Julio – The Growing Years
 by: Miguel Sanchez

© 2006-2008 by the author

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

By eight Ronnie was in a lot of pain. He had about a half dozen bruised ribs plus bruises elsewhere. I saw the lab report on his kidneys and it looked like with time and rest they would heal. I went out and wrote an order for IV pain medication and a nurse came right in with it. She stood there while Jay and I gave him a kiss good night because that medication would put him to sleep. The nurse slowly injected the medication and Ronnie went off to dreamland.

Chapter 3

Jay and I headed for the house so I could fill Steven and Angel in on their brother. I knew Angel wouldn’t understand why Ronnie got hurt so I tried to talk with her in a way they would both understand. I was about to find out that I should never underestimate the power of an eleven year old girl.

When we got in, Jay went right to his room and took a shower. Steven and Angel came up and hugged me then Steven asked, “Where’s Ronnie Dad?”

“You brother got hurt this afternoon at school,” I said hugging both my kids. “He’s in the hospital with some bruised ribs and there is a problem with his kidneys but he should be ok in a few days.”

“How did he get hurt?” Steven asked.

“Some kids at school beat him up,” I answered trying not to let my anger take over in front of them.

“Why,” Steven asked not understanding.

“I don’t,” I started.

“Was it because he’s gay Daddy?” Angel asked.

“I think so baby. I don’t know how they found out because your brothers are very careful about how they act at school.”

“I think I do,” Steven said all of a sudden.

“What do you mean son?” I asked looking at him.

“A kid in my class named Paul Saunders has been calling kids in class gay and queer,” he started. “He’s been telling everyone if they’re not cut then they’re gay.”

I looked at him and said, “That has no bearing on weather or not a person is gay.”

“I know that Dad, but a bunch of kids in the class don’t.”

“So what’s he been doing?” I asked trying to figure out where this was going.

“Well,” Steven went on. “A bunch of boys would go into the bathroom and I guess they were showing him their penises because they were all smiling when they came out.”

“What does this have to do with Ronnie?”

“Allen and Paul are brothers,” a voice said behind me. “Allen and Ronnie are in the same gym class and he must have seen him in the shower.”

I turned around and Jay was standing there in his underwear. “Are you sure?” I asked. “I thought Ronnie had last period gym?”

“Yeah he does,” Jay said.

“Your brother is still very self conscious about his penis,” I said. “He wouldn’t shower in class.”

“You got me then,” Jay said as he sat beside us.

I looked at Steven and asked, “Has Paul said anything to you about wanting to see your penis son?”

“No sir,” Steven replied looking up at me.

I looked at the three of them and said, “I think I’ll take you all into school tomorrow and have another talk with the Headmaster.”

It was now almost ten so I put all three of them in bed a little earlier that usual but not to any ones objections. I kissed them all good night then went out and relaxed. Luiz brought me a drink and asked, “I thought problems like this wouldn’t be found here Miguel?”

“So did I Luiz. I guess being narrow minded isn’t just for people in Recife.”

I was getting tired myself so I finished my drink then decided to call it a night. I checked the house and did my nightly business. When I got to the bed I noticed a lump under the covers and knew one of my kids needed Dad tonight. I slid in between the sheets then had a teenaged boy wrapped around me.

I slept until about six when the phone rang and woke me. I was on call this evening so the service put it through to the house. It was the nurse’s station telling me Ronnie was getting agitated and having trouble sleeping. I had the nurse see if he was in pain and she confirmed that that was in deed the case. I told them to give him his medication and I would see him when I made my rounds. 

Paul had another bunch of boys in the bathroom when Steven walked in. Three of the group had their pants down when Steven said, “If showing him that you guys are circumcised proves you’re not gay you have another thing coming.”

One of the boys whose pants were still up said, “What does that mean?”

“Has Paul shown you his?” Steven asked.

“No,” one of the other boys said.

