Published: 18 Aug 2022

From Previous Chapter:

Mr. Ken told Levi that if he heard what his son said, then he knew he needed to make an effort to establish what he has with his ‘boys’. He told his guest there was no magic to what he does. That all Levi needed to do was just talk to Mark and let the conversation take them where they wanted it to.

Mr. Ken wished the man a good night’s sleep and told him that breakfast was by nine and to strip his bed before he came down, or to ask Mark to do it for him. Mr. Ken then walked out of the room and went down to his own private retreat to go to bed.

It was another hot and humid central Texas morning when Ken Thomas went out to get his morning newspaper. He was so happy he worked inside.

Momma Maria had Mr. Ken’s morning coffee ready for him when he sat down to read his paper. The man thanked the woman for the cup with a lifting of it as a toast to her and then the man proceeded to split the paper into the sections as he usually did.

The boys began to filter into the Kitchen Nook and eventually all of the boys were there except Mark and his dad. Then, a few moments later, the two of them came into the Nook. Mark explained he helped his dad strip his bed. Mark then took care of Chief’s needs.

Levi watched as his son cleaned the two bowls and then added fresh kibble to the one bowl and fresh water and ice to the second one. The resident pet barked a few happy “Woofs” at the boy who went to Chief and scratched behind her ears, then washed his hands and sat down.

Levi asked his son why he did that. Mark told his dad that as the last Cover to arrive, he was responsible for Chief. He had to make sure she had fresh food and water every day, and she even slept in his room. He was also supposed to play with her during the day. Mark said he loved having to take care of Chief, as he always wanted a dog.

With seven boys and two adults at the breakfast table that Friday morning, Momma had her work cut out for her. She had scrambled eggs, crisp bacon and sausage, hash browns and toast for them to eat. There was also coffee for the adults and a choice of milk or orange juice for the boys.

“Dad … whatever happened to buying the barge?” asked Charles.

“Oh, yea … well, the barge … it was a great idea, son. But … well, time just got away from me and now with the trip next week and our family trip after that and school coming up, I just don’t think it is a good investment for this year. But I want you to remind me right about Easter time. OK? Will that work for you, son?” honestly answered the teen’s dad.

“Yeah, I understand. And we’d probably have to have someone over eighteen to drive it and that would keep us from using it all the time anyway,” bemoaned Charles.

“Dad … what about the ramps?” asked Robert. “We have the fun box almost apart and what should we do next? The guys want to know, so they could work on them while I’m gone next week.”

“Good question, son. I’ll try to remember to call Owen or Nathan tonight to ask them. Please remind me when we have our meeting in the Study, later,” responded the teen’s dad.

Just then Mr. Ken’s cell phone rang. It was the Main Gate guard telling him the medical technician was there to change Mr. Golderson’s dressing. The man told the guard to let him in and that they’d meet him at the Foyer door.

As Mr. Ken got up from his chair, he reminded the boys to get with Momma about the foods they needed for the sleepover tonight and that Mr. Wayne needed boys to go with him later to get the sodas. Then he and Levi headed to the Foyer.

Mr. Ken met the medical technician for the first time. His name was Harper Young. He was a college student who spent four years as an Army Combat Medic and was working to help pay for his education above and beyond what his Montgomery GI Bill benefits and other financial aid he could receive through the VA.

Mr. Ken was impressed with the man’s desire to advance himself. Harper then asked if he and Mr. Golderson could head up to the bedroom as he did have other patients he needed to get to. Mr. Ken told the two men to go ahead, and the three went in their intended directions.

Mr. Wayne and Mr. Chris caught up with their employer. The Estate Manager told their boss he had seven resumes and the day wasn’t over yet. Mr. Ken asked the two men if they had reviewed them yet. Mr. Chris said he didn’t want to do that until Monday, when he had all of them, as some could arrive late Friday night, as he didn’t specify a timeframe in the ad.

Mr. Wayne said that with the sleepover tonight he’d be quite busy anyway and Monday would be a better time for him to do that. Chris seconded that and Mr. Ken said OK.

Mr. Ken then asked Chris if he had the best hotel accommodations for him and the boys down in Bandera. Mr. Chris told him he had a penthouse suite with three bedrooms and bathrooms for three nights, and it was on reserve for five nights for the following week.

Mr. Ken asked about the amusement park trip. Mr. Chris said the air charter company only needed one day’s notice and they could fit his family into their schedule. The Estate Manager said he had open reservations for three rooms at the hotels they stayed at the last time.

