one present. They saved the rest for Christmas morning.
Abbyâs was a bride bear. It had a tiny red bow on its veil.
That same Christmas, Abbyâs parents had told them the plan to adopt Korean girls. It was a long wait. Too long for Abby. She had always wished for another sister closer to her own age. Soon she would have that sister. Carly would too.
Abby thought the hour would never end. She leaned against her mother, who seemed tired. Maybe the waiting bothered her, too.
At last, flight 225 arrived. The Hunter family raced to gate B-7. Abby arrived first.
The waiting area was full of families and caseworkers. All of them waited to welcome Korean kids to America.
Abby watched the kids and their escorts stand in line, showing their passports.
She held her breath. There were hundreds of people. How would they find their sisters? Or Miss Lin, the escort who brought them from Korea?
This could definitely be a problem, Abby thought.
Definitely.
FOUR
Abby spun around. Her parents and Mrs. Roop stood behind her. âQuick! Get the pictures out.â She tugged on her fatherâs coat sleeve.
âWe know what our sisters look like,â Carly insisted.
But Abby wanted to be double sure.
âWeâll stay here and wait for the escort,â her father said. He unfolded a paper square and gave it to Abby. On the paper were the words: HUNTER FAMILY.
âGreat idea, Daddy,â Abby said, holding it high. âIâm going to explode if we donât see them soon.â
âBe patient, dear,â Mrs. Roop said. âIt wonât be much longer.â
âI canât wait,â Abby said. âCome on, Carly, letâs go look for them.â She handed the sign to her father, but kept the pictures. Grabbing Carlyâs hand, Abby led the way through the crowd.
In the far corner sat two girls.
Abby studied the girls, then the pictures. âWhat do you think?â she asked Carly.
âMaybe they grew a lot.â
Abby inched closer. She saw the name tag on the escort. It was not Miss Lin. Abby felt brave. âExcuse me, do you know who Miss Lin is?â
The lady smiled. âAre you getting a new sister?â
âTwo,â Abby said. She felt like a jitterbox inside.
The lady pointed. âMiss Lin is over there.â
âThank you,â Abby said, looking. She stood stone still. âSomethingâs crazy wrong,â she whispered.
Carly came closer. âWhat is?â
âCanât you see? Miss Lin is with two boys!â
The girls stared.
âLetâs find our sisters ,â Abby said. She walked up to Miss Lin.
Carly followed.
Miss Lin knew nothing about sisters. She introduced the boys. âIâd like you to meet Li Sung Jin and his little brother, Li Choon Koo,â she said.
Carly reached out to shake hands.
Abby turned away. She hurried to find her parents and Mrs. Roop. âDaddy! Mommy! Come quick! Somethingâs crazy wrong!â
They pushed through the crowd and found Miss Lin again. She introduced the boys who bowed to Abbyâs parents.
Mrs. Roop studied some papers. So did Miss Lin.
Abby watched her motherâs face turn pale. She was puzzled at the twinkle in her fatherâs eyes.
The Korean boys sat down and waited.They looked stiff and scared as Abbyâs father led Mrs. Roop around the corner.
Abby stared at the boysâ black hair. It was dark blue. The younger boy was skinny. She couldnât see a single muscle on him. Not one.
The older boy had sad eyes. He played with a shiny round tag. He seemed to be in charge of his little brother, Choon Koo.
Abby walked around behind the seat for a better look. She was dying to see Sung Jinâs silver tag.
What is it? she wondered.
Both boys sat as straight as boards.
At last the grown-ups returned.
âLetâs take a walk,â Mother suggested.
The Hunter family huddled in the hallway.
âThereâs been a mistake,â Mr.