Jaiden Chapter 94
Gregory A. Patrick
Jaiden Chapter 94
12/30/2020
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Greg Patrick
Sunday rolled around and Dale purchased the supplies to make the knishes. He was at the Temple at 5:30, in the synagogue's kitchen laying out the ingredients he would use to teach the ladies of Hadassah his way of making the desserts. As he was doing so, the members of Hadassah started arriving at the temple and making their way to the kitchen. Fifteen ladies in all had come to the temple to learn Dale's secret to making his famous knishes.
Dale got the ladies gathered around the prep table and explained the ingredients he used to make his knishes, and the brands of the ingredients he liked best. He began with the process of making the dough for the knishes, and discovered that most of the ladies had been overworking it, which made their knishes tough. So, he showed the ladies how to mix, knead, and roll out the dough. He watched carefully as the ladies began making the dough, and helped a few of the Hadassah members change their methods of handling it.
Once the dough was rolled out to the proper thickness, the ladies were shown how to measure the dough for the perfect sized knishes, and then how to place the ingredients inside the dough, be it beef, chicken, or jam, jelly, or marmalade.
When Dale completed his instructions to the ladies, they placed their knishes into a preheated 375-degree oven, and baked them until they were a light golden color. The knishes were removed from the oven and allowed to cool a few minutes. Madie, one of the ladies in the group, asked Dale how he prepared the coffee Mrs. Schaffer told her was the best coffee she had ever drunk. Luckily, Dale had thought to bring a bag each of Hawaiian Grog and Monsoonal India Malabar coffees with him.
He got his burr grinder out, set it on 6, and mixed half a hopper of each of the coffees together and ground the coffee. Several of the ladies had never seen a burr grinder, so Dale explained how it worked, how it ground the coffee to produce the best flavor possible, and told the ladies where they could order one.
When the coffee was made, the knishes had cooled enough to taste them. The ladies were ecstatic at the changes and taste in their knishes. Dale was now a favorite among the ladies of Hadassah in the temple. When he got home, Jaiden asked how the evening had gone for him. Dale replied that the evening was a success, and the ladies made the knishes the same way he did, and they all turned out great, and tasted delicious. Jaiden said he was glad the evening went so well, but he told Dale again that he didn't have balls big enough to interact that way with all those ladies. "Jaiden, that is why I am now their favorite. I bet if I mentioned I wanted any kind of Jewish food, they would have it at the house before I got home." "Dale, Matza Ball Soup is one of my favorites in the winter time when it's cold as crap outside." "Jade, I will remember that." Jaiden was grinning like a Cheshire cat when Dale replied to him.
"Have the children had a good time tonight?" "They have, Dale. They acted like they had to potty, so Charley got them upstairs, and when he took them into the bathroom and turned to get everything ready, they started laughing like crazy and took off in five different directions. It was hilarious to see Charley have to admit the children had pulled a classic Jenny prank on him." Charley walked into the den and found Dale laughing so hard tears were rolling from his eyes. "What's so funny, sweetheart?" "Charley, I heard the children had to potty really badly today. Were you able to get them to the bathroom in time?" Charley looked at Jaiden and said, "You didn't." "Charley, I have to admit: uh, yes I did." "Damn, Jaiden. Just wait until it happens to you. I have ALL the parents telephone numbers, and Dr. Brannen lives just around the corner, the Rabbi lives next door, and there's always Andy." "Charley, you wouldn't." "Quite the contrary, Jaiden!" "I guess I stepped into that." "Yep, bro, you sure did."
Charley walked to his bedroom and Dale followed him. Charley shut the door, looked at Dale, and said, "I have no intention of telling anybody anything that happens to Jaiden with the children, but he doesn't know that, and it will fester in his head when the kids pull one over on him. He'll go nuts trying to figure out when I am going to make the telephone calls that won't happen. He'll wind up telling on himself before I ever say anything." "Charley, that is about the most devious thing I have heard of or seen you do." "Yeah, it is, but I forget about it and he doesn't." "Dale walked over to Charley and kissed him passionately and then said, "When you get that devious look on your face, you are so damned sexy it drives me crazy." "Well, lover, as soon as we get the children in bed, I'll do something about that." "Do you promise, Charley?" "You bet I promise, lover boy. I am going to send you into total bliss when the children go to sleep."
