* Wednesday, July, 18th*

"Me tho esited." Tim giggles as he helps load the van. "It my birdday."

"Well, not exactly, Sweetheart." Olena giggles as she rearranges everything inside the van. "Tomorrow is your birthday."

"Tomowwow? Den why we weabin today?" Tim asks with a confused look.

"Would you want to spend your birthday stuck in a van for several hours, then having to set up the tents, and gather firewood? Tomorrow, we'll be able to have fun fishing, going boat riding, swimming and hiking."

But little did Tim and the other boys know, their tents were already being set up.

"Oh. Otay." Tim nods. "How old will me be?"

"You'll be thirty-seven." Jenika answers as she hands Olena several fishing poles.

"Tuwd se...seben?" Tim asks.

The boys all begin to laugh hysterically. Tim looks around at them with a slight smile, wondering what they found so funny.

"Timmy said turd." Austin says through his laughter.

"Jen thaid tuwd." Tim says as his smile is replaced with a confused look.

"No, Jen didn't." Jenika chuckles, shaking her head. "Jen said thirty."

"Tuwdy?" Tim tries again.

"Close enough." Chris laughs. "You boys ready to get on the road?"

"Why do we want to get on da woad? Dat could be danguous." Avi says.

"A caw could hit us." Chance nods. "And den we be dead."

"No, I didn't mean.... never mind." Chris chuckles, shaking his head. "Just get in the van."

The boys get in their assigned seats and the nurses buckle them all in. Satchmo hops up into the van and lays down on the floor at Tim's feet.

"You guys ready?" Chris asks as he starts the van.

"YEAH!!!!!" The boys shout and clap with excitement.

"Uh, you did pack the Tylenol, right?" Chris asks as he looks over at Olena.

"Yep, a very big bottle." She giggles.

After an hour on the road, the boys had quietened down. Some had dozed off while the others stare out the window at the scenery.

Unknowing to the boys, their parents along with Rob, Kelsey and Tristin were already at the campground setting up their tents.

"Cwis? How much wonger. I need to pee pee." Adam whines from the back seat.

"We're almost there, Bro. Didn't you use the bathroom before we left?" Chris asks as he glances up at his little brother in the review mirror.

"No, I didn't hab to." Adam answers.

"We're here. I just need to find somewhere to park.

"Why awe dare tho many caws?" Tim asks with a little disappointment in his voice. Not only does he see a bunch of cars but also a bunch of tents. He wanted to be able to have fun without a bunch of strangers around. He suddenly sees something that brings a smile to his face. "Wait. Ith dat my mommy's caw?"

"Yes, it is." Jenika smiles as she sees the excitement growing on his face.

"MY MOMMY HEA!!" Tim shouts bringing a smile to Austin's face. He had grown to love Dena like a mom.

"Dat's my mommy's caw wight dare." Avi says as he points. "YAY!!!!"

"All your mommies are here. And so is Rob, Kelsey and Tristin." Olena smiles.

"Sissy is hea?" Adam asks as he stretches his neck to see.

"Yep." Chris grins.

As they park the van, Olena opens the sliding door to let the boys out. They all begin to scramble out of the van.

"Okay, slow down, guys, before someone gets hurt." Jenika warns.

As Tim starts to get out of the van, Satchmo decides to exit at the same time. Causing Tim to trip.

"OWWW!!" Tim yells as he falls on his hands and knees on the gravel.

"Sweetheart!!" Dena gasps as she rushes over to her son.

"Hey, Timmy, Buddy, you okay?" Chris asks as he hurries over to help him up.

"I ..I ..I ..I alwight." Tim says softly as Chris helps him up. He wipes the gravel off his hands as he bats back the tears.

"Are you sure? You hit the ground pretty hard." Chris says as he checks Tim's hands for any injuries.

Tim nods but pouts as he reaches down and rubs his knee.

"I don't see any injuries to his knees." Dena says as she clears the dust and gravel.

"Thee? Me told you, I alwight." Tim says with a nod as his mom pulls him into a hug. "It my birdday, Mommy."

"Almost." Dena grins as she rubs his cheek.

"TIMMY!! WOOK AT DA WAKE!!" Chance yells with excitement as he points.

"You boys go have some fun but stay so we can see you." Chris says. "And stay out of the water."

"But I taught we were going thwimmin?" Adam asks.

"We'll do all the fun stuff tomorrow, alright?" Chris as his tugs his little brother's ponytail. "Cause we need to be with you guys and right now we have to get all our stuff unloaded."

"Otay." He nods before running to catch up with the others.

Chris, his dad and Rob went searching for firewood. Jenika, Olena and Tristin laughed and talked as they blew up the innertubes with bicycle pumps. Dena, Cindy, Kelsey, Kristie and Shelley prepared the food for the grill.

Not only was this camping trip planned for Tim's birthday but also a mini vacation for the nurses and the parents. So they planned to stay the whole weekend.

Swimming, tubing, fishing, hiking, and boating had all been planned while they were there.

Through the years, the parents had all gotten to know each other and had become close friends. Even staying in touch when there wasn't a special occasion like this one.

After a hearty meal of cheeseburgers, hot dogs and chips, Chris and Rob got the campfire blazing. Jenika brought out the ingredients for making S'mores. The parents enjoyed themselves as much as the boys did making the treats.

Finally, they were able to relax. The adults sat around in lawn chairs drinking beer, tea or soft drinks as they chatted. The boys sat on the ground as they watch the flickering flames of the campfire.

"Wub ith a buwning ting" Tim begins to sing softly, hugging Satchmo, as he stares at the fire, hypnotized by it's flames.

"And it make a fiewy wing" Avi joins as he looks around at the others and smiles.

"Bound by wild desia. I pell in to a wing of pire" Austin joins in with a smile.

(The adults join in and they all begin to sing.)

"I fell in to a burning ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames went higher

And it burns, burns, burns
The ring of fire
The ring of fire"  

Tim looks around and smiles at everyone singing. He had never had a birthday party before. It would only be him and his mom since he had no friends. She would bake him a cake and would try to buy him a small gift if the money was available.

He was sad when he first came to the house that he now calls home. He couldn't understand why his mommy was giving him away. But now he understands that she wasn't giving him away. She brought him there because she loved him so much and only wanted the best for him.

He loved Chris, Olena and Jenika for welcoming him with open arms. They held him when he cried and took care of him when he was sick.

Then there was Chance, Austin, Avi and Adam. His best friends. He could not put into words just how much they meant to him.

Mrs. Kaplan, The Rupps, Mrs. Ray, Tristin, and The Lundquists all treated him like family.

He has never felt more loved.

This was the best birdday EVER!!!!

*~* THE END *~*

******

Thank you ALL for reading Innocent Minds!!

A very special THANK YOU to "Innocent Minds" biggest fan, BjOaks, for ALL of your thousands of comments during this story. LOL!! And for your continued support. 

Please, don't forget to VOTE & COMMENT!!