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"There are a lot of looks being exchanged here," Connor, the playroom supervisor, says. "Why don't we try some smiles?"
I’m the first to smile. "I always smile when I have my Mountain Dew."
Wren pinches the bridge of his nose. "BJ really shouldn’t be drinking Mountain Dew. It’s not fit for a growing boy’s teeth."
Bryce growls. "Oh, relax. It’s one-sixteenth of a can."
"I need to be like the working guys." I take another sip. "Besides, I’m going to a monster truck rally this weekend so I need all the energy I can get."
"Then, why aren’t you drinking Monster?" Waxley cocks his head to the left.
I turn my head around to look at Bryce. "Do working guys drink Monster?"
Bryce nods. "Yes."
I set down my sippy cup. "Dangit! Well, the guys were talking about Mountain Dew when I showed up to the job site. I’ll have to try Monster, too."
Bryce scowls at me. "That’s where Daddy puts his foot down."
Calloway smiles. "I don't need energy drinks or soda to have energy. My Daddy gives it to me."
Greyson and Calloway share a look that is sweeter than the bowls of ice cream we just finished eating. Greyson hugs Calloway, and Calloway melts into his arms like a young bird that has long since gone off to bird college, but when his friends aren’t around, he can’t resist flying back to his mommy’s nest and giving mommy bird a hug.
I watch their hug, then realize that I need a hug of my own. With a sigh, I turn around, then bury myself in Bryce.
He lifts me up, and settles me into the crook of his hips like he’s apt to do. This is our love position. The formation we get into every time we embrace.
Bryce hugs me tight. All my worries about the monster truck rally, job sites, building, and energy drinks fade to the wings.
The only thing that matters is Bryce. Sweet, perfect Bryce. He’s a sensitive man, a wise one, too. A man who always meets my needs.
A tear wells in my right eye. I rub it on Bryce’s belly, right on his perfect roll that I love so much. "I got your roll wet, Daddy."
Bryce leans in and pecks my cheek. "Oh, there’s nothing wrong with that. As long as it’s your eye doing the wetting."
All three of us boys hug our Daddies. Waxley climbs into Wren’s arms, and they embrace almost as well as me and Bryce. I’m reminded that they nearly won the Best Hugger competition, but Waxley made a pee pee and so Wren and to change him. No one was allowed to wear a diaper during the competition, which is why Waxley ran into trouble.
If only Bryce and I hadn’t hugged beforehand, we would’ve won. Disqualification is such a silly rule, one that shouldn’t even be enforced. Me and my Daddy hug like no one’s business, and I dare any one of my friends to give us a run for our money. We’d win anytime.
At least I have Bob. I’m grateful that Calloway and Greyson were kind enough to give Bob to me, because now he’s my favorite teddy in the world. Teddies like Bob don't come around more than once in this life. A teddy chooses you—you never choose your teddy, no matter what you might think. He calls out to you from the toy shelf, looks at you longingly, and you know, you simply know, that you must take him home.
I move Bob close to Waxley’s teddy, Barnacle. "Look, Waxley. Our teddies are hugging."
Sure enough, Bob and Barnacle are buried in each other’s arms, thanks to me.
Constable Charlie looks lonely. I move him toward the others, letting him join the group hug.
All three of our teddies embrace. Barnacle, Bob, and Constable Charlie.
They hug like our Daddies hug us.
Waxley wipes a tear from his cheek. "Barnacle likes having your teddies as friends."
Calloway smiles. "Constable Charlie does, too. He thinks Bob and Barnacle are the bestest friends in the world."
Wren issues us all a stern look. "You three are close friends exactly like your teddies. We’re so proud of you three for giving one another the gift of friendship. That’s something that not everyone has in this life, and it’s rare. Cherish your friendship. Never let anything come between you three or split you apart. You’ll be friends until you’re old and gray."
I look at Calloway and Waxley. Sure enough, I see myself being bestest friends with them ten years, twenty years, and even more years in the future.
