As Edison wanders through a vibrant weekend flea market, his eyes catch sight of a young boy cautiously pushing a stroller with a peacefully sleeping baby. Intrigued and concerned, Edison decides to tail the boy, only to find them entering a rundown house. His curiosity turning into worry, Edison cannot help but intervene, driven by the urge to ensure the children’s safety while struggling to remain composed.
“Look at these vintage globes, sir!” a vendor calls out, attempting to capture Edison’s attention. “They’re in excellent condition! Some even open up in the middle to store little treasures inside.”
Antique globes on a shelf | Source: Midjourney
Amused, Edison laughs at the vendor’s enthusiasm, wondering what small items could possibly be hidden within these antique globes.
It was just another typical Saturday morning for Edison as he leisurely walked through the bustling flea market, savoring a bagel and searching for hidden treasures.
A person holding a bagel sandwich | Source: Midjourney
“No, I’m fine, thank you,” Edison politely declines, continuing his stroll among the many stalls, capturing photos of antique wooden boxes for his mother.
Suddenly, something unusual grabs his attention—a young boy, no older than twelve or thirteen, clad in worn-out clothes, purchasing baby clothes from a stall. Beside him, a stroller holds a baby sleeping serenely.
Unexpected Encounter
“Where are your parents?” Edison asks, approaching the boy with genuine concern.
A sleeping baby in a stroller | Source: Midjourney
The boy freezes, his eyes wide with fear. In a flash of panic, he grabs Edison’s phone and hurls it into the crowd.
Frantically, Edison rushes to retrieve his phone. As a lawyer, it contains confidential information he cannot afford to lose.
No sooner has he recovered his phone than he notices the boy disappearing into the crowd, fervently pushing the stroller.
“Hey! Wait!” Edison shouts, his voice echoing through the sea of people, but the boy is gone.
A boy running away | Source: Midjourney
“He’s been coming here often,” comments an elderly woman selling the baby clothes. “He always comes from that direction. Just follow the path, and you’ll find him. Help them—the baby is too young to be on the street.”
Shocked and determined, Edison decides to follow the lead, keeping a safe distance as he navigates through winding streets until the boy reaches a dilapidated, abandoned house.
A dilapidated and abandoned house | Source: Midjourney
“What on earth is happening here?” Edison mutters to himself, observing the boy through a dusty window as he wheels the stroller into the house and struggles to light a fire in a coal pot in the middle of the room.
Scanning the room for an adult, Edison finally spots a man lying on the floor.
That was the final straw.
A Shocking Discovery
“What’s going on here?” Edison demands, stepping inside the house.
A man sleeping on the floor | Source: Midjourney
The boy jumps, knocking over the thin metal pole he was using to stoke the fire. The man awakens, startled by Edison’s presence.
“Are you their father?” Edison asks, his voice stern. “Why are they living like this? Are you hurt? I’m a lawyer, and I can have you stripped of your parental rights. This isn’t a place for children!”
“Please, don’t call the police or social services,” the man pleads, struggling to sit up. “I can explain.”
“Explain? This is child neglect!” Edison retorts.
A man holding his face | Source: Midjourney
“These kids aren’t mine,” the man explains, pointing to the boy. “This is Dylan, and the baby is Simon. Their parents abandoned them weeks ago, and Dylan found this place.”
“And you’ve been living here?” Edison asks.
The man nods, introducing himself as Joe.
A close-up of a man with a beard | Source: Pexels
“I’ve been here for a few months,” Joe continues. “I lost my job as a supermarket cleaner after a robbery wrongly implicated me. Since then, I’ve been taking care of the boys.”
“I’m afraid Simon and I will be separated,” Dylan says softly. “Joe has been helping us survive.”
A young boy | Source: Midjourney
“But you can’t keep living like this,” Edison insists. “You need proper food and shelter. Simon is too young to endure these conditions.”
Joe sighs, expressing the painful truth.
“I grew up in shelters and foster homes. My childhood was a nightmare. Given the choice, I’d prefer this over what I went through. That’s why I didn’t involve social services.”
Edison’s eyes meet Dylan’s, who listens intently, holding Simon protectively.
A close-up of a little boy | Source: Midjourney
“And you’re okay with this? There’s no heat, and where does the baby sleep? In the stroller?” Edison asks.
Dylan nods slowly, a melancholic smile forming on his lips.
“Better than foster care,” he whispers.
The Heartbreaking Decision
“Joe, how exactly are you helping them?” Edison asks, trying to understand the full picture.
“I share my food, any money I earn from odd jobs, and I teach Dylan. He’s smart. We find books at the library or people at the market give us some,” Joe explains.
A man eating a sandwich | Source: Pexels
Despite Joe’s efforts, Edison cannot shake the feeling that this isn’t good enough. The boys need proper care and nutritious food. The baby’s well-being is a constant concern.
“I’m going to look around, okay, Joe?” Edison informs, moving towards another room where he discreetly dials the police.
They arrive swiftly, accompanied by social services, to take the children away. Dylan’s eyes brim with betrayal as he looks back at Edison.
A man holding his head | Source: Midjourney
“I should have broken your phone,” Dylan says, his voice filled with anger.
“This is for the best,” Edison replies, trying to convince himself as much as Dylan.
Two weeks later, Edison’s secretary buzzes in.
“Edison, there’s a man named Joe here to see you,” she says.
Stepping into the hallway, Edison finds Joe, cleaner and more determined.
A man sitting at his desk | Source: Pexels
“I want to visit the boys,” Joe says. “I tried, but they won’t let me because I’m homeless. I’ve found a job. Please help me change my life. I’ll clean the library by day and a gas station by night.”
Edison is taken aback by Joe’s resolve.
“You’re serious about this?” Edison asks.
A mop and a bucket in a library | Source: Midjourney
“I am. I miss them terribly. The old house feels like a tomb without them,” Joe responds, his voice wavering.
Moved by Joe’s dedication, Edison offers a lifeline.
“Why don’t you work for me? We need a cleaner in the office, and someone for maintenance. The hours are steady, and the pay is consistent. Interested?”
A person cleaning | Source: Unsplash
Overwhelmed, Joe nods gratefully.
In the following weeks, Joe’s dedication shines through. He devours law textbooks Edison provides, working tirelessly and impressively.
Edison helps Joe arrange supervised visits with the boys, assuring Dylan of Joe’s return.
“I’m just getting my life together, my boy,” Joe promises Dylan, during one visit, bringing new clothes and textbooks for the child’s education.
A pile of clothing | Source: Midjourney
“And you’ll come back?” Dylan asks, hope flickering in his eyes.
Joe assures him with a nod.
A New Beginning
Months later, Joe has turned his life around. With his documents in order, he enrolls in college.
“I’ll cover your expenses,” Edison tells him. “Focus on juggling work, college, and giving the boys a stable home. In time, we’ll reunite you all.”
Joe’s determination grows stronger. He works towards law school, rents a small apartment, and fights to become Dylan and Simon’s guardian.
A cozy little apartment | Source: Midjourney
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An unhappy older man | Source: Unsplash
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This work is inspired by real events and fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed for privacy. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
The author and publisher claim no accuracy to events or portrayal accuracy and are not liable for misinterpretations. This story is provided “as is,” and opinions expressed belong to the characters, not the author or publisher.