The Enlightenment of Paul Farmer - 1. Enlightenment

Paul and David are very, very different, and yet, coincidentally, they have a few things in common. They are both thirty years old. That’s not unusual, but they were born on the same day, and share a birthday. They are both drop dead handsome, and they are both gay. That’s where “all the things they have in common” come to a screeching halt. What does it matter.? They’ve never met, and probably never will.

Paul

Paul Farmer grew up in Buffalo, New York. He has a married sister, Cheryl, who has two young adopted children, James, fourteen, and Marnie, ten. Both children had been birthed by unwed teenage mothers. Cheryl recently confided in Paul that she and her husband, Kyle, were awaiting the birth of another child shortly after December 1st. Paul’s father, who is a lawyer, arranged for all three adoptions in Buffalo.

Paul is an only son. It’s tough for an only male child to come out to his parents. There’s the grandparent thing to consider, and carrying on the family name. His sister can give their father grandchildren, but she can’t pass on the family name. All she can pass on is her husband’s family name; Barone.

Fortunately, Paul never had to come out. He knew, and everyone around him seemed to know from the get go, that he was gay. The thing is, he isn’t effeminate at all. He is quite masculine, and he was on his high school’s baseball team. Even his teammates knew about him, but he was accepted into their company. Apparently, you don’t have to be overtly homosexual for the people you meet to know instinctively that you’re gay.

Paul’s father loved his son, and he knew how hard life would be for him living as a homosexual. He did something which he truly believed was for his son’s own good. He gave Paul a loving father’s advice. His often repeated speech to Paul went something like this:

Paul, son, I know that all young boys dream about meeting the girl of their dreams. They picture her beauty as she walks down the wedding aisle. They dream of getting a high paying job, and a large home in the suburbs, filled with kids. You will never have those things, so I want you to learn to accept it, and not be disappointed. I know you’ll make friends just like you, and you’ll all be companions for each other. You must learn to realize that is the best that life has to offer you.

Paul’s father meant well. He was attempting to teach his son to expect disappointments in the life he would live as a homosexual. In a way, he was successful. The young lad believed every word his father preached to him over, and over, again. It skewed his thinking.

Paul firmly believes that two men cannot love each other. As a result, he has distanced himself from having any kind of meaningful relationship. He rarely dates anyone more than once. He’s a real fuck‘em and leave‘em kind of guy.

Paul got his undergraduate degree from The State University at Buffalo. Then he went to law school in New York City. After graduation, he joined a prestigious law firm in Manhattan, and because of his cynicism, he is a world class playboy. He takes at least two vacations a year; one in the summer, and one in the winter. His profession keeps him very busy, but he makes time to cruise the bars every Friday and Saturday evening, and he has no trouble getting laid.

This year, he has spent too much time trying to decide where to go on his winter vacation. Where could he go? He has no real home. His mother split while he was still in college, and she now lives in Paris with some guy. His father still works, and he lives in a one-bedroom apartment in Buffalo. Paul can’t stand the noise in his sister’s house. He loves the kids, but they are too wearying for him. So, there’s no place to go, except to some resort. He finally honed in on a ski trip to Aspen.

Paul’s sister is married to a well-to-do financial advisor.Kyle also works in New York City, and he bought a home for his family in Hartsdale, a suburb of New York. Paul and his sister are close enough geographically, that Paul visited her and her family twice in the last five years.

David

David O’Conner’s formative years were the opposite of Paul’s. He was the eldest of four sons. His family lived very meagerly in The Bronx, NY. All his many aunts, uncles, and cousins, lived within walking distance. Notwithstanding, how close to the vest they lived, his house was always filled with love, celebrations, and immense family dinners. Christmas and Easter were particularly joyous.

David’s father worked for a carpenter. When David was a freshman at Syracuse University, which he attended on a full scholarship, his father decided that enough was enough. He started his own business. By the time David was entering his senior year, his father was so successful that he took another plunge. He bought a spacious four-bedroom house in the suburbs right next door to Paul’s sister. Many of David’s uncles, aunts, and cousins already lived in Hartsdale.

David studied architecture in college, and he immediately got a high paying job with a prestigious architectural firm located in Manhattan. David only interviewed with New York firms. He wanted to live in a gay friendly environment. He found an apartment in Manhattan, not far from Paul’s. They were both gay, but on weekends Paul was always cruising at some pick-up bar, and David was visiting his family. Paul rarely did that, so they never met.

Since David is such a workaholic, he has little to no chance of meeting Mr. Wonderful. Secretly, he yearns to meet the right guy, get married, and adopt a slew of children. Gay or not, he aspires to achieve all the things that Paul’s father had told his son were forbidden to him.

Unlike Paul, he drives out to see his family every Sunday, and to have dinner with them. Contrary to stereotypes, his parents and three younger brothers are actively seeking to introduce him to the right guy. His extended family of uncles, aunts, and cousins, are also on the lookout for him. He meets a lot of nice young men through friends and family, but none of them has pushed his buttons yet.

One day, he went into his office and he felt stifled. He didn’t want to work in an office the rest of his life. Impulsively, he quit that day, and moved back temporarily to his parents’ home. He opened a little shop in downtown Hartsdale, and hired himself out as a handyman. His talents make him capable of doing everything his trade calls for, including carpentry and electrical repairs. His business thrived, and he bought his own home, surrounded by family. As a jump start to David’s dreams, which Paul’s father told his son were forbidden to him, the house David purchased is right across the street from his family and Paul’s sister.

Since the O’Connors bought the home next door to Paul’s sister, Cheryl, and her husband, Kyle, became close friends of theirs. They, and their children, were invited to every event at the O’Conner’s home, and were welcomed as part of that huge family.

