Julien Gregg's Hopper

 Chapter 6

The lawyer arrived when we were cleaning up after lunch. He came into the dining room and laid out all of the information for me to see. The stocks, the bonds, deeds to companies, and the cabin were all in the estate. I had inherited it all once again. There was close to eight hundred billion in total. The money part of hit was just under eight hundred billion. There were even companies in New York City and Los Angeles. Mom's eyes were huge as she listened to all that he had to say. He took me to the bank to transfer the accounts to my name. I signed signature cards and was given a check book and Visa Check Card for my personal use. Then he dropped me off at home and left.

"My God, Max," Mom said. "You inherited the family fortune."

"Yes," I said, looking startled. "I didn't expect to. I mean no one said anything after the head injury. He said they were waiting until my birthday so I'd be eighteen."

"Well, that was some birthday present," she said.

"I have the money to go to medical school now," I said slowly.

"Oh," she laughed. "You have that and then some. What's all in the estate?"

"Metrics, Patterson Medical Equipment, Logistics, a company in New York City that just does analysis of other companies, and Data Solutions in Los Angeles that helps companies in trouble. The houses the cabin. All of it is in the estate."

"Not this house," she said.

"No," I said. "You and Dad own this house outright. I own the original Patterson House."

"Where you aunt and uncle live," she said.

"Yes," I said. "But they can continue to live there. I don't want to live there."

"The cabin is where your great grandfather lived with his husband until he died," she said. "It's twenty miles outside of Pleasantville."

"Yeah," I said. "I'll use it as a vacation cabin. I want to live in Osage if I'm honest. I'll buy a house there."

"You can afford it," she said. "Wait until your father hears about this one."

"Will he be angry?" I asked.

"Oh, Honey, no," she said, smiling. "He'll be thrilled. He so wanted you to succeed. With this you can. You don't even have to go to college. Or you could just take finance classes and learn to manage it."

"I'm going to invest a large chunk of it and make more money," I said. It was what I did every time.

"Well, what do you know about investing?" she asked.

The answer to that was plenty, but she didn't need to know that. I told her I'd get a broker and just listen to advice. She liked the sound of that. I told her that I wasn't making any large purchases right now. I had the truck and I loved it. I lived here, so I didn't need a house right now. I was getting ready to go to college in the fall, and I'd live in the frat house there. There was no need to make any purchases right now.

"I don't need anything," I said.

"Well that's sensible," she said. "So many young people who suddenly get money start buying everything in sight."

"Well, I might buy my brothers houses," I said. "They're renting now. I can alleviate that expense for them."

"Honey, that would be nice," she said.

"Then there's Melissa to think about when she graduates," I said.

"That will be in three more years," she said.

She hugged me and told me she was excited for me. Dad came home and we told him all about what had happened. He smiled really big at the news. He told me that I wouldn't want for anything now. I told him that I was going to be sensible about this. He laughed. He said that he was sure I would be. I told him that I wanted to buy my brothers houses, and Melissa too when she graduated. He thought that was a great idea.

When they showed up for dinner, which Mom was in the kitchen making, I told them that I had inherited. They were excited for me. I told them there was more. I told them to pick houses that they wanted and if they didn't go over the top, I'd buy them for them. They were excited about that. They put their presents on the side table. Mom told us that dinner was ready. Melissa came through the front door just as we were getting ready to sit down to eat.

"Happy Birthday, Max," she said, smiling.

"Thank you," I said, hugging her and shocking her. "How's school?"

"It's going great," she said. "How are you?"

"I'm good," I said. I told her that I inherited. She was stunned. She said that I was a wealthy young man. I laughed at this. I told her that when she graduated from college to pick a house and I'd buy it for her. She hugged me.

We sat down and had really good Chicken Alfredo. Then Mom brought out a cake with a candle shaped like eighteen on it. She lit it and they sang "Happy Birthday" to me. Then we had cake and ice cream. Then it was time for presents. The twins had gotten me an iPad. Marcus got me an iPod. These were expensive gifts. I hugged each of them for them. Melissa had got me a Saguaro University t-shirt and ball cap. I hugged her for them, too. I knew that she didn't have much money. Mom and Dad got me stuff for the truck and software for my computer that was all psychology. I hugged them for it. Brent got me a necklace that was D links with a charm on it that just said Max. I hugged him for it.

We hung out in the living room. They all kept saying, "Happy Birthday" to me. I kept telling them thank you. I had two more weeks before graduation. We were headed to finals now. We talked about that. They were still amazed that I only went to school for three hours a day. I told them that school was almost over for the summer. I'd graduate with honors, and then I'd just wait to head to Osage. Brent had a scholarship, too. They all liked that. Melissa had never met Brent, and she told him that he was good for her brother. She hugged him and welcomed him to the family. I smiled at this.

"So, you're like a totally different person," she said to me. "You're more relaxed, and comfortable in your own skin. Plus you haven't said one nasty thing to anyone since I've been here. It's like a record."

"Oh, I'm not like that anymore," I said. "I haven't said anything nasty to anyone since waking up in the hospital."

"About that," she said. "I'm sorry I didn't come home for that. I was here when they put the bur holes in your head. I couldn't stay for more. I just couldn't stand seeing you like that."

"Melissa, it's fine," I said. "I get it. I really do. I love you."

"I love you, too," she said, smiling.

"Marcus, where's Cheryl?" I asked.

"Living with her mother," he said. "We broke up yesterday."

