– Mom, come with us.
I looked happily at the children and my husband running around:
– I’ll just get the cake out of the oven.
I went into the kitchen and came across the photos. Memories came flooding back like an avalanche …
I was studying in a secondary school among ordinary schoolchildren. Only I was an orphan.
– Hey, Rose, where did you find such a costume? – my classmates often laughed at me.
I held on, never showed tears in front of them. But then I would run to my room and cry for hours.
– Rose, did the girls insult you again? – My teacher was always kind to me.
– Why, are they laughing at me? What is wrong with me?
She stroked my head:
– People are different. Do not measure everyone by yourself. You have a good heart – you feel sorry for everyone, you help everyone. Everyone runs to you with homework. And at school there are those who reach out to you. But not to them. Learn not to pay attention to them. Laugh, make fun of yourself. The truth will always win.
So I grew up in a constant struggle with the world around me. I hoped for a long time that the teacher would take me to her, but it did not happen. Although, I was honestly grateful to her for the fact that she to some extent replaced my mother.
After that I entered the Pedagogical Institute for preschool education – I wanted to work with children.
I graduated with honors, returned to my hometown, received housing from the state. I got a job in my orphanage as a teacher.
One day, newcomers came to us – two boys – seven and eight years old. Blond blue-eyed angels, they looked like absolutely domestic children.
– Maria, where did the new children come from?” – I asked the manager.
– This is some kind of a terrible story. Parents went to rest, and while rafting on the river, their raft overturned. At the moment they are considered missing. No relatives were found. The boys came to us straight from the children’s camp…
– Poor things…
I was touched every time a new addition came. Having spent my childhood here, I did not wish this to any of the children in the world.
Max and Andrew were in my group. I spent five days a week with them: playing, reading fairy tales and doing art. Max, the eldest, drew beautifully, could read and loved to do it. Every week I bought him a new book and saw his rare smile on his face. He understood that he would most likely never see his mom and dad again.
– Had they gone to heaven?
I looked at him and smiled sadly.
– I hope they are in the best of worlds, with angels by their side.
– My mother used to tell me the story of the Hedgehog who got lost in the fog. Do you know it?
Every time I looked at him, my heart would clench.
– I don’t remember it very well, but we can read it together. Can I bring it to you on Monday?
– That would be nice. You’re kind.
He hugged me and went to his brother.
Andrew was taking things a little more seriously than his brother. He clearly missed his family. He did not allow anyone to touch him: he did not allow to hug and stroke him. Night caregivers said that at night he often cried in his sleep, called his mother and father, shouted something. Max would run to his bed and lie down next to him, calming and hugging him.
Three months later, the court decision came. The search was stopped and the case was closed. The guys inherited an apartment, a car and a small amount in the bank. Unfortunately, they have no relatives left.
– You need to tell them about it…
For several days I was gathering strength to tell the boys. I decided to tell Max first. I left him in the dining room after lunch when no one else was there.
– Max, I want to talk to you.
– They didn’t find them?
His blue eyes once again penetrated my heart.
I nodded and held out my hands to him. The boy leaned forward and leaned into me. I felt tears rolling down my face.
– Don’t cry. They are in heaven. They’ll be all right.
I pressed him harder to me – he grew up very quickly.
With Andrew, everything was much more difficult, but Max helped me a lot. He was next to his brother and comforted him.
Time passed, and the boys grew up, I became more and more attached to them.
– Maria, I want to adopt them.
– Rose, your candidacy is not suitable: unmarried, with a small salary and modest living space.
– But I love them, and the boys love me back.
– I haven’t told you yet, but there is a couple ready to adopt them.
I jumped up and down:
– Don’t give them away, please. I’ll think of something!
– It’s not up to me. They are already collecting documents.
I ran out of the office, realizing that I could not help them. I was in despair. Thinking badly, I called Dennis. Dennis is my neighbor in the building. He often helped me with household chores: nailing, screwing, repairing. He lived alone and never refused.
– Rose, hi. Is the tap broken again?
– Marry me.
Just a minute.
– Is everything all right?
– No, everything is bad, – I answered and cried.
– Where are you?
– At work.
– I’m coming to pick you up, don’t go anywhere.
Fifteen minutes later he drove up, shoved me into the car and took me home. I cried the whole way. He was silent.
In the room he sat me in a chair and brought me a glass.
– Drink it.
Without asking what was in it, I drank it and instantly came to my senses.
– And now I’m listening to you.
I told him for an hour about my brothers and their relatives, about our relationship and about the candidates for guardians.
– Marry me. And then I’ll have a chance to adopt them. Then we will divorce.
The young man was obviously in shock.
– It sounds terrible, but…
– Not horrible, desperate. I’ll think about it.
His answer gave me hope.
When we signed, I thought about how two altruistic people could be neighbors in the stairwell. We applied for adoption and … got custody first.
I was so happy when I picked up the boys. We moved in with Dennis – his apartment was bigger than mine. Guardianship checked us regularly. And our life together turned out so that I got used to Dennis, and he to me. We became real husband and wife.
Then we bought a house – sold the apartment, and saved a little. Now it was our family nest, ready to welcome more children into its walls at any time.
– Rose, what are you doing here? Is everything all right?
Dennis came to me worriedly and patted my stomach.
– Maybe our girl is naughty?
I smiled.
– She’s sleeping for now. I was just thinking a little.
– About what?
– Do you regret what happened to us?
My husband hugged me tightly and kissed me.
– I love you. And I would have proposed to you myself if you hadn’t beaten me to it.
I laughed back.
– Mom, Dad – where are you?
The angels ran into our room and the room was filled with ringing laughter. Our house was full of happiness, the happiness of a complete loving family.
