He Is Lost

He was a man, a father. Father was tall, towering over the two young boys that held his hands. The boys shared a face, but little else. Aiden was bold and boisterous, while Asher was shy and sweet. And Father loved them both exactly for who they were. Father admired Asher for his sensitivity. He adored the way he would sit silently for hours coloring pictures to brighten up their little home. An unkind word was never heard from his son’s mouth and an unkind word was never spoken of him. Asher never questioned what was asked of him and he rarely asked for anything in return. His obedience never faltered. The same could not always be said about his rambunctious brother. Aiden questioned everything. Still, Father loved his curious child. He enjoyed teaching Aiden about the world and didn’t even mind when Aiden questioned what was demanded of him. Aiden would take patience, Father knew, and so patience is what he received. The wild boy was difficult to get to sit still for very long, always finding himself in trouble. Father made sure to keep a close eye while he climbed trees in the yard for Aiden often climbed too high and needed help getting back down. Father gazed with loving eyes at his two different identical boys. They were his entire world, his very own little creations.

They, all three, walked hand in hand through the doors of the grocery store. The list in Father’s pocket was long; their pantry back home was empty and Father knew his boys needed to eat. And so there they were out for the day filling their grocery cart so they could fill their bellies.

"Daddy! Daddy!" Young Aiden tugged on Father's left arm. "Look!" He pointed frantically at an aisle as they passed by. The wrappers sparkled under the fluorescent lights catching Aiden’s eye. "Can we get candy PLEASE?" He tried pulling Father back, but Father kept moving them forward.

"No, son, I'm sorry but we are not here for candy," Father told him. The disappointment on his son’s face was instant. He never liked telling his boys no, but there were times he didn’t have a choice. He knew what was best. “Maybe next time.”

"But Daddy I want a candy bar now!" He whined pulling at his father's arm.

"Aiden I said no." Aiden, recognizing the tone in his father's voice, trudged along quietly as Father led them away from the candy aisle. Although he was no longer able to see the candy his desire did not diminish.

Aiden kept silent as Father placed an array of food into their cart. He could see meat for burgers, bread for sandwiches, eggs for breakfast and milk to wash it all down. The multitude of vegetables made Aiden crinkle his nose in disgust, he hated vegetables. None of the fruit Father picked out was nearly as flavorful as the candy he desperately craved. The cereal Father chose didn’t have a fun character on the box and he didn’t even slow down as they walked passed the cookie aisle. When Aiden asked for soda Father told him no it has too much sugar. "It'll rot your teeth son." He told him, placing water in the cart instead. Aiden begged for potato chips, but Father pointed to the potatoes that were already in the cart. "We will bake them later. It's much healthier for you." Aiden began to grow angry with his father.

"Why can't I have what I want?" Aiden stomped his feet on the ground planting them firmly where he stood. He ripped his hand from Father’s and crossed his arms.

"Listen, son," Father said kneeling in front of his feisty little boy and placed a hand on his shoulder, "sometimes in life things don't work out the way you wish them to. Candy and soda and chips are very tasty, I know, but they hold no nutritional value. You need what I am giving to you. Perhaps next time we can buy the things you want, but for now this is all I can do for you." Aiden was deaf to the sadness in his father's voice only hearing another no. “I’m sorry we don’t have much more to grab. Come along.” And so they continued on, Aiden dragging his feet.

They were making their way to the checkout line when Father stopped suddenly. He was rummaging through his pockets for moment before saying, “Dammit. Listen, boys I forgot my wallet in the car I’m going to run out and grab it, but I need you to stay here with the cart for a bit. I will be right back. Do not move from this spot, please. And you are not to talk to anyone. Promise me.”

"Ok, Father we promise." The boys agreed in unison. Father turned back and took one last look at his boys before making his way out of the store. They are good boys, he thought to himself, a small smile formed on his face.

The boys waited quietly, patiently for their father to return and after a time they saw a man walking towards them. The man who approached was not their father, but a stranger.

