"We will survive: The Orphanage Project"

[MissMaths]

Oops, I thought I posted before. Never mind. Great story, Salty. Great twist on Schipperke's start, loving it so far. Wow, Suzanne is pretty. Great 'house', if that's what you can call it. LOL.

[Esther1981]

Great update. I know Mr. Payne will understand her point of view lol.

[Seabody]

I love it Salty! Such a nice begginning!

[Schipperke]

I love how your screenshots perfectly match the story content!  Can't wait to see how Mr Payne and Victor are going to deal with Suzanne's reluctance. 

[Saltypaws]

I was actually going to play today, but still trying to pack and get things organized.  I have almost all of next week off, so I think I will do some updating.  Thanks.

[Saltypaws]

Chapter IV:  What to Do

Mr. Payne:  Max, it is really good to see you and thank you so much for taking time away from your Pippa to help me on this matter.
Max:  No problem, Mr. Payne, Pippa insisted that I come and help you out, after all, you have helped so many other people and now you need help.  What can I do for you?


Mr. Payne:  I have this new project, well, I really hate to call it that.  I have sort of taken an interest in these young people.  Suzanne is the young ladies name and her adopted brother is Victor.  To make a long story short, these two were adopted, but they were not treated very well as children.  I had talked to Victor some time ago and he pursuaded Suzanne to move here.  The house needs some work, but I think they will be fine.
Max:  Sounds like Suzanne is having second thoughts.  She seems pretty young, are you sure she can handle this?
Mr. Payne:  I want you to come with me and meet the two of them and tell me what you think.  You have a pretty good sense of people.  I have not met her yet, so why don't we do that?
Max:  Sure, I would love to meet them.

Max:  This is the best you could do for these people?  Was Pippa and Sebastian's like this.
Mr. Payne:  This is kind of small and I guess the yard is in pretty bad shape.  I could probably help them out with getting this yard under control, after all, we don't want the children to run across any rodents, ya know.

Suzanne:  So nice to meet you Mr. Payne and who is this you brought with you?  Oh good grief, I am not even dressed, excuse me please.
Mr. Payne:  This is Max and he has helped me quite a bit on a few other matters.  After all, I am going to need someone to take over for me when I retire.
Suzanne:  Let's sit down and visit.  I need to know what I am getting myself into.  I am just learning how to cook and I just learned how to make salad.  I am just getting ready to turn young adult myself and I am not sure if I want to take on this much responsibility just yet.

Mr. Payne:  I know that this seems a bit overwhelming, but I think you are up for this my dear.
Victor:  I think she just needs some more time, after all, it has only been a few weeks since she left that terrible place.
Mr. Payne;  We can give you a little time, but we really need to get the ball rolling as soon as possible.


Max:  We will help you all we can, emotionally, that is.  The money part is up to you and we can help get a crib or bed if need be and Victor is going to do the yard.
Suzanne:  Let me think some more please.

Mr. Payne:  I am not sure about this, she doesn't sound too convincing.
Max:  She will come around, just wait.

Victor:  Come on Suzanne.  I thought you wanted to help other kids and make sure they were not raised like us.  We can provide a loving home, I know we can.
Suzanne:  I will let you know tomorrow.  I need to get my thoughts together, night.

[Schipperke]

Poor Suzanne, all these men banding together to try to persuade her.  I love the office you gave Mr Payne - it suits him.

[Saltypaws]

Chapter V: The Decision


I laid in bed tossing and turning most of the night. I really did want to start adopting, but what if I am not a good parent?  Mr. Payne told us the rules of the whole process.  We have to make sure they are happy and well adjusted and then send them on their way to start a family of their own.  That was such a great story that Max told us about Pippa and Sebastian and he seems really happy.  I just want to be a good parent, I don't want kids growing up like I did.  There was no love in my house at all.  Could I possibly give love to children?  I guess there is only one way to find out and jump right in and do this.  Victor is such a loving person and I know he will be a great dad.  Ok, I have been laying here talking to myself long enough.  I guess I will tell Victor in the morning to go ahead and start making arrangements.  I need some sleep..

Victor:

I am so excited this morning.  Suzanne just agreed to start adopting and instead of calling Mr. Payne, I think I will run over there, literally.


