ARROW - 91. Chapter 91

I heard the boys heading for the bathroom, I went to waken Colin, he wasn’t there. Then I heard him asking the boys in they wanted milk like last night or a cup of Ovaltine. Unanimously, “Milk like last night.”

That got me up. When the boys are in school, I paint and so far I’m managing to reduce my backlog. According to Mom, my sales has increased since the art critic friends of the professor were here. I had two paintings I had finished I would deliver to the gallery when I go to pickup the boys.

Colin had taken the car this morning, he had a stop to make. James used his car for lunch delivery and errands Marcel wanted as well as shopping. I needed a car, I finally agreed with Colin, we are a two car family.

James took the paintings with him when he went to pick up the boys. “James, have Mum call me when you deliver the paintings.”

“Okay, brother.” He has been saying that more and more lately. I wondered what changed. He has changed, I never noticed it before. People don’t wake up changed, it is a gradual process until one realizes something is different. In James, he has accepted us as a true brother, a new experience for him, as well for Colin and I.

Mom, did call. I told her I would see her tomorrow and I’ll tell her the price of the new paintings. I wanted to rearrange the paintings in my hall and review pricing.

James brought the boys back, you heard them before seeing them.

“Dad, look.” They had their first report cards. I didn’t realize 6 weeks have passed so quickly.

Sitting around the table, I had to look at each report card. The boys had all pluses except Ronald. He had one minus. I thought what ever happened to A’s, B’s and C’s. “Ronald, why the minus.”

He knew I was serious when I called him by his name. “Dad, it isn’t his fault. There were two kids picking on Ivan. We told them to stop, they didn’t so Ronnie hit them. The teacher saw Ronnie hitting them. We tried to tell her why, she wouldn’t listen.”

“Who is Ivan?”

“Do you remember that boy who didn’t have a lunch? You gave him one and now we give him one also.”

I remember that child. He had tears in his eyes when I handed him his lunch. Now I had a problem. I don’t condone fighting, but thinking what I would do, I would have hit those boys as well. I thought Ronnie, the protector. I knew the boys will want halloween customs. I knew what to get Ronnie.

I signed the boys cards, “You need to show these to Pop when he comes home. I’m proud of you, good grades and Ronnie, I would have done the same.” Smiles and hugs all around. Clothes changed, they headed to the club kitchen for a snack.

When Colin arrived home, the boys showed him their report cards. Colin asked Ronny what happened. The boys told him what they told me. Colin looked at Ronny, “Let me show you something.” He pulled up the sleeve on his shirt and made a muscle. He had the boys feel it. Then he had the boys copy him, he felt their muscle. He declared Ronny the winner. I wasn’t sure that was a good idea, until Ronny said, “I’m the defender of the weak.” The boys laughed patting Ronnie on the back.

I looked at Colin, he mouthed, ‘Comic Book’

Somehow, three boys, different background, shared experience has welded them together in a brotherhood tighter than natural brothers. I could feel GG smiling.

“When is Carmella arriving?” That perked the boys up.

“I believe she is arriving the middle of October, I have her schedule upstairs.”

“Is she staying until Christmas?”

“No, I think she wants to go home after Thanksgiving.”

“You know something you aren’t telling me.”

“No, I only know what she has written. You read her letter.”

“My Italian is not as good as yours.”

“She said she has some photos to show us and a cook book for Marcel. She plans on being here for 6 weeks and then return home for the Christmas holiday.” What I didn’t tell Colin, she is planning on taking Tony and Marie back to Italy with her. I wasn’t sure if she would be successful, so I thought it would be better not say anything. I’ll tell Colin when we are alone on the roof. Their son, Bobby, still works for us on Sundays. I didn’t want him to hear about Carmella’s plans for his family going back to Italy.

That night I told Colin about the fight at school. “This child actually cried when I gave him one of the lunches I had left over. I held him, he was shaking. I gave him the extra lunches to take home.”

“Where does he live? He isn’t homeless is he?”

“I don’t know. Let me ask James to follow him after school and see where he goes.”

That evening, I let Colin read the letter from Carmella, I translated sections he had a hard time translating.

“So the hostel is finished and she has the photos?”

“Yes, she hopes he will go back with her to see for himself.”

“What if he decides to stay there? What is he going to do with his restaurant? And Bobby, is he going to stay here or go and live there? There are a lot of questions and no answers.”

“It’ll depend on Tony and Marie if they go and what they see.”

“More questions and answers.”

“Yes, but that is why Carmella is staying so long.”

“The boys will like that. We’ll hear ‘Nonna’ again.”