That night they showed up at Oscar’s house for dinner. The twins opened the door. “Hi Steve, hi Jaime! Marc said Matt had let Marc take over most of the talking for the two of them.

They stepped into the house. “Dinner will be ready in just a few minutes. Guys take their bags and put them in the right rooms, ok?”

“Sure Dad” Marc took Jaime’s to Mary’s room and Matt took Steve’s to the guest room.

“Come on into the kitchen, it will only be about a minute.” Oscar said. “Mary made meatloaf I hope everyone is ok with that. All I have to do is take it out of the oven”

“Meatloaf sounds wonderful. Do you need any help? Jaime asked.

“No I don’t think so. Mary has nights off too. She is only here till I get home I like getting dinner ready for the kids.”

”That’s good.” Jaime said as they all sat down at the table.

“How is the house hunting going?” Oscar asked after everyone was seated.

“I am meeting with someone Monday who is going to take me to look at some places. I think I will find something this time.”

“I hope so. You could just keep renting you know?” Steve suggested. “That’s what I do.”

“I know but I kind of want a garden and things like that.” Jaime explained.

“I have always wanted a garden. Maybe I’ll move to a house myself. The only trouble I have is coming up with the money for a down payment.”

“That’s my problem.” Jaime continued. “I find a place that I really like, and they want way to much for the down payment, and the houses where I can afford a down payment…”

“You wouldn’t let a dog live in.” Steve finished.

“That’s right, how did you know?” Jaime wondered

“I’ve done a little house hunting myself in my day.”

“I have an idea.” Danny added. “Why don’t you get a place together? Pool your money for the down payment. Between the two of you I bet you have enough to get a really nice house.”

“That sounds like an excellent idea.” Oscar affirmed.

“You know, it just might work” Jaime stated.

“Why don’t we give it a try? I’ll go with you on Monday.”

“I have the place in mind already. I’ll have the realtor show us Monday.”

“Listen why don’t you see if she can show it to you tomorrow?” Oscar said.

“We are taking care of the kids tomorrow.” Steve reminded.

“I can put off my shopping till noon or so. Call right now see if she can show it to you in the morning.”

She got up from the table and dialed the realtor. “Yes thank you. We’ll be there.

She turned to Steve and Oscar. “We have an appointment to see the place at 9:00. I guess it is vacant so we don’t have to worry about someone else being there. She also said that the people who own it are anxious to sell. No one has looked at it in over a month and no one has ever put a bid on it.”

“Sounds like if we want it we could move right in.” She continued.

“I can’t wait to see it.” Steve said.

“What do you think Oscar? Do you think we can live together?”

“I think it will work out great. I wish I could go with you to see the place.” Oscar said. “Maybe I can. We could just take the kids with us.”

“That would be fine.” Steve and Jaime said together. “Then we will bring the kids back here and you can stay in the city.”

That night Jaime and Steve sat up and talked about their impending purchase.

“I can hardly wait.” Jaime said. “Steve you are going to love it. I know you will.”

They all got up early the next morning. Jaime fixed breakfast for everyone then they headed into the City.

They met the realtor outside her office and followed her the house they wanted to look at. “Steve, I really want this place. I don’t need to be convinced. I have seen it before and fell in love with it.”

“So all you need is my seal of approval?” Steve asked.

“That’s about it.” Jaime stated.

They looked around the house. “What do you think?” She asked as they followed the realtor.

“I like it to. Let’s put a bid on it.”

“We want to bid on it.” Steve said to the realtor after the tour.

“That’s wonderful we can go back to the office and sign the papers. Then I’ll call the owners and see if they accept the bid.”

After all the papers were signed Steve and Jaime took the kids back to Oscar’s “She said she would call as soon as she heard from the owners. I can hardly wait.”

At 1:00 the phone rang Jaime picked it up. “Yes thank you thank you so much!” She hung up the receiver. “We got it. It’s ours.”

“That’s great.” Steve said. “When can we move in?”

