Published: 22 Dec 2022
From Previous Chapter:
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.
It was Sunday morning and Ken Thomas did his usual wake up routine. He used the facility, dressed in his nylon running shorts, put on a favorite t-shirt and donned his Crocs and then headed out for the Sunday newspaper.
Coming inside the Kitchen Nook, he was going to pour himself a cup of hot coffee, but knowing Momma wasn’t coming in today, and they weren’t going out for breakfast that Sunday, the man took out thirty breakfast tacos, placed them in the convection oven and set the timer.
Mr. Ken had told everyone the previous day that they were going to have Momma Maria’s breakfast tacos for breakfast, so they could sleep in, some, but that he hoped they would all be down by nine o’clock to eat. He told them there would be nothing fancy like Momma fixes them, but he’d have the tacos ready for them when they came into the Nook.
After setting the timer, Mr. Ken then got his first cup of coffee and then proceeded to separate his newspaper into the sections, as he is known to do. The man then began reading the front page, first section and was enjoying the quiet he had in the Nook when it was only him and the rustling of the paper.
Levi and Miriam Golderson were the first people to join him in the Nook that morning. They knew where the coffee cups were kept, and they both got themselves one, filled it with hot coffee and then sat down at the Nook’s table with their host.
“What’s that wonderful smell?” asked Miriam.
Levi chose to answer and said, “That, my dear … is the smell of Momma Maria’s breakfast tacos being reheated, I suppose, in the convection oven. Even though she isn’t here this morning, you will think she is when you bite into her breakfast tacos. They are just as wonderful as everything else she’s made for us the entire time we’ve been here.”
Mr. Ken just smiled behind his paper knowing exactly what Levi said was true. He’d been eating Momma’s cooking for many years now and he didn’t know what he’d do if she ever left him.
The boys began to slowly filter in and as they did, they said good morning to the adults. A few of the boys hugged Mr. Ken and, of course, Mark hugged his parents. They asked if the tacos were hot enough to eat yet, and all their ‘dad’ asked them if the timer had gone off yet.
Mark took care of Chief’s food and water bowls as he waited for the oven’s timer to ring. Miriam watched her son being so devoted to the resident pet’s needs and how the two had a connection, of sorts, and wondered if they should get their son a pet when they returned home. She told herself she needed to talk to Levi about doing that when they got settled back in their home.
The timer on the convection over rang a little past nine o’clock and the boys rushed to be the first one there. ‘Dad’ Ken told them to bring the whole tray over to the table so that their guests could take their pick first. He heard some murmurs from the boys when he said that.
Miriam saw that the aluminum wrapped breakfast tacos were labeled and was told she could take three. So, she selected a bacon, egg and cheese, a potato and cheese and a bean and cheese breakfast taco so she could taste the different flavors. Levi went next, then Mr. Ken and after that the boys took their three.
It was while they were eating that the phone rang. Matthew got up to answer it and when he did, he wasn’t sure who was at the other end, so he gave it to his ‘dad’.
Mr. Ken said his usual phone greeting, “Hello, this is Three Finger Cove,” and then smiled when the person on the other end began speaking.
The boys and the Goldersons heard the following conversation.
“Herr Dodenhoffer, guten Tag,” replied Mr. Ken [“Mr. Dodenhoffer, good day,”]
… … …
“Danke, dass du das gesagt hast. Wir haben es genossen, Gus hier zu haben und er kann gerne vorbeischauen, wenn Bill hier ist,” replied Mr. Ken, to the person on the other end. [“Thank you for saying that. We enjoyed having Gus here and he is welcome to stop by when Bill is here.”]
… … …
“Bill ist mein Pflegesohn. Ich habe auch zwei Adoptivsöhne und vier weitere Pflegesöhne auf meinem Anwesen, daher ist es kein Problem, Gus hier zu haben. Wenn sie ihre Freunde hier haben, können es bis zu fünfzig Jungen im Alter von zehn bis sechzehn Jahren sein,” was Mr. Ken’s response to Mr. Dodenhoffer’s question. [“Bill is my foster son. I also have two adopted sons and four more foster sons on my estate, so having Gus here is not a problem. When they have their friends here there could be as many as fifty boys from ages ten to sixteen.”]
