David wanted to answer Francisco Fuzzychest's question, but he found himself rather incapable of it. Suddenly his mind felt so, so foggy. As if it was full of cotton balls.
"I... I... I don't know..." he stammered.
He then recollected something and grabbed onto the first important thing he could think of.
"Mitch! My friend! I... I need to help him! Get him!" he said rapidly.
"Oh, you best forget him," said Francisco in a sad voice. "Nothing you can do for him now, kiddo."
"Wh... What?" stammered David.
"He belongs to a rich guy and you won't be strong or smart enough to get him back."
"No! You lie! That's not true!" protested David vehemently.
"Your buddy is certain of being that rich man's servant. Try as you might, you won't succeed in convincing him otherwise."
"No... What...? What can I do...?" stuttered David, ready to cry in earnest.
"You can stay with me," said Francisco. "With a daddy like me, no servant chores and menial jobs for you. No polishing shoes and doing cleaning for hours."
David remained speechless. The dea of remaining with Francico didn’t sound too bad. The man appeared very, very nice and kid. And his belly!... How could he have thought it disgusting a short while before? The hair on it was as soft and comforting as a teddy bear's fur and the fat and skin so, so soft! He caressed it, enthralled. He so desperately wanted a hug, to which Francisco complied, all wordlessly. David thought that Mitch might have a rich daddy but HE had an immensely more loving one. As he sought comfort in Francisco, his last thoughts about Mitch evaporated fast. As for Francisco, as elated as he was to have finally found a sweet boy of his own, he could still think of some changes he could make.