Mothers Honoured

“Time to get up, D!” Skyy landed on the bed and tried to confiscate the pillow his fellow-Brat was burying his head under. He and Dennis had been badgering Dusty for the last fifteen minutes. “It’s almost nine and we’ve a busy day ahead of us.”

“Skyy’s right,” Den concurred, entering their bedroom from the en suite. He swatted the bare foot sticking out from beneath the tangled blankets and shook his head when it quickly disappeared. “Get showered and dressed, Dustin! I don’t want to have to tell you again.”

Dusty groaned, stretched and slowly rolled out from the cocoon he’d wrapped himself in. “It’s Sunday and early yet,” he grumbled his complaint.

“It’s also Mother’s Day,” Skyy reminded him as he straightened out the bed covering in a haphazard attempt at making it.

“We’re meeting my family at the restaurant in just over an hour and parking is going to be a nightmare.” Dennis landed a firm swat on the bare bottom passing by and smiled when his objective of getting his older Brat to move faster met with success. He turned to help Skyy make the bed properly.

“Same place as last year, right?” Skyy inquired, already knowing the answer. “The one with all-you-can-eat crab legs, as well as free Champaign for the moms.”

“That’s the place, Sport. We’ve been going there for five years now.”

“Aaron wanted to come with us, but Stephen says they have their own families to visit. Aaron’s never too enthusiastic about spending a lot of time with his parents so his nose is kinda out of joint. But he daren’t take off like he did once before, ‘cause he sure didn’t like the way Stephen made his displeasure known.”

“It’s probably for the best that they do their own thing as I think we already have a big enough crowd to contend with.” Dennis passed a hairbrush over to Skyy. “Here! Get that mop of yours under control.”

“At least Dominic, Slade and Jayden are happy to be spending the day with the foster parents. They got Ester a whole new outfit for church.”

“She’ll like that.” Dennis frowned, took the brush from Skyy’s hand and finished of the task he’d assigned the younger man only moments ago.  

“Just so you know, I agree with the ‘crowd’ comment,” Dusty mumbled from beneath the towel he was drying his hair with as he walked out of the bathroom. Tossing the wet towel aside, he began putting on the clothing Dennis had laid out for him in hopes of saving time. “Besides Den’s parents, Rodney and Sara and their two kids as well as Laura and Jacob will be joining us. In other words, the whole dang family will be there; three generations worth. Thank goodness we keep our individual families’ comings and goings separate for Mother’s Day.” He paused to glance around the room. “Anyone see my other dress shoe?”

“It might have accidently gotten kicked under the bed,” Skyy informed him without quite admitting to being the guilty party.

“Get a move on, you two!” Dennis called over his shoulder as he left the room and headed downstairs.

“Do you think your mom will like the gift you got her, Den?” Skyy asked during the drive to the restaurant. “Do you really think she’ll want to spend a day at the spa getting a pedicure, a manicure, a facial and a massage?”

“I’m fairly certain she will, Sport.”

“Moms always like what they’re given, Buddy,” Dusty assured him. “The first time Rodney let Keaton pick out a present for his mom, the kid bought a package of dental floss. Then he spent most the day unravelling it and stuffing it into a gift bag. Sara insisted she loved it; even went to the trouble of framing the entire mess of fine white string. The following year he got her a fly swatter.”

“That would be a brave move for some kids,” Dennis intoned dryly. “I’ve heard some mothers have been known to use it for something other than swatting flies.”

“I can’t wait to see what he got her this year?” Skyy stated when he’d stopped laughing. He bounced impatiently behind Dusty and kept a lookout for a parking space. “There’s one!” he hollered seconds before Dennis drove into it. “Come on, guys! I’m starving!” He scrambled out of the car and slammed the door.

