Published: 15 Dec 2022
From Previous Chapter:
In Robert’s room, the teen told his dad that he and Eric would start cutting the field and doing the trimming tomorrow and he would watch the field and would do any touch up during the coming week if need be. The teen’s dad thanked him for thinking that far in advance and the two hugged and the man moved on.
When ‘dad’ Ken had finished talking to all the boys, he headed to his own private retreat to relax before going to bed. He spent some time thinking about the past week and what was in store for the coming week and he knew his plate was overflowing.
Mr. Ken finally relaxed enough that in the end he fell asleep. The Cove was quiet that entire night.
Saturday morning everyone slept in. After getting up at o’dark thirty for five days they all enjoyed staying in bed. ‘Dad’ Ken though did get himself out of bed by 8:15 so he could get his morning newspaper and meet up with Momma in the Kitchen Nook.
Everyone knew that Momma Maria would be there to fix breakfast and had to be downstairs by nine o’clock, so as Mr. Ken was drinking his first cup of hot coffee, the rest of the household was actually waking up.
The boys began filtering downstairs and into the Kitchen Nook well before 9 a.m. and the Goldersons weren’t too far behind. Momma Maria had everyone sit in the Dining Room so they could spread out more and not be so crowded at the Nook’s table, although Miriam enjoyed looking out onto the lake from there.
Momma fixed a very special breakfast for the Goldersons that Saturday knowing that would be the last weekend she would be making breakfast for them, as Mr. Ken told her they would eat her breakfast tacos next Saturday and go out for breakfast on Sunday.
That morning, Momma made them and the ‘family’ her Cheesy Mexican Breakfast Casserole that had browned ground beef, onions, chili powder, cumin, tomatoes and jalapenos and cheese. The casserole dish bottom was lined with tortillas, refried beans and the cheese and then topped with the rest of the mixed ingredients more cheese and then topped off with Bisquick mix, crushed tortillas chips and more cheese.
Momma also made them her Creamy Bacon and Egg Breakfast Enchiladas. This was her classic bacon and egg scramble with a big twist by rolling it up in tortillas and covering them with a green chile sour cream enchilada sauce.
Momma wanted the Goldersons to have a wonderful farewell breakfast that morning. Of course, there was plenty of hot coffee for the adults and orange juice and milk for the boys. For dessert she served them Churro muffins, which were fluted fried pastry dough covered in cinnamon sugar.
Miriam was beside herself upon seeing and smelling the casseroles on the table and then as she tasted them, she couldn’t believe the delightful flavors in her mouth. She knew when she moved back to her own home, she would definitely miss all those wonderful aromas waffling through the Kitchen Nook, and the personal service Momma gave them every day, at every meal.
Mark was also enjoying that fabulous breakfast that Momma had presented that morning. His ‘brothers’ had tasted those meals once or twice before, but not at the same time, and they told him this was a very special occasion. Mark just sat there and ate some of both casseroles and, as he did, he took in those wonderful flavors and enjoyed the tastes of them both.
The Dining Room was relatively quiet as the Covers and their guests ate their breakfast. Billy and Robert told their ‘brothers’ about the football game and they again thanked ‘dad’ Ken for letting them go. The teen’s told everyone that they hoped they got to go to the next home game as well, as it was fun to do something school related with their friends, and away from The Cove.
Unfortunately, that ‘family’ time was interrupted by the Foyer doorbell being rung. Levi looked at the time and then commented that it had to be Harper, so he and Miriam excused themselves and went to greet the med tech so he could change their dressings.
Mark knew it was getting late, with the arrival of Mr. Harper and he needed to change into his soccer uniform, so he excused himself from the table and he went up to his room. Mr. Ken saw the day was beginning to get busy, so he thanked Momma for fixing such a great breakfast for everyone, then he left the table and went and got ready for his day.
The Cover boys helped Momma clear the Dining Room table, then they all hugged her for fixing a great breakfast for them and then they too went upstairs to get ready for their day.
