Date: Tue, 27 Aug 2002 13:38:02 -0500
From: Gary <gary_q@hotmail.com>
Subject: Patient John Doe Chapter 18

Patient John Doe
By Gary_Q
Gary_Q@hotmail.com

The below story is a work of fiction, as stated in the previous chapters:
all copyrights from apply, as does my prohibition to this work being linked
to any pay web sites.

If you are just joining this story, please note the DEDICATION of it,
stated in Chapter One.

Again I thank my good friend Miguel Sanchez,  miguel_sanchez55@hotmail.com
for his help in developing this work, along work we are doing on future
chapters.  (Julio, of course, is now the mature Doctor Jay Sanchez in this
story).

			     Chapter Eighteen

     The kids were as dazzled as I was as entered the airport complex.
Instead of going to the main terminal Jay drove to a smaller, private
terminal and to a large gate entering the flight line.  As he approached
the gate it opened electronically, and a he proceeded to a nearby Learjet.
Two attendants rushed to the back of the Hummer and began transferring our
luggage into the aircraft as soon as the vehicle stopped.
     "Good morning!" Miguel announced as he descended the stairway from the
plane.  "Would you like to go flying?" he asked my wide eyed boys.
     "Come on, it's totally awesome, I'll show you!" Steven hooted, pushing
Mark and Johnny toward the aircraft before wrapping his arm around Ronnie
and ushering the bug-eyed youngster next to him.
     "We are leaving soon, did you want to say goodbye to Jay and Ronnie?"
Miguel asked, standing at the bottom of the stairs, cutting the boys off.
     They glanced between Miguel, Steven and I a couple of times, then
turned back and rushed back toward us.  The three of them made me feel
proud of them as they politely and genuinely thanked Jay, then Ronnie and
finally Angela for the weekend and the good time they had before they all
rushed back toward the aircraft.  Johnny scrambled up two or three steps
before turning back around, and rushing back onto the flight line.
     "Thanks, Doctor Jay," he said he pushed into a tight hug against his
physician.  "You're an neat doctor and stuff, thanks for fixing my arm and
stuff!  I love you, sir," he whimpered.
     "I, I love you too, little one, thank you for visiting our home," Jay
almost whispered.  "But, we are not done, I will see you again soon, we
have to get your arm ready for Little League season!  You work hard, I'm
going to come exam you in a month, that is not very long," he added, his
voice recovering somewhat.
     "Yes sir," Johnny answered, pulling against his doctor's stomach with
his arm.
     "I understand you are going to teach me how to ride horses, have you
decided which ones Ronnie and I should learn on?" Jay asked.  His ploy
worked perfectly, Johnny' ears turning as red as his hair as if gears
grinding in his head were overheating them.  "You better get onboard, or my
father will leave without you!" he said, tousling the boy's hair.
     "Thanks for the weekend, and for your help," I said as we watched
Johnny dart toward the airplane.  I think we all noticed his limp as he
rushed up the stairs into the cabin.
     "Thank you," Jay answered, cutting me off.  "Thank you so much."  His
face told me not to take the discussion any further.
     "I'll contact you in a day or so about what we talked about earlier on
the beach.  As soon as I know something," I told Jay as we shook hands.
"But, hey, I'll still give you a GREAT deal on my three!  I could leave
them now, if you want!" I added as I said goodbye to Ronnie and Angela.
The only response I earned was a glare from Angela.
     When I followed Miguel into the aircraft its cabin was something out
of shows I had seen on cable TV programs.  The main cabin was a small
sitting room, with a couple of tables and high backed chairs around them.
Toward the back of it was four rows of seats, somewhat like on a commercial
airliner, but much more plush.  From the open door I could tell there was
another cabin behind the one I was in, but couldn't see any details.
     Mark and Johnny bumped into me as I looked around.  "Arf!  There's the
captain pit and stuff, he said we might get to drive it some!" Johnny
exclaimed, pointing to the aircraft's nose.
     "Cockpit, stupid!" Mark corrected.  "And maybe we get to FLY it some!
You don't drive them!  Watch Discover stupid, I already know how!"
     "Yes, but please sit down, we are going to be taking off soon," a
smartly dressed flight steward asked.  Without waiting for an answer he
turned and pulled the stairwell/door up.  "Please fasten your seat belts,
as soon as we are airborne I will serve refreshments," he politely ordered.
     Everyone followed Miguel's lead, and settled into the craft's
comfortable seating.  After I fastened my seat belt I started to check to
be sure the boys had done the same when the aircraft's hull began
vibrating, as if something was hammering on it from the outside.  `God,
not again!' I thought.  Miguel exchanged worried looks as the steward
lowered the door.
     Miguel and I were both, at least for a second or so, shocked when
Ronnie rushed into the aircraft's cabin.  "Steven, get your butt out here,
NOW!" he barked.  I was trying to digest his request as I followed his
glare to the back of the cabin, until Steven and my Ronnie's heads slowly
appeared from the last row of seats in the cabin.  "RIGHT NOW, YOUNG MAN!"
