Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2020 15:22:07 -0500 From: Eric Murphey Subject: Transitions Book 2 Chapter 10 Hello everyone. I hope i fond you happy and content in life.I want to ask each and everyone that reads my stories for a very small favor. I am a lot like Eric as in i try to help people as much as I can. Sadly I am not wealthy like Eric so here is my favor. This Christmas is going to be hard for a lot of families. I am very thankful that this year I am doing so much better then last year. I am going to go to the store and spend one weeks salary on toys and donate them to toys for tots. If you dont have this in your country find a charity that gives toys to children. See I truly love children. Not just int eh ways i fantasize but, in all ways. My favor is for you to do the same. I know that most of you cant just toss out a week salary like that. But, if you can get a game a toy even a match box car or a little doll. We together can make many childrens christmas so much better. When you do I would like to know what you were able to do. I wont post names. But, I would like to let everyone know the positive impact we have had this year. I thank you in advance for the help you will provide. We arent monsters we ar caring and loving individuals. Lets prove it. Also a donation to nifty wold be nice as well Here is the newest chapter. Eric Transitions Book 2 Chapter 10 Eric looks around the room still sleepy. He didn't sleep well in the chair. He looks to the bed and his little monkeys are all in the bed together. He smiles at them. He knows they all love each other very much. He stands up and stretches and he hears his bones crack as he does. He sighs because it feels rather nice as it does. He bends over and touches his toes again his back popping as he does. "Ahh." "When I get old Ba will I do that too." "Yes you will." Eric says smiling. Its a good sign he is thinking of getting old. He is having a positive outlook now. Before it seemed he was just ready to die. But, with no one to love. Really what is the point of life anyway. "You hungry?" "Starving." Her says smiling. Their conversation has stirred the other boys and they are rubbing their eyes. Joey looks hilarious. His hair is all standing up and he looks like Gene Wilder in the Mel Brooks take on Frankenstein. "I will go see how long until your breakfast arrives. If its not soon I will find some doughnuts or something for you to tide you over." "Cool." Eric strolls down to the nurses station and as he does he sees a kitchen person wheel the cart off the elevator. That answers that then. He turns and walks back to the room. "Just a few minutes it looks like. They just brought the food cart up." "Dad you think they are bringing something for us?" "I doubt it." "I'm pretty hungry too poppi." "You guys go eat I will be right here when you get back." Tran says smiling. "Cool." The boys say and hop off the bed. "We will be back shortly. Love you buddy." Eric says and kisses Trans fore head. "Yeah we love you too Tran." Joey says. Alejandro smiles signifying he agrees with what was said. Both boys give him a quick hug and they start out the door with Eric trailing behind. Once they get on the elevator Joey starts a little dance. "Dad I should have peed first." "Me too Poppi." "Me three guys." Once they get off they find a restroom and quickly go in to relieve themselves. Then they head to the cafeteria and get some pancakes, eggs and bacon for the boys. Eric passes on meat. But, does get bacon to give to the boys. He knows they will eat ten pounds if he let them. But, he isn't trying to clog their little hearts and have them have heart attacks before they are ten. Maybe he should have them eat a bit healthier. Well, usually they do. But, its hard when you aren't home. They have their breakfast. The boys must have been pretty hungry as they are done eating in no time flat. Eric looks at them. "You want more?" "Nah I'm good dad." Joey answers. "I think I want another pancake poppi." "Sure buddy." Eric says and hands him some money to go get it. "Can I get more bacon?" "Yeah?" "No I think you boys have had enough." "Kay." Alejandro says smiling. Knowing he was going to be told no. "You know what. Grab me that fruit with the cantaloupe in it if you don't mind." Eric asks. "Sure poppi." Alejandro says smiling. He goes and returns fairly quickly as its still early and not many people are there yet. Eric takes a bite of the cantaloupe and the flavor explodes in his mouth. "I don't know why I don't get this more often. I really like it." "Probably