DJ Pt. 07

"No Joe, one of DJ's closest friends from school's mother has offered to host it at their home. She's a blessing, and a wonderful lady. We need to be there about 11:30 PM so we can surprise DJ. He doesn't know about it. Can you pick me up about a little after 11:00 PM?"

"Will do, baby, where is the party?"

"424 Lincoln Park Drive."

"Wow! That's the ritzy part of town. Those houses are all high end, we might be out of our element."

"Joe, her name is Annie Gill, and she has a son, Mattie, who is in the beginning stages of an F2M Transition. He is also Jamie's and DJ's closest friend, and his Mom is a real sweetheart. Matt is a loveable young man. I've been instructed to tell everyone to bring their appetites."

"Doug, one way or another, I will pick you up about 11:00, I wouldn't miss this for the world. I'm going to pick up a gift for DJ that I'm certain he'll appreciate, and I'm looking forward to the party. See you tomorrow night."

I then made calls to Steve, and to Karen Seldon, and they all agreed to come. I am due to work at 3:00 PM and, this being a class day, DJ and Jamie are both due to work at 4:00 PM. I can go to the pizzeria before work and invite Anthony and Maria, and will invite Justin and his wife when I go in to work at 3:00. DJ and I will get off at 9:00, and Jamie will be coming home after 11:00 when he gets off.

When I walked into the pizzeria, Anthony greeted me.

Anthony, extending his hand, "Doug Kendall, I believe congratulations are in order, I understand you became a proud Papa yesterday!"

Grinning at the way Anthony said that, "Thank you so much, Anthony, better late than never, and I am very proud of my son. Anthony, we've arranged a midnight surprise party for DJ tomorrow night. A good friend has offered to host the party, which is a small dinner party, and I am inviting everyone that means anything to DJ. I would like to invite you and Maria to attend. We set it up late, for the benefit of those that work late. Will you please come?"

"Where and what time?"

424 Lincoln Park Drive, and we're trying to get the guests to arrive about 11:30. DJ is expected to arrive around midnight, and it is a surprise party. Jamie doesn't know about it either so please don't tell him."

"Does their best friend know about it?"

"Mattie? It's his mom that is hosting it, so I think he would have to know. He is setting up the trap, getting Jamie and DJ out there, because his mom wants to meet his 'best friends'." I grinned.

"Doug, Jamie is my best and most dependable server, and we've gotten to know DJ through Jamie. We've been watching the young love grow between those two. We will be happy to attend the party, let me write down that address, 424 Lincoln Park Drive. I might just close a little early tomorrow night, just to ensure that we can make it on time. Thanks for the invitation."

So far so good, everyone I have invited has accepted the invitation. I probably spent a little too much time at Anthony's and it's just about 3:02 PM when I walked into the store to clock in.

"Pushing that envelope a bit Doug," Justin stated, with a scowl on his face. I know Justin doesn't really worry about 2, or 3 or even 5 minutes tardiness, but he loves to bust my balls, or DJ's, when he is a couple minutes late.

"Justin, got a few?"

"Sure, Doug, how did court go yesterday?"

"Justin," a couple tears slipped from my eyes, "DJ is now officially my very own son, I couldn't be happier!"

"I suppose congratulations are in order, DADDY!" Justin exclaimed, smiling.

I replied, smiling, "Thanks, Justin, I now just wish I could have found my son thirty or forty years ago, but I'm still elated, having DJ now legitimately my son, makes me feel complete, and very happy. Justin, we're having a surprise adoption party for DJ tomorrow night at midnight, and I am inviting the few friends and associate's that mean the most to DJ. I would like very much for you and Sherry to attend."

"Hmmm," Justin responded, "a surprise party, but you know about it?"

"Oh, it's a surprise for DJ, he doesn't know about it, and neither does Jamie. We are asking the guests to arrive about 11:30 PM and DJ and Jamie are supposed to arrive at midnight. It is a catered dinner party, and I'm telling everyone to bring their appetites as there will be plenty of food."

"Is it at your house?"

"No, a very good friend is hosting it. She is DJ's and Jamie's closest friends' mother. She came to my rescue, and wanted to host it. She insisted, I think she is an angel!"

"Doug, you know I'll be there, and I'm quite certain Sherry will also want to come, she like's DJ, and I think I love him almost as much as you do. Are gifts appropriate?"

"If you wish, for DJ. I have received my gift, I have my son."

"Are you going to give me the address?"

"Sure, Justin, it's 424 Lincoln Park Drive."

