Pop

The following is a work of fiction and is the property of the author. This is a story about the inter-relationships of males of differing ages.

Pop

Chapter 27

It was morning. The bright sunshine was streaming into our room through the lace-like curtains which hung on the double windows. I reached behind me to feel how far David lay from my back, but my hand touched only blankets and sheets. Turning over partially, I discovered he was gone. Slipping out of bed, I put on my dressing gown and went looking for him. The bathroom was vacant, so I plodded down the central staircase to the main floor. The sound of voices drew me to the sitting room where we had spent last evening with all of Eleanor's dinner guests. As I entered the room, I saw David sitting in a comfortable overstuffed chair, sipping on a steaming cup of hot drink. Opposite to him, Eleanor and Millie were seated, also nursing steaming mugs.

"My Master approaches." David commented to the ladies as he rose and kissed me on the cheek. "You hardly look awake yet, my love." I sat in the big chair, he then sat next to me.

"Good morning, Dexter." Eleanor greeted me. She had a cheery smile which for some reason made me feel a little uneasy.

"Morning, Dex." Millie echoed. Her expression was not as cheery as Eleanor's which unexpectedly gave reason to reinforced my feelings. I returned everyone's morning greeting.

"You came along just at the right time, Dex." David advised me. "We've been doing some brain storming this morning trying to put together some ideas about what the best course of action would be in regard to the opportunity which has come up in the past 24 hours. I'd like to know what you think and how you would feel about some of the things we've been discussing." I had the immediate feeling I wasn't going to like this.

"Do you think maybe we should have talked about this before you dragged Eleanor and Millie into it ?" I questioned.

"I haven't shut you out, Dex." David assured me. "I think you'll understand when you know what we've talked about. Trust me." I looked into his eyes and he knew I did.

"Okay, let's talk." I said.

"By the way." David added. "I hope you won't mind too much, but I won't be returning home with Betty, Millie and you on the flight this afternoon. I need to stay on here for a couple days to look into some arrangements." I trusted him and if it came down to it, even though he had never demanded it of me, I had committed myself willingly to obedience, but I was not liking this more every time something was said.

The phone rang. Brenda answered and spoke only briefly. I noted as I sat in the lounge that each of the boys appeared from bedroom doors, or hallways and stood quietly, waiting, watching, until Brenda hung up.

"That was Peter." she announced. "A cab just pulled up to the front of the building."

"They're home." Tom said almost as a comment to himself, but just loud enough to set everyone off. Feet covered by slippers came scurrying through the living areas as everyone, including Brenda, Neil, John and myself crowded around the entryway and patiently, some more so than others, waited for the elevator to arrive and open. We were soon rewarded with the sound of the whir of the motor driving the elevator as the cage was dragged up to our level. At last the doors opened and suitcases in tow out stepped Dex and...........

"Where's Pop ?" Tom asked, more as a general question than specifically for Dex.

"Yeah." a general consensus of voices echoed each other.

"Well, `Hello' to all of you too." Dex remarked in mocked insult. "How am I, Dex ? Did I have a nice flight home, Dex ? Guess what's for supper, Dex ?" All the boys laughed and surged around him, everyone trying to talk and hug him at the same time. When each of the boys had greeted him and all of the adults expressed their welcome, Dex spoke to the boys.

"Pop had to stay at the University for a couple extra days and will not be home until Tuesday. He asked me to tell you how much he misses all of you and I'm to put each of you to bed tonight with an extra hug and kiss from him." There was some grumbling from the junior set and Tom seemed especially disappointed, but soon they all got busy putting Dex's luggage in his room and asking him questions about the trip, which he filled them in about. He described how wonderful Dr. McDivott had been having them as guests and how big and beautiful her house was and how they met a group of students and talked with them for several hours.

The more I listened to Dex tell about their trip, the more concerned the cop in me became that something was not right. He gave lots of details about what they had done and seen, but he had no enthusiasm about it. I started to wonder what he was not telling us and a glance to John told me he was wondering exactly the same thing. Through the course of the evening, Dex was filled in on all the things everyone had done all weekend, including Neil moving in with John and me. He heartily endorsed our decision and his enthusiasm about it stood out in stark contrast to his lacking about everything else.

"What the hell is going on ?" Brenda pounced as soon as the last of the boys was tucked in for the night. She had been patient since Dex stepped off the elevator, but now she wanted information. The silence in the room was so absolute, you could hear all of us breathing. Dex just sat looking at the coffee table and I couldn't tell if he was going to speak or not.

