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...

I sat down in my recliner and found a movie that was almost over. I had become engrossed in the movie when I felt a hand touch me on the arm. I looked up and there was Victor with a smile on his face. I opened my arms up and he hopped on to my lap. He scampered up and I asked, “Are you alright?”

He smiled at me saying, “I’m fine now.”

He snuggled back against my chest and we watched the rest of the movie. He hadn’t been there all that long when I noticed he was sound asleep. I turned off the television and the lamp beside my chair and carried the sleeping boy to bed. I carefully set him down then got undressed and did my nightly duties. I turned out the bathroom light and crawled in with Victor for a good nights rest.

Chapter 6

The next thing I remember was the sunlight peaking through the curtains. Victor was still sleeping soundly so I eased myself away from his arms and went to the bathroom to drain my very full bladder. I grabbed my shorts and put them on then went out to the kitchen and made some coffee. I fixed my first cup and wondered how Raul was doing. I started getting lost in thought when Marco came in and sat on my lap. “Hi Pop,” he said kissing me on the cheek.

“How’d you sleep?” I asked taking a mouthful of coffee.

“Best sleep I’ve had in quite a while,” he said leaning back against my chest.

“I’m glad son,” I said wrapping my arms around him. “You had me so worried about you. Are you hungry?”

Marco nodded his head. “Uh huh. What about Rolando and Victor?”

I scooted Marco onto his feet then said, “Let’s go see if they’re awake yet.”

We walked down the hall and our first stop my room. I eased open the door and looked inside. What I saw scared me. There was Victor sitting there quietly shaking with tears streaming down his face. I went over to him and sat beside him pulling him on to my lap. “What’s wrong little one?”

“I didn’t know where you were,” he said through his tears. “I looked in the bathroom but you weren’t there.”

I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him close to my chest. I kissed him on the head then said, “I was out in the kitchen. How come you didn’t get up and come out there?”

He shrugged his shoulders then said, “I don’t know.”

“Oh Victor,” I said softly. “I just got worried when I saw you sitting here crying.”

I took some tissues off the night stand and wiped his face. He turned around in my lap and said, “I’m hungry.”

I smiled at him then he saw Marco standing there. He hopped off my lap and ran over to him giving him a hug. I got up and went to see if Rolando was awake. We walked down the hall and when Marco cracked opened the door to see if Rolando was asleep, there was an erotic sight right before his eyes. Rolando had been busy stroking his dick and just as Marco opened the door, he climaxed. Marco quietly closed the door and said slightly flush in the face, “Ah, he’s awake Pop.”

I had a pretty good idea what Marco had seen so I said, “That’s fine. If he’s not out in a few minutes, go back and check on him.”

I was about to start cooking when the phone rang. Marco went over and answered it the said, “It’s the hospital Pop.”

One of the nurses was on the other end telling me that Raul was crying complaining that he was hungry and nothing Danny or the staff could do would calm him down. I thought for several minutes then told them to call down to dietary and have them fix him two soft scrambled eggs. I had wanted to put him on a soft diet but not until I had seen him. The nurse said she would take care of it and call me back if there were any problems.

By the time I got back to the kitchen Rolando had made his appearance. I got the bacon going and when it was almost done I had Victor and Marco start fixing the toast. I finished cooking the bacon then cooked the eggs. I wasn’t going to let them over eat today because I didn’t want to risk any of them ending up with Raul.

Once we were finished eating, Rolando and I put the dishes in the dishwasher and washed the pans. I started the dishwasher then we went and got dressed so we could go to the hospital. I went into my room to change and I didn’t see Victor. I thought I’d lost him again when the bathroom door opened and out walked a naked boy. He looked up at me smiling and I asked, “Did you lose something?”

“Nope,” he said smiling. “I just washed up before I got dressed.”

I guess after being on the streets, he wanted to keep himself clean. I quickly got dressed then we headed for the hospital. We walked into Raul’s room and he immediately said, “I’m hungry Papa Miguel.”

