Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2012 17:10:11 -0700 From: Pete McDonald Subject: TIME-TO-SEE-62- TIME-TO-SEE-62 Max opened the back door of the town car and stepped out onto the sidewalk just seconds before Shannon piled into him like a lineman from the Oakland Raiders pro football team. "Ooofph!" Max said with no opportunity to cover his vulnerable parts before the blow. "SHANNON~!" he yelled more reflexively than out of a wish to communicate. "Dad! You should come see the spiders, they're GROSS!" Shannon exclaimed excitedly, speaking a "mile-a-minute." "The Spiders?" Max replied. "Yeah! Dad. There's this museum here where they have loads of these big, creepy spiders. Me and Jilder and Nicky got to visit while Hugo was working, and we saw em ALL.... Ugh!" Shannon said with a shudder. By now Kevin and Hugo and Jilder and Nicky had all arrived at the car. "What a surprise to see you, Max. This is wonderful... What happened?" Kevin said. Max said, "I just realized last night that I get to visit with my son only two and a half months a YEAR! Why am I going to leave him alone for a week of that time while I sit in an empty hotel room mulling over software systems? I figured I must be nuts! So I left someone else in charge of my briefings this morning and took the first flight out of Athens to Dublin today. And here I am: back among the sane." And he reached over to shake everyone's hand with a broad smile on his face. "And DAD!" Shannon went on, tugging on Max's suit coat at the same time to recover his attention. "Dad! Dad! And we went to the big conference, and when the men there were mean to Hugo, Jilder stood up and told them they were acting ugly like the spiders in the museum! Yeah... It was so coool!" Shannon said. Max looked over at Hugo and Kevin with an expression of great concern, "My goodness. It sounds as if you have received anything but a cordial welcome. I hope you were able to manage without ending up being brow-beaten." Hugh said, "Not exactly the reception I expected, but we sure got plenty of attention." "These academics get together and insult one another and stew over their issues... They need a 12-year old to set them straight occasionally, you know," Max said. "Ohhhhhh, yes!" Kevin reassured Max, nodding his head with his eyes looking up as if he were recalling the whole event. "Jilder didn't fail to make his point... I assure you. We'll fill you in on all the details a bit later. Don't worry." Max turned to Brandon, "Then, let me see... Brandy, can you think of a good place for us to take everyone for dinner, somewhere that the younger set will be welcome?" Brandon leaned over to see everyone through the open car door. "Hello, all. I'd have gotten out, except I thought that everyone would be loading up immediately. Forgive me.... Uh? Max, since it's so early, I think we'll have plenty of time to drive just south of the city for dinner at the Ritz Carlton Powerscourt in Wicklow Hills. The food is terrific, the scenery is out-of-this-world, and they welcome kids. We can have dinner on the terrace: the ultimate." "Ohhhh, sure! That's a great idea, Brandy." Max said "Then we can head directly over there from here, unless the guys need to return to Castle Clontarf for something," Max said looking over to the guys for confirmation... Kevin stepped out into the open and displayed his mud smeared trousers, "We had some business that required a somewhat 'earthy-treatment'; so Jilder and I are a little messy... Will that pass muster?" Kevin asked... "Oh, I think so. It has dried a good bit, and is not terribly obvious... I wouldn't worry. Max continued, "We'll arrive early enough that you'll be able to see the hotel. It's a crescent shaped building that, from a distance, looks like a wedding cake iced all in white-- really striking. And the mountains provide a beautiful backdrop for the formal gardens of the estate. So beautiful..." Then Max leaned over to the front seat to speak directly to Jerome. "Jerome, we'll be having dinner at the Carlton Powerscourt in Wicklow Hills. About how long would you estimate the trip?" "Well, at this hour, Sir. I'd say just a little over an hour. I think we'll be just ahead of the major exodus of evening traffic." "That sounds perfect." Max replied to Jerome... "Alright, everyone, let's load up. Get comfortable seats for an hour's journey..." Hugo and Kevin sat in the rear most row of seats; Max