Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2012 01:23:39 -0600
From: Pete McDonald <bajabudfan@hotmail.com>
Subject: TIME-TO-SEE-85
TIME-TO-SEE-85
Final Episode.
Kevin sat at Starbucks just outside of the Valley Burn Center. He was
alone, while the others were up in the Hospital waiting for Artie to
receive another one of his periodic check-ups. He'd been released from the
Valley Burn Center several weeks ago, but they continued to keep him under
observation. Today, Kevin had come along for Artie's visit, but he had
brought his laptop along too, and he sat typing hurriedly..
He composed like he was writing a letter to someone important: it turns out
he was....
He began: "An enormous amount of activity gripped all of us during those
first few days that Artie stayed at the Valley Burn Center.
"Nothing ever seems to consult us poor humans before it happens, or maybe
we are consulted, and we know things that ought to make us anticipate, but
we're just so distracted by life that we don't hear the messages.
"Anyhow, events descended upon all of us, and we've just had to deal with
them. I think that's when you just have to stop thinking and say, "God
what the heck is THIS all about?" And then listen...
"Don't get me wrong...Not everything was awful those earlier days. No, by
no means... In fact, I guess if I were to characterize life at that point,
I'd have to say that it was good.... hummm? SUPER GOOD even, in a lot of
ways. But, what-can-I-say, there was a low point or two also...
"That Maxmillian and his partner, Brandy, turned out to be jet setters and
international movers and shakers of the first order of magnitude, I just
didn't catch at first: Wealthy, yeah, sure; A family Estate, of course;
BUT! I'm talkin $ with a B!!! Here!! Good grief..
"Well, of course, I was so out of my element that I only THOUGHT they were
"just unusual." I had no idea what the mega-wealthy look like up close...
Who knows? Life is new at every moment, that's for sure... Hugo and I have
come to think of them as family from the 'Old Country...'
"Well, Max and Brandy connected with their Data Corporation interests with
offices already in San Diego. Once they had made the decision that they
wanted to remain in the States, it was only a matter of setting the process
in motion. I never realized it, but that super high skyscraper in downtown
San Diego, the one with DATA INTERNATIONAL splashed across the top in huge
brushed steel block lettering: in parenthesis you now know it should just
say: (MAX)
"Brandy though was no slouch. Sometimes I thought he was the power behind
the throne, and the way he set up and ran that family of four was
brilliant. He didn't miss a nuance in Murph's messages, and he was
determined that Sean would not self-destruct, even given 'specters' of that
night of massacre, which he survived, that would resurrect at odd times...
Brandy worked to make sure that life "worked" for all of the men he loved:
all three of them.
"I have to admit that the next really good news is a little bit
over-whelming for me, or, at least, it has been so far-- and I realize it's
just been a few months, but what I'm getting at is that Hugo and Craig are
running down to Hollywood every week. And sometimes, they even stay
overnight, a night or two before coming home.
"Now don't jump to silly conclusions. There's no hanky-panky to deal
with... Really, but the separation is almost physically painful for
me. Hugo has taken to the whole entertainment endeavor like he was raised
as the son of some movie mogul. And his art work has been truly
inspired... He's just 'got it.' (Or maybe he just channels it from some
Cosmic Source?)
"But, whatever is going on, he is as oblivious of his good fortune as one
possibly could be and still continue to operate in it successfully...
"Craig keeps his eye on daily business, and Hugo runs the "Cloud
Activities" (I think that sounds almost unkind of me to say about Hugo,
because he is anything but a fuzzy-headed man. He's constantly throwing
himself into Real life with all of the love he certainly never runs short
of.)
"I do have to give Hugo credit for remaining irrevocably connected to our
two boys and... Yeah! (I know it's true.) connected to me too. I think
that guy still loves me, and seemingly as much as when he wrote his prayer
on the wall. For sure I feel the same way about him, even these many, many
months and air miles later-- post Astroturf, I could say; I wouldn't EVER
want to be away from Hugo...
"Well, that brings me to the boys: ALL FIVE OF THOSE WONDERFUL KIDS!
"Jilder and Nicky have been doing so well that I'm making a mental note to
phone Dr. Gilmer to ask him about an assessment of when we might be able to
remove those steel bars. With them just beginning school, I know they'd
like to join in the sports. But they're also quite reasonable about their
obligation to their own health. I never hear them complaining, only
planning out loud for the inevitable day when they WILL be free of their
bars.
"Only THEY are not BEHIND bars; I should say: the day when the bars will no
longer be BEHIND their ribs.
"Sean and Murph enrolled in Sommerdale Academy, the same school that Jilder
and Nicky attend, because Max and Brandy purchased this huge gray stone
35-room "'little' place in the States" up on the hill right next to our
condo-neighborhood. And that Sean kid is one cool dude. The young woman
in that Riverdance Troup knew how to pick em... He also says that he wants
to go out for tennis and work for Craig doing weddings and bar mitzvahs on
weekends too-- if his dads will allow him... (Good luck! Max is quite
C-O-N-S-E-R-V-A-T-I-V-E!) Oh, well, Sean has sufficient tenacity to pursue
any idea that catches his attention... I don't worry about him being in
Max's or Brandy's shadows...
"And then there's Murph-- or our good-hearted Shannon by any other name.
He is the most highly-principled adolescent I've ever known. Whether it
was Sean being demeaned in the Carlton dining room or Artie being relegated
to some secondary concern in his fading health: Murph could stand up and
say "Hell NO! I'm not leavin this guy! I've got something to say about
this, and I'm committed to improving things!"
"I wonder whether that's genetic? Or maybe it's just that Murph's got a
really good connection to God? Either way, I always check to see where
Murph has thrown his support before I come to any conclusions about
anything...
"And I wouldn't be nearly complete if I didn't confess the extent to which
Artie, the little Irish Leprechaun carrying a heavy burden, had gone to the
hearts of every one of us: sons and fathers alike. There is no doubt that
every burden brings with it a purpose and an intention that only God
understands. Therefore, it behooves us all to stand ready to negotiate our
paths, like Artie, without resentment and hostility-- even the really
difficult ones.
"Not only does the resentment and hostility destroy us directly, but it so
conceals the truth of What God Is Being right then-and-there, as to prolong
the pains of our own lives, way beyond the time our own enlightenment (or
at-one-ment) would release us.
"Such was the importance of Arthur Donnally. NOT special among our
children, but, like each of them, unique in who he was and what he could
teach us...
"And as another person on the earth, Artie demonstrates that simple is
best: and he knows that it's best to STOP running your mouth and thinking
so much, especially about what other people are saying; it's not good for
your health or your social life."
*****
"OH, yes... The MAIN reason I'm writing you is to tell you that Hugo & I,
and Craig & Jake, and Max & Brandy, and Hilda & Chapin Donnally want to
invite you to our Family Dedication and Commitment Ceremonies which are
taking place this Sunday at the Church of the Good Shepherd, the day after
we take all of the boys to the San Diego Zoo again. They love that place.
"Hugo suggested the idea a couple weeks ago (He knew that my birthday was
coming up too; so I think that might have had something to do with the
timing??): he said that with everything that has gone on, he would like for
me to go to church with him again-- maybe one Sunday, to take communion and
give our thanks for the wonderful life that we have been able to enjoy.
"Like I've said before, I'm not big on festivals and public declarations,
and trips to church, but even I couldn't miss how it would be appropriate
to acknowledge the blessings that had come our way, some uncannily, this
past year, and dedicate our lives to our partners and our families-- in
public.
"Funny thing: when I mentioned the Hugo's idea to our friends, they asked
whether we would consider allowing them to join us for a recommitment of
their own, to their own families, at the same time...
"As it became evident that there would be four couples and six kids who
would be involved and would require space at the altar rail at the same
time, I thought maybe I ought to call the minister and ask whether he
thought he could work us all in at a main Sunday service-- you know, kinda
give him a 'heads up.'
"Reverend-Priest Dr. Purnell was very enthusiastic about Hugo's idea and
about officiating at the service, which we had all agreed would be
appropriate as a group, four-way, Family Commitment Ceremony. But
Dr. Purnell suggested that we just reserve the sanctuary one Sunday
afternoon, say for 3 p.m., when we could all gather for our Dedication.
