One Bright Spot

Chapter 12

Little Boy Lost:

Theo gets settled in beside of me. "So, what's your story? I know a good bit about Kota and Josh... What about you?"

He shrugs, "I had 'Daddy issues' before I came here. I had some 'Mommy' ones, too, but she didn't abandon me like he did.

"She was a drunk, though, and she would bring home men at night. Most of them would beat on me...to show they were now dominant, I guess."

"Did you fight back?" I ask.

Theo shakes his head, "No, I was a scrawny kid then." His eyes have settled on his feet, as if they are a portal, taking him back in time and showing him everything he's gone through.

"For an entire year, I lived in fear of the nighttime. Even my locked door couldn't keep them out most times."

My heart is aching for the little boy Theo had been who had missed out on a proper childhood.

"I ran away from home when I was eleven. I'm not sure where I went, but I ran and didn't look back. I fell asleep under a clump of bushes. When I woke up, Mr. Nakamura was standing over me, his little car's headlights shining on me and my hiding spot. He took me to his home and his wife gave me food." I can see a ghost of a smile on his lips. He had loved his Nakamura family. A lot.

"He had a little seafood market. He always kept the fish freshly stocked. Its probably what made business so good." He lets out a reminiscent laugh and readjusts himself on the couch.

"I had become a part of their family; we had just begun to break down the language barrier between us." I must have had a quizzical look on my face, because he elaborates, "Mr. Nakamura and his family were Japanese. He could speak a little, broken English, but his wife and two children couldn't speak any."

"What happened?" I ask gently.

"My mom's boyfriend tracked me down to the little store. Mr. Nakamura knew of my past and stalled the man while I ran down the back alleys. I could hear angry yelling going on behind me, but I just kept running.

"I turned for just a moment. There was smoke wafting up towards the sky." Theo's voice cracks and his shoulders shake, "That scum set the only home I had ever known on fire." Anger is laced in with emotions I know he is trying so hard to hold back.

I put my hand on his shoulder, but say nothing. Frankly, I don't know WHAT to say.

His eyes are full of grief, "I don't even know if they made it out alive. He and Mama were the only parents I've ever had. And little Kenji and Hiroko looked to me as their older brother. Hiroko had this power over me that no one else in the world had. I loved her with all of my and she might be dead because of me." Sobs rack his body. I put my arms around him and let him cry.  

After a few gut-wrenching minutes, he takes a shaky breath, "My mom's boyfriend chased me. I ran a few blocks and came here. Security tried to keep me out, but Kota was there and told them to let me through." He laughs, "Even then, his orders carried a lot of weight around here."

I smile fondly. Yep, that was Kota.

"He brought me down here and it's where I've stayed ever since. He got me into the system and even spent late hours teaching me everything he knew, making me into what I am today; no longer scrawny." 

"What was your favorite thing about Mr. Nakamura and his family?"

He's thoughtful for a moment, "For one, their dialect. Its actually quite amusing to listen to them chattering back and forth."

I smile and rub his back encouragingly.

"For another, I was struck by awe at how much they loved God; Kenji and Hiroko, too. Papa was always praising God, even when the daily income hadn't been very much. we didn't have a big house; Kenji and I shared a bed. Sometimes we'd eat the same food for every meal for days on end. But every night, Papa would thank God for the good food, for a roof over our heads, and for bringing business to our market. He thanked God for beautiful Mama and his three blessings that made his family complete. He always thanked God for bringing me to them." Theo's voice chokes again.