It didn’t take long for the med tech, Harper Young, to change the Goldersons’ dressings that morning, since all they were doing now was just protecting the wound site. He had to continue to do that until their doctors told him they were no longer needed and he knew that would be soon.
With the dressings changed, Levi and Miriam called for Mark and the three of them drove over to the soccer field for Mark’s soccer game.
Before Harper left that morning, Mr. Ken stopped him and told him about the Labor Day Picnic next Saturday and asked him to stop by when he had his rounds done. Mr. Ken told the med tech to come casual and bring his skateboard, swimsuit and a towel and enjoy the good food and friendship and have some fun. Harper said he’d think about it.
When Mr. Ken saw Billy coming down the stairs, he asked him if he was planning to take the power washer up to the Pavilion. The teen said he and Robert were going to do that and then his ‘brother’ was going to start cutting the field and Eric would join him when Ms. Judy brought him over.
Mr. Ken told Bill not to forget that his friend Gus would be there at about eleven and he needed to meet him at the Main Gate. The man added he wanted to meet his host parents then too, so he would try to be up there as well and if he wasn’t, he needed to call him to remind him. Billy said he would.
After helping Billy take the power washer up to the Pavilion, Robert got started on cutting the field. The teen got the zero-turn mower out and began cutting at the top of the field and worked away from the Cove Skate Park and Pavilion so the noise wouldn’t disturb the boys as they skated.
When Charles arrived up at the Pavilion, he and Billy got the power washer setup and they began washing the benches and tables starting from the front of the Pavilion. They decided to begin there so they would be dry by the time they ‘burned’ the burgers and dogs later in the afternoon.
At the soccer fields, Mark’s coach told his team that their opponent had heard about their win last weekend against the league’s first-place team and was out to take them down. He told them they needed to play their game and take it to them as they did last week and not let the other team determine the pace of the game.
Mark’s team faltered at the start. The other team was as quick as they were and they weren’t expecting that. Their only saving grace was their goal keeper. She was quick from all the practice she had against the older, bigger boys at The Cove and she kept the score 0 – 0, by the end of the first half.
Their coach talked to his players and reminded them that they knew how to play against the older, bigger boys at The Cove and they should look at their opponent as being them and take the game to them. The players talked amongst themselves and they agreed that they could do that and when they went out for the second-half they were ready.
Mark’s team got to start the second period with the kickoff and as soon as they did, they scored, totally surprising their opponent. The other team became frazzled from that quick score and that score changed Mark’s team’s playing attitude and, from then on, they took control of the game. From that point on it was no contest. Mark’s team won the game 3 – 0.
Before the Goldersons left the soccer field, Levi and Miriam talked to Mark’s coach. They told the man that that game was Mark’s last. They explained their son, after the Labor Day weekend, would be leaving The Cove and moving with them back to where they lived before their home was invaded. They thanked him for helping Mark gain the confidence in himself and be a good soccer player.
The coach asked if they knew if the team would still be able to practice at The Cove. Levi told the man that he needed to talk to Mr. Thomas on Monday. They all shook hands and then went their separate ways.
At eleven o’clock, Billy was at the Main Gate waiting for his friend Gustaff (Gus) Dodenhoffer and his host family to arrive at The Cove. Mr. Ken wasn’t up there yet, so the foster teen called to remind him that his friend should soon be there.
Mr. Ken and Mr. Wayne came up to the Main Gate to wait for Gus to arrive, and while the three Covers waited, Mr. Dennis arrived for work. The new hire was going to head over to the Pavilion, but Mr. Ken asked him to stay there and meet Bill’s new friend and his student exchange host family, then start meeting the parents of the boys’ friends so they knew who he was.
As the Cover’s waited, other parents, as they dropped off their sons, saw Mr. Ken standing there with someone new and they stopped to meet the person they figured was the new man he hired to work with Mr. Wayne. A small traffic jam was beginning to occur and Mr. Ken couldn’t wait to get those twelve-parking spaces built.
