The Mark and the Mole
by: E Walk

(© 2007 by the Author)
 

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Chapter 3
A Whole New World

Mike and I woke up when the twins started to fuss at 6:30.  Chad was still sound asleep.  He hadn’t moved even when the twins were awake about 3:00 during the night.  We quickly got dressed in our sweat clothes and took the twins downstairs and changed them.  I fed Mark while Mike started the coffee.  Jon started to fuss so Mike started to give him his bottle. 

It was 7:30 when Grandmother came into the kitchen, “Where is Chad?   The door to his room is open, but it doesn’t look like he slept in his bed.”

“Grandma, Chad is just fine.  He is still asleep in our bed.”  I figured I had better tell her why before she asked.  Mike and I explained what happened and why Chad was in our bed.

I could tell that Grandmother was becoming agitated, “Grandmother, everything will be fine.  Chad is feeling very insecure right now.  How would you feel if you and your two infant sons had been thrown out and disowned?  Then he had to witness the spectacle that happened when my parents came back last evening.  He thinks it was he who caused the problem.  We need to make sure that he feels loved and needed.”

I looked at Mike, “What time did your mother say we should be there?”

“Mom said that we would start to open the gifts about 3:00 and that we would eat dinner about 6:00.  That means we should leave here no later than 12:30.”

Grandma looked at us, “I’ll watch the twins if you guys want to go take a shower and get dressed.  Someone needs to go get some more pampers and formula.  Why don’t you use my bathroom so you don’t wake my great grandson with your moaning and groaning?”

Mike started to laugh, “Grandma, you have a devious mind.”

Grandma wasn’t about to be outdone, “Michael, I’m just a very pragmatic person.”

Chad was standing in the doorway in just his sweat pants laughing, “I understand what devious means, but I don’t understand what being pragmatic means.”

Grandma turned to see the half naked Chad, “You go get your sweat shirt so you don’t catch a cold and I’ll fix you some French toast and bacon while your two Dads go play in the shower.”

Chad must have been feeling more relaxed, “Are you sure you don’t want me to patrol the bathroom?”

Grandma started to laugh, “You can do that later after we get some fat on your skinny body.”

Chad left to get sweatshirt and was coming down the stairs as Mike and I were going up.  Chad stopped and hugged us, “Thanks for everything, Dads.”

I looked at Mike and we both had tears in our eyes.  I hugged Mike, “Come on Dad, let’s make hay while we can.”

Mike took his shower while I shaved and then we exchanged places.  We went to the bedroom and lay on the bed naked and were holding each other.  Neither one of us felt a compelling need to have sex.  We were content to just hold each other.  We were lying there and there was a gentle knock.  “Dads, may I come in?”

Without thinking I called out, “Come on in Chad.”

Chad opened the door, and started in.  When he saw us he started to back out, “I’m sorry to interrupt, Dads.”

Mike sat up, “Chad, get in here.  You must have had a reason for coming here.  If you are going to be living with us, you will probably see us like this many times.  Now, what did you come to ask or tell us?  I am sure Grandma sent you.”

Chad was starting to tear up, “Dads, Grandma wants one of you to take her shopping.  She is getting dressed now.  Did you really mean that you would permit me and my sons to live with you?”

“I’ll get dressed and take Grandma.  Dad Mike will stay and help you take care of Mark and Jon.  That way you can get your shower while Grandmother and I are gone.  I’ll see if Grandmother has a new toothbrush.  I usually carrying an extra one but I don’t think I packed a new one this time.  Yes, we’ll do everything within our power to enable you and your two beautiful sons to come and live with us.  Now give me a hug.”

Even though I was naked, I hugged Chad.  He looked at me, “You and Dad Mike are both extremely handsome and I mean all over.”  He reached up and kissed me on the lips.  “Thanks Dad.”

When I got to the kitchen, Grandma was waiting, “Let’s motor, Douglas.”

Mike came into the kitchen as we were leaving, “Don’t forget the formula mix and the diapers.  You might get some more bottles and nipples.”

I helped Grandmother into the van, “Okay, Madam, where would you like to go?”

“Let’s start at the Super Target.  Maybe we can take care of all of our needs at one stop.”

Grandma directed me to a brand new store that had only been open for about six months.  The parking lot was crowded, so I dropped Grandma at the entrance and went to park the car.  When I got to the store, she was already waiting with a cart. 

Since I had no I idea what she had in mind, I followed her.  The first stop was the jewelry counter, “Doug, Chad has a small wrist so look for a nice inexpensive watch that isn’t too big or too fancy and make sure it has a second hand.  Make sure it also has a leather band.”

