Kerry

The next morning, I got up early to get Thanksgiving dinner started. I was successful in getting out of bed without waking Kerry. I still could not get over how beautiful this little boy looked when he was asleep. He was a perfect little angel, and my heart swelled with love for him every time I looked at him. I gave him an affectionate kiss on his forehead, and he gave a contented little sigh, but did not wake up.

I got the turkey in the oven at 7:30, so it should be ready to come out at 12:30, and I usually tried to pace myself to have our main meal around 1:00, so things were on schedule. I made stuffing, scalloped potatoes, deviled eggs, green beans with almonds, and a fruit salad, and I would heat the dinner rolls after the turkey was finished in the oven. As usual, I had baked a couple of pumpkin pies two days earlier for dessert. This year, I had also made a banana cream pie, because Kerry said it was his favorite.

Even while Mary and I were together, I had always cooked the holiday meals, partly to give her the day off to visit with the kids, and partly because both of us acknowledged that I was the better cook, although Mary was certainly an excellent cook. I had started cooking for my family at the age of nine, and I still enjoyed it. After Mary's death, I didn't cook all that much except for the holidays, but Kerry had changed a lot of that. My everyday cooking was not elaborate, but it was apparently much more than Kerry had been used to, and he really enjoyed helping out, although I must confess I preferred to work alone.

Kerry got up around 8:00 and came into the kitchen to help me. I set him to work setting the table in the dining room, using the formal dishes and silverware. He seemed to enjoy doing that, and when I looked at the finished product some time later, I was very impressed - the plates, silverware, glasses, and napkins were impeccably placed at each setting, and he had folded the napkins very neatly in an unusual way (he told me later that his mother had always folded them like that). He also helped in the kitchen by gathering up the cooking utensils I used and putting them in the dishwasher. 

Doris and the girls were the next to arise, and the girls were hungry for some breakfast. Kerry asked if he could make breakfast, and I told him he could. He made the girls some pancakes, and made some bacon and eggs for himself and the boys, who got up shortly after the kids. He asked if I wanted anything, but I skipped breakfast. "I have to taste an occasional mouthful of what I am making so I get it just right," I teased.

"Dad," Roy asked, "have you decided what game we are going to watch today?"

"No, but Kerry has. He wants to watch the Eagles and Cowboys game. Is that all right with everyone?"

"Great," Roy answered. "Who is with me for the Eagles?"

Darrell and Doris both glared at him, and he burst out laughing. "I knew it," he exclaimed. "I knew I would be all alone, but I am going to win!"

"No, you're not," Kerry retorted. "Dallas is going to surprise you this year."

"We'll see about that," Roy answered. "Where's my green cap?"

"On your head, you bozo," teased Kerry. 

With that, Roy got up and chased Kerry out into the back yard, and I heard a lot of laughter from both of them. After a few minutes, Darrell and Joe joined them in the back yard, and I heard the sounds of a football being thrown around. Good, I thought, all my boys are getting along great, and we are all together. Doris and the girls finished their breakfast and the girls started watching the Macy's parade on television. Doris started clearing the breakfast table, but I stopped her. "Why don't you go watch the parade with the girls, Doris. I'll take care of things in here." She went into the living room with the girls, and I soon heard them commenting on the different floats, bands, and personalities in the parade. I could not stop smiling. My home was full of family, full of joy, full of laughter, and overflowing with love on Thanksgiving Day. What more could I ask for?

Dinner was on the table at 1:00, and we all gathered around the table. We had also invited Kenneth and his mother to have Thanks giving dinner with us, and they sat together next to Kerry. As I usually did at Thanksgiving, I asked everyone at the table to tell the rest of us what he was thankful for.

"I am thankful for my family, my friends, my school, my church, and my new Uncle Kerry," began Marie.

"I am thankful for all of us, for my new boyfriend, and my new uncle," continued Dawn.

"Your new boyfriend?" questioned Doris. "Is there something I need to know about, Dawn?"

"You know him, Mom," returned Dawn. "Charles Mansfield from school. He said last week that he likes me."

"Oh," said Doris, with a knowing smile. "Well, I'm thankful for all of us being together, that everyone is healthy, and for our newest family member."

"I am thankful for my mom - she's the greatest," Kenneth stated proudly. "I am thankful that she understands me and that she loves me. I am also grateful to Kerry and to you, Mr. Newman, for helping both of us as you did. I am glad that Kerry is my best friend, and I am so glad that he is happy. Mom and I love you both."

"Thank you, Kenneth. You are most welcome, any time, and I hope you know there is love for both of you in this house," I answered.

"I can only thank God for a wonderful son," began Mrs. Carrothers, "and for friends such as all of you have been in inviting us to be with you. And I, too, am so grateful to both of you, Mr. Newman and Kerry, for all your help. God bless you."

