Gregory A. Patrick
Jaiden Chapter 92
12/23/2020
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Greg Patrick
Jaiden walked into the den and
caught Richard crying. He sat down next
to him, laced his fingers with his left hand, and said, "Richard, I wish I
could say I understand how your heart hurts, but I can't. What I can say is, I understand the loss you
are feeling. The difference between me
and you, you can pick up the phone and call Seth whenever you want. You can fly to Orange Beach to see your
little brother, and he can fly to Erie to see you. For me, I can't pick up the phone and call my
Dad. I can't fly anywhere to see him,
and I can't get a hug from my Dad, or hear him say he is proud of me. Embrace the things you can do instead of the
regrets of what you couldn't do. That
will help you to let go of the pain that is eating you alive. You aren't doing yourself any good if you
focus on regrets instead of the future."
"You were at the recognition
ceremony when Mom and I finally admitted, and let go of our pain over Dad's
death. We have both felt tremendously
better, and we are much happier now that we know how each other feels, and how
badly we had been hurting. Please, I beg
you, don't take twenty-four years to let go of your pain and regrets. It hurts, and it will keep hurting until you
deal with it and let it go. Peyton and I
love you beyond belief, and it kills us to see you hurting the way you do."
"Jaiden, I know you are right,
but I keep dreaming I am standing there while Dad abuses and hurts my little
brother, and I didn't do anything to stop him."
"Richard, what do you think you did when you came to Peyton and Me, when
we called and got Don involved for you after you told us what happened? The step you took that night was incredibly
brave. If you hadn't done that, and
somebody else found out about the abuse and reported it, Seth could have wound
up in foster care; nobody would know where he was placed, and nobody would know
if he was being taken care of."
"Richard, is Seth better, or
worse off, than he was a year ago? Are
you better, or worse off, than you were a
year ago? "We are both better
off." "So, you did save him from the
abuse, and you did it in a way that benefited you both. Your med school loan was paid off, your last
year and a half at LECOM has been paid; and because of everything, you met a
beautiful young lady who adores you, and can hardly wait to marry you."
"Seth is in the best school in
the west-Florida and south-Alabama area, and his learning quotient is through
the roof. Both of you were made a part
of a family who loves you, no matter what, and always will, and that allowed
you both to get the help you needed.
Yes, there was a period of time when you were trying to figure out how
to help Seth but couldn't, but considering everything that has come about,
don't you think you did the best you could to protect him?"
"You are right, Jaiden. We both are much better off than we were
before, and we have a family who loves us.
Seth loves his school, he has a future he couldn't have imagined before. He wants to be a veterinarian at a marine rehab center on the east coast of the
US, and he is looking at the islands off the east coast of Australia. It's all
good, but it kills me that Seth isn't here so I can hug him every morning, and
tell him I love him while I am looking into his eyes. I wasn't ready for him to be so far
away. Jaiden, I hope you can understand
that."
"Richard, I think I have a
solution so you can do that every day.
Does Seth have a computer?" "Not
that I know of." "Come with me, I'm going
to fix that problem!"
"Jaiden, why are we at the
mall? "You'll see in a minute."
Richard and Jaiden walked into
the mall, and headed straight for the Apple store. When they got there, Jaiden walked up to a
salesman he knew from when he bought computers for David and Jason. "Jarred."
"Hey, Jaden, what can I do for you today?"
"Jarred, I need two of the best,
fastest, most powerful Mac-books I can get with the sharpest resolution
possible." "Jaiden, I have two laptops
that are what you asked for, but they aren't cheap." "Jarred, the price isn't a concern for me. There is a reason, and purpose for why I want
them, so money is no object. I want a
service and warranty plan that covers everything and anything on each of the
laptops, so please get all of that ready for me." "Yes, sir."
"Mr. Reynolds, the total cost
for everything is $7,295.86." Here is my
debit card. Do you have a store in
Orange Beach, or Mobile, Alabama?"
"Let's see. We have a store in
Mobile located at 3250 Airport Boulevard #4." "Can Richard's Mom or Dad pick up one of the
computers there?" "Let me call and see
if they have this model with everything you want in stock."
