Chapter 3 - A Change of Plan

Inside the hall, Elizabeth led him to a perfect blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy. "This is Tom. He's twelve. We've been talking and I think he'll be perfect for us!"

He was tall for twelve and well built. Strong. He must have been newly orphaned, one of the children picked up at the last stop. Definitely Viking stock, David thought wryly.

He held out a hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Tom. I'm David."

"Good to meet you, sir."

Elizabeth beamed with happiness. "I talked to the approval committee and everything has been arranged. Tom will be coming home with us and joining our family."

David took another look at Tom, his new son. He looked strong and good, like an illustration of the perfect child in a magazine. David couldn't help but think that he was probably also rather boring. He'd found that sometimes with attractive people; they didn't have to try to get people to like them. He talked to him for a few minutes and the boy's responses confirmed his fear. After Hannibal, Tom seemed dull.

David looked around the room and saw that Hannibal had come back inside. He was in the process of stealing cookies from a plate set out for the potential parents.

David suddenly knew what he wanted to do. Grabbing his wife's hand, he said, "Elizabeth, can I speak to you for a minute? Excuse us, Tom, we'll be right back."

He led her a little away. "Elizabeth, this boy, Tom… he's everything you wanted in a son, is that right?"

She looked back at the boy, jubilant. "Oh yes! He's perfect!"

He swallowed. He knew she wasn't going to like what he was going to say, but for once, he really wanted something as well. "But he's not what I want."

Her mouth dropped open. "But David, we discussed it, it's all arranged..."

"I know and I'm sorry. I'm not saying we won't take Tom and give him a good home - we will, and we'll love him like our own."

She looked relieved, but confused. "So, what are you saying?"

"I got talking to another boy. I like him, Beth. He..." He stopped himself just in time. He'd been about to say that Hannibal reminded him of his father, but he remembered that Elizabeth had heard all the stories about their disreputable relative. She had not been impressed.

"He's a bright kid, he makes me laugh."

She stared at him, still not understanding.

"I want to take him as well."

She looked at him in shock. "But David, we only talked about getting one! What about the expense? One's hard enough, but to take on two..."

"My sister will help at first while we're adjusting. They do just fine with their brood. Their farm's smaller than ours and they have five to raise! If they can manage with five, then we can do it with two. Please, Beth, say yes. For me."

She thought for a moment and then shook her head in contrast to her words. "Of course, David, if it means that much to you. Where is he? I looked around, but I didn't see you talking to anyone."

She looked back toward the sea of hopeful orphans. David glanced around as well and saw Hannibal looking out the window. He seemed to feel David's eyes on him and he turned. David motioned for him to come over.

Elizabeth couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the boy the David wanted to adopt. He looked even worse close up. He was tall but thin. His hair was too long and his clothes were shabby and, for some reason, he was barefoot. Although most of the children seemed to be trying to look their best, his face was dirty and his hair was messy. He was so completely different to Tom.

He looked at them curiously.

"Hannibal, I'd like you to meet my wife, Elizabeth. Elizabeth, this is Hannibal."

"Hannibal?" she said, disbelievingly. They were going to adopt a boy named Hannibal?

"Pleased to meet you, ma'am." Hannibal seemed to realize that it was probably best not to offer his hand, which like the rest of him was filthy.

"How old are you, Hannibal?" She was really going to have to do something about that name…

"Eight, ma'am." He wondered why she was asking him all these questions. They'd already found their dream child, he knew they couldn't possibly be interested in him. "I see you picked Tom. He'll be perfect for you. I heard he lived on a farm before."

Elizabeth smiled at that. "Do you know him?"

"Not really. We only picked him up at the last stop."

"Yes, he said his parents died just recently. What about your parents?"

Hannibal looked down at his feet. "They've been gone a while."

Well, thought David, that explained the boy's appearance. He looked pleadingly at his wife.

Elizabeth sighed. This child was a long way from what she'd wanted, but she couldn't deny that he was well spoken and he couldn't help the way he looked. She still had Tom, who was everything she'd dreamed of. She supposed she could expand her dream a little to accommodate this boy, if it would make David happy.

"Well, that's very sad for you, but it seems that loss will be our gain. Now if you want to gather your things and say your goodbyes, I'll go and take care of the paperwork."

Hannibal stared at her for a moment, not sure what she was saying.

David felt a pang when he saw how wary the boy was. "We want you come home with us, Hannibal, and be part of our family. Would you like that?"

Hannibal's eyes widened and he nodded, but he still stood staring at them, disbelieving, suspecting a trick.

Elizabeth felt her heart soften. "Quickly now, Hannibal. We want to be on the road before it gets too late, and we have a lot to do."

Hannibal looked to David for confirmation, still unsure.

David grinned. "Hurry now, son. Do as your mother tells you!"

Hannibal smiled at that and Elizabeth couldn't believe the change. Oh, the problems they would have later with the girls, with Tom's nordic good looks and Hannibal's million-dollar smile!

Since they'd already been approved for Tom's adoption, it was very easy to take Hannibal as well.

Elizabeth asked them what they knew about the boy and they told her that he'd been with them for just over a year. He'd been living on the streets of New York and the police had caught him stealing some fruit from a market stall. That was when they found out that his parents were gone.

One of the women, a sour looking matron, overheard and leaned in to join the conversation. "Are you sure about this, Mrs. Heyes? The boy's a handful. He's always trying to run away, and I've had to beat him many times for stealing food from the kitchen and getting into fights with the bigger lads."

Elizabeth felt a surge of anger. Most of the children looked like they needed more food and if he was going to fight, then a least he wasn't picking on anyone smaller.

Hannibal came up to her in time to hear this and his heart sank. He knew it was too good to be true. He could feel her anger building and he took a step back as she stood up.

She turned and put out a hand to him. He flinched, expecting a blow, and was surprised to find her clutching his grubby hand tightly in her own.

"Then how fortunate it is that he'll never need to steal food again! Are we finished? Can I take him now?"

The other woman nodded as Elizabeth Heyes led her new son out into the daylight.