Cheryl hired David to convert their fourth bedroom into a nursery for the new baby girl she was expecting. He agreed to install shelving for games and toys, and to paint the walls a pale pastel pink. He had no intention of charging his ‘adopted’ sister and brother for supplies or for his labor, but she and Kyle didn’t know that yet.

The fickle finger of fate was pointing right at Paul and David.

Fate Works its Magic

On November 20th, Paul got a frantic call from Cheryl. “Please,” she begged, “we just heard from the doctor who’s delivering our baby. The mother has gone into labor a couple of weeks early. Kyle and I need to go up to Buffalo, and we need you to please baby sit for us.”

“I thought you hired a temporary nanny,” Paul groaned.

We booked her for early December, and she’s on another job right now. I’ve called around all over, and you’re our only hope.”

“Why don’t you take the kids with you?” Paul asked in desperation.

“I can’t. Marnie is rehearsing for her school’s Thanksgiving pageant, and James has a home game with his high school basketball team this week.”

Paul doesn’t know how to boil an egg, and his knowledge of child rearing skills are non-existent. He panicked big time.

“I can’t,” he moaned. “You told me that the baby wasn’t due until the beginning of December. I wanted to be around then,” he lied, “so I planned a ski trip to Aspen for the last week of November. I’m leaving in three days, and I won’t be home until a week after Thanksgiving.”

“Three days will be just fine. We should be home by then,” Cheryl pleaded.

“But, Sis,” Paul said. “I don’t have a clue what to do for your kids, and how to care for them.”

“By the time you get here, I’ll have a complete set of instructions printed out for you. Besides, James is fourteen. He can help you with Marnie.”

“You shouldn’t trust me with them. I’m not a responsible nanny.”

“I have nobody else to turn to. You’re their uncle and godfather; they love you.”

“You’re buttering me up. They barely know me. Besides, the last time I visited you, I nearly burned down the kitchen trying to brew a cup of coffee.”

“You’re a grown man, a lawyer yet. You’ll do just fine.”

What could Paul say? The only relatives he has are his sister and his father.

“Fine,” he said. “I’ll call my office and tell them that I have a family emergency, and I must start my vacation a few days early. You better be home in time for me to make my flight.”

“Bless you,” Cheryl cooed. “We’ll be back in plenty of time.”

*****

When Paul arrived at his sister’s home, she and Kyle were packed, and they were just going out to their car to leave for Buffalo. In fact, Paul had to move his car because he was blocking them.

Cheryl shoved a piece of paper at her brother. “These are the instructions,” she said. “The kids are in school right now, and they come home by bus, which stops at the corner. Marnie will be home about 2:15 and James about 3:15, just keep an eye out for them.”

Paul glanced over the instruction sheet. It was basic and simple, but Paul found it daunting.

Kyle gave Paul a quick hug, grabbed both suitcases, and ran to the car. Cheryl gave Paul a peck on the cheek, and ran after Kyle. They were gone in a flash. Paul didn’t even have time to wish them good luck. In their haste, they forgot to mention one important fact. David was in the house adding the shelves for the nursery, and painting the room. The nursery for the new baby girl, already named Carrie, was a work in progress. They forgot to tell Paul to make himself at home in the master bedroom.

Paul went into the fourth bedroom, which used to be a guest room, and stopped short. There was someone in the room. Believing it to be a thief, Paul involuntarily pulled out his phone to call the police. One look at the “thief” and Paul returned the phone to his pocket. Paul thought this guy was gorgeous, and his heart was beating fast.

“Who are you?” Paul asked, a little less hysterically.

“I’m David, and you must be Paul. I’m renovating the guest room into a nursery for the new baby. Cheryl mentioned that you’d be shacking up in the master bedroom. I’m accelerating the renovation because the baby is arriving early. Childbirth has no set time requirements.”

“She never gave me a head’s up. I didn’t even know about you or the renovation.” Paul explained. “Please continue what you were doing, and I’ll get myself settled in Kyle and Cheryl’s bedroom.”

David was just as smitten as Paul, but nobody had told them that they were both gay. No matter. David knew immediately that the macho, handsome guy standing in front of him, was his brother and team mate. It had always been that way with Paul. He never had to out himself. Everyone seemed to know.

“Cheryl wasn’t sure when you would arrive,” David said, “so she asked me to stay with the kids until you showed up. I live right across the street.”

RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET! Now Paul was sure his heart would fail him. He didn’t even mind the expression ‘showed up.’ It accentuated his ineptness.

“David,” he said. “I have no clue what to do with the kids or for them. Would you stay just this once until after dinner?”

“No problem. I want to finish the nursery by tomorrow anyhow, so I’ll just continue to work. I’ll be glad to help you with the kids. I have three younger brothers. I helped raise them, so I’m a whiz with kids. I can’t wait to be a father. I’ve applied to adopt a child. Your dad has graciously promised to help me, like he helped Cheryl and Kyle but he’s not optimistic because I’m single.”

SINGLE! Paul felt his heart skip a beat. Silently, he advised himself to calm down. If only he knew that David’s inner voice was telling him the same thing.

Fickle fate had done its job. Now it was up to the interested parties to take advantage of fate’s good nature.

*****

At about two o’clock, David advised Paul to go down to the corner and meet the school bus. “Your niece will be thrilled,” he suggested.

“I’ll do that, but David will you help me out with something?”

“Sure, what can I do?” David would have done anything to be around Paul longer.

