The Runaway

The chill of the late summer evening made Danny's teeth chatter as he sat on the curb waiting for the bus. He fingered the small backpack that sat beside him on the ground. Earlier, he ran from his house in a hurry forgetting his jacket. But he couldn’t go back, not now.

“Where you going, Son?” His father's voice startled him from behind.

But, Danny just stared at his shoes and didn't answer.

“Are you taking any money with you?”

The boy nodded then pulled a wad of bills from his pant pocket. “Grandma gave me some.”

“You know, Son, we wish you would come home.” His father cleared his throat.

“It’s not fair," Danny yelled. “You don’t love me anymore.”

“I’m sorry you feel that way, but we do love you, ” he said quietly. “If you leave we will miss you.”

Danny pursed his lips as a big tear ran down his cheek. “Why did you tell me no?”

“Sometimes… fathers have to say no,” he said. “Are you hungry?”

Danny nodded.

“So where are you going?”

“I don’t know - I can't cross the street yet.” He pouted. “I'm going to wait for the school bus to pick me up.”

“You won’t go to school until next year." His father sighed then held out his hand. "We talked about this.”

“That’s not fair.” The boy stomped his foot then surrendered his five-year-old hand to his father’s.

“Not everything is fair. Do you even know what fair means?"

Danny looked up with his big blue eyes and shook his head.

His father bent down to Danny's level and lifted him into his arms. "Let's go back in the house and have a snack and a story before bedtime.”


*******



Comments

Carol Murdock said…
This reminds me of once when my oldest son was going to run-a-way.
I think all kids have that desire at least once in their life. :)
Angela C. said…
Did you write that Teresa? That is very good. I remember that I did something that must of been considered "cutsie" when I was really little. I was probably around 5 years old, and they laughed (mom, dad, two of their close friends) and I thought they were laughing at me and well not with me because I wasn't laughing (ha). So I packed up my baby doll in her carriage, throwed in some clothes...and a new package of graham crackers. In case I got hungry from the front door to the driveway. I wasn't allowed to go any further (ha).
They convinced me to stay, and well lunch was made and ready so how could I let that go to waste? Ha.
Angela
Great story, Teresa! And a great dad.

I remember one of my charges tried to run away when I was a teenage babysitter! Talk about panic! Of course she was heading the wrong direction to get out of the subdivision, but...

Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
Sally said…
ahhh... that pulls at the heartstrings..

I remember running away. My mom actually helped me pack (though I was in quite a huff) We had a little woods where all the neighborhood kids would gather- we called it the hideout- so that's where I went. I sat under a pine tree for hours (or so it seemed) then picked up my bag and went home...

back "in the day" I guess you could let your kids do that...
Just a little fiction, Ladies.

Carol, Yes both my kids had the urge to run away. Me too everytime I got angry with my folks.

Angie, Yep, thanks.

Elizabeth, Thanks. Oh my...being a babysitter and your charges wanting to run...a little scarey.
Sally, funny you should share this. When my kids wanted to run, I wasn't like the daddy in this story. I would always say, let's go pack your bag.
Terri Tiffany said…
Good show of emotions! I really enjoyed reading this:)You write well!
I have a small thought you might want to know--email me:)
Anonymous said…
That's a sweet story, good lady. I like that we knew he was young, but not how young until the end. Nicely done. :)
~✽Mumsy✽~ said…
A great short story! At first, I thought that he was in his teen, then slowly the story unfold at the end..

(I had a similar experience like this with my son, and I offered to walk with him to where he wanted to run away!)
Terri, Thanks much. You know I appreciate you.

Simon, Thanks, that means a lot.

Mumsy, I appreciate your compliment. Aren't children wonderul and inspire much writing and photographs.
Unknown said…
What a sweet story... definitely pulls at the heart. :)
Thanks, Jen. I was inspired at 11p.m. last night and finished at midnight. I wanted to challenge my writing self. :)
Your writing is beautiful, and I think almost everyone can identify with this scenario. We've either been the parent or the kid. Or both.

I love it.
Thank you Kat. YOUR writing is beautiful!
Anonymous said…
Dialogue with kids can be great inspiration for writers. My kids, trying to make sense of the world, say the darndest things.

Stephen Tremp
It just occurred to me that I've never written a child's dialogue or POV. Yikes. I bet it would be stilted. You work sounds very natural.

Best Wishes Galen.
Imagineering Fiction Blog
Cute story. I ran away at five, with a suitcase full of Rice Krispies and three of my favorite books. Can't remember why I left.
Gail said…
Fantastic! Stupendous! I loved it!
CM said…
I too initially thought this was a teenager, until I read further. I love the "I can't cross the street yet" statement. That's such a five year old mindset. Love it! It made me think of my 3 1/2 year old.
Hi Teresa .. how lovely - how sad .. I used to 'take' my elder brother and we'd run away into the conker wood .. I don't think we ever left the property .. I chickened out & no school buses passing by!!

Good on the little soul he wanted to go to school!! Love the story - told with feeling ..

Hilary
Betty Manousos said…
So sweet story. You pulled on my emotions. Thank you for that.
xx
Unknown said…
What a wonderful creation and what an understanding father. Mine would have beat me to within an inch of my life.

Sorry I've missed so much, been busy. It's nice catching up.

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