When the nurse handed him the stack of files at the community health centre, she barely glanced at him. Take these and follow me, she said, waving a hand toward the clinic, then the phone rang and she fled, muttering, You sort yourself out. She never imagined that, seeing his own surname on a file, Sam Ivy would open the folder and read the letter his mother had written eleven years ago, a formal refusal after learning her baby was born with a disability.
In the orphanage, every child clings to the hope of a parents return, but Sam had stopped waiting. He stopped crying too. An invisible steel shell had hardened around his heart, shielding him from the cruelty of other children, from loneliness, from unkindness.
The home followed its own traditions. On the eve of Christmas, the children each wrote a letter to Father Christmas. The headmistress passed the letters to local benefactors, who tried their best to grant the wishes. Some of those letters even reached a nearby RAF squadron. Most of the children asked for the same miracle: to find a mum and a dad. The officers who opened the letters were baffled, scratching their heads over what gifts to choose.
One afternoon, Group Captain Chapman, an aircraft engineer, found a crumpled envelope among his papers. He slipped it into the pocket of his flight jacket, intending to read it later with his wife and daughter to decide what to buy for the child.
That evening, as the family sat down for dinner, he remembered the letter, tore it open, and read aloud: Dear adults, if you can, please give me a laptop. No need for toys or clothes. We have everything else here. On the internet I could find friends, maybe even relatives. The note was signed, Sam Ivy, 11.
His wife smiled, Well, isnt that clever? He can connect with anyone he needs online.
Their daughter, Emily, frowned, read the letter again, and sighed. Dad, she said, he doesnt really expect to find his parents. They arent there. The laptop is just his escape from being alone. He writes find friends or relativeseven strangers could become family. Lets use my savings, buy him a laptop, and give it to him together.
The Christmas celebration in the orphanage carried on as usual: a performance, then Father Christmas and Mrs. Claus lit the tree, followed by sponsors handing out gifts. Occasionally, some children were taken on short holidays by families.
Sam, as always, expected nothing. He had learned that only the pretty girls got attention; the boys were left unnoticed. He had written the letter simply because everyone else did. Yet that night, among the guests, he spotted a man in a pilots uniform. His heart fluttered, then he turned away, breathing shallowly. He accepted a small bag of sweets and, limping slightly, headed for the exit.
Sam Ivy! a voice called, and he turned. Standing behind him was the very pilot he had just seen. Sam froze, unsure what to do.
Hello, Sam, the pilot said, stepping forward. We received your letter and want to give you a present. First, lets get acquainted. Im Andrew Whitaker, but you can call me Uncle Andrew.
Beside him stood a tall, graceful woman. Im Aunt Nancy, she said.
A teenage girl with a bright smile stepped forward. Im Emily, she added. Were your age, you know.
And Im Sam, he replied, his voice cracking.
Emily opened a box and handed it to him. Heres from us. Come with us to a room; well show you how to use the laptop.
They entered an empty study where the older children usually did their homework. Emily demonstrated how to power the machine on and off, how to log in, how to browse, and she set up an account for him on a popular social network. Uncle Andrew sat nearby, offering advice only when needed. Sam felt the warmth, the strength, and the protection emanating from them.
The girl chattered like a magpie, but Sam noted she wasnt a whiner; she was savvy with the laptop and also active in a local sports club. When they said goodbye, Aunt Nancy embraced him, her perfume a sweet, lingering trace that made Sams throat tighten. He stood frozen for a heartbeat, then exhaled, turned, and walked down the corridor.
Well come back, I promise! Emily shouted.
From that moment Sams life changed irrevocably. He no longer cared about nicknames or the taunts of other boys. The internet opened a world of knowledge. He had long been fascinated by aircraft; he learned that the first massproduced British transport plane was the Hawker Siddeley Andover, designed by Sir George Hawker, and that the smaller AndoverC variant came later.
On weekends Uncle Andrew and Emily visited. Sometimes they went to the circus, played arcade games, or shared ice cream. Sam often felt shy, embarrassed that they paid for everything.
One crisp morning, the headmistress called him into her office. He entered to find Aunt Nancy waiting, her eyes soft but uneasy.
Sam, she said, Natalie Thompson wants to give you two days off with her. If you agree, Ill sign you out.
Sam, today is Aviation Day, the headmistress continued. Uncle Andrews squadron is holding a big celebration. Hes inviting you to the airshow. Will you go?
Sam nodded vigorously, unable to form words.
The pleasure is mine, Aunt Nancy replied, signing the permission slip. Hand in hand, they left the office.
Their first stop was a highstreet clothing store, where Sam tried on new jeans and a shirt. Noticing his wornout trainers, Aunt Nancy led him to the shoe department. His left and right feet required different sizes, a small but frustrating problem.
Its all right, she reassured him. After the event well visit a specialist and get custom orthotics. One pair will have a special sole so youll walk level, almost without a limp, and no one will notice.
Next they swung by a barbers, then returned home to fetch Emily. For the first time Sam stepped beyond the orphanage walls, never having lived in a family home before. The scent of home, the cozy hum of a livedin space, wrapped around him. He perched on the edge of a sofa and surveyed the room. Directly opposite him towered a massive aquarium, fish gliding in vibrant colorssomething hed only ever seen on television.
Im ready, Emily said, taking his hand. Lets go; Mum will be waiting.
They rode the lift down to the parking lot, where a small boy at a sandpit shouted, Look, a lanternbearer, a lanterncarrier!
Hold on a second, Emily called, kneeling beside him.
At that instant Sam watched her whirl, and the boy tumbled into the sand, laughing.
Whats that about? he asked, lying on his back. Just a joke.
Save it for somewhere else, Emily replied with a grin.
The airfield glowed with banners and painted planes. Uncle Andrew greeted them, leading Sam toward a gleaming silver aircraft. The sheer size of the machine stole Sams breath; his soul trembled at its power. Soon the airshow began. Crowds cheered, arms waved, voices rose in exhilaration. When Uncle Andrews jet roared overhead, Emily shouted, Dads flying! Dad!
Sam leapt forward, shouting, Dad! Look, Dads up there! He didnt notice Emilys sudden silence as she watched her mother, who quietly wiped away tears.
After dinner, Uncle Andrew sat beside Sam, his arm around his shoulders.
We believe everyone belongs in a family, he said softly. Only within a family can you truly learn to love, protect, and be loved. Would you like to be part of ours?
A tight knot rose in Sams throat, choking his breath. He pressed close to the man and whispered, Dad, Ive waited for you forever.
A month later, a jubilant Sam said goodbye to the orphanage. He descended the steps proudly, hand clasped in his fathers, his limp barely noticeable. At the gate he turned, waved to the children and staff watching from the porch.
Now we cross this line, his father said, and a new life begins. Forget the bad things that happened here, but remember those who helped you survive. Be grateful to them always.
Sam nodded, his eyes shining with a mix of hope and resolve, stepping into the world beyond the orphanages walls.
