Good Night, Lois – The Lost Girl
I wrap my hand around a bunch of dollar notes in my pocket as I stand in front of the Oceanside roller coaster.
This will be a perfect waste of money given that I can fly. No adventure park could possibly live up to what I can do above the clouds. But I've dreamed of a roller coaster ride ever since I was a little boy. My parents promised to take me one day, but they died in that car crash before we could go.
It’s been such a long time since I’ve done anything that’s just, well… fun.
I promised myself to live a little now that I no longer need to hide from the authorities. But the money would be better spent on my education. Besides, standing here, I think I miss my parents more than ever.
But it's just a couple of dollars to make a dream come true.
I’ve always craved a normal life and this is what normal kids my age do. They hang out with friends, they have their first girlfriends - and they go on a roller coaster ride without thinking twice about it.
With new resolve I take out a five dollar bill and walk up to the waiting line.
That's when I hear a desperate voice. “Mommy! Daddy!”
I know that voice. Lois!
Turning my head, I spot her immediately, right as she cries again. “Mommy! Daddy!”
Tears stream down her face and my heart clenches in sympathy. The noises around me seem to fade until there is only me and her, her sniffing and her racing heart. She’s only five and all alone.
“Lois!” I cleave a path through the people separating us and touch her shoulder. “Lois.”
She looks up and her tear-streaked face relaxes into the ghost of a smile.
“Clark!” She rubs her nose on her sleeve and wraps her arms around me. “I lost my parents.”
“I know, honey.” I’m not sure I have a right to use that term of endearment yet, but I always felt so much better when Mom used it comforting me. “We’ll find them. I bet they’re already looking for you.”
She sniffs again “I was on the merry-go-round and Mommy went to change Lucy’s diapers. Daddy said he’d get us something to drink and that he'd be right back. But he never came. Then I went searching for Mommy and got lost.” She scrunches up her face and the tears come anew.
I close my eyes. Poor kiddo! I bet he father got held up waiting in line and expected his daughter to stay put. Which, naturally, she didn't do. Why did he even leave her?
“It’s okay. Let’s go find them together.” I offer her my hand and she takes it.
With a steadying breath, I extend my hearing and hope that I can make good on my promise. I don’t even know their voices very well. Music is blaring all around me, people are laughing, cheering – with so much noise around me, it’s rather hard to concentrate on any specific sound. If I'm not careful, I’m going to lose myself in the cacophony of an entire city.
Lois seems to sense my unease. “What if we don’t find them? I don’t want to be all alone.”
“You’re not alone, Lois,” I say softly. “I’m not going to leave your side until we’ve found your parents.”
With a faint smile she clutches at my arm with both hands, pressing herself as close to my body as she can without stumbling over her own feet.
I give her the most reassuring smile I’m capable of and try listening for her parents again. It’d probably be easier if I rose above the crowd and searched for her parents from up there. But I promised not to leave her alone and it’d be wiser not to take her flying. My special vision is not going to be of much help either, I'm afraid.
That way we walk for a while, me listening carefully and trying to avoid running into innocent passersby and Lois clutching at my arm for dear life.
Just when I’m about to suggest switching tactics, I hear her mother’s voice. “Lois!”
Her father is looking for her as well. I concentrate on the sounds and hear them arguing as they blame each other for losing their daughter. It almost seems like they’re more preoccupied with their fight than with actually finding her in the crowd.
I give Lois' hand a soft squeeze. “Come on, honey. I know where they are.”
Her face lights up. “Really?”
I grin. “Really.”
Her pace picks up considerably as we make our way through countless people. The nervous energy radiating off her, her hope and excitement are palpable.
“She must be somewhere in the park, Sam.” Lois' mother cries. “Why would she leave?”
“But we've been looking everywhere! Who knows what's going on inside the head of a five year old girl.”
“Not much if she's anything like you. Whatever possessed you to leave her unattended?”
“I was gone for all of five minutes. I told her to wait.”
“She's five, Sam. Waiting two minutes seems like an eternity to her.”
