The boys convinced their 'dad' to take them to Dairy Queen before going back home. Charles reminded his 'dad' that he could only have soft foods until after this surgery and ice cream was a 'soft' food the last time he looked. That brought on a big chuckle and a tickle attack before the three wound up at the favorite ice cream store for an ice cream cone.
"Why can I only have a cup of ice cream?" sulked Charles.
"Well, 'son', the cone isn't soft food the last time I looked so you'll have to settle for a cup of ice cream without any toppings," explained 'dad' Ken.
"Ohhh, fiddlesticks," complained Charles as he hugged his 'dad'.
After they all got the ice cream they wanted, well almost everyone, the three Covers sat in a corner enjoying their treat. They talked about the elongated race and the fun they all had. Mr. Ken even told the lads about his and Mason's race at the back of the pack and how much fun he had not having to worry about winning. It was then Charles thanked his 'dad' for taking Mason out of second and allowing him to pester his 'brother' for the lead.
"Boys … I want to thank you for the way you handled yourselves while we stood in line, today. And, I want you to know I appreciate your defense of Camm, Charles, and putting the onus back on Asher and Mason to explain why they weren't Camm's friends. You two also made me proud when that woman spoke up about the way you acted. I also want you to know that it wasn't until that lady mentioned you didn't use any foul language that I realized you hadn't and that I haven't even heard you say anything that begins with the letter 'F' or 'B' or any of the other bad words letters. And you also know what? I can't ever remember any of your friends using any foul language around The Cove, either. That my lads, says a lot for the friends you picked," beamed 'dad' Ken as he looked on at his charges.
Charles and Robert smiled big at what their 'dad' just told them and they went around the table and hugged the man for all their worth. They were finished by that time so they disposed of their trash and 'dad' Ken drove them back to The Cove.
"Charles, don't get too far away. I need to talk to you about the prep you need to do prior to your surgery. It's going on four so I want you to meet me in my Study at five. Can you do that for me 'son'?" explained 'dad' Ken.
"Yeah, I can do that. I'll be back here by five, 'dad'," said a subdued Charles who then followed Robert up the stairs to their rooms.
Charles stopped by Robert's room to see if he wanted to talk some but he found his 'brother' on the phone with Eric and he figured they would talk about the miniature golf game and go-kart race. So, Charles went over to his room and pulled out his cell phone and called Camm. When Camm answered they talked for a few minutes but Camm told Charles that James was over at his place and it wasn't right to ignore him. Charles then talked to James for a few minutes and before long they hung up. Charles felt all alone right then.
When five o'clock came and went and Charles hadn't arrived at his Study as promised, 'dad' Ken walked up to Charles' room to see what the lad was into. He found Charles had fallen asleep in his clothes and laying on top of the bed.
"Charles," called 'dad' Ken.
"Charles, it's time to get up. I need to explain what Doc Powers needs you to do to get ready for your surgery in the morning," spoke 'dad' Ken.
"Charles … time to get up sleepy head," again called out Mr. Ken, and that time Charles did open his eyes.
"Charles … you going to wake up, sleepyhead?" teased Mr. Ken.
"Sorry 'dad', I guess I fell asleep. Can I use the bathroom and I'll meet you down in the Study?" sleepily asked Charles.
Mr. Ken agreed to Charles's request and then messed the lad's hair and then walked out of the bedroom. He smiled to himself as he walked down the stairs as he had seen that Charles had a tent formed and he knew the lad didn't want to be teased or embarrassed about it.
It was about ten minutes later that Charles entered the Study and said "Hi' to his dad and then asked what his 'dad' needed to tell him.
"Let's sit in the chairs and talk, 'son'," offered Mr. Ken and the two walked over to the leather chairs and sat down.
"Charles, Doc Powers gave me some medicines for you to take before your surgery. These are designed to clean out your system and allow your body a few days of healing before your internal things begin to expel the waste build- up," explained 'dad' Ken.
Charles just sat there kind of dumbfounded. He understood he had to take some sort of medicine to prepare him for his surgery but he didn't understand what his 'dad' meant about expelling waste so he asked, "'Dad' can you explain that waste part better because I sure don't know what you mean."
'Dad' Ken smiled at Charles and then put in plain words to the boy that the medicine would simply clean out his insides and then it would take his body a few days to build up his poop before he had to use the bathroom again. The man told Charles that during the time his body would be able to heal itself from the surgery and before long Charles would be free from all the pain and reminders of what once was.
