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    CLJobe
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Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
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. 

Amafi Coast - 9. Chapter 9

Thanksgiving, Mom had prepared a huge turkey with all of the trimmings. I explained why we celebrated Thanksgiving. I found a few history books in the attic and gave them to the boys to read. They were in English; my job was to help translate to Italian so they’d get the gist of what they were reading.

Then we had Christmas shopping to do.

Sis helped by taking one of the boys with Geno as a translator. I took the other boys and explained what we were doing. When the boy Sis had finished, he returned to the group, and another boy went off. We had lunch in the food court, hamburgers, and fries with an ice cream soda. Can’t beat it.

As the days drew closer to Christmas, the excitement grew. The tree was up and decorated; the outside had a few color lights. Sis explained Santa Claus; the boys said no, it’s Babbo Natale and explained that they get gifts on January 6 from La Befana. I let Geno explained what each of those people did.

The boys were happy to accept the American Santa Claus. Clothes, books, along with a few games, were scattered all over the living room floor.

 

New Years’ Eve we stayed up and watched the ball drop in Times Square. That was our intention; the boys fell asleep. They did watch the parade on New Year’s Day.

On the second, we started to pack to go home. I had to buy two new suitcases and a barbecue grill to be mailed to us. Sis made us promise to be here for her wedding and to make sure she would have the boys participating.

We left in the evening on the third, but we had to have an American pizza for dinner that night. Geno knew all about the American food we enjoyed during our stay. The other boys hadn’t been to America, and so this was all new to them.

The flight home was great. The boys were very polite and slept most of the way. Arriving in Rome, we took the train and headed south to our home on the Amalfi Coast. The boys hit their beds and didn’t wake till the next morning.

When they awoke, I fixed them breakfast. “Boys, you need to unpack and put the clothes aside that need washing.”

“Papa, could I go to college in America?”

“Why would you want to go to college there?”

“Nona said I could stay with her, and Nonno said I could attend college at your college.”

Laughing, “Yes, if that’s what you want, but you must spend some time here with your brothers and me.” My mom and sister have been influencing my boys.

La Befana brought the boys’ wristwatches. I had their names engraved on the back. They were surprised and all in all, they probably had more gifts than they have ever had or could imagine.

When we went to the docks for dinner, the boys had to show our Captain their watches. After New Year’s, our life returned to normal. We went to our home in Rome, I went to work, and the boys went to school.

 

We made one trip home in June for the wedding. The boys looked sharp in their suits. Then back to Rome and back to school for the boys. I had hired tutors to get them caught up to age-appropriate grades. This summer, they should start school in the fall at the appropriate grade for their age.

Our life became somewhat routine. We spent the month of August in our home on the Amalfi Coast. We spent the end of the year holidays in America with my mom and dad. While I worked, the boys attended school.

Then the first of my sons, Roberto, left home to go to college in the States. He did stay with mom and dad, occupying my old bedroom. He decided to study chemistry. I encouraged him to think about continuing until he had at least his Master’s degree.

Two years later, Roberto was joined by his brother Mario. Mario wasn’t sure what he would major in. I encouraged him to take general courses the first year, and once he had a feel for the various majors being offered to make his selection. Roberto said he would look after him. The boys at home missed their brothers, and when they came home for the August break, they were plied with questions after questions. Dad made sure they had a gift for the boys at home. Holiday time in the States provided another time for us to be together.

The following year, Luca and Nico joined their brothers in the States. It seemed they were all migrating to the universities in the States. Roberto decided he would stay on campus, which left Mario, Luca, and Nico staying with Mom and Dad. Dad hinted that Roberto might have a girlfriend.

I was getting old, and my family was living on two different continents. I think my decision to retire came when Geno headed to the University in Milano. He decided he wanted to be a teacher, and it made sense for him to go to the University in Milano. Now I was alone, but not unhappy, the boys kept me informed, and I made it a habit to see them at least once every other month, and August was still spent together. Only there was one difference, Roberto brought his girlfriend home.

After I retired, Angelo kept in contact. About once a month, he would come and see me, we’d sit at the cafe where I met Geno and relive our times together. We would have dinner on the dock, and I’d chat with a retired boat captain.

Copyright © 2020 CLJobe; All Rights Reserved.
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Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
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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Chapter Comments

I like the story a lot I'm just wondering I don't think anybody was gay in this story.I guess it's not a requirement on this site but I think this is the first story I read here where that was the case.Still a good story 

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A story like this is needed periodically to let us hope that this type of people exist.  It is inspiring and warming.  Thank you for sharing this!

