Eric’s eyes snap open upon hearing Alejandro's blood-curdling scream.
"POOOOOOPPPPPIIII NOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Eric is out of bed like a shot and crashes into Alejandro in the hall.
Eric picks up the sobbing boy from the ground where he fell. Buddy is at Eric's feet whining. Eric takes the sobbing boy to his chest and holds him tight while he walks back to his room.
"Ba, is Alejandro alright?"
"Yeah dad, is he OK?"
"I'm pretty sure he just had a nightmare. You boys go back to bed."
They both nod and do as asked though still worried about their brother. They get back to sleep in a few minutes, remembering that this happens every so often.
It takes a good fifteen minutes for Alejandro to calm down enough to talk to Eric.
"Oh Poppi, it was so real. I dreamed you died. Then we dint have anywhere to live. So we moved by the river and was living in a tent, and we was cold and starving, Poppi," he continues and starts crying again. "The worst part was, you wasn't there. We dint have no one to love us no more.”
"Now, we have talked about this several times," Eric reminds him calmly. Ever since Alejandro came to live with Eric, every now and then he still has horrendous nightmares. At first they happened most nights, but as time went on became less and less frequent. Now they are down to once a month or so. Eric thinks maybe Buddy being abused might have something to do with it – that Alejandro relates to those feelings. Or maybe Alejandro feels powerless about the award because he knows accepting it is what Eric really wants him to do. Alejandro knows that Eric is proud of him and that he wants to tell everyone how great he thinks his son is, even if it’s just the right thing to do. He holds on to his Poppi for dear life because he is always terrified of losing him.
Alejandro also knows the plans they have just in case.
"Now first, if something happens to me Joy would move in here and take care of you. Possibly Marco too, in time. If something happens to me and Joy then Miss Julia would take you to Florida and you would live with her and her new husband, not to mention your buddy Julius. If something happens to all of us then Lucas would move into the house and take care of you boys. If something happens to all of us and Lucas, then the Bradys will move in and take care of you boys. So you really have nothing to worry about," Eric says, holding him tight because he knows he likes that when he is upset.
"I know, Poppi. I know I shouldn't get upset. But I can't help it when I'm sleeping. It just seems that no matter how hard you try to lock someone out of your mind, somehow they manage to creep back in," Alejandro explains, defending himself. It’s a trait he has yet to leave behind.
"I know buddy; I'm not mad. I just never want to see you upset is all. I hope one day your subconscious will realize I'm not going anywhere for a long time," Eric answers and pats him on his little bottom.
"I know, Poppi."
"I love you so much. You know that, right?"
"Of course I do, Poppi. You show me everyday just by being here, making sure I go to school and get an education so I can be something special. You make sure I get lots of good food. You always listen to me if I have a problem. It’s things like that, Poppi, that make me love you more and more every day. And of course you tell me that like a hundred times a day."
"That's just what dads are supposed to do."
"I know, Poppi. But I talk to the kids in my class, and they aren't close to their parents like we are."
"Maybe it’s because I adopted you guys, and because I wanted to be close to you guys. Or maybe we just got a weird family," Eric says, tickling his sons sides.
"Poppi!!!!" Alejandro squeals with delight as Eric starts tickling him. Eric tickles him a good few minutes, just loving hearing his boy’s peels of laughter. Alejandro quits laughing abruptly.
"Poppi, I got to pee."He speed-races to Eric's restroom.
Eric just chuckles and looks at the dog.
"You get used to it, Buddy. He has nightmares sometimes. His life was a lot like yours before, so you understand him better than all of us." He rubs the dogs head, and in response Buddy wags his tail. When Eric stops, Buddy lays down and goes to sleep.
Alejandro comes back and climbs back up on the bed and on top of Eric.
"Poppi, I love you too."
"I know you do. What brings this on?"
"When you said it earlier I didn't say it back."
"It’s OK. I know you love me."
"With all of my heart, even."
Eric hugs him close and kisses the top of his head.
"Poppi?"
"Yeah, buddy?"
"Is there any of that pizza left from Friday?"
Eric chuckles, remembering that Alejandro's first time crawling into his bed after a nightmare was the first time they went out for pizza, and that he had asked the same question.
"I think so. We should go check before your brothers sneak down, beat us to it, and eat it all," Eric says with mirth in his voice.