Charles asked, "Is that medicine going to make me, ahhh …you know, ahh … make me ahhh … poop a lot and that, and that was why I couldn't eat a lot of food because the medicine couldn't work on big foods like hamburgers and chicken and stuff like that?"
Mr. Ken smiled at the boy's innocence and just told the lad that he had a pretty good handle on what was going to happen. 'Dad' Ken also explained that with nothing left in boy's stomach and intestines it would be a couple of days before he had to go potty again. That brought a few laughs from the lad at the use of the word potty. Mr. Ken told the lad further that with his insides cleaned out the body would get a few days to heal before Charles had to use the bathroom again. 'Dad' Ken also told Charles that was also why the doctor prescribed soft foods so there would be less urge to force the waste out and cause harm to any stitches in his bottom. Charles just sat there, still not too sure of everything that was going to happen.
When he figured the lad was out of questions, 'dad' Ken got up and out of the leather chair and headed over to his desk. He opened a drawer and pulled out a bottle of liquid. He called Charles over and told the lad they would have to fix a two liter bottle of that with water. Mr. Ken then told the boy he would have to drink the entire contents within a half hour. Charles's eyes got big thinking a two liter bottle was way too much for him to drink but his 'dad' reminded him he'd drank two 16 ounce bottles, one after the other, and that would be just as easy. Little did Charles realize was that he would have to drink four 16 ounce bottles full of the medicine but 'dad' Ken didn't want to upset the boy so he just let it slide for now.
The man and boy went to the kitchen and found some empty jugs that Momma Maria kept around 'just in case' she ever needed them. They decided on one jug that looked like the size they needed and filled it half full of water before pouring in the liquid medicine. After the medicine was in the jug they finished filling the jug up with water.
"Okay, now Charles, Doc Powers wants you to drink as much of this liquid as possible the first time around. The more you can drink the first time the less you will have to drink later. I've put some lemon Kool-Aid in there to make the drink taste good. You ready?" asked the boy's foster dad.
"Yeah, I … I guess. I have to drink … this whole jug?" gulped Charles.
"I'm afraid so, 'son'," began Mr. Ken. "Remember … drink down as much as you can the first time around. Then you'll need to drink at least a glass full about every ten minutes until it is all gone. You can drink more than a glass at a time, if you want, but let's see how much you can get down the first time."
Charles took the jug and filled up two empty 16 ounce soda bottles he had rinsed out. He looked at his 'dad' and then at the bottles of medicine and then he swallowed hard knowing he had to drink all that stuff. Reluctantly, Charles took the first soda bottle and began drinking it down, fast. When he finished the first bottle, he took the second and quickly began drinking it down, as well. Mr. Ken took the first soda bottle and refilled it in the hopes Charles would be able to drink a bit more. When Charles finished the second bottle of medicine he told his 'dad', he didn't want to see another bottle of that' 'stuff' for at least ten minutes and went and sat down.
Mr. Ken sat down with his 'son' and they talked a bit more about what the lad should expect the next morning. The man told Charles that they had to be at the hospital by six the next morning and Doc Powers would meet them there. He told the boy they would take care of any last paperwork and then they'd get him into a hospital gown and onto a gurney. Mr. Ken then told the lad Doctor Powers would explain the procedure to him and let him ask any questions. Charles asked how long he would have to stay in the hospital and Mr. Ken told the pre-teen that one night was for sure and a second night might be indicated if there are any complications during or after the procedure. Charles said he guessed he'd have to wait and see and smiled at his foster dad.
When ten minutes was up, Charles took the soda bottle and took a big drink and emptied more than half of it. When he finished drinking he didn't look too well to Mr. Ken but the doctor wanted him to drink as much as he could before the medicine began its job.
At the end of thirty minutes, Charles started on his fourth and last bottle. His stomach felt over full to him and he didn't know if he could drink any more of that lemon flavored 'stuff'. He and his 'dad' talked more about what would happen after the procedure but Mr. Ken could tell the boy wasn't really focused on it as much as he did the last bottle of fluid. The twelve year old would take sips of the remaining medicine as he sat there in the kitchen.
It hadn't been quite an hour since the lad began drinking the 'stuff', as he called it, when he felt his stomach lurch and a strong need to evacuate his bowels hit him. He felt the urgency of his situation and he got up and ran to the nearest bathroom. It turned out to be the smartest thing for him to do as no sooner had he dropped his shorts and briefs and sat down on the toilet that his bowels released itself in a blast that splashed water up and all over his bottom side.
