Chapter 13 Epilogue

A year later, Hector's mother duly paid a visit to see her new grandchild Henry Canfield. The fact that she shared with Shad a dedication to the new baby eased Shad's temper a bit. So Shad didn't beat her up.

Shad schemed. Hector's Mother nice in Hector's Mother's own way. Hector's Mother not be visiting too long. Hector's Mother loved home in Riverview too much. Hector's Mother not in good shape. Shad and Mlor mostly keep out of her way and let her fuss over baby. It nice plan, and let Shad and Mlor soon look after baby themselves anyway.

Sure enough, a couple of days of almost exclusively caring for the baby made Mrs. Canfield more amenable to Mlor being the primary caregiver. And after a couple weeks, she went back to Ohio on friendly terms with her strange new in-laws.

It came time for Major Mackenzie and Pamela to see Henry. Hector's best friend and commanding officer had been absent for a several months, on another secret mission. He had only recently returned, and had spent much of his time with Pamela. Absence having made the heart grow fonder, Mac and Pamela were now engaged. And now, following the effusive congratulations from Hector and Mlor, and the "Gronksons", they saw the new baby.

"What a darling little boy" Pamela gushed.

"The kid looks like you, Hector" observed Mac.

"He sure does" bragged Hector. "Everything about him is all-American and A-OK."

"Henry is a beautiful baby" said Mlor. "Everybody say so. Henry be a smart man like Henry's father."

"Or smarter" said Mac.

He took a closer look at the baby, black-haired with his father's dopey expression.

Oh well. Hector was smart enough to become a US Air Force officer and an astronaut to boot.

"A chip off the old block" observed Mac.

Mac took Hector aside while Gronk and Shad continued to look at the baby.

"Did you test him out? There might be certain hidden birth defects?"

"We ran the full gamut of tests in the hospital" Hector told Mac quietly. "Perfectly normal baby in every way."

"See his grip" Breer called over.

Mac obliged, letting the baby squeeze his finger.

"A strong palmer grasp reflex" observed Mac, rubbing his finger.

"He strong like grandfather Gronk" said Gronk.

"Yeah, he's that" observed Mac. "Normal in every way, Hector?"

"My nephew's normal enough" said Breer protectively. "It's a good thing he takes after his mother and her family a little. I mean, we're not stupid like Clon."

"I don't mind" said Hector. "I mean, how can I complain about Henry taking a little after his mother? And her family, Shad and Gronk and Breer are okay."

"More than okay." said Breer, bringing attention to his jacket, "Breer Gronkson's gonna be a freshman at USC in September. And someday, I bet, my nephew will follow in his uncle's footprints."

"Or follow his dad to Ohio State" said Hector.

"Or his godfather to Caltech for that matter" observed Mac.(2) "But great going Breer. I knew you'd make it. But, tell me, what'd you choose as your major?"

"Wait 'til you hear this" said Hector, laughing.

"English" said Breer.

"English?" said Mac. "English?"

"Well, I do well. I sort of like reading about the world. Fiction and real stuff both. It's real interesting what goes on "this side of the hill." And I finished with an A this year. Now that I finally clobbered those pronouns" Breer said.

"You clobbered the pronouns?" asked Mac.

"Yeah. I did. I use them all the time without the least bit of trouble.

"Well," said Mac laconically, "it's about time."

The End

Notes

(1) Our Brother's Keepers

(2) In The Sacrifice, Mac sardonically tells Clon "We need guys like you at Caltech."