Reaping What Is Sown

"Daddy, Daddy, guess what's coming on the television right now? I mean at eight. Do you know what it is?" He allowed Jethro to guess, then responded, "No, not Walter Cronkite, Daddy, The Wizard of Oz is coming on and I'm going to watch!" Tony was silent a couple of more minutes, nodding as he listened to his father, then spoke, "Grandpa is going to let me stay up late 'cause I'm on vacation. I don't have to get a good night's sleep, remember?" Another pause followed and he assured his dad, "I won't be scared any more 'cause now I already know the monkies are going to fly. Remember I wasn't so big when I saw it before and I got afraid. I won't cry this time. Now I'm older and I'm not a baby. Dad, I promise I won't be frightened, even with the wicked witch!" Jack stifled a laugh, and Tony changed the topic, jumping up to run around the room while he talked. "Daddy, Daddy, guess what story I learned about today?" Before his father could respond, Tony laughed and continued with excitement. "I heard about a little boy L J who got a spanking from his daddy because he wasn't where he was supposed to be! His mama told him to stay where she could see him but he didn't." Jethro obviously confirmed the incident and Tony added with glee, "You got a spanking, Daddy!"

It was entertaining watching Tony as he shared his day with his father. There was no question that he was his daddy's boy, and when the conversation finally wore to a close, Tony asked quietly, "You are going to come here Friday night, right? I won't go to sleep until you get here. Even if you're late, I'll stay up and wait for you. My other tooth is getting loose now and I want you to see how much I can wiggle it." A few seconds later he was satisfied with what Jethro said, and answered, "Yes, I'll be a good boy and not get into trouble. I love you, too, and I miss you, too."

He handed the phone to Jack, telling him his dad had disconnected. Smiling at his grandfather he assured him, "I like being here with you Grandpa, but sometimes I miss my dad a lot." Jack nodded and felt a rush of emotion. His boy had turned into a wonderful father, and he was so grateful that this beautiful boy of Leroy's existed.

Tony lay on the floor as the movie started, and started wiggling his remaining top front tooth to see if he could make it loosen at all. By nine, though, he was desperately fighting sleep, and Jack told him to get off the floor and on the sofa. Tony, suspicious that it was a ploy for bed, was adamant that he wasn't sleepy, and Jack agreed, but said he wanted him on the sofa anyway. Tony, still not sure of his grandfather's motives, obeyed reluctantly. He was sound asleep in ten more minutes, and Jack covered him with a warm blanket, cut off the television and lights, and went to bed himself.

Tony awoke full of energy the next morning and raced to the kitchen. Jack was stirring oatmeal in a pot and he smiled when Tony ran up. Bending down, he allowed Tony to throw his arms around his neck and kiss him. He loved that boy. After they finished breakfast Jack asked, "What day is today?"

"Today is Sunday, 'cause yesterday was Saturday." Tony grinned, knowing he had gotten the question right.

"So where do you think you and I are going?"

"To mass, I think, or church. I don't know, Grandpa, which one do you go to on Sunday, mass or church?" Tony waited for an answer.

"Church, Tony, we're going to the church I attend. This is the same church where your daddy went when he was a boy. Now, do you have some nice clothes to wear?'

Tony nodded affirmatively. "Abuela packed two nice outfits and she said I can choose which one I want to wear." As they started cleaning the kitchen, Tony added sincerely, "Abuela takes me to mass, and the Mallards take me to church. I think I'm a Catholic Presbyterian."

Jack smiled, "Well, that is good to know. Tell me this, though, do you know how to act when you're in church?"

Tony assured him that he did. "I know how I am supposed to act in church and I know how to have good manners. You have to give me some money to put in the offering plate, though."

"That's good, then, so I don't have to worry about your behaviour. This church has a service for children, so you get to leave and go join the other kids."

Tony absorbed that and then asked worriedly, "Where are you going to be, Grandpa?"

Jack responded, "Right where you left me- I'll just be in the adult part of the service. I'll meet up with you after the service finishes."

That reassured Tony. Jack told him to go straighten his room and get dressed, and he scampered off to get ready.

Church was fine with Tony, because he discovered his buddy Matthew in the group of children. They sat by each other during the lesson, and again when the teacher brought out crafts for the children to enjoy. He coloured a picture of Jesus surrounded by children for his grandfather, and Jack taped it to the refrigerator when they got home.

Three days later Tony was visiting with the three retirees in Jack's store when the door opened and Miguel Ramirez entered. Spotting Tony, he beckoned him over. Tony was glad to see the man, and after exchanging pleasantries, Miguel pulled out a wad of bills and told Tony to tell his grandfather he wanted to pay him what he owed. Jack was just as pleased to see Miguel, and he had Tony translate a series of questions designed to make sure Miguel was not in need, that he could afford to settle the account, and that he was settling into the community. When Jack's questions were finally satisfied, Miguel told Tony to ask Jack to go outside with them. Intrigued, Jack and Tony followed the man out of the front door, Tony swinging from Miguel's hand. On the side of the store was stacked a pile of lumber and carpentry tools, watched over b y another man Miguel introduced as his brother.

Perplexed, Jack looked from Miguel to his brother, and Miguel leaned down and told Tony to tell his grandfather that Miguel wanted to thank Jack for welcoming him into Stillwater. He and his brother, to show their gratitude, wanted to build a treehouse for little Antonio.

Tony was so excited that he was jumping up and down, and could barely get the translation out for his grandfather to understand. Jack was stunned with the offer, but had Tony respond that he was overwhelmed. It was a wonderful solution, and he would be more than happy to pay for their labour. The brothers assured him that it would be a pleasure for them, and any monetary offering would be refused.

Tony was running around in circles, and the three grownups laughed at his excitement. The construction began ten minutes later, and Jack resigned himself to the fact that he couldn't keep Tony contained indoors when the building started. He turned the store over to his helper and he and Tony worked as assistants. The adults debated the location a couple of minutes, and finally decided upon a beautiful oak in the middle of the backyard. Once the measurements were determined, everyone set to work. Tony was in his element as the helper, and raced to fetch, carry and locate through the proceedings. He refused to leave the yard to go indoors, too afraid that he would miss some of the action outside.