My Mexican Bodega

Part 13

From the Very Odd Mind

Of

Eric Murphey

When I woke up I was a little confused. Then I remembered. Oh boy I would have rather stayed confused. I glance at the time on my phone. Its reads 545 am. Good a time as any to get up I think. I feel rested kind of. OK I should go back to sleep I know this. I got maybe 3 hours of sleep. But I don't think I can get back to sleep if I wanted too. I slip out of bed and admire Mario laying there. He is so adorable. Emilio is more developed everywhere. But Mario is certainly a very cute boy. I go take a shower and feel a little better after. I make some coffee and sit and start sipping a cup when Mario appears in the doorway in just some tighty whities. His cocklet hard and pushing out the front. He looks delightful for sure. He wanders over to sit next to me and I'm not having that. I pull him to me and onto my lap. He smiles and kisses my cheek.

"Good morning. Did you sleep OK, after you finally made it to sleep?"
"I slept very well thank you. What time is it? Can we go see Emilio yet?"
"Its about 6 and not yet." I have my arms wrapped around him holding him next to me. I am enjoying him on my lap. So much so that my own cock rises to the occasion. Reminds me of the old joke. Come sit on my lap and we will see what comes up? If its a cute boy I KNOW what will come up.

I know that Emilio and my Mario have fooled around together. But I haven't been invited into that game. I wont ask but i hope I am invited. From what I could tell Mario has a solid 3 inches of hardness I would love to play with and suck. Make him feel like the angels are touching him.

"Hey before we start getting ready have breakfast and all that, go over there and grab my check book will you?"

He hops off my lap and brings it back to me and slips back on my lap like its his new spot. I hope it is. I will be happy to share my lap with him and Emilio that's for sure. I just hope that Emilio will be back soon. I hope that he will be back even if it takes a while. I open the check book and he watches me write the check for the house.

"Wow that's a lot of money. Whats it for?"he asks. He quickly corrects himself because he has said something wrong.

"I'm sorry. Its not any of my business."
"No its fine buddy." I kiss the back of his neck. "Its for a house for Chuy. He lives in a one room apartment. I figure that he could use one of the bedrooms as his office for now. It will give him a nicer place to live too."
"That's nice of you to do that. But why?"
"Well, a couple reasons really. One Chuy is a friend and you try to help friends if you can right?"
"Of course."
"Also he hasn't charged me anything to adopt Emilio so its a way to pay him for being so nice. It just seems like the right thing to do."
"Chuy likes you."
"I like Chuy."
"No I mean he really likes you."
"Emilio said the same thing. But I am sure you boys are wrong."
"I know Emilio likes you like that too."

"I um like Emilio like that too." I say not knowing what he has been told. I never told Emilio not to tell anyone what we do. I'm not ashamed of it But I also don't want to go to prison in Mexico either. Or anywhere for that matter.

"Do you like me like that?"
"I wouldn't ever do anything that someone didn't want to do. That would be wrong. That and I have to love someone before I would even consider doing anything like that."
"Do you love me?" He asks with a look on his face that's mixed with fear and hope.

I hadn't really thought about it. I mean with everything going on and I really just met him. So I look into my heart and it tells me.

"Yes Mario. I do love you. But not because I have a desire to do sexy things with you. But because you are just such an amazing boy."
"Oh." his smile that appears fades quickly.

"Don't think I don't want to do sexy things with you. Because I do. I really have a huge desire to do things with you. But with everything going on with Emilio. I think we should wait a little bit first."

His smile reappears.

"I love you too." He grins and wraps his arms around me and holds me tight. I'm not sure. But I'm thinking I feel tears on my neck.

He has his head on my shoulder and I think I need to be honest with him. Honestly is the best policy right? Unless a woman asks does this make my butt look fat? Then you say of course not. Its your ass that makes it look fat. OH no not the last part. They get pissy. Women whatever.

"Mario in this house we are honest with each other. We don't lie. I need to tell you something that I heard. I didn't mean to I wasn't trying to hear anything. It was an accident I heard it. But I heard you and Emilio talking about me adopting you as well. I have given it a lot of thought and I think that if you want me to I will adopt you as well. I think you would be a wonderful son and a great addition to our little family. But that's entirely up to you."
Now I have no doubt I feel tears on my shoulder.

I just hold him and he doesn't say anything. He just holds me back. After a few minutes I tell him.