Uncle Ronnie growled, the veins in his forehead broadcasting his anger.
     "Ah, well we didn't know they were leaving or nothing!" Steven whined
as he half crawled toward his uncle, dodging Miguel and my eyes.  "I'm
sorry!" he added.
     Ronnie gave his nephew a couple of disbelieving glances, but seemed to
calm somewhat until my Ronnie added, "Well, and we weren't gonna do
nothing, he was just gonna go meet Zoe, and, , ," His face was so priceless
as he realized what he had said I would have given a year's pay to have a
picture of it.  "I mean, well, he was helping me so my seat belt worked and
stuff, SIR!  He was Dad!"
     "Plant it!" I snarled toward my Ronnie, pointing at the seat next to
mine.  Young Steven's face reminded me of the perfect Hollywood portrayal
of a condemned prisoner entering the death chamber as he looked back at his
friend before leaving the plane.  I started to chew my boy out for his part
in their little shenanigan, but after I saw Miguel's face, clearly trying
to keep from smiling, I knew I'd crack up if I did.
     Fifteen minutes later we were in the air, and soon leveled off at
flight altitude.  Almost immediately after the `SEAT BELTS' sign went
off the steward rushed to a intercom phone buzzing near his seat.  "The
Captain would like to see the children on the flight deck," he announced as
he hung up the handset.
     Johnny and Mark bolted out of their seats.  I had to snicker when Mark
was initially slammed back into his having forgotten to unfasten his seat
belt.  Ronnie reached for his belt latch but stopped, giving me a sheepish
grin.  "Do you think you can behave yourself?" I asked, trying to force
some anger into my voice.  He whimpered something I couldn't hear as he
nodded his head and widened his grin into one of his `I'm sorry' smiles,
showing his braces as carefully as his sad puppy dog eyes.  I just slightly
nodded my head and he was at the cockpit door at the speed of light.
     "You are far to harsh with them," Miguel teased.  I just shrugged,
knowing better than to touch his comment.
     The steward had just asked us if we would like anything to drink when
Mark came bouncing out of the cockpit.  "Wow, Dad, Johnny's flying the
plane, all by himself!" he proclaimed.  "He cant reach the pedals, but the
Captain said that's okay!"
     I started to order a stiff whiskey as I digested my son's comment,
`A one armed kid, that cant reach the pedals, is flying by himself?' I
thought.  `Maybe I'll have a double,' I thought when Mark added,
"Ronnie's helping!  I get to try next!"  I relaxed somewhat when I leaned
out in my seat.  I could see enough through the open cockpit door to see an
adult sitting in the left hand pilot's seat, and Ronnie sitting on a small
jump seat behind and between the two main control panels.
     The rest of the flight was very comfortable to say the least, I found
myself comparing commercial airlines to Greyhound busses.  Miguel and I
chatted about the plans Jay, Ronnie and I had made that morning both about
their visit to Texas and interest in fostering as we choked down a hot dog
each, while the boys inhaled five or six each.  I was thrilled that Miguel
accepted my invitation to visit the ranch along with his sons.  Much sooner
than I expected the steward cleared everyone's drinks and snacks from the
tables and asked us to fasten our seat belts, that we were about to land in
San Antonio.
     After we taxied to one of the private aviation terminals at San
Antonio International Airport, I smiled when our pilot entered the cabin
before we deplaned, `asking' if he could enlist the boys `help' in
refueling and inspecting the aircraft, while I went to retrieve my car from
the main parking area.  Even inside the aircraft's cabin Mark and Ronnie's
silver smiles were so wide they almost blinded me when I agreed.
     I laughed so hard I had trouble controlling my Jaguar as I drove
through the terminal gate and toward Miguel's jet.  Ronnie was hanging out
of the cockpit window, his golden hair and silver headgear brightly
reflecting the sunlight as he watched one of the pilots and his brothers
walk around the plane.  The man seemed to be able to pay fairly good
attention to his inspection despite Mark and Johnny being completely
underfoot, pushing against the aviator, almost climbing up his body to get
a better look at everything he stopped to check.
     Miguel chatted for a few minutes as the flight line attendants loaded
our luggage into my car.  I was about to call the kids when Ronnie appeared
at the aircraft's steps, and Johnny began up them, clearly changing places.
"Ah, guys, time to go home!" I announced.
     After a pair of dirty looks Ronnie retorted, "Well, but we gotta help
check the plane!" Johnny glanced back at me as he rushed up the stairs, and
his turn in the cockpit.
     I started to nail them, to order they get into the car, but took a
deep breath.  "I'd like to get home, to check on the horses and Buddy!" I
replied.  "I hope Ginger and Zoe and everyone are okay!"