"I'm sorry, but I think that's for the best," I said.

"I know it was," he said. "She was too controlling. She wanted to change me. If she couldn't love me for who I am then I didn't need her. I haven't been in love in a long time."

"Well, I'm glad that you're all right," I said.

"I was more angry than hurt," he said. "I didn't like that my relationship failed, but I also didn't like her telling me what to do, say, and think all of the time, either."

"Well, I for one am happy that she's gone from your life," Mom said. "I never liked Cheryl."

"You never told me that, Mom," Marcus said.

"Why would I?" she asked. "I'm not that kind of mom. I just let you do what you were going to do. I hoped that you'd see the light, and you did."

"Well I saw the light," he said. "I want the female version of Brent."

"That's a nice compliment, thank you," said Brent. "But I don't know a girl like me."

"I know," he said, laughing. "It's just that you're so good for Max. I want what you guys have."

"Well, find it," I said. "It's out there waiting for you."

"If you say so," he said.

"Just find a sweet girl that loves you for you," I said.

We all went up to my room and played video games. Melissa got in on the action and was very good at them. I played against her and lost. She laughed. She said she played these games at Obiz all of the time. I told her I couldn't wait to go to college. She told me not to grow up so fast. I told her that graduation was literally two weeks away. She said she'd be home by then so she'd be there. I gave her an invitation. I had so many, but I'd handed them out to family. Brent was graduating along with me.

Marcus went home. Matt and Mike went to their apartment. Melissa went to her room, and Brent stayed with me. We made love and then fell asleep in each other's arms. The next morning we had breakfast with Mom, Dad, and Melissa who had to drive back to Osage to return to classes. She said she couldn't take more time off they were about to take finals. I hugged her and wished her a safe trip. She said she'd be home in a week. I laughed.

At school most of Brent's friends wished me a happy eighteenth. My own friends wished me a happy eighteenth. They'd really stopped harassing people when I stopped, so we were friends again. Several of them were now dating Brent's friends. They thought it was cool that we were gay and a couple. I just let them say and do what they were going to say and do. We reviewed like crazy that week. Next week was finals. I studied with Brent and some of both of our friends. We studied and studied. We moved into finals prepared and ready. I took all three of mine in one day. Then I didn't have school Saturday night was graduation. The prom had already happened and I hadn't gone. Bent hadn't either.

Melissa came home the day that I took my finals. She asked about school now, and I told her I was done. Graduation was Saturday night. She said that was amazing. I told her I only had three classes, so finals were quick. She said that she still couldn't believe that I only had three classes. I told her that was because I had gotten all of my credits early. She laughed at that. Saturday night we were in caps and gowns. I was not valedictorian, because I simply didn't want to be. They let the girl who was second in the class be the valedictorian. She gave a speech about enjoying our time and being fun and silly. That we'd done it, and what came next was important, but for now we needed to remember that we weren't quite adults yet. She said to live a little. We applauded her speech. Then we were called one a time to the stage to get our diploma, and pose for pictures. I got up there and accepted my diploma and posed for my mother's pictures. Then I walked off stage and sat in my seat. When the last kid had his diploma and was sitting in his seat, the Dean announced the graduating class of Twenty-Seventy-One and we threw our caps in the air and cheered.

Then I was standing before my parents. I got hugs from both of them. My brothers hugged me and Melissa hugged me. I stood there and let Mom take more pictures. I had my picture taken with my brothers and sister. Then Brent was standing there and Mom wanted pictures of us together. We held up our diplomas in one. We kissed each other in the second. I told Mom I wanted copies of all of the pictures. She said she'd put a album together for me. I told her I wanted the ones of me and Brent blown up. I wanted eight by tens of those two. She said she'd see to it.

We went to the graduation part with all of our friends. They talked about how it was over finally and they were free. Some of them weren't going to college. They were entering the work force right out of high school. A lot of them were going to colleges all over the country. My friend Eric Paulson was going to UCLA. Rod Fredricks was going to Harvard. I was impressed. All of them were impressed that I got the Golden Boy Baseball Scholarship for Saguaro. They all said they hadn't been accepted by Saguaro. I didn't know why but I could guess. Saguaro took teachers' recommendations seriously. In truth I was surprised that I got in.

We both worked at Metrics for the summer. Dad would have it no other way that year. I told him that next summer I wouldn't work at either company. I told him I was going premed. He got excited about me being a doctor. I told him I wanted to be a psychiatrist. He said that was amazing. He didn't say anything about us not working for the company the next summer. He just kept telling everyone that his youngest son was going to be a doctor.

I just smiled and nodded to everyone that he told that. Then I asked Brent to marry me. He said of course. We told Mom and she got excited. I told her that we weren't getting married until after the bachelor's degree. She said she'd start planning. She asked if Brent's mom would want in on the planning. Brent told her to call her and ask her. He wasn't sure either way. We went to work every day and came home to Mom and Dad's house. His mother wanted him out. She had done the same thing with Blake, his older brother. Blake was at Arizona State, and not doing well. He was in Harris for the summer, staying with friends.

He called his brother all of the time to ask for money. I gave him not a dime. Brent told me not to. He said that Blake was always looking for a handout. I wasn't to be his handout. I understood completely. The summer went on. It went really fast with both of us working for Metrics. That's why I said we wouldn't work there next summer. The job ended, and we got ready to go to Saguaro. We went to Orientation and picked our classes. When I told the advisor that I wanted to go premed with an emphasis on Psychology, he picked classes that would help me along my path. I got Micro Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, and a Psychology Class. There was one elective in there, too. Brent got psychology classes, college algebra, and public speaking. I got my meal card with my picture printed on it. I was told not to come to the office every month to get a new card. It would just recharge at the end of the month.

