Time to See

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...