Back and Forth

Chapter Four

   "The world will never see this side reflected and if there's something wrong, who would have guessed it?"
   Never Too Late, Three Days Grace

  "Ooh I want that one please!" Mikey says pointing to a double chocolate cone on the menu.

   "Sure," I smile and order our ice cream.

   "You're really pretty," Mikey says and I chuckle.

   "Thanks you," I squat down to be his weight. "You're really handsome," I ruffle his light brown hair. He blushes and swats my hand away.

   "You look like my mummy," he says, sadly. I frown and stand up, the ice cream boy hands Mikey and I our ice cream.

   "Let's eat this and I'll take you home," I tell him and he looks up at me and smiles.

   "Do want to be bestfriends?" he asks licking his ice cream. He shivers and I could tell he is cold.

   "Of course I do," I say and we continue to walk down the streets of London.

   "I've never had a best friend before," he states.

   "Well now you do," I smile. "And since we are bestfriends I think I should get you a gift!"

   "What kind of gift?" he says excited.

   "Hhmm," I hum, acting like I'm thinking about it. "How about a new coat?" he scrunches his nose up in disgust and I laugh.

   "That's not a fun gift," he pouts.

   "You're right," I say. "How about a coat and a new toy?"

   "Yay!" he says. "I really like being your best friend."

   We walk to the nearest store for kids and I help him pick out a coat. It's a bit puffy and green, because it's his favorite color. After we get his coat he picks out a small toy car. As I pay for his gifts he takes a hold oh my hand and I smile down at him.

   "So, Mikey," I begin. "Where do you live?"

   "By the place I eat at," he says. "My sister is there. Can we take her food? She is always sad and I want her happy."

   "What do you think she would like?" I ask.

   "I don't know," he says and squints his eyes as if he is in deep thought.

   "How about pizza?" I ask, laughing at how serious he got.

   "Yeah!" he jumps up, happy.

   We walk to Dominos that is near the homeless shelter and soup kitchen. I order a larger peperoni pizza and when it's done we walk to the place Mikey says he lives. It's a rundown apartment building that looks extremely sketchy. This kid has time serious guts. I feel scared just looking at it.

   "This way," Mikey pulls on my hand. He leads me to the rundown elevator and I feel uncomfortable riding in it. He stands on the tip of his toes to push the button for the fifth floor.

   "Mikey how old are you?" I ask, realizing that he is so small and really skinny.

   "I'm almost seven, mummy says I'm getting big!" he says.

   "She is right," I smile.

   "I wish mummy was home. You two could be bestfriends like we are!" he says just as the elevator door opens. He runs out down the hall and I rush to keep up with him.

   "Whoa, you're too fast for me!" I chuckles and he slows down saying sorry.

   "This is my door," he stops infront of beat up red door with the number 54 on it. I knock on the door feeling nervous. "Why you knock?" he asks confused. Before I could answer the door flies open and teenage girl looks down at Mikey in relief.