Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 01:24:40 GMT
From: patcross@kskc.net
Subject: Pat and John Chapter 4

    As Pat appeared from under his bed, John looked at him with a blissful
smile, saying, "oh, thank you, Pat, that felt wonderful!" For a few moments,
they did nothing but look deeply into each other's eyes. "Will you be satisfied
with that while you're here, Lover"?, Pat asked. John's reply was a
happy "Yes"! Pat smiled, and said, "Only if you work hard at your daily
exercises will that be your daily reward. Deal?" They glanced at each each
other, and blurted out, "DEAL!", and began to giggle. They began to kiss, and
as their kisses really begain to heat up, Pat realized he had to leave. "John,
my darling, I've got to go home, but tomorrow your parents are visiting, too.
They really miss you." "I know", John whispered, "tell Daddy I love him." You
see, just as he had his Bear in times of stress, John also called his
parents "Mommy" and "Daddy" during those infrequent times. Now was such a time.
So, before he left, Pat kissed his lover as his parents would before bedtime,
that is on the forehead. lips, and both cheeks. As John silently faded off to
sleep, Pat left happy, knowing that he had helped his friend.

    When Pat got home, he finished his homework, and went down to eat supper.
He told them of the day's events and, like John, Mr. and Mrs. Stevens were
laughing loudly at how Pat had bested the bully Junior Davis. Then, Mr. Stevens
got serious. "That explains the phone call I got from school today, Pat. Your
principal swears he saw YOU attack Junior for no reason. He wants us in his
office first thing in the morning. From the way he sounded, I think you're
looking at a suspension."

    The next morning, they drove to school, and went to the Principal's
office. "Good morning, Mr. and Mr. Stevens. I see you brought the young boxer
with you. Good. I'll keep this short; for starting a fight with Junior Davis,
you're entitled to one week's suspension." Mr. Stevens calmly looked at the
Principal, J.D. Davis, and said, "My son told what happened, sir, and I believe
him. Moreover, your son has the reputation for being a bully, and you've done
nothing to stop that. There's also the fact that my son defended himself ONLY
when attacked first. He asked your son to stop. One last thing, your son was
embarrassed, not injured, and you want to suspend my boy for embarrassing your
son? Maybe for a day, but not a week." "Still, there's the matter of school
policies....." "You can take your school policies and shove 'em up your ass,
Mr. Davis. I warn you..don't you or your son mess with my boys again. Got it?
With that said, The Stevens family got up and left. But, what Pat didn't know
was they had a surprise for him that day.....they had legally adopted him!

    They drove to the hospital, which confused Pat. He began to wonder if
something had happened to John, and he began to worry. He worried so much, he
almost fainted, but they got to the hospital before he did. He was met by Dr.
Johnson. "Pat, come with me, please." His doctor led him one way while his soon-
to-be parents went to John's room to set up decorations and cake and ice cream.

    Still confused, poor Pat was too dazed to ask questions. But, when they
reached John's room, a loud "SURPRISE!" and a dozen laughing, smiling, people
woke Pat up. "What's going on"? What happened"?" Mr. and Stevens looked at Pat
tenderly as the room quieted down. "Pat, before your parents passed away, they
asked us to assume custody of you if they should die. Unfortunately, that
happened, and you moved in with us. Do you remember those talks you had with
the Judge? Those weren't only about your house and property, but about you,
too. He asked you who you wanted to be adopted by, right?" Pat looked him right
in the eye, saying "I asked for you, Poppa Stevens." Tears of happiness
streamed down Mr. Steven's face as he whispered in Pat's ear, "and you got us,
Pat! You've got a family again!" There wasn't a dry eye in the room, now, with
some openingly sobbing, including Dr. Johnson.

    Pat's jaw hung open, and his eyes were glazed over at the news. As it
slowly sank in, he reacted in a way no one thought likely. Seeing John's bear,
Pat grabbed it, and then Pat lie on the floor in a fetal position, sucking his
thumb, and clutching that bear for all it was worth.

    Dr. Johnson quietly commented," I think we now have a second patient, at
least for the short term." Sadly, the party broke up, as Pat cried like a baby.
John looked at his parents and said, "take him home. He'll need you a lot more
than he needs me right now." Mrs. Stevens just looked at John with a smile that
said "We're proud of you." But, John now had a brother! Something he had never
had before, and they were in love. What would happen now? Would their world be
flipped upside down?

    Before they left, each of John's parent's kissed him kissed him in their
special way, and John kissed his brother Pat in exactly in same fashion. The
Stevens tucked their "newborn" in bed and sat up with him, discussing the
possible need of psychological help for him. But for now, they knew that all
they could do was love him, and that they would do, willingly.

    Pat woke up the next morning, very tired, but very excited. HE HAD A FAMILY
AGAIN!! He was on Cloud 9. Once dressed, he bounced down the stairs, ready for
this new chapter in his life. "Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad," he said, as he sat down to
breakfast. "Pat, after last night, are you sure you're feeling okay?", they
both asked, with concerned looks on their faces. "Well," Pat confessed, "I AM a
little nervous and scared. Will I have help if I need it?" Poppa Stevens looked
at Pat, smiled, and said "Pat, you're our son, now. Anything we can do to help
you heal, we will do. Understand that, please. You're no longer alone." At that
moment, they shed a tear at a shared memory of Pat's parents, and went about
their ways for the day's business.

    Pat and his Mother went to his school to change his records legally. To
avoid getting involved with the Principal, whom she did NOT like, she brought
along her best friend, an attorney. The records transfer was performed quietly
and without any problems, as the Principal had no intention of getting himself
into hot water. After leaving the school, Pat asked his Mother to stop at the
house for John's Bear. Dropping him there at the house, she went to work, and
Pat drove to the Hospital.

    When Pat walked in, the Nurse on duty told that Dr. Johnson wanted to see
him. He knocked on the door, and a very concerned Dr. Johnson met him at the
door. "Come in, come in, Pat. I want to congratulate you on your new family."
Pat sucked in a lungful of air, exhaled, and said, meekly, "thank you." But,
Dr. Johnson knew something was up. "Pat, are you worried about the Stevens'
replacing your parents?", he asked, in a soft, yet gentle, tone. "No," cried
Pat, "I'm afraid I'll forget them....."

    Dr. Johnson motioned for Pat to sit on his lap. "Pat, your parents were my
best friends, and I can tell you that I see a little of both in you. You'll see
it, too. In the way you talk, the color of your hair, the way it won't co-
operate when you shower. But, more importantly, in school. They were very
smart, and weren't lazy. Just before they died, they were telling me of how
proud they were of you, because you are just like them. You're smart and not
one bit lazy, from what I hear. Your new family busted their butts to adopt
you 'cause they love you, and because your parents trusted THEM with that
responsibility. Do your Doc a favor and don't let anybody down, 'cause you've
got a of lot of friends out there." Pat hugged his Doctor, saying, "Sure thing,
Doctor Mike." "Oh, and one more thing," HARRRUMPH "an adoption present. I'd
heard you were looking for this watch."

    Pat kissed Dr. Mike on the cheek, and then said
"Thank you!" "You're welcome, Pat, and good luck!" Pat went to John's room, and
when he got there, John got the nurse to leave. "Here's Bear, John." "I've got
something for you", John said, pulling out another Teddy, only
monogramed "Pat". Pat hugged his new Bear, then hugged John for the first time
as a brother. They kissed softly, and Pat lay beside John as they held each
other.