And sorry I could not travel both - Robert Frost (The Road Not Taken)
Alfred and Matthew were now five years old. They lived in Sherwood Forest, Maryland. It was a happy day for them when their parents finally had enough to buy them the toys they always wanted. They received the toys. The police chief brought them. Matthew was given a stuffed polar bear which he named Kumajirou. Alfred had an alien toy he named Tony.
"Where's mom and dad?" Alfred asked.
"I'm sorry, kids, but they aren't coming back," they were told gently.
The next morning, they were in an orphanage. A year passed by, with the kids around them coming and going.
"Mattie," Alfred asked, throwing his six year old self on a bed.
"Alfie?"
"Do you think anybody will ever want us?"
"Someday."
"I hope we aren't separated."
"So do I."
A day later, the boys were dressed nicely because a couple was there, wanting an older child. The woman glanced around as the person beside her, the owner, nervously rattled off names and personality traits.
"That one," she pointed at Matthew.
"He has a twin brother."
"I don't care. I think they'll be fine not together."
"No!" Alfred screamed.
"I beg you, please reconsider. These boys need to stay together."
"I'll be back for Matthew and only Matthew in the morning." The couple walked away.
That night, Alfred shook Matthew awake. They gathered Tony and Kumajirou and snuck out the door of the orphanage. They wandered the streets until they came to a park. A boy their age was sitting there on their favorite bench. Alfred ran up and sat beside him.
"This is my bench, git!" The boy cried in a British accent.
"No, it's not! Your name isn't on it!"
The boy pointed at something written on the bench. Arthur Kirkland.
"That's your name?"
"Yes."
"Artie, I'm Alfie and this is Mattie."
Matthew sat on the bench also.
"What kind of names are those?" Arthur asked.
"My name is actually Matthew and his is Alfred."
"Are you a runaway, too?"
Arthur shook his head. "My parents left me here."
"Ours died." Alfred said. "Maybe the three of us should stay together. I'll be the hero and you two can be my sidekicks!"
That idea was quickly rejected. However Arthur was delighted with the prospect of company.
Enter Arthur.