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Vanna Trent came running out of the bedroom after talking with her mom – “Dad, is it true?  You and Mom and the gramps are planning to get remarried soon?”

All the rest of the Trents came into the living room on hearing that – 21-year-old Melvin forgot he was grown and came running like 11-year-old Velma, 9-year-old Milton, and 8-year-old Gracie.

“Yes,” Sgt. Trent said, and then just let the whole stampede plow into him after setting his feet.  “Your mother and I have some counseling to go, but we are close, and your Stepforth grandparents are as well.  We have all just decided that things are not going to be perfect, so we will just stay in counseling and work out the issues – we are recommitted and we know we can make progress, so there is no real obstacle left but timing and space, because of the pandemic.”

Milton came up with a solution.

“Why don't you just use the cul-de-sac?  It's just us and the Ludlows out here, and there's nobody else around for at least 60 feet!”

“That's a good thought, Milton.  Your mother and I have discussed it.  It poses certain challenges.”

“Well, I think this way: you are a decorated veteran, and a Black man in America,” Melvin said.  “It would be a glorious opportunity for the Veteran's Lodge to show its support for men like you, at a time like this.”

“Ah, my son the power broker,” Sgt. Trent said with a smile.  “I would hate to meet you on the battlefield, because no matter how many more troops I had to work with, you would be looking square at the one thing that was my vulnerability on the ground.  You have a good point.  

“However, son, just because we can twist arms doesn't mean it is always the best choice of action.  Remember that we have to live here, and the Veteran's Lodge serves a vulnerable population of senior and disabled veterans.  They are our neighbors, no matter their political and racial views.  Why would good neighbors put stress on other neighbors by bringing a whole bunch of other people to the Lodge at a time like this?”

“Right, right,” Melvin said.  “We have the power to do good and evil, and the responsibility to always choose to do good – right, right.  We're good neighbors, and we don't do that to our neighbors.” 

“But if we don't do it here, how do the Ludlows get to come?” Gracie said.

Sgt. Trent knew in the back of his mind that he was not quite so close to the Ludlow grandparents that he wanted them there … but the Ludlow grandchildren and his children were close, and so, of course Gracie was asking, and so … that sweet little baby girl and those big, loving, trusting brown eyes … .

“We'll just invite them, Gracie.  Don't even worry about it.”

Gracie Trent took every glorious opportunity life presented to her to expand access to good things to all people and animals in her vicinity – and, as usual, she got her way!