At the crack of dawn a newborn was left on the steps of the little towns maternity ward, and the first person to spot the bundle was the janitor, Uncle Joe. He rose before the sun was even a thought and immediately got to work on the grounds he was in charge of.
Uncle Joe was a thorough sort, taking his duties as seriously as a former accountantturnedpensioner could. Hed spent a lifetime with ledgers, and when retirement left a gap in his schedule, he swapped the office for a broom simply because he couldnt sit still.
Seeing a cardboard box on the doorstep, Joe instantly guessed it contained a baby, even though not a sound came from inside. He peeked in, confirmed his hunch, and rushed to the maternity wards door. The only thing he prayed for was the childs wellbeing; the infant was oddly quiet, which set his nerves on edge. To everyones reliefJoe and the nursing staff alikethe baby was alive and, in fact, perfectly healthy.
The town, Littleford, was the sort where everybody knows everybody else, so it wasnt long before speculation turned to the mother. All fingers pointed at Milly Lestrade, a local who seemed to give birth almost every year and, like clockwork, donated the children to the state. She never registered the births and never bothered the hospital during her pregnancies.
After a careful lookinto, however, it turned out Milly had nothing to do with this particular case. The mother remained a mystery, and after the usual checks the baby was taken to the nearby Littleford Childrens Home, just a stones throw from town.
The moment the nurses unfolded him, someone exclaimed, Well, look at that little melon! How did a tiny fellow end up on the doorstep like that? No one could answer, but the nurses christened him Melon because he was plump and cheerful.
Later, Uncle Joe suggested a proper name, and the child was officially called Gleb. Yet the nickname Melon stuck like glue, and even at the childrens home he was still called that. He didnt stay long, though; a foster family was quickly found and took Melon home. Everyone was thrilled, especially Mrs. Allen Mathews, the matron of the home.
Three years later, the same little chap was returned to the home, and the staff were gobsmacked. It turned out the foster family had had a baby of their own, making Gleb redundant. When he was brought back, he was no longer the squishy Melon of his first weeks. Hed become a lean, lively boysmart beyond his years, clearly wellcaredfor, yet inexplicably abandoned.
Seeing Gleb, everyones hearts ached. He wailed for mother, father, grandmother, staring long at the window, hoping someone would appear. Summer rolled around, and the children spent most of their days outside. Gleb changed his outlook: he stopped waiting for anyone and stopped trusting adults. He played alone, nesting in quiet corners, until one day a cat appeared.
The feline, a mottled tabby called Muckles, turned up at the childrens home about a year earlier. Keeping a cat on the premises was strictly forbidden, so Mrs. Mathews tried to get rid of him. She handed him over to the local cook, Aunt Jen, who fled back to the home after a brief escape. The cat was banished five times, yet each time he returned with stubborn determination.
Muckles was a crafty little rogue. Aunt Jen would take him home three times, but every morning she left for work, the cat would slip out behind her, refusing to be kept indoors. He made such a ruckus that Aunt Jen, exasperated, nicknamed him Muckles for his cheeky tricks. In the end Mrs. Mathews gave up, watching him perch on the roof of the gatehouse, never bothering the children.
Unexpectedly, Muckles became Glebs closest companion. After befriending the cat, Gleb opened up, his smile returning. Mrs. Mathews, pleased, placed Muckles in a carrier and took him to the vet to make sure he was healthy. Only after the checkup could she relax. Gleb didnt miss the cat at all, but Muckles harboured a quiet grudge against Mrs. Mathews and never let her near his favourite napping spots.
Soon a couple, Tatiana and Stephen, expressed interest in adopting Gleb. When they met him, something about the boy didnt click, so they left, promising to discuss matters with their family before returning. Mrs. Mathews sensed they wouldnt come back, and indeed they didnt. Gleb stayed where he was.
Life continued, but now Gleb and Muckles were inseparable. The cat would bring tiny giftsonce a dead mouseto his little owner. Aunt Jen, annoyed by the mouse deliveries, once gave Muckles a swift swat with a broom, adding another enemy to his list.
A few weeks later another family arrived, eager to meet the child. They already had a daughter but wanted to give a child from the home a chance at a happier life. Their kindness shone through, and they adored Gleb instantly. When they learned hed been turned away twice before, they were even more determined to adopt him.
Strangely, Gleb felt an instant bond with his prospective parents, Tatiana and Stephen. Their arrival was soon followed by Stephens father, who, upon seeing Gleb, gasped in recognition. Thats the little Melon I found on the step years ago! he shouted.
Uncle Joe, still chuckling as he cradled the boy, declared, Well, look at you! Turns out weve known each other forever. I even gave you a name! They say God works in mysterious waysso heres your grandgrandson, Gleb, a bit lost but now back where he belongs. Your grandfather will make up for lost time!
Gleb, bewildered by the rambling elder, just smiled and nodded. The rest of the adults were stunned by the coincidence, yet everyone was overjoyed.
As the grownups said goodbye to the nurses and headed for the car, Gleb suddenly burst into tears. Tatiana tried to comfort him, clueless why he was upset. Watching the scene, Mrs. Mathews explained that the cause of his tears was Muckles, who sat a short distance away, looking mournful.
Thus, on that day, Tatiana and Stephens family grew by two members: a wonderful boy and an equally wonderful cat.