“We close on Friday.”

“Can we go out and play?” Marc asked.

“Yes just make sure you are warm enough Marc. Do the snow pants Rudy gave you work pretty good?”

“Yea they keep me pretty warm. See, dad even put our names on the inside so we won’t get them mixed up.” Marc said. “It used to not matter much but now it does.”

“Ok I don’t want you out for to long though. It’s very cold.” Jaime told them “I’ll call you in, in about a half hour.”

“W w w will y y you …”

“Take it slow Matt.” Jaime told him.

“make us s s s some hot c c cocoa?” Matt asked, speaking slowly.

“That sounds good. I sure will.” Then she turned to Joey, “Joey, do you want to go out to?”

“Yea I do.”

Jaime got the three of them dressed to go outside double checking the twins snow pants to make sure Marc got the right ones. “You guys have fun.” She said as they went out the back door.”

“Dan, you didn’t want to go out?”

“No not really. I have something I’m working on.”

“Ok but will you join us for hot cocoa when the kids come in?”

“That sounds like that would be ok.”

“Good I’ll call you when it’s time. What are you working on by the way?” Jaime questioned.

“Oh nothing important. Just an idea I had.” Dan replied.

“Well ok.” She ruffled his hair as she left his room.

She went down to the kitchen to fix the cocoa for the kids. Steve came in while she stood at the stove.

“They have been out there for quite a while.” Steve noticed.

“I told them they could play for about a half an hour.” Jaime told him.

“Well it’s been about that now.”

“I’ll call them in, in just a minute.”

They sat in the quiet kitchen drinking coffee. Danny came downstairs. “Jaime, I don’t feel so good.”

“What’s wrong?” asked standing up

“My chest hurts really bad.”

Even though he hadn’t gotten started as early as he had intended Oscar decided to get all of his shopping done in one day. The first store he headed for was the toy store. The twins had put electronic hand held football games on their lists. He was hoping the toy store would yield what he was looking for.

He went back to that department in the toy store. He looked and looked but was having a hard time finding them. He found a sales clerk.

“I am looking for an electronic hand held football game.”

“Yea they are very popular. They are right over here.”

“Thanks” As Oscar reached for them, a large heavyset woman bumped him out of the way and grabbed one of the two that were left.

“Excuse me, but I was reaching for both of those.”

“First come first serve!!” She shrieked.

“I know, but you practically knocked me down. I need both of those. I have twin sons and I would like to get one for each.”

“Well my son wants this. Your twins can just share. I have twins too; twin girls, and they have to share many things.”

“Look, I will give you the money for that.” After all that had transpired in the past several days he wanted to get the boys what they wanted.

“No way!” She bellowed as she pushed her way past him and headed for the clerk. “Do you have the Carriage Kids dolls?”

“Yes we do ma’am. Right down this aisle.” The clerk pointed.

“Thank you.” She said as she lumbered down the aisle. The clerk followed her so he could stock some more toys in that aisle Oscar saw something else the twins had asked for and went down the same aisle.

“Sir.” The woman said to the harried clerk. “I know these are one of a kind, but you can find doubles. Are there doubles for this doll?”

“I don’t know. You’ll have to look.” The clerk told her.

Smiling Oscar saw the doll the most resembled the one the woman had picked up. He bent over picked it up and put in his cart. ‘If I have to I’ll donate it to Toys for Tots.’ He thought to himself

Jaime listened with her ear to Danny’s chest. “Oh Danny, you’re wheezing. Where do you keep your medicine?”

“In the bathroom.” He barely wheezed out.

Steve ran up the stairs taking them two at a time. He went into the bathroom, grabbed Dan’s inhaler and started back downstairs, again taking them two at a time.

“I called Rudy. He’s on his way.” Jaime informed Steve when he returned to the kitchen.

“Good. How bad does he sound?” Steve asked as the walked back into the kitchen.

“Let’s just say he sounds terrible.”

