When the Eight-Year-Old Boy We Were Adopting Came Home With Everything He Owned in a Black Bag—Then My Missing Brother’s Watch Fell Onto His Bed

That included the black bag.

At first, I hated it.

The symbolism was unbearable.

Eight years in garbage plastic.

Then Melissa explained that foster children often move belongings in whatever container is available because agencies and placements do not always have luggage at the exact moment of transition.

Still undignified.

Still worth improving.

But the bag itself did not summarize Oliver’s childhood.