It Had to be You

Chapter One: The Group Home

When David had gone to the foster home, he didn't know what he had expected to find. But whatever it was, it certainly wasn't Max. After many weeks of, admittedly very upbeat, arguments with himself he had decided that he had wanted to take in a kid, give another hurt child a chance. He was good with kids after all. Maybe. But with David's trademark optimism he had jumped in feet first to the idea of become a parent. With a little help from Gwen, he filled out sheets and sheets of paperwork. He had gone through background checks, interviews, and jumped through every other legal hoop. So when he finally went to check out the group home where he would be picking a new son or daughter from, he was more than ready to care for them. He had a room ready, received permission to take the kid to camp (he was just sure they would love it!), all he had to do was pick someone.

David pulled up to the rather large house in his car. The group home was a two story house, painted bright yellow. While it didn't look decrepit, it certainly wasn't put together. Kids were running all over the place, peaking through windows, dashing across are yard, anywhere you looked, another kid popped up. David couldn't believe they fit all of these kids in this house! As he parked his car, a tired old woman walked onto the front steps. She had her grey hair pulled back into a braid and was wearing a flowery apron that was covered in stains. As David approached the house, she started hobbling out onto the walk.

"Hello dearie, you must be David?" The old lady rasped, holding out a hand to shake. "My name is Evelyn, but you can call me Evie." Evie gave David a tired smile as he reached out and shook her hand.

"Yes, I'm David. I'm here to pick out someone to adopt!" David said with enthusiasm. Evie chuckled.

"Well, I'm sure you'll make a great parent David." Evie said. "I'd love to keep 'em all, but I already have too many on my hands as it is. I just can't control 'em. They run amok all day, they only time I can get 'em inside is when it's meal time!" She laughed. "I'll try to get them all together and then you can pick one out. I've got twenty five here, I'm sure one of them will be a perfect fit for you."

"I'm sure you're right. Golly gee am I excited!" David exclaimed. Evie just smiled and then she walked back into the house, gesturing for David to follow. He did, and they made their way to the living room together. Carefully, as to not disturb it, she grabbed ahold of a old, large bell that hung by the door way.

"Cover your ears!" Evie said, and as soon as David did so, she rang the bell. The noise was tremendous, and reverberated through the house. For a second all was quiet, and then the sound of footsteps could be heard all through the house. "Meal bell." Evie explained. "Only way to get 'em all together." David just nodded, his head still ringing from the noise.

In less than a minute, the room was full of kids. They were all heights and ages, the youngest looking about five years, with the oldest at least seventeen. The oldest one spoke up first. "Where's the food?" She said, looking irritated. Other voices agreed, until it seemed every kid in the room was asking. Evie raised her hand, as if to threaten to ring the bell again, and the room quieted down.

"Is everyone here?" Evie asked, impatiently.

The kids looked among themselves. Eventually people started shaking their heads. Someone in the crowd said "The new kid isn't here", and murmurs of agreement came from the around the room.

"I think he's still in his room!" Someone else said.

"Yeah!" A different voice piped up, "He's only left it twice!"

Evie sighed. "Noah, will you go grab him?" One of the older kids ran off toward the stairs. She turned to David. "He just got here a week ago. Poor kid. No child deserves parents like that. He won't talk to anyone. Hate to make him come downstairs, but I'm legally obliged to show you everyone."