Date: Tue, 09 Jan 2001 10:44:56 -0500
From: Charlie <charlieje@nc.rr.com>
Subject: David's Christmas Present 09

The following story is total fiction. Any relationship to persons living or
dead is purely accidental.


This story depicts sexual acts between people of the same sex (male), some
of whom are under age. If you find this concept distasteful, or if it is
illegal where you live, or if you are underage, please stop reading now.

                 IX. A New Year, New Life

David never did go back to his own bedroom that night. When he awoke at 8,
there were still no signs of life in the house. Adam was still sleeping soundly,
and there was no indication that the twins had yet stirred. David kissed
Adam's forehead softly, then got out of bed carefully, pulled on a robe Adam
had been using, and ventured into the hallway. Still no signs of life.

He opened the door to the twins' bedroom. They were awake, sitting on their
bed playing cards. They were wearing a pair of the new briefs they'd got:
Jody's were a Spiderman print, Eric's depicted Superman. As they looked up
and grinned widely, David suddenly realized that he could tell them apart
already. He had no idea how, but he knew who was who. Even Mrs.
Morrison couldn't tell them apart, relying strictly on their clothes. Wasn't this
a sign? Didn't this mean that they had some sort of a connection going?
"Morning, guys," he said. "Y'all ready for some breakfast?"

"Hey, Dad!" Eric answered enthusiastically. "We're really not that hungry,
but... well... Adam told us we could use the pool anytime we wanted to. Can
we? Can we go swimming?"
"Well, he was almost right," David said with a grin. "I don't think it's a good
idea for you two guys to go alone, until we're sure how well you can swim.
But yeah, long as someone's watching you, you can go any time."
"Now?" they both chorused.
"Sure, why not? I'll watch you, if you like. I might even join you."

The twins didn't move, but rather eyed each other questioningly. David could
see that they were communicating at some higher level, possibly available
only to twins. He'd heard of such things, and these two seemed to have an
ample dose of whatever it was. They could seemingly carry on a perfectly
normal conversation without making a sound, without even being in the same
room! Finally Jody looked at David. "Adam... Uh... told us something else,"
he said. "He told us that he and you usually swim naked. Can... can we?"

David wasn't at all ready for this question. He had thought briefly about his
relationship with these kids, had decided it would be as open as possible.
There would be no sex, of that he was determined; but swimming nude... that
wasn't erotic, was it? That had certainly not been his intention with Adam,
but look how that had turned out! Could he possibly have motives hidden so
deeply in his mind that even he wasn't aware of them? How could he, in all
good conscience, consent to these two beautiful little creatures tempting him
in the pool? Would it be a temptation? And if it was, could he resist?

If he refused, wouldn't he be denying the twins of the very thing he felt was
important? Did he believe the human body was to be admired, not hidden, or
didn't he? Wasn't that one of the mistakes he'd always said his parents had
made, making him ashamed of his own body?

"Say yes, Dad," a whispered voice came from behind. He whirled around to
see Adam standing in the hallway, stark naked. "Please, Dad," he repeated,
"let them go. Let's all go! Trust me? Please?"

Perhaps this was the first time that David realized he was completely and
totally in Adam's control. He simply could not say no to his young Indian
adonis son! "Your big brother says he wants to go too," he said to the twins.
"Is that ok?"

Two little black faces brightened even more. "COOL!" they both squealed.
"You too, Dad! You come too, ok?"

David did. He hesitated, but again Adam intervened. "They're little boys!" he
coaxed. "They need self confidence! What better way is there to get self
confidence than to be naked with a white teenager and a white man? It don't
mean anything, Dad! At least not the way you think. But it means a lot to the
twins!"