We finally agreed on a watch that would work, “Doug, pay the young woman.  That is your and Michael’s Christmas gift to Chad.”  I paid the young lady behind the counter.  “Now come on, we’re wasting time.”

We went to the men’s clothes section.

Grandma found a small size sweater she liked and then found a warm up suit that was small, and stopped and picked up a stocking hat and some lined leather gloves.  She threw the things in the cart and we went to the baby section.  She found two small snowsuits and I thought we would be leaving but no.  She found two bassinettes with nice mattresses.  “We’ll get the rest of the things we need later.  Let’s go get the diapers and the formula.”

When we went through the checkout stand, I went to give the person at the register my debit card.  Grandmother pushed my hand away and swiped a card.  So the bill was paid and I loaded a cart.  We went to the entrance and I told Grandmother to wait until I pulled up before going outside.

As we were driving home, Grandmother started, “Douglas, when we get to the house, I want you to take everything except the bassinettes, snowsuits, diapers and formula to my bedroom.  I’ll keep my great grandson occupied so he doesn’t see what is happening.”

I had no idea what Grandmother was planning, so I did as I was told.  I had everything in its place when Mike came to me, “Douglas, we have got to find a way that we can take care of Chad and the twins.  He is so young and naïve.  We need to make it possible for him to complete his education.  I have the feeling that he is a very intelligent young man.  It is too bad that he screwed up, but he is not the first young person to do that.”

I kissed Michael, “Don’t worry; Grandmother is already formulating something in that pragmatic mind of hers.”

Michael started to laugh, “You are as bad as your Grandmother.  I love you both.”

Grandmother came into the living room, “I am going to go rest, why don’t you two gentlemen show your son how to properly cook bacon for bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches to hold us until dinner.  I’ll be back in 45 minutes.”

Michael and I went into the kitchen.  Chad was watching the two boys in their new bassinettes and talking to them.  I started to fix the things for lunch.  Chad looked at Mike and me, “Is there anyway you could adopt me and my sons?  I don’t think I can give them up.  They are the only worldly possessions that I have other than that old car and the clothes I am wearing.”

Michael and I both took a deep breath.  Michael took the initiative, “Chad, believe us please, we would love to adopt the three of you, but since we are a gay couple, I don’t think that can happen.  When we get to my parents' house, we’ll talk to my father and my brother-in-law and see what we can do.  They are both lawyers.  Now get your butt in gear and set the table.  We need a soup spoon and a fork.”

Grandmother arrived in the kitchen as I finished making the sandwiches, “My nose could smell the bacon so I knew lunch was just about ready.”

After lunch, Grandmother looked at Chad, “Grandson, there are three shopping bags in my room; would you please put them in Dougie’s van?

Michael and Doug, you finish the dishes and I’ll take care of the boys.  I have a suitcase with their things.  Make sure you put it in the van.”

We were packed ready to go at 12:30.  Chad and Mark were in the rear seat and Grandmother and Jon were in the middle seat.  The twins were in their new snowsuits and sleeping in their new bassinettes which were seat-belted in.  The two little ones slept the entire way to Ames.  When we pulled into the driveway of Michael’s parents’ house, we were met by two teenagers.  They just happen to be Michael’s niece and nephew.

As we climbed out of the van, they hugged us.  They were caught a little off guard when we took out the two bassinettes, and when Chad finally climbed out, they had funny looks on their faces.  Michael made the introductions, “Kendra and Kevin, this is Chad and these are his two sons, Mark and Jon.  Now why don’t you take the two boys into the house, while we unload the rest of the van?”

Grandma and I looked at Mike; Grandma spoke first, “I guess you didn’t describe the extra three visitors to your mother when you talked to her.”

“Nope, I figured if I did she would go into a tizzy.  I figured it would be best to let relationships evolve naturally.”

Grandma wasn’t done, “I think this might be a couple of interesting days”

We walked into the house, and the adults were all looking at the two infants.

Mike took charge, “Everyone, this is Chad Harmon.  He and his two sons will be joining us for a couple of days.”

“Chad, I would like to introduce my parents, Pete and Ellen Long.”  He turned to his sister, “This is my sister Elaine and her husband Frank Wilkins and you already sort of met their children, Kevin and Kendra.”

After the introductions were finished, Mrs. Long announced that it was time to open the gifts.  Chad was sitting between the bassinettes not expecting anything.  He watched as the gifts were handed out.  When he received the first package, he almost fell over.  He looked at it and read the note, “To Dad from Mark.”