"Yeah we should." With that he slides from Eric and hops off the bed. Eric follows, Buddy looks up and decides he would rather sleep. Eric and Alejandro take the back steps because it’s closer. When they get there Eric opens the fridge and pulls out the box.
"Cold or warmed up?"
"Cold," Alejandro says with a devilish grin. "It’s faster that way."
Eric puts the box on the table and Alejandro, who is sitting with his feet under his butt, leans forward, snags a piece, and quickly takes a bite. Eric gets them both some milk, because Alejandro doesn't need a soda at 4 a.m., and also because milk will maybe help Eric avoid heartburn from eating pizza so late and then going back to bed.
"Thanks, Poppi," Alejandro says. He takes a swig of the milk and wipes the milk mustache away with his forearm before taking another bite of pizza. Eric grabs a couple of paper napkins and finally sits down to grab a slice. Alejandro is gnawing on the crust because the cold crust is a bit chewy. Once he finishes the piece and swallows the last bit, he looks at Eric.
"You want me to get that award, don't you?"
"That is your choice entirely," Eric insists as he takes a bite.
"Poppi, are you going to Washington?" Eric chokes as he hears his son say this back to him after he has said it to the boys so many times. It’s what Eric says when the boys don't answer his question or are being evasive with their answers.
Eric wipes his mouth.
"Yes, I suppose I was going to Washington," he admits, and takes another bite.
"Poppi, you still didn't answer my question."
Eric swallows.
"You know the answer," Eric says, taking another bite.
"Yeah, but, ..." Alejandro can't figure out how to say what he wants to say, so he just shrugs.
"But you want me to tell you, and tell you why?"
Alejandro nods as he takes a bite of a second slice.
Eric sits down his slice and takes a drink of milk.
"Yes, I want you to take it; I want with all of my heart for you to take it. So the whole world will know what I knew all along: that you are one of the greatest boys in the world. I want it on the five o'clock news EVERY single day about how great you are. I want to take out billboards and put your picture on them and tell the world that my son is such an awesome boy. I want to ask them, ‘Don't you wish your sons were as great as mine?’ I want to brag about you to everyone who will listen. I want to scream from the top of the roof what you did so the world knows how caring you are, and how much love you have in your heart. So yes, for very selfish reasons I do want you to take it.
“On the practical side like I mentioned before. I think it will increase awareness and create more money and food for the food bank. So that would be the real reason to take it if you do. Not because it makes me proud of you, because I'm already that. I brag about you to someone everyday. I tell everyone how great all my boys are. The way you never cease to amaze me with the compassion and generosity you all have, especially after the hellish life you all had before. I can only imagine what you boys had to endure. It breaks my heart that the ones I love so much had to endure all of that. So yes, on all fronts, I want you to accept it."
"How much do you think it will increase the food stuff being brought in?"
"I don't know. It might be nothing, but it could be a lot. I couldn't even venture to make a guess."
"You think it would be enough to feed one boy for a night?" he asks with total seriousness.
"I am sure it would be at least that much."
"Hmmm,” he mutters as he starts thinking out loud.
"I don't really want anybody knowing what I was doing, cuz I was doing it to help the people right in front of me. But what I really want is that no one gots to be hungry. So if I don't take it and someone goes hungry that wouldn't have, it’s my fault. I wouldn't want that to be my fault because I'm being selfish. But they are rewarding me for what people should be doing anyway. But I guess people aren't doing it like they should. I don't know. I know that I don't want no one being hungry because that sure sucks."
Eric watches in amazement as always as his son talks out his problems to himself. It’s funny sometimes that he just mouths it; Eric always thinks it’s adorable.
Alejandro takes a bite of pizza and chews. Eric can see he is thinking pretty hard about this. He understands why Alejandro wants to keep it private. He himself does a lot of donations that way. You do things because it’s the right thing to do, but he doesn't feel that publicity about his gifts would increase donations for the charities he gives to. On the other hand, it’s pretty damn cool what Alejandro has been doing. Eric knows that on a lot of those Saturdays, there was snow on the ground. He pictures his little guy tugging his wagon through the snow to collect for others. Eric's heart swells even more with pride. They sit in silence for a while and when they have their fill, Eric puts the last pieces back in the fridge. Eric swoops up his boy in his arms.