We're getting closer. “Almost there,” I tell Lois. “They're just outside the park waiting for you.”
It's true. Just as we round the next corner, I see two arguing adults across the street lining Oceanside Park. A mixture of relief and sudden panic washes over me. What if Lois mentioned my name when she told them about the Lost Boy. What if they realize that I'm not just an imaginary friend? I stop dead and let go of Lois' hand for a moment.
I need to talk to Lois first.
But it's too late. She has already seen them.
“Mommy! Daddy!
Before I know what's happening, Lois starts across the street, paying no mind to traffic. My heart stops as I watch her and the speeding car that's coming down the road, heading straight for her. Suddenly I feel like I’m back on the street, watching the tragedy unfold as an intoxicated driver didn't see my parents coming when he turned onto the street.
My pulse thunders in my ears
I'm not going to be too late again.
Not this time.
“Lois!”
In a mad dash, I grab her from behind and push her out of the way, turning us around as we fly, so my body breaks her fall. I hear the screeching of brakes, the cries of her parents, the startled yelp from Lois. My own racing heart is thundering away, nearly drowning out any other sound. Only gradually the world shifts back to its normal speed, as I find Lois cradled in my arms, unharmed. Her steady, quick heartbeat thumps against my fingers and her chest rises and falls with rapid breaths.
She's alright.
I let out the breath I didn't even realize I had been holding and close my eyes in relief.
“Lois!”
A second later both her parents are all over us. They help her to her feet and examine every inch of her body.
“Lois, are you all right? Does anything hurt?” her mother asks.
Lois seems too stunned to speak. Her lower lip quivers and I can tell she's at the verge of crying. Her mother pulls her into a tight embrace and whispers soothing words into her hair.
Her father gives me a hand and helps me to my feet.
“You saved her, son!” He says hoarsely, his eyes wide with shock. “First you found her in the park and then you saved her from getting overrun by a car.”
Then he pulls me into a tight bear hug.
As he lets go of me, I’m not sure what to do now. When Lois ran onto the street, I didn't really think – I just acted. But as it dawns on me what just happened, I really wish I could disappear. Staying seems like a very bad idea. Clutching my arms around myself, I try very hard not to suffer a panic attack.
Lois’ mother gets up and, already, I can sense her scrutiny. Like a deer in headlights, I stare back at her.
“Oh thank you so much!” Tears of relief stream down her face. “Did you get hurt? Why don't you let my husband look at that arm of yours. He's a doctor.”
As if on cue, Lois' father once again comes too close for comfort. “Ellen is right, I really should have a look at you after you saved our daughter. That's the least I can do.”
I pull back, alarmed.
“Not necessary,” I rasp. “I'm fine.” Beads of sweat appear on my forehead. Am I even supposed to be all right after the stunt I just pulled? “I… uh… should get going.”
“No, don't go.” Lois cries. She rushes towards me and wraps her little arms around my belly. “Please don't go. I need you, Clark. Don't leave me.”
As her hot tears soak my shirt, I realize just how shaken I am. I don’t want to leave her either. But I can’t stay, for many reasons. That I don’t belong to her family is the least of them.
“You’re safe with your parents now.” Gently, I untangle myself from her tight embrace. “But you've had enough excitement for one day, don't you think?”
She nods, reluctantly, and takes a step back. “Will you come to visit me again?”
I take in a sharp breath and look at her parents. Will they realize that Lois and I know each other a lot better than they think? But instead of frowning they both smile broadly, if both somewhat teary-eyed.
“Of course you must come! A dinner at our home is the least we can do to thank you for saving our daughter’s life.” Her father pulls out a business card. “Wait a moment, I’ll give you our address. How about next Saturday?”
Too stunned to say much of anything I take the card from his hand.
Grinning broadly, Lois takes her mother’s hand and waves at me. “Good Night, Clark.”
Roughly, I manage. “Good Night, Lois.”
As I watch them leave, I’m not quite sure whether I’m in Heaven or in hell.
Last edited by bakasi; 03/07/25 02:25 PM.