Mr. Ken told Chris that he asked Levi to go along with them as the third adult. He added he wasn’t sure if he could go because of his dressing changes, but by the time they do go, he would be three weeks out, with healing, and might not need that close of care. He said time will tell.

Levi and Harper stopped by the Study. Harper said he’d see them about seven o’clock tonight, then headed out the Foyer door. Mr. Ken followed the man out and asked him how long he thought Levi would need his services. The medical technician said that was totally up to his doctor, then he left.

The boys got ready for their day and went immediately to Momma Maria to discuss the menu for tonight. There weren’t going to be any changes, but Momma went through their list anyway to make sure. They agreed to get as much premade pancake batter, syrup and bacon as they had the last time. Momma asked them if they wanted to try some sausage, as well, to see how their friends like it.

The boys discussed it some, and Billy said that they should try something different to mix things up. They also made sure they had enough syrup for the pancakes. Kevin asked how hard it was to cook scrambled eggs. Momma told the older twin that if you weren’t used to cooking eggs you would probably burn them. Kevin was disappointed again at not having eggs.

Momma Maria also told the older twin that when you cooked scrambled eggs, for that many people, you wanted them there when they came off the grill, otherwise they would get over cooked, or they would get cold and go to waste. Kevin said that was good to know and asked if she would teach them how to do that some time. Momma smiled and let it go at that.

Mark was listening to what his ‘brothers’ had to go through to put on the sleepover. He just stayed back and listened to his ‘brothers’ and Momma Maria talking about getting the bolillo, French, Italian and ciabatta rolls for the sub sandwiches for lunch tomorrow. She wanted to make sure they didn’t want to add anything else. Billy said that if they couldn’t decide from those four then they could go hungry. The boys all laughed.

Levi stopped by the Study to talk to Mr. Ken. The owner of The Cove was happy to see him and asked the man if he was interested in taking a ride. Mr. Ken said he needed to check on the progress of the office building, which should be finished in three weeks, if not sooner.

Mr. Ken then mentioned he needed to stop by the apartment complex he was building over at Four Corners. He also told Levi he could show him where he planned to site the Marina, what grounds he had available for a few more kiddie and family rides and a train and where a grocery store promised to build, when they started renting the apartments.

Levi was very interested in seeing all of that. With all that knowledge, he knew he would be better prepared to brief his investors in what they would be getting themselves involved in.

Mr. Ken told Chris where he was going and that Wayne would be off site as well getting the sodas for the sleepover. The owner of The Cove told his Estate Manager to not let the boys take over the estate. Mr. Chris said if they started doing that, he had armed guards to repel the insurrection. All three men had a good laugh.

When all the boys were there, Mr. Wayne said he wanted two strong ones to go with him to get the sodas. When he went to get the truck, Mr. Ken was getting ready to take it with Levi, as Momma was taking the van as she had lots of stuff to get. The men talked and Mr. Ken wound up taking the car he’d gotten for Collin to learn to drive on, a 2000 Ford Taurus SE 4D Sedan.

Mr. Ken rarely used it and wondered why he even kept it, but today he was glad he still had it. The car didn’t turn over right away, so he had to get the jumper cables and use the truck to get it going. As the two men drove out of The Cove, Mr. Ken explained why he had the car and that his first foster boy used it to learn to drive.

While Mr. Wayne, Momma Maria and five boys headed out to buy what was needed for the breakfast and lunch, Kimberly Wrockman arrived with Mark’s friends for the sleepover. Charles had her drive down to the house so the boys wouldn’t have far to carry all of their gear.

Mrs. Wrockman wanted to talk to Mr. Ken, but the teen told her he was out with Mr. Golderson showing him some of his business interests, and he didn’t know when he’d be back. She asked to talk to Mr. Wayne. The teen told the woman that he was out buying the sodas for the weekend and would be back eventually.

Mrs. Wrockman wanted to know who was in charge. Charles pulled out his cell phone and called Mr. Chris and asked him to come out to the Parking Coral. When the Estate Manager arrived, the Cover introduced the two adults and explained what Mr. Chris’ position was at The Cove. He let the two adults talk.

Mark’s friends, on the other hand, had taken their things into the house, through the garage and Kitchen Nook into the MRS Room, where Charles told them to place them for now. They then took their skateboards and skate gear up to the Pavilion and began using the Cove Skate Park.