Everyone thought that would work perfectly; so I have to admit that I am
now looking forward to this Sunday afternoon enthusiastically.
Which brings me back to the MAIN reason for my writing:
to invite YOU, PERSONALLY, Dear Reader...
*****
The Honor of Your Presence
Is Requested
At the Family Dedication Ceremonies
of
Hugo Ramirez and Kevin Kramer
Jake Vaio and Craig Zimmer Maxmillian Murphy and Brandon Johnathan
and
Hilda and Chapin Donnally
before God
To give thanks for the blessings
of being allowed to form and nourish
these families,
for the good of the partners
and the nourishment of the children:
* Hugo and Kevin and Jilder and Nicholas (Nicky)
* Jake and Craig and Dillon
* Maxmillian and Brandy and Shannon (Murph) and Sean
* Hilda and Chapin and Arthur (Artie)
This coming Sunday afternoon at Three P.M.
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve
At the Church of the Good Shepherd
San Diego, California
Officiant: The Reverend-Priest Doctor G. Purnell
Kevin finished his writing and sent his file on its way, TIME-TO-SEE-85, to
nifty.org, and then he rushed back to meet everyone to join them
for lunch at the mall over in Marina Del Rey.
*****
"Kevin, let's pull into this parking place," Hugo suggested as they slowly
drove through the lot at Marine Del Rey shopping center, just a stone's
throw from the boat slips in the harbor.
Jake and all the others found parking nearby.
The Sun was dazzlingly bright and warmed a gentle breeze that blew in from
the harbor. It wafted over the diners eating leisurely at tables in front
of Chipotle, The Sandwich Factory, and the other eateries.
"I'll beat you all to Chipotle! Last one there is a turkey!" Jilder shouted
as he took the lead running down the promenade filled with shoppers, each
one stepping aside to dodge the thundering herd of five preteen boys led by
Jilder.
Their dads followed, but the boys' speed put a great distance between them
and their dads in no time.
"Why don't you put Dillon down, Jake. He can walk along the sidewalk
without any danger, and save you a little wear-n-tear too," Craig
said. Behind the others, Jake and Craig were hurrying as fast as they could
with their burden of their nearly four-year old.
Dillon started running as fast as his little legs would carry him as soon
as his feet touched the pavement, trying to emulate the bigger boys.
Dillon squealed and ran and clearly enjoyed himself beyond all estimation.
Standing out in the midst of the tables of diners, a strolling group of
female musicians were playing for the shoppers. There were two trumpets, a
tuba, and a saxophone, and they sounded remarkably professional for such a
venue.
Dillon stopped in front of the musicians seeming a bit in awe of them, but
listening to them quite seriously too and with decided focus.
When the music ended Dillon spoke to the group, "I play too??" he asked.
One of the ladies on trumpet looked down at Dillon standing there in his
baseball cap and jeans-- maybe three feet tall-- and answered him. "Well of
course you can. Let me see... would you like to play the bells?"
As she spoke, she reached into the canvas satchel at her feet and drew out
two wooden sticks-- not very long-- that were each lined with shiny,
little, silver bells, the kind one might call jingle bells.
Dillon approached the lady and took the two hand bells that she offered.
"And what would you like to play?" the lady asked.
Dillon took a moment to reply and then called out: "Rudolph!!"
The ladies in the musical group chuckled and smiled and one spoke to
Dillon, "You know that it's only September-- not Christmas yet-- you're
sure you'd like to play Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer?"
Dillon shook his head up and down and replied "Uh Huh," but not very
loudly, since he felt intimidated that his request was just seemingly
challenged.
The lady who offered bells to Dillon spoke to her group: "Then Rudolph the
Red Nosed Reindeer it shall be..." she said with a smile.
The other ladies all shuffled in the packets of music on their black music
stands, and in very short order, the tuba began with an um-pa-pa
introduction; finally the melody of Rudolph came along.
When Dillon heard Rudolph, he started smiling, bending his knees, and
bouncing up and down, shaking his bells and dancing with complete
abandon...
"Jingle, jingle, jingle," the bells sounded and Dillon continued to dance
and smile, bouncing and jingling in perfect rhythm to the music. He was in
a place all of his own, feeling the joy of the music.
The diners at tables nearby all stopped their conversations upon hearing
the rather incongruous rendition of the Christmas song, Rudolph The Red
Nosed Reindeer, in September, but when they saw Dillon dancing and shaking
his bells, they all smiled along with him and enjoyed his happiness
vicariously. No one cared that it wasn't December...
One might think that Dillon would have lost interest quickly, but that was
not the case. He smiled and danced and shook his bells and began singing
with words that didn't quite fit, but served to express his delight just
the same.
"Ru-dolph...Red Nose Rein-deer.... shin-neey nose...and if you ever..." he
sang his heart out and bounced right in time to the tuba's um-pa-pa.
The all-brass version of Rudolph was a huge hit with each of the diners and
the gathering of people standing nearby. Eventually the um-pa-pa's came to
an end, but Dillon kept bouncing and dancing and shaking his bells. At the
end, everyone gave Dillon and the musicians a very loud round of applause.
Dillon stopped, yanked from his reverie and happy dancing by the applause,
and he looked around at the clapping audience with an expression of puzzled
surprise. "Why would these people be clapping?" he must have thought.
Having returned to reality, Dillon walked over to the lady who gave him the
bells and thrust them out to her.
"Tell the nice ladies 'Thank You'," Jake called out to Dillon.
Dillon had withdrawn his hands after relinquishing the bells and held them
behind his back, looking somewhat self-conscious in Jake's direction. "Go
ahead, Turn around and tell the ladies 'Thank You' for letting you play
Rudolph with them..."
Dillon turned back around and faced the musicians and spoke a little brief
but heart-felt: "Thanks for Rudolph. "
"Well, you're most welcome, Sir," the trumpet player said. "Please come
back and play with us again... maybe at Christmas..." she smiled.
"Okay!" Dillon replied cheerfully, and then he ran from the vulnerability
of his new found celebrity in the shopping center, to the protection of his
dads, Jake and Craig. He threw himself at Jake, put his head between
Jake's legs, and hid-- ostrich style-- from the crowd.
*****
Max turned to Brandy, "What an adorable child. I see that children no
matter what their ages have special gifts for their parents ."
"Yes. Maybe we should consider adopting a young child?" Brandy answered,
reflecting on how adorable Dillon was singing about Rudolph.
"Oh, my goodness, Brandy. I think Dillon is an angel, but I also think we
have our hands full with our TWO, who have their own set of adolescent
gifts for us..." Max said, referring to Sean and Murph.
"Still..." Brandy responded, not surrendering the possibility entirely...
"Well, if one came along, maybe I wouldn't turn him down... They are just
irresistible at that age- sort of the human equivalent of Spirit the
puppy," Max joked.
"Yes. Right down to peeing on the bed and all," Brandy replied, rethinking
his adoption consideration more realistically
*****
"Would everyone be agreeable to take lunch at Chipotle, over there,
outside, under their awning. It's so beautiful today: the light breeze off
of the ocean, the sun to warm everything," Kevin asked.
Brandy said, "That seems pleasant. It looks like a grill and bistro, which
I always find delightful; will that be good for you, Hon," he asked of Max.
By the time that Jake and Craig arrived with Dillon in tow, all of the
thundering herd of boys were crowded around their dads asking, "Dad. Can
we eat here... We can get chicken or fish and fresh vegetables. Even Hugo
would think this place is okay..."
The dads laughed and Hugo smiled sheepishly... "Well, all I'm trying to do
is develop healthy eating habits... Can't hurt..." he rationalized
defensively out loud.
"You're quite right, my boy," Chapin, Artie's dad opined. "The whole idea
of fast food is not particularly good for any of Western Civilization in MY
opinion..."
"Don't give him any support, Chapin, he'll start thinking he's Tsar in
Charge of Diets and Menus..." Kevin replied smiling at Hugo. Then he
leaned over and put a quick kiss on Hugo's cheek to placate his bruised
feelings.
