Flashback… “I’d like you to meet Mr. Littrell, the man who has decided that he’d like to adopt you,” the co-worker said. “Now, remember, you must be polite to prove that you’ve been taught well, despite the fact that you’ve grown up in an orphanage and foster homes.” Mr. Littrell walked in then, with four other guys close behind him. “Brian?” The little girl gasped shocked. “I don’t know how you saw his name, but it’s impolite to refer to someone you’ve just met by their first name,” the co-worker snapped. “Now, apologize to Mr. Littrell, or else…” The girl looked frightened then, and immediately apologized. “I’m sorry for my rudeness Mr. Littrell,” she said just above a whisper. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I am very sorry.” “It’s quite alright,” Brian assured her. The co-worker glared at her then, before speaking again. “I’ll leave you alone to get aquatinted with the brat; I shall return again in a few minutes, and if you still want to adopt her, we’ll go over all the forms you have to fill out.” The co-worker left then, leaving them all in an uneasy silence. The little girl looked shyly, yet worriedly, up at them. “Why do you want me?” She asked. “There’s plenty of other kids here, younger than I am.” “We need someone, who’s old enough to travel,” Kevin informed her. “Any younger than six and it would’ve been kind of complicated.” “There’s older kids here too,” she reminded them. “We wanted someone who was young enough to still be a kid, and someone old enough to travel,” Howie stated, adding Kevin’s phrase to his own. “Besides, it was up to Brian as to just how old the kid was going to be, but we all agreed on it anyway.” “Oh,” she said. The room was quite again. “So, just how old are you Sweetie?” Brian queried. “Also, how long have you been here?” “Sweetie,” she thought. “I like the sounds of that; no one’s ever called me Sweetie before.” “I’m seven Sir,” she answered. “I’ve been in and out of here for the past four years. When I wasn’t here, I was placed in Foster homes, none of which worked out.” “Why was that?” Nick wanted to know, not totally thinking clearly before speaking. “I’m too much of a dreamer, so I was told,” she responded shyly. “Not supposed to live in Dream Land, when you have to face reality, and the fact that nobody wants you ‘cause you’re worthless.” “No one’s worthless,” A.J. told her. “Everyone’s worth something to someone.” “Maybe everyone else is, but I’m not,” she whispered. “I’m a mistake, a huge mistake. God wasn’t supposed to create me, yet he did, ‘cause he wanted to ruin people’s lives by making another mistake.” “Where’d you hear that Sweetie?” Brian interrogated softly; crouching down to her height, as he gently took her hand in his own two. “Who told you God wasn’t supposed to create you?” “Everyone I’ve ever met,” she replied, trying desperately not to cry. “Especially the people here. Said out of all the kids here, I was the worst mistake God ever made and don’t deserve a happy life or love.” “Well, we don’t think you were a mistake,” Kevin commented softly. “We think everyone deserves love and to be happy.” The co-worker returned then, just as the girl’s tears began to overflow. “What have we told you about crying in front of strangers?” She riposted angrily. “How many times do we have to tell you to respect your elders and not bother them with your petty, selfish tears?” “Sorry Miss, it slipped,” she apologized. “Hold out your hands,” the woman ordered. “But Miss,” the girl pleaded. “Please, just this once…” “I said hold out your hands,” the woman barked. The girl finally did as she was told, and held her hands out, palms down, knuckles up. She winced as her knuckles were struck with a wooden ruler. “Now, go up to your room and stay there until someone’s ready to deal with you.” “Yes, Miss Grudge,” she responded quietly, then left the room with her head hung. After she’d left, Miss Grudge turned to the five men standing there wide-eyed. “We’ve strict discipline in our orphanage,” she informed them. “Nothing goes unpunished around here. They have to learn to respect their elders and keep their petty, selfish problems to themselves.” “Now, since I know you don’t want some brat like her, may I suggest someone older and more respectful?” She went on. “Ah, yes, here we go. Natalie Spruce, fifteen and very respectful.” “I want her,” Brian cut in. “Wise choice Mr. Littrell, I knew you’d want someone like Natalie to respect and obey you,” Miss Grudge smiled, pleased that her suggestion was being used. Brian stated, “Not Natalie, the little girl who we just met and was sent out of here after being punished for something stupid.” “Now, Mr. Littrell, surely you don’t mean that brat, she’s nothing but a troublemaker and has no respect for anyone or anything,” Miss Grudge retorted. “Nobody wants God’s biggest mistake, so, surely, you don’t mean her.” “I said I want that little girl, and I’m going to do everything in my power to get her,” Brian said firmly. “Even if I have to take you to court, I will get her. I won’t settle for anyone but her.” “Fine, be a hard-headed fool,” Miss Grudge snapped. “But you, like all the others, shall return her in two weeks, for she’s nothing but trouble and wasted space.” “I don’t care,” Brian returned angrily. “I’m taking her into my custody immediately.” After filling out all the forms necessary to adopt a child, the Boys followed Miss Grudge up the stairs and to the room in which the little girl was residing in. When they walked in, they found someone hitting her bottom, hard, with a ruler. “Wendy!” Miss Grudge barked. “That’ll be enough!” “But she…” Wendy trailed off. “It doesn’t matter what she did, because one of these fools has adopted her.” “Her?” Wendy asked, as Miss Grudge nodded. “Unbelievable.” Wendy left then, as the girl turned around and looked at them completely embarrassed, with tears running down her face. She quickly wiped the tears off her face. “Sorry Miss, didn’t know anyone was coming.” “Pack your stuff and get out of my face,” Miss Grudge ordered. “I never wanna see your face around here again, if I do, you’ll be very sorry.” “Yes ma’am,” the girl answered, and quickly grabbed her ratty suitcase to pack. Once they were in the car, they turned the radio on, and drove out of the parking lot, to head back home to the house they shared. It was during this drive, that they realized they didn’t know the girl’s name. “What’s your name Sweetheart?” A.J. asked. “I’m A.J., in case you didn’t know.” “Lenore,” she whispered. “I know who you are, Mr. McLean.” “So, you’ve heard of us?” A.J. smiled. “Well, there’s something new we just learned.” “Mr. Carter, kindly stop staring at me and kicking my foot,” she stated. “I don’t appreciate you gawking at me, the way I did Mr. Littrell, and the rest of you, when you entered the room.” “Sorry,” Nick mumbled. “I was just playing.” She looked away then, her face going sad. “Nick,” she began. “I don’t intend to sound mean, but I’ve never been allowed to talk, more or less move, in a car. I just don’t wanna cause any trouble for y’all.” “Y’all?” Kevin queried, raising an eyebrow. “Where’d you pick that up Lil’ One? You don’t have a southern accent, so I know you’re not from Kentucky or any place like that.” “I…um…” She trailed off. “I…uh…heard Brian say it once when I was actually allowed to watch television and picked it up. Miss Grudge and her loony tunes never liked it though and punished me anytime I happened to accidentally say it.” “I’d say they were real loony tunes,” Nick chuckled. “No talking, no staring, no playing, no disrespect, and most importantly, no fun whatsoever.” She smiled a small smile. “Yeah, you kinda got the picture. You’re basically supposed to be a statue and not a kid.” “Well, you can be a kid all you want now, Sweetie,” Brian grinned. “That’s what we’re here for, to help you just be a kid.” End of flashback…