I saw him hanging around the food court at the mall. He would wait for people too lazy to pick up their trays and dump their trash. Then, he would see if they left anything that he could eat. He would eat the leftovers, dump the trash, and leave the tray at the waste station. The teenagers and adult workers at the food court paid him no mind. I suppose they thought he was making their job easier.

I could not stand it anymore. As soon as I saw him heading for another tray, I got up and intercepted him. He looked up at me with his dirty face and big blue eyes, “You ain’t a cop, are you, lady? I ain’t doing nothing wrong.”

“No, I’m not a cop. I’m a teacher, and don’t say ain’t. Which food service do you like best?”

“The Chinese place,” he answered without hesitation.

“Come with me and order anything you want. I will pay for it. I can’t stand you eating off other people’s trays. It’s so disgusting. By the way, do you have a name, or do I just call you boy?”

“It’s Danny.”

I didn’t bother asking for his last name. He was most likely a runaway, and he would lie anyway. I signaled for him to follow me and led him over to Chin’s Wok, and we got in line. He placed his order. I paid the cashier and followed him to a table to sit with him.

“Are you going to stay and watch me eat, lady?”

“Yes, and it’s Miss Ingalls. Finish eating, and then you are coming home with me and take a bath. My God, how can you stand yourself?”

“I like me just fine, lady. Thanks for the food, but I have important things to do today.”

I called his bluff, “And just what important things do you have to do?”

“Well, I...”

“Don’t worry, just take a bath and let me wash those clothes. Then I will take you anywhere you want to go. I’m feeling very magnanimous right now, so you better take advantage of it.”

“You’re feeling what? You ain’t a pervert, are you?”

“I’m feeling charitable, generous.” I clarified.

“Oh, you feel guilty because you have more than me.”

“Okay, maybe a little of that too.”

Apparently, getting cleaned up didn’t sound so bad to him, “Do you have a shower? I like showers better than baths.”

“Yes, I have a shower.”

I’m usually not a very charitable person or one that likes to get involved with other people’s problems. Why this boy struck a chord in me, I don’t know. He was a bit cocky and defensive. I could tell he was still wary of me as he sat in the passenger seat when I drove home. When I parked in my driveway and not the police station, he relaxed a bit.

As soon as we were in the house, I showed Danny the way to the bathroom. I gave him extra towels and told him to put his clothes outside the bathroom door. They were so filthy I only handled them with two fingers as I put them in a laundry basket. I loaded the washer and washed my hands.

Almost a half-hour later, he came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around him. He looked to be fifteen or sixteen years old. Now I could see the freckles on his nose, and what I thought was light brown hair was blond now that it was washed.

I took another towel, “Come here. Now stand still, and let’s get you dried off before you drip all over my floor.” I started to dry his hair, which was still dripping water from the shower. He stood still and let me dry his hair. He didn’t fuss as I expected he might.

“Go sit on the couch. Your clothes are still not done yet.”

Danny sat on the couch with the towel wrapped around him while we waited for his clothes to be washed, and then, of course, they would have to be dried. I sat across from him, picked up a book, and put on my glasses. I had been reading for about fifteen minutes when I noticed I could see under the towel. Of course, he did not have any underwear on. I could see his genitals as he sat across from me, chewing his fingernail. I tried to read my book but kept glancing up. He spread his legs a bit more as he relaxed, still concentrating on that damn fingernail. “Stop biting your nails. That’s a nasty habit.”

He quickly took his finger out of his mouth and sat quietly while giving me a show. I know he did not realize that I could see everything he owned. Jesus Christ, he is even getting an erection.

I could have gotten up and moved to another chair, but I didn’t. I knew young boys had erections for no apparent reason, and I was sure this was one of those times. I pretended to read as I watched his cock grow to what I thought was an impressive size for his age. What the hell was wrong with me? My loins were starting to feel very warm. Fortunately, I heard the washer’s bell telling me the wash was done. I got up and put his clothes in the dryer.