because Miss Julia does the shopping dad." Eric smiles. "Yeah that's probably true. I need to ask her to get some more often." "She will if its good for you. I keep asking her to get cake a lot. She just smiles and says maybe." Joey says. "Yeah she is a good woman that's for sure. She takes care of us when we don't do it ourselves." "Yeah she cooks real good. Even though she does make us eat lots of vegetables." Joey adds. "I like vegetables. I never really got them much before." Alejandro says. "Well, I like them too." Eric says smiling. Eric eats the rest of his fruit and smiles. "That was really good. I have a question for you guys." "Sure Poppi." Joey looks at him with waiting eyes. "Why didn't you tell me Tran wanted a train set?" "He asked us not to." Joey says. "That's silly why would he do that?" "Poppi you got him so much already. He is worried he is taking advantage." "You boys know that's not true." "You don't understand Poppi. When you don't get nothing for a long time and then someone gets you lots of stuff you feel kind of guilty." "Yeah dad you spend a lot of money on us and we kind of don't know how to act. We appreciate it and stuff. But, it makes us I don't know embarrassed kind of. No that's not it. I cant think of the right word." "I'm sorry boys. I never really thought about it. Its just that I have lots and want to share with those I love." "We know dad." "Yeah poppi there are lots of times we want something but, we don't ask. Cuz we know you will get it for us. Then we would feel guilty." "Its never my intention to make you guys feel like that. I never thought about it I guess. I just want you guys happy. Please if you want something just let me know. You know I get great satisfaction getting you things." "We know dad. Its why we dont say nothing." Eric scratches his head and thinks about this new revelation the boys have given him. "Well I was thinking about getting him a train set today. Do you think I should?" They both smile and nod. "But, dad tell him he has to earn it when he gets better. He will like that better. He wont feel guilty then." "But, I have you guys do chores and things to earn your things." "Yeah but, poppi you make us clean our rooms which we would do anyway." "So you want more chores?" "It would make us feel better dad." "But, what would I have you do. I mean I have a guy that takes care of the lawn, and plow the snow. We have Miss Julia to clean and cook for us. I have a guy that details our cars. What else is there?" "It is a really big house poppi. We can help Miss Julia with the cleaning. I could vacuum and stuff." "Yeah and I could dust the furniture and stuff too. It would help Miss Julia she works a lot to keep it clean for us." "Yeah poppi and then she has to clean her house too." "You boys do make a valid point. You don't think I work her too much do you?" "No Poppi she likes it. She says she used to work a lot harder for a lot less. But, it would be nice to help her. Besides I kind of want to learn to cook." "Really? I didn't know that." "Yeah Poppi I like to help her cut stuff up. Its lots of fun." "OK boys this all sounds fine to me. I will talk it over with Miss Julia to make sure she doesn't think I don't like her work. Because I don't want to hurt her feelings." "She wont mind dad." Joey says. "Alright but, we will talk to her first. You guys can take out the trash too." "We do dad." "Oh." "So what job should I have Tran do when he is better for the train set?" "Have him clean your room for a month. Make your bed and everything." "I never make my bed." "We know dad and it looks sloppy." "So now I'm sloppy huh?" Eric says reaching out and rubbing Joeys head. Making him giggle. "Yeah poppi you could use some help in the cleaning department." "Great now im a slob." "Yepper." They say in unison. Eric rolls his eyes. "Lets go find a hobby shop to get a train for Tran." "That sounds funny poppi. Train for Tran." He says giggling making Joey laugh too. Eric smiles at him. "I guess it does." Eric pulls out his phone and Googles hobby shops. There is one a few miles away. He and the boys put their dirty trays where they go and head to get the truck. They head to the shop that is amazingly open this early. Well its not that early now its around 8. When they walk in they see an older man in his early 60s who has a big belly and is balding. "What can I do ya for?" He asks in a happy voice. "We need a train set." "What scale you wanting you think?" "I suppose HO would be best. Seems to be what everyone goes for nowadays. However a Z scale would be pretty neat too. Always