… … …
“Ja, ich bin ein Geschäftsmann. Ich besitze ein Restaurant, ein Hotel, ein Bürogebäude, Vergnügungsparks und bin in der Planungsphase für den Bau eines 450 Slip Yachthafens und Restaurants. Also, ja, ich würde sagen, ich bin erfolgreich,” said Mr. Ken with a big smile. [“Yes, I am a business man. I own a restaurant, a hotel, an office building, amusement parks and I am in the planning stages of building a 450-slip marina and restaurant. So, yes, I’d say I am successful.”]
The conversation lasted for about fifteen minutes. When it was over Mr. Ken explained to everyone that the person on the other end of the phone was Gus’s dad. He added that the man was calling to thank him for being such a wonderful host to his son, and for making the teenager feel so welcome and at ‘home’, even though it was the first time they had ever met.
Mr. Ken told the Golderson’s, and his ‘boys’, the father couldn’t believe that his son was so lucky to meet a man who made his son feel like he had an ‘uncle’ nearby and someone whom he could speak German to, since he didn’t have anyone close by to do that with.
The owner of The Cove added that Gus had sent his dad an email as soon as he got home last night telling him all about his day at The Cove, and what he got to do and that his host talked German to him.
Mr. Ken told them that when the father opened the email that morning, explaining that he was seven hours ahead of them, he knew he had to call and thank him personally. Mr. Ken was all smiles after that phone call.
Billy had no idea his new friend, Gus, had sent an email to his dad and that the man would call all the way from Germany to thank his foster dad for doing what Mr. Ken does every day for all of his friends. Billy knew he needed to talk to Gus when he came over later.
Harper showed up about ten o’clock and he and the Goldersons went up to the guest suite and the med tech changed the dressings on the wound areas and checked to see if there was any sign of redness or infection. Before he departed The Cove, he told them he’d see them about the same time tomorrow.
Mark was also surprised that someone from so far away would call just to thank someone he didn’t know and never met. He asked his parents about it after they had their dressings changed.
Miriam told her son that Gus’ email must have been very descriptive and had some emotion in it and that his father wanted to thank Mr. Ken for being so kind to his son. The mother told Mark that years ago people would write personal notes, or letters, to people to express their appreciation for what they’d done, for whatever it was.
After everyone had gotten ready for their day, Mr. Ken asked Billy and Robert to find out how many Cove Skate Park helmets and pads remained from the one-hundred he originally bought. When he learned there were still nineteen helmets and knee, elbow and wrist/hand pad sets remaining, he asked them to pass some out to Gus, Bryson, Preston and Isaiah, if his parents allowed him to come over when Gus did.
Billy and Robert went out to the garage to open it so when they saw the new boys arrive, they could call them down and give them their new skating equipment. While they waited, Billy asked Robert if he would get his quadcopter out and video Gus doing some stuff, so he could email it to his dad later, so his father could see what he got to do at The Cove.
Charles had come out to the garage by then and heard them talking and thought that was a good idea. He hadn’t had his out for a while and even wondered if the battery was charged. Both Cover teens went up to their rooms to get their quadcopters to check the battery and charge them if needed and then they’d both fly them. They also decided they’d fly them during the Labor Day Picnic and get some good video and pictures then, too.
When the Cover’s friends began to arrive, there was one problem. Isaiah wasn’t in the database and Gus was, so Billy had to go up to the Main Gate and vouch for him. The Meyers were outside wanting to know what the problem was. Billy explained to them that the people who are in the database can gain entrance automatically, but those who aren’t have to be vouched into the estate.
The teen explained that Gus was added to the database yesterday, when he arrived, but Isaiah wasn’t at the time, because he didn’t know he was going to be invited back until later. Billy said that they would take care of that right now, and now that any time Isaiah comes over to The Cove, when Robert is here, he can enter once the guards get to know who he is.
Margaret Meyers then asked why there were armed guards. Billy sort of knew why they were there, but he wasn’t sure if he could explain it well, so he looked to Robert to answer that question. Robert took a deep breath and told the Meyers that in the past his dad had foster sons that some parents tried to get them back without going through the courts, and they tried to just take them.
Phillip Meyers then spoke up and told his wife that this was the house where that armed attack took place a number of years ago, and then last year about ten boys were almost kidnapped while they were out Trick-or-Treating and the trial was just held. Mrs. Meyers thanked her husband for reminding her and she apologized for asking the question and then they left the two teens with Billy and Robert.
