Timothy, a Chapter 10 Side Story.

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Kit was already nine years old at the time he ran away from Freeport and if Kit was being honest with himself, he had never seen an older kid get adopted. Potential parents only wanted babies or toddlers. Occasionally there were those who wanted to skip diapers and would take home a preschooler. And then there was that one-time Kit remembered that a six-year-old named Timothy had managed to mouse his way out of there.

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Timothy, a golden-brown cougar cub with a long tail wearing a pair of dark brown pants and a white sleeveless shirt was a tall boy who had somehow grown to over four feet by the time he was midway through first grade. He had been tailing a young couple that was looking to adopt an infant ever since they had walked in the door. For the next four and a half hours he had attentively and quietly followed them everywhere they went. He stood by them at attention, his posture perfect as they watched the other children play on the playground; sacrificing his own daily playtime for a splinter of a chance at being selected. He was there when they went to the nursery where the babies were kept, he was careful not to make a sound as they picked out a babe to take far from this home for the unwanted and discarded; he saw them look at him more than once out of the corner of their eyes and he responded with a pleading smile. He followed and was listening as they discussed legalities with the principal of the Orphanage, Mr. Barkley while they strolled down the hallway. They grinned at him as he puffed up his chest and flexed his arms as he marched at their side to make himself look as strong possible so as to display that he was the best candidate in the whole orphanage to help the young couple with whatever tough chores they may have around their homestead that demanded a "man's" attention. And he purred when the couple scratched his head right before they entered Mr. Barkley's office, leaving him just outside the door wondering if his menial efforts had been enough.

Timothy had been as well behaved as he possibly could and hadn't spoken a word all day, he was well aware that many adults held the view that children were meant to be seen and not heard. And so, in order to be seen but not heard, he patiently waited on the bench just outside the door to Mr. Barkley's office that was typically reserved for those kids that were awaiting punishment for some trespass against the rules, his hands clasped together in his lap and his back straight, his head slightly bowed; appearances were everything and he could not chance looking sloppy if someone turned the corner. He did not speak, he only waited and fantasized about having parents that loved him. He didn't even notice the looks of the other children that passed him by as they went about their daily business; their whispers far from his mind. He waited and prayed and waited and prayed for an impossible miracle but when the door opened and he saw that same infant in their hands from the nursery and heard Mr. Barkley's words, he made his last move regardless of the consequences.

"Congratulations Mom & Dad" he said with an upbeat yet still professional voice, "you are parents now."

"Nooooooooooo!" Timothy cried out as he lunged toward the new mother and buried his face in her dress, wrapping his arms around her, his claws harmlessly latching onto the fabric, his tail turned and wrapped around his right leg and the woman's left, "You are my last chance!" He started to weep as he spoke though the tears of yet another broken heart that was now faced with the lonely fear of the inevitable future that lay before an orphan who was now "too old", his loud voice coming as a shock to the three adults in the immediate area. "I'll do anything! Please, take me with you!" His legs were trembling as Mr. Barkley and the new father attempted to pry him off of the woman.

"Wait." She said with the forgiving voice of an angel of mercy, placing her delicate left hand across Timothy's back, pulling him closer to her, her right hand still holding the cooing infant. She could feel the desperation in his trembling body running up her leg just as sure as she had heard it laced heavily upon his words. "Reginald, can weeee…..?"

Mr. Barkley and Reginald, the husband and new father, each removed their hands from the crying boy and took a step back. He looked at his wife with a slightly disapproving frown which displayed that although he didn't appreciate being put on the spot, he was considering what he knew she was asking. "Margret" he said with his slow deep raspy voice, addressing her with his arms folded, "are you sure? We already have one now" he gestured with his eyes to the baby girl in her arms, "are you positive you can handle two?"

