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My first grand-son Damion turned six on the 24th and a party was held for him Friday the 25th. Ruth was to attend and delivered a large Bumblebee Transformer toy I had purchased for him. I was at work but would not have set foot in Sheila's home nothwithstanding.

Apparently all went well. Ruth said Gina was civil and Shelia continues to age not well. Ruth mentions some interesting surgical enhancements that leave me curious and her expressing disdain for the attempt to salvage youth and interest in the hearts of fallen man. And then I dismiss it all from the brain cells.

On Saturday morning having stayed up late the night before pursuing a new interest on the computer I was groggy when at noon Ruth announces that Gina is coming over.

The original use of the word "Huh" is given with an additional emphasis on the word "Whaaaa---".

How soon?

10 minutes.

Oh no--no time for shower shave and an attempt to put a decent shirt on.

"What brought THIS on?" demanded rather then questioned.

Michael and Sandy had also gone to the party and had stopped at our place and stolen I mean borrowed Ruth's camera to take pictures. Can't really complain about that. What's Ruth's is their's just leave my stuff alone and we'll be fine mentality in play here. They had left the camera there and Gina was returning it.

I was puzzled she would take time out from the pursuit of her life and liberty and devouring of pleasure for Ruth's sake. The Devil Child I criticize on a recurring basis would have expected us to run by and take it off the doorstep.

Still not thrilled at missing much beauty sleep (I just know it will work one day and the frog will emerge a prince at last) and I realize that Carrot Top will probably just drop it off and run with a curt nod. I actually declare I'm going back to sleep and the long suffering one gives me THE LOOK.

"She's bringing Damion over." This is not an incentive. I consider him a hostage after all.

Sigh. I arise and pull my attitude together and prepare for a 10 minute ordeal and start to work out the logistics of turning good behavior into marriage benefits payment time. Might be nice Gina helped out in that area.

Not to happen and not even close to happening that day.

July must be the month of miracles. The Devil Child was delighted to see me (and Ruth). Before I know it I'm hugging her and not being particularly repulsed. She reintroduces me to Damion who's watching me with an eye of a kid with a magnifying glass, sunlight and a helpless bug.

He relaxes in a bit when Ruth pays him some attention. The afternoon flies by. I give him an Iron Man Masterworks collection to which he declares "I can't read." No attempt to open and look at the drawings mind you. I tell him it's time to start and then change the subject.

In the course of the afternoon Gina acts like a refugee from a Mirror universe where responsibility and contrition and taking blame upon oneself is done. I keep having mini-strokes over this new creature. My faith in God is being tested. You can do lipservice for years and years about people changing and then be astonished when you actually witness it. She totally does not recall setting the police on me when last I glared at her plotting revenge. I wisely do not share I almost succeeded in getting her jailed for credit card fraud except Jim failed to get the paperwork to me in a timely manner.

Damion and I walk to the Dairy Mart where we imbibe A&W Root Beer floats in a bottle. Warning--not for the faint of heart. The first taste is a killer and nothing I'll overindulge in except for a change of pace every now and then. We play at a nearby park where I discover an alarming lack of being in shape and tear my arms out their sockets on the monkey bars and discover my grand-son likes to see "Grand-crab" as I instructed him to call me in pain. Fun but tiring times.

Gina shares pictures of the new hubby to be and photos of Harry Jr. (who unfortunately she is planning to sign her rights away to because she hates Hubby #2 now. I give her one cautious warning about repeating the Damion situation and let her live her life.

It really was a blessed time. Gina shares that Shelia is going thru a major mid-life crisis of her own to which she has my pity and a small prayer for mercy when she'll crash and hopefully not burn. Pretty sad when the Devil Child is now ahead of Mother Medusa.

But a good time was had and much healing. I feel I have a daughter back after all. Perhaps I'll be the only father who cares even just a bit and I feel satisfied with the providence of God.