TIME-TO-SEE-76
Jerome moved the town car very carefully through the congestion of traffic around the auditorium looking for his passengers.
Nicky and Jilder were jumping up and down on the curb, while Sean and Murph looked around in all directions but were forgoing the animation of Nick and Jilder. Archie didn't quite understand what everyone was looking for, but when he heard them all scream, "There he is... JEROME, HERE, HERE! WE'RE OVER HERE..." waving their arms, he realized that they were trying to flag down the transportation.
Max and Brandy stood by composed yet alert to the excitement of the boys. And when the boys started waving and calling out, they understood that Jerome must be on his "glide path."
"Those boys have a sixth sense that connects them with the action where ever they go," Kevin said. "I don't even SEE Jerome..."
Hugo looked in the direction that the boys were gesturing and eventually did realize that Jerome was indeed only a short distance away in the car. "Down that way, Kev," Hugo gestured. "There's Jerome and the car."
"Ooooooh! yes. NOW I see him..." Kevin replied.
By that time traffic had inched forward a little allowing Jerome to pull out of the lane of moving (well, very slowly moving) traffic and into the curb lane in front of Max and Brandy and the rest.
"HE'S HERE!" Jilder called to everyone...
Before Jerome could get out of the town car and open its doors for his passengers, the boys had flung open all three doors on the curb side of the car.
"OK, EVERYBODY... YOU CAN GET IN NOW..." Jilder called out.
"I think we're going to have to employ Jilder to act as valet/concierge and Jerome's First Assistant if our travel party becomes any more elaborate..." Max said to Brandy smiling...
"Jilder only has a "gas pedal". He has no "brake." Some kids are just wired that way..." Brandy replied.
"ALRIGHT, SAME SEATS AS BEFORE... Uh! Except we need to squeeze in a little to include Archie. His mum and dad will drive in their car and meet us all back at Castle Dromoland," Brandy stepped into the role of Defensive Supervisor of the Youth Division...
"Yes, Sir.... All right, Brandy," the boys called out as they piled into the town car.
In remarkably little time the car was loaded and Jerome began to negotiate his way back into the flow of moving traffic.
"That will be back to Dromoland, will it not, Sir?" Jerome asked of Max.
"Absolutely, Jerome. Although there is no hurry at all; so don't worry about taking advantage of every traffic accommodation. Let's just have a leisurely, relaxed return trip," Max said.
"Certainly, Sir..." Jerome answered.
And the car sped along its way...
Max turned to Hugo and spoke, "Hugo, that was a most interesting seminar. I especially enjoyed the technical details and watching the video of your surgical procedure."
"Looking at it as a whole is quite impressive, I must admit," Hugo answered. "But experiencing as I did, in what seemed to me was an endless sequence of infinitely small and excruciatingly slow steps, got to be nerve wracking."
"Oh, I can understand...." Max said. Then he paused to think for a moment before he spoke again, "You and Kevin displayed remarkable courage and determination in an undertaking that was without precedent. I can only offer my admiration and congratulations for the huge success that you helped to create."
"Well.... Max.... Thank You... but...Come on, there was little I could do except go along with the flow, which turned out to be the movement of life... Uh? Well, I guess I could have aborted the whole thing, or worse, defeated it with pig-headedness... Yes... I must have contributed a little..." Hugo replied.
"Come on...," Kevin added... "Hugo, YOU ALLOWED the 'good' to come to you. It's as simple as that..."
Jerome spoke to Max over the intercom. "Sir, I hate to interrupt your conversations but I must deliver to you a telephone message that I received in the car while you were attending the seminar. Seems a Mr. Araxos is trying to reach you. He said that you and Mr. Jonathan were needed in Athens as soon as possible... something about a software problem and service interruption. He left a telephone number and asked that I please request you to return his call as soon as possible."
"Thank You, Jerome." Max said.
Then Max took out his own cell phone and dialed.
"Tef! I just received your message. You're having some problems? What seems to be happening?"
Max turned his cell phone on speaker in order for Brandon to hear the conversation.
