"Shh Buddy, I know you got to go but you will wake up Poppi."
Eric, still half asleep, hears and feels Alejandro climb out of bed.
"C'mon, I got to get my slippers or Poppi will get mad. Well, he don't get mad," Eric hears just as he falls back to sleep. A while later he feels Alejandro climb back in bed and snuggle up to him. He is cold, so Eric pulls him closer to warm him up. Alejandro sighs and they are both back to sleep in moments. Buddy walks in circles on his bed, then flops down and goes to sleep as well.
A few hours later, Eric wakes up to the sun still in hiding. He glances at the time: 5:45 a.m. He sighs, figures that much sleep is good enough, and climbs out of bed. He goes to the restroom first, then grabs his robe. It’s a bit chilly in the house, but soon it will be warm in the mornings too, he thinks.
He sees Buddy looking at him, so he waves his hand for the dog to come with him. Buddy wags his tail a time or two, gets up, and follows Eric. When they get downstairs Eric fills Buddy’s food bowl up and puts it on the floor next to his water dish. Buddy looks up and Eric swears he smiles at him before he begins to eat. Eric grabs a cup of leftover coffee and puts it in the microwave. Once it’s hot, he adds a Splenda and sits down at the table while Buddy is crunching away on the dry dog food. Eric asked about the wet kind, but the lady was adamant that this is the best you can get for a dog’s nutrition. She ought to know he supposes. He searches his memory for any vets he knows, and thinks of a couple. He won't have to take him in for a while yet, but he wants to get his ducks in a row. It’s always best to be prepared. When Buddy is done eating he laps up some water.
"Come on, let’s get you outside so we don't have an accident to clean up."
Buddy wags his tail and he and Eric go outside. Eric breathes in the crisp cool spring air, holding it a moment then letting it out.
"It’s so good to be alive today," he tells Buddy, who wags his tail.
"Go do your business."
Buddy walks out into the lawn, sniffs around, and finds a bush that meets his inspection standards. He lets loose on it, and when he is done he races back over to the front porch where Eric is waiting. They go inside and Buddy races back upstairs to check on his boy. Eric walks back into the kitchen and gets another cup of coffee. He grabs some blueberries and strawberries out of the fridge. He cuts up the strawberries, adds the blueberries, and mixes them lightly together. He portions them out in separate bowls for the boys when they wake up. He makes some toast and has a couple slices and some fruit for breakfast. Julia would be proud, well this morning anyway. Lately not so much. So much life happens, and who has time to cook and take care of three boys? Take out is so easy, too easy maybe. He enjoys the fruit and toast and starts scrolling through his phone looking at news and messages. He hears the clicking of doggie nails on the hardwood floor and looks up.
"Good morning, sweetheart. Did you sleep better with me?"
Alejandro gives a sleepy smile and pulls Eric into a hug.
"Love you, poppi."
"Love you, too. You’re up early."
"It’s Saturday. I got stuff to do," he mumbles.
"I got fruit and toast for breakfast."
Alejandro breaks the hug and climbs up on his chair. Eric gets him a glass of milk, then gets the fruit from the fridge and puts it in front of Alejandro with a spoon. He puts bread in the toaster. When it pops up Eric puts some butter on it, puts it on a saucer, and puts it in front of Alejandro.
"Thank you, poppi." he says and takes a bite.
Eric rubs the top of his son’s head as he sits back down.
"So what are your big plans?"
Alejandro shrugs, "Just stuff."
Eric isn't going to pry, but Alejandro’s Saturday mornings have been filled with "stuff" for about six months. Eric is curious, but he figures he hasn't gotten any complaints, and Alejandro is a good boy who wouldn't do anything wrong, at least never in Eric's eyes. Alejandro could murder someone in front of Eric and he would swear it never happened. Most dads are like that, I suppose.
Once he gets done eating, Alejandro rinses his bowl and puts it in the dishwasher. He heads upstairs to gets dressed, with Buddy following him the whole way. Once he is dressed, he gets on his knees in front of Buddy.
"Now I got stuff I got to do today and you can't come to a lot of places I'm going. So you are gonna have to stay here with Poppi, Tran and Joey. You know poppi real good now. You need to get to know my brothers; they are real special, too. But I will be thinking about you and if I can I will bring you a treat."
Buddy wags his tail as Alejandro hugs him goodbye.
"Bye poppi, I will be back later."
"Will Miss Cindy Lou Who be joining us?"
"Prolly," he nods.
"Wear your jacket, buddy."
The dog barks.
"I meant for Alejandro to wear his jacket. I guess I will have to stop calling you boys ‘buddy’."
