Watching Brad

[xchadx123]

"I helped Ted move into his house," Brad added. "He bought the place next door to me and almost got caught in a wicked storm. We became neighbours, then we became friends, and then we fell in love with each other. We're getting married in July."

Now that's the right way to start a relationship, IMHO. I've come to believe that building a healthy, functional workable, stable LTSR (long-term spousal relationship) is much like building a new house--the foundation must come first, and be strong and stable enough to support the entire structure, and what better foundation for an emotionally healthy, functional committed LTSR than starting with a healthy, functional, SOULFUL friendship that is based on mutual trust and respect, rigorous honesty and healthy boundaries, and has a great deal of healthy emotional and spiritual intimacy?...just food for thought, guys!!

 

[upyrkilt469]

Bravo, bravisimo. That was fantastic. Thanks again, Neil, for another great chapter in the story of Ted, Brad and family. Can hardly wait for Friday to roll around. Vic

 

[harry113]

Yet another big. BIG thank you, Neil
A fantastic & very beautiful chapter
Peace & Love
Harry

 

[gsdx]

Neil...I have to tell you that I really enjoy your work on the site. While the Jason series is hot, the Watching Brad series has me absolutely rivetted. Over the last year, I've gone through a lot emotionally and very stupidly kept things bottled up. That was of course until I started reading this story arc. And man the tears just kept flowing. I think in a lot of ways I needed an emotional kick start and I believe I'm in a lot better place than I have been in a while. Thanks for that!

You're most welcome, my friend.

Now that's the right way to start a relationship, IMHO. I've come to believe that building a healthy, functional workable, stable LTSR (long-term spousal relationship) is much like building a new house--the foundation must come first, and be strong and stable enough to support the entire structure, and what better foundation for an emotionally healthy, functional committed LTSR than starting with a healthy, functional, SOULFUL friendship that is based on mutual trust and respect, rigorous honesty and healthy boundaries, and has a great deal of healthy emotional and spiritual intimacy?...just food for thought, guys!!

Gosh! And I thought I was just writing cheap porn!

 

[justdoitinnj]

I have shed tears, bit my fingernails, laughed and rolled my eyes.
This has to be the best story I've read....along these lines that is.
I swear this would make an excellent soap opera or movie.
If I were Neil I'd send this in to Hollywood or somewhere for consideraton.
This would be better than Queer as Folk.

 

[xchadx123]

Gosh! And I thought I was just writing cheap porn!

LOL, Neil!!!...sorry, didn't mean to climb up on my soap box and start preaching...just sharing a personal belief of mine.

P.S.: Awesome chapter, dude!!! Looks like you've decided to give us a bit of a breather from all the drama and the cliff-hangers...at least the current cliff-hangers don't give me palpitations or cause me needless anxiety...LOL!! You're a fabulous writer, my friend...keep up the good work!!!

 

[kcm17480]

Very cool and very good. This is my most favorite story and can never wait for the next chapter in the life of Ted and Brad. Thanks for sharing this story with us.

 

[gsdx]

WATCHING BRAD
Part 129​

I could barely pry my eyes open the next morning when Justin knocked on my chest to wake me up. A few years ago, I could pull all-nighters right along with everyone else, but, these days, four hours of sleep simply didn't cut it anymore.

Brad fared much better than I, waking up quickly and getting the twins out of bed and into the bathroom. When they reappeared, he got them into their bathrobes and out to the other room so they would watch television until we decided what to do for breakfast. He then dragged me out of bed and to the sink so I could wake up with a face full of cold water, but only after we took much-needed and rather lengthy pisses together.

I became at least coherent enough to smile and to say ‘good morning' to him even though I was yawning widely when I said the ‘morning' part. I woke up a bit more when Brad hugged me there in the bathroom. His body pressing against mine always woke me up, especially when the full pouch of his underwear pushed against my less-than-full briefs.

I wrapped my arms around his naked back and held him there, smelling his early morning smell and enjoying every moment. Unfortunately, Justin's tiny voice blasted through the bathroom door and brought me to a parental awareness. "Daddy! Hurry up! We're hungry!"

The children's empty tummies always took precedence over Brad's full underwear, so I lifted my head from his chest and called back, "Be right there."

I looked at Brad. He was smiling brightly, much more awake than I was. "I can't wait to be a father," he said. And then he kissed me.

Our lips had barely found their position when Justin's voice came once more, accompanied by a knock on the door. "Daddy! We're hungry!"

We pulled our heads apart so we could look into each other's eyes, but we held our bodies together. My lips split into a wide grin. "Are you sure you want to become a father?

Brad showed me his chipped tooth with a smile which practically divided his face in half. "Oh, yea-a-a-ah," he said softly.

"Well, bookmark this page," I said. "I want to come back to it later ."

Brad chuckled lightly, gave me one more quick peck on the lips, then let me go so we could get back to life once more.

I opened the bathroom door and two little boys dressed in bathrobes, one trimmed in blue and the other in green, were standing there, looking up at us. As one, their arms rose into the air, ready to be picked up. Instead, I knelt down and grabbed them in my arms, hugging them hard and kissing their rose-coloured cheeks. "I could eat both of you all up for breakfast, do you know that?"