     I would have loved to get back into Miguel's jet and see the skid
marks I'm sure Johnny's gym shoes left on the carpet as the boy reappeared
on the stairs.  He flew down the several steps at lightening speed, his
good leg taking three steps at a time while his bad one took one, but with
the grace and speed of an Olympic track runner.  He was only a few feet
from me when he turned back, looking for his brothers.
     "Come on, you heard Dad!" he barked in a command voice that would have
made soprano pitched military officers around the world jealous.  "Right
now!" he snapped as he wrestled with the back door of my big cat.  I was
impressed that he climbed back out of the car and gave Miguel and the
aircraft's pilot an warm hug as his brothers joined us, but his cute little
pixie face was still in the command mode, clearly telling me to get off my
backside and drive the damn car.  `What happened to my shy little boy?'
I wondered as we left the airport.
     `I don't even believe this shit!' I thought as the white wooden
fence of my land came into sight.  A fairly large, cinnamon colored blotch,
Ginger's head, was protruding between the rails, a pair of huge black eyes
staring, more glaring down the asphalt.
     "YEAH, there's Ginger!" Johnny hooted from the back seat, jerking
against his seat belt so hard the car shook slightly.  At the same time the
cinnamon blob withdrew from between the fence rails.  I felt my ponytail
being pulled toward the back seat of the car, from a window being lowered,
as we came next to my fence.  "Hi Ginger! ! ! Hi, you gotta see what they
did to my arm!" Johnny yelled out the window.
     `Neither one of them are normal, the horse or the kid!' I thought
as I saw Ginger buck into the air, then push against Zoe and one of Cindy's
horses, clearly her entourage, before she started loudly snorting and
naying at her boy as she pranced more than galloped next to the Jaguar as I
drove toward the gate, Johnny already filling her in on our trip and his
surgery despite the fact he was yelling into the wind from my
forty-mile-an-hour speed.
     I punched the remote to open the gate as soon as I dared, but had to
wait probably a minute for it to open after I turned off the road.
`Chill, girl.' I thought as I noticed Ginger, her ears laid flat against
her neck, glaring at the gate's electronic mechanism.  As soon as my car
began moving through the gate the filly's ears perked back up and she
kicked her rear hooves in joy before running along side us.
     By the time I approached the house we had probably six horses running
next to us, Ginger nudging her neck toward each of them as they joined the
procession.  Both Mary's car and the Robert's Suburban were in front of my
house, and, knowing it was I lost cause, I reminded the boys we had to
unload our luggage, and say hello to our guest as I stopped in front.
     I didn't bother to try to call Johnny back as he dove out of the car
and bolted toward the pasture fence, even with his slight limp he clearly
would have outrun my voice anyway.  "You guys say hi, then bring your bags
inside and get changed, then you can go riding," I managed to get out
before Ronnie got away.
     `He's damn sure recovering,' I thought as I watched Johnny dive
between two of the fence rails, roll on his back and land on his feet.  He
was still regaining his balance when Ginger pushed against him, pushing her
neck into him.  `Damn, and the camera is in the trunk!' I thought as the
other horses gathered around, and Mark, then Ronnie joined the joyful
reunion, hugging their horses then the others.
     "Dude!  How'd you get here so quick!"  Junior's alto voice rang.  I
looked around in time to see him galloping to the group on his horse,
bailing off it before the animal stopped running.
     "You are early, your flight wasn't due for several hours!" Cindy said
from next to me, making me jump.
     "We hitchhiked," I answered.  "A unique end to a completely unique
weekend."  I briefly filled her in or Miguel's private jet, and our return
trip, only about half my mind on our discussion as we watched Johnny, with
Mark's help, clearly explaining to Ginger and the other horses his shoulder
immobilizer.  After Ginger and Zoe examined it Mark removed the chest belt
and pulled the back of Johnny's shirt up.  To my amazement each horse
sniffed and studied the area of the boy's thin back where Jay had performed
surgery.  "Strange animals," I commented.
     "Yes, but they belong to a totally strange family!" Cindy teased.
"Come on kid, buy me a drink, you owe me several!" she added, giving me a
corny seductive look and starting toward the house.  `I wont argue with
that!' I thought as I joined her.
     A cold beer and my favorite pool side chair felt good as we chatted.
Cindy and Junior had come out the feed the houses while Carl was tied up at
the hospital. Mary had decided to prepare a meal and leave it in the
refrigerator for us.  Of course Junior managed to turn his feeding chores
into a riding session.
     I had just begun filling Cindy and Mary in on the weekend when a
series of noises inside the house distracted me.  `I'm impressed!' I
thought as I saw all the kids dragging suitcases in from the car, including
mine.  They started to stack them in the entryway, but after a loose huddle
picked everything back up, taking their bags upstairs and mine into my
bedroom.  `Damn, maybe some of the Sanchez grace and charm rubbed off on
them!' I thought as I watched Johnny carry my laptop and camera bag into my
study.