Justin, writing down the address, "You still have a job to do, there are several deliveries waiting, and, thank you for the invitation."

About 3:30 PM Jamie and DJ arrived at DJ's house, carried their backpacks into DJ's room and quickly changed clothes, DJ into his store shirt and Jamie in a clean pizza uniform shirt, they then headed to the shopping center. Jamie dropped DJ off at the drug store and drove across the parking lot to Anthony's restaurant.

DJ and I both clocked out at 9:00 PM, DJ went to Anthony's to wait for Jamie to get off at 11:00 PM and I went home. The boys arrived home about 11:30 and, evidently, were tired, as they went to bed shortly after arriving.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Saturday morning Jamie's phone was ringing at the ungodly hour of 10:00 AM. Jamie looked at the screen, and it was Mattie, so he answered it.

"Dude! Do you know what time it is?"

"Yeah, it's after 10:00, please don't tell me you're still sleeping!"

"Well, we're awake now, what's on your mind?"

"My Mom is really pushing to meet both of you, especially since she and DJ's Dad had lunch the other day. Can you come by my house about midnight tonight? Please?"

Jamie, turning on the speaker, "Why so late, Mattie?"

"She is fixing a snack, well, really a dinner, for us. She wants to feed us, and, well, I know she will not be a happy camper if we don't eat most of it up, so don't eat anything before then. She will fill you up!"

"But, midnight?"

"Something she wants to watch on TV that gets over at 11:00, and then she will cook. She doesn't like people around while she's cooking, so doesn't want you coming here until midnight. Trust me please, It'll be some good food, and I know you will like my Mom."

"We don't even know where you live, Dude."

"424 Lincoln Park Drive. I want to spend some time with you guys, but she won't let me, until she meets you, and gets to know you a little. It's Saturday night, and we can stay up late here, just like we did at DJ's. We've got a pool table too. Please tell me you'll come. I promise we'll have a good time."

DJ is listening in and nodding to Jamie to accommodate Mattie's weird request.

"OK Mattie, we'll come and visit you, and meet your mom, at midnight tonight, what's that address again?"

"424 Lincoln Park Drive, you can't miss the house, it has green bulbs in the porch lights. Thanks guys. You know you two are my best friends, and I love you guys."

"OK Dude, we'll see you at midnight! And we love you too."

The two boys slipped out of the bed and both went to the bathroom and relieved themselves, criss-crossing their streams into the toilet, then using a single sheet of toilet paper, blotted those last couple drops that always seem to hang on the tip of ones penis. They then headed to the kitchen, DJ poured a cup and Jamie helped himself to a glass of juice.

I put on the apron and started to cook us all some bacon and eggs while the boys told me about the weird phone call from Mattie. I told them about the lunch I had with Annie, Mattie's mom, and I was certain they would like her and that she would most likely like them as well. I also said that they likely would have a very good time at Mattie's house at midnight tonight.

After a normal work Saturday, DJ hung around Anthony's until Jamie got off at 11:00. The boys headed to our house to change and go to Mattie's. When they arrived, DJ found my note to let him know that I had gone out with Joe and I would see him in the morning. They left the house about 11:45 PM, Jamie put the address, 424 Lincoln Park Drive into his phone and they took off.

It was just about midnight when the boys arrived at Mattie's house, and they wondered why there were so many cars around, but didn't have any concern. Jamie pulled in behind Mattie's car in the driveway, and they walked to the front door and rang the doorbell. Mattie answered the door, smiling, and ushered them into the rec room...

"SURPRISE!!" Echoed from a dozen voices, catching DJ and Jamie completely off guard, with a look of shock and bewilderment on both of their faces. Mattie and Annie walked up to DJ and Jamie.

Annie spoke, with a voice loud enough for everyone to hear, "So this is the mysterious Douglas Joseph Kendall, and Jamie Seldon! I'm Annie Gill, Mathew's mother, Welcome into our home, boys, I've heard so much about you two, and I've been dying to meet you, but I was lucky, I got to meet you before I died!" Laughter followed.

Annie first went to DJ, gave him a hearty hug, and kissed him on his cheek, then followed suit with Jamie, kissing him on the cheek also.

Annie continued, "I am so honored, to be allowed to host this celebration of love, love of a dimension I've never seen before. A few short weeks ago, my son, Mathew started taking classes at Community College, and he became very close friends with Jamie and DJ. They just clicked. He spent a night, like a sleepover, with DJ and Jamie, at Doug Kendall's home."

