The next morning, after breakfast, the family gathered in the den. Herb took David on his lap and hugged him. “David, you must always remember this that we love you and we think we’re lucky to have you. You’ve been going with the boys when they take chuckles to the hospital and nursing home. To make sure you remember your mistake of yesterday, you cannot go with them all next week.”
“That’s not fair,” David yelled.
“Was it fair that you left without permission and worried us so much and placed yourself in danger?”
Pouting, David slowly shook his head.
A few days later David came skipping into the kitchen. “How much longer, Mom?”
She knew what he meant. “Just a couple more days and you can go with your brothers. I’m sure you’ve learned to tell us before you do something.” He grinned and kissed her cheek.
“Can I have some cookies and milk?”
“May I?”
“Sure, you can. You’re big and can have what you want.”
Irene bit back a smile. “Being big doesn’t mean you get what you want.”
The twins celebrated their birthday by receiving their driver’s license. As David’s birthday was the next week, the twins planned a surprise for him. Herb and Irene smiled at each other. The twins were doing for David what had been done for them over the years.
Tom and Tim were delighted to meet new students at their school. Twins Michelle and Martin Winfield had moved to Fairfax from Indiana. Their father had been transferred to Washington, D.C. to work for the government after he came home from Iraq.
“Do you have a room together?” Martin asked the twins in surprise.
“No. We did when we were smaller, but after we returned from Alaska, dad had a big room built downstairs and two bedrooms over it upstairs. David has our old room.” Tim explained
“None of my business. I just thought it might be inconvenient to have any privacy if two grown boys roomed together. Naturally, my twin being a girl necessitates us having two rooms.”
“We figured we’d have roommates when we go to college and we decided not to room together so we could meet more people,” Tom explained.
A few days later the twins talked to David about celebrating his first birthday with them. He would be a big seven. “David, would you like for us to drive you to a park where there are a lot of rides and fun things?”
“Just you and Tim and me?” he asked excitedly.
“You know Tim and I will be going to college soon and you need to have buddies your own age. Why don’t you invite some friends from school to go with us?”
“We’ll see,” David copied Herb.
On Thursday evening Tim called to David. He ran into the room and climbed on Tim’s lap. “Why don’t you call Eddie and Chuck and invite them to go with you for your birthday in the park?”
“They wouldn’t be interested.”
“You won’t know until you ask them.”
David finally agreed to call them. He turned from the phone with wide, happy eyes. “They want to go. They want to be my friend,” he said as if he couldn’t believe it.
“Well, why wouldn’t they want a great guy like you for a friend?” Irene asked him hugging him.
“I never had a friend before,” he said excited.
“Never? None at all?” Tom was surprised.
“No. My real daddy said me and him were friends and that’s all we’d need.”
The twins and Irene looked at each other. “David, why don’t you go get an ice cream bar,” Irene suggested and he ran off. “That explains his immature social skills. Why would a man do that to a bright, little boy?”
“Mom, remember we were told that the parents shunned David’s parents after they were married. Apparently it hurt his father to the point he rejected everyone except his own family.” Tom surmised.
Tim brightened up. “We’ll see that he has friends of his own age and learns to socialize. That explains why he clings to us. I thought it was just because he met us first, but he’s used to one adult.” David came in eating the ice cream and Irene asked him to take it to the kitchen.
David, Eddie and Chuck had a whopping good time. Tim staggered into the house that evening. “I don’t think I’ll be able to walk straight for a week. We rode so many rides that my brain hasn’t caught up yet.”
Tom dropped to the couch with a groan. “Dad, Mom, how did you stand us growing up? Keeping up with three little energetic boys was a major effort. I’m really tired trying to keep up with them.”
“You learn fast,” Herb smiled at the twins. “Think how we felt after having a well-behaved little girl and then two energetic boys came along. You’re getting practice for your own little boys in the future. Far in the future, I hope.”
“Oh, no,” Tom groaned. “Right now I feel as if I’ll never get married. I’m afraid I’d half kill a kid of mine if he acted like I did,” He collapsed on the couch and his parents laughed loudly.
The remainder of the school year passed quickly and summer vacation started. The phone rang and Tim reached it first. He listened. “Thank you for calling, Mrs. Fuller.” He hung up and looked sad.
“What is it?” Irene asked.
“Trina went into a violent seizure and is in the hospital. Her mother thought we would want to know.”
David surprised them by saying, “Why don’t we ask God to take care of her?”
“Excellent idea, son,” Herb said as the family gathered for prayer.
The next day the twins went to the hospital. Mrs. Fuller was in Trina’s room. The boys were disturbed seeing so many tubes and gurgling machines on Trina and her head wrapped in a bandage.
“What’s happened now?” Tom whispered. At that moment the doctor slipped in.
“Why don’t you folks come out in the hall and I’ll try to explain.” they quietly followed him. “We found a blood clot forming on the brain. Another result of that senseless accident. We drilled in and drained it. All we can do now is wait.”
“Did everything look good to you after the surgery?” Tim asked.