"I'm not intimidated... I'm not going to give up either," Hugo replied not
letting Kevin get away quickly after his kiss. Hugo reached up and grabbed
Kevin's sweater, rose a little from his seat and planted a kiss right on
Kevin's lips in front of everyone! "That oughta calm you down..." Hugo
said.
"Oh, man, has he got THAT backwards!" Kevin announced to the other adults
who all laughed....
By now, the boys were standing around, impatient to go through the line and
get their lunches. All they needed was a nod from the dads to GO, and they
were thundering off to form a line.
The adults suggested to one another that they join the line in a moment,
after the boys had plundered and peace and quiet had returned to the
servers.
*****
After a pleasant meal, everyone agreed that they would continue back to
Escondido, either following Craig's car or Kevin's, down to San Diego
county where they would all stay overnight at the hospitality of Kevin &
Hugo and at Craig & Jake's.
The way things were falling out, it sounded like the boys-- ALL SIX OF
THEM-- wanted to go to Craig's house cause they could all sleep in the same
room: Craig and Jake have a huge up-stairs room that will accommodate the
boys in sleep-over, sleeping-bag fashion.
Given these accommodations, the adults could appreciate the peace and quiet
that would accrue to the child-free zone that they would be occupying at
Hugo's and Kevin's.
Of course, Jake and Craig were ecstatic to be the supervisors and
"dorm-mothers" for the guys, since they had no experience with them all
those weeks that everyone traveled in Europe. Craig and Jake really missed
having their extended family around.
So everyone loaded back in the various cars and headed to San Diego. They
would all need a good rest tonight to prepare for Artie's Premier Visit to
the San Diego Zoo tomorrow.
***** "The Zoo visit did take place, but my record of it was lost," Kevin
wrote. "There will certainly be an opportunity for me to recreate it and to
tell you about it some other time. Please forgive my carelessness."
*****
It was Sunday and already one o'clock in the afternoon. The families had
almost finished dressing and were preparing to gather up their respective
broods for the drive over to Church of the Good Shepherd.
Brandy and Max had leased a rental SUV for the time being, and Artie's mum
and dad were going to travel to the church with Brandy and Max, but all of
the parents would have to go to Craig and Jakes' place to get their boys.
*****
Murph was trying to figure out how he would be able to wear his new
sweatshirt that he bought at the Souvenir Shop at the Zoo yesterday- the
bright orange one with the Kola Bear on the front.
"Maybe if I put on my shirt and tie, and then put my Kola Bear shirt on
before I put on my coat, maybe then my dads will decide it's okay? Do you
think, Sean?" Murph asked while he was dressing.
"I'm not sure, Murph. Your dad and Brandy are gonna dress really nice
today I bet," Sean answered...
"Yeah. But if YOU put on YOUR new zoo shirt too, then maybe they wouldn't
think anything about it..." Murph suggested.
"But my pull-over is bright, fluorescent green and it has snakes on
it... Ummm? I don't think that would work, Murph. Besides, it's a little
warm outside to be wearing both a sweater AND a coat, don't you think?"
Sean said.
Artie had nearly finished dressing. He had his white shirt on, but his tie
was a disaster; even Sean could see that. "Artie, why don't you come over
here, and I'll show you how Brandy told me to tie my tie."
Artie said, "Thanks Sean. But now that Murph is going to wear his Kola
Bear shirt, maybe I could just wear my pink flamingo shirt and then I
wouldn't need a tie..."
"No, Artie. I'm sure that wouldn't be good. Your mum and dad will want
you to dress like everybody else; so that means you need to wear your tie
like we do. Besides, I think a flamingo shirt would be good for going to
the beach or swimmin at a pool. I don't think flamingos would fit in
church..."
"Awww. That's too bad, 'cause I think they're cool with those really long
legs... Don't you wonder how they stand up to sleep!?" Artie asked.
"Yeah. That's weird. But God made lots of weird animals. Just remember a
few of the ones we saw at the zoo," Sean replied.
Murph interrupted: "Maybe you're right, Sean. But I think that MY
pull-over looks nice. It's orange and that fits with the orange trees here
in California," Murph asserted trying to marshal some justification that he
could use should he be confronted by either of his dads.
"Yeah. But I ain't seen no orange trees, Murph. Have you?" Sean countered
in a friendly inquiry.
"Nooooo, but I hear they're all over the place... Maybe the church has
em. I'll ask Kevin and Hugo before I show my dads what I'm wearing..."
Murph said.
"Sure. Suit yourself." Sean agreed, not finding the whole issue important
enough to spend a whole lot of time on it. "I think your shirt is cool,
and the Kola Bear looks nice too. If our dads don't like it, they'll tell
you. Otherwise, just wear it... That's what I'd do..." Sean concluded his
position statement on wearing sweatshirts to church.
Nicky came out of the bathroom with his mop of bright red hair still wet
from taking a shower.
"NICKY! You don't have a lot of time. Your dads and ours too will be here
to get us in just a half hour. You've got to hurry or you won't be ready,
and they might get mad," Murph opined.
"I'll be ready!" Nicky said, running to his suitcase from the bathroom with
only a towel wrapped around him.
Of course, that was too much for Jilder to pass up; so when Nicky was
rummaging through his suitcase looking for his underwear and a white shirt,
Jilder rushed up out of nowhere and pulled Nicky's towel from where he'd
wrapped it around his waist, leaving the poor kid standing there naked as a
jay-bird, with his very white butt on display to the entire array of his
nearly-dressed colleagues...
"JILDER! You Turkey! I'm gonna get you; you wait!!!!" Nicky promised in
shouts.
Well, to the total delight of everyone in the room, Nicky had to grab a
pair of socks from his suitcase and draw them up in front of himself to
preserve what little modesty he could salvage.
Dillon had been visiting with the older boys while they were dressing.
Jake and Craig had dressed Dillon first and sent him in to be with the
older boys who could watch him and keep him out of trouble until his dads
were ready to go.
Dillon squealed and pointed: "Nicky don't have no pants! Look! Nicky BUTT
is showin..."
Now Nicky had to deal with taunts from a four-year old, to add to his
humiliation... "There's just no justice..." Nicky realized.
"Gimme back my underpants!" Nicky yelled at Jilder, who had returned to the
room to attack for a second time in less than a minute. "I gotta get ready
before Kevin and Hugo get here!!!"
"Yeah! You gotta be more careful next time. You really do waste a lot of
time..." Jilder shouted back
"Yeah! I'm gonna WASTE YOU, if you don't gimme my UNDERPANTS!" Nicky
shouted... "GIMME MY PANTS!!...
At that moment of chaos, Dillon pointing and screaming: "Nicky don't have
no underpants."
"Dillon!" Nicky yelled in panic, at least attempting to quell the attack
from that pipsqueak!
The door burst open and Jake and Craig both came rushing in, each already
dressed in very nice suits and ties,
"What in the heck are you guys doing?" Jake hollered not knowing what else
to do.... "Don't you know it's almost time for your dads to be here, and
you're ALL SUPPOSED TO BE READY!"
"Nicky! Where are your clothes?" Jake blurted out in surprise that Nicky
was totally nude.
"Jilder took my UNDERPANTS. He won't let me get dressed...." Nicky said.
"Ohhhh.... pooor baby!" Jilder taunted. Then he pitched Nicky's pair of
underpants across the room and ran out in order to avoid retribution for
his misdeeds.
"YOU JUST WAIT, JILDER!!!! I'LL GET YOU BACK," Nicky yelled as he
retrieved his underwear and then stumbled putting first one foot and then
the other into the underpants. The way he was going about donning those
pants, it was a wonder they didn't rip apart, which would have been an
unendurable insult added to the already thorough humiliation he'd received.
"I don't care WHO is going to get WHO or WHEN!" Jake yelled. "You boys
just get your butts dressed, and when you're finished go sit in the living
room in a chair AND DON'T MOVE UNTIL YOUR DADS GET HERE!~ YOU HEAR ME????"
Jake commanded.
Jake doesn't usually assert himself so vigorously, but since they were all
up against the clock, he felt compelled to act swiftly...