"Charley, it's going to be at least thirty minutes before I can go back to the den." "Why is that, Dale." "Charley, look, it's pretty obvious." When Charley looked at Dale, he didn't see a cub scout tent, he saw a tent big enough for an Army platoon. He walked up to Dale from behind and said, "Sweetie, I can fix that right quick." Dale leaned his head back on Charley's chest as Charley undid Dale's belt, unzipped his pants, and dropped them to the floor along with Dale's briefs. He reached down and grabbed Dale's flag pole and began gently massaging it. After about ten minutes, he felt Dale's body stiffen, and felt a pulsating feeling in his hand as Dale began to empty everything he had inside of him. Charley caught the flood in his hand, and walked into the bathroom and washed it down the sink drain. Then he got a warm washrag and cleaned Dale of any evidence of what had happened before they went back to the den.
"Dale, sweetheart, do you feel better now?" Dale turned and looked at Charley with glazed eyes as he kissed him as sensually as he could. "What do you think, Hubby? When the children are asleep, you and I are going to go to Mars and back." Charley had the biggest smile on his face that Dale had seen in a long time. Yep, they were going to rock each other's world when they were finally able to go to bed.
When they walked back into the den, Jaiden looked at the two of them and said, "Guys, you should have just gone to bed and had a good time. The look you have on your faces tells me something happened while y'all were in the bedroom. I could have put the children to bed for you." "Now you tell us!" "Yea, it's kinda mean, isn't it? Touché!" Dale was doubled over he was laughing so hard.
Dale went into the kitchen and made a pot of coffee since Peyton and Richard were due home from the hospital at any time. He fixed a cup of coffee for Jaiden, the way he likes it, took it into the den, and handed it to him. As he sat down, he looked at Jaiden and said, "That was good. You got Charley just right." "Jaiden looked at Dale and said, "Yea, I did, and it was fun."
When Peyton and Richard walked in the door from the hospital, Jaiden sat his coffee on the kitchen counter and hugged Peyton like he hadn't seen him in weeks. Peyton said, "Wow, sweetheart. What brought this own?" "I guess the little bit of private time Charley took with Dale earlier turn me on." "Great, let me get a shower and we can bathe the boys and see if they will go to bed earlier, and I will do something about that." Jaiden got up, picked up three of his boys and headed to their shower with Peyton in tow with the other two boys.
When they got to the shower, got the boys undressed, and bathed them, they put the boy's onesies on them, and put them in their beds. As soon as the boys laid down, they immediately went to sleep. Peyton took Jaiden by the hand and led him to their bedroom, and pushed him on the bed, clothes and all. Peyton laid on the bed and began making out with Jaiden like a second date rendezvous in the most private place they could find.
By the time their tryst had ended, Jaiden and Peyton had intercourse twice, oral sex three times; twice in bed, and once in the shower. By the time they got to bed, they were so tired they had a hard time keeping their eyes open, so Jaiden snuggled as close to Peyton's back as he could without pushing him off the bed. He threw his arm across Peyton and pulled him in tight. When they woke up the next morning, they were snuggled up just like they were when they fell asleep. The babies were sleeping longer than usual that morning, so Jaiden and Peyton took advantage of the extra time they had together. Jaiden rolled over on his back, and Peyton leaned to his right and rested his head on Jaiden's shoulder and his body against Jaiden's left side.
Jaiden never took his eyes off Peyton as he ran his fingers through and planted his nose in his hair. It was just as they had first met, when Jaiden first smelled the freshness of Peyton's hair, and enjoyed the soft, supple feel of his skin. It was not hard to recognize when the two were together that their love had grown in ways others could not possibly understand, but what people saw was unmistakable.