"Nah, it’s OK; he will get used to it. ‘Sides, we like it."
"Be safe, and since you got it, take your phone."
Alejandro shows that he has it in his pocket.
"Call if you need anything," reminds Eric.
"I will, poppi."
Alejandro exits the garage with a wagon filled with eight hard plastic milk crates and a few bungee chords as well. He starts off down the drive, looks at the time and sees that it’s 9 a.m., which is perfect. He goes a block down, turns right and goes to the first house. He walks up the drive and rings the bell. A lady of about 45 answers.
"Good morning, Alejandro. How are you today?"
"I'm good, Mrs Jones. Are you feeling better from your cold?"
"Oh yes, so much better! Thank you for asking. I couldn't get out this week."
"That's OK, I understand."
"No, wait here. I figure $5 should cover it."
Alejandro smiles and puts the money in his jeans pocket.
"Thank you, Mrs Jones. Tell Mr Jones I said hi."
"I sure will. See you next Saturday."
He grins, "Yes ma'am."
He walks two houses down, up the drive, and knocks on the side door.
An elderly man in his 80’s opens the door.
"Well, hello young man. It’s good to see you. Martha made some of the toffees you love. Come in. Come in. Martha will want to say hello."
When he walks into the kitchen, the old lady is at the table sipping her coffee.
"Good morning, Mrs Johanson. How are your knees today?"
"Stiff, always stiff. But at 84, I'm just glad they still work," she says with a smile.
"Me too."
"Alejandro, I got some stuff. You want me to put it on your wagon?"
"I can get it, but thank you, sir."
"You’re such a fine young man. Here’s the little bag of treats I promised you," Mr Johanson offers, handing him a small white bag filled with the home made candies. They are all wrapped so they don't stick together and become one big lump. Alejandro hugs the old lady and on the way out takes the package from the old man. He puts it in the wagon carefully, making sure it won't go anywhere. Then it’s down the block three houses and up the drive. Before he even gets to the door, it swings open and a boy of four comes running out.
"Alejandro!!!" he screams and wraps his arms around his older friend.
"Hi Trevor! How are you doing today?"
"Good. I got Life cereal for breakfast. It’s my favorite. What’s your favorite?"
"I like Cap ‘n Crunch."
"I like that one too, but Life is my favorite."
"I will ask poppi to get some. I never had it before."
With all the seriousness a four-year-old can muster in a look, he tells Alejandro, "You got to. It’s the best ever."
"I sure will."
"Alejandro, I knew you were coming because Trevor was screaming about it when you were half way down the block."
"We’re friends, Miss Tara," he tells her.
"I know. Here, I got a few things for you this week. Trevor insisted we get more. So I can't argue his logic."
Alejandro has Trevor help him load more stuff onto the wagon. He hugs him goodbye with a promise to see him next Saturday. Then off he goes from house to house for the next two hours until the wagon is filled to the brim. He goes to one last door and knocks.
"Oh miho. I made some chorizo and eggs and I made fresh tortillas this morning. I made two for you."
"Thank you, Mrs Santos."
"Anything your little heart desires," she answers, lightly pinching his cheek and making him smile. She hands him two foil wrapped packages with the other hand.
"You got a big load today."
"Yes ma'am, it’s a good thing."
"Yes, it is. Here, let me go get what I got."
When she comes back, Alejandro puts it on the wagon. He secures everything tightly and walks to the bus stop. A few minutes later the bus comes and the driver climbs out.
"Good morning Alejandro. Big load today?"
Alejandro grins, "Yes sir, and this morning I got you a prize."
"Don't tell me Mrs Santos made burritos?" he guesses with a big grin.
Alejandro pulls one from his pocket and hands the still-warm package to him.
"Free ride today."
"Mr Waters, you never charge me anyway."
"It’s because we are such good friends, and you always cut me in on the really good stuff, like the burritos,” he explains as he peels back the foil and takes a bite.
"Aw man, these are so good!"
"She makes real good ones, huh?"
"You bet your bippy."
Alejandro laughs and asks, "What’s a bippy?"
Mr Waters chuckles and explains, "I have no idea. My grandpa used to say it to me."
Alejandro giggles at this. Once Mr Waters finishes his burrito, which doesn't take too long, he helps Alejandro put the wagon on the bus. He fastens it with the wheel chair straps and off they go. Fifteen minutes and several stops later, Mr Waters helps him back off the bus. Alejandro walks through his old neighborhood to a warehouse type building that’s made of bricks and looks to be crumbling. He walks up to a steel door and rings a bell next to it. A minute later a woman in her 50’s opens it.