"We need to get some breakfast. Especially since we ate junk last night. DONT tell sister Carmancita we did that. She may beat me up."
I hear and feel him giggling.

He slips off my lap and I get up and make some eggs and charizzo. Its nice I like it. I hope so anyway I eat it about 3 times a week. Its simple and filling. Not to mention affordable. We have our breakfast. When we get done he takes his and my plate and rinses them off.

"Thank you. Now go get dressed I want to make sure we go to mass this morning of all mornings."
"Emilio says you go a lot."
"I used to not go at all. Now its seems I go 25 times or so a month. I don't know why. But I know I feel better after. So its not a bad thing I think."
"No probably not." He answers and heads to Emilio's room.
We get to the church and I give him some coins and we both drop them in and light a candle. He and I keeled and prayed a long time. I know for certain we both prayed for the same thing. Or at least for part of the prayer. For Emilio to recover. We go and I sit at the edge of the pew as always and he just looks at me and waits standing.

"What?"
"Emilio always sits on that side of you. You have to scoot over."

"I don't think he will mind."
"No its just when he gets better he will have his side and I will have mine."

I think a moment and he didn't sit on the left of me at breakfast like Emilio always does. He sat to the right of me. I just shrug and scoot down. Its important to him so its important to me.

We sit and listen to the service as Father Lopez says it. At the end it touched me that he asked everyone to pray for MY SON Emilio. He said it like "And please everyone make sure you pray for Esteban's son Emilio. He was hit by a truck yesterday and is in pretty bad shape. So remember him in your prayers."
My son I think and I just cant help it. The tears fall. He ends the service and people are patting me on the back as they walk by. Same with Mario. Everyone telling us if we need anything to let them know. I nod at them acknowledging them as they say their words to me. I cant possibly speak right now. The emotions are just too great. We wait for each other to calm a bit and then get up and leave. Outside as usual is Father Lopez getting in his talk time with people. He is alone and as we walk out he lifts his hand and a medal is hanging from a chain.

"This is Saint Raphael the Archangel. Put this on Emilio."
"Absolutely." I say as I take it and slip in in my breast pocket.

"Any word yet?"
"Just he is in a medically induced coma and they wont know anything until he can wake up. We got to see him for a moment last night. Oh father.…"
I just hang my head at that. I feel Mario's arm go around my waist and him holding me.

"We need to go father." Mario tells him. "The doctor said we could spend half an hour with him this morning then later this afternoon. Its the time he said."
We walk down to the truck at the shop get in and get to the hospital. We go to Emilio's room and oh boy. Now that the bruises and everything shows now he looks even worse than he did last night. I didn't think it possible. Mario and I stare a moment then walk over to him. I pull the medallion from my pocket and slip it very VERY carefully over his bandaged head. I get on my knees next to the bed. Mario follows suit.

"Loving father, touch Emilio now with your healing hands, for I believe that your will for him is for him to be well in mind, body, soul and spirit.

Cover him with the most precious blood of your son from the top of his head to the souls of his feet.

Cast anything that should not be inside of him. Rebuild and replenish all his damaged areas. Remove all inflammation and brokenness in his body Lord.

Let the fire of your healing love pass through him and heal any and all afflicted areas. So that his body will function as you intended it to do.

Please Lord I ask you to saturate his entire being with your presence, your love, Your peace and joy. Let him not be frightened knowing you are there. That we all love him so very much lord. From you the creator of all things down to the lowly Mario and myself. We don't deserve your love and mercy. But we beg of you to give it to Emilio. Amen."
"Amen." Sniff sniff.

I take Emilio's hand in mine and stay kneeling and press it against my forehead. I continue to pray to myself and I imagine Mario is as well. I feel him take my hand and I think. Let the circle be unbroken by and by lord by and by. I'm begging god now not to take my oldest son. Because in my heart Mario is my son now. I know the creator knows this. He can read my heart and he knows my love for people isn't many. Or a lot. I continue praying for I would guess fifteen minutes. I feel a couple of hands on my back. I don't care. I need to talk to my god for my son. I am telling god that even if he is disabled I will still love him and always will. But I pray that he isn't because that can be so hard on people. Especially when they can remember being normal. Then they cant be anymore. I pray until I am done. I lift my head and see the sisters from the home all with heads down praying. I also see that others have put their hands on Mario. It felt comforting to be honest. I don't get up as I don't want to interrupt anyone's prayers. Just as I wouldn't have wanted them to interrupt mine. So I stay on my knees. That until then didn't remotely hurt. But now I am feeling every second of my 55 years in this body.