But that question caused many questions particularly from Gus because he wasn’t living in the United States last year when the kidnapping almost happened, and he surely didn’t know about the shootout. So, he asked Billy what happened.
Well, Billy was only about eleven when the men attacked Three Finger Cove looking for Collin and he wasn’t living at The Cove when the boys were almost kidnapped, so he told Gus he didn’t know the full story about that and he couldn’t tell him too much. Isaiah told Gus they could Google it when they get home tonight and see what it says. Gus agreed they’d do that, then.
Mark and his two friends, Preston and Bryson, were waiting inside the Main Gate for the four teens. Mark knew they would be going down to the garage to give them all new Cove Skate Park skating equipment, but hadn’t told them, yet. He wanted them to be surprised as Gus and Isaiah would be when they learned it, as well.
The groups drove down to the garage in two separate golf carts. When they got there, Robert told the four new boys that his dad had something he liked to give the boys and girls who regularly skate at The Cove and he took them into the garage and pointed out the brand-new skating equipment sitting on the workbench.
“Your dad … he’s giving us this … this new skating equipment?” asked a surprised Gus.
“Yep,” said a smiling Robert. “He bought all these helmets and pads when we had the Grand Opening of the Cove Skate Park and he’s been giving it to all of our friends and the boys and girls who have attended our picnics and have skated here. And since you are our friends, you get it as well.”
Gus was beside himself, as were Bryson, Preston and Isaiah, and he couldn’t believe Billy’s foster dad was giving away professional skating gear to four boys he only just met yesterday. He began to turn down the gift, but Billy told his new friend that Mr. Ken wanted to make sure all the boys had quality equipment when they skated at his Park, so he had to take and use it.
Isaiah also wanted to decline the offer, as he and Gus had good helmets with them, but neither of them had knee, elbow or wrist/hand pads and these were high quality and he’d fallen a few times and really wanted something to protect himself with.
While the two teens were discussing if they were going to accept the new skating equipment, Preston and Bryson were being fitted with their new helmets. They loved the way they fit as the straps inside allowed for a more form fit. They also put on the new pads as all they had were knee pads and they, too, knew what it was like to fall and skin their elbows and hands.
Eventually, Gus relented and he and Isaiah were fitted with the new helmets. They too liked the way they fit, and especially looked, and they both appreciated the new pads knowing that if they fell, they would no longer skin their knees, elbows, wrists or hands.
As they rode the golf carts back up to the Pavilion, Billy told Gus he would see if there was an available locker for him to use. That surprised the new friend who asked why he’d need that. Billy told him that is where he could keep his skate gear, swimsuit and towel so he didn’t have to bring it every time he came over to The Cove.
Mark didn’t say anything to Preston and Bryson about getting a locker for them, as he knew after the Labor Day Picnic they wouldn’t be coming back to The Cove.
Billy told Gus that he could come over to The Cove every weekend that he was there and that later Mr. Ken would be taking everyone to Six Flags Fiesta Texas for their Freight Fiesta and SeaWorld for their Christmas Celebration and there would be a big Cove Holiday Christmas party and more. Gus was flabbergasted at hearing all that and asked Billy why Mr. Ken did all that. All Billy could tell his friend was that he’d only been living there since March and that’s what his ‘brothers’ told him.
Gus asked who wanted to get a soccer game going and a larger number of boys wanted to play this time around, but not enough for four teams. So, Gus decided they’d play eight on eight and that way they wouldn’t get too tired.
With such a large group out on the soccer pitch, that left the Cove Skate Park wide open for the rest of the boys. Mark and his two new school friends quickly went out on the Cove Skate Park and enjoyed the smooth concrete and the obstacles that they knew they could handle.
While everyone was out on the Cove Skate Park and playing soccer, Robert and Charles had their quadcopters up and taking video of everyone either skating or playing soccer. The two Cover teens made sure they took video of the boys from up high and down low and they got as close to them as possible, without crashing into them. Robert and Charles were having fun again and wondered why they hadn’t been using their birthday gifts after the 4th of July Picnic.
The teen’s used up the quadcopters 20-minute battery power and had to recharge them. Lucky for them they had a second battery they could use while the first one was charging.
Mark and his friends did enjoy all the amenities The Cove had to offer. After skating, they swam and played on the water toys including the RockIt. Then Russell took them out on the back of the Jet Ski and gave them a fast ride on it before towing them on the water tube.
