The Lost Boy

craving adventure, I finally saw it on film. While Larry gazed at the girls in bikinis, I fidgeted in my seat, waiting impatiently for James Bond to make his next narrow escape from death while at the same time saving the world from doom. After seeing this movie, the character of James Bond became etched in my mind, much in the same way as Superman had years earlier.
    The next day was just as special. Rudy, Lilian’s husband, loaded their two cars full of foster children and mountains of food for their annual Fourth of July family get-together picnic at Junipero Serra Park – the same park I went to as a small boy when I was considered a member of Mother’s Family. When we arrived at the park, I helped carry containers and bags full of goodies, not knowing where to place them. “What do I do with these?” I asked no one in particular.
    “David, just place it anywhere, ” Rudy replied.
    “But all of the tables are already full of stuff from other people, ” I whined.
    Lilian stepped beside Rudy. They joined hands. “Yes, David, we know, ” she said. “These people are our family.”
    I looked at the scores of adults drinking soda and beer. Kids ran in every direction as they played tag. “Wow, all these people are your kids?”
    Suddenly a woman screamed. I nearly recoiled into my protective shell as the woman frantically ran toward me in thick, funny-looking wooden shoes. “Mom! Dad!” the woman howled. She then tried to wrap her arms around both Lilian and Rudy. I stared at her face. She didn’t look anything like Mr or Mrs Catanze.
    Lilian cried as she blew her nose, then gave her handkerchief to the woman and closed her eyes for a brief moment to recompose herself. “David, this is one of our first foster children, Kathy.”
    Now I understood. I turned my head from side to side, straining my eyes as streams of people flocked over to Rudy and Lilian.
    “And Mom, Dad, I got a job. I’m married. I’m going to night school and this … is my new baby!” Kathy announced, as a man with a beard handed over a baby wrapped in a yellow blanket into Rudy’s open arms. “Oh, Mom, Dad, it’s so good to see you!” Kathy cried.
    A small mob of adults crowded around the Catanzes. Swarms of children jumped up and down, screaming for attention, as babies and hugs were exchanged. After a few minutes, I excused myself from the crowd and made my way to the edge of the hill. I sat down, staring at the planes lifting off from the nearby airport.
    “Pretty cool, isn’t it?” a familiar voice said.
    I turned to look at Big Larry.
    “Every year it’s the same thing, but more people. I guess you can say they love kids. So what do you think?” Larry asked.
    “Wow! There must be hundreds of folks here!” I exclaimed. “Have you ever been here before?”
    “Yeah, last year. How about you?”
    I stopped for a moment to study a jumbo jet dipping its wing to the west. “When I was a kid …” I caught myself, not sure if I really wanted to say anything. I had held back so much for so long. I cleared my throat before continuing. “My parents – my real mom and dad – would always take my two brothers and me to this park when we were just kids.” I smiled. “We’d spend the entire day just down the hill, playing on the swing set …” I closed my eyes, seeing Ron, Stan and me as happy, bright-faced kids. I wondered what they were doing now …
    “Dave! Hey, David! Earth to Dave, come in!” Larry blared as he cupped his hands together, acting as if they formed into a blowhorn.
    “Sorry, ” I automatically replied. “I think … I think I’ll take a walk.”
    After asking permission from Lilian, I strolled down the paved hill. A few minutes later I found myself standing on the same grassy area as I did a lifetime ago. Back then, I was a member of the perfect family. Now I was still a child, searching for my past. I walked toward the swing set and sat on one of the black swings. I kicked the sand, filling the heels of my shoes with some of it. My mind began to drift off again.
    “Hey mister? Are you going to play or what?” a small child asked.
    I slid off the swing and walked away. My insides felt hollow. In front of me, beneath a shade of trees, a young couple sat on the same table as Mother and Father did years ago. The woman got up and called out to her children with her hands on her hips – just as Mother had done when she had called to her children. For a second our eyes met. The lady smiled