mud! He covers his mouth, trying to hold back the laughter. "Hehe, you're a mess!", he chuckles. It was hard to hold that in. She puts her left hand on her hip and slaps him with her wet bonnet, frowning. "Well, now!", he thinks, "Didn't expect that outta her!". He closes his eyes and smiles, moving his left arm over himself, blocking attacks.
"Hey, hey! No need to get feisty!", he says, laughing. She stomps her foot and pivots around, walking away. He opens his eyes and looks at her. "Oh, no! Did I do something wrong?", he thinks. "No... maybe that's just how she is...". He begins to chase after her, holding his left arm in the air.
"Wait! Where are you going?", he says. She doesn't stop walking.
"Does it matter?", she says with a frown.
"Yes, it matters!", he says, pursuing her even more. "I've never met a person as beautiful as you...", he thinks, desperately wanting to tell her his thoughts. He catches up to her, putting his left hand on her shoulder.
"You can't just leave without saying goodbye!", he says with a frown. She stops and sighs. She turns around and faces him. He keeps his hand on her shoulder, not wanting to let her go. She takes a breath. He looks at her. "Now what's gotten to ya?", he says considerably.
"My mother says that when a young man insults a lady, you should courteously walk away...", she says, somewhat angry. He looks at her, puzzled. "Mannerisms...", he thinks, never quite up to them in his environment. She notices his hand, looking at it.
"My mother also told me that a young man must never...", she says, grabbing his hand "Ever...", she says, moving it off of her shoulder.
"Ou! She's holding my hand! What's next?", he thinks, sweetly to himself.
"Touch a lady in public!", she says, letting go of his hand. He frowns and lets it fall to his side. She takes another breath. She looks at him with a frown. A second later, she turns around and walks away again. He stands there, bewildered.
"What a girl!", he thinks to himself. He smiles. He moves his hand to the side of his mouth.
"Did your ma ever tell you that you've got a big mouth?", he shouts, laughing. If one insult leads to hand holding, surely two bring even more. She stops. She makes fists with her hands. She pivots around. "Oh, how funny!", he thinks, laughing and closing his eyes. She strides over to him and stops in front of him. She angrily takes her left hand and whips it at his face. "Woah!", he thinks, taking hold of her wrist before it hits his face. He holds onto it tightly, feeling her struggle within his grasp. He opens his eyes, smiling.
"My, my! You have a hot temper!".
"Let me go!", she says, under her breath. He smiles.
"All that heat in one little package...", he chuckles, tightening his grasp. "Her struggle is marvelous...", he thinks, in awe.
"Let me go!", she says again, using her other hand to get out of his grasp.
"If you say so...", he thinks slyly. He lets go, sending her daire first into the mud. She becomes covered in mud. He laughs. He closes his eyes and walks towards her.
"You know, I would've let go if you said please...", he chuckles. He kneels down and holds his hand out to her. She takes his hand with both of her hands. He pulls her out of the mud. She wipes herself off with her hands. "Well now, you're a beautiful mess!", he chuckles, putting his hand on his hip. She looks up at him. She closes her eyes and starts to cry. She turns around and walks away. He follows her. "Hey, it was a compliment!", he shouts. She keeps walking. "Oh, God... what have I done?", he thinks to himself.
"What kind of compliment is that?", she says, sobbing.
"Ok, then, I was joking, just please don't cry!", he says with concern. He frowns. She stops. Tears are falling from her eyes. He walks in front of her. "Just... please don't cry...", he says, softly. "I hate to see you like this...", he thinks to himself. She looks up at him. He slightly closes his eyes and moves his left hand over her cheek. He wipes away her tears on both sides of her face. She sniffles, looking up at him. "I never really thought of you as a mess... I was just trying to cheer you up... guess it didn't work too well...", he says, softly. She had looked down... the way she looked up at him for the first time... her eyes were red... she had cried before. She looks at him with gleaming eyes.
"You knew I was upset?". Was that even a question?