When Peyton and Jaiden heard their sons stirring around, they got up, helped them potty, washed them off, and dressed them for the day. Ginny and Granny would be at the house within the hour, and they wanted to have the boys cleaned, and fed, so Ginny and Granny could take it easy when they got to the house. Dale cooked cheese grits and puff-scrambled eggs for their breakfast. Jaiden asked Dale what made the eggs "puff-scrambled." He explained to Jaiden that you get the pan barely hot enough to cook the eggs, pour them into the pan, and then take the pan off the heat until it no longer cooks the eggs. Then you put the pan back on the heat until the eggs start cooking, and then repeat the process until the eggs are sufficiently cooked. It makes the scrambled eggs super soft, and maintains a flavor you don't get when you cook the eggs too fast and too hot.
When they put the eggs and cheese grits on the babies' plates and put the plates on the high chairs, the babies took their spoons and ate surprisingly slowly until they ate every drop of food they had been given. And like they have been doing for a while, they didn't make any mess on the highchair trays or drop any food on the floor.
When Granny and Ginny walked into the house through the garage door, they saw the babies had been fed, and the dining room and kitchen had been spotlessly cleaned. Ginny looked at Jaiden and asked, "Did you boys leave Granny and me anything to do?" "Yes, mam. You can check the bedrooms and the bathrooms and make sure we cleaned them to your standards. Then you can sit on the couch in the den, and see if it is still comfortable, and push the on-off button on the television remote to see if it is still soft to the touch, and makes the television come on fairly quickly. Then you can push the channel button until you are sure your favorite shows still come on television on the same channels, and at the same time as they always have. If the babies want to go outside, you can put their coats on them, and let them play out back inside the fence . If they are funny, as they usually are, you can exercise your facial and throat muscles and laugh."
"Jaiden, I don't know what Granny and I are going to do with you boys!" "You can love us, Ginny, like we love the two of you. Short of that, we aren't going to leave any messes so you have to work too hard to clean them up. It is enough that the two of you take care of ten children." Ginny knew the boys did what they did out of love, so she shook her head and smiled.
When the boys got home from school, there were three large bags of mail sitting in the den. When Dale and Charley walked in the door after getting home and saw the mail, they said Jaiden was going to have a fit. And have a fit he did. He commented that people were being too nice to Richard, Peyton, and him. When he opened all the cards in the bags, the money he counted was unreal to him. Dale looked at Jaiden and asked, "How much?" Jaiden replied, just shy of $200,000. "Jaiden, are you kidding us?" "Nope, Dale, I am not. There is almost $191,000 in checks and money-orders.
Peyton was napping while Jaiden opened the mail. When he awoke and was getting ready to go do rounds at the hospital, he and Jaiden went out on the deck and discussed what they wanted to do with the money. Both guys thought the same thing: have Dad Dale put it in Richard's investment account to grow the money so Richard and Sally could purchase a home like the one they were living in; a nice home, in a very nice neighborhood, with plenty of room and a large nursery for the children they wanted.
Peyton saw Richard at the hospital and pulled him aside to talk to him about what he and Jaiden had decided to do with the money. When Peyton told Richard that they were having Dad Dale deposit the money into his investment account, Richard was incredulous at the news. He looked at Peyton and asked, "Why?" "Richard, Jaiden and I told you we intended to buy you a house like the one we are living in once we finish our residencies and internships. The money we are having put in your investment account is to do just that." "Peyton, that is too much!" "Richard, it is not too much. Considering what you have gone through in the past year with Seth, it is nowhere near too much, and Jaiden and I think you deserve it for how you have weathered your trials and tribulations. You will have 1.2 million dollars invested with this deposit. Jaiden and I have almost five million invested, so we don't need the money, and don't want it, so we intend to put whatever we receive in the mail into your investment account at Dad Dale's." Richard threw his hands in the air as tears started rolling over his cheeks. Peyton pulled his brother into a tight embrace and held him until he composed himself.
