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By D.M. De Alwis

“Wait for me!”

That was the last cry Juni heard from the prison wagon as his family was carried away. He had been returning from the market with a loaf of bread and watched from a distance as the house had been ransacked and his family been taken. They were not his real family, however many years ago they had welcomed him into their home and so he had been adopted.

Juni sat with his feet dangling in the deep gutter at the side of the dirty road. The buildings and street surrounding him had at one time been clean, maintained and prosperous. Over the past ten years they had fallen to disrepair and their owners quietly moved away or disappeared, forgotten by the world outside.

The government of the city had changed twice in the last ten years. Alacku se Putra sat as the current Lord of Millen. He had replaced the Dictator Sedirc who in turn had replaced the old Mayor Jutin le Piquk. In the days of old when Mayor Jutin had ruled, people had never guessed that they would face changes and hardship of such unbearable magnitude. Ten years in the past, a plague had swept the city decimating the population as well as the noble ranks of the government and courts. As soon as the plague had ended, Sedirc of the Inthor faction began to challenge the Lord of Millen for popularity and position. The campaign ended after long months of propaganda and riots with Dictator Sedric ascending as the new Lord of Millen. The old Mayor had been sentenced to exile, though many suspected he had been given death instead. Sedric’s rule was to be fortunately short. Three years into his rule, the people realized his tyranny and rose up against him. He was assassinated. The current leader, Alacku se Putra, second son of King Putrasena was sent to fill the vacant position until a leader could be found.

The Lord began his rule by using the King’s army to clean up and set order to the once fair city of Millen. Crime within the city had been high and rising since the time of the end of the plague.
Juni’s kind foster parents were innocent. However, one of their sons had been involved with a circle of thieves and for his carelessness, the whole family had been arrested under the charges of thievery.
Juni sat by the gutter for many hours. He was only eight winters old and knew neither what to do nor where to go. He could not go back to the house for it had been set up to ambush any other thieves who would arrive to be sheltered at their ‘safe haven’. The royal army, consisting of soldiers from rural farm areas, was not aware of how actual city crime took place. Until they heard orders from their leaders, they would remain suspicious and guard the site of the family’s home.

After much thought Juni decided to follow in the direction of the prison cart. Soon he was lost on the streets of Millen. The road he had followed met another and another and yet another. There was no sign of the prison cart or of the prison. Juni sat down again by the side of the road and watched the passing traffic go by. He could not cry. He could not remember a time when he had cried. He had been told that at the age of five his family had forgotten him in their rush to leave Millen. His new Mama and Da had known his parents but refused to let him know the details of who they had been.
At the age of six, Dell had appeared. Dell soon became Juni’s protector and teacher. The family welcomed Dell and allowed him to stay with them. From that moment on Dell spent all of his time with Juni and taught him his letters and numbers. Dell had been in the house when the family had been arrested. It was Dell’s cry that Juni had heard from the prison cart. Juni covered his face with his hands realizing that he had not done as Dell had told him to. Now he was lost and he would never find Dell again.

“’Xcuse me, sir.”

Juni looked up to see a beautiful lady dressed in the cleanest and most white clothing. Forgetting his melancholy thoughts, he quickly got to his feet and bowed his head out of respect. She laughed lightly in a pleasant manner and took one of his hands, which had been balled up in a fist at his side.

“What is your name, little man?” Her voice sounded musical. Juni was speechless but as her mouth turned up in a smile he found the words to answer.

“Juni je Suprin” He replied. He could feel his face become hot and his hands trembled. She was the most beautiful lady he had ever seen with long dark hair and a heart shaped face.

“Well, Juni. What are you doing?” She spoke to him in a tone of voice that told him he was not just a child.

“I’m…. I’m just sitting. “ He replied. He suddenly felt ashamed to tell the nice lady the truth. She would think he was a thief or beggar and have nothing to do with him.

“Do you have a home?” She looked him in the eye and he found he could not lie to her.

“I did this morning, Ma’am, but I can’t go there now.“ He let out a breath of relief. He had told her the truth.

“Why can you not go there? “ To this question, Juni remained silent. She gave him a look and then seemed to respect his wish to keep his silence.

“Are you hungry? I can at least get you some supper and a room for the night?” She looked so genuine that Juni nodded his head. She had not released his hand and now she led him to a large Inn. He read the name of the Inn before entering and knew it to be the most respectable and comfortable in all of Millen.

After eating his fill, Juni was led to a bathing room where he bathed and changed into some clean clothing. A man’s shirt to be precise. The lady then tucked him into bed and kissed him goodnight.
“Why are you doing this for me? “ He asked meekly. She smiled again and replied.