They wanted to know when they could go swimming. But Matthew told them that with Momma getting the food for the sleepover and Mr. Wayne getting the sodas, everyone needed to be here to help offload everything and store it in the refrigerator and storage closet. The boys said they understood and just went back to skating.

Billy didn’t go with either of the groups, because of his ribs. He did work on his Game Elimination poster boards and was trying to get all four done by tomorrow.

It was close to two o’clock when Momma Maria returned with all of the pancake batter, syrup, extra napkins, plates, tableware and the meats and cheeses along with the tomatoes, lettuce, onions and the four different types of rolls.

Robert yelled for everyone to come over to the van and to help take everything into the storage room and he’d put it all up. Luckily Mr. Ken had bought a double refrigerator for the storage room, because of all the cold related items they bought.

Not long after that, Mr. Wayne came to the Pavilion with the back end of the F-150 full of cases of soda, with some inside the backseat area, as well. The boys formed a line and passed the cases of soda to one another and the bigger boys stacked them in the storage room. Mark and his friends were able to help with both endeavors.

The question now was whether or not the boys would go swimming or cook burgers and dogs. They would have pizza about six and it was about three now, so they had to decide if their stomachs could hold out that long. Burgers and dogs won out, but Billy told them not to eat too much as they would have loads of pizza later.

Mark and his friends wanted to help, but Billy told them they could help set out the plates, napkins and tableware and make sure there were enough cups at the ice dispenser. They wanted to help cut the tomatoes and onions, but, again, Billy told them they were too young for that.

The boys did have something to eat and after they cleaned up, they went swimming and the water toys got a work out again. Some of the boys got to use the towing tube out on the lake. Mark asked Charles about going out sailing again, but the teen said it was too late in the day, but that maybe they could do it tomorrow.

Mark asked if he could take his friends out, too. Charles said that maybe the other boys who knew how to sail could do that, and they should wait until tomorrow to see what the weather was like to see if it would be okay to sail.

Levi was impressed with the eight-story office building Ken Thomas was building. He was even more astonished with the four-bedroom penthouse the man had built on the top that he would probably not get to use now that he had seven boys, including his own son.

Levi learned that his host was going to consolidate all of his endeavors over to the office building, and he was even going to work out of the building, instead of his home office in the Study, when everything was in place.

The two men did talk some about what Levi had planned to present to him, how his group of investors could join forces with him on the marina project, and if that worked out then they could continue and work together on future endeavors.

Mr. Ken told the man he was interested in hearing more, but again told Levi how busy he was until he returned from the trip to his amusement parks with the boys. He did tell his guest that his lawyer would need to review any proposed joint venture documents, and if he had any of those available, he could start the process, then they could all sit down later.

Levi said he’d just begun putting that together when he was so rudely interrupted by some men coming to his home. Both men kind of chuckled at that. But Levi said he could make some phone calls next week to the men in the investment group he put together, to tell them they may have a deal and they needed to start putting it together. Mr. Ken said he would like to meet with them towards the end of August after the boys were back in school, and he was moved into the office building and settled.

Mark and his five friends were having fun using the cove water toys and riding the towing tube. Since Mark’s friends were there once before, getting to know the other youngsters didn’t have to happen, so they all got along much better this time around.

The water toy the boys had the most fun on was RockIt. They particularly liked it when the older, heavier boys were on three of the four arms and when they rocked the toy and the younger, much lighter boy let go, they got flung high up into the air. The boys were having a blast.

A few of the older boys also took the WaveRunners out on the lake. Mark asked if they could ride on the back, but they were told the drivers had to be eighteen and none of them were. Mark was again disappointed.

But as time moved along, Billy searched out Mr. Wayne to call in the pizza order. He told the man there were fifty-one boys, three adults and five lifeguards for dinner, so the Estate Master asked the teen how many pizzas he thought they should order. Billy told Mr. Wayne they ordered 32 pizzas the last time, and there were forty-six boys, two adults and five lifeguards.

Mr. Wayne asked Billy if he knew if there was any pizza left over the last time. Billy said there wasn’t and this time there were six more mouths to feed. Mr. Wayne said they would order three more pizzas and they ordered 6-Cheese, 6-Pepperoni, 6-Combination, 5-Ham and Pineapple, 5-Susage and Pepperoni, 3-Pepperni and Pineapple, 2-Mushroom and Sausage and 2-Pepperoni and Green Pepper.