"YOU: MURPH! ARTIE! You guys look very nice; now go down to the living
room and SIT DOWN!" Jake shouted.
"I didn't do nothing, Jake," Murph said calmly in his own defense.
"Me neither," Artie said joining in Murph's innocence.
"I know you didn't, Murph. And you've been great, Artie, but I want
EVERYBODY who is all ready to go, to sit CALMLY in the living room and
wait!" Jake said, allowing his voice to rise at the end...
"And Sean, you also look really nice all dressed in your coat and tie.
Will you join Jilder and Murph and Artie in the living room to wait. Oh,
and Sean, would you mind taking Dillon by the hand to the living room too,
and keep an eye on him, because he'll find something to spill on himself
without somebody watching."
"Yes, Sir. Right away... I think everything will be okay, Jake. Please
don't worry. Nicky and Jilder just like to be Turkeys... They're not bad.
They just don't know when to stop playin..." Sean said, trying to
contribute to the peace and tranquility that had been temporarily
disturbed, but which would most assuredly return-- eventually.
*****
Finally, Nicky came walking into the living room looking quite handsome
dressed neatly in his coat and tie, with his bright red mop of hair shining
from a bit of lingering dampness. And he had five whole minutes to spare.
There they were. All SIX of them: washed and dressed and combed and
sitting, looking quite civilized waiting for their parents to arrive.
Looking at this tableau, one would never have thought that chaos had
reigned only minutes before.
*****
And the boys didn't have to wait very long, because, if their dads were
anything, they were punctual.
Max and Brandy were the first to knock at Jake and Craig's door, with
Mr. and Mrs. Donnally waiting just behind them on the porch.
"Good afternoon, Jake. How are we doing? Were you able to get the army
ready for their parade and review at the church?" Max asked treating the
approaching affair lightly, also implying some understanding of Jake and
Craig in their roles as Commanders-In-Chief of the progeny during their
sleep-over deployment at the Zimmer-Vaio house.
While Jake answered the door, all of the boys sat quietly in the living
room, looking quite presentable, even angelic. "What little turkeys!!"
Jake thought to himself, looking at them all sitting quietly.
"Oh, no problems Max... There was no difficulty that pulling rank didn't
solve. Actually, we enjoyed the entire experience, and I'm thinking that
it will be entirely too quiet here when the boys all go their separate ways
with you parents. We're really quite fond of them all," Jake said as he
welcomed both Brandy, Max and Mr. and Mrs. Donnally.
"Splendid." Max replied. "Jake, to change the subject: since I don't know
where the church is, perhaps I could drive behind you and Craig to get
there..."
Jake said: "Yes. I thought we'd use some approach like that. Are Kevin
and Hugo on their way?"
"Yes. They drove in front of us; so that we knew how to find your
house. They are out front right now. I think Kevin wanted to be sure that
his seats were set properly inside the SUV."
Then coming in the front door without knocking, Hugo and Kevin called out:
"Everybody ready to go? We've got about a half hour to drive over to the
church. Hugo's family will go in the SUV. Max and Mr. Donnally's families
will go in Max's rental. Craig and Jake and Dillon will go in their car.
Everybody covered?" Kevin asked.
"Yes. I think everything ought to work just fine," Max added.
"Okay. Then let's get the kids and everyone loaded up and get movin..."
And very shortly all three vehicles pulled away from Craig and Jake's
house, with Kevin and Hugo leading the way. Max and Mr. Donnally's vehicle
was second, while Jake and Craig pulled into the third position.
It was certainly a beautiful warm day, a perfect part of what Californians
think of as their routinely expected Indian Summers: bright, sunny, and
full of energy and possibility.
*****
Everyone left the vehicles parked in a tiny lot near the low, white stucco
church which was nestled among shade trees and flowering shrubbery. The
entire complex was set amid a field of neatly trimmed, very green grass.
They stood waiting together on the veranda in front of the main entrance to
the church, under a trellis weighted down with bright red and pink roses
that shaded the entire front of the building.
The church doors were unlocked and left opened, leaving the path from the
veranda through the main doors, the main chancel, to the altar itself
unobstructed.
A simple gold cross occupied the central position on the altar, and two
candelabra of white tapers carried the observer's eye down from the cross
to an opened bible on one side and sacramental objects on the other side of
the altar. White gladiolas and yellow hibiscus just behind the candelabra
gave lush testimony to the beauty of the entire sanctuary.
"Dad, when are we supposed to go in?" Jilder asked Hugo in one of his
famous stage whispers.
"Just a moment, son. Doctor Purnell will tell us what to do," Hugo answered
quietly.
The other boys stood looking at one another expectantly, with no idea of
what they were supposed to do either.
Doctor Purnell entered the veranda from a side door. He was dressed in his
ecclesiastical robes: white and red garments appropriate to marriages and
christenings. He was flanked by two boys about the same ages as Sean or
Jilder or the others. The altar boys carried tapers with flames at their
tops intended to light the candles set on the altar.
Dr. Purnell smiled and spoke to the small gathering: "Would each of the
families follow as I enter the sanctuary and then seat yourselves at the
front, one family in each pew, two families on each side of the aisle?"
As Dr. Purnell and the altar boys entered the sanctuary, the organ began to
play A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, and the scraggly band of patchwork
families followed and filed into the pews.
Dr. Purnell reached the altar rail and stepped inside. After which the
altar boys closed the rail completing the ring that each person would
eventually approach to receive the sacraments. Then the altar boys seated
themselves.
The music concluded and left Dr. Purnell standing, facing the assembled
families, smiling and looking around at the adults and children who had
come to him that beautiful afternoon.
Dr. Purnell began:
"I would like to welcome you all to The Church of The Good Shepherd and
most especially give warm greetings to so many of you who have come to us
from great distances across the country and across the globe. I can only
view your arrival among us as yet another blessing bestowed upon us, like
so many, that we have not earned. And we hope that your time with us will
likewise turn out to be a blessing for you."
Then Dr. Purnell looked directly at Hugo and Kevin and Jilder and Nicky,
smiled, and spoke to them: "Would Hugo and Kevin and your boys please
stand."
Turning to speak to the whole gathering, Dr. Purnell said:
"Some weeks ago, Hugo and his partner, Kevin, came to me because they were
over-whelmed with the knowledge of how blessed their pairing had been. They
wanted to give thanks to God for those blessings and to declare publically
to God and to all men that their commitment to each other was not and is
not a convenience or a passing entertainment or a political statement but a
solemn undertaking that is intended to fulfill the meaning of their lives,
as they understood God to have informed them."
"To that end, they wished to extend their love through the nourishment of
children who were in need of the loving care that they were able to
give. Thus Hugo and Kevin happily accepted the arrival of Jilder and
Nicholas as their children, as full and indispensible members of their
family, to whom they promised that they would forever be devoted fathers."
"Without an actual recorded commitment to love, honor, and protect those
children, as they had already committed to each other: love, honor, and
protection; Hugo and Kevin began their family by simply declaring it to be
so: This is our family."
"The creation of this family unit, under God's guidance, has flourished and
brought wonderful joy and love."
"NOW: Hugo and Kevin wish to declare in the presence of all of those
gathered here this afternoon, and submit for the record for all to know,
that before God himself in His Holy Place, that they will forever be
committed to Him, to each other, and to this family."
"Hugo, Kevin: Do you each separately and both together declare that you
will continue to love and support each other in every way possible, and
provide for and nurture of these children, Jilder and Nicky, for as long as
you both shall live? If you so solemnly promise and affirm, please answer:
I will."
Silence settled across the gathering. Then Hugo and Kevin joined hands and
looked into each other's eyes and spoke: "I will"
"If there is anyone among our gathering today who knows where there is an
error in the understanding that Hugo and Kevin now use for the basis of
their commitment to one another and to their family, will you please inform
us now; so that it may be considered."
A pause ensued but everyone present remained silent.
"Then in the service of God Himself, I do bless this union and its four
members: Partners: Hugo and Kevin, and their Children: Jilder and Nicholas;
and I bless their commitment to one another in the ultimate fulfillment of
God's Universal Plan for mankind, from which great love and peace is sure
to radiate."