and Brandon occupied the middle row; and all three boys piled into the first seat just behind Jerome. "Are you guys too crowded in that seat?" Max asked as everyone slipped into the vehicle and into their seats. "No, Dad. This is fun. Jilder and Nicky and I like to go places together... There's plenty of room in here..." Shannon said. "Uh.. Dad?" Shannon added. "Yes, Shannon?" "NO! I'm "MURPH", Dad!" Shannon replied. "Oh. Of course, I forgot.... "MURPH"! Max answered. "Are there any spiders in here?" "SPIDERS? IN THE CAR?" Max asked a little lost to understand the new concern for spiders.... Kevin tapped Max on the shoulder prompting Max to turn around and look back at him... Kevin shook his head "NO!" silently with a bit of a serious note in his eye. Max returned to "Murph" and answered. "Oh my goodness NO, Murph. Jerome inspects the car for spiders daily and there are absolutely NONE here today." "Well, I'm glad about THAT!" Shannon replied. And with his mind at ease, Murph turned to the guys and said, "You heard him. We don't have to worry about spiders in here..." Jilder, slightly more conscious of the true reality of spider-risk said, "OK, Murph. We aren't worried. You worried?" "Naw. It's safe here." Murph replied. And Jerome left the University turning south to bypass the main city and head out to Wicklow... ***** The town car approached Towerscourt over a lengthy winding road that afforded everyone long glimpses of the approaching, elegant hotel. It being the summer season, the evening drew nigh with a beautiful sunglow-- not exactly a sunset, but an inviting amber glow that disolved all possible flaws and made the stately hotel and the lush green hills nearby seem like a fairy castle. Jerome brought the car to a stop at the main portico of the hotel. There the doorman dressed in a red and gold uniform, opened all of the car doors onto the flagstone driveway, and said, "Welcome, Gentlemen. Welcome to Carlton Powerscourt." The boys were out of the car in a flash, and Max followed quickly, realizing by now that supervisory duty always attended any activities that included his offspring. "Murph," Max said, remembering that he must retrain himself to use Shannon's new name... "Murph, you and Nicky and Jilder wait over there," indicating the stairs leading up to the doors.... We'll all go in together." The boys hopped around stepping from stone to stone avoiding the mortared joints between them, in that sacred ritual that surely must be part of basic human genetic machinery, because all children understand innately that one MUST step gingerly from stone to stone, and in the process, NEVER step on a crack. As the group began walking in, Max asked, "Kevin, Hugo, are you ready to go directly out onto the terrace for dinner? I realize it's a bit early; so we might stop in the bar for a little while before dinner. The boys can play air hockey in the game room for younger guests. Do you think that would be more to your liking?" Max said. Hugo spoke first, "Well, I'm not going to join you in the alcoholic beverages, but I'd love to relax with something, maybe a little tea?" "That will be easy," Max replied. "I've been trying to get Max to cut back on the before-and-after dinner drinks; I've noticed that he's begun to put on a few extra pounds..." Brandon volunteered. "Well, THANK YOU, Brandon. Let's tell our friends about all of our frailties before they even get to know us..." Kevin laughed and spoke up, "Oh, no problem, Max. Hugo is our family's resident health advisor and dietary consultant. I get unsolicited advice regularly. We operate in that mode all the time. Hugo is absolutely intuitively health conscious." Brandon responded, "Hugo! You're a gift to this household. We really ought to be sensible about our eating and drinking-- BEFORE we reach middle age and HAVE TO deal with such things to preserve life." Max continued to lead everyone down to the end of a wide corridor and told the boys, "Okay, gentlemen. You can spend a little while here in the game room for kids. They have air hockey and video games and an indoor pool, if you're up to a swim before supper. (Max turned to Hugo and Kevin and said, "This area is completely supervised. We will not be leaving them unattended.") And turning back to the boys, "I'm sure you'll find something to entertain you in here before we go out on the terrace to eat..." Kevin spoke up, "If you guys use the pool, be sure