"Good morning, Alejandro. I see you made a good haul today."
"Yes ma'am, I did."
"Let me open the garage door and you can wheel it in."
"Yes ma'am."
He wheels his wagon down to the doors and one opens. He pulls it inside, walks up to a table, and starts unloading the milk crates one by one. A man of around 35 appears who looks like he has had it rough for few months or even years.
"Is this for anyone?"
"It is if you’re hungry, or you need some food for later or something."
"I sure need some food. My family is really hurting right now. I got laid off from the factory and I was there 17 years. Started the week after I graduated high school. I tell you, I figured I would retire from that place like my daddy and his before him," he says, pouring his worries out to a little boy, somehow knowing he would understand.
When he is done Alejandro waits a moment and then says, "Sometimes life is real hard, but I'm learning that it gets better. Sometimes even when it’s better you can't hardly believe that it’s going to last. I may not be old yet, but my poppi says I seen enough stuff for ten lifetimes. So I know what I'm talking about."
The man looks at the ten year old boy and can see there is nothing but truth in his words.
"It’s hard right now, but when we all got laid off we got grants and stuff to go back to school. So I'm getting an Associates degree in business management. I figure everyone needs someone to run their business, right?"
"Makes sense to me."
"But I only make about $10 an hour and I'm used to more like $14 so it’s pretty tight making the mortgage and the bills."
The man doesn't know why he continues to open up to a young boy, but it just seems right and natural somehow.
"You should go to see Chris at McDonald’s. I know they pay more than that to start out. Just tell him you’re friends with me, Alejandro," he says as he points to his chest.
"Which one?"
"The one downtown. I won't promise he will hire you; that’s up to him. But he might and there’s a good chance he will. I know he is always looking for hard workers."
"I will do that, young man. Thanks."
Alejandro smiles as the man looks to see what he can use of the items Alejandro is unpacking onto the table. As he is unpacking, a few other people come to get some food items. Once Alejandro finishes unloading, he puts the crates back on, straps them down, and starts to leave.
"Alejandro, I wanted to talk to you a second."
"Oh Mr Marco. I was gonna stop by your office anyway. I got some brownie mixes for the Stew Pot to give you."
"Thank you my young friend. The reason I wanted to talk to you is I have a friend who is in Noon Optimist club. He asked me if I knew any outstanding young people. You instantly came to my mind, and I mentioned how every Saturday you bring in a wagon full of food for people who need it. So they want to honor you and give you an award for it."
"No, that's OK."
"It’s really an honor, Alejandro. They only honor four people a year."
"I'm sure it is, but I don't want it. Tell them thank you, but no."
Alejandro turns his back on Marco to get the bag with the brownies out of the wagon.
"I always tell them that brownies go to the Stew Pot. I don't want them to think I'm pulling a fast one on them or something."
"I know people really appreciate them. Now about this award."
"Mr Marco, I will see you next Saturday, OK?" Alejandro announces, trying to politely decline any more discussion of the award.
"OK, next Saturday," Marco acknowledges, giving up for now.
Alejandro grins at him and goes back towards the bus stop. Just as he gets there, Mr Waters pulls up and climbs out to help him load the wagon back on.
"So, a successful journey?"
"Yes sir," Alejandro replies as he takes his seat. He pulls the burrito from his pocket because he’s pretty hungry now. He eats it and enjoys every bite. When they get to his stop, Mr Waters helps him off. Alejandro goes to Cindy’s house to visit with her for a while.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Tran and Tyler were up at 9:00, a good hour before Eric told them he was going to wake them up. Once they are up, they find Eric in the living room.
"Good morning, boys. I cut up some fruit earlier. I put a couple of bowls in the fridge for you. Do I need to come make toast for you or can you handle that?"
"Morning, Ba," Tran greets Eric and goes over to hug him. “Pretty sure we can handle toast. But if you joined us, we wouldn't be upset by it."
"Why don't you boys just sit down and I will get it for you since I'm joining you."
So they sit down while Eric serves them juice and fruit and starts making toast.
"So I know Alejandro is out with Cindy, but where’s Joey?" Tran asks.
"He went to a friend’s house. It’s just been me and Buddy hanging out."
At the mention of his name, Buddy lifts his head from where he had lain down under the table.
Eric gets the toast for the boys and sits at the table. He figured they were both four-piece guys and he was right.
"Ba, we have talked all night about it. We want to be boyfriends, but I'm still scared."
"Tran, you don't have to come out to the world. You can tell people you are just friends."
"I’ve been telling him that, Mr Murphey. He doesn't listen," Tyler protests as he finishes the last of his fruit.
