Dear little children, please gather 'round. Bring you a pillow and come and sit down. The moon is full. The goblins are out. Its time to tell the scariest of tales. In a house just like this. In a room just like this. A terrible thing happened, on a night just like this.

The weather was cold and billowing. Trees lost the last of their leaves. Thumps were heard on the side of the house, but Saint Nick was nowhere near.

The children cuddled closer and closer. Some holding hands. Some peaking out of their blankets.

What weird thing was Uncle Fred going to do to us tonight, of all nights?
Adults don't understand what it is like being sent to Uncle's house.

The story went on about a ghost that lives near. A ghost that loved children's laughter best of all. When the ghost heard children's laughter it became quiet but...

Oh, on a night like this the ghost was......

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My eyes sprang wide. The woman's dark brown face was very close...

What the Hell? thought Johnny. He started to laugh. He laughed so hard his insides hurt. He laughed so hard he tears rolled out of his eyes. Eyes he was afraid to take off the face looking into his soul. Johnny lost track of time in the depths of her eyes.

Monica looked at the little boy and fell in love with his spirit that day. She turned to Uncle and said, "Yes, this one. He will make me a perfect son. He has courage, guts, and listened well to all you had told him in your tale.

Johnny had no idea what was going on. He had lost his parents years ago in a fire. The family that watched him, he didn't much like, but did he really want to go live with the scary dark-haired lady?

He knew to be adopted he too had to say yes. He finally looked around the room at everyone staring back at him. Monica chuckled and told Johnny not to be afraid. This was not her idea but Uncles. She wasn't given a say.

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A bag of groceries came through the door followed by Monica. Johnny smiled and said hello. He finally felt safe for the first time in his life.

You see, he had grown up with his legs deformed. When his parents passed away no one wanted a small child with bad legs. That child would not be able to do choirs! What good was he to anyone?

The night Monica picked him from the crowd of children as her own, was the best day of his life.

He felt loved and needed for the first time. Monica could not have her own children. She had found herself alone and lonely after her husband died. Still wanting the joy of having a child. No one was willing to give her a child all in one piece.

Each day, Monica and Johnny learned to love each other just a tiny bit more. They learned to trust each other more and more too...

Tonight Johnny was going to say "it" for the very first time he would ever remember.

Monica handed Johnny an apple.

Johnny took it, looked in her eyes and said, "Thank You, Mom."

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