Mechanics 101 - Shifting Gears  By Lugnutz

Chapter Four

We got settled in for the night, and got acquainted with Kelton. He was seated between Nigel and I. We were trying not to broach the subject of his family, but it was inevitable.

"Darren," The tyke started off. We let him use our names, with no title. "Is Mommy, Daddy and Jakey in Heaven now?" He didn't start with the easy questions.

"Yes Kelton, they are in Heaven, they will watch over you until your old and grey, and ready to see them again." I told him.

"What is your house like? Is it big? Do you have neighbors?" The Sprog rattled off in succession.

"Well," Nigel started. "We, that includes you, have a nice big old house. Your room will be great. We can fix it up any way you want. There is lots of room to play. But we live in the country, so we don't have neighbors close by. I have a friend that has a school where you can make lots of friends, What do you think of that?"

He looked to Nige and myself, thinking. "Can I have Spongebob in my room? Mommy wouldn't let me." I look to Nige, and he gives me a shrug. "We will see, young one. You don't want Barney?" I asked. "Ewwww! Barney is for babies, I like Spongebob." Kelton says, giving us a look like he was just insulted.

"We'll see what we can do about that then, won't we. What do you think about the school?" I ask him. "It will be okie dokie, I can have friends there, for reals?" Hearing some doubt in his voice, I told him what I thought. "You can have all the friends you want. You can have sleepovers, you can go to sleepovers, you can have fun, and you get to be a goofy boy." He jumped off the couch, dancing and yelling "YIPEEEE" then jumping in my arms for a hug, then Nigel. Looking at Nigel at that moment, the three of us were going to be good for each other.

"Well Sprog..." Nigel starts, but is interrupted by the young one. "What's a Sprog? Is that my new name?" He started sniffling." No," Nigle started. "Your name is Kelton Louis Hoffman, and it will stay that way. What Sprog means, it's a word used in England, where I am from, to describe a young lad, just like you. It is a good word. Now, come here and lets dry those eyes." He walks to Nigel, who is on his knees, and gives him a hug.

"Now, would you like to sleep in our room now? It is bedtime." I asked "Do I have to sleep on the little bed, or can I sleep with you?" He asked. "Well kiddo, Nigel and I sleep in the same bed, is that ok with you?" He was firm on his request. "But, can I sleep with you and Nigel?" I look to Nige, and he gives me a nod. "It'll be tight, but I think we can do that. When we get home, you will have your own room, right across from ours." He gives us another "YIPEEE" and a hug, then goes to get into his pj's.

"Wow." Is all I could say. Nige leaned into me, giving me a peck on the cheek.

"Well boys, what do you think?" Mom asked us.

"It will be interesting for the first few weeks, that's for sure. But, it's nothing we can't conquer. Mollie is great with kids too." Nigel added.

"Mom, I know things will be trying for a while until we all find our groove. We'll be calling you for advice, and giving you updates on him. He will be our responsibility for the next fifteen years, at least....." I decided to stop there before I started rambling on.

"I know you two will be the best fathers you can be. Now, lets get to bed. We have a long day tomorrow." Mom said, through a yawn.

We said our goodnights to mom, and went to our room to find a sleeping Kelton, spread out on the middle of the bed, sideways. I look at Nigel, and chuckle. We get changed and ready for bed. I picked the Sprog up while Nige pulled the sheets back, I then lay Kelton down in the middle of the bed, getting a mumble from him. Then Nige and I climbed in on either side of him, giving the wee one a peck on the forehead before we got comfortable.

The next morning, I woke up before the others, so I quietly got out of bed and made my way to the bathroom to get ready for the day ahead. When I returned, I found Nigel with his arm over Kelton. I couldn't help myself. I dig thru my bag for the camera I know is there. I snap off a couple shots, then put the camera away. Daddy Nigel, it was too cool.

"Hey baby, time to get up." I shook Nigels shoulder gently, which in turn shook Keltons body.

"I don't wanna get up, I got up yesterday" Nigel moaned, still half asleep. Kelton on the other hand, rolled over, his eyes blinked a few times, then focused on me. "Hi Darren." He quietly squeaked. It just made my heart smile more.

"Hey squirt, you want to try waking up Nigel? He's being a baby." I asked. He bound out of bed, in his pj's, to Niges side where he began shaking him. "Wake up Nigel, time to get up, Darren says so." I look at Nige, and he's trying to hide a grin. "Ok Sprog, he's not getting up. Why don't you........." I pulled him to me so I could whisper something in his ear. He hops back on the bed, and starts tickling Nige. That woke him up. Nige returns the tickle attack, then lays on his back and grabs Kelton and gives him a hug. "Thanks slugger, I'm awake now." Nige says with affection.

