Sam watched Poppy and felt a sharp pang of envy. Poppy had just been taken out of the care home. Her new mum and dad were already signing the paperwork, and she was about to have a proper family. Poppy chattered about the day out with her new parents: a trip to the zoo a place Sam had never set foot in a visit to a puppet theatre where shed supposedly met a reallife witch, and a jar of apricot jam that still contained the pits.
Sam was five. As far back as he could remember, the childrens home in Manchester had been his whole world. Kids would pop in and out like balloons. When Tom disappeared, Sam asked Mrs. Margaret, the matron:
Mrs. Margaret, wheres Tom?
Hes gone home to his family, she replied.
Whats a family? Sam pressed on.
A family is where youre always waiting for you and love you to bits, Mrs. Margaret said gently.
And what about mine? Sam asked.
Mrs. Margaret sighed, looked at him with a sad smile, and said nothing. From that moment Sam stopped asking about families; he understood they were something precious and needed.
One day Poppy vanished for two whole days. When she returned, she was dressed in a pretty dress, her hair neatly done, and clutching a brandnew doll. Sam burst into tears. No one had ever taken him, and he decided he must be unwanted.
Just then Mrs. Margaret entered, carrying a jumper and trousers, and said, Sam, change into these weve got visitors coming.
Visitors? Whos coming? Sam asked, bewildered.
They want to meet you.
Sam slipped into the fresh clothes, perched on a bench, and waited. Mrs. Margaret soon took his hand and led him to the sitting room. There sat a tall, bearded gentleman and a petite, elegant lady. The ladys scent reminded Sam of a fresh bouquet, and he fancied she resembled a rose. Her eyes were large, framed by long lashes.
Hello, the lady said, Im Alice. And you are?
Sam, he answered, who are you?
Wed like to be your friends, Alice replied, and we could really use your help.
What kind of help? Sam asked, glancing at the gentleman.
The tall man crouched down and said, Hi, Im David. Weve heard you draw wonderfully. Could you sketch a robot for us? We need a picture of a robot, pretty please.
Sure, Sam said, what kind of robot? I can draw all sorts.
David fetched a sketchbook, a box of pencils, and a huge, brandnew robot toy from a nearby shelf. The robot was still in its glossy wrapper, its metal parts sparkling in the sunlight that streamed through the window. Sams eyes widened he had never seen a robot that large.
Blimey, thats Optimus Prime! You know hes the leader of the Transformers, right? Sam exclaimed.
You like him? David asked.
Love him, Sam replied enthusiastically.
Great. Keep the robot and the pencils, then give us a drawing. In the meantime, lets have a chat, like friends.
Sam spent the next hour with David and Alice, talking about everything he liked and disliked. He bragged about his toys, his squeaky bed, and the boots that made his toes feel like ice. Alice held his hand the whole time, while David patted his head.
Mrs. Margaret popped in and announced, Sam, dinners ready.
Just then Victor, a neighbour, shook Sams hand and said, Well be back in a week. Youll have time to finish the robot picture, wont you?
Will you really come? Sam asked.
Of course, Alice said, hugging him so tightly his knuckles clicked. Tears welled in her eyes.
Why are you crying? Sam wondered.
Im not crying, love, just a speck of dust in my eye.
Mrs. Margaret guided Sam to the dining room. He wolfed down his meal and bolted back to the room where the robot box waited. He opened it, admiring how the arms and legs moved and the head swiveled. He set up his sketchbook and began to draw.
Suddenly a group of older boys from the next wing burst in.
Whoa, give that to me, shouted one named Tim. He snatched the robot and started tossing it into the air.
Give it back! Its not mine, Sam shouted, trying to protect it.
Its ours now, Tim laughed. Everythings shared here.
Sam lunged, wrestling the robot from Tims grip. The tussle grew messy; a loud crack echoed, and the robots leg snapped clean off. Sams eyes filled with tears, his face a mixture of outrage and sorrow. Tim flung the remaining piece at Sams face; a splatter of blood ran from Sams nose.
Mrs. Margaret rushed in, whisked Sam to the bathroom, rinsed his face, and pressed a cotton wad into his nostril.
Sam, theres no shame in sharing toys, she said softly, but now the robots broken.
It wasnt mine, Sam sobbed, I was only borrowing it to draw.
Mrs. Margaret smiled, Then go on and draw.
How can I draw a broken robot? Sam muttered, but he propped the dented leg against the wall, taped it with a scrap of cardboard, and began sketching.
When bedtime rolled around, Sam already had one picture done. The next day he added two more, then another, filling the whole sketchbook with robots of every shape and size.
Later he asked Mrs. Margaret, Is a week coming soon? When will Alice and David arrive?
She looked wistful and said, A weeks already gone, and they probably wont turn up.
Sams heart sank; he blamed himself for the broken robot. He stayed up all night, staring at the ceiling, replaying the day over and over.
The following morning Mrs. Margaret entered, beaming, Sam, get dressed. Someones here.
Who? Sam asked.
Youll see.
He opened the door to find David and Alice standing there, smiling.
Hello, Alice said, weve come for you.
Come for me? Sam blinked. You mentioned a zoo earlier want to go?
Id love to, but first Sam started to cry again.
David knelt, Whats wrong?
Ill be right back, Sam said, hurrying to the bedroom, clutching his sketchbook and the broken robot leg.
Here you go, he handed the limp piece to David, Sorry, its all I have left.
David chuckled, Thats your robot, Sam. Well fix it for you.
Sam handed over his sketchbook, Ive drawn it.
Brilliant, David said, leafing through the pages, exactly what we needed. Youre a talent, Sam. Dont worry about the robot Ill sort it out.
And now, off to the zoo! Alice announced, helping Sam into his coat.
At the zoo Sam was dazzled by the menagerie of animals and birds. He was especially taken by the cheeky monkeys swinging from branches and munching bananas, which sent him into fits of giggles.
Sam, would you like to come over to our house after? David asked.
Yes, Sam replied.
When they arrived at David and Alices flat in Bristol, Sam hesitated at the doorstep.
Dont be shy, come in, David said.
Alice took his hand and led him to a room where the walls were covered in starspangled planet wallpaper, a bed shaped like a classic Mini Cooper, and shelves brimming with toys.
Who lives here? Sam asked.
David and Alice sat on the floor, each taking one of Sams hands.
Wed love for you to live with us, Sam, David said. This is your room, all the toys are yours, the bed is yours. If youre happy, you can stay forever.
Forever? Sam echoed. You mean youd take me into your family?
Yes, Alice answered, were adopting you.
But Im a stranger, I broke the robot
Youre not a stranger, Alice whispered, youre our son now.
Sams eyes welled up, then he laughed. He liked Alice, David, the new room, everything. He didnt want to go back to the care home.
Do you agree? David asked.
Ill behave, Sam promised.
David and Alice lifted Sam onto their shoulders, hugging him tightly. Sam felt a warmth hed never known before a real family, at last.