thought about getting one of those for my desk." "I got a bunch of HO scale. Not too many Z scales though. Not much call for them. The man walks them over to several train sets. Eric and the boys look over all of them. The boys see one and say. "We got to get him this one poppi." "Yeah dad its perfect." Eric looks and its the Orient express. He smiles and says. "Yeah that's perfect. Wrap it up sir we will take it. You boys see anything you want?" They look at him like he has two heads because they just discussed this. "What you have more chores. Well, pending Miss Julia's approval." "No poppi we got everything we want." "Yeah dad. We came for Tran not us." "Just asking." Eric says holding up his hands in defeat. The man rings up the sale and Eric puts it on his credit card. "Sure I cant interest you in anything else? Eric spots it out of the corner of his eye. He turns his head and says. "Yes I want that." He says pointing to the other train set he spied. "Its perfect isn't it guys?" The man shows them. Its a McDonald land train set. It has Ronald and the gang all on the train. It is perfect for them. "Yeah it is Poppi. You going to put it in the store?" "I don't know. I may want to keep this one at home." "Dad owns a lot of McDonald. Joey explains to the man. "Then it is perfect for you. I got it a while back on a whim thinking it was kind of neat. I knew someone would think so too." The man says adding that train to the bag and onto the bill. "You need more tracks?" "Not at this time. We don't really have room at this time." "Yeah our brother is in the hospital." Alejandro adds. "I am sorry to hear that. I hope he gets better soon." "We do to sir." Joey says. "You guys have fun with the trains. If you need anything more you come see old Emit. I will be glad to help you boys out." "Thank you sir. We may just do that." Eric says taking the bag from the counter. When they get outside Alejandro and Joey are jumping around. "He is gonna love it." Joey says. "Yeah he is and he is going to be surprised too." Alejandro adds. "I hope he doesn't get mad we told." "Nah. Tran aint like that." "Nah he isn't. Sides we told poppi to make him work for it. That will make him happy." "He is gonna love it. I bet he gets super excited about it." "I'm sure he will guys. I just wish you wouldn't keep secrets from me." "Daaaad. Its our brother we can keep brother secrets." "Yeah poppi." "OK things like this I am OK with you keeping secret. Although I wish you wouldn't. But, if its something that is bad. Or, something the other is upset about please let me know." "Of course we would dad. Maybe not the upset part. Cuz sometimes a guy just wants to share with someone. But, not their dad." "Yeah poppi." "Its a mutiny. I tell you a mutiny." Eric says like a pirate. "Your so silly poppi." "Its why we love you so much dad. You are like a big kid. Just with more sponsibilities." "Yeah I keep hearing that lately." "Poppi like you told me. If you hear something once. No big deal. If you hear it twice maybe you should ponder it a minute. If you hear it three times there might be something to it." "Throwing my own words back at me are you. Little rapscallion." "Yep that's me a scallion." He giggles. "Rapscallion buddy. A scallion is an onion. Well, kind of." "Eww I thought you were stinky. Onion boy." Joey teases. "I bet we are all a bit stinky. We have been at the hospital for so long. None of has taken a shower. We probably should go by the hotel first to shower and change clothes. Otherwise the staff at the hospital will say. Oh here comes that man and the stinky boys." "You would be stinkier. Men get stinky faster then us boys poppi." "You have a point. So lets not become dirt freaks. Lets go get cleaned up." On the way to the hotel Joey and Alejandro pick on each other about who would get stinkier faster. They both said Eric of course. Then went back and forth about which one does more stuff to make them stinky. Once they get there Eric stops at the front desk. "Excuse sir may I speak to the manager." "Absolutely sir. Is there a problem?" "No far from it. Could you get them please?" "On the double sir." The man stands at attention and salutes, and disappears through a door. "Why did he do that poppi?" "With his hair and his demeanor. I would guess he is either in the National Guard or just got out of the military." "Oh. It looked kind of neat." "Don't you even think about joining the military." He says to both boys. "Why poppi aren't they heroes?" "Sure they are. They protect us. But, I would worry myself to death if any of you guys were in the