"Dex, we don't want to pry, but something is definitely not right." I said. "We're your friends, we want to know if there is something we can do to help, all four of us."

"Make that five." Bill's voice startled us as he walked across the room. "I know something's wrong and I want to know what." He sat on the couch beside Dex. After a minute, Dex put his arm around Bill and hugged him.

"I can't tell you." Dex stated. "I don't know what is happening. All I can do is tell you as much as I know. They were waiting for David to get there. They have offered him a position as Dean of the School of Psychology."

"Oh, wow." John gasped. "That's a really important position. The University has a super reputation and a Dean's position is very influential."

"You should have seen him with the students." Dex told us, the admiration in his voice and face apparent. "He was so good with them, guiding them to explore new ideas, but allowing them to think they were creating them. I asked some dumb questions and he would make them go back to their early learning and explain what I was asking and how it fit into the discussion. He was brilliant. They were brilliant. It's where he should be."

"Bullshit." Brenda cursed. "This is where he should be. Here with these boys, guiding all of you, here with us and with you, Dex."

"What does his not coming home with you mean ?" Neil asked Dex. "Is it settled, is he staying there ?"

"He told me to trust him and I do." Dex responded. "He said, he had some things to work out, so we might have our cake and eat it too. I don't know why he stayed, but as worried as I am, he is still the `boss' and I know he loves me and all the rest of you too."

"I trust him." Bill stated. "He will do what's best for all of us. I just hope it is what's best for him as well." There was an agreement among all of us we would wait and see what Pop was doing."

"I told him I would wait for him, no matter how long it took." Dex reflected. "I just didn't know how much it would hurt, while I had to do it."

"What do you thinks going on ?" Greg whispered to me as we lay in the darkness of our room, supposedly going to sleep, but in fact trying to make some sense out of what had happened. I wished there was some simple explanation I could give him, but in truth I had no idea of what was happening.

"I had a bad feeling about Pop all day long today," I said, "and when he didn't come out of the elevator with Dex, I was afraid something had happened to him."

"You don't think he's hurt and they aren't telling us, do you ?" Greg asked me with a great amount of concern reflected in his voice.

"You know Dex wouldn't lie to us." I assured him. "He would tell us if it were something like that. I don't think Dex is sure of what's happening either."

"Can I sleep with you tonight ?" Greg asked. "Not to fool around. I just need to have you close."

"It's okay, bro." I said. "You can come over anytime you want, just to hold on to someone."

"Someone won't do, Tom." Greg replied as he slid into my bed and cuddled down next to me. "It's you I feel safe with, not just someone." I held him close to me and after a little while, I knew he had fallen asleep. Thoughts kept racing through my mind. Pop's face was in most of my thoughts. I remembered how we had met, how I use to barter with him to buy a chocolate bar from me, the night he saved me from myself and the rest of my world. I realized this was the first time I had ever questioned Pop's power to protect me and because of that I felt threatened.

As I questioned these things it occurred to me. Pop had done more than offer me protection. He had taught me that I had the power to protect myself. He had empowered me to make choices and decisions and then to face the results of my choices. In teaching me, he had told me how he too did these things. If Pop had decided to do something and not tell us, then he would be prepared to face the results of his choice. He would never choose to face the result of hurting us, so we owed him our confidence. I knew Pop would never hurt me, or any of the others. That thought gave me a lot of comfort and thinking it, I drifted off to sleep.

My dreams were of pirates, buccaneers and hidden treasures. There were battles and sword fights and I even had to walk the plank. Always at the last minute, when my peril was certain, Pop and Dex were there to rescue me.

"I would never do anything to hurt or risk you, Tom." Pop would say, after the danger or threat had been vanquished. The phrase ran over and over in my mind. Someone was shaking me. I slowly opened my eyes and Dex was standing with his hand on my shoulder.

"Tom, Tom, it's time to wake up." he was saying. "Boy, you were one sound sleeper this morning. Greg couldn't get you to wake up at all. Come on, get yourself up, it's a school day." Monday had arrived. One more night and then Pop would be home, back where he belonged.