New Years Day, 1999. David had always believed, he didn't even remember
where he'd acquired this belief, but he had always believed that what we do
on New Year's Day, we will do every day for the next year. So far this day,
he had made love to his teenage son, his lover; he had made his two twin
black sons very happy by allowing them to skip breakfast, and to go running
through the house, stark naked, on the way to the swimming pool where
they'd been told they could go skinny dipping. And now... now, he and all
three sons were swimming, playing, having the time of their lives, all naked,
in the pool! Would he do all these things every day for the next year? Well,
one could certainly hope. And it was still only 10 AM!

It was approaching noon before David finally got the boys out of the pool.
Even then he wasn't at all sure he wanted to get them out... the pure
unashamed raw beauty of three carefree boys as they romped and played...
was almost more than David could stand! And it was all really close to being
more than he could stand to interrupt. But he had more to think of than
watching his naked sons play in the water. This was New Years Day! The
twins still didn't have that much of a wardrobe, but there were lots of sales
today. David wanted to decorate these two just as he'd done with Adam the
week before; and then he wanted to take them all out to eat, at the most
luxurious place he could find! So finally he called them all out of the water,
instructed them to get showered, that they were all going shopping.

Jody and Eric scampered inside and up the stairs to their own shower, leaving
Adam and David on the pool deck. David took Adam in his arms and kissed
him deeply, their naked bodies, including their most intimate parts, rubbing
together. "Somehow we've got to keep what we're doing from the twins," he
whispered.
"They already know, Dad," Adam answered.
"Adam, you didn't tell them, did you?"
"No, Dad. They figured it out. Eric woke up this morning and went into your
room looking for you. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out where you
were."
"But... they're so young! Damn!"
"It's ok, Dad. Remember, they're foster kids. They've seen a lot and heard a
lot. They were kinda upset at first, thinking that they were gonna have to do it
with you too, but I told them it's ok, that you weren't forcing anything on me,
that we're lovers."
"And they're ok with that?"
"They are now. They just needed to hear that you weren't gonna try and
involve them. I promised them it's just between us. They're cool."

David was nervous now. Could two nine year old's possibly keep a secret
like that? It had to be traumatic for them to discover that the closest thing
they'd ever had to a big brother was involved sexually with the man who they
hoped would be their father. It would have been so much easier for them if
they'd simply not known! Now they had to be on their guard. Could they do
it? Adam had no doubt that they could. "They love you, Dad," he had assured
him. "They'll do anything to stay with us. And I think the fact that they
wanted to swim naked today proves that they trust you. I told them you
wouldn't mess with them, and they believed me! And you proved me right!
They'll be fine!"

The fact that those two little guys knew what was going on, and still were as
trusting as any two kids he'd ever seen, was mind boggling to David. But
Adam assured him that in "the system," kids learned at a very early age to
read people. Jody and Eric had been in the system most of their lives, had
been shuffled from one foster home to another several times, and Jody had
even been adopted once. The adoption hadn't worked out, mainly because
Jody hadn't wanted it to. Given a choice between homeless with his brother
and in a home without, Jody had no trouble choosing. They had been around,
these two, and they could see through a phoney as if they could read his
mind. "You're no phoney," Adam told him. "I knew it long before I ever
came home with you, and the twins know it too. You said you wanted to
make a home for them, and they've taken that at face value. They want to be
your sons, nothing more. I think they'd submit to almost anything you want,
but they don't think you'll ask them to. I don't either."
"I won't," David assured him. "I do what I do with you out of love, not just
because you're the most beautiful kid on the planet. I hope you know that.
And I'll also NOT do it with the twins because of my love for them."

The rest of the weekend flew by. David drug his new charges to store after
store on Saturday, buying more clothes than they could possibly wear in two
lifetimes. The twins, oddly enough, wanted to dress the same as much as
possible, which was fine with David. So everything he bought in a size nine
or eight, had to be bought in pairs. They were identical twins now in every
way, including their clothes right down to their underwear! They delighted in
fooling everyone and did it quite successfully; everyone that is except David,
and usually Adam. Even Adam sometimes slipped, but for some uncanny
reason, David could not be fooled. He didn't even know himself how he
knew, but he could tell them apart with no difficulty, naked or clothed, asleep
or awake, together or apart.