"Max... We have been loosing servers one after another. Something is causing them to crash. Then after we bring them back up and return them to service, they crash again after about 30 minutes... We can't figure out WHAT is going on, but the whole system will be down by midnight if this process continues. We can barely keep ahead of it... How long would it take you to get here?" Araxos said.
Brandy looked at Max and said, "Max, if we have Jerome turn around and deliver us to the Galway airport, we could touch down in Athens about 10pm tonight."
Then Max switched the cell phone back to single voice, "Tef! We'll be there about 10pm tonight. Can you meet us at the Athens Airport?"
"Certainly, Max. I wouldn't bother you if this didn't seem like a real emergency. No one knows this system like you and Brandon. If no one here can correct the problem--- or even understands what is going on--- the only thing left is for you gentlemen to step in."
Max said, "No need to apologize, Tef. These things happen. But you'll meet us at the airport in Athens tonight, correct?'
"Of course..." Tef replied.
"We'll telephone you again after we have a flight and an arrival time, Tef. And don't worry. We'll make it before the entire system fails... Put all of the servers into the system; that'll give us a bit more depth before the whole thing fails."
"Yes, Sir. And Thanks, Max,... thanks, Brandy. I'll see you both at the airport tonight..."
Click.
Max turned to Hugo and Kevin and said, "Well, I guess you could follow that. Now we're forced to make that trip to Athens, and to make matters worse, I must impose on someone to care for Murph and Sean while we're gone. Would that be something you two could do? I really hate to ask, but, as you can see, I'm really forced to go at once." Then after a pause Max continued: "Well, I suppose we could take them with us..." He looked at Brandy for suggestions.
"You know that we won't mind caring for the boys, Max, Brandy, but we do have a demand on us too. Next Friday we must be present at the University of Heidelberg in Heidelberg, Germany. It's the last of the seminars that we're obligated to attend with Dr. Kavanaugh; so there's really no way to get out of it." Kevin said.
"Humm?" Max said while he tried to think of how they'll have to handle the logistics...
Max continued: "Kevin, Hugo, if you could take the boys with you to Heidelberg, we could meet you there next weekend and pick them up..." Then he turned to Brandy and said, "Of course I'm assuming we can clean this problem up in a little less than a week..."
Brandy seemed to be thinking out loud, "I think that if Kevin and Hugo can stand it, the boys would certainly enjoy your plan more than being sent back to the house in Dublin, to remain alone there with the household staff..."
"If it's up to us, consider it arranged, because we'd be delighted to have Sean and Murph join us for a few days of Weinerschnitzel and pomme frites..."
The boys were listening quietly not interrupting as the adults figured out how to move along through this problem. Archie understood how things were breaking down, and he easily pictured himself being the lone boy to return to a hum drum life with his parents, if all of his friends were off having fun in Europe.
"Uh, I guess I'll have to go back home with my parents," Archie said to the group, sounding more than a little forlorn and definitely not excited about that possibility.
The adults looked at Archie and then at one another; they all understood what he was saying.
"Well, Archie, not necessarily," Hugo said. If we can get your mum and dad to spring for the airfare, we'll take care of the hotel and food and other stuff.
Max looked at Archie and said, "Well, Archie, even if your mum and dad aren't prepared to purchase airfare right now, we'll buy your ticket along with the boys, and you can join them... that is, if your mum and dad approve....." After a few moments Max added, "How have you been feeling with all this activity? I know that you have to manage your injuries; so if you've been uncomfortable and need to return to your home for a rest, we all understand, but we don't want you to feel left out. We will NOT run off to Europe and leave our sons' friend alone!" And Max leaned across the seats to pat Archie on his head, one of the few parts of his body not devastated by the burns.
"Oh, Sir. That would be super... I am feeling just fine. Sometimes I itch a lot, and my mum and dad can give me the special soaps and oils that I have to use; and I can take them with us to Heidelberg. That would be so good..." Archie said smiling from ear to ear and bouncing up and down in his seat.
"Yeah! We want Archie to go with us!" Murph announced. "And WE'RE all going to Heidelberg!"
Then Murph turned to his dad and asked, "Where IS Heidelberg, dad?"
Max laughed out loud and said, "You don't know where Heidelberg is but you want to go there! Some logic that demonstrates..."
