The judge went through the papers in front of her. Ava sat motionless next to her adoptive parents. An adoption hearing usually goes smoothly. But the judge sensed that something was off.
Source: HouseDiver
The judge turned her attention to Ava and asked a question. You can tell that there was some tension around the courtroom as they waited for the little girl’s answer. The girl then took a deep breath and shocked everyone with her reply.
Meeting her foster family
Life has been challenging for Ava. She was abandoned at a hospital when she was a baby so she had no idea who her biological parents were. She was placed into the system and this was how she met the Smith Family.
Source: Pixabay
The Smiths already had two adopted kids when they took in Ava as their foster child. Ava enjoyed living with her foster family. And although the Smiths treated her well, she felt that something was missing. She felt like she did not fit in.
Staying for good
But Ava set aside these personal feelings in favor of securing a long-term residence with wonderful people. So when the Smiths asked her if she wanted to become a permanent member of their family, Ava responded “yes” without hesitation.
Source: HouseDiver
The Smiths were happy when Ava said she would like to stay with them permanently. Mrs. Smith told her that she was the final piece in their family’s puzzle and now they felt complete. Everyone in the family was thrilled to have a new family member.
The black sheep
The Smiths called the adoption energy to tell them that they want to make Ava’s adoption permanent. The caseworker assigned to Ava was overjoyed and told them that he would set up a time for the adoption hearing as soon as possible.
Source: HouseDiver
As the adoption hearing date drew nearer, Ava began to feel more and more like the black sheep of the family – she did not have the same goals or interests as anyone. She felt like she was just going along with the flow to keep the peace.
The big day
Ava could not understand why she was feeling this way. She knew that it was not easy for orphans like her to find a forever home quickly and that she had to be thankful for it. But it was as if there was a dark cloud hovering over her head all the time.
Source: Pixabay
On the day of the adoption hearing, the Smiths made sure Ava was having a great morning. They prepared a big breakfast. Everyone had big smiles around the table, as they discussed all the things they would do as a family now that they have Ava.
Preparing for court
After having their breakfast, everyone went their separate ways to prepare for court. Mrs. Smith laid out new clothes for Ava to wear on this special day. She was delighted to see that it all fits Ava perfectly.
Source: HouseDiver
While everyone was excited, Ava was terrified. As they went down the hallway of the courthouse, Ava could hear her heart thumping loudly in her chest. Her stomach was churning at the thought that by the end of the day, she would legally become a Smith.
The adoption hearing starts
Ava was not sure why she was feeling this way. The Smiths had adopted two children before her and have proven their record as capable parents. She knew this was a household that would take good care of her.
Source: HouseDiver
Everybody stood as the judge entered the courtroom. Ava calmed herself down by reminding herself of the perks of having the Smiths as her family. She listened to the Smiths talk about their desire to adopt Ava permanently and their love and care for her.
Looking for flaws
As part of their efforts to convince the judge that they were the ideal family for Ava, they presented videos and pictures of the family having fun together while Ava was staying with them. Ava knew the Smiths were right. They were the ideal family.
Source: HouseDiver
It was clear that she has a bright future with the Smiths. But why did she feel differently? She was starting to feel upset at herself – why was she being so negative? Why was she always looking for flaws?
Something was off
Ava was confident that the judge would be persuaded by the Smiths. She just looked down at her new shoes as the hearing went on. But that was about to change. Little did she know that the judge had been silently observing her every move.
Source: HouseDiver
Since the hearing started, Ava remained silent and gave no reaction when her adoptive parents complimented her and persuaded the judge that they were the ideal match for her. The judge took a look at Ava and it was as if the little girl did not want to be there at all.
One important question
There was a sudden shift in the judge’s body language. She used to be open and encouraging but her facial expression became strict. She scowled as she questioned the Smiths. “Will you allow Ava to search for her parents post-adoptively?”
Source: HouseDiver
“Her parents?” Mr. Smith repeated. Ava suddenly looked up as if the question had made her curious. “Ava has never met her parents. They cold-heartedly left her as a newborn baby in front of a hospital.” Mr. Smith explained.
The lie
The judge gave Mr. Smith a stern look. “You did not answer the question, Mr. Smith,” she said. This time, Mrs. Smith put a hand on her husband’s arm and said, “Of course, we’ll allow her. If she ever wants to search for her biological parents, we will support her.”
