Bill W

Castaway Hotel
Next Generation

July 2010

I wish to extend my thank you to Emoe57 for his editorial assistance, and a special thanks to Brenden for his suggestions to the storyline.

It is difficult for me to believe that it has been more than four years since the boys held their commitment ceremonies. Even though so much has changed over the intervening months, it seems as if it were only yesterday when they pledged their everlasting love for their partners. I imagine you're wondering what types of changes I'm referring to, so I'll be happy to explain. The problem is, where do I begin? There is just so much to tell and a great deal of what has taken place to the various boys overlaps and intertwines. For much of that time, the family was scattered about, in different locations, due to where the boys chose to go to college or were able to find work. However, the fact that not all of us are still living together doesn't seem to matter. We've still remained close.

I'd like to give you a more detailed account of how that happened, but I'm not sure I'll be able to put this into any sort of chronological sequence that will make sense and not be extremely confusing. Therefore, I'll just tell you a little about each of the boys, beginning with those who currently live at home.

I'll start with my grandson, Joshie, since he is also the one that I've been the most involved with and who has brought so much joy into my life. Even though Joshie's conception was unplanned and the result of a holiday party escapade, I am thrilled to have him in my life. However, it didn't always appear that this was going to be the case.

It all began when his father, Dion, accidentally impregnated his high school vocal partner, while celebrating their success at the Holiday Concert. Dion is actually bi, even though he has chosen to be paired up with his gay partner. On their way home, Dion and the girl stop for a private celebration, which led to Joshie's conception.

After getting over the initial shock of learning about the pregnancy, we were told the mother was planning to give the baby up for adoption. Although she had her reasons for wanting to do this, she and Dion didn't see eye to eye on the matter. To begin with, the mother felt she couldn't afford to delay or give up her plans to go to college, and since her parents had their own share of problems and didn't think they could help her with the child, she felt giving the baby up for adoption would be her best option.

After hearing this, Dion and I sat down to discuss how he wanted to handle the situation. From the start, Dion emphatically stated that he would prefer to keep the baby, but admitted that he couldn't do this alone. Since he was scheduled to begin college in the fall, he asked if I'd be willing to help. Since Dion seemed so determined to do this, and I didn't want him to delay his college plans, I agreed to give him a hand. I took early retirement from work and became a nanny instead.

Dion came home for a few days when the mother went into labor and the baby's birth was a joyous event, at least as far as our family was concerned. Shortly after Dion learned he had a son, he announced he was going to name the baby after the two individuals he claimed were the most important people in his life – his partner, Trey (whose proper name is Alexander), and me. I was deeply honored by this, but even more so when Dion decided to give me top billing. He was naming the baby Joshua Alexander Currie, but told me we'd call him Joshie, to avoid confusion.

Once Joshie was released from the hospital, we brought him home and I helped Dion learn the things he would need to do in order to take care of an infant. Although he was extremely nervous at first, he settled down and did a remarkable job taking care of his son. When Dion left to return to college, I suddenly assumed total responsibility for my namesake.

I must admit, I am thrilled that Dion took responsibility for his actions and wanted to raise his child. In the long run, I think his decision has worked out well for everyone involved. First of all, not only does he love and dote on his son, but Dion has also made certain that Joshie spends time with his mother and maternal grandparents, so he will know that side of the family too. Second, having to help take care of Joshie has injected a new sense of purpose into my life and spending so much time with him has brought me many, many hours of happiness. Finally, now that Dion and Trey have their degrees, they are able to spend time with Joshie and will, hopefully, get as much pleasure from being with him as I have.

Although Joshie is bi-racial, he has the same toffee colored skin as his father, to go along with his huge brown eyes and black curly hair. He also has an infectious laugh and the most heart-warming smile of anyone I've ever known. He also has an engaging personality and quickly warms up to nearly everyone he meets, although there have been a few people that Joshie truly hasn't cared for. Among them was a bully, whom we occasionally ran into at the park.

The boy was about a year older than Joshie, and although the boy never singled Joshie out, he did pick on other children whom Joshie was friendly with. When the bully did something to one of the others in Joshie's presence, Joshie would intervene and stand up to the bully. At first, this shocked the boy, but gradually it just turned into a source of irritation for him. Since Joshie is tall for his age, and slightly taller than the bully, the other boy always backs off when Joshie is around, but it has accounted for some lingering resentments between the pair.

Another person that Joshie never warmed up to was an older woman who goes to our church. She is disgustingly sweet and treats Joshie as if he were younger than he actually is. This has proven to be her fatal error in judgment, at least where Joshie is concerned. I've discovered, that if anything, Joshie acts much older than his actual years and enjoys being treated accordingly. This means he responds best if you take a little extra time to explain the things he doesn't understand. It is also to your advantage if you reason with him, whenever you want to win him over or are attempting to convince him to do something. He seems to bristle when he is told he has to do something, without understanding the reason why.

Since Joshie reacts favorably when I treat him in a more adult manner, which I now do without hesitation or without even thinking about it first. His mature attitude probably also accounts for the reason I refer to him as my 'little man.' It explains exactly how I think of him, so I, therefore, also tend to treat him in the same manner. Joshie's grown up demeanor may have come about as a result of living in a house with so many adults, but I don't see it as a bad trait.

Although it hardly seems possible, Joshie will be turning five in the fall. To my mild chagrin, this means his fathers will be enrolling him in kindergarten and Joshie will be attending school during the day. Although I know he is more than ready for this, I am saddened by the thought that I'll be losing my constant companion. My biggest concern is that I haven't been totally away from Joshie for any extended period of time since he was born. This is why I'm definitely not looking forward to losing our special time together.

I've become so accustomed to having Joshie follow me around the house and value those instances when I get to teach him how to perform a new task. I'll even miss allowing him to assist me, when he offers to help me with my chores. He does this quite frequently, since he is so eager to please, and I always find a way to accommodate and make him feel as if he's doing something important. However, no matter how much I'll regret the loss of the time I'll be able to work with him, most of all I'll miss the countless hours I spend trying to keep him entertained.

During our days alone, I've spent a great many hours playing board games with Joshie, such as 'Chutes and Ladders' and 'Candy Land,' but we do things outdoors too. When the weather is nice, I enjoy pitching the Wiffle ball to him, so he can hit it with his special bat. We've also spent countless hours shooting hoops and tossing his half-size basketball at the portable backboard, which I have adjusted to its lowest possible height. We've also taken numerous walks together and frequently make our way to the park, so Joshie can play on the playground equipment with the other children who are there.

When it is warm out, I also spend time with Joshie in the pool, but on the days that aren't so pleasant, we do crafts and other activities indoors, such as baking cookies and cupcakes together. I have also read a great many books to Joshie. I have him follow along, as I glide my finger under the words, so I can point each one out as I read it. By doing this, Joshie is now able to recognize many of the words and can even read some simple stories by himself.

During the winter months, we've built snowmen and igloos, but we've also engaged in more than a few snowball fights, which Joshie usually wins. I've also taken him sledding and discovered that Joshie has a 'need for speed' and a penchant for taking risks. I always discuss the potential consequences of his actions with him first, before allowing him to try something. However, it's become clear that he isn't deterred by minor risks to his safety or the possibility of experiencing his share of bumps and bruises. I think I'm going to miss his adventurous spirit and be totally lost when he's no longer around during the day. I guess it's time to start looking for something else to help me occupy my time.

Although I will surely miss spending so much time with Joshie, I will adapt. I've already had to make some minor adjustments, such as when his two daddies graduated from college and moved back home. Dion and Trey are partners, and Trey is a year older than Dion. They grew up in the same household together and even graduated at the same time. This was due to the fact that Trey had opted to spend an additional year at school to work on his Master's degree in education. This allowed the two of them to remain together, while Dion finished the requirements for his baccalaureate in music. When they returned home, just over a year ago, each one was eager to spend as much time with Joshie as he could.

At first, this minor change didn't seem to affect me too badly and I tended to look at it as a little vacation. I was thrilled to see how eagerly his daddies took charge of caring for Joshie, and they did an admirable job too. However, after just a couple of weeks of having them back, I began to feel as if there was a huge void in my life. I no longer felt complete or fulfilled, so I soothed my despair by telling myself that his daddies would be starting their jobs in a few weeks. You see, Trey and Dion had been hired as teachers, by the local school district. Trey will be teaching English at the High School, while Dion will be the vocal music instructor at the Middle School, where I used to be principal. Dion will also give vocal lessons at the high school, in cooperation with his former music teacher and mentor. Throughout the summer, I kept telling myself I could handle this change, at least temporarily, and I did.

Once Trey and Dion began teaching, it left me alone with Joshie during the day again and then they would spend time with him in the evenings, after they got home from work. Dion assumed most of the responsibility for Joshie's care, since Trey had other work to complete in the evenings. Trey often had papers to correct or was attempting to sneak in a few precious moments to concentrate on completing his first novel. Since Dion teaches vocal music, he doesn't bring his work home with him, which gives him more time to spend with his son.

Dion is also refusing to take on any other obligations, which might cut into his time with his son. This means he has turned down numerous offers to perform, either as a featured soloist or as part of a staged production. He has made one exception to this rule though and takes an active role in our church's choir. He has even sung a few solos with them, which he was eager to do because Joshie would be there to listen to him perform. However, Dion has refused all of the other offers he's received, such as singing at weddings or receptions, as well as other, more prestigious invitations.

While still in college, Dion had performed several times with the Pittsburgh Symphony. Since graduating, he's been offered the chance to take the stage with them again, but he no longer seems interested in doing this. Since he's returned home, Dion has refused requests from the Philadelphia Symphony as well. He has even turned down roles with various opera companies that operate throughout Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Washington D.C.

Dion has taken this stance because he doesn't want to be away from Joshie for any extended period of time, and many of these opportunities would require him to be gone for a weekend or even longer. Although I understand his reasoning and even applaud it, to a certain extent, I sincerely hope he will eventually take advantage of some of these marvelous opportunities, once Joshie gets a little older. I'd hate to see Dion miss out on these fantastic possibilities to showcase his talent, especially since he thoroughly enjoys singing and has such a remarkable voice, and then come to regret his choices later.

Although it wasn't easy, we all managed to get through the school year, but things changed again once summer arrived. Suddenly, my time with Joshie was drastically curtailed, because his fathers were home for the summer. This arrangement will change yet again, when school starts at the end of August, but this new change will only complicate matters for me. The reason for this is that Joshie will be attending class during the day and then spending time with his fathers in the evening. This will mean I will only have an opportunity to spend time with my namesake when I can finagle an opportunity to be with him on the weekend. I guess I might have to enroll in a rehab, so I can learn to deal with my Joshie withdrawal.

Danny and Brandon have also returned home, after earning their degrees. As you might remember, this pair has always stated that they intended to move back with me after they finished school. Not only have Danny and Brandon offered to take charge of the old homestead and handle all of the repairs, maintenance and other mundane chores, but they have also expressed their desire to take in even more boys. They are determined to continue to operate the Castaway Hotel, so they can provide even more young men with a safe and loving environment.

Of course I believe they'll be able to do this, because Danny and Brandon are no longer boys and have become very accomplished young men. Yet, they will always be my boys, no matter how old they get. They even finished up their degrees a year earlier than anticipated, because they were willing to give up part of their summer vacations, so they could take additional courses and graduate ahead of the rest of their classmates.

Danny is now a board certified pediatrician, but since he wished to return to the local area, he is not currently working in his chosen field. Since our small community isn't large enough to support another such professional and Joshie's pediatrician is by far the oldest and not nearly ready to retire yet, Danny didn't want to create any strife by opening his own office. Therefore, he had to choose between residing in a nearby community or accept a slightly different option locally. Since he didn't want to commute a long distance or move away from the area, Danny decided to take a position working as a doctor in the emergency room at the local hospital. He only plans to do this until he can open his own pediatric practice or take over one of the current pediatricians, but he doesn't seem to be depressed about not doing exactly what he had planned. On the contrary, he seems to be using this opportunity to broaden his skills and become an even better doctor.

Brandon, on the other hand, found it a little easier to secure a position in his chosen field. The local dentist, whom Brandon has been going to for most of his life, was quick to offer him a position in his office. The dentist had indicated he would let Brandon work with his younger patients, once he had their parents' permission, but Brandon would also be taking care of a few of his older patients as well. Brandon's new boss was in a position to make this offer, because his practice has continued to grow and he's been extremely busy. In fact, he has become much busier than he wants to be. The older dentist explained to Brandon that he has been working far more hours than he prefers, because he hates to make his patients find another practice to go to, but he would like to be able to cut back a bit. Therefore, this arrangement is working out fine for each and gives them what they want.

Since Danny and Brandon were able to secure jobs so quickly, they almost immediately began hinting at the prospect of taking in a new boy. As we talked this over, I explained this wasn't something they needed to do right away. I suggested it might be best if they took time to get established first and begin to feel comfortable in their jobs, before taking on any additional responsibilities. After several intense debates on this subject, they finally relented, but I think they only agreed to do this in deference to me. Although I wish they were actually convinced this is best for everyone, I am satisfied that they have agreed to get their own lives in order first, before they try to deal with a troubled young man.

Some of my other sons are currently residing out of the area, in locations where they have been able to secure employment. We still manage to see them occasionally, some more frequently than others, but Jake and I are willing to settle for whatever time we can get with them. In fact, a few of the boys will be joining us shortly for our annual Fourth of July cookout. The actual holiday falls on Sunday this year, but since Monday is the official holiday, they will have that day off from work as well. Therefore, those that don't live too far away are planning to come home, so they can celebrate the long weekend with us. Many of the extended family will also be joining us on Sunday, so it should be a good time and everyone will be able to catch up on what the others have been up too.

As the time grew closer to the holiday weekend, I had to encourage the boys who were home to help me get everything ready for the arrival of those who will merely be returning for a few days. I want everything to be taken care of in advance, so those who will be joining us can settle in quickly and, thus, allow us to enjoy as much time together as we can.

Since Jesse has just finished his sophomore year of high school, he still lives at home and is one of the boys I am currently trying to motivate to help out. Little Ricky and Andrew are also part of this group, since they returned home from college just over a month ago and will be here for the remainder of the summer.

"Come on guys, let's get moving," I urged them. "Your brothers are going to be showing up shortly and I want everything to be done before they get here. I want them to enjoy their time with us for the holiday and there's still a lot we still need to get done, before we are ready for their visit."

"Why can't they just make their own stupid beds and do this stuff for themselves?" Andrew whined. "They used to do it when they lived here, so why can't they do it now too?"

"Yeah, they're not cripples," Jesse added.

I could tell it wasn't going to be easy to convince them to help, because Andrew and Jesse were trying to double-team me to get out of doing these jobs. I should have seen it coming. Andrew and Jesse are not only brothers, but they are also best friends and tend to spend a great deal of time together whenever Andrew is able to come home. They also tend to IM and text each other regularly, so they probably have plans that are being disrupted, because I'm asking for their assistance. Although I'm glad to see the age difference and physical distance separating them hasn't dimmed the closeness they still feel for each other, I wasn't about to let their little ploy succeed.

"I know that's what they USED to do," I answered, adding the emphasis, "but I think it would be nice if we had things ready for them when they got here."

"But why do we have to do all the work?" Little Ricky chimed in. "Don't you want us to enjoy the holiday too?"

Oh, great! Now I have the third party adding his two cents. I think it's time to give this a more a personal touch.

"You'll have plenty of time for that, but I always try to do this for each of you. Even though you're just away at college, I make sure your rooms are ready when you come home for the holidays and vacations. I'll be doing the same thing for Jesse, once he goes away to college too, so I just have one question for you. Are you telling me that you don't enjoy finding your bed made for you when you come home, after making the long drive back from campus?"

Little Ricky and Andrew looked slightly embarrassed after hearing my response, but I could tell Jesse got the point too. Suddenly, their eyes were no longer focused on me, as I awaited their reply.

"Yes, we do appreciate that our beds are made for us when we get here, because we're usually kind of tired and don't feel like doing it ourselves when we first get back," Andrew concurred. "Since you do that for us, I guess we should be willing to help you do the same for the others."

That comment ended Andrew and Little Ricky's complaints about having to help with this chore, but Jesse wasn't as easily convinced.

"So I guess this means we're stuck being their slaves and doing all of the work for them while they're here!" he exclaimed, sarcastically. "It sure doesn't sound like we'll be having much fun."

"You aren't a slave, but a good host and caring brother who is doing his best to make the others feel comfortable when they first arrive," I corrected. "Once they've had a chance to catch their breath and get a good night's sleep, then they can fend for themselves, like they've always done. Then, you'll be able to have just as much fun as they do. Besides, we only have to prepare a few more rooms, so it isn't really a lot of extra work."

Jesse didn't seem totally convinced by my explanation, but he did stop objecting and agreed to do what I'd asked.

"What do you want me to do, Papa?" Joshie wanted to know, as he stared at me and waited for my answer.

"Since I've already stacked the blankets on the dressers, why don't you get the sheets and pillow cases out of the linen closet and put the appropriate combinations on each mattress. That way Jesse, Andrew, Little Ricky and I can make the beds without running back and forth," I suggested. This seemed to be a good enough for Joshie, so he raced off to do his part.

Even though the other three still weren't thrilled about having to perform this task, they did help me finish preparing the remaining rooms. Once this had been accomplished, I asked them to follow me to the kitchen, so they could help me get dinner started. When they began to object, I merely told them they didn't have to do this, if they weren't planning to eat with us. Once they understood what I was implying, they ended their protest and I began handing out assignments.

"Joshie, would you and Jesse please set the table, while the rest of us get the food ready?" I asked.

"Okay, Papa," Joshie agreed. "Come on Jesse," he added, as he grabbed the older boy's hand and dragged Jesse off with him.

"How many places do we need to set?" Jesse asked, as they made their way toward the cabinets where we kept the dishes. I quickly began counting up who would be joining us.