"Yeah! Sure, Dad. Everyone is going and we've never been there; so... sure... we want Archie to go too..." Murph repeated slowly, indicating that HE could understand his logic quite clearly.
Max said,, "Let me telephone Mr. and Mrs. Donnally right now to see whether these plans meet with their approval." And he flipped his cell phone open and put the call through right then.
Brandy pressed the intercom button and said, "Jerome, I'm afraid that Max and I will need to go to the Galway Airport immediately. Can you change our route and get an estimate of how long the trip will take. We need to telephone the airlines for passage out on the next flight to Athens; so we'll need an ETA at Galway Airport..."
"Yes, Sir, Mr. Jonathan. Just let me put the new destination into the navigational system.... Just a moment.... Oh, yes, here it is, Sir. The Garmin says it's a 32 kilometer trip. We should be there in about 45 minutes, given the traffic in this immediate area."
Brandy replied, "Thank you, Jerome. That's just what we need to know...."
Then he turned to Max, "Will you call the airlines, or do you want me to?"
Max was just connecting his call to Archie's mum and dad when Brandy spoke to him...
Max shook his head, he couldn't carry on two conversations at once. Brandy realized his message and pulled out his cell phone to put the call through to the airlines.
"Mr. Donnally, Max speaking: we've developed a little logistics knot here... Oh, NO! definitely nothing that will endanger Archie..."
Max explained to Mr. Donnallly that he and Brandy had to fly to Athens immediately, and that Jerome was taking them to the airport right now. All of the boys would be returning to Castle Dromoland with Hugo and Kevin; so there was no need for worry. All of the boys would arrive at Dromoland in about two hours."
Then Max suggested to Mr. and Mrs. Donnally that they consider a little additional entertainment for Archie. He explained that his two boys, Sean and Murph, would be accompanying Hugo and Kevin and their boys to Heidelberg for the seminar there later in the week; he and Brandy would join them in Heidelberg after they finished their work in Athens. And since the boys were all getting along famously, everyone naturally considered the possibility that Archie would like to join them. What would be needed was Archie's parent's permission, instructions vis-a'-vis special daily care for Archie, and-- if you'd wish--a small contribution to the airfare. We are together perfectly able and willing to absorb the total costs, if it is not easily handled at your end. Please, PLEASE, don't let the cost be your point of decision."
There was a long pause in Max's conversation where he was apparently listening to Mr. Donnally.
"Yes, Sir, Mr. Donnally. You can speak with Kevin and Hugo in person a bit later, when they return to Dromoland with the boys. With luck, Brandy and I will be over Europe somewhere by that time, on our way to Athens. But, we ALL would be very pleased if Archie could join us in this change of plans..."
"Very, Good, Mr. Donnally. We look forward to seeing you and Mrs. Donnally in about two weeks, when we return Archie..."
And Max flipped the cell phone closed. He looked over at Brandy and said, "Everything seems satisfactory with Archie's parents. Hugo and Kevin are in agreement. That leaves us free to concentrate on business, Brandy... And I hope THAT doesn't turn out to be insufferably difficult to clean up...."
Brandy replied, "We're on for a 6:45pm departure from Galway, to arrive at Athens International at 9:45 Athens time. Shall I call Tef or will you?"
"I'll call him. And thanks for being the most efficient partner a man could ever be blessed with..." and Max leaned over and gave Brandy a little kiss on his cheek.
Brandy turned and said, "Thanks for the G-rated appreciation. I'll accept the X-rated addenda later..."
"Ahem!" Max replied, clearing his throat and feeling a little foolish, indicating awkwardly that he didn't know how to carry on this sort of conversation in front of the boys,... who--incidentally--were completely uninterested in what they were saying...
