Testing, Testing ... 1,2,3

Chapter 13

“So what do you think?” Lacy asked Justin and the Donahue boys. They were having a late afternoon meeting at Michael’s store. Lacy and Michael had the layout of a special edition Rage issue.

“It was Lacy’s idea really,” Michael admitted.

“But you had the plot all figured out,” Lacy spoke up for Michael. Justin and the twins were floored with the whole concept.

“This is amazing!” Justin exclaimed.

“You really like it?” Lacy asked.

“I think this is a phenomenal idea. How soon can we go to print?” Justin asked.

“Whenever we’re ready,” Michael stated. “We can run this issue as a pre-holiday special and then tie it in with the cartoon.”

“Brian said he has Cynthia and Ted working on ads.”

“Already?” Michael asked in awe.

“Yeah, he said he wanted to be ready. Guys, can you have the cartoon ready by November? If we want to sell the DVD in time for the holiday market, it’ll have to be ready soon for production.”

“Piece of cake!” the twins said with matching smiles.

“So we’re all in agreement?” Michael asked. Everyone nodded.

“Michael, I think we should make this an official agreement. We have the copyright on Rage, but the twins should get a cut of the profits if this venture makes any,” Justin wisely said.

“Okay, I’ll have Mel draw something up.”

“And I’ll speak with Bobby. The kids still intend to use this collaborative project for this semester’s final grade, but what we do with it later is our business.”

“But what about the holiday sales?” Michael was seeing the dollar signs fade away.

“We can always have a special voucher printed up in the comic. Or a coupon on the website for a special discount if the fans want to buy the Rage DVD. Or you can have pre-sales. There are lots of ways we can cash in on this if we think about it. That is, if we want to.”

“What do you mean?” Michael asked indignantly.

“Michael, this issue is about diversity in all its forms. We can portray diverse families celebrating the holidays in unique ways. We have a wonderful opportunity here. I’d hate to put a price tag on it.”

Michael harumphed then crossed his arms over his chest.

“We can make money on the adult cartoons later,” Justin said with a grin. “Think of it as a Christmas present for the Rage fans.”

As Justin and the Donahue boys packed up their gear to leave the comic book store they were blissfully unaware of the camera with the telephoto lens snapping picture after picture. The boys, very happy with the progress on Rage and the planned holiday issue, were very animated as they talked and walked down Liberty.

“Hmm, I wonder what that’s all about?” the photographer mumbled to himself, as his lens followed the boys until they were out of range.

 

*****
 

“So, how was the math test?” Raph asked as Curtis came in the veterinary clinic after school.

“I … I don’t know. I answered all the questions, but … they could all be wrong,” Curtis sighed.

Raph smiled. “If you answered them all then you will probably do okay.”

“You think?” Curtis asked hopefully. “I sort of knew what I was doing.”

“Did you check your answers?”

“As much as I could. I ran out of time at the end.”

“Well, it’s done, so let’s forget about it,” Raph said wisely. “We’ll deal with whatever the outcome may be.”

“Okay,” Curtis agreed. He knew he had done his best.

“Did you talk to Gus about the party?”

“Yeah, he’s up for next Friday night,” Curtis said with a big smile. “And I asked Billy after the test. He can come too.”

“Ah, a new friend.”

“Yeah,” Curtis said with a grin.

“Then do you still want to invite Bree and Patrick and JR?”

Curtis looked thoughtful for a moment. “I do,” he replied. “They were the first people who made me welcome and I want them at my party.”

“Did you warn Billy there’d be youngsters?”

“No.”

“Maybe you should. Not all kids are like Gus and don’t mind hanging out with younger kids.”

“Oh? Okay,” Curtis said. “Can I call Bree’s dads now?”

“Do your chores with the animals, and we’ll make the calls tonight,” Raph told his son.

“Okay, Dad,” Curtis grinned, as he headed to the back to check the animals.

Raph watched him go. He hoped Curtis had made a new friend in this Billy. He would be interested to meet him.

 

*****
 

“I got it,” Owen called as he entered his apartment.

“Good, let’s get this over with,” Molly replied.

“You sound so negative.”

“I … I’m not negative. It’s just unexpected. I have to find out for sure, and then I can get my head around it.”

“Okay, here you go,” Owen said. He handed Molly the package he had just bought at the drugstore.

Molly left the room and Owen slipped off his coat. He sat down on the couch and started twiddling his thumbs. It was a nervous habit that he had picked up from his father. He debated turning on the TV, but decided to wait for Molly to return.

After a couple of minutes, he stood and started pacing around the room. He looked out the window for a couple of minutes, and then resumed pacing. What could be taking so long?

“Owen,” Molly said as she came back into the room.

“What is it? What was the result of the pregnancy test?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“Why not?” Owen demanded. “You were in there forever.”

“I can’t pee on demand,” Molly told him in her annoyed voice.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. Come sit beside me.” He took her hand and led her to the sofa. “How long do we have to wait?”

“It should turn color any moment now,” Molly said with a frown. “What are we going to do if it’s blue?”

“We’re going to have a baby if it’s blue,” Owen laughed.