Dr. Purnell smiled and nodded to Hugo, Kevin, Nicky, and Jilder, and then
he said: "You may be seated."
Hugo and Kevin had continued to look into the eyes of the other, even after
they spoke, 'I will'. At this point they turned to Nicky and Jilder and
brought them into a family embrace. Both boys smiled and radiated their
happiness, no doubt feeling a new sense of security and belonging in the
home that they all shared.
*****
After such a long and weighty declaration of purpose intended just for
Hugo, Kevin, Jilder and Nicky, Murph began to wonder when his turn would
ever come... "Gees, I think he could-a talked quicker," Murph thought...
But Murph would have to suffer a bit longer before any relief would be
available to him. It seems that Jake and Craig were next on the Reverend's
list. A "Sigh..." escaped from Murph, even though he sat straight in his
seat and didn't move even once.
*****
Dr. Purnell smiled and looked at Jake and Craig with Dillon between them,
sitting in the pew behind Hugo and Kevin.
"Would you, Jake and Craig, please stand?" Dr. Purnell asked.
Jake and Craig both stood, each one holding Dillon by a hand, while Dillon
stood with his feet on the seat of the pew, and his body suspended in the
air between his dads.
Dillon looked up at Jake first and then over at Craig and said loud enough
for everyone in the sanctuary to hear: "Daddy? Why that man wear a dress?"
"Dillon, that's NOT a dress. Shusssh. I'll explain in a minute..." Jake
looked up at Dr. Purnell, embarrassed, tilting his head in a silent plea to
be absolved of discomfort that ought to belong to Dillon...
"Ohhhh," Dillon replied clearly willing to go along, but not all that
enthused about being left dangling in mid-air.
Dr. Purnell continued speaking with the gathering, maintaining a pleasant
smile, undaunted by Dillon's candor....
Dr. Purnell began: "Jake and his partner, Craig, have discovered for
themselves the blessings of their pairing and the joy of commitment, not
for convenience or for passing entertainment or for social or political
advantage, but to fulfill the meaning of their lives, as they understood
God to inform them."
"To that end, they wished to extend their love, through the nourishment of
children who were in need of the loving care that they were able to
give. Thus Jake and Craig happily accepted the arrival of Dillon as their
child, as a full and indispensible member of their family, to whom they
promised that they would forever be devoted fathers."
Apparently fatigued, Dillon yanked his hand out of Jake's and teetered on
the edge of the pew, only remaining gravitationally stable as a benefit of
Craig's fast compensation.
"Dillon.... DON'T!" Craig stage whispered to his son...
"Daddy-Craig...I tired!!! Daddy-Jake hurt my arm," he said with an
exaggerated statement of his plight.
"You'll be okay. Daddy-Jake didn't mean to hurt you, son.... Now we've got
to be quiet and listen..." Craig said to Dillon hastily, then turning to
Dr. Purnell
"I'm sooo sorry, Sir. Dillon is usually not this.... this.... ACTIVE.
Please accept my apology for these interruptions." And Craig looked over
at Hugo and Kevin with an embarrassed grimace.
Dr. Purnell spoke quietly to Craig, "Please, son; it doesn't matter to God.
And besides, I've had MUCH worse during baptisms! We're cool here..."
And Dr. Purnell smiled before resuming his solemn demeanor.
"Without an actual recorded commitment to love, honor, and protect little
Dillon, as they had already committed to each other: love, honor, and
protection; Jake and Craig began their family by simply declaring it to be
so: This would be their family."
"The creation of this family unit under God's guidance has flourished and
brought wonderful joy and love."
"NOW: Jake and Craig wish to declare in the presence of all of those
gathered here this afternoon, and submit for the record for all to know,
that before God himself in His Holy Place, that they will forever be
committed to Him, to each other, and to this family."
"Jake, Craig: Do you each separately and both together declare that you
will continue to love and support each other in every way possible, and
provide for and nurturance this child, Dillon, for as long as you both
shall live? If you so solemnly promise and affirm, please answer: I will."
Before Dillon could launch another diversion, Jake and Craig both answered
"I will," looking into each other's eyes with a degree of panic, not sure
whether Dillon would smash even this remaining kernel of dignity.
"If there is anyone among our gathering today who knows where there is an
error in the understanding that Jake and Craig now use for the basis of
their commitment to one another and to their son, will you please inform us
now; so that it may be considered."
A pause ensued, but Dillon could not pass up yet a second opportunity to
find out how long he was going to be held up by his arms in this
quasi-crucifixion stance.
"Daddy-Craig. I need go peepee!" at which remark Craig was absolutely
mortified...
Craig whispered as best he could: "Oh, son... Daddy-Craig and Daddy-Jake
can't take you right this minute. Can you wait just a little, until this
man finishes talking?"
"I gotta pee, Daddy!" Dillon reinforced his position with the threat of
urgency beaming from his eyes..
But Dr. Purnell was not to be daunted; he went on hurriedly: "Then in the
service of God Himself, I do bless this union and its three members:
Partners: Jake and Craig, and their Child: Dillon;
"DADDY!" Dillon interjected with unmistakable urgency in his eyes...
And Dr. Purnell rushed on to conclude: "....and I bless their commitment to
one another in the ultimate fulfillment of God's Universal Plan for
mankind, from which great love and peace is sure to radiate." Dr. Purnell
finished up in record time.
Dr. Purnell smiled and nodded to Jake and Craig and Dillon, and then he
said: "You may go to the bathroom."
And without further explanation or attempts at an apology, which they had
long sense assumed was long passed having any possible meaning they said:
"Thank you, Sir," Jake said, and both he and Craig rushed to the back of
the church, through the main doors that they'd entered, holding Dillon
suspended between them.
And clearly understandable even from his current location somewhere outside
of the church, everyone heard Dillon say:
"DADDY! I gonna pee nowwwwwww?....."
*****
And yet with an unperturbed demeanor, Dr. Purnell turned to the third
couple who presented themselves for recognition and blessing of their
family.
Dr. Purnell began: "I am aware that our next family comes to us from
Ireland, a beautiful and blessed place on this earth. Maxmillian and his
partner, Brandon, come to us with a unique sense of purpose and
understanding born of the tension that touched their lives."
"Maxmillian and Brandon arrived at the conclusion that their pairing was
intended by God, and they have been over-whelmed with the knowledge of just
how blessed their pairing had been.
Maxmillian and Brandon wanted to give thanks to God for those blessings and
to declare publically to God and to all men that their commitment to each
other was not and is not a convenience or a passing entertainment or a
political statement but a solemn undertaking that is intended to fulfill
the meaning of their lives, as they understood God to have informed them."
"To that end, they wished to extend their love through the nourishment of
children who were in need of the loving care that they could give. Thus
Maxmillian and Brandon happily accepted the arrival of Shannon and Sean to
be their children, as full and indispensible members of their family, to
whom they promised that they would forever be devoted fathers."
"Without an actual recorded commitment to love, honor, and protect Shannon
and Sean, as they had already committed to each other: love, honor, and
protection; Maximillian and Brandon began their family by simply declaring
it to be so: This will be our family."
"The creation of this family unit under God's guidance has flourished and
brought great joy and love."
"NOW: Maximillian and Brandon wish to declare in the presence of all of
those gathered here this afternoon, and submit for the record for all to
know, that before God Himself in His Holy Place, that they will forever be
committed to Him, to each other, and to this family."
"Maximillian, Brandon: Do you each separately and both together declare
that you will continue to love and support each other in every way
possible, and provide for and nurture these children, Shannon and Sean, for
as long as you both shall live? If you so solemnly promise and affirm,
please answer: I will."
Max had been looking deeply into Brandy's eyes during Dr. Purnell's
remarks. Brandy never blinked his eyes while he was joined with Max. Then,
before replying, they both turned and reached out for their sons: Murph and
Sean, drawing them in close, Max and Brandy replied to Dr. Purnell's
question: "I will..."
Then they turned and spoke directly to the boys: "I will."
Sean was overtaken with emotion, and he threw his arms around the whole
family and cried out loud.