"Thank you," I said.

"I guess I'm next," began Roy. "I am thankful for my family, and for this whole family, especially including my new little brother, and I am thankful for my job. I tried to keep this quiet, but there was a major downsizing at my company this past summer, and I was concerned that I may be demoted or let go. Instead, I got a promotion. I am just thankful for all of your support."

"I heard about your company's downsizing," answered Darrell, "but since you never said anything, I figured you were not involved. I'm sorry if I didn't seem to be as supportive as you know I was."

"I know, Darrell," answered Roy, "I knew I could count on all of you if I needed to, I'm just glad I didn't need to."

"Well," began Darrell, "I guess that gives me a good lead-in. I am thankful that our family is so close knit that we don't even give it a second thought, we are just there for each other. I've had to rely on that several times in the past, as you all know, and it's a good feeling. I am thankful that we all have Kerry now, and I am thankful that he is such a great kid."

"I guess that leaves me," began Joe. "I am thankful that Dad is still my dad and that I can talk to him as freely as I can. I am thankful that he has Kerry now, he's not alone anymore, and I am thankful that he is so happy, and I don't have to worry about him any more. Kerry, none of us here are Dad's biological children, but I am here to tell you, Dad will never know the difference, and you will come to forget the difference, if you haven't already. I am so happy for both of you."

"I've already seen that several times, Joe," answered Kerry, "and you are right. It's not even official yet, but Dad is my Dad now, and I couldn't be happier. I want you all to know that I have more to be thankful for than any of you this year. For the first time in my life, I have a big family, and all of them say they love me. I have the greatest friends in the world in Larry and Kenneth. I don't want to get mushy with any of you, but I can't tell you how much that means to me. I love you all. Dad, you know how special you are to me. I am so thankful for you." He came around the table to give me a hug. 

I whispered, "I love you, Kerry," into his ear as I hugged him, then he returned to his seat.

"Well, I guess I am last," I began. "I am very thankful for such good friends as Kenneth and his mother. I am so thankful for each one of my family, for your love and support, and for your acceptance of Kerry. I am thankful that we have such a close family unit, that we are so comfortable with each other, and so supportive. I am thankful for my two granddaughters here, and the special place they each hold in my heart. I am thankful for each of my sons, and I am extremely proud of each one. You may notice that I still wear the tie clip you all gave me for my birthday. You are indeed four bright, sparkling diamonds to me, and I love you all so much. But I am thankful also that a very special woman shared my life for over seventeen years. I am thankful for the memories she left, and for the special feeling I get each time I remember her. I remember the many times she shared this table with us, and I am thankful for the smiles she brought to everyone else around this table. She shares a table with the Lord now, and I am sure she is still bringing smiles to everyone else there. This is the first time we have all been together as a family since she passed away, and I feel it only fitting that we should remember her now. I have told others, and I will tell you all now, I know she would have loved Kerry as much as I do, and as much as I hope each of you do. Thank you all so much for making him feel as special as he is."

"Hear, hear," answered Darrell and Roy.

"Let us all join hands and return thanks."

I took Kerry's hand in my right hand, and Doris' in my left, and began.

"Dear Lord and Heavenly Father, on this Thanksgiving Day, we come to you with grateful hearts for all Your many blessings. We thank You for our beautiful world and for our country, as we remember the exiled. We thank You for our freedom, as we remember the enslaved. We thank You for the security and happiness we have in our homes, as we remember the homeless. We thank you for our health, our happiness, and our success, as we remember the sick, the sorrowing, the grieving, and the unemployed. We ask that You be with each person in our world today who is in special need of Your touch, and if it be Your will, to grant them relief from their problems." 

"But most especially, Lord, we thank You for giving us each other. Thank You for making us a family, and for being a special part of our family. Thank you for giving us such good friends. We thank You for each person at this table, for the love we share with each other and with You, and for the memory of the mother of this family who now shares a table with You. We thank You for increasing our family this year with the addition of our beloved special little boy, Kerry. Grant, if it is Your will, that he will become a permanent part of this family, and will continue to bless us with his life and his love, as we strive to bless him with ours. Bless each of us, Lord, in service to each other and to You. Draw us ever closer to each other and to You, and continue to bless us with Your love."

"Forgive us for the times in our lives when we have fallen short of Your expectations, and grant us the strength, the courage, and the wisdom to seek Your will in all that we do and say, that others may see and get to know You through each of us."

"We ask Your blessings on the bounty that is before us, as we remember those in our world who are not as fortunate as we, and ask you to grant that our world leaders, working under Your guidance and wisdom, will soon devise a way so that no child in our world ever has to suffer hunger again. Be with us at this table today and throughout the remainder of our lives, as we give to You all thanks and praise. Amen."

