Nickys happy childhood ended when he was five. One day, his parents never came to collect him from nursery. All the other children had been taken home, but the boy sat at the table, drawing himself, his mum, and his dad. The nursery teacher kept glancing at him, wiping her cheeks for some reason. Then she scooped him up, held him tight, and whispered:
“No matter what happens, you mustnt be afraid, Nicky. You have to be strong now. Understand me? Do you understand, sweetheart?”
“I want my mum,” he replied.
“Your aunt and uncle will come soon. Youll go with them, Nicky. Therell be other children therejust dont cry.” She pressed her damp face against his.
Then someone took his hand and led him to a car. When he asked when hed see his mum, they said she and his dad were far away and wouldnt be coming today. Nicky was put in a room with other boys like him. But his parents never camenot the next day, nor the day after. The boy cried himself sick, feverish with grief.
Only the nurse in her white coat spoke to him plainly after he recovered. She said his parents were very far away now, up in the sky. They couldnt come down, but they were always watching, always knowing. He must be good and stay well so they wouldnt worry.
Nicky didnt believe it. He stared at the sky and saw only birds and clouds. He decided to find them, no matter what.
First, he scoured the yard during playtime. At last, he found a gap behind a bush where the fence bars bent. He could only squeeze halfway through, so he began to dig. The earth was loose, sandysoon, a tunnel opened beneath the widest gap.
Nicky wriggled free and ran. He fled the hated orphanage (thats what the other boys called it) but got lost in the unfamiliar city. Every house looked the same. Thenon the crossing aheada woman who looked just like his mum. Same polka-dot dress, same neat blonde bun.
“Mum!” He sprinted after her.
She didnt turn.
“Mum!” He grabbed her sleeve.
The woman crouched, studying him. Nonot his mum.
Lucy had fallen in love at twenty, and it was forever. She and Peter were perfect together. Theyd met by chance at a summer dancehed shyly asked her for a slow song. They talked easily, and he never left her side, walking her home after.
They married within months. But after three years, Lucy learned she couldnt have children. Peter struggled to accept it. Endless tests, treatments, sanatoriumsuntil they faced the truth. One day, Peter suggested adopting.
Lucy loved him too much. She offered him a divorcehe was still young, could marry someone else, have his own child. Shed manage alone.
Peter refused. Hed never leave her. So Lucy hatched a plan. She confessed shed fallen out of lovethere was another man. Peter wouldnt believe it.
The next night, she didnt come home. Dawn found her smelling of wine and cologne. When Peter demanded answers, she insistedshe had a lover. At last, he agreed to the divorce.
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When Nicky called her “Mum,” Lucy had been divorced two months. She ached for Peter, worried for him. Now this strange boys voice sent her heart leaping.
“Are you lost, sweetheart?” she asked softly.
“Im looking for my mum and dad. They said theyre in the sky. But I dont believe it,” Nicky sobbed.
“Come with meI live nearby. Ill get you some cake, alright?” She took his hand.
At home, Nicky devoured the cake, washing it down with fragrant blackcurrant tea. Between bites, he told Lucy everything. He hadnt had sweets in agesthe older boys stole them. They bullied him, too, pinching and calling him names.
Lucys heart broke. “What if I took you home, Nicky? Wed live together. When youre older, youll understand. One day, youll see your parentsjust not yet.” Nicky agreed.
She called the childrens home, returned him, begged the staff to watch the boys more closely. She visited daily but couldnt take himsingle women werent allowed to adopt. For the first time, Lucy regretted the divorce. But how could she undo it?
Then she thought of Jeremy, a divorced colleague. A flirt, but respectable. If hed marry her on paper, they could adopt Nicky.
Jeremy hesitated, then agreedfor a price. Hed always fancied Lucy. Dinner, candles and more. Lucy recoiledshe still loved Peter. But that evening, she found Nicky with a black eye. The older boys had punished him for “telling.” The staff had done nothing.
The next day, Lucy accepted Jeremys terms. Saturday night, she cooked, wore the red dress he demanded, lit candles, and waited, sick with disgust. But shed promised Nicky.
The doorbell rang. Lucy dragged herself to answerand froze.
Peter stood there.
“I need to talk, Lucy. Ive been watching you. Ive never seen anyone come or go.”
Then the lift openedJeremy stumbled out, flowers in one hand, champagne in the other.
“Lu, darling”
Peters fists clenched. Without a word, he turned and vanished down the stairs.
“Peter, wait! Its not what you think!” Lucy screamed, chasing him. But he leapt onto a bus and was gone.
She returned in tears, sent Jeremy packing. What would happen to Nicky now?
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Two years later, Nick stood tall among the first-years at assembly. Smart suit, white shirt, a huge bouquet for his teacher.
His parents and little sister, Molly, had brought him. Molly wriggled in Dads arms, giggling. Mum wore Nicks favourite polka-dot dress.
It was Lucy, Peter, and their second adopted child.
Jeremy hadnt been a complete cad. Hed tracked Peter down, explained everything. The next day, Peter dragged Lucy to the registry officethey had to get Nicky.
They still visited the childrens home, bringing treats and gifts. Theyd taken Molly the moment she arrived.
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“Mum, DadIll work hard at school,” Nick whispered, gazing skyward. “Dont be sad Ive got new parents now. I love them, but theyre just till I see you.”
He knew the truth nowhis parents had died in a car crash. Hed visited their graves. Sundays, he went to Sunday school at the church. He understood about heaven.
Lucy had refused to listen to Peter, done things her way. But fate had other plansshed married him twice. Still, everyone in this story ended up happy.
