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...

The three of us left the courthouse then drove out to my house. When we pulled up, Andrea gasped. “Papa Miguel, it’s beautiful.”

Chapter 49

Carlos was in awe as well. “I have to agree Miguel, it’s gorgeous.”

I parked the Blazer and led everyone inside. I gave them the grand tour and heard plenty of ooohs and ahhhs. “Papa Miguel, I didn’t know you had a house here. Why do you stay at the home?”

“Well sweetie, as you can see this is a very big house. It’s really too big for just me and to be honest, I miss hearing the pitter patter of little feet.” I showed them the rest of the house then we went out back where the pool was.

We went back inside and I showed Carlos the two downstairs rooms that he and his family could use. I called Pablo and had him get some food over so they didn’t have to eat out then got ready to leave to go over to the home.

It took us about 20 minutes to get over to the hotel where Carlos was staying so he could get his suit case then it was on to the home. It was just after 4 so I knew where the kids would be. I set Carlos’ bag in my room for the time being then we went out to the pool. I saw Angel, Steven, Casey and Jackie playing and splashing with all the kids. Carlos was laughing at the antics when we heard a little voice. “Papa Miguel’s back.”

I quickly sat down because I knew I would soon have a lap full of little boy. Mikey plopped down on my lap then started shaking his head with water flying everywhere. Andrea came over then ruffled his wet head. “Haven’t you heard of a towel Mikey?”

He reached behind me and held one up. “Yeah Andrea, I have one here.”

She shook her head. “I told you Carlos, we all have one like your little boy.”

Carlos was laughing at Mikey’s antics. “So I see.”

I picked Mikey up and dumped him back in the pool then went and got into my swimming trunks. After changing, I let Carlos use my room so he could get into his trunks then we had some fun with the kids in the pool. We wore ourselves out then relaxed in a couple of chase lounges. Just before 5, Casey and I got the kids out so they could get cleaned up before dinner.

Guillermo and Steven got the boys to their rooms while Casey and Angel got the girls to their rooms. I heard someone come in the front door so Carlos and I went to see who it was. The next thing I heard was “DADDY” and then the flash of little boy went running by me. I turned around and there was Carlos holding the cutest little boy I’d ever seen. I knew if this boy was here, Carlos’ wife had to be right behind him. We got to the front door and Carlos hugged his wife. “Miguel, this is my wife Brianna.”

“Hay what about me Daddy?”

I giggled at his little boy’s antics. I ran my finger down his nose and he giggled. “You’re Felix, aren’t you?”

He reached his arms out for me so I held him on my hip. “How’d you know?”

Brianna stepped over so I could shake her hand. “Your Daddy told me about you.”

We went over to the common room and sat down so we could get acquainted. We were talking when Angel came in with the girls. “I’d like you to meet my daughter Angel. The girls are, Lisa, Laura, Christina and Andrea. Girls, these people are the Rivera’s.”

Felix hopped down and stood in front of them getting their attention. “I’m Felix.”

Andrea leaned down and picked the little bundle of energy up. “Aren’t you a little angel?”

Carlos howled when she said that. “My god, you’ll give him a swelled head.”

“Daddy I am an angel,” Felix said.

The girls sat and talked with the Rivera’s while Felix made the rounds but he seemed to gravitate to Andrea. Felix being a typical 3 year old got bored and slipped out of the room. We were talking when we heard the giggle of a little boy. We all looked around the room and Andrea took off running. About that time I heard Mikey’s voice. “Relax Andrea, this little guy is fine.”

Carlos got up and there was Felix sitting on Mikey’s shoulders with a smile on his face as he came into the common room. I joined Carlos beside Mikey as Felix was giggling up a storm. “With all the kids around here Carlos, he wasn’t going anywhere. I think Hanna has dinner ready so let’s get down there before she gets upset.”

Hanna made a wonderful dinner for our guests and Felix was a hit with everyone. The little guy was getting fed by everyone so I didn’t have to worry about him not getting enough to eat. After dinner, Hanna brought out ice cream for desert and I swear he had as much on him as he did inside his little body. By 9, he was getting cranky so Carlos and Brianna decided it was time to get him in bed. All the boys fussed over him but Andrea won out carrying him out to the Blazer.

The next morning, Carlos called and asked if Andrea would like to spend the day with them. After conferring with her, she said yes. By 3 they were back because Felix said he wasn’t feeling well. “Miguel, this isn’t like him. Normally he’s so full of energy we can’t keep up with him but today, all he did was asked to be carried.”

I looked and he was on Andrea’s lap sound asleep. I had her carry him to the exam room and gave him a brief exam. I couldn’t really find anything wrong except that he was running a slight fever. “It could be he’s coming down with a virus and combined with all the excitement, it has him worn out. Just let him sleep and see how he is in the morning.”