Before any of the new family was ready, it was Monday morning, and David
found himself seated in the office of Mr. Cedric Milner, Headmaster of
Rivercrest Academy. Arnie had called him last week and told him the
situation, to which Mr. Milner had replied that he wasn't so sure, under the
circumstances, that he could accept these three new students. Arnie had then
done what he wasn't really happy about doing, but felt that he had no choice:
he had reminded the headmaster that his own two were straight-A students, a
credit to the school, and that David and PowerNet were staunch supporters
and contributors to the school. Mr. Milner conceded that they did indeed
deserve special consideration, so he had instructed Arnie to have David and
the boys in his office at nine Monday morning.

"As I understand it, you don't have the boys' school records yet, is that
right?" the headmaster questioned.
"That's right," David answered. "Things have been happening pretty quickly
for those boys. I realize that this isn't your normal way of doing business, but
I was hoping under the circumstances, that you could get them in and at least
start them in their orientation. I'll tell you now, none of them has a terribly
impressive school history, but I'm confident that you..."
"And what circumstances do you mean?" he interrupted.

David cleared his throat and began relating the story. He knew he had this
man where he wanted him. He knew from past experience, that Mr. Milner
had no love for Social Services bureaucracy; he also knew that he had a
passion for taking under-achieving kids and demonstrating to the world what
they could do. "I'll not bore you with all the details," David said. "Feel free
to ask any questions you wish, but suffice to say, these kids don't have a lot
of options. Social Services are not really sure they want to place them,
especially the younger ones, with me, a bachelor. At the same time, they
haven't offered any viable alternatives either."

Mr. Milner did ask a few questions; information he thought he would need in
order to get the boys placed in the correct classes. He also wanted to know
how David had come to have custody of the boys in the first place. "That's
slightly embarrassing," David replied. "The truth is, my attorney threatened to
sue the state on behalf of the kids, because of the way they've been treated. I
don't like to use tactics like that, but..."
"Don't play games with me," Milner said with a grin. "You love to use those
tactics, or anything else that'll get you your own way. I applaud your efforts,
and I for one want a piece of the action. The question is, will the boys
cooperate? This is not an easy school."
"I think you'll find those boys as charming and dedicated as any in your
school," David promised. "I have only known Adam for a week and a half,
and the twins only a few days, but I have been completely impressed at how
quickly they have totally captivated everyone in their new world. And it really
is a new world for them."

Still doubtful, Mr. Milner asked David to bring the boys in. David opened the
door to the outer office and motioned them to follow. The good headmaster
was definitely not prepared for the grand entrance that followed.

Adam entered first. He was wearing a light brown suit, pants widely flared
from the knees down, with matching dark brown leather loafers. Under the
suit coat was a tan shirt, a hint of lace around the collar and cuffs which
protruded a half inch beyond the sleeves of the coat. A heavy gold chain hung
around his neck; the top two buttons of the shirt were undone, revealing a
reddish copper colored hairless chest. His coal black hair, shining like silk as
usual, fell on his shoulders; some down his back, some forward, accentuating
his dark skin, deep dark brown eyes, and broad shoulders.

The twins followed closely behind. They were dressed in identical outfits:
Black shoes and socks, light blue leisure suits with wide bell bottoms; dark
blue shirts, open halfway down the front, trimmed with white ruffles down the
front and around the cuffs. Around their necks hung a heavy gold chain
similar to the one on Adam's neck. Their bald heads were freshly shaved and
looking as if they had never grown a hair; but on them baldness was a definite
asset.

None of the three boys looked the least uncomfortable; Indeed, all three
looked and acted as if they'd dressed this way their entire lives. One by one
they stepped forward and introduced themselves as they extended their hand,
then after a firm handshake, stepped back and waited to be invited to sit.

