Orphans
1 Cory listened as his three-year-old brother, Stephen, snored soundly next to him. Stephen was so lucky that he didn’t know what was going on. Cory had tried to explain it to Stephen, but he had just looked at Cory all confused and replied with his usual, “Why?” It was probably better that way. At least Stephen wouldn’t have to worry. Cory ruffled his brother’s sandy, brown hair and blinked back tears.
2 Cory’s and Stephen’s parents had died in a car accident about two years ago. Cory was only eight at the time and Stephen had been one. Neither of their parents had any living relatives left, so Cory and Stephen had been sent to Ms. Rudy’s Orphanage. Ms. Rudy had always been a stern, but kind-hearted, elderly lady. She had four kids of her own who were now grown and married. She wanted to do more with her life after her own kids had married, so she had opened up Ms. Rudy’s Orphanage. Ms. Rudy hardly ever yelled at any of her orphans except for the times when they were being truly mischievous, so the boys’ life at the orphanage had been easy. They loved Ms. Rudy like a grandmother, and she loved them too.3 Ms. Rudy wanted nothing more than to make her orphans happy, so she always did her best to screen people who were looking to adopt a child from her orphanage. She had even told Cory that she would only look for a family that wanted both Stephen and Cory. However, two years had already passed, and the older the boys became, the harder it was to find a family for them. Most families only wanted a young child whom they could mold and watch grow. Stephen still had a chance, but Cory knew that no one would want to adopt his brother if they also had to take in Cory. When a young, suitable couple wanted to adopt Stephen, Cory made up his mind. He told Ms. Rudy that he was fine if they just adopted Stephen. Ms. Rudy had protested, saying that both he and Stephen could stay with her as long as they wanted, but Cory wanted his brother to have something more than the orphanage life.