The Ten of Them. Chapter 25

During our last chapter, JJ returned from Texas with Charles Sampson and his family, which included Mitchell Kensington, simply known to us as Mitch. Mitch stayed with the Sampsons even after the offer of one of the larger bedrooms, which is a good portion of the square footage of the 1924 home. He chose his friends over comfort.



JJ and Kathryn were bringing together their expanding family, which not only includes Sam, but their new daughter Crystal and foster daughter Cindy. The gift of the bicycles will mean time the three girls interact with JJ. JJ supposed to help them learn how to ride their new bicycles. There is only one problem JJ needs to learn how to ride a bicycle himself.



The Ten of Them. Chapter 25 Composed by hard93




Kathryn and I awake to our girls shaking us after a two and a half hour power nap. I know what they want because they are all in their swimwear. I stretch sleepily and Kathryn simply rolls over, I put a finger to my lips for the girls to be quiet. I slide out of bed, and get my trunks before heading to the bathroom. Once dressed in my trunks, I rejoined the girls and then give Kathryn a kiss as she reaches for me. I tell her, “I’m going to take the girls swimming don’t sleep too much or you won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

Kathryn starts to stretch saying, “No, I can get up too. I will be downstairs in a couple minutes if I don’t start exercising a little I’m going to get fat.” Kathryn rolls onto her back looks toward your feet then makes a funny face looking at her belly. She exclaims, “How that happen so fast?” The girls giggle, which is what, she wanted. Kathryn gives me a wink, as she gets up and heads to the bathroom.

Patients is not something our girls have a lot of, and it does not take them long before they start pleading for me to go ahead and take them to the pool. I get Kathryn swimwear, a bikini she wore last summer.

When I walk into the bathroom with the bikini, Kathryn giggles before she says, “There is no way I can get into that right now. It is nice that you think I can though. Go on and take the girls swimming, I will be down in the moment or two.”

The girls are chasing each other around the bedroom giggling merrily when I return. I walk to the elevator pushing the call button the doors open. It is then that I noticed the girls are all holding their hands up like there are holding their bikes’ handlebars. The day outside is not good for bike riding, it is turn cold and drizzly shortly after we returned home.

With a chuckle I say, “It is a good thing we have an indoor pool, or you would have to pretend going swimming today too.”

Sam giggles, “Daddy we were just talking about how much fun it would be if we could ride in the house.”

In a more serious tone I say, “I am pretty sure Mom and Kathryn would not like that. Bicycle tire marks all over the floor would probably make them mad. Ok new rule, no riding in the house, because I do not want to find out how mad they get.”

Giggling Sam says, “I think Mommy would not like it too. That is why we were just pretending.”

The elevator doors open, and most of my family are in the pool or around it. I pick up Crystal and hold to Cindy as we walk to the pool. Kathryn sisters are splashing with MC and Rosy. Rosy is on MC’s shoulders and doing her best to hide behind her Mamma’s head. Daniel, Marshall, the Coach, Charles and Mitch watch from the patio.

It Sam the protector to the rescue, taking a running dive Sam slips into the water with very little splash. I lift Crystal up onto my shoulders and tell her to watch. Sam swims under the water coming up behind her aunts as soon as she breaks the surface she began splashing them from behind. They turn to try to get Sam, but she disappears under the water only to come up a few feet away and begin to splash her aunts again. Sam once she is splashed she disappears under the water only to come up again splashing away.

MC uses the diversion given to her by Sam, for a little revenge. She gets a bucket full of water hands it to Rosy as she gets close to Michelle, Rosy pores the whole bucket over her head. Michelle is a good sport and plays along, as last of the water comes out of the bucket she turns and falls backwards letting herself sink under the water to Rosy’s giggles.

I am leading the girls around to the steps once there I say, “I guess it is time for us to get wet. Do you want to join the fun?”

Crystal giggles, but Cindy is a little hesitant. Crystal asks, “Are you going to teach me how to swim like Sam?”