"High, this is Jarred Erickson,
manager of the store in Erie, Pennsylvania, with whom am I speaking?" "Jarred, my name is David Jansen, and I'm the
store manager here in Mobile." David,
can you please check and see if you have a Mac-book with the largest memory,
processing speed, and resolution that we carry."
"Jarred, we have one in
stock." "Great, I have a customer who
just purchased two of the laptops, and he would like for his mother-in-law to
pick up the one you have at your store; he has paid for both here at the Erie
store. I can give you the receipt
number, and handle this as a transfer sale."
"We'll be happy to accommodate
your customer. What is his name and
address?" "His name is Mr. Jaiden
Riley-Reynolds, hyphenated last name, and his address is 5680 Landings Way,
Erie, Pennsylvania."
"The receipt numbers?" "62AB6521, store
5643. The transfer number is J27R73TM."
"Who is supposed to pick up the
computer?" "The person who is supposed
to pick up the computer will be either Mrs. Phyllis Riley, or Dr. James
Riley."
"Is Dr. Riley the veterinarian
at the Orange Beach Animal Hospital?"
"Yes, Mr. Reynolds is his
son-in-law." "He is my vet, so I know
him, and Mrs. Riley." "Great. Make sure to attach the 10-year anything and
everything warranty on the computer, and
theft recovery. It is also paid for here
in Erie."
"If you would, please call Dr.
Riley at the clinic and let him know the computer is there for him, or Mrs.
Riley, to pick up. Mr. Reynolds will
call Mrs. Riley at home and let her know as well." "I will do that for you right now. I have Dr. Riley's clinic number on his
magnetic business card sticking to my filing cabinet. Thanks much, David!" "You bet, man, anytime!"
"Mom, this is Jaiden. I just bought the best Apple computer on the
market for Seth and Richard. Could you
please pick up the computer for Seth at the Apple Store located at 3250 Airport
Boulevard #4? Richard and I had a long
talk about an hour ago, and I think this will help relieve the sadness he has
had with not being able to look Seth in the eye, and tell him he loves him. He and Richard can talk to each other every
morning before they go to school, and with the resolution on each of the
computers, Seth's eyes will look just like Richard is sitting in front of him."
"Jaiden, you are a
sweetheart. This is going to make Seth
so happy. We just got home, so as soon
as he comes downstairs and has his snack, we'll run over to the store and pick
up the computer. Jim and I will let him
use it on the desk in the den so we can keep an eye on him." "Mom, that is exactly what I was hoping you
would say, it will keep Seth out of mischief on the computer." "You're a wise young man, Jaiden." "My Mom likes to tell me that, but sometimes
I wonder if she is saying it to make me feel good." "No, Jaiden.
I think she says and means it like I just did and do." "Thanks, Mom, I love you too."
"Richard is off tonight, so if
you would get Seth to call him, I can help them set everything up so they can
see each other when they talk." "Jaiden,
I'll get Seth to call Richard after dinner tonight." "Thanks, Mom." "You're welcome, son."
"Seth, as soon as you finish
your snack, we need to run into Mobile to pick up something Jaiden bought for
you. When we get it home, you need to
call Richard after supper tonight and he will walk you through what he wants
you to do." "What did he get for me,
Mom?" "Son, that is a surprise, but I
know you are going to love what it is!"
Jim called Phyllis to let her
know David Jansen had called and left a message with Angie about the
computer. Phyllis told Jim she and Seth
were about to head to Mobile to pick it up. That's good, sweetheart, I'll see
you as soon as I can get home. I love
you!" "I love you more, Jim!"
Phyllis and Seth got to the
computer store and went inside. David
explained everything Jaiden had installed on the computer, and explained the
10-year everything and anything no-hassle warranty. He also explained that there was a special
program on the computer that would help them find it if someone stole the
laptop. When David handed Seth the
computer, Seth looked at his Mom with red, swollen eyes and said, "Mom, Jaiden
bought me this so I could see Richard when I talk to him?" "Yes, he did, Seth. The resolution on the screen is so good you
can see each other's eyes just like you could if you were sitting in front of
each other."
