Not Our Child
Millions of children are in foster families, and we would be a foster family for him. So why not look for other parents?
Because we are here. No one will hurt him here, and elsewhere he might be hurt and we would never even hear about it! exclaimed Arthur, his voice rising. Where theres one, theres another
Violet never imagined her husband could be so tender. The loss of his friends moved him more than anyone elses grief. No one wanted to take the child, and Arthur was pleading with her
—
Lily was a relatively late child. Her parents were already past thirtyfive, and her grandparents were well into their sixties. Late, yes, but longawaited, cherished, and, to be honest, a bit spoiled. She got whatever she wanted.
Her mornings always began the same wayher mother would wake her, call her to breakfast, and lay out her clothes. Today was no different.
Good morning, sleepyhead! her mother chirped. How did you sleep? Anything you remember dreaming about?
Her mother was always lively, even at seven oclock in the morning.
Morning, Mum! I think I dreamed I cant quite recall, Lily replied.
Soon youll remember and tell us. Now lets eat; weve got a busy day ahead!
The table was piled with fluffy pancakesstill warm from the night before, when Grandma had made them before heading to the clinicand fresh fruit, neatly sliced by her dad, Arthur, before work. Lily, perched on her small high chair, piled pancakes onto her plate while sharing her latest discoveries with her parents.
Mum, what should I wear for the school concert? she asked, dunking a pancake into jam.
In a yellow dress, her mother replied.
Yellow again
Do you want to try red? her mother suggested.
Yes, red, please!
The concert was a month away, but Lily was already buzzing with anticipation.
After breakfast came the walk.
Lily sprang out the door with extra spring in her step because today was specialthe first day she would ride the scooter his grandfather had given her for his birthday. The snow had finally melted, and the air was mild enough for her to be outside without shivering. She would not have lasted another week in the cold.
In her trainers, Lily bolted into the garden, her mother hurrying close behind.
All the neighbourhood children gathered around the new scooter, eager to have a look and maybe a turn. Lily beamed as she showed off its tricks.
Watch this! she shouted, giving a tentative push off the pavement. Who wants to try?
She lost her balance and tumbledher experience so far had been just a few short rides with a friend from nurserybut no one laughed.
Want a go? Lily brushed herself off, as if nothing had happened, and offered the scooter to the others.
One by one the kids took the scooter, trying to copy the moves theyd seen. Lily spent the whole afternoon as their little hero. By the end, most of them were begging their parents to buy the same one.
That evening, when Arthur came home from work, Lily ran to meet hima habit of hersonly to find a small box waiting for her.
Surprise! Arthur announced, holding out the parcel. It smelled delicious.
Whats inside? What is it? she demanded, eyes sparkling.
Arthur handed her the box. Inside were the richest chocolate eclairs she had ever tasted.
Dad, youre the best! Lily shrieked.
After the sweets came their favourite pastimebuilding with blocks. Lily spread the colourful pieces across the floor of her bedroom and, guided by a picture shed seen in an advert, constructed a tiny princesss cottage.
Until she turned seven, Lily knew nothing of worry or trouble. Everyone adored her, spoiled her, showered her with gifts, and took her wherever she wished. Her world was bright and simple.
One afternoon, as Lily waited for her mother to collect her from the afterschool club at six oclock, an unexpected change unfolded. Violet arrived half an hour earlyearlier than usualand Lily sensed something was different. The carer, a friend of Violets, tried to start a conversation.
I was watching that film you mentioned last week. Its not really my style, but theres something about the actor she began.
Violet cut her short. Sorry, were in a hurry. Well talk about the film later.
In her rush, Lily forgot her favourite doll at the club, eyes still glued to her mothers hurried figure. Lily had never seen her mother flustered or upset; childhood had always seemed cloudless.
At home, Violet, her hair tied back in a ponytail, ushered Lily to eat in her bedroom rather than the kitchen, offering her curd cheese with fruit.
