The Cage #6 in the Background Series

 

The little three-year- old boy was curled up on his mother's lap. He loved curling up with his mother, it was warm and safe. She was reading a book to him when a man stormed into the apartment. 

 

"WHERE'S THE BRAT? He better not be out of his cage!" the man bellowed as he slammed the front door shut. 

 

The little boy shuddered and quickly ran to his cage. He curled up in a ball as his mother fumbled to lock the door. 

 

"He's in his cage as usual," she replied calmly as she walked into the kitchen, where she knew she'd find her husband. She stole a glance at the cage in the next room. 

 

Don't worry son. We will both escape our cages.  she thought to  herself. 

 

The man kicked the side of the cage as he walked to the couch. 

 "I better never catch him out of there.. What's on TV tonight?" the man grumbled as he popped open a can of beer and plopped down.

 

 "TV is broken. I can't get anything on it." She whispered fearfully as she walked in and sat down beside him. 

 

The man cursed as he grabbed a screwdriver and started tinkering with it. The little boy watched in amazement as his father tried to fix the TV. 

 

"BLASTED TV is shot!" the man yelled as he threw the screwdriver. He then turned his attention to breaking the TV. 

 

The screwdriver landed mere inches from the boy's cage. The boy quickly grabbed the screwdriver and sat on it. 

 

"I'm going out. Don't wait up." The man grabbed his jacket and stormed out of the house. 

 

The boy and his mother both let out a sigh of relief. 

 

The woman went back into the kitchen to fix dinner. The little boy grabbed the screwdriver and stared at it. He then studied his cage. 

 

Maybe work.

 

He found a screw and with some mishaps figured out how to take the side off. He crawled out, and walked to his mother. 

 

The lady turned and saw her son standing by her. "How did you get out?" she asked in surprise and fear. 

 

The boy held up the screwdriver. 

 

"Sweetheart, you're a very clever boy. However, if your father knows you can get out, he will be very angry."  She knelt down in front of her young son. "You're such a smart boy, but you can't leave your cage when your father is home. You may keep the tool, but don't let your father see it. Do you understand?"

 

The boy only nodded. 

 

"Will you speak for me? Say ‘momma’," the woman pleaded.

 

The boy stared without even trying to speak. 

 

She had taken him to several doctors behind her husband's back. There wasn't anything physically wrong with him. He just wouldn't speak. His mother knew he could talk. She caught him talking in his sleep, but that was the only time she heard her son's sweet voice. She knew this wasn't the life he deserved, and once she saved enough money, they would leave. 

 

 

The boy quickly discovered the screwdriver was his freedom. Not only could he use it to get out of his cage, but he quickly learned how to get out of the apartment. He would leave during the night, and sleep all day locked up. 

 

He hid his screwdriver and other found items under his blanket. His treasures included a broken shoestring, a discarded toy car, a shiny quarter, and an aluminum can.  They were shiny or useful, so he kept them. 

 

***********

 

"Son, wake up," the woman frantically whispered. "Wake up!"

 

The boy rubbed his eyes and looked at his mother. She had been crying and her eyes were red. 

 

"We're leaving," she muttered softly as she helped the boy out of the cage. 

He noticed the packed suitcase by the door, and grabbed his treasures that were hidden. He put the items in the suitcase. 

 

His mother picked up the suitcase and took the boy by the hand and led him out of the apartment. As they got to the bottom of the stairs, he let go of his mother's hand and took off running for the basement. 

 

"JOSHUA, COME BACK!!"

 

She chased her son to a tunnel entrance. He stood and pointed.  His mother knelt down and locked eyes with her son. "You've been here before, haven't you?" 

 

The boy just stared. 

 

"It seems warm, and will keep the rain and snow off. Ok. We will go. Just stay with me."

 

They found a cozy cavern, and she spread a blanket on the ground. "Come here."

 

The little boy curled up on his mother's lap. She rocked and cuddled him. 