"Sure I did, but it's so hard to tell when somebody's sad.". He had not really noticed until now. "And to put up with it is a beast!". He really could not stand negativity. "I prefer smiles over tears, especially if it's comin' from a girl...", he says with a smile and a laugh. She looks down. He could feel himself blushing. Inside, he felt warm, lifting even more weight off his shoulders. Now he had one more thing to say in order to break the ice. "You know something?". She looks up. "Behind all that heat is a fine 'lil lady!", he says, with a smile and closing his eyes. Now she is the one who is blushing! She looks to her left. "Hey, and I mean it this time!", he says, laughing. She looks at him. He opens his eyes and looks at her. They stare at each other for a minute. He slowly moves his left hand over to her right cheek. He feels the warmth from her cheek on his hand when it is placed on it. "Now...", he thinks to himself. He closes his eyes and moves his lips towards hers. She closes her eyes.
"Miss _!". They both open their eyes wide. A strange woman is running towards them. He looks at her with a frown. He moves his hand off of her cheek, very reluctantly. She turns around. The strange woman blabs at her, calling her a mess. He smiles.
"Hehe, you don't know the half of it...", he thinks to himself. The woman pulls her away from him.
"You vile heathen! How dare you bother her!". Bother? Is that what he was doing? He laughs.
"I didn't quite get that far...", he says, softly and with a grin. Oh, would he have liked to go farther...
"You fool! Get out of here!".
"Hehe... woman, you're not getting rid of me that easily...", he thinks to himself. He stays there.
"Go on! Git!", she says, brushing her hands at him. He sighs and walks away.
"Shame that didn't last as long as I would've liked...", he thinks. He is is very disappointed.
"Wait!", he hears from behind. He turns around. The girl is running towards him Hm? He frowns. She walks up to him.
"Thank you...", she says, softly. She starts to pull something out of her pocket... money perhaps. He holds his hand out. He did not want charity from the girl he loved. He closes his eyes with a smile.
"No...", he says, smiling.
"But it's your birthday! The least I could do is...".
"You've done all that I expected someone like you to do...".
"And that is?".
"Smile...", he says, smiling. He opens his eyes. "And yours is unforgettable...". She blushes, her eyes gleaming at him. He feels himself blush again, having said those words out loud.
"Miss _!", shouts the strange woman.
"Coming!", she says, looking at the woman. She looks at him. "Bye...".
"Bye...", he says, frowning. The one word he never wanted to say was said. She walks towards the woman. She looks back at him. So she is happy... she must be. He smiles and waves at her.
"Happy birthday!", she shouts with a smile. He watches as her carriage pulls away.
"You are unforgettable...".
And then it is night. The stars are out in the sky, shining away the darkness. A moon is there, too, joining the stars in their glorious triumph over darkness. The poor boy is on the ground, gazing at the stars. His head is resting on his arm. He is smiling.
"What'er you doing?". He looks to his right. The cap boy from before is kneeling beside him, by his head. The boy is looking at him with gleaming eyes.
"I'm looking at the stars... why? What are you doing?", he asks sweetly. The boy's hands are on the ground in front of him. The boy moves his head closer to his face.
"Some lady told me you were loony...".
"So? What's wrong with that?", he says with a laugh.
"Nothing's wrong, I just... want what you got...", the boy says, somewhat to himself. He turns to the side to look at him.
"What do ya mean?", he says, not finding his comment at all amusing... perhaps it was amusing, just the application towards him made it seem threatening.
"Well, maybe it I become loony... I'll get sick and die! That way, I won't have 'ta go to the workhouse!".
"Nothing's worse than the workhouse, but I have to admit, dying will always be worse...".
"And how would you know? You've been there before?".
"...Sure...", he says, looking up at the sky again. He sighs. He frowns. He puts his hand on his chest.
"What's it like? Tell me, tell me!", the boy pleads. He puts his arm over his eyes.
"God damn, how am I supposed to know?", he says, aggravated.
"But you just said...".
"I didn't say nothin'! I just said I was kinda there and that's all!".
"Well, what did ya see? What did ya see?", the boy says anxiously. He takes his arm off of his eyes and looks up at the sky. He puts his hand on his chest for just a second and then lifts it up, pointing towards the sky. He frowns.
"See those stars up there?". The boy looks up at the stars in awe. "That's how many people live in the workhouse... and see that moon?", he says, pointing at the moon. The boy looks at the moon. "That's how big the workhouse is... it may seem big, but imagine having to fit all those stars into the moon...". There is a pause. The boy looks at him.
"But what if they can't fit everyone into the workhouse?". He looks at the boy.
