Ahavah & Mishpacha (Love & Family)

[Shy-Diapers]

30 year old Sarah stepped

[justagirl4fun]

3-year-old Liora was sitting in the playroom, stacking blocks. She had come to the orphanage a year and a half ago, after a car bomb destroyed the building where she lived in a small apartment with her parents, newborn brother, and both sets of grandparents. She was the only survivor from her family, and still suffered from PTSD as a result of the attack. In addition, the girl had bilateral hip dysplasia, which went untreated because her parents were too poor to afford the surgery, and had a lazy left eye.

"Here goes nothing." Peter took a deep breath and entered the building. The couple was greeted by a friendly-looking woman. "Hi, I'm Peter and this is my wife, Sarah. We're here for Ahuva and Liora."

[Shy-Diapers]

Ahuva had been at the orphanage for about three years. Her mother had abandoned her when she realized all her medical issues, so her father had raised her until he was stabbed by a Palenstinien terrorist, shortly after her surgery. Nobody in her family had been able to take her in, because most of them were impoverished and could never care for her with her medical problems.

[justagirl4fun]

Liora stared at the couple for a minute before slowly getting up and limping over to the social worker. She shoved her thumb in her mouth and wrapped her free arm around the woman's leg and she continued to study her new parents with wide green eyes.

"And where is the other one?" Peter asked as he glanced around the room. He didn't see her anywhere.

[Shy-Diapers]

Sarah smiled and bent down to Liora. "Hi there honey." She cautiously picked the girl up, figuring it would be better than having her walk.

[justagirl4fun]

Liora tensed up a little but allowed Sarah to pick her up. The lady seemed nice enough and before long she was leaning into Sarah and running her little fingers through Sarah's nice-smelling hair.

Peter bent over a bit so he was eye-level with Ahuva. "Hi there, sweetheart. I'm Peter, and this is Sarah. We're your new parents." He smiled at the girl and held his arms out, offering a hug if she was ready for one.

[Shy-Diapers]

Sarah gently rubbed Liora's back, realizing the girl was calmer now. She was happy the girl wasn't freaking out like she was afraid would happen.

[justagirl4fun]

Peter hugged Ahuva, then stepped back. "Well, their files are pretty detailed so we already know quite a bit. Is there anything you think we need to know?"

[Shy-Diapers]

"No, their files have everything you need to know. But I do have to warn you. Ahuva isn't a very good listener, she'll just completely ignore you sometimes. She doesn't seem to care either." Marnisha said.

[justagirl4fun]

"Well, okay then. I guess we're ready to go. Honey, do you have anything to take with you?" Peter asked Ahuva. Liora just stared at Sarah questioningly, not really understanding English but even if she could, she didn't really have anything of her own aside from a threadbare bunny.

[Shy-Diapers]

"Neither girl has much. They have a pair of pajamas and another set of clothing. And they each have a toy they brought." Mishnara said. She left the room and went about her other jobs.

[justagirl4fun]

Liora shook her head 'no' thinking Sarah was asking if the sheep was hers.

Peter smiled and nodded when Ahuva picked up the sheep. He went to the dresser - no more than a bedside stand, really - next to her bed and got out the pajamas and extra set of clothes, though he and Sarah had brought some new things for the girls. "Alright, let's get out of here."

[Shy-Diapers]

Sarah nodded. Maybe the social worker was mistaken. "Where do you sleep?" She asked Loria. She pointed to the girl then laid her own head on her hand.

[justagirl4fun]

Liora still didn't understand what Sarah meant, but her crib was in the room directly across the hall from Ahuva's room. Peter watched Ahuva go down the stairs, following closely behind. He figured she was used to doing it, but it still made him nervous.

[Shy-Diapers]

Sarah shrugged. She didn't need the girl's clothes considering they had brought some new ones for them. She carried Liora downstairs and outside to wait for the taxi.

[justagirl4fun]

At the bottom of the stairs Peter out a hand on Ahuva's shoulder and led her outside to the taxi. "Time to go to the hotel," he said to her, though he knew she probably didn't understand much. He waited for Sarah and the girls to get in before getting in himself.

[Shy-Diapers]

Ahuva climbed in with a little bit of difficulty, and put her crutches on the floor of the taxi car.

[justagirl4fun]

After a short drive they were at the hotel. Peter got out and offered a hand to Ahuva to help her out after picking the crutches up. "Here sweetheart, let me help you." He figured that the more he talked to her, the quicker she would pick up English.

Liora sat comfortably on Sarah's lap, staring intently out the window as they traveled. She didn't get out of the orphanage much, so everything was quite interesting to her.

[Shy-Diapers]

Ahuva took her crutches and looked at her feet, a little shy. "Toda." She said softly, meaning thank you. She knew the man and woman spoke English and she knew some, but Hebrew was her first language and was all her parents spoke.

[justagirl4fun]

"Al-Lo-Davar," Peter said in return. He didn't really speak Hebrew, but had picked up a few words as they prepared to bring home the girls.

Liora stuck her tongue out at her reflection and let out a soft giggle. Then she spotted the buttons and reached out to push them.

[Shy-Diapers]

Ahuva looked up. She was surprised to hear what sounded like Hebrew. Did she hear correctly? She looked up at Peter in the eyes and hoped she heard correctly.

[justagirl4fun]

Peter grinned and winked at Ahuva. "Don't get used to it. I don't know much," he quipped and ruffled her hair.

[Shy-Diapers]

Ahuva frowned. English again. She cringed a bit when her hair was ruffled, scared she was in trouble. She couldn't quite understand Peter's tone.

[justagirl4fun]

Peter noticed Ahuva cringe and pulled away. "Slih'a," he said, hoping he hadn't scared her.

Liora stomped her feet and started chattering frantically in Hebrew when Sarah set her down but suddenly stopped and stared at the floor as a steady stream of urine quickly formed a puddle at her feet. When it finally stopped she glanced up at Sarah with wide, worried eyes and burst into tears.

[Shy-Diapers]

"Ze be'seder" Ahuva said realizing she had misinterpreted his tone. She felt bad and remained quiet the rest of the time.