Salvation - 45. Chapter 44

We did stop at The Hague. Alex was gone most of the day. Sal went with him, which left Nour and me alone. Jimmy put a movie on and served us hot chocolate for him and coffee for me.

“Jimmy, you’ll need to get provisions for the flight home. Don’t forget Alex, so make sure whatever you order there is enough for him.”

We laughed at that, but I intended to get him a physical. “Jimmy, who does your annual physical?”

“Dr. James, he’s in the medical arts building.”

“Do you have his phone number? I need to have the latest boys checked out as well as Alex. With what he eats, he should be as big as a house.”

“Are you a little hungry?”

“Yes, Sal said I could call you Dad. Is that okay?”

“Yes, all of my boys call me Dad, and you are one of my boys.”

I heard Jimmy talking to Don, “I don’t think it’ll be too late to leave tonight. Ronnie has been sleeping on the couch so he can handle the plane while you catch a nap.”

“Sir, as soon as Alex and Sal get back, we should be able to leave. The food truck with the provisions I order is on its way.”

Nour watched the movie. I watched the movie for a while until I heard Jimmy open the door and drop down the steps. I watched as the truck began to unload. Jimmy helped, and then I began to laugh. There was Alex right behind him, helping as well, but he was looking everything over while doing it.

Once all of the food was on board. Alex gave me a passport and papers. “Nour, look.”

I opened his passport, he looked at his picture and then the name. “You are one of my boys. That is my last name.”

He smiled and hugged me. Alex smiled and went to talk to Jimmy, He came back with coffee, but I knew there would be more, and sure enough, Jimmy gave him two big sandwiches. I looked at him, “I didn’t have lunch taking care of your business.”

“Nour, are you a little hungry?”

Jimmy heard me and fixed a sandwich for him with potato chips.

We waited for about another hour when Sal came on board with another guy. “Carleton, I am now in your service. I quit my job here. This is Mohammed, who will also be your bodyguard. You need to know that Mo and I are married. In Holland, it’s legal for two men to be married.”

“Sal, I have no problem with you being married, but If I catch you with your hands below the waist of any of my sons, I’ll shoot you, and that goes for you also, Mohammed.”

They could see that I was very serious, “Carleton, I can vouch for these guys. They would never do that.”

I relaxed a little, but I meant every word I said. If any man touched the boys improperly, I would shoot them in a heart beat.

“Carleton, we’re not that kind of men. I have Mohammed, he’s all I need, and he has me. We don’t need children.”

“Okay, I’ll trust you both, but just know I’ll defend my boys to my death.”

Mohammed put his hand out to shake, “I swear my allegiance to you and your boys. I will protect them and never hurt them. Woe to the man or woman who does hurt them. On Allah’s oath, I say this.”

I looked at Alex and Sal, but it was Nour who surprised me. He jumped into Mohammed’s arms and hugged him. The smile on Mohammed’s face said it all. No one would ever hurt Nour.

I told Jimmy we could leave as soon as the pilots have clearance. If you have never flown in a plane, the lift-off seems magical. This monster of a machine glides into the air smoothly. I let Nour look out of my window while we took off. He smiled as he saw the airport grow smaller as we climbed higher.

Mohammed took off his jacket; the guy had muscles on muscles. I looked at Alex, and he smiled. I looked at Sal, he winked. “My man.”

That opens the discussion of how much weight he could lift and how he got such big muscles. I just listened as Nour asked questions, Jimmy asked questions, and Sal bragged.

Reaching altitude, Jimmy served dinner. “Jimmy, serve the cockpit first."

I figured if he didn’t, my pilots might not eat.

He served Nour, Sal, Mohammed, and then me. I waited, nothing for Alex. Alex was about to get up when Jimmy wheeled the cart and started to load Alex’s plate, not one plate but two plates. “Jimmy, if you were a woman, I’d marry you. You know just how to feed a man.”

