Chapter Two: Luck of the Draw [Summer 2014]

Music:

My Dearest Phillip,

Well it is the 4th once more. As you and Ken go jogging Uwain is in the gazebo performing one of his tarot readings. I do have to agree with Ken I do enjoy his choice of ceremonial clothing or lack there of.

I now have mixed feelings about the 4th. It means I only have a little over a week before you head back to school as a coach.

However between you and Taye being busy every evening it will give me a chance to hang out with Marty and talk cooking. It is not the same since Jason moved out, but we still have a good time watching Guy's Grocery Kitchen and are looking forward to Cut Throat Kitchen. We both have started to enjoy watching and yelling at the cooks do stupid things.

Your Loving, Douglas

The 'Annual Kinsey Circle 4th of July Block Party' was off to its normal start. Even though it was nice to have the Food Truck everyone agreed that the grills were more traditional. Dakota failed to get a shark, but after a trip to Bermuda he had plenty of swordfish to send up.

The 'Wine Garden' had one extra chair in honor of Mary that everyone thought was a good idea. With Ken and Micheal's permission Uwain had set of things to do Tarot Readings for everyone who wanted one, much to the annoyance of Carter, but if he did not have something to complain about he was not happy.

This time the sport of choice was soccer as Feebi was becoming quite the soccer player at school. Ken joked it was not a real sport, but once the game started he when in full tilt. Marty showed he was a rather good Goalie along with Uwain. Though everyone had to have a discussion on the legality of using antlers to stop the ball.

The real star player turned out to be Jade. Not only did she run circles around most of the other players she had played it all of time growing up. She might have joined the B.U. Woman's Soccer Team, but she did not think that American's played soccer.

When the game ended for lunch everyone went back to mingling with each other. It was the usual mix of hot dogs and burgers, but Uwain had contributed Bangers, a form of sausage imported from England, though he did not have any himself. He did have fun as with the Bangers he also had a can of Haggis shipped at the same time. The only ones who did not turn green form that was Jade and Phillip.

After lunch a lot of the folks headed in back to try out the brand new above ground pool. Phillip was happy to sit there and play being the lifeguard. After a suggestion by Linda a rope was hung and everyone in the pool played volleyball using the soccer ball till dinner.

The swordfish was grilled on ceder planks an Italian spice mix on them. Of course there was the brown sugar pineapple slices. As everyone sat around the giant table talking Uwain stood up and wanted to make a toast.

"First I want to say this was one of mt favorite celebrations celebrating when the colonies abandoned the King." Uwain said holding up his mug of Root Beer.

Everyone looked at Uwain for a moment.

"Hey I can say that I am a duel citizen." Uwain said with a big grin. "If it was not for us Brits you American's would not have had the chance to pull France's tail of the fire...twice."

There was a bit of laughing after that.

"Now onto the serious part." Uwain got a partially serious for a moment. "I just want to say that...I want to thank you all for letting me be part of your family and putting up with my ways. You are all the most open and torrent group of people I have ever met. We have one of The Chosen People sitting and eating with a meal with one of the Islamic faith. We have Protestant breaking bread with Catholics."

Uwain stopped for a moment to recollect his thoughts.

"I we had Jesús here we would represent every continent, but Antarctica and I would not be surprised to find out that Phillip had not been there at least once. We have multiple married couples here both strait and gay having a good time. Age is not even a factor here, one of us remembers listening to President Kennedy telling us we were going to go the moon and one was not here then the two brothers fell in New York."

There was a tear in his eye.

"When I am asked what was my most favorite day in my life I will have to say today…this is what today is about. Us sharing our food and company with each other. If we all could figure out how to get the world to do this, I would be wasting 4 years of my life in the collage ROTC. I am filled with joy to call all of you as friends."

After the toast was done everyone looked at each other and around the table for a few moments and then just toasted back. Most of those there felt like standing and applauding, but universally felt it would have been inappropriate.