“I can’t cook if it means my life. I could take the kids out for dinner, but I would prefer to give them a home-cooked meal. Can you help me, and would you stay for dinner?”

“Sure. I love these kids. After James gets home, give him a glass of milk and cookies. He can help himself, but make sure he has his snack. At the same time, I’ll go to the supermarket, and get the ingredients for a great dinner for all of us.”

“Christ, you can cook also. You’re going to make someone a great husband.”

Paul meant it to be a compliment. He didn’t mean anything more than that. He still saw David as a one-night stand. He wouldn’t recognize love, if someone tattooed it on his forehead. Besides, he still had no idea that David was gay.

David heard a much deeper meaning in that statement. He gave Paul his most ingratiating grin, and hoped Paul was hitting on him. David had better gaydar than Paul, who was still in the dark regarding David’s sexual preferences.

Paul met Marnie at the bus stop. She was pleased and happy to see him there. When he came home, David smiled at him. “Good job,” David said. Paul wondered if he was being facetious, but David’s smile continued to enchant him.

“Can I have my milk and cookies?” Marnie asked.

“Cookie,” David corrected her.

He showed Paul where the cookie jar was, and took out a bottle of milk from the fridge.

“Put the cookie on a plastic plate,” David continued with his instructions. “They’re in that cabinet.” He pointed to the cabinet. “Glasses are in the cabinet above the sink, and the milk is on the counter.” The milk was in plain view, so Paul wondered if David was being facetious again. He didn’t care.

As Paul poured the milk,” David said, “I’m off to the supermarket to get us dinner. Don’t forget to pick up James, even if he doesn’t need picking up. And, Paul, you spilled some milk on those expensive Ferragamo shoes. You better wipe it up.”

“Oh thanks,” Paul said. “Hey, how did you know that the shoes were Ferragamo?”

David smiled, winked an eye, and smiled broadly at Paul as he left. That was his way of letting Paul know that he was gay, and now Paul knew for sure. What he didn’t know was what to do about it. He was severely in love with David, but these emotions were new to him. He was really sad.

*****

David made a delicious dinner of beef stew on wide noodles with plenty of brown gravy. Paul helped him. He was beginning to get the hang of things, and feeling much more relaxed. David served the dinner with sliced and buttered Italian bread. They had a fruit cup as an appetizer, and ice cream for dessert. As they were cleaning up, David looked at his watch.

“If you have to get on home,” Paul said, “I can clean up and get the kids ready for bed, or at least, get Marnie ready.”

“Neither of them needs help,” David informed Paul. “I was checking the time, because I have about two hours left to finish the nursery. I’d like to work on it this evening if you don’t mind. That way, I’ll feel better knowing that it’s ready before Carrie gets home.”

Paul wanted to say, “You can stay all night. I’d love that,” but all he said was, “I don’t mind at all.”

After both kids were in bed, and fast asleep, Paul went to the nursery to check on David.

“How are you doing?” Paul asked.

“Great. I’m finished. I’m just checking to make sure I didn’t miss a spot in the painting, and I need to come back tomorrow morning to varnish the shelves.”

“When you’re done,” Paul asked, “would you like a night cap? The kids are fast asleep.”

“I’m sorry, Paul,” David said. “I’ve got to get home.”

After David left, Paul started to weep. He tried hard to hold back his tears, but he was losing his battle. He had no idea what had come over him.

The next morning David arrived early to help Paul make breakfast for the kids. He showed Paul how to make pancakes, and how to decorate them with whipped cream. He also made sure they were prepared for school. He sent them out to the corner to wait for separate buses. That wasn’t so hard, Paul thought.

When David was finally finished with the nursery, he started to pack his supplies to go home.

“I’d like to take you and the kids out to dinner tonight to celebrate,” Paul said.

“What are we celebrating?” David asked.

Paul wanted desperately to say, “Our meeting each other like this,” but he said instead, “The new nursery.”

After David left, Paul went to the elementary school, and watched the Thanksgiving pageant. Marnie was an Indian. Then he ran to the middle school to watch James’s basketball game. James’s team won. Paul didn’t even realize how domestic he was being. He cheered louder than any of the other parents.

*****

That evening, they had a very festive dinner at a local restaurant, and David went home with Paul to help him get the kids ready for the night.

“You’re really mastering the art of parenthood,” David said.

Would you have that night cap with me?” Paul asked. “You turned me down yesterday.”

This time David accepted.

Paul grew bold. “The kids are fast asleep. Would you like to come back to my room with me?”

“No thanks,” David said, a little sadly.

“Why not? I thought we were starting something here.”

“I’m sorry, Paul,” David said. “I’m not into one-night stands, and you are.”

“I know you’re not. Neither am I anymore. David, honey, I like you a lot, no, I love you a lot. I’m not going to Aspen. I want to stay here and celebrate Thanksgiving with my family, our family.”

“What are you saying?” David asked. He was astonished.

“I’m saying that I love you; I don’t want to lose you; I want to marry you; I want to adopt a baby with you. I found out that I’m pretty good with kids, and I learned how to make pancakes, so I’m all set for fatherhood and domesticity. I even attended school events,” he said, laughing.

They ran to the master bedroom holding hands.They had no protection or lube so they searched the drawers in Kyle’s night table, but they couldn’t find any lube or condoms. Paul wondered if Kyle and Cheryl couldn’t conceive a child because they never had sex.

“I’ll be right back,” David said, and he ran across the street to get both lube and protection. They agreed to get tested soon, and drop the rubbers.

Paul closed the bedroom door securely, and began to strip. David followed suit, and they were naked in record time. Of course, they checked each other out. Paul was circumcised, but David wasn’t. Erect, they were both about eight, thick, hard, inches. Neither gave a damn about flaccid measurements.