“I know that, silly,” Molly said as she gave him a swat. “I meant … I meant that I’m not sure that I’m ready to do this.”

“You’ll be a great mother,” Owen declared.

“How can you possibly know that? I don’t even know what kind of a mother I’ll be.”

“You’re a wonderful girl, Molly.”

“Woman,” Molly corrected.

“Woman,” Owen said with a chuckle. “You have a great mother of your own. I know you’ll be wonderful with our child.” He touched Molly’s tummy gently.

Molly smiled and looked at the plastic case that would give them the news one way or another. “It’s blue,” she said with a big smile.

Owen grinned from ear to ear, let out a loud whoop and nearly crushed his wife in a hug to rival Debbie’s best.

“Are you happy or what?” Molly laughed when he let her breathe again.

“I’m over the moon. We’ll have to tell everyone right away. They’ll be thrilled for us.”

“Um…” Molly said.

“What? Um?”

“I think we should keep this to ourselves for a while,” Molly replied.

“Ourselves? Why?”

“There are a lot of miscarriages in the first three months of pregnancy. Let’s wait till I get past that milestone.”

“Oh? Okay, if you want. How far along do you think you are?”

“I missed my period a month ago and didn’t think too much about it. I’ve been working so hard. And then I missed it again this week. So, at least a month, maybe closer to two.”

“So we have about another month to wait before we spill the news?”

“At least.”

“Okay, I can do that. But you need to see a doctor right away. They can tell you more accurately, can’t they?” Molly nodded. “And you need to cut down on the stress from your job.”

“I can try.”

“You can do more than try,” Owen told her.

Molly smiled. “I will.”

”You’re okay with this, aren’t you? I mean, about being pregnant?”

“It’s growing on me,” Molly said with a grin. “Just like my belly will be doing.”

“I can hardly wait,” Owen replied as he grabbed his wife and pulled her into a passionate kiss.

 

*****
 

“So are you ready for this?” Raphael asked Curtis as they were preparing for their guests to arrive.

Curtis wanted to keep the party relatively small so they opted for just a few friends. The whole family was just too overwhelming even for Raph and Hector. The guest list was limited to Brian, Justin with Bree; John, Bobby and Patrick; Mel, Lindsay, JR and Gus; Curtis’ friend from school, Billy; Hunter, Dr. Nick and Karen. Judge Judith Schultz also received an invitation which she readily accepted. Debbie and Carl and the two police officers that helped to bring down the Hardigans were also included.

“Yeah, I’m ready,” Curtis answered as he pilfered a tasty treat off one of the many trays sitting on the kitchen counter. While neither Emmett nor any of his minions were ‘waitressing’ for Curtis’ party, the Angles-Sanchez family thought it best to hire the event planner to cater the party. Emmett could not refuse.

“Nervous?” Hector asked as he looked up into Curtis’ eyes. Curtis had blossomed under the care and feeding of Raph and Hector. No longer the scrawny street urchin that had first burst into their lives, Curtis had grown several inches as teenage boys were wont to do and gained the healthy pounds to go with it. Curtis Samuels was going to be a handsome young man.

“A little,” came the curt answer.

“You have nothing to worry about,” Hector went on. “You survived much more than this at Bree’s birthday party. They’re all coming to wish you well.”

“I know, I just never had a real party before. I think I remember a birthday party when I was really little but I don’t remember much about it. I kinda like us being quiet, if you know what I mean,” Curtis tried to explain.

“It’s okay, son, I understand,” Raph said as he gave Curtis a hug. The door bell rang and the newly formed family went to greet their guests.

 

*****
 

“Richard, what are you doing here on a Friday night? Don’t you have somewhere better to be than in the press room?” Mr. Sacks, the city editor asked Richard Connolly.

“I could ask you the same. I thought you and Maggie were going Christmas shopping tonight.”

“We still are; she’ll be here any minute. What’s your excuse?”

“This article on Kinney and Taylor, I just don’t know what to write. It’s been several weeks since Morgan and I went to the cottage and I still have no idea how to put it all together. I report on art and entertainment. I never liked those gossipy sort of articles.”

“It’s those gossipy articles that sell papers, unfortunately. Not that I approve but I wouldn’t mind another scoop for Christmas.”

“Morgan took hundreds of pictures. She’ll kill me if I don’t use any of them.”

“We can’t have that,” Sacks laughed, “can we?”

“No sir, we can’t,” Richard chuckled.

“Richard, you’re a good reporter and an honorable man. Write what you know and it’ll all work out,” Sacks said as he grabbed his coat and headed out.

“Yes, sir, thank you,” Richard replied as he sifted through all the pictures that Morgan had taken on that day they spent out in the middle of nowhere. He picked up one picture, the two men were hugging, wearing smug expressions as if daring the world around them. And they were, daring and dashing, challenging the world around them, breaking all molds, each in their respective arenas and together as a family. Family.

Richard smiled as he opened a new file on his desk top.

“The Sunshine File,” he chuckled as he began to write.

 

*****
 

“Come in,” Raph said. “So glad you could join us.” Raph and Curtis were greeting their guests at the door.