“So how do you know he’s like you,” Steven asked. “He could be different. Why doesn’t he show everyone?”

They all turned to Paul and said, “Drop yours Saunders and let’s see.”

He tried to move when several boys grabbed him and started undoing his jeans. They dropped his jeans and underwear when they all gasped saying, “He’s not like us? Does this mean?”

“No,” Steven told them. “He’s been telling you all a bunch of lies. What gives Saunders? Why were the guys all showing you their penises? Did you like the show?”

“Ah, ah no,” Paul said pulling up his clothes. “My brother said it.”

“Well then you know what that means don’t you Paul,” Steven replied in a taunting tone. “It means you must be gay too.”

“No, no, no. I’m not and you all know it.”

“Oh?” one of the kids said. “We weren’t the ones wanting us to drop our pants.”

“Leave him alone guys,” a voice said.

Steven looked at his brother and said, “He’s not cut either Jay.”

Jay walked over to Paul and said, “Look Paul, your brother is wrong. You’re not circumcised and we know you’re not gay. If I hadn’t gotten an infection a few years ago I’d be like you too. But if you’re cut or if you aren’t, that’s not a way to tell if someone is gay.” 

Paul looked scared when Jay was there and he stammered, “I...I’m sorry about your brother.”

“Thanks,” said Jay getting everyone out of there. “I would love to know what’s got into your brother’s head.”

“I don’t know,” said Paul. “This crap he’s come up with has me sacred because he knows I’m not cut, hell, neither is Dad.”

“Then I think you should have a talk with your father about this,” Jay said. “Maybe he can figure it out. But if you made my brother drop his pants, I would have been a little upset with you.”

“Hey guys,” Paul said. “I’m really sorry about this.”

Everyone went back to class and later that afternoon Paul caught up with Jay again. Jay looked at him and said, “Hey Paul, what can I do for you?”

He looked at the ground and kicked at the dirt while trying to figure out the right words to say. He finally said, “Jay, maybe you can help me, I don’t know but I need to tell someone.”

Jay looked at him and said, “I’m all ears dude. Just spit it out.”

Paul took a deep breath and said, “I think I may be gay, there’s even this guy in my class I think is real cute.”

Jay looked at him sternly. “Is it Steven by chance?”

“No Jay,” he said smiling. “It isn’t.”

“Have you mentioned it to him?” Jay asked.

“It was one of the guys I looked at in here,” Paul said tensely. “He’d probably kill me now.”

“Maybe not,” Jay said. “Kids will do some wild things to protect themselves. Just talk to him and one more thing. You should talk with your father soon. He needs to know about your brother.”

“OK Jay,” Paul said. “I’ll talk with him tonight.”

“If you need anything call me or my Dad,” Jay said hugging Paul. “We’ll be glad to help you.”

I was just getting off the elevator at the hospital when I saw Dr. Carr walk out of his room. “Hi John,” I said stepping off the elevator. “How’s his blood work this morning?”

He looked up and said, “A little better than last night but there is still a lot of room for improvement.”

I went in and walked over to the bed where Ronnie was curled up and looking so sweet. I had held his brother last night as he fitfully tried to sleep. I sat down on the edge of it and ran my fingers through his soft blonde hair. The charge nurse came in and said, “Someone named Luiz is on the phone for you.”

I had her transfer the call into Ronnie’s room so I didn’t have to leave him. As soon as it rang I grabbed it saying, “Yes Luiz, what is it?”

“I just got a phone call from an old friend of yours Miguel,” Luiz started saying. “Judge Romero said he needs to speak with you as soon as possible.”

I wondered what this was about. I hadn’t heard from him in over two years. “Did he say what it was about?” I asked Luiz.

“No Miguel,” Luiz replied. “But judging by his voice though I’d say it was something important.”

“All right,” I said trying to figure out what he could be wanting. “I’ll call him as soon as I can.”

When I put the phone down I saw Ronnie’s eyes open. “Hi Dad, what are you doing in here?”