"We will be ok. We're strong. We don't need your father. He doesn't want us anyway. He is moving in with his new girlfriend. He doesn't want me anymore. Oh, but you do, don't you, my sweet boy? We will be just fine without him."

 

She eventually fell asleep, with a wide awake little boy in her arms. He moved away from his mother and decided to explore. He found himself in a kitchen. Food. He'd take food to his mother, she'd be proud. Which became a nightly routine. 

 

As the weeks wore on, his mother caught pneumonia. She couldn't cuddle and love on him as she once had. One night, she mustered all the energy she had to call her son over. "You must be a brave boy. I need you to go to where you're finding food and stay there. I can't take care of you anymore. Maybe someone will find you and give you a loving home. Do you understand?" she managed to say between coughing fits. 

 

The boy only nodded.

 

She smiled a weak smile at her son, closed her eyes, and left this world. 

 

 "Momma," the boy whispered softly as he sat at her side.

 

***********

 

"I tell you, someone is stealing food. Has been for weeks. It HAS TO STOP!" William yelled out of frustration.  

 

"Why would anyone steal food? We have plenty to go around," Mary worriedly replied. 

 

"Stealing is against the rules. Everyone knows that," Pascal spoke up. 

 

"Perhaps we should keep watch and catch the guilty one. Perhaps there's a reason," Father calmly answered back.

 

"I'll watch, Father," 17-year-old Vincent spoke up. 

 

Father nodded. 

 

"Thank you, Vincent."

 

That evening, Vincent grabbed his book and headed to the kitchen. He knew it could be a long and boring night. He found a hidden spot with a clear view of the pantry and waited. 

 

It was nearing 2 AM, and right when he was about to give up and go to bed, he heard it. The small shuffling of someone. Vincent laid his book down to get a better view. 

 

A young boy he had never seen before was tugging at the pantry door. 

Vincent pulled his hood up and quietly approached the young boy. The boy heard a footstep and turned toward Vincent. His eyes grew wide and he tried to run past. Vincent was faster, and reached out and picked him up. The boy started screaming and kicking. 

 

"You're safe," Vincent soothed. 

 

The boy continued to kick and scream relentlessly. Vincent sighed and carried the boy to Father. The commotion awakened the community, and most followed Vincent to Father. 

 

"Here's our thief," Vincent said as he set the boy down. 

 

The youngster darted his eyes around, searching for an exit. 

There.. Run.. Between.. Get out. Get away.

 He quickly dodged between two ladies standing at the entrance.

 

"You can't leave," Winslow said as ran behind the women to block the way. 

The boy plopped down on the ground and started crying. 

 

Mary walked over and picked him up. "He's just a baby. I'm sure he didn't mean any harm. Probably just hungry," She said as she comforted the child. 

"What's your name little one?" Mary coaxed. 

The boy just grunted and struggled. He finally broke loose and looked around. He looked directly at Vincent, ran to him, and wrapped his arms around his leg.

 

Vincent picked the boy up and he snuggled into Vincent's chest and fell asleep.

 

"He's just like a little mouse, isn't he?" five-year-old Jamie spoke up, giggling. 

 

"Seems like the perfect name for him," William replied sharply.

 

The name stuck. The child soon forgot his given name.  Joshua would always and forever be known as Mouse. 

 

  The End

The Chosen 5th in the Background series

 The twenty eight year old man was sitting in a recliner deep in thought. The decisions he had to make was driving him insane. 

 If only my wife was here I wouldn't have to make these hard decisions. He thought sadly to himself. 

 His mind went back 2 years prior.. 

 "You're going to wear out the tiles of the floor from pacing," his best friend, Frank laughed. 

"What's taking so long?" He replied with frustration.

"Babies take awhile. Sit down Jake. What do you want a boy or girl?" His friend asked. 

The man stopped pacing and took a seat. 

Boy or girl?

