Y for Yen

Ernest sat down on the footpath, his back against the wall of the shop which read 'James Antiques'. He had always liked antiques, and besides, this position gave him a good view of everything. Not that it mattered, of course. He used to like to come to this very place, to look around at all the happy families, and would fantasize about belonging to one of them.

Now he knew better than to even hope that he would ever have any relation with those families. He was a street kid, and would always have to fend for himself. Somehow.

Leaning back to make himself more comfortable, he focused his attention on the McDonalds opposite to him. It was just a takeaway place, but many people got the food and then sat on the benches beside it.

One man got what looked like a Quarter Pounder with Cheese and a huge amount of fries. He also got a large ice tea. Ernest stared at this huge meal with yen. He hadn't managed to get any breakfast and he was ravenous. Anyway, it was quite probable that the man wouldn't even finish his food and would throw half of it in the bin.

The man caught sight of Ernest staring at his food and gave him a disgusted look.

"Oi! Kiddo! Run off and stop looking so…so….so yearning, will you?" he shouted loudly across the footpath.

Time seemed to come to a halt. Everybody walking on the footpath turned around and looked at him. Most of them looked away, but one lady gave him a pitiful expression. She took out a twenty dollar bill from her tiny purse and slowly walked toward him.

"Hello, sweetie. Here you go, just take this and buy yourself something good to eat, okay?" she said, trying to hand over the money.

"No, ma'am, it's really kind of you, but I don't really borrow money, okay? Just leave me alone," he said, pushing the money back into her hand and looking away.

The lady, looking shocked, turned around and walked away.

For a second, Ernest felt furious. Why had he rejected the lady's offer?

The next moment, he had a strange sense of calm. 

No point in being angry, Ernest. What the lady had offered him would last for barely a day, and then what're you going to do?All you're gonna do is sit here, be useless and yearn for something you'll never be able to get…