Eden
Part two
Moira Phipps's words proved prophetic. A couple of weeks later, as Mary came into the store after school, her mother drew her attention and cocked her head to the left. Mary followed her head motion, and became aware of a small figure huddling almost hidden by the popsicle freezer. Pausing a moment, she peered around the freezer to see Eden, blond hair and pale face dark with dirt, un-shed tears brimming in his pain-filled eyes. Alarmed, Mary turned to her mother."What's wrong?" she whispered.
Her mother shrugged. "He's been sitting there since around lunch hour," she replied softly. "I can't get him to move or talk or do anything other than sit there. You have a go. His mother will be worried if he doesn't go home soon."
Mary nodded, and going around the freezer, crouched down in front of the small boy.
"Eden? Are you okay?"
Watery grey eyes shifted up to look at her.
"What's wrong, Eden? How long have you been here? Are you okay?"
Eden wiped at his nose with his sleeve. Beyond that, he didn't move.
"Well, come on to the back. School's been out for you for at least an hour, I imagine. Your mother must be worried about you."
At mention of his mother, Eden's eye's suddenly widened in panic, and he made to bolt for the door. Mary grabbed his coat collar.
"Whoa, buddy! You're staying right here until you've had a popsicle at any rate. Would you like that?'
At the mention of the popsicle, Eden stopped struggling and looked again at Mary, a faint smile beginning to appear on his lips. He nodded shyly, and took the proffered treat.
"Thanks," he said shyly.
"Good. Why don't you come into the back to finish your popsicle, and you can tell me all about school."
Eden's face darkened considerably. Mary met her mother's eye and mouthed, "Ten minutes," as she led the quiet little boy into the back. Moira Phipps nodded, comprehending. She would give them a little time before calling his mother.
He sat on the stool that Mary set out for him and obediently wiped his face with the dampened paper towel Mary gave him. She watched him out of the corner of her eye, not wanting to force his confidence. She eyed his school garments with some trepidation. A starched grass-stained collar stuck out at his neck with a bowtie hanging limply below his chin. Underneath his jacket, he wore suspenders to hold up a pair of brown short pants, now looking somewhat worse for wear. Rumpled knee-high black socks and scuffed oxfords rounded off the look. He looked like a bedraggled extra off "Leave It To Beaver".
Eden finished his popsicle for the most part in silence. Any halting questions that Mary ventured were met with little nods or shakes of the head. Yes, his teacher was very nice. Yes, they had assigned desks. Yes, the teacher asked him all sorts of questions. No, he didn't like having to answer them out loud. Yes, there was a cafeteria. No, he didn't like the food. Then, a small hesistant shake, no, he didn't like recess. Yes, some of the kids weren't very nice. No, he didn't want to go back to school. Ever.
Mary's heart went out to the boy. When he finished his popsicle, she gave him a little hug.
"Don't you worry, Eden. School's always a little bit difficult at first. And you know, you can always come here for a popsicle after school if you need one, okay?"
Eden smiled a little. "Thanks," he said in a small little voice.
Mary smiled back. "It'll get better eventually, Eden. It will," she said reassuringly.
Presently, the quiet of the store was shattered by the loud, boisterous voice of Mrs. Winthrop.
"So this is where he's been all this time! I was so worried! Eden, don't you know how worried I was? And all the teachers fanning out to look for you too. Honestly! What am I to do with you?"
Eden's mother burst into the backroom so quickly that both Eden and Mary started. Eden stiffened and froze in his seat, shoulders hunched up to his ears. Mary stood up slowly to look into the red, puffing face of Josephine Winthrop. The woman had obviously run straight here as soon as Moira had called her.
"Eden! What on earth...? Again? After all the trouble I've taken with your clothes, and I can't even trust you to keep them clean! What do you do, roll around in the dirt emptying flower pots on your head? What did I tell you? And why did you run off from school at lunch? What went through your head, child? Answer me!"
Moira Phipps gently took Mrs. Winthrop's arm as the latter reached for her son. "Josephine, perhaps Eden can come here sometimes after school, Joshephine. You see," she said quickly as Mrs. Winthrop made to protest, "It gets awfully dull here at the store after school, and Mary would really be glad of the company. She could help him with homework if he had any problems, wouldn't you, dear?"
Mary nodded vigorously.
Josephine hesitated. "Well, I suppose it wouldn't do him any harm. But John will come fetch him at 5:30 sharp. And Eden, I expect all your homework to be done by then, do you hear?"
Before the boy could nod, Mrs. Winthrop took his arm and turned him brusquely towards Mary and her mother.
"Now say thank you to Mrs. Phipps and Mary, Eden."
Eden muttered some words at the floor and was whisked out into the street. Mary watched them disappear around the corner. As she returned to her work, she exchanged a glance with her mother and sighed.
CONTINUED
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