     My feeling of pride was short lived.  "I wonder what they want?
They're about to hit you up for something," Cindy commented as we watched
them regroup in the foyer.  They all started rushing toward the patio door
but stopped, everyone turning to Junior.  He blushed slightly and
disappeared toward the kitchen.  "He's in on it, what ever it is," she
added, grinning slightly.
     Junior reappeared almost immediately, still installing his headgear
into his mouth, and all four of them were out the patio door, begging to go
riding.  "Not in those clothes, go get into some play clothes, and you
can," I answered.
     "But, these are dirty and stuff and I told Ginger I'd come quic. . ."
Johnny stated to argue, until Mark subtly poked him in the back as the
other boys glared at him.  "I mean Yes Sir," Johnny corrected himself,
following his brothers back inside.  Junior glanced nervously between his
mother, his friends rushing into the house and I a couple of times before
turning and bolting behind the other boys.
     A minute or so later they were all back outside, lining up almost as
if for some sort of inspection.  "Thanks guys, don't be too long, we still
have to unpack and get ready for tomorrow," I tried, wondering if it would
prompt them to unveil their plot.  They exchanged glances before chiming in
a group Yes Sir and rushing toward the pasture.
     Junior was a few feet off the deck into the yard when he turned back
and rushed to me, pushing his bony hip under my forearm.  "Thanks Doctor
Pop, it's cool you back!" he said, giving me a wide silver smile that
almost blinded me.  I only had time to grin back at him before he was gone.
     "Should I set out another plate?" Mary more tittered than asked Cindy.
     "Well, have you ever heard him say no?  After all, he is a Doctorate
level parent!" Cindy quipped as both ladies traded shrewd smiles.  I downed
the rest of my beer as I realized what they were talking about, that the
boys were again setting me up.
     "Ah, , , where's Buddy?" I asked, more to rescue some of my macho
before the conversation deflated my sinking ego any further, than out of
concern for the dog.  Cindy informed me, as I already knew, that Buddy was
still at their house.  "Why don't we call Carl, see if he wants to come out
and have a drink, maybe he could bring the dog with him, you guys could
stay for supper!" I suggested, hoping for reinforcements.  After Mary said
she was preparing oven fried chicken for our supper, I suggested we get
some sausage out of the freezer, that he could bring Jennifer and they join
us for supper.
     My ego rescue plan only partially worked, the women forced me to
suffer through another round of knowing looks before Cindy called Carl.
Jennifer was away with one of her girl friends for the afternoon, but
thankfully Carl said he would join us shortly.  It took a little
convincing, but Mary agreed to join us for supper, and even to stay away
from my barbeque pit, and relax as a guest.
     As we enjoyed a second drink I filled them in more on the Doeman
situation.  We watched the boys ride and play with their steeds as we
semi-joked about the horses telepathic reaction back here in Texas, but I
think each of us was almost afraid to go too far into how the animals,
especially Ginger, knew something was awry thousands of miles away.  I was
a little leery bringing it up for fear of being disbelieved, but neither
women doubted in the least that Ginger knew the boys and I were driving up
the road before hearing or seeing us or my car.
     "What about his arm, what's the prognosis?" Mary asked, almost
abruptly changing the subject.  She listened very intently as I recapped
Johnny's surgery, along with the therapy and recovery regime Jay had laid
out.  "I'd like to view the CD, if I may," she asked.
     "Actually, I was going to talk to you later, perhaps you can recommend
some of your associates, you know the area therapists better than I," I
told her before I relayed the incident last night, and Johnny's almost
panic stricken fear of Hill Country.  "We know he's an out-patient, that
he's not going back to the secure wing, but I don't think he completely
believes that.  I'm not sure it's the best facility for him now, if he's in
fear while there, he is not going to thrive.
     "He still needs management of both occupational and physical programs,
and I want him to get academic tutelage, toward I hope enrolling him in
Cornerstone with the other boys.  Hill Country is the best center in the
area, but I don't think it's right for him anymore."
     Mary didn't respond right away, turning to watch the kids play.  >From
her face I could tell she was thinking about my statement.  Suddenly she
shuddered slightly, her eyes widening.  "Oh my goodness, my cookies!" she
exclaimed, hastening out of her chair and rushing inside as if the house
was on fire.
     "I wish I had those instincts!" Cindy quipped.  "If I forgot something
in the oven, it would have burned until we saw smoke," she added.  "It
seems safe from your guard-horses now, let's go for a ride."  I thought
about her offer for a minute, but the weekend and our trip were starting to
take its toll on my body, and I declined, deciding to get in a pair of
trunks and soak my weary bones in the pool.
     When I stepped back out of my bedroom onto the deck the pasture, and
patio, were both abandon, save the horses lined up at the fence, glaring at
the house.  `What were we saying about telepathy?' I asked myself as I
stepped to the family room door.  I wasn't too surprised when I saw four
skinny young eating machines lined up at the breakfast bar, their heads
moving in perfect synchronization as they watched their Nanny and Cindy
move about in the kitchen.
