Surprised Yet? (C.L. Stone, The Academy) #watty2016

Part 36

Inspired by: Somebody's Chelsea-- Reba

My distraction plan 9 because one thru eight involved staying at home and veg'ing not a good thing when some of them notice anything was even the least bit off. So....

The boys and I take a ride into Charleston. I convinced them that I needed to ride the trolley! I want to try it; I've never done it before, always works. They want to make sure I get to experience everything! They are all wrapped around my finger whether I want it or not. I laugh to my self even Owen though he doesn't openly admit it.

They drop Victor and I off at the place to buy metro cards. I'm jumping up and down, Victor's blazing eyes watching me with mirth t my bouncing and skipping. He pulls out his black card and hands it to the lady behind the glass asking for 10 metro cards with enough for a days worth of riding. She blinks in shock but as the sound of heavy foot falls reaches us she starts on the 10 cards.

I turn and beam them a smile in my excitement I didn't realize I was still bouncing until North walks up to me and places both if his hands on my shoulders. I hear some of the boys behind North laugh. I just shake my head and walk ahead of them to make my way to the up coming trolley. It slowed but never completely stopped. Large hands wrap around my waist and hoist me up on to the platform on the back of the trolley. I find a seat but there aren't a lot or any close together. I sit next to an older gentleman. Silas then Owen and North appear in front of me, all of them swaying with the rocking of our cart. I see Nathan, Gabe, Luke and Sean further down the middle, standing like the boys in front of me, and it looks like they are in front of Victor and Kota who is sitting down. I smile as the cadence of their voices wrap around me and reminds me that I'm safe.

I focus on the three in front of me, all intimidating in their own way but end up being my big cuddly teddy bears when I have them alone.

The older gentleman next to me slides his gaze from the window to Owen, who is currently looking at me with eyes that hold his feelings of love and longing.

The older man turns to me, "I remember that stage." His eyes twinkle with tears building up, he pulls out his wallet and takes out a picture. " My Izzy, we have been together for 60years. I remember looking at her like he was looking at you."

I see North perk up, out of the corner of my eye, to our conversation but still pulls of a look of distraction. Silas looks at me, the love he feels for me flashes in his eyes before he turns toward the backs of the trolley to watch the other boys. Their voices turned softer, Victor and Kota had a pair of headphones between them.

I have no response to the man, if he only knew but then maybe he does.

"My brothers and I were quiet a bunch not unlike yours, young and ready to take on the world but when it came to her we dropped everything." He looks around the cart, his all-seeing gaze stopping on each of my boys then coming to rest on me. With a smirk gracing his handsomely wrinkled face. "My Izzy was a spit fire of a woman to put up with all eight of us. Had to put us in our places a few times," I see North's mouth tilt up, ya I guess I have done that a time or two. I look down at the picture he pulled out his hand out stretched for me to take it.

It's a black and white but I see her eyes shine as she looks out from the old photo. Her hands hold on to her rounded stomach. I can't look at the picture any longer without bursting into tears. My secret, for a little longer, flutters and I look at him. The old academy dog not missing a beat, his eyes sparkle.

"We screwed up when we were young, we got jealous and some of us were more needy than others. But we figured it out, eventually. Just remember to be patient, communicate, forgiving and whack them in the head when needed."

I hear Gabe and Luke, "OY!" "Hey" should have known they were all listening but I don't take my eyes off of the man to scold them.

"We ended up having sixteen kids but so far only 10 grandkids. Some of our kids ended up with teams others couples. Our youngest just turned twenty and is in college, didn't want to go in to the family business."

I see the same gleam in his eyes I see in Sean's when he flirts with his older patients to make them laugh.

The trolley slows and the gentleman stands and makes his way to the back of the trolley shaking hands with each of my boys, after the last one he jumps from the platform to the ground below and disappears from view, springy little bugger.

Spring soap and Vanilla Lavender wraps around me, Meanie and Owen have taken up residence on either side of me.

Owen wraps his arm around the back of the bench, fingers trailing my shoulder while Meanie takes me hand palm up and places it on his thigh then starts tracing lines and shapes into my hand.

In my other hand I realize I still have the picture of Izzy the older man forgetting his precious picture. I look to Owen beseeching him for his help. He smiles and nod, 'we'll get it back to him' he says silently. Having his reassurance I relax into his hold.

The rest of the trolley ride is uneventful. The boys rotate with the flux of passengers. I get my experience that I wanted but I'm tired and its time to talk to Sean in his doc capacity.

My last thoughts before we depart the cart, thank you for taking my doubts about whether this can really last and I hope that I am their Izzy.