"I didn't know any of them, but I am quite protective of my son, and I wanted to meet the man that permitted this sleepover to take place. Mattie gave Doug my phone number and asked him to call me, which he did, and asked to meet me for lunch. I learned a lot, especially about love, that day."

"Yesterday, Doug called me, he wanted to have an adoption party to celebrate the adoption of DJ, to be his very own son, and was at a loss how to make this party work. We talked, and I offered to host it, he accepted my offer, and, my friends, here we are. I know some of you don't know some of the others here, so I'm going to ask Doug Kendall to introduce everyone."

"Thank you Annie," I said, "you're an incredible host, actually, hostess."

"OK folks, over here is my partner in crime, Officer Joe Reynolds, long time friend, and without his assistance DJ would likely still be stuck in the projects, he rescued DJ, and brought him to my home, about 6 months ago."

"This is Justin, the manager of Southside Drug, and he is DJ's boss, as well as my own, and his wife, Sherry."

"I don't think it's any secret that my son, DJ and Jamie Seldon are boyfriends, and over there sits Jamie's parents, Carl and Karen Seldon."

"When we were looking for an attorney to handle this adoption procedure, Jamie called on his uncle, Steve Jones, sitting with his wife, and he told us he could make it happen, and he followed through."

"And lastly, there is Jamie's boss at the pizzeria, Anthony and his wife Maria."

"Just a little history, abbreviated version. DJ came by my house on one early spring day, and wanted to cut my grass. Without even trying, he snagged the strings to my heart. Over a period of just a couple weeks, as we learned about each other, and I learned of his home life, I knew I had to get him out of there. Joe helped big time, it's great to have friends on the police force. Joe helped get DJ out of the project and brought him to my house. Over a period of time, I found myself falling hopelessly in love with this young man, not as a lover, but as a father. After only a few days, he asked me if he could call me Dad, and that made my heart melt."

"I've never been married or had any kids, but DJ soon became the son I needed, wanted, and never had, until now. We had talked, several months ago, about the possibility of adoption, and about 2 months ago, he asked if I was still interested in adopting him. I didn't have to think it over, I knew. When that judge signed the papers, declaring Douglas Joseph Kendall was now officially mine, I had euphoria. I was the happiest father in the land, and I still am. I have an unconditional love for this precious young man, my son. DJ, you're the star of this party, can we get a few words from you?"

DJ, standing, "I'm not much of a speaker. The very first day that I met Doug Kendall, was a turning point in my life. Over the first few days, I found myself starting to trust him. He showed me love, and caring, like I had never known. He made me feel wanted, and valuable, not like a piece of trash. And then I started to feel love for him, and I was so afraid it might be a false feeling, like it was going to disappear, but it never did. The day that judge told us he was granting the adoption, and I was officially Douglas Joseph Kendall, I was afraid I was going to wake up from a dream, but if it's a dream, I don't want to ever wake up. Right now I am the happiest young man in the world. My life can only get better, and I have one man to thank for everything, and that is Doug Kendall."

As DJ finished his speech, the whole room was clapping and cheering. Jamie stepped in front of DJ, hugged him and tenderly kissed him on the lips, drawing even more cheers from the room. Evidently the guests enjoyed seeing these two young lovers openly displaying their love for each other.

I spoke again, "I think we'd better start eating all this delicious looking food, and DJ and Jamie, you two can sit at the head of the table, you're the VIP's and you can start the line for the food."

When it was time for dessert, it was a decorated sheet cake with the wording 'Welcome Douglas Joseph Kendall aka DJ'. Doug, with his ever-present camera got a photo of the cake before it was mutilated. Afterwards, we popped the corks on the champagne and we partied. We did hold the under aged boys (DJ, Jamie and Mattie) down to two glasses of champagne each.

"Doug," Joe asked, "whose idea was it to use 'Joseph' as a middle name?"

"DJ's, why?"

"I just wondered, did he pick it at random, or was there a significance?"

"I think you know the answer to that. He asked me if I thought you would mind, and I told him I didn't think you would."

"Actually, I guess I should be honored, and flattered, and I am."

"Did you notice, his first two initials are still DJ, the kid is pretty sharp."

"And," Joe added, "he evidently likes his nickname, and wants to keep it."

Annie gathered up some envelopes from some of the guests, and placed them in front of DJ. Two of them had the name of Douglas Joseph Kendall on them and two others just had DJ. DJ opened the first one, it contained a gift card good for $75 at Foot Locker, and was from the Seldon's. DJ thanked them graciously.