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Sounds like Thomas managed quite well, as a single dad, raising 6 wonderful boys who are now excelling in life. I would've luv'd to have seen the look on his mom's face when she realized she had 6 grandsons and thought she may never have any from Thomas' side. My my my how one does surprise sometimes, 😉

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It seems you're getting close to wrapping up. (and this is the point where my editor role kicks in to include 'continuity' and gets a bit lengthy).

With this pre-epilogue (?) , Thomas starts tallying up his life, recalling important life moments, starting with him  discovering 10-year old Geno being rejected by his church asking for some food, Thomas' heart both broke a little, and opened a lot.

Geno accepted a meal from Thomas, but was clear he didn't want to do 'those things' (giving his body and soul to men to whom he meant nothing other than sex).

After being adopted, and visiting America, Thomas and 11-year old Geno return to Italy and come across five of his 'street family' boys also looking for a meal. The oldest, 14-yeat old Roberto had been one of Geno's protectors. These boys ask about also being sons. 

With the adoptions done, Thomas takes them to his work apartment in Rome where he adds 2 sets of bunk beds to sleep the other 4 sons. And when Thomas takes all his sons home to meet their Nonna and Nonno, he talks about five grandsons.

According to all previous chapters :read: Thomas adopted Geno at age 10. One year later Geno asked Thomas to let him buy dinner for his friends, street 'brothers' and protectors: "Marco (no age indicated but guessing 13), Roberto - the oldest at 14 and his real brother Mario - 13, Luca and Nico - 12.

After the meal, when Geno explained to his 'bothers' how he came to be adopted, Geno asked Thomas to adopt them and offered to help Thomas pay the expenses (from the sale of his late birth father's home). The adoptions went through, but no mention of Marco. What happened to Marco?  Please don't leave him alone, and on the streets.*

* (which we know, Fiction or not, does NOT offer a good outcome. Especially now that a potentially bad winter is looming in the Northern Hemisphere, which includes much of Italy, PLUS Covid-19, 2.0MG!) 

:unsure:   :(

 

 

 

Edited by Anton_Cloche
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10 hours ago, chris191070 said:

If this is the final chapter, Great ending.

no, there are a few more 

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9 hours ago, weinerdog said:

I like the story a lot I'm just wondering I don't think anybody was gay in this story.I guess it's not a requirement on this site but I think this is the first story I read here where that was the case.Still a good story 

It was my understanding that as long as the author was gay, any story was acceptable. Yes there isn't any gay character in this story. The theme was adoption of street boys, regardless of their sexuality

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5 hours ago, mikedup said:

Great story, I suppose all good things do come to an end , 

Not the end

 

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5 hours ago, Chris L said:

Sounds like Thomas managed quite well, as a single dad, raising 6 wonderful boys who are now excelling in life. I would've luv'd to have seen the look on his mom's face when she realized she had 6 grandsons and thought she may never have any from Thomas' side. My my my how one does surprise sometimes, 😉

Yep, but as surprised as she was, she loved them all

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5 hours ago, Anton_Cloche said:

It seems you're getting close to wrapping up. (and this is the point where my editor role kicks in to include 'continuity' and gets a bit lengthy).

With this pre-epilogue (?) , Thomas starts tallying up his life, recalling important life moments, starting with him  discovering 10-year old Geno being rejected by his church asking for some food, Thomas' heart both broke a little, and opened a lot.

Geno accepted a meal from Thomas, but was clear he didn't want to do 'those things' (giving his body and soul to men to whom he meant nothing other than sex).

After being adopted, and visiting America, Thomas and 11-year old Geno return to Italy and come across five of his 'street family' boys also looking for a meal. The oldest, 14-yeat old Roberto had been one of Geno's protectors. These boys ask about also being sons. 

With the adoptions done, Thomas takes them to his work apartment in Rome where he adds 2 sets of bunk beds to sleep the other 4 sons. And when Thomas takes all his sons home to meet their Nonna and Nonno, he talks about five grandsons.

According to all previous chapters :read: Thomas adopted Geno at age 10. One year later Geno asked Thomas to let him buy dinner for his friends, street 'brothers' and protectors: "Marco (no age indicated but guessing 13), Roberto - the oldest at 14 and his real brother Mario - 13, Luca and Nico - 12.

After the meal, when Geno explained to his 'bothers' how he came to be adopted, Geno asked Thomas to adopt them and offered to help Thomas pay the expenses (from the sale of his late birth father's home). The adoptions went through, but no mention of Marco. What happened to Marco?  Please don't leave him alone, and on the streets.*

* (which we know, Fiction or not, does NOT offer a good outcome. Especially now that a potentially bad winter is looming in the Northern Hemisphere, which includes much of Italy, PLUS Covid-19, 2.0MG!) 

:unsure:   :(

 

 

 

There are. few more chapters

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4 hours ago, CLJobe said:

Not the end

 

Ok thanks but I was talking the trip back to the states

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