Chapter 28

"You still know how to make the establishment jump through hoops, don't you ?" George Vickers chuckled as he sat back in the big, high backed chair behind his desk. "It has to be the strangest list of compensation demands I've ever negotiated. As your friend, I have to tell you, the dollar compensation is well below what we were prepared to pay for you. It's the other items. The Governors just about danced a jig when they found out what you wanted. They were blown away by you the other day and I think would have given you my job just to get you to stay. When I cited your list, they couldn't move fast enough to put it in resolution form and vote it approved. I thought the one about Eleanor might be a stumbling block and it was the only item subject to discussion. The consensus ended up being that they couldn't understand why they hadn't thought about it and acted. You scored big points with that one. Well, I know you have an appointment with the real estate broker, so I won't keep you any longer for now. Congratulations on your appointment. I look forward to the many years we will work together for the betterment of our students and the University. Thank you for accepting, David."

It was five o'clock Tuesday evening and we were all restless, waiting for David to get home. I had talked to him on the phone last night and he sounded really excited. He said, his day had been very busy and he had attended a lot of meetings and settled a lot of details. The details were not discussed as David felt he could better explain everything at one time and best in person. I was not pleased with this approach, but again reminded myself of my self imposed obedience and did not say anything further.

David insisted we not meet him at the airport. He felt it was a busy time of day and traffic would be bad enough coming one way much less a round trip. The flight landed at 4:15, so we expected his arrival home anytime. Our troops were restless. Any hope of having homework completed after school was a waste of time. The excitement level from the boys had them beyond any hope of concentration. Neil had arrived after his classes ended and he seemed concerned about what was happening, spending most of his time keeping Tom and Greg occupied.

John and Cliff came in at about a quarter to five. I wondered that Brenda had not come up with them, but realized she would stay downstairs until she saw David enter the building and then tackle him before he even had a chance to reach the elevator. A call down to the reception desk had Brenda up with the rest of us within a few short minutes. The look she gave me as she came out of the elevator said she knew she had been caught.

Shortly after five o'clock the phone rang. I was surprised when the reception desk advised me, Millie Tudpost and Betty Grolier were there to see me and David. I asked the desk to send them up. When they arrived, the boys were excited to see them and both of the ladies made a big fuss over each of them. I introduced Neil, John and Cliff. They had already met Brenda previously. Both of them seemed to have high spirits and they lifted the mood in the apartment.

As we were all settling in the lounge area the bell on the elevator clanged once and the doors opened. I rose as everyone turned to look at the entry. Before I had crossed the open area, David stepped out of the elevator. I felt a rush as his face lit up and he smiled when he looked over at me. I knew mine must be beaming. Pausing a moment, he looked back to the elevator and reached out his hand. A hand extended from the elevator and grasped his. David gently guided Eleanor McDivott into the entry hall. Seeing as I was on my way to greet them, I got there first, but the whole group was fast on my heels. Wrapping my arms around David, I gave and received a big hug and kiss.

"I've missed you so very much." he whispered into my ear. At that point, he was attacked by the four headed, multi-arm beast which was trying to hug him, all at the same time, each head calling greetings and telling him how glad it was he was home. I moved quickly to Eleanor's side to protect her from the onrush of bodies. She stood watching over the frantic activity in front of her as David hugged each of the chattering boys assaulting him.

"All right, guys." I called out. "Let's allow them to come in and sit down, so you can meet our visitor." The boys backed off, racing into the lounge area to claim the best of the seats. While Bill sorted out the younger boys, I took the opportunity to welcome Eleanor. Millie and Betty had come over to her and greeted her as well, then introduced her to Brenda.

"I'm so pleased to finally meet you, Brenda." Eleanor said. "David has told me many times how important you are to him and his family and how he could never have managed everything without your support."

"Thank you very much, Dr. McDivott." Brenda responded.

"Oh please no," she reacted, "you must call me, Eleanor. We are going to be good friends, because we both care about the same people." Brenda lit up and found she felt better than she had in several days. She escorted Eleanor and the other ladies to the lounge area, where Bill had the boys sitting with him on the floor. The boys were introduced in turn. Following Bill's example, each boy stood as he was introduced and stepped forward to shake hands with the Doctor. Brenda was pleased that Eleanor held each boy's hand for a few moments and talked to him about something of interest to that boy. She thought David must have mentioned items about each boy and Eleanor remembered and discussed it with them.

After the younger boys were introduced, Brenda stood next to Eleanor as each of the adult males came over to meet her. Eleanor again spoke with each one, mentioning something she knew about them which they could briefly discuss. When introductions were finished, Brenda served as hostess and offered the ladies tea. They all sat in a corner of the lounge area and visited together.