I smiled at him and said, “I know little one. I just don’t want you throwing up like you were doing yesterday.”

“I haven’t,” he said.

I looked at Danny and said, “Did he have any problems over night or when he was eating?”

“No problems over night,” Danny said trying to keep Raul in bed. “As far as his food went, there wasn’t enough of it for him.”

I went out and got his chart and looked it over carefully reading the nurse’s notes. I couldn’t see much reason to keep Raul in the hospital as long as Danny watched his diet for the next couple of days. I walked back into Raul’s room and had Danny step outside with the other boys to keep him company. I looked at him and said, “Can you take the next few days off?”

“If I have to,” he said, “How come?”

“I don’t think Raul needs to stay in here any longer as long as he keeps food down,” I said. “I want him on a soft diet for the rest of today. I’ll call you in the morning to see how he’s doing then I might let him go back to regular food.”

“I think he’ll like that better than being here,” Danny said smiling.

“I’ll write his discharge orders and have a nurse remove his IV,” I said turning and heading for the nurse’s station.

Danny went back inside Raul’s room and I took care of my paperwork. It took about twenty minutes to get everything done but Raul was one happy boy to be leaving and going home. Danny brought the car around and I helped Raul inside. Marco and I went home and had some quiet time together for the first time since I got here. When we got home, I fixed us some lunch and Marco asked, “Is Danny still going to talk with my old foster father?”

I knew there was something important he was supposed to do. I looked at Marco and said, “Judge Romero will have someone go and talk with him. He gave you his word son.”

“I remember Pop,” Marco said starting to cry. “He just didn’t need to hit me like that.”

I scooted Marco on my lap and held him while he calmed down. “I know son. I’ve never had to or wanted to spank any of the kids although they have deserved it a few times.”

Marco’s tears subsided. “I don’t think I would be mad if you had to spank me. You would tell me why it was coming, not just hit me for no reason.”

We had dinner and relaxed for the rest of the day. I noticed Marco starting to fall asleep so I said, “I think you might want to head off to bed kiddo.”

He looked up and said, “Can I sleep with you tonight?”

I half way expected that so I said, “Sure, let’s go.”

I turned off the television and secured the house then we got ready for bed. After dong our nightly business I had a little boy snuggled close and that’s how we drifted off to sleep.

I woke up about 7:30 the next morning, used the bathroom then made my coffee. I called Danny to check on Raul and he told me he’s done well. I told Danny he could have a regular diet but watch his food intake for the next couple of days. I had just fixed my second cup of coffee when the phone rang. I answered it and it was Judge Romero. He wanted to know if I could have Marco in his chambers by noon. We didn’t have anything planned so I told him we’d be there. “Who was that Pop?” Marco asked standing there in his underwear.

“It was Judge Romero,” I said ruffling his hair. “He would like to see us at noon. Are you alright with it?”

All of a sudden he looked nervous and worried. “I guess so.”

“Relax Marco,” I said. “I’m going to be there with you.”

“Alright Pop,” he said reaching for the cereal and a bowel. “I trust you and Judge Romero.”

I finished my coffee while Marco ate his breakfast. After that was finished I needed to get a shower. I went back to my bathroom and turned that water on then got out a pair of clean underwear. I stripped and was about to step in when a voice said, “Can I shower with you Pop?”

I froze and looked over my shoulder and there was Marco standing there in his birthday suit. I thought about it for a second then nodded. “Come on son.”

Marco hurried over and we stepped in the shower. Marco stood under the water and I could see it was helping him relax. I poured some shampoo on his head and began washing it, giving it a good scrubbing.

I gently moved him back under the water and rinsed all the shampoo out of his hair. I handed him the soap and he started washing himself. I shampooed my hair while Marco was doing his body and when I had rinsed, he was almost done. “Can you do my back Pop?” he asked handing me the soap.

I took it and lathered my hands then washed his back. “Did you do your penis?” I asked him.

“Yeah,” he said looking up at me while he rinsed the soap off. “I never forget that. I had my foreskin start to stick on me once and I don’t want that to happen again.”