"Come on wee one, let's get you ready for the day, Nigel can be a grouch when he wakes up." I flash Nige a smile. "I am not a grouch!" He groaned.

I take Kelton to the bathroom and help him get cleaned up, then go back to the bedroom to find some clothes for him to wear. When I get back, I see him staring into the mirror with a blank look on his face. "Are you ok bud?" I ask. "Are we going to my house today? Cuz I don't wanna." He asked me. "You will have to go. You have to show us what you want to bring to your new home, and we don't want to forget anything important. I'm going, along with Nigel and your Aunt Jean." I told him. "If I have to go, can I play at Eric's house? He's my bestest friend" He questioned. "I don't know yet, maybe for a little bit. We need you to help us." I let it go at that, and he seemed to accept it, for the moment anyway.

It was early yet as I walked outside, and sat on the front steps of moms house. I was thinking of what was to come this weekend, and what lies ahead in the years to come.

I noticed someone coming down the sidewalk, across the street. A man pushing a baby stroller. They came to a stop in front of some low hanging branches of a small tree standing there. It must have rained the night before, because the man gave the branch a quick flick, and I heard a squeal then a giggle as the toddler got some rain water on him from the branch. I let out a loud laugh, which made the man look to me. I just waved as I was still laughing pretty hard. He smiled and waved back, then continued his journey.

I walked back into the house with a new mindset. Things were going to work out fine, all we have to do is love the kid.

What do I find when I walk in the kitchen? Not Nigel making breakfast, I see Kelton sitting at the table with a box of cereal, and a huge mixing bowl, milk and a spoon. I ask him "Hey slugger, are you really hungry?" I cocked an eyebrow. "No Darren, I have this little bowl." He shows me the normal sized bowl, hiding behind the mixing bowl. Mom walks in, laughing. "I was just testing you, my boy. Seems you were the same way at his age, your belly was bigger than your eyes. These days, it's the other way around." I walked up to mom and gave her a hug. Then she takes the bowl and puts it back in the cupboard. I was thinking that in a few years, buffet places will come in handy. Where else can you stuff yourself sick for eight dollars?

Nigel finally walks in the kitchen and sees the kid munching on cereal. "How many bowls have you had so far kiddo?" He asked. Blowing out a bit of Cap-n-Crunch, the Sprog says "Two." And grins. "I think you were better off using the mixing bowl". I mumbled. Nige looks to me, and I nod. He grinned, then shook his head, and dove headfirst into the fridge. "While your in there, make us something edible, we will be waiting at the table." I grinned to mom, and we pulled out our chairs.

After an enjoyable breakfast, we pile in the van, with trailer in tow, and proceed to my Aunt and Uncles house, which happened to be across town in a nice little neighborhood. It was your typical suburban neighborhood. Older homes with nice, cared for lawns, large trees, the kind of place you see in the movies.

We pull boxes from the van, and go into the house. Mom picks up the mail that has accumulated, and checks the answering machine. Nigel and myself look about the place, looking at the nic-nacks, pictures, and the decorations while mom goes thru the mail.

"Darren....." Nige starts. "Do you think it might be better if Kelton goes to his friends place for a while, it may make things go quicker here. I know this isn't easy for you or mom." I give Nige a sad look, and give him a hug. "He asked me this morning if he could, I told him I wasn't sure, but I've thought about it, and you mentioned it. I think we can handle it, and not stir any more bad memories for him." Nige gives me a peck on the forehead and tightens the hug. "Let me find out where his friend lives, I'll bring him there, and collect him when we're ready." Nigel says. "Be sure to give his parents our number so they can talk once in a while." I asked him.

I watch Nigel trot off to Kelton, talking with him, then walking down the block to his friends place. "Where did Nigel go?" Mom asked. "He brought Kelton to his friends place for a while so we can get through this. We can get everything he needs, and then some packed and loaded while he's away. Nige will be back in a little bit." Mom seemed satisfied with that.

It takes us a couple hours, but we got all of Keltons things, along with a lot of little things scattered around the house loaded up, including his bed and dresser. We sent Nige to get the sprog while we looked over the house one more time to see what we might've missed.