Then Max turned to Sean and Murphy and Artie, "Alright boys, we've had a change of plans that you've heard us discussing. I think it will turn out to be rather pleasant for you. The three of you will join Hugo and Kevin and their boys when they fly to Heidelberg later this week. We have urgent work in Athens, a city that is about three flying hours away, but we'll be meeting you in Heidelberg next weekend after we finish our work. I'm issuing a direct instruction to ALL THREE OF YOU: do as Hugo and Kevin ask; they are the parents here. Use your common sense. You're all very bright boys, and you'll understand what is going on. There are some wonderful sights for you to see; you'll probably want to go on a river cruise and visit the zoo... just be alert. Oh, and Artie: YOU report ANYTHING that concerns you to Kevin or Hugo AT ONCE! ANYTHING! Your good health will be our concern, but YOU will have to help us by telling us what is happening with you. Is that clear, Artie?"
It was nearly eight that evening when Jerome pulled the town car up in front of Castle Dromoland.
The car had barely stopped, but all of the boys were out like a flash, it being unclear just which one was most motivated:
"I'm so hungry... Let's get Kevin and Hugo to go to the dining room for some hamburgers and French fries!"
"You want WHAT?" Hugo called just leaning his head out of the car..."That is definitely NOT healthy food for growing boys... Wait, guys, and look at the menu! Please??"
Kevin lingered in the town car speaking with Jerome. "Jerome, if it's convenient with you, maybe we could speak tomorrow morning about when we ought to begin our return trip to Mr. Murphy's house near Dublin. I'm really a bit tired after the day and then the evening, ironing out new plans. That is, if it's okay with you..."
"Oh, yes, Sir, Mr. Kevin... We have no pressures to complicate our trip. You and Mr. Hugo ought to just relax tonight from your seminar. Indeed, we can speak tomorrow."
"Will you call Jimmy and tell him when we'll need to return?" Kevin asked.
"Of course, Sir. Jimmy will drive over with the sedan and we'll prepare the vehicles for our return trip. It will be no trouble at all..." Jerome said.
"Thank You very much, Jerome. We truly appreciate all that you have done to make our visit to Ireland just perfect," Kevin answered.
"OH, Sir. It was a pleasure..." Jerome said smiling.
Max and Brandy had prepared a surprise for everyone that now they would only hear about later, given that they were on their way to Athens.
Performers from the famous Irish Dance Company would be performing a road show version of Riverdance at Castle Dromoland that evening. Max and Brandy had bought tickets for everyone to attend the performance.
None of the boys had ever seen this or any other professional musical show, but not realizing it, they as well as Hugo and Kevin and Mr. and Mrs. Donnally would be in front row seats. Riverdance was known to be full of mesmerizing dancing, stirring rhythms, and haunting Irish melodies, but the boys didn't know anything about all that yet.
"Dad, do we have to look at a menu? I know what I want. I'd just like a hamburger and some French fries!" Jilder said.
"Jilder. That kind of fast food is not good to nourish your growing body. You need lean meat, lots of good veggies, and just a dash of potatoes or pasta to go along-- fried potatoes are not real good for you. We want to keep you away from the doctor for a long, long time." Hugo preached.
"Ohhhh, aaalll... right...!" Jilder said bearly "singing" his reply, resigned to his healthy fate.
Kevin and Mrs. Donnally were helping the other boys order: one had chicken with broccoli and one had Indonesian chicken salad. Nicky was always good for salmon, which was a house specialty at Castle Dromoland.
The maitre de came over to their table, "Sirs, I thought that I'd remind you that the performance of River Dance will commence in exactly an hour and a half. You may wish to use your time for dining accordingly..."
"Thank you," Kevin replied. "We certainly want the boys to see that performance. So we'll be sure that everyone is seated in the grand hall well before the show begins."
"Very good, Sir." and the maitre de bowed a bit and left their table.
A low murmur of conversation echoed around the hall, as new arrivals shuffled among seats and time approached for the performance to begin.
The boys, all lined up on the very first row of seating, were excited at their first professional theater experience.
"Do you think we'll be in the way?" Jilder asked the others. "These seats are soooo close!"
Sean replied, "I think that they left enough room for the actors to be. They know what they're doing, because they do this for a living... Don't you think?"
Nicky added, "Yeah. But we'll be able to see really, really good being this close."
"What is Riverdance?" Archie asked.
Murph answered, "I don't actually know. I've never seen it, but my dad said that this is REAL IRISH dancing and singing, and that they have traveled all over the world performing for people."