They sucked each other alternately, always stopping at the point of no return. Nothing lasts forever, and eventually they both came. They swallowed everything that was spurted into their mouths, so there was no mess on Cheryl and Kyle’s bed. They turned toward each other, and hugged tightly. Paul began to sob with happiness. He cried at sad movies also.

David went home at about 2 AM. They never did use condoms. Anal sex would have to wait for the next time. They didn’t know when Cheryl and Kyle would be home, and they didn’t want to be found in their bed, naked and wrapped up together.

In fact, the baby was born just as David was leaving. Early in the morning, Cheryl called Paul. “We have another baby,” she cried. “We’ll be leaving Buffalo late this evening, and we intend to drive all night so you can go to Aspen on time, and we can spend Thanksgiving with our family.”

Paul was thrilled to have another day with David. Suddenly, he realized that he would have every day with David, and his tears flowed more plentiful than ever.

Happily, Ever After

Cheryl and Kyle drove all night. They wanted to be home for Thanksgiving. They arrived at about seven in the morning. Paul was up even earlier, making breakfast for his niece and nephew. The happy couple came in through a door in the garage which led directly into the kitchen. Surprise! Paul’s father, Bob, was with them. When his family saw Paul in domestic mode, they were awestruck.

They all embraced him, and Paul oohed and aahed over the beautiful little girl. James and Marnie came bounding into the kitchen, and they didn’t know who to kiss first.

“Will you be godfather again?” Cheryl asked.

“You can bet on it.”

“And Paul,” Cheryl added. “We’re giving Carrie a middle name. It’s Paula. It was the only way we knew to express our love and our gratitude.”

That did it. Paul’s floodgates opened. He wanted to kick himself for isolating himself from his family all these years. He had so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Immediately, the three men assembled the crib, which was last used by Marnie., and they brought a nursing chair into the nursery. They left Cheryl alone to feed the baby, and do all the nasty things one does with a newborn baby.

About nine in the morning, David saw Kyle’s car in his driveway. He ran right over, and begged Cheryl and Kyle, their children, and Paul and Bob, to have Thanksgiving dinner with his family in his parents’ home.

He corrected himself, “I mean our family.”

He went over to Paul and they kissed passionately, further astonishing everyone present.

“As my mother said,” David laughed, “there’ll be so many people, nobody will notice a few more.”

David’s mother served buffet style. There were at least two dozen people at the dinner. Paul just kept trying to hold back tears, tears of joy. He and David left the party for a short while to take Bob to the airport for his flight home. When the three men were alone, Bob graciously said to his sons,“ Your youthful dreams might have been different than what most boys yearn for, but you’ve realized them nonetheless. I couldn’t be happier for you, for both of you. Take good care of each other, and don’t let a very blessed thing slip away from you. Of course, Paul began to cry again.

“Thanks Pop,” he said. “I really appreciate that.

Then David asked Bob if he had heard anything from the adoption agency. He hadn’t.

“I have better contacts with lawyers whose clients have unwed, pregnant, teenage daughters, who want to adopt out their babies. I think I’d be more successful taking that route,” Bob said.

“No thanks,” David said, surprising Paul and his father. “I’d never buy a dog from a pet store. I would want to rescue a dog, and give him a good life. By the same token, I want to rescue an unwanted child.”

“Yes, I agree,” Paul said.

Bobby

No more than a week later, while Paul was busy moving into David’s house, David got a call from Bob.

“I think I have a little two-year-old boy for you,” Bob said. “Unfortunately, nobody wants him, and you said you wanted to rescue a child.Some heartless person abandoned him in a fire station. The poor kid doesn’t know what’s happening to him.”

“Why doesn’t anyone want him?” David asked warily.

“Believe me, David, he’s beautiful, but he’s stone deaf. He was born that way.”

Both Paul and David had often explained to people that they didn’t choose to be gay. They were born that way. They both cringed when Bob said that the boy was born that way.

“Hold on a minute, Bob.” David said. Why are?

“Did you hear your father?” David asked Paul.

“Yes, I did, dear hear,you hesitate. There’s a scared, lonely, little boy out there, who needs a loving family.”

*****

The happy twosome had a quickie wedding at the courthouse, so that they could adopt the hapless boy together. They planned on a big celebration when they brought him home.

The adoption entailed an unusual amount of paperwork. Finally, three days before Christmas, David and Paul drove up to Buffalo to rescue a beautiful little boy. They named him after Paul’s father, Robert Farmer O’Conner. As soon as the boy came home with them, all three of them began to study sign language.

There were even more people at the O'Connor's house for Christmas, than were there at Thanksgiving. Everyone fussed over little Bobby, and his even smaller cousin, Carrie. Nobody was more effusive in showing them love, than David’s mother. Neither little Bobby nor his father, Paul, had ever experienced so much love in their whole lives.

Life is truly stranger than fiction, and maybe God does work in mysterious ways. All it took for Paul Farmer to turn his life around completely, and find happiness, was three days of baby-sitting, and a little boy named Bobby.

 

(Five Years Later)

Bobby’s Choice

Five years ago, Paul Farmer was enlightened by the universe. He had a whopper of an epiphany. He learned what love is, and what it isn’t. It’s not screwing a twinkie to the bed as often as physically allowed. It’s coming home every night to your soul mate, and to your family. It’s being surrounded by an extended family as well, and absorbing their love, and returning it. It’s being made to feel safe and secure by all these people. It’s wanting to live.