"Yuk," 'dad' Ken heard from the other side of the door. "That's disgusting."
A few moments later, Charles' bowels let loose another liquid blast that hit the previous deposit and again he felt something splash up to his butt. "Ohh geeze this stinks," Mr. Ken heard through the door and began to laugh at what the boy was experiencing.
"Charles, flush the toilet," yelled Mr. Ken through the closed door. "It will help take the smell away. Then wipe your butt as best you can and then flush that away."
"Why didn't you tell me that this would happen, 'dad'!" loudly spoke Charles. "If I'd known this would happen I'd never had let you make me drink that 'stuff'. Ohhh, ohh geeze here comes some more. Will it ever stop?"
Mr. Ken couldn't help himself from laughing as the plight of his third foster child. He knew he was being a bad parent by laughing but he could almost see the boy's face as he evacuated his bowels in a most ungodly fashion.
"Charles … the medicine is designed to flush your system. I told you it would clean you out and I thought you understood," chuckled Mr. Ken.
"Yeah, you told me it would clean me out … but you never told me it would be like this," yelled Charles. "I think my stomach is also trying to come out my butt," now laughed the pre-teen.
"Charles when you no longer have any cramps, clean yourself up as best you can and flush the toilet. Make sure you turn the exhaust fan on before you come out," advised The Cove's owner.
"Ohh, yuk!" Mr. Ken heard through the door and then the toilet flushing. He heard the water in the sink running so he figured the boy was finished with his first bout of cramps from the medicine.
Charles turned the exhaust fan on as he opened the bathroom door. As he saw his 'dad' he frowned at the man and said, "Thanks that was so much fun!" The two had a big laugh over it.
"'Dad', I hope I never have to do something like that ever again," offered Charles.
"Well, Charles, you still need to finish the last of your drink," teased the lad's foster dad.
"DO I have to?" whined the pre-teen.
"I'm afraid so, but before you finish it why don't you go up and take a quick shower and put on some fresh briefs. Don't bother with new shorts yet," suggested 'dad' Ken.
Charles liked that idea so he quickly hugged his 'dad' and headed up the stairs. He passed his 'brother' along the way and they bumped fists in passing.
"Dang … what's that smell?" asked Robert as he sniffed the air.
"That, my 'son', was your 'brother' who stunk up the air around here. He had to take some medicine that would clean him out and I think it did its job but as you can smell the result is not a bed of roses," laughed Mr. Ken.
"You got that right, 'dad'!" chimed in Robert. "Is he going to be OK?"
"Yeah, he still needs to drink the last of the medicine and then I am sure he will be completely cleaned out, for sure," again laughed 'dad' Ken.
"Why are you laughing at him, 'dad'?" asked Robert.
"Well, you had to be there but with your 'brother's' surgery tomorrow morning Doc Powers wanted his insides cleaned out so his butt would have extra time to heal before his system begins to work again. He drank the medicine and it is designed to flush out your intestines and they sure did the trick on Charles. When it kicked in he ran to the hall bath and began to empty his innards and what he had to say was just funny. It took about fifteen minutes for his stomach to settle down and when he came out just now I sent him up to take a shower. I am sure he'll fill you in on his experience, later," explained 'dad' Ken.
"Robert … what do you have planned for tomorrow while we are at the hospital, if I may ask?" asked Mr. Ken.
"Well, you said I had to wait until around noon to call you to find out how Charles was doing so I figured I could use the ramps with no one there to bother me, or I could call and talk to Eric. I just haven't decided what to do. What time are you and Charles going to the hospital?" replied Robert.
"Doc powers wants to meet Charles and me about 6 AM, so we'll probably leave here around 5:30 or so. Why do you ask?" answered Mr. Ken.
"Just curious. If you're leaving that early I can have my girlfriend come over and be gone before Mr. Chris shows," giggled Robert.
The teen's smart aleck response got him into a tickle attack from his foster dad who wrestled the teenager to the floor and began to UN-mercifully tickle the boy to no end. "So, you're going to bring your girlfriend over are you? When are you going to introduce me to her so I can tell her how bad a liar you are?" teased 'dad' Ken, as he tickled the teen.
"I give, I give!" yelled Robert.