Seth didn't say a word all the
way home. He just kept looking at the
box holding the computer. He couldn't
wait to get it set up so he could see Richard every time they talk.
"Jaiden, this is Seth. Thank you for the laptop, Mom took me to get it, and we just got home. She said I could use the computer to talk to Richard and we could see each
other. How do we do that?"
"Seth, the computer should
already be set up with your name and information in it, so to get started, all
you have to do is cut on the computer."
"OK, Jaiden, it's on." "Seth, on
the face page that first comes up, do you see a widget or little square box
that says SKYPE?" "Yes, sir." "Click on the word SKYPE." "OK, it came up." "Is it asking you for your name?" "Yes, sir."
"Seth, go ahead and type in your
first and last name. If you see a box
that says `keep me signed on,' make sure there is not a check mark in that
box. You want to sign in every time you
use SKYPE, you don't want the computer to keep you signed in because a hacker
could get into your computer and mess it up or steal information that is
yours."
"Jaiden, it is telling me to
create a password." "Do you know how to
do that?" "No, sir." "First, get a pen and a piece of paper you
can write a number down on." "Got
it." "You need to create a password that
is hard to figure out, but something you can remember, or get off a sheet of
paper. I can help you make a password if
you want me to." "Please." "OK, let's use this password: Capital S and a
little r for Seth Riley."
"Isn't your birthday July 11,
2010?" "Yes, sir." "Write down Sr071110." "Got it."
"Now hit the shift key and hold it down and then touch the number 2 and
you will get the `at' sign that looks like an `A' in a circle." "Got it."
"Now we'll use some of Richard's
information. Behind the @ symbol, type RREP980411. You
should have Sr071110@RREP980411 written down." That's what I have written down." "Type that exactly like it is into the first
slot that says password." "Got it." "Seth, read me what you wrote in the password
slot." "Capital S, little r, 071110 and
then the `at' sign, and RREP980411." "Perfect."
"Does SKYPE say that is a very
strong password?" "Yes, sir, it
does." "Good, now type that same
information into the slot that says confirm password."
"Got it done."
"Great. Do you see the box that says screen
name?" "Yes, sir." "In that box I want you to type "Sethisthegreatest 247365."
"OK, I have Sethisthegreatest
247365." "Good. Now hit enter. The screen that comes up should say to sign
in. Do you see that?" "Yes, sir."
"Type in Sethisthegreatest
247365 where it says screen name."
"OK, got it done."
"Good. That is the screen you need to go to, and the
information you need to sign in with when you want to talk to Richard. He is supposed to get off at 7 when I take
his place at the hospital, so I'll tell him to call you.
Richard can give you his private ID stuff so you can
tell your computer to link up with him.
I got him a computer just like yours, so everything both of you have to
do should be exactly the same."
"Thank you, Jaiden."
"You're welcome, buddy, you more
than earned that computer. Seth, do you
know what your screen name means?" "Yes,
sir, it means you told me I am the greatest 24 hours a day, seven days a week,
and 365 days a year." "Exactly! Is your Mom there?" "Yes, sir, she is." "May I speak to her for just a minute." "Yes, sir, let me get her on the phone."
"Hey, Jaiden, how's my favorite
son-in-law?" "I am doing well, Mom. I'm getting ready to go relieve Richard at
the hospital. Peyton is still at the
office. They had a hectic day today with
a full slate of patients every 15 minutes until the office closed. He still has three more patients to see
before he heads home."
"Jaiden, that was so nice of you
to buy that computer for Seth. He has
been so excited. Thank you for doing
that." "Mom, you are welcome. I walked into the den this morning after
Richard talked to Seth and he was crying because he really missed seeing
Seth. So, I thought of the computers and
the two of them talking on SKYPE so they could see each other. Richard said he missed seeing Seth's eyes
when they talked. The screen resolution
on the two computers is so good that if there is something in Seth's eye,
Richard can see it, no matter what it is, and it is the same for Seth. I am hoping it will help Richard feel better
about not being with Seth every day."
"Seth should have a screen name,
and a password written on a sheet of paper.
Please write that information down, and keep it somewhere in case Seth
loses his copy, or forgets that information."
