Group Home Chronicles: Purple Dress

Bustling chatter filled the room and woke the young girl. Her cheeks warmed knowing why everyone was excited. Today is the Adoption Fair! Every three months, a half dozen qualified applicants come to Wickham Orphanage to possibly choose a new addition to their family.

The young girl joined the others in cleaning and preparing for the fair. Today, everyone has a painted smile. Genuine or not, a smile is required by Director.

“Alright. Alright. You have two hours to get this place and yourselves ready for inspection. Don’t think I won’t take you out of rotation for today because I will,” Director yelled throughout the house, her chunky heels announcing her whereabouts.

The young girl ran to the closet to get her favorite dress; a faded purple satin dress with frayed lace on the bottom and a floppy black bow in the back. Her grandma loved that dress, which made it not only her favorite but lucky because her grandma hated purple. The young girl hugged the dress, certain her grandma could feel it in heaven.

It has been two years since her intake at the orphanage. She had only been allowed to participate in the last year. The first year is spent in therapy, school, church, and etiquette training. The second year is graduation to the fair, which means that the girl has shown that she can be productive with the potential to be great, despite her circumstances.

“Not that dress again. No. Girl, it’s played out,” one of the older girls said, snatching the dress.

“Hey, don’t do that. It’s my lucky dress. Mind your business and leave mine alone,” the young girl said, reclaiming her dress.

“I’m not trying to be mean but it’s not a lucky dress if you are still in here. I’m just saying?”

The young girl looked at the dress tightly clenched in her hands. Her roommate was right. As the young girl approached 13 years old, she knew her chances of adoption decreased. No one wants a teen that’s set in their ways. It was no time to play it safe. She needs to stand out. Maybe wearing the same dress is why she gets looked over so often.

The young girl hung the purple dress back in her closet, opting to wear a pink blouse with a khaki skirt and black mary-janes, with white lace socks. She pulled her full thick hair into a high ponytail. Her bright brown eyes shined behind her dark, sweeping eyelashes. She had practiced her smile for weeks. Director says that ‘the smile will warm the applicants’ hearts before words are spoken.’

Ready for inspection, all sixteen girls, ages ranging from seven to sixteen, stood against the wall waiting for Director’s approval.

“Today, we are meeting possible future parents. If you don’t find a home today, it’s their loss,” Director said, warmly looking directly at the young girl. She smiled pleasantly at the young girl’s change of clothes.

Several couples enter the orphanage’s large living room. The girls interacted with each other as normal, allowing the potential parents to see their naturally-planned personalities. Within twenty minutes, the young girl got caught up in Sudoku and didn’t notice that she was being watched by a couple that was amused by her choice of activity.

“Hey, looks like you know what you are doing,” the interested man of the couple said.

The young girl looked up quickly realizing that she had been engaged with her puzzle for too long.

“Yes. Yes sir. I do. I love puzzles and I love math,” the young girl babbled, trying to regain the time missed.

“I love puzzles too. And card games. My mother is the best though,” the woman of the couple joined in.

This was the first time the young girl had been approached by anyone at these fairs, yet her conversation with them was easy and seemed to flow for hours. By the end of the day, the young girl was asked to stay with the couple for a three-day visit. The young girl was excited at the possibility but knew that a majority of these visits don’t go well for girls over ten years old. Going on the visit will be more like a rare vacation from the orphanage with a guarantee of returning to the dread of reality.

The young girl was optimistic as she packed for the weekend. She was glad she listened to her roommates about changing her outfit. It got her noticed. The girls congratulated her and gave her tips on how to behave on her weekend visit. They had confidence that she would break the curse of older-children adoption.

She absorbed all the love and well wishes given to her. Even the envy from others was welcomed. Finally, a family is interested in her. Her hopes were kindled, but she couldn’t help thinking about her lucky purple dress.

Her lucky dress was in the back of her closet during one of the most important events of her life. Is the dress unlucky? Despite her doubt, she packed her prized possession and was ready.

As coached, the other girls acted as if the young girl would be terribly missed. “Your sentiments will make your fellow mate more attractive to the family or make them feel less guilty if it doesn’t work out,” Director advised.

The young girl said her goodbyes to the other girls.

She had been outside before, but today the air smelled different. The Virginia breeze felt soft. The sun was perfectly rewarding with sunshine and heat.

With one last wave from Director, the couple and young girl were on their way. She didn’t know where exactly was her destination. She should be a little worried but her excitement was persistent.

“Hey, we almost didn’t recognize you without your pretty purple dress,” the woman of the couple turned around to say.

The young girl smiled widely. She thought to herself, ‘It is lucky.’