Alphabet ≫ Jarchie

W is for Waif

Waif— a homeless child especially one forsaken or orphaned

☀︎☁︎☀︎

Archie was seventeen. He worked at a small deli in his hometown, a pretty popular one. It was on a popular street corner a few blocks away from the elementary school. The exterior was bright red and yellow, an eyesore to tourists but a staple for everyone who lived by it.

Everyday after school from 3-8, he was swamped by orders and friendly conversations. He loved it. His boss was a stickler sometimes, but his boss's wife was a sweetheart. He fit in quite nicely.

It was here where he met Jamie, a scruffy 10-year-old with an honest heart and innocent eyes. Jamie would stand outside the deli everyday and talk to the little boys and girls from the elementary school that came after school to fuel their afternoon sugar highs. At first, Archie didn't realize that Jamie never came inside or that he never came with the other children. All of this only came to light when his boss caught him stealing the one day the little boy dared to take a step inside.

There was a lot of yelling, a lot of threatening, and some crying. Archie felt so bad for poor little Jamie. Luckily, his boss didn't involve the police in exchange for Jamie never coming around again. Archie, being the sweetheart he was, purchased the candy bar Jamie tried to steal when his boss wasn't looking, and snuck outside the back. It didn't take long to find the little boy. He was sitting by the dumpster, curled up in a little ball, wiping his tears away.

That was their first encounter.

Archie had learned a lot about Jamie since then, the most extraordinary part being that he was homeless. They quickly came to an arrangement, and soon that arrangement made them friends. Everyday before his shift started, Archie would give Jamie one of the leftover sandwiches from yesterday so he could have it for lunch. That turned into little chats when Archie took his break, and then that turned into spending at least an hour a day together. It was amazing what one small, kind act could do.

One day, when the two were sitting by the garbage behind the deli before Archie's shift started, Jamie started the conversation in between bits of his Italian sub.

"Archie, how come we always talk about me? What about you?"

Archie, surprised at that, looked down at the boy and smiled. People never really asked about Archie. That wasn't a thing. He lived a boring life and he barely opened his mouth. Some people say that the most exciting thing about him is the color of his hair. "Because your life is far more interesting," he answered, chuckling. "I don't do much. I go to school and then I work and then I go home."

"I wish I could go to school and then go home," Jamie pointed out, causing Archie to cringe. Jamie always reminded him that he often took the little things for granted. After he was sure he got his point across, he titled his head to the side and smirked. "Are you dating anyone, Archie?"

"You're funny," he snorted, rolling his eyes.

"Do you like boys or girls?"

"Boys," Archie answered honestly, blushing a bit because he still wasn't used to saying that out loud.

"Do you have a crush on anybody?" Jamie asked giddily, bouncing up and down.

"No I don't," Archie said with a smile, because Jamie was too cute when he was happy.

"There's gotta be someone," Jamie whined.