"There have been eleven of us as of late, with four more coming home for the weekend. Duck and his girlfriend should also be arriving, plus Dustin and Cole will also be coming with their girlfriends. I believe that adds up to twenty-one people, all together."

"Little Ricky and Andrew, will you help us set up the banquet table then?" Jessie whined. "It looks like we're going to need it too."

Little Ricky and Andrew quickly agreed to help and the four of them had it set up in no time.

Danny, Brandon, Dion and Trey all arrived home before any of the others got here, so they helped with the final dinner preparations too.

"Dad, you know it's going to be nice to have everyone here again," Danny stated. "The old house just doesn't seem the same when it is so empty."

"I agree. It is much more enjoyable when the others are here with us," I concurred, "but unfortunately not all of them are going to be able to join us this time. We'll just have to make the most of the long weekend with those who do show up. At least for a while, this place should seem like it used to."

Danny nodded his agreement and then we went back to work.

Sammy and Graham were the first to arrive, since they didn't live as far away as the others. They are currently sharing an apartment in the York, PA area, where they were able to find jobs. We welcomed them warmly and then eagerly caught up on recent developments.

Pat showed up next, after making the drive from Pittsburgh, and was followed by Ricky, who arrived a short time later. As soon as Ricky walked through the door, he was immediately quizzed by some of the others.

"Where's Jay?" Danny wanted to know. "I thought you guys were coming back together."

"We did," Ricky answered, "but Jay just dropped me off and then went to see his parents. He's going to spend some time alone with them tonight, but they'll all be coming over to join us for the cookout on Sunday."

"So are you two living together?" Kevin followed.

"No, Jay lives in New York and I ended up working out of the Philadelphia office," Ricky answered. "We have spent a few weekends at each other's place though. We try to do that whenever we're not busy and don't have any other commitments."

"So you two are still close?" Pat asked next.

"Yes, but I really wasn't expecting him to call and offer to pick me up on his way home," Ricky offered. "I mean, he knew I was going to come home for the holiday, but I didn't know he was planning to come back too."

"Maybe he didn't decide to do it until after he knew you were coming here too," Pat suggested. "No matter how it happened, it seems to have worked out well."

"That's true. At least this way, we didn't both end up having to make the long drive by ourselves. We took turns behind the wheel and even managed to be a little green in the process. By coming together, we saved some gasoline and even eliminated the extra pollution from driving a second vehicle. Besides, I think Jay wanted my company during the trip."

"I doubt it was your charming personality that motivated Jay to make the offer," Brandon quipped, "but it was a good move to come in one car. Do either of you have a girlfriend at the moment?"

"Not really. I've dated a little, but not much, because I've been really busy at work," Ricky admitted. "I'm not sure how often Jay gets out, but I know he complains about being overworked by his architectural firm."

"Well, we'll see to it that he relaxes and has a little fun while he's here then," I responded.

"How about you, Pat?" Danny interjected, changing the topic. "How's your new job going?"

"It's going terrific," Pat replied. "I really like working for General Dynamics and I enjoy the job I'm currently doing. It's actually pretty interesting, plus I'm also getting along fairly well with a couple of my co-workers."

"In a romantic sense?" Brandon pressed.

"No, on a professional level," Pat answered, "but I think we're also becoming friends."

"That's fantastic. It's always good when you're tight with the people you're working with," Ricky agreed.

Dustin and Cole showed up a short time later, but we were a little curious as to why it took them so long to get here. They actually had the shortest trip, since they live locally, but we soon discovered this was because they had both stopped at their places after work, so they could clean up first. They also took a little more time to pick up their girlfriends, who arrived with them. Once the introductions were made, the boys had a great time catching up on what the others had been doing, over dinner.

"Dustin, how have you been?" Graham wanted to know.

"I'm fine," Dustin responded, "and the business is doing great. In fact, it's been going so well that I've been able to move into my own place. I now live a couple of blocks away from work, so I usually walk back and forth for the exercise."

"So your old boss finally sold the place to you," Ricky teased. "I guess that means you'll finally be able to use that business degree after all, as well as all of the technical training you took after high school. I'm impressed. I wasn't sure you had it in you."

"Well, I do, and I've been on my own for nearly a year now," Dustin replied.

"Maybe it's time to fill them in about your other situation too," I suggested, in a hushed tone.

"What situation is that?" Ricky wondered. "You haven't gone and got your girlfriend pregnant, have you?"

"No, I haven't done that, but I have asked Katie to marry me," Dustin added, as he grinned at his fiance.

"And she accepted?" Ricky asked, feigning a shocked expression.

"Of course I did," Katie answered, while showing them her ring.

"May I get a better look at it," Cole's girlfriend, Beth, asked, after only getting a quick glimpse.

Katie quickly agreed and held out her hand, so Beth could see her ring better. As Beth examined it closely, Katie made another comment.

"I couldn't say no to Dustin, just because he has some weird brothers," she added, while directing a cocky sneer at Ricky.

"Touche," Brandon shouted. "Ricky, you're definitely in trouble if she's already learned not to take your crap."

The rest of us were all giggling, because of Brandon's comment, which earned us all some threatening glares from Ricky. Since 'the look' wasn't working, he decided to divert our attention with another comment.

"Who'd have thunk that Dustin would be running his own business and able to talk a cute girl into marrying him?" Ricky teased.

"Not only that, but it also means that Dad may have a few more grandchildren to dote on soon," Brandon added, tongue in cheek, while flashing me a wink.

"Let's just hope that if they have children, all of the kids end up looking like their mother," Ricky quipped, "and not their troll of a father."

Katie laughed at Ricky's snide comment, which earned her a quick glare from her future husband. However, most of Dustin's evil eye was directed toward his impish brother.

"So when will this wedding take place?" Beth asked next.

"Katie has her heart set on a June wedding, so we were thinking next June," Dustin confirmed, and all his brothers congratulated them.

"How about you Cole?" Sammy asked, as he directed the attention toward someone else. "What have you been up too?"

"Well, I got promoted, so now I'm the assistant manager of the automotive department," he answered.

"Wow, you're just flying up the old corporate ladder, aren't you?" Sammy joked.

"Well, I couldn't stay stuck at the bottom forever," Cole responded.

"So you repair cars all day long?" Katie asked.

"We do mechanical and electrical repairs at the shop," Cole confirmed, "but we also do bodywork too."

That appeared to be more than enough information to satisfy his questioner.

"Are you still working at the dealership where Dad helped you get your first job?" Pat followed.

"Yep, the very same place," Cole confirmed.

"So you still like doing that type of work?" Sammy pressed.

"Yes, I still enjoy it just as much as I did when Dad let me buy and fix up that old Mustang, back when I was still in high school," Cole admitted.

"And winning all those awards had nothing to do with it?" Ricky prodded.

"The awards just proved to me that I could do the job," Cole responded, "and helped convinced me I wasn't dumb, even though I was still having trouble with some of my other classes."

I could see Cole was still dealing with some bitter memories from his high school years, which had resulted in some bruised feelings. This was because some of the other kids had teased him, unmercifully, about his learning disability. Even though he worked hard to overcome his problem, his grades never truly reflected the effort he was putting into his studies. At least now he was successful, happy and working in his chosen field.

"I thought you were going to eventually take over the shop," Graham stated, while looking quizzically at his brother.

"I still am," Cole confirmed. "The owner is just about ready to retire, and when he does, he's going to split the business. He's promised to sell the new and used car part of the dealership to one of his best salesmen, but he is also preparing to separate the automotive department, so he can sell it to me."

"What about the automotive manager?" Sammy asked. "Isn't he interested in buying it, instead of you?"

"No, he says he's too close to retirement to take that kind of a risk," Cole answered. "He has even agreed to continue working for me after the split, until he is old enough to retire."

"But how can the owner split the dealership like that?" Beth wondered.

"Fortunately, each part of the business is located in its own building and the two buildings are separated by a doublewide driveway," Cole replied. "That's how we can each own a part of the business."

"But how will that work financially?" Ricky wanted to know. "The new cars will be covered by a warranty, so how will you get paid when they need to be repaired?"

"Under the terms the current owner said he was going to establish," Cole began, "the automotive department will honor all of the service agreements for the dealership. In return, we will receive a lump sum cash payment when each vehicle is sold. This money will then be placed into an interest bearing escrow account, so it can be used to pay the cost of any repairs covered by those contracts. The cost of continuing any of the existing service agreements will be established and pro-rated, so an appropriate sum can also be placed in the account to cover each of those vehicles too. This arrangement will be finalized and put in writing before any sales contracts are signed."

"Damn, so Cole is going to be an entrepreneur too?" Ricky teased. "It's beginning to look as if I was the dummy in this family."

Cole realized Ricky had just given him a compliment, so he smiled at his brother. Even though Ricky often pulled pranks on the others and gave everyone a rough time, he was also very supportive of his brothers.

"So, are you sharing a place with Dustin or have you moved in with your girlfriend," Ricky quickly teased.

"I've got my own place," Cole confirmed, "but Beth does spend a lot of time there with me."

"So when are you two tying the knot," Graham asked next.

"We're not quite ready to do that yet," Cole responded. "I'd really like to wait and make sure the repair and body shop business is going to be successful first, before we get married."

"Yes, it's probably wise to make certain you'll be able to support a wife and family first, before you make such a permanent commitment," Sammy concurred.

"I'll give him some time to get his act together," Beth teased, "but I'm not going to wait around forever." She then gave Cole a light punch in the arm, to let him know she meant business.

Even though we were having a good time, we also began to feel badly that Duck and his girlfriend hadn't shown up yet. We were planning to hold dinner until they got here, but Duck called and told us they'd be late and wanted us to go ahead and start eating without them. He apologized for not making it on time, but assured me they were fine. He said they would stop along the way to grab something to eat, so we didn't need to keep dinner warm for them.

After we finished our meal, we moved into the family room and waited for Duck and his girlfriend to arrive. When we saw their car pulling into the driveway, the boys got up and raced outside to welcome them. After more than a few hugs and handshakes, they came inside and my sons began their friendly interrogation.

"Hey, man," Dustin began, once we were all in the family room. "Are you slowing down a little as you're getting older?"

"Um, not exactly," Duck answered, while looking slightly embarrassed. "It was just that there was a problem at Jen's job and she ended up working a little later than we'd planned."

Duck stopped at this point and looked over at his girlfriend, Jennifer. She appeared slightly uncomfortable about having arrived late too, which was not really that big of a deal for the rest of us. However, Jennifer seemed to feel that she needed to clarify the situation further, so she spoke up.

"I'm sorry. Not only did I end up working later, but I also had to go home first," she admitted, "so I could change my clothes and put the rest of my things in the suitcase. I had taken a little break while I was packing last night and kinda fell asleep before I was done." Her face began to turn a lovely shade of crimson, as she was saying this.

"That's why I had to finish my packing before we could leave," she added, a few seconds later.

"We're just happy you made it," I stated calmly, hoping this might sufficiently take her off the hook.

"Where's Mark? Isn't he here?" Duck asked, coyly changing the subject and shifting the attention away from Jennifer.

Mark, like Duck, is another honorary son and the two have become very close. Mark also takes care of the family's personal financial investments, as well as those of the Castaway Foundation. It is a charity the family founded, so they could continue helping other young people.

"No, he's staying in New York for the holiday," I answered. "His girlfriend and her parents are going there to be with him, so they'll be celebrating together and attending the big fireworks display there."

"Damn! I was looking forward to seeing him again," Duck responded, dejectedly.

"I think Mark was a little disappointed that he wouldn't be here with the rest of us too," I advised him. "I know his mother is also crushed that he won't be joining us, but I do understand the reason. His girlfriend wanted him to spend a little more time with her parents."

"And they didn't invite Susan to join them?" Duck asked, amazed.

"Mark invited his mother, but she and Mark's future in-laws don't get along very well," I replied. "I've been told that Amy's parents act and treat Susan as if she's beneath them. For that reason, Susan opted to stay here and will be joining us on Sunday instead."

While we had been talking about Mark, Jennifer went over and began chatting with Katie and Beth. The three of them were getting along quite well and eventually their boyfriends went over to join them. It was nice to see the three girls and the guys hitting it off, so the rest of us didn't disturb them.

When it started to get late, Dustin, Cole and their girlfriends bid us farewell and returned to their homes. After they departed, the rest of us began to turn in too. Duck and his girlfriend said good night and then disappeared into the guestroom. Shortly thereafter, the rest of the boys headed off to their rooms as well.

As Jake and I entered our bedroom and prepared to turn in, I spent a few moments lost in my thoughts. I was happily reflecting on how nice it was to have so many at home with us again, even if it was only for a brief time. While I was finishing up my thoughts, I noticed Jake staring at me and suspected he was wondering if everything was all right. Immediately, I smiled to reassure him, and then I closed the door to our room, so I could put the last of his concerns to rest.

The night passed quickly and Jake and I awoke early, as we normally do. Since many of the boys had driven home yesterday, after putting in a full day's work, we agreed they probably needed their rest. For this reason, we let them sleep in much later than we normally would have on a Saturday. We also didn't plan any activities for the morning, so they could continue to take it easy. However, that afternoon the guys suddenly announced that they wanted to go to the high school, so they could play softball. They knew it was something the girls would also be interested in doing and would enjoy too, so we all headed down to the athletic field and chose up teams.

I wouldn't say it was the best display of athleticism I'd ever seen, but they definitely had fun. The first time Joshie was up, he hit the ball in the infield and the boys threw it wildly about, until Joshie had time to race around all of the bases and score. He was extremely proud of his accomplishment and it helped earn the guys some points too. The girls thought it was nice that their boyfriends and the others had done this and were willing put their own competitive natures aside for Joshie's benefit. I was fairly certain their boyfriends would try to cash in these brownie points later, when they were alone with their girlfriends.

After the softball game ended, we returned home and the softball players decided they needed to cool down, so they agreed to hit the pool. Since this was a co-ed activity, everyone was on their best behavior and wore swimsuits. Other than on the few occasions when we had company or if my older children and their families were visiting, it was rare to see the appropriate swimwear worn in our pool.

That evening, I took everyone out to eat and then we all went over to the cinema complex to catch a flick. Since we couldn't all agree on one movie we wanted to see, we split up and went in various directions. The girls dragged their boyfriends off to see a chick flick they had heard was quite good and which they were determined to see. The guys didn't appear as if it would have been their first choice, but they went along with their girlfriends anyway, to keep the peace and maintain the good will they had chalked up earlier.

After that group took off, some of the other boys decided they wanted to watch 'Eclipse,' which is the third installment of the 'Twilight Saga.' While they were purchasing their tickets, some of the others agreed they wanted to see 'Robin Hood,' with Russell Crowe.

Dion, Trey, Jake and I planned to accompany Joshie, because he wanted to go to the new 'Karate Kid' movie. When it was over, I was actually glad we had done this. It was obvious that we had all enjoyed the flick, but none more than Joshie. I think I had just as much fun observing him, while he was focused on the screen.

Joshie was especially comical to watch when the 12-year old character, Dre Parker, was either practicing or using his karate skills. As the actor was going through his routine, Joshie's arms and legs were also jerking and twitching, as he kicked and punched along with the main character. I also enjoyed watching my grandson whenever the action was taking place at the Great Wall of China, because Joshie was enthralled by the beauty and splendor spread out before him.

Noting his fascination with the movie, I suspect Joshie will continue experimenting with these moves when we get home. I also believe he might soon begin teasing for us to allow him to take martial arts lessons. This thought made me wonder how his fathers were going to react, if Joshie does make that request.

On the way home, I got everyone to agree to stop for some ice cream and frozen yogurt. Yes, Jake and I had the frozen yogurt, along with the girls and Joshie. Since Joshie has spent so much time with me, he seems to prefer the frozen yogurt, instead of the ice cream, possibly because it's what we usually have at home. No matter the reason, we all seemed to enjoy our treats.

Once we returned to the house, Dion rushed Joshie off to bed, since it was already well past his bedtime. Some of the other boys decided to go to their rooms for a little private time too, while a few of the others stayed up with Jake and me and chatted for a bit. Most didn't stay up for very long, but a few of us did stay up later than we normally would or possibly should have. That was definitely the case for Jake and me.

Sunday morning, I was moving about far more sluggishly than usual, since I had stayed up much later than I normally do the previous evening. Now, I slowly made my way around the house, as I got everyone else up to attend church. The boys were all expecting this, since we normally attend services as a family. Even Dustin and Cole, who no longer live at home, usually meet us in the church parking lot, so we will all be together. Their girlfriends frequently accompanying them at these times, because they enjoy being part of such a large and close-knit family, so I was pleased they would also be joining us today. Since Duck and Jennifer have also gone with us on their previous visits, they had no problem going with us today as well.

The service was short, which also made it quite painless, so there were no major gripes about having to attend. The girls even told us later that they actually enjoyed doing this as a group, and knowing they approved of this helped to ease their boyfriends' concerns. It meant the girls would be willing to do this again in the future, as we continued our unofficial tradition.

Once the service had concluded, we rushed home, so we could prepare for our huge holiday cookout. After arriving, Jake immediately collected up the items he would need and headed out to fire up the grills. While he was doing that, I had the boys help me take everything else out of the refrigerators and move it out to the picnic tables. We were still lugging those items outside when our guests began to arrive.

The first to show up were my best friend, Steve Shay, and his wife, Mary. For those who don't remember, Steve was the judge who presided over some of the initial adoption proceedings and later he and I formed a very strong friendship. Not only that, but he and his wife also became honorary aunt and uncle to my children.

Shortly after their arrival, Sally and Susan also joined us. Sally is the director of social services now and was the one who arranged for many of the boys to be placed with me. Susan is Mark's mother, who decided to move here to be close to her son, when I arranged summer jobs for him. Both women are now honorary aunts as well.

A few minutes after they showed up, Alice, Jesse's mother, pulled into the driveway. She was actually the one responsible for Jesse coming to live with us in the first place. She had made this decision after reading about our family in a magazine article and then dropped her son off at my house. We were at church at the time, so when we came home I found Jesse waiting on our porch. He had a note attached to his clothes, which requested that I take care of him.