When I came back, I sat on the couch with him. There, no more looking where I shouldn’t. I noticed his eyes getting a little droopy. Then his head nodded. He pulled his legs up onto the couch and laid down with his head in my lap. He was fast asleep. I was surprised at his familiarity, but in a way, I was pleased that I had earned his trust.

I looked down and smiled at the young waif as I ran my fingers over his hair to smooth it out. He could use a haircut. It was then that I noticed the towel that he had around his waist had come untied. He was fully exposed. There was an afghan thrown over the back of the couch that I kept there for the nights I felt a chill. I unfolded it and covered him up.

The poor kid must be exhausted. I never had any kids of my own and was not unhappy about that fact. I am thirty-four years old and dodged that bullet. Being a teacher, I spent enough time with other people’s kids to count my blessings. My only thought about having a kid around was when I fantasized about what it would be like to take a young boy from one of my classes home with me for sex. Of course, it was just a fantasy that I amused myself with while I masturbated. Here I was on the couch with a nearly naked boy sleeping with his head on my lap. I had a pretty good idea I would have a few fantasies about this boy after he left.

He had been sleeping quietly for about ten minutes when I had this urge to see his cock again. I lifted the afghan, and there it was. His cock had receded to its relaxed state. It had been well over two years since I invited a man into my bed. I rearranged the afghan so his back and shoulders were covered, but from the waist down, he was exposed. If he started to wake up, I could easily cover him up. I was hoping he would get another erection in his sleep. His pubic area and that young boy’s cock fascinated me. I could not stop looking at it as I wished his cock would grow to its full potential.

I heard the dryer ding but did not get up. He was in a deep sleep, and I didn’t want to disturb him. Who knew how long it had been since he had a chance to lay his head down in a comfortable and warm place to sleep? I didn’t see any reason why I had to get up and get his clothes or wake him up to get dressed.

As I gazed at his cock bits and pieces of past fantasies flashed in my mind. I felt emboldened and thought I could get away with it. I turned a bit toward him and reached out and pet his cock. I ran my fingers over it, then pulled my hand back and waited. He did not wake up. Watching him closely, I took his cock between two fingers and my thumb and very slowly masturbated him. I held my breath as I did the unthinkable by molesting this young boy. As his cock started to engorge, I made excuses for my behavior. He is a waif, a runaway, maybe even a juvenile delinquent. If he catches me, who is he going to tell? Who would believe him if I denied it? He doesn’t have anyone to hold him and love him. I could love him. I felt a warmth between my legs as his cock reached full erection. I stopped masturbating him and just held his cock. I didn’t want to take a chance he would wake up or get cum all over my couch if I continued.

He shifted position and started to mumble in his sleep. I snatched my hand away and covered him up. I breathed a sigh of relief that he had not woken up. I held his head as I got up and gently laid his head down on the couch. I went and checked the clothes in the dryer. I smiled to myself as I wondered if a thirty-four-year-old woman could seduce a boy that young. Oh well, when he wakes up, he can get dressed and I will take him wherever he wants to go. My good deed is done for this year.

I took his clothes out of the dryer and shook them out. His underwear was a bit shabby. A three-inch section of the waistband on his briefs had separated from the cloth. His t-shirt was ripped under one arm. I folded the clothes and took them with me to the living room.

He had woken up and was sitting up with the afghan over him. I tried to smile reassuringly, mostly because I felt guilty about what I had done, “Did you have a nice nap?”

“You didn’t see anything before you covered me up?”

“I don’t think so. I thought you would sleep better with the afghan to keep you warm. Why, what did you think I saw?”

“Ahh, nothing. Just checking.”

“Your clothes are clean and dry. You can get dressed now.”

He kept the afghan around him while he checked that the towel was tied properly. He stood up and I gave him his clothes. He headed toward the bathroom to dress. When he came out, he looked more presentable, although his sneakers still looked pretty ratty. There wasn’t anything I could do about that.

“I will take you back now. I have to make dinner pretty soon.”

“Whatcha making?”

“Just pasta,” I answered automatically. Then I saw the sorrowful look on the boy’s face. “Do you want to stay and have some?”

His face brightened, “Yeah, I like pasta.”