Justin looked at me, perhaps a wee bit mystified. "Okay, but we want cereal."

I gave them another hug. "Can you do us a favour?" They nodded their heads in tandem. "Could you get our bathrobes for us?" Again they nodded and tried to break away from me. I held on. "First, though, I need the sweetest sugar you can give me."

One by one, they puckered their lips and kissed me sweetly, then wrapped their arms around my neck for a very fulfilling hug. "Now Brad," I said as I released them and stood up. Brad took my place and received the same loving treatment. When Brad released them, they ran off to retrieve our bathrobes. Justin brought mine and Jeremy, of course, brought Brad's.

Lindsay and Terry were waiting patiently for us. The twins ran into the room first, jumped up onto the sofa beside their sister, and turned their attention immediately to the television. I went to Lindsay and picked her up for her morning hug and kiss. "Are you having fun, Sweetheart?" I asked.

Lindsay nodded. "I like sleeping with Terry," she said. "She doesn't snore like you and Brad."

I laughed and hugged her again, glancing at Terry as I did. Terry was smiling shyly, but turned her gaze away from mine. I don't know how she managed to look so awake and fresh so early in the morning.

"How would everyone like waffles for breakfast this morning?" I asked.

"Waffles!" The twins shouted.

"Can I have blueberries in mine?" Lindsay asked.

"You sure can." Terry took the orders and called down to Room Service as the rest of us sat on the sofa to watch television and to await the arrival of our breakfast.

At the knock on the door, the twins slid out of our laps and hoofed it to the door double-quick, pulling it open before I could remind them to ask who was there. Fortunately, it was a young waiter, bringing in our breakfast from the kitchen.

"We're eating breakfast in our underwear," Justin announced proudly as he pushed the door closed behind him.

The young man, whose name tag read ‘Kyle', looked at my son and laughed. "Well, Young Sir," he replied through his chuckles, "I bet you're very comfortable then."

"Daddy, the man called me ‘Sir'," Justin said with a wide grin, and then he took off with his brother, heading for the table and climbing into their chairs.

The rest of us joined the twins as Kyle began sorting out the meals. The first thing I did was to sit down, pour myself a coffee from the serving tray, and take a nice, long, satisfying sip. "I could kiss you for that," I said to the waiter.

Kyle smiled at me as he said, "As much as I might enjoy that, Sir, I believe I would enjoy a tip more."

"Oh, that reminds me," I said. "Sweetheart, would you run in and get my wallet? It's on the table beside the bed."

Lindsay left to retrieve my wallet as the waiter continued sorting out the meals and I continued sipping my coffee. She returned a few moments later and set the wallet on the table beside me. "Thank you, Sweetheart."

"You're welcome, Daddy," she replied. She returned to her chair as Kyle set a plate of steaming, blueberry waffles in front of her.

With the fresh fruit and juices and coffees and toast set out, a plate of waffles in front of everyone, and a healthy tip tucked into the shirt pocket of the healthy young waiter, he asked me, "Will there be anything else, Sir?"

"We're checking out after breakfast," I said. "Would you mind telling the front desk to prepare our bill, please?"

"Of course," he replied cheerily. "Enjoy your breakfast."

He left us alone to do so.

* * * * *

By the time we got dressed and our suitcases all packed, it was almost ten o'clock. The day was perfect - bright and sunny and already warm. A beautiful day for my final surprise to the family.

Everyone waited patiently as I paid the bill and checked ourselves out. As I did, our van was brought around to the front of the hotel by the valet and the bellhop loaded our things into the back for us. With all our stuff from the shopping trip there as well, two of the suitcases had to go onto the back bench seat. There was still plenty of room for Lindsay and Terry, though.

We were all dressed in shorts and T-shirts. Even Terry, except she wore a pale yellow blouse instead of a T-shirt. We all wore comfortable walking shoes as well. At my request, Terry had been sure to pack them. Before long, we were buckled into our seats in the van and on our way south toward the lake shore.

"Where are we going, Daddy?" Lindsay called from the back bench seat.

"You'll see when we get there," I called back.

"Are we there yet?" Justin asked.

Brad and I looked at each other, smirked, and then we started to laugh.

Brad thought we were going home since I was driving down Bay Street heading for the Gardiner Expressway, but when I crossed Lake Shore Boulevard, passing under the Gardiner, and then crossed Queen's Quay into the parking lot, Lindsay recognized the place and knew immediately where we were going. Either that or she read the big sign in big, red letters.

"Centreville!" she shouted excitedly from the back seat. She had often talked about going there, but I had never got around to taking her. Now she was going, and so was everyone else.

We all climbed out of the van after I'd found a parking spot. Brad threw the shoulder bag which contained our cameras and a change of clothes for the kids. I'd also packed the towels I'd asked Terry to bring. Nothing else would be needed where we were going.

The twins wanted to piggyback, of course. It was much easier for our feet to do the walking. I led them to the ferry, paid the fair, then took them to the dock to await embarking. We didn't have to wait long. Ferries leave the docks every fifteen minutes during the season for the short trip over to Centre Island.

