Mum, Dad, hello, you asked us to pop round, is something wrong? Emma and her husband Tom burst through her parents front door.
The truth is, it had all begun quite some time ago. Mum had fallen ill, a serious illness stage two.
She went through chemotherapy, then radiotherapy. There was a remission, and her hair had started to grow back a little. But it looked like things werent as settled as theyd hoped, Mum was getting worse again.
Emma, Tom, evening, come in, Mum looked pale and frail, almost like a child.
Come in, sit down, weve got a rather unusual favour to ask you. Please listen to your mother, Dad was visibly unsure of himself.
Emma and Tom sat on the sofa, looking at Mum expectantly. Pauline glanced at her husband, Bernard, as if searching for reassurance.
Emma, Tom, dont be shocked, but Im going to ask you something a bit odd. Weve got a big favour to ask.
Please, would you consider adopting a little boy for us, for your Dad and me? Wed never be approved, not at our age, and for other reasons too.
There was a brief hush.
Emma, the daughter, was the first to speak:
Mum, you might actually be surprised, but weve been meaning to mention this ages ago, only we just didnt know how youd react. Tom and I really want a son. Weve already got our two girls your darling granddaughters.
Theres no way to tell if a third child would even be a boy. And truth be told, Im not as young as I was,
Mary had to be delivered by C-section. The doctors have advised against having any more. We did talk about maybe adopting from the childrens home, perhaps a little boy.
To be part of our family, a dear son. And now youve suggested the very same thing how come youre thinking about this, Mum?
Emma darling, I hardly know where to start, Pauline nervously stroked her short, growing hair but the truth is, my healths gone downhill again.
And the other day, my old friend popped by, Auntie Nora from the factory, remember her? She used to have a big mole over her eye, covered half her eyelid.
They always said she ought to have it removed in case it turned nasty. Anyway, Nora came round no mole, and she looks wonderful.
Shed gone down to the village to see Gran Agnes. Gran Agnes did one of her old readings for Nora, and the mole cleared up. Now Nora was pestering me so we went and saw Gran Agnes, just to see whatd happen, people come to her from all over the place. I thought, what do I have to lose? So off we went.
Emma and Tom listened, holding their breath, not really following where this was leading.
Anyway, darlings, Pauline carried on, Gran Agnes asked me something strange straight away did I have a son?
When I said I had just the one lovely daughter Emma, and two adored granddaughters, Mary and Tessa, Gran Agnes pressed, But what about before your daughter?
I was thrown no one, except your Dad and I, knows that I lost a baby at a late stage. He was a boy, our first, before we had you, Emma.
But he didn’t make it, Pauline twisted the edge of her jumper.
So? Emmas eyes were wide.
Well, Gran Agnes simply said, Adopt a boy. And then she left. I started crying, as if it was somehow all my fault, failing to keep my firstborn son safe.
And it felt like maybe, by loving another boy, I could ease that heartache put something right again.
And the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to do it. Your Dad and I, we could give a child warmth, love everything theyd need!
And not just for some miracle cure, not anymore. I just really want to save one little life from loneliness and being alone. Do you see what I mean?
Oh Mum, I understand and Im with you, all the way, Emma dissolved into tears, wrapping her arms around her mum. Lets do it!
Emma and Tom had already spoken to the local council and told them they were thinking of adopting a young boy. They were then invited to visit the children.
Pauline and Bernard came along, of course. Inside the playroom, toddlers and young kids, all about three or four, were scattered on the carpet with toys.
Mum, look, that little fair-haired boy, he looks just like you, building his tower so carefully. Hes even sticking out his tongue in concentration, Emma whispered, pointing out the boy on the floor.
Pauline smiled she liked the look of him too. Suddenly, they heard some muffled words from the far corner.
Pauline turned standing quietly at the edge of the room was an older-looking boy with sad, dark eyes. He was mumbling very softly.
