Welcome To The Family

Chapter Three

The sun begins its morning stretch routine, greeting a lonesome Babe sitting on the porch. Dark eye bags are starting to make their way to the surface under his eyelids. From the front door comes Ma. She's holding two cups of coffee.

"Couldn't sleep?" She takes a seat next to him, wondering what's going through his head.

"Nope, all that frosting wired me up." He turns his gaze to Ma. "One of those for me?"

She nods, "Are you excited?" she extends the cup of Joe.

"Mostly nervous." He accepts the coffee and blows on the surface to make the drink tolerable. 

"Have you seen Beckett."

"Nope. Who cares."

"Don't be like that."

"He's tortured me since the day he arrived here."

"Well, if he's not back by tonight, I'll have to file a missing person report."

"Not like they'll care. He's an orphan."

She takes his head and tucks it between her chest.


HONK HONK


A silver BMW pulls in front of the house. It's tinted window lowers, revealing a middle-aged woman with long brown fizzling hair. She waves, allowing her charm bracelet to clink in the air. "Hello! Is it okay if I pull into the driveway?"

"Miss Hendricks! Yes, of course!" The gate opens thanks to the clicker in Ma's pocket.

"Thank you, what a charming little orphanage and may I say you are stunning, how do you keep up such a youthful appearance while managing a house full of children?" Says Miss Hendrick as she moves out of the car with grace.

Ma cheeks rosy up. "Oh, just moisturizer and satanic rituals."

Miss Hendricks laughs and laughs and laughs and laughs. "Satanic rituals, that's hilarious. As if those exist. You're funny!" the words barely manage to escape her mouth as she catches her breath. 

With a scowl, Yani watches as Miss Hendricks, Ma, and Babe enter through the door. She hisses in their direction and then runs off up the stairs.

"What a beautiful guard dog." Says Hendricks.

"That's Yani, our protector," Says Ma, she then stops and turns to Miss Hendricks. "To be straight forward. One of our children ran away last night, I assume, in fear of being adopted."

"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry to hear that. Did both seventeen-year-olds runoff, or was it just the one?"

"Just the one and we're on the lookout." She gives a worrying glace to Babe then puts on her best show smile. "However, this fine young man is Babe he just turned seventeen last night."

Babe gives a slight smile and raises a half high-five.

Hendrick extends her hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Babe, please call me Miss Hendricks. Or mom."

"Pleasure to meet you, Miss Hendricks." He shakes her hand with a bit of force behind it.

"Nice firm grip." She gives a raise of her eyebrows and squeezes back. He smiles.

"Well, you two should get acquainted. I'm going to go check on our guard dog." Ma heads up the stairs. "And Babe, please offer our guest something to drink." She disappears behind the corner.


Sitting at the kitchen table, Miss Hendrik rubs a charm on her bracelet. Babe joins with a cup of tea. "Here you go, careful it's hot." He takes a sip from his coffee mug.

"Thank you so very much."

"Your welcome." Upon Babe's inspection of the charm, he sees it's one of many silver half circles. This one has a half engravement of a baby bottle. "Your charm bracelet is cool. Is that your favorite one?"

She pushes her long sleeve over the bracelet. "Thank you. Yes, it is. Sorry, I'm a bit nervous. I've never adopted a child before."

"It's alright. We'll get through this. I have never been adopted." He smiles and drops his head.

"May I ask why they call you Babe?"

"You may. It's the way they name all the great orphans. Just like a bad 80s movie, I was left on the doorstep in a basket with a 'Babe Ruth' signed basketball. Ma' decided to name me Babe."

"So kind of them to drop you off with such a prized possession."

"Yeah, it was like sorry we don't want you, but here's this cool baseball." He gives a slight chuckle. "Can I ask you a question?" He leans forward.

"Of course."

"Why adoption?"

"Well, to keep it short and blunt. My son died years back, and we're not allowed to have any pets in the house; So I haven't been able to fulfill the mother duties that I so crave." Her eyes begin to welter up. She turns her gaze away for a moment before making eye contact with Babe again. "So. Here I am."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Babe settles in his chair. "Was there a Mr. Hendricks?"

"Still is. However, he's not around much and usually off on long business trips making as much money as possible. He kind of threw himself into work after our child passed, out of rebellion, I go by Miss Hendricks instead of Mrs."

"Gotcha. Well, I guess you could have me to keep you company, I know I'm not as cuddly as a siamese cat, but I'm pretty skilled at board games." He gives a comforting glance and sips away at the coffee.