Finally, Billy saw a car drive up and noticed Gus was in it. The teen went out to greet his new friend as the teen got out of the vehicle and then took him over and introduced him to his foster dad. The host parents and their kids also got out of the vehicle and followed the teens over to the Main Gate where Mr. Ken and the other two men were standing.
“Mr. Ken, this is my new friend, Gus, Gustaf Dodenhoffer. He’s an exchange student from Germany. Gus, this is my foster dad, Ken Thomas,” announced Billy.
The two shook hands and then Mr. Ken said, “Willkommen in Three Finger Cove, Gus, jetzt bekannt als The Cove.” (“Welcome to Three Finger Cove, Gus, now known as The Cove.”)
A surprised Gus replied, “Du sprichst Deutsch?” (“You speak German.)”
A smiling Mr. Ken said, “Ja, ich do. Es ist schon lange her, dass ich mit irgendjemandem Deutsch gesprochen habe, also könnte ich ein bisschen verrostet sein. Vielleicht können wir uns später unterhalten und ich kann üben. (“Yes, I do. It has been a long time since I spoke German to anyone, so I might be a bit rusty. Maybe we can talk some later and I can practice.)”
“Ja, das würde mir gefallen,” replied a now smiling Gus. (“Yes, I would like that.”)
While the two spoke to one another in German, the others were standing there wondering what was happening, since they didn’t have a clue as to what was being said. Mr. Ken saw the looks on their faces and then he apologized to them for speaking German to his guest, but qualified himself by saying he wanted his guest to feel ‘at home’ at The Cove.
Gus then introduced his host family to Mr. Ken and his friend.
“Mr. Thomas, I want you to meet my student exchange host family. This is Mr. Phillip Meyers, his wife Margaret and their son Isaiah, who is a freshman at Alvin York, and their daughter Isabel who is in seventh grade,” offered Gus.
The men shook hands and Mr. Ken introduced Mr. Wayne and Mr. Dennis and explained their positions there at The Cove. He then invited them all inside to show them around. Upon seeing the Cove Skate Park, Isaiah said he wished he had brought his skateboard. Isabel said she didn’t know there would be all those cute looking boys there and hoped she could come back some day.
Margaret Meyers apologized for her children’s abruptness. Mr. Ken told the woman that he was hosting a Labor Day Picnic next Saturday and that they were all invited to attend and all they needed to do was bring lawn chairs for each of them, swimsuits, towels, and skateboards. Isaiah smiled at hearing that and asked his dad if they could come to the picnic. All the boy’s dad said was that he would talk to his mother.
Mr. Ken then spoke up and told Isaiah that his son Robert was also a freshman at Alvin York High School. The teen was taken by surprise at the announcement, and Mr. Ken saw it in his face.
“Isaiah,” spoke up Mr. Ken, to get the teen’s attention, “I see that you are wondering how I can be so young … and have a freshman son. You see my son, Robert … I adopted him last October and he is indeed a freshman at Alvin York. You see that person out on the lawn mower right now. That’s him cutting the lawn. Maybe I can introduce him to you before you leave. Don’t let me forget. OK?”
Mr. Ken showed the Meyers around the Cove Skate Park and the Pavilion and explained why the boys were power washing and then drove them down to the bottom of the driveway so they could walk over to the dock. From there Mr. Ken pointed out the beach, the cove, the water toys, the Commander, the personal watercraft and the sailboats.
The boy and the girl asked if they came to the picnic if they would be allowed to use them. The owner of The Cove said they had to be at least thirteen and have passed the Texas Boater Safety Course to drive the personal watercraft and know how to sail if they wanted to take the sailboats out on the lake. Both kids said they didn’t have the course nor knew how to sail.