"Oh...," Archie acknowledged.
Mrs. Donnally came up to the front row where the boys sat, leaned across Sean and Jilder and Nicky and Murph to speak to Archie, "Now be very careful, Archie Dear. Don't put your feet out where the dancers will stumble over them..."
Archie looked at the other boys and clearly wanted to disappear into the floor. He slumped down in his seat and replied, "Alright, Mum. I won't...."
Murph smiled at Archie and shook his head up and down, indicating that Archie was handling his over-protective mother the right way... "You're learning..." he whispered...
As Mrs. Donnally left, Archie grumbled from the slumped heap his body was in, trying his best to hide, "Geees! My mum drives me crazy!!! Why would I stick my feet out to trip the dancers????"
Nicky laughed and said, "Oh, Archie. That's just your mum. Better get used to it, 'cause it never gets better... Well, maybe when you're twenty-five years old, it might??? I don't know..."
The lights blinked off and on twice indicating that the program would commence, and a hush fell over the crowd. In minutes the Grand Hall went pitch black dark...
Softly-colored, pencil-beamed lights trained on a multitude of spots across the stage area rose in illumination from barely visible to brightly-lit and dazzlingly intense, until they virtually lit up the entire hall.
And all at once, from the darkness as if by transmutation, beautiful young women and handsome young men materialized in the bright spots of lights.
A solitary flute began its haunting, wailing sounds, and... After a moment of its playing, all of the young dancers stomped one foot in unison, a clap of THUNDER, as if to reply to the flute...
The flute paused, then played on, declaring its yearning to be heard; it played on in quickly rising and then sad, moaning falling notes. And when the music's tension could be sustained no longer, all of the dancers broke into an accented tap dance cadence in unison that thundered through the hall, first slowly, then growing in tempo, and finally breaking into strident stomps declaring to the world that the spirits of each one of them were reaching out to one another and to every single person in the audience.
The Dance Had Begun...
All five boys were transfixed. Each of them leaning forward sat on the front edges of their seats. Murph and Artie's eyes were huge and their mouths hung open in awe. None of the boys had witnessed such majestic beauty of sound and feeling to which they were being treated at that moment in time.
And the loveliness of the human spirit, its longings, its celebrations, its sadness, and its hopes, all found expression in the dance and music that unfolded over the next hour and a half.
The boys hardly moved a muscle for the entire program.
As the last number finally began, several of the dancers went out to the audience to claim participants to join them in a dazzling spotlight.
Three lovely young women, each with long black locks cascading over their shoulders and two muscular young men, dressed in brightly colored shirts, all went to the first row of the audience. Each dancer reached out to a different boy, pulling them up by their hands and out onto the floor, each to a different spot of light on the floor.
The orchestra began a traditional Irish jig that fairly rolled around the hall and bounced off the walls in its exuberance. The performers took the boy's hands and danced around them smiling brightly, exchanging glances of happiness and sharing flirtatious looks of love.
At first the boys just stood there, not quite sure what to do, then the spirit infected them too, and they began to bob up and down and step about, taking the lead of the dancer. Before long, everyone in the hall was a part of the joy playing out on the stage, and all of the boys were lost in a dimension of human experience that none of them even knew existed.
And then somehow, the dancers held their partner's hands firmly and the pairs began to whirl around until altogether they reached a climax of joy and happiness and the music stopped!
Abruptly.
And the audience literally shook the hall with their thunderous applause, and the dancers smiled and hugged their good natured "volunteers."
The boys were on a high that would take all night and well into the next day to dissipate! What a magnificent experience for all of them...
When the lights were brought up and the Riverdance troop began taking its bows, all of Hugo and Kevin's boys stood off together at one side of the stage clapping and jumping up and down in excitement for the dancers.
Then, the entire dance troop faced the boys and held out their hands in tribute to their volunteer partners, and the audience applauded all the more vigorously.
The boys finally realized that THEN, the tribute and the applause were FOR THEM, and they smiled broadly and became visibly self-conscious. Jilder and Murph bowed timidly, not too much, lest they acknowledge that the adulation to be for them!