When he and Peyton completed their rounds, he took Sally into the physician's dictation room and told her what Peyton and Jaiden had done and why. Salley looked at Richard with red, swollen, watery eyes. Richard held her as she asked the same question he had, "Why?" "Sally, they really want to buy our first home for us, and putting that money in our investment account goes toward doing that. It is something they really want to do. Peyton told me how much money they have invested, and it blew my mind. He said they had all they needed, and they wanted to do something nice for me because of what Seth and I have gone through this past year. I would argue the fact with him, but he is as stubborn as Jenny, and arguing with him wouldn't do any good. Sally, the way Seth and I have had to live all our lives, makes it so hard for me to believe how someone like Peyton and Jaiden could love Seth and me so much, that they would do all they have done for us. A new family for Seth and me, so much love we don't understand, but appreciate more than anyone will ever know; an environment where Seth will never be hurt again. It is so much for me to try and process in my mind. Sally, I am having such a hard time believing how much Seth and I have been blessed by Peyton, and Jaiden, and their families."
"Richard, I know. I have seen you struggle with that, but you need to let go and let God! Talk to the Rabbi and see if he can help you with your feelings. Talk with the Reverend, he has talked to you about things before, and he helped you tremendously." "Sally, you are right. I'll talk to the Rabbi tomorrow and call the Reverend and talk with him at the church." "Thank you, Richard. It kills me to see you hurting." "Sally, it's hard for me to understand how someone who was just a friend a year ago, can be my brother now, and love me the way Peyton does, the way Jenny does, and the way their parents do."
"Richard, it is a blessing because of the person you have been and are; for how you did what you had to do to protect Seth. I know that Seth's protection is a sore point with you, but you did what you could, what you had to do, and Hashem has blessed you for that. The sooner you realize that, and accept it, the better you are going to feel."
"Sally, you are right like you usually are. I am so blessed by what has happened, and I am incredibly blessed to have met you and have you in my life." Sally didn't say a word as she leaned into Richard, lovingly kissed him, and tenderly hugged him.
Tuesday, when Richard got home from school, he called Rabbi Rob and then met him at the synagogue. They talked for an hour over the feelings Richard had, and the Rabbi told him basically the same thing Sally said, except the Rabbi told Richard that when things became hard for him to handle, speak to Hashem and listen for His answer.
When Richard left the synagogue, he drove to Ginny's and Granny's church, and spoke with the Reverend for more than an hour. The Reverend's advice: pray to God and listen for His answer. The Reverend saying that was God's answer that the Rabbi was right. Richard prayed in Jewish fashion between the synagogue and the church, and what the Reverend said was Hashem's answer: Pray unceasingly, especially when things are hard for you to wrap your head around them.
Richard went home and hugged Peyton and Jaiden like never before. When they looked into Richard's eyes, they saw a glow, a gleam that they had never seen. Richard was finally accepting their love, and the love of Peyton's family and their love for Seth. He finally understands his blessings, and why he received them. Love had finally conquered the bad, God has prevailed.
Peyton went out on the deck and stood at the railing while looking a million miles away. Jaiden gave him a few minutes before going out, wrapping his arms around Peyton's waist, and saying, "I love you to Mars and back, Peyton, and I always will." Peyton turned, looked at Jaiden with red swollen eyes, and said, "Jaiden, I think Richard is finally understanding our love, and our family's love for him, and Seth, and what that does for my heart is beyond words."
"Sweetheart, I understand, and I feel the same way you do. Hopefully, more donations will come in that we can put in his investment account so that when we complete our residencies and internships, he will have the money he needs to build Sally and him a nice, new home they both deserve. You and I own the house his parents had because I bought the mortgage before it went into foreclosure. We can sell the house if he doesn't want to keep it, and give him that money toward his house. I think we should at least let him know down the road, and give him a choice in what he wants to do with the house. I know I don't want Seth to live in that place and re-live the horrors he experienced there." "Agreed, lover."