Gus and the other boys played soccer until the adults came up for lunch that afternoon. While they were there, Billy asked Mr. Wayne if he knew if there were any lockers available, so he could get one for Gus. Mr. Wayne said he believed there were at least four lockers available and after he ate, he’d go and look at the list and come back up and let him know which ones Gus could choose from. The teen thanked the Estate Master and said he’d watch for him.
Once the cookout was over and everything was cleaned up and put away, the boys decided to go swimming before they had to go home. Robert and Charles took their quadcopters down to the cove so they could get some more video. Before long, the two Cover teens would have videos of the boys swimming, playing on the water toys, and being towed behind the Jet Ski. They already had video of the burgers being burned and the boys eating them.
The boys hammed it up for the copters, like most young men would when they know they were on camera. Gus knew Billy had asked his ‘brothers’ to take some video of him using the facilities there at The Cove, so he could then send it to his dad. He wanted his father to see what Mr. Ken allowed his ‘boys’ friends to do when they came over to visit.
The day moved along and before the boys knew it, it was time for them to leave. The reason for that was today, being it was a Sunday, and the boys had school the next day, they all needed to leave The Cove by five o’clock that afternoon.
All the boys had to change into their dry clothes, and then throw their wet swimsuits into the dryer, so that delayed their departure. Preston and Bryson were a bit skittish about changing in front of so many older boys, so Matthew had them go into the Women’s Locker room with his friends and change there.
Once in there, Max told them to put their shirts on, face the wall and then take their swimsuits off and finish changing. He explained that would reduce the chance of anyone seeing their boy parts, if that was what they were afraid of. Preston and Bryson looked to Mark to see if that was what they should do. Mark told them that was what all the younger boys are told and it works as long as they don’t rush and trip, which makes everyone then look.
Of course, the usual traffic jam happened at the Main Gate as the boys began to leave. It wouldn’t have except the Meyers were there picking up Gus and Isaiah and the other parents seeing the new boys and parents knew they had to stop and ask who they were.
Mr. Ken wasn’t up there, but Billy and Robert were, so they made the introductions and explanations. Some of the parents met Preston and Bryson’s parents the previous day, so that wasn’t as much of a problem this time.
The Covers and their house guests went out to dinner that Sunday evening. The Four Corners Diner was selected so the boys didn’t have to get too dressed up. Miriam said she didn’t mind as she wanted to see what that side looked like.
The seven boys took a large corner booth that would accommodate them, while the four adults took a regular table that was close by. Miriam was surprised at what she saw. She didn’t expect it to be so warm and inviting, as well as bright and airy and so friendly.
Miriam found the menu offered many regular foods that she thought she would have found at a Diner, but there were also some meals that she thought she remembered that were on the Restaurant’s menu as well. So, she asked Mr. Ken about that and he told her that they both use the same kitchen and it allowed the Diner to do that, so people could get a good restaurant meal without having to get too dressed up.
When they were finished eating, the boys wanted to drive the Go-Karts, but ‘dad’ Ken reminded them they had school tomorrow, so he nixed that idea. Then, just before the group was ready to leave, the wait staff brought out a Birthday cake and began singing Happy Birthday.
The boys were perplexed as they knew none of them had a birthday and Mark said he already had his and his mom and dads were in the spring. Mr. Ken told everyone that Mr. Wayne’s birthday was tomorrow and he wanted to have a simple celebration while everyone was together. So, everyone joined in with the waitresses and sang Happy Birthday to Mr. Wayne.
When the song was over, Mr. Wayne blew out the candles and the cake was cut and everyone had a piece along with some soda or coffee. The boys wished their Estate Master a Happy Birthday and wished they knew it was his birthday, so they could have pulled his ears. Then they all laughed.
Even though they didn’t get to drive the Go-Karts, ‘dad’ Ken did relent and let them go over to Mr. Ken’s Kreamy Kone for a Sundae, instead. They did get Chief her special treat before they left and Mark gave it to her when they arrived back at The Cove.
Mr. Ken held his usual after dinner meeting, and he reviewed everything that was coming up, but in particular Saturday’s Labor Day Picnic. He told the boys he had a full plate that week, as well, and asked them to take any problems to Mr. Wayne first.
