ARROW - 144. Chapter 144

School had been out for one week, now it was golf at least once a week, driving lessons for Ronnie, swimming classes for the boys and the children at the Home.

When they didn’t have any planned activities, the boys kept themselves busy. Ronnie driving lessons, Ivan was working in the garden, at home and at the Home, Richie went to work with Colin and Tommy spent his free time at the Home. I finished those paintings. I had started and never finished. Roger’s students would drop by and watch, ask questions and I taught those who were interested how I made my frames. I told Roger when he dropped by, I was going to charge him for teaching. I meant it as a joke and he took me seriously. Now students would drop by, “Professor asked me to check with you about XYZ, or could you show me how to make this color, can you show me how you prepare a canvas for painting, etc. I knew I was either teaching or enforcing one of his principals. I didn’t mind doing it, I learned from them as much as I taught them. The working of their mind as they would show me a painting they did and explaining what it meant to them, was interesting. I realize one gets insight from interactions as well as visuals experiencing.

As the boys became more independent as they grew older, I felt alone more. They were building a life that would lead to their independence and the creation of their own families. GG said it was time. I thought about that, “Marie, we need to go shopping.” I hadn’t forgotten about the five children Pat gave me to look over.

I bought two princess beds with dressers. When they were delivered, I had them put them in the small room behind Marie’s room. I had Charles cut a door from the room into Marie’s bathroom.

When everything was finished, I showed Colin.

“Do you want to adopt those five children?”

“Yes, the boys are getting older and becoming independent. I miss sitting with them on the roof. The boys are becoming young men.”

“We need to discuss this with them.”

“If we can all get together. It seems some one is always missing when we have dinner. We aren’t even together when we have breakfast, they eat and leave.”

That summer was terrible for me. Between various camps, golf games, friends get togethers and the Home, I hardly saw all of the boys together. Even planning out trips to Europe was difficult, Ronnie had football camps, Richie was busy helping Colin, Ivan had his gardens and Tommy was busy working at the Home. It wasn’t that I didn’t know where they were, we just weren’t all together. They were growing up, and I felt what Colin called separation syndrome.

I took the list Pat gave me earlier and went to discuss them with her. I came back with 6, 4 boys and 2 girls. When I showed the list to Marie, she agreed and was glad to see the girls.

“You are going to spoil them aren’t you?”

“Only if you let me. I’ll bet the boys will spoil them with Colin urging them on.”

At first, I wasn’t sure that adopting girls was right. With Marie in our house, I felt more comfortable. I had no idea what the future held, but I was to find out fairly quick.

“Marie, you will need to go shopping for the girls.”

“Are you going to shop for the boys?”

“No, I’ll have the boys go shopping for them. I’m sure Tommy knows these boys. I have extra rooms for them with bunk beds. They will be okay.”

That evening I told Colin I had decided to adopt six children from the Home. I gave him the portfolio from Pat. As he looked through the information, “Two girls?” I nodded yes. “Isn’t this girl the one you used as a model in that painting?”

“Yes”

“Who is this other girl?”

“Do you remember our trip to the zoo in New York, she was the little girl who sat next to me and I had to talk to her doll. You were laughing at me as I held the doll and talked to it when we had lunch.”

“Yes, she still brings her doll to you.”

“Yes, she is cute.”

“These four boys, what do you know about them?”

“Toby is the boy who sits with me. He doesn’t talk and I want to know why. Louis is the shy boy who wants to sit on my lap but is afraid. His mother and dad are still alive. He was placed in the Home by child services for protection from his father. Anthony lost his parents to a disease his dad brought home from his tour in the service. John lived with his father who has been charged with a serious crime.”

“Should we be concerned about these boys’ parents finding out where they are and coming after them?”

“No, there will be no records of them.” I was counting on our friend to have these records of their adoption placed in a secure place.

“Would you have adopted the girls if Marie wasn’t here?”

“I don’t know but having Marie here makes it easier.”

“You know who will spoil them?” “The boys” “Yes”

Colin and his lawyer arranged for an adoption hearing before our favorite judge. The day of the hearing, I had Tommy go with us. Colin looked at me as we all boarded the van. I smiled at him, “Smart.” Then I laughed.

Meeting with the judge, as I predicted he wanted to speak with Tommy first.

“What do you think Henry is going to say?”

“After talking with Tommy he’s going to ask why didn’t we do this sooner. You watch Sunday, Ann will make a big fuss over the girls.”

We waited longer than normal and I became concerned. The ladies from Child Services, “Has he normally taken so long?”

“That depends on what he’s discussing with Thomas.”

“Why is he discussing this with that boy? This just takes time.”

“I don’t know what they discuss but every young man we brought before him for adoption, he has a meeting with Thomas.”

I could tell they were getting nervous and wanted to get this over with. Colin said they are getting hungry. Checking my watch, Tommy has been with the judge for over an hour. I knew Tommy will tell Colin and I what happened.

While sitting there, Richie, Ivan and Ronnie showed up.

“What’s happening Dad?”

“Tommy is in conference with the Judge.”

“How long has he been in there?”

“A little over an hour.”

“That’s about 10 minutes per child. It isn’t unusual for the Judge and Tommy having a chat for 10 minutes per child. Tommy will handle it.”

“Don’t worry Dad. It’ll be finalized in a half-hour.”

As if a psychic. Half and hour later Tommy came out smiling. Sitting down next to me, “He thinks you should have adopted girls sooner.”

I went to grab him when the judge entered the room. As he had done before, he called the boys, one at a time, into his chambers along with the women from Child Services. Now we would wait.

As a boy was called, Tommy gave Colin and I comments. When Toby was called, I became concerned because he still hasn’t spoken. “Tommy, I’m concerned about Toby.”

“You don’t need to worry. I told Toby before we left that he would need to talk.”

“Does he talk to you?”

“Yes, he’s afraid to talk to you or Pop. His dad would yell at him when he talked at his home before he came to the Home. It was his defense at the Home. If he didn’t talk, he wouldn’t get into trouble. You’ll see, he’ll talk to you and Pop.”

I wonder what kind of father he had that punished him for talking.

After the boys, the judge called both girls together. I waited, both girls could talk but a 3 year old and a 6 year old. How would they answer the Judge’s questions. Tommy said not to worry.

Another 20 minutes passed when the Judge came out carrying Louise and holding Mary Ann’s hand.

We all stood, that was when the Judge noticed the other three boys. I’m not sure if the Judge wanted to annoy the Child Service woman or not. He had to talk to the boys. He asked Ronny what does the football season look like, he asked Ivan about one of his hybrid he developed and wanted to know if he could get one to taste. Ivan told him at Sunday lunch he will see that he has an opportunity. Looking at Richie, “Have you decided which law school you will attend?” Richie smiled, “I’m waiting for your recommendation.”

Then the judge signed the papers for the adoption. The girls will be a Roberts and the boys will be a Rowe. Their last name wasn’t important to Colin and I. Had we agreed upon a name when we got married, that would be the name the children would have. In our eyes, the name wasn’t as important as the knowledge they were our children.

Thanking the judge, I looked for the women from Child Services, they were gone.

Now the boys said we had to celebrate. We went to Tony’s for a late lunch. The boys and girls ate, Colin and I chatted with Tony. After they had lunch, we stopped for ice cream. There, Colin and I joined them.

The four boys left in Ronnie’s car, the rest of us rode the van home.