At the Verge of Losing a Son

"How do I look?" Ruti, rocking an old yellow dress with buttons running down front and green hat, raised and dropped her hands in a flash. "You look beautiful." Mateo, wearing a greased work suit, smiled radiantly and confessed, "I didn't know you wear dresses." Ruti let out a chuckle, "It's all I have. I keep it just for special days like today." He nodded and advised, "we better be going."

The pair walked out of the garage and hopped into the van. Mateo took the wheel and drove off.

Three months it had been. Mateo had fully recovered. Thanks to Ruti. He also had a razor touch his head and beard. he looked a lot better – he looked handsome and younger. He wore cap and for the first time in his life, a pair of cheap sun glasses adorned his face.

After half an hour of driving, Mateo brought the automobile to a smooth halt at the local Child Welfare Department. Ruti took a deep breath and reached for the door handle. "You will do fine," Mateo cheered her up. "All the best." To this Ruti, nodded and stepped out of the vehicle. Mateo watched her as she trod beneath the bright- shining sun until she disappeared into the building. In her hands was a small beautifully wrapped box.

Ruti impatiently sat at the edge of the seat in the waiting lounge. She hardly blinked looking at the door. She could not wait for yet another second to tick away. Her sweaty face said it all, nerves took a toll on her. At long last, her eyes gaped wider as the door swung open. ARTHUR, her three- year old son ran in screaming, "Mama!" Ruti was quick to her feet and charged towards him. She embraced him for a while. Tears flowed as she clasped the little boy in her arms. "What have you brought for me?" Arthur pulled himself from the embrace wondering. Ruti breathed out heavily. She wiped the tears away and, "Guess." Arthur peeped around the mother and motioned to the small shiny box. He picked it up, "What is it?" Ruti, still on her knees, beckoned him, "Open it."

Arthur, with quick fingers, opened the box and ecstasy poured from his soul. "Boots!" Ruti bobbed her head graciously. She was happy witnessing her Arthur kick off his shoes to try the footballing shoes on. And of course, she gave him a hand. They were a perfect fit. The boy ran out in excitement to show off his new acquisition to his peers. Ruti sat on the chair

MAJORY, the department's superintendent walked in with a file in her hands. She sat adjacent to Ruti. "Hi. I will be quick." Ruti returned the pleasantry softly, "Hello Ms. Majory."

"As you know, we don't keep kids here for long. We simply help them have a head- start in life. You have a brilliant son. He's in good health. He has an A- plus IQ. He deserves better than what you offered him." Ms. Majory opened the discussion. "Though it may be hard for you, am happy to announce that a few good families have expressed interest to adopt him." Ruti took in some air, breathed out slowly. She twisted her head, as though stretching her neck, and repositioned her focus on Ms. Majory, "Are you a mother, Ms. Majory?"

"Excuse me?" Startled, Ms. Majory inquired. "You heard me. Are you a mother?!" Ruti gnashing her teeth, pushed for an answer. "Yes, I'm," Ms. Majory responded with a single nod.

"Then what type of a woman are you?" Ruti, breathing heavily, wondered. "You grabbed my baby and now you want to give him away to strangers. Just, who are you?"

"We have been through this, Ruti. Even so, I should be asking you the same question. You were raising the boy in a van. There's hardly any space for him to even stretch his legs. No shower. No toilet. What kind of a woman are you, who raises her own child in a van? An open van?!" Ms. Majory shot back with venom. "Mine is to give you the relief you need from burden of raising a child and to give the boy the best chance at life. You will always be the mother, but let someone come in and help with his needs."

"No one is taking my baby away." Ruti voiced out hoarsely. "Look, I've rented a small garage in the light industrial area. It doubles up as home. Please help have my baby back.'

Ms. Majory shook her head, "You have three months to show reasonable cause that you can take care of Arthur. Otherwise, the law is taking its course on your case. And just listen to yourself, a garage? In the industrial area? No."

Ruti descended to her knees. Springs of tears meandered from her eyes. "Please."

"Every child deserves a good childhood. Arthur is not an exception." Ms. Majory stood up and placed the file in Ruti's hands. "In there are three families we shortlisted for Arthur. Everything about them is there. You will pick one for him. And in case you have forgotten, I have attached the Child's Act. Go through it. Understand it. And come to acceptance with the situation. It's good for you, Arthur and the department."

Ruti remained rooted on her knees. "Please. Help."

"If you may excuse me." Ms. Majory requested and added before exiting the lounge. "Arthur is in the playgrounds. You will do well to say bye." Silence swept in but it was quickly attacked by the sniffles that ensued from Ruti's mouth.

A moment later, Ruti trod to the playgrounds at a snail's pace. She stood by the entrance deep in thought and watched Arthur busk in satisfaction kicking the ball with his new boots. She didn't have the strength to walk to him and say bye. But he saw her stand there – he ran to her and she knelt down and embraced him in a hug. "When are you coming to get me?"

"Soon baby," She assured him. "Very soon."

Arthur reached for the cheek and pecked her, "I love you, Mama." Ruti gently rocked side to side on her knees before kissing his forehead. "Aww, I love you more, my Prince."

Arthur disengaged from the embrace and dictated. "Bye Mama. My team is waiting for me."

"Go champ. Go." Ruti concurred. She stood up and watched the lad reunite with his peers on the small football pitch. She exhaled deeply, "Three months."

Later that night, after the visit to the local Child Welfare Department, Ruti sat on the tailgate of the open van. A gentle breeze blew as the stars gazed down the earth. Mateo emerged with two bottles of beer. He climbed into the back of the van and sat adjacent to Ruti. He opened the bottle of beer using the other bottle and gave it to Ruti. Using teeth, he opened his bottle and took a big sip.

"Thank you." Ruti placed the bottle at the floor of the van. "They are taking my son away."

Mateo shook his head, "No one is taking Arthur away from you."

"I need to at least rent a decent home and show cause that I can feed him. The department needs my bank statement for three months or pay slip. I have none. They're taking him away. And the sooner I accept that fact, the better for me."

Mateo paused in silence a bit and suggested, "how about the father? He can take him in, right?"

Ruti, with a forced smile, shook her head, "I'm simply his mother and father."

"We can work out something still. I can get a job, put in a double shift and we can raise enough money to redeem him from the welfare." Mateo offered.

Ruth looked at him. She was perplexed. "You are wanted by the Police. The last thing you need is to be in public for a long time."

"Yeah, but there's got to be something we can do. No one is taking him away."

"I'm losing him." Ruti insisted.

"No. You're not." He assured with a tone of conviction.

"What do you know about losses?" Ruti chuckled in amusement before letting out an inquiry.

Mateo took in a sip from the bottle and answered, "You're looking at a loser. The worst loser in town. My goddess ran away with the doctor that was attending to my son. I've always thought that my son would bury me, but I buried him. I may not know what you are going through, but I sure know what it means to lose."

"But there's nothing we can do even in this case," Ruti drew a firm conclusion.

Mateo Becho – he was a nobody when he worked for Mr. Patel, he was but a poor and lowly employee. But at least, he was assured of a pay cheque at the end of every month. His situation plummeted from bad to worse after the robbery and subsequent betrayal by his cronies. At this point, he had nothing to his name save a pair of chino, canvas and the work suit and oversized T- shirt that Ruti gave him. He was a nobody. And, Ruti was all he had. Yet, she too was a nobody. A bush- mechanic by designation who was struggling to register her footprints in the engineering sphere. She desired to feed on the crumbs that were overlooked by the top guns in the business.

Thus, the two pitiful souls sat drinking their sorrows away. They hoped for the best, with every expectation teed for the worst.