“Just sitting with my boy,” I replied. “Is there something wrong with that?”

“No,” Ronnie said.

“How are you feeling this morning?” I asked as I rubbed his hand.

“My back still hurts real bad Dad,” he said. “I’m getting hungry too.”

I decided to put him on a soft diet and see how his kidneys could handle it. I spent the rest of the afternoon seeing patients at the hospital and in the office then called it a day.

Meanwhile at the Juvenile Detention Center the kid who assaulted Ronnie was getting a visitor. “I thought I told you to take care of him,” the man chastised his son. “Can’t you do anything?”

“Hey,” the kid said. “You didn’t tell me he would have an army around him either. What’s this kid to you anyway Dad?”

“Let’s just say the little faggot is a piece of my past I just soon forget about,” the man said bitterly.

“Can you get me out of here?” the boy asked.

“I’m trying,” the man said. “I’ll talk with you later.”

I had to go back to the hospital because I forgot to sign some notes on a patient I’d seen earlier. I was about to leave the nurse’s station when I saw someone enter Ronnie’s room. I had security quietly paged then went in to see that was going on. “Can I help you?” I asked looking at the man standing there with something in his hand.

The man smiled and tried to leave saying, “Thanks, but my son here is just sleeping. I’ll come back and see him later.”

He tried to rush me when security came in followed by the police. I went over to Ronnie and he was still sleeping. I checked his IV and vitals then said, “Just who the hell are you? You sure as hell ain’t his father, because I am.”

“You don’t know shit do you?” the man spat. “I am his father. I’m the one that created that little faggot.”

“Listen you worthless piece of garbage,” I said totally losing control of myself. “You’ve only done one thing right in your entire life and that was creating him. I don’t know what he’s ever done to you but now I’m his father. How could you send him off to Brazil along with his mother and then try to have them killed? I hope you enjoy the rest of your life in prison because if it’s the last thing I do I will spend every dime I have putting you there. Get this shit out of my son’s room.”

Ronnie woke during all the commotion and said, “Father, is that you?”

The man looked at him and said, “Yeah, it’s me.”

“Can you come over a little closer please?” he asked the man.

The man walked over beside the bed and said, “What is it?”

Ronnie’s hands was under the covers so the man couldn’t tell where they were but in one fast move he slid his hand from under the cover and latched onto the man’s jewels like a snake making a strike. “You son of a bitch,” Ronnie said as he was squeezing the man’s balls with every ounce of strength his could muster. “You set us up in that hell hole? I ought to rip these off your body and shove them down your fucking throat. Just so you know asshole, the man you set Mom up with is dead. I just wish you could be with them.”

The man had a death grip on the bed rails so he wouldn’t fall to the floor. Tears were streaming down his face and his voice was eluding him for the time being. The police officers came over and led the man out of the room and I went over and sat beside my son. I looked at him and said, “I’m very sorry son. I was as surprised by his presence as you were. Are you OK?”

Ronnie scooted down and rested his head in my lap. “I’m glad he’s in jail now. I hope some dude with a big dick shoves it up his ass every day for the rest of his life and forgets about the lube. I was feeling better from the pain shot before all this shit happened. Can I get something Dad or is it too early?”

I rang for the nurse and asked when he had his last pain medication. She looked and told me it had been three hours ago. I told her what I wanted and asked that she bring his chart with her when she came in. She was holding the syringe but would not administer it until I wrote the order. I wrote a one-time order in his chart then signed off on it then she handed me the syringe. I sat on the bed and talked with Ronnie for another minute. “This is going to knock you out son but they will keep your dinner warm for you. I’m going to head on home, but you can call if you need to talk.”

He lifted his head and I kissed him on the cheek. “Tell the others I love them and wish I was there with them.”