     `For a senior citizen, she's quick!' I thought as I watched Mary
set a plate, piled high with chocolate chip cookies between the boys, and
managed to withdraw her fingers before they were mistaken for a snack.
`Air breathing Piranhas?' I wondered.  Cindy reinforced my thought as
she set glasses of milk next to each boy and Junior, Ronnie and Mark
inhaled their contents so quickly I was sure either their headgears would
warp or the straws they were sucking on would collapse.  Johnny held is
own, his arm switching between his milk glass and the cookie plate like a
high speed robotic arm.
     I managed to grab one of the last cookies off the second plate-load,
thankfully without getting bit.  "Hi Dad, these are YUMM!" Mark muttered,
his mouth full of cookies as his hand jerked the last cookie off the tray
before anyone else could.
     "Hey, leave some for Doctor Pop!" Junior snapped as Mary set still
another plate on the bar.
     "Yeah, CHILL!" Ronnie ordered in his best alto command voice.  "Hi
Dad, you wanta get some more?" he asked me, his pixie little face doing a
perfect imitation of the stereotype used car salesman Hollywood spent years
perfecting for their best actors.
     `Here we go,' I thought as Junior, Mark and Johnny gave me wide,
innocent grins, their foreheads tightening as they tried to resist looking,
or continuing their attack, on the newly arrived plate of cookies.  "Thank
you, but I just wanted to taste one of them, they don't go well with beer,
and I think I'll get another beer instead."
     Junior and Ronnie collided with each other as they dove off their
stools toward the bar.  "Go, hurry," Ronnie whispered softly.  He glanced
back and blushed when he realized I had heard him.  I reminded myself to
check for burn marks on the carpet as Junior darted to the bar and back
with a fresh beer.
     "Yeah too, watch Dad, Johnny keeps getting stiff and stuff!" Mark
exclaimed, pointing under the breakfast bar toward his new brother's
mid-section.  "He did a couple of times on Ginger, but I can make it get
stiff and point straight up!" he added, making Johnny blush bright red.
Cindy and Mary's faces made me bite my lip hoping not to show my
embarrassment, but I silently called them everything but human as they
disappeared back onto the patio, the glances and snickers they exchanged
said volumes.
     "Show him Johnny!" Mark snapped at his brother.  Johnny gave Mark,
then I a `do I gotta' look before reaching under the bar with his good
hand.  `Where are my notes from Adolescent Psyic 1310, I asked myself as
he fidgeted under the counter for a minute then pivoted on his stool so his
thin body was facing me.  To my shock, and relief, he grasp his paralyzed
arm, now free from his sling, and rested it on the breakfast bar.
     The room went silent as he concentrated on his hand, his freckled
little brow tightening as his eyes narrowed.  "It don't wanta," he gowned
after a minute.
     "Yeah, come on, you gotta show Dad!" Mark cried.  "You can do it dude,
come on!"  Junior and Ronnie joined in, encouraging him with their cheers.
     Johnny gave the other boys a frustrated look before taking a deep
breath and turning back to his hand.  "It don't wanta," he exclaimed after
a few seconds.  "Maybe it's tired or stuff, maybe it'll feel better
laters,"
     "No dude, I can make you stiff!" Mark countered, stepping next to his
brother.  "Watch Dad, it's totally awesome!" he added, wrapping one arm
around Johnny thin waist, reaching under his patient's arm with the other.
I was watching Mark more than Johnny's hand until Mark hooted, "Yeah, there
Dad, see!"
     I glanced back to the counter in time to see Johnny's thumb fully
extended, sticking proudly in the air, his wrist twisting slightly as it
did.  "Ouch, it's getting mad!" he told his brother as the muscles in his
overly thin forearm began to quiver.
     "Wow!" was the only thing I could think to say.  "God, that is
wonderful, you can do it on your own?" I asked Johnny as I stepped behind
them, pulling both boys into a hug.
     "Well, a couple of times," Johnny answered.  "I think it don't like
everyone watching it.  It works when I show Ginger, but it don't like other
people watching, I think," he added.  `Ginger, but not other people,' I
thought, wondering how accurate his statement might be.
     "Guys, that is fantastic!" I exclaimed, kissing both their foreheads.
"I cant think of a way to tell you how proud I am of both of you, how happy
this makes me.  Keep trying, and you're going to be playing baseball, like
Doctor Jay said!" I added, pulling Johnny against me.  "And you are
something very special to help your brother like this," I said toward Mark
as I pulled his forehead against my chest, kissing it again.
     "Yeah, Dad, it's totally neat!" Ronnie added as he and Junior pushed
against my sides.
     "We're glad you are so happy, Doctor Pop," Junior added giving me a
wide silver smile.
