[Original Mike]

Well, dinner with the boys went ahead as planned. I got to the group home at 6pm and rang the bell. As the guy showed me in, R came tearing down the stairs, grinning from ear to ear. A was just finishing up his shower, so R and I went out onto the porch.

"Man, I am so glad to see you!" he said. When I asked him why he was surprised, he told me that the staff told him that, in light of their behavior, I might pull out. I told him. "R, I've sat in a room with double murderers, I've been shot at, and I've been face to face with large carnivores. It takes more than some pinhead faxing trumped up charges to a caseworker to scare me off." (I REALLY hope the window was open!)

Once A joined us, we went to a pizza place. I asked the hostess for a quiet table and she obliged. The only way I can describe these two is if you've ever been to a place where there is a litter of puppies and the puppies are just all over you. These boys were like verbal puppies in seeking attention. Our conversations went on until just before I had to have them home. It was very frank and open with LOTS of humor thrown in. Just some highlights:

When I asked them what they most wanted in a family, A answered: Somebody who'll be there for both of us once we age out. That's all we want."

Number of times R said "I still can't believe this is really happening": about 100

Number of times I thought A was going to cry during dinner: 1

Number of times I thought R was going to choke up during dinner: 2

What A is looking forward to most: being able tolive "like a real teenager"

What R is looking forward to most: "having a Dad i can stay up late talking to about stuff like movies, history, and just stupid crap."

The only time I ever saw anything other than happiness from these two was when they talked about having been in care so long. they talked about how other workers would bring families to the home to meet other kids, but their worker only came for monthly visits. A was especially bitter. he said "When I tuned 18, I jus thought that was it. I'd never have a family. Then, two weeks ago, they start talking about some guy they found." I told him that, if he just dwelt on what he missed out on, he wouldn't be able to see what possibilities lie ahead. Like my grandmother said "You can't look forward and backward at the same time."

I don't know how these two are going to make it until Thursday afternoon.