Christmas Writing 7: What Child is This?

 

Something a little longer this time.

What Child is This?

 

December 10, 2024

Christmas Eve had been a bit of a blur after she had finished supper with her neighbours. The alcohol, combined with the Arizona temperatures and genial company had its desired effect. She should ask her neighbours what she had been up to but the question was, did she really want to know? 

Bev stumbled to the patio door where her whining dogs waited rather impatiently for her. 

“I’m coming. I'm coming,” she heard herself mutter. She unlocked the door and stepped outside into the somewhat cooler morning air. She took a deep breath to help clear her head. She physically turned her body to see where her dogs were as they quickly roamed about the property. As she turned past her swinging loveseat she recognized something was amiss. She slowly returned her body to the loveseat and then closed her eyes. She needed to refocus her mind past the early hangover stage. When she opened them she frowned at the sight in front of her. 

She closed her eyes again, thinking that she had imagined the sight. When she reopened them it was still there, sleeping peacefully. She took a step closer to see if she recognized the sleeping figure. Having settled that discussion that there was no recognition she settled onto a patio chair and waited. It would have to wake up sooner or later, sooner once her dogs found it. 

As shocked as she was to find a child, who looked to be about 6 or 7, asleep on her patio furniture, she was doubly shocked that this would happen at Christmas. “How could parents not know where their child was?” she thought to herself. But then again there were stories of children unlocking doors and wandering around looking for something in the middle of the night. “Right,” she decided, “That is what has happened here. The child got tired and then crashed. Why my backyard?” she continued, as she drew up scenarios that would make a great fiction story. Suddenly Blue and Smokey were back sniffing curiously until they stumbled upon the sleeping child. Blue let out a small woof, then they both came over and sat by my side, watching the sleeping bundle. 

“Why hello?" said the child as she woke up and stretched. Blue raced forward followed by Smokey. The child giggled and petted their heads. She sat up carefully stretching and rubbing sleep out of her eyes. 

“Hello,” said Bev. It behooved her to start the conversation since it was her house.

“Hello,” replied the child. “Who are you?” she inquired.

“I am Bev and this is my house. Who do I have the pleasure of talking with?” she inquired,

“I am Cindy Lou, just like the Who,” she said in a sing-song voice.“

Bev smiled. A parent dumped this name on their child. Seriously. “Well Cindy Lou, who is named after a Who, can you tell me where you live or your phone number so I can let your parents know you are okay. They must be worried about you.”

“They are not worried about me,” she replied, looking out over the lawn. “I look after myself.”

“Oh dear,” thought Bev. “This could be a problem.” 

“Do you have an address or a phone number dear?” inquired Bev again. 

“Yes,” nodded Cindy Lou.

Bev gave her a good look over. Cindy Lou was young, quite young. She was dressed reasonably well for the Arizona heat. There didn’t seem to be any bruises or other disfigurations. She looked to be reasonably well fed. Her clothes were clean. It appeared that she was looked after. 

“And?” When there was no reply, Bev asked, “what happened to make you leave home?”

“Bev,” started Cindy Lou, “Do you have a washroom I could use?”

“Of course dear. It is right off the kitchen. I will show you where it is.”

“Thank you,” replied Cindy Lou as they walked into the kitchen. Bev showed her the door and turned the light on. “Get cleaned up. I am cooking breakfast. I am having bacon and eggs, a long time Christmas morning favourite.”

“That sounds good. Could I have some too?” inquired Cindy Lou.

“Of course you may. I will get started,” and with the closing of the door Bev began preparations for breakfast. The girl certainly didn’t seem too worried about Christmas or presents. That in itself was strange.

The bacon was sizzling in the pan when her guest made her way out of the bathroom and seated herself on a kitchen chair.

Bev turned to face her. “Would you like some orange Juice?”

“Yes please,” replied a quiet voice. “Merry Christmas,” she said.

“Merry Christmas. Aren’t you excited to open your presents?”

“No, there won’t be any presents.” Cindy Lou looked down at her shoes. 

Bev let that one slide for a while as she tended the bacon. It upset her greatly that there would be no presents for the child. 

“How did you end up asleep on my patio furniture,” Bev inquired.

“I was out front when I got tired. This looked like a nice house so I thought there might be a place to sleep out behind the house. And there was.”

Bev closed her eyes and took a deep breath. For the next few minutes Bev involved herself in her food preparations. Finally everything was cooked and ready to eat.

