"Hello! My name is Jackson!"
The two stared down at the vigorous introduction, held tight with security and bravery, blinking a bit surprised at the volume of it before melting into a smile and a small chuckle. The small red-headed child had quite the valor to him and spoke very elegantly for someone who couldn't be more than 6.
"Nice to meet you, Jackson," The woman told him, leaning down a bit to pat his head.
He swallowed hard in his throat but smiled back, nodding with the touch of her palm against the top of his head.
He leaned away, walking to the table in front of them to sit, the couple following him to sit across from him.
"So Jackson, tell us about yourself. Your caretaker says you are quite the adventurous one." The older gentleman smiled, setting his hat on the table.
Jackson nodded. "I've always grown up around the forest. So I like playing outside."
The woman smiled. "Oh, how wonderful."
"I also enjoy the indoors. I practice all manners and chores which the caretaker has taught me."
"Caretaker is convinced I shall be big and strong someday. I drink milk almost every morning, and make sure I eat healthily and partake in physical activities."
"Oh, how polite your sound." The woman laughs. "You know how to use your words well for someone your age."
"Many say I am very mature for my age."
"And I assure you are." Adds the gentlemen.
Jackson and the pair spent the next thirty minutes together. Jackson talked about activities he enjoyed, and asked them questions about their life, their job, and their family. The time went by too quickly, and soon it was time for the couple to leave.
"I really wish you'd come again," Jackson tells the pair. "I'd love to see you again."
"Oh us too," said the woman, quick to the door with a nod.
"You have a good one kid." The gentlemen add, closing the door behind them and immediately getting greeted by the caretaker.
"Is he not a brilliant boy?" The caretaker smiles, agreeing with them.
"He seems wonderful. But-"
But.
Liana's brow furrowed as she continued, the married woman unable to keep her composure as she moved awkwardly, a sheepish smile full of excuses, hiding under a cute giggle.
"It's just that he's got that pretty red hair. And it's quite lovely- yes oh how lovely it is!- It's just that my husband and I come from quite a conservative area, and we were looking for a child that looks more- you know, like us."
Liana was silent for a moment, letting out a breath through her nose, holding back her tongue as she put on a polite smile for the guests.
"Of course. I understand." She told them.
The woman seemed to smile in relief, her shoulder's dropping their tense aura. She looked to her husband with a cheery smile and then back to Liana. "That being said, could you keep our address and send word if there are any incoming orphans meeting that description?" She asked in a pleading tone.
Liana nodded and bowed. "Of course madam."
"Oh! And the younger the better please!" The woman was in a hurry to put that in as well.
Liana hesitated but persisted in her smile, nodding.
Jackson tensed up, swallowing as he heard them saying their goodbyes and exchanging information, knowing that Liana would be back any second, and would catch him in the act of snooping. He scurried up off the ground, slipping back into the conference room, hurriedly sitting back up in the chair where he had been before, even folding his hands together for good measure to paint himself the perfect angel.
Liana didn't look so pleased when she entered back into the room. No, rather than that, she looked exhausted. Completely over the whole situation, dramatically different than the polite women formerly conversating with the married couple.
When Liana looked back at him, her eyes captivated such sympathy and sadness. Far sadder than Jackson could really comprehend. She always looked at him like that... capturing all the fruitless ventures with the sadness he never held himself.
Despite the eyes, she put on that fake smile again, walking over to the ruffle on the top of his red hair.
"Next time buddy." She smiled optimistically.
Next Time Buddy.
It was a common phrase. One he had gotten used to. Liana never liked telling him that the couple wasn't going to adopt him. So instead, she'd mumble the unforgettable line, next time. Except-
Except it wasn't next time.
It never was the next time.
Jackson wondered what she meant by next time. There was a time when the line really did get his hopes up like deep down Liana knew it actually would be next time. Like she was a psychic who knew any minute, his parents would show up through the door, and that all the couples that denied him just weren't the right ones.