I say, “No I am going to teach you how to swim like Crystal, she might even swim better than Sam.”

Crystal asks, “What if I cannot swim as well as Sam?”

That is when I let Crystal in on a little secret, “Crystal I cannot swim as well as Sam does. That does not stop me from having fun, or Sam’s aunts who cannot swim as well as me. No one is perfect, and I do not expect you to be. I just want you to be happy and have fun. If you are good at something like swimming that does not mean it cannot be fun too. Sam is having a lot of fun right now, she loves her aunts and they love her. Although it is usually, Kathryn Sam is rescuing from them.”

Kathryn catching up with us giggling says, “Usually because I start it, my sisters can be boring sometimes.”

Kathryn takes Crystal and slips into the water standing off to the side she begins to splash her sisters too. Cindy still beside me is a little more hesitant before I say, “Cindy no one is trying to hurt anyone, and they are just splashing each other trying to see who will back down first. We can do this for hours and laugh for hours more afterwards.”

Cindy asks, “They are not really fighting? They are not mad at each other?”

I explained to Cindy, “No, they are not mad and they are not fighting. Even when they do get mad at each other, they do not stay mad very long. They love each other and realize that being mad hurts themselves as much as it does their sister. That is why they can play like this. Even Sam when this is over will hug every one of her aunts and get a kiss from them.”

Cindy finally smiles looking up into my face she says, “Uncle JJ I am really beginning to like your family.”

Smiling down at Cindy, I say, “Cindy we love you that is why it is our family. Remember you are part of this family too.”

Cindy begins to smile before she says, “I have never felt like part of any family before. Every family that took me in told me I was just there temporarily. You tell me I am always going to be part of this family, I really hope that is true. I am afraid to believe it, when my Mom gets out of jail she will take me back.”

Cindy’s smile fades at the thought, as her eyes grew sad. She says, “I am going to hate to leave, because as far as I know this family is the only ones who love me.” Tears began to fall and Cindy turns and runs back into the family room.

I follow Cindy unsure of what to say I only know I need to say something, something true because Cindy does not deserve a lie just to make her feel better. My thoughts divide from what I know to be true and what I feel to be true. I know about six months Cindy’s mother should be released from prison, and will most likely want to reconnect with her daughter. I feel that Cindy will always be a part of this family, but how can that be when her mother will probably take her away. I guess there is many things I need to find out and have little time to do that.

I catch Cindy I gently turn her to my embrace. I find a place to set and pull her into my lap. As she sets across my legs, she still cries and I gently wipe her tears away as I tell her, “I know your Mom is supposed to get out soon, but maybe I can get her to work here. That way she can bring you to work with her. You will still get to come and play with Sam and Crystal. You can even still call me uncle.”

Cindy looking a little brighter says, “I bet you would still love me.”

With a chuckle I say, “That is one thing I never learned to stop, I never stop loving anyone once I started. So you are going to have to put up with me loving you until I die.”

Cindy does look a lot brighter now, and she gives me a hug. She says, “I do not think it would be good if my Mom worked here. My dad left us when I was little, I do remember Mom and him fighting, he called her bad names it scared me. I found out Mom was stealing stuff, she even made me hide stuff in my backpack. Then she would give it to a man who gave her money.”

Fighting my anger because it is the result of actions from Cindy’s mother, after a deep breath I ask, “Did your Mom have you do that a lot Cindy?”

Cindy shakes her head yes not wanting to say anything against her mother. I ask my next question giving that information, “Cindy does anyone else know about how your mother used you to carry stolen goods?”

Cindy shakes her head no. I gently ask, “What did your Mom do with the money?” If she was desperate to feed herself and Cindy, I can easily forgive her actions.

Cindy says, “She buys funny green stuff with the money. Then she goes into her room, she would laugh a little, and then come out looking for something to eat.”

I ask, “Did she ever take the money and buy food, maybe clothes for you?”

