Published: 2 Jan 2025

From The Previous Chapter:

That night, as they’d done last Friday, the Covers sat in the Great Room, with the puppies in their laps, they talked about their night. The puppies enjoyed being stroked and hugged and overall pampered as they lay or sat in the Cover’s laps. Chief was there watching that her brood was being well taken care of.

When their stories were done, the Covers put the puppies back into the three-foot coral that also contained the whelping box, and again the pups weren’t too happy to be off the warm and safe laps. The boys then went up to their rooms and waited for ‘dad’ Ken to arrive to say goodnight to them.

It had been another busy week for all of the Covers and the weekend would start with the Labor Day Picnic. But tonight, all of the Covers needed to have a good night’s rest, so they would be ready to enjoy the busy picnic tomorrow. Everyone slept well, except, that is, Mr. Ken, who was dismayed at the prospect of having to tell Phillip that he wasn’t going home after all.

When Ken Thomas woke up that Saturday morning, he would have liked to have sat down at the Kitchen Nook table, drinking his morning coffee and reading his morning newspaper. But he knew he had to feed the puppies first, so after he took care of his morning ablutions, he went out to the Kitchen Nook and began fixing the puppies soft gruel.

Once the puppy kibble was softening, the man went down to the Great Room to retrieve the puppy’s bowls to clean them out and then fill them with their food. As soon as the puppies saw him, they began to whine for attention, but when they saw him pick up their food bowls they began to bark in their squeaky voices, knowing they would soon be fed.

Mr. Ken laughed at the seven pup’s antics and rushed up to the Nook to clean the bowls and fix their first meal of the day and get it down to them. The man was balancing the seven bowls on his arms, as he was walking down to the Great Room when the boys began walking down the stairs. The boys took most of the bowls off of him and the seven Covers all walked down to the Great Room to feed the puppies.

Matthew and Charles then took the pups water bowls up to the Kitchen Nook to rinse and then fill them with fresh water for the pups to have when they needed something to help wash down their morning gruel.

Phillip then took Chief’s bowls up and fix the resident pets kibble and ice water and then took it down for her to eat. The Covers watched the seven puppies eat as fast as they could and take a drink from the fresh water Matthew and Charles brought down.

When Chief saw that her family was finished eating, she rounded them up and had them go out the doggie door and over to the area she was having them do their business at, before she would let them play.

The Covers watched the puppies do their business and then play and then Robert asked his dad what he was going to do about the puppies when he had 300 people there and the puppies want to go outside and play.

‘Dad’ Ken hadn’t thought that through and now he was face with a dilemma. He didn’t want to keep the pups inside all day, but he also didn’t want everyone at the Picnic going to where the puppies where and playing with them. That would be way too much human interaction for them to handle.

Robert’s dad then asked him to consider him and his ‘brothers’ taking the three-foot coral out of the Great Room, around three o’clock, and setting it up where the pups like to play. He asked his son to let the pups go potty where they usually do, and then to have them play inside the coral. The teen’s dad also asked his son to stay there and keep everyone away from touching the pups as that would be way too much stimulation for them in one day.

The other boys heard what their ‘dad’ asked Robert to do and they all agreed to help with that simple project and they said that they’d help Robert keep watch over the pups.

The Covers let the puppies play for about an hour outside and then they all decided they needed to have some breakfast and then get cleaned up for the Picnic. Chief helped the Covers round-up the seven pups and as she did, she made sure they all peed before they went inside. ‘Dad’ Ken liked that Chief was teaching them to do that, as it would be a good trait for the pups to take with them to their new homes.

The Police Explorers and the caterers arrived about the same time that Saturday morning. The caterers drove their van over towards the Pavilion and knew to set up on the far side of it. The Police Explorers had helped park cars at The Cove ever since Ken Thomas had his first Holiday party many years ago, so they talked about how they would facilitate the parking with any new members so they understood the procedure.

