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...

We all started heading back inside when his eyes fluttered then opened. I smiled at the little boy trying not to frighten him but I wasn’t successful. He started wiggling in my arms so I held onto him tighter so he wouldn’t fall. He then began to cry. Mikey and Chico quickly gathered around him reaching up trying to calm him. I knelt down so he could see the only 2 people he knew. Mikey rubbed the little boy’s hair. “This is Papa Miguel Paco; remember I told you about him?”

The little guy stopped squirming then looked up at me. “Will you be my Papa too?”

Chapter 68

My heart melted on the spot then I leaned down and kissed him on the cheek. “Yes Paco, I’ll be your Papa too.”

When we got to the front door, everyone who wasn’t outside was standing there around the door. Guillermo opened the door and held it for us then I saw David standing by the clinic. I shook my head to him. “Not right now David. Guillermo, call Judge Romero and then call Danny. Better yet, call Danny first so he can get out here.”

Angel was now standing over beside me when I saw tears streaming down her face. “Oh Daddy, who could let this adorable little guy out of their sight?”

I wrapped my arm around her shoulder. “I don’t know love, that’s one thing I’m going to have Danny look into. Can you go down to the closet and find him something to wear? Ronnie, go down to the kitchen and see if Hanna has something we can feed him, I know he’s got to be hungry.”

Just then I felt a tug on my shorts. “Papa, can he stay in our room?”

I nodded my head. “Of course he can son, but he might get scared tonight. Right now, he needs a bath.”

I carried the little guy down to my room and by the time I got there, Mikey had the water running filling the tub. He came out of the bathroom naked. “I’ll help wash him Papa.”

I was about to answer when I heard another voice, “Me too Papa Miguel.”

Shane stepped out of the bathroom then I heard someone giggle. I looked down and Paco’s eyes were open. “Why are they naked Papa?”

He turned his head and was looking at me with his blue eyes. “They want to help you get clean.”

He wrapped his arms around my neck. “Are you going to stay with me?”

I gave him a reassuring smile. “If that’s what you want son.”

He nodded his head. “Yes please.”

I set him on his feet then Mikey took his hand. “Come on Paco, let’s get you clean now.”

Mikey started to pull his hand. “No Mikey, wait for Papa.”

Mikey started to frown then I reached down and picked him up. “Mikey, do you remember how you acted when you first got here?”

He thought for a minute. “I remember Papa, I didn’t wanna leave your side for even a minute.”

I ruffled his hair then smiled at him. “That’s right.”

I followed Paco into the bathroom then he raised his arms up. I lifted the tee shirt off his body then knelt down so I could remove his shorts. I slid them down and I could see his tiny underweight little body. I lifted the toilet seat then he went over and passed a little urine. It looked dark in color so I knew I would have to give him a complete check up. I looked at his back and bottom and didn’t see any signs of physical abuse. When he was finished peeing, I lifted him into the tub. He stood there unsure of what to do until Shane stepped in then sat down. “Come on Paco, sit down in the water.”

I closed the lid down then sat so I could watch Mikey and Shane interact with Paco. He looked like he was no older than 4 or 5. Mikey got into the tub and sat down then Paco finally sat down. “Are you afraid to get your hair wet?”

He shook his head no then dunked his head under the water. I got the shampoo and began to wash his hair. I reached under the vanity and got out a large cup I used for rinsing the boys’ hair. Shane took it then filled it with water. “Close your eyes tight now so soap won’t get into them.”

Shane began pouring cup after cup of water over his head until he finally managed to get the soap out. “Mikey, let water out of the tub so we can refill it.”

While the water was draining out, I heard the door to my room open then close. I looked and there was Guillermo and Danny. As soon as Paco saw Danny he started screaming then jumped out of the tub and into my arms. “No Papa, please don’t let him hurt me.”

I was soaked but that didn’t matter as I tried to calm the screaming boy down. “It’s ok little one, Danny won’t hurt you.”

Mikey and Shane hurried over trying to calm him too. Shane wrapped his arms around the child then spoke softly to him. “Danny’s a good man. It was he who helped me after I was raped, please Paco don’t cry.”

Danny leaned down the picked him up into his arms and began to rock him. “Shhh now poquito, no one is going to hurt you and if someone did I’ll arrest them.”

