He was one of the home’s oldest residents.
He was liked by all; staff and patients alike. Unlike some of the inmates, he was allowed to take bus rides into town. It was on his return from one such occasion that he came back full of the incident that happened at the bus stop, just as he was getting off. Others could see how excited he was. Several residents gathered around to hear what he had to say.
“I saw him!” he started. “I’m pretty sure it was him.” He slapped his knees. “It was Pugsley; as large as life. What a character he was.” He looked around, beaming with joy. “We had some great times together. You never knew what he’d do next. Of course, this was school days. There were times when he’d get me into trouble…” He shook his head. “No doubt about that!” He laughed. “Of course, I’m not one hundred percent sure it was him. It was a long time ago.” He chuckled to himself. “He used to make these little paper aeroplanes, you know the things, and he’d fly them around the classroom. After a while all us kids would be doing it, but Pugsley started it. It got to the point one day when the teacher… crabby old thing, can’t remember her name, stopped the class and gave us a real talking to; threatened to send letters home to all our parents. I don’t think she would have done it, but at the time, being just kids, we didn’t know that.”
He paused and looked around at his audience. “What a character,” he repeated. “I’m pretty sure it was him. Of course, he’s changed a lot. He used to where this red, baseball cap. Lord knows where he got it from. Not part of the school uniform, of course. Ah! What a character,” he said again.
He sat back, rubbing the back of his neck.
“It could have been him. I’m not really sure,” he whispered.