In fact, not only did Paul’s enlightenment change his home life, it changed his business life also. Although he had always been a playboy, he diligently concentrated on being a lawyer, and he was a good one. He reserved his playing for weekends and frequent vacations.

Despite that, after his enlightenment, he came into his office one day, and wished very strongly that he could pick up and go home to where his true life was. He wanted to hug David and his kids; even his dog. That day, he did what his husband had once done. He quit.

His client base was large enough that he could make a living. He found a small office in midtown Manhattan and went out on his own. He had to remain a lawyer; it was all he knew. He didn’t have multiple skills like his husband did. However, as a sole practitioner, he would not be a slave to the clock. If it was still early in the day, and he had no more appointments, he could leave and go home. If his workload was light, or could be deferred, he could leave the office and go home to his sanctuary. He found a way to practice his profession, and still have more time for his family and for love.

After he met David, he was a happy man. Now that he found balance in his life, he was a happier man.

Paul and David met several years ago. He and David had a hurried marriage so they could adopt a little boy together. Providence gave them Bobby, a truly rescued child. Bobby was born profoundly deaf, and he was abandoned in a fire station when he was two years old. He was now seven, and was growing into a beautiful athletic child. He could sign expertly, and he attended a school for the deaf. An IQ test at school determined that Bobby was a genius. His dads could not be prouder. Paul and David discovered another talent that Bobby possessed. They realized that he could read lips.

Two years ago, when Bobby was five, David and Paul were able to adopt (rescue) a little Asian girl. They named her Lily. She too had been abandoned, but she had no physical disabilities. She was beautiful, and the Farmer-O’Conner household could not be happier, nor more content. They were surrounded by a large, loving family, and help was always available. Babysitters were no problem either. David had several teen-aged cousins always willing to sit, and Paul’s niece was a tween now. David’s mother was his fallback sitter.

At about the time the men adopted Lily, they rescued a cute little puppy, who they named Mutt. They felt that a dog for their children was needed to complete their domestic dreams.

*****

Late one beautiful spring afternoon, Paul Farmer was just showing a client out of his office. It was a little too early to go home, but he had no other clients in his appointment book that day. Practicing his new philosophy, he decided to go home early. Every minute he spent with his husband and his children was precious to him.

Just as Paul was getting ready to leave the office, his phone rang. His secretary, Jerri, advised him to hold up.

“David’s on the line,” she said, and Paul picked up the phone on his desk.

Jerri had been with him since he began his career, and she followed him when he opened his own office. She was an attractive, longtime lesbian friend. Recently, she had married after several disastrous liaisons. She attributed her change of heart to Paul’s happiness, when he abandoned his bachelorhood.

“Hi Hubby,” Paul said with a smile in his voice. “What’s up? I’m just leaving for the day. I’ll be home early.”

“Then I’m glad I caught you. My mom’s watching Lily and Mutt, and I’m in the city with Bobby. I can drive you home, or we can have dinner here. Your choice.”

Paul got concerned. “What are you doing here?” he asked. “Why isn’t Bobby in school?”

“Well, I have really big news, and I want to tell you face to face.”

“Okay. Come to my office. I’ll wait for you, and then we can decide what to do.”

“What was that all about?” Jerri asked.

“I have no idea,” Paul answered, “but I have to hang around the office, so you can leave early, if you’d like.”

“I’m not leaving until I find out what’s going on,” she said adamantly. Jerri considered herself a member of the family.

About a half hour later, David and Bobby came bounding into the office. They both kissed Paul, and as a courtesy, they kissed Jerri as well. Jerri could not stop hugging Bobby.

It was Jerri who finally asked, “What’s the big news?”

“If we stay in town,” David said, “I can tell you what’s happening over a nice leisurely gourmet dinner. Do I have any takers?”

All three of them raised their hands.

It was a little early for dinner, so after they were seated, David ordered cocktails for the three adults, and a Sprite for Bobby. When the waiter came with the drinks, David told him that he would order dinner when they finished their drinks.”

“Well?” Paul asked.

“Talk!” Jerri demanded.

“Last month, when I picked up Bobby at school one day, his teacher, Mrs. Haberman, asked to speak to me privately.”

Paul interrupted. “He didn’t do anything wrong, did he?”

David looked irritated. “No questions, please, until I’m finished. Then all your questions will be answered.”

“Mrs. Haberman told me that the fire alarm had been triggered in the school just the day before. Fortunately, it was a false alarm.”

“What good is a fire alarm, if all the kids are deaf?” Paul asked.

“If you interrupt me one more time, I’m going to keep my news a secret,” David said in exasperation.

Paul made a motion like he was zipping his lips.

“The alarm is for the teachers, Bozo, not the kids. Can I continue now?” he asked. Jerri and Paul nodded.

“You’re right about one thing,” David said. “None of the kids heard the alarm, but Bobby stood up. He looked all around him. Mrs. Haberman said that he had a look on his face that said he heard something, but he had no idea what it was he was hearing. She doesn’t believe that he heard the alarm, but he heard something.”

Despite herself, Jerri mumbled, “Wow.”

Paul managed to mumble his favorite idiotic expression, “Shut the front door.”

“Mrs. Haberman told me about new methods for helping hearing impaired people,” David went on. “One method is a cochlear implant in one ear or both. She gave me the name of a doctor, who is an expert in this kind of surgery, and he has a clinic, not far from your office. His surgery is right in the clinic. I didn’t want to tell anyone until I spoke to the doctor, and he could confirm that Bobby was a candidate for this kind of surgery.”

“You could have told me,” Paul moaned.