Slowly Paco’s tears began to subside and he started to smile at Danny. Mikey started filling the tub up so I could finish the task at hand. “Danny, I don’t know how you do it buddy. Just then I heard someone else come in. “Miguel, I have some clothes for Paco.”

I was about to go out when I saw who owned the voice. Victor was standing there with new clothes for Paco smiling at his Dad. “Man Dad, that looks familiar like when you would hold Raul.”

Paco looked at Danny then over to Victor then back. “Are you a Papa too?”

Victor rubbed Paco’s wet hair. “That is my Papa. He adopted me and my two brothers.”

I took Paco from Danny and got him back into the bath. “Paco, Mikey and Shane will finish getting you clean son. No one is going to hurt you now. Will you let them finish so I can talk with Danny?”

“Yes Papa Miguel, I’ll let Mikey and Shane help me.”

I went outside and closed the bathroom door behind me. Danny stuck a finger up. “I have to go out to my car and get my clean uniform Miguel.”

Victor went out with Danny so I took the time to get changed. I’d just stripped when I heard a little voice. “Papa, Paco’s clean now.”

I got some dry underwear on then found a pair of shorts. “Is his hair completely clean son?”

Mikey nodded his head then I saw Shane lead Paco out. I let out a gasp then my hand quickly covered my mouth. Paco was absolutely beautiful. He had blonde hair and blue eyes and I immediately thought back to Ronnie. I held my arms out to him then he hurried over. I led him over to the bed and helped him get dressed. Once he was dressed, I went back into the bathroom so I could clean the tub but I was surprised when I get there. Shane was drying his feet. “I cleaned the tub for you Papa.”

I gave him a kiss on his head. “Thank you son, I appreciate that. Did Paco tell you or Mikey anything about himself?”

He shook his head. “No Papa and after what happened when he saw Danny, I was afraid because I didn’t want him crying again.”

“Thanks Shane,” I said heading back out. “Paco, are you hungry?”

He nodded his head then looked at the floor. “I am Papa but everyone else has eaten, so I will wait until morning.”

Mikey lifted his chin up. “No one here ever goes hungry Paco. If you get hungry, all you do is tell one of the adults and they’ll get you a snack.”

Shane and Mikey took Paco by the hand then led him towards the dining room. When they entered the common room all the kids started to gather around him. “Easy now gang,” I said, so they wouldn’t scare him.

Jeff eased up and knelt down. “Hi Paco, I’m Jeff. I know you’re probably a little scared but everyone here is your new big brother or big sister.”

Paco looked around and his eyes got big when he saw the younger children. He saw the twins, Paul and Phil, and walked over to them. “Did your Mommy and Daddy leave you too?”

They shook their heads. Phil hugged his twin answering, “No, they died but we have a nice home here now.”

Paco then got real quiet. He started shaking his head so I eased over so I could hear if he said anything. “My Mommy said she wished I’d never been born.”

I saw all the children quietly crying and I was fighting back tears myself. I could see he was having a hard time holding back the tears. As soon as he felt me touch his shoulder, Paco jumped into my arms. I tried asking him a few questions. “Is Paco your real name?”

It’s what the kids called me but my real name is Chad.”

That would fit his blonde hair and blue eyes. “Do you know your last name?”

He nodded his head. “It’s Barnes.”

I gently rubbed his head trying to ease his crying. “Which name do you like better, Paco or Chad?”

“Chad, it’s my real name.”

Just then Ronnie came in with a plate of sandwiches and a glass of milk. I stood up and took Chad into the dining room. I was joined by Danny, Ronnie, Mikey and Shane. I put him on his feet then he took a seat and started eating. I had a dozen questions to ask him but I was afraid he wouldn’t have any reliable answers. “Chad, how old are you and do you remember how you got here?”

He swallowed his bite then washed it down with some milk. “I’m 6 and I got here on a plane. My Mommy and Daddy came here for a vacation then they met some people. I’d be left with some baby sitter when they’d go off and I wouldn’t see them for a long time.”

Danny was making notes and I could tell he didn’t like what he was hearing. “Chad, do you know where your Mommy and Daddy are now?”

He finished the last of his sandwich then drank the rest of his milk. He started shaking his head. “I don’t know. They didn’t take their clothes either.”

This didn’t sound good and I wanted to ask him one more question but I was worried it would really upset him. I could see him eyeing the empty plate. “Chad, are you still hungry?”

