Kerry

Things happened very rapidly over the next few weeks. Kerry enrolled in the local elementary school in late August and made new friends very quickly. I spoke with his great aunt on the telephone and told her what we were trying to do, and she, after talking at length with Kerry, offered her support. Doyle called and confirmed that the paperwork had been filed with the court, and everything was proceeding normally. He called later on and told me that our case would be heard around the first of January, and that since the case was not contested by anyone, he was almost positive that managing conservatorship would be granted, and it would not be necessary for me to be in court - he could handle everything himself.

I returned to work at the church, which meant that Kerry was alone in the house from about 4:00 p.m. until I got home, usually about 6:00, but he had no problems with the rules we agreed on. He was to call me when he got home every day so that I would know he made it home safely. He was not to have anyone in the house until after I got home, unless I had met the friend beforehand, and even then he was to call me at work and tell me who was at the house, and he could have only one friend over at a time. He was not to leave the house without calling me to let me know where he was, who he was with, and how long he would be gone, and he was not to answer the door if I was not there unless he knew exactly who was there. He could answer the telephone, but would say that I was unable to come to the phone right then, and take a message and a number. We also agreed on some chores that would be his responsibility to get done before I got home. And, just in case, he had to keep his clothes on when I was not there. 

Things seemed to be going great. Kerry asked me to give him some lessons on the organ and piano, and I had been working with him on the piano for an hour two nights a week. He was making great progress, and he seemed to be enjoying the lessons. I had started him on a Grade 3 piano book after only a month, and he was having no problems. Whatever his mother had taught him on the piano, he seemed to have retained more than even he realized. But he was still fascinated by the organ, and he was so eager to play it that I started him on some elementary exercises for manuals and started some basic pedal techniques. I never had to tell him to practice - he seemed born to it. He even started going to Wednesday night choir practice with me and watched me play, and occasionally turned pages and pulled stops for me. It seemed to be his favorite activity outside the house, and I was surprised at the depth of his understanding of the organ, judging from the questions he asked me about the organ and my playing.

Kerry was also quite popular at school. After the first two weeks of school, he started having some of his friends over to the house after school. I met his friends, and they seemed to be very nice kids - fun loving, as most kids are, but very respectful and well-behaved. One boy, named Kenneth, seemed to be getting especially close to Kerry, and he also acted very friendly toward me. He seemed like a very nice boy, and I liked him very much. I never had a problem with anything untoward going on in the house when I was not there, and Kerry always had his homework and his chores completed when I got home. I checked his homework every night, and I seldom had to call any mistakes to his attention. And he usually had some probing questions about his piano or organ lesson assignments (usually the organ). 

The only problem I noticed was that Kerry started talking more and more about his friend Larry from his old school, and saying that he wondered what had happened to him. He was obviously worried about his friend, so one day at the office I called the principal at his old school. He told me that he did not know exactly to which Larry that Kerry was referring, but there was one boy named Larry who was in the same class as Kerry had been. He was still enrolled there, but he was not allowed to discuss anything further with me, as I was not his parent. I asked if he could make it possible for me to see or speak with Larry. He said that, unfortunately, he could not do that without the parents' permission. I said I understood, and hung up.

That night after dinner, I asked Kerry about his friend Larry.

"Kerry, tell me more about your friend Larry. What was his last name, what is his address, do you know how to get in touch with him, that sort of thing."

"His name is Larry Murdoch. I don't know his house number exactly, but I know he lived two doors from my old house. I don't remember his phone number - I guess it is in the book, but I never looked. We just saw each other around the neighborhood and at school and agreed to get together after school sometimes.

"Why don't you see if you can find his number and give him a call?"

"You mean you don't mind?"

"Of course not. You need to have friends your own age, and even though you have several from your new school, it would be a shame not to keep in contact with special friends from your old school, as long as that is possible. Call him if you want to."

"OK." Kerry got the directory and found what he thought was Larry's number and dialed. Apparently it was the right number, because after asking for Larry and waiting a few moments, he started talking to someone about old times. I left him alone and went into the living room to give him some privacy.

After almost an hour, Kerry came into the living room and sat down beside me. He was obviously sad about something, and he laid his head on my shoulder. I put my arm around him and asked him what was wrong.

"Larry is in trouble. Seems my stepfather talked to his father about what he had seen, and now Larry's father seems to be mad at him all the time. He hasn't been able to concentrate on his school work and his grades are slipping, and that is just making it worse. His mom has always been there for him, but she doesn't want to go against his dad."

"Sounds like he has a pack of trouble. Did you enjoy your visit with him, though?"

"Yes, but I am more worried about him now than before."

"Do you think his parents would allow him to visit you?"

Kerry seemed excited again. "I don't know, but is it all right if I ask him?"