“Come on Dan.” Steve said putting the inhaler in Danny’s mouth. “Ok pal on three. 1 2 3.” He pushed the canister. “Breathe in”

Jaime continued to listen. “He’s sounding a little better.” She said.

“I better go call the other kids inside.” Steve said. “You stay with him till Rudy gets here.”

Steve stepped out on the porch. “Boys time to come in.”

There was no answer.

“Come on boys. I said time to come in now.”

There was still no answer. Steve started to step off the porch when Joey came running up the sidewalk.

“Steve, Steve! Marc fell in the lake.”

“I’ll be right there.” He ran in the house. “Jaime, Marc fell in the lake. I’m going to go get him. Oscar has an electric blanket in the closet. Get it out and start warming it up.”

“Thank goodness Rudy is on his way. Steve, you be careful.” She ran up stairs, got the blanket, put it on the couch and plugged it in.

Steve ran to the lake leaving Joey with Jaime and Danny. He found Matt had managed to get Marc out of the lake and was trying to get him back to the house. Marc was conscious but Steve could tell he was in serious trouble.

The woman turned and saw the doll in Oscar’s cart. “I need that doll.” she yelled at him.

“First come, first serve I believe was the phrase of the day.” Oscar spoke quietly.

“You took that doll on purpose. You don’t have girls. What are you twin boys going to do with a doll?”

Probably the same thing your twin daughters are going to do with that electronic football game.” Oscar retorted calmly.

“I happen to have a son as well!!” She screamed. She turned to the clerk. “Tell him to give me that doll!!”

“I can’t do that.” The clerk informed her. He turned to Oscar and smiled. He had also caught the scene at the football games.

“The only reason he took it was because I took his precious game.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t tell customers what they can and can not buy.” When she turned her head he smiled at Oscar and gave him a quick thumbs up.

“Well I don’t know what I’m going to do. My daughters are identical twins and they want their babies to be identical as well.”

The clerk was now afraid that there would be trouble. Other customers were starting to stare. “I have a suggestion. If he gives you the doll, will you trade him for the football game?”

“That’s what he wants. That’s why he took the doll!!” She continued to scream.

“Well do you want to trade or not?” The manager said. He had heard the commotion and had come to see what the problem was. “You need to make up your mind or I’m going to have to ask you to leave the store without your purchases.”

“What about him?” she shrieked, pointing at Oscar.

“He is doing nothing wrong. You’re the one causing a scene.” The manager informed her.

“Yes, I’ll trade him. Here’s your game. Give me the doll.”

Oscar took the game and handed the woman the doll. She grabbed it out of his hands so hard Oscar was afraid she was going to rip the box.

“Thank you.” He said and walked away pushing his cart with two electronic hand held football games in it.

“Here Matt,” Steve said lifting Marc up, “I’ll take him. You run on back and warm up yourself.” Matt ran on ahead. Steve lifted Marc up and carried him back to the house.

By the time Steve got Marc back to the house, Rudy and Jaime were waiting for them. Rudy took Marc and went inside he laid him on the blanket and wrapped him up in it.

“There you just be still and let the blanket warm you up. I’ll be back in a bit to check on you.” Then he turned to Dan. “How are you feeling?”

“Much better.Thanks.” Dan replied.

“I just want to listen to your lungs for a second.” After a minute he said, “You sound much better. I think you’ll be fine; I want you to stay right here though. I need to be with your brother but I want to keep and eye on you too. Ok?”

“Sure I can stick around for a few minutes.” He said.

“How is he Rudy? Jaime asked coming in with two cups of hot chocolate. “Is it ok if Marc has some?”

“Sure I think you can try sitting up now.” He said looking at Marc. “You want to try some, son?”

“Sure.” Marc said as he sat up and drank his cocoa.

“You feeling warmer?” Rudy asked. “Try moving your legs.”

Marc bent his legs up. “I think I’m fine Rudy.”

“I think you are too. You rest for a few more minutes. Finish your hot chocolate then you can get up and play ok?”