The second one contained a $100 gift card for The Water Hole, and was from Joe. Seeing that reminded DJ of that night Doug and Joe took him up there, and he had had a blast that night. Now he could treat Jamie to a night there, and he knew they would have a good time together, but Jamie would have to drive them. DJ thanked Joe graciously.

The third one contained a $50 VISA gift card and was from Anthony and Maria, and DJ thanked them.

The fourth one contained a $70.00 gift card for Red Lobster and a note that read 'When you and Jamie use this card, please take me with you, but I'll cover my own meal. I love you guys' and was from Mattie. The note touched DJ in a special way, cementing his relationship with Mattie even further. DJ thanked him and, holding up the note, told Mattie "You got it, Dude!" DJ smiled and Mattie grinned.

The fifth and last envelope contained a $50 gift card from Target and a pair of tickets for the local Cinema 8 and was from Justin and Sherry. DJ thanked them graciously, and Justin stood up.

"I have something to say, if I may," Justin stated. I told him to go ahead.

"As most of you know, I am the General Manager at Southside Drug and Pharmacy. I hired Doug Kendall shortly after he retired at age 62, as a deliveryman, mostly delivering prescriptions. He's been dependable and always done his job well, and I respected him. At the time, DJ was still living in the project. I had an opening at the store for a cashier and clerk."

"Doug encouraged DJ to apply for the position, and he did submit an application. Doug asked me if I might hire him, and I told Doug that he didn't really qualify, he had no job or retail experience, and I just couldn't hire him. Doug told me that he was positive that DJ would be a good employee, that he was a really good kid and that he just needed someone to give him a chance to prove himself."

"Well, I respected Doug's opinion. I told him that it was against my better judgement, but I would give him 2 weeks, and if he didn't pan out, he would be gone. With the family obligations DJ had, scheduling him was a real nightmare, but after the first week, DJ moved into Doug's home, and I was able to schedule him where I needed to. I gave him that chance, and never once have I had any regrets. He is very cooperative, eager to learn, eager to please, and our customers absolutely love him. He has been a valued employee there now for about 6 months."

"DJ had told me he wanted to start taking classes at Community College, and I encouraged him to seek a career as a Pharmacy Technician. Not only did DJ take my advice, and enroll in that curriculum, he has encouraged his boyfriend, Jamie, to follow the same path. So both of them started at CC about three weeks ago, taking the same classes, and commuting together." Then, his eyes wet with tears, "I am extremely proud of both of these young men, and I wish them ultimate success in their lives and careers. All this was made possible, because of one man, Doug Kendall, who was willing to open his arms and heart to a young man from the projects. This world needs more Doug Kendall's to make it a better place for everyone. Thank you, Doug, and congratulations on the successful adoption of your loving son, Douglas Joseph Kendall."

Justin received a standing ovation following his heartwarming, but emotional speech. There was not a dry eye in the room, and the pile of napkins shrank. There was a lot of hugging between most of the people there, and congratulations.

"Can I please have your attention!" Annie yelled, "I'll be brief. I have hosted many a party in this house over the years, however, this will go down in my history as the most heartwarming and memorable of all. I agree one hundred percent with Justin, that this world needs more Doug Kendall's. I am so thankful that Doug reached out to me yesterday, and allowed me to host this most glorious celebration of love between a father and a son. If any of you have another get together, I would appreciate an invitation. You're an awesome group of people that are now like family to me. Please drive carefully, as you depart, and thank you all for coming."

Carl and Karen were getting ready to leave and stopped by where DJ and Jamie were standing.

"Jamie, "Carl asked, "Are you guys coming home tonight or going to DJ's?"

"DJ's tonight. But we'll be coming home tomorrow night. I love you both."

Annie, walking over to DJ and Jamie, "Mattie asked me to ask you to stay over if you would like, we have three spare bedrooms, and you're welcome."

Jamie, looking at DJ, "Maybe another time, we both have to work tomorrow afternoon, and we have some homework to do, but thank you for asking."

"Now that I've met you, and gotten to know you somewhat, I feel a lot more comfortable with the closeness you have with Mattie. I will no longer worry, when I know Mattie is with you, even if you all do sleep in the same bed!" Then, smiling warmly, "It's pretty easy to see that you two are very much in love with each other. I think it's awesome that you two could share a really romantic kiss, if front of all these people, with no reservations, and nobody batted an eyelash."