While I was in there, I met the Golden Boy for football and the one for soccer. I also met the Golden Boy for Track and the one from swimming. We all stood together and had our picture taken for the school paper. Then we were headed back to Harris for two weeks. We didn't work at the company for those two weeks. We did couples things. We went to movies, out to eat, and to play miniature golf. Then it was time to pack the truck that I had bought with all of the things that we would take to Osage and head that way.

I moved into the dorm, which I did not share with Brent. He got a football player named Steven Orest. He was an all right guy who thought it was cool that I was Brent's boyfriend. We told him that we were pledging Alpha Beta Omega. He said that was cool. He wasn't pledging a fraternity. He was just staying in the dorm. He said that some friends of his were talking about renting a house for the duration of college. They'd get jobs here during the summer to keep it. We didn't care either way.

I wrote my essay for Alpha Beta Omega, and handed it in bright and early the morning of the first party. Then I went to the party that night with Brent. We had a good time, met a lot of the brothers and got slightly tipsy. I was told that I was a legacy, so I was already a member of the ten that would be in the trials. I didn't have to do the questionnaire, but I told them I would do it anyway. They smiled at this. We didn't get the questionnaire until the end of the second party. We filled ours out the next morning and took them back to the frat house by eight that morning. Then we were told that we'd get invitations to the third party if we made it. Twenty people would get invitations. Then they'd whittle it down to ten people for the trials.

I got my invitation. My room mate, a boy named Frank Dillard, didn't get an invitation. He was angry about this. I didn't say much about mine. I did put on a suit that night and head to the frat house to meet alumni. I met senators and congressmen. There were business owners, a baseball player, and an actor there. He was a popular actor, and I was impressed that he had been Alpha Beta Omega. I had a great time that night and wasn't even tipsy when they turned us out of the house. We were told that if we got another invitation to come to the frat house at six the next day and clothing would be provided.

We went back to the dorms and my room mate asked me how the party went. I told him it was fine. Then I took off my suit, put it back in the garment bag, and hung it in the closet. I went to take a shower. When I came back, he was in bed. I sat and read my Micro Biology book quietly so as not to disturb him. I went to bed. The next morning someone came to the door. I answered it in my shorts and t-shirt. My room mate was already gone for the day. On the other side of the door was an Aboo brother. He handed me the invitation and told me to pack a bag for three weeks. He said that clothing would be provided for the party tonight and we would be serving the brothers. He also told me that Omega Beta Zeta's pledges would be cocktail servers, and that we would be in the trials at the end of the night. I thanked him and told him I'd be there at six. The party started at seven. He told me he'd see me later.

Then I went to my ten o'clock class. It was Friday, so I went to Micro Biology. I did really well in that class. Then I had lunch before I went to Anatomy and Physiology. I did really well in that class, too. I reconnected with Brent and we packed bags for three weeks. Promptly at six we arrived at the frat house. They put us in black pants, black patent leather shoes, white tuxedo shirts and bow ties that clipped on. We served them sliders and potato wedges. The girls served them drinks. This went on until eleven. At the end of the night my feet and back were killing me. We went down to the basement and were told to strip naked. We were twinned, and as luck was on my side, I got Brent. We sat on our bed and did our assignments for classes. We were supposed to be getting to know each other. They didn't know that Brent and I were in a relationship. We studied and then went to the bathroom, which was a toilet open to the room. The shower was open to the room as well. We washed our hands and dried them on the paper towels. We put those in the trash and went to bed. We slept in each other's arms.

The next morning we were kicked out of the frat after a breakfast of ham and cheese bagels and orange juice. We had to get stand ins because we had different classes all day. I got a brother named Bobby Taylor. He went to my Psychology class with me. Then he went to my Rhetoric and Composition class. Then we were back in the frat house for a dinner of cheeseburgers with fries and iced tea. Then we were back in the basement naked. We were told to give the Pledge Master information about our twin. I gave him detailed information about Brent. I told him all about how his mother wanted him out of the house as soon as he turned eighteen. I told him about his screw up of a brother, and how he was always looking for a handout. I told him how Brent loved dogs but didn't have one. I also told him that Brent was studying to become a social worker who would work with underprivileged and at risk teenagers. I didn't lose a point.

Brent told them all about me. He told them about my family, the businesses that we owned, and all about my inheritance. He told them that I had three brothers, the oldest were identical twins. He told them about Marcus who was now at the head of Metrics. He told them about Melissa who was a sister at Omega Beta Zeta. He told them I was a legacy to Alpha Beta Omega. He told them that I liked dogs, and I played short stop for Saguaro and was the Golden Boy for the Baseball Scholarship. He didn't lose a point.

We were given the history of the frat house booklet. We were told to study it. I remembered it from the other life, but I read it again from cover to cover. We were also given shopping lists and money to purchase the items on the list. This time I had far too much money. Brent did, too. We took our bags and envelopes to the brothers on the paper. Mine, a brother named Tommy Engal counted his change in front of me. He smiled and said I didn't lose a point. Brent took his bag and envelop of cash to a brother named Eric Dumaska. He counted the change and told him he didn't lose a point. We went back to the basement and got naked. We studied and got our assignments done. Then we cleaned the shower, sink, toilet, and emptied the trash in the trash can of our shower space. Then we went to the bathroom, washed our hands, and went to bed.