Margaret saw all the lifeguards and asked Mr. Ken about them. It was Isabel who then asked if that was where Rene Vaughn did her story from about the lifeguards. Mr. Ken laughed and said it was. The man then explained why he has them and that they would be there whenever his boys and their friends are swimming in the cove or his indoor swimming pool.
Mr. Meyers told Mr. Ken he knew who he was and about his many building projects in the area and asked him if he had ever thought about building single family homes. Mr. Ken knew about Phillip Meyers, from Jules Diamond, but he had to play it cool, so he asked him why he asked.
Phillip Meyers told him about his home construction company and told Mr. Ken that he would love to partner with him if he ever decided to build on that land he bought out at the lake by his new hotel and office building. The man congratulated Mr. Ken on his foresight of buying up a good portion of that property, when no one ever thought to do so, and by initially building where no one else had.
Phillip said he had suspected he had already increased the equity in his land and eventually he foresaw homes, expensive homes, being built out that way, and he would love to partner with him and, if not, he would like to purchase some of that land from him, at a good price, when it came available.
Mr. Ken told Phillip that it was way too early to build homes out that way. But he asked him if he had any experience in light industrial or warehouse construction as that was where he was leaning towards now that the hotel was open and the office building soon would be. Mr. Ken told the man that was the next logical step for the property across the roadway from both endeavors. Mr. Meyers agreed.
Mr. Meyers said he had friends who did those types of projects and asked if they could meet and talk about some future projects out that way. Mr. Ken asked for the man’s business card and told him he would be in contact with him sometime in October as his calendar was full until the end of September and the land wasn’t going anywhere. Both men laughed.
When Mark came home from his soccer game, he had his dad wait at the Main Gate as his new friends Bryson Walshton and Preston Divardly would soon be there. He told his parents he couldn’t have them wait for him as it was already close to 12:30 and he wanted his mom and dad to meet them.
They didn’t have to wait long as two cars drove up to the Main Gate about the same time. Mark saw that Preston and Bryson were in them and he went out to greet them. His parents followed.
“I’m glad you’re finally here,” began Mark, “let me call Mr. Ken, and tell him you’re here,” added Mark, who then pulled out his cell phone and called his foster dad.
Mark then introduced his new friends to his mom and dad. “Mom, dad, this is Preston and Bryson. Guys this is my dad Levi and my mom Miriam Golderson.”
They all shook hands and as they were doing that the new boy’s parents came up to them and they introduced themselves. Mr. Ken came out of the Main Gate with the Meyers who were leaving then and the introductions stated all over again.
“Mr. Ken, this is Preston Divardly and his dad Warren and his mom Laura and their son, Garrett. And this is Bryson Walshton and his dad Porter and his mom Naomi and their daughter Bristol and son Barrett,” spoke up Mark.
“Everyone, this is my foster dad, Mr. Ken Thomas,” added Mark.
“Why … then why do you have a dad and … and a foster dad?” asked six-year-old Barrett.
The adults chuckled some at the naivety of the much younger boy, but no one wanted to say something. But then one man did.
“Ahh Mr. Thomas,” began Warren Divardly, “you’re … ahh, you’re the man who carried Mark out of the house after that home invasion a few weeks back, aren’t you? And … and Levi and Miriam are … they are his parents, and … and are they all staying with you?”
Mr. Ken smiled and told everyone that he was guilty as charged. He added that because Levi and Miriam were hospitalized after the home invasion, he was tasked to be Mark’s guardian until such time as when his parents could take care of him. Mr. Ken added that their home was still being repaired and until they moved back, they were all staying with him.
Mr. Ken told Mark to get his friends entered into the database while he showed his friends’ families around. Upon entering the estate, the moms and dads couldn’t believe what they were seeing. The boys knew there was a Skate Park, but they had no idea it was as big as it was and that there would be as many other boys there as there were.
