The Fall of the Aftons

008: Michael Song

Terry was a nice boy. He had come in late last night as Michael was sleeping on the couch in the police station's lobby. (He hadn't done very well with answering questions for the adoption center forms.) He had noticed Michael's shivering this morning, so he put Michael on his lap and let him soak up his warmth.

Terry was currently explaining why he was at the station with Michael. He was twelve and his single-parent mother had passed away last night. He was waiting for his godfather, Uncle William, to pick him up. Michael noted that he seemed happy, even though his mama--as Terry called her--just died. He was curious how someone could remain so satisfied with that information weighing on his shoulders.

"What's your name?" Terry asked once he finished speaking.

"His name is Michael. Doesn't seem like he goes by any nicknames," the officer at the front desk, Officer Duncan, told Terry with a slight chuckle in his voice.

Terry's eyebrows furrowed in confusion and worry. "Can he not talk?" he asked Officer Duncan, but his eyes were on Michael as he stared at him with an intense gaze. Michael pulled his hood over his head. He hated when people immediately assumed he couldn't talk.

"He can talk. He just doesn't."

Michael sighed, glad the officers from last afternoon probably told Officer Duncan about yesterday. Saved him some trouble.

"Oh. Well, that's all right. My mama wasn't a very talkative person, either."

Suddenly Terry lifted Michael onto his shoulders and laughed. Michael screamed in surprise and fear, but then he giggled, enjoying the experience. No one had ever done that to him before. He'd only ever see it with other people on the streets. Terry quickly ran around the lobby and his hood came off as he held onto Terry's medium-length, hazelnut brown hair. He squealed in delight as Terry laughed. But the experience ended when someone shouted.