The Cover boys went up to the Cove Skate Park to skate some before everyone arrived, but when they did the caterer asked them to move the conversation pit from the lake side of the Pavilion to where the other one was so they had the full concrete pad in order to set up and serve the days foods. The boys quickly too care of that.

In the meantime, Mr. Wayne and Mr. Dennis had arrived and they asked the Police Explorers to help set out the umbrellas at the smaller conversation areas and open them. As they did that The Cove began to look colorful as the umbrellas were opened when coupled with the color of the patio furniture that was spread between and around the Pavilion and the Cove Skate Park.

Ken Thomas made sure he was up at the Main Gate as his guests began to arrive. The movers and shakers of the county and his special guests weren’t the first ones to arrive, but even so, the day’s host wanted to be there to greet the families of the boy’s friends, as they did arrive for the day’s Picnic.

It was close to one o’clock when the County Commissioner’s, the Sheriff, the Marina’s investors, Mr. Ken’s employees from his many business ventures began to arrive at the Labor Day Picnic. Even Archbishop Martinez and his secretary arrived around that time and Mr. Ken was happy that the man accepted his invitation.

Phillip and his band were already playing strong and the families were enjoying the live music coming from the Pavilion garage area. Although, Mr. Ken did ask them to turn the volume down some as when his guests were coming over to grab something to eat the serving area was just opposite the garage and the sound was a bit overwhelming.

The band understood what the man was saying, so they turned down the volume. But that didn’t deter them from playing their hearts out, as this was the second time that they had a real live audience to play to and they wanted to show them that they were an up-and-coming band.

Mr. Ken did take a few minutes to pull Wayne and Dennis aside to tell them about the situation with Makenzie and what she had in mind for her son, Phillip. He told them about his meeting with her on Monday and that he wanted to have her come back to The Cove to have her talk to her son about why she was waiting to have him back living with her. Both men were dismayed that she would do that to her son. Wayne did mention that it would be better for him to stay there than for him to go back to being ignored and left all alone at their apartment.

Sheriff Barnes took some time to thank Mr. Ken for again allowing his on-duty men to stop by for a bite to eat. The two men had become good friends over the years and the Sheriff appreciated that Ken Thomas always thought to invite his on-duty men to stop by when he had a picnic. The Sheriff also liked that he got to talk to his men and women when they came there, which was something he often didn’t get to do from his office.

Archbishop Martinez took some time to talk to Mr. Ken to again thank him for his generous gift of the vocational building for the Blessed Waters Academy High School. The archbishop invited Ken Thomas to stop by the school for a personal visit and tour to see what the students are doing with their new facility.

Mr. Ken thanked the archbishop for the invitation, and explained that with his other endeavors he might not be able to get there anytime soon. He did ask if he could send Mr. Chris over, as it was his idea for the building and everything just fell into place with the other companies offering to donate the equipment and supplies. The archbishop said that would be fine and for either of them to contact the principal to set the visit up.

It was about three o’clock when Robert and Billy let the puppies out of the Great Room. Charles and Eric helped them take the three-foot high 10 x 12-foot coral outside and set it up so the puppies could have a safe place to play.

Of course, the swimmers saw the puppies outside and they all wanted to see and play with them. Then when the word got out that Chief’s puppies were outside in a playpen, the four Covers had a tough time keeping the guests from getting too close and wanting to play with the pups. It eventually got so crowded around the enclosure that Billy called Mr. Wayne and asked him to come down there to help them keep the adults at bay.

Mr. Wayne did ask the guests to not stay around the coral too long as the pups weren’t used to that many people around them. The Estate Master told them that they don’t want to frighten them with too many people being around them too quickly.

The Labor Day Picnic went as they all had. The people renewed friendships and made new ones. The children had a great time skating, swimming, riding behind the Sea-Doo on the three-person water tube and playing on the water toys. The Rock-It got the most action as the kids liked trying to see how high they could be thrown after rocking the water toy as much as they could before letting go.