Mr. Ken told the families that he has two adopted sons and five foster sons. He told them that they each have their own friends and that there is where all the extra boys came from. He told the moms and dads that Preston and Bryson can return tomorrow at eleven and that they were all invited to his Labor Day Picnic next Saturday beginning at eleven until everyone decided to leave.
Mr. Ken told them that all they needed to bring were lounge chairs, swimsuits, towels and skateboards. He told them he has lifeguards for when the kids swim out in the cove and a caterer who will prepare the foods all day long and there will be loads of other parents and even dignitaries there, so they will not be bored.
When Mark finished getting his friends entered into the estate’s database, he took them down to his bedroom, so he could change into his swimsuit. The boys were amazed at the size of the house and they couldn’t believe how big Mark’s bedroom was. Mark told them it was sized for two, so if he ever had another ‘brother’ they would have to share
Hearing the ‘brother’ comment, required Mark to explain that they call one another ‘brother’ even though they weren’t actually ‘brothers’. Mark then went and changed in front of his two new friends. The two boys were surprised he would do that with two strangers. Mark said that he takes showers with his ‘brothers’, so that was nothing to be seen in without any clothes on.
Mark showed his friends the bathroom and both boys laughed when they saw the urinals. Mark told them that they came in handy when they woke up in the morning. Both boys chuckled at the thought. Mark took the boys through the house and then up to the Pavilion so they could at least use the Cove Skate Park.
When the boys arrived at the Cove Skate Park, their moms told them they would pick them up around six o’clock and for them to have fun. The boys made sure they had their swimsuits and towels, then they hugged their moms and dads and went out on the skateboard course.
The older boys watched the new boys skate and then they went out there to show them what they could do to maybe do their tricks better. Preston and Bryson knew they weren’t all that good, but Mark told them he wasn’t either until he began living there. He added that with all of his ‘brothers’ friends, they helped him get much better. He told them to try what they suggested.
The new boys were having fun skating and before they knew it, they were being asked to stop and have a burger or hot dog. Mark had to explain to them that every day when they had their friends over, they cooked hamburgers and hot dogs and everyone helped.
Preston and Bryson said they didn’t have any money, but Mark told them they didn’t need any as Mr. Ken paid for it all and when they got thirsty, they could get a soda, or bottled water, from the two machines. Mark’s friends couldn’t believe their luck at being invited to The Cove. And now they were being fed and they could have free sodas or flavored water and they couldn’t wait until they got to swim after they ate.
Gus, Billy’s new friend, was a lot like Bryson and Preston. He couldn’t believe that his friend got to live in such a beautiful house that also had such awesome things for him to do. Gus was totally surprised at the Cove Skate Park and Pavilion, but he was over the top when he saw the Commander, personal watercraft and the water toys. Gus was disappointed that he couldn’t drive the WaveRunner because of the laws requiring him to take and pass the Texas Boater Safety Course.
What really caught Gus by surprise, and everybody else, was that Mr. Ken spoke German. Gus was looking forward to speaking German with Mr. Thomas later in the day, as he didn’t have anyone near him with which to speak his native language, and that was what he missed the most being in the United States.
Mark and his new friends did get to swim after they ate. They all wore life vests as required by the insurance company and they played on all of the water toys.
Preston and Bryson totally enjoyed the Jungle Joe II with its climbing sides and slide. They were a bit hesitant to jump off the 12-foot-high Jungle Joe II, but eventually, after seeing Mark eagerly jump off it, they tried it, too.
They loved climbing the sides of the 14-foot-high, Rave Iceberg Climbing Wall. They said it was like climbing the rock wall at the amusement park, but it wasn’t as steep a climb. They thought the slide on it was a bit steeper than the Jungle Joe and when it came to jumping off of the Iceberg, they were a bit more hesitant.
Mark told them that his ‘brothers’ and their friends play a game called King of the Raft and they often get pushed off or fall into the water. Mark told them he’s jumped off of it and it is fun, especially with the life vest on because it brings you right up to the top of the water.