Carlos picked him up and took him into my room and let him sleep there. While he was doing that I had a chance to talk with Andrea. “What do you think sweetie?”

She smiled as Carlos carried his son to my room. “Brianna is really nice. She let me help fix lunch and we had a chance to talk. I really like her Papa Miguel. I really missed having a Mom. Carlos is nice too. When I was playing with Felix he had to remind me to be careful because I was pregnant. That made me feel good because it showed he really cared about me and I really love Felix. I never had a little brother before.”

I was pleased at this report but I wasn’t going to jump into the adoption. I wanted them to spend more time together before we moved towards that. Just then Guillermo came out. “Miguel, Carlos has a call.”

I saw him come out of my room and motioned him over. “You have a call my friend.”

Carlos took the call in my office as I saw two naked butts go running into their room. I walked down the boys’ hall and saw Shane and Mikey rough housing on the bed. “Excuse me boys but where are your clothes? I know you didn’t go outside like that?”

Mikey looked up after sitting on Shane’s chest. “He got me wet with the water hose Papa.”

I saw Shane lift up then I heard a little yelp and Mikey standing rubbing his bottom. “Yeah Papa but he called me a girl.”

I was trying hard not to laugh at their antics. “So how did you end up naked Shane?”

“Mikey got the hose and squirted me. We couldn’t come inside with our wet clothes so we just took them off.” Mikey started tickling Shane and before too long, they were on the floor.

I didn’t like them playing with the water hose because things like this could happen nor did I like the idea of them running around naked, especially since we had girls living here. “You boys know better than play with the water. You also know running around naked isn’t allowed and why it isn’t. This afternoon when the others are swimming, you two will not be allowed to join them.”

“Aww Papa Miguel,” the boys whined. “We’re sorry.”

I went over and sat on the bed. “I’m sure you are boys but you both know the rules here. I hate having to punish you but maybe next time you’ll think before you play with the water.”

The boys cuddled on my lap for a few minutes then I had them get dressed. Shane put a dry pair of shoes on then headed for the door. “Come on Mikey, we have to get our wet clothes into the laundry.”

I watched the boys head out back then returned to my office. Carlos was sitting on the sofa looking lost in thought. “What’s wrong Carlos?”

I heard him sigh before he started speaking. “That was the Sheriff Miguel. He just told me two of the workers at the Children’s Home were just arrested. One of the young boys went into his room and found the adults raping one of the boys and one of the girls.”

“Oh geez Carlos,” I gasped sitting beside him. “How bad are the children hurt?”

He shook his head then wiped the tears off his face. “From what I gather, they’re fine but pretty shook up. I’ve spoken with the Mayor and he’s deciding on what he wants to do. The kids are in the hospital right now and the Sheriff said they do not want to go back to the home.”

Considering what just happened, that was understandable. “The children can’t stay in the hospital indefinitely Carlos. How long will it take to hire new workers?”

Carlos was shaking his head. “I don’t know Miguel. The house the city was using was old and quite run down. Some of us had been on them for some time to build a new facility but it never seemed to be a priority. Maybe with this they will but I don’t like the idea of sending the children back there.”

I thought for a moment and I had more than enough room here. “How many children were you taking care of?”

“Nine, 4 boys and 5 girls,” Carlos replied. “Two of the boys are 8 and the other two are 13. The girls range in age from 9 to 15.”

I had plenty of male help here with Guillermo and David but bringing in 5 more girls could stretch Casey a little thin. “Do any of the children have special needs?”

I saw him look down when I asked the question. “Umm well, two of the girls are well…”

I was not sure what he was trying not to say. “Come on man, just spit it out.”

He looked up at me then shook his head. “They’re sexually active with each other. They’ve tried everything to stop it but,”

I quickly put my hands up. “Hold it Carlos. Things like that never work and it only makes them more determined to stay together.”

“But Miguel, that’s unnatural,” Carlos started saying.

“Stop it right now my friend,” I interrupted. “They have no control over that.”

His eyes got wide. “You’d condone such behavior?”

“I’m a doctor Carlos,” I started. “You can no more change that then you could the color of their eyes. Yes, I’d accept that as long as neither girl is forcing anything on the other.”

Carlos sighed. “I’d heard that homosexuality wasn’t something learned but rather something that happened.”

I nodded my head. “That’s correct Carlos. I know this first hand as 2 of my sons are gay and have been since the day I rescued them from the streets here. Several of the kids here are in relationships and I’m fine with it. It’s kept behind closed doors and before you ask, I’ll not tell you who they are. Now, I have plenty of room here for them and it won’t cost your town anything. As soon as they’re healthy to travel, I’ll send my plane to pick them up. All I’ll need is court orders transferring them to my care.”

“Thank you Miguel,” Carlos said as Felix came walking into my office in just his undies. “This will give the city time to find a new place. We’ve been very lucky with the low number of children needing care.”