While Mr. Wayne ordered the pizzas for delivery, Billy went to the cove to tell everyone to get dried off and up to the Pavilion as before they knew it, the pizza would be there. He also told his friends he needed them to put the heating plates on the grill so people could heat their piece of pizza if they wanted, and they would need them for the pancakes in the morning, anyway.

Mark and his friends changed in the Women’s Locker Room with the other younger boys. They weren’t as embarrassed as they were last weekend when they had to change in the Men’s Locker Room with all the boys of all ages.

Mark and his friends threw their swimsuits and towels into the industrial dryer with the rest of the boys’ things and they all headed up to the Pavilion. Once there, most of the boys got out their skateboards and began skating while they waited for the pizzas to arrive. Others played some of the games.

Mr. Ken and Levi went up to the Pavilion to watch the boys skate. Levi watched the boys play the four large games that were there and he asked his host about them. Mr. Ken told him how Kyle asked him to buy them, so they had something to do when they got bored or it rained. The man then explained that he challenged the boys to find the champion amongst themselves by Labor Day when he would hold another picnic like he did last year.

As Levi watched the boys play, one of the boys challenged him to Toppling Timbers. Mr. Golderson said he was game, but he wouldn’t be much of an opponent as he had age and experience on his side. The boy looked at the man, not knowing why he’d say something like that. Mr. Ken whispered in his ear that Levi was trying to psych him out. The boy smiled back.

As the man and boy played the game, a few of the other boys stopped by and watched. Of course, the winner was the one who didn’t make the tower fall. A few times each player made the tower wiggle some, but it never fell.

Mark heard his dad was playing a game, so he went over to watch, too. The more ‘timbers’ were taken out of the tower, the closer it came to tumbling over. One time the tower actually twisted some as a timber was taken out, but miraculously the tower didn’t fall.

The question everyone was asking themselves was who would pull the wooden timber that would ultimately make all of the timbers fall. The loser had to pick them all up and stack them for the next game.

When it was Mr. Golderson’s turn, he had his timber just about out when he didn’t pull it straight out, and he nudged a slightly off kilter timber. That slight mistake made it touch another one that caused the whole tower to come crumbling down. The boys cheered and Mr. Golderson laughed that he lost. It was then he learned he had to pick the timbers up and stack them.

Mr. Ken was going to ask one of the other boys to do that for his guest, but Charles went to him and told him that was the Rule and when you play and lose that was your penalty. Mr. Ken looked around and saw that Levi was having some difficulty doing it, but his opponent was helping and the two were talking, so he let it go.

The pizzas finally got there and the boys all cheered when the man drove his vehicle over to the Pavilion. The boys helped unload the pizza boxes and place them on the serving counter. Mr. Wayne gave the man a fifty-dollar tip and thanked him for bringing them over to the pavilion. The man said he brought them the last two times, smiled, then drove off.

The adults went over, got a plate and some napkins, then looked into the pizza boxes to see which slice of pizza they wanted. Levi asked why there were some slices on the grill plates. Mr. Wayne explained that with as many pizzas as they ordered they all don’t come very warm, so the kids will put them on the hot plate to warm them some. He also said they could use the microwave oven if they wanted, but the hot plate lets more kids do it at the same time.

Levi was also surprised at the soda vending machine. He said he heard that Mark was the one who recommended it and he’d only just got there. He asked Ken why he decided to implement such a big change so quickly.

Mr. Ken inwardly smiled, and then told Levi that it was something he had originally planned for the Pavilion when he was building it, but it somehow got left off the plans. The owner of The Cove said that when Mark mentioned it and why, he knew it was a no brainer to add. So, he had the Estate Manager research a couple of different models and he presented them to the boys to consider.

As the men ate, Levi asked him why he asked the boys for their input. Mr. Ken told his guest that they were the ones who used it daily and would have to fill it. He added that he always involved his ‘boys’ with decisions around The Cove. Mr. Ken told Levi that he wanted them to know their ideas mattered to him, no matter what their age.

Mr. Ken said that even though their suggestions may not be used, they got to see first-hand how brainstorming and the decision-making process work. He added that young minds look at things without all the clutter adults gather over the years, and are thus more honest and untainted in their thinking.

Levi said he never looked at it that way, but it seemed logical. He then asked Mr. Ken for some instances when he did that. The host said that when they bought the tables and benches, they were using, the lockers, trash cans, water toys, and where they would go for their one-on-one trip, he asked the boys for their input.