They gave us the test on the frat the next day. We did really well on it. We also had stand ins for classes. We never left them. We didn't lose any points. We'd both aced the test. Then we had more shopping lists. This time I had to add money. Brent had too much money. We went back to the same brothers. Tommy asked me where his change was, and I told him I had put my own money in to purchase everything on the list. He smiled and said that I didn't lose a point. Eric counted his change and smiled. Brent didn't lose a point. We both still had ten.

At the end of the week we lost three pledges. We were down to seven. We were in trios, but one pledge got two brothers. I was that pledge. I got to know a lot about the frat that week. We were given the books on the national fraternity. They gave the test the very next day and I aced it. Brent did, too. We lost two more pledges that week. We were down to the five. The next week we were paired with our big brothers in the fraternity. I got Tommy Engal. He was a baseball player. I knew him from the team. We got along really well. I told him that Brent and I were engaged. He smiled really big at this. He told me that David Talven was his boyfriend. That was the Pledge Master.

This week there would be no more losing points. We were just hanging out with our big brothers. At the end of the week, we were thrown a party to celebrate being inducted into the brotherhood of Alpha Beta Omega. We moved into the frat. Brent and I were finally roommates. We moved into the room with our big brothers in the room beside us. Tommy told me that he was thrilled that I was in the room next door. He hung out with us. So did David. They liked having like minded friends.

Melissa introduced me to her roommate. Her name was Carrie Toolman. She was a lesbian, who told me that when Brent and I were ready, she'd have our children for us. I told her she was family now. She liked that. She didn't have a good home life, because her parents didn't like the fact that she was gay. I told her that she would be a member of our family, and she would be Aunt Carrie to the children. She loved that idea. She didn't want children of her own. Her girlfriend was also in Omega Beta Zeta. Her name was Liv Daverson. She was a tall girl with long dark hair and green eyes. She looked like she could be a member of my family. Carrie was about Brent's height of five ten with long blonde hair. She was athletic and played woman's football. There wasn't a sanctioned team for that at Saguaro, but she played intramural. We went to her games and cheered for her and Liv.

We hung out with Tommy and Dave a lot. Sometimes the four of us would hang out with Liv and Carrie. We went to all of the dances and mixers with the girls. Everyone was confused about that. But we knew what was going on. We studied together and did really well in our classes. When Mid Term happened we sailed through them. We got excellent grades. I decided that for the summer, I would rent a house for Carrie and Liv to live in while we were in Harris. Both of their families wanted nothing to do with them. I told them they were members of my family I was building with Brent. They liked that. They agreed to come to Harris for the summer. They asked about jobs, and I told them I would talk to Marcus about letting them work for Metrics for the summer if they absolutely thought they had to. I was renting the house, so all they had to pay for was food and utilities. They thought it was great that I would talk to Marcus.

I called him and told him about Carrie and Liv. He said he'd hire them as standard interns. I thought that was perfect. We went home for Winter Break and Carrie and Liv came with us. Mom had many questions for them. They stayed in the house with us. I told Mom that their families wanted nothing to do with them. She informally adopted them. I told her that I was renting them a house this summer and they would work for Marcus. She thought that was perfect.

I went Christmas shopping with Brent. We bought for everyone including Carrie and Liv. Carrie was premed as well, but she wanted to be a general practitioner. Liv was premed, but she wanted to be an OBGYN. I had a plan for where we would work in Osage when we graduated. Brent would work for Social Services until I opened Patterson Wellness Group and the four of us went to work there. Brent loved the idea. Mom and Dad loved the idea, and Carrie and Liv thought it was amazing. We'd be working together and they'd have a house in Osage, because I would make sure of it.

Marcus found a house that he wanted, and I bought it for him. He thanked me over and over again. He said it was the greatest Christmas present. I still had gifts for him, but I went and bought stuff for the house and wrapped it. On Christmas he had a lot to open. So did Carrie and Liv. I bought them both rings that they could use for their wedding. Mom planned it, and they would be married in June. Mom loved them both. She loved that Carrie would have mine and Brent's children.

For New Year's we had a barbecue and the girls met the rest of the family. Melissa had a boyfriend at Alpha Beta Omega. His name was Jeff Preston. He came for New Year's. We had a great day. Then it was back to school, and we moved back into our Greek Houses. Carrie and Liv hung out with us, studied with us, and we all had a great semester. We did really well on tests. Baseball season started and the girls were there to cheer us on at every game. We stayed a bit longer in the summer, because we were in the playoffs. We didn't win, but we had a great time. Coach Kelson was happy with us. We went to Harris and the girls started to work for Marcus. Mom wouldn't hear of them not living in the house with us for the summer, so I didn't rent them one. They didn't have to pay for anything. Mom told them to save their money for when they were married.

The wedding took place at the civic center there in Harris. Mom went all out. They had flowers and very tasteful decorations. All of my family came, people from Obiz came and so did mine and Brent's friends from the frat. Tommy and Dave came and it was a great wedding. I paid for them to go to Hawaii for a week. They were very thankful. I told them to take many pictures and Mom would put together an album for them. They loved that.