to tell the lifeguard that you can't swim because of the bars...' There was a flurry of excitement as the boys bolted into the game room to see what was in there, and Max and the rest left for the bar. ***** Sitting in four plush leather barrel backed chairs the four men of the house settled into conversation. "I hope you won't consider it rude for my asking, but how in the world did you two manage to create such a wonderful family... Brandon and I have been together for nearly two years, and it's going to be permanent, but the next step into family is challenging just for me to contemplate?" Max said. "Well, Max, you're half-way there, if you think about it. Shannon, uh... Murph is a terrific little guy. You don't realize how devastated he was when he got your message on the plane saying that you wouldn't be able to meet him. All he had been talking about for days was that he was going to be with his dad. You two guys HAVE a son already... All you've got to do is claim him! And I might add: He WANTS TO BE ASKED," Kevin explained. Brandon picked up the thread of the conversation, "I've been telling Max that Murph may very well decide he wants to live with him, if not immediately, then sometime in the near future." "Well, that possibility is certainly clear to us." Hugo commented. Murph was not daunted by any of the complications of international travel. He is far more courageous than we: we took months of planning to force ourselves to do it." "Well, I'm still curious about how you did it. Are either of you the natural father of one or the other boys?" Max asked. Hugo spoke first, "No. Not the father, but Jilder is actually my little brother. I was left to raise him when our parents left us in Los Angeles and returned to Mexico." "Oh, I'm sorry. You must have been very young when that occurred. What a burden to place on a young boy," Max said. Hugo looked down at the table. His eyes glazed over with a hint of tears before becoming unfocused. He was staring at nothing, in deep reflection. Then, without raising his eyes back up to look at the others, he went on, "Yes. That was not exactly a high point in my life, but, on the other hand, I love Jilder dearly and feel so fortunate to have him: I wanted to take care of him. I feel as though I am his father..." Kevin reached over to Hugo, who was still deep in his reverie, and put his hand on Hugo's arm, squeezing and rubbing it. Kevin spoke quietly and directly to Hugo, "Babe. That boy is the strong boy we saw in action today in the lecture hall because of you. It was your constant and loving presence that gave Jilder the courage to speak up when he understood himself and his father to be attacked. Being left to care for a child was unquestionably an unimaginably frightening burden for a boy as young as you were, but LOOK at how successful you have been." Hugo looked up directly into Kevin's eyes and said, "And it was you who came into my life just when I needed the same kind of support myself. If Jilder has flourished in my love and care, You gave the very SAME love and care to me, care that permitted me to regain my hearing, learn to speak, find my ability for art that has become my livelihood, and just appreciate life." Hugo put his other hand on top of Kevin's which gripped his arm. They held each other's gaze and communicated silently, oblivious of Max and Brandon. "That's an amazing story..." Max said softly. "And may I ask how you found Nicky?" "Kevin looked over to Max and Brandon and said, "Well, that's precisely the correct word. We found him and quite without any searching. He was just THERE, and he wanted to come to live with us." "What?" Max answered. "I don't understand. That's incredible. Is there more?" "Kevin asked Hugo, "Do you mind if I share with Max and Brandon how Nicky came into our lives?" "No, Kev." Hugo said still somewhat adrift in his memories... "It's a bit involved, but I'll be brief: Jilder developed a very unusual, but not rare, developmental disorder: his ribcage was not expanding as he grew; thus his internal organs were being choked." Kevin continued, "That could have been fatal if it had not been treated-- treatment itself was a wild experience for ALL OF US. But! While Jilder was in the hospital receiving treatment for his disorder, Nicky was brought in with the very same disorder, however, far more advanced than Jilder's case. Quickly, everyone realized that Nicky was only hours