He nodded his head then looked down. Ronnie came over and took his plate and glass then quickly came back with some fruit and another glass of milk. “Here Chad, eat up and drink your milk.”

He reached his little arms out to Ronnie. Ronnie sat down beside him and got a cute little lap full as he grabbed half of a peeled orange. “Thank you, you look like me.”

Ronnie hugged him smiling. “Yes we do, we both have the same color hair and eyes. Chad, I need to ask you something. Did anyone ever try to touch you where they shouldn’t?”

Chad looked at Ronnie and then pointed towards his crotch. “You mean here?”

Ronnie nodded his head. “Yes, did anyone ever touch you there?”

Chad shook his head. “Nooooo, nobody ever touched my peepee but before Mommy left, she took my clothes. She said I had to stay there then some woman watched me.”

This wasn’t making sense. “Did this woman let you outside to play and did she feed you?”

Chad had finished the orange then Ronnie wiped his face and hands. “I had to stay inside and we’d have hamburgers a lot and they were cold.”

Ronnie turned him around on his lap. “How did you get away?”

Chad frowned. “One afternoon a man brought her a bottle of something then he said he’d be back for me. She sent me into the other room and I heard them fight a little then the man left. I waited until things were quiet then went out to where she was. She was asleep and I saw those clothes you found me in. I put them on and managed to get the door open. I went outside but the door closed and I couldn’t get back in. I didn’t know where to go so I started walking. I met some other kids and they took care of me but a man started chasing us and we all ran away. I was really lost so I walked around until I got here and met Mikey and Shane.”

Chad leaned his head against Ronnie and closed his eyes. I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard from this little boy. “Ronnie, can you take him down to Mikey and Shane’s room. Ronnie stood up as Mikey and Shane led the way then Danny was paged. “Danny, you have an urgent phone call.”

I went back out into the common room and was inundated by questions. Nicky manages to get out the first one. “How is he Papa? Did some pervert hurt him?”

I found a place to sit then looked at the kids. “Physically he’s fine and no one ever touched him where they shouldn’t. Right now, there are a lot of questions we need answers to.”

“Where are his parents Papa?”

I shook my head. “We don’t know right now and until we do, he’ll be staying here.”

Danny then joined us. “Miguel, can I talk with you and your staff?”

Joey jumped up and ran over to Danny. “Danny, what’s going on? We’re not letting you take him away.”

Danny put his hand on Joey’s shoulder. “Easy son, no one’s taking him anywhere but I need to talk with Miguel.”

Joey looked down. “Did you find out something?”

Danny nodded his head. “Yes and there is something I’d like to do.”

Just then he was surrounded by the kids and Joey was still staring at Danny. “What?”

Just then we heard another voice. “I think I know, don’t I Dad?”

Danny wrapped his arm around his son. “Yes son, I’d like to adopt Chad.”

I heard a little gasp then felt Mikey wrap his arms around my legs. I picked him up then Danny reached out for him. “Danny, don’t say it unless you mean it. He’s been through enough. Did you find him Momma and Daddy?”

Danny wiped the tears from Mikey’s eyes then he had to wipe his. “We don’t know yet guys. It’s going to take some time to find out who they are.”

Nicky then acted like spokesperson. “You guys should do what you have to and let Chad stay here. Danny, we know you and you’re someone we do trust. If Chad is happy with you and wants you to be his new Dad, then adopt him but you better be good to him.”

Danny started giggling. “Yes ma’am, that you can rest assured of, just ask Victor here.”

I was amazed at how the kids took to Chad right off the bat and began protecting him even though he was sound asleep. “Gang, why don’t you all find something to watch while the adults talk? Mikey, would you and Shane keep an eye on Chad in case he wakes up or has a bad dream?”

Mikey and Shane took off for their room then I felt Joey put his arm around me. “Papa, I suppose you’re angry with me?”

I shook my head. “No son, you looked out for your little brother but you need to remember Danny would never let anything happen to a child here at the home.”

Joey went over and hugged Danny. “Sorry if I got a little over protective.”

Danny returned the hug. “Joey, you’re a true big brother. I think I’d have been surprised if you hadn’t acted like that but Miguel is right, I’d never let anything happen to any child once they’re here at the home. I stuck up for you didn’t I?”

Joey turned red. “Yeah you did man. You fought for me even when that woman wanted to put me in jail and I’ll never forget that. I’m sorry I gave you a hard time.”