Again, Cindy shakes her head no. I made up my mind unless Cindy’s Mom has made major changes in her life there is no way I am going to let Cindy go back to her. Cindy is one of my girls now, and I will do what it takes to protect her even if that is to see her Mom back in jail. I do not intend to do anything illegal, but if the child endangerment was unprosecuted, I will see that she receives punishment for that.

I see I am going to have to research her case, maybe talk to the prosecutor and the police. I bet Uncle George probably could help me out, I am sure he could arrange the necessary meetings. The first should be with Cindy’s Mom I want to meet with her to find out if she has changed.

Kara comes wrapped in a towel and sits down beside us. She shows her concern for Cindy it written all over her face. Kara can sense the child’s need and opens her arms to Cindy who quickly slides from my lap into Kara’s embrace. Again, Cindy allows her emotions to erupt as her tears fall against Kara’s shoulder. Kara gently caresses Cindy allowing her the emotional release Cindy needs.

Cindy needed to feel mothered, and Kara is doing a great job being exactly what Cindy needs. I understand why Kathryn sent her sister instead of coming herself. Cindy and Kara share a bond, I know it and so does Kathryn. We felt that same bond with Sam and Crystal. We do love Cindy and want what is best for her. We know Daniel and Kara is much better for her. The only thing I wonder and worry about is how we will put Daniel and Kara together with Cindy permanently.

Daniel comes in and I give him a sad smile and then beckon him to set with us. Daniel only hesitates for a moment before moving beside his wife on the couch. Daniel began to caress Cindy’s shoulder at feeling his touch Cindy turns and looks into his eyes. She only cries a little harder as she puts her head back on Kara shoulder. Daniel is confused by her reaction nearly starts to get up thinking he is upset her more, I motioned for him to stay and Daniel raises an eyebrow but sits back down.

I began in a gentle voice as I talked to Cindy, “Cindy you’re surrounded by people who love you, no matter what happens were going to stay in your life. We want to be part of your life, either in a very big way, but if not given the option we still will remain part of your life in whatever way we can.”

Daniel immediately realizing why Cindy is crying says, “If I have to volunteer at school as a crossing guard just to say hi to you I will. I will find some way to always be a part of your life.”

Cindy moves to Daniel’s lap and hugs him tightly then says, “I wish you could be my Daddy.” She turns to Kara and nearly repeats herself, “I wish you could be my Mommy.” Then she puts her head against Daniel shoulder and begins to cry again.

Daniel doing the best to restrain his own tears says, “I know Cindy, I want that too.”

Kara can no longer contain her tears and they flow freely as she says, “I love you Cindy and I would love to be your Mom, but if I cannot be, I will be your aunt or your friend but I will be in your life. You do not need to worry about losing me.”

Cindy moving back so she can look into our faces asks, “But how? How will you if…”

With the determined look on Daniel’s face, he interrupts her, “Cindy love always finds a way. Just hang in there, give us time and we will figure out a way to stay in your life. We really should enjoy the time we have together and not worry too much about tomorrow.”

I smile and nod my head yes, happy to be the support for the hero, Cindy’s hero Daniel. I child’s hero should be their dad, most children do look up to their parents as their heroes, unfortunately many parents do not come close to living up to what a child’s hero should be.

Cindy looks into Daniel’s face, she wipes a tear away as she says, “Uncle JJ promised to teach me how to swim but could you do it? Can you teach me how to swim?”

Daniel smiling brightly says, “I am sure I can. I would love to teach you. If you let your uncle JJ help me, I will teach you how to swim, the way he teaches how to swim is better than the way I know how to teach at first. After that I got him beat, I used to swim at college, and I know all the good strokes”

Cindy asks, “You think I might be able to swim better than Sam?”

Daniel smiling says, “As I understand it Sam has been swimming for six months, so it might take a little while but we will keep working on it. Not long at all you will be a mermaid too, will part like Sam you have to breathe air.”

Cindy giggles, “Okay we better get started, and I want to try to catch up with Sam.”