“Ok thanks.”

“Can I go up to my room?” Danny asked.

“Sure, go ahead. I’ll be up before I leave to check on you one more time before I go.”

Danny headed up the stairs to his room.

“That was smart of you to get that blanket ready, Steve.” Rudy said as he sat down in a chair in the living room.

“Well I knew he had to get warm as quickly as possible. I remembered that Oscar had that blanket he got a couple of years ago when he changed banks. I don’t think anyone has ever used it until today.”

“Well he’s doing very well now. His legs are back to normal and I think Danny’s going to be ok too.”

“Oscar says you are working on some sort of top secret project you won’t let Danny help you out. What’s going on Rudy?”

‘That was fun,’ Oscar thought to himself as he continued his shopping. He made his way up and down the aisles grabbing this and that. Anything he thought the twins or Joey would like.

Joey loved jigsaw puzzles so Oscar picked up several of them. He thought even Danny might enjoy them. So he got a couple of puzzles with over 1,000 pieces. Besides the puzzles he also found a lot of games he thought Danny would enjoy. Danny hadn’t really given him a list. He had suggested a couple of games but Dan had said he needed clothes as he was getting too big for some of the things he had. His big purchase for Joey was a bike. He thought Joey would like that.

The same woman was in front of him in the check-out line. Neither one said a word to the other.

After the toy store, Oscar decided to go to the mall. He wanted to get the kids a few things to wear. Joey was growing like a weed and had outgrown all of his winter pajamas.

‘Grown out of,’ Oscar thought to himself. ‘I’m sure glad that’s behind us for a while. Hopefully it will be a while before Marc grows again.’

He went to the boys department in the store and picked out many different things for the boys.

“I’m just working on a Christmas present for Danny is all. I don’t want anyone to know about it though just in case it doesn’t work. My office is open to anyone else.”

“Can you tell us about it?” Jaime asked.

“Not right now. It’s a surprise.” Rudy told him.

“Changing the subject, Steve and I are buying a house together.” Jaime said.

“What?”

“She talked me into it. I have wanted a house for some time, Jaime is looking for one, neither one of us can actually afford the down payment on the house we want, so we decided to go together.”

“That sounds great.” Rudy said. “You have one picked out I assume?”

“Picked out and bought. We put a bid on it today, and they accepted it. We close on Friday.” Jaime told him.

“Wow! did that go fast or what?”

“I think it went very fast. But we are happy with it.” Steve said.

“It’s a nice house kind of on the outskirts of the City. It has three bedrooms a living room dining room kitchen and a huge back yard. I really want a garden.”

“I didn’t know you liked to garden.” Rudy said.

“Yes I do. I plan to have a vegetable garden and a flower garden.” She sounded very excited.

“Well I’m going to check on Dan and Marc one more time and then head for home.”

“Ok Rudy, thanks for coming out.” Steve said.

“Anytime. Especially for these kids, glad I was able to help. I’ll see you guys on Monday. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you move.”

“Yea Rudy, we will. I’m sure we can use all the help we can get. You know,” Steve continued. “I’m getting excited about it myself.”

Rudy went upstairs. He checked on Marc first. Marc and Matt were sitting at a kid-sized table Oscar had bought for them playing a board game.

“How are you feeling Marc?” Rudy asked sitting on the over stuffed chair they had in their room.

“I’m fine, really.” Matt assured him.

“I just want you to walk across the room for me ok?”

Marc laid down the dice to the monopoly game and walked over to the door and back again.

“Looks good to me.” Rudy said. Then he went into Danny’s room.

“How you doing Dan?” Rudy asked.

“I feel much better.” Danny said.

Rudy listened to his chest one more time. “Sounds good.” He looked at the paper Danny was drawing on. “What’s this?” He asked.

“Just an idea I had. I don’t even know if it will work.” He whispered.

“I think it will. I’m willing to give it a try. Want to work on it with me?”