Max rubbed Sean's back and kissed him on the top of his head. Brandy said
very quietly, "We love you Sean... Don't ever worry about Max and me
leaving you. We are your family, son."
And at the next moment both Max and Brandy reached out to Murph: "Murph,
son, you will always be in our heart, along with and right next to your
brother."
All at once Murph decided that maybe this had all been worth the effort.
He liked hearing his dads say that they would be there for him for as long
as they lived. Murph felt thoroughly loved.
"If there is anyone among our gathering today who knows where there is an
error in the understanding that Maxmillian and Brandon now use for the
basis of their commitment to one another and to their family, will you
please inform us now; so that it may be considered."
A brief pause ensued but the gathering was silent.
"Then in the service of God Himself, I do bless this union and its four
members: Partners: Maxmillian and Brandon, and their Children: Shannon and
Sean; and I bless their commitment to one another in the ultimate
fulfillment of God's Universal Plan for mankind, from which great love and
peace is sure to derive."
Dr. Purnell smiled and nodded to Max, Brandy, Murph, and Sean, and then he
said: "You may be seated."
Max's and Brandy's boys remained standing still embracing their dads, and
it was a moment before the family sat back in their pew.
*****
Hilda and Chapin have also come to us from the lovely and beautiful
Ireland, and we are most happy to welcome them. Hilda and Chapin, before
God in their Irish home church, entered into the bonds of holy matrimony 18
years ago, and they too, now, wish to give thanks for the blessings of
their holy union and to declare before God, once again, that their
commitment to each other is strong and is intended to fulfill the meaning
of their lives, as God informed them.
"To that end, they wished to extend their love through the nourishment of
children and were blessed with the birth of a son, Arthur, who is a full
and indispensible member of their family, to whom they now promise that
they will forever be devoted parents.
"The creation of this family unit under God's guidance has flourished and
brought wonderful joy and love."
"NOW: Hilda and Chapin wish to declare in the presence of all of those
gathered here this afternoon, and submit for the record for all to know,
that before God himself in His Holy Place, that they will forever be
committed to Him, to each other, and to this family."
"Hilda, Chapin: Do you each separately and both together declare that you
will continue to love and support each other in every way possible, and
provide for and nurture your son, Arthur, for as long as you both shall
live? If you so solemnly promise and affirm, please answer: I will."
Again, everyone was aware of the quiet that settled across the gathering.
Artie looked up into the faces of his parents, never really seeing them
before as he was seeing them at that moment: two independent people who
came together because they loved each other, and they wanted to have
children to share their love.
Artie, for the first time, realized that he was the recipient of the love
that began with his mum and his dad... His life made sense to him as it
never had before... He hadn't really puzzled over how he got here, or why,
but now his existence made sense to him as it never had before; he was the
benefactor of his parents' love, an expression of the divine love, which
made Artie feel so good to know that he REALLY BELONGED TO THIS FAMILY...
Hilda and Chapin joined hands and looked into each other's eyes and spoke:
"I will"
"If there is anyone among our gathering today who knows where there is an
error in the understanding that Hilda and Chapin now use for the basis of
their commitment to one another and to their family, will you please inform
us now; so that it may be considered."
A pause ensued but everyone present remained silent.
"Then in the service of God Himself, I do bless this union and its three
members: Husband and Wife: Chapin and Hilda; and their Child: Arthur; and I
bless their commitment to one another in the ultimate fulfillment of God's
Universal Plan for mankind, from which great love and peace is sure to
radiate."
Dr. Purnell smiled and nodded to Hilda, Chapin, and Arthur and then he
said: "You may be seated."
*****
Then Dr. Purnell turned slightly to his left upon which the organ played an
invitational hymn at a low volume while Dr. Purcell invited all present to
join him at the Communion rail at the front of the sanctuary, and he said:
"ALL of us are welcome at the Lord's table, children and parents alike."
And everyone stood and filed up to the Altar rail, kneeling at the rail in
a prayerful posture while Dr. Purnell prepared the Communion elements with
the assistance of the altar boys.
In moments he was administering the elements of communion to everyone at
the communion rail, including Jake and Craig and Dillon who came in again
quietly.
*****
When all had received the holy sacrament, Dr. Purnell and his altar boys
led the way from the sanctuary, accompanied by the organ in a triumphant
recessional reserved for High Holy Days, like Easter and Christmas.
There was no doubt in anyone's mind, especially the minds of Kevin and
Hugo, that their unions and their families were acceptable, strengthened,
and blessed in the eyes of God.
*****
Later, in front of the little church:
Dillon was standing with the others out on the veranda, while everyone
conversed with each other and spoke with Dr. Purnell, thanking him for his
help and his kindness on their behalf.
"Now, where's that young man who thinks I'm wearing a dress?" Dr. Purnell
asked of the crowd with an expectant smile.
Jake spoke up and turned around to grab Dillon who was wandering happily
among the bigger boys and chasing lingering dragonflies.
"Dillon, come over here. I'd like you to meet Dr. Purnell," Jake said, as
he gripped Dillon's hand and began dragging the boy over to the middle of
the gathering.
"Daaaaad! Where are we goin?" Dillon protested, being thus interrupted in
his personal entertainment.
Jake spoke to Dillon again when they were standing in front of Dr. Purnell:
"Dillon, please say hello to Dr. Purnell, the priest at this church."
Dillon looked at the man in the bright red robe with the white stole over
his shoulders and said, "Hi, I'm Dillon. Are you cold?"
"Very nice to meet you, Dillon," Dr. Purnell said, leaning down and
offering his hand to shake with little Dillon.
"Oh, my no, Dillon. It's a lovely warm day, and it feels good to be
outside without my coat... Don't you think so too?...."
"Yeah! But you gots that long red coat, so I guessed maybe you're cold."
"Well, I'm increasing in stature... It was a DRESS the last time I was
noticed," Dr. Purnell said.
"Well, Dillon, I only wear this long red robe and the stole when I'm
working. I really don't have it on all the time; so even if it looks like
a dress or a coat, it's just my work clothes... Doesn't your daddy have
work clothes?" Dr. Purnell inquired.
Dillon put his hand up to his head, twisted his head around thinking, and
then he looked directly at Dr. Purnell and answered: "Yes. He gots green
pajamas for work."
"Then you know that people often have special clothes they wear to work in,
right? So maybe you've just never seen a priest's work clothes before?"
Dr. Purnell replied courteously.
Dillon appeared satisfied with Dr. Purnell's explanation of his clothing,
then he turned to Jake and looked up: "Dad. You need a red dress to wear
to work... It's nice!"
"Uh? Yes, son... I think the hospital would find that quite original," Jake
said.
"Huh?" Dillon responded, not seeing the relevance of what his dad had just
added.
"Noooo. Dad! It's REAL nice..."
Jake smiled and said, "Thank you, Dr. Purnell, for taking your time to be
so kind to Dillon. As childish as he is, he's really quite sincere and has
a goodness that God must have worked overtime creating. We just love him
endlessly, rascal though he is sometimes... Like, I REALLY apologize for
his comments to you about your vestments. You are a learning experience
for Dillon. Please forgive us."
"My boy," Dr. Purnell said speaking directly to Jake: "Forgiveness is not
in order: I can only hope that I am as effective a 'learning experience'
for others as well... Thank you for the profound compliment."
*****
Spirits were high and joy abounded, while the boys and Dillon were out
playing with the dogs on Kevin's Astroturf. Max and Brandy had even
remembered to bring Spirit and a few bottles of formula over in the morning
to join the other four dogs and Dillon's doggie. The backyard was
chock-a-block with children and animals...
The parents and Dr. Purnell and the organist, Mrs. Barco, had assembled in
the large family room in Hugo's and Kevin's condo. Mrs. Donnally and Craig
were helping Kevin out in the kitchen to lay out the light afternoon dinner
that Kevin had finished preparing earlier that morning.
Jilder and Nicky came rushing into the Family room where all of the other
dads were visiting. "Dad!" they said loudly, interrupting the group and
addressing Hugo with a ludicrous attempt at privacy. Jilder stage
whispered: "The men ought to be coming soon with Kevin's birthday
present... We'll wait out in front of the house; so we can show them where
to bring it..."
