**Diary Entry**
I watched Lucy today and couldnt help but feel a pang of envy. She was being taken from the childrens home. Her new mum and dad had finished the paperwork, and soon shed have a family of her own. Lucy chattered about her outingsthe zoo, which Id never seen, the puppet theatre where shed watched a proper witch, even the apricot jam with whole bits still in it.
Im five. Ever since I can remember, Ive lived here. Kids come and go. When Alfie vanished, I asked Mrs. Thompson, Wheres Alfie gone?
Home, she said. To a family.
Whats a family? I pressed.
Its where youre always wanted, she told me.
Wheres mine?
Mrs. Thompson just sighed, gave me a sad look, and said nothing. After that, I never asked again. Family was something importantsomething I didnt have.
When Lucy reappeared after two days away, dressed in a pretty frock, hair done up, clutching a new doll, I cried. No one had ever come for me. Maybe no one ever would.
Then Mrs. Thompson walked in, carrying a jumper and trousers. Get changed, Oliver. Youve got visitors.
Me? I blinked.
They want to meet you.
I dressed, sat on the bench, and waited. Mrs. Thompson took my hand and led me to the visiting room. A man and woman sat there. He was tall with a beard; she was slight, prettylike a rose, I thought, with big eyes and thick lashes.
Hello, she said. Im Emily. And you?
Oliver, I mumbled. Who are you?
Wed like to be your friends, she said. And we need your help.
With what? I glanced at the man.
He crouched beside me. Im James. We heard youre brilliant at drawing. Could you sketch a robot for us?
Yeah, I said, puffing up. What sort?
James fetched a bag, pulling out a sketchpad, pencils, and a massive robotstill boxed, gleaming in the sunlight. My breath caught. It was Optimus Prime.
You know hes the best Transformer? I breathed.
You like him? James grinned.
Love him.
Keep him, James said. Draw us a picture. But first, lets chat, yeah?
We talked for an hourtoys, my bed, the shoes that let the cold in. Emily held my hand; James ruffled my hair.
When Mrs. Thompson said it was time for tea, James shook my hand. Well be back next week. Think you can finish the drawing?
Youll really come?
Promise, Emily said, hugging me so tight my ribs creaked. Her eyes were wet.
Whyre you crying?
Just dust, she lied.
I raced to my room after tea, unwrapped the robot, and marvelled at its movable limbs. Then the older boys barged in.
Blimey! Tom grabbed it, tossing it high.
Give it back! I screamed. Its not mine!
Nothing heres yours. He laughed.
I lunged. We wrestledthen *crack*. The robots leg snapped off in my hands. I bawled, hurled myself at Tom, and got a bloody nose for it.
Mrs. Thompson sighed. Toys are shared, Oliver. Now its ruined.
They *lent* it! I sobbed.
She just said, Go draw.
Somehow, I propped the broken figure up and sketched. By bedtime, Id filled a page. The whole week, I drew robot after robot.
Has it been seven days? I asked Mrs. Thompson. Whens Emily coming?
She hesitated. Oliver theyre not coming.
I cried myself to sleep, certain it was my fault for breaking the toy.
Next morning, Mrs. Thompson beamed. Get dressed. Youve got visitors.
I opened the doorEmily and James stood there.
Hello, love, she said. Fancy the zoo?
I burst into tears.
Whats wrong? James knelt.
I fetched the broken robot and sketchbook. Im sorry.
James laughed. Its *yours*, Oliver.
I handed him the drawings.
Perfect, he said. Just what we wanted.
The zoo was brilliantmonkeys swinging, birds squawking. After, they took me to their house. A room with space-themed wallpaper, a race-car bed, toys galore.
Who lives here? I whispered.
They sat me down, each holding a hand.
Oliver, James said, wed love you to stay. Forever. If youd like.
Forever? My voice wobbled. Like family?
Emily nodded. Yes. Youd be our son.
But why? I broke the robot
Youre *ours*, she said softly.
I nodded, crying. They swept me up, laughing, kissing my cheeks.
And for the first time, I had a family. A real one.
**Lesson:** Waiting hurts, but sometimes the right people find you. Even when you think youre broken, youre still worth loving.