military. Going to war and having people shoot at you. I would be a wreck. You wouldn't want to do that to your dear old dad would you?" "Old part is right." Joey says giggling. "What? What did you say sonny?" Eric says acting like a really old man. The boys giggle at him. As they are still giggling the manager comes out. A very lovely Latina lady. "Yes I am Gloria Fuentes. What can I do for you?" "Yes Miss Fuentes. My name is Eric Murphey and I just wanted to let you know what an amazing job your night person made. I don't think I know her name. She may have told me but, it was a very stressful situation..." "Oh your the man with the little boy that went to the hospital. How is he I certainly hope he is fine." She says. Eric can tell she is being completely sincere. Not just hospitality bullshit. Eric smiles at her concern. "He is doing very well. Thank you for asking." "Good." She says returning the smile. "We were all pretty worried about him. Its my understanding he is a patient at St Jude's. "Yes ma'am he is." "What a great institution. We just love that hospital here." "I think everyone loves it. They do amazing work." "Yes they do. I don't know how they do it though. Dealing with all the children being sick. I couldn't do it. I would be crying 24/7." "You are preaching to the choir on that one. I just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate her help the other night. She was simply amazing. She went way above and beyond the call of duty for us. I just wanted her to get the proper recognition she deserves. Do you know how she is paying for her schooling?" "Student loans. She is so worried she will die before they are paid off." She jokes. "I hear ya. They can get pretty big pretty fast." "Yeah she is a great girl. She is going into childhood oncology." "I hope she is as good as Tom Tom." Alejandro says. "Tom Tom?" She looks questioning at him. "That's what we call Dr Thomas. He is really good we think." "Oh I know him he is so funny. Dr. Thomas Thomas a name so great his parents used it twice." She says laughing. The boys and Eric laugh. "He must tell that one to everyone." Eric says still chuckling. "I'm sure he does." "Anyway, me and my stinky boys need to go get cleaned up and go back to be with Tran. We just wanted to say thank you so much to her and to your staff. You have all been amazing." "Yes ma'am thank you and her too." Joey says. "Yes ma'am I want to say thank you too." "Its what we do here. I take a lot of pride that our hotel doesn't just treat our guests as customers. But, as family. You see I always tell my staff that imagine it was you on the other side. You would want someone to treat you then more then just money coming in. People work very hard for their money and we are very blessed they stay with us." "Now that is a great attitude to have. I always told my staff the same. Imagine its you on the other side of the counter. Do you want something that's slopped together? Do you want to be treated rudely? It seems to work." "Yes it does." She replies with a smile. "Have a good day." Eric says as the walk to the elevator. "Poppi she is real nice." "I think you are right about that." Once they get to the room Alejandro asks. "Poppi can I shower with you?" "Anytime." "Me too?" "Of course." Once they get there Eric turns on and adjusts the water as the boys are stripping. A sight Eric will never get tired of. His beautiful boys in the buff. They are sniffing each other and joking they smell like scallions. Eric gets undressed as the boys get in the shower. He steps in. "Eww poppi you smell like a huge scallion." Alejandro giggles. Joey joins in the laughter. Eric just chuckles at him. "Probably so. Lets get cleaned up. Eric grabs the shampoo and starts washing the boys hair. He thinks they like him to wash them because it is something intimate they hadn't really had. He washes their bodies next. Enjoying feeling the smooth softness of their skin beneath his fingers. It wasn't sexual. Just a nice feeling. Although both boys did get erections. Its to be expected. Once he is done they insist on washing him. He of course lets them. Its nice having their fingers run across his body as they do. "Alright guys I don't think we smell like scallions anymore. Lets get to the hospital and give Tran a happy day." "Kay." Joey says and the boys race off to their room to get dressed. He watches their cute little butts as they race off. "I must be the luckiest man alive." He says to the walls. Once they all get dressed, look , and smell presentable again they go back to the hospital. "We should get him