They certainly didn't get clothes like that in a foster home," Mr. Milner said
to David. "I also seriously doubt that they learned manners like that from
their social worker."
"They were anxious to make a good impression," David said truthfully. "We
spent a bit of time on the weekend shopping and going over a few things."

"You guys were sensational!" David screamed when they were all in the
pickup. "You had him eating right outta your hand the minute you walked in
his office."
"We didn't do anything," Adam replied. "We just did what you told us to
do." The twins were totally baffled what all the fuss was about. All they
knew, all that was important, was that they were to start school in the
morning. Right now, they were headed for PowerNet. Adam's office furniture
had arrived and he hadn't yet seen it.

"This is Miss Henry," David said as he introduced three boys around an
office full of awe-inspired workers. "She's my secretary, which I guess
means she's yours too. Not your slave, your secretary!"
"Amy," the young lady said as she smiled brightly at the three boys.
"I appreciate that," David said, "I'm sure the boys do too, but it's Miss
Henry for now, ok?"
"You're an old stick-in-the-mud," Arnie said as he approached from behind.
"You've got a short memory," David said as he turned. "What do your kids
call her?"
"That's beside the point. Anyway, how'd y'all make out?"
"He didn't have a chance, Arnie! They start in the morning."
"I don't wonder, looking the way they do. You guys are really something!"

David had never thought of a black person blushing, but he saw with
amusement that all the attention had made the twins do precisely that. No,
they hadn't turned red as white people do, in fact David wasn't sure exactly
what was different; but to him there was no doubt that the little boys were
blushing. "Come on," he said in an effort to rescue them, "let's get you three
situated."

Adam almost fainted when he saw his office. It had a large L-shaped desk
with a new network-attached computer complete with headset for working
the Helpdesk, a color printer for school projects, and lots of every imaginable
kind of office supplies. "You did good, Amy," David said as she stood
beaming in the doorway.
"Yeah," Adam agreed. "This is totally outa sight! Thank you, ma'am."
"Unfortunately we're gonna have to tear it all up again to make room for the
twins," David said.
"I've already arranged for them, David," Amy said. "We've been wanting a
larger storage room anyway, so I've arranged for everything to be moved into
that old meeting room by the elevators. They should be coming in the
morning to move the supplies and set up the room. I'm gonna really enjoy
having these three on the floor. I gotta say, those twins are adorable!"

Again, two little black faces blushed. Two little rows of pure white teeth
glowed. David made a mental note to get appointments for family portraits.
When he was called to the phone in his office, Adam and the twins retired to
Adam's office to check out the new computer - his second in as many weeks.

Thanks to Arnie's coaching, David had already outfitted the boys for school.
They didn't have uniforms at Rivercrest, but they did have a pretty strict
dress code. For the boys, dark blue slacks or shorts, black shoes and socks,
white dress shirts and dark blue tie. For girls, dark skirts and white blouses,
dark shoes and socks. Arnie had shown them what Billy wears and told them
where to buy them, so all was ready. There were no school supplies to buy,
they were all included in the astronomical tuition the school charged.

Things seemed to go from good to better as the boys started school and got
settled into the routine of being rich kids. They liked the school, and the
school liked them; in no time they were all very popular. All three were
working hard to catch up scholastically, Adam had joined the school's swim
team which had him in the water at school at least two hours every day. Jody
and Eric were in the school choir, and would be trying out for the basketball
team in the fall, so they were kept out of mischief as well.

David was seeing less and less of his boys, and less still of his lover. Adam
hardly ever slept in David's room any more, but that was ok. They both
understood the reasons, and they were both comfortable with the situation. By
mid February, and their next court appearance, all four had pretty well grown
completely comfortable with the prospect that they were all a family.
Unfortunately Social Services didn't share their enthusiasm.

Monday, February 15, the day of David's next court date, dawned cold and
sunny. David was feeling pretty good about the whole affair. Grades were
coming up, behavior was above reproach; the kids had lots of friends,
including Cedric Milner, who had volunteered to appear in court on David's
behalf. There was no reason, David thought, no reason at all why the
adoption of the twins shouldn't be allowed to go forward.