The two new friends dared Mark to do it, so the Cover jumped off the Rave Iceberg Climbing Wall. When Mark popped up to the top of the water, he yelled to his friends to try it. They each looked at one another and jumped. They both screamed as they jumped, then laughed as they popped up to the top of the water.
Mark asked some of the bigger boys to ride RockIt with his friends. He wanted them to go flying and with the bigger, heavier boys, his younger, lighter friends would get the ride he wanted them to. And that was what happened. Both Preston and Bryson loved they got so much air after they let go of their handles and then splashed into the water.
Mark then asked Russell if he would take his friends out on the lake on the towing tube. He told the eighteen-year-old senior lifeguard he wanted his friends to experience as much as they could as they got there late.
Russell got the keys to the Jet Ski and asked one of the older boys to act as the observer on the back of the PWC. He then had Mark be the demonstrator. Mark knew what was going to happen, but he enjoyed the ride and eagerly rode in the inflated towing tube out onto the lake.
Preston, Bryson and Gus, who was also out there, after being told by Billy to take a turn, too, watched as Mark went back and forth and then got dumped into the lake’s waters and came up laughing. The two younger boys were a bit hesitant to ride the tube, so Gus decided to take his turn.
Russell knew the older boy was Billy’s friend from school and was an exchange student. But that didn’t stop him from giving the teen the same type of ride he gave everyone else. He did warn the teenager to hold on tight but not to fight it as he could hurt himself. Gus said he saw what happened to the younger boy.
Russell took it slow at first with Gus. He wanted the teen to have a good, enjoyable ride before he sped it up and then dumped him into the water. Bryson saw how the lifeguard drove in the beginning and said he’d like to try it that way. Preston agreed and said they’d ask if he’d do that for them.
But then they saw the lifeguard speed up and then give Gus a faster ride on some turns and then dump him into the lake waters. Gus came up laughing and yelled a hardy ‘Dankeschön’ (‘Thank you’) to Russell.
Mark’s two friends asked Russell if he would let them ride, but not be so rough with them as they didn’t want to get hurt. Russell said he wouldn’t be too rough, but he would dump them. Preston said he’d try it and got in the water and into the towing tube.
Bryson and Mark heard their friend laughing and having fun out on the lake as Russell drove him back and forth opposite the docks. Then, all of a sudden, they heard Preston yell a “Ohhhh shiiit!” and then they heard a splash. They looked and they saw their friend bobbing in the water and laughing.
Russell brought Preston over to the dock and then asked Bryson if he was ready for his turn. Preston told his friend he needed to try it as it was fun and it wasn’t as rough as what Gus got. Bryson knew he’d better try it because if he didn’t, he’d never hear the end of it at school next week, so the ten-year-old got into the water towing tube and rode it out onto the lake
Russell gave Mark’s friend, Bryson, the same type of ride he’d given Preston. The Jet Ski went back and forth a few times and when Russell did turn around, he sped it up a bit more each time. The lifeguard did give Bryson some speed as he passed straight by the docks and Mark and Preston heard him laughing. Russell then decided to dump the boy, as he had his friend, and before long Bryson found himself in the water.
After their rides on the water tube, the boys decided they were tired and they wanted to go change into their street clothes and go up to the Cove Skate Park and use their boards. Mark took them into the Men’s Locker Room where they had changed into their swimsuits so they could change back. The two friends then went with Mark to his room where he changed into his play clothes.
Gus also decided to change into his street clothes. But instead of wanting to use the Cove Skate Park, he asked Billy if there was a soccer ball around so he could try to round up a game. Billy told his friend that Mark’s soccer team uses some of the older boys to practice against, so there should be some who know how to play.
Gus was surprised there was a decent sized soccer field at The Cove. Billy told him it was scaled for younger kids, Mark’s age. Gus said it was a good size for ‘fun’ play and he was able to round up enough boys to have a game of six on six. They played for about twenty minutes when the boys said they didn’t want to get too sweaty. They did tell Gus to get the game going sooner tomorrow. That put a big smile on the teen’s face.