"I will, Jaiden, as soon as we hang up."
"Mom, I am going to tell Richard
to call Seth when he gets home. We have
already set up SKYPE on his computer, so they should be able to see each
other. You can also talk to Peyton, me,
and the babies on SKYPE. Doing that
should really surprise the boys." "Jaiden,
I didn't think of that. When I talk to
Richard, he can get Peyton on the computer before we end the session. That is going to be so much fun." "I hope so, Mom, and I hope it will help
Richard's feelings as well."
"I have to head to the hospital so
Richard can come home and eat, and talk to Seth, so I will talk to you
later. Love you." "We love you, too, Jaiden."
When Jaiden got to the hospital,
while he and Richard were going over patient charts, Jaiden told him he'd
gotten Seth's computer set up on SKYPE, so they could talk to and see each
other tonight. "Mom has all his sign-on
information tucked away in case Seth loses his, but I don't think that will
happen. Seth is too responsible." "That he is, Jaiden. Thank you for doing this for us, I appreciate
it more than you will ever know."
"Richard, I know; believe me, I know."
"Let me know tomorrow how things
go for you on SKYPE tonight." "I will,
again, thank you so much, you have been too good to me, and done so much for
me."
"Richard, I haven't done too
much for you. I haven't even done everything I intend to do for you before we
set up our practices together. Believe
me when I tell you that I think you have more than earned everything Peyton and
I have done for you, and still want to do for you. I hope one day you will realize just how much
of a great person you are to Peyton, me, our parents, and our classmates."
"I have heard you tell Peyton
and me, and other people that you have never met anyone like us. I think you have, and I think you see him
every morning when you look in the bathroom mirror. Everybody we know thinks you are one of the
best, kindest persons they have ever met.
We just need to get you to the point that you at least believe half of
what everybody says about you. You are
an easy person to love, and Peyton and I are dreading the day when you and
Sally get married and you move into your own home. It won't be the same for us at home when you
are gone. And may Hashem help us if Dale
and Charley ever move out with their boys.
We have been together too long to be apart again, and the children adore
each other. That would be so hard on
Peyton and me – and the babies."
"Jaiden, I don't know what to
say." "Then don't say anything; you
don't have too. Just let people love
you, and recognize, and enjoy their love.
The way you saved, and have provided for Seth, is incomparable to
anything in this world. He is happy and
safe. He can talk to you any time he
wants to, and you two can visit with each other as much as you want, when you
want, and you don't have to worry anymore about Seth's safety. You know he is loved beyond measure, that he
is happy - and that is worth more than the pot of gold at the end of the
rainbow." When Jaiden said that, Richard
hugged him tightly, and said, "Thank you; I love you so much." "Peyton and I love you the same, and that
love grows exponentially every day."
Sally was standing around the
corner listening to everything Richard and Jaiden said to each other, and tears
were streaming down her face. When
Richard walked out the door to go home,
Sally met him at the car and said, "Richard, what Jaiden said about his and
Peyton's love for you growing exponentially every day, it is the same for
me. When he said what he did about you
looking in the mirror every morning, I couldn't agree more with him. You are, and I believe you always will be,
one of the sweetest, kindest human beings I have ever met, and, to me, you are
very much the person that Jaiden and Peyton are. Maybe that's why I fell in love with you so
hard so fast. I see us with our own
family, and I can imagine and see us retired, sitting in rocking chairs on the
front porch of our home holding hands, and still smiling when we see each other,
and when we are together." Richard
didn't say anything, his red, misty eyes told his story. He leaned over and lovingly and gently kissed
his bride to be."
When Richard got home, Dale and
Charley were setting dinner on the table and the babies were in their
highchairs salivating while looking at the food. Peyton was getting the food pureed for the
babies while Dale and Charley were tending to everything else. Peyton took the babies' food and placed it on
the table so they couldn't get to it before everyone sat down to eat. When he and Charley sat the children's food
on their highchairs, they grabbed their little spoons and attacked their food
like a lion in the Serengeti. This time,
the babies ate every drop of their food, and didn't spill a drop anywhere.