I was thankful to Brenda and the others for looking after Eleanor. It was a surprise to see her, as her coming to visit had been projected for several months from now. Her being here now gave the others something to focus on, so I had an opportunity to talk with David. We picked up the luggage and took them to our room, setting Eleanor's just outside our door. When we entered our room, David turned and taking me in his arms, kissed me with the passion I was accustomed to receiving from him.

"I'm sorry for the upset and stress I'm sure you have gone through in the past three days." David apologized. "I didn't want to give you false hopes, or get you all excited and then having everything fall to pieces."

"I wanted to trust you and I did, but I still was afraid I was going to lose you and the boys." I admitted.

"You will never lose me." he vowed. "You are mine, until you decide otherwise. My life is dedicated to you and our boys, so you never, ever need to worry." He kissed me again and I felt my toes tingle with excitement. "I have a lot to tell you and everyone. Do you want me to wait and tell you tonight and the others tomorrow, or do you want everyone to hear it with you ?"

"If you don't tell them what's going on tonight," I told him, "you will likely not live `til tomorrow. Everyone is on edge. They know something is happening."

"It has to be now then." David declared. "I don't want you or the boys to be out of the loop any longer. Too much stress on you all." We went out to the lounge and found everyone managing well, but still you could feel the tension in the air.

"Hey Pop, what's up ?" Timmy declared when we seated ourselves. He came over and pushed himself between David's legs, then wiggled up onto his lap. Brian duplicated the action on my lap. The other boys pushed in close to us.

"I hear everyone has been upset around here, just `cause I took a couple extra days off." David teased. Everyone remained silent as he looked around the room. "Well, a couple things have come up and I needed some time to see if we could work them out, so we would all benefit. I believe we have managed to do just that."

"Are you going to leave us ?" Tom blurted out.

"If I might say something, please." Eleanor requested. There were no objections. "I don't think you boys ever need to worry about being left anywhere. Your `Pop' said, right at the beginning, if we could not work out your being with him, he wasn't doing anything, or making any changes." Huge smiles lit up the faces of the young boys as they all looked adoringly at David."

"Now, if everyone will be patient with me," David announced, "I will try to cover everything which has happened. Arriving in the State Capital on Thursday, Dex and I were whisked away by Eleanor to meet with the Board of Governors of the University. After some silly mind games, they got down to business and told us they had chosen me to replace Eleanor as Dean of the School of Psychology. I guess I should have prefaced my story by telling you I was a Doctor of Psychology and I left the University some five years ago to sort out some things."

"Are those the things you said Tom and I could help you sort out, Pop ?" Timmy asked from David's lap.

"Yes Tim." David told him. "When you guys arrived, I still had not figured out many of the things with which I needed to deal." He addressed us all again. "In the course of the next few days, I presented a list of needs to the Board of Governors and they accepted all of them, so I agreed to accept the position they offered." There was a buzz of quiet discussion for which David paused.

"That acceptance," he continued, "means I will be moving to the University. In fact it means we will be moving to the State Capital. Now I know such a move presents many challenges and I am hoping we have dealt with all of them. First off, I want Dex to move with me. I have shamelessly left him out of most of these arrangements, because you all needed him here with you and I needed him looking after business while other things were being arranged. For my lack of consultation with you Dex, I sincerely apologize and vow never to leave you uninformed again."

"I trust you, David." I assured him. "There was never a concern on my part about your intentions." He smiled at me and I could see his love in his eyes.

"I couldn't very well ask Dex to move to the capital with us and run the Health Clubs from an office in our new dining room. So yesterday, I went real estate hunting and found the perfect site." David expanded. "In about a month, he will begin overseeing the building of our next Health Club in the Capital, to include our new Corporate Office."

There were cheers and clapping from everyone and I was so shocked I couldn't think of anything to say.

"The next problem to be considered was what to do about our boys." he continued. "Brian, Timmy, Greg and Tom are our core group and the youngest of those we are concerned about. After consulting with our friends, Millie Tudpost and Betty Grolier, it was decided the best and most lasting solution would be for Dex and me to adopt all four of you. That way you can go where we go and there will be no problems. It will also allow all of you to truly become brothers to each other." There was a roar from the youngest four as they cheered the announcement which had been made, hugging and congratulating one another.

"As you requested, David," Millie Tudpost volunteered, "I have investigated the various ways we discussed of proceeding with the adoptions and there appear to be no problems with the process being completed within a couple months, well before there would be a problem." David smiled and nodded to Millie.