We were fortunate enough to find a spot on the upper level near the bow of the passengers-only ferry. I discovered that this was the twins' first time on a boat of any sort, and they would have been content just to be going on a boat ride. As it was, they were jumping up and down with excitement and squealing their happiness in high-pitched giggles. Brad held my hand as we stood behind the twins. Terry and Lindsay stood to our left. I think Terry was as excited as the kids. She'd never been to Centreville, either.

We reached Centre Island and were disembarking just as a single-engine airplane was landing at the small airport there. The twins stopped to watch, but Lindsay tugged at my hand and said, "Come on, Daddy!" All her coaxing wouldn't budge the boys. They had to see the plane landing.

Minutes later, with the twins on board our backs once again and Lindsay holding my hand with her left and Terry's hand with her right and Brad holding my other hand, we headed down the path toward the entrance to Centreville.

Centreville Amusement Park is almost two hundred and fifty hectares of family fun. With dozens of rides and attractions ( mostly child-oriented), and lots of food and drinks available, it was going to be a busy but fun day for all of us.

Entrance to Centreville is free, but I had to pay for ride passes. A family pass covered the adults and Lindsay, but I had to purchase two separate passes for the twins. At only ninety-six centimetres, their passes were the least expensive at nineteen bucks a pop.

I told the twins they had to walk for now. It was going to be a long day and they were younger than I am. They didn't like it - riding on our backs was much easier and a lot more fun - but they grabbed our hands and walked. We headed up the path, taking the left branch when the path split into a ‘Y'. We had to stop at the railroad tracks to allow the narrow-gauge Centreville train to pass by - a small, bright red steam engine pulling a number of covered red carriages.

The twins waved at all the people on the train and most of the smiling passengers waved back. They would encircle the park on a leisurely ride before returning to the station. Of course, the kids wanted to ride it, so Brad checked the park map I'd bought, figured out where we had to go, and took the lead after the train had passed. We walked along the path until it intersected to the left and right. Ahead of us was the Town Square. That's where we had to go according to Brad.

To our left, we passed an Antique Car ride and a Fire Engine ride which the twins made perfectly clear that they would like to ride as well. I promised them that we would, but we would ride the train first, which was just beyond the Fire Engine Ride.

We boarded the train when it arrived in the station, each pair taking a separate seat. Lindsay and Terry sat in front of me and Justin. Brad and Jeremy sat behind us.

"Now you know why I needed you this weekend, Terry," I said over the din.

She looked back at me, smiling, and gave me a ‘thumbs up'. "This is the kind of overtime I can handle."

Justin was bouncing in the seat even before the train began to move, and Jeremy's squeals of excitement soon joined in. To our right, motor boats raced around the stretch of water which divided Centre Island from the rest of the Toronto Islands. As the train set out, we also passed the bumper boats. I doubted if the twins would be tall enough to ride those, though.

Across a path with a railway crossing, flashing lights and bells and all, we headed for the tunnel. To our left we could see the Antique Carousel and the Ferris Wheel. We passed through the small, dark tunnel and came out near the entrance booth. We crossed the path where we had stopped to watch the train go by, just beyond the Antique Car Ride. We crossed another path before turning along an inlet to our right where visitors paddled Swan Boats slowly and leisurely over the calm water. To our left was a Chair Lift Ride. It wasn't very high, running just a few metres above ground, but it was another slow way to move around and to see the park.

We passed a few more rides to our left, including a child-sized roller coaster on which adults could ride as well, then made a sharp right-hand turn to cross a bridge spanning the inlet where the Swan Boats paddled. A sharp left and another bridge quickly followed, and then the train began to travel around Far Enough Farm and the Pony Rides. That's when Justin jumped into my lap, kneeling there and grabbing me tightly around the neck as he watched in awe as the children rode the ponies in a circle around the corral. Neither he nor Jeremy had seen a real, live horse before. Behind us, I could hear the clicking of the camera as Brad took photos.

"Oh, Daddy," Justin whispered. His awe-filled eyes locked on the ponies until the train passed them by and they were lost from sight behind the Bumper Cars and the Scrambler. He stayed in my lap, though, glancing back often to see if he could catch a glimpse of the ponies. One more left-hand turn around the outside of the Log Flume Ride and we were heading back into the station.

By popular demand, our next stop would be the pony rides. Lindsay was just as excited to ride as were the twins. Brad and I piggybacked the boys across the park past the Log Flume and Wading Pool, past the Scrambler and the Bumper Cars and the Mini-Golf, and finally past the Monster Coaster. There was an entire farm full of farm animals to see and to pet, but the kids were interested only in the ponies. As we neared the paddock, Brad and I set the twins on the ground and they ran ahead of us, grabbing hold of the wooden rail corral and watching the ponies stroll by with the children riding happily on their backs.

The pony rides had been one of the most popular attractions of Centreville since before I was born, but the boys could barely wait the few seconds it took us to catch up to them. They grabbed our hands and dragged us to the entrance gate. It was still morning on the first really nice weekend in June and the afternoon crowd hadn't arrived yet, but there was still a healthy line-up. The twins surprised me with their patience. They stood there in the queue with us, holding our hands, and watching the ponies.