from imminent death if he hadn't received surgical intervention. There were no parents--long story too--thus there were no funds for Nicky's treatment. Just watching Nicky suffer and slip closer to death, Hugo and I could do nothing but engage Jilder's surgeon to operate on Nicky. After the operation Nicky discovered that he had no place to go. But he had fallen in love with us and we with him. It was such an intoxicating feeling when Nicky told us that he wanted to be with us. There was no doubt. Nicky was OUR SON-- SON NUMBER TWO. He and Jilder hit it off right away and have become inseparable." Kevin patted Hugo's arm again and added with a smile, "And we had no idea how to run a family with two kids... It's been wonderful and challenging but something neither of us would ever relinquish." "What an incredible story," Brandon said. Then he looked over at Max, looked directly into Max's eyes and said, "Max, I think fate is telling us that our time is drawing near... It would seem that Murph is indeed our FIRST SON, if only we will realize it. Maybe you will find that you want to ask Murph's mother whether she thinks he ought to come to live with his father in the near future. A boy needs a male roll model whenever possible." Max seemed open to Brandon's thoughts. He nodded in agreement and smiled. "I never gave myself credit for being someone that Murph might love and want to be close to..." And then to lighten the conversation: "Now with YOU, Brandy, it's clear that MURPH is ready to claim you as his second dad on first meeting..." Brandon smiled and retorted, "WELL, DAD! You've just got to tune in to things that matter, like SPIDERS and COOL nick names and such... It's really very easy!" Kevin followed up, "You see, Max, Brandon will be a great resource when you're in doubt or feel in need of a second opinion." Hugo spoke up with just a hint of warning: "You won't have to search, Max, you'll KNOW when you are going to be a father again... God doesn't let even a drop of love go foolishly wasted... And it sounds like the two of you have a great deal of it that's got to go somewhere..." ***** "Alright you turkeys, what do you say we go out to the terrace for dinner." Max said, as he and the other three dads stood in the doorway to the Youth Activity Room. "Yeah! We're ready," Jilder said. "Me too," Murph shouted. "Don't leave me out," Nicky couldn't fail to join in. Thus those 'magnificent seven' strolled down the broad, softly-carpeted hallway out onto the terrace dining area. ***** Dinner was superb, and the service was excellent. Everyone enjoyed the food and conversation and sat quite content waiting for dessert. The boys were each having strawberry parfait, and the dads waited for Irish Pudding and coffee. Those turned out to be seven very heavy dishes with hot beverage cups and saucers and a carafe of steaming coffee, all piled onto a single monstrous, round silver serving tray. A waiter approached their table and asked, "Are the gentlemen ready for dessert?" Max smiled and answered, "Yes, thank you." Just as Max spoke, a very young man--no a boy, just a bit older than Jilder or Nicky-- arrived on the terrace managing the heavy tray of desserts. The waiter gestured to the busboy who carried the tray, and the boy shifted his weight and turned toward the table as he was directed. At the very same moment, the boy lost his footing, stumbled, and fell on the flagstones that covered the terrace, dumping the tray and all of its contents in a shattering explosion of glass and goo across the floor. Strawberries and ice cream sloshed all over nearby guests; the coffee carafe spilled its entire contents in one steaming whoosh, and the four cups and saucers broke up and bounced and tinkled across the terrace floor. The poor fellow who dropped the tray lay sprawled out in the midst of the ungodly mess of food on the floor. His face betrayed the panic he was feeling and his forehead sprung a leak when he struck the floor, releasing a flow of bright red blood that added to his humiliation. "YOU STUPID OAF!" the waiter shouted. "Can't you WATCH where you're going... Now look at this incredible mess you've made... CLEAN IT UP IMMEDIATELY~!" he screamed. Murph was dumbfounded. Like everyone he was startled by the loud noise of the accident, but it was the waiter berating the busboy that lit Murph's fuse. The busboy had only just started to scramble to gather the fallen