Danny smiled at him then kissed him on the head. “I have to talk with Miguel and a few others. While we’re doing that, can you help keep an eye on the others here?”

Joey was beaming. “I sure will Danny, don’t worry.”

Danny came into Guillermo’s office and sat down. I could see a worried look on his face. “What was that phone call about?”

Danny sighed. “One of the deputies found 2 bodies on a dirt road at the other side of the airport. They were both shot at close range in the back of the head. The description he gave me leads me to believe they might be Chad’s parents but there wasn’t any ID on either of the bodies.”

This was really getting ugly. “Guillermo, did you call Judge Romero?”

He nodded his head. “He wasn’t home so I left a message for him to please call me.”

“OK buddy. Danny, have you any idea where Chad might have been held before he managed to get free?”

He was shaking his head. “Not right off hand, but there are several cheap motels near the waterfront. I’ll need a photo of Chad to give out to a few of my deputies so they can show him to the desk clerks.”

“I’ll get a photo of him in the morning. Now, are you serious about wanting to foster or adopt him?”

He broke out into a huge smile. “Yes I am Miguel but I think for now, he’d probably be safer here until we can find out what the hell is going on.”

“Oh, before I forget, you and your boys are invited over to the house on Christmas Day.”

Danny gasped. “Miguel, are you sure? You’re going to have a houseful as it is.”

“Of course I am, you’re part of our family too buddy.”

I could see him turning red. “OK Miguel and there’s going to be one more this year.”

“Rolando will be home?”

Danny nodded. “He’s graduating in December. He also spent some time at the FBI academy so I’ll be bringing him on as a Deputy.”

My mouth was hanging open, “Oh Danny, why didn’t you tell me? I could have gotten him a graduation present.”

Just then there was a knock on the door. The door opened and Shane was holding a crying Chad in his arms. “Papa, he started crying and we can’t calm him down.”

Shane carried him over and I took him into my arms. As soon as he sat down, he got comfortable. I wrapped my arms around him and I saw him slip his thumb into his mouth as his eyes closed. “I think we need to table this discussion until tomorrow.”

I stood up and continued to hold Chad as he slept. When I stepped outside, Danny leaned down and kissed him gently on the cheek. “Take good care of that little bundle of joy.”

I walked Danny out to his car. As soon as he opened the door, his radio went off. “Sheriff, another body has just been located at the Palms Motel.”

“Keep me up to date as to what’s going on Danny. I’ll let you get going and be careful.”

He started his car then headed off. I returned inside and was met by Angel. “Daddy, what’s going on?”

Ronnie came up as Angel asked her question. “Dad, are the vigilantes at it again?”

I shook my head. “I don’t mean to give you a short answer but I honestly don’t know. Hey, Rolando will be home for Christmas.”

That got one of them smiling. “Man, that’s great Dad. We haven’t seen him in ages.”

Just then, Lisa and Christine came out holding Jean and Jenny. I looked at my watch and it was after 9:30. “Let’s get the kids in bed. I’m sure there are others who’ve fallen asleep.”

We went into the common room and there a number of sleeping children. Angel and the others got the remaining girls down to their room While Joey, Ronnie and the older teens got the boys down to their rooms. All this time, Chad was sound asleep in my arms. I stuck my head in Shane and Mikey’s room and they were cuddled together sleeping soundly. I took Chad down to my room and put him on the bed. I watched has he stretched out then curled back into a fetal position with his thumb still in his mouth.

I turned on a small night light then went to join the adults in the common room. Guillermo, Ronnie and Angel were there and Ronnie was telling his sister about the vigilantes. “Angel, I don’t know if you know how Dad found us but he rescued Steven and I after Jay had been hit in the head. These guys are bad news and well, to be honest, we’d thought they’d all been arrested or they finally disbanded.”

Angel looked up at me standing there. “What’s with these guys Dad, these kids didn’t ask to be tossed out by their parents?”

I came over and sat beside her. “You’re right love; children don’t ask to be brought into this world. Their parents chose to have sex and the kids are the end result. If they didn’t want kids, they should have put them up for adoption instead of tossing them out. This is the biggest reason I started this home because every child deserves the right to grow up safe, have an education and most of all, to be happy.”

The 4 of us continued to talk for about another hour then the travel and the events of the say started to wipe me out. I helped Guillermo secure the building then we called it a night.

To be continued...

Posted: 07/25/08