more flowers poppi." Alejandro says as they walk by the gift shop. "You think?" "I know I would like it." Joey says. "If you don't think he has enough." Eric says shrugging. They go in and get six more bouquets of flowers. They head upstairs and walk into Trans room. "Cool more flowers." Eric looks around. "Buddy where are your other ones?" "Well, Ba see. Its like this." He says looking around. "Yes?" Eric asks inquisitively. "See I was out walking around while you were gone. I saw a lot of the other children didn't have any flowers. Flowers make ya feel good you know. Kind of special." "I tell you what you are one of the sweetest boys around." Eric says smiling. "You want to go around and pass these out too?" "Can I? It made them happy and me too." He says grinning. "Absolutely. I just ask you keep one so you can feel happy too." "Sure Ba." Tran says grinning ear to ear. "See that's how I feel every time I give you boys something. It just makes me feel so amazing to give you gifts." Eric says so he can kind of alleviate the guilt Tran feels for Eric getting him things he needs. Not to mention things he wants too. Its nice to be able to do that for someone you love. "You boys want to go with him?" "Yeah!" They say in unison. So that's what they do is go down the hall and pass out flowers. Eric makes a quick phone call to his office and relays some information to them. A few minutes later they return all smiles. "That was fun poppi." "Yeah dad you should have seen how happy they were." I never would have thought flowers would mean that much to children. But, what do I know. Tran jumps back up on the bed and the boys bounce in right next to him. He has the bed propped up in the sitting position and they all look so sweet sitting like that. Both boys had grabbed Trans hands and were holding them. They look so happy Eric thinks. I hope it stays that way. He opens the bag and pulls out the train. Eric sits it on Trans lap. "Oh my god this is soooo cool.' Then he looks at the boys. "You told." He says accusingly. "It was an accident. I swear I said something when you were real sick and poppi heard me. I'm sorry." Alejandro says on the verge of tears. "Yeah he didn't mean to." Joey says defending Alejandro. He smiles at them. "Its OK. We are brothers and brothers forgive each other." He says and kisses them both on the cheek. They smile at his forgiveness. "Gee thanks. I am sorry though." Alejandro says. "Its nothing forget about it." He says and looks at the train. Eric can see he feels guilty. "That's not free by the way. You have to earn it." Tran looks up feeling better about the gift. "Yeah you got to clean dads room for a month." "Yeah and make his bed so it doesn't look sloppy." Alejandro adds. "For this I will do it for two months. Maybe a year. This is so cool. Thank you Ba." "Anytime you want something. Just let me know. I will figure out what chores you can do to earn it." "Cool." "So no more wanting something and not having it. You hear me young man." Eric says trying to sound stern which fails miserably. The boys just laugh at him. "Sure thing Ba. Thanks again this is so cool." "Well, what are we waiting for tear that baby open." Eric says. The boys hop down and Tran very carefully opens the packaging. He makes sure not to damage it in any way. He has never had anything like this given to him. So he wants to take extra special care of it. That and to show his respect to his Ba. Once he finally gets it open and all the pieces out Eric and the boys are down on the floor setting it up and finally getting it going when Dr Thomas comes in. "Oh I see you have been to see Emit." "Does everyone know you here?" Joey asks. Dr Tomas chuckles and runs his mustache. "Yes I imagine they do." "Cool." Alejandro adds. "I have a huge set up in my basement. My wife hates it. But it gives me something to do when I worry about a patient or need to think. You guys should come see it." "Really? You mean it?" Tran says. "Of course I do. Now I hate to interrupt your fun. But, I have to be a vampire and get some blood from you to check a few things to see if we can continue with your treatment plan. Or if we have to change course." Tran looks grim at the thought of a needle. "I will hold your hand to make you feel better." Alejandro says. Tran smiles a weak smile. "Thanks." Tran gets up on the bed and holds out his arm. Alejandro true to his word grabs his other hand. Tran smiles. "I don't like this any more then you do Tran." The doctor say pulling out a few vials and a needle. "I wish there was a better way. But, they haven't figured