"Peyton, this is Seth. Did you really ask Dad to give me your car during Hanukkah?" "Little brother, I did, and I hope you enjoy it." "Peyton, thank you so much, that was really nice of you to do that for me. Dad is teaching me how to drive on the farm's back roads, and he says I am doing well in my lessons." "That's great Seth, it is a really good car in excellent shape, so if you take good care of it, it will last you a long time. When you graduate from college, maybe Richard, Jaiden, and I can buy you a new car for your graduation gift." "Peyton, y'all don't have to do that, and you know it." "That's true, Seth, but if you earn it, you are going to get it. Richard earned the car Jaiden and I bought for him, and we aren't going to treat you any differently. You are my little brother, and I love you more than anything in this world, and I want the best for you, and as long as I can, you will get the best. Understood?" "Yes, sir, thank you." "You are welcome buddy. Enjoy the car, and be careful when you start driving on the streets." "I will Peyton. I love you." "I love you, too, little brother."
"Jaiden, Seth called me today. Dad gave him the car like I asked him to do. Seth is so excited, and he was so sweet on the telephone. I wish I could have been there to see his face when Dad handed him the keys." No sooner had Peyton said that when he heard a `ping' on his phone. When he picked up the phone, it was a text from his Dad, a short video. Peyton hit the button to play the video, and it was of Seth when his Mom and Dad gave him the car. There was no doubt Seth was happy, and appreciated the car, but the way he cried, and hugged their Mom, got to Peyton. He put his hand up to his mouth and didn't say a word.
When Richard got home, Peyton asked him to sit on the couch so he could show the video text to him. When Richard saw the video, and saw how happy and surprised Seth was, a lone tear rolled from his left eye. It was the same for Peyton. Richard hugged his brother, and thanked him profusely for all he had done for Seth, and for loving the two of them the way he did. "Richard, I think you are finally realizing that we really do love you, and we truly are happy that you and Seth are part of our family. The day that happened for our family was the happiest day we ever had. Mom and Dad have been so happy, they are like spring chickens strutting around on the farm. You two have given Mom a new perspective on life, and a new happiness that is hard to explain. And Jenny, she couldn't be happier. All she talks about is her new brothers and how much she loves you two." "Jaiden and I feel the same way, so please, let us love you and share what we have with you. We know we don't have to do that, but it's what we want to do because of our love for you and Seth." Richard hugged Peyton and gave him the family's seal: a kiss on the forehead."
Richard had gone downstairs to his room when Jaiden walked up behind Peyton at the French doors, wrapped his arms around Peyton's waist, and kissed him on the cheek. Peyton didn't move or say anything as Jaiden said, "Peyton, the way you talked to Richard was so loving, and you made me so proud of you." Peyton reached down, grabbed Jaiden's right hand, and raised it to his face. He kissed Jaiden's hand and lovingly held it under his chin. Just as he did that, he heard, "Da-Da." He looked down, and all five of their sons were hugging them on their legs. Peyton looked up at Jaiden and said, "I think we are teaching our sons how to love. I can't wait to hear them say, I love you." "That's two of us, sweetheart."
Jaiden and Peyton went to their bedroom and put on a pair of swim shorts, and took their boys into their bathroom and helped them potty. As the boys finished their business, Jaiden cut the shower on and got it to the right temperature. When he did, all five boys began playing in the spray and having the best time. Their Dads sat back and watched their sons. It amazes them how the boys play together with out squabbling. They let them play for a good fifteen minutes before they started bathing them. Once the boys were bathed and dried off, they stood at the door waiting to go into their bedroom.
When Peyton opened the door, each boy walked to his bed and waited for their Dad to put them on their beds, put their big-boy underwear on them, and then put their onesies on. When Jaiden and Peyton got the boys dressed for bed, they laid down and immediately went to sleep. Peyton cut the lights off leaving the night lights on. They sat holding hands as they watched their sons sneak off into dreamland, and marveled at the beautiful creations who lay before them. The wonderment and mystery of it all sat on top of their hearts. There was more love in that room than anybody could possibly describe.