Alice had made this heart-wrenching decision because her current husband, Jesse's stepfather, was emotionally, physically and, she learned later, sexually abusing her son. At first, the other boys had trouble understanding how she could abandon her child, instead of her husband, and had a great deal of difficulty justifying her actions. For those reasons, her acceptance into the family didn't happen quickly or easily. However, she is now also considered an aunt and loved by each of the boys.

The next to show up was Jay, who has been Ricky's best friend since childhood. Jay's parents accompanied him, since both families have been very close for years. After we got everyone a drink, we sat down to chat.

We didn't all sit down together, but tended to split up into smaller groups, so we carry on more in-depth discussions. We'd move from group to group, until we got to see everyone, but there were some interesting discussion along the way.

"Vinnie, how was your first year on the job," Steve asked his adopted son.

The Shay's had adopted Vinnie, instead of me, since Vinnie was partnered with Kevin. Vinnie didn't think they should be brothers, as well as lovers, so Steve and Mary offered Vinnie this alternative, which Vinnie eagerly agreed to. Although the Shays adopted him, Vinnie still lives with me, so he could be with Kevin. Now, Mary sat patiently next to her husband and waited to hear Vinnie's response.

"It went really well," Vinnie told them.

Vinnie has his Masters Degree in Education and is now working with physically handicapped children in a nearby private school district. It was the best opportunity for him, since the local district doesn't have enough physically disabled students to justify such a position. Due to this fact, many of the students who can't function within the limit the local district can provide often enroll in this private institution.

"Do you like working at that school?" Steve asked. "I know it's not a short or easy drive, especially in the winter."

What Steve was referring to is that Vinnie is currently driving about forty-five minutes to get to and from his job.

"The school if fine, but I could do without the commute," Vinnie admitted. "Kevin and I are looking for a place somewhere in between, so we can split the travel. Kevin has offered to do this, because he realizes that driving so far every day isn't easy for me."

"I'm glad he's willing to do that for you then," Steve agreed. "What about your students? How do you get along with them?"

"My students are great and think it's neat that I've been able to overcome many of the same obstacles that they're facing. Many of them also use crutches, but not because they have cerebral palsy, like I do. It does make them feel as if we have something in common though. Most of the other teachers don't share any of the same problems the students do, so I think our common disability has made the students feel closer to me. It's possible that it's also prompted them to listen to what I have to say a bit more closely, but I'm not certain."

"I suppose it would make them sit up and take notice of what you have to say," Mary responded. "I would imagine that it also gives them a sense of hope and something to aim for. I'm sure you've become quite an inspiration for them."

"I'm not sure I'd call it an inspiration," Vinnie replied, "but at least they can see they'll be able to successfully function in the world, even with their physical limitations." Mary and Steve nodded in agreement and then turned their attention to Vinnie's partner.

"So Kevin," Mary began, "are you planning to change jobs when you find a place or just split the drive?"

"I'll probably keep working where I am now," he stated. "I like my job and get along really well with my co-workers, so I'll probably just stay there."

Kevin has a degree in pharmaceutical science from Temple, which he also finished early. He graduated the same semester as Danny and Brandon and then accepted a position as a pharmacist locally, so he could be with Vinnie.

"I'm glad you're happy where you're working," Mary told him. "It certainly makes having to spend forty or more hours a week there more bearable."

"That it does," Kevin agreed.

Mary now turned her attention to some of the others who were seated with them.

"Graham and Sammy, I understand you're both teachers as well," Mary began.

"Yes, we were fortunate to find positions too, although we weren't able to find jobs that were close enough for us to live at home," Graham answered. "We both live and work in the York area now."

"So what do you teach?" Mary followed.

"I'm teaching a learning disabled class at a middle school," Graham answered.

"Ah, that can be a difficult age, as your father probably warned you," Mary snickered. "He did spend a lot of his time as principal of the local middle school."

"Yes, Dad did caution me about that age group before I took the job," Graham added, "but I accepted it anyway. It hasn't been too bad though. I did have one student who was kind of a pain, but since I had a couple of brothers like that, I manage to get through the year without either of us killing the other."

His response caused Mary to chuckle and Graham to get a few menacing stares from some of the other boys.

"I'm sure you did the best you could with that boy," Mary commented. "In fact, he was probably just as bad for his other teachers too, so you shouldn't feel badly."

After saying this and getting Graham's nod of agreement, she shifted her attention to my other son.

"What do you teach, Sammy?"

"I taught history and economics at one of the high schools," Sammy replied. "I'm also working on my doctoral dissertation in my spare time. I think I really want to teach at the college level."

"Oh, will we have to call you Professor Currie or Dr. Currie then?" she teased.

"No, just my students will," Sammy quipped, "if they can get over the fact that I probably look younger than any of them."

We all had a good laugh over his comment. Sammy's oriental heritage has always made him appear to be younger than he actually is. Most people would probably currently guess him to be either sixteen or seventeen, and not his actual age of twenty-two.

While Mary was talking to Vinnie, Graham and Sammy, Aunt Sally had set her sights on Little Ricky and Andrew.

"Richard, now that you've graduated, what do you plan to do?" she asked.

"I'm going to go back to school in the fall," he responded. "I could probably get a job with my sociology degree, but I'm going back to get my MSW."

That stands for Master of Social Work, if you weren't aware of that particular acronym.

"So you've already been accepted?" she followed.

"Yes! I got my notification back in January," Little Ricky beamed.

"In that case, I really want you to look me up when you complete your degree, Richard," she told him. "I'm hoping I'll have a position for you in my department by then. If not, I'm also willing to contact some of my counterparts for you, the ones that in communities not too far from here."

"I'd love working for you, Aunt Sally," Little Ricky replied, "so I hope you do have a position available when I graduate. I know I could learn a lot working with you, and if you didn't know this already, I decided to pursue this line of work because of you."

Sally merely smiled at the compliment, before she responded.

"I hope you don't come to regret your decision later," she advised him, "because it can be very demanding work and too often frustrating. You'll also have to put up with the limited possibilities for financial reward."

"I've been told the same thing by several others," Little Ricky acknowledged, "but I still want to do it. I'm not getting into this field because of the money. I just want to help other kids find a good home, like you did for me."

I think his last comment touched Sally deeply.

"What about you, Andrew?" Sally asked, after turning her attention to another of my sons. "What are you taking at college?"

"Art, of course," Andrew answered, smugly. "Dad says I have a passion for it and my teachers always told me I have a gift, so I'm going to take advantage of it."

"That's probably a very wise move," Sally agreed. "So what do you want to do with it, after you graduate."

"I'll probably try to sell some of my work," Andrew explained, "but I'm also getting my certification to teach, in case that doesn't work out."

"Another Currie becoming a teacher," Sally teased. "I never would have guessed that your father would have had such a dramatic impact on you boys when I first helped place you here." Andrew grinned broadly, as he glanced in my direction.

While Sally was speaking with Little Ricky and Andrew, Susan had singled out the other Ricky.

"Ricky, I hear you're a big shot in marketing now," she began.

"I'm not sure if the people I work with consider me a big shot, but I did just get a promotion," he told her.

"You'll have to refresh my memory," she followed. "I forgot which company you're with."

"Verizon Wireless," he told her. "Dad said I'd either become a salesman or a conman, so I thought I'd better go into sales. I didn't want Dad to have to keep coming down to the jail, in order to bail me out." Susan laughed over his little joke.

"How's Mark doing?" Ricky asked, in return.

"He's doing quite well," Susan answered. "He's working as an investment banker on Wall Street and has received some pretty good reviews from his boss."

"I'm sure he has," Ricky responded. "Dad has told me that Mark is doing a great job handling the Castaway Foundation holdings, as well as taking care of some of the family's personal accounts. I'm glad Mark is willing to still do this for him, since I'm sure Mark has many other responsibilities now."

"He does, but I'm positive Mark will continue to make sure he has time to handle things for your father," Susan confirmed. "Mark says he'll continue to be responsible for those accounts, as long as it's what your father wants. Mark not only loves him as if he were his own dad, but he also feels he owes Josh, since your father did so much for him after they first met. Even though your dad has told Mark that any debt he felt was owed had been cleared up a long time ago, Mark still wants to do this and your dad seems happy to let Mark continue to handle everything. I know it makes Mark feel good that he's able to do something for your family."

"That's great, but this has been a tough market to operate in," Ricky stated next. "I hope Mark didn't get burnt too badly in the last downturn."

"Your father told me that the accounts Mark is handling for him didn't get hit nearly as badly as many of his friends' accounts had," Susan replied. "Josh says he isn't sure how Mark did it, but he feels Mark somehow foresaw the market problems before they happened and had time to switch the investments into something that wouldn't be affected as severely. In fact, when your father invited me to come today, he mentioned that his portfolio had recovered the losses already and he was back in the black again. He says he owes it all to Mark and is grateful that someone who really cares about the Foundation and the family is watching over the investments."

"Yes, I'm sure that takes a big load off his mind," Ricky commented. "You know, you'll have to give me Mark's address, so the next time I go in to New York City to visit my friend Jay we'll be able to look him up. It might be fun for the three of us to hangout for an evening. Mark already knows Jay, since we've all spent so much time together here, and it's neat that they're working in the same place."

"Yes, I think Mark would like that too," Susan confirmed.

Ricky then called Jay and the Curtises over, so he could introduce them. Ricky figured they'd probably met before, but this way he was sure they all knew each other and Susan would know exactly whom he'd be going with when he met up with her son.

"Josh, where's your son – the one who was in the army?" Jesse's mother, Alice, asked. "I thought he got out."

"He did, but he has to work this weekend," I explained. "After returning home from the service, he began applying for jobs and ended up getting a chance to attend the State Police Academy. The interviewers were very impressed with his military background and the assignments he had worked, so they were eager to offer him a spot. Frankie was thrilled with the offer and immediately accepted. After he graduated from the Academy, he was assigned to Troop M, which covers the Bethlehem-Allentown area, so he has his own place there."

"So he likes what he's doing?" Alice followed.

"Yes, he seems totally satisfied with his new job, but I know he still harbors a desire to eventually do more," I replied. "Frankie hopes to get promoted to the BCI, or Bureau of Criminal Investigation, as soon as a position comes open. It would be more in line with what he was doing in the service. Even though he enjoys being out on the road and responding to calls, Frankie has told me his superiors have indicated his military training and background will give him a leg up whenever new spots become available in the BCI."

"Didn't I hear that he was injured while in the service?" Duck asked next. "How's he doing?"

"Yes, he was wounded in Afghanistan," I concurred. "Although Frankie chose not to inform me about it when it occurred, I eventually found out he had been wounded while on duty there."

"What happened?" Duck pressed.

"I was told that after he arrived at one of the field camps, where he was supposed to interrogate suspected al-Qaida and Taliban prisoners, the camp came under attack. A grenade was launched inside the perimeter and exploded near him. Since he hadn't seen it coming, Frankie was hit in the left shoulder and leg by pieces of shrapnel. Although his wounds were severe, they were not life threatening, but he still had to be evacuated to a medical unit. After he was patched up and treated with antibiotics, he had to remain there for a while longer, until he was fit to return to duty."

"Damn, that sucks," Duck responded. "Did he get any special awards or anything like that for getting hurt?"

"Yes, Frankie was awarded a Purple Heart, because he was injured in the line of duty," I confirmed. "I only figured out that something had happened to him when he called to tell me he was receiving a special citation. When he mentioned that he was receiving the Purple Heart, I immediately realized what it meant. When I pressed him on it, he finally admitted that he had been wounded and then offered a feeble explanation for why he hadn't told me sooner.

"Frankie said that his primary concern was that he didn't want me to worry and feared the stress might be too much for my old ticker to take. He emphasized that he didn't want to be responsible for me having another heart attack, so he thought it would be best to withhold the information until he had recovered. So, by the time I discovered all of this, it had been over a month since the attack occurred and Frankie had healed. Seeing so much time had passed, it was hard for me to be too upset with him. However, I did mildly chastise him, before making him promise to never withhold anything like this from me again, especially since he is pursuing another potentially dangerous career in law enforcement."

"Did that get him sent home right away?" Duck asked.

"No. Once he was cleared for duty again, Frankie opted to finish his tour there before coming back," I explained. "When he did return to the States, Frankie finished up the remainder of his stint as an instructor at Fort Leonard Wood, where he had originally received his training. Once his enlistment was up, Frankie received an honorable discharge and then returned home, so he could spend some time with the family. He also did this so he could take some time to readjust to civilian life, before he began looking for a job."

While I was talking to Duck, Sally had made her way over to speak with Jake.

"Jake, where's Shannon?" Sally asked. "Isn't he going to be here?"

"No, Shannon and Nick aren't able to make it this time," Jake answered.

"That's a shame," Sally responded. "It would have been nice to see them again. Where are they living now?"

"They decided to try to find jobs part way between here and Oklahoma, where Nick's parents live," Jake told her. "They ended up moving to Atlanta, Georgia, after Nick was offered an IT position there. Once Nick began working, Shannon started looking for a job in the area and eventually accepted an accounting position with another firm. Even though I'm not totally happy about the situation, it seems to work for them. They split their holidays between us, spending either Thanksgiving or Christmas here and the other holiday with Nick's family."

"I suppose that's probably the best way to do it, so no one gets left out," Sally admitted. "I'm guessing Nick's parents aren't any happier with the arrangement than you are, so I guess this is a no harm, no foul situation."

I'm not sure Jake appreciated or agreed with Sally's last statement, but he didn't respond and let it drop.

"Josh, have you heard from Carlos or Ted lately?" Steve asked, as I approached him.

For those of you who aren't aware as to who they are, Carlos is a Hispanic boy we helped a few years back, while we were on vacation. He and his mother eventually moved to the Philadelphia area, where they currently reside.

Ted, on the other hand, is a young man we met through his aunt. She was a nurse who had cared for one of my sons while he was in the hospital. Once she learned that some of my boys were gay, she wanted to introduce her nephew to us. He was also gay, but his father was unwilling to accept the fact, which placed Ted in an awkward and volatile position.

"Yes, I've heard from both of them," I confirmed. "I think you remember that Carlos was working at a Mexican-American restaurant while he was in high school. Well, since he really enjoyed his job there, and because he was such a good worker, he became quite close to his boss. Carlos is now managing the restaurant, which is doing very well, and he hopes that one day he can either take it over or open his own place."

"I go there to eat once in a while and the food is really good," Ricky added, after he overheard our conversation. "Carlos lives in Philly with his mother and the restaurant is only about twenty or thirty minutes from where I live and work. When I go there, I usually get to chat with him for a while and he seems really happy with what he's doing." I think we were all pleased to hear the information that Ricky provided.

"What about Ted?" Steve persisted.

"Oh, he's doing quite well too," I replied. "His Aunt Jane has managed to help bring Ted and his father closer together, so Ted is much happier now. It wasn't easy to get his father to forget his preconceived and bigoted notions about gays, but he has come a long way since then. Jane says her brother has even openly accepted Ted's new partner as a member of the family."

"Ted has a partner now?" Steve asked.

"Yes. Ted met the guy in college and their relationship has blossomed since then. After they graduated, both boys accepted positions with insurance companies in Hartford, Connecticut and have their own place there. They really seem to enjoy the great relationship they have with Ted's family, but they have also mentioned that they plan to come and spend some time with us.'

"That's great, and I'm sure everyone will love to see him again and meet his partner," Mary added.

Our conversation was interrupted at this point, when I noticed that Jake was starting to take the meat off the grill. I immediately got some of the boys to help carry the platters to the picnic tables and then we stopped to eat. Everything was wonderful and the cookout went very well. We all had a great time and enjoyed the fantastic meal, but after we finished eating, everyone began to split back into groups, so they could do their own thing.

The older group and I sat and continued to chat, while the younger members moved off to the side yard, so they could play touch football. When their game ended, they then decided they needed to cool off, so they changed into their swimsuits and jumped in the pool. They actually stayed in the water for quite a while, but got out before it started to get dark. Once everyone was dressed again, we piled into the vehicles and went down to find a good spot from which we could watch the fireworks display.

As usual, the group the community hired this year put on a terrific show, with a great diversity of aerial fireworks. The grand finale was especially exquisite and I believe we all felt it had been a really terrific display. I could tell that more than just a few of us were disappointed that it had come to an end, but it sure was fun while it lasted.

When we returned home later, Little Ricky came up and let me know he wanted to talk. I could sense something was bothering him, so I took him aside, where we could chat in private.

"Even though I had fun, I really missed my mom today," he stated, while looking very dejected.

"I'm sure you did and I'll bet everyone else missed her too," I commiserated. "Although she wasn't very old when she left us and we didn't want to lose her, it may have happened for the best. I'm sure you don't want to hear me say this, but you must have noticed that she wasn't enjoying her life near the end. It was quite obvious the Alzheimer's was taking its toll on her emotionally as well."

"Only during those times when she realized what was going on," Little Ricky stated, "and that didn't happen very often during the last year."

"I know, but it was clear that it bothered your mother tremendously during her more lucid moments, when she realized what was happening to her," I confirmed. "It hurt her when someone would come up to her, but she couldn't figure out who they were. It was sad for us too, knowing she no longer recognized her friends, but it must have torn you and your father apart, whenever she didn't recognize you either."

"It did," Little Ricky confessed. "It made me feel like I had already lost my mother. I think it's also what led to my father having his heart attack, because he never got to really sleep well, since he felt he had to keep an eye on her. She used to get up late at night and do all kind of silly things and even went back to bed after starting to cook something on the stove."

"I remember that happening," I agreed, "but I can't imagine what it must have been like to live like that. It must have been really hard to deal with, knowing she couldn't remember what she was doing or being able to recall any of the good parts of her life, including her time with you and your father."

"Yeah, I hated it," he agreed.

"Look, I don't want to seem cruel by saying this," I stated, as I delved into a sensitive area, "but the heart attack may have been for the best, because it prevented her from suffering that way any longer."