Finally, it was our turn. Lindsay could ride alone, but Brad and I would have to walk along beside the twins. Brad handed Terry the shoulder bag and camera and away we went. We picked three consecutive ponies. I lifted Lindsay into the saddle of the first pony, then went back to lift Justin onto his pony and to hand him the reins to hold onto. Brad, of course, lifted Jeremy into place. With my right hand on Justin's lower back, we waited until the ride official began walking the lead pony around the circle. The other ponies followed.

I tell you, I had seen my boys happy many times before, but never had I seen such a calm elation in them as I did that morning. They didn't bounce in the saddle and they didn't giggle and scream, but there excitement was palpable. There was no fear - only pure, calm contentment. When Justin looked down at me and gave me his beautiful, little-boy smile, his eyes so full of love and happiness, I had to swallow at the lump which quickly rose in my throat.

I glanced back at Jeremy. His smile was equally rewarding. It is rare for people to feel the way I felt at that moment, and I was feeling it twice over. I would never have guessed that a simple pony ride could be such an enormous gift to two tiny little boys.

After the first circuit, I removed my hand from Justin's body, resting it on the back of the saddle and ready to grab him if necessary. A quick glance back told me that Brad had done the same, but his eyes never left Jeremy. I knew he would never let anything happen to him. I think Brad loved Jeremy more than he loved me.

When the ride finally came to an end, Justin let go of the reins, held out his hands to me and fell into my arms. He wrapped his legs and arms around me, burying his face into my neck. "Thank you, Daddy," he said in a muffled voice. "I'm the mostest happy boy in the whole world."

"You're welcome, my Sonskyn," I said as I hugged him back. "We'll have another ride before we go home. I promise."

I moved forward, holding Justin with one arm and using my other arm to help Lindsay off her pony. "How was the ride, Sweetheart," I asked.

"Stinky," she replied and strutted off to rejoin Terry.

Justin lifted his head from my shoulder and reached out to pat the pony's neck. "Bye," he cried softly. "I'll be back soon."

* * * * *

Before lunch, we walked down the path from the Far Enough Farm back toward the train station, riding the Monster Coaster twice. Terry declined the second ride, standing nearby to take pictures of us instead. Lindsay rode with another youngster.

From there, we crossed the path to the Bumper Cars. Lindsay and Terry could ride their own cars, but Brad and I had to ride with the twins. They couldn't reach the pedals. When the lights turned green, we depressed the pedals and away we went. The boys steered on their own and soon discovered the fun of chasing down and ramming into each other. We had to ride that one twice as well, but Terry and Lindsay stood by the second time and took photos.

We bypassed the Miniature Golf and went straight to the Scrambler, what some say resembles an egg beater. I was well-acquainted with this ride. It was one of my favourites. Apparently it was a favourite to a lot of other people as well. Because of the lengthy queue, we had to ride three to a car. We quickly decided that I would ride with the twins. The others would ride together. As I was lifting the boys into the seat, I noticed Brad getting in first.

"Brad," I called to him, "sit on the outside! Let Lindsay sit on the inside!"

I knew the centrifugal force pushed everyone to the outside of the seat and Lindsay would have been squished by both Brad and Terry. I climbed into the seat and closed the safety gate. The twins grabbed on. "Don't let go," I told them.

"We won't!" they shouted, their giddy, high-pitched squeals of excitement returning once more. Their screams rose in intensity and pitch as the car picked up speed until, at peak rotation, it was one constant laugh. I knew there was little chance they could fall out of the car - the complex rotations kept them in the seat - but I had my left arm over their shoulders, holding Jeremy in place while my right hand pressed against Justin's chest.

I picked them up after the ride was finished, holding one boy in each arm. They were still bouncing against me and laughing and clapping when we met up with the others. Jeremy immediately went to Brad and began telling him all about the ride even though Brad had been sitting in the car directly in front of us.

Our final stop before having lunch was the Log Flume ride. I didn't know it at the time, but Brad did some research online after we got home and discovered that the Saugreen Lumber Co. Flume Ride originally came from a theme park somewhere in California. It was purchased by Centreville in the seventies, shipped to Toronto by train, and reassembled there to entertain visitors for over thirty years. It was a very refreshing ride on a hot, Summer day.

Of course, that didn't change the excitement of the ride. We rode in pairs with the children sitting in front of the adults inside the boats which resembled carved-out logs. It began slowly as we rode the water track to the lifting system which took us to the top of the hill. The park vista opened before us and the edge of the fall loomed closer until we were balanced on the edge. That's when Justin's scream began and it didn't stop all the way down the water chute until we hit the pool at the bottom and we were drenched with the splashing water. Justin's scream turned suddenly into a sharp gasp of surprise, and then the laughing and screaming and bouncing began once more.

Justin turned his head to look at me over his shoulder. Water dripped from his face and his hair was matted to his head. "Daddy," he said through his grin, "we got batheded."

I grinned back. "We sure did, Justin."

It's amazing how much fun an adult can have simply listening to a child having fun. I highly recommend it.

After our most welcome cool-down on the Log Flume, it was time to hit the bathrooms and then to find something to eat and drink for the kids and some energy boosters for the adults. My tank was running low and we still had the afternoon to go. I needed coffee.

But, I tell you, I was having the time of my life.