I chuckle and say, “Just remember swimming is supposed to be fun first, the work comes later.”

Returning to the pool we began our swimming lessons, I first show Crystal how to float. Daniel copies what I am doing with Cindy. The two girls only take a few minutes to learn how to float. Next Daniel helps me teach MC and Rosy, Daniel helping Rosy. Rosy picks it up faster than MC; sometimes it is much easier for a child to learn something new. MC just does not relaxes well in the water and that is her main problem. Ten minutes after Rosy is paddling around MC is just learned how to float.

Uncle George and Alyssa show up with Allen and Anna. Alyssa asks, “JJ could you teach Allen and Anna how to swim too?”

I never seen Alyssa in the pool before and wonder if she knows how to swim. Uncle George I do believe he knows how, but it would not surprise me the only way he knows how to teach is the same way the coach knows. I smile, “Of course I will teach my niece and nephew how to swim.”

Uncle George and Alyssa smile, Anna and Allen’s reaction is exactly what I expected, they both jumped for joy. Anna jumps from the side of the pool into my arms, which is a very good thing because that shows her trust. In my arms, Anna says brightly, “Uncle JJ thank you and thank you for the bike.”

Returning her smile I say, “You are welcome Anna.” Anna gives me a hug and a kiss on my cheek. Michelle is currently the one aunt not holding the child so I pass Anna to her. Michelle dotes on her new niece that cause Anna to giggle.

Allen is a little impatient as he waits his turn at the edge of the pool, as soon as I turn to him he jumps and I catch him just like his sister. Thanks me for his bike and the lessons. Unlike his sister, there is no kiss on the cheek just one difference between what a girl does and a boy does. In ten minutes, both Allen and Anna are floating around the pool. The only one of my new students having any trouble is MC, and she cannot float more than a few seconds. I pull MC over to the side and speak to her quietly, “Michelle Collins what is your problem.” I said it joking but the look of frustration on her face has me worried after that.

What MC says makes sense giving her experience, “I just cannot believe water is going to hold me up.”

Looking at MC I smile knowing how to explain this to her. MC is a very logical person; I simply need to give her the facts. In my most reassuring voice I say, “Michelle your body is made of ninety-eight percent water, the other two percent weighs nearly the same as water. The main difference in your weight and water is the amount of air in your lungs. Try not to exhale too deeply, and relax if you are tense your muscles they become more dense.”

MC begins to giggle before she says, “You mean it is just that simple, if I tense up or let too much air out of my lungs, I sink.”

After shaking my head yes, I gave her the other major secret about water. I say, “The other thing about swimming is like an airplane when you are moving in the water your body posture helps you to stay on the surface.”

Continuing her giggling, MC stands up straight with her shoulders back and chest forward. I smile and say, “That is the right posture, now you have that I think it is time for your next step in your lessons. Take a deep breath hold it and let yourself fall forward in the water once your horizontal raise your head extend your arms forward, kick, then draw your arms back to your side and down, as you raise breathe and pushed them forward again and repeat.”

MC says, “Yes Sir.” Once I move out of her way, MC follows my instructions. She is not swimming very quickly, but as long as she is moving forward feeling the water moving under her help support her. MC swims halfway across the pool without her head going under; she displays the biggest smile the entire time. When she stops and stands, again she turns around and shouts as she begins to jump in the water, “I did it!”

Rosy shouts, “Yeah Mama!”

I repeat the process with Rosy, and she swims to her Mama. Her Mama catches her holding her in her arms MC jumps, and they shout for joy. There is applause from our onlookers. Daniel, Kara, Kathryn and I repeat the process for each of the children and before long; Sam is organizing a race between them. I realize that is one way to make them stronger swimmers. Rosy and Crystal tie for first place, with Cindy coming in just barely behind them.

After the race, it is tag and then a splashing match. Cindy and the rest of the kids are having a great time; Cindy is on Daniel’s back she splashes her aunts giggling the entire time.