Early Signs-
"Daddy, Daddy!"
Alan looked up from filling the kiddie pool to see 6-year-old Don racing out the back door.
"Daddy, somefing's wong wif Joey!"
Alan dropped the hose and turned towards the house, where Don had just been changing into swimsuits with his friend, Joey. However, Don's next words made him stop in his tracks.
"His peepee is mewted!"
Alan stared at him. "His peepee is melted?"
"Yes, it's all…" Don gestured near his groin.
Relaxing, Alan laughed. "Don, it's not melted. He's uncircumcised."
"What?"
Alan checked that the dropped hose was running into the pool and let his heartrate return to normal. Then he realized he was going to have to explain to Don.
"It's part of our Jewish faith," Alan said. "Like Rosh Hoshanah or Shabbat. When you're eight days old, a special priest… modifies your peepee-penis."
"Modifies?"
"Yes, removes a small flap of skin."
Don narrowed his eyes in a way that was becoming too familiar. "Is that wegoh?"
"Legal?" Alan said. "Of course it's legal." Don was very concerned lately with laws and criminals. Alan wondered if it was Margaret's law work or that 'Sheriff' kit that had come with a badge and a toy gun.
"Is the speciah pweist gonna modify Joey?"
"No, Joey isn't Jewish."
Don thought for a moment. "Does he wanna be Jewish?"
"I don't…"
Don crossed his arms. "If the speciah pweist comes, I wiw pwotect him."
"He doesn't need…" Alan looked at Don and decided to just go with it. "That's right, you protect your friend."
Don nodded sharply then ran back into the house.
Alan smiled as he picked up the hose. Don had just learned that his friend was different but all he wanted to do was protect him. He hoped Don would never lose that drive.