Mr. Ken let up on the lad and the two of them hugged. It was then Robert said, "I think I'll get up before you leave and wish my 'brother' good luck with his surgery. Then I'll probably go back to bed and get up about 9:30 and have breakfast. Since none of the guys can come over until after I talk to you about noon, I might go out and use the ramps since there won't be any competition on them. I guess when I talk to you we'll determine what I'll do then."
"Sounds like a good plan, Robert. It's too bad school isn't in, you could have done your homework," teased Mr. Ken.
"Thanks, 'dad', I love you too!" smiled Robert, as he gave the man another hug.
The man and teen went into the Study and discussed Charles's surgery so Robert would have a general idea of what was to happen. Mr. Ken then discussed with Robert that he wanted the teen to watch over his 'brother' so he didn't over extend himself. He also asked Robert to help Charles with getting cleaned up if necessary and to be there for him if he gets to feeling a bit low. He told Robert he wouldn't mind Charles' friends coming in to talk to him but he figured Charles would be outside watching what everyone was doing. The man just asked the teenager to run interference if necessary. Robert understood what his 'dad' was asking of him and agreed he'd do what he thought was necessary.
About fifteen minutes after going up for a shower, Charles came down and entered the Study. "Dang, 'dad', I no sooner got under the shower when my stomach began to cramp and I had to run to the toilet. I must have sat there an hour," teased Charles, "and pooped out my insides … again!"
"Did everything come out okay, then?" Mr. Ken asked with a smirk.
"Yep, it did. I didn't flush the toilet so you could take a picture," joked Charles, which got him a short tickle attack.
Robert was still in the Study when Charles entered and upon seeing his 'brother', Robert smiled and asked, "Sheesh, Charles, what did you eat that made the downstairs stink so bad after you used the bathroom? Phew, Charles did it ever stink down here."
Charles heard the tease in Robert's voice so he replied, "So you like that bouquet, do you? I could always stop by your bedroom and leave a few whiffs of my essence there for you to continue to enjoy." Hearing that made Mr. Ken to burst out laughing.
Robert was about to give his 'brother' a comeback but 'dad' Ken said it was enough. Then he asked Charles if he was ready to finish his drink. The pre-teen wasn't too enthusiastic about doing that but said he'd do it if he was asked nicely. Needless to say Mr. Ken got up and tickled the lad some before leading him back to the Kitchen Nook to finish his drink.
"'Dad' is this going to make me poop some more? I sure hope not because my butt is already sore from all that shi, ahh stuff, coming out," Charles wanted to know.
"To be honest with you, it might and probably will. When you have practically clear bowel movements then you are pretty well cleaned out and you will be ready for Doc Powers in the morning. Just drink what's left and once you have another bathroom visit you'll probably be finished for the night. It's going on 8:30 and I would like you in bed by 10 at the latest. You need to get a good night's sleep. You've had a busy day with the golf and racing and now the pooping, laughed 'dad' and Robert, that I bet you fall right to sleep when you lie down," responded 'dad' Ken.
"I already had a nap," mentioned Charles,
"Yes, 'son' but it wasn't much of one so don't count that in your computations. Please be in bed by 10 or sooner," simply asked Mr. Ken.
Charles finished his medicine and within ten minutes he had to rush to the hall bathroom. When he came out he went to Mr. Ken and told the man that everything was mostly water but his butt was sore from everything. 'Dad' Ken hugged the lad and told the lad to go up and read some to see if his stomach had indeed stopped cramping. The man then told the pre-teen he'd check up on him later to make sure he was okay.
When Mr. Ken went upstairs at 10 PM to check on Charles he found the lad under the covers and fast asleep. He was happy to know the boy would get a fair amount of sleep before his hectic and long day tomorrow. He leaned over and kissed the lad's forehead and then scratched behind Chief's ears and asked her to let him know if the boy had any problems. As the man began to close the door he heard Chief yawn and begin to curl up for her own sleep.
The owner of The Cove let Charles sleep as long as he dared but he had to go into the boys' room and wake him from a dead sleep. "Charles … you need to wake up 'son' and take your shower before we leave for the hospital. Come on Charles, you got to get up now," encouraged the man.
Charles slowly opened his eyes and then yawned. "Do I have to?" sleepily asked the lad.
"Yes, Charles, you have to do this. I don't think you want to have to drink that medicine again now do you?" joked Mr. Ken.
"No, I don't!" empathetically said Charles as he sat up in his bed.