George Jameson had tried unsuccessfully to deal with Social Services
privately. Normally there would be no need for a court appearance until
adoptions were finalized, and even then the child in question almost never
appeared. But Social Services had seen fit to balk, saying they were not at all
sure that a white bachelor father was in the best interest of two black boys.
So George had told them he had no choice but to file suit for custody.

The case of Adam was taken care of in fifteen or twenty minutes. George had
asked for the adoption to be finalized, and Mr. Dennings had supported the
motion, much to everyone's surprise. The judge approved the request, so
Adam was David's legally adopted son. It would still be four or five months
before all the paperwork was done, but there would be no more court
appearances, barring some unforseen circumstance.

"I understand that you are also petitioning the court to go forward with
adoption proceedings for the other two boys, is that correct?" the judge asked
George.
"That's correct, your honor," George replied. "The twins have settled in well
with my client, you have already heard from Mr. Milner regarding their
school performance. My client wants to move forward as quickly as possible.
We believe it would help the children's self esteem if they knew that their
current home is permanent."

"Social Services is not prepared to agree at this time," Mr. Dennings
objected. "There are too many issues that have not been adequately dealt
with."
"Like what?" David demanded as he stood. "As far as I can see we have two
happy little boys. If there are other issues, let's hear them and deal with
them."

George was trying to hush David, but it was no use. This bureaucratic SOB
had pissed David off, and he was going to put all the cards on the table, and
NOW! The judge looked at David, mild surprise showing on his face, and
then at Mr. Dennings. "He has a point," he conceded. "Let's hear your
objections, Mr. Dennings."

Mr. Dennings stood and cleared his throat. It occurred to David that his hands
would fit perfectly around that scrawny self-important throat, and could
squeeze the life out of it without hardly trying! Fortunately he didn't move.
"First, and most obvious," the man said in a voice that showed more authority
than anyone believed that he had, "there is the matter of race. These boys are
obviously African-American, and they need to be with people of their own
race so that as they mature they can develop a proper identity."

David was on his feet again. George tried to pull him back in his seat, but he
was having none of it. The gloves were off now. "I think it's rather obvious
that they belong to a different race than I do," he said sarcastically. "If they
don't already know, I promise to have them look in a mirror as soon as we
get home. I'm sure they can figure out the rest. But I have to ask, Mr.
Dennings, are the Crawford's white or black?"
"They're white. What possible relevance..."
"So a foster home that kicks kids out for the holidays, and a different race at
that, is preferable to me?"
"I have no problem with you as a foster parent, Mr. Saunders. My only
concern is allowing you to adopt these children."
"So, you'd rather they not be adopted at all?"
"That's not what I said. I merely expressed concern that we should place
these boys with a family of their own race, if at all possible."

George was tugging at David's shirt, trying to get him to sit down. David was
having none of it. "If you were doing your job," he said to George as he
brushed the hand away, "I wouldn't have to do it for you. You don't seem to
understand there are lives at stake here! My sons' lives! Now will you please
just sit there and shut the fuck up!"

"Mr. Saunders," the judge said, "if you are addressing the court..."
"I'm sorry, your honor. No, I was just telling my attorney that I have the floor
and that he shouldn't interrupt."

Judge Bennet had to work to stifle his chuckle. He'd never seen a lawyer put
in his place like this before, and in his opinion it was high time! But he
couldn't show that sentiment to the court, now, could he? "Fine," the judge
said. "Mr. Dennings, I presume you have other concerns?"

"Yes, your honor. Mr. Saunders is a bachelor, with no prospects for marriage
that we are aware of. Young boys like the two we are discussing today need
the security of a home with two parents. They need the influence of a mother
and father, a stable marriage! There is no way that we can see this sort of
environment being provided by Mr. Saunders in the foreseeable future."
"They had this sort of environment in the Crawford foster home?" David
demanded.
"Yes," Mr. Dennings replied. "There was a mother and father figure."
"So I understand," David responded. "Those were the same mother and
father figures that turned one of their foster children to the streets, and put the
other two in a sports camp they didn't want, isn't that right?"