“Here you go,” said Bev as she placed the plate down in front of Cindy Lou.

“Thank you," she replied. “This is better than I would have gotten at home,” she said as she picked up her first piece of bacon and put it into her mouth. 

“What would breakfast at home be like?” Bev asked.

“Cereal and cartoons,” replied Cindy Lou. “I have to get it myself.”

“What would you parents be doing while you get yourself breakfast?” inquired Bev, although she suspected that she knew the answer. 

“They’d be sleeping,” Cindy Lou said as reached down to pet Blue. 

“We need to call your parents,” said Bev.

“No,” replied Cindy Lou. “I like it here. It is quieter. You cooked for me. You treat me nice. You have dogs. Maybe I could stay?” she asked.

“I am afraid that is not possible. Your parents are probably worried.”

“They won’t miss me for a while yet.” She looked at the clock. “It’s too early for them to get up.”

“Cindy Lou,” she said calmly. “I am in a difficult position here. I have to call them or call the police. It has already been too long. I should have let them know a while ago.”

“You look like my parents do in the mornings. Do you need to go for a rest? I promise I will stay out of trouble. I will just watch tv.”

She wasn’t wrong. Bev thought about this for a minute. She really should call the police but with the condition her head was in at the moment she was having trouble staying awake. “Alright. You can watch tv while I rest.” Bev knew it was a mistake. She was a parent. She would be worried. What difference would a couple of hours make? She barely made it to her bed when her eyes closed. 

Bev woke with a start when she heard the sounds of the tv coming in softly through her bedroom door. She sighed. So she wasn’t dreaming. There was a pint sized guest watching tv in her living room. 

“The kid is safer here than most places,” she thought to herself as she rose from her bed and padded out into the living room. 

It’s a Wonderful Life was playing on the TV. Cindy Lou was sitting quietly on the couch with one arm around Blue and the other absently patting Smokey’s head. The dogs looked up at Bev, knowing that they were not supposed to be on the couch. When she said nothing they both put their heads back down and continued to protect Cindy Lou. 

“Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings," she said in a singsong voice. She looked over at Bev. “Feeling better?” inquired Cindy Lou. 

Bev plopped herself down on a chair. “Much, thank you.” She paused. “I am thinking of going for a walk. Would you like to join me?”

Cindy Lou looked over at Bev. “It’s Christmas. How come you don’t have any decorations? You also don’t have many pictures of people.”

Bev mulled this one over. The kid was quite observant. 

Outside came the sounds of Jingle Bell Rock. Someone was playing it loudly.

Cindy Lou started to sing along. 

“How do you know the words?” Bev asked. “This song was popular when I was your age.”

“She’s not that old,” replied Cindy Lou. 

“I just read somewhere that she is almost 80.”

“That can’t be right. Just listen to her sing. She’s not old.”  

Bev smiled at the logic. 

“What about that walk? I think I will go along Snow Glen, then over to Maple, up to Foxworthy and across Stoney End.”

“Not Stoney End,” interrupted Cindy Lou as she realized her mistake. “I don't live on Stoney End. I need to go to the bathroom.” she said as she moved quickly and closed the door behind her.

Bev moved to just outside the backdoor, turning to keep her eye on the bathroom door. She took out her cell phone and called the police. 

A few minutes later the door to the bathroom opened. “I heard you talking to someone. Did you call my parents?”

“I couldn’t do that. You haven’t told me your phone number.”

“Oh. Okay,” she replied. “Can I finish watching the movie?”

“Of course. Then we should take a walk.”

Cindy Lou glanced at her as she sat down. Both dogs got up beside her. “If you take me home I’ll just run away again,” she said with a look of fear in her eyes. 

Just then the doorbell rang. Bev walked cautiously over to the door as she listened for any sounds from behind her. The dogs were not scrambling to follow Cindy Lou. It was a good sign that they had stayed put on the couch. As she reached the door she glanced back and saw Cindy Lou watching her. 

As she opened the door she heard a scrambling sound.

“Mommy! Daddy! How did you find me?” asked a somewhat surprised Cindy Lou who ran to the door and gave the people standing there a warm and caring hug. Both looked at Bev. Bev tried to hide her surprise at this turn of events.

“Did Barbara give you any trouble?” asked the woman.

“Barbara?” questioned Bev. 

“Yes,” replied her father. He looked at Bev and then at Cindy Lou. “What name did she give you?”

Bev looked from the parents to Cindy Lou and back. Finally she said, “You had better come in. We have much to discuss.”