I put the needle into the cock then turned up the fluids so it would dilute and not burn his vein. I slowly pushed the plunger down and saw his eyes flicker then close telling me he was now in dreamland. I made a few more notations in his chart then left the hospital this time really heading for home.

It took me almost and hour to wiggle through the downtown traffic then get to the interstate so I could head towards the Beach. I was just listening to the news on the radio when my cell phone rang. It was Jay calling to tell me he had some interesting news to me about the brother of the boy that put Ronnie in the hospital. I listened intently and hung up thinking about all what had transpired. I wasn’t real sure how to handle everything but decided to let the court system do its thing.

When I got home I was greeted by Steven and Angel demanding to know how their brother was doing. “If he continues to do this good, he should be home in a few days.”

I took my jacket off and hung it up in my bedroom, then quickly stripped out of my clothes. I decided to let it all hang out and dropped my underwear then reached for my sweatpants. I was about to put them on then I heard a little voice. “Ah Daddy, I think I need to talk with you.”

I looked up and saw Angel standing there in just her panties as I put my sweats on then said, “What’s wrong baby?”

I walked over to her and kneeled down looking to see if there was something wrong. She smiled at me and said three words, “I started Daddy.”

Knowing the meaning of them I picked her up and kissed my not so little girl. I hugged her saying, “Are you alright? Do you have any questions?”

“I’m fine Daddy,” she said as I put her onto her feet. “I remember what momma had said but if there is a problem I’ll come to you.”

Life in a household with children in never dull to say the least as there is something always going on. I walked out into the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee when Luiz asked, “Did you call Judge Romero?”

With everything that happened in Ronnie’s room I totally forgot about that phone call. I looked at the clock and knew it was too late to call him now. I finished my coffee then went inside and relaxed until dinner was ready.

Jay came in and told me about what happened at school between Paul and the others. I had the feeling that Ronnie’s brother had somehow convinced Allen that what he was doing was not the proper way to solve things. I trusted the court system so I just let them handle things so I could get back to my life.

We had a nice dinner and I had Jay help the kids get in and out of the shower while I talked with Ronnie. His spirits were better now and he told me the vampires were back to attack him again. I had to laugh but we needed to know what his kidney levels were. The bleeding had stopped and his urine was once again a plain yellow in color. I had the lab check to make sure there were no microscopic traces of blood lingering that we couldn’t see. I was about to hang up when Jay came running in saying he wanted to talk with his brother. I let him have the phone and about thirty minutes later Jay returned. “Here you go Dad he wants to talk with you now.”

I stuck my ear to the phone and Ronnie had in fact hung up. “Thanks son,” I said quite loudly to him as he went to take his shower.

That evening I was watching television with my three kids all snuggled around me. Angel was on my lap and Steven and Jay were playing bread to me in a sandwich. At ten-thirty Angel and Steven were sound asleep on my lap so Jay took his brother and I took Angel and put them to bed. I woke Angel up so she could go to the bathroom and reminded her of something else she needed to do. She smiled at me and kissed me on the cheek as she went into her bathroom. A few minutes later she came out and crawled onto bed. I sat down beside her and said, “I know you miss your brother, but maybe he should be home tomorrow.”

“Thanks Daddy,” she said smiling. “I do miss him. Are the people who did this going to be punished?”

“Yes sweetie they are.”

“Good,” she said. “I don’t want them to get off just cause they’re kids.”

I leaned down and kissed her then tucked her in and turned the light off. I went over and checked on Steven and he was out cold. Jay didn’t wake him before he got him into the bed. I came back out and saw my son sitting in my recliner like he owned it. I walked over and popped him on the bottom of his feet and he slid over allowing me room to join him. Once I got comfortable he sat on my lap like he did when he was younger.

After the program was over it was time for Jay to head off to bed because he still had one more day of school before the weekend. I watched the late news then called it a night. I had to remember to call Judge Romero in the morning. For the life of me I couldn’t figure out what it was he could be wanting.

To be continued...

Posted: 06/13/08