"Back to my room or to yours?"
"Mine I'm still thinking, and you need your sleep cuz you’re old."
"Oh, I'm old am I?"
"Yep. Rich was telling us about when he was a boy and he thought you was old then."
"Oh really, an 80-year-old man thought I was old now?"
Alejandro giggles.
Eric takes the main stairs because it’s a shorter distance to Alejandro room that way. He flops him onto his bed, making Alejandro giggle.
"Now you don't stay up too much longer. Remember we have to help at the Stew Pot tomorrow. So get some sleep so you can be of use and not sleep-walking," Eric urges him as he pulls the covers over tucks them tight around his little body.
"I will, Poppi."
"I know you will. You’re a good boy." He bends over and kisses Alejandro's lips, and . Alejandro kisses him back.
"Love you."
"Love you too."
Eric walks back to his room and crawls into bed. Buddy lifts up his head and looks at Eric, then at the door, obviously waiting for something or someone.
"What? He is in his room."
Buddy gets up and walks out of the room.
"I see how I rate," he chuckles. He finds sleep quickly.
Eric wakes up at 8:00 and yawns as he looks at his phone for the time. He thinks he slept pretty late even with the late bedtime factored in. He figures the boys are still asleep so he slips on his robe and house shoes and heads downstairs to the smell of French toast cooking. Who the hell is cooking? It does smell great, though. He walks in to see the boys all awake and scurrying around the kitchen.
"You’re not supposed to be awake yet," Alejandro says to him accusingly.
"Um sorry?" Eric says, quite confused.
"Well, you may as well sit down; you ruined the surprise anyway," Joey tells him.
"Sorry?" Eric is still confused.
"Here Ba, I will get you some coffee." Tran announces. He takes the cup from the tray that is sitting on the table. It finally hits Eric, “Duh, they were making me breakfast in bed.”
"I'm sorry guys. I didn't mean to ruin your surprise. I can race back upstairs and we can pretend I wasn't here."
"Nah, it’s OK, Dad. We just wanted to surprise ya is all."
"I am surprised, that's for sure. And it smells amazing too."
"Except the bacon, right Ba?"
"Well, that never smells good to me."
"Joey wanted bacon. I told him bacon don't go with french toast. Sausage goes with French Toast and bacon goes with pancakes. But I suppose you can have sausage with pancakes. But I never had bacon with French Toast," Alejandro blurts out in one breath.
"I think it will be OK, buddy." Eric smiles at him.
Alejandro grins back, "I know; it’s just different is all." Eric has learned that Alejandro likes changes, and that even very slight ones make him think, making sure it’s really OK.
Tran sets the coffee in front of Eric, and kisses the top of his head when he does.
"Love you, Ba."
"Love you too."
A few minutes later the table is set, everyone has something to drink, and they sit down to eat.
"Not that I'm complaining, mind you, but what’s this all about? Are you guys up to something?" Eric asks with a piece of French toast on his fork, dangling in front of his mouth waiting to be eaten.
"No Ba, it’s to say thanks. You are always doing stuff for us. We wanted to do something special for you."
Eric smiles and takes a bite.
"Tran is the new master French toast maker," Eric says when he swallows.
"Yeah he is,"Joey agrees.
Alejandro just nods and takes another bite of the syrupy concoction on his plate.
"I just made it like you taught me," Tran points out.
"No you didn't; this is way better than mine," Eric insists as he forks another bite into his mouth.
They enjoy the meal and to Eric's surprise, the boys clear the table and do up the dishes.
"I could get used to this."
"Yeah, don't, Poppi." Alejandro says with a giggle.
"Not a good plan, Ba," Tran tosses in.
Eric walks into the living room and flips on the TV to watch a cycle of news, but gets bored with it fairly quickly. He did hear Alejandro take Buddy out and then come back in. He figures they are in their rooms, probably Joey and Alejandro playing a video game and Tran reading a book. He goes to see if he is right, and finds that he is close. All three are playing a board game in Tran’s room while laying across his bed.
"We got to leave in half an hour, guys."
"We will be ready, Ba."
"Just making sure you knew the time is all."
"We better end this game, guys. I gotta load the truck," Joey tells them.
