Johnny watched Lucy with a deep pang of envy. Lucy was being taken from the childrens home. Her new mum and dad were already signing the papers, and soon shed have a family. Lucy chattered endlessly about her time with themtrips to the zoo, where Johnny had never been; the puppet theatre where shed seen a real-life witch from folklore; and the apricot jam with whole pits, sticky and sweet.
Johnny was five. As far as he could remember, hed always lived in the home. Children came and went. When little Alfie vanished, Johnny tugged at Mrs. Whitmores sleeve.
«Mrs. Whitmore, wheres Alfie?»
«Hes gone home, love. To a family,» she said.
«Whats a family?» Johnny pressed.
«A family is where youre always loved and waited for,» she replied.
«Wheres mine?» Johnny asked.
Mrs. Whitmore sighed, her eyes softening with sadness, and said nothing.
From then on, Johnny never asked again. He understoodfamily was something precious, something he didnt have.
When Lucy disappeared for two days and returned in a frilly dress, hair neatly braided, clutching a brand-new doll, Johnny cried. No one had ever taken *him*. He decided he must be unwanted.
Then Mrs. Whitmore bustled in, carrying a jumper and trousers.
«Johnny, get dressed. Youve got visitors coming.»
«Me?» Johnny blinked. «Who?»
«They want to meet you.»
Johnny dressed, perched on a bench, and waited. Mrs. Whitmore took his hand and led him to the visiting room. Inside sat a man and a woman. The man was tall, with a beard and moustache. The woman was small, slender, andJohnny thoughtbeautiful, like a rose. She smelled of flowers, and her lashes were long and dark.
«Hello,» the woman said. «Im Emily. And you?»
«Johnny,» he mumbled. «Who are you?»
«Wed like to be your friends,» Emily said. «And we need your help.»
«What help?» Johnny eyed the man.
The man crouched to his level. «Im David. We heard youre brilliant at drawing. Could you sketch a robot for us?»
«Yes,» Johnny said, puffing up. «What kind?»
David fetched a bag, pulling out a sketchpad, pencils, and an enormous robotshiny, new, its metallic parts glinting in the sunlight. Johnny gasped.
«Blimey!» he breathed. «Its Optimus Prime! Did you know hes the leader?»
«You like him?» David grinned.
«*Love* him,» Johnny whispered.
«Take him, draw us a picture, yeah? Andif you likewed love to chat. As friends.»
For an hour, they talkedabout toys, his bed, the shoes that let the cold in. Emily held his hand; David ruffled his hair.
Mrs. Whitmore appeared. «Times up, Johnny. Suppers soon.»
David shook his hand. «Well be back in a week. Think you can finish the drawing?»
«Promise youll come?» Johnny asked.
«Promise,» Emily said, hugging him so tight his ribs creaked. Her eyes shimmered.
«Whyre you crying?»
«Just dust, sweetheart.»
At supper, Johnny bolted his food and raced to the dorm, where the robot lay waiting. He traced its joints, marvelling at how the arms swivelled, the head turned. He sketched fast, filling the pageuntil the older boys barged in.
«Oi!» sneered Tom. «Gimme that.»
He snatched the robot, tossing it high.
«Stop!» Johnny screamed. «Its not *mine*!»
«Nothing here is,» Tom jeered, yanking it back.
They wrestledplastic crackedand Johnny stumbled back, clutching a severed leg. He sobbed, face hot, nose bleeding. Mrs. Whitmore mopped him up.
«Shame on you. Toys are shared here. Now its ruined.»
«It wasnt *mine*,» Johnny wept. «They *lent* it!»
Mrs. Whitmore sighed. «Go on. Draw.»
Johnny propped the broken robot against a wall, wedged the leg with a box, and sketched. By bedtime, hed filled the pad.
Days passed. «Has it been a week?» Johnny asked. «Whens Emily coming?»
Mrs. Whitmores face fell. «Johnny theyre not coming.»
He cried all night. *Because I broke it*, he thought.
The next morning, Mrs. Whitmore burst in, beaming. «Get dressed! Visitors!»
Johnny opened the doorEmily and David stood there.
«Hello, love,» Emily said. «Fancy the zoo?»
Johnny trembled. «But» He fetched the sketchpad and robots leg. «Im sorry. We broke it.»
David laughed. «*Your* robot, mate. We *gave* it to you.»
Johnny handed over the sketches.
«Perfect!» David said. «Exactly what we wanted.»
«And dont fretIll fix him,» Emily added, buttoning Johnnys coat.
At the zoo, monkeys swung wildly, and Johnny giggled.
«Johnny,» Emily said after, «wed love you to come home with us.»
Their flat had space-themed wallpaper, a race-car bed, toys galore.
«Who lives here?» Johnny whispered.
David and Emily knelt, each taking a hand.
«Johnny,» David said, «wed love you to stay. Forever. If youd like.»
«Forever?» Johnnys voice wobbled. «You mean a family?»
«Yes,» Emily said.
«But *why*? I broke the robot. Im nobody.»
«Youre *ours*,» Emily whispered.
Johnny nodded, tears falling. He loved them. Loved his room. Never wanted to leave.
«Really?» David asked.
«Ill be good,» Johnny swore.
They scooped him up, laughing, kissing his cheeks.
And Johnnyfinallyhad a family. His own. Real.