A few of the attendees talked to Mr. Ken about the band and how long they had been together. A few of the people wanted to know how much he was paying them and who was their contact person, so they could book them for something they had in mind.

The questions about the band not only surprised Ken Thomas, but it made him proud of what the seven boys had done by and for themselves by coming together as a band. Ken Thomas told the people about the band and that they had only been playing together all summer and that they hadn’t even picked a name.

But that didn’t talk the people out of trying to book the boys band to play at an event that they were planning in October to celebrate the harvest time around Halloween. Mr. Ken took their information and told them that he would have to get back with them after he talked to the boy’s parents to see if they were amenable to them playing outside The Cove.

As the day moved along, the conversation pits were the places the guests gravitated to. They saw that the most interesting people were usually there and that was also were the most laugher came from, so they, too, wanted to be a part of that. It was almost like playing musical chairs because as one person would get up to get a drink or something to eat and another person would take their place.

And even though there were only two dedicated conversation pits, the guests brought together some of the other patio chairs and tables and made a few other smaller places the people could sit and talk and watch the kids skate on the wonderful Cove Skate Park.

This time around there was no special blessing by the archbishop. But there were lots of back-door agreements in principle made so when issues came up at Commissioner’s Court or in front of a county department there was some back information already presented so the matter could more easily be moved forward.

The fire department arrived between five and six o’clock with all their equipment. The fire chief had the men position their apparatus in case they received a fire call while they were at The Cove. The Cover boys drove the golf carts over to the fire trucks so the firemen could catch a ride over to where the caterer was set up in order for them to get a good evening meal.

The fire chief talked to Mr. Ken and thanked him for having his crew over for a good meal that evening. The chief told the fireman’s host that they would normally cook their own dinner at the fire house, but being invited out to eat was a special treat for all of them. The chief told their host that they also appreciated he would give them a chance to come out and meet some of the county’s movers and shakers and get a chance to talk with them, which was something they rarely got to do.

Mr. Ken’s Marina investors cornered him and asked him if he’d get a chance to visit the Marina over the weekend. The host told them that he’d stop by tomorrow for a few minutes and take his family by there on Monday to see it all. He explained that Monday was going to be a ‘family’ day and he had some other plans to do with them that day.

The investors also asked him, again, how he felt about developing the area out by the hotel and the office building. Mr. Ken told them that the time wasn’t right for developing that area just yet, but they were free to buy the land from him and develop it by themselves.

The investors didn’t want to hear that, but they knew they needed his connections in the county in order for that project to be a success. The four men then told him that they were ready, willing and able to press forward on that project and when he was ready all he needed to do was give them a call.

Mr. Ken told them that he wouldn’t hesitate to call because that project would require an up-front multi-million-dollar investment to get it built before one penny of return would be realized. He asked them if they had the resources to fund that type of investment that could take at least two years to get the first phase finished. The men looked at one another and then they agreed that they would be ready for that call.

When Ben Walthers found the right time, he asked Ken if he, Addison, Rylan and Ryleigh could go and see the puppies. He told the owner of The Cove that his family were curious of the colors of the pups and which puppy they might be getting.

Ken told the President of TFE that he could take them down to see the puppies, but he needed to know that other people have earlier picks than they do and as such they would be choosing second to last. Ben said that as long as the puppy was healthy his wife and the children would be very happy.

When the Walthers saw the puppies, the children wanted to take one home with them when they left. Mr. Ken told them that the pups had just received their first shots and that they needed at least another two weeks of socialization and some training by Chief before he would let them go to good homes. Mr. Ken them told them how Chief had been training the pups where to go potty and how to sit and lay down and to pee before going inside. Addison said that she liked that the puppy would have some training they could build on when it came home with them.