A moment later I feel the hands come from my back. I get up as easily as a 55 year old man can who has been kneeling on concrete for 25 minutes. So yeah I groaned and struggled and pulled myself up with my arms and the use of Emilio's bed. But I fucking made it. I don't care if everyone was watching me. OK I kind of care. But hey im no spring chicken anymore. At 40 I would have had no problem at 45 no issues whatsoever. At 50 a little bit. But the last 5 years have been hard on my body that's for certain. But Mario is 10 and I'm 55 and I will be 63 when he goes off to college. I know I got that much time left. I hope anyway. I don't smoke. Anymore. I don't drink. I never really did. I smoked a shitload of weed in my youth. But I don't think that it hurt me much. It did save me from loneliness though. Saved me from sorrow on many of days. Seems like if you are high then you don't feel as lonely when you are alone all day. Anyway back to what happened.

"How are you boys holding up?" Sister Carmancita concern etched into her face.

"We are doing as well as you can expect."
"Have you boys eaten?" She says looking at Mario.

"Yes sister. This morning we had eggs and charrizo."he informs her.

"That's good then. I am figuring that Mario will not be returning this evening?"
"No sister. We need each other right now." I tell her.

"I understand. I have no issue with it. I just need to know."
"Sister I don't see him coming back in the future either."
"Oh you have made a decision?" She asks her eyebrows arched and amusement on her face.

"Yes I talked to him this morning about it. He hasn't given an answer yet and I don't want him to rush it. We have lots going on right now. Oh and speaking of lots." I say and pull out the check I made out earlier.

"I didn't know who to make it out to I figured that you could fill that in. If I cant trust a nun who can I trust?"
She smiles.

"I have talked to Chuy this morning and hes on board with it. He doesn't know its for him. But he is taking care of the paperwork. Its going to cost 2,000 pesos."
"Fine I will give you some cash tomorrow after I go to the bank later today."
"I will send one of the children down later with some things for Mario then. Or if he prefers you can always stop by."
"I know I need to fill out a bit of paperwork anyway. Why don't we do that when Bob gets in to work. I need to hire someone else since I'm not going to be able to be there much now. Know anyone that can work mornings and early afternoons?"
"Bob could then maybe you can hire a few of the older children for the afternoons. It would teach them responsibility and give them a few pesos in their pockets."

"Do you have any suggestions?"
"I do. I will send them to you so you can decide which are best suited for you."
"Thank you sister. I don't know what we would be doing now without you. But we better get going because I'm sure I have people waiting now. Its going to be two hours late opening now."

"People will understand."
"I know but then they will understand to another store and then the children do without. This isn't acceptable."
She gives me a smile and we take our leave after we both kiss Emilio's cheeks.

As we are leaving the hospital Mario takes my hand as we walk. We get to the truck and he scoots right next to me. I drape my arm over his shoulders as I drive. I guess he just needs some closeness right now. It doesn't bother me because to be honest. I kind of need it too.

As we are almost to the shop he asks me something.

"If Emilio wouldn't have gotten hurt would you have wanted to adopt me?"
"If you think I am trying to replace Emilio with you then you couldn't be further from the truth. I talked to the sister about it before Emilio was even hurt. I want to adopt you because I love you. I want you to be my family. Just as I want Emilio to be my family. Theres an old saying that says you can pick your nose but not your family."
He giggles at me.

"Its you can pick your friends but not your family."
"Nose or friends either way. In this case I get to pick my family and I don't think I could have gotten two better boys if I searched the world twice over. So I want to adopt you and have you as my son so I can help you. To teach you. To love you with all my heart. I also know that you and Emilio love each other very much too. So I don't see how it can be wrong at all."

He doesn't answer and as we pull up we have a few people milling about the store front. I have to be honest its pissing me off. I mean fuck we got terrible things going on in our lives right now and these cunts cant wait to get their shit. I'm bitter about it. We get out and as we walk up to the door several people mill around us and they all tell us how awful they feel and that they are praying for all of us. Well now I feel like a dick. We got several hugs and a few cards for us and for Emilio.

I see Hector and his cousin in the group as well.

I get the door open and no one follows us in to buy anything. Just Hector and his cousin follow us in.

"The sisters called us into duty." Hector informs me.

"Really?" I act like I'm surprised.