"The next situation was with Jim, who already has an existing family, who are working hard with him toward having him returned to them." David outlined. "As he and I have discussed before, we really want to give them all a fair chance." David looked at Jim and I saw Jim nod back in agreement. "Looking after Jim properly seemed to tie into looking after Bill properly as well. Bill has his last year of high school left to complete and I kind of felt he might not want to go to a new school and graduate with a class to which he really didn't feel a part. That meant it was best for both of them to remain here in the city. I should note that come or stay, the offer of adoption is made to him as well." Bill had a surprised look on his face which very quickly turned to a huge smile.

"They could stay with me." Brenda volunteered. "I have room for them both and would love having their company, especially with all of you leaving."

"A generous offer on your part, Brenda." David responded. "But your time is going to be somewhat at a premium. Let me get back to that. Dex informs me Cliff and John have adopted a new babe of their own." Everyone chuckled and Neil blushed. "I imagine that apartment of yours is going to seem a little cramped pretty soon, guys. How would you feel about taking over the lease on this apartment when we move ?"

"Gee, David," Cliff replied, "that's a really nice suggestion, but we could never afford a place the size of this, in such a great downtown location."

"How be if the rent wasn't in dollars ?" he asked. "What if the rent was looking after Bill and Jim for the next year ?"

"Say `YES', Cliff." Bill prompted immediately.

"You'd really let us look after them ?" John asked.

"I can think of only one other person we would trust to have them." David replied. He glanced at Brenda and then to me and I nodded my agreement. "You don't need to make a commitment right now. We can talk about it later. The other part of this is the apartment may not be quite this big. We may have the builder sub-divide one portion of it into a `Granny' flat. That's going to depend on Brenda."

"Is this the getting back to me, now ?" she inquired.

"Yes ma'am." David answered. "You get the largest number of choices of us all. Brenda, you can keep things as they are right now for yourself, by continuing to manage the Snack Bar and being the club's much admired hostess. Or you may consider accepting a promotion to Club Manager to replace Dex when he moves. In that case you might consider taking the `Granny' flat up here. You're never at home now and you might find the convenience helpful. It would also allow you to be up here with your guys and yet have somewhere to go to escape all the testosterone. Or you could take a leap of faith and come to the Capital with the six of us and be our housekeeper. It's not that far away, we can plan on visiting often and we really do need you." There was a pause as Brenda thought about the choices David had proposed.

"You're a wicked man, David Merrill." Brenda pretended to growl and glare at him. "You offer me three bones and know the one with `we need you' on it is going to pull at me, don't you ? Well just for that, I'm not going to agree to go with you for at least two or three days." Tom caught what she said right away and was up and over to give her a hug.

"Does that mean she's coming ?" Timmy asked in some confusion.

"I don't know." Brian answered him.

"She's coming all right." Tom answered turning to look at them. The other three started cheering and scrambled to be next in line for hugs.

"Well this reverie is wonderful and I am pleased to hear all these arrangements being to everyone's liking." Eleanor announced. "I have a little something which I would like to add to your plans." Everyone quieted to give her their full attention. "I have decided in the short period I've been retired and appointed as a member of the Board of Governors as stipulated in David's list, the house I live in is far too big for a busy lady to maintain. I have also decided it has been far too long since the sounds of young people were regularly heard within its walls. David, if you would like to consult with an appraiser, I believe you will not be able to find a better deal anywhere in the Capital than I am prepared to offer to you." I could see the light in David's eyes shining and I felt thrilled at the opportunity of living in that wonderful, old mansion.

Chapter 29

"Hey, Pop. How's everything going on the home front ? Bill asked. He sounded good, but I always wished we could see him during these Sunday phone calls. "Is Dad there ?" I looked through to the living room phone extension from where I sat in my home office and saw Dex's face light up. He was still trying to get use to all the boys calling him `Dad', since the adoptions were finalized.

"I'm here, Bill." Dex responded. "I'm on the extension phone, so we can both talk to you together. Everything here is fine. Your brothers all want to talk to you, so don't run away after you're through with us."

"Okay, Dad. Make sure Tom comes on last, so I can leave him to talk to Neil." Bill suggested. "Everything is going great here. School is good and I don't see any problem with my grades when I apply for admission to the University."

"That's great, Son." I lauded him. "Remember the scholarships set aside as part of my compensation, are only if you meet the grade requirements."