"Nah, we will help you. Let’s finish,” Tran counters.
"OK, but only five minutes. I don't want to be late. People are counting on us."
Eric smiles as he walks out of the room and goes to get dressed himself. Since Miss Julia got married, the dress code around the house has been a lot more casual, with one or more boys or Eric strolling though the downstairs nude is not an uncommon occurrence. Eric has been wearing his robe around more, just because it’s been cool in the mornings.
He dresses in his usual attire of tan slacks and an Oxford, yellow this time. Alejandro got it for him for his birthday. It always makes him think of sunshine, even though it’s a pale yellow. It’s not a color Eric would usually buy for himself, but now he loves it. He has started getting more colorful articles of clothing versus his usual white and blue because of it. He heads downstairs and sits in the kitchen after grabbing a cup of coffee. The boys packed the truck while Eric got dressed. He probably should have helped them, but they really do enjoy doing things like that, so he let them enjoy it.
It doesn't take the boys long to get ready and they get down pretty quickly so Eric chugs the coffee, rinses out the cup, and leaves it in the sink. Alejandro puts Buddy in his crate and talks to him a minute, then gets in the truck and fastens himself in.
"Got enough room guys?" Eric asks because they have toys stacked between them on the seat. They have the back window blocked too, so he has to use the camera to back out, which he hates. They arrive safely at the Stew Pot and start taking in the toys. They put a few of the nicer things in Marco’s office for boys and girls, and because Marco has a program for parents who can't afford birthday gifts for their children, he helps them with it. With Joey getting so many gifts from fans and from companies, no one is ever lacking now on their birthdays. Marco thinks it’s great that Joey is honest with his fans and asks for toys for girls too just for this reason. Marco smiles as he sees them all walking in all loaded down with toys. He chuckles because not one of them can see directly in front of themselves; the toys are piled so high that they are walking kind of sideways, or crab walking as he has heard it called before. He is just so thankful that they came into his life and have given him much needed help both physically and financially. A lot more people are eating healthier food because of the Murphey family. He doubts they know or fixate on how much they help. If he were to guess, they would think they aren't really doing anything much. But Eric's generous donations every month covers half the cost of everything, including his meager salary. With Joey’s gifts, it frees up time he can use for other things like trying to help people with lights or gas services that are about to be turned off for nonpayment, instead of begging shop owners to help.
It takes Eric and the boys a couple of trips, and soon they are done bringing things in. They head inside to see where their help is needed.
"Alright Marco, the gang’s all here. What needs done?"
"OK, if you boys would take care of the drinks like usual, that would be a huge help. Get them made and make sure the glasses are ready to go. Eric, you I just need to talk with with Alejandro for few minutes if that's OK."
"Sure. Come on, buddy," Eric says, putting his hand on his son’s shoulder as they walk to Marco’s office.
"You know I got a desk that's sitting at the office that's a lot nicer than this. No one is using it because it was an older one and we replaced it. Could you use it?" Eric inquires.
"Boy, could I use it! Only one drawer is good on this one now. I think it was made about the turn of the century, and not this one either," he jokes.
"I will have someone drop it off for you," Eric tells him.
"Thanks, but I really wanted to talk to you about Alejandro. You see the Noon Optimist club as you know is full of all the business men and women from town. They want to give Alejandro an award for collecting the food for people. He told me he doesn't want it."
Alejandro looks at Eric.
"Poppi, did you trick me into telling you?"
"No, I tricked you into telling Cindy."
Alejandro looks at him through squinted eyes.
"Hmm, Washington," is all he says.
Marco looks at them confused.
"It’s a family thing we have. If someone is being evasive we ask if they are going to Washington. Alejandro, tell Marco where you go for lying."
"Washington, DC, Poppi." he answers with a grin.
Marco rolls with laughter at that.
"Oh Eric, you are too much sometimes. Joy is always telling stories of things you two did as children. I never believe it’s you who started it, but now I'm starting to. She told me about the Great French Fry Switch."
Eric laughs.
"I hadn't thought of that in years."
"What did you do, Poppi?