To Be Continued​

 

[gsdx]

Hmm, still think they should have gone to Disney, but this is just as good.

Sorry. I don't know Disney. I wouldn't and couldn't dare even to try to describe it. I might take them to Canada's Wonderland later on, though. It's just as good as Disney.

 

[botboy03]

Thanks for another great Chapter Neil.

Zac

 

[harry113]

Neil, once again -- Thanks -- a great chapter
Peace & Love
Harry

 

[upyrkilt469]

Another great chapter, Neil. It is going to seem a long time until Monday comes for another dose of Ted, Brad and familty. Keep up the good work, and I know what you mean about adult's having great fun when they take kids of an amusement park. I have had that experience. Vic

 

[wesleybs8]

another few great chapeters, Thank You

 

[Golliwog]

Thanks Daddy, for taking all of us to an amusement park. We enjoyed each part of the adventure through the fascinated eyes of the children. I have finally rested up from the years when I had to take the children to Six Flags, etc., so that I actually enjoyed it again.

Oh, and thanks, Neil, for the wonderful account of the evening out at the Village. That, although more low key than some of Brads and Ted's escapades, was some subtly, finely nuanced romantic tension. I loved Brooks ...and the dance. Unchained Melody was playing on the mind system, and I fell in love again myself.

 

[newkidondagayblock]

Nice story. Keep writing.

 

[crazy3]

Neil,

First, I want you to know I NEVER post comments on Internet forums ( shame on me ). I found this story purely by accident three days ago and I had to thank you. You have drawn me into the Ted and Brad saga. I have laughed, cried and been aroused. What a fantastic roller coaster ride of emotions and I have enjoyed every moment of the journey. For example, just when I began to think that Ted was just too good to be true, he has his melt-down and his charter became so three dimensional and so real – YOU ARE THE MASTER and I bow to you! I can also appreciate the emotional strain this must exert on you as the creator.

THANK YOU!

PS – my screen name is derived from the three days it took me to get to this point at the computer in my spare time. Thanks again!

 

[gsdx]

Neil,

First, I want you to know I NEVER post comments on Internet forums ( shame on me ). I found this story purely by accident three days ago and I had to thank you.

You're very welcome, and I must thank you for honouring me with your first-ever post in an internet forum. That is, indeed, a great honour.

Over the past few months, I have learnt a lot about Ted, and, as events in the story unfurl, he is learning a lot about himself as well. I won't go into it here. I have it planned for Ted to tell you himself.

One thing I don't think I'll change, though - at least not for the time being - is the twins. There have been many comments that they are 'too good'. I've tried to explain it within the story, but it is only conjecture. The twins themselves have never spoken of it, nor have they tried to explain it.

I tried to imagine myself as a 4-year-old who had witnessed the death of his father, and then was left there for days, hungry and thirsty, wearing dirty diapers. And then I imagined the trauma of being taken away from the only thing he had left in the world, and that was his twin brother. I tried to imagine them closing in on themselves for protection, relying only on each other for their very existance as they were passed from family to family, from home to home.

For the first time in their lives, they have a real home, a real family, people who love them, and people they have allowed themselves to love as well. They are finally living instead of simply existing.

And then I tried to imagine if I would want to do anything to screw that up. My answer was empatically 'no'.

So, as sachrin as the twins may be, as impossibly sweet as they are, they will go on being their own sweet, adorable little selves - at least for the time being.

But be ready for a few surprises.

You never know what's going to happen.

 

[Blktiger58]

I like the twins and the love they receive from Ted, Brad, Terry, and the rest of the family. They deserve the happiness after what they been through.

Thank you Neil and Welcome Crazy3 to JUB.

 

[gsdx]

WATCHING BRAD
Part 130​

It wasn't difficult finding lunch for everyone. There were plenty of kiosks around selling everything from French Fries to pizza to hotdogs, and there were ice cream cones for dessert. We found a picnic table in the Town Square, shaded by a huge maple tree, and enjoyed our snacks. I even enjoyed the coffee. It tasted as if it had been filtered through a dirty sock, but it was strong and it gave me the boost I desperately needed.

There wasn't much time for sitting back and relaxing, though. As soon as their tiny bellies were full, the twins were raring to go, anxious to get back to the fun and excitement. The day had heated up enormously from the already warm morning and was now becoming almost uncomfortably hot. We walked across the Town Square toward the wading pool where Brad and I undressed the twins down to their shorts and underwear. They took off running straight into the pool and plopped themselves on their butts in the shallow water. Lindsay took off her shoes and socks, as did the rest of us, and we waded in together to be near the twins. Even the water was warm, but it was enormously refreshing.

We let the twins splash around for a half hour or so, then dragged them out of the pool, towelled them down. Brad and Terry held towels around them, shielding them from view, as I changed their underwear and shorts. We put on their shoes and T-shirts (and our own, of course) and headed off to the next attraction: the Fire Engine Ride. Both Jeremy and Justin got to drive their little fire trucks around the track. They didn't actually drive them, of course, but they bounced in the seat and steered as if they were. As they drove their trucks around the twisty track, Brad and I wrung out their wet clothes. I'd forgot to bring a plastic bag, so we rolled them up in a towel and tucked them into the shoulder bag.

