Chapter 8
Tom had no more his gloves on. The child’s small palm was enveloped in his large one. He rubbed his thumb on his white knuckles. The boy has artistic long and slender fingers just like him. He controlled the urge of placing kiss on them.
With a full and content stomach Little Tom was not feeling cold anymore. He had tasted so many different delicious dishes for the first time in life. He was not greedy over food but he surely wanted to have the taste of good life. So he didn’t ask question when Mr. Thomas led him to dress shops instead of returning to Wool’s. He wanted to know where the matter goes, he will find a way to deal if the man demand too much in return, till then he should enjoy whatever he was offering. Little Tom knew better than letting go opportunities.
Like the manager of restaurant the dress shop owner also made no mistake recognizing Little Tom as Tom’s son and led them to the children’s section. Tom picked some of the finest dress suits and sweaters for his son.
“I can wear these myself” Little Tom hurriedly said as Tom proceeded to undress him. He had learnt to be self-sufficient earlier than other children of orphanage. He didn’t even remember the last time when Martha dressed him or gave him a bath. It was awkward to get undressed by or before a complete stranger.
“Do you know how to tie those robes? Did you sneak in gentlemen’s dressing room as well?” Tom asked while pulling off the boy’s sweater over his head. He hadn’t dress any child before. He was a little nervous but also very anxious as it was something totally new experience he didn’t want to miss out.
Little Tom fell silent. He didn’t try sneaking in private dressing rooms. But still he could have figured it. But he didn’t feel like stopping Mr. Thomas. The man till now had done everything in his interest. It was no harm to let him dress him in return, he shouldn’t be bothered with such little things if it bore fruit to him. Besides it was not too bad of a feeling to be taken care of by an adult.
Tom observed the pale body of the child as he undressed him to his under pant. The child was already taller than his head level while sitting, with inherited height his son’s figure was perfectly proportionate, he was lean but not thin, the tightness of the body, and high bone structure were giving the hints of his physical capability. His boy will grow up into not only handsome but also very strong man.
“You like to exercise.” Tom felt glad. He always took care of his fitness, even with the distress of past eight years he didn’t forget to exercise which provided some comfort to his mental state
“I run around entire yard five times every morning when other don’t leave their bed. I am among the very few in wool’s who dare to swim in Thames.” Replied little Tom proudly. His long slender legs were proof to his claim.” Tom felt relieved even he liked to swim, he had done in Thames too while raining. Though it was kept secret to Mary Riddle. Tom was able to connect his childhood memories with the boy gradually.
Every kind of style befitted little Tom. Tom bought him both woolen and cotton dresses of different colors and styles. He never had to shop for anyone else other than himself. Even then he had their family’s tailor to make best suits for him. So he bought whatever he thought would look good on his son without holding back. Giving the dresses to alter he made a tour to shoe shop nearby and repeated his shopping spree. Little Tom was silently observing everything. The man’s excitement on dressing him up reminded him the girls of orphanage and school dressing up their dolls. He didn’t utter a word, he was curious to see where it was leading to. Also if he was honest to himself, he was not disliking it, for once having an adult to take care of his needs instead of himself and getting dealt as a precious doll like all those rich kids he have seen in street earlier was not an unpleasant experience.
After all the shopping was done when they stepped outside Little Tom was looking like a baby prince clad with dark red suit with matching shoe, scarf and hat. The warmth of the fine wool was so comforting that he almost forgot this was January. None could have guessed now the child actually lived in an orphanage. The handsome man and his beautiful child were attracting attentions from passerby too. The child now easily could have been recognized as Tom Riddle Jr. But Tom didn’t feel worried anymore. He stopped at a toy store.
“Choose whatever you fancy.” He asked his son.
Little Tom bemusedly looked over the toys. He was not interested in childish games. What he really liked these toy shops couldn’t provide. They couldn’t help him flying in the sky like birds. So he simply shrugged.
“You don’t play game?” Tom was surprised. He was captain of school cricket team and played county matches during student life. He also was into other games like Tennis and golf too. It was unimaginable to him that any child wouldn’t be into games when the child was his own.
“The senior boys once took me in football team .” But when I kicked the ball it got disappeared tearing apart the net of the rival goalpost. And as usual everyone got scared and started screaming on my freakiness. Since then nobody dared to ask me for any game.” Little tom answered gravely. He was not interested in their games but feeling of being left out was not pleasant.
