The Ten of Them – Chapter 26

Adult story: The Ten of Them – Chapter 26

by Hard93

In our last chapter we dealt with the situation with Cindy’s Mom, Sylvia was serving the last six months of her jail term. Sylvia rushed to the emergency room and hospitalized after she nearly died in front of JJ and Kara. During her initial evaluation, her diagnosis was brain cancer requiring emergency surgery. Uncle George helped get her released early for medical treatment and her good behavior.

Storyteller’s notes: I need to warn you, this is another chapter that deals with death and more importantly the death of a loved one. I have tried not to make it to graphic, and deal more with emotional side of this story. This is a real emotional chapter, but I feel it advanced and enriched the overall story. It shows that JJ is not always the hero, and allow some of his other family members to shine. If you been waiting for some of this, you can think Demik.

Demik private messaged me several times, sometimes with a critique sometimes with encouragement and lately with some very good ideas so I included them into the storyline.

Please remember this is fiction, and the facts portrayed are not reality, any and all names were products of my imagination. Please forgive misspelling and misused words. I have done my best to edit and correct them but I am sure I missed a few in the nearly 9293 words. All thanks to Microsoft Word and its recent improvements. Please enjoy it in spite of my failings. I do appreciate the positive comments I have gotten, along with the votes. If I continue to make a mistake, kind of like Kata feel free to PM me.

It is an early Saturday afternoon, and we are relaxing after lunch. Crystal sets in my lap and Sam leans against me both asleep in the warm sun light that shines through the glass keeping out the cool air of late winter. We enjoy the quiet after a boisterous morning. Ms. Clark brought the girls over so they can enjoy the pool. We took the opportunity to have a makeup birthday party for Cindy; it was a surprise to Cindy and her mother Sylvia as well, Because Cindy’s sixth birthday had passed during early December nearly two months before. Sylvia imprisoned at the time, and the orphanage could not provide one for Cindy.

Sylvia had begun her cancer treatment, although she was only beginning to feel the full effects of her chemo she was weak and had very little energy. Sylvia did enjoy watching her daughter splash in the pool and enjoy yourself. I was still Cindy’s foster father, although we were letting her sleep at Sylvia’s apartment during the weekends. Daniel, Kara and Karen left to help Sylvia this afternoon.

The Coach was working on this project with his crew, I tried not to think of it because Kathryn would learn of her surprise but given her smug grin, I think it is too late. I think, do not ruin the surprise for the rest of your sisters. Kathryn sticks her tongue out at me in response to my thoughts.

Charles, Jane, Mitch and Jim walk in followed by Ron and Reese. Charles grins seeing the sleeping girls, Mitch shakes his head with a smile, Ron and Reese’s eyes spark with laughter, and I can tell Jane just wants to scoop them up.

Ron says quietly, “Major Denton call this morning he wanted to know how Sam is doing.”

I raise an eyebrow not knowing whom he refers to. Charles says quietly in a voice so smooth it would not wake the lightest sleeper, “He was our executive officer, and he just decided to retire. He was the last person to challenge you on the punch omatic.”

I smile and softly say, “The officer who gave me my coin.” Without disturbing the girls, I slide one hand in a pocket and remove the silver dollar sized coin. I roll it across my knuckles. When Ron, Mitch and Charles removes a similar coin from their pockets, I remember what they told me of unit coins. As long as you have one when someone else brings one out you do not have to pay for the next round at a bar or restaurant, if you are the person who brought it out you are the challenger. If everyone else has one and displays it, the challenger buys the next round.

Smiling I say, “I guess Bobby’s and Mary’s for dinner tonight.” Jim instantly notices that, it is not that he does not appreciate his mother’s cooking; he is just very sweet on Bobby’s youngest daughter Debs. Charles, Ron, and Mitch suppressed their laughter as Jim, even thou he works there and it is his night off, eagerly shakes his head yes.

Ron asks, “How did you get that coin?”

I reply, “Major Denton gave it to me.”

Ron and Charles look a little shocked. Ron says, “I have only seen him hand out three in the time I was in service.” Charles shakes his head in agreement knowing the Major.

Therefore, I began telling the story about how he challenged my parenthood of Sam. I explained what I told him, and what he said when he tossed me the coin. Ron, Mitch and Charles grins and shake their heads.

In her sleep Sam mumbles, “Love you Daddy.” That brings a bright smile to my face.

Charles says, “One of the only other coins he gave was to Sam’s father. I guess he knows you’re her Daddy now.”