The County Commissioners all stopped by to thank Mr. Ken for the Picnic and the chance to talk to people they couldn’t very well talk to otherwise at their office as they had today. They told him that they appreciate that he gives them this chance and at his Holiday parties to do talk about issues that needed some fine tuning and special attention when they come up officially.

Ken Thomas told them that that he knows that the local government work best when people have the chance to talk to their elected officials and get their voices heard. They all smiled and snickered at Mr. Ken’s comment knowing what the man truly meant. They all shook hands and said their thanks once again and their goodbyes.

Ken Thomas did search out all of the band members parents and told them about the requests he had about the band playing at some outside events later in October. He mentioned to them that he told the people that the band had only played there and that the parents would have to decide if the boys were ready to spread out.

The parents suggested that they all sit down together and talk about the bands future and if they want the boys to spread their wings just yet. Mr. Ken liked that idea and asked when they had the time to get together. He did tell them that he had a four-day meeting starting Wednesday and wouldn’t be available until next Sunday. They all agreed to meet the following Sunday there at The Cove when they brought their sons over.

Before they decided to go home, Chris Dominions walked Sandra and his two children, Hailey and Chris, Jr., over to where the puppies were outside playing in the coral. This was going to be the first time the family would be seeing the pups. Chris did stress to them not to get their hearts set on any one puppy, as Mr. Price had yet to pick his two and then Mr. Ken was picking his one puppy that was to remain at The Cove.

The children, of course, asked their dad when did they get to pick their puppy. Chris had to tell them that they picked fourth and they got dismayed that they wouldn’t get their special puppy. But Sandra quickly spoke up and told them that whichever puppy they got would be their special puppy, as they would love him, or her, and train the puppy to do tricks and love them back.

It was then that Chris told the family that Chief had been teaching her brood to sit and lay down and that they should go potty in one area, and that they should also pee before coming inside the house. Sandra thought that was perfect that their puppy would already have some training before they get it home.

The Goldersons, when they heard that Chris had shown his family the puppies, also decided to stop by to look at the puppies, too. Mark couldn’t wait until he got to choose the puppy for their home. Miriam and Levi looked over the seven pups and they each saw the one that they liked.

Wayne heard them talking and he reminded them that the Sire’s owner got to choose the first two puppies and then Mr. Ken chose next. The Estate Master suggested to them to not get to attached to one puppy, as it might not be there when it came time to take one home. He suggested to them to just wait to see which pups were remaining, and then chose from them.

After the Goldersons had their chance to view the pups, Wayne decided that the puppies had been outside way too long and that they should get them inside and fed. The Estate Master called on the boys to help him take the coral apart and put it back together inside the Great Room.

As the boys were doing that, Mr. Wayne was preparing the puppies evening meal. So, by the time the coral was put back together and Chief had her family pee outside and were now inside Mr. Wayne had the gruel in the pup’s dishes ready for them to eat.

The boys then went and got the pups water dishes rinsed and filled with fresh water for them to have when they got thirsty. They all watched the puppies eat and then have a drink and then it was time to have the seven puppies go outside to do their business.

Chief had her family follow her through the doggie door and the resident pet had the pups go to the area she had designated as the potty area, and the seven pups all did their business where they were supposed to. The pups then wanted to play some and with it being late and with no one swimming, since it was late, the Covers let them play for a little while before coaxing them back into the Great Room.

Up at the Pavilion, many of the families had begun to leave and they stopped by to thank Mr. Ken for having the Picnic, again, and giving them a chance to meet everyone over and make some new friendships and renew old ones.

Since the lakeside conversation pit had been moved, the two conversation pits had been consolidated into one big one and some of the other patio furniture had wound up being added, so that the area now seated about twenty people. And there were enough tables brought along so now the area had places for the people to put down their drinks and plates if they’d gone back for some more of the wonderful foods Mr. Ken had provided that day.

By the time the guests decided to leave, the band had finally decided to stop playing. And after they all had a bite to eat, they all got out on the Cove Skate Park and enjoyed the smooth surface and by then there weren’t as many skaters that they had to contend with out on the course.