 It was a game with his wife and him. She wanted a girl and he said he'd only be happy with a boy.

 Visions of his boy and him playing catch in the park, teaching him how to hold a bat, and taking him to Yankee games came easily to mind. Those visions always gradually melted into visions of ribbons and curls, princesses, dolls, and tea parties. He smiled.  Perhaps she would like baseball too. 

He shook the thought away. 

"I kid with my wife that I only want a boy. Truth is, a girl would be alright too. But don't tell her that." He chuckled. 

 A doctor walked out with a sober look. 

"We did all we could, but your wife is gone."

 "What about the baby?" He whispered. 

"You have twins. A girl and a boy, and they are fine and healthy."

Jake shook himself back into the present. He sighed and stood up to check on his twins. He slowly opened the nursery door, and took a deep breath. He looked around the room. Memories of him and his wife laughing and looking so forward to their new child was all over the nursery. From the yellow room they painted together, to putting together the two cribs while his wife tried to read the instructions. Even the animals stenciled on the walls were a joint effort. Every step was done together, just like they were going to raise their family.. TOGETHER. 

He walked over and checked his daughter first. She was sleeping soundly with little sighs. She was the oldest by five minutes. She was the leader, and he was pretty sure her first sentence was "Me boss." 

 He heard his son turn over. The man gently picked him up before he could cry out and wake his sister. He breathed in that sweet baby scent and held him close.. The boy didn't wakened. This little guy was more sensitive and and more easy going than his sister. Even at two, he would pat his sister's back if she started crying. If his sister took away his toy, he just calmly found another. 

 He held his son a bit tighter for a moment before putting him back into his crib. This decision was going to be so hard. 

He went into the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee. What am I going to do? 

 That morning his newlywed neighbor told him that she could no longer watch the twins while he was at work. She had just discovered she was going to have a little one of her own, and morning sickness was keeping her in bed most mornings. 

 

 That was just the beginning of his troubles. Once he got to work, he was told that his work was moving to California and he could either move or lose his job. 

 

 How can I drive cross country with two toddlers? Who would watch them? What if I stayed, where would I work? Who would watch the kids while I searched for work or after I found work? Should I give up my children and move? 

His girlfriend of three months dumped him when he chose his children over her. 

Will all women refuse to accept his children?

What do I do??

The sky was turning purple and pink when he made his decision. 

 

 He tiptoed into the nursery and started packing clothes. He then walked over to the sleeping children. He gently picked up his daughter and got her dressed. When he was finished he did the same with his son. He carried his daughter and the small suitcase in one arm, and his son in the other. 

 He walked a little ways until he stood and stared at the building. 

 "Orphanage for Boys and Girls"

Stared back at him. 

 He took a deep breath and rung the bell. 

"May I help you?" A stern looking woman asked. 

The lump in his throat kept him from speaking. 

He just quickly kissed his children and handed them over to the woman. 

 "I can't take them with me." He managed before turning and running away. 

2 years later. 

The now four year old boy let the lady comb his hair and straighten his clothes. 

"Will they choose me today?" 

"Maybe. Remember parents only want polite, good, and happy little boys."

"I'm good aren't I?" The boy asked unsure. 

The lady whispered in his ear,

"One of the best."

 The little boy smiled. The lady couldn't help smiling back at the boy with those cute baby cheeks and teeth. She led him toward the front of the line. 

4 years later

The 8 year old boy scrubbed his face, his neck and behind his ears. This was the third Saturday of the month. The monthly adoption day. 

 Every month he scrubs up, combs his hair and practices his smile until it was time to be led into the big room. 

 He took his place in the line of boys, and tugged his shirt down, and smoothed his hair one last time. 

 

 The line of boys started their silent walk to the big room. The boy knew the girls were already there on one side of the room, the boys would be lined up at the other, and adults would walk down the line. If they saw a child they liked, they'd stop and talk to them.