"I know and I think you might be right," Little Ricky confessed. "It was rough on me to see her the way she was at the end and it really hurt when she didn't know who I was, but even though I hated seeing her like that, I still miss her. I really believe she's probably better off now, but I still can't help wishing she was still here with us, but the way she was before she started getting sick."

My heart was breaking seeing him this sad, so I pulled him against my body and gave him a hug. I was still holding on to him, when Little Ricky spoke again.

"I also feel awful knowing that taking care of my mom might have caused the Spences to die sooner than they would have otherwise too," he added.

The Spences were not only our friends, but they had also been our next-door neighbors.

"I'm sorry, but I don't totally agree with you," I replied. "John and Margaret were quite old when they passed, so I'm sure it didn't just happen because they had offered to take care of your mother. The strain of watching over her may have played a small part in Margaret's demise, but we all knew that she volunteered to take on the responsibility because she felt close to your mother and wanted to do it for her. In the end, Margaret's heart just gave out, but I'm sure she would have insisted on doing the same thing, even if she had known what would happen."

"Maybe, but it was only a few months after my mother died when Mrs. Spence passed away too," Little Ricky mentioned, "and then Mr. Spence died just two days after that."

"I think John died of a broken heart, because he couldn't foresee going on without his beloved Margaret by his side," I explained. "They both lived long and active lives and were surrounded by a great many people who loved them and enjoyed their company during their final years. We were lucky to have them in our lives, and I'm positive they were just as delighted about having us in their lives. I'm fairly positive that neither of them regretted moving here, nor any of the other choices they made, so please don't feel guilty about any of this."

I then gave Little Ricky another hug and then made sure he was all right, before I let him go off to be with the others again.

The evening's festivities quickly died down after this, although some of the boys did take Joshie outside to light some sparklers. Since I knew this activity could be a little dangerous for someone as young as Joshie, I made him wear a pair of safety glasses, but I also taped up the base of his sparkler, so it wouldn't get too hot for him to handle. After that, I enjoyed watching him play with it, as he ran around the yard. I thought it was cute to see him doing this with his uncles, and Joshie was certainly enjoying himself as he hung out with the older boys. All in all, it was also a very nice way to end a wonderful day.

Although we'd celebrated the Fourth yesterday, it didn't mean we had nothing planned for Monday. Since Ricky was turning twenty-five on Wednesday, we planned to hold a birthday party for him today, before all of his brothers returned to their homes. Since the boys had previously decided that once they'd turned twenty-one they no longer needed to receive gifts from the extended family, we made sure to remind them of this fact when offering our invitation.

The boys felt their aunts and uncles had been very good to them for long enough and, therefore, didn't want to impose any further financial burden on them, especially since most of the boys were now doing quite well on their own. However, the boys did continue to make sure they got something special for each other. They did this by chipping in and buying one or two very special gifts that they knew the birthday boy wanted. Of course, Jake and I still bought something for each of them too, even though the boys insisted we didn't have to get them anything big or expensive.

Once the party ended, Duck and Jennifer got ready to return home, but before they left, they had a surprise of their own to reveal. However, before they sprung this on the rest of us, they took Vinnie aside, so they could speak with him about it privately.

"Vinnie, Jennifer and I have decided to get married next May," Duck told him.

"That's great! Congratulations!" Vinnie nearly screamed, as he hugged each of them.

"There's just one more thing I need to clear up first, Vinnie," Duck continued, once Vinnie had finished embracing them. "I'd like you to be my best man."

Vinnie's mouth dropped open and he was temporarily unable to speak, which is not a common occurrence for him. However, once Vinnie found his tongue again, he discussed this in more depth with Duck.

"Are you sure?" Vinnie asked. "You know my crutches aren't going to look very good in your wedding photos."

"We don't care about that," Jennifer told him. "You're Duck's best friend and he really wants you to do this for us. I've asked my best friend to be my Matron of Honor and I think the two of you will get along really well." Vinnie made a slight face after Jennifer said this.

"You know I'm with Kevin, if you're trying to fix me up," he responded.

"No, I didn't mean it like that," Jennifer explained. "Just that you'd get along as friends." This time, Vinnie smiled.

"Then I accept your offer, as long as Kevin is invited too," he agreed.

"Your entire family is going to be invited," Duck said, "since they are now my family too."

Since Vinnie had accepted and the final details had been ironed out, Duck and Jennifer announced their intentions to the rest of us. We were all thrilled about their commitment and enthusiastically congratulated them. Jake and I also agreed to do whatever we could to assist with planning the wedding or helping them get ready for the big day. Duck and Jennifer seemed genuinely pleased by our offer and gratefully accepted. Now that everything had been worked out, they said goodbye to us and then began the long drive home.

Once the weekend of the Fourth was behind us, the rest of July began to pass in anonymity. Frankie's birthday was coming up at the end of the month, but he was reluctant about having the family come to his place to celebrate it with him. He told me that he was scheduled to work that weekend and wouldn't be able to spend much time with us, so he suggested an alternative. He said he would be off from work the second weekend in August and would come home at that time, so we could celebrate his birthday then. This way, he'd also be able to spend time with his older siblings, their spouses and his nieces and nephews, before they returned home from vacation. That's because once our trip was concluded, my older children were going to stay at the house with us for a few more days, so I thought Frankie's idea would work splendidly and agreed we'd see him then.

As the rest of us awaited the arrival of my oldest children and their families, we finished our preparations for their visit and our upcoming trip. Since I generally only have the opportunity to get together with them during the holidays, taking these vacations together provides me with another chance to enjoy their company. I'm eagerly looking forward to being with them again and spending some time with my grandchildren.

I have been keeping in touch with them and am happy to report that they are all doing fine. My two oldest grandsons are in high school now, with Jordan set to be a sophomore in the fall and Nicky a freshman. Jordan is currently about six feet tall, has jet-black hair, hazel eyes and is doing very well with his schoolwork. He also plays football, basketball and baseball, and will be trying out for the J.V. teams this year. Nicky is slightly shorter, at 5' 10", and has blond hair and blue eyes, although his hair is starting to darken slightly. He is also doing well with his class work and will be trying out for the soccer and lacrosse squads this year.

It is sometimes difficult for me to appreciate that these two are growing up, because there are moments when I still think of them as the little boys who spent so much time with us when they were younger. However, during the intervening years, each one has developed into a fine young man, which makes me very proud. I know they will both do well in life, no matter what careers they decide to pursue.

My other grandchildren are also doing well. Megan will be in fifth grade, Kylie in first and Lucas in pre-school. He won't be old enough to start kindergarten for another year. I do have some regrets that I haven't been able to spend as much time with them, as I had with the older pair, but this was partially due to the temporary estrangement I endured with their parents. It was unfortunate that my older children overreacted and refused to have anything more to do with us after they discovered Jake and I were together. This kept me from seeing my grandchildren until their parents were willing to accept me for who I am. Since we've reconciled, the situation has improved greatly, so I will now be doing my best to make it up to my grandchildren, especially the three younger ones. They were either too young or not yet born when Jordan and Nicky would spend part of their summers with us, but I hope I'll be able to rectify that situation and do the same with them now.

Since I've gotten to know the three younger ones better, I've discovered that Megan is an intriguing young lady. She is petite, like her mother, but inherited her ebony hair and brown eyes from her father. I can also tell that she has recently begun her trek through puberty, since her breasts are starting to develop and her body is beginning to take on more womanly curves. I'm certain this development will keep her parents busy, especially her father. He will be doing all he can to keep one eye on her, so he can hold the young men at bay. I suspect he will allow her to have some contact with the opposite sex, but will restrict these encounters to supervised functions. This will be his attempt to prevent her from being placed in circumstances where she might be tempted to make questionable decisions, which could affect the rest of her life.

Kylie is also adorable, with light-brown hair and very pale blue eyes, but she is still a little girl. She is extremely energetic, which means she is already quite a handful, as her parents, brother and cousins will attest. She is also very outgoing and not shy about joining in activities with the older ones, no matter if they're just playing a game or engaged in some rough and tumble activity. I have noticed that Kylie is quite tough and unlikely to cry if she gets banged up slightly or even hurt worse than that. I would venture to guess that she'll eventually end up being an athlete, following in the footsteps of her brother and cousin.

Last, but certainly not least, is Lucas. He is currently the baby of the family, but only in years. He has raven hair and hazel eyes, like his father, and is built more broadly than Joshie. I really get a kick out of watching those two when they go outside to shoot hoops, play catch or just roughhouse with each other. The best part, however, is that they are also becoming very good friends.

As I was sat in the family room and awaited their arrival, I spotted the first car pulling into our driveway. It was shortly before noon, on the first Saturday in August, when I recognized Michael and his clan getting out of their vehicle. Elizabeth and her family showed up a couple of hours later, with Marie's brood arriving about an hour after that, and then our straggler, Robert, joined us shortly before dinner.

Once we'd had a chance to greet everyone and get caught up on what they'd been up to, I took them out to eat. When we returned home after our meal, we settled in and spent the rest of the evening just chatting, relaxing and enjoying each other's company.

While the older group was in the family room talking, the younger ones were finding other places to congregate - where they could do their own thing. In particular, I noticed that Jordan and Nicky went off to spend their time with Jesse, Andrew and Little Ricky, while Joshie was having a ball playing with Megan, Kylie and Lucas. I was pleased to see they had each found someone they could relate too and were getting along so well. This is how it stayed until their parents sent them off to bed, but they would be able to pick up where they left off tomorrow.

After getting a good night's sleep, I took everyone to church the following morning. This is a longstanding family tradition that everyone is used to taking part in. I believe that most of them actually look forward to doing this, because it gives those returning home a chance to see and talk to members of the congregation that they have known for years. It also provides them with an opportunity to show off their families, but I think they look forward to and enjoy attending the service as a family, as well.

Once the final benediction had been given, we made our rounds quickly, so we could head home. We weren't going out for brunch today, as we normally would, because we were having a cookout at the house. This little gathering was planned to serve two purposes. First, I had invited the extended family to join us, so they could also get to spend time with my older children and grandchildren. Second, we were going to use this little get together to celebrate Kevin's twenty-sixth birthday, which just happens to be today.

Shortly after we arrived at the house, Jake and I began getting everything ready, with the assistance of several of the others. While Jake fired up the grills, the rest of us carried the other items out to the picnic tables. Before long, everything was set up and the meat was beginning to sizzle above the open flames

While we were getting things ready, the younger group was busily organizing a kickball game. Andrew had dug out an old playground ball from one of the closets and then made certain it was inflated properly. After he was convinced it was going to hold up, he took it outside to begin their game. The boys had decided to play kickball, instead of football, so even the younger kids could participate. After quickly dividing up into teams, they started their game, while the rest of us watched. They were really getting into this activity and having a great time, but we had to make them stop when Jake started taking the meat off the grill. Knowing it was time to eat, they all rushed toward the picnic tables and started filling up their plates.

"Papa, did you watch us?" Lucas asked, as he approached my location.

Since he had just turned four in May, this was his first opportunity to play in one of the family games.

"Indeed I did, little guy, and it looked as if you were doing very well," I replied.

"Yeah, and it was fun playing with the big kids," Lucas added, beaming.

Seeing this made some of the others chuckle slightly.

"I'm sure it was and I think you'll probably be doing a lot more things like this in the future," I agreed.

"I got on base every time," Lucas boasted.

However, the rest of us knew it was only because the older ones had intentionally missed when they threw the ball, when attempting to get him out.

"I saw that and was very impressed," I confirmed.

My comment brought a huge grin to Lucas' face and it was nice to see him so pleased about being included and doing so well.

Throughout the meal, I got to chat with my other grandchildren too and they were also eager to tell me about the game.

"We took it easy on the little kids," Jordan informed me, when he and Nicky came over to chat.

"Yeah, it is only fair, since our uncles used to do that for us too, when we were younger," Nicky added.

"So you finally figured that out, did you?" I teased, which brought grins to both of their faces.

"Not at first," Jordan confirmed, "but we did when we got older. It made us feel really good competing with the bigger guys, but we ended up paying for it later."

I made a face, which was meant to indicate that I didn't understand what he was referring to.

"Once they knew we understood what they were doing," Nicky added, "they stopped giving us any breaks and treated us just like the others. Sometimes it really stung when they'd hit us with the ball."

After he said that, he thought back to one of those times and instinctively rubbed a spot on his rear. Jordan and I both laughed at his impromptu reaction, before the two boys went back to rejoin the others.

The girls were sticking close to each other as well and came over to speak with me a short time later.

"I see my two princesses had a good time playing kickball with the boys," I began, when they got close enough.

"Yes, it was fun," Megan responded, "but I think Kylie and I are just going to spend the rest of the day together. We have to be around our brothers enough at home, so we're just going to hang out without them." Kylie nodded in agreement.

"That sounds fine to me," I confirmed. "Joshie can entertain Lucas, so the two of you can go off and do whatever you want."

The two girls smiled and thanked me for agreeing to this, and then quickly ran into the house, so they could get away from the others.

While the younger ones had been playing their game, and even while we ate, their parents and older uncles were spending their time chatting with their aunts and Uncle Steve. I was pleased that my older children were also referring to Mark's mother as Aunt Susan and Jesse's mother as Aunt Alice. This made each of the women feel special and brought them even closer to those they haven't previously had an opportunity to spend much time with.

Of course, the eldest group didn't ignore Aunt Mary or Aunt Sally when they did this. Instead, they went out of their way to make certain each of them was included in the things they were discussing as well, so no one felt slighted.

As the afternoon progressed, I felt it was time for us to acknowledge this was Kevin's special day too. After bringing out his cake, we sang 'Happy Birthday' and he blew out the candles. Once that was out of the way, we all enjoyed a piece of his cake, along with a scoop or two of ice cream. As Kevin's party began to wind down, it was apparent my grandchildren were growing bored, so I thought we should do something to correct this situation.

"Okay, I think it's time we showed you kids some of the games we used to play when we were younger," I said, as I swept my arm around to point at Jake, Steve, Mary, Sally, Susan and Alice.

"Oh, this is gonna be lame," I heard Jordan whisper to Nicky.

"What are we going to do? There aren't any dinosaurs around for us to ride on or play with," Nicky teased in response.

"I heard that and we're not that old," I chided, in a half-hearted manner, which caused both boys to giggle.

"The games we used to play might be simpler, but they can be fun too," I told them, as the others nodded. We then proceeded to play Simon Says, Red Rover, Red light – Green light and Duck, Duck, Goose with the kids, before we got tired and quit. Even though these activities were throwbacks to an earlier time, the younger ones seemed to enjoy playing them. Even Jordan and Nicky were okay with what we did and seemed to relish the opportunity of ganging up on us old farts in the process. Besides, they knew if they didn't gripe about what we were doing now, then we'd find other things to do later in the week, which would be more fun for them. In the end, we all got plenty of exercise, while making certain that a different grandchild won each of the activities.

Once the extended family had departed, I encouraged the others to get some sleep. I informed them that we'd be leaving early the following morning and I wanted them to be well rested, so they'd be able to enjoy the things we were going to do. Although I'm not sure they would all be going to sleep right away, everyone eventually said good night and settled in to his room.

As soon as we were alone, I went over the details of the trip with Jake, one more time, to make certain we hadn't forgotten anything. The idea for this year's vacation came from Jordan and Nicky's parents, although I also shared this information with Jake, Dion and Trey. I wanted to be certain this was something they'd be interested in doing as well, and after getting their input and approval, I made the necessary arrangements. Unfortunately, Kevin, Danny and Brandon won't be going with us, because they all have to work, and Vinnie didn't want to go without Kevin.

Now, after a few minutes of careful consideration, Jake and I concluded that everything was set, including our transportation. You see, we had previously spent quite a bit of time debating about how we were going to get to our destination this year. This was due to the fact that the only large vehicle we still owned was the new Suburban, which I had traded the old one in for a few months before. I felt it was important we kept one large vehicle, so we could accommodate the boys when they returned home. For the most part though, we don't use the Suburban very often and mainly rely on the cars.

Dion and Trey have their own automobile, which they use it to get back and forth to work and to go places with Joshie. Danny, Brandon, Kevin and Vinnie also have their own vehicles, because their work schedules don't match, or they don't work near any of the others, so they each need a way to get back and forth as well. Jake and I also have our own car, which Jake uses to drive back and forth to work, but we also uses it when just the two of us are going somewhere or when only Jesse and Joshie are with us.

Since we no longer have the types of vehicles that would be appropriate to transport such a huge group in, we decided to rent a large passenger van and use it in conjunction with the Suburban. In fact, it was already parked in the driveway, because Jake had dropped me off to pick it up after church, earlier in the day. Now, we could go to sleep, secure in the knowledge that everything had been taken care of.

The following morning, once everyone was up and ready, we loaded into the two vehicles. Jake and I offered to take all of the younger ones with us in the Suburban, so their parents could have some time away from them and be able to enjoy some peace and quiet. We also had a DVD player in the Suburban, which the kids could use to entertain themselves, so the others quickly agreed with our suggestion, with one exception. Robert, the biggest kid and my only unmarried biological child, quickly announced that he wanted to ride with us, so he could spend time with his nieces and nephews. When none of the others objected, we agreed and divided up accordingly.

Jake offered to drive the first leg of the trip, so I could make sure everyone was settled in. I really didn't have to do very much, since Robert was taking care of most of it for us, such as getting them to agree on what they were going to do first. The younger ones wanted to watch a movie, so Jordan, Nicky, Jesse, Andrew and Little Ricky agreed that would be fine with them too. The younger ones chose 'Cars' from our collection and were now glued to the screen.

The older boys quickly became bored watching the movie and came up with their own activity to help them pass the time. It was a little game we used to call 'punch bug,' but since there aren't as many VW beetles on the road now, the game is now played using any VW model. The game works like this. You get to punch one of the others in the arm anytime you see a VW and all you have to do is call out the color, so it can be verified. If you're wrong, then the recipient gets to hit you twice, for mistakenly hitting him once. It's not the best of games, because it can lead to some overzealous punching, which can then result in even more energetic retribution. However, it did keep the boys from whining about being bored.