When they came back they went back to work for Marcus. I hung out with them when they weren't working. Brent lived with us, too. Mom loved him like crazy. She loved that Carrie would have our children. She kept talking about when I gave her grandchildren. I laughed at this and reminded her that it was a way off. She said she was having fun thinking about it. Marcus met a new girl. Her name was Amy Peterson. She was a beautiful girl with long flowing blonde hair and blue eyes. She ran marathons, and she loved Marcus for who he was. That was the special part. She moved into the house with him, and they were a completely domesticated couple. They even bought a dog, a white German Sheppard they called Bob of all things.

The twins found a pair of twin girls to date. They were Tina and Bonnie Coleson. They were both dark haired and blue eyed. They were girly girls, as Amy put it. They loved my brothers, and my brothers loved them. They found a duplex to live in and I bought it for them. They thanked me over and over again. Now it was just Melissa. She was working at Patterson Medical Equipment this summer. She found a modest two bedroom house that she loved. I bought it for her, and she moved in. She thanked me and hugged me so tight when I bought it for her. It was a one story white clapboard sided, slate roof house with an open floor plan. She said she didn't want a huge house. She said love grew best in little houses where the family was forced to be with each other. I liked that.

"Well, you bought houses for your siblings," Brent said one night when we were alone in my room.

"I promised my parents that I would do it, but it made me happy to do it," I said.

"Are you going to buy a house in Osage when you go for medical school?" he asked.

"Yes," I said. "When I get out of medical school and residency we'll live in it. I'm going to buy a house for Carrie and Liv, too."

"That's nice," he said. "Tommy and Dave want to live in Osage and work for the wellness group, too. You know Tommy is premed."

"I know," I said. "We've talked about it. He wants to be a pediatrician. I told him he'd fit right in. He doesn't want us to buy them a house. They want to do that on their own."

"That's nice," he said. "I have one request."

"What's that?" I asked.

"Buy Blake a car so he'll leave my parents alone about it," he said. "He's not a bad driver, and he has held a job there in Phoenix all summer long."

"I'll buy him a car if he doesn't want something extravagant," I said.

We went to Phoenix to see him. He looked so much like Brent, but his features weren't as fine as Brent's. His were more hard and angular. His face was a bit longer, but he wasn't a bad looking guy. He thanked me for buying him a car. He wanted a Dodge Intrepid. I bought it and told him how to get car insurance cheaper than through an agent. He liked that. He was doing very well in school, but he partied a lot more than I liked. We spent the night there in Phoenix. He told us he wanted an invitation to the wedding. I told him that was three years away. He laughed. He welcomed me to the family. I liked that.

Back in Harris we were getting ready for our trip back to school. Of course I had turned nineteen and so had Brent. Carrie and Liv threw us a party at the civic center. They paid for it out of the money they made from Metrics. It was a great party. We had a really great time and got awesome, thoughtful presents. Brent made out like a bandit. They all loved Brent for his gentle ways and his thoughtful conversation. I was the more in your face of the two of us. I asked thought provoking questions, and I gave more meaningful conversation. When they wanted things light and happy, they went to Brent. When they wanted things more serious and to the point, they came to me.

The summer went on. We had barbecue after barbecue. We swam in the pool at friend's houses. Then Marcus put in a pool at his house, and we were there all of the time. Mom and Dad decided to put in a pool, because Dad needed the exercise. He swam laps in the pool. We swam laps with him, and got into better shape. Dad'd had a heart attack scare. It wasn't a heart attack, but it was a cardiac episode. That's why he was exercising more and eating less red meat. He ate a lot of chicken and fish.

He loved that we swam laps with him. He talked to me about what I wanted to do. I told him all about Patterson Wellness Group. I would open it in Osage, where they had nothing like it. I would be the psychiatrist there. David would be the psychologist. Carrie would be the general practitioner, Tommy would be the pediatrician, and Liv would be the OBGYN. We'd hire some and get to know them, but it would be a family thing. I told him that Carrie and Liv, and David and Tommy were family to me now. He liked that. He said I was building a network. He said he was proud of me. I told him I loved him and worried about him. He told me he was going to be fine.

We went back to school for our second year at Saguaro. They had another round of parties. We went to the parties, but left the hopefuls alone for the most part. They turned in essays and questionnaires and we had nothing to do with them. I did give a shopping list, and purposefully didn't give enough money. The hopeful brought my items, but he'd left things off the list, so that my money would cover it. I took a point from him. Brent took a point from his, too. Then we were wearing "Who Am I?" shirts and trapping hopefuls right and left. We took more points. In the end they had five new brothers. We weren't big brothers at all that semester. We just went to the party to induct them and had a good time.

We were back in classes, and mine were a bit harder this year. I had Micro Biology 2, and Rhetoric and Composition 2. I also had Anatomy and Physiology 2. I had a psychology class as well. They told me that next semester I'd have two psych classes and Cellular structures of the brain. I liked the sound of that. Next year it would be mostly psych classes and a few medical classes thrown in. I would be going for the bachelor's degree more completely in years three and four. I told them I was returning for medical school after year four. They liked the sound of that. Liv and Carrie were returning for medical school. Tommy and David were returning as well. One for medical school and one for a Master's Degree. None of us would live in Greek Houses, so I'd buy the house that Brent and I would live in when we returned here after medical school. I would buy Liv and Carrie's house, too. Tommy and David wanted to buy their own.