 The boy always searched for his sister the second he walked in. They always locked eyes and waved. As people would start to walk by,, he would smile his biggest smile while his eyes always pleaded; pick me, please, I want a family so badly.

Sometimes people would stop and speak with him, but they always moved on. Afterwards it was common to hear sniffling and sometimes outright crying by those not chosen. 

One adoption day, it seemed normal. Boys on one side, girls on the other. The boy and his sister had met eyes and smiled at each other before the adults started picking children. 

 Not many adults were interested in the boys. The boy saw a couple speaking to his sister. She nodded, and said something as she pointed to her brother. The couple said something to her and took her hand. 

 The boy's heart stopped a moment, and he realized his sister was chosen. 

 As they walked out the door, she came running back in. She threw her arms around her brother. 

"I'll write you. I promise." She choked out. 

The boy couldn't help the tears as he watched his sister take her new parents hands and leave the orphanage forever. 

6 months later

"Jacob, we just don't know what to do. We adopted this little girl,but all she does is cry for her brother. We can't afford to adopt him as well. I wish we could, but I just lost my job, and don't even know where we will live." The girl's new father said. 

"Perhaps we can make arrangements for your family to move below. Maybe with other children she'd feel more at home?" Jacob suggested.

3 weeks later

Dear brother, 

 We are moving away, and daddy won't tell me where. I miss you so much. I hope we can someday be together. 

 I love you,

 Your sister

PS I'm still older, faster, and better than you. Ha ha

Few weeks later..

Father was in his library reading when the little girl boldly walked in and plopped herself in the chair across from him. 

"I need a favor," she blurted out. 

Father smiled as he removed his glasses. 

 "I'm listening."

"I want my brother. He's my twin and I miss him."

Father sighed and leaned back in his chair. 

 "That's a hard favor to grant."

 

 The girl sighed. 

 "Couldn't someone just go in and take him? It's not stealing, because he's my family. I know I pick on him alot, but I miss him."

The older man couldn't help noticing how her bottom lip had a slight quiver. I can't promise you anything. Perhaps we can at least inquire about your brother. 

The little girl jumped up and gave the older man a big bear hug. 

"Thank you." She said as she ran off. 

The little girl haunted Father for days. He called upon a helper who was also a social worker for advice. 

"I could write false transfer orders, and bring him to you."

"Will you lose your job for that?" Father asked worriedly. 

"Not really. Children run away from homes all the time. Since he has no other family, no one will be looking for him."

Father sighed and nodded. 

 The helper shook his hand and left.

"Where are we going? The boy asked the social worker. 

The worker smiled and said; "your new home. Don't worry child. You'll love it there."

As they entered Father's library, the girl looked up.

"Geoffrey!!!"

"Samantha!!!"

The children hugged for a few minutes before Samatha pulled away. 

"I'm still older and better than you."

 

The Great Hall

 

Part of the Extraordinary Voices challenge

For the majority of the year, I’m left alone. I’m not bothered often, but those times I am used? I love them. Sigh. 

Sometimes young couples will sneak here to get a few minutes alone with a picnic lunch.

I have overheard I’m great for hide and seek. Children occasionally fall asleep waiting to be found. 

Then there’s Winterfest.  Oh, Winterfest! What can I say? That’s the evening I love the most. The laughing, the catching up, the dancing, the playful teasing, and the merriment just brings me to life. 

My favorite Winterfest was four Winterfests ago. During the closing ceremony, everyone had joined hands in the circle. Before Father could open his mouth, Vincent pulled Catherine into the center of the circle. Right there in front of all his family and friends, he dropped to one knee and proposed. 

I had to strain to see, but the ring… WOW. It was a stunning crystal he had found in the Crystal Caverns. Mouse helped by making it into a ring, and he was sworn to secrecy. 

Honestly, except for the children who were too young to understand, there wasn’t a dry eye. 

