The Forgotten Child

By Perry Schwartz

A woman flees her home after a domestic dispute with her husband she is pregnant and while wandering around in the rain spots a church where she takes shelter and has a baby boy but dies right after his birth leaving him in the hands of the church employees. The boy is named Trevor Conway and he goes through

• Language: English
• Publisher: Go To Publish
• Release date: Aug 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9781647499372

Book preview

cov.jpg

The Forgotten Child

Perry Schwartz

The Forgotten Child

Copyright © 2023 by Perry Schwartz

ISBN-ePub: 978-1-64749-937-2

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher or author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Although every precaution has been taken to verify the accuracy of the information contained herein, the author and publisher assume no responsibility for any errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for damages that may result from the use of information contained within.

Printed in the United States of America

GoToPublish LLC

1-888-337-1724

www.gotopublish.com

[e-mail]

Contents

The Birth of the Main Character and the Unfortunate Series of Events That Occurred during That Time

Trevor’s Horrible Experience While in the Training Program and How He Coped with It

Trevor Gets Put into a Foster Home but Doesn’t Stay for Too Long

Trevor Finally Makes It to Miami and Meets a Strange Boy Who Becomes His New Friend

Trevor Gets to Know His New Friend Better Then Goes on His First Outing and Trip

Where It Is Shown That Trevor Gets More Acquainted with the Kind Traveling Magician and Is Appointed His Assistant

Atones for When Trevor and Albert Swindle Go Their Separate Ways after a Dangerous Dispute Happens and Trevor Is Liberated from Wickedness

In Which an Interesting Conversation between Trevor’s Most Recent Company Occurs Unexpectedly

Trevor Awakens and Tells His Entire History

A Peculiar Man Seeking Information about Trevor Meets with Pastor Swanson

Looks after Trevor as He Continues on His Life’s Journey

How Mr. Albert Swindle Makes an Unlikely Ally with Spyder and They Come to an Agreement and Form a Partnership Together

Some New Information Is Discovered about Trevor’s Lineage and Ancestry

The Flight of Mr. Ferguson

How Rhonda Taught Trevor How to Read and Write

It’s by No Coincidence at All That Mr. Albert Swindle Comes Up with a Plan of His Own to Get Revenge on Trevor

In Which Trevor Is Satisfied Living a Life of Contentment and Serenity

A Further Explanation of How Ezra and Zoey Continued to Live a Sheltered Existence

Clarifies the History between Brock Ferguson and His Associates

Pastor Swanson Is Seen as a Nagging Tyrant in the Eyes of His Wife and the Other Church Employees

In memory of Mark Steven Ellinger, the man who changed my life and always encouraged my writing. May his memory live o n forever.

Chapter 1

The Birth of the Main Character and the Unfortunate Series of Events That Occurred during That Time

Within a city whose name I will not reveal at this time—and by no means am I naive or biased in any way, but I do believe that the events that occurred might have happened; if not, then this tale would not exist at all, then people wouldn’t know the hardships and misery life can bring. For one to truly understand how things turn out the way they do, it’s important to keep an open mind on such situations not let our opinions cloud our judgment.

Early at night, a woman walked through the rain and happened to be pregnant. Prior to walking, she fled her home after a domestic incident with her husband, who was an abusive alcoholic. The woman had been walking for a few hours, stumbling along the way. Everything looked like a blur. Suddenly she spotted an old church that had a wooden cross in the front of it. The woman walked as fast as she possibly could. When the woman got there, she passed a few classrooms until she reached the main office. She went inside and collapsed from exhaustion.

The receptionist stopped what she was doing and went over to the woman. Are you alright? asked the receptionist. But the woman didn’t say anything back, so the receptionist went quickly to get help. When the receptionist went back, she was with the pastor and the janitor. Where did she come from? inquired the pastor. I have no idea, sir. She just came in here all soaking wet and tired, the receptionist answered. From the looks of it, she is pregnant, no less. I heard that old sob story many times to know that it doesn’t end well. I can tell you that much, the pastor began. I have no doubt in my mind that she is going to heaven because there is no room in the other place for good people. That’s reserved for the evil and the wicked, the janitor said. He was in the middle of mopping up the puddle of water that the woman had made.