"Oh boy, I was 16 or maybe 17 at the time. A guy I knew was a manager for Wendy's. I bought a bag of frozen french fries from him. I took it to work and fried up a basket full, dumped some in a box and was eating them. I went to Mr Brown’s office and said they tasted funny. He looks at them and says they look funny, too. He tried one. He was like, ‘Hey these don't taste right at all.’ So he went and examined the cases of fries. I had him going for about an hour and a half and I wasn't going to tell him for a while, but then he was about to call corporate and complain the fries aren't right. After I told him, he was mad for about a minute and then started laughing at me."
"Poppi, why didn't you just buy some fries and put them in a McDonald's box. Would have been easier."
Marco laughs heartily.
"You are going to have your hands full with this one if he turns into a practical joker."
"Who you telling? It’s obvious he is already smarter than I am," Eric allows, laughing.
After a moment they calm down.
"So Poppi, Marco didn't tell you about the award then?"
"No. I said we talked and you figured we talked about that. I'm sorry I tricked you. But I think that in this case it was justified."
"You shouldn't have tricked me."
"I agree I shouldn't have. But Marco said you talked and would you have been honest with me and told me about the award had I not?"
Alejandro thinks a second and answers, "Prolly not."
"OK. So Marco, what did you want to say?"
"I just think he really deserves it is all. He has been working so hard he deserves some recognition for it."
"I'm just doing what I'm supposed to do. Helping people right in front of me is all. I don't need an award for that. It’s like if Poppi always drove at the speed limit and the city gave him an award for that."
Eric laughs as does Marco.
"Marco, I told him its entirely his decision. I told him why he should and I also understand that he wants to do it not for anything but that its right. I explained to him that something as cool as this will get media attention and maybe bring in more donations. But as of early this morning I have heard no decision about if he wants to or not. When do we have to decide by?"
"Wednesday is their next meeting and they want to do it then."
"Shit, Marco, I'm working the next two weeks for Chris. I can't go."
"Its OK, Poppi. I decided to get it. Not because I want it. Not because I deserve it for sure. But because you both think it might bring in more donations. That's the important thing. Isn't it?"
"That is the important part of it buddy," Eric acknowledges.
"I wish you could be there though, Poppi."
"I'm sure Joy will be there and so will Lucas."
Alejandro looks sad that Eric won't be able to be there.
"I guess that's alright poppi," he says reluctantly.
"You know I want to be there, right?"
"I know, Poppi. I just feel, I don't know, more relaxed when you are around. Specially when it’s somewhere I never been before."
"I know. I have to do this though. Work.…"
"… always comes first because that is how you take care of your family, which is truly first," Alejandro finishes his statement.
"Sounds like this has been discussed before," Marco says.
"A time or two for sure, but about their work is school which is for their families later in life, so we make sure they do as well as they can."
"So we can have a nice job for our families," Alejandro adds.
"That is great news. I will let Bill Plumber know it’s on. He was so disappointed you had said no, but said he understood why. He was wanting to meet you and now is his chance I suppose," Marco tells Alejandro.
"Now that that is settled, let’s get some people some lunch," Marco says getting up from his very old worn out desk.
They do just that and feed 157 men, women, and children who otherwise wouldn't have eaten lunch that day. About a hundred of them were children. All the children got a toy to take home that day, and left with full bellies and smiles on their faces. Because that's how it’s supposed to be for children, isn't it?
Eric and the boys head home feeling tired but happy from all their efforts. When they get home, Alejandro asks if he can go to Cindy's so he can tell her about the award that he is going to get. Eric agrees. Then Tran announces that he wants to go to Tyler's, and Joey goes to his friend’s as well. Eric looks at the dog and shrugs.
"I didn't fart. Must have been you."
Buddy looks at him like whatever and yawns.
"Rough life now, huh?" he says, gently scratching the top of the dog’s head.
Eric goes to his office and pulls up the list of general managers’ phone numbers. He finds the one he wants and dials it.
"Vicki, it’s Eric Murphey. I have a HUGE favor to ask of you."
"Must be if you are calling me on Sunday at home, because you never have before."
"I'm sorry it couldn't wait. Now you can say no if you want, and please don't feel obligated."
"It sounds like you want me to give up a kidney," she jests.
"Do you still take off Wednesdays?"
"Have for twenty years. Don't see a reason to stop now."
"I don't know if you know but Chris is on vacation and I'm covering for him because his first got into a car accident."