“It sure did. I have a good feeling that little lady will have some good news after this.” His pager sounded. “Sorry, I have to run.”
The twins kept checking on Trina even though only family was allowed in the room with her. A week later, when they went to the hospital, they were pleasantly surprised to meet Trina walking shakily in the hall with her hand on Hope’s back.
“Guess what,” Trina was thrilled. “The doctors think I’ll not have any more seizures unless something unexpected happens.” His expression changed to sadness. “I guess you’ll want Hope back. I’ve learned to love her and would like to keep her.”
“We know how you feel, but we never intended to give her up for good.”
“I understand, but I do love her.”
“We won’t separate you. Visit her any time you want.”
The people at Canine Wonders rejoiced with Trina at her good news. John talked to the twins. “Boys, would you consider donating Hope to our program? We need more like her.”
“No.” Both boys answered quickly. Tom looked thoughtful. “Do you know of a healthy, registered Malamute that could be bred with Hope? Our mother will be upset, but we’ll talk to her about donating the puppies to your program. They could be trained from the beginning.”
Two weeks later John called them. “I found a dog like you wanted and we approve of him. Keep a check on Hope and when she’s ready to be bred, bring her in.”
Chuckles and Hope both continued to visit the Children’s Hospital. They never forgot how to deal with the children.
“David, come here,” Tom called. David ran from the back yard with Chuckles and Hope in hot pursuit. He stopped to stare at the two strange boys. “David, these are our good friends from Alaska. This is Benjamin Yoakno Eskise and he’s a real Eskimo. This is Charles Running Horse and he’s a real Indian. We just picked them up at the airport. They’ve come all the way from Alaska to see us and meet you.” David just stared.
All through dinner David sat unusually silent. After dinner Tom and Tim excused themselves to take Ben and Charlie to visit Alex. Friends in Alaska had been told all about the friends and problems here in Virginia. Everyone looked puzzled when David didn’t beg to go with them.
David took his bath, brushed his teeth, said his prayers and got into bed.
Irene and Herb sat on the bed to read to him. They grew concerned because this was not like David to be so quiet and still. Was he sick?
“Why are you so quiet, son. Don’t you feel well?” Herb gathered David in his arms. David still said nothing.
Irene put a hand on his forehead and then stroked his cheek. “Sweetie, we can’t help you if we don’t know why you’re upset.”
“Are those boys going to stay here?”
“They’re just here for a visit, then they’ll go back to Alaska. Why? Don’t you like them? They came to meet you.”
“Tom and Tim like them better than they like me.”
“Where did you get that idea? Of course the boys like their friends, but they love you. You’re their brother.”
“They went off with those guys and didn’t even ask me to go.”
“Oh, darling,” Irene reached to take him in her arms. “Tom and Tim are a lot older than you and those boys are their age. When you get as big as they are, you can stay up later and go out with your friends.”
“Is that all?”
“You betcha bottom dollar, cowboy,” Herb grinned. “I’m going to read a story and you’re going to scoot down, close your eyes and have beautiful dreams.” Chuckles whined and put his head on the bed, then sighed and lay down on the floor.
“Chuckles doesn’t understand why you’re upset. He thinks there’s something wrong with you. Calm down. This story is about a dog and a cat who became good friends and protected each other.”
The twins invited Mark and Jimmy to go to a theme park with them. The six boys had a great day. It was the first time Ben and Charlie had ridden a roller coaster.
Ben had brought a video of Greatheart. It included the town and some of the people. The best part was Chief Houmay kneeling with his arm around Greatheart and grinning widely. The boys’ visit went by much too quickly.
Charlie and Ben won David’s friendship by telling him about their exciting times when the twins lived in Alaska. They told him about Galena and Greatheart. He was very proud when they bragged on Chuckles. Charlie and Ben were thrilled with the hospital visit and the one to Canine Wonders.
When Ben and Charlie were taken to the airport, David hugged them and told them he wanted them to come back. “I’m glad you came.”
“We loved meeting you, sport. Wouldn’t you like to visit us in Alaska? You could see Greatheart and a sled dog race and a lot of fun things.”
The twins had a summer job which helped them earn money for college. Their volunteer work and church work went on as usual. Anna worked every day at Canine Wonders.
One night, after David was in bed, the family was enjoying a quiet time. Tom stirred. “Mom, I’ve been thinking over what’s happened since we returned to Virginia. You could write another book about Alex learning the hard way and Trina’s and Meg’s misfortunes. Hillary learning to share and open her heart to others and how Hope worked with Trina. Millie is making a great therapy dog. Knowing Marshall was special. David coming to be part of our family and Hope having babies to donate to help people.
Tim was playing with the two little puppies they had brought home to train. “Boomer and Chopsticks should be in that book,” Tim added. “Did Tom tell you what his plans for the future might be?”
Tom sat up and beamed. “I know you’ll approve. I’ve decided that I want to study child psychology and child therapy. I want to work with children like Marshall and David.”
Irene and Herb swelled with pride and thankfulness that Tom was, at last, becoming a mature adult.