Chapter 8 Lost and found: New home and new family, found.

Although my adoption was agreed in mid-December, January came and went with few changes. I was very torn between my current and my new home. Everyone agreed I should have an extended transition and with me in tow, the two fathers set about planning a transfer programme just like soccer players have.

I was s0 happy when Mr Collier told me,' You can always call us if you need to,' and then gave me a card with their name, address and telephone number on it to put in my memory box.

Mrs Collier patted me on the head and congratulated me on being her bravest Baby Bird when I told her I would try living with Dr and Mr Trevelyan-Grey if it was fine with her.

I drew pictures asking Mrs Collier for her recipes for Macaroni Cheese and rack of lamb which she cooks most weekends over Autumn using their own sheep.

Mrs Collier and the twins gathered photos which everyone signed and dated on the back. Everyone except Jack.

The twins added a music cassette to the box with music we had listened to on wet weekend days.

'Wanna guess what's on it three times?' they asked me three times.

I raised my eyebrows and made the Makaton sign for bird - opening and closing my thumb and index finger together.

'Good one, Baby Bird, Jerry said.' Darius laughed and said to Jerry, 'I told you he would get it. You're so clever, Baby Bird. We're gonna miss you.'

I mimicked what Mr Collier does when he doesn't like something by covering my face and then smiling. The song Freebird by Will Power is not one of my real favourites, but it will remind me of card games around the table when the rain was pounding the roof and the twins were, as always, laughing about everything and nothing.

A leftover roll of lining paper was brought into service to draw up each week's activities. Over the next eight or so weeks, I would pack some of my things on Friday, travel to Seattle, with Mr Collier or Mr Trevelyan-Grey, by plane, staying for one day and night in the first week, two in the second and so on.

If I was unhappy, I knew I could always go back to one day and one night and start again. I also knew that I would still see the Colliers from time to time.

I became extremely excited when Grace asked me to help her choose paint colours and linen for my new bedroom.

And so, it went for five weeks.

After six weeks, no one was more surprised than Jack when I left my things in Seattle and announced I was ready to move in for good.

On my last night, Mrs Collier made my favourite macaroni cheese with juicy pieces of bacon in it.

The next day, before I left, I gave her a kiss on her cheek, shook Mr Collier's hand and waved at the twins.

I blushed as a single tear ran down my face.

I never told how Jack had taunted me mercilessly, day in day out, calling me a maggot, saying I was too chicken and far too stupid to go and to be happy with the Trevelyan-Grey family. He was nearly right. But…

Acknowledgements

Many thanks are due to those poor family members and friends who walked the treacle of this journey with me over and over. God bless you.

P.S. Standby though, there is so much more to come. 😊

Gifting

The charities below will benefit from a 10% donation for each version of this story that is sold.

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Makaton

If you are interested in the Makaton tool used and adapted by Mary Collier, please visit the website below

aboutMakaton/

Final message

Paulette Holmes aka GAP, AP, Miss P, Miss Milverton-Spencer and Mama P, and Blue Bell and Eagle Publishing hopes you enjoyed reading these stories and welcomes your comments.

Children Learn What They Live
By Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Copyright © 1972 by Dorothy Law Nolte

Total story word count 11551 Page 7 of 7