"Mom, are you alright?" I asked her. "I don't know, I'm sad that everything has happened, and what will happen. You know that your aunt and I were close. This is going to be difficult, with you two taking the boy home too." Mom said, not really sure how to deal with it.

"Mom, I was just thinking, and I would have to ask Nigel, but what would you think about moving in with us? I know you have been here a long time and you have friends here, maybe I'm just being greedy, but I love it over there with Nige. At the same time, I miss you being here. I would like my mom close again." Maybe I was greedy, I wanted my family close by.

"That sounds wonderful, but I still have things to do here at home. We will talk about it later. And, I do miss you being around here too. Your my only son, and I love you so much, your all grown up, and have the best partner anyone could want or wish for. Your father would have been proud of how you turned out. Your family is growing son." A tear rolls down her cheek, and I take her in a tight motherly hug.

About that time, Nigel walks in with Kelton. "Are we interrupting anything?" He asked. "Nah, we're about done here. But we'll talk about it later." I said.

"Well," Nige starts, "Lets blow this popsicle stand, I'm starving." Leave it to him to think with his belly. "Nige, your ALWAYS starving." I winked to him. At least he had the decency to blush. Kelton giggled, and Mom just rolled her eyes.

We got the trailer back in moms garage, then went inside to clean up and change for dinner. "Where are we going? Real food, or some cheesy drive thru?" I asked nobody in particular. "PIZZA!!" Kelton yells from the bathroom. "I'm not dining with a seven foot rat. Not tonight anyway. Anyone else?" "Awwwww!" Kelton groaned. Mom was next, "There is a new Chinese buffet a few blocks away that's pretty good." Yummy! I haven't had that in ages. "Nige, what do you think?" Throwing the ball in his court. "Sounds good to me, lets saddle up." He said, ready to go. "But we don't have any saddles, Nigel." Kelton said, kind of confused. Nige translated. "It just means that lets get going. I'm so hungry, I could eat you up." Then proceeded to blow a raspberry on Keltons belly, which sent the kid into a fit of laughter.

The place was just as advertised. Very good food, a big variety, and Kelton didn't complain, much. We pretty much stuck to various forms of pork and chicken. Stuff we could identify. Nigel dared me to try the squid, I made a face and told him 'when pigs fly'. He said the same thing, coincidently. It didn't take long for Kelton to fill his belly, asking what everything was when we were getting his plate ready. Then he finds that they have ice cream there too, so he got a bowl of that, with toppings of course. It is nice to see him happy, knowing what was to come the next day. Mom had a good time, and didn't stuff herself like the rest of us, Mom's smart.

Once we were home, the only thing we wanted, including Kelton, was the couch to ease our bloated bellies onto. Mom, on the other hand, went to the kitchen to whip up some kind of dessert. We just groaned, the three of us lying over each other on the couch. Nigel flipped the TV on, and started randomly changing stations, and finds something on the music video channel, tunes that we grew up with, 70's and 80's era, and some I haven't heard in ages. We think Kelton was being good, and getting into a lot of them, but still too stuffed to dance.

"Well, squirt, time for bed." I said, waking him up with his head on my lap. He wakes up, looks around, slides to the floor and stumbles to the bedroom to get his pajamas on. A couple minutes later, he walks back into the living room giving me, Nige and Mom a hug and kiss before he went to bed.

Nige and I walked him to bed, and got him settled, then returned to the couch.

"You boys did good today" Mom started. "Tomorrow is going to be rough, for all of us. It was nice to let him be with his friends for a while, and today at the restaurant. That's the happy boy he is, inquisitive, always asking questions. I just hope you will have answers for him when the time comes." She said, with a sad look on her face. "Mom, when that time comes, we'll give him an honest answer, and do everything in our power to make sure he has a happy life with us.

Whatever we don't know, Mollie will help with, and your just a phone call away, unless you have thought about what we talked about this afternoon." I said, holding moms hand. I gave Nige a quick overview of my conversation with mom earlier. "Boys, I am thinking about it, but I'm not young in any respect. It touches me deeply that you would want your dottering old mother in the nest with you. The best answer I can give you about it is I will think about it, but don't count on my moving there just yet. Is that ok with you two?" She said, looking at us with compassion. "It's ok, it would be nice having you there, but the decision falls on you, and if or when that time comes, we will be honored have you." Nige told her. We continued our conversation for a couple hours.

"Time to turn in, it's going to be another long day tomorrow." I said, getting up pulling Nigel with me. We give mom a hug and kiss and head to bed.

To be continued.....