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- 06/16/2021
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Adam Blake - 75. Chapter 75
We sat on the porch, Dad and George sat on the swing, I sat on the steps with the boys. Marie brought limeade for us and beers for Dad and George. I got a kiss with my limeade. It was a quiet night, you could hear the crickets and every once in a while, a fish splashing in the lake.
I was sitting in the middle and I had a boy on each side of me. Billy, being Billy, cuddled up to my side, I looked at Johnny and pulled him into a cuddle on my other side. I heard a sniffle but ignored it. We sat like that quietly drinking our limeade, listening to the sounds of the night. It was peaceful and relaxing. Marie came out and said they were going home, I walked her to George’s car, kissed her goodnight. Walking back to the porch, Mom and Dad had turned in. I checked the time, “Boys, 4:30 tomorrow.”
That got them up, bathroom all and we headed to bed. I couldn’t fall asleep, Johnny sniffle bothered me. These boys away from their parents, their families because their role in life has already been defined. There has to be a way for them to feel loved even if they are away from their parents. It took me a while to fall asleep and it seemed I no sooner fell asleep when there was a banging on my door. I checked the time, it was 4:30, I forgot to set my alarm.
I opened the door dressed, Johnny and Billy were laughing. I messed their hair as we headed for our orange juice and the big run. “Boys, it’s a long run, so be sure you do a good warm-up.”
“The lake doesn’t look that big.”
“That’s what I thought also.”
“Let’s go,” we started slow, building to a comfortable pace. It wasn’t necessary to run fast, this was a long run and a steady pace was more important. I looked at the boys, I loved this.
As we ran, we chatted. General stuff nothing crucial or critical. When we finally reached Marie’s house, she met us with a bottle of water, we yelled thanks and kept running, at the bottom of the lake, it empties into a small creek. To run to a place to cross the creek, you are almost in town and actually, you have to run around the town or through the town before you can start back to the cabin. I’ve cheated and ran to Marie’s clinic and then rode back, but I couldn’t do that today.
Running through the town there were some jeers, but we kept on. Soon we cleared the town and started on the road back to the cabin, we ran straight, the road had a lot of twists and turns. I looked at the boys, they were doing ok. “Ok guys, from here to the cabin cool down.”
I let Billy set the pace for the cool down. Reaching the cabin, Mom, Marie and Dad were on the porch watching us. Cooldown exercise, and then, looking at each other we headed to the lake, I wasn’t sure Johnny could swim so I stayed close to him. He was doing ok, he was staying close to me. Billy swam to the middle, I went as far as I could lay down and still keep my head up. Johnny laid down and I told him to lay so his head on my stomach. We kicked our legs, which allowed us to cool off our muscles some more.
“How do you feel?”
“My legs are a little sore”
“When we get back to the cabin, I’ll use some heat on your legs and that’ll help relax the muscles. I’ll show you the map and you can see how far you ran."
“This is nice, I guess it’s a getaway for you from us.”
“No, Johnny not from the Knights, I couldn’t love you boys anymore if I was your father. This place allows me to think, think about what I can do to make it easier for you, make it fun for you, make you want to learn, and have pride in what you do and accomplish. I need some time to think about your needs, and how to address them. This cabin provides that for me. Besides the hot babe that lives over there.” Saying that I tickle him.
Billy swam over to us, “Adam, I think we're ready for a hot massage.
He was right, I helped Johnny up, putting my arm around him leading him to the porch. Dad had laid out the mats, Mom had set the liniment next to them. Billy began to apply the liniment to his calf muscles. “Johnny, lie here on your belly.”
I began to massage his leg muscle using the liniment. I could feel his muscles starting to relax. “Ok, go and take a hot shower, as hot as you can stand, and make sure it hits your leg muscles.”
Billy came over and laid down, we have done this many times and he knew what to do. “Why did he have tears in his eyes?”
“He’s away from his family, he envies you, but he doesn’t realize it. All the boys at the school are being groomed to be world leaders, but they are boys, they need love just like you and Scotty. Who can give that to them? They study five languages, they study governments, plus the normal curricula for high school students. It’s a hard curriculum, they are in class from 8:30 till 5:00 with a one-hour break to eat. It’s a rough row to hoe if you are 11 or 12.”
“How do you do it? I know you, Uncle Adam, I was with you when you went to help those kids.”
“It’s hard, Johnny asked me why I didn’t spend all my time at the school. I told him I need a place to plan for them. You know sometimes, when you’re in the thick of something, you need to step back and take a breath. But I think that’s going to come to an end. I’ll bet I’ll have a car full of kids coming here every weekend until school is out.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think about that when I asked Johnny to come with me.”
“Don’t be sorry, it would happen sooner or later.”
“I love you, Uncle Adam”
“I love you too, Billy”
“Do you want me to put liniment on your legs?”
“That would be great.”
“I heard what you told those boys, I even heard what you told Johnny when you were in the lake. Voices carry over the water. I’m glad I picked you.”
“Wait, I thought I picked you.”
“Nope, your dad and my dad made a pact before they were married, their children would marry.”
“Then I’m glad you’re a woman and not a man. Ouch, you slap hard.”
“Uncle Adam the shower is free."
"Thanks, Billy.”
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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