Mark was having a great time that Saturday. He had two of his friends from school and had only wished that now he had known them from the start. The trouble was he didn’t know any of the local boys and he was kept so busy until school started, that he didn’t know when he could have met them.
Before everyone knew it, six o’clock was coming up fast, and the boys were straightening the Pavilion up and putting their skateboards away. Mark’s friends asked if they could keep theirs there until tomorrow and Mark asked Billy if they could. The teen said they could keep them in the storage room as after everyone left no one should bother them. So, that’s what Preston and Bryson did.
When Gus was leaving, Mr. Ken was up at the Main Gate and the two did speak some German to one another. The parents and the boys who were around them wondered what that was all about. Billy had to tell everyone that his foster dad knew German and his new friend was an exchange student from Germany and Mr. Ken was making him feel at home.
The parents also got to meet Mark’s and Billy’s new friends and their parents which caused a mini traffic jam at the Main Gate. Mr. Ken made a mental note to get some feedback on the parking spaces for the outside of the Main Gate as it was getting worse every time there were new parents involved.
Robert, Eric, Logan and Cody also went outside the Main Gate to talk to Isaiah. Robert had already asked his dad if the teen could stay tomorrow when the Meyer’s dropped Gus off and he needed to ask the freshman’s parents if they would allow him to stay when they dropped Gus off. The teen’s dad told him they would talk about it tonight and if he could he would bring his skateboard, swimsuit and a towel with him tomorrow. Robert thanked him for their consideration.
The Cover’s and their guests went out to dinner that evening. Mr. Ken asked Miriam to pick the restaurant and she had no idea of where to go. The boys suggested a number of places that they’ve been to locally and she chose Red Lobster.
That was a place the boys hadn’t gone too often, so this was a treat for them as well as Miriam. And being a Saturday night, and with eleven diners, they had a longer than normal wait, but, after they all had eaten, they all agreed it was worth it. Of course, Mr. Ken picked up the tab.
The group stopped at Mr. Ken’s Kreamy Kone for their ice cream treat before heading home. After such a big and filling dinner, the ice cream would be a nice ending to the day. Of course, ice cream was Mr. Ken’s go-to ending for most days they went out to eat and the boys thoroughly enjoyed going there, too.
Miriam was asked to give Chief her cup of ice cream when they returned to The Cove and the resident pet lapped it up as quickly as she could. Chief then went to the woman and gave her as many doggie kisses as she would allow. Miriam then gave Chief some behind the ear scratches and the dog just bowed her head and enjoyed them.
After watching Chief and Miriam, the group headed for and used one of the many restrooms in the house and then they met in the Great Room so Mr. Ken could hold his evening meeting.
“Well, next Saturday we’ll have our last big picnic until the Christmas Holidays. I expect about 300 guests and so it might be a bit crowded up at the Pavilion. Lucky for us Mr. Wayne decided to have that driveway put in leading to the Pavilion so we can spread out there. One thing that is missing is shade, though,” began ‘dad’ Ken.
“Why don’t we bring up the tables and chairs from the Patio?” asked Robert.
“That’s a good question, son. They are quite heavy as they are designed for that patio and we don’t have anything that we can use to even wheel them up there,” countered the teen’s dad.
“What about going out to the big stores and buying some tables and umbrellas?” spoke up Charles.
“That’s not a bad idea, son. Maybe I can talk Mr. Wayne and Mr. Dennis into looking into that next week and if we buy enough the store might even deliver them. But how many do I buy, would be the next question?” asked Mr. Ken.
“I’d say at least six but maybe ten,” responded Charles.
“Yeah, and maybe some of those combination sofa, chair and ottoman sets they’ve been selling all summer. They would fit nicely in that area between the Cove Skate Park and the Pavilion. Two of those would give you more seating,” spoke up Billy.