     "Well, yeah, Dad, it's neat!  We are ALL so happy, especially Junior
cause he didn't get to see when you fixed Johnny's arm," Ronnie said.
"Well, and he don't know how to help him with his therapies and stuff, but
he wants to!"  Junior reinforced Ronnie's statement with a wide eyed look,
pushing against me a little harder.  "Well, and since we don't gotta go to
school tomorrow, maybe if, I mean, ah, what about if Junior stays here
tonight and tomorrow so he can learn how to help Johnny!" he proclaimed in
a way that made me wonder how much CSPAN he had been watching, which
crooked politician he was emulating.
     "Sorry guys, but you are going to school tomorrow, bright and early,"
I answered, causing all four of them to stiffen like boards.  "I said IF we
didn't get home from Virginia in time you might have to miss school,
remember?"  I felt what I was afraid at first was a heart mummer in my
chest as thought waves reverberated through me from each side, I could feel
the Ronnie and Junior's eyes rattling in their sockets as they tried to see
each other.
     "Ah, well," Ronnie began, I guess the first to recover.  "Ah, yes,
sir, but well, can Junior spend the night?  He can ride the van with us,
and we can all help Johnny tonight!"
     "Yeah, sir, I got my books in Mom's car and stuff!" Johnny pleaded.
     "And he's got a uniform here too sir, I mean Dad!" Mark threw in.
`I wonder how that got here?' I silently snickered.
     "Guys, we have been out of town, and had a VERY long weekend, I think
it would be better if we invited Junior to stay, maybe one night next
weekend." I countered, feeling a bit of Angina from their brain waves again
passing through my chest.
     "Please Pop!  I mean Doctor Pop!" Junior whimpered.  "My mom don't
care she said, I mean she is gonna say its okay if you do!"  When I tried
to look at him I was attacked with his and three more pairs of sad puppy
eyes.
     `Yeah, well, I will begin serious parenting, next week, no more
spoiled kids!' I told myself.  "Go ask your mom," I told Junior.
     The patio was empty when I stepped outside toward the pool.  When I
glanced toward the pasture was a little surprised, but pleased, that Mary
was with Cindy and the kids, petting the horses as she and Cindy and Ronnie
walked among the ones my other boys were not riding.  As I settled in front
of my favorite water-jet in the pool I could tell from their body language
and gestures that Cindy was encouraging Mary to go for a ride.  `Go on,
you'd love it!' I thought, but she stepped back toward the fence, waving to
Cindy and the kids as they rode away.  She leaned back against the fence
and watched Cindy and the boys ride for several minutes before turning and
starting back to the house.
     "Why didn't you ride?" I asked Mary as she walked onto the deck.
     "They're one of the few creatures that weigh more than I, I don't
think I need on one of them.  They don't need me on them, I could imagine
treating a horse for back strain!" she quipped.  "They are beautiful
animals, they are much friendlier than I expected," she added.
     "If you ever tried it, you would love riding, I wish you would give it
a chance, the kids would really enjoy it too," I replied, getting no
reaction.
     "May I have some of your Rum?" she asked after a couple of seconds of
silence.  She ignored me as I chastised her for asking and went inside,
returning shortly with a drink, and a fresh beer for me.  "It is wonderful,
so revitalizing out here," she said as she settled into one of the chase
lounges.  "I sometimes have trouble believing I'm getting paid to come
here," she told the land behind my house more than me.  "You have provided
me with the most perfect retirement job anyone could wish for," she added
as we both watched the boys enter into a spontaneous horse-race.
     "Thank you, you have done wonders helping shape this nut-farm into a,
well, somewhat working family unit!" I answered as I climbed out of the
pool and sat next to her.  "You came here to be a nanny, be careful, I
think you are getting close to being stuck with four more grandsons!" I
teased as I opened the fresh beer can.
     Doctor, , , I mean Adam," Mary began after we watched the kids and
horses for a minute or so.  "I have been thinking about your concerns,
about helping Johnny.  Thank you for allowing me into your lives, and into
his life, he is a wonderful boy."  The intensity in her facial expression
started to scare me, `God, if she quits, I'm dead meat!' I thought.
     "You are also correct, he does not belong at Hill Country, he has
progressed far beyond a rehab center," she stated.  She turned her head
toward me, then toward the pasture a couple of times, from her expression I
could tell she was searching, for words or reaction, one of the two.
     "I want to help Johnny, I would like to work with him," she said.  She
shifted in her lounger facing me directly before adding, "I'm not certified
as a Physical Therapist, but I know what I'm doing, and have a lot of
friends that can help.  I'm not a teacher, but I have a Master's degree,
and I could home school him until his academics are back on track, I know I
can help him, sir."
     "Please don't call me Sir, I should be calling you Ma'am!  You're old
enough to be my mom!" I countered, trying to digest her statement, and
hoping to buy myself a little time to determine if my ears had heard
correctly.  I started to offer to freshen her drink, more to give me a
little time to think than anything else, but her face told me that was not
a good idea.  "What do you have in mind?" I risked.
