All for Acceptance II

By: Rod
(© 2010-2017 by the author)

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

Rod@tickiestories.us

Author's note: Sorry for the long delay, but, life happens and things change.  Hopefully the story can now continue, that is, if there is interest in it doing so.  I realize with the passing of time what has happened up to now has probably been forgotten, but the chapters are still here and available.  It is recommended that All for Acceptance be read first so that the proper background is in place for All for Acceptance II.  In any case I hope you enjoy the story as it continues to unfold and I promise to try and continue to post additional chapters to this ongoing saga. During the previous writing of this story I was fortunate to have Jesse Mercer as my editor.  I no longer have that luxury so I am without an editor.  I can only hope that I have been able to edit my own work satisfactorily.  If there is someone who would care to volunteer please contact me. Please contact me with any comments or even suggestions but beware, flames will be ignored.  I do try to reply to any emails received. Continuance is dependent on whether or not there seems to be an interest in reading.

From chapter 8…..

The atmosphere was jovial as usual that evening at the home.  Kelly sat next to Paul and Bobby had managed to get positions for Jeffrey and him at the same table.  A luscious meal had been served as usual and the staff was bringing out desert.  Suddenly, Jeffrey clutched his side as he yelped in pain.  The intensity caused him to fall from his chair.  At first, the others thought he was playing some kind of joke, as he had already established himself on par with Paul with a few little tricks through the day played on various people.  He had even managed to play a trick on Bobby; the results of which only endeared Jeffrey closer to Bobby’s heart.  Within moments however, it was very evident this was no joke.  When the reality of the situation hit, Bobby cried out for help.  James and Bill ran from their table to investigate.  Tony had already run to a phone and summoned 911.  Within a matter of minutes an ambulance arrived. Bill accompanied Jeffrey in the ambulance while James drove his car following.  Tony and Phillip IV stayed at the home to keep things under control, but Paul, Bobby and Kelly accompanied James.

In the hospital waiting room, Bobby was inconsolable; he sat, curled in the fetal position, crying constantly.  Paul and Kelly attempted to console him to no avail.  Bill tried to lift him into his lap but he wouldn’t budge. The clock seemed to be the only thing moving as the hours slowly passed.  Suddenly the doors opened and a gowned surgeon with a forlorn look slowly entered the room.

“I’m looking for the family of Jeffrey Adams,” stated the man as he looked around the room.

Chapter 9 

 “Right here,” stated James as he and Bill stood, the boys not moving; huddled together, but watching intensely. 

“One of you is the father?” inquired the doctor.

“I am the head of the home where Jeffrey resides and this is the head counselor from the home,” answered James.

“Very well, pardon me, I didn’t know.”

“Is Jeffrey OK?” asked Paul.

“I’m sorry, I’m sure that’s what you are more interested in knowing,” stated the doctor, his face still grave.  “The young man had his appendix burst.  The length of time in the operating room was necessary to try to insure all matter was removed and he was completely clean in the area.  Any matter left could cause an infection that could be very serious.  We can only hope we got everything, but in any case we are starting him on an antibiotic to insure no infection can take hold.  The next twenty-four hours will tell the story.”

“Can we see him?” asked Bill.

“He is being moved to the recovery room right now.  In a little bit a nurse will show you to his room where you can wait until he has recovered sufficiently to be moved there.  Is there a particular reason the younger boys are here?  Normally we do not allow children less than twelve years of age to visit in the hospital.”

“Paul is Jeffrey’s brother, the other two are roommates of Paul or Jeffrey, and the boys are quite close.  It was our decision for them to accompany us I hope you will not have a problem with their being here.”

“Well it is unusual but under the conditions I will try to see there isn’t any static.  Just be sure to be attentive to any requests from the nursing staff so as not to raise their ire.”

“I think we can assure you there will not be any problem caused by the boys,” replied James.

“Do we have any idea what may have caused Jeffrey’s problem?” asked Bill.

“I can’t say for sure but something caused enough stress on his system that the appendix burst.”

*******

“Well doctor what’s the verdict?  The nurse has had me walking almost every hour today and it’s been a day and a half since my surgery,” inquired Jeffrey.

“Your blood work came back without any signs of infection so I think we should be able to take you off of the antibiotics.  I would like to keep you till at least tomorrow though so I can be sure everything else is going well,” replied the doctor as he looked over the chart in his hands.

“Hi Jeff!” exclaimed Bobby as he, Paul and Kelly ran into the room followed shortly by Bill.

“Mammy sent you lunch!  She said you wouldn’t get well fast enough eat’in the stuff they give you in the hospital!” excitedly proclaimed Kelly as Paul placed a box on the tray table in front of Jeffrey.

“And what is this?” inquired the doctor with a faint smirk.

“Sorry doctor, but our resident chef Mammy believes that only her food is the best for a recuperating charge of hers.  They may be in the hospital but she still feels her cooking will get them back to health faster than any hospital food,” answered Bill somewhat sheepishly.

“Perhaps we should hire Mammy to run our kitchens here,” chuckled the doctor.

“Just convince Mammy of that, she would never leave her family at the home,” stated Bill.

“What did Mammy send?” asked Jeffrey.

“Our favorite Dagwood Sub sandwich with a couple of side salads and brownies for dessert,” replied Bobby.