We did really well on tests and quizzes. We took over the library to study. All of us got involved. David and Tommy, and Carrie and Liv were with us in the library. We took over the Taco Shack for food a lot, too. Of course I used my meal card at least twice a week. Had to use it or lose it. I got a thousand every week for being on the baseball team. So did Brent and Tommy. We went to all of the games that Carrie and Liv played. Liv had gotten Carrie involved in Woman's Football. We had a great time at those games. The frat threw parties and co-sponsored events with Omega Beta Zeta. We did the Adopt a Resident thing, and I got an eighty year old man named Harvey Pressman. He talked to me about the world of his youth. I could remember it and talked with him about it in detail. He was a bit forgetful, so he never thought anything of it. I did his laundry, bought him peanut butter stuffed pretzel bites. He loved those and had no dietary restrictions, so it was fine. He had no family, and I continued to do things for him after the month was over. He died at eighty-two. I went to his funeral. There weren't many people there. I paid to have him buried in a very nice plot there in Osage. I bought his headstone. Of course my core group was at the funeral.

Then it was latch key kids and backpacks of snacks and games. We collected things from the grocery store. People could buy things and put them in the barrel. We would collect them and put things in boxes that matched. Then we'd build the back packs. We had four hundred of them. People could sign up their kids for a backpack. They could come and get them at the end of the month. I sat and handed them out. Brent delivered a few. He now had a Jeep that I'd bought for him. He'd tried to throw a fit, but I had just looked at him.

Then it was an event for underprivileged kids. We packed lunches and dinners for them. We bought books for them and took donations for free book fees and free lunches at school. We did very well, and almost all of the kids got free book fees and free lunches. I donated two hundred thousand dollars and they got every kid for five years. They were really happy with my donation. Liv and Carrie talked about it endlessly. I just acted like it was nothing.

Then we were studying for Mid Term. We did really well. People talked about our study group. They tired to join us. We didn't pay any attention to them. We just studied and quizzed each other endlessly. Then it was just going to classes and taking quizzes. We did really well on those. We were prepared for each class, and our professors were happy with all of us. Of course, they thought that we were amazing kids who helped the community and still found time to study. We told them that the fraternity was in charge of the philanthropic events. We started an Angel Tree for kids for Christmas. We passed all of that out right before Thanksgiving. For some that would be all they got for Christmas. We bought one outfit and one toy per child.

We had Thanksgiving at the frat. Omega Beta Zeta came, so Melissa was with us for Thanksgiving. We had turkey and all of the trimmings. It was catered. We had pies and cookies, too. We had a great time. Melissa loved our group, but she didn't join us for studying. She should have, because she was finding it difficult to study with all of the philanthropic events. I told her to study with us, and we'd get her where she needed to be. She started as soon as we came back from Winter Break.

For Winter Break we went to Harris. Dad was not doing well. It seemed he was experiencing congestive heart failure. That scared the twins, but I knew what it meant. I was constantly on him to remember his medications and to slow down on the exercise. His doctor had told him the same thing. He needed to take naps, and not go up and down stairs. Mom and Dad moved their bedroom to the office downstairs. Dad couldn't do the stairs. I paid to put a full bathroom downstairs off the office. Mom thanked me for it.

Christmas that year was special because I thought it might be the last one I'd have with my father. I bought him a lot of things for his new room, and things that he could use to help him along his way to recovery. Mom said my gifts were very thoughtful. I hugged her. I even hugged Dad. I wasn't worried about what I got that year. It was all about dad. My brothers and sister knew that Dad might not live very much longer. They were all very attentive to him. He loved us for being that way with him.

Brent worried that Dad would die while we were at school. I told him it was in God's hands now. He looked at me funny when I said that. We went to the New Year's party at the twins' duplex. They had people from their block over. We closed the streets and had an old fashioned block party. There were fireworks, and champaign. We ushered in twenty seventy four with style. Then we slept most of the day on the first. We headed back to school after that. We moved back into the frat house, and the second semester of our sophomore year was under way. I had three psych classes and two medical classes. I had a full load. I did rather well with it, though. Brent complained that I was studying a lot more this year, but I explained that I had a full load this semester and would have one next year for both semesters and the fourth year for both semesters. He didn't like it, but he understood.

Half way through the first semester, my father died. We went to Harris for the funeral. Mom didn't know what to do with herself. She cried a lot. We were there for a week. We had study guides for classes. Mom thought it was amazing that we studied at the dining room table all of the time. She hated to see us leave at the end of the week, but we had to get back to classes. I was sad about Dad, but life had to go on. We went right back to the thick of it.

Mid Term happened while we were gone. We took the tests when we got back. We did really well on them. The professors were all expressing their condolences and happy with our performance. They said that it really said something for the kind of students that we were when something so life altering happened, and our grades did not suffer. I just went back to normal. Melissa was having trouble with it, but I told her we had to study and do well. Dad wouldn't want us to wallow in self indulged grief. She said she understood and buckled down. The twins came to see us a time or two. It seemed that mortality was brought to their attention when Dad died.

Mom's friend, Barbara moved into the house with her. That was nice. She wasn't alone. She continued to volunteer at the hospital and her charities. She got an income from the estate. It was the Widow Clause. She was happy with it. She was doing rather well with Barbara there with her. We didn't worry near as much about her now that she had a companion. We went home for Winter Break, and found her in good spirits. Barbara was a grey haired woman with dark eyes. She was physically fit, and did the Relay For Life every year. She was a cancer survivor. I thought that was amazing. We had a somber Christmas, the first without Dad. Mom was a bit sad, but we did everything we could think of to lift her spirits.