While Carlos and I were talking, Felix padded off out of the room. Carlos was about to start looking for him when Joey came in with the giggling 3 year old. “Did someone lose him again?”

I took Felix off Joey’s shoulders then tickled his belly button. “Where’d you find him this time?”

Poor Joey turned several shades of red as the little one spoke. “Joey was in bed with another boy Daddy.”

I knew since he managed to open the door they hadn’t been compromised. “We were reading Papa Miguel.”

I ruffled Joey’s hair. “Yeah Daddy, they have some cool comic books.”

Joey took Felix out of my arms and headed out the door. “Come on squirt, you can look at some more of our comics.”

Carlos was about to speak. “Yes, Joey and his room mate are boyfriends.”

Carlos giggled then shook his head. “I wasn’t going to ask that Miguel. I was going to say, I’ll call the Sheriff and have him make the transfer arrangements. I don’t see any reason that the kids would have to stay in the hospital beyond tomorrow.”

I contacted the pilot and made those arrangements then went to check on the kids. I saw Shane and Mikey in their room playing cards then went to see to the others. Just then, Joey and Robbie came running out of their room chasing a now naked Felix. “Felix, we can’t go running naked around here.”

He managed to get past me before I could move. “Hehehe, you can’t catch me.”

The little guy was about to turn off the boys wing and head towards the common room when I saw an arm reach out. “Going some where?”

Andrea came down the hall holding a squirming Felix. “Hey, lemme go.”

Andrea playfully pinched him bottom. “We don’t go around here without cloths on.”

Just then Robbie came out with the little guy’s underpants and put them on the protesting boy. Carlos then took his son back to my room and got him dressed. Angel came out of the kitchen and let me know dinner was ready.

After dinner, Carlos and his family returned to my house for the evening. The next morning I took Carlos and his family to the airport. “Miguel when I land, I’ll make sure all the papers are in order then call you. I can’t thank you enough for what you’re doing for the kids. I’ll be back in a couple of weeks to spend some more time with Andrea. If it’s ok with you, maybe she can spend a weekend with us?”

Felix made a lunge into my arms to give me a hug. “If she’d like to do that my friend, I don’t have a problem with it. Guillermo can make the arrangements if Andrea is agreeable.”

I watched as Carlos carried Felix and escorted Brianna to the jet. Their luggage was put aboard then the cabin steward closed the door. A few moments later I heard the pilot start the engines then watched as the plane taxied onto the runway. I stayed until I saw the jet lift off into the sky then drove back to the home.

When I got back, I had Guillermo round up the kids so we could get ready for the new arrivals. “Ok gang, I have some news for everyone. We’re growing and the girls are going to be catching up with the boys. Jackie, would you consider living here? We’re going to be getting 5 new girls here now and I expect they will need some one on one attention until they get settled in. Guillermo, we will be getting 4 new boys so you and David might have your hands full as well.”

Christine came up with Linda. “Papa Miguel, we’ll help them get settled in.”

I wrapped my arms around them then pulled them into a hug. “Thanks girls, they’re going to need it. Two of the girls are a couple so they might be a little sensitive if you know what I mean.”

Linda kissed me on the cheek. “We sure do and we’ll make them all feel welcome here.”

Chico came up and pulled on my shorts. “What are the boys like Papa Miguel?”

That was a good question. “The only thing I can tell you is we have a pair of twins 8 years old.”

Just then it dawned on me. I took off down the hall towards the kitchen. “Hanna, what’s for dinner tonight?”

Hanna’s head snapped up and she came wagging that wooden spoon at me. “Miguel Sanchez, I’m in no mood for this now.”

I threw my hands up. “Easy Hanna, we have new children arriving. I was just trying to find out if you’d started preparing it yet.”

She stopped when she heard we had new arrivals. “How many more children?”

We were almost doubling our size with these new arrivals. “There will be 9 new children, 5 girls and 4 boys.”

She took off for the meat coolers. “Don’t worry Herr Sanchez we won’t let the children go hungry.”

I was on my way back to the common room when the phone rang. Carlos was on the ground and telling me everything was in order. The pilot had the papers and he was on his way with the children. He gave me the run down on everyone including the fact 3 of the girls roomed together. I hung up the phone then returned to the kids. We will need to make one of the girl’s rooms for three. Victor went to one of the unused rooms and brought a bed and set it up in one of the rooms.

Inside of an hour, we were ready for our 9 new arrivals. Getting them from the airport to the home would require two vehicles. Jackie could drive the van and I would use the Blazer. Christine and Linda wanted to go with Jackie and Joey and Robbie asked if they could ride with me. The kids would touch down about 4 so I wanted to be there on time. Jackie and I loaded up and headed out to the airport to greet our newest arrivals. I had no idea what we were in store for.

To be continued...

Posted: 07/11/08