Sit here, have a bite, and turn on the cartoons, Violet said.
Lily nodded, already thinking of the cartoons rather than the conversation her mother might have about work. Violet, trying to be patient, headed to the kitchen where Arthur was already waiting.
She began where they had left off before shed gone to fetch Lily from the club.
Arthur, we just cant adopt a child, Violet said, her tone firm. It never works out, its sudden If we had more time Id weigh the pros and cons
Arthur, however, was sure of his stance.
What cons? Whats there to discuss? The boy is the son of our best friends. He has no close relatives, no grandparents like Lilys. Theres a distant uncle who certainly wont want a stranger. If he ends up in a care home, who will look after him? What about Lily?
Violet shivered, imagining a daughter torn from her family, yet she answered, Theyll find a good foster family
And how do you know theyll find a good one? Arthur asked.
Millions of children live in foster families, and we could be one of them. So why not look for other parents?
Because we are us. Here he wont be hurt, elsewhere he might be, and wed never hear about it! Arthur blurted. Where theres one, theres another
Violet hadnt realised how sensitive her husband could be. The death of his friends affected him more than anyone elses loss. No one wanted to take the boy, and Arthur kept pleading.
Im not ready for this. I love Lily, but I dont know how to handle another child. Hed need even more attention, and Id be back on parental leave with a toddler Violet confessed.
Dont you think its worth it for Lily and for the boy? Well manage, Vicky. Lilys old enough to help. We have the money. We already know how to raise children. Well think about a second child soon enough
When? At fortyfive? Violet scoffed, certain theyd only ever have one child.
Even at fifty, if we must!
After weeks of hesitation, Violet finally gave in to Arthurs pleas.
Six months later, after a mountain of paperwork, they returned home not alone. In a car seat they brought a little boy named Charlie.
Lily, now in primary school, braced herself for a new brother. Her parents tried their best to reassure her that love would only grow, not shrink.
But when Lily saw Arthur cooing over the newborn, a strange feeling settled over hershe realised her father now had two children.
That night Lily refused to join the celebration.
Violet, bring more sliced fruit! Arthur shouted from the living room, where relatives were bustling about the table.
Comingcoming! Violet called back.
Violet, fetch another spoon! shouted her mother, Agnes, from the kitchen.
Lily hid in her room, hopping at each shout as if it were a call to her.
Soon enough someone noticed her absence.
Wheres the little queen of the feast? asked her grandfather, chuckling. Lily?
Lily? Violet turned, Shes probably in her room with her tablet. Shes glued to it now.
But Lily had declared a boycott. Her grandparents tried to coax her out, but she stayed put. Her parents, engrossed in the baby, seemed to have forgotten her entirely.
That marked the end of the chapter where Lily was the centre of the house. Now everythingattention, toys, giftshad to be shared.
Arthur, who used to set aside time for Lily, now spent most of his evenings putting Charlie to bed, playing with him, or showing him picture books and teaching him new words. Violet, once Lilys confidante, was now occupied with the infants needs.
One evening Arthur returned from work with a bright red plastic tractor for Charlie. Lily raced over, eyes wide.
What about me? Did you get anything for me?
Arthur, caught off guard, forced a nervous smile. Oh, Lily, Im sorry, I completely forgot. Well get you something tomorrow, I promise.
From that day Lily never rushed to meet Arthur at the door. He seemed to have forgotten her.
Violet, trying to help with Lilys maths homework, was constantly interrupted by Charlies cries.
Mom, can you help me with this problem? I dont get it
Hold on, love Violet tried to soothe Charlie, Well finish this in a minute.
Lily fell asleep before Violet could even get Charlie to brush his teeth, start the washing machine, and prepare a simple snack for the next day.
When Lily tried to tell her mother about school, Violet apologized and asked her to wait while she settled a feverish Charlie, who was screaming and needed a doctor.
Over time Lilys resentment toward Charlie grew to a peak. The boy who once might have been a brother now felt more like a rival for their parents attention. There was no friendship left.