My water just broke. Help me. I beg of you, please save my child. It deserves a life of happiness, the woman told them, breathless. We have to help her somehow. There must be something that we can do, the receptionist added.

Let’s take her into one of the Sunday-school classrooms. There’s more room in there. I will get my wife to assist us because she has some experience with this sort of thing. Help me to pick her up, the pastor began’. He and the receptionist then took the woman to one of the classrooms. Once there, they moved some tables and chairs around but saved one so that the woman could lie down on it. The pastor then went to go get his wife, who also worked in the church as the music instructor. She brought along with her an old dame to help out.

You have to start pushing, ma’am, and I’ll guide you through the rest, the pastor’s wife said. After the mother’s few attempts at pushing, the baby finally came out. What a pity, it’s a boy, remarked the old dame. Can I have my child now? inquired the woman. We have to clean him off first, then you may hold him all you want, the pastor’s wife replied. Once the baby was all cleaned off, he was handed over to his mother, who smiled then unexpectedly died for reasons that were unknown. Well, that’s the end of that, I suppose. What a shame, and she was a pretty woman too. Now I must be getting back to my work. The pastor then turned to his wife and said, Dear, I need your help with something very important.

Whatever it is will have to wait. Tomorrow is Sunday, and I have to get stuff done before the morning service, the pastor’s wife began. I am having trouble with my sermon and need someone’s opinion. The old dame can watch the baby, but if you would do that for me, I would be grateful, the pastor said. Alright, let’s go, but we must not be too long, the pastor’s wife replied.

They then left the room. It was then that the baby began to cry loudly. Shut up, you little cockroach! snapped the old dame. She then spotted something gold that was on the ground. It looked like a wedding ring and must have belonged to the woman. I will keep it safe with me until the baby is able to have it, the old dame said to herself. She picked up the ring, put it in her pocket, and then sat down on a nearby chair to rest.

The baby kept on crying, and if he had had loving relatives around him at the time of his birth, things might have been different, but that wasn’t the case at all. If only the baby boy knew that the people in the church were selfish, greedy, and dishonest people, he might have tried to get out of there when he was old enough to walk.

As time went by and the baby boy grew up in church, he was given the name Trevor Conway by the pastor. For some time, it was uncertain whether Trevor would have any name at all. By the time when Trevor was eight years old, he was made an apprentice to the pastor’s wife and would do different things for her, and in return she would give him all the food and drink that he wanted even though it was forbidden by the church.

Trevor was curious about the whereabouts of his parents and thought it was a good idea to ask the pastor’s wife. Where are my real parents? Trevor asked. They’re both dead and buried in the church cemetery, the pastor’s wife answered. Trevor knew that was true because he had visited their graves many times before. Later on, it was decided by the church board of directors that Trevor was old enough to start in the church training program with some of the other kids who attended the church regularly, but Trevor would have to go before the board of directors first. On the day when the pastor took and personally escorted Trevor to the conference room because that was where the board of directors met, Trevor said goodbye to the pastor’s wife and then went with the pastor.

Can I go visit her often? inquired Trevor. No, you can only visit with her in the evenings after you are finished working, the pastor replied. Before leaving, Trevor was given a tiny piece of bread and half a glass of water to drink. It didn’t take the pastor and Trevor long to get to where they were going. Before going inside, the pastor had a talk with Trevor. Now you behave yourself and be polite, respectful, and don’t say anything unless you are addressed directly by one of the board members, the pastor began. In a stern manner, he asked, Do you understand?

Yes, sir, I do, Trevor answered. Good, now let’s go, and remember what I said, the pastor said, and then he pulled Trevor into the board room by his left ear.

Vincent, it’s good to see you again, one of the board members greeted the pastor. Likewise, but I’m here on business, as you already know. Let me just say that it is an honor and a pleasure to be in your presence again, the pastor replied.

We have no time for small talk right now. There is a matter that needs to be discussed and decided on today, the head board member began, waving his hand impatiently.

Yes, I am very well aware of that. However, it does seem a little too early for something like this to happen, but that’s just my own opinion, the pastor said.

We will be the judge of that, not you, another board member replied in a harsh tone. Did you bring the boy? asked the board member farthest to the right.