dishes when Murph jumped up out of his chair and hollered at the waiter. "YOU STOP THAT. HE DIDN'T MEAN TO DROP THE TRAY. HE'S HURT; CAN'T YOU SEE????... HE NEEDS HELP, AND YOU'RE SCREAMING AT HIM. STOP IT! STOP IT, YOU HEAR." And Murph fell to the terrace floor and began helping the boy gather up scattered dishes and flatware. Nicky and Jilder were right behind Murph on the floor in an instant, gathering up the pieces of broken dishes and everything else that was strewn about. Murph was wound up! He yelled up at the waiter, "GO AWAY. WE'LL CLEAN UP, AND MY DAD WILL GET HELP FOR HIS HEAD THAT'S BLEEDIN!" Max looked at Brandon, then at Kevin and Hugo, all three of whom indicated with their eyes and expressions that Max ought to support this courageous little chip off the old block. And Max didn't fail to step up to the challenge, lending authority to his incensed 10-year-old son. Max hurried to the side of the busboy who had only just climbed to his knees acting as though, beyond the shock of the fall, he was dizzy from the blow to the head. "Steady, Son." Max said in a soothing and kindly voice. "There's no reason to worry about the dishes. They're only dishes. We need to see how badly hurt you are... Here.. sit down over here, and let's take a look at that gash on your head." The boy looked like a terrified animal, not sure of whether he was going to be struck for his misdemeanor or actually helped. He dropped into a nearby chair truly not able to keep his balance. Max looked at the gash in his head and said, "Here. Hold this clean napkin with ice in it to your head. The cut is a bit deep, but a couple of stitches ought to do the trick. Don't worry son. Should we call your parents or anyone else?" The boy sat and stared up at Max with nothing to offer toward his own care. There was no family telephone number, no friend, no one for him to offer in response to Max's kind assistance. "There ain't no one, Sir." "How do you get to work then?" Max querried, incredulous that the boy could be without anyone to call upon in an emergency. "I walks me self." the boy replied. "What's your name, son?" Max asked. "I be Sean, Sir." he answered. "Sean who?" Max pressed... The boy didn't reply at first. Then he answered, "Just Sean, Sir..." "There ain't no one, and I live with my neighbor lady who's too old to do much; so I work for bodth of us..." "Well, then we're taking you to the dispensary to have that cut stitched up. Then you'll be spiffy again." "But, Sir, I can't leave me job. I have to work for me and my neighbor lady. It don't matter what the waiter says to me, I gotta have this job, Sir. I gotta," the boy said looking into Max's eyes with profound fear playing in his own. "I gotta go back to work and clean up me mess. I need me pay, Sir. Please. Let me go back to work..." "Sean. I know this will sound wrong to you, but if you can just trust me and my son, Murph, you'll see in a while that we mean no harm and can actually help you. Now Sean, you really DO need to see a physician for some stitches in that head. And my son, Murph, and I want to take you. Will you please go with us, and then I'll bring you back to the hotel where I'll speak with your employer and help you correct this matter? Really, Sean, this can be handled if only you can trust me and Murph..." Sean just sat and looked up into Max's eyes, searching them for anything that he might need to mistrust, but he saw nothing but compassion and love. Murph walked over to his dad and Sean and said, "Are you OK?" "I be mostly good, but me head hurts a bit," Sean said to Murph. "Well, if we ask my dad he'll take you to the hospital and let the doctor help you. Would you go with us... with me and my friends, Jilder and Nicky, and my dad?" Murph said with a remarkable compassion in his young voice. "I would like that, Sir." was all that Sean said. Max called to the other dads who were sitting watching the drama unfold before them. "Brandy, would you settle the bill; just put it on my account, and then call Jerome. We're going to the nearest dispensary that can take care of stitches at this time of night." And before anyone could offer any opposition to his plans, Max went to the terrace dining manager, "No doubt you know what happened just moments ago. I am taking Sean, your busboy, to the dispensary. I'll return later with him to sort out this incident with the hotel. But right now, this boy needs medical care." Then