"Like you didn't know it. So we are going over to look at the house and we can give you a decent estimate after. Also we will be done with the apartment upstairs...…"
"I know in a week." I say laughing.
"No I think this afternoon."

"Really? That is great news."

"Yeah we figured we need to get it done so we can get to the house. We were pretty much done anyway. Just the final little things like putting on switch plates and some lights and little things like that."
"Well, that is happy news. So when Emilio comes home we will be in the new apartment."

"We were also told to inform you that we aren't going to charge you very much for the new project."
"Oh that's nice. Why?"
"Because we were told if we didn't she would tell our mothers on us." He says grinning.

I cant help but laugh as does Mario.

"Nuns don't play fair do they?"
"Not even close." He says all of us laughing now.

I am behind the counter and flip him a pack of Marlboro's.

"Well the least I can do is give you a few packs of cancer sticks every so often."
"That I appreciate. I know I should quit. But I just cant."
"Its hard for sure. I quit years ago. It took me several tries. But once it took I swore I would never smoke another one. I knew if I did I would be right back on them like I never quit. I loved smoking. But I also could feel it affecting my body in negative ways. So no pressure from me. You will quit when you are ready and not before."
"Thanks." He says and pops the pack in his pocket. He and his cousin head upstairs to finish their work. After they head upstairs Mario starts stocking the shelves as Emilio taught him how to do it. A few minutes later he sidles up against me.

"Um Esteban. Is this price right? I know other stores charge twice as much for this."
"That they do. But I still turn a profit and now people know they can get it here for less and they come here to get it instead. While they are here they usually pick up some other things while they are here. Some of those things i cant compete with on the price and they are a little more. Its a loss leader in a way. Except I'm not losing money on it."
"Seems smart."
"It is in a lot of ways. One thing that is almost always a loss leader in America is milk. Most grocery stores lose money on milk. But they also know that people need it for their children. So they charge less than what they pay for it. I know at the store I used to work at they would pay almost $5 per gallon and sell it or $3. Sometimes less. But most people don't just get milk they get lots of things. So it really works out."

"Why don't they just charge what they pay for it?"
"Because people wont buy it then. They will go somewhere else and get everything they need."
"HM. America is weird."
"Sometimes."
"You should charge like another peso on this though."
"No I don't think so. I want people to get used to coming here. Doing their quick shopping here. Like do you think I make any money on Manteca, or maize? I sell it at cost. Because its a staple people need. They see I have a good price on it and then buy other things."
"You should start a big grocery store."
"No I will leave that to you. I don't want to have so many people working for me. But after you get out of college I will help you start one."
"What if I say I don't want you to adopt me?"
"I would still help you. Because it doesn't matter what you or the courts say. My heart says you are my son. Just as it tells me Emilio is my son. So for the rest of my life I will be there for you no matter what?"
"What if I sell drugs?"
"I would love you and help protect you if I had to. I wouldn't like it. But I would support you and do whatever I can for you. But you are much too smart to do that."
"So drug dealers are dumb?"
"No not at all. Some of them sure. But most of them that are in business for a long time are very smart. That's how they stay in business. Now enough about selling drugs. We both know you wont do it."
He grins at me and he goes back to stocking the shelves as I help customers.

He gets done and puts the cart back with the extra things he has been working and comes over behind the counter.

"Here Mario." I say handing him a hundred pesos like always.

He shakes his head no.

I shake it at him to take it.

"No it wouldn't be right."
"How is accepting money for work not right?"
"I been thinking. You use all the money from here to buy things that we need at the home right?"
"Sure. Everyone knows this."
"So if I take that money its taking from the home."
"No its not. I don't give you money from the store I give you money from my pocket."
"That's worse."
"Wait. What? You lost me buddy. You have to explain yourself."

"Well see its like this...." I'm thinking oh boy. I know another boy that when he starts out. Its like this you are in deep shit. That boy is Mr Eric's son. I think he gets it from his dad.