Tom sighed. He knows the people’s fear was justified witnessing display of the strength of a little child but still calling the boy freak was unfair. Or it might be the case that he was thinking of unfairness as this was his own son. Otherwise he would have behaved like one of those people only. He never hesitated calling the Gaunt family all short of names. Why it was getting complicated to deny all connection with this little heir of Gaunts?
“But was not there anything that interest you? Nothing you wanted to play ever?” Tom still insisted, there had to be something normal in junior Riddle.
“I would like to have a chess board then” Little Tom replied after thinking.
“So you like to play Chess?” Tom smiled. His maternal uncle was a chess player. So the boy’s interest relieved him. He bought a small chess board made of imported woods and then they left the store.
“One of my school senior got one on his birthday. But he didn’t know how to play at all. I played and checkmated him. After that he never brought it in school again. I wanted to have one of mine.” Unusual to his nature Junior Riddle was feeling a little excitement receiving something that he desired for long.
“You tried to get one by yourself?” Tom asked it casually but the child’s expression changed at once. The childlike excitement was gone, his face wore a cold expression which made his usual sharp feature look cruel.
“You took me as a thief, didn’t you?” the icy cold voice sent a chill through Tom’s spine. He momentarily lost his voice.
“I know they told you I stole other children’s things. But they didn’t tell you how they use to accuse me for every single thing happened to them even if there was no proof? Did they tell you how did they flaunt those little possession of them in front of me because I never receive any gift? It was okay bullying me, beating me, stealing my food, spoiling my bed, but whenever I retaliated it was a problem?” Little Tom’s otherwise cold voice started quivering.
Little Tom didn’t really understood how and when the things of those children with whom he used to have brawl began to end up in his cupboard. At first he thought the children did it themselves but gradually he understood that was not the case. Nobody believed it though and he had to get punished. Gradually he learnt to use his skill in his advantage. No one was going to believe he was innocent so it was useless to be at the receiving end. He never stole those things from children because he needed those. Why would he want to play with dolls? But those were trophy for his triumph over those who dared to pick a fight with him. The best part was even though they keep accusing him nobody could figure out how he had done those. He now had learnt to cover his act well, things are no more found in his room or cupboard like previously. Rather they were sometimes found burnt or disfigured as Anna’s precious doll, as a reply to her for making fun of his dead mother. Little Tom didn’t feel the need to explain himself, he had come to enjoy his little victories. But today he wanted this man to believe him. For the first time someone was kind to him. Earlier whenever some rich people came to adopt from wool’s even though they liked him (for obvious reason that he looked better and smarter than other children) they backed off listening all the rumors about him being a freak, half of the rumors were no doubt exaggerated, spread by those kids that were jealous of him as they couldn’t compete with him and was believed my the matron and other staffs. Mr. Thomas was the first man who was taking interest in him even after knowing about his strangeness. Little Tom wanted this man not to have negative impression of him. He didn’t want to lose the chance of having a good life ahead of him which Mr. Thomas could offer. He couldn’t let it go.
“I only wanted to teach them a lesson so they won’t bother me. That Jack was the one who used to come up with new ideas to torment me every day. From leaving dead rat in my cupboard, to tearing my books, throwing dirt on my cloth to beating me to unconsciousness what he hadn’t done? And when I gave it back to him once, he is now cooking stories to show how bad a kid I am? Why would I steal things from road? Do I look like a thief?” said little Tom accusingly. He didn’t like to talk about his childhood traumas but today he had lost his composure when he got someone to listen to him.
Tom had no words anymore. He tightly embraced his son.
“I am sorry.” He whispered in the child’s ears as he gently stroked his hair and his other hand patted his back to comfort him. He never had imagined himself in this situation, but all he knew his son needed him. He kissed the beautiful face of junior again and again.
Little Tom was startled to this gesture of Mr. Thomas. He didn’t remember if anybody ever kissed him. He didn’t know how to respond. But he couldn’t say he didn’t like it either. He leaned his head on the broad shoulder of Mr. Thomas, encircling his hands around his neck.
After few moments Tom composed himself.
“I am sorry for what you have gone through. But still avoid stealing or frightening people, don’t give them chance to accuse you.” He gently whispered. Whatever the situation was it was still his duty to teach his son the right path.
“If I follow your word, will you visit me again?” first time the boy’s voice sounded childlike as those big dark eyes looked at him with full of aspiration and anxiousness.
Tom kissed again the boy’s nose. “I surely will.” He wasn’t sure though how he was going to keep the word but consoling the boy was important.
Little Tom smiled for first time. The row of white pearls were revealed through his pink lips. Smiling Junior Riddle looked truly angelic. Tom couldn’t help but kissed his son again. Little Tom for first time was truly happy.