Chapter Twenty One

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Sanem dropped the knife on the counter, as she slowly looked Cans way. The room had turned silent, even the triplets had stopped their continuous chattering. As they all turned to look at their Dad. Sanem's eyes had already become glazed with tears as Can looked  at her with a thousand questions shouting from his eyes.

" Beni, son...where did you hear that word?" Can asked. It was times like these that he wished he had never had children, that he had never even contemplated the possibility. His mind was buzzing as he tried to think of an answer. Luis spoke before Beni had a chance to reply, " Beni, i told you, we don't talk about things like that, ok? " He spit out, cutting his eyes over at his brother. Beni bristled, ready for a confrontation with his older brother, " Why, it's not a bad word, I didn't swear or anything. You're not my boss Luis, so I don't have to listen to you." Beni blurted out, his temper and emotions clearly getting the best of him.

Can held up his hand, " Ok boys, that's enough. Luis,...Beni is right, he didn't say a bad word. Please let me or your Mother deal with things like this, ok? Can said quietly but firmly. Luis shifted his eyes away from his Dad, " Sorry Dad, I didn't mean anything by that." Luis muttered.

Sanem stood frozen as she listened to the conversation, with a thousand things running through her mind. Can turned back to Beni, " Son, apologize to your brother, those words were meant just to hurt his feelings and we don't do that in this family."  

Beni's eyes had filled with tears by that time and he had already regretted what he had said, "Sorry Abi, I didn't mean to say it like that." He replied looking down at his cereal bowl. 

Can mouth was dry and he could feel the sweat pop out on his forehead, " So where exactly did you hear about that word." He asked, trying to sound indifferent about it. Beni straighten up in his chair and looked at his Dad, " Well they were talking about it at school, one of the new kids that just came to our school said he was adopted. He's a little older than me, but he said that his parents aren't really his Mom and Dad. Is that really what it means?  He said, as if he really didn't believe what he had heard. 

Sanem grabbed the hand towel and wiped her hands nervously, " Beni, do you know the meaning of parents,..or Mom and Dad. Can you tell me what that means to you." She said, looking at her son. Beni shrugged his shoulders, " I don't know, I guess parents mean they are someone that takes care of you, like the ones that make sure you have food and clothes." He said. Sanem nodded her head, " Yes, that's right. And what does Mom and Dad mean, what does it mean to you? She said, her question seeming very direct. Beni didn't even blink as he answered, " They are the ones that love you, that kiss you at night and tuck you in. Mom and Dad means love." He said, with confidence.

Can took a deep breath and looked  at his wife. This woman always knew the right thing to say and when to say it. Sanem continued, " So, if I'm hearing you correctly parents take care of you physically, making sure you have what you need, and Moms and Dads love and kiss you, right?" Beni smiled, " Yes I think that's right." 

So smiled, " Well, parents and Moms and Dads are one in the same. Me and your Dad are your parents. Parents take care of the children and they love and kiss them...so that means anyone can be your parent." She replied her voice cracking as she fought back her tears. 

Beni thought for a minute, " I guess you're right, so that new boy was wrong, they are his real Mom and Dad."  He said with a smile....Can reached over and ruffled his hair again, "See, not everything is explained in the dictionary, it takes a Mom to tell you things like this." 

Beni was completely satisfied with this answer and was happy to get started with his day, " Dad, I think I will take my scrapbook today, that way I can show that new boy that Moms and Dads are parents, and they all take care of you and love and kiss you." He jumped up and ran up the stairs to get his scrapbook. Can turned his eyes to Sanem, giving her a look of appreciation for taking over and giving Beni the answer he needed. 

It seemed to be another crisis everted in the Divit household as everything returned to normal within a matter of moments. Luis had recovered from his brothers words, but still thought he needed to tell his Dad what Beni had said earlier. " Dad, I know that I shouldn't have said what I did, but Beni had already asked me about adoption last night before we turned in. I tried to tell him that we didn't need to worry about things like that." Luis explained, his eyes filling with tears.  " You are right son, you don't have to worry about those things." Can replied, assuring his son that everything was fine. 

Luis had known they were adopted. He was older when Can and Sanem found them and brought them to Istanbul. He could remember it like it was yesterday, how happy he had been and so fascinated with this place. He barely had any remembrance of his family before, so as far as he was concerned this was his family, his home, his Mom and Dad. It pained him to think what would have happened to him and Beni if Can and Sanem had not came to AguaCalientes, and Sanem had never came to that orphanage....

With their morning routine back to normal and everyone ready to start their day, they waved at Luis as he took off on his motorbike, headed to school and Can and Beni climbed into his truck and headed to Beni's school. Sanem felt as if she had just fought the hardest battle of her life as she poured another cup of tea and settle in to write in her journal. " She had never expected to hear that comment from Beni." She wrote, contemplating that word.....Adopted... " Yet the definition she gave him of his question wasn't exactly what he was asking, it seemed to make sense to him and pacify him for the time being." She thought. She knew she never wanted to go through that again, it had truly taxed her heart and mind to try and explain to Beni what being a parent was.

By the time Can and Beni pulled up in front of the school, Beni had forgotten all about the conversation at breakfast. All he was worried about was his scrapbook...

" Dad do you think I have the photos placed in the proper place?" He asked as he thumbed through the thick book. Can smiled quite amused at how articulate he was, " I think it's just perfect son, you have everything just as it should be. I'm sure they will all love it." He answered, pinching his cheek.

Beni winched, " Dad don't do that right here in front of school, someone might see and think I'm a sissy." He squealed, wrinkling up his nose.

He opened the door and bounded out of the truck, heading for the small group of kids that were standing near the front door. Can watched with such love and fondness that he was sure he couldn't have felt any differently if he had been born from his own blood......

The thought of NOT having him everyday of his life hit him like a ton of bricks...

How could he do it........the tears seem to come from nowhere, but they ran down his face as if he had already lost his son....

He wiped the tears from his eyes....." That simple will not happen. Not as long as my heart is still beating.....


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