Phillip was the only band member who didn’t go out to skate. He was still being careful about his shoulder and he didn’t want to fall and hurt it and possibly hurt it worst that it already was. So, the young Cover looked for where his ‘brothers’ were and he went inside to the Great Room.

Once the majority of the guests had left, in the oversized conversation pit were the usual faces – Judy Turner, Dan Fischer, Mary Taylor, Dan Chassen, Abigail Chadwick, Ken Thomas, Wayne Mitchel, Dennis Florkert, and joining them this time around were Levi and Miriam Golderson, Jules Diamond and his fiancé Eleanor Whittie, Doctor Doug Jennings, Collin Wilkinson, Ryan Taylor and Harper Young, the medical technician who took care of the Golderson’s wounds while they stayed at The Cove.

The group talked and tried to catch up with what the others had been up to since they last sat around and had the opportunity to do what they were now doing. The biggest question on everyone’s mind was did Ken ask Kate to marry him.

Ken Thomas turned beat red when Mary Taylor asked the question, but he recovered by telling everyone that Kate had some problems that she was working through before she would even consider marrying him. Mary asked what sort of problems could a young woman like Kate could have.

Ken told Mary that he wasn’t at liberty to tell her, but that Kate had visited for the 4^th of July and that he’s been back to visit her since then, and they talk just about every day. Mr. Ken finished by telling everyone that they would be invited to the wedding when they set the date. All the ladies smiled at hearing that there would be a wedding.

Jules Diamond was the next one asked when he was going to ask Eleanor to marry him. Jules put on a big smile and told everyone that he has already asked her and they have set a November date. Eleanor then told everyone to watch for the invitations.

The group made the rounds of asking everyone what they’ve been doing the past year. Harper Young was next one to be asked if he had ever finished his degree and if he had what did he get involved in. Harper told everyone that he had finished his bachelor’s degree in health sciences right after the Holidays and that he was now working.

Harper then admitted that he had a difficult time finding a job that he felt was right for him. But that he then wound up as a medical administrative assistant and was doing billing. He told everyone that he took the job because he needed to pay some bills but that as he did the job it allowed him to work alone and it dealt with numbers and he did check and balances on patients bills and he enjoyed the autonomy of the job. He told everyone that he was happy with his position and had already received one pay raise.

The group asked Abigail Chadwick how her first year as Principal of the Alvin York High School went. The woman smiled and told everyone that after she ran the drug dogs through the lockers and put a number of the football team in the alternative school the rest of the high school got into line.

She added that she now has five juniors who were just given 5 ½ year suspended prison sentences for an attack on a freshman last June. Abigail then told them that there are two high school students, a junior and a freshman, who are sitting in juvenile confinement awaiting trial, as adults, for the stabbing of that same freshman in the restroom off the Food Court of The Mall.

They asked Collin what was he doing now and he just told them that he would be starting his junior year in college and that he was a business major and after his Grammy passed away he was now remodeling Wilkinson and was staying with his Big Bro until it was done.

They asked Dan how he liked being the principal at his school now that Abigail moved on to the high school. Dan told everyone that he didn’t think he’d like it but over time he had gotten to enjoy the challenges that the job offers.

Levi and Miriam were asked how they were doing a year after the home invasion. They wanted to know if they have move forward and if they have changed the way they live in their home. Miriam answered and told them that it took them some time to let the ordeal become a distant memory. She told them that their son continues to see Doctor Doug and they are close to settling with the alarm company that installed a faulty panic button and never made an attempt to replace it before the invasion.

Levi added that they were now adding one of Chief’s puppies to their family and that it will not only be Mark’s constant companion, but they hope that some of Chief’s protective instincts will be passed on to it and be as good a protector to them as Chief is to the residents of The Cove.

