Paid Servant by E. R. Braithwaite Page A

full-lipped mouth usually gave the impression of professorial ponderousness until he smiled, releasing an irrepressible boyishness. He loved to joke, but invariably in the most unbelievably corny way, so that one was tickled into laughter, not at the content of the joke, but at his crass temerity in hoping for what he invariably got—laughter.
    â€œHey, Hannah,” he called. “Rick’s here.” He and I went into the sitting-room and made ourselves comfortable, and were soon joined by Hannah, his wife. Theirs may have been the attraction of opposites, for she was small, blonde and well-formed. Her most outstanding characteristic was not in any physical feature, but in the aura of dynamic energy which surrounded her, whether at home, at a tame social gathering, or on the concert platform where she repeatedly astounded her audience by the amazing dexterity of those small, flexible hands.
    â€œCome on, tell us about him,” she said, without preamble.
    I told them about little Roddy; all his history as was known or surmised. Then I described the boy, and it may well be that my description reflected my own enthusiasm. At the end of my recital, Hardwick said: “What about the wings?”
    â€œWhat wings?” I asked, not getting it.
    â€œAn angel he describes, and wings he forgets!” At his corniest Hardwick was prone to imitate the Jewish stereotype.
    â€œGive him time,” I said, “they’ll grow.”
    â€œWhat do you think?” he asked his wife.
    â€œOkay with me,” she replied. “The only problem here is how the most important person will react to the idea.”
    â€œMy guess is that he’ll like you both very much.” I said.
    â€œSorry,” she answered. “I meant the other important person. Clarita. Everything will depend on how well they get on.”
    â€œOf course,” I agreed, and went on to explain the carefully planned sequence in all arrangements for fostering or adoption.
    First: To find prospective parents and discuss the case with them, giving them as much as was known of the child, his parents, if any, and background.
    Second: The parents make formal application, for fostering­ or adoption, on prepared forms, giving details of themselves, their occupations, domestic arrangements, financial circumstances, references, et al.
    Third: The parents were taken to the Home and introduced to the new child. In each case the parents saw only the child concerned, as it was very necessary to avoid the temptation to choose one from several likely candidates.
    Fourth: If this introduction went well, the parents visited again, this time together with any child or children of their own. The youngsters were given the opportunity to meet, play together for a while, and size each other up.
    Fifth: Providing all went well so far, the fosteree or adoptee­ was taken for visits to his new home. These were progressive, beginning with a visit of a few hours one afternoon and gradually extending to a weekend, then perhaps a week. Then, if all parties were satisfied, on a subsequent visit the child would merely stay with the family, with no fuss or bother.
    We discussed the matter fully, and when I was sure that they were really enthusiastic about the idea, I brought up the fact of Roddy’s colour, and, in the event of his becoming a part of their family, the difficulties which might later have to be faced.
    â€œYou’ve forgotten one thing, Rick,” Hardwick said, when I had finished. “If the boy becomes a member of this family, that’s just what he will be. Whatever difficulties, as you call them, are to be faced, will be faced by us as a family. Enough said?”
    â€œEnough said,” I replied.
    This was the sort of remark and these the sort of people who helped to sustain my faith in mankind; a faith which, during my life in Britain, had often deserted me. This was a Jewish couple, but so complete was their