Hugo nodded his understanding, made a mental note to work on "please excuse
oneself before interrupting," and answered them: "If you need my help, just
come back in here and get me; otherwise, I think they can come in the front
door and put it in the living room."
"Okay, dad," they both said, and then they ran out as thoughtlessly as they
had entered...
"Please forgive Jilder and Nicky. They are just very excited today,
because we're observing Kevin's birthday, along with celebrating our Family
Dedication Day this afternoon. Maybe I ought to fill you in on their
activity," Kevin explained.
Max said, "Yes. I recalled your saying that you hoped to say Happy Birthday
to Kevin this afternoon during the Dedication reception back here at the
house; so Brandy and I took the opportunity to squeeze in a little shopping
after the Zoo trip yesterday. I'll need to go out to the car when the boys
are ready.'
"Oh, that was very kind of you, Max, but we don't expect anyone to know the
little details of our family traditions; so gifts, though really wonderful,
must NOT prevent you from joining with us in enjoying Kevin's Birthday
Celebration. You MUST NOT feel badly. You were NOT prepared."
Jake was returning to the family room where the other fathers were
gathered. "Are you talking about Kevin's birthday?" he said as he entered
the room.
Hugo turned to Jake and said, "Yes. I was explaining to everybody about
Jilder's and Nicky's surprise. They just came running through to explain
that they're expecting it any moment."
*****
It is an absolute mathematical certainty that ANYTHING Jilder and Nicky
undertake together will at SOME point manifest an explosive or presumptuous
aspect: certainly THIS birthday surprise could be no exception.
Dinner was nearly finished. Countless trays of delicious and colorful
foods occupied the tops of all the counters and tables in the Kitchen. And
an assortment of every conceivable HEALTHY veggie was available, along with
chicken and fish entrees and a variety of Mexican dishes with guacamole as
well; Kevin had even arranged fresh fruits in abundance, and five different
brewed teas: the expected, and even a few odd ones like Holy Basil or Tulse
Tea and Jasmine Dragon Green Tea.
Hugo had set the sound system to play some pleasing Mozart, and peace
prevailed everywhere this side of the Astroturf.... It was such a peaceful
afternoon.
Then....
C--R--A--S--H !!!!!!!!!
FOLLOWED BY shaking walls and pictures throughout the house.
Kevin and Hugo ran into the living room where the sound seemed to
originate.
There, Nicky was picking up from the floor, a considerably collapsed, large
(as in 72" by 50"), colorful (although not terribly-expensive as those
things go...) aluminum-framed, oil-on-canvas painting that Kevin had hung
on the wall behind the door in the main entrance hall the first week he
moved into the condo alone, what seemed like EONS ago now.
Jilder was also standing there-- in the middle of the open doorway where
two workmen were poised, holding a HUGE object covered in movers furniture
blankets, which sat wedged in the opening, waiting for further instructions
from the Supreme Directors: Jilder and Nicky!
"WHAT IS HAPPENING IN HERE?" Hugo demanded, thinking his intervention might
be necessary.
"Oh, Dad... We just made a LITTLE mistake!" Jilder offered quickly, (his
attorney's instinct couching it in excellent legalese!)
"We made a mistake and let the door slam too hard against the wall while we
was trying to bring in Kevin's birthday present, and the door hit Dad's
nice big picture and knocked it off the wall.... and..... and.... I think
it's maybe a little broken now.... but only a little bit..."
Nicky added, "And that's what made all the noise, Dad..." hoping that his
relevant contribution too would by its power amelioriate the exasperation
their dads were beginning to show.
"A LITTLE MISTAKE!" Hugo added.... "YOU THINK??????????"
Both boys stood with terror in their eyes as everyone else in the house
came rushing into the living room behind Hugo and Kevin, to see what
catastrophe had befallen their quiet, refined reception... Even Dr. Purnell
and the organist ran in to find out what had happened....
Kevin immediately felt a great wave of sympathy rush over him for his boys,
who clearly were just trying to make a nice surprise for him, and they
truly DID just make a LITTLE mistake: who knew that THAT HUGE picture would
fall from the wall if you slammed it with the door? "I mean, isn't that
just a "natural mistake???" Kevin thought generously, being their dad.
Then he said, "Oh, my goodness, guys, I hope YOU didn't get hurt! THAT
would truly be terrible. The old picture wasn't too expensive. We can get
it fixed, and then put it back up. But we couldn't repair YOUR injuries so
easily. Are you Okay?"
Relieved and happy to receive Kevin's implicit offer of amnesty, "Yeah!
That's right, Dad. We didn't know that just the door hitting the picture
would make it fall down... And we'll help fix it too."
"So are you Okay," Kevin repeated...
Jilder and Nicky both relaxed in their new found status as "victims" of a
catastrophe, and they were both glad that Kevin had seen that they simply
were NOT culpable in TODAY'S miscalculation...
Kevin looked into Hugo's eyes and said without words, "BABE! Our boys are
just trying to do something good. We can't be mad at them.... And besides
we love them too...."
Hugo, having communed with Kevin so often and so intimately, understood
Kevin's message at the first glance. He turned to the boys and said:
"Oh my, Thanks be to the Virgin Mary, Thank Goodness you are both alright.
Do you need any help, or will you be able to direct your friends; so they
can deliver your heavy package?" Hugo offered...
"Oh, I think we can do it from here, Dad," Nicky replied. "We just wanna
go over to that wall across the room, but you and Kevin have to go out of
the living room; so we can work... IT'S A SURPRISE, DAD!!!"
"Of course," Hugo replied, and he turned to realize there was a crowd of
lookie-loos in his living room, to whom he spoke pleasantly: "I think
Jilder and Nicky have this all under control; so everyone is invited to
return to the other parts of the house were we may begin our dinner: I hope
someone here is hungry. Kevin spent two days working on that food!"
"HUGO! You were NOT supposed to say that! Now they'll think that they MUST
like it!" Kevin replied with sincere modesty. He simply wanted all of the
guests to enjoy a wonderful meal.
*****
Everyone finished eating, and one by one gathered in the living room, where
the boys' mysterious surprise was ensconced in the most prominent place in
the room, still obscured though it was, totally covered in heavy mover's
blankets.
The boys got down on the floor on their hands and knees, and sat themselves
like guard dogs in front of it... waiting....
Finally, Hugo and Kevin entered the room last, after everyone else, and sat
in the two seats that the boys had reserved for them on the sofa.
Dillon ran around visiting all of the guests as they entered, and the other
boys conferred conspiratorially as they stood around the walls of the room,
waiting for Nicky and Jilder to begin, secretly sharing knowledge of the
big surprise.
When everyone was in place, Jilder and Nicky stood up in front of their
big, dark, secret, smiling, hardly able to contain their delight.
Nicky looked at Jilder and said, "You go first..."
"Nooo, YOU go first...." Jilder answered in his best stage whisper.
So Nicky acquiesced and spoke: "First, we wanna thank Craig and Jake for
lettin me and Jilder wash their clothes every week for year, to pay for
this birthday present for Kevin, and to pay for feedin the dogs while we
went to Ireland with our dads."
Then he looked over at Jake and Craig and said, "And I know we still got
lots more washin to do too..."
Jake and Craig, who suddenly became very red and more than a little
embarrassed, said to the entire gathering: "We really CAN DO own our own
laundry... We have a washer and dryer, everybody... This is just a
TEMPORARY arrangement we've entered into," Craig explained.
All of the adults laughed and applauded Jake's and Craig's display of
generosity.
Jake said, "We were going to make sure these four went to Ireland, no
matter what it took. And, also, when it came to this surprise, who could
turn down two expert wheeler-dealer-negotiators like Jilder and Nicky..."
Again, everyone laughed, but this time they applauded Nicky and Jilder who
simply beamed with happiness at being recognized.
So Nicky went on, "Well, many times when me and Jilder were sick or in any
kind of trouble-- like in the hospital-- at different times when we were
asleep, all of us had visits from Kevin's grandpa-- even Sean and Artie..."
and all of the boys nodded 'Uh Huh,' in the affirmative....