Miss Hendrick places her teacup down and takes Babe's lone hand into hers. "I would like to adopt you. I believe you'll make a wonderful addition to our home."

He thinks for a moment and takes a deep breath. "I think I would too. I just have one request."

"Shoot."

"You'll allow me to come to visit from time to time. I'm one of the reasons Ma keeps her youth at bay."

"I'd never hold you back from visiting your family."

"Okay." He smiles. "I better go grab my belongings."


While Miss Hendrick's is off signing the final forms, Babe takes a lap around the house, mind traveling through his favorite memories. Babe enters his room, checking every corner to make sure he hasn't forgotten anything. Some graffiti catches his eye on the edge of his bed frame. He crouches down to the foot of his bed and checks out at the teen angst fueled message carved into the foot of his bed.


You'll never be adopted - B.


He gives a disappointing look and lifts the shaggy rug at the foot of his bed. When he spots an "x" drawn in sharpie on the wooden floor, and with his index finger, he gives a forceful push. A piece of the floor sew-saws up into the air. After a few moments spent hand digging in the floorboards. He pulls out a black spring-loaded pocket knife. With a saucy flip, the blade emerges from its shell. He scratches out the "I'll never be," so the only thing that's left is adopted. He tosses the knife into a pocket of his suitcase, zips the compartment closed, and removes his red bag from the bed. 

He gives one last glance before shutting the door behind him. 

He makes his way down the stairs. The whole orphanage is waiting for him at the bottom of the steps. "You ready?" Ma asks.

He gives a kind look to Miss. Hendricks, "I think so."

Yani runs up the stairs with a paper in hand. She gives him a breath-stopping hug. "I'm going to miss you."

He leans down to her. "I'm going to miss you too. I'll come back to visit." He drops to a whisper, "and if I can, I'll convince Miss. Hendricks to adopt you as well." She hugs him tighter.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

She hands him a paper, "It's a drawing of us, so you don't forget us." he examines the art piece. Drawn in crayon is a group of people left drawn in front of the orphanage.

"Okay, this one hurts." A tear jumps ship only to be absorbed by the paper. "It's wonderful; it should be on display next to the Mona Lisa."

They hug again.

"Alright, Babe, you should get going."

"No, please, let him live in the moment." Hendricks smiles at the display of affection.

"I must go now." Babe scoops up Yani, and they make their way down the stairs. They pile into a family group hug, Miss Hendrik's watches.


The door explodes open. In the door frame stands Beckett grumbling.

"Has he been adopted yet?" He holds his side with a hint of pain on his face.

"Where have you been?" Ma asks worryingly.

He sees the bag in Babe's hand and draws his conclusions. He shuffles up the stairs giving Babe a hard shoulder check as he passes by.

"Hey, watch it," Yani yells.

"HeY WaTCH It!" Beckett spits back, followed by the sound of a door slamming.

"Was that the other seventeen-year-old?" Says Miss Hendricks.

"Yes, it was. Beckett, he's a bit much sometimes."

"A shame." Says Miss Hendrick's with a raise of an eyebrow.

"Excuse me?" Says Ma

"Bad joke my apologies. Babe, are you ready?" Miss Hendricks smiles changing the conversation.

"One more second?"

"Absolutely sweetheart, make it like this is the last time you'll ever see them." She continues smiling. This grin pushes slightly too far up her face. "I'm going to start the car." She tucks a folder full of paperwork underneath her arm. "It was a pleasure meeting you." She holds her hand out to Ma.

Ma pulls her hand in, so they hug. "Please take care of him. I've done a lot of work to turn him into a respectful kid."

"It'll be my sole duty." Miss Hendrick backs out of the hug and makes her way out of the house.



After the group trades an armful of orphaned tears and goodbye hugs inside, the porch fills with the tearful family members. They watch Babe as he makes his journey to the BMW. The trunk pops open. Inside there is a pile of fishing equipment that he rearranges to make room for his suitcase. He joins the woman in the front seat.

"Are you a fan of fishing?" He asks.

"Excuse me?" She thinks for a moment as the car begins to pull out of the driveway. "Oh, fishing equipment. Yes, huge fan, have you ever been?"

"Never."

"My husband and I used to play this game where we see who could catch the biggest fish by the trip. The loser had to cook dinner. Would you like to go out on the lake one of these days? I know the best spot for year-round fishing. And since it's your first time, I'll cook no matter who wins."


"Sure, it could be fun." Turning his attention through the open window, he waves back to his family, who shrinks into the distance.