Mute | Adopted by Scarlett Johansson

Arlo

Pure shock. That's all the feeling that Arlo could muster after Mrs Moore approached her and informed her of the news. She couldn't believe that anyone would want to adopt her, especially a woman who she had barely given 5 seconds of eye contact to. She also couldn't believe that she had been wrong about how she felt leading up to that visit. Arlo was dead set on the thought that her life would not be potentially changing at all, that she would stay in this orphanage until she was 18 and had to move out. Of course this was still possible, but it seemed less likely now.

Arlo was walking to the garden when Mrs Moore called her name down the corridor from behind her. At the sudden calling, Arlo spun around so fast that it made her head slightly dizzy, however she ignored this momentary disorientation and made her way over to the woman.
"Hello Arlo, sorry to disrupt your plans, but I was wondering if I could have a quick chat with you in the office?"

At this, Arlo simply nodded her head and proceeded to follow Mrs Moore to the same front office that Scarlett was in the previous day, where they both took a seat opposite each other on the sofas.
"So Arlo, I received a very special email this morning about the visit that happened yesterday, with Miss Johansson." Mrs Moore started to explain to Arlo, who was sat there with a mostly blank expression on her face, only a little bit of confusion present. She didn't know what this could possibly have to do with her. Regardless, Mrs Moore continued,
"Miss Johansson informed me that she would like to set up some one-on-one visits with you -" she paused for a moment, trying to read the little girls face for any type of reaction, good or bad, "of course that all depends if you feel comfortable doing this, as that is the most important part of this whole process." Mrs Moore waited, with a hopeful look, for any type of answer, however none were forthcoming, so instead she went on.

"If it makes you feel any better, I will be with you during these visits, so that I can translate your sign language to Miss Johansson, as she currently doesn't know any, but she says that she is willing to learn-" this sparked a reaction in Arlo, it shocked her, at first, that someone would be willing to do that for her, especially when they barely knew her, but the shock was quickly replaced with a sort of warm happiness and hopefulness "-and if at any point, during or after these visits, you decide that you aren't comfortable with doing them anymore then that is completely okay and we can call the whole thing off." A short pause.
"So what do you think?"

Arlo's mind was so busy that she barely registered that she was being asked a question. Too busy thinking about what these visits could entail for her, would they be a good thing for her or a bad thing? Would Miss Johansson find out that maybe she didn't like Arlo as much as she had originally thought? Or would this finally be a new start for Arlo?
"Arlo, did you hear me?" Mrs Moore questioned, concerned at the lack of reaction so far.

Arlo promptly nodded, maybe a little too enthusiastically, whilst also signing yes with her hand.
"So does that mean you want me to arrange the visits then?"
She nodded again.
"Okay! I'll go email Miss Johansson back now then. You can go back to what you were going to do before we had this chat. Thank you Arlo!" Mrs Moore exclaimed whilst standing up to open the door for the girl.

Arlo signed a thank you as she walked through the door. As soon as she was out of sight from Mrs Moore, Arlo couldn't help but let a small smile make its way onto her face, as she finally felt hope for her future.