Mr. Ken said it doesn’t cost him anything and it gives the boys a feeling of belonging. He reminded Levi that the boys came to him as foster boys, and he needed to make them feel that they mattered, and he also needed to show them he was interested in them, and in what they had to say.

Levi Golderson couldn’t believe that the man would involve the boys in so many decisions. But he had to agree, that as a foster parent, he did what many parents fail to do, and that was communicate with the children and involve them in family life.

It was then, as he was thinking that through, he realized that he probably didn’t do enough of that himself with his own son. He now felt embarrassed that this man of twenty-six was practicing what he should be doing in his own family.

Everyone was having a good time eating pizza, drinking soda, talking and getting to know one another better. The boys got to talking about the home invasion and when the house would be repaired and when Mark would be coming home.

The lifeguards didn’t know that Billy and Mark and Mark’s dad were actually in the house when the three men and Kaden invaded the house. Hearing all that got the lifeguards to start asking questions and Russell was elected to go over to Billy and asked him if what the boys were talking about was true.

As the boys were having fun, Mr. Wayne’s cell phone rang. It was the Main Gate guard telling him that the medical technician was there to see Mr. Golderson. The Estate Master told him to have Harper drive over to the Pavilion.

When the man arrived, Mr. Ken asked him if he was hungry and offered him some pizza and told him to get a drink from the vending machine. By then Levi came over to talk to Mr. Young. Harper asked his client if he wanted to have his dressings changed now or after he ate his pizza. Levi opted for after.

The owner of The Cove told the medical technician to throw his slice of pizza on the hot plate to warm it up. The four men talked and they learned that Levi was Harper’s last appointment for that Saturday night and that after he ate his pizza, he would change the man’s dressings.

Billy pulled the five guards aside, as he didn’t want Mark, or his dad, to hear them talk. The five guards had heard about the home invasion, but they never knew that three of the people who were involved were actually there. They asked the Cover teen if he could tell them more about what happened that night.

The teen gave them a quick rundown of what happened two weeks ago. And when they heard he was beaten by the men, that Mr. Golderson was shot and he killed one of the men and his son was hidden in a Safe Room they were all blown away by hearing something that was never released by the news media.

“Giving them a private briefing, are we?” teased Mr. Ken, as he walked over to the small group.

“Well, ahh, Mr. Ken, ahh, they asked and I, ahh, I … didn’t want to talk about it in front of Mr. Golderson. I … I hope you understand,” quickly replied Billy.

“Yes, Bill, I do understand. And, I do appreciate it that you took them aside to talk to them. And, guards … please don’t go around telling everyone you know … that three of the people who were involved in that home invasion are living here. I don’t need an endless gaggle of news media camped out at my Main Gate wanting to talk to them,” requested their employer.

The boys cleaned up after eating the pizza, as they normally would do after they eat any meal up at the Pavilion. Tonight, there were six pizza slices leftover. Robert tried to find room in the storage room refrigerator, but couldn’t, so he took them down to the Kitchen Nook and put the six slices in Momma’s refrigerator. He told himself they’d eat them sometime tomorrow or Sunday.

Russell, Jordan and Gavin headed down to the indoor pool. Dakota and Annie were again disappointed they didn’t get to stay late. Dakota did ask Mr. Ken why she and Annie never got to stay late and their employer was honest with her.

Mr. Ken told her that with only young males spending the night, he felt more comfortable with the male teen lifeguards watching over them. He said if there ever was a mix of males and females, then he would have her and Annie stay in order to handle any problems that might occur with any of the girls. Dakota thanked him for talking to her.

Some of the boys skated while some went swimming. Mr. Ken did ask Robert if they had picked a movie to show, and at what time they had intended to have him start it. The Cover teen quickly got his ‘brothers’ together and they went to the Theater to choose a movie.

The boys didn’t have much time to choose a movie and with the much younger boys staying over, Robert argued they needed to find a movie that was rated PG or PG-13. As they looked through the latest movies, Kyle came across, Pan.

Kyle read what the jacket had to say. “Peter is a mischievous boy who is whisked off to the magical world of Neverland, where he finds amazing adventures and discovers his destiny to become the hero, Peter Pan.”

The boys discussed who Peter Pan was and what the movie would be all about. It sounded corny to them, but Robert argued that the idea was to have a good movie for them to watch and since it was a new release practically no one had seen it. The teen then reminded his ‘brothers’ that with Mark and his friends being ten and under they shouldn’t be showing gory action films.