Although Robert tried to distribute his punches evenly amongst the five boys, Little Ricky, Andrew, Jesse, Jordan and Nicky all chose to use Robert as their punching bag. This was fine for a while, until Robert realized what they were doing. After being punched yet again by Jesse, he decided to address his concerns.

"Why are you guys all ganging up on me?" Robert whined.

"Cuz you're the biggest!" Nicky answered, with a smug expression on his face.

"And because we don't see you that often," Jordan added, while trying to suppress a giggle.

"So that's why you are making me your primary target?" Robert countered.

"That and because Dad said you deserved everything we give you," Jesse responded.

"What?" Robert screamed.

He then leaned forward and glared at me. Seeing he had reacted so strongly, I thought I should clarify the situation.

"That's not exactly what I said," I explained. "I merely told Jake that when you start acting like a little kid, you deserve everything that happens to you."

I quickly discovered my explanation hadn't placated him, because Robert was now sticking his tongue out at me. The others merely ignored what Robert was doing, but they were eager to keep him on their hook.

"So this is your punishment for wanting to ride with us," Andrew concluded, just before he yelled, "Black!" and punched Robert in the arm again.

The six of them continued their game until we stopped for a quick bite to eat. We decided it would be best to do this before we reached our final destination. Once we were inside and our orders had been taken, Jordan and Nicky began to plead with me to tell them where we were going.

"You know I don't like to do that," I replied, "but I will say that it's something your parents suggested."

My statement confused them momentarily, but then they turned away from me and confronted their mothers and fathers.

"Okay, where are we going?" Jordan asked, somewhat annoyed.

"Well," Michael began, "when I called Marie and Adrian to discuss ideas for our vacation together, I discovered an interesting little tidbit. I found out they had also watched 'America: The Story of Us' with Nicky, the same way we had watched it with you. After we talked about how each of you had really shown an interest in the program, we decided to make it part of our plans. We called up your grandfather and made a suggestion. We recommended he should make arrangements for us to visit some very special places, which he had taken the four of us to when we were younger."

"So we're going to be going to places that have been around for like fifty years," Nicky stated.

"Watch your tongue, you little devil," his mother chided. "Only your grandfather is that old, but it's been around since he was a boy too."

"Oh, great!" I complained. "So now I'm as old as our Founding Fathers?"

"Pretty much," Robert sneered, "and that's your punishment for what you do to us."

After saying this, he stuck his tongue out at me again and then laughed, along with the others.

"So where are you taking us?" Jordan pressed, even more annoyed and perplexed. His father merely laughed.

"Dad, was I like this when I was his age?" Michael asked. "Worse!" I answered, while sticking my tongue out at him.

"Damn! Then I'm surprised you didn't strangle me," Michael teased back.

"I can't say I wasn't tempted at times," I joked in return.

"I can see why. I know I'm about ready to kill Jordan, especially when he's like this," Michael added, which caused Jordan to punch his father in the arm.

"Just tell me where we're going," Jordan pleaded.

"Okay, don't start crying," Michael responded, tongue-in-cheek. "We're going to Valley Forge. Do you guys remember what that is?"

"Yeah, it's where George Washington spent the winter with his army," Nicky answered, before Jordan could.

I think that was because Jordan was too busy trying to think of a way to get back at his father instead.

"Yes, it was during the winter of 1777 to 1778," Michael answered.

"I'm impressed. You did pay attention when we went there before," I joked.

My comment caused Michael to flick the back of his hand under his chin. I think he wanted to give me the finger, but decided it would be best not to do that in front of the kids.

"Okay, Dad. I'll let you fill them in on the rest," he added, while giving me a dirty look.

"Why don't we wait and do that once we get there," I offered, while pointing behind them.

This caused the others to look in that direction, where they discovered a small collection of people moving in our direction. It was our servers, along with several reinforcements, carrying out the trays containing our food.

While we were eating, we chatted about many other things, but Jordan and Nicky were busy trying to figure out what we were going to see there. They had the impression there wouldn't be much there, except snowy fields, but not at this time of year. Once we finished our meals, we loaded back into the vehicles and drove the final leg to our destination.

When we reached Valley Forge, we drove directly to the Visitor Center. There, we saw an audio-visual presentation about the site and we walked around the building after we viewed it, so we could investigate the items they had on display. It is also when I filled the kids in about this stop.

"As you saw on the video, Washington brought his army here after the British took control of Philadelphia. He figured his army could keep the British raiding parties in check and prevent them from carrying out attacks around the countryside. Unfortunately for Washington and his troops, the winter turned out to be much worse than they expected. Since very few of Washington's soldiers were dressed appropriately for the cold weather and the supplies were inadequate, the winter took its toll. The army eventually used up all the food they had with them and were then forced to cope as best they could. It is rumored that some of the soldiers even roasted their boots or ate bark off of trees, just so their bellies would feel as if they had something in them."

"Wow, that sucks," Nicky commented. "You mean they were fighting to free the country, but no one brought them any food to eat or heavy clothes to wear?"

"I'm afraid that's exactly what happened," I answered. "You see, not everyone was in favor of the rebellion, so some of the states were slow to contribute their fair share to support the troops. This meant the ones putting their lives on the line to gain independence were also the ones who ended up suffering the most."

"So not everyone wanted to be free?" Jesse asked, as he got caught up in the discussion as well.

"Many of the colonists still had family members living in England or had other ties to Britain, such as business connections, which they still valued," I explained. "For those reasons, they didn't want to take up arms against the British army. Since not everyone was willing to fight for independence, the southern colonies fell very quickly and the northern colonies were left to bear most of the burden of winning the war."

"So who was that Baron guy they talked about in the movie?" Megan asked next.

"He was a Prussian military officer, which means he came from Germany," I explained. "He helped to train and drill the troops, once the weather began to improve. This was very important, because many of the soldiers had never had any training, so in the long run it helped that the army had time to drill here under Baron von Steuben."

Once we finished our little discussion, we took the bus tour of the area. The first stop was to see some of the re-created huts the soldiers spent the winter in.

"They lived in these, Papa?" Joshie wanted to know. "They're not very nice and there's no windows, just a door. "

"They built these huts when they first arrived and only intended for the structures to protect them from the snow and bitter winds," I answered. "Unfortunately, the winter was much harsher than they had anticipated and they ended up staying here longer than they first intended."

I could tell the kids were having a hard time believing anyone could live in such simple structures for very long, let alone for several months. However, after talking about this a little longer, they finally were willing to accept this had indeed been the case.

From there, we went to see the National Memorial Arch and the statue of General Anthony Wayne, before stopping to explore General Washington's Headquarters.

"You mean Washington lived in this house all by himself?" Kylie asked.

"Not by himself," I told her, "because Mrs. Washington came and joined him while he was here. She helped cook while there was food, but she also cared for the wounded, and her husband's soldiers loved her for it. I'm sure some of the other officers also lived here with the Washingtons, and possibly even the family that owned the property. I'm not aware if they left beforehand or ended up staying here too."

"So they had this big stone house, while everyone else lived in those wood cabins," Megan added.

"Yes, but this house was already here when they arrived," I told her. "Everything else was built as needed." This seemed to be sufficient to answer her question, so we quickly moved on.

After we left Washington's headquarters, we saw a couple of redoubts, which are merely temporary fortifications that protect access to the area. Although there were a couple of cannons on the redoubts, the majority of the cannons were located at Artillery Park, which we visited next.

"So they kept all their cannons in one place?" Jordan inquired.

"Not all, but they kept some here and then just moved them where they were needed most," I answered.

After leaving there, we viewed another collection of huts, but these overlooked the Grand Parade ground. This was the area where Baron von Steuben drilled the troops. We also went to see the 'Grave of the Unknown Revolutionary Soldier.' This location was merely identified by a simple plaque and wasn't a very elaborate or impressive monument, so it also raised a few questions.

"This can't mean only one guy died here," Jesse noted.

"No, it is said that two-thousand soldiers died from disease and hunger that winter," I replied, "but this particular soldier was never identified."

"You mean no one knew who he was?" Nicky asked next.

"Either that, or by the time they were able to bury him no one could tell who it was from looking at his remains. It is also possible that those who knew him best had also died and none of the other survivors could remember his name," I explained.

"Wow, that really sucks," Jordan added, as we ended the discussion.

Leaving there, we went to see Waterman's Monument, which is a fifty-foot high granite obelisk that marks the site of the grave of Lieutenant John Waterman of Rhode Island. The Daughters of the American Revolution erected this monument in 1901.

"Papa, why is this one so much nicer than the other one?" Joshie asked.

I knew he was mentally comparing this monument to the plaque at the 'Grave of the Unknown Revolutionary Soldier.'

"Possibly because this marks the remains of an officer who died here and his body had been positively identified," I suggested.

"It still doesn't seem fair," Nicky protested.

No one else wanted to comment, however, because we pretty much felt he had a point.

Our final stop was at the Washington Memorial Chapel, which is a private facility and home to an active congregation. It is an architecturally exquisite stone structure, with an impressive bell tower on one side. It is also a very fitting and elegant tribute to 'The Father of Our Country.'

After leaving the park, I made a couple of quick calls on my cell phone to confirm our next activity. Once I'd discovered everything was set, we made the fairly lengthy trip there. Unfortunately, we got caught up in the tail end of rush hour traffic along the way, so this leg of the trip became a bit frustrating. Regardless of how annoying it was, we were still able to arrive there at a decent time.

A short time later, we pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant that Carlos managed. As we were climbing out of the vehicles, three familiar faces appeared out of the doorway and raced in our direction. It was Carlos, his mother and Ricky. Ricky had told me to let him know when we'd be there, because he wanted to join us too.

"Papi!" Carlos screamed, as he raced in our direction and then wrapped me in a tremendous hug. "Welcome to the Hacienda Mexicali. My mother and I are so happy to see you all again." After saying this, he then raced around and greeted the others.

"Senor Currie, come," Senora Garcia told me. "We have prepared some very special dishes for you to enjoy."

Carlos' mother then took my hand and led me inside. Just before we entered, I felt another arm drape across my shoulder. I turned and looked to see who was there and was only mildly surprised to discover it was Ricky.

"So how does it feel to be back with your favorite son?" he asked, in his typical impish manner.

"It's great to be with Carlos again," I replied, knowing that would push Ricky's buttons.

"Dad, can't you just admit that I'm your favorite," Ricky whined. I merely smiled and winked at him, as we passed through the doorway.

I'm not sure if this was typical of the offerings at the restaurant, but everything we had was simply delicious. Carlos had brought out a vast selection of items, which we all got to choose from and sample, so we were stuffed by the time we were done. We stayed for another hour after we finished eating, so we could chat with Carlos and his mother and fill them in about what we had done. It was really great to see the two of them again and we enjoyed our visit, although it was much too short.

After paying the bill and thanking them for their hospitality, we said good-bye to Carlos, Senora Garcia and Ricky, before hopping back into the vehicles and hitting the road again. It wouldn't take very long before we reached the motel where we would spend the next couple of evenings. I felt it would be best for us all to get a place near our next site, so we could get a good night's sleep. I wanted them to be fresh the next day, so they could fully enjoy our next stop.

Along the way, the kids had a lot more questions and comments about the things we'd seen earlier. I, and the other adults, happily discussed those topics with them and we were surprised that our conversation got so involved. I thought it was amazing that watching a television program, followed by a visit to the actual site, could spur so much interest and excitement.

When we arrived at the motel, Jordan and Nicky announced that they wanted to share a room with Jesse and Andrew and their parents didn't seem to have a problem with them doing this. I think this made Little Ricky feel left out, but he realized they didn't get this opportunity often, so he agreed to stay with Jake and me, so the others could have their time alone.

Once that was decided, it was agreed that Joshie and Lucas would spend the evening with Trey and Dion and then both boys would stay with Tim and Elizabeth the following evening. This way, each set of parents would get a night alone. A similar arrangement was made with Megan and Kylie, which meant they'd be spending tonight with Michael and Andrea. They'd spend the following evening with Marie and Adrian, thus giving each of those couples some time alone too.

Once everyone had turned in, I understand things began to get interesting in the boys' room. Seeing I still think of Jordan and Nicky as little boys, I guess I had overlooked giving any special instructions to Jesse and Andrew. However, I trusted them to do what is right.

Once they were alone, Andrew and Jesse stripped down quickly, so they could take a shower.

"Don't you two get embarrassed running around naked in front of other people?" Nicky asked them.

"No! Why should we?" Andrew answered. "We're all guys and have the same equipment."

"I guess, but don't you feel strange doing it?" Nicky followed.

"Not at all," Andrew told him. "We've done it at home ever since I can remember."

"I remember Nicky and I caught you guys doing it before, when we used to stay with Papa, but you only did it when our parents weren't there," Jordan commented.

"We do it all the time, unless we have visitors," Andrew explained.

"But you did it when we were there," Jordan countered.

"Yes, sometimes we forgot, but only when it was just the two of you with us. You guys were cool whenever it happened, so we just did what we normally would."

"Yeah, we didn't mind," Jordan responded. "In fact, it kind of gave us something to look forward to, because it showed us we'd get bigger when we got older too, like you guys."

"So you have never been naked in front of other guys before?" Jesse pressed.

"I have, when I played sports and took showers afterward, but I would never feel comfortable just staying naked after I got cleaned up," Jordan responded.

"Yeah, it's been pretty much the same for me," Nicky added, in support.

"Well, it's a shame you aren't more comfortable with your bodies," Jesse countered.

"I'm comfortable with my body," Jordan responded. "It's just that I don't like parading around naked."

"That's too bad," Jesse noted.

"You don't have to answer this if you don't want to," Nicky began, "but umm, I was kind of wondering, if you guys have… umm… ever fooled around together?"

His question momentarily surprised the older pair, so Andrew looked at Jesse, to see if he could tell how much he thought they should tell them. Since there was a slight hesitation, Nicky decided to explain why he was asking such a personal question.

"I know some of our uncles are gay and mess around with other guys, but I just wondered if the rest of you have done things like that too," Nicky clarified.

"Yes, Andrew and I have had some fun together, even though neither of us is gay," Jesse answered.

"If you're not gay, then why did you do things with another boy?" Nicky wondered.

"Just to have a little fun and because it feels good," Jesse told him. "A lot of guys mess around with other guys, but it doesn't make them gay. It's just a way to relieve some tension when no other option is available, except for taking care of yourself."

"You guys jack off, don't you?" Andrew followed, which caused the younger boys to blush. Jordan and Nicky looked at each other, giggled a little and then nodded, sheepishly.

"Well, then you know it feels good when you do it, but it feels even better when you have a partner," Jesse informed them.

Suddenly, Jordan and Nicky began whispering in each other's ear. When they stopped, Jordan asked a question.

"Um, this might sound kind of strange," he began, while looking at Andrew and Jesse, "but Nicky and I want to know if you'd… you know… maybe show us what you're talking about."

"You mean show you what it's like to mess around with another guy?" Jesse followed, and both boys nodded, enthusiastically.

"Even though there would be nothing wrong with it," Andrew responded, "I have a feeling we shouldn't do it, at least not tonight."

"Why? If it's not wrong, then why shouldn't we do it?" Jordan wanted to know.

"It's not wrong for you to do it, it's just that you're younger than Jesse and me and we don't want to cause any problems," Andrew told him. "Your parents got really upset when they found out Dad and Pop were together and I'm not sure what they'd do if they found out we did anything like that with you."

"They'll never find out about it, so they won't do anything," Jordan reasoned.

"Yeah, it's not like we're going to tell them and we don't have to worry about them barging in and catching us, since the door is locked and they don't have a key," Nicky added.

"I think I should just clear this with Dad first, before we do anything like that with you," Andrew explained.

"You mean you want to ask Papa if we can do this?" Jordan nearly screamed. "Won't he get upset too?"

"No, not at all," Jesse responded. "He'll just let us know if he thinks it's all right for us to do it with you. He already knows what we've done with each other and didn't have a problem with it, but he did insist we wait until we were older before he let us do certain things. You two are older than we were the first time, so I think he'll be okay with it, but we still need to check with him first."

"I'm not sure Jordan and I want Papa to know about this," Nicky stated, nervously.

"Then why don't you just jack each other off," Andrew suggested.

"You want us to do that here if front of you guys?" Jordan asked, bewildered.

"No! You can do it while we're in the shower," Andrew offered. "We'll ask if it's okay before we come back into the room, so you don't have to worry about us seeing you, if you don't want."

The younger pair looked at each other and then nodded, which let Andrew and Jesse know it was time for them to leave. Once the older pair disappeared into the bathroom, the younger boys began to shed their clothing. They were a little nervous and slightly reticent about doing this at first, but eventually managed to get naked. Then, they took a few more seconds to shyly gawk at each other's body, as the mentally assessed how they compared.

Once they began to feel that they adequately matched up with their counterpart, they were still a little hesitant about touching each other's boyhood. After exchanging a few questioning looks between them, they eventually began to loosen up and tentatively reached out and brushed their fingers against the other's flaccid penis. It took a little longer for them to be comfortable enough to actually grasp it, but once they did, they began to realize it wasn't much different than holding their own penis. Slowly, they started to feel more comfortable about trying this.

It still took a couple more minutes before they were ready to jerk each other off and then they had to figure out how they wanted to do it. After a few awkward attempts, they ended up deciding to do this one at a time, instead of simultaneously. This was mainly due to the fact that they couldn't figure out how to do it successfully at the same time. In their initial attempts, they constantly got their arms tangled up and kept bumping into each other, which threw off their rhythm. Eventually, they got frustrated and decided to do it one at a time.

Being older, Jordan let Nicky do it to him first. Since he was a little more developed than his cousin, Nicky found it fascinating to handle a larger dick. He stroked Jordan with a great deal of enthusiasm, and being as young as he was, it didn't take Jordan long before he erupted all over himself. Once he had recuperated, they quickly switched places and Jordan brought Nicky to an equally mind-blowing climax a few minutes later.