“Boys, those are some great ideas. And that building I want Mr. Wayne to research. It might need to be a bit bigger to hold all that stuff over the winter months. Remind me tomorrow at breakfast to talk to him about that,” added ‘dad’ Ken.
Mr. Ken then went through what was coming up which included his meeting with Mr. Levi’s group on Wednesday for lunch, his meeting with his amusement park operators the following Thursday through Sunday, his traveling to his amusement parks at the end of September, his Study office being moved to the new office building, and the Goldersons moving back to their home next weekend.
Mr. Ken told the boys that he had originally planned that the Monday of the Labor Day Weekend would be a Family Day, but he was now moving it to Sunday. He explained he and the Goldersons agreed to take the Commander out around the lake on Sunday, and then they would all help them move their belongings to their home afterwards. He apologized to them for the change, but he said this would probably work out for the best for them and their friends so to make sure they tell them tomorrow.
Mr. Ken then asked the boys how the three new friends worked out today. Mark went first and said he loved having boys his age there and he wished he knew them when he first arrived. He said they were looking forward to coming tomorrow and having more time to enjoy all the things they had to do there.
Billy told his foster dad that Gus loved it there. He said his new friend especially loved that Mr. Ken talked German to him and that he felt so at home and at ease there. Billy told Mr. Ken that Gus now wants to take the Texas Boater Safety Course so he can drive the PWCs. The teen told everyone how Russell took his friend out on the towing tube and dunked him good.
Billy also said that Gus got a soccer game going and some of the boys joined in. He added they only played for about twenty minutes because the boys didn’t want to get too sweaty. Billy said when they quit, the boys told Gus not to wait so long tomorrow to get it going, so Billy expects a good soccer game to break out first thing.
The group talked a bit more about Robert and Billy going to their first football game and how they saw the logistics of going and returning and their wanting to go again. The teens told how much fun it was to be there in the big crowd cheering on the team and yelling when they scored.
Robert said it was fun just being with his friends away from The Cove and doing something totally new and different than what he’s done since he began living with his dad. He said it was a big learning experience for him and he really appreciated being given the chance to be on his own.
Levi and Miriam knew there was much more to what the teen was saying. They figured when Mark got older and was wanting to spread his wings, they would understand it more then. But for now, they would just sit back and let Ken deal with his sons as he feels is the right thing to do.
It had been a long day for everyone, so ‘dad’ Ken sent the boys up to their rooms to start slowing down and then getting ready for bed. He told them he’d be up in a little while. In the meantime, he talked to Levi and Miriam about their coming week and what they had planned.
Mr. Wayne had gone to his apartment after they left Mr. Ken’s Kreamy Kone, so ‘dad’ Ken was visiting the boys by himself that night. But, before he did, Levi told him about their talk with Mark’s soccer coach. He told Mr. Ken, that the coach explained, that today was Mark’s last game and he needed to talk to Ken on Monday about their continued use of The Cove soccer field to practice.
Mr. Ken thanked Levi for that piece of information as he had totally forgotten that Mark’s leaving would negate the soccer team using the soccer pitch. The owner of The Cove then went upstairs to talk with the boys. He began with Mark. He did that so Miriam and then Levi could then talk with their son. The man then went to Matthew, the twins, Charles, Robert and then Bill’s rooms, in that order.
Ken Thomas was happy with the way things turned out that Saturday. Mark made a good point about knowing boys his age when he arrived and he had told himself that after Bill’s arrival he would do that and then he didn’t. He chided himself for not following through, but he told himself that he is so busy right now that he just can’t think, to do everything. He knows he needs to put some responsibility on Wayne’s shoulders.
Mr. Ken went to bed tired but relaxed and grateful that his ‘family’ was healthy and things were looking up for him and them. He slept well that night, as did everyone in The Cove that night.
The saga of Three Finger Cove continues. Let Chowhound know you are reading his story: Chowhound at CastleRoland dot Net
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