Mr. Ken knew he needed to get out of the room so the boy could have some dignity without showing his morning flagpole to his 'dad'. Chief followed behind him as she intended to go outside and do her thing.
Charles got out of bed and let his morning wood lead the way to the porcelain god and the shower. The lad let the shower fall down on him before he took some time to wash up. He made sure his backside was clean. He didn't want the doctor to look back there and see some brown stains. He knew that would be the talk of the hospital before long if that did happen.
After his shower, Charles put on some briefs and shorts and a polo shirt and then headed down the stairs to catch up with his 'dad'. It was 5:35 AM when the two Covers, and a security guard, headed out the Foyer Door and got into the car. Since traffic was light that morning it only took them fifteen minutes to arrive and park the car and walk into the surgical waiting room.
The two stopped at the reception desk to sign in and Mr. Ken had to sign some papers before they were asked to take a seat. At 6 AM Doctor Powers and a nurse came out to the waiting room and called Charles and his 'dad' to follow them to a preparation room. There Charles was asked to use the restroom and then change into the hospital gown lying on the bed.
When Charles came back from getting rid of any anxious water, Mr. Ken closed the curtain to allow the lad to disrobe and try to put the gown on. When the boy said he was ready, Mr. Ken had to laugh at the boy since he had it on with the opening to the front. 'Dad' had to explain to his 'son' that the opening went to the back and told the lad he had to take it off and put it on the other way. Charles pouted but he did as he was asked and then got into the hospital bed.
The nurse came into the room and asked Charles a number of questions to assure the doctor the boy was who he was supposed to be and then placed a hospital identification band around his wrist. The nurse also started an I.V. on one arm and established another I.V. port near the other wrist explaining to Charles they needed to do that in case the first one failed and they'd have the spare available. After the nurse had Charles situated she asked Mr. Ken to sign a few more forms and then left.
It was about 6:30 when Doctor Powers came into the room and spoke to Mr. Ken. He then talked to Charles about the surgery and what they were going to do and approximately how long it would take. When Doc Rick was satisfied Charles understood what would happen he left the room.
It wasn't long after that when a different nurse came into the room and explained to Charles she was going to give him a mild sedative to make him relax. The nurse also told the pre-teen that they would give him a general anesthetic to put him to sleep for the procedure. She told the lad he wouldn't know what was going on and before he knew it he would wake up in post-op where they would bring him back awake. It was then Mr. Ken got to kiss the lad on his forehead and hug him before they wheeled the boy towards the operating room. 'Dad' Ken could see the tears running down his 'son's' face as he disappeared behind the operating room doors.
Everything was so strange and very cold in the operating room. Charles asked for a blanket because he was cold and the nurse obliged. Then another nurse came by and told him she was going to give him something to make him sleep and within five minutes of her putting the medicine into his I.V line he was knocked out not to ever remember what happened there that morning.
Ken Thomas knew there was nothing he could do while his foster son was being operated on so he searched out the cafeteria for some breakfast. Before he went, he told the guard that he didn't feel the need for him to be there so he sent him back to The Cove. Mr. Ken hadn't gotten to the cafeteria entrance when he heard someone calling his name. He turned to find Ms. Judy coming down the hall towards him.
"Judy, what, why'd you get up this early? There was no need for you to be here for this," spoke up Ken Thomas.
"Nonsense, Ken, someone needed to be here with you while your 'son' was in the operating room. Someone had to hold your hand as you walked aimlessly around not knowing what was happening to your 'third son'," quipped the Director of Children's Protective Services herself.
Ken pulled the woman into a hug and said, "Thank you for being here." As they separated, Ms. Judy could see a few tears running down the man's face.
The two friends went into the cafeteria and got some breakfast. As they sat and ate, they talked about the procedure and what it would mean for the lad. Ms. Judy also told the man what Eric knew about the story Charles gave to his friends the other day and she wanted to know why. Ken told her that Charles didn't want the boys to know the real truth because he didn't want to be embarrassed and for them to find out what had actually happened to him. The woman said she then understood and was okay with that story. She agreed nobody needed to know what the boy had to endure before arriving at the Cove.
As the two talked, Judy Turner decided to tell Mr. Ken that the two teens who 'used' Charles and Robert at the one foster home were going to be charged with assault and not with a sex crime. She explained the boys themselves had been molested and that sometimes the child, whether it was a boy or a girl, would act out what happened to them on others. She said the lads would have a hearing that coming week and Robert and Charles might be called to testify.