Four months later, a wedding feast was held here.  It sure was a day of great celebration. Catherine looked so beautiful in her mother’s wedding dress, and Vincent was so handsome in his tux. Peter took his measurements and rented the tux for him as a wedding gift. 

The following Winterfest, it was obvious that there would be a Naming Ceremony feast held soon. Baby Jacob’s feast was held just two months later. 

I chuckle, since Vincent, unbeknownst to him, started a trend. Marriage proposals and engagement announcements are now common at Winterfest. 

Oh, and that’s not the only Winterfest trend he and Catherine started. Baby announcements are also common. 

Two Winterfests ago, Catherine announced another little one would be joining the community. Caroline Mary, Carrie for short, joined the community five months later. She was named after her two grandmothers. I had never seen Mary look more proud than when she was considered a grandmother. 

I’ve been able to watch so many babies grow into awkward adolescents and confident adults. 

I do not regret being the Great Hall. I will always be here to enjoy all the celebrations life brings us. 

  The End

The Sunshine Club

Dedicated to my 9- year- old nephew, Xander, who gave me this idea with his daily 6:30am good morning texts. It was a lazy Sunday afternoon Below. All the children were either lying or sitting around in Kipper and Geoffrey's chamber, bored out of their minds. With a particularly virulent winter flu sweeping through New York City, they were forbidden to go Uptop. No playing in the park, no skateboarding, and no sunshine. Even the helpers were restricted from coming Below. If helpers had deliveries, they just left them in a designated area, tapped out a special code, and left. Gathering the supplies was the only excitement these days. The seclusion, resulting in depression, was getting to everyone, especially the children. "I'm bored," Samantha said to no one in particular. Several others agreed with her. "I GOT IT!" Eric yelled as he sat straight up. This got the attention of everyone. "What if we started The Sunshine Club?" "Sunshine Club? What's that?" Zach asked. "Well, we will all write notes to different adults telling them how much they mean to us, or tell a joke, or share something funny. We sign them simply The Sunshine Club. Then we try to deliver them without being seen." All the children got excited. "Should we include helpers?" Geoffrey asked. "That will be a bit more tricky, but I don't see why not." "I'm writing a note to Vincent," Samantha stated as they searched for paper. "No fair, I want to write Vincent's," Eric said. "I know, we will put everyone's name in my pillowcase. You write a note to the name you draw," Geoffrey stated. The children agreed and went to work writing the names of all their tunnel family. "Should we include Narcissa?" Kipper shivered. The older lady was friendly enough, but many scary stories told late at night revolved around the voodoo Haitian. "Why not?" Geoffrey shrugged. "But she's blind and can't read," Samantha stated matter- of- factly. "Maybe not, but maybe we can give her something," Eric said as he started to think hard. "I know! Next Thursday is Jamie's birthday. William will be making a dessert of her choice to celebrate." "Cherry pie. It's her favorite,]" Samantha piped in, smiling. "Yeah, maybe we can take a slice to Narcissa," Eric stated. Kipper spoke up. "But how will we get there? You know it's against the rules to travel so far out of the boundary line." "Maybe Vincent can take us!" Zach suggested. "We can't tell our secret!" Samantha reminded him. "Unless… we make Vincent an honorary member of our club and make him solemnly swear not to tell," Zach answered. "Hey! If Vincent is our honorary member, then he can help deliver secret notes to the helpers," Eric said with excitement. The other children smiled brightly and agreed. One by one the children drew a name out of the pillowcase and went to work on their notes. Samantha drew her next name. "I got Narcissa. Since we already decided to give her pie, maybe we should all go when we deliver it." "We can put it in front of her and yell 'Compliments of The Sunshine Club'," Eric suggested. "We don't need to yell. She's blind, not deaf." Geoffrey laughed. For the next few hours, the children were busy drawing names and writing notes. They finished just in time for dinner and then story time before bed. The children went to bed excited about the notes. The next morning, the children gathered before breakfast with their notes. They