All copiers are up and running as they should. Bob and Paul picked up

the groceries they need and had headed back to the house.

Mrs. Norton and Jamie were sitting on the front porch while Gary and

Jimmy wrestled on the lawn.

It was Jamie that first spotted the car driving up the lane, "Daaaa....

Daaa !" he pointed the best he could.

"Yes, it is Daddy, sweet." Betty stood up heading for the parking area.

Jamie started kicking his feet back and forth, calling out for his daddy.

Betty leaned her head into the open driver's window, giving her husband

a kiss. She called out to Bob that he had a phone call from his wife,

she wanted him to return her call soon as he got back.

"Gee, I hope nothing has happened at home, I better get to the phone

right now." Bob stepped from the car, half- running to the house.

"What's up, Daddy?" Gary called out. "Don't know yet, your mother wants

me to call her back." Bob entered the house, grabbing for the phone.

"Hope nothing wrong at home, Gary."

"Oh, it's okay, she just wants to know when we will get home." Gary

reached out to Jimmy, pulling him over on his back. The boys began to

play once again.

Bob came out on the porch where the other adults were sitting. He had a

strange look on his face, sort of like shock and joy. Every eye was on

him all asking the same question, "What?"

"Well, well," Bob racked his throat before continuing, "I'm going to

have a baby...... I mean my wife is going to have a baby..... We are

going to have a baby."

Gary jumped to his feet and came running towards his dad. He knew there

was a possibility for a new baby but had no idea how soon. "A baby, I

hope it's a boy, is it, Daddy?" Gary jumped up and down clapping his

hands together.

"We only know we will have a baby. Mom, just got back from the doctor's

office and wanted us to know before we came home." "OH BOY! a baby!."

Bob had to sit down.

Mrs. Norton spoke up, "Gary, why do you want a little brother? Wouldn't

it be nice if you had a sister instead?"

"No way, I want a brother so I to teach him things, play with him and

everything." Gary was very sure of what he wanted the baby to be.

"This is one of the many things in life we have no choice to pick," Paul

interrupted.

"Sometimes we don't get our way, But just suppose you get a little

sister instead, would you be so very disappointed, Gary?" Bob Beebe

added.

Gary thought about it for awhile.

Jimmy spoke up, adding his two cents, trying to be as helpful as he

could be, "It could be all right if you got a sister, you would be older

so she wouldn't be bossing you around......... but on the other hand, I

suppose she may be like Nancy......"

"Dad, its just gotta be a boy, just gotta!"

"Let me tell you something", Gary's dad began, "You see, she has been

carrying this baby for quite a while, we just did not want to get your

hopes up too early. Nine months is a long time for a child to wait, so

we decided not to tell you until later." Bob began to grin like the cat

that ate the canary.

"Mom had an ultrasound today." Bob took a deep breath as he looked each

one in the eye then turned back to his son, "Gary, Mom said to tell you

it is definitely a BOY!"

Both Jimmy and Gary jumped for joy, hugging on to each other dancing and

jumping for joy.

When the boys calmed down Bob asked if it really meant that much......

"What if he was a her, would you be any less happy about it."

"Oh, I'd get over it...... but I am so glad he's a he." Gary and Bob

hugged each other in the joy of the moment. After a round of

congratulations Bob and Gary began to pack their car for the trip home.

Bob took Gary into the bedroom for a diaper change and helped him dress

in his short pants and T-shirt. "Daddy, I would like to stay here a lot,

but I want to go home, too."

"I know, honey, I understand. We will get together again, you'll see."

Bob promised.

Promises of keeping close contact were made between Paul and Bob. "You

have my E-Mail address, be sure to let us know when you arrive home and

let us know when the baby is due." Betty gave Gary a hug and kiss. Bob

and Paul shook hands but soon found they too hugged patting each others

back. Gary and Jimmy stood looking at each other in silence, then both

of them showed a tear or two as they hugged goodbye.

Jamie was not to be left out of this touching goodbye. He began banging

his feet, drawing attention to himself. Both Bob and Gary gave him a

loving hug. Gary talked to Jamie in a quite whisper telling him

something private, something just for Jamie.

Waving out of the car windows, the two drove off down the lane heading

back home. The last glimpse Gary had of the Norton Family was Paul and

Betty turning back to the house, but Jimmy was still waving as he chased

them down the lane.

The last glimpse that Bob had of Jimmy was looking into the rearview

mirror. "Nice boy that Jimmy" he said out loud where Gary could hear it.

"His diaper pants and all".