He carefully unwrapped the gift and saved the paper.  When he saw the leather gloves, he looked like he was going to cry.  Kevin handed him a second gift.   Chad was hesitant about opening it and everyone was starting to realize that there was something special about Chad.  He meticulously opened the gift and it was a stocking hat from Jon.

I think Chad figured that would be all he received.  When Kendra handed him a beautifully wrapped box, Chad just sat there and started to cry.  He looked at Grandmother, “Thank you Grandma.”  It took him a long time but he finally opened the box that had a sweater and warm up suit in it.  He was sobbing.

He was holding his sweater and warm up suit like they were the ultimate treasures.  When Kevin handed him the last package under the tree to Chad, he started to shake.  Chad just held the box and no one said anything.  Chad had tears streaming down his face.  He finally got the package open and saw what was inside, he bolted from the room.

Grandmother knew what to do, “Douglas, go find Chad and hold him.  I guess we overwhelmed him.”

I went to find Chad.  He was sitting in the corner of the hallway with his hands over his head.  I sat down beside and pulled him into my arms, “Chad, its okay.”

He finally looked up at me, “Dad Douglas, I feel like my world has been turned upside down.  That star on Christmas Eve must have been an omen.  Dad, would you please just hold me for a moment?” 

I was holding Chad when Kevin came to look for us, “Okay you two, its time for you to come back and join the party.  The twins are complaining because their Daddy isn’t there.”

The three of us walked back to the living room and Michael and Grandmother were feeding the twins.  Mike’s mother and Elaine went to check on dinner.  Grandmother wasn’t about to let things just happen.  “Peter and Frank, I want you to be thinking about how we can get Douglas to be the guardian for Chad.  You are both lawyers, so between the two of you, you should be able to figure out a way to make it happen.”

Michael’s Dad looked at Grandma, “Mrs. Walker, perhaps after dinner we could visit and hear Chad’s story and then think about what we might be able to do.”

Mrs. Long announced, “Dinner is ready.”

We walked into the dining room which was very festive with candles on the table.  Chad’s eyes lit up when he saw what was on the table.  Mrs. Long had fixed a ham with a sweet potato casserole and baked corn.  Everyone had a bowl so they could partake of the mandarin orange salad with coconut.

The twins, who were in their bassinettes behind Chad, were quiet the entire time we were eating.  When the dishes were cleared, the twins demanded that they be fed.  After they had eaten and were held for a short time, they settled down and went back to sleep.   Mrs. Long served desert which was a rice pudding with raisins and cinnamon.

I noticed that she gave Chad an especially big helping of the pudding.  Needless to say, he ate it with relish. (Editor's note: Who ever heard of putting relish on pudding?) He looked at Mrs. Long.  “Grandma Long, thank you for the wonderful dinner.  This has probably been the most memorable Christmas that I and my sons will ever have.  I want to thank everyone for making me feel so much at home.”

He got up and took the boys to the living room.

I went to check on him; he was sitting with the twins in his arms crying and singing, “Hush little sons, don’t you cry, Daddy’s going to be okay.  I just know that Dad Douglas and Dad Michael will take care of us, but we need to be good for them.  I watched as he kissed one boy and then the other.”

I was standing in the doorway with tears in my eyes.  Mike came up and put his arms around me.  He whispered, “What's wrong Dougie?”

I motioned for him to watch what Chad was doing.  Now two of us had tears in our eyes.  Kevin broke the spell.

Okay Chad, you ate, you need to help with the clean up.  Uncle Mike and Uncle Doug can take care of boys.  You need to help Kendra and me with the dishes while the old people make plans for tomorrow.

Chad stood and handed Mark to me and Jon to Mike, “Don’t spoil them.”

I looked at Chad, “Don’t worry your buns, Son.”

He hugged both of us as he left to help with the dishes.   

To be continued...

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Editor's Notes:

It still amazes me how Uncle Ed finds all these wonderful people to tell us about.  Chad and the twins are adorable and Mike and Doug are very special indeed. I tend to agree that The Lord had a hand in putting Chad in the right place at the right time. Grandma managed to get her hand in there too. She is also very special. Whenever I read a new chapter of one of Uncle.

Ed's stories, I know that it will be a wonderful warm story, full of life and love. I have never been disappointed by one of his stories.  I know I never will be either.

Please hurry with the next chapter, Uncle Ed.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

P.S. I had some wonderful help editing this chapter and I want to thank him for helping while I was away for a few days. 

Posted: 01/11/08