“I sure would.”

“Ok I have some things to move around but come by Monday after school”

“I will. Thanks.” Dan responded.

“I’m going to take these with me though ok. I really don’t want you leaving them lie around the house.

“That’s fine with me.” Danny said. “My only problem is…”

“I think I know what the problem is. You let me work on that.”

Rudy studied the drawings as he walked downstairs. “What’s that?” Steve asked when Rudy got back downstairs.

“I’m not sure. I think Dan just came up with an idea to fix it so Marc’s bionics won’t have to be changed so often. They should grow with him.”

“Do you think it will work?” Jaime asked.

“I do, I really think it can work. I mean not exactly the way Dan has it, but going by his idea, I think I can come up with something.”

“That would be great if it works.” Steve said.

“Yea. Well” Rudy said as he started out the back door. “I hope it works. Dan seems fine, and Marc is all warmed up. If you have any more trouble just call.”

“We will and thanks again.” Jaime said holding the front door for him.

“If I were you, I’d keep the twins inside for the rest of the day.” Rudy suggested.

“We’ll do that. See you later Rudy.” Jaime said as Rudy walked down the front steps.

“Well now what?” Steve asked.

“Maybe I should start dinner. I think I’ll make spaghetti for dinner. Everyone likes it and then Oscar won’t have to cook when he gets home from shopping.”

Steve burst into laughter.

“What’s so funny?” Jaime asked.

“What you just said. Oscar shopping. I’ve never even heard Oscar mention that he goes to the store and buys a loaf of bread much less shopping at the Mall.”

Jaime joined in on the laughter. They laughed so hard the kids had to come and see what was so funny.

“Hey you two,” Danny said, “What’s so funny?”

“Oh nothing really. It’s an inside joke. By the way how does spaghetti sound for dinner? I thought I would make that for you.”

“We love spaghetti.” Marc, Matt and Joey said.

“Good then that is what I will fix. Matt and Marc, Rudy told us to keep you in for the rest of the day.”

“I d d d don’t want t t to g go out anyway.” Matt said.

“Ok why don’t you go play a game or something and I’ll start dinner?”

“Lets’ go finish our monopoly game.” Marc said.

“Can I play to?” Joey asked.

“Sure come on.” Marc said.

Jaime and Steve sat in the kitchen while Jaime started to prepare the dinner. “Marc really seems to be doing very well doesn’t he?” Jaime asked as she got a pot out of the cupboard so she could start the spaghetti. “What did the two of you talk about?”

“Oh that’s top secret, but I really think it’s over. He isn’t seeing Dr. Long anymore. Marc said he was a dweeb. I told him he can talk to me anytime anywhere. My door was always open.

“You mean our door.” She corrected as she started to brown the hamburger.

“I guess you’re right.” Steve said.

“I’m just glad that he trusts Rudy again.” Jaime said.

“Me too I know I went through a similar situation at first “ Steve reminded.

“Same here. Imagine being only seven.” Jaime shook her head.

“I can’t.” Steve said.

“Well he has a lot of support now.” Jaime continued.

“That he does. They both do for that matter. Hey I think I hear a car.”

Oscar came in the back door. He looked pooped.

“Do you need help carrying anything in?” Steve asked reaching for his coat.

“No, I hid it all in the garage for now. I got a lot done. I just have a couple of things to get. I bought Joey a bike. And I got that football game for the twins. There’s a story I have to tell you.”

Oscar told him of his fight with the woman in the toy store.

“What if she hadn’t agreed, would you have bought the doll?”

“That was my intention. If she hadn’t agreed to the trade I was planning on donating it to the toys for tots drive. I did drop off a couple of things by the way. I bought it for the kids and changed my mind. I really didn’t want to stand in the returns line so I put it in the box for toys for tots.

“Sounds like a good idea. I will remember to do that when I do my shopping.” Steve said.

“What can we get for the kids?” Jaime asked.

“They don’t need anything. I practically bought out the store.” Oscar informed her.