“You were the last person I would tell. Not only would you fill yourself with false hope, you’d go announcing it to the whole family. I wanted to keep it to myself until I knew if Bobby was a candidate for the operation. I made an appointment with Dr. Cartwright, and Bobby and I just left his office.”

“What did he say?” Jerri asked. Paul was speechless.

“He ran all kinds of tests, and determined that the nerves in Bobby’s ears are not completely dead. That means the implant device could stimulate those nerves, and Bobby might hear.”

Paul did what he always did when he became emotional, he started to cry.

“The bottom line is,” David said dramatically, “Bobby is a good candidate for that surgery.”

Paul found his voice. “That’s a big decision to make. Don’t you think we should wait until Bobby is old enough to decide for himself?”

Bobby began to sign rapidly, and Paul had trouble following him. He also forgot that his son was a genius.

“I’m plenty old enough to know what’s going on,” Bobby signed, “and I’ve already told Dr.Cartwright that I want the operation. I want both ears.”

Paul threw up his arms in defeat. He forgot to sign, and blurted out, “Whatever you want, Bobby.” His son read his lips.

“Our insurance only covers one implant,” David said, “But I’m sure we can come up with the money. We’ll make it happen. If our son can hear, it’s worth every penny we have.”

Paul grabbed David’s hand, and nodded. Of course, he was crying anew.

Can we order dinner now?” Bobby signed. “I haven’t eaten all day. I’m starved.”

Before David called the waiter, he said, “Paul, the three of us have an appointment with the doctor at the clinic on Monday morning. You better clear your calendar.”

"Done"

*****

After dinner, they drove home, and picked up Lily and their dog first. They agreed not to tell David’s mother anything yet.

“Until we know the date of the implants,” David said, “let it be our secret.”

“Agreed,” Paul said, even though he was dying to tell the world.

Whenever Paul and David got excited about something, they couldn’t wait to go to bed, and demonstrate the love they have for each other. Lily was half asleep when they finally got home, but Bobby rebelled at going to bed until he watched Jeopardy! The quiz show was long over, but the little genius had taped it.

He loved the show, not only because it stimulated his brain, but because the questions (in this case, the answers) were printed across the whole screen. All the TVs in the house had closed-caption subtitles. Even so, the camera always faced the contestants when they responded, and Bobby could read their lips.

Halfway through the show, Bobby realized why his dads were so anxious to get him into bed. He was a brilliant boy, and mature beyond his years. By the time he was five he realized the relationship between Paul and David. He researched everything he could about homosexuality. Nothing on his computer was blocked.

When a kid realizes that his mother and father are “doing it,” he’s usually grossed out. Bobby was born straight, and would always be straight. He should have been more grossed out than other kids, but he wasn’t. Every time his parents made love, Bobby was comforted to know that his home life was safe and secure. He had suffered one traumatic separation in his life, and didn’t care to face another. He finally realized during the show that his dads wanted to make love, so immediately it was over, he got himself ready for bed, kissed his dads and disappeared.

After Paul walked Mutt, he and David rushed to their bedroom. They undressed rapidly and hurried into their bathroom to shower. When the temperature of the water suited them, they stepped into the shower. They did rim and suck intermittently, but basically, they did what showers were meant to do. They got themselves squeaky clean.

After they dried themselves, they jumped into bed. Facing each other, they began to kiss passionately, and they ground their cocks together.

“Nice,” David said.

“Lie on your back,” Paul demanded of David. “Tonight, I’m doing all the work. It’s a present to you for doing all this for Bobby, for us.”

David obliged his husband, and Paul immediately went about giving David a trip around the world, which lasted over an hour. David was squirming and whimpering.

“Get to the grand finale,” he yelled, “I’m going to cum.”

Paul gobbled David’s manhood into his mouth, and after a very few strokes, David emptied into his husband. As was to be expected, Paul began to cry. David was quite used to it.

“Okay weepy,” David said, “if you don’t fuck me, I’m not going to be a happy camper, so get to it.”

This time, Paul was happy to oblige David.

Their bedroom door was closed, but Bobby knew what was going on. He fell asleep, content in the knowledge that his dads loved each other. Suddenly, he got a crazy thought. He wondered, if after the implants, he would be able to hear them making love.

 

A Momentous Day

Bobby, and his two dads, arrived at Dr. Cartwright’s office precisely at 9 AM. They didn’t hurry because they assumed there would be an hour’s wait in the waiting room. That’s what always marked the beginning of any doctor visit. Once again, assumptions were inaccurate. The minute they arrived they were ushered into the doctor’s office. They had expected to be shown into an examining room, but that was already behind them. Bobby had been well examined previously. The doctor shook all their hands including Bobby’s. The boy felt very grown-up and important. It wasn’t often that anyone shook the hand of a seven-year-old. Paul got an extra greeting.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Dr. Cartwright said.

The good doctor offered them a drink, which they all declined. He was aware that Bobby read lips, so he tried to stare directly at his little patient as he spoke.

“I’ve scheduled Bobby’s surgery for 10 AM a week from tomorrow,” he said. “Be here at the clinic no later than 8 AM, so we’ll have plenty of time to prep him and complete all the legal documents. All I’m going to do today is go through the procedure with the dads this morning, so you’ll know what to expect.”

Paul and David nodded their heads. The doctor was surprised that Bobby nodded also. He was studying the doctor’s lips intently.

“The procedure is straightforward. It lasts one to two hours for one ear, so you can double that for two ears. Bobby should be back on his feet the very next day. He might have to stay here an extra day or two. It’s more typical that you will take him home the next day, Wednesday.