“I once had a child who I was forced to give up and leave behind me as I fled with my father to a new land. Now I am back, and have no hope of finding him. But, I have always helped any child I found who was lost and sometimes afraid. Because I think what if this child were my child and what if he were lost and afraid?”

“How old would your boy be?” Juni asked. He wondered if his own parents would ever seek him out.

“He would be eight. He would probably be about the same size as you.“ She replied. “But, the city has changed and I have not yet been able to trace the man who I left him with.“ She looked so sad that Juni sat up in bed and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“You’ll find your boy, Ma’m. He’s the luckiest little boy alive to have a mum such as you. “ With that, Juni lay back and fell asleep.

The next day Juni awoke to find an old man sitting in a chair by his bed. He pretended to sleep a little longer as he studied the man. He was white haired as most old men, though he was not as wrinkled as the old man who used to live at the baker’s house and who used to threaten Juni with a beating from his walking stick. This old man was well fed. He had bags under his eyes and he seemed fairly upright compared to bent over as most old people are. The man sighed and stared out the window.
The lovely lady soon walked in.

“Father, when Juni awakes, please make sure he eats. I’ve managed to track down Dell’s whereabouts. It appears My Love has found his way into prison. I only hope that he has kept his promise and that I can get him out. “ She bent over her father and kissed him on the forehead. Then she peered at Juni who quickly pretended to sleep more convincingly. Satisfied, she left.

“You can wake up now, boy. “ The old man poked Juni with the book he had been pretending to read when his daughter had come in. “I know you’re awake, and probably hungry too. “

“How come she’s looking for Dell?” Juni asked, sitting up in the manner all young boys follow.

“How my boy, do you know that Dell?” He looked at Juni curiously.

“He’s my friend. “ Juni replied. “ He and my family got arrested and that’s why I couldn’t go home. “ Juni felt he could trust the old man and he was content to believe the lady and her father had only good intentions.

“Never knew Dell to spend time with families. “ The old man mumbled. “Here lad, I’ll go get you some food. You get dressed. Sara had some clothes bought for you. I think she has a mind to adopt every sad looking child she runs into. I am so sorry for forcing her to leave her little ’un so many years ago. “

“Sir? Why did you do that? “ Juni was quickly changing. The food from the previous night had been the best he could remember tasting and he was hungry for more. His shirt was currently caught under him and he had managed to get himself entangled in it. The old man laughed and gave him a hand at escaping.

“It was a mistake. She was not married and had gotten herself with child. I was stubborn and too proud to see that she would be happy regardless of whether she had followed the correct steps or not. I still wished to rule her life as all parents do to some extent. And so I forced her to give up her baby. It appears she did not heed my words, as she never has though she has my own judgment sometimes. She kept the baby in secret for two years before we were forced to flee. Then, she had to make a decision and I found out about the baby and made it for her. She cried many nights and suffered through the years for the loss of her child and the man she had loved. I have asked her forgiveness as I feel that as a father I have given her the greatest sorrow because of my own prejudices and notions. She has told me that there is nothing to forgive for I was only being her father through it all and that she would always love me regardless of the past. I am blessed with such a loving daughter and I have mended my thoughts.“ His eyes had glazed over as he spoke with sorrow but realizing to whom he spoke he quickly recovered. “I am sorry child, that I should burden you with my story. I am but an old man who has made many mistakes.“

“That’s alright, sir.“ Juni replied. He was a bright child and could not help being interested in the story. “I do hope that you find your grandson.“ The old man smiled and they both went down to the common room of the Inn for their morning meal.

“What do you mean he’s not here?” Sara cried. Dell threw up his hands in despair.
“I told him to wait, but he’s not here.“ The broken street and tattered buildings stood in silence mocking their despair. “Oh, Sara. This was not part of the plan. I could not make arrangements while being thrown into a prison cart! He must still be somewhere in this city. We can still find him.“

Night came too soon for the desperate couple who had methodically been riding up and down every street of the city looking for the lost boy. Soon Sara was falling asleep in Dell’s lap as the carriage drew up to the Silver Fish Inn. She awoke as the carriage stopped and gathered her things together. Dell followed her out and into the Inn. They made their way to her quarters and opened the door to find her father and a little boy curled up in a chair fast asleep.

“Juni!” Dell whispered in relief as he fell to his feet at the boy’s side. Juni awoke and stared dreamlike into Dell’s eyes.

“Dell.” He murmured and fell into his long lost father’s arms crying for the first time he could remember. Sara stared in amazement.

“It’s him, isn’t it my daughter. This is my long lost grandson.“ Jutin le Piquk’s eyes gleamed with unshed tears. “I knew it. He’s as smart as my Sara is, and as bold as Dell.“

Sara threw herself at Dell and Juni crying her joy.

“So Sara’s my mama?” Juni cried a little more, as before only tears of joy.