"Allen. Allen, wake up."

Allen tensed and pulled away, his eyes flying open. Albert was smiling down at him. "Hey. You're gonna come home with me until we find you some new parents, okay?"

Allen grinned. "I get to go home with you?"

Albert nodded with a smile and helped Allen down out of his chair.

Once in the car, Allen fell straight back asleep and didn't wake up until morning in his new bed. He was startled at first when he did, and then remembered that last night's happenings. He crept out of his room and glanced down the halls and then over the balcony into the living room. This house was much smaller than his old one, but it was more open, and brighter; as it had windows. And now Allen leaned over the railing and called down to Albert, who was sitting on the couch, immersed in his thoughts and a cup of coffee.

"Good morning!"

Albert looked up and smiled. "Good morning, Allen. Come have some breakfast and then we'll go get your things from the old house. After that I supposed you'll have to come with me to work. Let's see...tomorrow is Saturday, we can buy you some things and then you can start school Monday."

Allen, who was downstairs by now, leaned against the arm of the couch, remarking, "I've read about school."

That afternoon Allen walked into the office again with Albert.

"Now, Allen," Albert began, "Do you want to come sit in my office with me or stay here with Kathy?"

Allen rocked back and forth on his heels, curiously twisting his head about like an owl, and answered quizzically, "Can I talk to Kathy?"

Albert glanced over at Kathy before answering with a smile, "Maybe for a minute, but don't bother her, I'm sure she has work to do too."

Allen nodded vigorously. "Can I talk to her for just a minute and then come be with you?"

"Sounds like a plan, buddy. Lemme just talk to Kathy real quick." He walked over to the information desk and leaned against it, drumming his fingers on the top tensely.

"I never knew you were so good with kids, Albert." Kathy remarked, her eyes twinkling. Albert's mouth twitched in a momentary smile. "Well, I'm doing my best to help the poor kid out. It does take incredible patience when there's things he's so curious about that most people just take for granted. I'm a bit worried about sending him to school...the kids might tease him...how would he respond to that? And would his teachers have a hard time with his lack of knowledge in certain areas?" He paused for breath and Kathy interrupted. "Relax, Albert, you sound like you're his father yourself. It shouldn't be too long before he's in other hands."

Albert nodded, exhaling and then smiling at her. "You're right. Well, I ought to get to work. Have fun with Mr. Allen the Curious."

Kathy laughed. "I will."

Albert smiled and added, "Please do send him to me if he gets bothersome, though." He turned to Allen and said, "Just stay for a minute and then come to me, I'll be just over here."

Allen nodded and smiled up at Kathy as Albert walked away. "What kind of work do you do? I guess you're not the one who catches the badguys. Does Albert catch badguys?"

Kathy smiled amusedly. "Sometimes," she replied, and Allen nodded seriously. "I think he must be very brave, then."

Kathy pursed her lips and pretended to ponder this. "I suppose so."

Allen nodded again. "He's very kind to me." He mused quietly, and Kathy smiled. "Yes, he is a very kind man."

Allen tilted his head curiously, surveying Kathy for a moment before he nodded slowly to himself, brushing his dark hair out of his eyes. "Well," he said abruptly, "I don't want to be a bother; I'll go find Mr. Albert now."

Kathy smiled. "Oh, you're not a bother at all. Do you want me to show you where he is?"

Allen again tilted his head before slowly nodding, and replied, "Thank you, yes, I think I'd get rather lost on my own."

Kathy smiled and stepped out from behind her desk, extending a hand for Allen to hold. He took it in his own small, pale hand and she led him down the hall to Albert's office.

"Oh, thank you, you needn't have brought him down here," Albert protested. Kathy smiled down at Allen. "I didn't want him to get lost."

Albert smiled and began to thank her again when Allen cut in excitedly. "Mr. Albert, Kathy, Kathy, I asked, and she said, she said sometimes you catch the badguys and I asked her if she thought you were very brave then."

"Oh yeah?" Albert glanced up at Kathy with a weighted grin. "And what did she say to that?"

"Oh, she said she supposed so."

Albert raised an eyebrow at Kathy. "She only supposed so, did she?" he grinned and thanked her once more before quickly removing the stapler from Allen's curious hands.