Oh, no, now what? Will the testing never end?

Mom took Loopy over to the love seat and sat down. “We have a birthday present for you, Doug.”

A birthday present?

That got my attention. I ran over and sat next to Mom.

Zoe threw all her cold weather clothes on the floor and plopped down on the couch. Doug just stood in the middle of the room. “Ah, you didn’t have to get me another thing. That food bucket was the best!”

Dad sat down next to Zoe and opened the file. “Doug, we’ve been praying and planning and asking a lot of questions of your social worker . . .”

Doug narrowed his eyes. “My social worker?”

“And we went to visit your grandma,” Mom added.

Doug smiled. “Really? Wow. I love my gram. I miss her a bunch.”

“And she misses you.” Dad stood up and walked toward Doug. “And, it’s very interesting, but did you know that when you turn twelve, you have a little more say in where you want to live?”

Doug shrugged. “I do? I knew turning twelve was going to be cool.”

Dad nodded. “Oh, it’s cool all right. Anyway, we’d like to offer you a home here, with us.”

“You’d like to offer me a home? Here? With you?”

“That’s what I said, Doug.”

Doug looked around. “For how long?”

“As long as you want. Now, I know we’re not a perfect family—”

“Especially Arcade,” Zoe said.

“. . . but if you think you can stand us, we’d like to begin the adoption process.”

Doug stood there, speechless. Actually, we all were. It was a moment I’ll never forget.

Finally, Doug cracked a smile. “I’d love to live with you guys.” Then he turned to me. “Dude, Santa works fast.”

I don’t think it was Santa, Doug. You just got a Manhattan Miracle.

Chapter 38
Bye, Bye, Flames

“Zoe! How’s it look up there?”

“Ugh, this is SO embarrassing, Arcade!”

Flames munched shrimp while riding in Milo’s cage, covered with a blanket. Doug and I pulled him in an old wagon we found in our storage room.

“We’re going to get you outside for a little sunshine, my friend.”

Zoe walked in front of us, scouting out empty paths in the Ramble. “I really don’t know how you plan to keep him hidden from people.”

“It’s early on Black Friday, Zoe. Everyone’s out shopping.”

The Ramble was quiet. It seemed that even the birds were huddled up somewhere else.

“Can flamingos stand the cold?” Zoe shivered, and pulled the collar of her coat up.

“Yes! They can. According to my library book, Feisty Flamingos, as long as they have room to roam and lots of food, they can be happy in any climate.”

“Yeah, well, we’re running out of shrimp.” Doug scratched his head. “We’re gonna have to get another donation from Dooley’s brother pretty soon.”