Before he drove home, Mr. Wayne thanked everyone for the surprise birthday cake. So, Mr. Ken was the only one who talked to all the boys before they went to bed that night. Mark asked him what he should say to Preston and Bryson about him moving back home after the Picnic. Mr. Ken told him to be up front and honest with his friends and hope they would understand.
Ken Thomas was happy the week was over. It had been a very busy one for him and he knew the coming week would be just as busy. He hoped he would get a good night’s sleep.
Everyone in The Cove slept well that night.
Monday morning the Cover boys were still a bit sleepy when they came down for breakfast, but at least they were down by 6:30. Momma had their morning meal ready to serve them when they sat down, but Mark had to take care of Chief before he could begin to eat. Momma knew that, so she didn’t put his plate on the table until she saw he had filled the water bowl and placed some ice in it.
Miriam and Levi came into the Nook while the boys were eating. They wanted to make sure they got to see their son off to school, as they had been doing while they were guests at The Cove. It is something they would have done if they were at their own home.
When the boys finished eating, they used the restroom, grabbed their books and headed up to catch the school bus. Miriam and Levi made sure they hugged their son just before he went out the Foyer door.
At the school, Mark talked to Preston and Bryson and told them that he would probably be moving home after the Labor Day Picnic and this would more-than-likely be the last weekend that they would be allowed to come over to The Cove.
Mark explained that since there were no other ten-year-old’s living at The Cove there was no one to sponsor them, which was why, after he was no longer living there, they couldn’t come over unless Mr. Ken changes the Rule.
Both boys were disappointed at hearing that, especially after just getting invited over there and were looking forward to continuing to enjoy all the features The Cove had to offer them. They said their families were also looking forward to the Labor Day Picnic and meeting all the families and also getting to do everything there, too
Mark told them they were still invited to the Picnic and they would still get to meet the other families and get to enjoy everything The Cove had to offer. But Preston and Bryson walked away dejected and Mark didn’t know what to do. The Cover got tears in his eyes and he just wanted to run away and cry.
Matthew’s friend Noah somehow saw what happened and he quickly went to Matthew and told him what he saw. The eleven-year-old Cover went to Mark to find out about what happened while he sent Noah to find Charles. But the first bell had rung before either Matthew or Charles could say or do anything to calm Mark down.
At the high school, Isaiah asked Robert to go with him and let him introduce him to some of his friends. Of course, Eric had to go with his Best Friend. Isaiah’s friends couldn’t believe their friend got to use a Skate Park they never heard of. So, Robert took out his cell phone and showed them some pictures of the Cove Skate Park. That made Isaiah’s friend’s believers.
They asked the Cover how they could get an invite to skate there. Robert told them that his dad had a big picnic planned for that weekend, with 300 people, and then they would help some friends move and they also would have a family day, so that weekend was out.
Robert told them he’d have to talk to his dad about the following weekend, but he couldn’t invite the entire class because his ‘brothers’ had their friends there, too, and he knew his dad wouldn’t want to overrun the Cove Skate Park. The Cover told them he’d have to let them know next week.
Gus met up with Billy and his friends before school began. Billy saw Brett and called him over to introduce him to Gus. The Cover then asked him if he had any luck with his parents about his coming back to The Cove. Billy then had to give Gus a quick synopsis as to why Brett hadn’t been at The Cove that weekend.
Brett told Billy, “They still aren’t too keen on Mr. Ken’s ideas on marijuana, but that after hearing he allowed you back, when he learned the drugs weren’t yours, they told me they’d think about it. So, I guess we’ll see.”
Billy told Brett the Labor Day Picnic was that weekend and that he should try to be there, even if his parents didn’t want to come. Billy then had to give Gus a quick rundown on what happened right after the 4th of July Carnival. Gus was surprised at the telling, but the first bell rang and Billy told his new friend he’d explain more at lunch.
After Mr. Ken got himself ready for his day, he made a number of phone calls. The most important one was to his architectural team to ensure they had their drawings for the marina project ready for Wednesday. He impressed on them they needed to be almost to the ready point to take to the Planning and Zoning Commission, if his investors agreed they wanted to go forward with the project.
He also wanted an update on the parking spaces outside his Main Gate, and the linear park he asked them to work on. They told him the parking spaces request was ready to go for approval and that should just be a formality. But they explained that linear park was going to take a lot more to get it off the drawing board, since it involved a number of county departments and they all wanted to help design it. Mr. Ken didn’t like hearing that, but right now he had too many fires going and asked them to find someone who could corral everyone into one working group and come up with a plan by Thanksgiving.