By the time we finished dinner and cleared the table, it was late, and the sun was going down. I started to feel guilty about putting him out after dark. “Danny, it’s getting dark, and you’re welcome to stay the night if you like. I really would feel bad about leaving you someplace after dark.”

“Okay, but just for tonight. I have important things to do.”

I took him to the guest room and opened the door. I have not had anyone stay over for years, and it was just a storage area as far as I was concerned. There were boxes of unused items piled on the bed and floor. “It’s going to take a while to clean this up, Danny. I forgot how much stuff I stored in here. I tell you what. I have a big bed, and if you promise to stay on your side, you can sleep with me. Of course, the couch is almost as comfortable if you would prefer that.”

“How big is your bed?”

I took him to my bedroom and showed him my king-size bed. “Wow, that is a big bed.”

The bed is a lot more than I needed, but it is a beautiful king-size four-poster with a cherry finish and the price was right. My sister and her husband gave it to me when they downsized before moving to the coast.

“Yeah, I think I can stay on my side.”

The kid probably hadn’t slept in a bed in a while. “Okay, then, I guess that’s settled. I’m going to clean up the kitchen. Why don’t you watch TV.”

“Do you have HBO?”

“No, but I have Showtime.”

“Okay, that’s good.”

I went to the kitchen and heard him turn on the TV.

Once the kitchen was cleaned up I went to the living room and watched the rest of “The Terminator” with him. By the time the movie was over, he was nodding and about to fall asleep. I turned off the TV and took his hand, “Come on, Danny, let’s get you ready for bed.” I took him to the bathroom. “I want you to brush your teeth.” I gave him a new toothbrush that the dentist gave me, which I hadn’t used and showed him where the toothpaste was stored.

I went into the bedroom and took out my nightgown. I waited outside the bathroom while he brushed his teeth. When he finished brushing his teeth, I told him, “Go in the bedroom and take everything off except your underwear and get in bed. I will change here and come in when you are all tucked in. Okay?”

“Yeah, that sounds good.”

He went into the bedroom and closed the door. I brushed my teeth and changed into my nightgown. I usually wear my underpants when I sleep, but I had this terrible urge to leave them off tonight. It’s summer, so my nightgown only went to mid-thigh. It was the one I usually wore to stay a little cooler at night. I had a feeling it might get a little warm in that bed tonight. I had little hope that anything would happen, but the thought of sleeping so close to this young boy without my underwear on was brazen and a bit stimulating. After he leaves, I would have some wonderful fantasies about what might have happened.

I knocked on the bedroom door and heard him say, “Come in. I’m in bed.”

I walked in, and I caught him looking at my bare legs. He had chosen to sleep on the far side of the bed. I got in bed and turned out the light. “Goodnight, Danny.”

“Goodnight, Miss Ingalls.”

Five minutes later, he was asleep. I inched over and put my hip right up against him. He did exactly what I hoped he would do. He rolled onto his side and put his arm over me as he cuddled against my side. I should have been content with him being so close, but I nudged him to wake him up. “Hey, I thought you were going to stay on your side?”

“Oh, sorry. I must have rolled over.”

I rolled onto my side, facing him, “It’s okay.” I moved my leg against his legs and put my arm over him. “I don’t mind if you want to cuddle with me. It’s been a long time since I had a good-looking guy stay with me at night.”

“I don’t think we better do that. You’re kind of pretty, and I might ... well, you know, get excited.”

“Oh my, could I really do that to you?” I could feel the tension in his body.

“Yeah, Miss Ingalls, you’re doing it already.”

I kissed his cheek and moved close to his ear to whisper, “I bet you’re just teasing me.”

“You kissed me.” He didn’t sound upset, but he was letting me know that he knew it was something unusual for us to be doing.

“Yes, I did. That’s what you get for teasing me. I will do it again if you keep teasing me?”

“Did you like kissing me?” He sounded surprised that I would want to kiss him.

“Yes, I did. Do you think you would like to kiss me, Danny?”

“Yeah, I guess I could kiss you.” He made it sound like he was doing me a favor. Which he was. He sounded eager to kiss me again, and I wasn’t going to do anything but encourage him.