When they all finished eating,
Richard and Peyton cleaned the dining room and kitchen before retiring to the
den to rest and watch the boys. Peyton
mused to Richard that he wondered if the boy's energy would ever wind down for
the night. Richard told him from the
looks of everything, he doubted it.
Peyton pretended to cry at Richard's statement. About an hour later the boys started showing
signs of being ready for bed. Peyton
took them to potty and get a bath before going to bed.
When Peyton got the boys bedtime
onesies on and got them in their beds, they immediately went to sleep. When Peyton got to the den, Richard asked
Peyton to help him get connected with Seth on SKYPE. When that was accomplished, Peyton went out
on the deck to give Richard his privacy while he talked to Seth.
Richard could not believe how
correct Jaiden was about being able to see Seth's eyes so clearly on the
computer. Now he could judge for himself
if Seth was as happy as he said he was.
The more they talked, the more Richard could see the gleam in Seth's
eyes. He could actually see the
excitement in Seth when his little brother talked about school, about loving
Marine Biology, and about going to the beach with his Dad to study things he
learned in school. He was comfortable
now, he knew for sure that everything Seth had said was true. Seth was truly happy in Orange Beach, he was
excited about school, and he loved his shul as much as he had told Richard he
did. Richard could see it in his eyes.
Richard walked onto the deck
with Peyton after he hung up from talking with Seth. "Peyton."
"Yes, Richard." "Thank you for
everything you have done to help Seth and me.
Jaiden bought two very nice computers today so Seth and I could talk on
SKYPE, and see each other's faces and eyes when we talked. I could see in Seth's eyes tonight that
everything he has told me was the truth.
His eyes were so clearly visible, and I could see the gleam in his eyes
when he talked about the things he was loving so much."
"Richard, did seeing Seth's
eyes, and his face, when he talked to you make you feel better about his, and
your situation?" "Peyton, more than you
will ever know. I think when I go to bed
tonight, I will have the best night's sleep since I got Seth away from
Dad." "I'm glad to hear that. Jaiden and I have talked about getting those
computers since he found you upset in the den after you had talked with our
little brother. We davened that when we
got those computers for the two of you, that what you told me with be exactly
what would happen. That you are happier
makes Jaiden and me happy. We love you
more than you will ever know, and I agree with Jaiden that every morning, when
you look into the bathroom mirror, you see one of the greatest men anybody
could ever want to meet."
"Peyton, you and Jaiden really do talk about everything, and then you do
something about what bothers you." "Yes,
we do, and we have always done that, and we'll always do it. That is part of the relationship you need to
ensure you have with Sally when the two of you get married. And by the way, the idea of getting married
in Ginny and Granny's church, Jaiden and I think that was one of the nicest,
kindest, most loving things you could have ever asked the Reverend to do. Ginny told me she and Granny talk about that
every day, and that the Mother of the Church really is planning the reception
of the century for the two of you. You
and Sally have gotten the people of that church more excited than they have
ever been. Granny says they are acting
like giddy little children with a new toy; they are really anticipating your
and Sally's wedding."
"Granny said the Reverend has
tears in his eyes every time he thinks about the conversation the three of you
had, and he feels so honored that you would want him to officiate at your wedding. Richard, I think you and Sally are going to
be blessed by Hashem in ways none of us could have imagined because you and
Sally blessed that church the way you did.
I can feel it, I don't just think it."
"Peyton, we didn't ask what we did for recognition or blessings, we
asked to do that because we felt that was what Hashem was leading us to
do."
"Richard, that is what Jaiden
and I have always done, and look how Hashem has blessed us. We can, and we intend to, buy you and Sally
your first home when we set up our practices.
We have enough money banked, and in stocks, that we can buy the two of
you a house like this one, maybe not with the two big nurseries and the extra
bedrooms we added downstairs because of all that occurred when the babies were
on the way and got here, but a very nice house none-the-less."
"Peyton, that is too much!" "No it isn't, it's nowhere near too
much! I am not going to give away
everything, but I will tell you that when you get married, you are going to be
offered an all-expenses paid honeymoon that is going to blow your socks off,
and you better not tell Sally about that.