Marco got out and started drying himself while I quickly washed up. After I was dry, we got dressed then decided to stop over at Danny’s. I wanted to talk with him and check on Raul. We secured the house then headed out for Danny’s.

When we arrived, we were quickly surrounded by three boys. Rolando and Victor mobbed Marco while Raul just stood there looking at me with his puppy dog eyes. I bent down and picked him up when my neck was quickly enveloped by his arms in a huge hug. “Thank you for getting me better,” he said in that angelic voice of his.

“You’re quite welcome,” I said smiling at him. “You need to be home here with your Papa and brothers.”

I set him down and was immediately hugged by Donny and Victor. “Thanks for taking good care of our brother Papa Miguel,” they said in unison.

“Happy to do it.”

I went inside and talked with Danny for a few minutes and he told me the Sheriff was going to go over and talk with Marco’s old foster father. Danny said he thought the guy would probably end up getting arrested. I noticed the time and had to get going over to the court house to meet with Judge Romero. Marco and I said our good byes then headed over to meet Marco’s prospective foster parent.

We arrived just as his morning session was ending. He saw us standing in the back of the courtroom as he was coming off the bench. He waved us back and we followed him into his chambers. He took off his robe and said, “Glad you two could make it today Miguel. This is Paulo Cortez. Marco, he would like very much to be your foster parent.”

Paulo stood up and walked over to Marco and said, “Hello Marco, I’ve heard a lot about you from Judge Romero. I can’t tell you how bad I feel about the things you’ve gone through, but I would like the chance to make some of that up to you, if you will let me.”

Marco stood there for a minute letting what the man just said digest. He looked up at the man and started smiling. He walked over and wrapped his arms around the man’s waist hugging him.

The Judge and I were standing there watching what was happening. I wanted to see what the man was going to do next and then it happened. Paulo gently kneeled bringing himself to Marco’s level then wrapped his arms around him hugging him back. Paulo looked at Marco with tears in his eyes. “Why are you crying?” Marco asked.

“These are tears of happiness,” Paulo said caressing the boy’s cheek. “I have longed for a child but since I’m a widower and my wife died very young, I thought it was impossible.”

“I don’t know how or why but I trust you,” Marco said moving closer into the man’s embrace.

Paulo and Marco seemed lost in their embrace when I said to the Judge, “It looks like Marco’s made his decision.”

The Judge nodded his head then said, “It would seem so. I’m really glad this seems to have worked out.”

Marco looked over at me and said, “Can I go home with Paulo?”

We all smiled at him and I said, “I think that can be arranged.”

Judge Romero did the paperwork and Paulo was officially Marco’s foster parent. They followed me home so Marco could get his clothes. I helped him get his things together then looked at him feeling a little lost. I picked him up in my arms and said, “You behave yourself now.”

He wrapped his arms around me and said, “I will Pop, I love you and thanks for coming.”

I kissed him on the check and said, “No problem son. I love you too.”

I walked him out to Paulo’s car and he handed me a piece of paper. He smiled at me and said, “Here is my address and phone number. I want him to keep in touch with you Miguel.”

I tore his address off the paper then wrote my address and phone number on it. I handed it to Marco and said, “I would love that. I also put my email address here too.”

I gave Marco one last hug then watched him leave for what I hoped was a much better life. I went back inside the house and for the first time in a very long time, it felt totally empty. I called Danny and checked on Raul and he was doing fine. I found out that Marco’s former foster parent and son had been arrested for assault and child abuse. I called Judge Romero and talked with him and let him know I would be going back home in the morning. He said he would keep close tabs on Marco so if a problem arose, he could try to solve it before it got big.

The next morning I had my coffee and left for the airport so I could get home to my family. When I was in the air I called Luiz and let him know I was on my way home. I figured that I would land and could get home just as the kids were due for their dinner.