Wow, what a house.  Maybe someday we will live in a house like this.  Mr. Payne invited me into his office and offered me a seat.  I told him that Suzanne had agreed and what was our first step.  I told him after I left here, I was going to buy a crib and a couple of toys and then go home and call the adoption agency.


Mr. Payne sounded really pleased that we had come to this decision and excused himself to get some papers for me to sign and take Suzanne her papers.  This was an incredible house and so big and I love this fireplace, it just made it so cozy.


I signed the papers and left really excited that we could have a new addition by this time tomorrow.  I loved kids and one day want my own, but right now, this is the most important decision that I have ever made.  I am so glad Suzanne agreed and I know she won't regret it.

[Seabody]

I like the office Salty!

[Saltypaws]

Actually, I had Mr. Payne move into the big house that the Aiden Jones and his wife lived in.  I rearranged the office and put another desk in, but that was the only thing I did.  I am going to set up an office for Max too, at least he can use it when he is there.  He can't stay away from Pippa too long of a time ya know, lol.

[Esther1981]

Yay I'm glad Suzanne agreed to do this! Can't wait for the first nooboo!

[Saltypaws]

Chapter VI:  The First Visitor.

Victor POV:

I asked Suzanne her favorite flower and color and she said pink roses.  I had decided before making that first phone call that I would clean up the yard some and at least make an area where the little ones could play safely.  I worked through the night and since it was dark, it was kind of hard to see what I had actually done.
Before:

After:  It is still not much, but looks better than it did.  

It was early in the morning and I had stayed up all night was anxious for Suzanne to see the improvement and had actually acquired three bushes with pink flowers, their not roses, but it will have to do, so I hope she likes it.  Getting a hug, I considered that a compliment.

Funny how things work out, after I made the call to the adoption agency, a truck pulled up and delivered a baby crib, how convenient, needless to say, I was totally excited.


Suzanne checking the house, good grief.  Don't think the little one will be able to reach the sink anytime soon, but, that is Suzanne for ya.


After the crib was set up, the doorbell rang and it was the social worker with a basket.


He didn't say a word, put the basket down and left.  I ran over and picked up our new little baby girl, she was adorable.



Her name is Deadra and she is so lovable.  I called Suzanne over to hold little Deadra and she said it was almost time for work and she wanted to read for a bit.  I was kind of confused with her reaction, but let it go for now.  She would come around.
I wanted to teach Deadra everything all at once, but I knew that was impossible, so I settled for teaching her to walk first.  I will call Mr. Payne later and tell him our first little bundle had arrived.  I was so proud.

[Lilygirl]

Welcome little Deadra! She is adorable.

Nice job on the yard, Victor.

[Saltypaws]

Chapter VII:

I am not quite sure why Suzanne didn't take to little Deadra when she arrived, I guess she thought she was just so little and thought she might break her.  She thinks I dote on her too much.  I can't help it, when she cries, I just can't stand it.


I even like to play with the xylophone with her in her sandbox.  I must be strange.

I even took the potty chair out there.


The next morning, we woke up to a stove sitting in our front lawn, no note or anything, I wonder if Mr. Payne sent it.  He is a sly one.

It sure comes in handy, I was getting a little tired of Autumn salad and cereal.  Now Suzanne can practice cooking and I can practice eating.

We finally called Mr. Payne and invited him over to meet Deadra and he was so excited.  It didn't take him long to show up.


He asked about the house and if we had a toy for Deadra and I said everything was fine and thanked him for the stove.  He looked kind of embarassed, but I knew he sent it.
Mr. Payne thought Deadra was gorgeous and she looked happy, until she walked in and sat down in front of us and started wailing.

To my suprise, Suzanne came in and swooped her up in her arms and carried her off to the bedroom for night night.

I followed her and told her how proud of her I was.  She said she finally realized how much Deadra needed us, both of us and that she wanted to do her part.

Suzanne put little Deadra to bed and Deadra raised her little arms to Suzanne, as if to say, hold me.

That was just too sweet.  Suzanne went out to thank Mr. Payne for everything and that in the future she would try to be more reliable and that she was ready to adopt herself now.  Mr. Payne told her to wait for a bit and get use to Deadra and she would know when the time was right.

[Lilygirl]

That's why they make the little ones so adorable - even when they're screaming or smelly you just can't resist loving them!