it out yet. Sooooo until they do we have to go this way." Hes says keeping Tran occupied talking while he wipes his arm and inserts the needle. Tran winces when he does. "I could lie and say its not that bad. But, we both know it would still be bad. I just feel like being honest is always best." The doctor rambles on as he changes the vials and is finally done after six. "There ya go. I still left you a few drops." He says putting on a star wars band aid he had gotten just for this. "Now I will take these to the lab they will check some things and we will know shortly whats going on. With that I take my leave." He says with a smile and walks out the room. "You now he has a way to make me feel better about the bad stuff." Tran says. "He is a good doctor that's for sure." Eric says. They go back to playing with the train for a good hour and Eric sees a little boy in the door way watching. He is in pj's and a robe with the hospital socks on. "You want to come play too?" Eric asks. He looks kind of hesitant. "Yeah come on in. Alejandro says. "Yeah. Its fun come on." Tran says to him. Joey isn't having any of the talking. He just gets up and grabs the boys hand and pulls him in the room. "Which one of you is sick?" He asks. "Me." Tran says. I'm Tran by the way. This is my Ba or dad Eric, my brothers Alejandro and Joey." Each wave their hand as they are introduced. "I'm Brandon. I got cancer too." "I'm sorry to hear that. Its not any fun is it?" Tran responds. "No not at all." He says sitting cross legged next to Tran. "You want to run it for a while. We take turns and mine is over now. So its your turn." Tran says even though his turn just really started. "Wow really?" The boys entire face lights up with pure excitement. "Sure. Here's how you do it." Tran says showing him. "You are so cool. Thanks." The boys all have fun watching him play the joy it brought him was infectious Not that they weren't already happy. But it made them jubilant to share with Brandon. "So Brando how old are you?" Eric asks. "I'm six and a half." "Wow you are a big guy aren't you?" Eric says. Brandon sits a little straighter feeling proud. "Yep I sure am." Eris is thinking in his head six and a half years old having to battle cancer. What a shitty thing. I wonder if I gave everything I have to St Jude if it would be enough to find a cure. If I knew it would I would do it in a second. I can start over again. Me and the boys don't need a massive house like we have. Sure its nice. But, to save one child's life. It would be worth it. "There you are buddy." A man says from the door. "Hi daddy. They let me play with their train. Its so cool. Can I get a train daddy?" Brandon says jumping up and racing to his dad. His dad scoops him up. Eric can see the man truly loves his son. There is no denying that fact. "I wish I could buddy but, they are kind of expensive and I just cant afford it right now. But, as soon as I can you got one." "Its cuz im sick right? You keep missing work and stuff. I'm sorry." "Aw Brandon no. Dont be sorry. You didn't say hey let me have cancer. You just worry about you. I will worry about work. OK?" ""OK. Did you mean it when you said I can get one some day?" "Buddy have I ever lied to you?" "Nope." "Alright then. Thank you guys for letting Brandon play. He is fascinated by trains." "They are fun." Eric says. `Tell them bye buddy." "Bye guys and thanks for letting me play. It was so cool." "Anytime you want come down we will play with it." Tran says. Brandon just grins. The dad carries him back to his room wherever that may be and then the food trays come. Eric and the boys head to the cafeteria and have their lunch and head back up after they finish. Once they return Tran is leaned back in his bed the TV on and he has fallen asleep. "Come on guys. Lets let Tran rest." Eric says. He writes a note to Tran. Son: We saw you were sleeping. We know you need your rest and we didn't want to bother you. We love you and will be back up in a few hours.. Love Ba and the boys. He sits it on the bed table and puts it where he knows Tran will see it when he wakes up. As they are walking towards the elevator Joey sees the little girl he met at the restaurant the other day laying in a bed. "Hold on dad." Joey says to Eric, and he makes a bee line into her room. "Well, Hi how are you today?" She smiles and it lights up the entire room. "I saw you here and I just had to stop and say hi to one of the prettiest girls I ever met." Joey says. "Gosh thanks." She says gushing. Still thinking Joey is famous. In a way he probably is. All the videos of him