Since the pair had completed what they were doing before Jesse and Andrew finished their shower and called out to them, they rapidly agreed the other pair could rejoin them. As Jesse and Andrew strode into the room, Jordan and Nicky didn't seem embarrassed that they were still lying naked on the bed. Neither did they seem concerned that the other pair could see their cum covered chests and bellies.

"It looks like you two worked things out," Jesse teased, eyeing them closely.

"Yes, and you were right," Jordan answered. "It does feel better with a partner."

"But it doesn't mean you have to start doing this with a bunch of other people," Jesse warned. "You have to be very careful about whom you do things like this with and you've got to make sure you have a safe place, where you won't get caught."

"We know. We aren't dumb," Nicky stated, defiantly.

"I wasn't saying you were, but you need to make sure you don't get caught," Jesse confirmed. "If the wrong people find out about it, they can make your lives miserable."

Jordan and Nicky nodded their understanding and then got up and headed into the bathroom to shower together. When they came out, they remained naked and decided it might even be fun to sleep that way. Before long, each pair crawled into their bed and settled in for the evening, satisfied with how things had gone.

The next morning, after I got my wake up call and then called each of the other rooms to make sure the others were up, Andrew came over to speak to me. He wanted to briefly explain what had happened the previous day, before he woke the younger pair up. After assuring me it was their idea and that he had given them the appropriate warnings about being careful and not getting caught, we discussed what might be appropriate from that point on. Andrew then went back to his room and roused the others, so they could get ready to leave.

Since we were still in Philadelphia, we decided to do something fun for the younger ones today. They had been very good about not making much of a fuss the day before, so this was going to be their reward. We were going to spend the day at the Philadelphia Zoo, which happens to be the oldest zoo in America. It received its charter in 1859, but due to the Civil War it didn't open to the public until 1874.

We arrived at the park early, because I'd read some online reviews that suggested the parking lots fill up quickly. We then went off to spend the day viewing all of the exhibits and enjoying the various rides with the younger kids. To do this, we ended up splitting into two groups, because the older boys weren't interested in spending time on the kiddie rides.

After talking it over briefly, I agreed to allow Robert to go with Little Ricky, Andrew, Jesse, Jordan and Nicky, so they could see the park at the own pace. I gave Robert some cash to cover whatever they might need before we met up again and only asked that they stay together and keep in touch. I then urged Robert to call me if they needed anything or wanted to find out where the rest of us were. Having cell phones has certainly made things like this a lot easier.

Once they went off on their own, the rest of us accompanied the younger ones at a more leisurely pace. In between seeing the various animals, we let the kids enjoy the rides. We started out on the Amazon Rainforest Carousel, where they got to choose which re-creation of an exotic animal from the Rainforest they wanted to ride upon.

"Papa, did you see the bird I was on," Kylie gushed. "It was really pretty, with all the different colors."

"I rode on one of those too," Megan confirmed.

"Yes, they are called toucans," I informed their smiling faces. "They are beautiful, aren't they?" Each girl nodded.

"I rode on the big cat," Joshie told me.

"Yes, that's a Jaguar," I told him. "It's the most powerful feline in the Americas, and unlike most cats, it enjoys the water."

"What was that thing I was on?" Lucas asked, while pointing at the representation of a rather large lizard.

"That's an iguana," I answered. "It lives in warmer tropical areas and has also become a popular choice as a pet."

"I don't want one for a pet," Lucas commented. "I'd like a puppy instead." The rest of us chuckled at his innocent response.

After we left this area, the four little ones rode with their parents on the Swan boats, which effortlessly glided over the small lake. When the boat-ride ended, the kids teased for us to let them ride on the ponies next, which were located just a short way from where we were. Although the ponies didn't go any faster than a sleepy walk, the children were all acting as if they were some heroic figure riding their noble steeds toward an exotic destination or into a fierce battle.

"I wish I could have a pony or a horse," Megan mentioned, as we were leaving the area.

"Yes, but we don't exactly live in an area where you could keep one," her mother replied, sympathetically. "We'd have to live out in the country before we could do anything like that."

Megan looked slightly dejected, but quickly joined the other three, as they continued to chat excitedly about their recent pony ride. A short time later, we reached the next location and it was obvious the young ones were about to enjoy another special thrill. We had just arrived at the 'Birds of Australia' exhibit.

"Would anyone like to feed the birds?" I asked, as we entered.

All four hands suddenly shot into the air, so I purchased some food for them to share with their avian friends. There was a vast selection of colorful birds and they quickly flew in our direction, when they noticed that the children had treats for them.

"Hold out your finger or arm," Trey suggested. "The birds will land on it and then you can feed them."

Kylie and Joshie were the first to actually do this, but soon Megan and Lucas joined in too. It was quite enjoyable to watch, as the feathery animals either landed beside the children or came to rest on the offered perch, until there was a minor accident.

"That bird just pooped on me," Megan screamed, just before she burst into tears.

Hurriedly, her parents found some tissues and cleaned off her arm, as they attempted to console and calm her down.

"They don't use bathrooms and just do it where they are," her father explained. "The bird didn't know it was wrong or that it would upset you."

"Okay, but I don't want to do this any more," Megan confessed, once she had calmed down a little.

It was now nearly midday, so I called Robert and told him to bring the rest of the boys over to the Polar Bear Café, because we were going to grab a quick bite to eat. He rapidly agreed, which I assumed meant they were all hungry too, so we didn't have too long to wait before they showed up. After we finished up at the cafe, I mentioned to the older boys about the Camel Safari.

"I think you guys might want to go over there and check it out," I suggested. "It's not every day that you get a chance to ride on a camel."

After talking it over, they quickly agreed that it might be fun to try it. However, before they left I told them to meet us at the Channel 6 Zooballoon at 4:00 and we'd all take a ride in it before we left.

Once that had been agreed to, the rest of us headed out with the little ones again. We began the afternoon by taking a ride aboard the PZ Express, which is a scaled down replica of a Victorian train. Once we reached the end of the line, we finished up going around the rest of the park, before we went to meet up with the other group again. By the time we hooked up, I think we were all looking forward to taking a ride in a hot air balloon.

We spent a brief time debating about how we wanted to do this. We weren't sure if we should split up into groups or wait until we could all go up together. We considered many factors first, such as what effect it would have on the overall family, should there be an accident. In the end, we decided the probability of something like that occurring was minimal, so it shouldn't keep us from going up together. Besides, if we split up and something happened to one of the smaller groups, then those of us not with them would be totally devastated. Seeing the winds were minimal and the balloon held up to thirty at a time, we decided to go as a single unit. The operator help to ensure we all got on together, along with two smaller groups.

A different adult held each of the three smaller kids as we rose into the air. We did this because it would allow Kylie, Lucas and Joshie to be able see over the basket and get a better view, but it would also prevent them from doing something foolish. We didn't want to have to constantly keep an eye on them or worry about them trying to pull themselves up on the rim of the basket, so they could peer out.

Overall, this turned out to be a very lovely and relaxing way to finish our day at the zoo and everyone was happy we had taken the time to do it. After we returned to earth, we made our way to the parking lot and retrieved our vehicles. Then, we made our way back to the motel, so we could freshen up quickly. After going out to eat, we spent the rest of the evening relaxing in our rooms.

Once the door to the boys' room was closed, Nicky and Jordan started in on Andrew and Jesse again. Since Andrew had spoken to me about this earlier and advised me about the previous evening, I had been able to explain to him what I thought might be acceptable, should the topic come up again. Andrew had also discussed this with Jesse when they were alone, so they were prepared for the boys' question.

Although I was slightly reticent to let them get involved, since I didn't want to cause any more problems within the family, I realized there was an even bigger consideration. I felt that if Jordan and Nicky had enough interest to ask if they could try such things, then I'd rather have them do it with Jesse and Andrew, than take the chance they'd find others who wouldn't take advantage of them. Therefore, when the boys brought this up again, Jesse and Andrew knew the boundaries I thought were appropriate.

"Nicky and I have decided we'd like to do something with you two tonight," Jordan began, "rather than just with each other."

"Yeah, we want to see if it feels any different than what we did last night," Nicky added. "Please. We're not going to tell anybody or say anything."

"Okay," Andrew agreed, more quickly than the younger ones expected. "Dad said it was all right, if this is really what you want."

The last part of his answer had the effect of mildly alarming the other pair.

"You told Papa what we did?" Nicky blurted out.

"Yes and he's fine with it," Jesse answered. "He said if you asked us to join you it would be okay, but we just need to make certain that your parents don't find out about it. That could create a bunch of problems for all of us."

"Don't worry," Nicky responded. "Neither of us is going to say or do anything that will make them suspicious.

"In that case, Jesse and I will be happy do something with you," Andrew responded.

"Yes. We'll do the same thing that you did with each other last night," Jesse threw in, once Andrew had finished.

"Okay, but I want to be with Andrew," Nicky offered. "He has that extra skin and I want to see what it's like."

Andrew smiled, as Jesse and he moved to join their new partners. Each pair then hopped onto one of the beds, but Andrew and Jesse decided it would be best if they did it to the other pair first. They figured the younger guys wouldn't last as long as they would and this way Jordan and Nicky would be able to enjoy it more, if they weren't quite so worked up beforehand. It also meant it wouldn't be a start and stop experience for the older pair, because if they did it simultaneously the younger boys would probably stop for a minute or so, once they experienced their own orgasm.

Andrew and Jesse also wanted to show the other pair that there was even more they could enjoy, besides the penile stimulation. Once Jordan and Nicky got on the bed, Andrew and Jesse slid in beside their partners. Slowly, they began to trace circles around the other boy's nipples with their fingers, which caused the tiny nubs to stiffen. Once that happened, they bent forward and suckled on them for a few seconds, which caused the other two to moan and squirm a bit.

After they had done this for a couple of minutes, the older duo reached down and began to tenderly caress and rub the younger boy's testicles for a brief time, before they got down to business. Both Jordan and Nicky were panting from the combination of sensations they had been experiencing, but became even more aroused once their partners put some lube on their hands and began to stroke their dicks. After a few seconds, each of the younger boys began to thrust his hips up and down, matching his partner's actions, as the older boy slowly jacked him off.

Jordan and Nicky are both circumcised and quite well hung for their age, but they were also very aroused from the preliminary foreplay. Neither Andrew nor Jesse had to work on their partner for very long, before the younger boy arched his back and released his creamy load. Once Jordan and Nicky had been drained of the last of their juices, the older boys cleaned them up and then switch places, as they got ready for the favor to be returned.

Once the younger boys had regained their senses, they were eager to do the same for the older pair. Nicky was fascinated with Andrew's foreskin and spent quite a bit of time playing with it. He carefully took turns exposing the head and then covering it up again, before he earnestly began to masturbate Andrew. It did take quite a bit longer for the older pair to reach their orgasms, so long in fact that the younger pair began to complain that their arms and wrists were beginning to hurt. However, they continued what they were doing and didn't give up until their partner was able to enjoy a similar release of his manly seed.

Once Andrew and Jesse had wiped up the mess, the four of them talked for a while longer, before they went in to take their showers.

"Wow, I didn't know that other stuff could feel so good too!" Jordan exclaimed. "I thought only girls liked their titties played with, but it felt awesome when you did that to mine."

"Not only that, but I really liked it when you rubbed my balls too," Nicky followed. "It sent chills all over my body when you did that to me. Thanks for showing us those things."

"Yes. Thank you very much," Jordan added. "It was great and everything felt really awesome."

The boys then showered in pairs again, but this time doing it with the same boy they had just fooled around with. While doing this, Andrew and Jesse decided to show Jordan and Nicky that it could also feel good when someone else washed you. After taking quite lengthy showers, the boys dried off, but stayed naked. After talking a little more, they hopped into bed and spent the rest of the night sleeping like dead men.

The next morning, I called each of the rooms and made sure everyone was up and getting ready again. Today, we were going to the Adventure Aquarium in Philly, since I figured it was another activity that all of us could enjoy. Once we were gathered together, we set out to be amazed.

We started off at the 'West African River Experience,' where we met Button and Genny, two humongous Nile hippos. We learned that hippos were the most dangerous animals in Africa and can open their mouths up to four feet. That's wide enough for them to be capable of snatching Kylie, Joshie or Lucas while they are standing up. However, as we watched these particular creatures, they didn't seem to be very dangerous. Instead, they acted like a couple of kids, as they frolicked together in the water and pressed their noses against the viewing glass.

"Papa, I could fit in his mouth," Joshie squealed, when one of the hippos opened wide.

"Yes, you could, but I don't think you'd want to do that," I teased.

"No! It would squish you," Lucas added, while giving his cousin a concerned glance.

The hippos were actually quite comical, but we were also impressed by the variety of birds that were in the enclosure with them, along with the African porcupine.

From there, we went to 'Shark Realm,' which was a fascinating, yet slightly terrifying exhibit. This was due to the fact that we were in a transparent tunnel running through the tank and surrounded by an assortment of sharks and other creatures. It really made us feel as if we were underwater and at the mercy of those terrifying creatures.

"Can we go somewhere else?" Megan asked, as one of the sharks swam in her direction. "I feel like that shark wants to eat me."

"He probably does," her brother, Jordan, quipped. "At least until it finds out you don't taste very good."

Megan shot daggers in his direction, to let him know she wasn't amused.

"Well, he'd throw up if he tried to eat you," she countered, looking satisfied.

"Not throw up," Jordan replied. "It might look that way, but I'd really have just fought my way back out."

The others ignored the siblings little give and take and continued to talk excitedly about this experience. They did this until we left that area and made our way to the 'Jules Verne Gallery.' Here we got to see a few of the creatures that make the deepest parts of the ocean their home. This included a translucent jellyfish, a Giant Spider Crab and a Giant Pacific Octopus. These were truly weird looking creatures and something Captain Nemo might have seen if he'd looked out a viewing window in the Nautilus.

"Those are funny looking!" Kylie exclaimed, while pointing at the unusual creatures.

"They are probably thinking the same think about you," her brother, Nicky, retorted.

"I'm not funny looking," Kylie whined. "I'm pretty. Just ask Papa."

While Kylie looked for my approval, her brother decided to let it drop, since he figured he wasn't about to win this discussion.

After we finished up there, we had to hurry to the '4-D Theater,' where we got to enjoy the 'Happy Feet 4-D Experience.' This is a 12-minute clip from the movie that has been made into 3-D, and then enhanced with 4-D multi-sensory effects. Of course, the younger ones loved it and squealed in delight as the movie played. This was followed by a viewing of 'Planet Earth 4-D,' which gave us a unique view of interesting animals, exotic plant life and some splendid natural features, such as a waterfall. This was truly worth the time spent there and we all enjoyed it immensely.

Upon leaving the theater, we made our way to 'Irazu Falls' and could hear the rumble of the massive rainforest waterfall long before we could see it.

"What's that noise?" Joshie wanted to know.

"You'll find out soon," Dion told him, "and I think it will be more fun if you discovered what it is on your own."

Joshie seemed slightly disappointed by his father's response, but agreed to do what Dion suggested. The falls is two full stories high, with 400 gallons of water flowing into the pool below.

"Wow, that's really big!" Joshie exclaimed, as he strained to look up, so he could see the top of the waterfall.

"I wouldn't want to be up there," Lucas added. "I'd be afraid I might fall."

"Oh, don't be such a baby," Kylie told him.

Her comment shocked Lucas, but didn't surprise me at all. As I mentioned earlier, Kylie is the adventurous type and doesn't shy away from risks, much to her parents' dismay.

The pool below the falls was filled with a variety of marine life from the Amazon, which includes Arowana (which has a bony head and elongated body), Pacu (which is related to piranha) and Freshwater Stingrays, as well as several other species of aquatic life. As we viewed this area, we were enveloped by the beat of primitive tribal music and surrounded by the exotic calls of various Rainforest animals. This only added to the impression that we were somewhere deep in the Amazon and occasionally caused one of us to turn quickly, to see if what was causing the noise we heard was nearby.

From there, we made our way to the 'Caribbean Currents' area, which contained an assortment of exhibits displaying many different types of creatures. There were brightly colored tropical fish, sea horses, pipefish and barracudas, along with some colorful birds. We saw blue and gold macaws, and double yellow-headed amazons. I think we all found this to be quite fascinating, but it was soon time to move on.

Next, we journeyed to the 'Ocean Realms' exhibit, where we were introduced to Pearl and Opal, the two shark rays.

"They really do look like a shark and a stingray had been messing around with each other," Jordan whispered to Little Ricky, Andrew, Jesse and Nicky.

I also overheard his comment, but didn't say anything. However, I did wonder if anyone else had heard him or had caught any of the other comments the boys were making about whether such a mating would be possible.

The shark rays are also called bowmouth guitarfish, although I'm not sure why. These creatures can grow to be up to nine feet long and are typically found in Indo-Pacific waters. They are often referred to as the pandas of the aquatic world, because they are extremely rare and not often found in an aquarium setting. There are fewer than ten places in the world where you can see shark rays on display and this is one of them. Knowing this tidbit of information made our time here a truly unique and memorable experience.

In this area, we also got to see Loggerhead Sea Turtles, Cownosed Stingrays and a school of over 2,000 Blueback Herring. Joshie and Lucas seemed the most fascinated by these creatures and continued to talk about them as we made our way to the next location.

Before long, we arrived at 'Seal Realm,' where eleven seals spend their day playing and swimming with their trainers and each other. We got to see them from two different angles, with one of them being underwater. We were able to peer at them through the side of the tank, but we also got to see them on the surface of the water and on the land areas too. The kids even got to observe the trainers feed fish to the seals, when they rewarded them for performing for our benefit.

"Can we feed them too?" Joshie wanted to know.

"I'm afraid not," Dion told him. "Only their trainers get to do that."

Joshie was a little disappointed with the reply.

"They're funny," Lucas commented next. "I like their whiskers and they do neat tricks."

"Yes, they do," Jake assured him, as we were leaving that area and moving on to our next location.