It won't be Hawaii, but it will be a dream-come-true for the two of
you. When my, and now your, and
Jaiden's family celebrates a beautiful occasion, we do it in style. We were going to throw you a big reception at
the Country Club, but when you asked to have it at Granny's and the Reverend's
church - damn bro, you made us all prouder than we had been in a long
time. Our parents and Jaiden's mom cried
when they heard you and Sally asked to have the wedding at Ginny's and Granny's
church. You touched so many hearts when
you did that."
"I didn't realize that,
Peyton." "Well, my dearest brother, you
did, and I love you more than ever for doing it!"
"Richard had big, red, misty
eyes as he headed to his room to get ready for bed. He will work in the office in the morning
with Jaiden, and Peyton would do early rounds and work in the ER at the
hospital. All three of the guys had
received a promotion at the hospital for the great work they had done, and they
are now making rounds on the surgical floor for all the doctors who have
patients there; and working in the ER and being on-call for emergencies. They have really made a name for themselves
as healthcare providers at the hospital.
The next morning, Jaiden,
Peyton, and Richard were called in for a meeting with the CEO of the
hospital. He told each of the young men
that something happened and they had to meet with him, the President of LECOM,
and Andy, Friday morning at nine. He would
not elaborate on what the meeting was about, and that made the guys wonder what
had happened to cause such a meeting.
Friday morning rolled around,
and Jaiden, Peyton, and Richard got into the car and drove to LECOM. When they got to LECOM, Jaiden said, "What
the hell is going on? This parking lot
has never been this full. They got out
of the car and headed to Andy's office.
When they got to his office, Andy said he didn't know what they had
done, but they were about to have one hell of a large meeting about whatever it
was. Little did they know, they were
being set up to receive an honor, and Andy had set it up in the style of Jim
Riley. The boys would not know what was
about to hit them until it slapped them in the face."
"Guys, you need to come with
me." The trio followed Andy to a room
near the back of the huge auditorium at LECOM.
They had no idea their parents and Seth were sitting in the front of the
auditorium, because they had been hidden away from the boys since they got to
Erie. Ginny, Granny, Gampy, and the
Reverend rolled all ten babies into the auditorium, and sat with the babies'
grandparents. All down the isles were
members of every major news organization in the United States, and most of the
television news crews from all the towns in which the guys had lived. All of their Rabbis and their wives were in
the audience as well as numerous members of their home synagogues. The Governors of Alabama, Florida, North
Carolina, and Pennsylvania were there.
As everyone got settled the Secret Service ushered in the Vice President
of the United States. The Presidents of
LECOM and Wellstone would be sitting on the stage. This was an event that was so huge, and the
guys had no clue about it.
When the Secret Service got the
Vice President seated and secured, the meeting started. Andy was called to escort Jaiden, Peyton, and
Richard onto the stage of the auditorium.
When they walked onto the stage and saw everybody in the room, their
knees went weak.
The President of LECOM stepped
up to the microphone, and as he did, the secret service agents placed the Seal
of the Vice President on the Podium.
"Special guests, Ladies and
gentlemen, and students of the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, it is
my distinct honor to present to you the Honorable Michael Lance, Vice President
of the United States. Mr. Vice
President."
The Vice President approached
the podium and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct honor to
represent the President of the United States to honor several young men whose
contributions to their community, and to our country, have made national news
that has reached the hallowed halls of Congress and the Senate, and into the
West Wing of the Whitehouse to the Office of the President. The young men we are here to honor today have
made historic steps not only in the field of medicine, but in getting the US
Congress and the US Senate to revamp and change national laws regarding child
abuse and child exploitation. Because of
their actions, several children in this community have been saved from abuse so
heinous that the children came very close to dying. Because of their efforts and their actions,
all fifty states in the United States have changed and implemented new laws
against child abuse, child exploitation, and child neglect."
"To show the gratitude of our
nation, all 50 governors in the United States are in attendance today. Ladies and gentlemen, if you would, please
stand to be recognized." The governors
stood to thunderous applause. When they
sat down, the Vice President continued with his speech.
"Ladies and gentlemen, not only
have the young men we are here to honor changed the face of child abuse laws in
our great country, they have shown an intense desire to bring top-notch medical
care to children who might otherwise not have access to it."