Its a relief I dont have to share a room with him, Lily told her friends as she entered her teenage years.
Thats nice for you, replied Anna. Whats good about it?
Whats good? Not sharing a room! Youve got a cramped flat with two younger sisters. Whos worse off?
Lets see whos worse Lilys friends laughed, but the bitterness lingered.
Charlie had turned seven. Lily was on the brink of thirteen, and the animosity only deepened. When he was in first grade, Lily could no longer simply ignore him.
Lily, what are you doing? Charlie peeked into her room.
Sleeping! she snapped.
Wanna play?
No.
One day Charlie burst into Lilys room with a watergun, aiming for the curtains above her head. He missed the curtain, hit Lily, and splashed her notebook.
Dont ever come into my room! Lily shouted, pushing him out.
It was an accident! he protested.
Its always an accident with you! Lily retorted.
Tell Mom, Charlie warned.
Fine, tell her, Lily smirked. Lets see what happens. You should stay quiet, like a mouse. You were taken in out of pity, after all! she yelled, slamming the door.
That was the first time Charlie learned he was a foster childsomething hed find out later when he was ready.
That evening, after the parents returned home, Arthur disciplined Lily.
No phones or tablets for a month. No, six months! And from now on you wont get any gifts from us. How could you say such a thing?
Charlie burst into tears beside Violet.
What? The truth? We were given a baby and youve forgotten your own daughter!
For the first time Arthur raised his hand toward Lily. The next morning he tried to apologise, but Lily, ignoring him, grabbed her shoes and jacket and ran off to school.
Violet clanged a fork against a plate.
Bravo, she said to her husband, A brilliant performance. Now you have no daughter at all.
Dont be ridiculous. Well talk later
No, you wont forgive Violet wrapped her arms around herself, Its not just that you hit her; its how we treat her. I try to talk to her, but its never enough. And you never loved Charlie. By saving him, we lost Lily.
Do you want to change?
I dont know! Violet shouted. Im attached to Charlie; hes a wonderful boy, but I still feel he isnt really my child.
Good mother, Arthur muttered, Five years raising a son and still not loving him?
I warned you it was too much, Violet replied, Ive twisted myself for years so Charlie could live in a normal family, and it never worked! Bon appétit.
Their marriage grew strained, not suddenly but for years. Violet sensed something was off.
Charlie, now looking more and more like Arthur, sparked more questions. Could he be Arthurs biological son? The suspicion lingered.
Violets mother, an elderly lady, tried to soothe her.
Darling, it happens, she said, Foster children sometimes grow to look exactly like their foster parents. Its quite common.
I know, but Charlie looks exactly like Arthurhair, eyes, even his walk!
Copying a parent isnt surprising.
Violet could not shake the feeling that Arthur had once been involved with Charlies mother, a friend who had died tragically. Arthur had mourned deeply, perhaps too deeply.
One day, gathered courage, Violet ordered a DNA test.
The results arrived quickly and confirmed her worst fear: Charlie was Arthurs biological son.
Violet fetched Lily from school and drove her to her own mothers house. She had no desire to see her husband. The revelation that Arthur and his former partner, Vera, had been having an affair while Lilys father cared for a strangers child was a crushing blow.
Violets mother, frail as ever, urged her calmly, Dont rush to break things. Think of the children. You have two. Charlie is now your son. What will you tell him? Will you say you no longer want to be his mother?
Violet whispered, Ill still see Charlie.
What will Lily think? her mother pressed.
Violets voice trembled, Lily didnt even notice the split. Shes still…
Lily, who had overheard bits of the conversation, seemed oddly detached. Whatever lay ahead, childhood as they knew it was over.
The story ends with a simple truth: love cannot be forced, and when hearts are divided, honesty and compassion become the only bridges we can build. The family learned that holding onto resentment only widens the gap, while sincerity, however painful, can guide everyone toward a more genuine, if uncertain, future.