“Don’t expect miraculous results. The implants need to be activated. After the surgery, I’ll make a date for you with my audiologist. The big day will be about four weeks after surgery. On “activation day,” she’ll turn on the audio processor for the first time, and Bobby will hear his first sounds. The audio settings of his processor will be adjusted to fit his hearing preferences.

“After activation, it’s important to follow up with a rehabilitation program so that Bobby can adapt to hearing through the cochlear implants. Rehab is essential to make the most out of the implants. I’ll set you up with the best speech-language therapist I know. The therapist can also arrange for home listening exercises.

“One final thing,” Cartwright said, “in addition to the implants, Bobby might have to wear hearing aids in one or both ears. However, that’s not very likely. Anyway, today’s technologically improved devices are practically invisible.”

Looking straight at Bobby, the doctor asked, “Do you have any questions?” All three family members shook their heads.

“Okay then, you’re free to leave. If you have any questions later, please don’t hesitate to call me. One final warning, “Don’t be late next Tuesday. We have a big day.”

They had been too nervous and excited to eat breakfast that morning, so Paul took them to a coffee shop, and they had brunch. Then David dropped Paul off at his office, and he and Bobby drove home.

At his mother’s home, David and Bobby were greeted with hugs and kisses by Lily, Mutt, and his mother. She wanted to hear all about it. David filled her in, then at long last, David broke down, and he started to blubber. Mrs. O’Connor wrapped him in her mothering arms.

When he settled down, he went home with his children and Mutt. As soon as he was out of the house, Mrs. O’Connor called Paul.

“Paul darling,” she said. “I’m afraid David’s nerves have caught up with him. He’s sobbing his heart out. Do you think you can come home? He needs you.”

“Yes, Mom,” Paul said. “I’m with a client now. As soon as he leaves, I’ll be on my way. I’ll have Jerri cancel all my remaining appointments for today.”

A couple of hours later, Paul bounded into the house, and he and David fell into each other’s arms. They were both sobbing. Then they embraced their children in a group hug. Mutt tried to get in on the action.

For the first time since they met, they didn’t wish to calm their excited souls by making love. Their emotions had really gotten the best of them.

 

The Surgery

As soon as Bobby was wheeled away to be prepped, a handsome young surgical assistant handed David a clip board with a batch of papers to fill out and sign. The papers were at least an inch thick.

“Look,” he said, “the procedure won’t begin for another two hours, and it will take 2 to 4 hours after that for Bobby to be out of surgery. There’s nothing you can do here, so when you complete the paperwork, go someplace and relax. Have breakfast, if you haven’t already. If you have, then go get a cup of coffee.”

The dads wanted to sit in the waiting room, but they decided to heed the young man’s advice. They completed the paperwork in about an hour, then they went to a coffee shop, and dawdled over brunch and several cups of coffee. They finally got back to the clinic about noon, and began their vigil.

Dr. Cartwright came out of the surgery at about 12:45 to speak to them. He was smiling and they relaxed. Both procedures together took about two hours and forty-five minutes, and the fathers thought that was a very good sign.

“The procedure went according to the textbook, and Bobby is doing just fine,” the doctor said. “He’s a real trooper. He’s awake, but he’ll be in recovery for about an hour. When they take him out of the recovery room, you can go see him.”

Bobby had a bed in a ward like setting. There were no private rooms at the clinic. He smiled broadly at his dads when he saw them. They hugged him and he signed, “It was a piece of cake.”

Satisfied that all was well, they went home and made love through most of the night.

As Dr. Cartwright had promised, they took Bobby home the following afternoon. By Thursday, everything was back to normal. Nothing had changed yet. Bobby went to school, and Lily went to a daycare center.

Bobby drew a calendar, which he hung on his bedroom wall. Every evening, before he went to bed, he marked off another day. He was counting the days to “activation day.”

Inquisitive Bobby discovered yet another source of knowledge. Many of Paul’s law school textbooks were on the shelves of their library/den. Out of curiosity, Bobby pulled a book off the shelf. It was entitled “Contracts.” Bobby could read at a high school level, and he started to read the book. He was fascinated by it, and became totally absorbed in the contents. Every night, when he went to bed, he closed his door, and read the book half through the night. By “activation day,” Bobby had read at least half of the textbooks. He decided then and there that he was going to be a lawyer like Grandpa Bob, and Daddy Paul.

Because Bobby went to bed so early to do his secret reading, David and Paul were able to make more and more uninhibited love. Everybody was winning.

Activation Day

Bobby was alone with the audiologist on “activation day.” She didn’t want the parents around as a distraction. Bobby, who is usually composed, was edgy and nervous. During the past month, he had researched everything he could find on the net about cochlear implants. He knew what to expect, and vowed not to be disappointed when success failed to be instantaneous. He knew that he would have to go through an extended period of speech and hearing therapy.

The audiologist was a slim, attractive woman named Veronica. She could sign, but she also knew that Bobby could read her lips. That would be easier for her, so she made sure he faced her.

“Okay Bobby,” Veronica said. “This is it. I’m going to activate each device one at a time. Are you familiar with the concept of sound being too loud or too indistinct?”

Bobby signed, “Yes.”

“Great. I’m going to start the volume very softly and increase it gradually. Raise your right arm when you hear something, anything.”

At first, Bobby remained in his soundless universe. Suddenly, he was aware of something. The poor boy did not realize that it was sound, but a humming noise got louder, and Bobby threw up an arm. He was so excited that he nearly jumped out of his chair. Veronica stopped raising the volume.

“That’s wonderful,” she smiled. “Now, I’m going to raise the volume slowly. When the sound gets too loud, you’ll be uncomfortable. Let me know immediately, and I’ll lower the sound until you feel comfortable. Do you understand?”