Dennings didn't answer. Instead he asked another question. "You seem
satisfied that things are going well with the twins, is that right?"
"Things are going fine. Far as I know they are very happy."
"And the bedwetting? That's under control?"
"Bedwetting?" David looked at the twins, then at Adam. The look on the
twins' faces was sheer panic. Adam had a guilty look that said he certainly
knew something he wasn't sharing.
"Mr. Saunders," Dennings pressed when he realized he'd struck a weak
point, "surely you have had to make some arrangements about the twins'
bedwetting?"
"Mr. Dennings, I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about. As far as
I know there has been no bed wetting since the twins have been in my
custody."
"That's very hard to believe," Dennings said self-righteously. He had David
where he wanted him now! "Perhaps the three boys have conspired to keep
the whole thing from you. The fact is, those boys have worn diapers to bed
every night of their lives, as far as I know."

David sputtered and stammered, trying to save face. He looked questioningly
at Adam, finally deciding to bring out in the open anything there was to bring
out. "Adam," he questioned, "is there something you're not telling me?"
"I'm afraid so, sir," Adam answered as he stood.
"Please don't tell me there's been a bedwetting problem I didn't know
about!"
"No sir! There hasn't been a single accident since the twins came to live with
us."
"Then what?" a very confused David said.
"I'm sorry, Dad. I should have told you at the beginning, but the twins were
so afraid you'd reject them. They asked me to give them a chance before I
told you, and they haven't had any accidents."
"Are you telling this court," the judge said, "two little boys who have wet the
bed their entire lives have suddenly stopped completely? Overnight?"
"Yes, sir," Adam replied. "I guess that's what I'm telling you. They haven't
worn diapers and their beds haven't been wet. I've been checking every
morning. I was the one who diapered them in the foster home, and cleaned
them up in the morning."

"Perhaps Mrs. Morrison has been dealing with it," Dennings suggested. "You
have hired her to put them to bed and get them up, have you not?"
"Yes and no," David answered. "Mrs. Morrison has been a big help, but her
husband has retired now, and they are moving to Florida. She is only working
for me on an on-call basis. I'm afraid Adam and I are sharing all the parental
duties with the twins, and actually Adam is doing the bulk of the work, not
that they're any work, really. But if there were a problem, Adam or I would
know. I have seen the twins go to bed personally, and I've got them up in the
morning many times. I have seen no diapers nor signs of wet beds. And if
Adam says he hasn't, I for one believe him."

Everyone in the courtroom bantered around some more, each trying to make
some major point that would discredit the other. Dennings made the point that
David didn't even know the twins were bedwetters, to which David
countered that they weren't! Didn't that say something about their emotional
state? Dennings again reiterated that he wanted to place the boys in a family
of their own race. David had a field day with this one. First he pointed out
that they had been in foster care for seven years, and in that time there had
been only one possible adoption, and that one would have separated the
brothers. Not only that, David said, but the Social Services attitude was
decidedly racist! They discussed the boys' school, David's financial
condition, plans for the future.

When he had heard enough, Judge Bennet finally told everyone to sit down
and shut up. "You have all made your points," he said. "In fact you have all
made the same points several times. From where I sit, I can see no reason
why these children should not be allowed to stay where they are obviously
happy and well cared for. On the other hand, I fail to see why, Mr. Saunders,
you have to rush this adoption through. The time delays were built into the
system for a reason, and I think they should be honored. The boys will remain
in your custody, but the adoption will not be accelerated."