The plane touched down and rolled up to the terminal on time. I went through immigration and customs then quickly headed home. I hadn’t been in the house ten minutes when I heard the front door open and my four precious angels come in. As they were walking down the hall I stood up and saw them for the first time in three days. Angel was the first to see me when she screamed, “Daddy.”

I quickly got down to my knees as I had four kids running towards me. They all got there at about the same time, and the next think I knew I was on my back with them on top of me hugging and kissing me. Once the greetings were finished, Jay looked at me and said, “How’s Marco?”

“He’s doing alright,” I said seeing the concern in his eyes. “Judge Romero found another foster parent for him, and they seem to have really hit it off. I was there when they met for the first time.”

“What does he do Dad?” He asked.

“He’s a lawyer,” I replied.

Jay seemed satisfied with what he heard. I went into the kitchen and was hugged by Luiz. “Nice to have you home Miguel” he said while still embracing me. “Did everything go well for Marco?”

“Yes it did,” I said pouring a cup of coffee. “In fact, it went better than I expected. They really hit it off and Paulo Cortez seems to really love Marco.”

“How does Marco feel about him?” Luiz asked as he put dinner in the oven.

I took a sip of my coffee then said, “Well, if there was ever such a thing as love at first sight, Marco feels the same way and will love him as his Dad.”

“That sounds like a really good match then,” Luiz said kneading some bread dough.

About that time Angel came into the kitchen and needed some help with her homework. It’s been a long time since I had to help them with their work and I am proud that they are all very good students.

Marco started emailing me every week and telling me all of what’s going on in his life. Paulo got him back in school and he’s making excellent grades. Paulo has even told his work that he can’t go out of town any more on cases because he has a son to look after.

Just before school let out here for the summer I got a very nice email again from Marco. Paulo had asked him if he could adopt him and Marco jumped into his arms and said he had dreamed that that would come. When he finished his email he signed it Marco Cortez.

I printed it out and read it to everyone at dinner. When I was reading it, I noticed tears coming down Jay’s face. He looked up when I finished and said, “I’m really happy for him Dad. He deserves a life like we have, off the streets.”

I couldn’t argue that at all.

A couple of weeks later I got an email from Paulo, telling me he had to go out of town for a week and there wasn’t any way he could get out of it. I’d remembered what Jay had said about seeing if he could see Marco. I wrote Paulo back and said that Marco could come and visit here for a couple of weeks while he was out of town. Paulo wrote me back and said that that would solve all his problems. He was going to be given two weeks off with pay when he returned and he was going to plan something special for Marco when he returned.

Paulo got Marco his passport and made arrangements with the airline for him to travel unaccompanied to the States. I was now in a bit of a quandary. Marco would be here in a couple of weeks and I was fighting with myself weather or not to tell the kids he was coming. I told Luiz so we could have plenty of food in the house and he agreed I should make it a surprise.

Marco was due to touch down at around 11 in the morning. I could get out of the house without the kids' questioning it by saying I had to see some patients for Paul. Once Marco and I were heading home I called Luiz and he started fixing lunch. I pulled the car into the garage and we came into the house. I brought Marco into the kitchen to meet Luiz first. Once that was done I said, “Hey kids, I’m home.”

Angel was over at one of her friends houses and wouldn’t be back until almost dinner. All of a sudden I heard a door open and three pairs of feet running towards the kitchen. As soon as Jay hit the door he stopped dead in his tracks. “Holy shit,” he said causing Luiz to stare at him. “Marco.”

Jay ran over and hugged him followed by the others. He looked up at me as if to say ‘why’ when I said, “I thought I would make it a surprise.”

Steven came over and hugged me saying, “This is a real nice surprise.”

I had the boys take Marco’s suitcase and put it in the guest room then I had a talk with the four of them. “I don’t want you boys disappearing during the daytime and ignoring Angel. I know you will want some private time alone, but not at the expense of keeping your sister on the outside. If you want to have fun wait until after you go to bed at night so she can spend time with him too. I know she doesn’t know Marco but she is part of this family now. She my want to spend time with her friends which is fine, but let that be her choice. Is this fair enough?”

