The Darkness Calls

The Darkness Calls (Short Story)

"Whatsoever shall we do with him, Howard?" Mrs. Chann asked her husband.

"I don't have the faintest idea, my lamb. Where are his parents?"

It was a cool, gusty evening, with the sun dropping slowly in the sky. The couple were conversing with each other upon a small mountaintop overlooking the ocean. The tide was higher than usual for this time of the month, but not to the point to where it affected anyone. A large, red tent was set up near the couple, while a small campfire was burning not far from it. The combined smell of saltwater and smoke made Sarah's nose tickle. She let out a little sneeze.

"Bless you!" Howard exclaimed.

"Thank you," Sarah said and turned towards a third figure. He was watching them, with piercing blue eyes. His shaggy brown hair made him look unkempt and homeless. The boy looked to be around ten years of age. Just a few minutes ago, she and her husband were just chatting about how beautiful the scenery was, when he showed up on top of this very mountain. He was not wearing a shirt, and his pants looked dirty and torn.

When he showed up, Sarah tried to converse with him.

"Hi there! Who are you, and where is your mom and dad?"

"Argargaurg," the boy answered.

She tried again, this time speaking slowly and clearly.

"Hi. Who. Are. You. And. Where. Are. Your. Parents?"

"Gargahruarag." Again, the boy just did not seem to understand English.

I wonder what kind of foreign language that is supposed to be, Sarah wondered.

The boy jumped up and down, trying to signal to Sarah and Howard. It looked ridiculous, since his hunched body was so small. Once he caught their eyes, he pointed to the fire first, then to his mouth and rubbed his stomach. She tried once more to converse with the little boy.

"Hey sweetie, where are your parents?"

The boy just shook his head and made a similar noise to before. Sarah grabbed a stick and drew a little family in the soft earth. She pointed to him, then to the picture, and finally made a shrugging gesture. The boy still did not seem to understand, so she gave up and turned back to her husband.

"I think we should let him stay, just for the night."

"What? Are you crazy? Letting some strange kid sleep in our tent?"

"It's just for one night," she nags, "We can find his parents tomorrow."

Howard just shook his head at her. "Sarah, listen. I know you are trying to be kind here, but we don't even speak the same language as him, much less know how he got up here."

"But just look at him! I can't bear to think of him sleeping alone in the freezing cold night. He needs some food and shelter."

"Okay, fine. We can let him stay, but just for this one night. In the morning, we head straight back to town and see if anyone knows him. Deal?"

"Sounds like a plan," she agreed.

While taking a road trip, the couple had their SUV burst a tire near a small town.

"Dang it, we have no spares," Howard had said as his tall, brawny figure leaned over to check the damage.

"There's a tiny town somewhere close by. I saw a sign while we were driving on the road."

"You're right. Do you think they have a repair shop nearby?"

"Maybe. If not, I think I see a gas station sign not too far away. We can go in and ask someone who works there if they know anyplace that sells tires."