Ron says quietly, “He asked me about you, and if you have done what you said. I related the story about Lester, the pizzeria, and then pointed out that he witnessed one time himself. I reminded him that I was Sam’s godfather and I believe she is exactly where she should be. He chuckled over the phone and he told me you are exactly like Sam’s father in spirit. Then I told him in spirit you are Sam’s father.”

Sam mumbles, “That is right Daddy you are just like Angel Daddy, my father.”

Crystal mumbles in her sleep, “My Daddy too.”

I smiled brightly filling the pride of fatherhood. It is unlike anything else, loved by a child and to love that child totally, is true happiness. Not all the money in the world can buy the feeling you get, you only have to love them that is all it requires to receive this bliss.

Mom takes a photo she is getting very good at catching these lifetime moments I really like to see them, share them with the rest of the family. Mom sets the camera down, gently takes Sam in her arms and Jane takes Crystal, and they are going to put them on their beds.

When they are out of the room Charles chuckles, “You know the more they sleep the faster they grow.”

Remembering a conversation with Alyssa and a promise I made to Joan I say, “I wish I could keep them small forever, but I know that is not possible. All I can do is enjoy the time I get with them.”

Charles looking at his son knows exactly what I am talking about the early years of a child can be the best for the parents. The frustrations come as that child begins to try to prove that they are not a child any longer. I will have to remember that when they wants more responsibility, more freedom that is part of growing up. The long road to adulthood can be very trying to the parents. I really do not know how Mom and Helen did it. They could have told us to stop trying to be an adult too soon.

Charles and Jane asks if they can use the TV room, and I remind them that they should treat this home as their home, remember your Sam’s and Crystal’s grandma and grandpa.

Charles chuckles, “It is just that Jim and Mitch are always playing Xbox or something. Jane and I never get to watch a movie.”

Reese asks, “What movie?”

Before I know it, Ron and Reese have joined Charles and Jane in watching the movie.

Mom, Helen along with Michelle and Kathryn are in the kitchen, and they bring a snack to the dining table, one of Kathryn’s cravings has me ravenous. Kathryn set the plate made for me beside hers.

Kathryn craved an Elvis sandwich that is a fried peanut butter and banana sandwich. If you are unfamiliar with it, first you take two pieces of white bread spread peanut butter on one slice add bananas slices until the next piece of bread barely sticks together. Place the sandwich in a hot skillet with melted butter, toast both sides of the sandwich until the banana is warm soft and sweet, by that time the peanut butter is nearly liquid. Serve with a large glass of milk. They can be heavenly, but very hard on the waistline.

My sister-in-law and our mothers giggle at us as we tear into the sandwiches. Kathryn glares at her sister giving her a look that says, as if you never had one.

Michelle giggles and says, “I swear if I pinched JJ, Kathryn would shout. I hope JJ can stand it when you give birth baby sister.”

That causes Kathryn to think, wanting to test it she reaches down to pinch her rib only to find my hand in the way. On impulse, Kathryn pinches the back of my hand, when she quickly lets go and says, “Ouch!” Michelle begins laughing so hard she nearly fell from her chair. Mom and Helen giggle along with Michelle’s laughter.

Looking at Kathryn I say, “You are the one wanted to test Michelle’s theory. Before you ask, I think I can filter it. So yes I can share your pain and you mine, or filter it out.”

Helen says, “I hope you can, because giving birth is not easy.” After taking a deep breath Helen says, “Speaking of hard things, how is Sylvia? She looks a lot better it has been a month since her surgery, and she seems to be recovering quickly from that.”

I begin, “Kara, Daniel, and I took Sylvia and Cindy to that new treatment center they opened downstate. It is only forty-five minutes from her apartment. The doctors there gave her a ten percent chance of recovery, the week after her surgery. A recent breakthrough and MRI done this week and the doctors has increased her chances to sixty percent.”

“Kara and Daniel are overjoyed at the news. Kara and Sylvia have really become great friends. Poor Daniel when he is in the room with the two, is usually outvoted in just gives them whatever they want. I know Sylvia will become weaker because of her treatments in the next few weeks. The effects have just really started hitting her, you saw how week she looked this morning. For the next few months, she is going to spend every weekday at the treatment center. They let her come home on the weekends. She is going to spend the weekends at her apartment with Cindy, Kara and Karen have volunteered to stay with her just in case. That means Daniel probably spent most of his weekends there too.”