"You know the rules, Kerry. As long as I meet him first, if he seems like a nice kid, he is welcome anytime."

"Great!" Kerry exclaimed. He kissed me on the cheek and ran back to the telephone and called his friend again. It took some begging on his part, and on Larry's part as well, I am sure, but it was arranged for Larry to visit us Saturday morning - two days away. I agreed to come pick him up at 9:00 a.m. 

Kerry was walking on air the next two days. He didn't bring any of his other friends over those two days, but he spruced his room up until it wasn't recognizable. He had been asking me for a television for his room for some time, so on Friday we went shopping and found one that he liked. He wanted to get a video game system for his new television, but I hesitated until I saw what games he wanted to get.

"Aw, come on, Dad, all the kids play these games."

"That doesn't make them acceptable to me," I answered. "I don't mind your playing video games, as long as your school work doesn't suffer and your chores get done, but I am not going to condone games with excessive violence, sex, or language. You know what games are appropriate for kids your age and which ones are not. I am willing to trust your judgment, but if I start hearing unacceptable sounds or seeing unacceptable images, I know how to disconnect the game system. Do I make myself clear?"

"There is only one game I like to play that has violence and language in it. All the rest I like are racing car games and ski races."

"Okay, the racing car games and ski races are fine, but the other one stays on the store's shelf."

"Aw, Dad."

"You tell me, Kerry, do we get the game system or not? You know the rules."

"Okay," he said, looking rather dejected. "How many games can I get?"

"Well, why don't you start out with two, and if things seem to work out well, we can talk about some more later on. Don't forget, you've got a birthday and Christmas coming up, so don't overdo it right now."

Kerry selected two games to go with the video system. We took the game system, the television, and the games to the car, and after putting them in the trunk we then went back into the mall to another store to get a video control box. When we returned to the car, Kerry put his arms around my waist and said, "Thanks, Dad." He looked a little sad.

"You're welcome, Kerry, but tell me, what's wrong?"

"I'm just a little upset with myself, that's all. I knew you wouldn't want me to get those teen games, but I asked for them anyway. I should have known better."

"Oh, Kerry, don't worry about that. All kids test their boundaries. Mine certainly did, and my grandchildren still do. I've been down that road before, and I like to think I know how to handle it. I just hope you realize that rule is for your protection. I wouldn't let you have them because I care about you."

"I know, Dad, and I love you for it. I just don't want you to think bad things about me."

"I don't. I am very proud of you, and don't you forget it."

We drove home, and I helped him unload the stuff into his room. I offered to help him connect it all up, but he wanted to do it himself, so I went into the living room to relax and watch television. I heard sounds from the video games after a while, and he seemed to be enjoying himself. After about an hour and a half, Kerry came into the living room and sat beside me, naked as usual. I bent down and gave him a kiss on the forehead and put my arm around him, pulling him toward me, and he snuggled up to me on the sofa.

"How is your television working?" I asked.

"Fine, and so are the video games. Larry and I are going to have a lot of fun tomorrow. Oh, I forgot to ask. Is it OK with you if I invite Kenneth to join us? His mom has to work all day tomorrow, and he will be by himself."

"I don't mind, son." I said. "You know that I think a lot of Kenneth, and he seems like a very nice boy. But you had better call him and make sure it is OK with his mother. Then don't you think it is about time to get to bed? We have to go get Larry by 9:00 tomorrow morning, and do we need to pick up Kenneth as well?"

"I'll find out," he answered. He went to the phone and called Kenneth, and after just a short time hung up. He told me we could pick up Kenneth on the way to Larry's house tomorrow morning."

"OK." I said. "But now, it's time for bed, don't you think?"

"I guess so," he answered. "Would you carry me back to your bed again?"

"Don't I always?"

I picked him up and started to the bedroom. As usual, Kerry wrapped his arms around my neck and his legs around my waist, and nuzzled his head into the crook of my neck and shoulder. Although we had never talked about him doing this, I had come to think of this as a special ritual we went through every night, and I always looked forward to it. I am sure that he never realized how special it made me feel, knowing that he wanted me to do that for him, and I have no idea how he felt about it exactly, although I knew he must like it, or he wouldn't keep requesting it. Both of us got plenty of hugs during the day, but this one was always so special.

After I got into bed, Kerry nuzzled up to me as he always did. We cuddled, kissed, and held each other as we always did. And as usual, Kerry drifted off to sleep before I did, and I got to enjoy another sight I had gotten used to - the sight of him asleep, in the darkness, in my bed, next to me, touching me, holding me. And, as happened every night, I felt literally overwhelmed by the love I felt for him and the love I knew that he felt for me. When sleep finally closed my eyes, I felt like the luckiest man in the world.