Love and attention are powerful regenerative forces, but their energy and blessing can be over-whelming if one is not able to accept it freely. The boys had had no experience with such passionate admiration before.
All of the boys wanted to tag along after the performers they danced with, as the dancers retreated into the recesses behind the scenery and the stage.
Sean wouldn't be daunted. He had his eye on the young lady who was his partner in the dance. He boldly followed her right off the stage into the adjacent dressing area and quickly spoke to her.
"Uh! My name is Sean," he said, his Irish accent fairly dripping from his simple declaration. "What be yours?" He asked.
The young lady turned and delivered a broad smile, replying in an equally strong Irish brogue, "Aye. My name is Alyana, but everyone calls me 'Aly'" she said.
Sean didn't really know what to say. He only knew that he didn't want the conversation to end-- ever, if possible.
"I never danced with anyone before, and I want you to know that I will never forget this dance with you," Sean said, suddenly sounding quite serious...
"My.." Aly replied... "What a wonderful compliment. And what a handsome young man you are!" she said coyly.
"Uh?" Sean stammered self-consciously. "Thank you... Uh?... I think you're beautiful too.... Not that I think I'M BEAUTIFUL... No, that's not what I meant..."
Aly laughed thoroughly amused at Sean's innocence, "I know what you mean, Sean..." she replied disarmingly. "And once again, thank you for the compliment..."
Sean laughed at his own awkwardness, and he appreciated Aly's attention, but he knew that their worlds were far apart, and that only a miracle had allowed him to enter hers for this magical moment in time, and allowed him actually to dance with her before the entire hall of people.
'Maybe life could be wonderful again after all,' Sean thought... For the first time, he conceived that he would eventually be leaving his night of terror behind for good, and replacing it with something else wonderful and beautiful: with love...
The throng and the milling audience members still remained in the hall where Riverdance was performed... Artie stood with Murph, while Jilder and Nicky ran off to find Hugo and Kevin.
A second later, the handsome young dancer with the bright red, shiny shirt returned from the dressing area to find his partner.
Artie looked up to see his dance partner in the red shirt standing there, and he instantly became speechless.
"And who be you?" the young man asked of Artie, somewhat out of breath, but with a big smile nevertheless.
Artie looked up at the young man and melted. He simply looked at him unable to make a sound.
"Oh, my goodness!" the young man said. "I hope that I didn't step on your feet or spin you around too hard!" he said in an attempt to disarm the paralyzed boy.
"Oh, no Sir," Artie stammered in a meek little voice. "You dance very, very well."
"Thank, goodness!" the dancer said, relieved to have broken through to Artie.
"I'm afraid I'd lose my job if it gets around that I treat the audience badly!" he smiled and joked.
"Oh, no Sir. I am happy that you chose me. It was really a lot of fun for me..." Archie replied, now a little more relaxed.
"Aye! And.... so.... What be your name?" the dancer repeated himself.
"Oh! Yeah. I'm Arthur, but me friends call me Artie, 'cause that's easier..."
"Glad to meet you, Artie." the dancer said. "I'm Luke." and he smiled again and reached out to shake hands with Artie.
Artie offered his hand to Luke and then blurted out, "Luke, you are so handsome and you dance so good, I know you must have lots of friends..."
"Oh! Well? Thank you, Artie, but I think that people don't choose their friends by how they look. I think they look inside to see how beautiful their spirit is, and THAT'S what they want to be friends with. THAT'S what they love..."
Luke understood where Artie was coming from with his remark, Artie's own disfigurement so obvious; and Luke admired his courage to say something that must have pained him to his core. That very innocent, candidness instantly endeared Artie to Luke...
"You be a very good dancer yourself. I know we must have shocked you all when we took you out of the audience and dragged you up on the stage and then started dancing... But YOU forgot about how you might look, how ALL OF YOU MIGHT LOOK, dancing, and you understood in your heart how to move to the music... You were a terrific partner, Artie, and I'll bet you are a terrific friend to people too!"
Artie looked up to Luke and smiled at his compliment and at his message that he LIKED Artie, that Artie's appearance was no impediment to his attractiveness. Life may be bearable after all, Artie felt, not really putting the thought into words: the feeling was sufficient.