"Why, hello there little children," He spoke with a sly tongue. "What are you doing here all alone?"

"We're waiting for our father," Aiden answered immediately.

"Shh," Asher whispered, "we aren't supposed to talk to strangers." He warned his brother. The stranger’s eyes narrowed as they fell on Asher’s face.

"What a wise child you are. You must have a very smart father to teach you such things." The man went on, "I am Doyle. A friend." His smile was broad; his long teeth glistened, wet with saliva. He held out a hand to Asher, but Asher just looked the man up and down with cautious eyes. "But why would your father just leave you here? Not everyone is as kind as I.” He placed the hand now on his chest. “Someone might wish to harm such lovely boys such as yourselves." His long fingers swept across Asher’s cheek. Asher stepped away from the strange man, a chill ran through him.

"He hasn't left us!" Asher snapped, slapping the man’s hand from his face.

"Looks to me like he has." Doyle glanced around and shrugged his bony shoulders. "I don't see him anywhere."

"He's coming back," Asher stood his ground. He didn’t like this man. His rotting teeth, his dark eyes, the words that slithered through his lips all gave Asher an uncomfortable sensation.

"Is he now?" He said. "Well, how about while we wait for him to return you come join me for a bit? I’ll make sure no harm comes to you." Doyle offered. Aiden and Asher said nothing but exchanged questioning looks. "Oh come on." Doyle urged. "We can take a trip down the candy aisle." He sang. Doyle caught the flash in Aiden's eyes. He turned from Asher and spoke directly to Aiden now.

"Come now, we'll be back before your father returns. You'll pick out a candy bar and come right back. He'll be none the wiser." Aiden's mouth moistened at the thought of the sweet candy and he took a step towards the stranger. Remembering his promise he froze, his eyes watching the doors Father went through. “Any two candies you want.” Doyle sweetened the deal. "That's a good boy," Doyle encouraged Aiden as he took another step closer. The man held out a long pale hand to the boy. Aiden reached out towards him and the stranger’s hand wrapped around his. It was cold, and its grip was tight.

"Aiden don't!" Asher cried. "What about Father? He will be back any minute now."

"Don't worry Asher I will be back before Father returns," Aiden assured his brother. "I will be back as soon as I get my candy.” His face beamed with a smile as he turned to leave with Doyle. Asher watched as his brother walked away from him, hand in hand with the strange man.

Asher waited now for both his Father’s and his brother’s return, his eyes shifting from the doors to the candy aisle in anticipation. The heart in his chest began to pound when he saw Father enter the store. He watched as the smile on Father’s face faded. His pace quickened to a run. There was panic all over his face.

"Asher where is your brother?" Father asked falling to his knees before him.

"Doyle took him," Asher answered immediately. "He promised him candy and said they would be right back, but it’s been a very long time."

"What?" Father cried, he scooped up his son and ran to the candy aisle. It was not far from where they stood, but an eternity could have passed before they turned the corner down the aisle. Father’s heart dropped at the sight. Chocolates and sweets lined the aisle, but the boy was not there. Father ran up and down the rows of aisles, the stranger and the boy were nowhere to be found.

"AIDEN!" Father called out to his son, but no response was heard. "AIDEN! SON! ANSWER ME! I WILL NOT PUNISH YOU FOR DISOBEYING ME! JUST ANSWER ME!" His cries rang throughout the store, but still, no answer came. “I JUST NEED TO HEAR YOUR VOICE SON! SHOW ME WHERE YOU ARE!” His powerful voice echoed but only silence followed. Father turned and embraced his remaining son. Tears poured down his once joyous face for he knew that his child was lost.

As the years pass Father never gives up faith that his son will return to him. He calls out his name so that he might hear and respond, but his cries are only followed by heartbreak. He looks upon every passing face searching for his little boy, but none hold the eyes of his lost child. Whenever he hears a child’s laughter or cry and he runs to the sound, his heart filling with the hope that it’s his son returning home to him but it never is...he is lost...