David was disappointed, but not that surprised. He had really hoped that he
could carry the adoption along as quickly as possible. Adam was devastated,
and the twins were absolutely terrified that they would now be moving again.
"Not going to happen, kids," David promised as soon as they were in the
Tahoe and out of earshot. "Do you guys trust me?"
All three said that they did.
"Okay then, listen up. We will do what we have to do! You've got a home,
and that isn't gonna change. We're a family!" David didn't know it at the
time, but he would have a chance to keep his promise all too soon.

Before anyone realized it, late March was upon them, and David had a
special surprise for Adam during his spring break. His grades were continuing
to improve more quickly than anyone dared hope, and so David had even
arranged for him to be excused from school a few days early. The twins had
gone to Nashville with the school choir, and would be gone for two weeks,
including the week long spring break. After seeing the twins to the chartered
bus, David told Adam that he'd be meeting him right after school, that they
were going away too. Adam wanted to know where they were going, but
David would say no more. "Just give this note to your teachers," he
instructed. "It will let them know you won't be back until after spring break,"

Needless to say, the teachers had a great deal of difficulty getting any
concentration out of Adam. Where in the world could they be going? A cruise
perhaps? David had mentioned that there were places in the world where they
could go and be lovers outwardly. They had agreed it would be nice to visit
some time. Was that where they were going? Or perhaps a spring ski trip to
Colorado or some such place? When Adam got home, he began pumping
David, but he still wouldn't say a word. The house was very quiet with just
the two of them, so the evening was longer than usual. David had said he'd
reveal his plans at bed time, "After you do something for me."

Adam didn't have to be told what that something was. With their hectic
schedule, and with two active little boys in the house, there hadn't been that
much lovemaking. Adam had never penetrated David, and he knew that
David wanted that to happen about as badly as he wanted anything in the
world. Adam wanted it too, and he had a strong suspicion that tonight was the
night.

Adam was right. After David had Adam pretty well packed, they went for a
swim, then early to bed. One was as anxious as the other, and neither was
disappointed. When David felt Adam slide easily into him, they having spent
more than a half hour preparing, he thought he would go into pleasure
overload. Somehow, they had to find a way to do this more often. But then
too soon it was over, and Adam, his chore completed, set in again nagging
about their destination.

"You remember that song about the mother wondering about her son?" David
said as they cuddled together.
"Yes, sir," Adam said dreamily. "He would be sixteen."
"That's it. Remember I said I'd make some calls?"

Adam sat bolt upright in the bed. "Dad!" he exclaimed. "You found her?
We're goin' to see her?"
"Not exactly. I've found where you were born. It's a small town in the
mountains called, appropriately enough, Cherokee. I have been talking with a
man who's pretty sure he's your grandfather. He has invited you up for spring
break. I thought I'd drive you up there, then to on to Nashville and check in
on the twins."
"My grandfather? So does he know where my mother..."
"That's the bad news, Adam. If he is right, he says his daughter, your mother,
is dead. She and your father were in a boating accident five years ago and
drowned."

"My father?" Adam questioned. "But I thought my father... I mean, if they..."
"Your father had gone to California when you were born. He didn't know
anything about you until he came back a year later, and by then you were
already gone. He married your mother, but they were under the impression
that you were happily adopted, so they decided it would be best to stay out of
your life."
"So, what makes this man think he is my grandfather?"
"He says he will know when he sees you."
"But how? I was only a baby..."
"Your birthmark, Adam. That spot on your lower back - he knows about it.
He says he'll know instantly when he sees that mark. He's really anxious to
meet you, Adam!"

Adam was saddened by the news that his mother wasn't alive, but he was
excited by the prospect of meeting his grandfather, and in the very house
where he'd been born! David also told him he had a brother! His name was
John, Adam's grandfather had told David; he was 12 years old and lived with
his only living relative, their grandfather. Adam was so excited, as David
knew he would be. David was extremely pleased at this latest development;
much more so than he would have been, had he known all that was to come.

            *                *               *

I sincerely hope you enjoy my writing efforts. If you do, or for that matter if
you don't, I would appreciate if you would write to me. My email address is
charlieje@mindspring.com.