The owner of The Cove wasn't pleased with what he'd just heard but he knew things like that were bound to happen because both lads had been assaulted and molested and they would be called to testify against their attackers. He just wasn't ready for this to happen to Charles. Ken asked Judy if she could get the hearing delayed until the end of the week, or even to the following week to allow Charles as much time as possible to heal. Judy said she'd ask but wasn't promising anything.
The two adults finished breakfast and looked for a secluded corner so they could talk more about the pending hearing for the two teens being charged with the assault on his two foster sons. Ms. Judy also told Mr. Ken that the man who molested Robert and then Charles was also being charged but he was going to be a major criminal case. She told Mr. Ken she felt the man would take a plea as Robert and Charles were not the only boys the man molested over the years. She figured there were enough boys to testify against him that he'd be better off if he took the deal.
Judy also told Ken that the religious couple were being deleted from the approved foster care family list. She told the man they had received more complaints from kids assigned to them since Charles was there last. That information made Mr. Ken feel that the system did work although a bit slow at times.
Judy kept the information flow continuing when she told her friend, Mr. Ken, the ladies who handled Robert's and Charles cases in the beginning were both given a reprimand after the investigations into Robert's and Charles's complains were validated. The woman said they were sent back for more training and would be on probation for six months afterwards. That pleased Mr. Ken greatly.
When Ken and Judy finished their talk, Mr. Ken looked at his watch only to find it was now only approaching 8 AM. Doc Powers had told him the surgery would be about two hours long and should be over by 9 AM, if there were no complications. Ken just sighed at knowing there was still at least another hour left before Charles would be wheeled to post-op to wake up.
"Ken, what seems to be the trouble?" asked Judy when she saw the face her friend had on.
"Nothing really … it's just that the procedure was to take two hours and it has only been one hour since they started. I'm just anxious for Charles knowing how afraid he was about doing this. I think if it weren't for Collin and Robert talking to him about their similar operations I don't believe we'd be here right now,' replied Ken Thomas.
"Oh, I didn't know all that. According to Eric it was always going to happen right after the Picnic. I guess Robert doesn't share everything with his boyfriend." It was then Judy's face turned red when she realized what she had just said.
"I'm sorry for saying that Ken, I really am. I don't know what made me say that," apologized Judy Turner.
"Boyfriend as in attached at the hip, or boy friend as in best friends?" teased Ken Thomas, with a knowing smile.
"Oh, so you already knew, or at least you suspected that?" inquired Ms. Judy.
"Judy … what do you know about what you just told me and their friendship, if I may ask," said Mr. Ken.
Judy was still embarrassed about what she said and was very happy they were still in that secluded corner. She then looked at Ken and said, "I suspected the boys were more than best friends as they claimed. I saw the way they acted when they are around one another and I heard the occasional 'love you' and the tight and long hugs they shared. So, I figured they were, ahh, you know, they were more than just Best Friends."
Ken Thomas knew he needed to tread lightly with this not knowing how Judy felt about her son possibly being gay. He didn't want to tell her outright that he suspected it from almost the very beginning and that he wasn't averse to them being boyfriends but he needed to know how she was going to handle it.
"Judy … so after what you saw and decided they were more than Best Friends, did you … well …let me ask … what did you think about that … that possibility as Eric's mom?" directly asked Ken Thomas.
Judy wasn't sure how she wanted to answer his question. She was a mom, even if her son was adopted, and she had hoped one day she would have a grandbaby or two eventually to spoil. She looked at Ken and thought some more before saying, "When I saw … what I thought I saw I was … I was sort of disappointed that I may not get a grandchild to spoil one day."
"But Judy … what do you think about the possibility that Eric may be gay? Have you given any thought to the way how you are going to treat him IF … he indeed is gay?" directly asked Mr. Ken.
"Oh, Ken, I hope you know I will love Eric if he is gay. He came to me as an unknown but I wouldn't trade anything for my son, no matter what. He's given me so much joy I could never just throw that all away. You know … I think all mom's want to have grandbabies all over the place from their kids but if it isn't meant to happen … please know I will still love him and his partner whomever it is, including Robert," honestly revealed Judy Turner.
"Judy … I'm sorry I asked you that difficult question but … I wanted to know … what I might have to deal with if those two weren't going to be able to see one another ever again. You see … I saw their friendship building right from the beginning since Eric spent a lot of time over at The Cove. Yes, I did see some of what you said you saw and I want you to know I talked to the boys about their close friendship.