From there, we went to the Antique Car Ride where all of us could enjoy the ride. The cars were almost life sized, guided by a metal track in the middle of the pathway. I ‘drove' one car with Justin sitting beside me and Lindsay and Terry riding with us in the back seat. Brad drove another car with Jeremy at his side.

Brad faced his nemesis on the next ride - the Antique Windmill Ferris Wheel. I remember this ride from when I was a child. It was originally part of the Crystal Beach Amusement Park and was rescued from demolition by Centreville when the Park closed in 1989 and all the rides were auctioned off. I had ridden it many times when I was younger. From a distance, the Wheel actually resembles a windmill, complete with the traditional eight-sided Dutch building and gigantic fan blades. Just imagine a windmill with a Ferris Wheel attached.

It's not a huge Ferris Wheel by any means, and not very high, but for some who fears heights as much as Brad does, it might as well have been as high as the CN Tower. But, Brad certainly couldn't let Jeremy ride by himself, so he gritted his teeth, swallowed his pride, and got on. Fortunately for Brad, the boys had never been on a Ferris Wheel before and Jeremy wasn't aware that the seats would sway. He remained very still throughout the entire ride, as did Justin. We enjoyed it nonetheless, and the kids said "Wee!" each time we topped the wheel.

As the staff was loading new passengers, we each took our turn being stopped at the top of the wheel. From there, we had a chance to look around the park. The city skyline lay in the near distance, watched over, as always, by the CN Tower which stood tall and proud over Toronto. Justin saw his beloved pony ride and became all excited again. He made me promise once more that I would take him back.

The Antique Carousel, our next stop and right beside the Ferris Wheel, is the only operating Dentzell Carousel in Canada. Constructed over one hundred years ago, the ride features fifty-two different animals. The twins could ride by themselves, but Brad and I took animals right beside them both. Terry rode beside Lindsay. The kids, of course, rode on the outside where they could watch the rest of the world spinning past them. Lindsay sat on a lion. Justin and Jeremy sat on a tiger and an ostrich. Terry rode a zebra and Brad rode a giraffe. I rode a pig. Justin teased me mercilessly throughout the ride by snorting through his nose, but I didn't mind. Not much, anyway.

That was the first time. We rode the carousel two more times after that, changing animals each time.

From there we walked over a small bridge which crossed over the pathway taken by the Antique Car Ride. We paused for a few moments, watching the other riders passing beneath us. Justin and Jeremy would watch a car pass under the bridge, then run to the other side to watch it emerge. This, apparently, was ‘fun'.

The Sky Ride, as I mentioned earlier, is a chair lift similar to those found at ski resorts. These chairs had a metal canopy overhead. A little bit of protection from the sun. We rode the Sky Ride in pairs, floating over the park and paths and visitors below us, past the Monster Coaster and Swan Boats, over Far Enough Farm and the Pony Ride, and back again. As we neared the loading station, the lift dropped close to the ground, skimming along the grass with trees on either side of us. It was a slow, pleasant ride, giving me plenty of time to gather my energy once more. Justin took great delight in pointing out the obvious from our vantage point, but he fell totally silent when we reached the Far Enough Farm and the ponies. If he remembers one thing from this day, I suspect it will be the ponies.

The Swan Boats followed the Sky Ride. Once again, we paired ourselves up to ride them. Lindsay could paddle with Terry, but the twins' legs were too short to reach. They rode along for the most part, but Justin slid down in his seat until his feet found the pedals. Still, he couldn't push for an entire revolution before the pedals left his feet, so he pulled himself back up into the seat and simply enjoyed the ride.

Finally, we took one more ride on the Monster Coaster before making one last trip to the Pony Ride, as promised. Lindsay opted out this time, and Brad and I walked beside the twins. They were still in awe of the ponies and, I think, enjoyed the ride more than any other ride they had been on that day. Justin spent much of the ride holding the reins with one hand and leaning over to rub his hand over the pony's neck, speaking softly to it in whispers I couldn't hear over the excited screams of the other children.

For a brief moment, I had visions of buying a small farm out in the country somewhere and two small ponies for my sons. But it was only for a very brief moment. I was a city boy.

The afternoon was drawing to a close, and we still had things to do in Toronto before we headed home from our weekend out. We bid farewell to Centreville and found our way back to the docks, piggybacking the exhausted twins now. We caught the ferry back to the mainland and, minutes later, we were all loaded into the van and on our way back into downtown Toronto once more. It was well past the twins' nap time and I expected them to go to sleep almost immediately, but they sat there in their seats talking excitedly about the park and all their favourite rides, which, coincidentally, was every ride they had been on.

"I liked the Merry-Go-Round," said one.

"I liked the birds," the other said.

"Daddy, did you see the ponies?"

"Yes I did, Justin."

"Daddy, can we ride the fire engines again?"

"When we come back again, Jeremy."

"The Ferris Wheel was really high!"

"We got batheded!"

"I liked the Roader Coaster."

"Daddy, can we have a pony?"

And so it went.