"They each have proven to be tops
in their field, and they have gained positions of honor that we have not been
able to find elsewhere in our country.
They have been recognized for their contributions to their community
which have brought honor to their synagogue, Temple Anshe Hesed in Erie,
Pennsylvania, as well as to their home Temples in Abingdon, Virginia, and
Orange Beach, Alabama. Rabbi and
Rebbetzin Eichmann, Rabbi and Rebbetzin Schlottman, Rabbi and Rebbetzin
Kravitz, Rabbi and Rebbetzin Belson, and Rabbi and Rebbetzin Rothstein please
rise and be recognized for the unquestionable guidance you have provided to the
young men we are honoring today, guidance that has helped them to become the
young men they are." The Rabbis and
their wives stood and received thunderous applause and shouts of `thank you.'
Next, the Vice President
acknowledged the presence of, and asked for Dr. and Mrs. James Riley, Dr. Peggy
Reynolds, and made the audience laugh when he asked Granny and Grandpa and
Grandma Jenny and Papa to stand. Each of
the parents and the grandparents had tears streaming down their faces. "To the parents and Grandparents of the young
men we are honoring today, thank you from the bottom of the President's and my
heart for raising such great sons. You
are to be congratulated for their becoming the young men they have shown
themselves to be." The parents and
grandparents received the most thunderous applause so far for the morning.
As the Vice President continued,
he said, "I understand that one of the young men being honored today is to be
married on June first to a very beautiful young lady who has also dedicated her
life to the care of the sick and infirmed in our great country. Sally, would you please come to the
podium." As Sally walked out in the most
beautiful formal dress anyone had ever seen, the audience went wild. "Sally, it would be a distinct honor for me
if you would help me bestow the awards being presented to the three young men
the President has chosen to honor."
"Mr. Jaiden Riley-Reynolds,
would you please approach the podium.
Mr. Riley-Reynolds, on behalf of
the President of the United States, I would like to present you with the
nation's highest civilian honor, The United States Civilian Medal of Honor, in
recognition of your efforts to make life better for, and to save the lives of
thousands of children in our great country.
Sally, would you please do the honors."
Sally took the ribbon holding the medal and placed it around Jaiden's
neck and kissed him on the cheek.
"Mr. Peyton Riley-Reynolds,
would you please approach the podium.
Mr. Riley-Reynolds, it is my
distinct honor, on behalf of the President of the United States of America, to
present you with the nation's highest civilian honor, The United States
Civilian Medal of Honor, in recognition of your efforts, along with the efforts
of your husband, to make life better for, and to save the lives of thousands of
children in this community, and in our great country. Sally, would you please do the honors."
Sally, as before, took the
ribbon to the medal and placed it around Peyton's neck and kissed him on the
cheek. As with Jaiden, their fellow
students went wild, and the raucous noise in the auditorium made many in attendance
cover their ears.
"Mr. Richard Riley, would you
please approach the podium." As Richard
approached the lectern, Seth got up from his seat and walked up the steps to
the stage and to Richard. Both had tears
pouring from their eyes. As folks from
south Alabama would say, they had alligator tears flowing across their cheeks.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Richard
Riley is being honored by the President today for two reasons: first, he is being recognized for joining
with his brother, Peyton, and his brother-in-law, Jaiden, in their efforts to
make our country, and the communities therein, infinitely safer for the
children of our great nation. Secondly,
not many know the sadness he incurred in his life over the past few years, a
sadness that has played into his dedication to the care and welfare of our
nation's children. Seth, Richard's and
Peyton's younger brother whom you see standing with Richard, was horribly
injured at the hands of his biological father prior to he and Richard being
adopted by Dr. and Mrs. James Riley.
Richard, the President wishes to honor you today, not only for your
contributions to, and your desire to make life better for the children of our
great country, but also for your heroic efforts to save your young brother from continued, heinous
abuse at the hands of your biological father.
Seth, would you please do the honor of placing this award around your
brother's neck."
As Seth placed the award around
Richard's neck, the two brothers embraced each other and sobbed.
