Ode of Laundry Machine **

Clorox - Breadward

"Clorox, can we adopt a kid?" 

I looked at Sock, "Of course, my love. If It will complete our perfect life, I would love nothing more." She wrapped her arm around me and leaned her head against my "neck". I smelled her hem. It smelled like it always did. It comforted me. If Sock was willing to let another child into our home, I was ready. We discussed the adoption plan for a while. We decided to visit the foster home about twenty minutes from our new home. We called the woman who fostered the children. We set a date for next week. We would interview one of the kids and see if they liked us as much as we liked them. This child was going to fit in just fine.

When we got back home, Stewella and Jim ran into our arms. We wrapped them in a warm embrace. The babysitter told us how the weekend went and left. We watched finding Nemo together. The kids laughed and clapped their hands. When the movie was over, I looked down at the kids. They were fast asleep, their hands intertwined with Sock's.  I picked them up and smiled at Sock. They were heavy and I had to find a way to hold both of them at once. When I finally reached their bedroom, I put them down in their cribs. My arms were heavy and I was panting. Parenting two at once was hard work.

THE NEXT WEEK****

We put the kids in their car seats and drove toward the foster home. When we got there, we rung the doorbell. An old, frail-looking bathing cap opened the door. "Come in," she said, the circles under her eyes indicating she was tired.  We took off our shoes and took a good look around. The inside was old, cobwebs littering the ceiling. The furniture, however, was grand. The red tones matched the house well. We followed her into a room with a slice of bread sitting at the other end of a table. he looked to be in his mid-teens and had two eyebrow piercings. He glared at us for a split-second, then looked away, huffing angrily. Sock and I snuck a glance at each-other. She seemed to think the same thing as me. 

We sat down at the seat opposite of the bread-teen. I cleared my throat. "Um, hello!" I said, waiting for the teen to say something. Finally, he looked up at us. "Listen, I'm never going to like you so you may as well find another kid." Sock opened her mouth to search for words. She finally seemed to think of something to say. "What's your name?" she asked, smiling sweetly. The bread rolled his eyes. "It's Breadward ok? Can I go now?" The bathing-cap came in just then and took Breadward's phone away. He grunted and looked back up at us. "Fine, I'm Breadward, I'm 15 months old and I've been in the foster system since I was 5 months ok?" Socks face fell. She reached across the table to hold Breadward's hand. He pulled back. "Listen Breadward, I know what it's like to live your life feeling like no one loves you," she said, her voice soft. Breadward sneered. "Ya, of course you do. After all, the priveliged ones always have it the worst." I walked to the door and beckoned Sock to follow. It was clear Breadward has had a hard life and the last thing he needed was another day in this stupid foster home. 

We signed the paperwork and went back into the room. Breadward looked at us, his mouth wide open. "Y-you adopted me?" he asked, his eyes hopeful, then he drew his eyebrows together. "I mean whatever." He got up and the bathing-cap woman gave him back his phone. I held the door for Sock and Breadward. Breadward sighed and hopped in our car. He looked at the babies in digust, then buckled his seatbelt. I put my foot on the gas pedal, my head swarming with thoughts. We had welcomed him, and we would have to face the consequences.