I drove back to the restaurant which has the children's menus for our dinner. Justin opted for the Fred Flintstone Fillafil this time simply because it sounded funny when I said it out loud. Jeremy went for the Spongebob Squarepants Fish Sticks and Fries. Lindsay decided to have a grilled cheese plate and the rest of us ate something very unexotic and without a colourful cartoon character in its name. Brad even allowed me to have two cups of coffee.

After dessert, we left the restaurant, loaded ourselves into the van again, and finally we were off to the hospital to see Warren. That's when we lost the twins. They had started to flag in the restaurant, and Brad and I had to carry them to the van. Jeremy fell asleep in Brad's arms as I was buckling Justin into his seat and Justin was asleep before I got Jeremy buckled in. To be honest, I was surprised they held out as long as they had. It had been a very busy weekend for them. Only adrenalin had kept them on their feet.

Terry offered to wait in the van with the boys, but I wouldn't hear of it. We would carry the boys if necessary, but I wasn't about to leave her alone with them while we were inside. The boys barely stirred as I unbuckled them from their seats. I lifted Jeremy from his seat and handed him to the waiting Brad, then lifted Justin out of his. As soon as I stepped down from the fan, and moved him into position against my chest, his legs automatically straddled my waist and his cheek found my shoulder. One arm lay over my shoulder. The other hung limply at his side. He would pretty-much remain there until I buckled him back into his seat later on.

Lindsay and Terry followed me out of the van. Terry closed it and I pressed the button on my key chain which would lock it up and set the alarm. I held Lindsay's hand as we walked into the hospital and straight to Warren's room.

"Aw," Warren cried when we walked into his room. "Les enfants pauvre et fatigué!"

"They tried to stay awake, Warren," I told him. "They really tried. Do you want me to try to wake them up?"

"Don't you dare, Teddy!" Warren warned. "Let the little babes sleep. Turn around to your left a bit. Let me see him."

I turned slightly. The look in Warren's face was something I will remember for a long time. It was a mixture of happiness and pride in what he saw, tempered with a hint of sadness for what he had almost lost.

"There is nothing more beautiful in this world than the sight of a child sleeping," he said sentimentally. He stared at my son for a few long moments, then lifted his head, perked up, and asked, "Did they have fun this weekend?"

All I had to do was to glance at Justin and Jeremy to give him my answer.

Bill looked at Brad and raised his eyebrows in question. Brad simply replied, "Centreville."

"Ah!" Bill said. "That would do it."

"Big time," Brad added with a grin. "Just about did me in trying to keep up with them. For having such short legs, they sure get around in a hurry."

"Uncle Warren," Lindsay said as she stepped up beside the bed, "Daddy said the Ferris Wheel used to be at Crystal Beach."

"Really?" he said, surprised. "Which one?"

"The windmill one."

He looked at me and his eyebrows practically disappeared into his hairline. "Really!"

"Apparently Centreville bought it when Crystal Beach closed."

Warren settled back into his pillow, his mind travelling briefly into his past. "I miss that place," Warren said, reminiscing. "Remember all the fun we used to have there? Your parents would take us there, give us ten bucks each and send us on our way. And then they'd park their butts on a bench somewhere and drink tea all day."

"They followed us everywhere, Warren," I told him. "We were never out of their sight."

Warren smiled. "I know, but it felt like we were all alone." He chuckled. "Remember the time we got stuck on the Comet?"

"Comet?" Bill asked.

"One of the roller coasters," Warren explained. "We were riding in the front car and we were right at the top of the lift hill when the chain drive quit. We were left hanging there for almost an hour before they got it working again."

"Gee-sus, Murphy," Brad muttered beside me. I didn't have to look at him to see the look of sick horror on his face. I knew it would be there.

"Yeah, Buddy," I grinned, "but you sure chatted up that guy behind us pretty good."

"Yeah, well," he said as he dipped his head toward his chest. "Blue jeans." Then his eyes lifted to meet mine and he gave me a sly wink and a half-smirk.

"I saw that, Warren," Bill said. He looked at me. "Let me guess. Commando?"

I nodded and looked back in time to see his eyes sweep up to meet Bill's gaze and to turn the half-smirk into a full one.

"Incorrigible," Bill muttered and heaved a big sigh.

"Daddy," Lindsay said, "what's ‘commando'?"

"I was about to ask the same thing," Terry said from behind me.

"Oh, um. . ." I glanced at Brad in desperation. He had nothing to offer. I looked back at Lindsay and inspiration hit me. "You know, like the video game, Sweetheart. He was dressed like a soldier."

"Oh," she said.

I turned my head to Terry and mouthed the words, "No underwear."

"Ah ha," she said softly, nodding in understanding and blushing slightly. "Mum's the word."

"So, Lindsay," Bill interjected, more to change the topic than anything else, "what else did you and your brothers do there today?"

Lindsay easily fell into a ten-minute monologue, beginning with the train ride and ending with the stinky pony ride. She spent most of the time talking about the Carousel, describing all of her favourite animals there. That, I'm certain, was the highlight of the weekend for her.

We'd forgot to bring in the camera, so Terry went out to get it for us. Bill lifted Lindsay onto the side of the bed beside her uncle, then moved around to the other side so he could see the pictures as well. Lindsay described each one as they clicked through them. They were about half-way through the second memory card when Justin stirred in my arms.

"Pee, Daddy," he whispered sleepily.