"You just met me right?"
"Sure we haven't known each other long."
"So you are really nice to me."
"I try to be nice to everyone."
"Yeah but now you want to adopt me. I'm pretty sure its not just because Emilio is hurt. I think you make decisions quickly..…"
"Just because I decide something quickly certainly doesn't mean its the wrong decision. Now I do want to adopt you. I have no doubt in my mind I want you to be my son. I may not know you as well as I want to. But I can see you. I mean the real you. I know who you are as a person and what kind of person you are. I like what I see very much. I think that you are a superior individual that needs love. A person that needs to feel at home somewhere. I think that you are a boy that not only needs the love of someone but craves it deep down inside your soul. But I also know you are scared. You think I'm not scared to adopt you? Hell I got a lot of fear about it. But I assure you my fears are not like yours. My fears are will I be a good enough of a dad to two boys? Will I raise you to respect others well enough? Will I be able to be a good example to you boys? Will I be able...…"
"So your fears are all about what you do and how well you do it. My fear is that you will stop loving me. That you wont want me anymore. That you will just throw me away like I'm trash." Tears are slipping from his eyes and running down his cheeks. I quickly wrap my arms around him.

"Aw buddy I will always love and want you. If I thought I could just keep you two boys here with me forever I would. But I know its wrong to do that. I know that in time it will be you and your brother that will not only want to leave but need to leave. So you two can be your own men. But I tell you what if in 25 years you still want to live with me I will be the happiest man alive. But the thing is if you go away to college and have a nice family. I will again be the happiest man alive. It doesn't matter what you do. You make me happy and proud of just knowing you. You being in my life has brightened it. I thought I was happy with just Emilio and I was. But then you came into my life. If you don't want to be adopted I understand. But I want you to know its your choice. If it was up to me then you would already be my son. But I want you to want to be my son. I will NEVER cast you away no matter what. Love isn't like that. If you killed 40 people I would be really mad at you. I would probably drag your ass to the cop shop myself. But I would love you still. If you got hooked on dope I would still love you and try to help you any way I could other than giving you more dope. Because I couldn't help you hurt yourself. I already love you too much for that. I want you to be happy and always have joy in your heart. I only want whats the best thing for you. So you think about that. I know that Lupe will be by with the cart in a while. Why don't you go out and sit on the bench out there and think about what I said. When she gets here get us two plates. We need to eat a little better. Also grab you and me a Coke on your way out."
I tell him and let him go. He steps back and looks at me. My shirt is soaked and I don't care.

"OK." He sniffs and does as I ask him to.

I am sipping on my Coke half an hour later when Chuy walks in shaking his head.

"Why is Mario asking me a million questions?"
"Hard to say. What can I get for you my friend?"
"Nothing I just have some papers for you to sign. Why are you buying a house after you just added on to the shop?"
"Been thinking having some rentals here might be a good idea."
As he is looking at things on the shelves I slip out some white out and replace my name as the owner of the house to his. I initial it as I know I would have to do by law that I acknowledged the change. I then sign the paperwork. Good thing I'm learning to read Spanish. Chuy is back a few minutes later with some Takis and a Jarrito.

"Buddy you got to eat better then that. Lupe will be around in a few minutes."
"No time. I have to get this filed today so it can go through quicker."
"I don't think a few hours will make much difference. I don't think a few days will either. Just sit your skinny little ass down over there and when Lupe gets here you can eat something decent."
"Really?"

"Do I need to spank you?"
He starts laughing.

"No don't do that. I still am starving and need this too."
"That's fine. Get the checkers out when you sit down and I will beat you a few games."
I ring up his things and he gives me the coins to pay for it and does as I told him. Yes I told him I didn't ask. He needs someone to tell him what to do. My god he was having Takis and a soda for lunch. I sit down and help set up the checkers.

"So Mario was asking me questions then answering them himself. Whats that all about?"
"Mario is scared. Actually he is very scared about me adopting him. He is worried I wont want him. That I will throw him away like hes garbage."
"You don't know his past do you?"
"No I don't. He hasn't told me and I don't ask. I figure if he wants to tell me he will."
"His mom was a dope fiend.…"
"I don't want to know. Unless he tells me."
"You should know it though."
"It doesn't matter what it is. I will love him no matter what."