"Tran is like me in that respect, I think. He won't do something if he thinks it’s wrong. With this, he thinks it’s wrong."
"I just like to be honest," Tran says, then eats his last piece of strawberry.
"Tran, I have been thinking about it. I know you are thinking to have a news conference and announce, ‘Hey world, I'm gay.’ But I think if you just start saying yes if someone asks if you’re Tyler's boyfriend and act like it’s no big deal, that's how people will treat it. Besides, you only have a week left in school. There is no rush."
"So your saying not make a big production out of it, just admit it when asked?"
"Pretty much yes, because honestly I don't see how it’s really anyone's business but you boys."
"Ba, we were wondering if Tyler could come on Joey’s tour with us this summer."
"I don't think that’s a good idea. We are so busy and with last year......." Eric leaves off the part about them being in a plane crash.
"What about maybe Chicago? Aren't we going to Chicago?"
"Yes, it’s the first concert on the schedule."
"Are we driving or flying?" Tran asks.
"Actually, we are flying."
"Oh, I figured if we drove it might give us a better chance."
"Let me think about it a few days. I will of course have to talk to Tyler's parents because one we’re flying and two we are leaving the state. I think you have convinced me to allow him to go to at least one concert with us."
"Tyler, it’s so crazy how people act. You are going to flip out. It’s cool though because a limo picks us up and carries us to the airport; then when we land we get in another one. Then we have to make our way through the crowds of fans. It’s scary but exciting too."
"No limos this trip," Eric tells him.
"So we are driving to the airport then?" Tran asks.
"No. They are landing a helicopter on the lawn and then we are flying to the hotel from here. I talked to the promoter and we decided it’s the best way seeing as how it’s not that far."
"That's going to be so cool."
"I wonder if my parents will let me go?" Tyler muses.
"I will talk with them. The thing is you, will be safe. We have so much security it’s out of this world. But its the flying that worries me now," Eric tells him. He is thinking helicopter and Stevie Ray Vaughn.
"From what Tran said, the crash was a fluke," Tyler tells Eric.
"Fluke or not, we still crashed," Eric says and feels goose bumps thinking about it. "But we will talk to his parents and see what they think."
"Where is his next concert?" Tran asks.
"Toronto, so no chance of that. I'm not taking a minor out of the country."
They chat a little while longer about the possible plans for Tyler to go with them. Eric thinks it will probably not happen, but the boys remain hopeful. Eric thinks it might actually be nice for Tran to have a friend come along so he will have someone to talk with that is his age.
When they are done, Eric heads to his office to get his emails caught up, which seems like a never-ending task. He is working away when his stomach grumbles. He looks at the time and it is noon. He texts Joey to let him know he is making lunch and asks if he is coming home for lunch or not. A few minutes later he gets a text back,
[Joey] Can we ride the bus and go to McDonald’s for lunch?
Eric thinks a few minutes about it. He has let them all ride the bus before. It helps that he knows the driver of the bus that goes through their neighborhood, and that the boys would not have to transfer.
[Eric] That will be fine. Be home for supper at 6.
[Joey] Cool dad love you.
[Eric] Love you too. Be careful and safe.
Eric asks Tran and Tyler if they are ready for lunch. Of course they are! What teenage boy can survive longer than two hours without food?
Eric heads into the kitchen and decides a burger sounds nice. He pulls out some patties from the freezer and puts them in a skillet to fry up. He makes five burgers, one for him and two for each of the boys. Teens are such hearty eaters! They need the energy to run after they say something smart to an adult, maybe?
Once the burgers are done, he lets the boys know and they are back at the table in a flash. Eric serves them all a soda as they eat and chat about the plans for the day, which include doing nothing for a good while.
"Ba, can we watch a movie in the living room?"
Eric isn't sure why Tran keeps asking permission for things he knows he has permission to do, but figures it’s due to his friend being here. Or is it boyfriend now?
"You know you can. Is your friend staying again tonight?"
"We were talking about it, but he has to go to church in the morning so we decided would be best if he didn’t."
"You’ve got a good head on your shoulders, young man," Eric tells him with pride.
"The cheeseburger doesn't fall far from the cow," Tran says with an energetic giggle.
Eric half chuckles, "What?"
"You know ba, like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I figured with McDonald’s and all.”
"Pretty witty there, Super boy."
Tran smiles at the praise. Somehow, Eric gets done before them.
"I think I'm going to have a nap. You boys have fun."
"Sleep well, Ba."
"Yeah sleep well, Mr Murphey."
He rubs both boys’ heads as he leaves the room. Buddy follows him and both lay down for a nap. He is just tired today, and sleep finds him quickly.
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