"Yes, I know her. I have been over to her house to see her. She isn't hurt badly exactly. Just real banged up. Sore as can be. Hurts her to walk to the bathroom. So what does this have to do with me?"
"Could be nothing. Like I said you can say no if you don't want to do it. But I need you to work for me at Chris' store on Wednesday for a few hours."
"Do you mind if I ask why before I give an answer?"
"Absolutely not. Alejandro.…"
He tells her about the award, what Alejandro has done, and why he wants to be there. He finishes with, "I will even pay you $300 cash if you do it to cover your wages and a few dollars for just because."
"I tell you what, Eric. For that I will do it. You know I cherish my days off."
"As you should."
"Another thing. Just take the $300 and donate it to the food pantry in my name. That works for me."
"I can't do that. I will give it to you and you do with it as you wish."
"I don't know where it is to drop it off."
"I will give you directions. Besides if you know where it is maybe you will stop by more often," Eric conjectures humorously.
"You are an evil man, you know that, right?"
Eric chuckles.
"I have been told that a time or ten by Joy."
"Oh, she’s one to talk."
"I tell you, Vicki, I sure do appreciate you doing this."
"Hey Eric, just stay home that day. I will take care of it all for you."
"Really, the entire shift?"
"Sure, why not. It’ll give you some time to spend with Alejandro afterward. Maybe you will bring him up and I can see him again. You never come to my store so I can see your boys."
"I'm sorry."
"It’s OK, Eric I know in your mind that store is McDonald's to you and holds lots of fond memories."
"I pretty much grew up there. It’s like going home in a lot of ways."
"Mr Brown did love you."
"And I loved him too."
"NO ONE over doubted that."
"I sure do appreciate it. I will let them know tomorrow you will cover for me."
"Now about that raise..." she says and starts laughing.
"You know that's not even up to me anymore."
"I know, I'm just yanking your chain."
"I know."
They talk a few minutes about regular life and family things. Eric and Vicki are around the same age. She is a bit younger than him and she started at his McDonald's when Mr Brown was still alive. When he bought the other stores in the area, he appointed her the GM of the location she is at now and has not once regretted it. She is a great manager. She was trained by the best, Mr Brown himself.
Eric watches a movie and when it’s done, starts in on making supper for Joy, Lucas and the boys. His family.
All of them.
_________________________________________________________________
ericmurphey1971@gmail.com
Well, its another chapter down in teh contiuing story of Eric and the boys. I hope you are still enjoying it. I do want to say thank you so much for all the kind emails last week. Even one thanked Zero for his hard work. I dont think you guys realize how much he does to make this story better. I send him stuff like Um Eric and Alejandro do some stuff. The other boys do stuff too and this is what we get. OK I'm not that bad. But if you glance at a chapter before he started editing and then this one. You will see tha vast difference. So Lets here it for Zero. Let him know how much you appreciate him. I would love to copy and paste about 10 emails thanking him. I know he enjoys it but what he does is rather thankless.
I got an email this week from a reader whose friend lost his job. He was having a hard time and mentioned he was having a rough time at the food bank becuase he has a disability. So my reader helped him out in the situation. Hats off to him for helping someoe in need. But it is true that you just dont know who needs some help. With the economy the way it is right now and inflation. I sometimes have to struggle to get things done and I work two full time jobs. So if you can donate a few dollars to your local food pantry. Would be cool if you donated in Alejnadros name. But its not needed. Just the help Im sure they would appreciate. I know that at Krogers which arent near me anymore they have bags you can buy to help. I know at Tops which is near me does the same as do a lot of stores. Just pick up a bag you can afford and not cut yourself short and help out a bit.
I had another writer email me after I emailed him about his story. Its a great story called Boy From the High Country. You should read it. Let him know I asked you to read if your so inclined. The point is he said he would pray for me. I dont know if I believe in the power of prayer Im not even sure I truly believe in the Creator. But prayer never hurts I suppose. So if you could maybe pray I get my farm. Some amazing floodgate opens and I can get it sooner then I anticipate which is about 6 to 8 years from now. I dont know if it will help. But, It sure wont hurt. I have been after this dream for 35 years and am no closer to it then when I started. Maybe this will help?
Love you guys and as always I wish you.
Peace Love and Good Happiness,
Eric Murphey