Oliver watched Lucy with envy as she packed her things. She was being adopted. Her new mum and dad had already signed the papers, and soon shed have a real family. Lucy had told him all about her outings with themthe zoo, which Oliver had never visited, the puppet theatre where shed seen a real witch from a fairy tale, and the homemade jam with apricots and pits.
Oliver was five. For as long as he could remember, he had lived in the childrens home. Kids came and went. When Theo disappeared, Oliver asked Mrs. Wilson, «Miss, wheres Theo?»
«Hes gone home, to his family,» she replied.
«Whats a family?» Oliver pressed.
Mrs. Wilson sighed. «A family is where youre always wanted and loved.»
Oliver frowned. «Wheres mine?»
She only gave him a sad look and said nothing. From then on, he stopped asking. He understoodfamily was something special, something he didnt have.
When Lucy vanished for two days and returned in a pretty dress, her hair neatly done, clutching a new doll, Oliver cried. No one had ever chosen him. Maybe no one ever would.
Just then, Mrs. Wilson walked in with a jumper and trousers. «Oliver, get changed. Youve got visitors coming.»
«Me?» Oliver blinked. «Who?»
«They want to meet you.»
Oliver dressed and sat on the bench, waiting. Mrs. Wilson took his hand and led him to the visiting room, where a man and woman sat. The man was tall with a beard, and the woman was small, slender, and beautifullike a rose, Oliver thought. She smelled of flowers.
«Hello,» the woman said softly. «Im Emily. And you?»
«Oliver,» he whispered. «Who are you?»
«Wed like to be your friends,» Emily said. «And we need your help.»
The man crouched beside him. «Im James. We heard youre brilliant at drawing. Could you sketch a robot for us?»
Oliver nodded seriously. «What kind?»
James fetched a bag, pulling out a sketchbook, pencils, and a massive robotshiny, new, and dazzling in the sunlight. Oliver gasped. It was Optimus Prime!
«You know hes the leader?» Oliver breathed.
«You like him?» James grinned.
«Love him!»
«Keep him, draw us a picture, and lets chat awhile,» James said.
They spent an hour talkingOlivers favourite toys, his cold boots, his bed. Emily held his hand; James ruffled his hair.
When Mrs. Wilson called him for dinner, James shook his hand. «Well be back in a week. Can you finish the drawing?»
Oliver hesitated. «You promise?»
«Absolutely,» Emily said, hugging him tight.
Oliver raced to his room after dinner, inspecting the robot. Its limbs moved; its head swiveled. He sketched until the older boys burst in.
«Give it here!» Leo snatched the toy, tossing it carelessly.
«Its not mine!» Oliver cried.
Leo laughed. «Everything heres shared.»
They fought. A crackOliver was left clutching a broken leg. Blood dripped from his nose as Mrs. Wilson cleaned him up.
«You know the rules,» she scolded. «Now its ruined.»
«It wasnt mine!» Oliver sobbed. «They lent it to me!»
Mrs. Wilson softened. «Then draw it broken.»
He propped the robot against a box, sketching until his album was full. Days passed.
«Has it been a week?» Oliver asked.
Mrs. Wilson sighed. «Theyre not coming, Oliver.»
He cried himself to sleep, convinced hed ruined everything.
The next morning, Mrs. Wilson beamed. «Visitors!»
Emily and James stood at the door. «Ready for the zoo?»
Oliver trembled, fetching the broken toy. «Im sorry»
James laughed. «Its yours! We gave it to you.»
Oliver handed over the sketches. James grinned. «Perfect! And dont worryIll fix him.»
At the zoo, Oliver gasped at the monkeys swinging wildly. Later, in their flat, he gaped at the spaceship wallpaper, the race-car bed.
«Who lives here?» he whispered.
James and Emily knelt, each taking a hand. «Oliver, we want you to stay. Forever. This is your room. Your home. If youd like to be our son.»
Olivers lip wobbled. «You want me? Even after»
Emily kissed his forehead. «Youre ours.»
He nodded, tears streaming as they hugged him.
For the first time, Oliver had a family. His own.
And that was worth all the waiting.