Are you talking to us, love? Could you say that again, just a little louder? Pauline encouraged.
The boy took a step towards her and said, in a trembling voice, Please, Miss, if you take me with you, I promise, Ill never let you down, not ever. Please take me
Emma and Tom managed to get the paperwork sorted in just a few months, bringing home Nicholas. Mary and Tessa were chuffed to bits to have a little brother.
Nicholas settled in quickly, and soon was calling Emma and Tom Mum and Dad. He went round to visit Grandma Pauline and Grandad Bernard all the time, their house was just down the road and he could even walk to primary school from there.
He called Pauline something a bit different not Granny, just Mum Pauline. He just invented it himself. Pauline, holding her breath, would look at Nicholas, imagining the son she lost somehow come back to her at last.
Pauline soon started a new round of treatment, on her doctors advice, but nothing was really working for her anymore.
Nicholas would look into her eyes and stroke her short hair.
Mum Pauline, why are you poorly? I wish youd get better!
I dont know, Nick, love, sometimes these things just happen but I promise Ill try, for you, Pauline absolutely cherished the way he called her Mum Pauline.
Bernard had a word with the doctor, and the doctor insisted on surgery.
What are her chances? Bernard asked.
The doctor was honest:
Its fifty-fifty, but well do absolutely everything we can.
And so Bernard and Pauline made their decision.
The morning of the operation, everyone was beside themselves. Emma kept ringing her dad. Bernard had arranged with the surgeon to be notified right away, but still, he was frantic with worry.
It took a while for him to realise he hadnt seen Nicholas. Bernard found him in his and Paulines bedroom, sitting on the floor next to Paulines dressing gown.
Nicholas didnt hear Bernard come in. He had his face pressed deep into the soft robe, sobbing quietly and whispering:
Mum Pauline, dont leave, I dont want to lose you too, please! I want you with me always, please, Mum Pauline!
The phone rang, making both Bernard and Nicholas jump.
It was the hospital calling. The doctor sounded exhausted, almost flat, and Bernards heart practically stopped beating.
Was this it? Had Pauline not made it through?
Bernard? Its Dr Michael Ware here. It was a very tough op, but shes made it through. Your wifes pulled through, despite everything.
Honestly, at points it was as though something above was helping her, holding on when things could have gone either way.
Congratulations. It seems shes meant to be here a while longer seems theres a reason for her to stay.
Thank you, thank you so much, Doctor! Bernard hugged Nicholas close.
You hear that? Everythings alright! Our Mum Paulines alright! And its such a joy to have you with us, little man.
I heard you, you know, when you were whispering for Mum Pauline. Thank you, my dear boy. Thank you, my son.
Mum, Dad, hi, you asked us to pop round—what’s happened? Marina and her husband Tony burst into her parents’ flat. It had all started a while ago—Mum was ill, facing a serious diagnosis… After chemo and radiotherapy, remission brought hope, but her health was failing again. When the family gathered, Mum nervously confessed a heartfelt wish: “Marina, Tony, we’re asking something unusual… Please, would you adopt a boy for us? We’re too old, but you can give a child the love we couldn’t.”
Stunned, Marina revealed she and Tony had also considered adoption—they already had two daughters and longed for a son, but health risks ruled out another pregnancy. Inspired by Mum’s story, and a wise woman’s words about lost chances and restoring balance, they embraced her plea. In the orphanage, fate led them to Nikita—a quiet boy with sad eyes who begged, “Please, take me with you—I promise you won’t regret it.”
Marina and Tony adopted him, and Nikita quickly became part of the family, calling his grandmother “Mum Ira”—a name that comforted her through her toughest days. As Mum Ira’s illness worsened, Nikita’s love and hope became her lifeline. When a risky operation hung by a thread, it was as if someone above answered his prayers, granting Mum Ira another chance at life—a testament to the power of family, compassion, and the unexpected bonds that heal the deepest wounds.