‘Well we will think of something.” Steve said. “Matt did say something about a dog.”

“Rudy says they are allergic. And I bought them a dog once. Remember? Matt killed it.”

“Like Matt said, maybe not to all dogs.” Steve reminded him. “And Matt was having problems remember?”

“Yea I do remember.” Oscar said. “What smells so good?”

“I thought I would make spaghetti for dinner.” Jaime answered.

“Oh the kids love it. Thanks. How did the day go here?”

“Well,” Steve started, “we had a couple of problems.”

Oscar looked over at Steve. “What happened?”

“Well first Danny had a slight asthma attack, so we gave him his medicine and called Rudy. He came out to help out with that and in the mean time.” He looked over at Jaime.

“He’s going to think we are lousy babysitters.” He whispered to her.

“In the meantime what?” Oscar pressed.

“Well the younger boys were out playing and Marc fell into the lake.”

“Is he alright?”

“Yea, Rudy says he’ll be fine. You will probably never ask us to baby sit again.”

“Aw you’re not getting out of it that easily.”

Steve pretended to snap his fingers. “Darn!”

“But everyone is ok now?”

“Yea the younger kids are playing a game and Danny is doing his homework. He was working on something and Rudy took it away from him.”

“Oh really, what?” Oscar wondered.

“I think I’ll let Rudy tell you about it.” Steve said.

“Sounds serious.” Oscar observed.

“It’s not that bad.” Steve told him.

“How bout dinner?” Oscar said rubbing his hands together. “I’m starved after a day of shopping.”

Jaime and Steve shared a quick smile. “It’s just about ready. If you want to call the kids down?” Jaime asked.

That Friday Oscar and Rudy took the day off of work to help Steve and Jaime move into their new house.

Rudy told Oscar about Dan’s plans for Marc’s bionics. “Oscar I’m positive it will work. Like I told Steve and Jaime not exactly the way Dan had it mapped out, but he gave me the basic concept.”

“Do you plan to use it the next time Marc needs to be changed? I only wish he would have thought about it a couple of weeks ago.”

“Yes I think I will but I need time to prefect it. I hope it’s ready the next time he’s ready.”

Matt sat in his room. He had opened up his piggy bank and was counting the few coins he had inside. Marc sat beside him. “T t two d d dollars and f f fifty cents.” Matt announced.

“Count mine now!” Marc said handing him his piggy bank. Matt gave it a shake before he pulled the plug out of the bottom. Then dumped the few coins onto the bed. Marc had three quarters in his bank. “S s seventy f f five cents” Matt counted.

“That’s only three dollars and 25 cents altogether. That’s not enough to buy dad anything. Maybe Danny can lend us some money.”

“Y yea. H h h he got all th th that m m money from that l l lady who…”

“Remember, talk slow.” Marc reminded his brother. “I remember from the lawsuit from when that lady said he was her son.”

“Let’s g go ask him.”

They left their open pigs and coins on the bed and went across the hall to Danny’s room.

“Danny, can we borrow some money?” Marc asked.

“What for?”

“W we w w want to b buy dad a Christmas P p present.” Matt told him.

“Well I don’t have much myself.”

“You have 7.5 million dollars. Remember?” Marc corrected.

“You forget, dad took all of it and divided it between the four of us, and put into trust accounts. None of us can touch it till we are eighteen.”

“I didn’t know that.” Marc said. “He really gave some to all of us?”

“Yep. He sure did.” Dan answered. “But you guys can’t get any of it till you’re 18.”

Matt was counting on his fingers. “Th th that’s 11 y y years from n n now.”

“That’s right. Look you guys don’t have to buy dad anything. You will probably make something at school. Dad would like that better than anything you can buy him anyway.”

“W w wait. M Marc g g get m m m ..”

“Slow down Matt.” Dan and Marc both said.

“Y you g get p paid when I I g go on m missions. Wh where is th that m money?” Matt wanted to know.