he walked back to Sean who still sat in somewhat of a daze. "Come on, Sean. I'm taking you to the dispensary... now." Max and Sean and Murph caught up with the others out under the main colonnade where Jerome and the town car awaited them. Jilder and Nicky climbed into the seat next to Jerome. Murph and Sean took the seat just behind the driver, and the dads sat in the same seats they used driving to the hotel "Jerome we need a dispensary, somewhere this lad can get stitches to patch up a nasty gash in his forehead, and we need one immediately," Max said. "Yes, Sir. I've consulted the auto navigator and see there is an all-night dispensary just a short distance from here, but does the boy need an ambulance?" Jerome asked. "No. But we need to get to the dispensary in 10 to 15 minutes. Is that possible?" Max replied. "Yes, Sir. Just be sure the doors are closed and we'll be off," Jerome answered. And they sped away to the dispensary. ***** Max and Brandon huddled in private conversation as the boy was bandaged in the dispensary emergency center after receiving his surgery. He required 20-stitches. Max was telling Brandon in a low voice: "The physician said that while hospitalization was probably not necessary, the boy would need close and continuous observation this evening to be sure that medical assistance would be sought immediately should delayed symptoms of a concussion manifest-- vomiting, dizziness, loss of balance-- none of these sounded nice to me." Brandy said, "Do you think Sean's neighbor lady will be able to look after him?" "Brandy, let me tell you something. I don't think there is any neighbor lady. My hunch is the boy is homeless, a street child," Max answered. "We'll certainly learn the truth when we return to the hotel and speak with the management. Surely they must know a bit about the boy's background." "One would think..." Max said. Then: "Uh.... Brandy.... uh.... I know this is going to sound bazaar, but.... uh.... what if Sean IS homeless, a street child? Do you think we should take him home with us tonight, you know, to be sure he is cared for properly?" Max looked directly into Brandy's eyes, examining their depths for some clue as to what should be done. Brandy didn't blink but paused for a very long time and then answered softly, "Max, I think we may have found son number two..." And the nurse brought Sean over to Max and Brandy in a wheelchair. He sat there with his shaggy hair pressed beneath a broad, white bandage that covered his forhead, looking up with eyes that asked 'What is going to happen to me next...?' Kevin's mind soared back in time noticing that Sean looked for all the world like the little dog that he adopted from the pound months ago. Kevin thought, "How can you walk away from those eyes?" Hugo and Kevin just stood to one side while Max and Brandy settled accounts with the dispensary. The boys had been sitting together on a long wooden bench until Sean was treated. Seeing Sean being rolled out, Murph jumped up and went over to him, "You feelin ok, Sean? Did it hurt when the doctor sewed you up?" Sean acted a bit more alert than he had before he arrived at the dispensary. He looked at Murph and said, "Yes, it hurt a lot when they pushed needles in my head, but the doctor said that he didn't want me to have a scar on me forehead; so he was puttin lots of stitches in. That's what hurt. I don't feel really bad right now, but I'm not sure I feel like goin back to work... " and he looked up at Max and Brandy taking care of business. When they finished, Max turned to Sean and said, "Sean, I think we ought to change our plans right now, if it seems alright with you." Max waited for Sean to respond, but Sean remained silent just looking up with those eyes that waited for whatever was going to happen to him... Max cleared his throat and spoke very slowly and quietly, "Ahem... Sean,... Brandy and I thought, rather than taking you back to work tonight, maybe it would be best if we just telephoned the hotel and spoke with the manager this evening. We'll tell him that the physician said that you needed to go home and rest from the blow and the stitches to the forehead. How would you feel about that? Would that be okay with you?" Max looked directly into Sean's eyes for some indication of what should be done. Sean took a while to reply, "I really don't feel like working right now. Could you tell the manager that I will work tomorrow