"I've never been friends with a STAR," Artie said. "Would you mind meeting me mum and dad for me?" he said.
"Hey, what about me?!" Murph said, having been standing next to Artie the whole while.
Luke laughed at Murph, "OF COURSE! And what be YOUR name, Sir? I have been quite rude standing here without introducing myself to you too."
"I'm Murph," Murph replied.
"Oh, of course, your full name must be an Irish Murphy." Luke replied holding out his own to shake hands with Murph.
"Yep. And I live in the United States" Murph added.
"That's marvelous. We get to perform in different places in the United States too. We recently performed at an Indian Casino called Pala, near San Diego... Do you know it?" Luke replied.
"No. But my friends, Nicky and Jilder over there-- and he indicated the boys standing among the adults-- are from San Diego..."
"What a small world!" Luke replied. "I'll have to say hello to them too before we leave."
"Yeah! I think they'd like that," Murph said.
Artie didn't have to find his mother and father. They found him, much to his chagrin. But now was not the time to deal with family issues, he thought...
"Mum, Dad, look. I'd like you to meet, Luke, the dancer who chose me to dance on the stage..." he looked over at Luke just beaming at being accepted by someone as handsome and successful as Luke.
"Yes, Dear. We saw." his mother said patronizingly... "Luke, we certainly enjoyed your performance this evening. I will make it a point to get tickets to another of your engagements... You are unquestionably a National Treasure."
"Well, thank you very much. And from whom do I have the pleasure of receiving such a generous compliment?" Luke asked.
"My name is Hilda Donnally, and this is my husband, Chapin. We appreciate your calling upon our Arthur to join the dancers. It was a special privilege for us..."
"My pleasure, Mrs. Donnally. My pleasure." Luke replied.
Then he turned to Artie and handed him a little card, his professional calling card that Artie could use to contact him in the future. "Please feel free to give me a call sometime if you're in the mood, Artie, especially if you think I can be of some assistance..." Then he smiled at the group... "I really must be going. It has been a pleasure meeting all of you: Artie, Murph, Mr. and Ms. Donally." And Luke reached over, patted Artie on the shoulder, and looked him directly in the eye, "Don't ever worry about how you LOOK, ARTIE, just think about how wonderful it is to DANCE..."
The next morning Sean was up early preparing to feed Spirit and packing his things. There was still some puppy formula left, plenty to last over the trip back home, but Spirit had eaten a lot of it.
By now, Spirit wanted to eat and play, but sleep very little, in the daytime. He was grabbing bed coverings in his little basket and chewing on anything he could find. His teeth must have been trying to come through, because he was chewing, chewing, chewing-- everything! (Just ask Murph whose shirt had fallen into Spirit's bed. There were holes in it that were not there before.)
"Spirit!" Murph yelled. "YOU ATE HOLES IN MY SHIRT! BAD DOG!"
Sean replied, "Oh, yeah! We're gonna have to watch him close. He's at that stage."
Artie reached down and picked up Spirit. "Come on, Boy. Let's get some breakfast..." And Artie patiently started Spirit on his first bottle of the day, which he had only moments ago prepared in a clean, nipple-topped bottle.
Hugo walked into the room while the boys were scurrying about putting on clothes, engaging in mach combat with rolled-up towels that they would snap on any vulnerable butt that presented itself-- even Hugo's!
"Ow!" Hugo cried out. "I'm gonna catch whoever did that and give you a whacking in appreciation!"
The boys all laughed and thought it great fun to challenge Hugo.
In mere hours, Castle Dromoland and all that it had delivered to their lives would become an unforgettable memory for all of the boys and their dads. At Dromoland too Artie had become a charter founder of the five-member boyhood clan that would be a secure, rock-solid foundation upon which these young men would grow and learn to venture out into the world. All of their lives were just beginning...
Jerome and Jimmy had prepared to return their charges to the Murphy Estate after everyone finished breakfast. Max and Brandy would join them all again very shortly. Hugo recalled that everyday is new, and life is ever beginning again with each new morning, and so it would be with Hugo, Kevin and the boys and all of their many friends...