Lumpy was the first one to wake up that Valentine's Day morning. He stayed in bed for a while longer since he was in no hurry to get out of bed to go to the orphanage. Eddie was awake as well, but he did not get dressed yet. He was on his cell phone, talking to me about Wally.
"All right, Squirt. I have Lumpy over here. Maybe your wife will want to pick him up at my house so Lumpy and your brother can have some time today?" Eddie asked.
"Good idea, Eddie. I'm sure that will give Wally something to do instead of staying in bed all day," I said, agreeing to the idea Eddie came up with.
"Maybe this weekend all of us can get together so we can talk about Wally," Eddie suggested.
"Good idea. Lindsey has another week left so we have enough time with her," I said.
"I'll speak to Lumpy about the talk later but now I have to get ready for work," Eddie said.
"I'm there waiting for you," I said.
"Okay."
"Eddie?"
"What?"
"Do me a favor."
"What's that?" Eddie asked.
"Olivia told me Wally's prescriptions came in but she couldn't get them because the car was in service. I don't think I'll have time after work to pick them up."
"All right, Squirt. I can pick them up now. What do I have to pick up? Prozac? Cymbalta?" Eddie asked.
"Just those two is what I'm told. While I'm waiting for you, I'll talk to Olivia about Lumpy," I said.
"Good idea. I'll be sure to tell Lumpy," Eddie said as he heard me hang up.
Lumpy heard some of the conversation. Who was on depression medication? Eddie? He would have to ask that while they were eating. Lumpy headed downstairs to get the newspaper so Eddie wouldn't catch him listening in on the conversation.
Eddie came into the kitchen a couple minutes later and found Lumpy making coffee.
"Morning, Lumpy."
"Morning, Eddie."
"I was talking with Squirt just a couple minutes ago. He says Wally isn't going to work today. We were thinking you would like to Squirt's house and keep Wally company for the day," Eddie said.
"Why would I want to go to Squirt's house for? Doesn't Wally have his own place?" Lumpy asked.
"To tell the truth, Wally used to live on his own, but he doesn't anymore so this is why he lives with Squirt. This is one of the reasons we're going to have this talk with you and Wally's daughter when we get together. Squirt said something about her leaving next week or so," Eddie said.
"Gotcha. I heard something this morning about depression medications. Are you depressed, Eddie? Don't tell me your tough side left you," Lumpy said.
"You listened to my conversation with Squirt? I don't even have depression, Lumpy. No, my tough side hasn't left at all. The medication part you heard about. That's another reason we have to talk about. You will find out when we sit down. Squirt's wife will pick you up later so you and Wally can have some time together. I have to get to work. I'll see you tonight."
Lumpy watched as Eddie grabbed his things and was out of the house. It did make him wonder what kind of talk they were going to have. He would soon have to find out about the telephone conversation he overheard earlier about the depression medications and now Eddie told him his tough side had never left so Lumpy wanted to make sure it wasn't Eddie who was on antidepressants.
My wife came for him around nine that morning.
"Hello, Lumpy. How is Africa?" Olivia asked.
"Fine. Eddie said something this morning about Wally living with you. I thought he would be having his own place by now."
"He had his own place, but it never worked out after his wife died and he had some serious health issues so Beaver and I had to take him in since we agreed nursing homes were out of the question," Olivia said.
After they drove into the driveway minutes later, Lumpy asked where Wally was.
"He's in bed. Let me tell him you're here and he'll get dressed and you two can find things to do. By the way, Happy Valentine's Day," Olivia said and headed up the stairs.
Time passed and Olivia took Lumpy back to Eddie's around dinnertime that evening. Eddie still hadn't arrived yet so Lumpy figured he would get started on supper for the two of them.
"Thank you again for having me over, Mrs. Cleaver. Wally and I had a good time today. He was depressed since his parents aren't here to celebrate their anniversary today. I don't blame him. Happy Valentine's Day to you too," Lumpy said, getting out of the car and watched Olivia drive off.