Young Tommy watched Lucy with a deep pang of envy. Lucy was being taken from the orphanage. Her new mum and dad were already signing the papers, and soon shed have a family of her own. Lucy chattered about the outings shed had with themthe zoo, where Tommy had never been; the puppet theatre, where shed seen a proper wicked witch; and the apricot jam, thick with whole fruit, theyd shared at tea.
Tommy was just five. For as long as he could remember, hed lived in the orphanage. Children came and wentnew faces appearing, old ones vanishing. When little Alfie disappeared one day, Tommy tugged at Mrs. Mary’s sleeve and asked, “Mrs. Mary, wheres Alfie gone?”
“Hes gone home, love. To a family,” she replied.
“Whats a family?” Tommy pressed.
Mrs. Mary sighed softly. “A familys where youre always waited for, and loved most dearly.”
“Wheres my family, then?” Tommy asked.
Mrs. Mary only gave him a sad look and said nothing.
After that, Tommy stopped asking. He understoodfamily was something precious, something he didnt have.
When Lucy vanished for two days and returned in a pretty dress, her hair neatly brushed, clutching a new doll, Tommy burst into tears. No one had ever wanted him. Hed decided no one ever would.
Just then, Mrs. Mary came in, carrying a jumper and trousers. “Tommy, love, get changed. Youve guests coming to see you.”
“Me?” Tommy blinked. “Who?”
“Theyve asked to meet you.”
Tommy dressed and sat on the bench, waiting. Mrs. Mary took his hand and led him to the visitors room. A man and woman sat therethe man tall, with a beard and moustache; the woman small, slender, and lovely as a rose, Tommy thought. She smelled of flowers, her dark lashes framing big, kind eyes.
“Hello,” the woman said gently. “Im Alice. And you are?”
“Tommy,” he whispered. “Who are you?”
“Wed like to be your friends,” Alice said. “Andwe need your help.”
Tommy glanced at the man. “What help?”
The man crouched beside him. “Im David. We heard youre a fine little artist. Could you draw us a robot?”
Tommy nodded seriously. “What sort? I can do lots.”
David fetched a bag and pulled out a sketchbook, pencils, and a huge, gleaming robot in its box. The sunlight caught its polished joints, and Tommy gaspedhed never seen anything so grand.
“Blimey!” he breathed. “Thats Optimus Prime! Hes the best of the Transformers!”
“You like him?” David asked.
“Loads!” Tommy beamed.
“Take him, then, and the pencils too. Draw us a picture later. For now, lets chat, eh?”
They talked for an hourabout Tommys favourite things, his bed by the window, the shoes that let in the cold. Alice held his hand; David ruffled his hair.
When Mrs. Mary called him for supper, David shook Tommys hand. “Well be back in a week. Can you finish the drawing?”
Tommys eyes widened. “Promise youll come?”
“Course we will,” Alice said, hugging him so tight his ribs creaked. Her eyes shone wet.
“Whyre you crying?” Tommy asked.
“Just a speck in my eye, pet.”
That night, Tommy hurried to his room, where the robot waited. He gasped as he moved its limbs, the head swivelling smoothly. He sketched until the older boys barged in.
“Cor!” one jeered, snatching the toy. “Give it here!”
Tommy lunged. “Its not mine! Give it back!”
“Nothings yours here!” the boy laughed, tossing it high.
They wrestledthen a crack. Tommy stared at the broken leg in his hand. He wailed, blood dripping from his nose after the boy hurled the remains at him.
Mrs. Mary sighed as she cleaned him up. “Tommy, toys are shared here. Now its ruined.”
“It wasnt mine!” he sobbed. “They lent it to me to draw!”
She softened. “Go on, then. Draw.”
Propping the robot against a box, Tommy sketched desperately. By bedtime, one drawing was done. The next day, two more. Soon, the whole book brimmed with robots.
A week passed. “Mrs. Mary,” Tommy asked, “whenre Alice and David coming?”
Her face fell. “Love, theyre likely not.”
Tommy cried himself to sleep. Theyd heard about the robot. Hed spoiled everything.
Thena knock. Mrs. Mary smiled. “Tommy, youve visitors.”
Alice and David stood there. “Hello, sweetheart,” Alice said. “Fancy the zoo?”
Tommy trembled. “But” He fetched the broken toy and sketchbook. “Im sorry. Heres your robot.”
David laughed. “Tommy, its yours! A gift!”
Tommy thrust the book at him. “I drew these.”
“Perfect!” David grinned. “Just what we wanted. And dont fretIll mend him.”
At the zoo, Tommy gaped at the monkeys swinging wildly. Laughing, he forgot his fears.
Back at their flat, Alice led him to a roomspace-themed wallpaper, a race-car bed, shelves of toys.
“Who lives here?” Tommy whispered.
They knelt, each taking a hand. “Wed love you to,” David said. “This is your room. Stay forever, if youd like.”
“Forever?” Tommys voice quavered. “You mean family?”
Alice nodded. “Yes, darling. Our family.”
“But why me? I broke the robot”
“Tommy,” Alice said softly, “youre our son.”
He wept, nodding. He loved them. Loved this room. Never wanted to leave.
David squeezed his hand. “Is that yes?”
“Ill be good,” Tommy vowed.
They laughed, scooping him up, covering him in kisses.
And Tommyfinally, wonderfullyhad a family. His own. Real.