“How many did she send?  That’s a pretty big box!

“Jeffrey, she figured we’d stay for the afternoon so she sent lunch for all of us.  You don’t know how hard it was to keep a certain not to be named three boys from getting into the brownies.  That’s why she used the box and taped it shut,” responded Bill.

“Well then, let’s eat!” said Jeffrey as he opened the box and began to distribute its contents.  “Hey there’s enough for you too doctor!  Will you join us?”

“Thank you.  I think perhaps I should just to check out what is so special about the food.”

It didn’t take long and any evidence of the lunch was history.  All were sated by the time the last crumb of brownie had been consumed.  Bill had made a quick trip to the cafeteria and with Kelly’s help had brought back beverages for all. 

*******

“Jeffrey, Paul, Kelly and Bobby I would like to talk to you each in my chambers.  If you will follow my bailiff I will join you.  I have a few questions for each of you before we go any further,” announced Judge Hamilton to the overflowing court room.

“Jeffrey I understand you would like to be adopted by Bill Murphy?”

“Yes your honor I want that more than anything else in the world, that and becoming a brother to my other three buddies,” answered Jeffrey.

“And I understand that you Paul, Kelly and Bobby feel the same way?”

“You bet!” replied the three in encore.

“Paul and Kelly, you wish to be adopted by James Townsend?”

“Yes, but really I wish we all could be adopted by both,” answered Paul.

“But James and Bill live together and the four of you will live with them, so you will all be together.”

“We know but we’d like to all have the same last name, after all Paul and I are really brothers,” stated Jeffrey.

“Could we take the last name of Murphy-Townsend?” asked Paul.

“Are you sure you would want that or Townsend-Murphy?  Do you know what last name your adopting fathers will take when they are able to marry?” asked the Judge.

“We’re not sure but I am the oldest of the four of us and Bill Murphy is adopting me so we decided that Murphy-Townsend would make the most sense, besides that’s alphabetical order anyway,” answered Jeffrey.

“How about we ask your soon to be fathers, and let them make the final decision?” said the Judge.

“OK!  Maybe it will give them some ideas!” chimed in one and all.

“How do you feel about not living in the home any longer?”

“That’s not a problem; we’ll still be able to be there every day with our dads so we can go to school, just like Phillip and Tony.  When our dad’s go home from work we get to go with them and get special time, instead of being without them during the evening and night as it is now,” said Paul speaking for the group as the rest nodded their heads in agreement.

“Do any of you have any questions you would like answered before we go back into the court room?” inquired the Judge.

“Are we going to be much longer?  Isn’t it getting close to lunch time?  I know Mammy is fixing a special lunch for us and we’d like for you to join us to!” declared Kelly in a rather timid voice, while he practiced his puppy dog look with begging eyes.

“Ok you little rascal!  Let’s go into the court room and get this done, then it off to that special lunch.”

“Yeah!!!” chorused the four.

“Mr. Murphy and Mr. Townsend we seem to have a problem,” declared the Judge in a solemn tome of voice.

“Your honor?” exclaimed both men at the same time as a look of dread crossed their faces.  After all the problems and all the previous meetings and agreements they couldn’t fathom what could possible be the problem at this stage.

“It seems the boys have decided they wish to change their last name during the process of the adoption.  They realize that you, Mr. Murphy, are adopting Jeffrey and Bobby, and you, Mr. Townsend, are adopting Paul and Kelly; however as has been determined Jeffrey and Paul are brothers, though actually half brothers and their feeling towards each other and Bobby and Kelly have caused them to decide they want the same last name. I don’t know what the two of you may have in mind but they have already decided that they would all like to take the name of Murphy-Townsend as their last name.  Their comment was that Jeffrey was the oldest and being adopted by you, Mr. Murphy and following alphabetical order they chose the order of Murphy-Townsend instead of vice-versa.  They also seemed to express some idea of giving the two of your some ideas; just exactly what they mean by that I’ll leave for you to interpret.  The question before us today however is whether or not you are in agreement to their request.”

As an obvious wave of relief encompassed their faces and they looked at each other in silent communication they both nodded their head and James began to speak. “Your honor, at this point nothing either of these boys might say or do surprises either of us.  We understand how they feel as they do and though they are not aware of our conversations we had already decided between us that when we can marry we would hyphenate our names, actually as the boys have decided to do so.  With that in mind we are in agreement and would be proud to have all four of our sons carry our combined names.”

“Then with that taken care of please have your attorney prepare the proper forms for the change of names and upon receipt I will sign them putting them into effect.  In the mean time I will document the forms for the adoption and I hereby declare Paul and Kelly as the sons of James Townsend and Jeffery and Bobby the sons of Bill Murphy.  The word on the winds are that Minnesota will soon be allowing same sex marriages and when that is the case and the two of you have tied the knot please to not hesitate to petition this court for the cross adoptions so that both of you can legally claim the fatherhood of all four boys.”

A cheer rose first from the four boys and then from the gallery as the ramifications of the Judge’s statement became clear.  The Judge had to restore order using his gavel while a very evident grin emanated from the bench. As soon as order was restored the Judge adjourned court for lunch.

To be continued...

Comments encouraged and appreciated

Rod

Posted: 03/17/17