     "What I used to do for a living, developing and executing OT programs,
" she responded, her eyes showing a confidence I had not seen before.  "I
have some girl-friends that can coordinate his physical therapy sessions
with home therapy.  If you give me a contact at Cornerstone, I'll provide
you with a plan to get him back on track scholastically.  Johnny is highly
intelligent, just behind academically, I feel I can have him back on track,
if you let me try," she announced.
     "That isn't much of a retirement," I responded.  "God bless you for
the thought, but you should enjoy your freedom, you earned your retired
life."
     "Retirement suc. . . isn't what it's cranked up to be," she said,
blushing slightly at what was the closest thing to a vernacular term I had
ever heard from her.  "I spend most of my day sitting around my apartment,
watching CNN, and wishing the boys would get out of school, so I can come
to work.  Do you have any idea how many times those people can repeat the
same dry news, and act like it's earthshaking?"
     "Oh do I, I haven't been out of school that long!" I snickered.  "What
would you, what would be a reasonable compensation for your time?"
     "I don't want any more money, I want to help the boy," she answered
with a slightly hurt look.  "I want something to do that is productive."  I
digested her statement, and her expression for several seconds.
       "Okay, let's make it happen, but with the condition that you are
compensated for your time, I insist."  She stated to respond but I cut her
off, adding, "We have to check with, either Cindy or the court, I don't
know which, we might have to modify his Plan of Service, he is still
technically under my care.  We'll settle the money issue later, but when
would you like to start working on this?"
     She caught me off guard by answering, "Tomorrow morning, of course!
It would take a few days to get completely organized, but I don't think
Johnny should return to Hill Country.  I'd like to be here first thing in
the morning."
     `Damn, thanks for the lead time!' I thought.  "Let's talk to Cindy,
see if we can make it happen!"
     "What are you getting my wife into THIS time!" Carl's voice boomed
from behind us.  "God Damnit, the last time you got her involved I went
from being a Cardiac to a Horse-bite Surgeon!" he quipped with a wide grin,
beer can in his hand.  "Welcome back, I heard you had a LONG weekend!"
     Before I could react a furry black form flashed into my vision, and a
long wet tongue soaked my face as its owner landed in my lap.  "Hi Buddy!"
I stuttered, trying to talk while he tried to lick my nose and lips off my
face.  After spending almost a minute stumbling spastically in my lap and
soaking me with saliva, he dove into Mary's lap, his seemingly mile long
tail still slapping my arm as he drowned her with tongue kisses.
     Mary had almost gotten control of him, trying to pull him away from
her face, when something seemed to distract him, and he pushed out of her
arms.  Still in her lap the bounced around, looking toward the pasture for
an instant before barking and diving off her chair.  "Tough little rat," I
commented as the puppy rolled head over heals, thankfully in the grass next
to the deck, and lumbered at full speed toward the pasture fence and his
boys.  "God, and he's going to weight a hundred pounds?" I laughed as we
watched him trip over his own long legs several times.
     The little dog quickly got the attention of the kids, and horses,
darting around barking and jumping up at his two legged brothers begging
for attention.  Although he got a few dirty looks from the horses Cindy,
then the boys began filtering up toward the house, Buddy running back and
forth between everyone.  The kids rushed inside, quickly returning with
cans of soda.
     "When can we eat?" Johnny asked, looking longingly at the smoking
barbeque pit.
     "Yeah, we gotta quick!" Junior added, grasping his stomach.
     "Soon, but it's also getting late," I answered.  "You guys go groom
the horses for the night, supper will be ready when you get back." I
ignored their dirty looks and soon they took the hint, rushing back down to
the pasture, Buddy in the middle of the pack.  The other adults and I moved
inside and began setting out supper, after we watched the boys break the
heart-breaking news to their four legged friends.
     "Legally, all you have to do is inform Judge Rodriguez you are
modifying the POS," Cindy responded after Mary and I told Carl and her
about Mary's idea.  "According to the Custody Order, you have not only
guardianship, but full reign regarding his recovery.  Also, you know you
can get the court to pay for most of this, we probably could get payment
for some of his tuition at Cornerstone later if you two word your programs
correctly," she added.
     Mary and I exchanged lost looks before she continued.  "If Mary Hope,
OT, becomes a PC, a Professional Cooperation, like you and Carl, well and I
are, you can contract her to provide OT services to Carl, and the court can
order the state to pay for her services.  CPS wont like it, but I don't
like them either. I know CPS is among Adam's favorite people!" Cindy
snidely quipped.
     "Adam, do you know how copper wire was invented?" Carl injected.  He
paused for a second or so as everyone turned to him before looking directly
at his wife and adding, "It was invented by two lawyers fighting over a
Penny!"