“Dad adds it the your trust fund, dummy” Dan said and went back to his reading.

Matt started to cry. “J just c cause I s stutter d doesn’t m mean I’m s stupid.” He ran out of the room.

“Oh man!” Danny said. “Am I ever sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.”

“It’s not your fault. Some of the older kids are teasing him because he stutters. Let me tell you. I’m about ready to give them a bionic bop on the nose.”

“Well don’t do that. Then we’ll all be in trouble. You stay here, I’m going to go talk to Matt.”

Dan left Marc standing in his room Marc looked at the homework Dan was doing and shook his head. ‘I’ll never understand all of that,’ he thought to himself.

“Matt I’m sorry. I’m your older brother I’m supposed to call you dummy every now and then.”

“I I’m n n not d d dumb.” Matt sniffled.

“I know you’re not. I didn’t mean it that way at all.”

Matt dried his eyes and looked at Danny. “Th the older k kids.”

“I know Matt, Marc told me. Did you tell dad yet?”

Matt shook his head.

“Well I will.” He went back to his own room “Ok, out you little twerp” He said to Marc. “I have something I have to do.”

“You better watch it big brother or you’re the one who will end up with the bionic punch in the nose.” Marc giggled as he left his older brother’s room.

Dan took out the note he had received the day before from his school. It explained that for the convenience of families with children already attending the Richmond School they were going to open classes for non-gifted children from Pre School up to 12th grade. ‘Maybe that’s the answer,’ Dan thought to himself. ‘Only I hate for the twins to have to switch schools again. I’ll show it to dad anyway.’

Marc walked back to he and Matt’s room. “You feeling better Matt?”

“Yea. D d Dan said he d d didn’t m mean it.”

“He was just giving me a bad time too. He just called me a twerp.”

Matt giggled.

“Hey guys let’s get a move on” Oscar called “You need to eat breakfast. Then I have to run into the office for just a bit. I have some things to catch up on after taking yesterday off to help Jaime and Steve move. They will come out and watch you.”

“Coming dad.” They all called.

They joined Oscar and Joey who were already at the table.

“What were you guys doing?”

“Aw,” Dan spoke. “Don’t ask so many questions this close to Christmas”

“Oh,” Oscar stated.

“How are you doing Matt?”

“O ok I g guess.”

“Marc how about you. Everything ok? Dan, Rudy needs you to help him out today, so you can come with me?”

Soon after they ate Jaime and Steve arrived to watch the littler kids.

After they got in the car and Oscar started out the driveway Dan began to tell him about Matt.

“I need to talk to you dad. It’s about Matt.”

“I thought he seemed awful quiet at breakfast. What’s going on?”

“Marc told me some of the older kids are teasing Matt because of his stutter.”

“You’re not serious?” Oscar was angry.

“I’m afraid I am.” Danny stated.

“How is Matt handling it?” Oscar grilled.

“I don’t think he’s taking it very well.” Dan answered.

“Steve and Jaime were taking care of the kids. Maybe Steve could talk to him. I’ll call him as soon as I get to the office. By the way, I intend to pick up the tree tonight. I know you are allergic to the real thing, and Rudy said it could trigger your asthma. I have an artificial one all picked out. We will pick it up on our way home this afternoon.”

“That sounds like fun. Sounds just like what Matt needs to take his mind off things.”

“Good then, you can come with me. I hope to be out of here by 3:00.”

They arrived at the OSI and took the elevator up to the floor where Oscar and Rudy’s offices were located.

Danny started toward Rudy’s office. “Oh before I forget,” He handed Oscar the note from school, "just read it when you have time. The letter explains everything. It might be the answer.”

Oscar folded it and put it in his breast pocket. “I’ll look at it when I get the chance Dan.”

“See you later dad.”

“Have a good day. I’ll see you at 3:00”

Later that morning Oscar took the paper out and read it. ‘Dan’s right. It just might be the answer.’