Billy agreed with Robert, and Charles said he voted with his older ‘brothers’. Even Matthew said he’d like to see the movie and then asked where Mark was and why he wasn’t there to vote. The six boys looked at one another and blamed each other for not asking their youngest ‘brother’ to be there.

Levi didn’t mind having his dressings changed up at the Pavilion. Most of the boys had gone down to swim and the boys who were up there were out skating. After he finished his job, Harper walked over to the Cove Skate Park to check it out.

“You have an awesome facility here, Mr. Thomas,” offered Harper Young. “I wish I had something even half this good near where I live, so I could stay halfway proficient.”

“You ride?” asked Mr. Wayne.

“I did as a high schooler, and when I was in college, but I took a detour to the U.S. Army and became an Army medic, so I could afford to finish my college degree. I hadn’t chosen my major yet, but I do have my first two years out of the way, and now all I need to do is decide what I want to be when I grow up,” laughed Harper.

Wayne went over to Billy and asked him if Harper could use his skateboard. Billy got it out of his locker and handed it to the medical technician. Harper put it down and pushed off and got the feel of the board, and was soon doing major tricks in the deep bowls.

The boys who were up at the Skate Park saw the man take to the deep bowl and just give them a show they never thought they would see at the Cove’s Skate Park. As the man took to the other obstacles of the Skate Park’s course, they were amazed at how good he was.

“Wayne … I think you’ve met your match,” teased Mr. Ken.

The rest of the Covers couldn’t believe what they were seeing. They openly oo’d and ahh’d as they watched Harper do his tricks out on the Park.

When the man was finished, the boys went over to him and thanked him for putting on a show for them and they only wished he could teach them how to do even some of what he’d done.

Harper laughed and told them that they had to practice and practice and learn to get scrapes and bumps and that by the looks of their gear they shouldn’t have to worry about getting too banged up. He then thanked Billy for the use of the skateboard, and told Levi he’d see him at ten tomorrow morning.

But as Harper was leaving, Levi called out to him and asked him if he could be there at nine. He told the technician that his son has a soccer game at ten, and he would like to be there. The med tech said he’d switch up the nine o’clock patient as they don’t like that time anyway.

Word got out that the guy who changes Mr. Golderson’s wound dressings was an awesome skateboarder and did some amazing tricks up at the Skate Park before he left. The boys who missed the show were disappointed, but hoped Mr. Harper would show them again some time.

The movie that night was Pan. The movie was only 135 minutes long, so Mr. Ken gave the boys the option of watching the movie and then swimming or swimming and then watching the movie. They voted for the first choice.

At nine o’clock, whether the boys were ready or not, Mr. Ken started the movie. He used the large wall under the garage as his movie screen, and he had extra speakers now, so the sound was much better than ever before.

Levi Golderson was impressed that his host would do that for the gaggle of boys he had at his place that evening. He also provided the popcorn and sodas for everyone to enjoy as they watched the show. He saw how the boys had taken their sleeping bags out to the Patio to lay on to watch the movie from, while a few had taken the floats from the pool to give them a softer resting place.

The boys loved the movie. It was the story of an orphan boy who is spirited away to the magical Neverland, where he meets Captain Hook. There he finds both fun and dangers, and ultimately discovers his destiny to become the hero who will be forever known as Peter Pan.

When the movie was over, the boys straightened up the Patio, placed their sleeping bags inside where they would sleep that night, then headed into the indoor pool area to swim. They had about ninety minutes to enjoy the water until it was time to go up to the Kitchen Nook for their midnight snack.

Levi couldn’t believe how well behaved the boys were. He’d seen them there during the day, but there were over fifty boys there that night, and even though they were loud at times, they were polite and respected where they were.

The man saw how they cleaned up after themselves and made sure everyone helped. Then, when it came time for their midnight snack, the boys got out the paper plates, napkins and tableware and made sure the adults had first choice of the available snacks, before they all took their favorite. The man knew when Mark came home, there would probably be a big change in his son from the influences the boy was being exposed to there at The Cove.

When they finished straightening up in the Kitchen Nook, the boys went to their usual sleeping places. Mark and his friends joined Billy and his friends up in the MRS Room. The younger boys talked to the older teens until they all nodded off and fell asleep.

The saga of Three Finger Cove continues. Let Chowhound know you are reading his story: Chowhound at CastleRoland dot Net

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