"I know how to change diapers!" Timothy said, his shaking voice muffled by the fabric of the dress his face was pressed into. Truthfully, Timothy had only ever changed one diaper in his life and it had been a disaster. He had poked his thumb with the safety pin while putting it on which caused him to jump and stick his dirty thumb in his mouth which then caused him to accidentally discover the unique taste of baby poop. But eventually, he was successful in changing the diaper; that is, after getting over a fit of gagging, and washing his own mouth out with soap at the nursery sink which was a terrible idea in and of itself because then he had to rinse the bitter soap out of his mouth. All in all, the entire diaper changing process lasted approximately twelve minutes and left Timothy unsure which tasted worse, the soap or the poop. Nevertheless, Timothy never volunteered in the nursery again.

The three adults looked down at the boy as he interrupted the moment before returning to their conversation. "Mr. Reginald, Mrs. Margret" Mr. Barkley spoke as Mrs. Margret nodded to her husband with approval, his hands clasped in front of him, "am I to understand that you are considering adopting little Timothy as well?"

"Looks that way." Mr. Reginald saw the future in front of him. His beautiful wife, his daughter she was holding, and now, his bold risk taking soon-to-be-son. He let out a sigh as if surrendering the logic of his mind to the love in his heart, "Let's get back in your office and sign those papers before someone changes their mind."

"Very well. The good news is that it will be much quicker this time; all we must do is tag Timothy onto your other forms, which reminds me." Mr. Barkley knelt down to Timothy's level to speak with him. "Timothy, it's your lucky day. Go upstairs and gather your belongings."

Timothy had been listening, though his face was now turned to his left to look Mr. Barkley in the eyes. He was now shaking with a combination of joy, anticipation, and apprehension. "I-don't-need-it!" he quickly blurted out still latched onto his alleged new mother's dress.

"Now, Timothy," scolded Mr. Barkley, "you've been very well behaved all day. Don't start your new life off on the wrong foot. You've made an impression here with these folks, don't make them think twice on it. Be a good boy and go gather your belongings."

Timothy's voice trembled and his grip tightened as he gently panicked while giving words to his concern, his feet briefly running in place, "But, I don't want them to leave without me!"

Mr. Barkley's face softened with the response. No matter how many times he saw a new family formed, it still hurt his heart to see how scared the children were that their new parents might change their minds and leave them behind. He couldn't say he blamed them; he had seen it happen too many times before. The child had been selected, the papers had been signed, and in the time it took for the excited and accepted child to pack their things, the new prospective parents would get cold feet and run off, leaving their selected child's hopes and dreams to crumble and break upon the floor of rejection; and for Mr. Barkley to pick up the pieces in a vein effort to comfort them. No kid ever gets over that kind of rejection, not really. He had become the principal here because he had thought he could make a difference, he thought he could be a hero, but he had been deluding himself, there were no heroes here. Orphanages existed in a world without heroes and the children that lived in them lived in a world without a sun, running every day in a never-ending race against time and each other, they couldn't look up to anyone in this sad and timeless place, for the world they lived in was devoid of mercy and grace. So, what if the "parents" had signed the legal papers to adopt, what could he do? Force the "parents" to take the child home? What kind of home would he be sending them to? What kind of life would they have? Would the child even make it home or would they be dumped off on the side of the road? This orphanage was where unwanted children ended up, at least here he could somewhat protect them. And so, he would do what he always did with the signed paperwork of cold-feet-parents. He would tear it up and burn it in the furnace and forget about it. Love may be in short supply in orphanages, but it was always better than a home with none.

Margret's soft voice took command of the situation, "Reginald, Mr. Barkley, go sign the papers. I will accompany Timothy upstairs, and then this new family will all leave together." She looked down upon her new son, he was looking up at her, his chin resting upon two wet spots on her dress, "Aww, there it is" she said with the most soothing voice he had ever heard, wiping the tears off his cheeks with her thumb, "I knew a smile would pop out eventually."

-END Timothy, a Chapter 10 Side Story-