When Jaiden and Peyton went back into the den and sat on the couch to relax and watch a television show, Peyton's phone rang. "Hey, sis, to what do I owe this call?" "Pure love, little bro! Peyton, giving your car to Seth was a really sweet thing for you to do. I talked to him on the phone a few minutes ago and he was so excited." "I talked to him, too, Jenny, and he sounded thrilled. He told me how Dad was teaching him to drive on the farm's back roads the way he taught you and me." "That's what Seth told me, Peyton. Dad sent me a copy of the video text he made when he and Mom gave Seth the car, and the way Seth hugged Mom really got to me and Ron." "It was the same for me and Jaiden, Jenny."
"Jaiden and I have been receiving gifts of money from the awards exposure and we put it in Richard's investment account so that he and Sally can build them a nice, new home when we finish our internships and residencies. It was hard for Richard to understand, so I told him he was our brother, and we loved and wanted to do that for him and Sally. Jaiden and I have a tremendous amount of money invested, so we want to help Richard and Seth to understand what real family is, and that we have, and will always have, his and Seth's backs."
"Peyton, you and Jaiden are the best young men I have ever known and loved. You have set wonderful examples for your boys, and my and Ron's boys. Since we spent the time we did with you and Jaiden in Erie, all my boys talk about is wanting to be as sweet, and as loving as their uncles. You make me so proud, Peyton. I call you my little bro, and I hate to admit it, but you are all grown up now, and, well, I sometimes cry when I think about how you and Jaiden love each other, and how you treat others. I keep telling the boys that if they follow the examples you and Jaiden have set, they will be blessed the way you have. They have done some incredibly kind things for their friends in the synagogue and at school, and they have been rewarded for their mitzvahs."
"When Ron talks to the boys about the kind things they do for others, especially for some of their school mates who maligned them for being Jewish, they always say, "that's what Uncle Peyton and Uncle Jaiden would do. Peyton, I can't tell you how proud that makes us of our sons, and how proud they quickly acknowledge they learned that behavior by watching you and Jaiden."
"When the news of the Oslo events hit the news here, and Rob and I were recognized by the news crews as being your sister and brother-in-law, the way some of the kids at school treated the boys, did a complete turn-around. The kids who used to pick on Nathan, Ben, and Peter Michael are now asking them about Judaism, and what it means to be Jewish. People are visiting the temple and are being unbelievably loving to us, and we to them. Letters we have gotten from guys who were in the skin-head movement are letters of apology for things they did and said. Peyton, everything people have said about you, Jaiden, and Richard has been nothing short of heart rending. I would love for you three and the babies to come up for a visit, to meet the members of the temple, and to get to know many of the people in the community who have been so kind after the news of your, Jaiden's and Richard's accomplishments. Peyton, I am so proud of you three."
"Jenny, we've had a number of donations come in again. Let me talk to Jaiden, Richard, and Sally and see if we can manage a long weekend." "Peyton, I hope you can." "Jenny, I'll call you back by tomorrow."
"Jenny, I talked with Richard and Jaiden, and our problem is that Jaiden and I work all day, every day, at Dr. Brannen's office, and Richard works at the hospital every day in the ER. In the evenings, Jaiden, and I do rounds at the hospital, and work in the emergency room. We have weekends off, but flying up one day and flying back the next would be a bit much on the children and us. We discussed flying out there in June while Richard and Sally are on their honeymoon." "Peyton, that would be a good time, the weather will be warm but not too hot, and the mountains will be greening up. The only thing here is that the ocean is always cold coming off the north seas from the ice caps." "Jenny, I know this is a mean thought, but I would love to see the boys hit that cold water and see what they do. We take them to the lake here, and they don't like the cold water. We can't wait to see how they do once the water warms up. It's always cool, though, so they probably won't like it too much. We'll see."