When we got back to school, I worried about Mom a lot. I knew that sometimes spouses followed behind their dead spouse not long afterward. I hoped it wasn't so for Mom. She thrived without Dad, but she was lonely. I told her that when she was ready she should find a man to give her affection to. She said she'd never marry another. I told her to date. She said she'd think about it. We went back to studying like mad. By the time baseball season started I was stretched thin. I played in every game, and we did fairly well that year. We made it to the playoffs and won. We went to the College Championships. We did well, but we didn't win every game. We weren't in the last one. Coach was thrilled with our performance. He said that we had done a good job all season.

We went back to Harris and found Mom dating a man named Clarence Townsand. He was in his late fifties with dark hair that had grey at the temples. His dark eyes were sharp and he never missed a thing. He didn't exactly approve of all of our lifestyles, but he kept it to himself. Mom went into overdrive planning my wedding. I let her do it. We'd get married whenever she decided we were ready. That meant that we got married that June. It was the social event of the season. Everyone came. Tommy was my best man, and David was Brent's. Melissa and the twins were my attendants. Marcus and Amy wanted to be in the audience. Mom walked me down the aisle and Liv walked Brent down the aisle. We had written our own vows, and we said them to each other. Clarence had a scowl on his face the whole time. Mom was furious with him, but he didn't darken our day. It was a great wedding. Tommy and Liv were with us. Carry and David were with us. They were all so happy for us. We went to Greece for a week. We spent it on the nude beach just like last time.

We came home to a very angry Mom. She had broken things off with Clarence after his performance at our wedding and his boycotting our reception. I told her I was sorry that it didn't work out. She said he hated that Carrie and Liv were staying for the summer. When Tommy and Dave stayed for the week, he put his foot down and tried to tell her that they couldn't stay with her. She had broken up with him. Barbara was happy about that, because she didn't like Clarence. She said Mom needed a man who would let her have her own mind and follow her heart in accepting all alternative lifestyles. I pointed out that the gay community was far more vast than it had ever been. More and more men were marrying each other and just as many women were marrying each other.

Tommy and David got married in a small ceremony later that summer. We threw them a reception and paid for them to go to Vegas for a week. They'd both wanted to go and gamble. They hit it big in Vegas which surprised the hell out of me. David won a car, and Tommy won a lot of money. We went back to Osage for our Junior Year of college. I had a killer schedule once again. I dropped an elective and told them if I had to I would pick it up in summer. They said it wasn't necessary. I had enough electives. I told them I would just take nothing but core classes now.

I had hard classes and study group was essential for me. We studied like mad. Brent was even studying like mad. We had nothing but core classes and they weren't easy. Tommy and David had core classes. Carrie and Liv had core classes. We were headed for Mid Term and it was killing us. They didn't play in the intramural sports that year. I wouldn't have played baseball but I was on scholarship and had to play. I was of half a mind to pay back the scholarship and just pay the rest of my tuition, but I didn't. Baseball season wasn't even in yet.

We did very well at Mid Term. I was thankful for that. In all of my lives I'd never taken harder courses. It was unreal. Brent asked me if I really wanted to be a psychiatrist. I said I did, so he stopped asking questions after that. We went to classes, and we did research, we wrote papers, and took quizzes. By the time Winter Break was upon us and semester final exams, I was so tired. We went home and found the Mom was dating two men now. I thought that was funny, but I relaxed and did nothing strenuous the entire break. I did go Christmas shopping and bought for both of Mom's boyfriends. I bought for Barbara and the girls. I bought for the boys who were coming to us for Christmas. The house was full with all of my brothers and my sister along with Carrie and Liv and Tommy and David. We had a great Christmas. We had a great Christmas dinner. Mom had a great time. She said she loved having us all around her. She said it was like she had more children, and she loved all of them so deeply.

She asked me when Carrie would carry our children. I told her we had medical school and residency. There wasn't time for a baby now. She said she understood. I told her when we were working at the wellness group, we'd have our first child. She said she'd be patient. I laughed. Then it was lazy days until New Year. The twins threw another block party and we went. We had a great time. Then we were back to the grind at school.

"Are we going to make it?" Brent asked me when we were in our room at the frat house after the first month of second semester.

"Yes," I said. "This too shall pass."

"If you say so," he said. We got back to studying after that.

The next day the whole group got together in the library to track down facts and take notes for papers and quizzes. We were headed for Mid Term again, and we studied like mad. We studied in the library, at the Taco Shack, and in the frat. The new brothers told us that we were machines. I laughed at that and told them that they'd see what was what when they were juniors. We made it to baseball season, and then I was really tired. I played hard and we made it to the playoffs but we didn't make it to the championships. Coach was upset, but he told us we had played hard. He told me that he was surprised by how hard I played. He said they were all talking about my course load. I told him I'd survive.

Then we were back in Harris for the summer. Our junior year was over. Brent told me that he was ready to throw in the towel by finals. I laughed and told him we were almost there. He said he was looking forward to the master's degree program. He said he hoped it was lighter. I laughed. Carrie and Liv were both ready for medical school. Tommy and David were both ready as well. We had one more year of undergrad and then we would be back for medical school. I hoped it wasn't as mind numbing as undergrad.

The twins got married in a double wedding that summer. We had a grand party to celebrate. They had a grand time. It was just in time, too. Matt's first child, a boy they named Parker was born two months after the wedding. Mom finally had a grandchild to spoil like mad. Brent and I went and stole him from time to time and brought him back to the house. Mom took him from us each time we did it. She bought him all kinds of stuffed toys and clothes. Matt and Tina didn't need to buy anything, because Mom kept buying diapers and bottles, pacifiers, and toys for him.