The discussion then came around to Judy Tuner. They all wondered if she ever took some time off and took a vacation with her son. Mr. Ken smiled at hearing the question and Judy told him to shut up. That caused the group to want to hear what she had to say.

So, Judy told them that Ken had her go with him and his ‘boys’ when they visited his amusement parks back in June. She told them that she had her own hotel room, but she not only got the opportunity to see Ken’s many amusement parks, but she got to be with her son, Eric, and ride many of the rides at the parks.

Judy told everyone that it was good to see what Ken had amassed and to be with her son, too. She told everyone about the private executive planes they all flew in and how she felt like an executive flying everywhere they went. She did tell them that the boys always wanted to eat at fast-food places, but that Ken did make sure they had good sit-down restaurant meals, as well.

Judy added that she enjoyed the evenings when the adults would stop in the hotels lounge for a few adult drinks and talk about their day. Judy said that Ken would ask her what she thought about the park and since this was her first exposure to them, he wanted for her to tell him what she thought was good and bad so he could make any adjustments to make the parks even better.

Miriam then spoke up and told everyone that she got to go with Ken and the boys just recently and she loved those executive planes and having her own hotel room. But what she loved the most was being with her son, Mark, and getting to ride the amusement rides with him and she said that her son was the little daredevil riding those big roller coasters. The group laughed.

The group then wanted to know how Mary Taylor was doing with her decorating business. Mary smiled and told them how Ken had her talk with the boys and help them pick a new color for their bedrooms. She told them the boys had chosen some wild colors to begin with, but she was able to get the boys to achieve what they wanted by painting the ceiling a bright white and use a medium color.

Ken spoke up just then and told everyone the boys all want new drapes and bedspreads to now match their room colors. He did say that he hasn’t had the time to do that yet, so he asked Mary if she had the time to come over and maybe order what the boys need. Mary told him only if she could get another one of Momma’s wonderful dinner. Everyone laughed at how cheap the woman would work for.

Judy then asked Ken if she could look at the puppies. She said that she heard Chris and Levi and Miriam had gotten the chance to look at them earlier and she wanted to know what they looked like too.

Ken told Judy that he’d get a golf cart and take her down to the Great Room and let her see what colors the pups have. But he reminded her that she would be getting the last pup, whether it was a male or female.

Judy told everyone that for as often as she had taken care of Chief when Ken and the boys went off on one of their many trips, she told Ken that maybe it was time for her to have her own dog to keep her company. Judy added that in two years or so, Eric would be off to college and having the dog would help keep her company.

As Ken went to get a golf cart, some of the group decided that it was time for them to head on home. When Ken came back with golf cart and learned that many of the group were deciding to leave, Ken asked them to stay around and continue to talk. He explained to them that this was one of the few times that he gets to have so many of his friends here that he gets to talk to at one time and he would really like to hear what they’ve been doing.

Wayne spoke up just then and told him that he would take Judy down to see the pups. He told his employer to stay and talk to his friends. The Estate Master then asked the people to give Mr. Ken a chance to talk to some adults as he’s with the boys 24/7 and the only adults he gets to talk with on a regular basis are only him and Dennis and that he needs the outside stimulation. Everyone laughed, but they all decided to stay a little longer, too.

Judy loved seeing the puppies. They of course saw her and reacted and began their puppy barking wanting her to pick them up. Wayne told her how the boys will take one and put it in their lap as they talk before going to bed and the pups are getting spoiled.

Wayne also told the woman how Chief was training the puppies to go potty in the same place outside every time and to pee just before coming inside. The man also told Judy that Chief was trying to get the pups to sit and lay down on command. Judy was surprised at hearing that, but was also happy that whichever puppy she got it would have some training that she could continue to build on.

Ken Thomas thanked the group for staying a little longer to talk with him some more. He did tell them that his Marina was having its Grand Opening that weekend and they should try to stop by and register for some of the wonderful prizes they had to offer.