It was not until after dinner, dancing and the fireworks that Carter went to visit Uwain at the gazebo. Uwain was sitting on the steps of the gazebo just shuffling his cards looking at the moon.

"I don't know what to say." Carter said. "I just wanted to say..."

Uwain interrupted "You don't have to say a word Mr. Allen."

"I feel I need to." Carter sat on the steps and looked at Uwain feeling a little bit of guilt. "I had such a wrong opinion of you."

"I figured as such." Uwain looked at the top card. "People are always looking at things and reading them the wrong way." Uwain held up the death card. "For example, what do you see?"

Carter tilted his head so he could read the card. "Death"

"True it is the Death Card." Uwain gave a smile he had not planned that to be the card, but he always seemed to pull the right card from his deck when he needed it. "It means change and how it is facing and how the other cards are sitting around it can mean many things."

Carter nodded.

"This was the card that I pulled when I did my Mother's Day reading." Uwain paused for a moment and gather his thoughts. "Because of this card I think I may have saved Mary's life. To be honest I was only reading to see if my family was ok and I found out that day that I seemed to have a new family."

Carter looked at Uwain not sure what to say once more.

"You have lived in Boston your whole life right?" Uwain asked.

"Mostly." Carter replied. "We moved here soon after we were married, why?"

"Have you ever thought about how important Boston is or gone to just look at the history of your great city.?" Uwain moved his gaze to the city lights.

"Not really." Carter said not sure where the conversation was going.

"This city is filled with history." Uwain looked at Carter. "you should take a historical tour. This is your children's city, the only home they will most likely ever know. I have been here less than a year and...there is something about it that I can not just put my finger on it, do you believe in reincarnation?"

Carter looked Uwain. "Well...not really, it is not part of my religion."

Uwain nodded. "Actually it is, but that is for another time to talk about. I should tell you one of my classes is Western Religions. Back to where I was going. I do, in fact there is a lot of us out there that do. Patton is just one of the more famous ones."

Uwain paused again.

"In an odd way I know I was here once before...in another life. I knew things before the tour got there. In the square where the Boston Massacre took place I know where everyone was standing and where the buildings were at that time. I got the same feeling once when I visited some of the other battle fields of the Revolution."

Carter looked at Uwain and could tell he was telling him something he had never told anyone. "Why are you telling me this?"

Uwain let our a chuckle. "To be honest, I have been thinking about talking about it to someone and you happened to to the first person to talk to me when I made up my mind to tell someone."

Carter looked at Uwain for a moment. "Ok" then he looked at the cards. "How about we chalk this one up to luck of the draw?"

Uwain let out another chuckle. "You do have a sense of humor, Ken owes me ten bucks."

Carter gave Uwain a hard look. "Though could you do me one small favor?"

"Sure." said Uwain with a smile. "What is it?"

Carter just looked up at his house. "Could you do something about me not having to see you naked when I have to go to the bathroom in the morning."

Uwain laughed out loud. "Sure I will think of something."

Taye looked at Marty. "So what do you think they are talking about over there Teddy Bear?"

Marty looked over at Carter and Uwain. "I really don't know, but it looks like a deep discussion though. I do hope that it ends soon I think Doug and Phillip would like to get out the pool and get dressed."

My Dearest Phillip,

I thought Carter and Uwain were never going to shut up. We are both pruny and wrinkly and it is not from age.

I loved Uwain's toast, I was not expecting it at all. I could also tell no one else did either. Then listening to the two of them talk I sort of get it. Though he is not one of Paulie's lost he seems to be home in a way.

His talking of reincarnation has got me thinking. What if some of us are destined to always be together and we keep finding each other each time we are reborn.

I wish, hope, and want to believe it is true. I so much would love to be with Paulie again even if it in a different time and place.

Though I am in no hurry to find out. Maybe we are paying for having the chance to be with our true loves. If so, I think the payment is worth it.

I also think I have and idea to save Carter's remaining sanity and Uwain's gazebo trips.

Your Loving, Douglas