I frequently refer to the boys in this story, the boys I refer to are DJ, Jamie, or Matt, they are all age 19 or more. At my age (76) anyone under 25 is a boy!
DJ Part IX
Sunday morning it was raining when I woke up about 8:30, not at all surprised that the boys were still sleeping. I made coffee, and was on my second cup when my phone rang, it was Jamie's Mom.
"Good Morning Karen, how are you this rainy Sunday?"
"I'm fine Doug, unless I need to go outside. Are the boys up yet?"
"Naw, they're dead to the world, not surprising as they had a pretty rough and long day yesterday."
"Doug, the reason I called, do you have plans for Thanksgiving?"
"Not exactly, not really for Thanksgiving, per se, but do you know that is also DJ's 20th birthday? I know I want to do something for him, like some kind of party. That boy has never had a birthday celebration, it's so sad."
"I know, that came to surface the night of his Adoption Party, but I didn't know his birthday was on Thanksgiving this year. I suspect, knowing you, that you want to surprise him?"
"Heh, heh, I didn't think you knew me THAT well, but you are right."
"I know Anthony is closed, and Carl is off work that day, is the drug store closed?"
"Yeah, we're closed too, so DJ and I will be off work also. In case you hadn't heard, DJ passed his driver's test, and received his license yesterday."
"Great! I knew he was to take the exam Tuesday morning, knowing DJ I'll bet he's still on cloud Nine. Carl and I want to invite you and DJ, and Joe if he's available, to have Thanksgiving Dinner with us. If Joe has to work, we might be able to alter the time to accommodate his schedule. What do you say?"
"I think I can answer an affirmative, for DJ and I, I need to check with Joe, but I'm sure he will come, if he can. I'm trying to connive a way to combine it with my son's birthday. I don't want to ever not celebrate his birthday again, he's missed way to many in his young life!"
"Doug, I can hear the love, and the pride, that you have for that young man in your voice. Sending tissues your way. He's captured our hearts too. Carl told him the other day that, heaven forbid, anything should happen to you, he has a home here with us."
"Thanks a lot for the invitation, I'll get with Joe sometime today, and let you know where we stand for Thanksgiving. Karen, it's great chatting with you, and I hope you have a great Sunday."
"Okay Doug, and I'll be awaiting your answer."
I need to call Joe, I hope he's not sleeping. I pushed the speed dial number, 2, which I had programmed in my phone a long time ago for Joe. The phone rang 5 times and went to voicemail. I left a message, asking him to call me as soon as convenient. About 3 minutes later, my phone rang, it was Joe.
"Sorry baby, I was in the bathroom and couldn't get to the phone. What's up?"
"Joe, have you had breakfast yet?"
"No Doug. I just got off work at 7:00 and hadn't gone to bed yet. I need to see you, I got that information on the cruise. Oh, and, do you have any decent photos of DJ?"
"All pictures of DJ are decent, he never takes a bad photo."
"What I mean, Doug, isβwell my Mom want's a photo of DJ. I've seen some of the ones you have taken, but they aren't appropriate to send to his Grandma!"
"I have one, the one I shot of him dressed up, the morning we went to court. He is stunning in that photo, but it's still in the camera."
"OK, Doug, I've got a plan, I'd bet you're not even dressed yet."
"You're right," chuckling, "you know how we do here in the mornings."
"Get dressed, grab that camera, and meet me at Walgreen's, in half an hour. We'll get those prints, and then go to Denny's for breakfast and to chat."
"OK Joe, see you at Walgreen's about 10:00?"
Joe and I met at Walgreen's, and had four 5 X 7 prints made of DJ's beautiful photo. One to send to Joe's Mom, one for my desk, one for my dresser, and one to give to Jamie. I know I'm a hog, keeping two, I just can't have too much of my awesome son!
Joe, looking at the prints, "He is one handsome boy, and so loveable. Doug, I can't wait to make him my stepson. I can't help but wonder how many other 'DJ's' are out there, needing to meet their 'Doug Kendall's', I think I love him just as much as you do."
We went to Denny's, from Walgreen's, I ordered breakfast, and Joe ordered something more like lunch, this was toward the end of his day, as he had worked all night.
"Joe," I said, "what's the chance of you being off on Thanksgiving?"
"Fairly good, as I am normally off on Wednesdays and Thursdays, why?"
"I received a call from Karen Seldon, Jamie's Mom, this morning and she asked us, you, me, and DJ, to share Thanksgiving Dinner with them. I accepted for DJ and myself, and told her I needed to check with you. There's a glitch though, did you realize, that is also DJ's 20th birthday?"
"Doug," Joe commented, frowning, "There is no ifs or maybes, we HAVE to celebrate DJ's birthday, it sucks that it's on Thanksgiving Day, and I know we want to surprise him. Do you know what time Karen wanted to have dinner?"
"No, but I can find out. I have her number in my phone, did you have an idea?"