The group asked him about the Four Corners Amusement Park and was it achieving what he intended. Ken smiled and told them that it was exceeding all expectations and that if everything works out for him the park will expand some next year. They asked him how he would be able to do that, but he told them he revealed too much already. He then asked them not to spread that rumor around to their friends and associates.

When Judy and Wayne returned, Judy told everyone that she couldn’t wait until she had her own puppy to train and then eventually take to work with her, as she does when Chief stays with her. The group laughed at her wanting a puppy at her age. She reminded them that Eric would be going off to college in two years and the dog would be great company for her.

Dan Fischer had been sitting there taking everything all in, so they set their sights on him for some latest information from him. Dan just told them that if he told them that he’d have to kill them and he didn’t relish spending the rest of his life in prison. The group looked around at one another and then they all laughed.

Mary Taylor spoke up and asked Dan to tell them what he’s been up to and if there has been any change in his love life. Dan laughed at the last question and then told the group that he’s been kept quite busy as a lieutenant and working different shifts, which doesn’t give him much time to seek female companionship.

Dan did tell them that Kevin and Kyle did visit The Cove during the 4^th of July Holiday and it was good to see them and how much they’d grown. He did tell the group that during the twins’ time at The Cove, he got to talk to their Uncle Reynolds and Aunt Sylvia a few times.

Dan told them that during one of their conversations they asked him outright that if he had the chance to adopt Kyle if he would have. Dan told the group that he was glad that boy’s aunt and uncle came and took them, because it would have been a difficult decision to adopt Kyle and not Kevin. That revelation caused many more questions from the group and all Dan would tell them was that he and Kyle had made a connection from the very beginning but that he had no such affiliation with Kevin and that was why it would have been hard to adopt one and not the other.

Ken spoke up and told everyone that from the very beginning Kyle looked to Dan as possibly a surrogate dad, because he had no father/son connection with his real dad. The picnic’s host told the group that any time Dan was at The Cove Kyle would light up and gravitate to him and try to get his attention.

Ken added, that on the other hand, Kevin never had anything to do with Dan and at times he’d chastise his twin for spending as much time with Dan as he did. Ken revealed that there was friction between the twins over Kyle’s desire to have Dan’s attention any time the man was there.

That satisfied the groups need to understand that dynamic and by now they were all feeling the effects of the long day. It was Miriam who told everyone that they needed to get their son home and that it was a 45-minute drive to get there.

With the Goldersons announcement that they were headed home, it didn’t take long for the other women to thank Ken for the days’ picnic, and that they too then said they were going to head on home.

Before long everyone was standing up and hugging one another as they said their goodnights and goodbyes. The caterer had already put the leftover meats, potato salad and other items in the Pavilion’s refrigerators for the Covers to serve tomorrow to the boy’s friends when they come over.

The boys were at the Skate Park and they saw the adults beginning to break up their confab and they all walked over to them and told them good night. They asked their ‘dad’ what he wanted them to do and all ‘dad’ Ken told them to do was to make sure everything was locked up and then when they saw that everyone was out the Main Gate, they were to turn the Pavilion and Cove Skate Park lights off and to drive down to the house.

It had been a long day for all of the Covers and ‘dad’ Ken told the boys once they were all in the Study that he wasn’t going to have any sort of meeting. He told them that he would take them out for breakfast in the morning so they all needed to be up, showered, dressed and down in the Nook by 9:30.

The boys all smiled and Charles went over and thanked his dad for deciding to do that for them. ‘Dad’ Ken then told them that he wasn’t going to stop by their rooms tonight, as he needed to get to bed and sleep.

The man hugged all the boys there in the Study and told them all to have a good night’s sleep. All the Covers went to their bedrooms to relax and then got to sleep. Even Chief and her brood were tired from all the time they spent outside that day and they all slept well, themselves. The Cove became quiet throughout the night.

The saga of Three Finger Cove continues. Let Chowhound know you are reading his story: Chowhnd at Gmail dot Com

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