31 Days of Halloween

Little Billy

Watching from a distance as the young boy with the tousled blonde hair ran around the playground, every day he had been there. A week, with no parent or adult, running from the swings to the slide, climbing across the monkey bars with ease. Ron Draper knew the child would be an easy mark. Stalking and preying on young kids had landed him in trouble in the past, released from an eight-year stint in the state prison only days before spotting the blonde boy in the park, he couldn't control himself.

Charged with stalking three kids from an area elementary school, he gladly accepted the plea deal for eight years. After all, that gave him a get away free card on the two boys from across the state line he snuffed the life from after they threatened to tell their parents. Now, here he was, aimlessly wandering the streets when he found him. Alone in the park. A dream come true for him, but he knew he must take careful, measured steps before acting. The boy played with no other children, in fact, he was never at the park when anyone else was there. It was perfect. All he needed to do was lure him away from the park and out of sight.

"Hey, excuse me, you haven't seen a small, brown and white puppy, have you?" he asked casually.

The boy eyed him curiously, "No, hasn't been no dog here."

Holding a leash in his hand, Ron continued, "Think you could help me look? Maybe start over there while I search on this side behind the park."

Shrugging his shoulders, the young boy replied, "Sure, I got nothin' else to do. What's his name? You know so I can call him."

"He goes by Mutt, he is a bit of a mix and was a stray," Ron laughed, trying to ease the tension.

"Okay."

Scampering off across the playground, the boy headed for the trees which separated the park from the creek and disappeared. Ron could hear him calling for the dog and started his own search, working his way around the far end of the park down to the creek itself. He had to make it look as if he were searching for this dog. After a few minutes, the two ran into each other near the water. The boy looked startled but remained calm.

"Well, I guess Mutt isn't here. We probably should be getting back to the park before it starts getting dark, don't want your folks worrying about you."

Picking up the flat, gray rock next to his foot, the boy turned and skipped it down the water. "There ain't no one looking for me. I come and go whenever I want," he told Ron, "My mom ain't home tonight anyway, I was just out here playing cause I was hungry and we don't have nothing at home."

This was his chance, he couldn't believe the dumb luck involved in this. Never had something been so easy. "You haven't had anything to eat?" He tried to reflect concern in his voice when all he wanted to do was laugh with glee.

"Nope, not since yesterday. Mom has to work during the day and barely makes enough money for us to stay in a cramped old hotel room. So we eat when we can."

"I'll tell you what, let me introduce myself. I'm Ron. Now, I know you don't know me, but why don't I take you to get yourself something to eat. Don't want anyone going hungry. That might give Mutt time to decide he's coming back."

"My name is Billy. You don't have to do that, I'll survive. She went out tonight so we can probably eat tomorrow."

"Alright, your choice. Offer stands, I'm headed to McDonald's, I'm hungry myself. Thanks for helping me look for Mutt," he said, hoping the boy would reconsider.

Starting off across the playground, he spun the leash in a circle with each step. Approaching the street where he had parked the car, he heard a tiny voice.

"Excuse me," Billy muttered.

"What's wrong, son?"

"Did you mean that about eating? I mean I haven't had McDonald's in a long time, and I am hungry."