Mr. Ken called his Real Estate Group and talked to his manager and told her he didn’t want any contingencies released until the County Commissioner’s and the State’s Highway department signed contracts to actually build the 5-lane divided highway that passed outside his Crystal Lake Amusement Park. He then called Amy Ozarker to ensure she understood his directions on that issue as well.
He then called Chris to make sure the reservations for Thursday through Saturday night were confirmed and he had the meeting room for Thursday night and all-day Friday and Saturday. Mr. Ken felt things were beginning to overwhelm him because of everything he was juggling and he didn’t want something to bite him on his butt at the last minute.
Mr. Ken also asked Chris, while he had him on the phone, if he talked to his friend who made the keychains if he could make some more for him. Chris said he hadn’t, but it was on his list of phone calls to make, and he didn’t think it was a high priority since Christmas was still months away.
When Dennis arrived at The Cove that Monday, Mr. Ken talked to him and Mr. Wayne about them going out and looking for tables and umbrellas and maybe outdoor patio furniture sets. He told them what he and the boys talked about for shade for the Labor Day Picnic and subsequent picnics and that the new building could hold them when not in use. Mr. Ken told Wayne they might need to resize the building.
Charles talked to Mark during lunchtime about the problem he thought he had with his friends. The two Coves went and talked to Preston and Bryson and the teen explained to Mark’s friends that they at least got invited to The Cove and enjoyed everything their ‘dad’ had for them to do.
Charles told the two youngsters that they and their families are still invited to the Labor Day Picnic that Saturday and they should be there as the Picnic is always a big party and that their parents will get to meet some important people and maybe make some new friends. The teen told the boys if they still had questions to have their mom or dad call Mr. Ken later tonight.
Billy told Gus more about what happened with his being banned from The Cove and the home invasion that got him moved back. Gus asked him if Mark was the boy Mr. Ken took out of the house that night and, learning he was, Gus was very surprised.
Gus also asked Billy about the armed attack and the attempted kidnaping the previous Halloween, but Billy told him he needed to talk to Robert as he came to The Cove about a year after the gun battle and that Robert was one of the boys who was almost kidnapped that night and he could fill in any blanks the newspapers or Google didn’t have. Gus said he would.
Isaiah and his friends met with and began to talk with Robert and his friends during the lunch period. The boys and girls talked about the amenities The Cove had and some of the fun things they did there. Of course, a few of the girls began to eye the new boys and they wanted to get to know them. The question that was asked, before lunch was over, was who was going to the football game that Friday night.
After lunch Mr. Wayne and Mr. Dennis left The Cove and headed to the big box stores and other outdoor patio furniture sellers to see what they had they could buy to fulfill Mr. Ken’s specifications. After a couple of hours of research, Mr. Wayne called and asked his boss how much money he planned to spend.
The two men talked about the different styles of outdoor furniture and accessories and different umbrellas types of what Wayne and Dennis saw. But it all got confusing to Mr. Ken, so the owner of The Cove asked his Estate Master to bring some brochures back with them, so they could talk about them later that night.
When the boys came home from school, Mark and Charles stopped by the Study to tell their ‘dad’ what happened at school with Bryson and Preston. Mr. Ken told Mark that if he didn’t hear from the families before dinner, he would call them after dinner. Mark was happy to hear his foster dad would try to smooth things out with his friends.
On the way home from school, Billy told Robert what he told Gus about the shootout and the kidnapping, so he would know where his new friend was coming from if he was asked. Robert knew that he couldn’t avoid the kidnapping thing as the trial was front page news. And, as for the shootout, all he could do was show Gus where some of the bullets hit the house and were still visible and maybe answer some questions, but he’d tell him he didn’t arrive until almost eighteen months after the fact.
At five o’clock, the soccer team showed up to practice on The Cove’s soccer field. The coach was disappointed that the older boys weren’t there to practice against his team, but he knew that since school had started, they wouldn’t be. About twenty minutes into their practice, Mr. Ken drove up to the field in one of the golf carts.
Mr. Ken called the coach over and the two talked. The coach knew what it would be about. He had enjoyed the wonderful field, even if it was on a slight slope. Mr. Ken told the coach he could use the field the rest of the week, but beginning next week he would have to find another place to practice. The coach thanked him for that, as it gave him the rest of the week to search out a suitable place for his team to train. The two shook hands and Mr. Ken went down to the house.
