Tommy watched Lucy with bitter envy as she packed her small bag. She was leaving the orphanagenew parents had signed the papers, and soon shed have a real family. Lucy chattered about trips to the zoo, where Tommy had never been, about a puppet show where shed seen a wicked witch, and about strawberry jam with bits of fruit still in it.
Tommy was five. For as long as he could remember, hed lived in that grey-brick building. Children came and went. When Billy disappeared, Tommy tugged at Mrs. Wilsons sleeve.
«Wheres Billy gone?»
«Hes gone home, love. To a family,» she said.
«Whats a family?»
Mrs. Wilson sighed. «Its where youre always loved. Always wanted.»
«Wheres mine?»
She didnt answer. Just gave him a sad look.
After that, Tommy stopped asking. He understoodfamily was something precious. Something he didnt have.
When Lucy vanished for two days and returned in a frilly dress, hair brushed smooth, clutching a new doll, Tommy cried. No one had ever taken *him*. No one ever would.
Then Mrs. Wilson bustled in, carrying a jumper and trousers. «Get dressed, Tommy. Youve got visitors.»
«Me?» His heartbeat quickened. «Who?»
«Theyve come to meet you.»
Tommy changed, perched on the wooden bench, and waited. Mrs. Wilson took his hand, leading him to the visitors room. Inside sat a man and woman. The man was tall, with a beard. The woman was slight, lovelylike a rose, Tommy thought. She smelled of lavender.
«Hello,» she said softly. «Im Emily. And you?»
«Tommy,» he whispered. «Who are you?»
«Wed like to be your friends,» Emily said. «And we need your help.»
The man crouched to Tommys eye level. «Im James. We heard youre brilliant at drawing. Could you sketch a robot for us?»
Tommy nodded seriously. «What kind?»
James fetched a bag, pulled out a sketchbook, pencils, and a massive robotgleaming, metallic, still in its box. Tommys breath hitched. It was Optimus Prime!
«You like him?» James asked.
«*Love* him,» Tommy breathed.
«Take him, draw him, and well chat like friends, yeah?»
For an hour, they talkedabout toys, about Tommys bunk, about his too-thin shoes. Emily never let go of his hand. James ruffled his hair.
Then Mrs. Wilson appeared. «Times up, pet.»
James shook Tommys hand. «Well be back in a week. Finish the drawing?»
«You promise?»
«Promise,» Emily said, hugging him so tight his ribs creaked. Her eyes glistened.
«Whyre you crying?»
«Just dust, sweetheart.»
At dinner, Tommy wolfed down his food, then raced to the dorm where the robot waited. He studied its joints, the way its head swiveled. He sketched feverishlyuntil the older boys burst in.
«Blimey!» Mark grabbed the robot, tossing it high.
«Give it back!» Tommy shrieked. «Its not mine!»
Mark sneered. «Everything heres *everyones*.»
They scuffled. A sickening *crack*and Tommy was left clutching a snapped-off leg. His vision blurred with tears. He lunged, but Mark hurled the broken toy at his face. Blood dripped from Tommys nose as Mrs. Wilson cleaned him up.
«You *know* toys are shared,» she scolded.
«It wasnt *mine*!» Tommy sobbed. «They *lent* it!»
She sighed. «Go draw.»
Propping the shattered robot against a wall, Tommy sketched until lights-out. By morning, the whole sketchbook was filled.
«Has it been a week?» he asked Mrs. Wilson.
Her face fell. «Theyre not coming, love.»
Tommy cried himself to sleep. Hed ruined it. Broken the toy. Of course theyd left.
But the next day, Mrs. Wilson beamed. «Visitors!»
Emily and James stood in the doorway.
«Fancy the zoo?» James asked.
Tommy hesitated, then fetched the broken robot and sketchbook. «Im sorry,» he whispered, tears spilling.
James laughed. «Thats *yours*, mate! We *gave* it to you.»
Tommy thrust the sketches forward. James flipped through them. «Perfect! Exactly what we wanted.»
At the zoo, Tommy gaped at monkeys swinging wildly. Later, they drove to a terraced house.
«Whose room is this?» Tommy asked, staring at the spaceship wallpaper, the race-car bed.
Emily and James knelt, each taking a hand.
«Tommy,» James said gently, «wed love for you to stay. Forever. If youd like.»
«Forever?» Tommys voice cracked. «Like family?»
Emily squeezed his fingers. «Yes. Youd be our son.»
«But I broke the»
«Shh.» Emily pulled him close. «Youre *ours*.»
Tommy buried his face in her shoulder, nodding fiercely. James lifted him, spinning him around, laughing.
And for the first time, Tommy felt itwarm, unshakable, *real*.
Family.