"I know, Pop." he assured me. "Don't worry, school is coming fine. John and Cliff tend to be a little stricter than you and Dad when it comes to following up on my assignments, but I'm breaking them into parenthood slowly, so they don't hurt themselves." We all chuckled.

"If anyone can do it, you can, Son." Dex told him.

"So, what's going on there ?" he wanted to know. "It's the start of October. What's happening ?"

"Dr. McDivott was here for dinner tonight. She comes for dinner and the evening a couple times a week, then she and Brenda go out for dinner together once a week." Dex reported. "They have become very close and seem to compete as to which one can dote most on all you guys. You get mentioned often in their conversations. I know Brenda misses you and the others a lot."

"I miss her too, Dad." he said quietly. "I know John and Cliff do too and we talk about all of you a lot."

"Well it won't be too long `til we're all together again." I offered. "The new Health Club will open at the end of this month. The work on it is going well and Dex has been busy everyday with arrangements."

"That's true." Dex verified. "It should be a big splash and all of us are looking forward to all of you coming for a long weekend with us. Then there'll be Thanksgiving and before we know it, we'll be into the Christmas break."

"Ah, we're planning on the opening, but I'm not sure Jim will be coming." he told us hesitantly. "Things are going real well with his family right now and they may have some plans for that weekend. He really likes the new therapist you referred them to, Pop. Justin seems to have made some progress and Jim is a lot more ready to give him some leeway."

"That's fine, Son." I said. "Staying with his family would be a wonderful reason for Jim to miss out. Please encourage him to be with them. It's what would be best for all of them even if we miss him. Are you all right about it ?"

"Yeah, Pop." he replied. "I know being with his family is best and I appreciate how he feels, `cause I really want to be with mine."

"You will be Son, just hold in there." I encouraged him.

"How are Tom and Greg making out at High School ?" he changed the subject which was likely for the best.

"They think it's great." Dex replied. "They're settled in now. Tom is getting along really well in a regular school setting and I don't think anyone has the slightest idea how far behind he was. He really is one intelligent kid. Greg is doing well too, in fact they both have a couple classes together and they really felt good about that when school started. Helps with getting the homework done, too."

"And how are you doing at school, Professor Merrill ?" he asked in a smart, wisecracking tone.

"Herr Doctor Professor is excellent, you might be pleased to know." I replied. "It took a little while to get established and for some people to find out the best way was my way, but I think the message has gotten through and now everything runs smoothly." Dex started to laugh.

"You should have been here, Bill." he confided. "The first week they ran around bowing to him like he was the be all and end all. Then they discovered he was actually human and haven't let him forget it since." They both laughed at the picture Dex was painting.

"Truth is, Bill," I clarified, "we made some immediate changes and a few doddering old fogies found it a little difficult to comprehend. Once we cleaned out the non-thinkers, everything got a lot better. Things are going well now. Eleanor and your Dad and I hosted the first of the student discussion groups this week. Fifteen students and the Chancellor were invited. Almost every student showed up at the door asking if the person they brought with them could just sit and listen. The Chancellor brought his wife. She told him after being at the first one, she was not about to be left out."

"It was great and your Pop was brilliant, as usual." Dex cut in. "Even your brothers snuck in and sat and listened to the discussions. Everyone walked away from here having gained something. And I do mean everyone."

"It really sounds great." Bill sighed. "I can hardly wait until next year, so I can be involved too. I feel like I'm missing out on so much and sometimes I miss everyone so much, especially you two."

"You can still transfer to the High School here, Bill," I offered, "but I think in the long run....."

"You're right." he conceded. "I'm going to stick it out. As long as I get my breaks and holidays with you guys. John and Neil and Cliff are great and if a guy has to be away from his parents and brothers, then they're the best he could ever have."

"You're doing great, Son." I encouraged him. "Now I hear the thudding and banging of eight big feet approaching, so how be we let you talk with your brothers and then Neil can finish off with Tom."

"That would be great. I'll call you again next Sunday." he promised.

"Or sooner, if you need anything, even just to talk." I prompted him.

"Okay, I will." he replied. "Good night and thanks Dad, thanks Pop.

There are those who will complain this story has ended too quickly and I can only point out it started out as a three or four section story and ended up at 14 sections. Someday in the future, Pop and Dex and all their entourage may have some further adventures, but for now they are all well, settled and exploring their new lives while safe in the knowledge they have each other.

Other stories written by LJB can be found in the NIFTY, Authors, Prolific Writers listing.