Dinner was a lively affair. The boys talked about their day in generalities and ‘dad’ Ken told them he was busier than a one-armed paper hanger. That got the boys to laughing.
Before he had his usual after dinner meeting, Mr. Ken and Mark went into the Study and the man called the Divardly’s and Walshton’s. He wanted to talk to the moms and dads about the situation concerning their sons and their not coming back to The Cove until he gets another ten-year old foster son, after Mark moves away that coming weekend.
Mr. Ken did try to impress upon the parents for their families to still come to the Labor Day Picnic, as it would be fun day and a chance for them to meet many of the other parents and maybe make some new friends, but, most of all, they could meet some movers and shakers from the county government. The parents said they were looking forward to the Picnic and they would see him there on Saturday.
At the meeting that night, Mr. Ken focused solely on what outdoor furniture they should get for the Cove Skate Park and Pavilion area for the Picnic and that they could use for future picnics they will undoubtedly hold up there.
Many of the boys liked the wicker furniture look. But Robert and Billy told them that if that stuff is left out in the weather it would deteriorate sooner than the aluminum framed furniture.
Some of the boys liked the boxy look while others liked the rounded look. Then there was the color. Should the furniture be dark or medium color and how would the color stand up to being out in the sun day after day.
The next question that needed to be answered was what type of umbrellas they should get. After discussing either the standard table umbrellas that went through the center of a table and the offset cantilevered ones with separate chairs underneath, the offset cantilevered umbrella type won out. Then the color choice of the umbrellas became the next discussion.
Mr. Ken hadn’t heard from Miriam during the discussion, so he asked the woman for her opinion. Miriam told her host that she was just a guest there and shouldn’t be involved in that sort of decision. But Mr. Ken insisted they needed a woman’s insight.
Miriam told the group that if it were her, she would buy matching furniture to go between the Cove Skate Park and the Pavilion. That a five-piece sectional with a coffee table would look good there and make a wonderful conversation area.
She continued and added that she would buy different colored umbrellas to liven up wherever they had intended to place them. She added that three or four separate chairs under each umbrella would be appropriate. But then she qualified that by saying that there needed to be at least one, but maybe two, end or side tables for each umbrella area for people to place their drinks or food plates on.
Mr. Ken smiled at what he heard. ‘Dad’ Ken then asked the boys what they thought of what Mrs. Golderson had to say about the outdoor furniture. They said they liked what they heard and they would never have thought to make a conversation area in that open space between the Cove Skate Park and the Pavilion, or add tables for people to put their drinks or food plates on.
With that long and protracted discussion over, ‘dad’ Ken then told everyone that he gave the soccer coach permission to use the soccer field the rest of the week, but he would have to find another field to practice on beginning next week.
With that said, ‘dad’ Ken sent the boys up to their rooms to settle down before going to bed. He told them he and Mr. Wayne would be up in a short while to say goodnight to them.
Mr. Ken then asked Miriam and Levi what they thought about the discussion they just had.
Miriam said they could never do that with just the three of them. Mr. Ken asked why not? He said giving Mark an opportunity to tell them what he thought about whatever they were discussing would give him an opportunity to think through issues and formulate good arguments for his position. Mr. Ken added that even if his position wasn’t accepted, it would help him with communication and thought skills and prepare him for when he is older.
Levi spoke up and said that many families do what he just did and does many times with his boys, but not at the level he did because they don’t have the number nor the types of children that need their self-esteem rekindled and what they have to say is important and not discounted.
After some discussion, the adults went upstairs and Mr. Ken started in Mark’s room so his parents could talk with him before he and they went to bed.
Both Mr. Ken and Mr. Wayne talked to the rest of the boys at different times so the boys had two private talks with the men before bedtime. The boys enjoyed having that one-on-one time with the men and they looked forward to that time to talk about something that might be on their minds, or to just to know they are ‘loved’.
After all the boys had their ‘special’ time with the men, Mr. Wayne went to his apartment and Mr. Ken retired to his private retreat. The Cove then settled down for the night and before long it was quiet throughout the house and everyone inside slept well.
The saga of Three Finger Cove continues. Let Chowhound know you are reading his story: Chowhound at CastleRoland dot Net
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