Lost Boys

I called the clinic and made an appointment for a cholesterol test. I ticked that off my list. I called
Dentaland at the Aventura Mall. They told me Dr. Shimkoski was no longer affiliated with their
practice. Well, what was I supposed to do then? I've got this temporary crown here. I thought I heard
someone outside talking to Spot. We can set you up with Dr. Perez. Fine, I said. Wednesday, noon. I
dumped the whites into the washer, poured in Tide, set the timer. I walked to the window to check on
the voice. Four children sat on the ground near Spot patting him, talking to him. Spot, I could tell, was
loving the attention. I went out to the deck and introduced myself. I said, I'm the dog's -- and I was
going to say "master" until I heard the word in my head and realized how absurd it was -- I'm the dog's
dad, I said. I take care of him. "What you dog name?" the oldest-looking child said. "Spot. And
yours?" They were brothers, I learned, named Smith. The oldest, Trayvien, probably 10, introduced
me to Demetrius, Everett and Kendrick. Spot rolled on his back with his legs in the air like quotation
marks. Everett stroked Spot's belly. I asked them where they lived. Trayvien pointed across the back
yard. I asked them if they'd like a snack. They would. So we had brunch on the deck. Trayvien helped
me set the table and led us in Grace before we ate -- his idea. We had lemonade and Paris buns. That's
what I called them for the occasion. They were crescent rolls, actually, from Pastry Lane. Kendrick, the
tiny one, sat on my lap and rubbed the hair on my arm back and forth. Trayvien was like the father. He
poured lemonade for his brothers, wiped their faces with napkins. He asked me what I did for a job. I
told him I write stories. He said that's what he did, too. I asked him to tell me a story. Trayvien told me
the one he called, "The Wolf, the Bear, the Lion, and the Man." The four characters are friends, and
they don't have enough money to buy ice cream. The Lion wants to eat the bank to get some. The Man
says they should go to work and earn the money. The Bear is sure they can find some dollars in the
street. The Wolf says we could just ask nice. And the Wolf is right. As I scooped out the chocolate ice
cream, I asked Trayvien did he have any stories with vegetables in them. No, he didn't. I told them they
should come by more often. Spot and I would enjoy their company. Trayvien said where they were
living -- he pointed across the yard again -- was a frosted home, and they didn't know how long they'd
be here. Foster home? I said. That's it, Trayvien said. Everett asked me, "Where you daddy?"
"Louisiana," I said. "Way far away." I found out that their mama lived with a man named Walter. Their
Granny took care of them awhile. Now they're here. What are your foster parents' names? I said.
Trayvien said, We don't know yet. You think they might be worried where you are? Trayvien shrugged.
I said, Well, let's go find them, OK. We all washed up at the kitchen sink. We put Spot on his leash
and paraded down the street. We waved to Mr. Lesperence next door. Everett walked beside Spot.
Spot kept licking Everett's face. Demetrius held the leash. Trayvien held Kendrick's hand. I held
Trayvien's. Trayvien was sure it was a blue house. We made a couple of lefts and rights, but nothing
looked familiar. Demetrius told me that Spot pees a lot.

"Here it is," Trayvien said. I wanted to ring the bell, let the people know we were back, but Trayvien
wouldn't let me. "They napping." The boys hugged Spot. They stood in the driveway and waved
goodbye until we turned the corner. This all happened a year and a half ago. I've never seen them again.
For a while, Spot and I took our walks by the blue house. One evening a man in a T-shirt and shorts
stood there in the front yard, watering a Manila palm. He must have thought I was crazy. No kids ever
lived here, he said. I looked around. This was the house. Spot slurped water from the hose. The man
said, Shoo. Spot woofed at him. So you're not a foster parent? I said. He made a face. Spot sniffed
around the sidewalk. Evidently, the children's volatile molecules lingered here, though the children did
not. I called HRS. No one there would tell me anything -- confidentiality, the woman said. I said, What
kind of world is this? Four babies wandering the streets. You shouldn't worry, she said. My cholesterol
is in the stratosphere it turns out. So I drink red wine now with my Paris buns. I brunch on the deck with
Spot, imagine Trayvien telling me a story with a happy ending. Like maybe he says, the Lion wants his
friends back, but the Man says forget about it. The Bear is sure it was all a dream anyway. But the Wolf
says what he believes is you meet everyone twice before you die.