Yes, as a matter of fact, I did. He’s right here, the pastor replied, and he pushed Trevor forward before them so now he was visible. What’s your name, little boy? inquired the head board member.

Trevor, responded Trevor, but something wasn’t clear. Speak up, boy. We didn’t catch that, barked the board member who was sitting next to the head board member.

Give him a chance to repeat himself, the board member who was sitting closest to them began. The pastor nudged Trevor to speak again. My name is Trevor Conway, sir, Trevor said more clearly than he did the first time.

There seemed to be a lot of tension in the room already. That much was definitely true. Who gave you that name? asked a board member. That was me. You see, his parents weren’t able to name him, so I did it for them, the pastor answered.

Explain yourself, please, and keep it short, the board member who was at the very far left added. Certainly, for the first name, I chose Trevor because that was my father’s name, and for the last name, I chose Conway because that was my mother’s maiden name, the pastor explained.

We get it, Vin, the head board member added sharply. You know that both of your parents are dead and that you have no one else to take care of you, the board member sitting in the middle told him.

Trevor didn’t say anything back. You also know that you have no one to take care of you, and because of it, you’re going to be put to work, the board member sitting next to the head board member began.

Once again, Trevor didn’t say anything, and he started to cry. What are you crying? inquired the stout board member. I hope that you pray often and go to services like a good Christian is supposed to, the board member who was sitting to the right of the head board member said sternly.

Yes, sir, I do, Trevor replied timidly. Your main purpose for being here is to learn how to be useful in the world. That is why we think it’s in the best interest of the church that you begin the training program right away, the board member who was sitting to the left of the head board member added, looking around at the others to see if they agree.

Do you really think that’s a good idea? asked the pastor. Yes, it can’t wait any longer. He has to start as soon as possible in order to get familiar with what he has to do, the board member sitting at the end on the right replied.

It’s settled then. He will begin in the training program, stuffing envelopes, tomorrow morning at six o’clock, the board member sitting in between two of the others told them.

The only problem is that he does not know the proper way to stuff an envelope and might end up doing it incorrectly. That’s my only concern, the pastor began.

He’ll be shown. It’s not that difficult. It will be an adjustment, but all of the children eventually get used to the routine, the man in the black suit said; he had been listening the entire time, waiting for the right moment to chime in.

All of a sudden, the pastor mumbled something to himself under his breath. The reason behind it, no one knew. Did you say something? inquired the head board member. Yes, I was just saying that by being in the training program, he will learn all about the responsibility of working, the pastor answered.

Yes, indeed, and a lot more at that. We are putting our trust in this, but we also want it to go smoothly, the man in the black suit added. Our church has been the face of ridicule for a while now because of our so-called old-fashioned beliefs and traditions, or at least that’s what the people in this city say, the board member that was sitting nearest to the end on the right told them.

We won’t worry about that right now. This church’s beliefs and traditions have been around for a very long time, and we take the utmost pride in keeping to them, the man in the black suit began.

What should I do with the boy until tomorrow? asked the pastor. Lock him up in a room, and feed him very little, the head board member answered. Alright, it shall be done. I want to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to have this meeting, the pastor said. He then once again pulled Trevor out of the room by his right ear.

For the remainder of the day, Trevor was locked in a room that had no furniture in it, so he had no choice but to lie down on the floor. The room itself was dark and scary; water from the rain leaked from a hole in the roof, and that water got on Trevor, so he decided to move to a different spot. There was also a dirty small window that was somewhat high up, so he couldn’t see outside. At one point, a rat scurried past and went into a tiny hole in the wall. Trevor found it very uncomfortable having to lie on the floor. He used his bag of belongings, which contained pictures of his parents and some of his mother’s personal stuff, as a pillow. Since there wasn’t anything else to do, Trevor just stared up at the ceiling and listened to the rain hitting against the window. Every now and then, Trevor would hear a creaking noise that sounded like it was nearby and wondered what it was. It continued to rain throughout the night, which made it hard for Trevor to sleep. He tried to close his eyes, but that didn’t work.

This is no way for a person to have to live, Trevor thought to himself. Despite the accommodations not being what someone would hope for, the only thing Trevor could do was make the best of