"Then it's natural downsizing...".
"What?".
"More than half of those people die in a week...".
"From what?".
"Conditions, you know, poor housing, starvation, that sort of thing... sickness, mostly...".
"Well then, I should he okay...". He looks at him, questionably. The boy smiles. "I'm a young boy, so I'm sure to live the longest!", the boy says, with gleaming eyes. He frowns. He knows well in his heart that children, especially the disabled ones, were the first to go. He looks at the boy. He is a dreamer... he can clearly see it in his eyes. He smiles, rubbing the boy's head.
"You have great ambitions, just like me...", he says, closing his eyes and with a smile. The boy smiles.
"So I'm loony, too?".
"Yes...", he says, not wanting to disappoint him. The boy gives him a hug, closing his eyes, too. He puts his hand on the boy's head. A minute passes before he releases the hug. The boy sits next to him with his leg sticking out. He puts his hands flat on the ground in front of him again. They both look at the sky.
"So... what do ya do when you're loony?", says the boy. He puts his head on his arm again.
"Well, you gaze at the stars and dream... dream of a world far beyond the likes of ours...". He closes his eyes. "And you imagine souring in the clouds above you, far, far away...".
"And are you hungry?".
"No... never...".
"And legs?". What? Really? Did he just say that?
"What do you mean?".
"Do we have both of them?".
"Of course!". The boy smiles.
"I wanna take my best friend there someday...".
"Oh? And who is that?".
"I don't know, but she's gonna be pretty!" the boy says with a grin. Yes... he did just say that.
"Oh, I can only imagine...", he says sarcastically. There is a pause.
"And who are you gonna take?", the boy asks. He opens his eyes. He remembers the girl from earlier. He is frowning. His eyes are gleaming at the stars. He smiles.
"Someone special... definitely...".
It is the next morning. The boy opens his eyes. He is still on the ground. His hand is on his chest. Several drops of rain are falling on him. He sits up. "Quick! Under the tarp!". He looks behind him, to his right. The kids from before are underneath the tarp, including the boy. The young girl is holding up the tarp for him. He stands up and runs to the tarp, sinking his head underneath it and kneeling down. The young girl drops the tarp on his head. He sighs. He frowns. Just when he is on the verge of giving up, the unthinkable happens...
"Hello, everyone...".
They look up. A man with glasses and sideburns is looking down at them. He is rather chubby. He has a big grin on his face. An umbrella protects him from the rain. His hand is extended out towards them.
"My name is Baron Kelvin, but you can just call me 'Father'...".
"F-Father?", he says, quietly and confused. The man holds his hand firmly out to him.
"Come now, don't be shy...", the man says with a smile. He looks from one kid to the other with a frown. He slowly lifts his hand up towards the man's, kind of scared. The man grabs onto his hand, lifting him up underneath his umbrella. He looks at the man. "There! Much better!", the man says, again with a smile and looking at him. He looks up at the umbrella with a frown. The man looks at the rest of the children. "Now, who's next?", he says sweetly. The young girl looks to her left and up at the man. She holds her hand out to him and he grabs it, pulling her up, as well, underneath the umbrella. She looks at the man. She falls on the man. The man catches her, holding her over his shoulder. She has one leg missing. The man smiles. "Ok... now let's help everyone up!", he says, looking at the children underneath the tarp again. They help everyone stand up, extending their hands out to them. He helps the boy up, putting his arm over his shoulder to help him walk. "My, my! I will have to get you both crutches!", says the man, very jolly.
"Crutches? Really?", says the boy with a grin. The man touches the boy's nose. The man smiles.
"Yes, sir! And that's not all...". They give him puzzled looks. "I'm taking you all to my mansion... to live with me there!", says the man, smiling. He looks at him, somewhat confused.
"But why?".
"I'm your Father... isn't that reason enough?", the man says with a smile. He looks down. A father... he never had one... so is this what a father is? He looks up. He smiles. Everyone smiles. He nods his head. The man smiles. "Good! Then let's get going! I would hate to see any of you catch cold in this kind of weather!". The man starts to walk out of the alley. Everyone follows him. He is here, at last! The dreams they thought were of a mad man are now coming true! It is to be a new world, a new life... a new beginning... and he is already enjoying himself through and through!