Jackson stopped counting on next time when he could no longer count them on his fingers.
He heard it all. His hair, his age. His stature. His way of speaking. When he started growing tall he looked older than he was. Over and over again he found himself in that cramped meeting place, with parents and Liana's sympathetic eyes. He grew to hate the adoption interviews.
Jackson leaned his head against the hallway once more.
But.
"He really is a lovely boy." The man explained to her.
Jackson was tired of hearing he was a lovely boy if it meant that he wasn't lovely enough to take home.
"But he's not what we are looking for. We need to experience that spark with a kid, you know? I think we'll try a few other places." The man explained a crisp auburn trenchcoat folded over his forearm, reaching for his hat on the coat rack.
Liana looked frantically between the two. Jackson expected her normal words. Her polite and gentle response. But he shuddered and peeked into the room as Liana started to freak out, grabbing onto the young lady's forearm as she shuffled on her dresscoat.
"Wait wait." She told them frantically, panicking as she looked around the room to grasp onto an argument.
"It takes a little longer to feel that kind of spark! How about you come again next week? Let's do another meeting! You can get to know him more, and you'll find your spark, just give it time-"
The man was quick to interrupt.
"Look, Ms.Liana, We understand you care about the boy, but don't you think it would be better if he were to be adopted by a family who can properly treasure him? There will be a next time." He prodded, a firmness in his words.
Liana's hand tightened on the woman, her face growing pale as the young woman looked away sheepishly embarrassed, both at the situation and Liana's actions. The man reached forward and pried Liana's hand off his wife, taking his wife in his arm as he helped her get her coat on properly, preparing again for their exit, but Liana's determination stayed.
"You don't understand." her voice carried desperation. Pure desperation, no different from a child. Jackson had never heard her in quite the tone before. She was always so cheery and optimistic about everything. She was polite to a fault and never falters. But here she was, a blubbering mess of desperation and despair.
"Jackson is about to turn ten. Kids that age- they stop getting interviews altogether-" She was panicked, begging them to stay there. Begging them to reconsider. "He's been here since he was a baby- and he's the only one-" Her words became thick like molasses, unable to get through her throat like they were painful.
The words stung like embers against his skin. He knew that once he reached a certain age, people would stop wanting to adopt him. Just like he knew his hair was pretty unpopular despite everyone saying how pretty it is. Just like he knew that Liana never meant it when she said next time, or that knowing how to read is one of the key features a parent wants in an adoptee. He knew all of it. He wasn't blindly optimistic like Liana. But even so... seeing her break down over it like a schoolgirl, made the child quiet.
The man shook her away from their path to the door, Liana grasping onto their clothes, trying to tug them back desperately. "Please-" She begged. "He's a little boy and I don't know what to do." She begged.
The man gave her a disgusted look as he shoved her away, hurriedly getting himself and his wife out of the doorway, shutting the door loudly behind him, shaking the foundation of the building as he went.
Liana's legs immediately gave out once they left, crumbling to the floor as she started to cry into her hands. He had never seen her cry before... why was she so sad? It's not like she was the one not getting adopted. It's not like living in the orphanage was bad either. Was not having parents really that bad?
Jackson walked slowly from the hallway, walking up and patting Lianna on the head.
Liana jumped, looking up at the teary-eyed, face of shock at his sudden appearance, fear in her features as she realized she had been caught. She opened her mouth to try and say something. Some excuse as to why she'd been crying, or even asking him how long he had been there. But Jackson simply continued patting her heading and comforting her.
"It's okay Ms.Liana." He told her before she could even say anything.
"Next time." He told her firmly, a huge sure smile on his face.
The shock had stopped Liana's tears, simply staring at the red-haired boy with the pearly white smile.
She leaned into him, unable to help her tears and she nodded, biting back the sob before nodding, Jackson wrapping his arms around her to hug her.
Jackson was never adopted after that.