Bobby signed, “yes.”

Since the surgery, he was afraid to shake or nod his head. He had an unwarranted fear of somehow disturbing the implants. In time, he would get over that fear. Veronica kept adjusting the volume until Bobby informed her that he was comfortable with the sound.

She gave him a little hug. “You’re doing great,” she said, and repeated the process with the other ear.

Finally, she turned off the humming sound, and told Bobby that she was going to talk to him now. Bobby tensed, so she hugged him again, and he relaxed.

Veronica held up a plaque. She knew that Bobby could read her lips, but she wanted to give him a double whammy. The plaque read, “My name is Robert. Everyone calls me Bobby.”

She repeated the words over and over until Bobby was crying like Daddy Paul. Then she held up another plaque. It read, “My sister’s name is Lily, and my dog is named, Mutt.” She spoke those words repeatedly, and Bobby changed from crying to smiling.

Bobby heard the sound like a robotic instrument. There was no modulation, but he expected that. He had done his research. Nonetheless, Veronica explained it to him.

“Speech therapy will teach you to modulate your speech, and hearing exercises will even allow you to hear some modulation. Do you understand?”

Bobby heard her and read her lips, so he signed, “Yes, I do.”

“Your sessions with the speech therapist have already been scheduled, “Veronica informed Bobby. “His name is Ricardo. Everyone calls him Ricky. Maybe he’ll be able to teach you a little Spanish also. You and he will be working together three afternoons a week after school. He’s a nice guy. You’ll like him.”

The activation process lasted two and a half hours. Bobby and Veronica went into the waiting room. Paul and David jumped up, and she gave them a thumbs up.

“Watch what you say,” she joked. “Bobby can hear you. He might not understand right now, but he will in time. I gave him his first exercise. He read my lips, so he understood the sounds that went with it. He learns fast. He already understands a few simple sentences. You can practice the process at home.”

She turned to Bobby, and said, “I’m going to speak to you. Don’t read my lips. I’ll turn away. I want you to sign what I say to your dads. Understand?”

Bobby signed, “Yes.”

Veronica said, “My name is Robert. Everyone calls me Bobby.”

The genius that was Bobby signed back perfectly. Both fathers began to cry, but Paul was inconsolable.

“I can’t wait to start speech therapy,” Bobby signed, and that gave Paul a smile.

In the car going home, Bobby tapped Paul on the shoulder. Paul was in the front seat, and turned to look at him.

“I hear strange noises,” he signed.

“I think you hear horns honking. Sound the horn, David honey.”

David sounded the horn, and Bobby signed, “That’s it.” He smiled and Paul cried.

“I’ll go to bed early tonight,” he signed to Paul.

“Why?”

Bobby winked at Paul. Now Paul was laughing.

“You little devil,” he signed.

Bobby’s real motive was to determine if he could hear his dads making love.

Speech and Hearing Therapy

Ricardo Rodriguez was aware that he was about to begin working with a boy who had been deaf all his life. More importantly, he was being raised by two dads. Ricky was straight, but he admired Bobby’s fathers for all they had done for the boy. He looked forward to meeting them.

David brought Bobby around after school for his first session. It would last two hours, and would be Ricky’s final session of the day. Then David would drive Bobby and Paul home. That was to be their life for the foreseeable future.

As usual, Ricky apologized, but asked David to wait in the waiting room. He took out a small miniature xylophone type of instrument, and struck different notes with a little hammer. Although the sound was still robotic, Bobby could recognize the different tones.

Ricky explained that when people spoke, their language modulated at different levels just like the tones. He promised Bobby that he was going to learn to speak with modulation in his voice.

“Whenever you speak,” Ricky said, “I’ll play a tone, and I want you to match the words to the tones I play.”

Without thinking, Bobby nodded, and he was pleased to realize that the implants did not move. They stayed intact.

First, we’re going to teach you how to make sounds. Then I’m going to teach you to say a couple of words which will make your fathers jump for joy.

Two hours later, Ricky took Bobby into the waiting room. David jumped up. Concern was written all over his face.

“Okay Bobby,” Ricky said, looking straight at the boy. “Tell your father what I taught you.”

Bobby smiled, opened his mouth, and said, “Daddy, I love you.” There was some modulation in his tone. It wasn’t perfect, but eventually Bobby would practice until all his speaking was delivered with modulation. In time, it became perfect.

David grabbed Ricky, and hugged him. Both men could feel their packages, but neither gave a damn. Occasionally, the family had dinner in the city, especially when a session ran overtime. When that happened, David asked Rickey to join them. He never said no.

Bobby worked hard, and he got better and better. The next school year, his dads enrolled him in the elementary school that all their family had gone to, or were still attending. Bobby was thrilled. No teacher or student suspected that he had a disability.

Ricky became a good friend of the family, and he often had Sunday dinner at the O’Conner’s. One of David’s cousins lived at home and attended The College of New Rochelle. She and Ricky began dating, and soon enough, Ricky became a real member of the family. David, Paul, and Bobby could not be more pleased.

When Bobby graduated high school, he was the class valedictorian and nearly two years younger than his peers. Not a soul in the auditorium was aware of his history. Paul and David sat gripping their hands together. They should have beamed with pride, but they were crying too hard.

Bobby attended NYU and then Fordham Law. He clerked for his father during law school, and he worked for a prestigious law firm after graduation, but eventually, he took over his dad’s practice. He wanted more time to spend with his wife, three kids, and a dog, in Hartsdale, NY. He had been well indoctrinated in the importance and magic of family.