Having arrived at 'Penguin Island,' we immediately knew the children would love being here. In fact, it was the highlight of our time at the Adventure Aquarium. As happened with the seals, we got to see the African Penguins from two different vantage points and were impressed with how they swam, dived and frolicked about in the water.

"Are they all babies, Papa?" Joshie asked, while looking into the tank.

"No, Little Man, that's as big as they get," I answered.

"But they're tiny," Lucas added, after overhearing our conversation.

"They are about the same size as a chicken and grow to be about twelve inches tall."

"I was bigger than that as a baby," Kylie added, joining our discussion.

"That's very true," I confirmed, "since you were all at least eighteen inches long when you were born."

The kids spent the next few minutes pondering this, because I think they all expected the penguins to be much larger. It wasn't easy, but we finally had to drag them away from there, so we could see the other exhibits.

I could tell the parents were a little nervous as we entered the next area, which was the 'Touch-a-Shark' exhibit. This was on the second-floor of the aquarium, where there was a tank with an assortment of Indo-Pacific Brown-banded and White-spotted Bamboo Sharks, along with some Smooth Dogfish Sharks. I was somewhat amazed to see how bravely Jordan, Nicky Joshie and Kylie placed their hands in the water and began to stroke the small sharks as they swam by. Eventually, most of the others joined in too, but in the end, it turned out the kids were braver than their mothers. The women weren't as eager to touch these aquatic carnivores, but they eventually did it, merely to please their offspring.

From there, we went directly to 'Creature Feature,' where the children were able to see and touch a variety of other animals. There were several varieties of colorful seastars, anemones, crabs, snails and much, much more. This area was a little less frightening for the parents, so the kids were able to participate more freely here.

"How come some of them have hard skin and others have soft skin?" Lucas asked his mother.

"Some have a type of shell, to protect them from others," Elizabeth told him.

"But it isn't fair if some of them have it and others don't," Lucas reasoned, although his mother didn't try to explain why this was so.

The hands-on experience continued when we reached 'Interactive Inlet' and my grandchildren got to safely touch a pulsing moon jellyfish, slimy shrimp, freshwater stingrays and lobsters, to name a few. Once again, the kids were fascinated and the parents were slightly on edge, until we left this area and made our way to our next stop.

The 'Rainforest Rendezvous' is a Mayan-inspired exhibit where we got to meet another collection of animals we wouldn't normally encounter. Here, we got to see a chinchilla, a short-tailed Opossum, diamondback terrapins (turtles) and a Degu – a six-foot long boa constrictor. Although the children weren't able to touch any of these, for obvious reasons, they were able to handle a collection of fossils that were hidden within this charming display.

"That temple looks the same as the ones from that group that said the world was going to end in 2012," Nicky observed.

"Yes, the temple was meant to represent one of the Mayan temples," I told him, "but there is some question as to whether they were actually predicting the world would end or if we'd just be starting over on their long calendar."

We discussed this a little longer and Jordan, Little Ricky, Andrew and Jesse all got involved in our conversation too. Eventually, I think I convinced them that the Mayans calendar did stop on a specific date, but they expected to start a new calendar cycle, once that point was reached.

We were nearly finished seeing all of the exhibits when we approached 'Feather Ridge.' This area is designed as a West African River Experience and gave us the opportunity to view a variety of birds, which included Cattle Egrets, Abdim Storks and Violet Turacos, among others. We even climbed up to the second-story platform so the kids could feed the birds. Megan, however, wanted nothing to do with this activity, since she was still upset about the earlier accident, but the others got a thrill out of doing it.

We finished up our day at the Adventure Aquarium by stopping at 'Gill's Clubhouse.' This is an interactive play zone where the kids had a chance to view the inner workings of a shark. This was done via a shark x-ray and then they tested their sense of smell compared to that of a shark, by smelling some infamous odors.

"Some of that stuff is stinky," Lucas told me, once he finished his little experiment. I merely nodded my head in agreement.

The children were also given a chance to build a shark from scratch on one of the virtual games. This turned out to be a very interesting, and humorous activity. I'm not sure even Mother Nature could have imagined some of the weird creatures the kids managed to put together.

While we were there, the kids were also able to get a good look at some Zebra Sharks, which had only recently arrived there. These creatures also go by the name Leopard Sharks, because although they start out with stripes, they end up with spots.

We were all very upbeat as we left the building, so I decided to stop and ask the children what they thought of this stop.

"Did you like the aquarium?" I asked.

"It was great, Papa," Lucas answered first. "I had a lot of fun there."

"Yes, it was fun touching so many different things, but I didn't like it when that bird pooped on my arm," Megan chimed in. "I didn't think I'd want to reach in and touch all the other animals after that happened, but I'm glad I did."

"Me too," Kylie added. "I wasn't scared the sharks were gonna bite me, so I had fun too."

Overall, I'd say these comments vindicated my decision to bring them here. Heck, everyone else had favorable comments about their time there as well, even the adults.

Since our visit took us past midday, we stopped for a late lunch and then hopped on I-75, as we headed toward our next destination. We arrived there in the late afternoon and decided to spend some time at the motel pool first, before going out to dinner.

The young ones had a great time in the water and seemed as much at home there, as the creatures we had seen at the aquarium. They even interacted with the handful of other children that were there, as they splashed and batted around the beach ball one of the other kids had brought with him.

As the minutes flew past, I finally urged them to get out of the pool and dry off, so we could go back to our rooms and change. Once everyone was properly attired, we went out for a quick bite to eat, before we took in a movie. We ended up splitting between two different theaters, as the younger children and their parents went one way, while Jake and I followed the older boys to a different location. We felt there should be some adults with each group, since none of the boys were extremely large or overly intimidating, and I wasn't certain if I was willing to classify Robert as an adult, after watching him with the others.

Once the movies ended, we returned to our rooms and turned in for the night. It had been a long day, although an extremely satisfying one, and we all slept very well.

The following day was intended to merely be a fun day for the kids, because we were spending it at Hershey Park. I had brought the family here several years back, but since it had been so long ago and they were all older now, I felt they'd enjoy going there again.

When we got to the park, there was some discussion about how we were going to split up, but this got settled very quickly. The older boys were more than ready to try out the wide selection of rides, so Robert volunteered to go with them. Then Michael and Adrian decided they wanted to spend some time with their sons, so they went with them as well. Before they left, however, the rest of us could tell that Tim and Jake wanted to be part of that group as well, but were reluctant to suggest it. After watching them squirm for a few minutes, we told them to go ahead and have a good time. This left the ladies, Dion, Trey and me to take the younger ones on the kiddie rides.

I thought Megan might want to go with the older group, since she was nearly ten, but she decided she'd rather stay with Kylie and spend time with her. Therefore, we set out with our little group and got ready to enjoy the thrills the park could provide them.

The little ones were having a blast moving from one ride to another, and there even were a few rides that we, as adults, could go on with them. Not only that, but there was a wide array of possibilities, from the water variety that went around in circles to rides that scrambled your insides and others that lifted you up into the air. During this process, the kids were also able to sit in or on a variety of animal shapes, trucks, balloons, helicopters and a pirate ship.

Just after midday, I called the other groups and told them where to meet us for lunch. I thought we should chow down together, so we could discuss how the morning had gone, before we split up again. Everything was pretty much as I'd imagined, until it was time to form our groups again. This time, the fathers decided their wives should go and spend time with their sons and Jake encouraged me to go with them too. He also tried to get Dion and Trey to go with the older group as well, but they wanted to stay with Joshie, so Jake quit trying to get them to change their minds. I'm not certain if Jake and the other guys were doing this for our benefit or because the boys had taken them on so many rides that they'd had their fill of having 'fun' in half the time.

The afternoon went about the same as the morning, except I was being dragged on rides that were more aggressive and exacted a greater toll than the ones I had ridden in the morning. These rides actually did the same things that the kiddie rides had done, but to a far greater degree, much to my discomfort. My sons, grandsons, daughters and daughter-in-law were having fun watching me suffer; as I endured what these contraptions were doing to my body. No matter how bad it got, I was determined I wasn't going to sit this out. It was providing me with the opportunity to see my grandsons as the young men they have grown into, instead of the little boys I remembered from the past. In fact, the two of them joined me on many rides and, at one point, even made an admission.

"Papa, Nicky and I want to thank you for what you've done for us," Jordan began.

"This vacation was mostly your parents' idea, not just mine," I replied. "You should make sure you thank them too."

"No, it's not just about the things we've done with everyone," Nicky corrected, "but that's been great too."

"Then what are you talking about?" I asked, puzzled.

"We're thanking you for noticing that we've grown up and for letting Jesse and Andrew show us the stuff we wanted to know," Jordan explained.

"Ah, the sexual experimentation," I acknowledged, in a very hushed tone.

"Yes, it's been great and Jordan and I have learned a lot," Nicky added. "That's why we wanted to thank you. Jesse and Andrew said they wouldn't have done anything with us, unless you said it was okay." I merely smiled in response.

"At first we thought it was kind of gross that you'd know what we were doing," Jordan admitted, "but then Jesse and Andrew explained that you were just trying to protect us. They said they tell you almost everything they do and you don't get mad at them or make a big deal about it, but you do help them figure out what types of things would be all right for them to do. Since we began to understand this is one way you help them, we figured we should let you help us too. We were kind of uncomfortable about it at first, but now that we see you don't think of us as babies any longer, we decided Jesse and Andrew might be right and we should trust you too."

"I'm glad you came to that conclusion, but I also must admit there were still some times I think of you boys as being younger. I don't feel that way any longer," I confessed, "and after watching you closely, there's no doubt you have each grown into very intelligent and handsome young men. That's why the memories I have of the little boys who used to spend so much time with us are just that, wonderful memories." This time, they both smiled.

"Do you think we could spend even more time with you guys, when our parents aren't there too?" Nicky asked. I could see the anticipation etched upon his face.

"I would have no problems with that," I confirmed, "but the final decision would belong to your parents."

"What if we talk them into letting us spend another week with you, after they go back home?" Nicky asked, hopefully.

"I wouldn't have a problem with that, but I'm not sure your parents would be willing to say yes on such short notice," I replied. Nicky looked crestfallen, but Jordan seemed undeterred.

"Let us worry about getting our parents to agree," he offered. "We'll talk to them about this and you won't have to say a thing, except to tell them it's alright with you."

"That would be good, because I'd rather not get caught in the middle of this, especially if your folks aren't keen about your proposal," I clarified.

"And if they won't let us stay now, what about at Christmas?" Nicky suggested. "We're all coming to your house this year, so maybe we could stay longer and go home after New Year's."

"Again, you'll have to talk to your parents about this," I offered. "I would have no problems with you staying with us, but I hope you aren't just doing this to have sex."

"No!" Jordan shouted. "We've really had a good time with Jesse and Andrew, but we also want to spend more time with the rest of you too. Please, Papa. It's not just about the other stuff we've been doing."

Jordan seemed to be sincere, so I took him at face value and agreed I'd let their parents know this would be fine with me, as long as it also met their approval. The boys seemed satisfied with my response and each one hugged me, after we finished our little talk.

After going on another ride with my grandsons, I went on a few others with my sons, daughters and daughter-in-law. This gave me a chance to bond with them as well, since I don't get to see the girls and Robert often enough to keep totally in touch with what's going on in their lives. Sometimes there are things they will only talk to me about in private, such as when we are on a ride alone, so this was working out well. By the time we rejoined the others, I think we all felt we understood each other much better.

By the end of the day, we were all getting tired and felt we had been on more than enough rides. Once we left the park, we still had to drive to the motel, which was some distance from the park. That was because I had previously selected where we would stay tonight based on our last destination. Tomorrow would be the final day of our vacation and then we'd be returning home, so I wanted to make sure we were able to enjoy the final 24-hours of our trip.

After stopping to eat, we made the final push to the motel and turned in almost immediately. It had been a long and tiring day, so we were all more than ready to grab a few winks, as we prepared for tomorrow.

After downing a quick breakfast, we hopped in the vehicles again. Our last stop was to be another location my grandsons' parents had suggested and a place I had not visited since their parents were teens. We were going to the Gettysburg National Military Park. As we pulled up in front of the Museum and Visitor Center, the boys figured out where we were.

"This is where they fought that big battle in the Civil War, isn't it?" Nicky stated.

"Yes, this is Gettysburg," Jordan added. "I learned about it in school, but I also saw a re-creation of the battle on that television program."

"You are both correct," I agreed. "A huge battle took place here from July 1 to July 3, 1863."

"Wow, I didn't realize it happened so close to the Fourth of July!" Nicky explained, as he put the pieces together.

"Yes, just thirteen years shy of the nation's centennial birthday celebration," I agreed.

"Papa, why was this battle so important?" Megan wanted to know.

"For several reasons," I began. "First of all, the south had been winning most of the battles before this and it looked as if they might even win the war. Second, most of the fighting had taken place in the southern states, so the south decided if they fought some battles on northern soil it might turn the north's attitudes against the war and then they'd pressure Lincoln to end the fighting. Third, by eventually winning this battle, the North proved it was capable of also winning the war, which silenced many of the war critics. Finally, President Lincoln's speech, which he gave when dedicating the battlefield cemetery four months after the fighting ended, helped to immortalize this particular battle."

"That speech started out funny," Nicky said. "It didn't make any sense."

"It does if you look at it closely," I replied. "It begins, 'Four score and seven years ago, our Fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation…'"

"But that doesn't make any sense," Nicky insisted.

"Let me explain," I offered. "A score is a term that isn't used much any longer, but it was a way to indicate a period of twenty year. Therefore, four score and seven years ago is a poetic way of saying eighty-seven years ago. Do you remember that I said the battle took place thirteen years before the centennial?" The kids nodded.

"Well, a centennial is one hundred years and thirteen years short of that would be eight-seven years or four score and seven," I continued. Suddenly, I could see the light bulbs turning on in their heads.

"Oh, I get it now," Nicky beamed.

"So he was just saying eighty-seven years ago the nation started, but he was using fancy words to do it," Jordan added.

"Yes, I guess that's one way to put it," I confirmed. "The victory here helped shift the momentum of the war in favor of the North and was an important link in keeping the country together, rather than splitting it in half. That's what President Lincoln was saying in his speech and what we celebrate at this special place."

"Why didn't our teachers explain it like this?" Nicky wondered. "It makes more sense now."

"I'm not sure if I can answer for your teachers, but I'm glad you understand it now," I answered.

I felt the kids were now prepared to see the sights. We started at the Museum, where we saw many artifacts from the Civil War era. During our time there, we were able to observe how the soldiers lived and the types of tents they would have used when camping out. We also saw examples of the clothes they wore and the various items they might have used in their daily lives. This included various games they might have played, an assortment of items required for drinking or smoking, and letters the soldiers had written home to their families. There were also many photographs of people who had lived during this period of history and examples of the musical instruments they might have used to entertain themselves and their comrades, when they weren't fighting or marching.

The museum also had a special auditorium that featured the Gettysburg Cyclorama. This is a large painting that depicts one decisive skirmish that took place at Gettysburg – Pickett's Charge. What makes it unique is that it has been enhanced with landscaping materials and life-sized figures, to give it a 3-D feeling. The background was painted in the late 1800s and has been restored several times over the years, but this display is also enhanced with sound and light-effects, which seems to bring the battle back to life.

As we walked outside to begin our tour, we noticed there were a large number of people roaming about, dressed in Civil War era costumes. When I inquired about this, I discovered they had arrived to participate in a battle reenactment, which was going to be held over the weekend. These were the first of the 'troops' to arrive, so they could help to get ready for the others.

"Papa, is that how the people would have dressed and looked during the war?" Megan asked, after seeing several of these individuals wander by.

"Yes, Megan, they are dressed in costumes appropriate for that period," I answered.

"But not all of the soldiers' uniforms look the same and some of them aren't even wearing uniforms," Jordan observed.

"That's very true," I confirmed. "Many of the soldiers had to supply their own uniforms and some couldn't afford to purchase them. Those that couldn't, would either have a family member make a uniform for them or not wear one at all. Instead, they would merely put on an appropriately colored jacket or a hat that would indicate which side they were fighting for." That information seemed to suffice, so we loaded into our vehicles and set out to see the other areas.

From here, we toured many of the different battlefields and got to see where the actual fighting took place. We also got to see the plethora of memorials scattered throughout the park, which included the Eternal Light Peace Memorial that was dedicated by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1938. We also got to see all of the various state memorials, which are dedicated to the troops that had fought from those particular states. This includes the large Pennsylvania Memorial and the Virginia Memorial, which is a statue of General Robert E. Lee sitting astride his horse. Once we had seen what we wanted to, we finished up at the National Cemetery, which put a very sobering end to our visit.

After leaving the battlefield, we grabbed a quick bite to eat and then went to see the David Wills House. It's located in downtown Gettysburg and is merely a huge, three-story brick residence from that era. Wills was a local attorney and had invited President Lincoln to stay in one of the second-floor bedrooms in his house. This happened when the President came to dedicate the National Cemetery and give his now famous address. The house has since been turned into a museum and is furnished to replicate what it would have been like at the time of the battle.

After finishing up our tour there, we took everyone out to play miniature golf. We had to help the younger ones and explain to them what they were supposed to do. After they insisted on doing it themselves, we were mildly amazed when they managed to make a few unusual and unorthodox shots. All in all, we had fun doing this and it was our last activity before making the long trip back home.

Kevin and Vinnie greeted us when we returned home. They hadn't gone with us, because Kevin had to work and Vinnie didn't want to go without him. When Danny and Brandon arrived home later, we also did the same for them, because they also had to work. I was sorry they hadn't been able to join us, but we filled them in about what we had done and then spent the remainder of Friday resting up.

Saturday, however, was a different story. Some of my other children were also planning to be here, because their older siblings were going to be here until Sunday with their families. Since it isn't often that all of the older siblings and their families are here at the same time, the boys (well young men actually) felt they should take advantage of this rare event. Dustin and Cole were the first to arrive with their girlfriends, Katie and Beth, because they lived locally. I was busy chatting with them when a few more people walked into the room. I glanced over to see who it was and was shocked to see Pat, Duck and Jennifer walking toward me.

