Image by Andrea Petra Fogas from Pixabay
Late into the celebration over the adoption of his grandchildren going through, Capt. Ludlow put his massive bass voice to work, although gently.
“Attention...”
His neighbors the Trents all stopped what they were doing as well, and looked.
“I need to mention that, in the last push to get this adoption done, it took the power of three Ludlows to move the hand of Virginia. George and Robert Ludlow, step forward.”
Nine-year-old George and five-year-old Lil' Robert stepped forward.
“My grandchildren selected them to represent the two branches of my children, and they did a marvelous job together,” Capt. Ludlow said. “We also had a lot of fun on the road.”
“A round of applause for George and Robert!” nine-year-old Milton Trent said spontaneously, and this was done.
“Now, listen to me, my grandsons,” Capt. Ludlow said. “Since these little fights go on publicly, I'm saying this publicly: the two of you sometimes fight because you are probably the most like the most passionate side of me, just not yet mature, and so, still struggling to find room and space. But see here: see how powerful you were together!”
“Oh, yeah,” George and Lil' Robert said together.
“I will not live forever,” Capt. Ludlow said, “but I will get old all the happier when you two learn that as Ludlows, officially, your power together is too great for you to waste it fighting each other – for did you not on your day together, move the hand of Virginia to do right by us all?”
“Yeah!” George said. “We actually did that!”
“Yeah!” Lil' Robert said.
George opened his arms to his little brother.
“I really do love you, even though sometimes I forget I'm not in Crazy Town – I'm glad you're my brother for real now, Robert!”
Lil' Robert's eyes overflowed with tears of joy.
“I love you and I forgive you and I'm glad you're my brother too!”
And then he ran into his brother's embrace and knocked him down … yet again … and held him down, bawling.
“This is ridiculous!” eight-year-old Gracie Trent said. “They need an adoption emergency gift, right now!”
And Gracie went running into the kitchen and came out with a fresh quart of milk that she ran and brought over to George.
“Look, George, what are you going to do when you are all 16 years old, and he's still knocking you down and not even trying? Get up, get big, and get good – and drink more milk!”
“Oh, right – I got it,” six-year-old Grayson said. “That's it, Papa – see, every day after our workout, Robert and I come in and get extra milk straight from the carton –.”
Capt. Ludlow jumped.
“ – but since George likes to do more jump-rope and jumping jacks, he misses out.”
“I told you!” Gracie said. “He needs some milk!”
Gracie's siblings Vanna and Melvin, knowing about that meme and how perfectly Gracie had imitated it, had to go inside, laughing, as their parents jumped.
“How did you find about that with the phone blocker?” Sgt. Trent said.
“Some phone blockers are not as good as others,” Gracie said. “It took us all of five minutes – but, uh, anyway, George, here's a whole quart of milk!”
“Yeah, because,” Lil' Robert said as he wiped his eyes, “there's nothing better than working hard with Papa and getting the milk fresh from the carton, and then you can wipe off your lips on your sleeve, go back out and play, and then come get some more!”
“I wonder what it would be like to drink it straight from the cow, though,” George said.
“Papa, we do need to get a cow,” Lil' Robert said.
“The way y'all are drinking up all the milk around here, I would say that you are right!” Capt. Ludlow said as Mrs. Ludlow chuckled. “About how long has this been going on?”
“Well, I just found out I was strong enough to lift the big carton, but I don't remember when,” Lil' Robert said, “but it sure is good that way. There's plenty of it and it just tastes so good!”
“It really does,” Grayson said, “when you really need it.”
“Now, we just need to have the cow on standby,” George said. “About how much does it cost to have a cow as a pet?”
“How about I just make sure all three of you – and you too, Andrew, if you want one – get an extra big cold glass and a kiss when you finish your morning workouts?” Mrs. Ludlow said.
“Oh, yeah, that would be even better!” George said.
“Because with the kiss, it comes with extra love, and we need that to be strong, too,” Grayson said.
“Yep, that's why Papa is so big and strong,” Lil' Robert said, “because Grandma loves him.”
“I'll go for an extra glass of milk, although I'm not sure that's how all of that works,” ten-year-old Andrew said.
“Can we just get some extra kisses?” eleven-year-old Eleanor said.
“Yeah!” eight-year-old Edwina and seven-year-old Amanda said.
“Of course,” Mrs. Ludlow said. “No child of mine has ever been without extra love.”
Gracie handed the milk to Capt. Ludlow.
“Now that you've adopted all of them, you're definitely going to need this, so here.”
Sgt. Trent just shook his head, while Mrs. Trent smiled.
“All our precious native seeds/growing in the soil of love,” she said, “born to show us how to share/the Father's love, from up above.”
“Lord, give me strength!” Sgt. Trent said, and his eleven-year-old daughter Velma looked into the kitchen.
“No worries, Dad. There's still another two quarts of milk in there.”