Big Wonders and Little Misses

Meeting Mr Wonder

Now most stories begin with a girl awkwardly stumbling into the man of her dreams and making a fool out of herself, and I am very proud to say that for me it was nothing like this. I didn't fall into his lap or stutter out a feeble attempt of an apology. I met my dream man at a street corner, walking back from school; he was slumped against the wall of a discarded McColl's, His clothes ripped and dirty, his jaw needing a razor taken to it. I gaze at the blood dripping from his lower lip

"Spare any change Little Misses?"

His voice shocks me into action; I rummage through my bag, digging my purse out from under my books. I open it, hoping that I hadn't spent all my money on the subway that I had bought on the way home. All that is left is coins, measly 1ps and 2ps.

I look down apologetically, "I have no money on me, would you like a sandwich?"

"Well I couldn't take that from you little misses" He shakes his head, his swollen lips spreading into a small smile.

"I insist, I don't really need it, I ate at school" I try and hand him my ham and cheese toasty, He swats my hand away "Well we could at least share it?"

"If you're sure little misses?" He pats the blanket he's resting against; I carefully lower myself next to him,

He puts his hand out expectantly, "The names Emmett, I make it a habit of knowing the name of the people I share food with"

I place my hand into his own large calloused paw, "Esme, pleasure to meet you"

I unwrap the warm sandwich, carefully ripping it in two, I subtly hand him the larger half, hoping he won't be offended.

"Thank you little misses, most people would have just walked on" He turns to me, gratitude clear on his face

"Well, I'm not most people" I smile up at him, "Is your mouth okay?"

He drags his thumb across his lower lip, wincing at the contact, "Yeah, I should be fine, nothing fatal"

I nod, taking a small mouthful of the cheesy role, "there's a homeless shelter round the corner from my house you know?"

"At the church?" I nod hesitantly "I was kicked out"

"Oh, I didn't realise you could get kicked out of a church" He smiles repentantly

"Neither did I to be honest" He shakes him head to himself, He offers an explanation "I got in a fight with one of the volunteers"

He looks to the cracked concrete on which we sat, blood dripping from his split lip onto his dirty fleece, I nudge myself an inch away from him, watching his every move. The chain hanging from my back scratches across the floor, his head whips up, staring into my eyes.

"I'm not going to hurt you little misses, there's no need to be scared" He frowns down at me.

"Did he deserve it?" I avoid his gaze, "The man I mean"

"He was stealing from a charity box, for a disabled boy," He frowns, seemingly, to himself, "Not being funny, it's just not right"

My mouth widens in shock, what an asshole, "That's hideous!"

He takes a large bite of his half of the sandwich, pulling his cardigan closer around his shivering body; He's only wearing a top and a cardigan! He must be freezing.

"Emmett?" He nods, his eyes never leaving the feet of the pedestrians walking past us, "Would you come with me?"

"Are you propositioning me little misses" He smirks, "Shouldn't you take me on a date first"

"No, I was just going to offer you a coat or something" I search the faces crossing the road, "You just look cold, that's all"

"Not being funny little misses, I doubt any of your clothes would fit me" He stands regardless, grinning at me "Okay, let's go see if your clothes are up to my standard"

I smile and pull myself up with his open hand, he swoops the blanket from the floor and grins a crooked smile at me, "Lead the way little misses"

We walk in relative silence for ten minutes before arriving outside my house, "You can wait inside if you want"

"I doubt your parents will appreciate that little misses" He leans against the wooden fence, "i'll just wait here"

"I won't be long, don't move" I run to the front door, pushing against the weight, I jump the stairs, two at a time, and go to my brothers room. They are bound to have a coat they don't wear anymore, after nosing through their wardrobe I find a thick hoodie with woollen lining; I haven't seen either of them wear this in years. Next I go back downstairs to the kitchen and make Emmett a cup of tea in a thermos, I carry both outside to him, still leaning against the fence.

"Here you go" I give him the jumper, holding his blanket for him, "I got you a cup of tea too"

The jumper was a bit tight on his arms but seemed to fit okay, "You didn't have to do that little misses, but thank you" He takes his blanket and thermos from me, "You make a mean brew"

"It's one of my many talents" I climb onto the fence.

"Its getting late little misses, You should get inside, this isn't the safest area after dark," He takes another gulp "Thank you for the coat, I will return it to you as soon as I can"

"It's fine Emmett, keep it, we don't need it"  I hop back down, "So I guess I'll see you soon"

"Hopefully little misses" He squeezes my hand and walks away.

That was the first time I met Emmett Briscombe, at the age of 14, little did I know that meeting this man was going to change my life, Not for the worse or for the better but just changed it.