After the boys went to bed, Jaiden walked outside and sat in a chair on the deck, legs out straight, twiddling his fingers as his hands lay in his lap. Peyton watched Jaiden through the doors to the den, and knew something had to be causing him an enormous amount of grief, and it had to be something Jaiden had taken to heart for him not to mention it to Peyton. Peyton walked to Jaiden, put his arms over Jaiden's shoulders, and said, "Hon, I know something is really bothering you. If you want to talk about it, I am here to listen if that is what you need, to get whatever it is off your heart. Peyton's chin was resting on the top of Jaiden's head as he reached up and softly stroked Peyton's face. He still didn't say anything and he didn't look up, so whatever it was, it was causing Jaiden a lot of mental pain.
Peyton pulled up a chair, sat next to Jaiden, and quietly held his hand. Nothing was said for the longest until Jaiden, staring ahead, said, "Peyton, do you remember watching Jamey Pate playing ball at North Carolina State, and you said he looked like he was in pain, how he grabbed his leg, and winced as he fell to and got off the floor? "Yes, why?" "The reason he winced, and grabbed the knot on his foreleg, was because he had a neoplastic tumor that was diagnosed as a rare cancer, called Epithelioid Sarcoma, on his shin bone that traveled into his ankle. They did several surgeries, huge amounts of radiation, and an unbelievable amount of chemo, and his smile never left his face. He had unbelievable pain, and never complained and never quit trying his best at whatever he did. He kept riding his skateboard and he kept playing ball at the college. Through all the radiation and chemo, he kept giving it his all and going to school."
There is no telling how many surgeries and rounds of chemo he had, how many times he was in the hospital. There were at least 30 rounds of radiation and chemo in all. The pain he was in had to be unbelievably ghastly. His family was all but destroyed by their grief when the diagnosis was made. Everyone's heart shattered into a million pieces. It had to test the family's faith even though his Dad was a pastor. I can't begin to understand the pain his parent's felt, and I hope I never find out by experience. With everything that young man went through, he never lost the smile on his face, never."
"I don't understand, and I probably never will, why cancer strikes children and teens when they haven't even begun to live their lives. It cements my desire to be so dynamic in the field of oncology, that when I see something like that, that Hashem will give me the knowledge and ability to rid a child of such cancer."
"Watching Jeremy and Seth endure what they did nearly killed me, but we were able to get them well. Medicine didn't get Jamey well, and I don't understand why, and I keep asking myself who or what is to blame that Jamey didn't survive. For pete's sake, Peyton, he was only twenty years old. He shouldn't have died at that age of such an unfathomable disease. My heart breaks for his parents and his brothers. People say time heals all wounds, but it doesn't. There is no way Jamey's family will ever understand why their son and brother had to die the way he did; it is a death that will haunt his family until the day they die. It just isn't right, and it isn't fair that someone so young should have to die the way Jamey did."
"Jaiden, I understand how you feel and why. I understand the questions you have about Jamey's death, about the cancer that killed him. But everything considered, you have to understand that you can't always be the one with the answer to cure everyone of everything. Sometimes you have to turn it over to Hashem and accept His will in whatever He has set to happen."
"Do you remember October 25, 2018," and what happened on that day?" "Yes, that is the day my friend supposedly killed himself; supposedly is the term I use because of what his drama-queen wife was doing before my friend died, and during his funeral." "What do you mean, Jaiden?"
"Peyton, my friend was a very devout Mormon. He and his wife were married in the temple, and had been raised in that religion all their lives. I knew him all his life, and he was always a decent, loving person, but like most teens, he got into some mischief. He did his mission, and married after he got home two years later."
"He became despondent, and looked elsewhere for the attention he wasn't getting at home. When he went to work, the father of the children his wife had been keeping, started keeping company with, and at some point, began having an affair with his wife, the good temple Mormon."
"She had her boyfriend with her at her husband's funeral and the bishop of their church allowed him to be there; to sit behind her during the 15 minutes of family time with his body before he was carried into the church sanctuary – all the while refusing to let his parents spend their final moments with their son. The funeral home attendants stood guard so his mother couldn't go into the Seminary Room to see her son."
