"So what made you want to adopt?" Sister Violet asked as she took Mr. and Mrs. Garcia around the orphanage to see the kids.

"We've got four boys at home, but all but one are moved out. I guess we just can't stand the empty nest." Mrs. Garcia said. "We're nurturers."

"So I suppose you want a younger child?"

"Hm- not too young." Mr. Garcia said. "We ARE in our fourties."

"So, let's say... tenish?" Mrs. Garcia said.

Logan had been at the orphanage for a week. He had learned to accept Kendall's endless chatter and Katie's slight rudeness. He had also gotten a little depressed. Okay- a lot depressed.

His mother was dead. Even if she had been dead for a long time, he still missed her more than ever. His father was in jail- which wasn't a bad thing. None of his other family was reachable and wouldn't take him in anyway. He was in an orphanage where the only kids who got freed were young, cute ones with a horrid background. His only chance of freedom, from what Sister Rosemary said, is a lead to a life of harsh farm work.

He wasn't sure he WANTED to be adopted. He wasn't a child- he could take care of himself. Once he was 18, he was outta there and free.

Most of his time was spent in his room, staring at the ceiling. Kendall came in to talk a lot, trying to cheer Logan up. Sometimes he tried to get Logan to go outside and play field hockey with him and some of the kids, but Logan was never up to it.

He began doubting something he never thought he would doubt. God. Logan grew up a Christian. His mother took him to church 3 times a week, made him say his prayers at dinner and before bed, took him to Sunday and Wednesday school at the church, and read the bible with him like a storybook. Back then, his father wasn't a drunken bastard. He and his mother taught Logan that when all hope is gone, God is there for him.

So where is God now?

Why didn't God make his dad accept his homosexuality? God accepted him... Right? Logan had always been taught that God accepted all his children the way they were. Why didn't God make his father stop beating his mother so she would live? Why didn't God make his father stop beating HIM? Why didn't God drive his aunt to the orphanage to get him? Why didn't God help him?

And furthermore, why didn't God help Kendall and Katie? Kendall was a GOOD person, and yet he'd been at the orphanage for four years.

Logan was sitting in his bed, reading the Bible quietly. He knew it was sinful to question God. So he tried to drive the thoughts away with the reassuring words of his Book. Camille tried not to say much about his constant reading. Or his kneeling before his bed in prayer before bed. Or the fact that he prayed at dinner when nobody else did. But in reality, it made her a bit uncomfortable. Like she was a bad person for NOT praying.

Anyway, Logan was reading, clutching the old book tightly, when he heard voices coming. He figured it was Kendall and his younger hockey buddies- who were all ten to fourteen- coming to try to recruit Logan again. He shook his head and went on with his business.

"And in here is Logan. He's only been here for a week, but he's VERY loyal to his religion, see." Sister Violet said. A Latino looking man and woman stood in the doorway and waved. Logan waved half-heartedly.

"Logan, why aren't you outside with your friends? They're having a lot of fun out there." Sister Violet said.

"They're not really my friends. Only Kendall." Logan said quietly. "And I don't really like hockey."

As the adults walked off, Logan heard Sister violet murmur to them.

"Poor child. Not old enough to be on his own, but not young enough to even be considered for adoption. His father was a horrid man- I'm actually surprised he's still alive." she whispered. "He's always just locked up in that room- praying and reading that Bible."

Mr. and Mrs. Garcia and Sister Violet returned to the office where they sat down.

"So did anyone capture your heart today?" Sister Violet asked.

Mr. and Mrs. Garcia looked at each other in doubt.

"All the children seem to have a great chance to be adopted soon... Just not by us." Mr. Garcia said in his Hispanic accent.

"Now wait a second." Mrs. Garcia said suddenly. "What about that one kid? The one who was reading the bible in his room?"

"Logan? But Logan is seventeen years old- only one year separates him from adulthood." Sister Violet said.

"I thought we agreed on a KID." Mr. Garcia said.

"But he NEEDS us. And I'm sure he could teach Carlos a thing or two about behaving himself." Mrs. Garcia said.

"Oh- Carlos would make that kid's life HELL." Mr. Garcia said.

"Not MY Carlos." Mrs. Garcia said smartly. "Maybe YOURS. But not MINE."

"So... Logan Mitchell?" Sister Violet asked.

Logan was sitting beneath the big oak tree an hour later. Kendall convinced him finally to come out and at least WATCH them play hockey.

Sister Rosemary came up and squatted before him.

"Logan?" she asked. His dark eyes raised to her.

"You've been adopted." she said happily. Logan's brows furrowed.

"By who?" he asked.

"By Mr. and Mrs. Garcia. You leave as soon as you're ready." she said. Logan slowly got up and followed her back to his room, where most of his things were already packed up anyway.

"Logan?" came a familiar voice. Logan turned to see Katie standing in the room as he zipped up his suitcase.

"Where're you going?" she asked.

"I've been adopted." Logan said quietly. He had no idea how he felt about this.

"Really? That's great!" Katie said happily. Logan moved to the window to see Kendall still playing hockey out in the grass.

"Would you tell Kendall... Tell him I'm sorry that I left without saying goodbye. And that he's really a great guy and I hope he has a great life." Logan said sadly. He really did feel bad for just leaving.

"Kendall doesn't know?" Katie asked.

"No." Logan sighed. "Give em a hug for me."

Logan then hugged Katie and took his suitcase. She walked him down to Sister Violet's office and waved goodbye.

"Logan, this is Sylvia and Roberto Garcia." Sister Violet said. Logan shook their hands.

"You can call me Papi." Mr. Garcia said.

Logan gave him a halfhearted smile.

"Well, all the paperwork's done." Sister Violet said. "Are you ready to go, Logan?"

Logan nodded and picked up his suitcase, following the couple out.

They didn't talk much on the way home. Just small talk about the rest of the Garcia's.

"You'll love Carlos. He's such a sweety." Mrs. Garcia said from the front seat. "He's about your age."

Logan thought about this. He would have a brother? He's never had any siblings.

"And the other boys- Javi, Antonio, and Andres- they're sweet, too. But they're all out of the nest now." Mrs. Garcia said.

Finally they arrived at a moderate sized yellow house and parked in the driveway.

"This is it." Mr. Garcia said, unbuckling his seatbelt.

Logan was lead inside- the house smelled like flowery candles and was moderately clean inside.

"CARLOS?" Mrs. Garcia called.

Soon a boy, shorter than Logan, and Latino looking came out, followed by a tall tan boy with long dark hair and hazel eyes.

"James, I thought I told you to go home by the time we were back." Mrs. Garcia said impatiently.

"I'm sorry, Sylvia. I lost track of time." the boy said.

"Anyway, this is Logan. He's the new member of our family." Mrs. Garcia said, a hand on Logan's back. The Latino looking one stepped forward and slowly shook Logan's hand, then the other boy shook his hand faster.

"Logan, this is Carlos- our youngest." Mr. Garcia said, then gestured to the bigger boy. "And that's his friend, James."

"I thought you were getting a KID." Carlos said, confused.

"We were. But we came back with Logan and there's nothing wrong with that. RIGHT?" Mrs. Garcia said. "Anyway, you boys show Logan around- make him COMFORTABLE. He's been through a lot."

Logan was reluctant to follow the two boys down a hallway across the room. He was afraid. He wanted to go back to the orphanage. He didn't like it here.

So I'm sorry if you're adopted and you're totally offended by this. I don't know jack about the adoption process... And I'm pretty sure that was completely inaccurate. :P

Review! :))