Last night at about 7, I went to the Blake’s on Academy and San Pedro for a bite to eat. In the restaurant, in front of me at the counter is this kid who looks like a typical young highschooler. His skin is olive colored, and he is tall, brown-haired and thin, wearing long shorts and a tee. His English is a little off, though, and he is asking questions about a Lotaburger, so clearly he isn’t from New Mexico.

After he gets his order and I am waiting for mine to finish, he comes unhesitatingly to the booth I am sitting at and asks me “Sir, can you tell me if there are any interesting places to walk to from here?” I start to answer his question, and then I ask him if he is local.

“No.” He shakes his head while he speaks.

He is 16, seems to say he got into Albuquerque last week, is originally from Spain, but for some reason moved to Albuquerque from Florida to go to school here and to play soccer.

Baffled a bit at his brief intro, I invite him to sit with me.

I ask him his name, and then extend my hand and tell him my name, and then I ask him a few questions.

I learn he has no parents here.

He doesn’t know where he will go to high school, but he thinks La Cueva, which is good for soccer. Who should he call about getting into school there, he asks me.

He is in an apartment over near Target on Paseo in a complex managed by a friend of his father.

He does not have a vehicle. He is looking into maybe getting a bike soon.

He does not look unkempt or dirty or poor.

From his apartment, he walked south to Academy and turned left and ended up at Blake’s to eat.

I tell him that south of Paseo is largely residential for a mile or two, that there is a grocery store and a McDonald’s and a running track to the west. Paseo is where most of the stores are. “It’s a big street to cross there”, he say. Yes, it is.

He asks about soccer, and I tell him that men play soccer on the fields at the large park that is near Paseo and Louisiana on the weekends, and they might play there also during the week.

He says he is good and is hoping to find someplace to play to improve his skills. I thought of my friend Chris and his potential contacts in youth soccer, as his youngest son has played on teams for a number of year now.

When my acquaintance finishes eating, I get his email address, and say I ‘ll be in touch- that I’ll talk to my friend about soccer opportunities. He thanks me for the time, and then he goes to the restaurant counter and thanks the staff collectively behind it for the burger, telling them it was very good, and then he leaves the shop to walk somewhere else.

He is alone here. Wow.

He seems like a nice kid.

I got his email address and will try and check on him.