“Hi, Bree,” Curtis said. “I have something for you.”

“You do?” Bree asked with a big smile.

“Come with me.” Curtis led the little girl into the family room where many of the other guests were enjoying Emmett’s munchies and having drinks.

“What is that all about?” Brian asked.

“Curtis looks at Bree as his first friend in this family. She invited him to her birthday party and that made quite the impression on him,” Hector explained.

“Bree makes quite the impression on everybody,” Justin laughed as they made their way to the family room.

“This is for you,” Curtis was saying as they entered the family room. He held out a card for Bree. “I made it…for you.”

Bree’s eyes got very big. She took the card and read the front aloud. “Thanks for be-ing my friend.”

“Open it,” Curtis prompted.

Bree opened the card and read, “If you need anything, call me.”

“Do you like it?” Curtis asked shyly.

“I love it, Curtis. I call you if I need help.”

“Or if you’re lonely or unhappy. I’d like to help.”

Bree held up her arms and Curtis leaned down so Bree could hug him. After a minute she let go and everyone in the room was smiling as they watched.

“I brought you something too,” Bree whispered to him. “Dada?”

“Here, Squirt,” Brian responded as he handed her a little gift bag.

“Open it,” Bree instructed Curtis.

Curtis pulled out one of Bree’s rainbow cards and read the simple message of welcome to our family printed in Bree’s large letters. He looked in the bag and laughed out loud. “Hey, Gus, we can take our cars out for a spin together,” Curtis chuckled as he pulled out a Hot Wheels Jaguar, similar to what Bree had given Gus for his birthday. “I love it, Bree.”

Up came the arms for another hug.

Raph made sure that moment was captured on his digital camera. The party went on from there with lots of eating and talking. Curtis moved around the room talking to each of his guests. Raph and Hector smiled approvingly as they watched the party develop.

“Attention, guests,” Raph said after a while. “We have pizza coming in about an hour.”

“Yay!” all the kids yelled.

Brian looked at Justin who merely shrugged and whispered, “A little fat and cholesterol won’t kill you.”

“You just want the insurance money when I pop off,” Brian griped good-humoredly.

“Got that right,” Justin laughed. “I deserve it after all these years.”

“Yeah, you do,” Brian agreed.

“In the meantime,” Raph shouted, trying to get everyone’s attention again. “We thought you might like to play some games. Curtis, my son.”

Curtis entered the room carrying a big pile of board games, cards, and other games of all types and…

“Twister!” Bree shrieked as she spied the colorful plastic that participants had to place their feet and hands on. “Patrick, Dada, you have to play with me.”

“Will the indignities never cease?” Brian asked with a frown.

“Go play with your daughter like a good little boy,” Justin said nudging Brian forward.

“Hey, Justin, Bobby, want to play euchre?” Gus asked.

“I’m in on that,” Billy said, “if that’s okay.”

“Quite okay with me,” Gus said good naturedly.

While Brian, Bree, Patrick and Curtis were playing Twister, the others found Monopoly and Scrabble and Othello. Everyone laughed and teased each other until the pizza arrived.

After chowing down once more, Brian and Justin decided they better take a tired Bree home.

“I’m glad you could come to my party,” Curtis said as they went out the door.

“I’m happy to be your friend, Curtis,” Bree said eliciting a big smile from the boy of the moment.

“You throw a decent party, kid,” Brian said.

“That’s high praise from him,” Justin said with a laugh. “Thanks for inviting us, Curtis.”

“If you decide you want to go riding with us on Sunday, let me know,” John told the boy as he got Patrick ready to go home too.

“I don’t know how to thank you all for everything you’ve done for me,” Curtis said, tears welling up. “I can’t believe how great my life is now.”

“Be the son that Raph and Hector want, and you’ll have earned every bit of happiness,” Justin whispered to the boy as he gave him a hug.

“Thank you, and thanks, Mr. Kinney,” Curtis whispered as he reached up to hug Brian. There was a split second when he thought he’d made a mistake and the man wouldn’t hug him back.

Then Brian’s arms closed around the boy. “You done good, kid. I’m glad it worked out so well…for everyone.”

“Me too,” Curtis said before releasing Brian from the hug. “And thanks again.”

“You’re welcome and don’t bring it up again.”

“I won’t,” Curtis said with a smile. “’Night, Bree.”

“’Night, Curtis,” Bree said sleepily from Justin’s arms. They made their way down the street to their car.

“He’s a good kid,” Brian said as he got Bree strapped in.

“I can’t believe I ever thought otherwise. You’re a good judge of people, Kinney,” Justin told his husband.

“Too bad I didn’t realize what Connolly was like. I would never have asked him to write that fucking article.”

“Stop fretting about that,” Justin ordered as Brian pulled away and headed for the cottage. “You don’t know what he’s going to write.”

“I don’t fret.”

“Connolly will write what he writes … and we’ll deal with it.”

“I just can’t believe it’s taken this fucking long to write an article. He must really be going to crucify us,” Brian said shaking his head.

Justin merely sighed and leaned his head back against the headrest. There was nothing they could do about it one way or another.

 

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