Oscar reached over and picked up the phone. He had two calls to make. The first was to the Richmond School. They weren’t usually open on Saturday but in light of the notes that had been sent home, they were going to be open till noon. Oscar dialed the phone himself.

“Yes This Oscar Goldman. My son Daniel is a student there. I am interested in signing up Dan’s brothers. Joey is in Pre School and the twins are in second grade. That would work out great for me. That way I would only have to make one stop.”

“Do you mind if the twins are in the same class? We only have one class room of each grade.” The school secretary informed him.

“That will work out great.” Oscar assured her. “They can start after the holiday break? Wonderful.”

He hung up the phone. Then dialed his home number.

Steve answered. “Steve I’m having a little problem with Matt. Dan informed me on our way in this morning that Marc told him that the older kids are teasing Matt because of his stutter.”

“That’s terrible. What are you going to do about it?”

“Well I just placed phone to Dan’s school. I’m moving all the kids to The Richmond School.”

“I thought that school was for gifted kids?”

“It is, but for the convenience to those of us parents who have kids at other schools they are opening one room of each grade so the other kids can also go there. They will start after the holiday break. In the meantime, if this keeps up, I’ll remove all three from Bates and keep them home.”

“I don’t blame you.” Steve fumed.

“You’re darn right. I pay good money for the kids to go to school there. I’m not giving them money so Matt can be teased.”

“I thought you would have your tree up by now.”

”That was my plan.” Oscar said. ”I do have a little work to do. The kids think I’m working late. I’m really stopping off at Sears this afternoon to pick up the tree.”

“You’re not getting a real one?"

“We can’t, Dan is allergic to the real thing. Rudy is afraid it will trigger his asthma, so we had to go with an artificial one. The one I wanted wasn’t in the other day when I went to buy it. They called yesterday it had come in. I can pick it up tonight.”

“Good then. I’ll have a talk with Matt. Marc can join us if he wants. I’m never excluding one over the other again. I don’t want a repeat of…”

“I don’t blame you. And please don’t remind me!” Oscar scolded.

“How late do you think you’ll be?” Steve wanted to know.

“I hope to be there by at least 3:00.” Oscar told him.

“Then we won’t have to feed them dinner.”

“No you shouldn’t have to. I hope to be there as soon as I can.”

“That’s good. I’ll have a talk with Matt in the mean time.”

“Ok I’ll see you later.”

After talking to Oscar Steve took Jaime off to the side. “I want to talk to the twins. Could you keep Joey entertained?”

“Sure I’ll take him to his room .We’ll play a game or something.”

“Sit down a minute, boys.” Steve said as he laid some cookies on a plate and poured them each a glass of milk. “We need to have a little talk.”

Marc and Matt sat beside each other. Steve sat across from them.

“Matt, I understand you are having some trouble at school?”

Matt nodded.

“His name is Sean. He picks on Matt.” Marc began.

“Marc I’m glad you want to help your brother, but he needs to tell me himself. The more he speaks the better his speech will become. Ok?”

“Yea ok,” Marc said.

“Th there is this k kid n named S Sean. He t teases me all the t time.” Matt started.

“I would like to give him a bionic punch right in the nose.” Marc said.

“Marc you have to promise me that you will never ever do that.” Steve scolded.

“I won’t Steve.” Marc promised.

“It’s not very nice of that boy to tease you because you’re having a little trouble speaking.”

“I d don’t like it. It m makes m me f feel b bad.”

“I know it does. I don’t think he will do it to you anymore though.”

“I d don’t w want t to g go b back t to school ever!”

“Well you really don’t have a choice. You have to go to school, but I think that your dad is going to fix it so you don’t have to go back to Bates anymore.”

“I h hope s so.” Matt continued.

“Look Matt, It’s not easy being different. Just ask Marc. He had a rough time at first to. But your speech therapy is going very well. You don’t stutter as bad as you did at first. Unless you get upset or excited about something.”

“You r really th think its b better?”

...Continued