159
Constantine and Geraldine laughed together as Mr. Smiley took the first sip of his coffee, which was more delicious than ever. Love was Constantine‘s most important ingredient, in every part of the breakfast, the main dish, the toast and the coffee, and that was more than evident.
“Constantine did this just because he wanted to do something nice for you, because although he‘s only known you for a few hours, he already loves you dearly, like a father,” explained Geraldine and then looked back at Constantine, smiling. She and Constantine stood on each side of Mr. Smiley. “Marlon did it because he‘s your tutor, your guardian; he‘s in charge of you, get it? That‘s what he‘s supposed to do. Being someone‘s tutor or caregiver is not just making important decisions for that person. The tutor is responsible for everything pertaining to the person he or she is taking care of. You ought to know that. You were the tutor of Uncle Ross, may he rest in peace.”
“Yes, but…”
“…But nothing! You‘re not paying Marlon back, and that‘s final. He doesn‘t want you to. He does this because it‘s his responsibility, because it‘s what a good caregiver does, and because he loves you.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek. “While I‘m here, Constantine, can I get some breakfast, too?”
“Sure. What do you want me to make you, Geraldine?”
“I just want cereal,” she said as she walked to the pantry and got her favorite cereal. Constantine got one of the ten gallons of milk from the refrigerator and Geraldine got a cereal bowl from the kitchen sink. In a matter of minutes, Geraldine‘s cereal was served.
“Would you like some toast and orange juice with that?” Constantine asked, smiling. “Now, isn‘t he sweet, Geri?” commented Mr. Smiley, taking a bite of his toast. “Yes, Uncle Elvis, he is. Thank you so much, Constantine.”
In a matter of minutes, Constantine served Geri‘s toast, orange juice and milk for her and made some oatmeal for himself. Then, they all sat down for breakfast and continued talking.
“I never answered your question, Constantine,” Geri said.
Mr. Smiley stopped eating for a few minutes, wondering what they were talking about.
“That‘s correct, you never did,” he said, smiling.
“I can‘t wait to be Mrs. Marlon Smiley, but I don‘t think he wants to get married right
now.”
“That‘s why I asked you this question because I know that‘s what he wants.” “Are you for real?”
“Yes. You can get married and then a few months from now, you can have your big wedding.”
Geri was stunned. She just smiled. She didn‘t know what to say.
“I‘ll be the happiest man in the world if you marry my nephew because you‘re the woman he loves, and I love you, too. There‘s no better woman for Marlon.”
Two hours later, Constantine and Geri were gone, and Mr. Smiley was getting ready to start working on his computer. He received disability checks that added up to three thousand dollars, and in addition to that, he had a half-time job as a customer-support representative for the computer company that Marlon worked for, and that generated him an additional three thousand dollars every month. With that kind of money, Mr. Smiley could afford to get everything he wanted. He had satellite-TV service, home phone service, internet access of course, a nice and modern desktop computer that met all his needs, and money to buy all the food and clothes he wanted. Marlon would take him shopping for clothes every second Friday of