found a table together, and hurriedly ate. Most of the adults would be heading off for water pipe repairs or their normal work duties soon. School wouldn't start for another hour, so they all split up to deliver their notes. "Remember, don't get caught," Samantha stage-whispered as they went their separate ways. Kipper snuck into Father's library and put his note under the chess board. Next time Father and Vincent played chess, he'd see it. Then he snuck into the pipe chamber. This would be tougher, but Pascal was taking a few minutes to eat. Pascal never stayed away long, so he had to rush. He ran over to Pascal's hand pipe and wrapped the note around it. He ran out just in time. Pascal walked in as Kipper vanished down another tunnel. Samantha snuck into Mary's chamber and put her note in her sewing basket. Then she rushed to Jamie's chamber and put the note on her pillow. Eric ran to where Elizabeth's latest painting was. He placed the note by her paintbrushes. Then he ran off to deliver the next note to Mouse. He was busy with his experiment and never noticed Eric crawling into his chamber and placing a note by his tools. Eric then crawled back as fast and as quietly as he could. Geoffrey tiptoed into Vincent's chamber. He looked around for the perfect place and saw the closed journal on the table. He paused a moment and decided against placing the note inside. That was too invasive. So he tucked the note under the journal, making sure half of it was sticking out and very noticeable. Then he took off for the kitchen. This would be the hardest. William spent most every waking hour cooking and planning meals. Sure enough[,] William was standing with his back facing him. Geoffrey looked around and saw a huge soup pot on a table close to him. He tiptoed over and propped the note against the pot. If William turned around right then, he'd be caught. Thankfully, he was busy kneading some dough. Geoffrey ran off and tried to find the other kids. That's when they started hearing the talking. "Who is this Sunshine Club?" Olivia puzzled. "Jamie, did you write this?" Mary asked. "I was going to ask you the same thing," she replied back. The children had to hide their smiles and giggles as the adults were confused by the sweet heartfelt notes. "Well, it seems like everyone received a note," someone said as the kids walked away grinning. Talk of The Sunshine Club continued clear until lunch. Adults were sharing their notes, smiling, and trying to figure out who was in this club. Vincent picked up on the hidden smiles of the children, and realized who the members of The Sunshine Club were. After dinner he pulled out his note and reread it for the twentieth time. He smiled as he lovingly folded it, pulled out paper, and wrote some notes of his own. He always had the habit of making rounds and checking on the children hours after they'd fallen asleep. He checked on their well being, covering them if blankets got kicked off or twisted, and calming them if they started to toss from a nightmare. He would also make sure all was well before going to bed himself. He couldn't remember when he started this routine, but it had been years. This night, while doing his nightly rounds, he had a handful of notes of his own to pass out. He placed Samantha's by her hairbrush, Eric's by his glasses that were sitting on a shelf by his bed. He placed Geoffrey's on his shoes. Each child received a note of their own detailing their own special traits and what he loved about each one. Every note was signed "Grateful for The Sunshine Club." He checked on each child one last time before going to bed. The next morning, the children were shocked and surprised by their notes. "Who found us out?" Zach asked. Samantha read her note again and a huge smile came to her face. "This is Vincent's writing." All the children found Vincent in his chamber. "We want to ask you something," Eric spoke up. Vincent laid his book down and gave the children his undivided attention. "What do you wish to know?" he asked gently. "Since you figured out that we're The Sunshine Club, would you be an honorary member and deliver our notes to the helpers without being seen? It's a secret," Eric asked. Vincent smiled. "I'll find a way." He nodded. "Oh, and one last thing. Will you go with us to take a slice of Jamie's birthday pie to Narcissa? She should be included, and she can't read notes," Geoffrey explained. "We can go Saturday as long as there aren't any emergencies to see to." The children smiled and Samantha said, "Welcome to The Sunshine Club."   The End.