"I told them that as teenagers the girls were eventually going to notice them, if they hadn't already, and would want to hang with them and they might want them to be their boyfriend someday. I told them they needed to go to the dances and other places with mixed groups so they could get to know what the opposite sex was all about. I told them that until they dated a girl or two or three and come to realize who they were and what they brought to the table they shouldn't ignore them.
"Judy … I tried to explain to them they owed it to themselves to find out what dating was all about as well as knowing how girls/women act and treat any boy/men over time. I mentioned that they would have to deal with females their entire lives and learning about them now was better than waiting until later when they don't have a clue. I hope you don't mind that I did that but the occasion happened to present itself and I took advantage. Yes, the boys are as thick as thieves but that might be because Eric was the first boy to talk to Robert and Eric had been to The Cove so much that he became Robert's encyclopedia, so to speak.
"I want you to know I am not going to prejudge them or put them in a box of gay or straight. I'm going to allow Robert to find out for himself who he is going to be. I'll hopefully be there for him to help him along but he will be who he will be. I can't change what his DNA, or the genes he was given, have in store for him. I will love that boy no matter what!" finished Ken Thomas.
That little speech gave Judy Turner a lot to take in. She liked that Ken wasn't labeling the boys and was taking a 'wait and see' attitude. She also was thankful he talked to the lads about dating and getting to know the opposite sex. She just hoped the boys don't take it literally and start having sex with the girls. She figured she would need to talk to Eric about sex, and girls, when the time came but for now she was happy that what she was seeing might just be a very close friendship between two boys who needed someone they could easily relate to.
"Ken, I want to thank you for telling me what you just did about the boys. Eric had his two older 'brothers' to talk to and ask questions of but when Collin left … there wasn't much reason for Eric to be over here. Sure he was here at times and he could then talk to Ryan but that was few and far in-between. Now that Eric is over here more and Robert lives here and they have become best friends it could be they need each other as confidants and sounding boards. But I … I also want you to know that if Eric turns out he is gay, I hope you know that I will NOT abandon him! I will love him forever," Ms. Judy confided.
Ken smiled at the woman and then hugged her. He was thanking the lucky stars that she was an open minded lady and would still love her adopted child even if he was gay. He knew he felt the same way about Robert but suspected in his heart the two boys would be in a partnership of one kind or another as adults.
Ken Thomas looked at his watch and saw it was already past 9 AM so he excused himself from Judy and hurried to the waiting room to await hearing how the surgery went. Judy soon followed and explained while she was there she could get the preliminary report for her records and then head off to her office.
It was about 9:30 when a nurse came out and told Mr. Ken he could go back to the post-op area to check on his son, not knowing the lad was only his foster son. Ken quickly followed the nurse to his awakening 'son'. It took a few moments for Charles to fully open his eyes and look around. When he saw his 'dad' standing there watching him he got tears in his eyes and reached up for a hug. Ken Thomas immediately took Charles into his arms as tears came to his eyes as well.
"Is it all over?" asked the lad.
"Yes, I suspect so, otherwise you wouldn't be in here. The nurse asked me to come back in order to greet you when you woke up. How do you feel?" inquired 'dad' Ken.
"I feel a little off balance and a bit strange, but it is good to see you here, 'dad'," replied Charles.
Charles stayed in the post-op recovery room for an additional ninety minutes with Mr. Ken by his side before they began to wheel him to a semi-private room. Once the lad was set up in his room, the nurses kept taking vital signs and asking how he was doing and if he had any pain. They also told the lad that Doc Powers would be up after he finished his second surgery of the morning and for Charles to try to get some sleep.
Mr. Ken told his 'son' to go back to sleep and that he'd be back in a couple of hours to talk to him and hopefully Doc Powers about the surgery. Charles sleepily said he would and asked for another hug which Mr. Ken readily gave him. 'Dad' Ken stayed and watched as Charles closed his eyes and fell right back to sleep. It was then Ken Thomas got some pep in his step as he went to call Momma Maria and then Mr. Chris to tell them the surgery was over and that Charles was resting in his room. He told them he'd call when he knew more about the procedure. He decided then to wait to call Robert, figuring he was still in bed, until he had gotten the full report from Doctor Rick. The man then went down to the cafeteria for some coffee.