Alice has always dreaded the days when prospective adoptive parents come into the childrens home. For the seven years shes lived here, not once has anyone chosen her.
When she was little, she used to look forward to those days, watching the well-dressed ladies and gentlemen with a sort of fascination. They seemed like magicians, ready to whisk her away to some grand house. She dreamed of a new mum who would kiss her goodnight, and a new dad who would lift her onto his shoulders. She imagined having her own room, and never having to see Tom againthe irritating boy who was always tugging her plaits and calling her Pip.
Alice didnt know what Pip meant, but it sounded terribly unkind. Tom never stopped:
Pip! Pip! hed jeer.
She was five when she first arrived at the home. Her parents had died in a car accident, and Alice just couldnt understand why they didnt come for her. Why had they left her behind?
As the years slipped by, she realised they were never coming back. Their faces faded from her memory, their voices, the scent of their clothes, even the house theyd all shared became a blur.
Alice longed for someone to choose her. But the miracle never happened, and eventually, she began to understand that no one ever would. She simply wasnt a pretty girl. They always picked the beautiful ones, with shiny bows in their gorgeous hair and sweet smiles on their lips.
Tom kept annoying her, but now at least she knew a pip was a kind of bird.
Today, the adoptive parents arrive once again. All the girls are dressed up, their hair tied with ribbons. But Alice, having had enough, chops her hair short like a boy. Shes tired of hoping someone will pick her. She decides that from now on, shes the one wholl do the choosing.
When the staff see her short haircut, they gasp in surprise; Tom calls out, as usual, Pip!
Alice has just turned twelve. Tom is three years older than her.
That day, no one chooses Alice, perhaps because her crooked haircut and stormy eyes look a bit scary.
Three years later, Tom leaves the childrens home for good. After saying goodbye to everyone, he comes over to Alice.
See you, Pip, he says.
Yeah, bye, Alice responds, sounding unmoved.
Hang in there! Not long nowjust three years! Then Ill come back for you, Tom tells her firmly.
As if! Who says Id choose you? Idiot! she snaps.
Tom gives her a long, strange look before walking away without looking back.
Closing the childrens home door behind her, Alice steps out onto the street, breathing in the air of freedom and adulthood. Over the years, shes transformed from an awkward duckling into a striking young womanlong, flowing hair, huge green eyes, and a graceful figure. Shes heading to her parents old flat when suddenly she hears:
Alright, Pip!
She spins around. Its Tom.
What do you want? she asks.
I promised Id come for you. So here I am, Tom steps closer.
I told you, Ill do the choosing myself! Alice meets his eyes. Tom has gotten much taller and his shoulders have broadened.
Well then, pick me, Alice! he pleads.
Ill think about it, she replies, striding off to her new home.
Tom walks behind her right up to the front steps. He waits until she closes the door, and then leaves. Every night after that, he shows up beneath her window, sitting on the bench outside until the lights in her flat go out.
The lush summer gives way to chilly autumn, then to winters frost. Still, Tom visits day after day. One night, Alice joins him on the bench.
Arent you tired of this? Must be freezing, sitting out here, she says.
I can handle it. Just pick me, please, Tom asks again, gazing at her with a long, gentle look.
Alice jumps up as if scalded, and dashes inside, peeking through the lace curtain to see Tom watching her window.
On New Years Eve, Alice hurries home after her shift. Still has to set the table and put on her new dressitll soon be midnight! But Tom isnt waiting on the bench. Her heart skips a beatwhat if somethings happened?
An hour later, shes sorted everything out, pours herself a glass of Prosecco. She goes to the windowToms still nowhere in sight. A nasty ache prickles in her chesta sudden knot of fear in her stomach…
What now? Go look for him? But where? I dont know his address or even his phone number! Idiot. Im such an idiot, she scolds herself.
And just then, something bursts into sparks outside!
Fireworks already? she wonders, peering out the window.
On the snowy grass, bright flaming letters blaze:
CHOOSE ME, ALICE!!!
And theres Tom, sitting on the bench, waving up at her…