"Ladies and gentlemen, there are
three more honors to present before this ceremony is completed. Dr. James Riley, Mrs. Phyllis Riley, and Dr.
Peggy Reynolds, would you please step up to the podium." All three parents were in total shock at the
Vice President of the United States asking them to stand with him at the
lectern. As they got to the podium, the
Vice President asked Jaiden, Peyton, and Richard to approach the lectern. As they walked back to the lectern, Richard
was holding hands with Sally who went back to the podium with the man she loved
more than anything in the world.
Dr. Riley, Mrs. Riley, Dr.
Reynolds, the President also wishes to honor you for your efforts and success
at raising what this country believes to be three of the finest young men to
ever be called Statesmen in the United States of America. Dr. Riley, Mrs. Riley, Dr. Reynolds, on
behalf of the President of the United States, it is my distinct honor to
present to each of you the Presidential Medal of Honor. Peyton, Richard, Jaiden, will you please do
the honors of placing the medals around the necks of your parents. Jaiden took the medal and placed it around
his mother's neck as both of them were profusely shedding tears. Peyton took a medal and placed it around his
Dad's neck, and Richard placed a medal around his mother's neck.
The Vice President then said,
"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you six of the greatest, most exemplary
individuals to ever be called Statesmen:
Jaiden Riley-Reynolds, Dr. Peggy Reynolds, Peyton Riley-Reynolds, Richard
Riley, Dr. James Riley, and Mrs. Phyllis Riley.
Please give them a round of applause."
You have never heard the noise
that came from the auditorium when the Vice President said that.
The President of LECOM
approached the podium and announced that there would be a catered lunch for the
Vice President and the Honorees to be held at the Erie Country Club immediately
following the ceremony. He also
announced that there would be a catered lunch at LECOM for the Honorees and
their fellow students on Saturday at noon.
"For the Honorees, the President
of the United States has graciously provided limousines to take them to the
luncheon at the Country Club."
When the Honorees got to the
Country Club and walked inside, they were shocked to see the President standing
there. He invited everyone to come
inside and be seated so the special luncheon could begin.
After everyone was seated, the
President stepped up to a podium bearing the Presidential Seal. "Jaiden, Peyton, Richard, Dr. and Mrs. Riley,
and Dr. Reynolds, there is one award that was not mentioned at the ceremony at
LECOM.
Young men, you each were
nominated by me for, and you are to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for your
efforts at improving the lives of thousands of students across this country,
and indeed the world, and for your efforts to provide the greatest and best
medical care to children in the northeast quadrant of the United States,
children who might not otherwise have been able to receive that medical
care. Tomorrow morning, one of the
Presidential aircraft will land at the Erie International Airport to take you,
your parents, Seth, and Sally to Oslo, Norway to receive the Nobel Prize
awarded to each of you by the Norwegian Nobel Prize Committee. You will be in Norway for one week at the
pleasure of the United States Congress.
You will then be flown back to Erie, and your parents will then be flown
to their respective home cities aboard the Presidential Aircraft."
"Jaiden, Peyton, Richard, there
is yet another honor to be bestowed on your behalf. The United States Congress and the Senate
have authorized the sum of ten million Dollars to be placed in a trust until
the three of you complete your residencies and internships at St. Jude's
Children's Hospital. In conjunction with
St. Jude's, the Erie Medical Center will begin building the Riley-Reynolds
Branch of St. Jude's Children's Hospital Cancer Center, of which you three will
be the first attending physicians.
Congratulations to each of you for the hard work you have dedicated
yourselves to, and for the awards that have been presented to each of
you." With that said, the grandest feast
you could ever imagine was served to the Honorees and their guests.
Saturday at noon, another
ceremony and luncheon was held at LECOM to honor Jaiden, Peyton, and
Richard. As soon as that ceremony and
luncheon was completed, several limousines provided by the White House whisked
the Honorees to the Erie International Airport, where they boarded the
Presidential aircraft, and began their journey to Oslo, Norway. Ginny, Granny, Gampy, and the Reverend would
be caring for the babies, along with Dale and Charley, while the babies'
parents were in Norway to be honored with the Nobel Peace Prize.