     Mary blushed, but then laughed with the rest of us as Cindy shot her
husband a one finger salute.  "Would you care to donate a sausage, your
Little Smoky, to the others we're going to cook?" she countered.  Carl and
I glanced at each other before moving outside and taking control of the
barbeque pit.
     The boys reappeared a couple of minutes later, surrounding the pit
almost as if they had been transported by a nearby Starship to it instead
of returning from the pasture on foot.  Carl and I ignored their dirty
looks as we sent them inside to shower and change into clean clothes, but
the threat of withholding food until they did worked so beautifully I was
surprised, and soon again surrounded with freshly scrubbed, starving kids.
     As we ate I finally managed to inform Cindy that I needed to talk to
her about Jay and his mate, but without going into any detail around the
kids, we agreed to meet for breakfast the next morning, before I went back
to the work-a-day routine and my first patient visit at noon.
     Mary excused herself shortly after we ate.  She surprised the other
kids by telling Johnny she would see him in the morning, but Johnny didn't
snap to what she had said until after she had left, and I think a little
prodding from Ronnie and Junior.  "Why's Mary coming tomorrow, do I gotta
go somewhere?  I don't gotta go to more doctors or stuff, do I?" he asked
after a series of quick conferences with his brothers.
     "You don't tomorrow," I began, deciding to let the doctor visits part
of his question slide for now.  "I want to change your therapy, the things
we are doing to help your arm heal, and help you get ready to go back to
school.  I know you don't like going to Hill Country, so we're going to try
a new, approach."
     His reaction was the opposite of what I had expected, instead of being
relieved he wasn't going back to Hill Country he stiffened like a board.  I
was just able to catch him as he started to dart away from my side.  "Do
you want to stay at Hill Country?" I risked, pulling him next to me.
     "But, where are you gonna put me?  I'll be good, please don't put me
back somewhere like, , ,"
     "I'm going to put you right here, here at the ranch," I cut him off.
"Do you know what home-schooling is?" I asked.
     "But, I'll be good, we wasn't gonna run away or nothing at Doctor
Jay's, please Doc!  Please dont!" he cried.
     "Dude, wait!" Mark exclaimed as he pushed under my arm next to Johnny.
"You mean he don't have to go back there at all?" I had Junior and Ronnie
on the other side of me before I could answer.  I heard the patio door
open, and looked around in time to see Carl and Cindy disappear outside.
     "Will you listen to me, to us?" I asked Johnny.  "I love you son, I
love all of you, and I want you to be happy.  Promise to listen?" Johnny
looked up, his tear welled eyes only making very brief contact with mine
before he lowered his head and pushed against Mark.
     "You don't have to go back to Hill Country, or any other rehab center.
Mary is going to work with you here, just like Hill Country did, but here
at our home.  Do you understand what I'm saying?" only earned me a slight
flicker of his eyes, more to the carpet than me.  `And you are the
expert on talking to kids?' I chastised myself.
     "For REAL!?!" Ronnie hooted.  "Dude!" he added, slapping Johnny's arm.
Johnny glanced at Mark, then Ronnie, still lost.  I was trying to decide
how to bail everyone out of the befuddlement I had started when Ronnie
pushed his brothers out from under my snuggle, ushering them toward the
breakfast bar.
     As Junior joined them, Johnny's eyes darted toward me several times as
Ronnie whispered, Mark glancing between Johnny and I as he listened.  "For
real?" Johnny muttered, I think a little louder than he meant to.  "No way,
he's, but. . ."
     "Yes, for REAL!" I loudly interrupted, praying Ronnie was on the same
wavelength as I.  "Come here son, all of you," I ordered as I moved to the
couch.  "Starting tomorrow, you are going to stay here, at the ranch, and
Mary is going to work with you, to get you ready to go to Cornerstone, with
your brothers," I told Johnny as he and the other boys piled onto the couch
around me, "And get you ready for Little League, like Doctor Jay wants.
Will that work?"
     Johnny glanced between Mark and Ronnie a couple of time.  "You're
really gonna let me stay here, your not gonna send me nowhere?" he softly
asked.
     "I'm going to send you to Cornerstone, with the other turkeys, when
you are ready.  Until then, I'm going to send you to Mary's Academy, right
over there," I answered, pointing at the breakfast bar.
     He glanced to Mark, then Ronnie, clearly asking for verification of my
statement, before his face brightened into a thin smile.  "I love you Pop!
I mean Dad!" he proclaimed, pushing his little head under my neck "Aft!  I
gotta go tell Ginger!" he hooted, climbing out of my lap.
     "But, you tell Ginger you are going to be in school, working hard ALL
day!" I countered, pulling him back into my lap.  "Nothing different then
Hill Country, except Mary is your teacher now, understood?" which earned me
a weak nod.  I started to add a few more cautions, but as I thought about
my nanny's performance didn't.  `I wish I could be a fly on the wall
tomorrow,' I thought as I kissed Johnny and watched the boys rush outside.

To Be Continued. . .