By the time we left for school the child had a room full of stuffed animals. He had decals on his walls. He had a brand new baby bed and stroller. He had it all. We went back to Osage. This year wasn't as bad as last year. I had most of the core classes knocked out. I had a light schedule this year. I was thankful for that. Carrie and Liv and Tommy and David had lighter schedules, too. Our year of Hell paid off. We still studied in a group and took over the library. We still had meals at the taco shack. Sometimes Brent, David, Tommy, and I ate at the frat, and sometimes in the cafeteria.

By Mid Term we were surprised that we could sleep so soundly and have time to do things other than study. We went to parties, participated in philanthropic events, and had a good year. By the time we were headed for semester finals we were rested and ready. We took our finals and then left for Winter Break. This year we had Parker to spoil. Bonnie was pregnant with her and Mike's first child. Mom was over the moon with happiness over it. We threw them a baby shower. They had everything they needed by the time their daughter, Elizabeth Patterson was born. Mom was thrilled that it was a girl. She went back to buying out stores for the baby. Parker was walking and talking if not in full sentences. He knew about ten words.

We had a great summer. The baseball team hadn't made the playoffs so we were home early. Marcus told us he could use us at Metrics. So we took jobs there that summer. We had a good time working for Marcus. He threw inter office parties now and then. Everyone wanted us to attend. We had a great summer. I loved my time at Metrics. I was good at what I was doing, and for the first time I thought maybe I'd made the wrong career decision. I shook that off and returned to school for Medical School.

This was a cakewalk compared to my Junior Year. I had a great time. We had cadavers to do surgery on, but I didn't understand that class. I wasn't trying to be a surgeon. I had psychology classes that astounded me. The first year was all about psychology with one or two medical classes. I studied diseases of the mind. I was frankly scared of some of them. I studied dissociate personality disorder. I studied schizophrenia, and true obsessive compulsive disorder. There were so many. I did really well in my medical school classes. We did two years of those and then it was rotations. I did well in my rotations. They told me that I showed a knack for surgery, but I told them my career path was already set. I was going to be a psychiatrist who did research into the mind. They thought that was amazing.

After four years of medical school and two years for Brent's master's degree, he went to work in Phoenix for Social Services while we all went to Moreau Medical for our residency. That was five more years, the last two were in our specialties. I had shifts in the psych ward of the hospital. I loved it there. I had delusional patients, paranoid patients, patients who had gone off their meds and went down the rabbit hole. I loved it. I sat in on group therapy and one on one therapy with the actual psychiatrist. He said I showed a real flair for psych. I told him it was my career path. He asked where my studies were lacking. I told him I was studying for the boards. He gave me his study method. I used that and aced the boards. I got my medical license. Brent was thrilled.

Ground was broke for Patterson Wellness Group. Sings went up. We were on billboards. All of us came together when the building was finished. We went to work there. I was the resident psychiatrist. David was the therapist. Tommy was the pediatrician. Carrie was the general practitioner, and Liv was the OBGYN. We hired another pediatrician and another OBGYN. We hired a surgeon, two of them. One specialized in fetal surgery. We had the clinic well staffed. Patients flooded in.

Carrie donated eggs and I fertilizes them. Four were implanted, but only one took. Nine months later, our fist son, Jacob Patterson was born. A year later we did it again, but this time Brent fertilized the eggs. Two took. We had fraternal twins, Rebecca and Monica Patterson were born. The year after that I fertilized the eggs again and one took. Our second son, Austin was born. We had a full family. We had daycare at the clinic, so the kids went to work with us.

"I'm so happy now," Brent said. "I love working at the Wellness Group."

"I love it, too," I said. "I have patients who are bipolar that I just manage medications for. I have patients that are slightly delusional and some who are moderately paranoid as well. I have two who just think they need a psychiatrist. They pay though."

"We're all so happy there," he said. "Liv was telling me that her work is rewarding. Carrie loves it there. Now that she's not going to be pregnant anymore, Liv has talked her into having a child. One."

"Yeah, Liv told me that she's going to carry it," I said. "They've asked me to fertilize the eggs. I've agreed. We'll tell the kids that they're siblings, but we won't tell them how it was done."

"Good," he said. "When they're much older we'll explain it to them."

"Yes," I said.

And that's what we did. Liv gave birth to a little girl she named Amelia. They called her Mia. She fit right in with the kids. Tommy and David found a surrogate and impregnated her. They had twins, Scott and Chad. We all had kids now. The daycare was full. We were having a great life. It was so much better han the last one. However, I developed cancer of the lymph nodes. I got extremely sick. Brent was terrified. Mom was terrified. My entire family was scared. I got sicker and sicker and had to stop working at the clinic. Another psychiatrist was hired while I was out of commission. The chemo alone was devastating to my body. I lost so much weight. My hair fell out, and I nearly died three times.

Before I knew it, I was a spirit again, and Brent was alone with our kids. I hovered and I watched, but I didn't find another body for three generations. It was twenty-one forty when seventeen year old Nicolas Patterson fell. I took over and healed the damage to his brain. Then I looked through his body until I found cells that were abnormal. I got rid of those everywhere I found them. Then I came out of my coma. My sister was sitting in the room. Her name was Denise. We were the only children of Mason and Sella Patterson. Mason was the head of Metrics. His cousin was the head of Patterson Medical Equipment, and another cousin was in charge of the wellness group which had morphed into a hospital.