Chapter 3: Good Dog

Upon hearing the word 'adopted,' Elli's body went numb. She knew the Playcare was an onsite orphanage in the Playtime, Co., factory where kids like her got adopted by new families. But in recent years, she noticed the kids who got adopted tended to be younger than her making her question if she was getting too old for adoption.

"Honestly, I wasn't expecting it," Kayla said, looking away in embarrassment. "My scores on these games have been average as of late. So I didn't think anyone would want to adopt me. But then Mommy informed me this morning just before we went on the cable car, and I wasn't sure how to tell you guys since you're my closest friends. I hope you're not…mad."

"No, I'm not mad," Elli said, fighting back the urge to cry. "I'm actually really happy for you."

"Really?" Kayla hugged Elli. "Thank you so much!"

"Should I tell Rez and Nathan about it?"

"No, I'll tell everyone at dinner. Can you keep it a secret until then?"

"You bet!"

After the kids finished Statues, Mommy escorted them back to the train. From there they returned to the Playcare Orphanage with its fake clouds, painted skies, and a big light above that acted as a substitute for the sun. Apart from the Home Sweet Home house, there were other buildings in the dome such as a small school, a counselor's office that looked like a government building, a playhouse that resembled a circus tent from the outside, and a central park which had a large statue depicting eight anthropomorphic animal toys. While Mommy took another group of kids into the cable car, Elli and her group were taken back to Home Sweet Home by a bipedal orange dog toy wearing a collar with a sun-shaped charm.

"Welcome back, angels," said the dog-like toy as a male voice came from its constantly grinning mouth. "Did you have a good time at the Game Station?"

"Sure did, DogDay!" Rez said. "I finally beat the Wack-a-Wuggy game!"

"Good for you, Rez," said DogDay. "How did you do, Elli?"

"Oh, I just beat Statues," Elli muttered.

"You don't sound happy about it," DogDay noticed.

"No, I'm fine," Elli lied.

DogDay stopped at the porch to Home Sweet Home and sniffed Elli's face with his nose, causing Elli to giggle.

"I can smell your unhappiness," DogDay said, and put a paw on Elli's shoulder. "Let's walk around a bit. We'll join up with the rest of you soon enough."

Rez and Nathan nodded in understanding as they herded the younger children in their group back into Home Sweet Home, leaving Elli and DogDay alone. So Elli did as DogDay suggested and they walked around the park's statue past the dinosaur-shaped lamps and neatly trimmed hedges.

"Kayla told me she's getting adopted today," Elli said. "And I want to be happy for her, but…I'm not. Does that make me a bad person?"

"No, angel," DogDay replied. "You've been wanting to get adopted for many years, so you're naturally envious of the kids who do."

"Yeah, it makes me wonder why no one wants to adopt me. I thought I was a good kid…."

"But you are, Elli. You're a shining star! So don't ever let that brightness die out—even in the darkest of times."

Elli was touched by DogDay's kind words, causing her to burst into tears. "Thanks, DogDay. You're the best toy a kid could ask for."

After hugging DogDay, Elli dried her eyes and went into Home Sweet Home. She changed out of her yellow t-shirt and tan shorts into an identical clothing set. Everyone was eating a big lunch consisting of various sandwiches, lemonade, apples, and cookies. But when one of the kids tried to take a second cookie, he was stopped by Nathan.

"We're supposed to only have one cookie each, remember?" Nathan said.

"Sorry," the little tan-skinned boy apologized, withdrawing his hand.

"It's nothing personal, Pete," Rez interjected. "We just wouldn't want Mommy to scold you if she found out you took more than one cookie."

"How would she find out?" Pete asked. "She's not here right now."

"Oh, she'll know," Elli said. "There was one time when I tried to hide a paperweight I stole from Miss Delight's desk at school and she found it immediately."

"Did you get in trouble with Miss Delight?" Pete asked with a nervous expression. "She scares me more than Mommy does."

"Mommy decided to put the paperweight back before Miss Delight realized it was gone, so it all worked out," Elli replied. "But then Mommy sent me to my room without dinner."

"Could've been worse," said Nathan. "I heard Samuel was locked in his room by Mommy for trying to use the cable car without permission."

"That was before he got adopted by the Lee family, right?" Elli recalled.

"Yep," Nathan confirmed.

Elli was then reminded of Kayla's adoption and remained quiet for the rest of lunch. A loud bell suddenly rang from outside, causing Elli and the others to head to the school where a human-sized doll stood near the front entrance. She had medium blonde hair, red dots on her cheeks, and wore a red-and-white polka dot dress with a yellow top.

"Good afternoon, kids!" the doll smiled. "Ready for another day of learning with my sisters?"

"Yes, Miss Delight!" the kids said in unison.

"Excellent!" The doll then walked down the school's hallway. "Remember not to run in the hallways and always ask for a hall pass if you need to use the restroom. And if you see any factory employees in the hallway, do not approach or speak with them! Understood?"

"Yes, Miss Delight!"

From there, the kids were split into several classrooms taught by dolls that looked identical to Miss Delight. They received lessons on a variety of subjects from Math to Anatomy. Soon it was dinnertime and the kids left the school. A shared meal of roast beef, sweet potatoes, mixed vegetables, and bread rolls topped with butter waited for them at the dining table.

The other group of kids who went with Mommy to the cable car earlier were already present, while Mommy herself stood at the head of the table. But before the kids started eating, Mommy got the kids' attention by clinging her glass of sparkling cranberry juice with a knife.

To be continued…