The other two men just rolled their eyes and followed at a more leisurely pace, knowing they’d have to wait for the hostess to take them to the large table reserved for the Taylor family.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“I’m stuffed!” Dusty moaned as he dropped into the passenger seat of Dennis’ car. “I always overeat at these buffets; almost to the point of being ill. You’d think I’d learn. Hell, I can hardly do up my seatbelt.”

“Good food and good company can make us forget ourselves, Dusty. You’re not the only one to overdo it. Mom and Dad are looking forward to getting home and having a nap.” Dennis chuckled when remembering his parents’ plans for the afternoon.

“Both mothers really appreciated their gifts, but I bet they liked not having to make breakfast or do dishes even more.” Skyy giggled to himself as Dennis pulled out of the parking lot and turned homeward.

“And it seemed as if a lot of newsworthy events were saved to make today even more special,” Dennis mused. “Laura and Jacob have finally decided on their new home after hunting around for over a year. They should be well settled in before the baby arrives.”

“Rodney sure was excited about his promotion. Plant manager is a big step but he worked hard and is definitely deserving of the position,” Dusty acknowledged, proud and happy for his brother-in-law’s success.

“But the best news was learning about Sara’s dad going into remission. What a relief it must be for his loved-ones.” Skyy’s delight was evident in his inability to sit still. “And ya gotta admit Keaton’s present was as imaginative this year as in the past, wasn’t it?”

“Oh yeah; one can never have too many cotton balls,” Dusty mockingly commented as he closed his eyes and leaned his head against the back of his seat. He rubbed his stomach and groaned. “Thank God my family gathering is not until later. There is no way I could handle a garden party and bar-b-que at Curtis’ right now.”

“We’ll have to make time to walk some of this excess off.  Okay, guys?”

“Good idea, Den. I’m all for it.” Skyy laughed when Dusty’s response wasn’t quite as enthusiastic. “But we’ll be visiting with my family members first.”

“As soon as we pick up the candy and flowers you ordered, we’ll head over to the nursing home to see your Nonna, Sport. Then it’s off to the retirement villa to see Mémé and Pépé.”

“And then my mom, right?”    

“Right!” was the unified response from the two other men.

Mid-afternoon found Dennis and Dusty patiently waiting in the welcoming shade of an old oak tree while their younger partner carried on a quiet, one-sided conversation with someone he held most dear.

“What do ya think he’s talking to his mother about, Den?” Dusty watched a little sadly as Skyy reverently traced his fingers over the name on the granite headstone.

“Oh, I wouldn’t be surprises if it has something to do with today’s activities. After all, most of Skyy’s eclectic family was known to Crystal. He’s probably telling her about Nonna’s advancing Alzheimer’s and Pépé’s failing eyesight. He’ll tell her how thrilled his adopted grandmothers were with the maple sugar candy he gave them and that his grandfather still enjoys listening to classical music even though those old LPs are scratched and worn.”

“Skyy seems to so easily resign himself to his grandparents’ aging. I don’t even like to think of my parents in assisted living, let alone getting too old to care for themselves at all.”

“He’s always had an easier time of accepting the inevitable than you have, Grease-monkey. Don’t dwell on it. We’ll be here to support you when the time comes.” Dennis wrapped his arm around the other man’s shoulder and gave him a comforting squeeze.

“Skyy really picked out a beautiful array of flowers for his mom, didn’t he?” Dusty mused when he saw Skyy tenderly arrange a lovely bouquet on his mother’s grave before getting up and turning towards them.

“Hmm,” Dennis nodded his agreement and softly smiled when he saw the sun glinting off the gold locket his youngest love was wearing.

“I’m ready for that walk now, Den!” Skyy announced as he ran up to them; his happiness with his world unmistakeable in his beaming smile and sparkling eyes.

Dennis glanced at his watch. “Looks like we have time to get home; change into our sweats and go to the park for an hour or so.”

“And time to stop at the dairy bar for ice cream,” Skyy added.

“No.”

“No?” questioned both younger men in unison, their eyes wide with disbelief.

