Hello Dearest Readers! I am so glad you are enjoying my story. To the reader annoyed with some of my word usage….what can I say? Us old folks talk weird some times J. All comments welcome. No own and no profits made. Is anyone else royally annoyed at the delay in renewing our favorite show? They left us all hanging for a long time…NOT COOL! But-happy dance that there will be a season 12!
Chapter 38
The smells of grilling meat (and "non-meat") soon drew the adult's attention back to the meal preparations as Garcia squealed in delight over the wide variety of vegetarian options. "Surely this is not all for me? Who else would rather pet the animals than eat them?" she queried excitedly.
"Well", explained Hotch with an amused expression, "Spencer thought that hot dogs were made with real dogs, and then brought up that hamburgers were made from cows…he begged me not to make him eat anything that used to be alive, so we added some alternative entrees. I thought you might be pleased."
"I am!" she declared with a grin, royally pleased that her new nephew and godson could possibly follow in her vegetarian footsteps. "I knew he was special! But don't worry-I will stand back and let him make his own choices. He is soo sweet Hotch, and I'm glad you are adopting him. I hate to think what could have happened if he had been left to the foster-care system…Perish the thought! Have you had Spencer tested yet? I just know he's a little genius. I can't wait to teach him all about computers…if that's OK of course."
"Well, I don't want my son becoming a hacker, but I would greatly appreciate you bringing him up to speed on things electronic. I haven't had time to get him tested yet; that is on the schedule for next week. But I will make sure he goes to a school that helps him reach his obviously high potential. I will definitely welcome all the help you can give in that regard Penelope" replied a proud Hotch.
"It will be my great pleasure, mon Capitan!" Garcia grinned, turning to watch the child in question watching the cooking entrees with eager anticipation. "It breaks my heart to think of everything he has been through though. Look at him…he is still so skinny! How could that bastard starve him like that for all these years! I'm sorry he is already dead-he got off too easy if you ask me! And that so-called father of his as well!"
"Is there something you know that I don't?" queried a confused Hotch.
"Oh, damn!" exclaimed the vivacious blonde. "I didn't want to ruin today for you guys…I was going to tell you Monday I swear!"
"Tell me what?" demanded the concerned father. "That my son's father is dead? How did it happen? When?"
"Last night…he was basically raped to death by his cellmates. It seems that information regarding his treatment of his son made its way to said cellmates and since child molesters are at the bottom of the chain as it is, much less those that also sell their young child into sex slavery…it was almost their responsibility to do what they did." Garcia explained rapidly. "Not that I'm condoning murder or anything. But hey-even prisoners have a code and he had it coming if you ask me, and it is what it is, ya know?" explained the nervous tech.
"Don't worry Garcia, I happen to agree. Maybe Spencer will have less nightmares if he knows, but please-let me be the one to tell him, OK? He is still somewhat fragile emotionally, and I don't want to upset him if it can be helped." Replied a solemn Hotch.
"No problem, My Liege! Far be it from me to upset the little dumpling. Just let me know whatever you need me to do and I'm there. Aunt Penny ready and reporting for duty Sir!" declared the bubbly blonde.
"Thank-you, I appreciate that more than you know," replied the grateful father. "Meanwhile, let's keep last night on the QT until after the party. Speaking of which-I think the food is ready" he observed. "Let's eat everyone!" Hotch called out to his guests.
As the hungry guests gathered at the table, Hotch brought platters of cooked entrees to be passed around, along with the alternatives. After a brief prayer to bless the food, everyone eagerly dug in. Aaron closely watched as his new son sampled the alternative burgers and dogs. Jack also took a bite of each and both made a face. "Ew Spencer. I don't like 'em. Try mine." He suggested. After doing so, the boys decided that "the real thing" tasted MUCH better, and shared Jack's plate of hot dog, potato salad, corn and beans between them. Looking embarrassed, Spencer approached his new Daddy and announced "I like the regular 'hotdog' better. I'm sorry you bought all that other special food because of me…please don't be mad! I'm so bad!"
"No you aren't sweetheart. I would have bought most of that for Auntie Penelope anyway, so don't worry Buddy. She can take it all home and then nothing will be wasted, OK?" replied the amused father. "Now, let's get you and your brother more to eat. Don't feel bad about eating meat. Humans are omnivores…I know you know what that means."
"Uh-huh. Humans eat meat, vegetation, and grains. That's why we have incisors and molars. Did you know that humans have increased both physical size and overall brain-power because of the protein afforded by the protein in cooked meat?" the child replied. "But how can I eat meat knowing that once it was an animal that was alive?"
"Well Spencer," Hotch replied, "That is a good question. The best answer I can give is that we eat meat because we are biologically designed to. That is why it tastes so good. Our ancestors were hunter-gatherers, and that is how our bodies function best. If you think about it, plants were alive once too. And plants gain nitrogen from decayed animal matter in the soil. And animals eat plants and grains. So it is what they call the circle of life-the animals eat plants, and sometimes other animals, and when they die they feed plants that feed animals. Do you see the cycle?"
"Yes Daddy, I do. But I still feel kind of guilty." The boy replied seriously.
"I understand buddy. And so do I if I think about it. Tell you what…when we say our mealtime prayers, why don't we thank God for the plants and animals that gave their lives so that we could live? And of course, we should never waste food because that is disrespectful of the lives of the plants and animals" responded the caring father in an equally serious tone. "What do you think about that?"
"I think that sounds like an appropriate course of action" Spencer replied after giving the matter some thought. "Thank-you for discussing the matter with me. May I have a hamburger Daddy? They smell really good!"
"Of course Buddy" Hotch replied. "Jack-would you like a hamburger also?" he called to his other son. "Spencer is having one. And thanks for sharing with your brother, I am Very proud of you."
"Yeah, that sounds great!" young Jack replied enthusiastically. "And can we have some of Uncle Dave's pasta salad? It looks fun!"
"It is also delicious Picolos" declared the pleased Italian, as he spooned the colorful dish onto both boys' plates, next to the juicy hamburgers. "Now, what do you want on your burgers? Mustard? Catsup? Pickles? Lettuce and tomato?"
"Evr'yting!" Jack declared, jumping up and down excitedly"
"I am open to your discretion" piped up Spencer earnestly.
"OK, 2 burgers deluxe coming up!" Rossi exclaimed and served the boys with a flourish. "Bon Apetite!"
"Thanks Uncle Dave" the boys called out as the scrambled to the shorter 'kiddie table' and settled down to eat.
The adults followed their example, and soon the only sounds heard were contented sounds and chewing.