They all nodded their heads and went to help Marco get settled. The boys were unpacking Marco’s suitcase when Angel came in. Jay heard the door slam and he brought Marco out and made the introductions.

I wasn’t able to get much time away from work during Marco’s visit but that didn’t seem to upset the kids. They spent their time swimming and playing with the neighborhood kids. Luiz took them to the water park a few times and Marco totally enjoyed himself. The day I had to take him back to the airport was a sad time for everyone. Marco was sad to leave his new family in America but was glad to be going home to his Dad. Jay took Marco’s leaving hard until Marco said, “Don’t be sad I’m leaving bro be thankful I have a Dad and home to go back to.”

Jay wiped his face and said, “I am thankful Marco, but I’ll miss you. I promise to email you and we can chat online too. I love you.”

I escorted Marco to the gate and turned him over to the airline then left to go back with the kids. We watched his plane take off then made a somber trip back home. Later that evening I was checking email and there was one from Marco. I called the kids out so they could read it and I found that Paulo had set him up with a screen name. I added him to our buddy list and saw that he was online. I let the kids chat with him for a short while when Marco said he really needed to get some sleep. The kids kept in touch with Marco during the summer and when school started I had to limit their online time.

Time was passing quickly and all too soon we were entering the Christmas holidays. After Thanksgiving I began noticing Luiz needed to rest more and more. I tried to examine him but he kept telling me he was fine, just getting a little older. Ronnie helped him cook Christmas dinner and we all pitched in to clean up. Jay went over to Luiz and said, “Go and lie down Uncle, we’ll make sure everything is cleaned up and put away.”

We all started doing more to help Luiz and there were a few times he tried to chase us out of his kitchen. He finally gave in and accepted the help but I still couldn’t get him to have a physical. Three days after Christmas I got up but Luiz wasn’t there with my morning coffee.

I went to see if he was still sleeping but I got a rude awakening. Luiz was still in his bed but during the night he suffered a massive heart attack and passed away. I made him presentable then brought all the children into the kitchen and told them of his passing.

All the children took it very hard. But I think Ronnie took it the hardest because Luiz was his teacher and mentor when it came to cooking. All the children were in tears and it took me a while to get each of them calmed down so I could talk with them. “I know we all miss Luiz very much and the next months will be hard as we try to get along here without him. You know he would not want us feeling sad now but he is with Elaina and my Dad. We all need to remember all the good times we had together.”

“Why didn’t he go to the doctor Dad?” Jay asked as his tears started to fall again.

I wrapped my arms around him and held as he cried. “Your Uncle Luiz was always a proud man. He was always thinking of others before himself. I tried examining him but he flatly refused. The one good thing is he went peacefully in his sleep. I know he would not want to be in a hospital wasting away.”

I called a local funeral home and had them pick up his body. I asked the kids if they wanted to see Luiz so they could say good bye to him and they all did.

After they came and removed his body we talked about his funeral and how he would want it. Ronnie came over and sat on my lap then said, “I think he would want a small private funeral. He lived his life here with us and now he wants to be with his wife. I do wish though we had the chance to meet her and Grandpa.”

“Elaina was an amazing woman. Papa could argue with him until he was tired but let Elaina tell him something and that was much different. Your Grande was someone you would have all loved. He was soft spoken and loved children. I think that’s where my love for them came. I know he would be proud of each and every one of you and proud you have the Sanchez name.”

We had a private funeral for Luiz; he was buried next to my father and mother. Afterwards we went home and our home seemed very empty. None of us felt much like eating but Luiz would not want us going hungry. I fixed some soup and made grilled cheese sandwiches. The kids and I did manage to eat what I prepared but I could see they were doing it more for Luiz and anything.

A few days later I decided to clean Luiz’s room and was met with still another surprise. The man the kids called Uncle was in fact their great uncle and my uncle too.

My father never told me that he and Luiz were brothers. Luiz was the man that kept my family and life in balance. I just hope now that he’s gone I can do him proud with the children.

To be continued...

Posted: 06/13/08