"Esteban listen. You need to know this so you an be a better dad to him."
"Alright tell me. I don't ever want to mess that up."
"OK His mom was on heroin. She was a ummmm…"
"I got you go ahead."
"OK so she did things to pay for her dope. But she always made sure that Mario was taken care of too. She was a junkie but she loved that boy with all her heart. She always had a place for him to stay and be safe. She always made sure he ate. Even before her own need for dope. One day it just overwhelmed her and she took him to the sisters. He was around 4 or 5 I guess. I remember it like it was yesterday. He was an awful mess. No one could console him. But Emilio just sat with him and held his hand for hours. After that he would sit with him for days on end. Mario just crying for days and days. Emilio always there for him. There bond is deep Esteban. They love each other like no love I have ever seen. It was probably two weeks before Mario said a word to even Emilio. Then for months he would only talk to Emilio. Eventually he opened up to others. But he has built walls so high around him because he is so afraid to let anyone in. I cant imagine the pain he had. That I'm sure he still has. He feels I'm sure like she threw him away like trash. But she really did it because she knew it was better for him then what she was doing. She loved him a lot to be able to do that for him."
I'm thinking about what I said earlier that I would love him if he was a junkie. Did I fuck up saying that? I sure hope not. Then I send him outside. But I did that so he could get some fresh air and think without being interrupted. I'm already a bad dad. Fuck.

"Whats going in in your head?" Chuys asks me.

I tell him exactly what I'm thinking. Because I was never an orphan. I don't understand the things they go through. The feelings of abandonment and feeling all alone. OK I get the feeling all alone part. But the other things I cant imagine what goes on in their minds.

We talk a good while me being interrupted a few times to help someone. I really need to get someone to watch the place during the day so I can deal with other things. I really don't know how I'm even functioning because about 90% of my mind is on my poor broken boy in the hospital. Laying there all alone. I don't like that hes alone. But the doctor said what he said. Well, I wont think I'm going to pay him any mind anymore. I think that Mario and I are going to set up camp in that room.

A few minutes later Mario and Lupe walk in. Mario carrying two plates and Lupe one.

"Mario says Chuy was here so I knew you would want him to eat too. Hes too skinny."
"Yes he is. You got cake for him too?" I ask smiling.

"You know i got cake and I know its not just for him." She says shooting me a wicked grin.

"Don't judge me." I say back to her making her laugh.

She heads out and comes back with three pieces of cake. Yum lemon today. I never know what kind and she never tells me. But I have never been disappointing by it.

"Chuy do you know anyone that's looking for a job? I need someone to be here through the day so Mario and I can go be with his brother all day. But I just cant leave the store closed because too many children are depending on the revenue of the store to help get them things. I don't think the staff would let just Mario be with him if I'm not there. I really don't know if they will allow us to be there all day. But I am sure as Hell going to fight and argue that we need to be there for our boy."
I see Mario smile as he is eating.

"I know a guy that may be interested. He is going to school. He is from the home so I know he will want to help if he can."
"Call him and tell him to either call me or come in. Either way. You trust him?"
"Yes."
"OK that's good enough for me. Because if someone steals from me, I will inform the cartel and they will take care of it for me."

Chuy looks at me like are you serious? I look back like yes I am. No one is going to steal from those children and get away with it. I know what the cartel would do and frankly you steal from a child you get what you get.

When we finish eating Chuy takes his leave and Mario and I are sitting at the table.

"Come here." I say softly to him. He gets up and comes over to me and I pull him onto my lap.

I kiss his neck.

"I need to tell you a few other things so you can make an informed decision. I had decided I wanted to adopt you before any of this even happened. I had planned on talking to you and Emilio about it. I love you Mario. I truly want you to be my son as much as I want Emilio to be my son."
"But what if Emilio...…"
"I love you Mario. Nothing can or will ever change that. If you decide that you don't want to be my son I will still love you until I draw my last breath."

"But..…"
"There are no ifs, ands or buts."
I hold him until a customer comes in and I have no choice but to help them. He follows me around the counter and stands beside me his arm wrapped around my waist.

Until Bob gets there Mario has without ceasing had his hand on me somewhere. Either he holds my hand or he has his hand on me. I am thinking but not positive he is afraid I will leave him as his mother did. So for him to need to touch me is fine. Its kind of nice actually. When Bob arrives he puts in a new cash drawer and I take mine out. Mario helps me count it and we quickly head to the hospital so we aren't late. I don't know if the hours the doctor gave us to visit are set in stone or not. But one thing is I know neither of us want to miss a single second of time we are allowed with him. When we arrive we as before get on our knees and pray for the one we love. After a few minutes I get up and sit in the chair next to his bed. Mario has Emilio's hand to his forehead and is praying in earnest. I swear if he prayed any harder he would sweat blood as Christ did before his crucifixion. He prays a few minutes more and then carefully lays Mario's hand back on the bed. He walks to me ad sits on my lap. I wrap my arms around him and hold him to me.