"I understand what Jeremy's brother said about time not healing everything. It's been two years since my friend supposedly shot and killed himself, and I still haven't, and will never get over his death. I don't believe, and I will never believe, he killed himself. I would not then, and I will not now, put it past his wife's boyfriend to kill him, and make it look like he shot himself. The little drama-queen Mormon bitch married the adulterous boyfriend within six months of his death. I would someday like to get an answer as to why investigators never investigated his wife, and her boyfriend, for complicity in his death."
"Jaiden, I know how hurt and angry you are about that death, but to you realize you haven't even said his name?" "Peyton, you know both of my grandfather's were Orthodox Rabbis. In the Orthodox movement, when a person dies, their name is never again mentioned out of respect. In keeping with that tradition, the tradition of my grandfathers, I won't say his name."
"Peyton, what is wrong with Jaiden?" "Charley, Jaiden is upset over the death of a twenty-year-old young man, who died of a rare form of cancer, and that triggered some deep-seated feelings about someone he knew who supposedly committed suicide. There are interesting factors about that death, and I understand why they made Jaiden so angry, but right now, it's best if we let it go and don't mention it to him." "That bad, Peyton?" "That bad, Charley!"
"Peyton, they're having prime rib at the Country Club tonight, why don't we take Jaiden and see if that will cheer him up a bit." "Dale, I don't know if it will cheer him up, but at least it will get him out of the house, and maybe take his mind off what is bothering him, but there is the problem of getting someone to watch ten clones of Jenny." "You're right. Let's order a large all-meat at Tony's and I'll go pick it up." "Good idea, Dale. Do you have any fruit knishes we could heat up?" "There are some peach knishes in the fridge I could heat up for dessert." "Here's ten bucks, pick up some vanilla bean ice cream at the store to put on the knishes, Jaiden should like that."
Jaiden walked into the house and said, "Peyton, I'm sorry my mood isn't what it should be tonight, it's..." "Jaiden, don't apologize, I understand, and I have your back. I'm your spouse, and it's my responsibility to help you through the thick and thin of life. And thinking of thick and thin, Charley has gone to Tony's to pick up a large all-meat for dinner. Dale's making coffee to go with it." "Good, misery makes me hungry, and if I don't snap out of it, I am going to get really fat." "Sweetheart, that isn't going to happen. I am not about to try and explain to your mother why I let you get too fat."
Jaiden kissed Peyton, laughed, and said, "I understand, sweetheart, I wouldn't want to put you through having to explain that to her." "Thank you Jaid, I wouldn't want to face that daunting task."
"Peyton, you know I never speak badly about someone's religion or faith, but I will tell you, since it will only be between the two of us, that I have an extreme distaste for the LDS Church as they now like to be called. And whoever the chubby lady was from the church the next town over, who slouched in the corner of a choir pew, and stared at the family during the funeral, I'll never forget her presence at the funeral any more than I'll forget the adulterous boyfriend being there. The wife and the boyfriend should have at least gone to jail for adultery."
"Between the seminary teacher divulging confidences to my friend's mother that he had confided in her, and the home teacher, who could have stopped his death by recognizing his depression and getting him help, and then saying he was going to continue in his capacity as the home teacher! How could the Bishop, and the church, be so unethical as to allow either of those situations to occur, and go unaddressed, unless, of course, the bishop is a coward? I wrote that SOB a letter but it was returned because the church doesn't have a mailbox. I should have sent it to the Council of Presidents in Salt Lake City when the postman returned it, but I didn't. I doubt they would do anything anyway. At least the postman tried for a month to deliver the letter before it was returned."
"Jaiden, is your friend's death bothering you that much?" "Sweetheart, more than you will ever know; way more than you will ever know. I have visited and left stones on his grave at least six times in the two years he has been gone. I always go by myself. It's part of my way of coping with his death." "Jaiden, I am so sorry, I didn't know." "Peyton, not even Mom knows, and I don't want her to know how his death has hurt me."
"Jaiden, has his death bothered you that bad for the past two years?" "Peyton, it has more than bothered me; a lot more than what Allison's husband's death ever would.