The Lost and Found

Gunnery Sargent Tommy Tomkins said to the little stranger, “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” He took the offered glass as she was straining to hand it up to him. “Ice cubes? You brought me ice cubes"

She shook her head as if to say it was no bother at all and then asked, “Do you know what my name is?”

“I only know that you are a darling little girl, and that is what I will call you. Darling."

“My name’s Penny.”

“Oh, Penny! Well, that's a good name, but I think Darling fits you better.”

“You call all of us darling,” she said unhappily.

He opened his mouth to speak but then didn't know what to say. He looked over at the four other little strangers sitting side by side on the couch, their hands folded in their laps. None of their feet touched the floor. They were looking back at him as though expecting him to do something fascinatingly weird at any moment.

He noticed they were all wearing identical white plastic shoes.

“Are you really our great grandfather?” one finally asked.

“That’s what they want us to believe, little darling. “

“You call everybody darling! ” the little girl said again. She must be the youngest, he figured. Definitely the smallest. Maybe she was four. She remained standing by his chair, her eyes never leaving his face.

“My name’s Izzy!” said a voice from the couch.

“Who told you that?” Tommy asked. He looked at all four girls at once because he wasn’t sure which of them had spoken.

One of the girls suddenly looked quilt ridden. and raised and lowered her shoulders like a shudder went through her.

He said, “Seriously, who told you your name was Izzy?”

The girl looked to her sisters for help, but none of them looked back.

“Do you know what the Kiowas do when they name a child?” he asked.

They didn’t seem to. He went on. “They let the universe choose the name. Let’s say a baby is born during a huge storm, they might call the child Pouring Rain. Or if a baby gets born during the sunset, she could then be called Burning Sky, or maybe Falling Light.

“Those are funny names,” the girl called Izzy said.

“Yeah, well, what’s in a name anyway?”

They looked at him blankly.

“Your name is Great Grand Dad,” one said, he didn't catch which one.

“No, my name’s Gunny.”

“Gunny!” two girls said at the same time.

The little one who still stood next to him asked, “Were you born holding a gun?”

“Yes, in a manner of speaking. You might say I was reborn with a gun. In Viet Nam.”

They all stared.

“Ever hear of it?”

“My mommy says to call you Great Grand Dad,” the girl by his chair said.

“Great Grand Dad, huh? Never been called that before, but, hey! Speaking of your mommy, go ask her to put some scotch in this, will ya, darling? Will you do that?” He handed his glass of ice back down to her.

She took the glass with both hands and began walking across the floor with the concentration and speed of a tight-rope walker.

“Do you really live on the street?” another asked.

Then another one said, “Aunt Patty told Mommy you live on the street in a cardboard box.”

"Aunt Patty said that?' Tommy turned his attention to the hallway to see if his scotch was anywhere in sight. Darling had still not made it into the kitchen yet. "Good old Aunt Patty. Is she the fat one?"

All the girls nodded yes.

“Well, the answer is I do sometimes live on the street in a box. Not always.”

“Why?”

“Why don't you ask Aunt Polly? She seems like a very nice lady...”

“Aunt Patty!" corrected the one farthest to the right. "She says you’re a little dingy after the war.”

"Well, bless her heart!" Gunny said and turned to watch the little one slowly walking back across the room from the doorway. She had a different, taller glass of what looked like ice-water in both hands. Gunny watched her approach. She handed the new glass up to him with great, solemn care.

Gunny said, “Thank you, little darling," and took a sip.

“Did good old Aunt Patty make this drink for me?”

Darling leaned forward. "I think it's water," she whispered.

Tommy said he thought it might be too and put the glass down on the side table. He took a deep breath and sat back in the leather recliner.

“Do you girls know..." he leaned forward and whispered, "Aunt Patty eats her boogers?”

The already quiet room grew more so.

Gunny spread his arms wide. “It’s true, he said in a full voice. "I ain't lying. Would I lie about something like that? Loves 'em! i mean loves, loves, loves to eat her boogers...”

A chorus of eeuuwws and yucks and scowling faces followed.

“Why?” the taller one asked.

“Why? Just another lost generation, I suppose. We lost the war, and then we lost ourselves, and eventually, people like your Aunt Patty began to eat her boogers."

A female voice sang out from the kitchen, "Dinner's ready! Bring your great grandfather!"

"Come on, Gunny,” said the littlest girl. She held up her hand for him to hold as the rest of the girls trotted into the kitchen in their white shoes. He could hear voices from inside all speaking at once. Then a woman's voice pronounced in a raised voice that she most certainly did not eat her boogers!

“Right behind you, Darling. This is sure going to be fun!”

--931 Words--