Soar

Twelve-year-old Jeremiah, the narrator, explains that his mother left him as an infant in the snack room of Computer Partners Ltd. in Indianapolis. Walt Lopper, a computer genius making morning coffee, found him in a baby seat with a note asking for care. Jeremiah was approximately nine months old, accompanied only by a stuffed eagle he clutched fiercely. Police and child services took him to safety, and Walt eventually adopted him after undergoing foster parent training and court proceedings.

During the adoption process, Walt talked to Jeremiah as if he were a genius, explaining computers and baseball, both of which the boy has come to love. After the adoption became official, Jeremiah began speaking, naming his eagle Baby. Since his actual birthdate is unknown, Jeremiah calculates his birthday as January 10, counting nine months back from when he was found. Since then, Jeremiah has lived in four places due to Walt’s consulting work. Despite the challenges of moving, he is happy. Furthermore, Jeremiah believes his mother gave him the stuffed eagle because she recognized he had an eagle’s spirit inside him; eagles must be free, and if you have one inside, you must honor it.