"When will we know if hes OK?"
"Mario you know everything I do. We know that the staff is keeping him sleeping for a while so he can get better easier."
"But why is it better if hes asleep"
"I don't know for sure. But I would guess that its because if you are in so much pain that you tense up and it makes it harder to heal. But that's a guess. If you want we can ask the doctor when we see him."
"No I think that makes sense."
We sit in silence staring at Emilio and I'm sure he is praying silently as well as we look over him.

"Are you rich?" He asks me.

I'm kind of shocked. I have never been accused of being rich.

"No I'm not rich. Why?"
"I was thinking that you own the store and you don't need the money from it. So you must be rich."
"No buddy I'm certainly not rich. I'm not poor either. See I own apartment houses in America. People pay me rent to live in them. So I use that money to live on. But you honestly I don't need that much money. Because I live at the store. I get my food from the store. The only thing that I pay for is Bobs pay. So the rest of it just sits there until it gets bigger then I buy another house to rent. This has been my plan for probably longer than you have been alive. I have worked really hard to make this become a reality. I think that in our life times we should help people as much as we can. I'm just very lucky that I have enough extra money that I can use my time and my energy to help others full time now. Does that answer your question?"

"So the you wouldn't ever like need money to feed us or anything?"
"No you would never have to worry about being hungry. Even after you go off to college then I will still send you money for whatever you need."
"But wont I be working?"
"Not if I can help it. I want you to be able to spend all the time you need to get good grades and to be able to do the best you can without having to worry about bills or anything."
He doesn't say anything more while we are there. I see its time for us to go. We get up and we go and kiss Emilio on his cheek and we head home. When we get there I start making some supper for us. I know I'm hungry and well hes a boy so EVERYONE knows hes hungry. I've never met a boy that couldn't eat. Just gets done with a massive supper. Ask if they have room for cake. Fuck they got room for the whole cake who you kidding.

I make some nice steaks and some beans and rice. They are nice thin steaks the pan fry very nicely. Most people I think use them for burritos. I have no idea I know I enjoy them like this and so does Emilio. I think Mario will as well. If not we will work out a different thing for him to eat. I am not the type of guy that will make them eat something because its "good" for them. I was forced to eat too many things in my childhood. I wont do that to them. If they need a vitamin we will find alternatives to things they despise. Though I don't imagine even if they don't like it they will say anything. I guess that goes with the territory for them. It makes me think about it.

"Mario if I ever make something you don't like you let me know OK. You don't have to eat it. Remind me to tell Emilio the same thing when hes better."

"I don't like cauliflower at all." He informs me.

"I agree its a disgusting vegetable." I tell him.

He giggles.

"Everything else OK though?"
"Yeah just don't like cauliflower. Its just I don't know. Its gross."

"I don't like lots of things. I was thinking about when I was your age I had to eat crap all the time I thought was gross. I don't want to do that to you boys."
"I like cake." he says smiling.

"I like cake too." I say grinning back and smiling.

We have our dinner and the rest of the night was uneventful and we just watched some TV and went to bed. But tonight when I went to bed I see a lump there already. I smile as I climb into bed.

____________________________________

Donate to Nifty. No really I swear tell em I sent ya. Ill get you a good deal. Free service for as long as Nifty is up and running. I'm thinking a good while.

ericmurphey1971@gmail.com

OK I know its Friday and I said I would post on Sundays. But, heres the thing. I know UH OH right. No not this time. We got the hint. Andrew has rewritten the opening of Transitions. Its much more like what you would expect from the characters. Andrew and I discussed it at length and I am certain that you will LOVE it as much as you did mine. So please go back give it another read. It has a completely different feel. If you read it before its way different read it again. I tell you I changed my notes after I read part 3. My goodness Peter is going to be great I can feel it. At first I was like I dont like Joey being so intersted in him. But now I am starting to see what I think Joey sees. Is that Peter is damaged like all of them. That he needs to be loved and accepted. I think he is going to be a great part of the story.

_________________________________________

So guys Tucker Carlson got fired. Anyone else laugh?

Was offered a job by Russian state TV the next day. What the fuck does that tell you? I'm just saying.

Disney is suing DeathSantis. Alleging he is weaponizing the government against them. You know like he is, and the trumpciple cult claims democrats are against that orange piece of shit. So I'm just giggling like a school girl here. Hope that you all had a great week, and have a great one next week.

If you hit the lotto remember a fella. Nudge nudge. Ha

Peace Love and Good Happiness

Eric