"Now I don't think nobody understands how it worked exactly, especially
since Papa, as we call him, has been dead for 25 years," Nicky said
nonchalantly, without appearing to find that fact particularly incredible.
But Nicky went on, "And he also knows lots of other dead people too, like
he know King Boru, and my first dad, and Sean's mom and dad. So he was a
big help to all of us..."
This revelation drew exclamations of considerable surprise and profound
interest from all of the parents, and even Dr. Purnell as well, although no
one was in possession of all the details to which Nicky was alluding.
Nevertheless, all the boys agreed to Nicky's voracity by nodding their
heads in the affirmative again, agreeing with him without exception."
Nicky continued speaking: "Like I said, everybody calls him papa. And papa
said that when Kevin was a little boy, like Dillon I guess, Kevin would
climb up in Papa's lap in front of his big grandfather's clock, and Papa
would rock him to sleep. And every week, Kevin would help Papa wind the
big clock, to make it run, and to make the Westminster Chimes go 'bong
bong...'"
"Kevin really loved Papa and told him that he wanted a big clock for his
very own. Well, we found out about Kevin wanting a clock just like his
papa had..."
At that point, Nicky looked over at Jilder, and the two of them went over
to the big mysterious object in the living room. They pulled over chairs
brought from the kitchen and together climbed up and began unfastening the
clips that held the blankets in place to conceal......
a majestic and stately grandfather's clock, complete with huge pendulum,
moving very slowly back and forth, and displaying long, shiny, gold pipes
for Westminster chimes...
Kevin had bowed his head and covered his eyes with both hands as he began
realizing what was imminent, and he looked up just in time to see the
blankets fall away to reveal the gorgeous, clock: FOR HIM.
The clock was just as it had been when Nicky and Jilder found it in the
antique shop what seemed like a long time ago now: the ivory face of the
clock was adorned with gold, inlaid filigree and rested sublimely at the
top of a dark mahogany cabinet displaying an enormous burnished, brass
sunburst pendulum that moved slowly back and forth behind the elegant glass
front of beveled crystal.
It looked like Jilder was going to hyperventilate if he didn't get to
demonstrate the chimes soon; so he climbed up on one of the chairs, opened
the glass cover protecting the elegant face, and moved the little switch
that set off the chimes: and a full sequence of the well-known Westminster
patterning sounded in deeply-resonating, brilliant tones, finally reaching
the hour count, which Nicky had already set to strike the proper number.
Kevin couldn't move. He couldn't speak. He couldn't do anything but sit
there on the sofa and cry.... only allowing Hugo to hold him closely and
rub his back.
Nicky and Jilder went over to Kevin and each put their hand on him, patting
him and saying... "Papa said he loves you, Kevin; and we all love you too.
Happy Birthday, Dad!"
The entire room of guests and family waited silently until Kevin looked up
smiling, somewhat composed, his cheeks streaked with tears: "Oh, THANK YOU
Nicky. THANK YOU Jilder. Thank You ALL of you who helped to make this
happen, and thank you to those of you who are sharing my joy, being here
with me now.......while I make a fool of myself crying."
Dillon very carefully walked over to Kevin, not at all sure of what was
going on; he didn't understand what had happened. He went up to Kevin very
sensitively, speaking softly and tentatively:
"Did you hurt yourself, Kevin?" And he waited with concern for Kevin to
answer him.
Kevin smiled again, looked at Dillon and answered: "Oh, NO, Dillon. I'm
crying 'cause I'm very happy..."
Dillon looked at the others in the room, deciding to relate something that
he'd just learned and felt was very important, as he pointed at Kevin he
told them, "Kevin's HAPPY. He not hurt himself..."
Everyone laughed, and Jake went over and picked Dillon up. Kevin reached
up to shake Dillon's hand, at which Dillon said quite seriously: "I glad
Kevin not hurt himself..."
Jake planted a big, loud, juicy kiss on little Dillon's cheek and said, "We
are too, Dillon. We are too..." And he took Dillon over to sit with him
and Craig.
Hugo then addressed the gathering: "I wonder if I might ask for your
indulgence just a little longer, and take a bit more of your valuable time
on this lovely... well, evening it is now."
Everyone refocused their attention, this time on Hugo, who was now standing
in front of Kevin's new grandfather's clock.
He opened the front glass door to the clock and reached inside where a
plain white envelope sat leaning against the chimes control. Hugo
retrieved the envelope, just your run-of-the-mill, white, greeting-card
sized envelope.
Hugo showed the front of the envelope to everyone, where he had written in
his unique artistic handwriting:
"Kevin-- "
"Thank You, My Love.
Sorry I forgot before now."
Happy Birthday,
Always Yours.... Love, Hugo
And Hugo stepped over and handed the envelope to Kevin.
Kevin held it out in front of him and in plain view of the guests; then he
opened it...
He looked inside and smiled and then tears gushed again, only this time
they were uncontrollable and only Hugo could calm their flow.
All of the boys ran over to Kevin and pulled the envelop out of his hand,
"Can we see?" they all said, jockeying for position to look over one
another's shoulder to get a glimpse of Hugo's Birthday present.
Jilder was the first to see the gift, and he looked up puzzled and said to
everyone; "What's so great about a twenty-dollar bill?!!"
Hugo continued to console Kevin, holding him in his arms. He turned to the
boys and said for them and for the other guests:
"When I met Kevin, I had no at all, and I was hungry... He saw me, and he
loved me at once... He gave me a $20 bill that I used to buy food, and I
promised him that I'd pay him back... by writing a note on a scrap of
paper, because I couldn't speak then... And we have been committed ever
since... Thank You from the bottom of my heart... And Happy Birthday,
Kev. I love you."
Hugo kissed Kevin on the neck and said to the boys, "You see... I just
returned Kevin's $20! "
"ADULTS! I'll never understand adults!" Jilder said walking away scratching
his head...
*****
Craig and Jake had quietly been explaining to Dillon that this was Kevin's
Birthday party and that everybody was giving him presents.
Dillon said to Craig and Jake... "I give Kevin my present too."
And he slipped out of Jake's arms and ran out of the living room to the
kitchen where the loads of baggage with which Craig and Jake always
supported their trips to Hugo and Kevin's house was stored: just normal
logistics contingency material for Craig and Jake....
In a moment, Dillon came running back into the living room with a towel
wrapped over something that he immediately delivered to Kevin, placing it
in Kevin's lap.
"Oh, my, what have we here?" Kevin said exclaiming over Dillon's offering.
Dillon said, "Birthday Present... I have for you too!" he said smiling.
He was somewhat embarrassed and holding his hands behind his back waiting
to find out whether he was okay.
Kevin made a big production of 'un-wrapping' the crudely covered object.
In a moment, Kevin revealed that under the towel Dillon had concealed his
own book, 'Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer'.
"Oh, how wonderful!" Kevin exclaimed... "What a wonderful birthday
present.... And it's one of my favorite stories. THANK YOU, Dillon."
And Kevin leaned over onto his knee on the carpet and gave Dillon a big hug
and another "Thank You Sooooo Much, Dillon. It's a very, very fine
Birthday present..."
Dillon smiled just delighted to know that his present was acceptable. When
Kevin finished hugging Dillon, Dillon ran back to his dads and said. "I
give Kevin Rudolph!" smiling from ear to ear....
"Yes... and what a fine boy you are for being so generous. That was your
own, very most favorite book too!" And Craig kissed Dillon on the head.
*****
Max had slipped out to his car rental and come back in the house with a
plastic sack containing a rather large book: it was a photo album into
which Max and Brandy had inserted pictures of Kevin and Hugo and everyone
taken during their wonderful trip across Ireland this summer.
Then Max asked everyone to gather in front of the clock, whereupon he took
several more digital photograph that he promised he would have printed
immediately and added to the album.
*****
The guests began to suggest that the evening required an eventual
conclusion, although everyone had enjoyed their time together and would
remember the occasion forever.
But no one was sad, because everyone knew that:
Everyday is a new promise, and more than that,
"Life is New at Every Moment."
And that was so for Hugo and Kevin and all of their friends, all of whom
they loved and valued very much, and it must be so for you and me...
THE END...