"Amen." 

As everyone started passing the food and serving themselves, I noticed that Kerry was quiet for a few moments, holding his crucifix in his hand, before he joined in. Everyone seemed to take it upon himself to see that he had what he wanted and felt welcome. At one point, he glanced at me and gave me a wink and a smile that told me he was indeed happy with us. I was glad he felt that way. This was the first time in five years that all my children had been with me, and I was ecstatic about that, but Kerry's being there made it that much more special to me. And everyone seemed to enjoy the food!

After the meal, I started to clean off the table, but Roy and Doris stopped me. "You've done enough already, Dad," Roy told me, "the least we can do is clean up. Come on, everyone, we have work to do."

I had to admit I was a little tired, so I went into the living room and sat down in my recliner. It wasn't long before I was sound asleep. When I awoke, everyone else was in the room watching the game. Kerry was sitting on the floor in front of the TV, with Dawn on one side and Marie on the other, and Kenneth sitting next to Dawn. They made a really cute picture just sitting there, watching the game. 

"What's the score?" I asked no one in particular.

"Right now, it is 32 - 27 Eagles, but the Cowboys are threatening, and there's less than a minute to play."

"Sounds exciting," I answered, and started to watch. The Cowboys scored a touchdown and won the game, which excited everyone except Roy, so I had to act like it was no big deal, but Kerry and Darrell were dancing around the room, and Joe was rubbing it in to Roy. Family fun - there's nothing like it!

Kenneth and his mother went home right after the game, along with enough leftovers from the meal to last at least a day. As he left, Kenneth gave me the biggest hug he ever had and whispered in my ear that he loved me. "I wish you were my dad, Mr. Newman, but I am still glad you and Kerry are my best friends. Thank you again," he said. I kissed his cheek and held him a few moments. Mrs. Carrothers smiled and gave me a little hug before she left. I hoped they would enjoy the leftovers.

The family stayed with me until Sunday afternoon. Joe took Kerry shopping Friday afternoon and found a nice jacket that fit him perfectly. At Doris' request, Kerry played a few pieces on the piano and the organ Friday night. Darrell spent most of Saturday morning with Dawn, Marie, and Kerry teaching them card tricks. The kids played a lot of video games in Kerry's room while the adults talked and enjoyed each other's company in the living room. I told everyone what was going on with the legal situation after getting an update from Doyle Matthews, and everyone voiced their encouragement.

All of us went to church together Sunday morning, and again it seemed to me that the music was especially beautiful that day. Our soloist decided at the last minute not to sing her solo, since she claimed her voice wasn't strong that day, so we made it into a choir piece. rehearsing it only once before the service, and it turned out great. The children's choir special sounded absolutely stunning - the children had worked so hard on their piece, and it was obvious. They came through like champions, and I was so proud of them. Several of their parents came up to me after the service and thanked me for spending so much time and giving so much attention to them.

The hymns were especially strong. There were more people in the congregation than usual because of the holiday, but I could clearly hear Roy's and Doris' voices as they sang the hymns. They both sang in their church choir in Austin, and Dawn and Marie also seemed destined to have good singing voices. 

It always made me proud to hear Roy sing. All three of my boys, when they were growing up, had sung in the church children's and youth choirs, but only Roy had continued to sing afterwards. I could still remember all of us gathering around the piano on Sunday afternoons and singing whatever songs we could think of. Mary always wanted to sing "The Old Rugged Cross," and the boys knew all the verses by memory. Even now, I always worked the hymn into one of my voluntaries on the Sunday closest to her birthday. I had worked with the boys when their voices changed and helped them find their singing ranges, and all of them still had beautiful voices, but Joe and Darrell seldom sang, even in church. I had noticed that, although Kerry had a keen interest in music (mostly playing the organ and piano), and he did sing some of the choir numbers under his breath during rehearsal, I had never heard him really sing out loud. I decided that his musical gifts were instrumental rather than vocal, and I resolved to guide him wherever he wanted to go with it.

We said our good-byes shortly after lunch. Darrell left about 3:00, and Roy and his family left shortly afterwards. Kerry and I took Joe to the airport to catch his 4:00 p.m. flight to Baltimore, then we came back home. We enjoyed leftovers for dinner that evening, and since school started again the next day, Kerry and I got to bed early. As usual, I carried him to bed, and his soft breath on my neck soothed me to sleep. Our house had been full of laughter, good times, and togetherness for over three days, and the afterglow was unmistakable. As Kerry snuggled with me that night, it was hard to remember a time when I had been happier, but I still wished Mary were here.