at the regular time?" "Yes. That sounds better, Sean. But how would you feel if I told the manager that you will not be returning to work for a while?" Alarm registered in Sean's eyes, but clearly he didn't have the energy to pursue his fear very far... "But, Sir, I needs me job!" Sean pleaded. Not responding directly to Sean's job worry, Max said: "Brandon and I just spoke and decided to invite you to stay with us at our house while you are recovering from your fall. Would that be satisfactory with you... you know, until you felt better and could go back to work... I'm sure I can speak with your boss and arrange satisfactory terms for you to return when you've recovered..." Sean looked into Max's eyes trying to gauge the truth and sincerity of his offer. Murph, standing nearby spoke up, "And Sean, I'll come and stay with you if you want me to... I was going to visit with my friends Nicky and Jilder, but I want to be with you if you think that would be okay..." Sean looked up from the wheelchair at Murph who stood next to him and examined Murph for any clue about what to do. "I could even invite Nicky and Jilder to come home with us, if you want," Murph said. Max interrupted Murph saying, "Murph, Sean is very, very tired, and he hurts. He needs some quiet time and a quiet place to recover. Jilder and Nicky are certainly welcome, but we don't want to discourage Sean from coming home with us by making it uncomfortable for him. He needs rest and nothing to worry about." Then Max turned to Sean, "Sean, I hope you will join us. You can go straight to bed, or watch a little television while you rest. Murph can visit with you to keep you company if you want. We'll just need for you to tell us what you want to do when you know..." And with that Max turned to Brandy and everyone else. "Well, I think we can all return to the car and there we'll be able to decide what everyone will do for the night..." Hugo spoke up, "You can count on us to adjust to whatever changes are needed. It's been a long day for us at the lecture hall; I'm actually beginning to feel exhausted from the day myself." Thus everyone went outside to the car. Max rolled Sean out in the wheelchair while Brandy and the others walked along with them. Jerome had all of the doors opened and assisted Max who helped Sean into the seat he had used before. Murph jumped onto the seat with Sean, and the nurse took the wheelchair to return it to the dispensary. The nurse said, "Good night, Sean. Come back if you have any trouble with those stitches... And remember when the physician asked you to return to have them removed." She waved good-by as the town car moved slowly away from the curb. Everyone was silent as the vehicle purred and shifted into higher gear. Lights from the dispensary and nearby shops flickered through the windows of the car, flashing in Sean's face as they rolled along. After a considerable time, Jerome spoke up: "Sir. Are there any instructions about where we are going?" Max put his hand over the seat and patted Sean gently on the shoulder. "Do you know where you want to go, Sean?" he said. One could see that Sean's eyes glistened in the lights that flickered past. He didn't speak up at first, but then he said, "Sir. I'd like very much to sleep at your house tonight. My neighbor lady's flat isn't very comfortable. And if Mr. Murph and his friends would stay with me, I'd like that very much too. If I'm not asking too much...." Everyone heard what Sean had just said. Murph spoke up right away, "Jilder, Nicky, will you come home with me and Sean tonight... We can go back to the castle tomorrow, and maybe Sean will want to go." Max looked back at Hugo and Kevin, "What do you gentlemen think about what's unfolding here?" "I think it would be a wonderful experience for our boys. They don't get to do sleep-overs when they're home... Well, only with Dillon, and he's 3 years old..." Kevin said. "You alright with that, Babe," he asked Hugo. "Absolutely, Kev, like I said, I'm exhausted, but I think I could enjoy sharing a little time alone with you... " "Max, Brandy, in addition to being a health advisor, Hugo is also a sex therapist with the "coolest" treatments you can imagine..." Max smiled and reached over to pat Sean on the shoulder again, "You see. Exactly what you asked... We'll be home in about an hour... Just rest and don't worry... We all want you to be as good as new very quickly..." *****