"I didn't expect to see you again so soon," I told them, "especially since you were all here for the Fourth."

"Hey, I'm only in Pittsburgh and it isn't that far away," Pat replied. "Besides, I heard there was going to be some sort of a party here."

"You did?" I asked, somewhat surprised by this news.

"Yes. Frankie called and said he was going to be here to see Michael, Marie and Elizabeth and their families." Pat stated, followed by a momentary pause. "Oh yeah, and Robert too," he added, while giving Robert a devilish smirk. I think I noticed Robert giving him the finger in return.

"Frankie also said you were going to celebrate his birthday while he was here," Pat explained, "so I thought if everyone else was going to be here, I was too. After I made up my mind to come, I called Duck, to see if he wanted to join me. He did, so I swung by and picked him and Jennifer up on the way here."

I guess that answered my question and made sense, in a strange sort of way, so I didn't continue to question my good fortune further. Instead, I was going to enjoy having as many family members back as I could.

Ricky arrived a short time later. He'd driven here from Philadelphia, but had stopped in York to pick up Sammy, Graham and Frankie on his way home. Frankie had also driven to York, so he could meet up with his brothers and ride the rest of the way with them. After they greeted everyone and had spent a few minutes settling in, they began asking us about the vacation we had just taken.

"Did everyone have a good time?" Ricky asked.

He had seen us near the beginning of our trip, when we stopped to see Carlos and his mother, so he had a fair idea about what we had planned to do.

"Yes, I'd say we all enjoyed ourselves," Marie answered for the others.

"Was this one of Dad's stroll through history tours?" Frankie teased.

I knew he did this because he remembered I liked our vacations to have educational, as well as entertainment, value.

"Yep. We got to see some of the places Papa had been to when he was in the army," Nicky joked.

Once he finished, he looked at me and burst out laughing.

"Hey! How old do you think I am?" I asked.

I was trying very hard to appear as if my feelings had been hurt, but I knew he wasn't buying it.

"Let's see. Methuselah lived nine-hundred years," Robert replied, "and I think you're gaining ground on him."

Immediately, I flashed a shocked reaction after hearing that comment, and the rest of the family began to chuckle. They only stopped when Jordan spoke up.

"I figure if he was at Valley Forge and then fought at Gettysburg, he must be at least two hundred and fifty years old," he added.

Although I was glad to see that he had adequate math skills, I was taking a beating here.

"Okay, that's it!" I stated, while trying to pretend I was pouting. "I'm not taking any of you on vacation with me ever again."

"Papa, don't be mad," Meagan told me, soothingly.

Looking at her concerned face, I figured I had at least one person on my side.

"You should be proud that you are the world's oldest man," she added.

Since she caught me completely off-guard, this caused everyone in the room to burst into laughter.

"You're all disinherited!" I shouted, over the din. "I can see that I'm no longer loved around here."

At this point, Jake wrapped his arms around my chest and gave me a big squeeze. I also felt some contact on my leg, so I glanced down and noticed Joshie was hugging me too.

"Okay, Jake and Joshie are back in, but the rest of you are still out," I corrected.

"Great, because I really have a thing for old men," Jake quipped.

After doing this, he slyly peered around the room to see how the others were reacting. Knowing he had set me up too, I half-heartedly began to push him away.

Once the teasing stopped, those who had gone on this vacation began to tell the others about the things we had done. The little ones were even adding some cute and comical views about the things that had happened, when I suddenly got another surprise. The door burst open again and in walked Shannon and Nick.

I was totally stunned by their appearance, since theirs was more than just a little trip. I had no idea they were flying in to see everyone as well, and I didn't think Jake knew about it either. If he did, he certainly hadn't bothered to mention it. I wasn't about to complain though, because it was nice to see them again.

As I was chatting with Nick and Shannon, the extended family began to show up too. Although they were more than welcomed to join us, I wasn't expecting them either. As I looked quizzically in their direction, Jake whispered in my ear.

"I mentioned to them that we were going to celebrate Frankie's birthday and they all wanted to come," he explained. "They thought they'd take advantage of Frankie being here, since most of them hadn't seen him in quite a while."

Yes, I could understand that. They had been asking about Frankie when they were here for the Fourth, so it makes sense that they would want to come and see him too. Therefore, I greeted Steve, Mary, Sally, Susan and Alice, although they hadn't all arrived together. Once I had done this, I noticed each of them going over to chat with Frankie, although not all at the same time.

I had just started to speak with Jake about firing up the grills and getting the boys to help us take things outside, when our front door opened again. I nearly fell over in shock when I saw Mark, Amy and Jay walk in.

"Okay, what's really going on here?" I demanded. "I know we're a close family and you haven't seen Frankie for awhile, but I had no idea that all of you were planning to be here today."

"Is it a problem?" Mark asked.

Mark's reaction made me feel badly that I had worded my comment so poorly.

"No, it's not a problem at all," Jake answered, bailing me out. "We have more than enough food and are happy to see all of you."

"Thank you for straightening that out for me," I stated, slightly embarrassed. "I didn't mean for it to come out the way it did. Mark, I'm thrilled to see you and Amy again, and Jay too, for that matter. I didn't know you were going to be here, but I'm certainly glad you are."

"You mean you didn't think I'd want to be here to celebrate with my dad?" he asked. "It's obvious the whole neighborhood knows about what's going on here, so why wouldn't you think I'd come too."

"What are you talking about?" I wanted to know.

At that moment, Jake and Mark began whispering to each other. This continued for a short time and then Mark turned to speak with me again.

"Okay, let me show you," he stated, "but you'll have to keep your eyes closed until I tell you to open them."

This only added to my confusion and made me even more curious about what was going on. Reluctantly, I agreed, even though I thought this was becoming really bizarre. Hesitantly, I allowed Mark to guide me out the door and down the sidewalk. I was wondering how far we were going to go, when he instructed me to stop and turn around, but not to open my eyes yet. I did as I was told and waited for his next instruction.

"Okay, you can open your eyes now," he stated.

As my eyelids began to lift, I noticed all of the others had come outside with us too. Then I looked up and saw what was going on. On the porch hung a huge banner that read, 'Happy 60th Birthday Dad/Josh.' The porch was also decorated in black crepe paper and black balloons were tied to the posts supporting the porch roof. Then I noticed there were a few more black balloons tied to the handle of the screen door, leading into the house.

At that moment, everyone began to shout Happy Birthday and I realized I'd been had. The thought that they might try to surprise me with a party hadn't crossed my mind, even though my birthday was coming up on Tuesday.

"We knew by making you think this party was for me," Frankie began, "you wouldn't suspect the actual purpose for it. That's why I suggested we wait and celebrate my birthday today, instead of when it actually was."

"And you were all in on this?" I asked, while looking around at the others.

Everyone was either nodding his head or giving me an affirmative response, so obviously they were. I had no idea this was going to happen and hadn't planned on seeing my entire family, including the extended family, today. Don't get me wrong. I was thrilled that we were all together again and that alone was the greatest birthday present they could have given me.

"Dad, Carlos told me to wish you a Happy Birthday for him too," Ricky informed me. "He wanted to come with us, but he couldn't get anyone to cover for him at work. He said he felt badly about not being able to make it, but at least you two got to see each other when you were on vacation."

"Yes, and tell him not to worry about not making it," I told Ricky. "Tell him I understand and we'll get together another time." Ricky nodded in acknowledgement.

"The only thing I want to know now is," I said, looking from face to face, "is when did you do all of this?"

As I asked this question, I pointed toward the banner and morbid decorations.

"The boys did it while Dustin, Cole and their girlfriends kept you busy chatting in the family room," Jake replied. "The planning, however, took weeks."

I guess that answered my question, so we spent the rest of our time chatting and just having a good time. I was kept busy as everyone came over for a private conversation and a chance to offer his or her congratulations and well wishes. I think I also received a year's supply of hugs and kisses. What more could a guy ask for than to be surrounded by his loved ones?

Since I had been so busy chatting with everyone, I hadn't noticed that Jake had slipped away. I learned a short time later that he had gone to work the grills, ably assisted by Danny, Brandon, Kevin, Dion and Trey. They had taken it upon themselves to organize this shindig and feed everyone, which only made me love and appreciate them even more.

When there was a brief break in the line of people coming over to speak with me, I thought I'd sneak into the house for a few minutes. I needed to go to the toilet, but I also thought I'd also slip out the back door and see how Jake and the boys were doing with the food preparations. I was just coming out of the bathroom when Jordan and Nicky approached me and wanted to talk.

"Papa, I hope you're not mad at us for teasing you about your age," Jordan began. "We just thought it would be a good way to keep you from figuring out what we were up to."

"No, I don't get mad about things like that," I assured him. "I only pretend I do – and then I get even for it later."

After saying this, I let out an evil laugh.

"Aw, come on," Jordan whined. "We weren't being mean, just sneaky."

"Okay, I won't get even then – this time," I told him.

"Good, because we were worried that we had taken it too far," Nicky added.

"No, I actually think it was perfect," I confirmed. "It's just too bad that my comrades from Valley Forge and Gettysburg aren't still around to join us."

The two boys looked up at me, with huge grins on their faces, and then they embraced me in a group hug. I am very fortunate to have such wonderful grandsons.

My discussion with Jordan and Nicky had made me forget about checking on how Jake and the others were doing with the food, so I merely walked back outside with my grandsons. Shortly after we got outdoors, I heard Jake bellow that it was time to eat and everyone began moving toward the picnic tables. As the others were lining up at the end of the serving table to get their food, I was ushered over to the head of one of the picnic tables and ordered to sit down. Surprised, I took my seat and watched as Danny carried over a plate of food for me.

"I'm serving the birthday boy," he announced, as he sat the plate in front of me. "I think I know what you like, but just yell if you need anything else."

"It's been a long time since I've been called a boy, but thank you for the compliment," I told him. "I was beginning to feel as if everyone thought I was as old as God." Danny smiled and shook his head.

"Even if you were, we'd love you just the same," he answered. I don't think he could have come up with a better response than that.

After we finished eating, we sat around for about an hour, before the cakes and ice cream was paraded out. There were actually three cakes – one for Frankie, another for me and a third for Kylie, whose birthday was the day after mine. She was turning six this year.

After singing a separate chorus of Happy Birthday to each of us, and having eaten our share of the cake and ice cream, the three of us celebrating a birthday were given presents to open. Each had been chosen with great care and showed how much we were loved.

After the last of the packages had been unwrapped, I was told that my cooperation was required, so pictures could be taken. I hadn't noticed anyone else arriving, but a photographer had joined us and now I was being put in the center of a multitude of snapshots.

The first was a photo of everyone who was there at the time. I hope the guy was using a panoramic lens, because this was one huge mass of humanity. After he snapped a couple of pictures of that group, the extended family moved away, so snapshots could me taken of my children and grandchildren with me. Duck, Jay and Mark were all in these shots too, since they are part of my family as well.

Following those shots, I had more intimate pictures taken with each of my older children and their families, and then one of all of them with me. After that, I was surrounded by all of the boys who had become my family, after my biological children had left home. Following that, pictures were taken of each of my children with me alone, plus another with them and their partners with me, and a final one with all of my grandchildren with me.

Once the family photos had been taken, the photographer took one of me with the extended family, followed by separate shots of me with each of them alone. It seemed as if it took forever to take all of these photographs, but I knew I would cherish the memories they would provide, when I viewed them throughout the years ahead.

After ordering the appropriate number of copies of each photo from the photographer, so everyone in the picture could have his own copy, I thanked him and he told me he'd try to have everything ready by the following weekend. I could hardly wait to see how they turned out.

Since many of those who had made the long trip to join us were semi-exhausted, we didn't do a whole lot more. The kids went off to play games and some of the older ones decided to take a dip in the pool, as the rest of us sat and talked about a variety of topics. Throughout the evening, we enjoyed each other's company and reveled in the closeness of being together as a family again.

It was also during this period that Michael and Marie came over to speak with me. At first, I was a little concerned when they asked if they could discuss something with me in private, but it seemed they merely wanted me to clarify a conversation they'd had with their sons.

"Dad, Nicky and Jordan are pestering us to let them stay here with you after we leave," Marie began. "They said you told them it would be all right."

"What I told them, when they confronted me about this, was that it was something they needed to speak to their parents about," I corrected. "However, since they pressed to see if it would be okay with me, I told them if you were willing to let them spend more time here, then I would be happy to have them."

"I had a feeling we weren't getting the accurate version," Michael countered. "However, I wouldn't mind letting Jordan spend another week here, if you don't mind. I know Nicky and he have grown very close to Jesse and Andrew while we've been together, so it might be good for them to spend a little more time with each other."

"I'd noticed their connection too," I confirmed, although I didn't elaborate.

"I really don't object to Nicky staying longer either, since he doesn't start school for a couple more weeks," Marie offered. "It's just that I don't want him flying home by himself."

"I'll tell you what," I began. "Since Dion and Trey will be home with Joshie, I'll drive Jordan and Nicky to Michael's and then fly to your place with Nicky. I'll spend a couple of days with you and then fly back and stay with Michael for a couple of days, if that meets with your approval."

"It does and Adrian and I would love to have you," Marie replied.

"Andrea and I would love that too, Dad," Michael added, "so I guess the boys can stay a little longer, if they wish."

"This will be hard on Kylie, since she'll be alone while Nicky's with you," Marie added.

"Then why don't you let her stay with us," Michael offered. "She and Megan will enjoy spending some more time together as well. They have gotten along really well during this trip and then Dad can accompany both kids, as they fly back home."

"Is that okay with you, Dad?" Marie asked, in order to get my approval.

"It is fine with me," I answered, "and I'm certain all four kids will be thrilled about it too."

It now appeared that this was a done deal, but before we told my grandchildren about what we'd agreed to, I went to speak with Elizabeth and Tim next.

"I just finished speaking with Michael and Marie, and they're going to let Jordan and Nicky spend another week here before they go home," I advised them. "Michael is also going to have Kylie stay with Megan and them, and then next weekend I'll drive Jordan and Nicky to his place. From there, I fly with Nicky and Kylie back to their parents, but I feel as if someone is being left out. Would you two be willing to consider allowing Lucas to stay here for another week, so he and Joshie can spend more time together too? I can drop him off at your place before taking the others back to their parents."

Elizabeth and Tim talked this over quickly and then gave me their answer.

"That will be fine, Dad, if you think you're up to it," Elizabeth agreed. "I know Lucas really enjoyed being with Joshie and they were a riot together, on the nights they stayed with us. I think it will be good for both of them to have more time with each other."

"Great! I'm sure Dion and Trey will spend as much time as I will with Lucas, but I know the two little ones will be overjoyed about having another week together."

Now that each of the families had agreed, I went to tell my grandchildren the good news. I started with Jordan and Nicky.

"Your parents have agreed to let you spend another week here," I began.

Hearing this news caused both boys to shout their approval and then they started to race off, so they could tell Jesse and Andrew. However, before they got very far, I stopped them.

"Hold on for a second," I chided.

Hearing this, they both came to a screeching halt and walked back to where I was standing.

"I just wanted to explain a few things first," I continued. "Lucas will also be staying here with Joshie and Kylie will be spending the week with Megan."

The two boys looked surprised at this news, but before they could ask any questions, I continued.

"Next Saturday, I will drive you boys to Jordan's house and we will drop Lucas off along the way. I will then fly with Nicky and Kylie back to their place. I just want you boys to be careful around the younger ones, because I don't want them to see anything they shouldn't. Do you understand?"

Jordan and Nicky nodded that they did and then I let them race off to tell Jesse and Andrew the good news. While they were doing that, I found the four youngest ones and apprised them as to what had been agreed to. They were equally ecstatic that they'd have another week to spend together and thanked me for making it happen. I told them they also needed to thank their parents for agreeing to it as well, so they ran off to do that, before they finished the game they'd been playing.

After that, the rest of us enjoyed a quiet evening together, chatting about a variety of topics. Part of the time was spent recalling wonderful memories from the past, as well as telling stories about some humorous moments from the past, which certain individuals would rather forget. Overall, it was a very enjoyable way to spend the evening.

After the extended family began to leave, some of the others decided to turn in. Some were travel weary from their long trip here, while others were tired from all the physical labor they had done during the day, in order to ensure this little get together went off perfectly. In the end, we all seemed to call it a night fairly early.

The following morning, Jake and I got up before the others, so we could fix some light snacks they could eat before we left for church. I didn't want them to have a big meal, because I was planning to take them out for brunch after the service. Once everyone had some juice and enough food to keep their bellies from rumbling as we sat in the pews, we left the house.

When we got to the church, I was eager to show off my children and grandchildren to our friends and acquaintances. Many in the congregation knew my family, but hadn't seen some of them for quite a while. Therefore, we spent quite a few minutes chatting with them, before we made our way inside.

The minister greeted all of us as we entered too. He spoke briefly with each of the couples he had joined in the commitment ceremony and asked how they were doing. Due to all of this attention, it took us much longer than I would have liked before we took our seats. It also meant the service was late getting started, but only by about fifteen minutes.

I think the minister tried to shorten the service and speed things up a bit, to make up for the late start. I'm sure this made many of the parishioners happy, especially those who had plans for afterward. However, we didn't make it out of there quickly either, since many more of those in attendance came up to speak with us on our way out.

Once we broke away from the last of these people, we went off to have brunch. We had a bit of a wait before they cleared an area large enough to accommodate us, but it was worth the wait. The meal was delicious, the company was great and the experience was enjoyable.

When we arrived home, some of those who had to return home began packing their things and loading up their vehicles. Over the next couple of hours, they said their good-byes and hit the road. We wished them all a safe trip and I asked each of them to call after they got back, just so I knew they had arrived safely. Since I usually requested this, they willingly agreed, but it was still sad to see them leave. However, as the old saying goes, 'all good things must come to an end' and so must this wonderful weekend.

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