That caused all of us to laugh. I catnapped on the way home. I noticed Nour leaned into me. I put my arm around him. The other three chatted about the home, the kids, and the renovations going on. Muhammed, he said to call him Mo, was interested in the pool. He said he liked an early morning swim. He asked if we had space for a gym or must he go and join one. I told him there might be room in the basement, but we’d need to buy equipment.

I thought that wasn’t a bad idea. The boys might like to work out a little.

The men lowered their voices, I looked, and Nour had fallen asleep. Jimmy lowered the lights and kept the guys’ coffee cups full.

“Mr. Jeffries, we are one hour out. Do you want me to serve breakfast?”

“Yes, Jimmy, but I’ll have just coffee.”

With the lights on, Jimmy prepared the crew’s trays, then poured my coffee. Of course, you know who else was up. He poured coffee for the guys and set a hot chocolate down for Nour. “Nour, wake up were having breakfast before we land.”

He stretched, got up, and went to the bathroom. He smiled when he got back to his seat. Jimmy served breakfast. I laughed at what the others didn’t eat Alex did. Alex also knew that we’d have a second breakfast when we got home.

Landing, clearing customs took a little longer with Mo. I explained that he was my security since I travel overseas a lot. He had his papers, so the delay wasn’t long. Nour whizzed right through. Peter was waiting with the car.

Alex and Peter put our luggage in the trunk. Opening the door, we got in. “Sir, do you want to stop at your special place. You haven’t been there since your UN speech. You may want to tell him about it.”

“Thanks Peter, we can do that.”

I rode in the back, but my mind was someplace else. Peter stopped the car, open the door, and handed me a bouquet of flowers. “I’ll be just a minute.”

Alex knew where I was going, “We are coming with you.”

I didn’t say anything as they followed me to my special spot. I placed the flowers in the vase and sat on the stone bench. “I gave a speech at the UN about young boys on the street. I used you as an example. Some of the attendees had tears in their eyes, and some didn’t. I guess in some ways, I failed again. I’m sorry I can’t get the message across. I miss you.”

My tears were flowing. I was sobbing. I had failed again. I couldn’t get all of those important men to see the wrong. I felt a hand on my shoulder; it was Nour. I hugged him like there was no tomorrow.

Peter came and took my arm and led me away. I rode home in the front. I was still crying. I couldn’t reach them all. How can they not see the cruelty I spoke about. I blamed myself because they couldn’t grasp my message.

By the time we got home, I had everything under control again. “Thanks, Peter.”

Of course, when we drove up to the front door, there was our welcoming committee. When two boys saw me, they came and opened the door. I couldn’t get out fast enough, I got hugs and kisses, and they put their arms around my neck. When I stood up, I was holding them.

I put them down when I walked on the porch. Each boy had to have a hug and a kiss on the head. Of course, I got a kiss back and a hug. Alex and Sal got their share. Then I introduced Nour to them. If you were bashful, forget it. They rushed him and started to hug him as well. I pulled Steven aside, “Take his luggage and him to his room, then come down for breakfast.”

Steven picked up the luggage, and with an arm around his shoulder, led him to the attic rooms. I looked because Steven wasn’t the only one. Some of the other boys went with them as well.

Then Mo took off his jacket. The boys still on the porch looked. Mo smiled and grabbed 4 boys lifted them in his arms and began to carry them into the house . Soon all of the other boys wanted lifted as well. Steven returned with the boys and joined in, Mo showed them his muscles. Their eyes got big.

I laughed, “Sal, I’m assuming you know where your bedroom is.”

Maria, told us we needed to sit, breakfast was ready. I noticed two small shelves with urns sitting on them. Maria told me they saw them when they went shop[ping, one had coffee the other hot chocolate. The cabinetmaker made the shelves.

I sat in my usual place and listened. The boys talked about everything, most of it directed at Nour. I laughed when Mo saw them looking at him, he would flex his

muscles. The boys would laugh.

I thought what a transition from scared kids on the street to happy boys who felt safe and loved.