Source: HouseDiver
But deep inside, Mrs. Smith felt differently. She just agreed because it was the right answer. But in her honest opinion, allowing young kids to search for their biological parents could result in problems down the road.
There was no good outcome
If the child has a difficult time finding their biological parents or if they do find them and get rejected, it could cause a lot of unpleasant feelings like depression. Alternatively, their relationship will be re-established, which will trouble the adoptive parents.
Source: HouseDiver
For Mrs. Smith, there are no good outcomes. The judge seemed to sense that Mrs. Smith was lying. She’s been doing this job for decades and she can easily read people. She slightly leaned over and looked Mrs. Smith in the eyes. “Are you sure?”
Finding hope
Ava watched Mrs. Smith’s hand shake for the first time since the session began. She was clearly intimidated. Ava realized that maybe the judge was looking for her best interest. Maybe this time, Ava can take the risk, to be honest about how she really feels.
Source: HouseDiver
Ava paused to think – she did not want to jeopardize any chance she could get to be adopted by a loving family. She had no reason to suspect the Smiths but her guts just tells her this was not right. However, would it be self-sabotage if she dared to talk about it?
A moment alone
The judge noticed a change in Ava’s expression. She slammed the hammer down and took a 30-minute recess. The judge asked to see Ava in her office during the intermission. This surprised Ava and the Smiths.
Source: HouseDiver
The Smiths did not seem to want Ava to talk to the judge alone. They never went through this kind of situation with their first two adoptions. They argued that Ava was too young to provide any useful and reliable permission.
How did she feel?
The judge felt the Smiths were being arrogant and acted like entitled parents. She said she would speak with Ava alone and dismissed them. Ava was escorted to the judge’s chamber. There, she found the judge welcoming her with a pleasant smile on her face.
Source: HouseDiver
The judge then asked Ava broad questions about how she was feeling and how she felt about the court hearing. Ava was very guarded in her responses – keeping them brief and straight to the point.
Be honest
The judge made sure that Ava understood the situation and what was at stake. She told her that this was her only opportunity to express her true feelings before it was too late. This seemed to work on Ava, who broke down and started crying.
Source: HouseDiver
She started to tell the judge about her doubts and what her guts tell her. The judge encouraged her to be this honest and sincere during the hearing. If Ava could do that, the judge ensured her that she will resolve the case successfully.
Back in session
Ava wiped her tears and calmed down. She knew the judge was right – she had to be honest in this situation. She had to be fair to herself and to the Smiths. When the court resumed session, Mr. and Mrs. Smith seemed to be more anxious than ever.
Source: HouseDiver
There was no time to ask Ava what she told the judge so they had no idea if their chat would affect the outcome of the hearing. As the session continued, the judge skipped several steps and immediately took the focus on Ava.
Focusing on the child
“Ava, I have one very important question to ask you, and I am going to need an honest answer from you. Will you be able to do that?” the judge asked her calmly. Ava could feel all eyes in the court fixed on her. “Ava, do you want to be adopted by the Smiths?”
Source: HouseDiver
Ava was stunned by the judge’s question. She did not know how to respond. She knew that what she could say can affect her future. She looked down at the floor as she weighed her options. The judge asked the question a second time, this time with a sense of impatience.
Telling her truth
Mr. and Mrs. Smith looked completely shocked. They could not believe that the judge would ask Ava such direct questions. But Ava’s response caught them completely off guard. “No!” she said, almost shouting the word. Mrs. Smith almost fell back into her chair.
Source: HouseDiver
Ava realized that if she opted to go through with the adoption, she would think of Mr. and Mrs. Smith as her parents for the rest of her life. Something about it did not make her feel comfortable. It did not feel right to her.
Respecting her decision
Ava started crying and telling Mr. and Mrs. Smith sorry. Although disappointed, the Smiths wiped her tears away and told her that it was okay. If Ava did not feel that it was right, they will not move forward with the adoption.
Source: HouseDiver
The people who witnessed the hearing could not believe that the little girl was passing up on the chance to be with a good family. It seemed like a poor decision but the judge said Ava’s sentiments were what mattered most in this case.