Shelter Kid
By: Jon Stewart
(© 2021-2022 by the author)

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

jstewart@tickiestories.us

Chapter 36

As is the nature of things, babies shortly followed the weddings. Jeff and Billy found a wonderful surrogate for their baby makers. She was a lesbian lady who would become a visiting aunt for the children. So families were being made. The lifelong friends often gathered with their little ones for picnics and birthdays and holidays. As their children grew they were involved in little league and biddy basketball and soccer. The players from years ago became coaches.

Luke and the family gathered at Pops’ house. Pops had a bad fall on the stairs. They felt it was time for him to give up the house. Josh asked could a full time nurse be gotten. Luke said, “I wish it was so but I don’t want his final years to be in pain because we didn’t protect him from the accident; we all know will happen.” Josh asked who wanted the house. It was a small place and needed modernizing no one spoke up. “Could I buy it from the bank?”

Luke said “I see no reason why not. But why Josh?”

“I just want it. It’s a special place to me. Pops would be able to come home to visit from the assisted living place. It’ll be familiar to him. I feel I owe it to him.”

It was decided; at 87 years old, Pops was placed in an assisted living place. There wasn’t much room but he was able to have a good bit of his pictures up on shelves and the walls. He was not completely forgotten; his family came every weekend at first then a little less and a little less. It was the way of life, the young were busy, the old not so much. Pops understood and did his best to stay cheerful, especially when he had visitors. Josh was busy going back and forth from Washington. He visited as often as he could and often brought his two sons along to visit. Pops did enjoy that. The best part was talking about their accomplishments at school and in sports. He asked them who was the best basketball player ever? They said they didn’t know. Pops told them to look up the best 4 year record of any NCAA state college and also look up the best 4 year record of Hopewell High School. He told them, their dad was the best he ever saw. They were amazed and looked on their dad with a special new pride and hero worship. Always humble, Josh complained and told them there were a lot of great players on his teams. Every once in a while, Josh brought Pops home to his old house. The boys doubled up and Pops took one of their beds when he would sleep over. Pops enjoyed going home. When he was 89 he knew he was growing weaker and weaker. He asked Josh to get Luke for him.

Luke came by and he and Josh went in to Pops. “I want you to do me a favor.”

Luke said, “Sure dad.”

“I’ve thought about it quite a bit and after I’m gone; I still want to be a part of life. Even the earth feels the wind and the rain and the sun. But you can’t feel anything if you are in a box. Maybe I can help a tree or a flower grow, or even just a weed grow. It wouldn’t matter much. I can’t do that if I’m stuck in a box. Could you put some of me on your mother’s grave. I would like that.  Maybe every one can have a little bit of me and put me some place they feel is nice. I would like it if some of me went up on a mountain and helped some of nature to grow there. You can’t feel life if you are buried in a box. We all have our time to live and our time to die. I hate asking anyone to take care of such a request; it’s such a gruesome task. But Luke you are strong; I’m sure Eddie and Joe, Josh and Billy will help. Will you see to it, Luke?”  

Josh was tearing up but finally said, “I would really like that, Pops, knowing that you are always here. I could plant a tree and always be able to talk to you.”

That brought a smile to the old man. “I think it’s a good idea too dad.” Luke added. Luke explained his Dad’s last wishes to the family. Everyone liked having a little bit of him with them. Eddie rarely showed his sensitive side. But he suggested they could all get lockets and a bit of Dad in each one so he could always be with them. All agreed it was a special idea. Liz on one of her visits told her dad of Eddie’s idea. Pops said “That would be very nice. Your brother is a very good man. Isn’t he Liz?”

Liz said “Yes Dad, You and Mom raised us all to be good people.”

Pops turned to his daughter “For sure, I think we did good with all of you. You, Liz are very special, too. You have your mother’s heart and energy an outstanding combination.”

Josh asked Doc Brown to check in on Pops and had told doc & the assisted living people if they thought the time was near to call him so he could bring Pops, home. The call came about 6 months later. Pops had a couple days, a week at the most. Josh asked Doc Brown “Is there any medication that he could give, to make Pops’ last days more enjoyable.”

Doc said a morphine drip would work best. For the first day or so it would perk Pops up but after he would just go to sleep. Josh set Pops up on a hospitable bed in his living room and put the word out. Doc Brown administered the drip. Pops was in good spirits seeing all his family and friends gathered for him. He found the nerve to keep up a good jovial banter. He knew his time was close. He and doc had talked. Upon leaving, people like Bobby and Jesse said he looks so good. Josh whispered it was the drugs. Josh severed pizza and red wine for diner. Pops ate a bit and took a sip and said, “Gosh that is good.”  He put his head back and said he was going to doze a bit.  Only family was left now and that included Billy. They chatted on about this story or that about Pops. Doc Brown came by and checked him, he looked up at all gathered with tears in his eyes; shook his head and disconnected the drip, pulled the sheet over Pops’ head. The mortuary was called and Pops was carried out. All the family could do was give each other’s hugs; little talk was exchanged. Everyone felt empty inside; like part of them was missing, they wanted to get it back. But it was not to be.

Pops passed on a Tuesday, the family planed a one day wake on Friday afternoon and night. Saturday morning was to be the funeral mass;  after just the family would go to the crematory, other friends would gather at a restaurant nearby. 

The day was cold and rainy, more of a drizzle. The weather suited for the sombre feelings of the mourners.  The funeral procession from the mortuary was over a mile long. The director called the police for an escort to keep the caravan together. Our Lady of Good Council Church was filled to over flowing. Jon Calahan was rolled  into the church with the accompaniment of a sole bag pier playing amazing grace.  Josh and Jenny held their sons hands as they walked up the aisle behind the casket. Josh had told his boys the lesson he had learned those many years ago. It’s ok to cry; it just shows how much you loved Pops. Father Bill and Father Rick had not been ex-communicated for marrying Billy and Jeff. It was a simple mass, without a lot of religious trappings. Both Father Bill and Father Rick spoke eloquently about Pops’ giving nature.

To be continued...

Posted: 03/18/2022