"Okay, my Sonskyn," I whispered back soothingly to him as I caressed his hair with my fingertips. "Come on, Brad."

"Both of them?" Bill asked.

"When one has to go," I explained, "so does the other one."

I've had plenty of practice pulling down shorts and underwear with one hand, so, in moments, I was setting Justin on the toilet, making sure everything was tucked where it should be. I held him with one hand, gently shook his shoulder with the other whilst calling his name, then waited for his eyes to crack open. When they did and he looked at me, I said, "Go pee, Justin."

His eyes closed again as he began peeing. He was asleep again before he finished.

I lifted him off the toilet and pulled up his clothes again as Brad repeated the process with Jeremy. Soon, we were all back in the room with Warren and the others.

"Almost done there, Sweetheart?" I asked my daughter. "I think we should get going home soon."

"We still have another card, Daddy."

"That's okay, Lindsay," Warren said. "You can show all of them to me again when I come to visit you."

"Okay, Uncle Warren," Lindsay said. With great care, she bent down to kiss her uncle, then reached up to Bill, who picked her up and gave her enough hugs for both he and Warren.

"Oh, before we leave. . ." I said. I quickly told them about our night out in the Village and meeting Brook and him singing Unchained Melody for us.

"Oh, Teddy," Warren said excitedly. "How wonderful for you. Is Brook that gorgeous young black man with that amazing voice?"

I nodded.

"We've heard him sing there before. He should be in show business. That man has a beautiful voice, and his friend plays the piano so beautifully."

"Isn't that the song the Righteous Brothers sing?" Terry asked. I nodded my head. "Oh, I truly love that song. It's so emotional and romantic."

"It's the song that really brought Ted and I together," Brad said. "That's when I knew I really loved him."

Terry simply sighed and said sadly, "My boyfriend thinks Bohemian Rhapsody is the best song ever written." She sighed again, then perked up suddenly. "But whatcha gonna do, eh? The guy wears pink underwear."

That made us all laugh, including Warren, who put his arm over his chest as if to hold the stitches together.

It was time to go, though. With that happy image fresh in our minds, we bid our adieus to our friends. Holding my arm around Justin's back, I bent down to kiss Warren as well, and then Bill.

"Thank you for coming, Teddy," my friend said. "It was so good to see the kids again."

"It was good to see you, too. Take care of yourself, Warren."

"I will," he replied. "And you take care of that family for me."

"I'll certainly do that."

* * * * *

We carried the twins into the house and straight to their bedroom. They were still sound asleep and I didn't expect them to wake up again that night. As I undressed them, Brad and Terry unloaded the van. I was just about to pull off Justin's underwear so I could put pyjamas on him when I decided to leave him like that. If sleeping in their underwear made them feel ‘grown up', then I would let them make that choice.

I pulled down the sheets and set Justin into place, then undressed Jeremy and placed him beside his brother. They fell into position quickly without so much as a whimper. I knelt on the side of the bed as I kissed their cheeks, then pulled the sheets up around them against the chill of the air conditioning, tucked them in, and kissed them again. They didn't know I was kissing them, of course. Perhaps somewhere in a dream they had an idea, an inkling. But I knew it and that was important to me.

Brad wasn't anywhere to be seen. The suitcases were all gathered in the livingroom, as were all the bags from our shopping excursion, and then I noticed the shoulder bag opened and emptied on the sofa. The towels and wet clothes were missing. That's when I heard Brad downstairs, snapping clothes pins into place as he hung up the wet things on the line in the laundry room.

The faucets in the bathroom began pouring water into the tub and I knew Lindsay was in there for a bath - probably to finally and completely remove the smell of stinky ponies from her skin.

Terry was making a pot of coffee when I walked into the kitchen. "Aren't you going home?" I asked.

"As soon as I have a cup of coffee," she replied. She stopped what she was doing, turned to me, and wrapped her arms around me, giving me a warm, gentle hug and a tender kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, Mr. Dee," she said sweetly. "I had the best weekend. I'm so glad you included me."

I returned her kiss and hugged her back. "It was my pleasure."

We separated and she turned suddenly serious. "I'll get overtime for it, won't I?"

"Of course," I told her, rather surprised that she would even ask.

And then she laughed. "Don't you even dare think of paying me. I'll give it all back if you do." We laughed for a long, happy while, and then her laughter stopped and the smiles disappeared. "I had the most wonderful time. Anytime you need me, you just say the word and I'll be there."

I leaned forward to kiss her cheek again. "You truly are an angel, Terry."

He head dropped in embarrassment and her cheeks turned the sweetest shade of pink. "Thank you," she said, then turned and quickly finished her task of making coffee for us.

* * * * *

The house was securely locked and the alarm was set. Terry had cleaned up the left-over coffee and had gone home. Lindsay had had her bath and had gone straight to bed immediately afterward. The twins hadn't awakened.

Brad and I lay in bed, naked and exhausted. We lay facing each other, our foreheads touching as we had seen the twins do so many times.

The best weekend of my entire life was finally over, but I relived the entire thing in the dreams which visited me that night.

To Be Continued​

 

[botboy03]

Thanks for another great and very sweet chapter Neil.

Zac