“No, because we have a bar-b-que to attend where Curtis and Beverly will probably have prepared more than enough food.”

“We’ll still be able to eat by then,” Dusty insisted.

“I said ‘no’!”

“How about we take a vote?” Skyy’s hopes were dashed to the ground when his Top merely shook his head. “So you’re pulling rank, huh?”

“You got it!” Dennis unapologetically admitted. His expression made it clear to both Brats that the subject was not open for discussion.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“I wish we had thought to have my family over here instead of at my brother’s” Dusty complained, pulling a clean t-shirt over his head as he trudged down the stairs “It’s so hot out and we’ve got a pool.”

“It’s not going to happen, Grease-monkey. Curtis got in first dibs.”

“Did you remember the tickets, D?” Skyy sat on the bottom step, putting on his sneakers. He smirked up at Dennis who was impatiently waiting by the front door.

“Of course; as if I’d forget after all the trouble I had in deciding what to get for my mother.” Sitting down net to Skyy, Dusty grabbed for his deck shoes.

“Well I sure don’t think your brother will accidently duplicate it,” Skyy assured him with a grin. Both were well aware of them running late.

“Curtis told me no matter what I got Mom; there was no way on God’s green earth we’d end up giving her the same thing.” Dusty got to his feet and tried to scurry passed their older partner. He failed to side-step the hard smack aimed at his butt and chuckled when the same fate befell his fellow-Brat for their tardiness.

Twenty minutes later, they drove into their host’s driveway. They were right on time, thanks to Dennis having discovered a shortcut.

In the backyard, they found Dusty’s parents comfortably seated in the shade of the only available tree. Fortunately, as if to compensate for the lack of additional shade; there was a good variety of chilling beverages to be had and as predicted, an over-abundance of food.

“Bet we’ll get to take left-overs home, D,” Skyy whispered, his eyes widening at the sight of a heavily laden table. “Good thing Bev is such a great cook, huh?” The reply to his assumption was a conspiratorial wink.

“Should we eat first or give Mom her gifts?” Curtis glanced went to each family member to gauge their response.

“The gifts!” Dusty blurted out and his wish was granted when three others echoed his choice.

“Okay, but Bev and I want to give Mom our gift last.”

“Fine by me,” Dusty replied as he dragged a lawn chair over to sit next to his parents. He motioned for Dennis and Skyy to do the same. “Let’s see what Dad got for you, Mom.”

Three small, gaily wrapped presents were handed to Millicent. Much to her delight one contained a beautiful silver necklace with a blue sapphire heart surrounded by tiny diamonds. The second box revealed a matching pair of earrings while the third a ring to complete the set. 

After giving his mother time to ‘oh’ and ‘ah’ over her new jewelry, Dusty handed her an envelope. “You’ll never guess what’s in it, so don’t even try.”

Millicent slowly pulled out two tickets and read them over. She looked up at her son with an expression of disbelief. “These are for the Cirque Du Soleil. They’ll be at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto in July.”

“And you better plan to attend,” Dusty gently admonished, beyond pleased with his mother’s reaction to the gift.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.  We can hardly wait. Isn’t that right, Leonard?” The older woman had tears in her eyes when she glanced over the gifts she had been given.

However, it was Curtis and Bev’s announcement that started her crying. She was finally going to become a grandmother; something she had secretly yearned for, for many years.

Congratulations in the form of hugs and kisses, handshakes and backslaps were exchanged. And a few more tears of joy were shed by some. Eventually everyone acknowledged they were ready to eat.

It was on the way home when Skyy piped up from the back seat. “You know, Mothers are exceptional people. I think there should be more than one day a year set aside for them. Why do you suppose no one thought of it before?”

“Because, Sport, if you do something too often, it becomes mundane. It is important to keep their special day unique and as out of the ordinary as possible.”

“Besides, little buddy, I’d run out of gift ideas pretty fast.”

The End