have gone viral. Of course the latest being at the bowling alley. Joey steps next to her bed and takes her hand. She turns beet red. "Can you sing me a song. I know it will make me feel better." She asks with pleading eyes. Joey doesn't even answer and starts singing a song his gram used to sing to him. "You are my sunshine. My only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You will never know dear how much I love you. So please don't take my sunshine away...." As he is singing her mother comes into the room. Her other is grinning, as she stes up to Eric. "Your son is so sweet. You know he is all she has talked about for two days. How she met someone famous." She says softly so as not to interrupt the song. "Joey isn't famous." Eric says politely. "You cant convince her of that." She says smiling back. Eric smiles. "Well he is very special that's for certain." "Yes he is." "We found a video of him at another hospital. He was playing with a Latino boy. Do you guys go around to hospitals or something?" "No we don't. A friend of ours was visiting and the boy you are referring to is Danny. He had eye surgery at Riley children hospital and they restored sight in one of his eyes." "That's so nice." "Yes it is." Eric's phone pings. He looks at the text. Mission completed sir. The text reads. Thank you. You are amazing. He texts back. All in a days work for you sir. PSHAW Hope everything is going well for your new son. It seems to be going well. Thank you. Let him know everyone in the office is cheering for him. I will let him know. Again thank you. Anytime Eric puts the phone back into his pocket. Joey is done singing and he is sitting on the edge of the bed talking to the little girl in hushed tones. He has no idea what he is saying. But, the little girl is smiling a lot. "Alright, we got to get going. But, you get better OK?" Joey says to her. "I will try." "Good." Joey says and bends over and kisses her cheek. She blushes again. As Eric and the boys are leaving the room he hears the little girl say to her mom. "I love him mommy. He is cute. Don't you think?" "Yes sweetie he is very cute." Eric smiles at hearing this. He is certain Joey and Alejandro don't because they are talking. Eric is beaming with pride that his son is so thoughtful and caring. He is a good boy for sure. As they are walking out of the hospital they run into Joe and his family coming in. "Well, howdy strangers." Joe says. "Long time no see huh?" Eric says. He hears Illiana ask Alejandro and Joey about Tran. "Hows Tran doing? Is he OK?" "Yeah." Is all he hears as he starts talking a minute with Linda and Joe. "SO little Joe will be cleared to go home tomorrow we think. I am so happy about that." "We are to." "I just cant believe our good fortune." Linda says. "Yes, we are so thrilled for you guys." "We hope Tran soon gets a clean bill of health too." "We are very hopeful that this latest episode isn't a set back. He may have to do chemo and radiation instead. We just don't know yet. We are hoping he can continue with the current treatment plan. Because it has a higher survival rate." Eric says in a worried tone. Joe leans in to Eric. "Look Eric if you need to talk about it. Please come see me or give me a call. Trust me I knew exactly what you are going through. Absolutely terrified and you don't dare let the family see how scared you really are because you want them to be positive." Eric nods. "I may just do that. I certainly appreciate the offer." They all chat a few more minutes and Eric and the boys head out to the truck and go back to the hotel. Once they get there they head to their room and Eric says to the boys. "Guys I am a little tired I think I am going to take a nap for a while. You will be OK?" "Sure dad." Alejandro just looks at him like he is stupid. "If you need anything...." "We know dad just come wake you up." "Don't answer the door for anyone. We know poppi." "I love you guys." "Love you too poppi." "Yeah dad." Eric strips down to his boxer briefs and climbs into bed. He is asleep in a matter of seconds. He sleeps very hard as he needs some rest. He cant believe the boys aren't tired. But, little people can sleep anywhere it doesn't matter to them. He wakes several hours later to Alejandro shaking him. "Poppi the lady who helped is knocking on the door. I told her I am not allowed to answer it. But, she wants to talk to you. She says its REAL important." "OK. I'm up go ahead and let her in. Tell her I will be out in a minute." He says and he grabs his pants and slips them on. Alejandro goes and opens the door. "Wheres your dad sweetie?" She asks him. "In the bedroom." She races in as Eric slips a t-shirt over his head. She wraps her arms around him and nearly knocks him over. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I don't know how I can ever repay you." She has yet to stop hugging him. "You can start by letting me breathe." He says half joking. "Oh sorry." She says letting him go. "I would sleep with you if I wasn't gay. Hell I may still. You are the most amazing person I have ever met." She says hugging him again. "I am glad you appreciate it. But, please it was nothing." "Nothing?!?!" "I do it all the time." "I bet you do." She says still hugging him. The boys are watching and not really sure what is happening. "Dad are you OK?" "I am fine Joey." After a few more hugs and her gushing how great he is just making him embarrassed she leaves. "Poppi what was that about?" "Nothing. I just helped her a little." "Dad she looked like it was more then a little." "People get over excited is all. It was nothing." "Kay poppi. We going to see Tran now?" "You bet we are." Eric says slipping on some socks and some shoes. Eric and the boys head downstairs to go to the truck. In the lobby he sees the woman and she is just smiling and talking to the manager who is smiling as well. They see Eric and both come around the reception desk to talk to him a minute. Miss Fuentes gives Eric a quick hug. "You are so nice. I cant believe you paid off her student loans." She say as she hugs him. "It was nothing." Eric says. "$200,000 is nothing? Are you married?" She says laughing. "No poppi isn't married." Alejandro says. "Well, his wife would be very lucky if he was." "Its a tax write off is all. I have funds set aside in my company to do things like that for people. Its just for taxes." Eric tries to convince her. "No I don't think so. I think you are just trying to be modest." "Miss Fuentes. I really just think she doesn't need to have a massive debt over her head. She needs to focus on school and not money." "After what you did you call me Gloria." "OK Gloria. But, please don't make a big deal about it. I just wanted to help and I am happily able to. So I did." "But, it is a big deal." "Dad helps people all the time. He just likes it. But, he really doesn't like people carrying on about it." Joey says. "Yeah it makes poppi get embarrassed." Alejandro chimes in. "Oh I didn't mean to do that. Its just so nice is all." "It was nothing. We are going to see my son at the hospital now." "Oh I'm sorry I didn't mean to hold you up. But, again thank you." "You are very welcomed." As they get in the truck Joey says. "Dad how many people do you help?" "I don't know son. I don't keep track." "I bet poppi has helped a million people." "I doubt its that much. Guys the way I see things. Is if you have a lot like we do. You need to help a lot. There is no reason to obtain vast amounts of money like we have other then to help people that need and deserve it. Besides how many people have you boys helped. You don't think about all the children you helped get new coats. All the money you guys raised for the children's clinic. You guys help lots of people too." "Yeah dad because of you." "Yeah poppi." "Guys lets forget about it. Lets go see your brother. Eric still feels uncomfortable and always will probably about getting praise for doing what he feels is the right thing to do. Once they get to the hospital they are nearing Trans room and hear laughter coming from the room. As they walk in they see Tran and Brandon sitting on the floor playing with the train. "Well, hi Brandon good to see you again." Eric says. "Yeah we are playing with the train again." "Yeah its lots of fun playing with Brandon." Tran says. "I better go Tran so you can talk to your daddy and brothers." "No please stay." Tran says. "Yes Brandon we like having your company. Keep on playing. Its why I got the train is so we can all have fun with it." "It is lots of fun for sure." He says smiling. "Tran and I we made a new track see." He says showing they had a new design laid out. "Yeah Ba and Tom Tom came by and gave me this." Hes says showing a little hospital building. "That is so cool guys." That's how they spent the evening. Brandon's dad came in and tried to get Brandon to leave saying he was bothering them. Eric assured him he most definitely was not. He even convinced Brandon's dad to stay a while and they had dinner together. Eric ordered a dozen pizzas to share with all the children and staff on the floor. All in all they had a fun and action packed night. As much as you can at a hospital.