Published: 29 Jun 2023

From The Previous Chapter:

Mr. Ken finally went to Bill’s room to say goodnight to the older teenager. The man told the teen to watch out for his youngest ‘brother’, as he helps during his first go around with the breakfast and lunch. Billy said he would and then the teen thanked his foster dad for letting them have the sleepover. The two shared a final hug and the owner of The Cove headed down to his own private retreat.

On his way to his own suite, the owner of The Cove stopped by the Kitchen Nook and took out some breakfast tacos to thaw. That was so they wouldn’t take too long to heat up in the morning as Phillip and Bill wouldn’t have a lot of time to eat something before their guests arrived. The other boys would also appreciate having them ready, too.

Everyone in The Cove slept very well that night.

The owner of The Cove slept in Saturday morning. Well, to him it was sleeping in as getting up at eight o’clock instead of six, when the boys had school, was a welcomed opportunity.

After the man relieved the pressure in his bladder, dressed in his normal nylon running shorts, t-shirt and Crocs, he went outside to get his newspaper. When he went inside, he placed the now thawed breakfast tacos into the convection oven and hoped they would be done when Bill and Phillip came down to eat. Mr. Ken then called the Main Gate and told the guard about their morning visitors, who they were, and told them to just let them in and direct them to the front door.

Billy and Phillip came into the Kitchen Nook about the same time with Chief at Phillip’s heels. The young boy quickly took care of the resident pet’s two bowls and filled them up with fresh water and kibble. The boy then sat down to breakfast, but found that the breakfast tacos needed to be placed into the microwave oven for a minute, or so, to finish heating them up. In the meantime, his older ‘brother’ had gotten them both a glass of milk

“Boys, I’ve already called the Main Gate to have your guests signed-in and sent to the front door, so be ready for them, OK?” offered the foster dad to the boys, as they were eating their breakfast.

“Mr. Ken … where will the DA and I talk about the trial?” asked Billy. “We usually use your Study, and will Mr. Stewart be here?” additionally asked the teen.

“That is a very good question, young man. Phillip … he and his teacher will undoubtedly be down in the Great Room … and with him and the teacher playing their guitars you will need a private space where you can talk and not be interrupted. And, since I will want to use my Study, I need to think of a space that you all can use.

“I know … there is the one vacant bedroom upstairs and the two vacant guest bedrooms that are both private and very quiet. And, there is the Theater downstairs, as well. Bill, when you’re finished with your breakfast, how about you run upstairs, really quick, and see if you would like to use one of the guest bedrooms. They do have lots of light verses the Theater, which does not. If they arrive before you’re down here, I’ll be the good host,” said a smiling ‘dad’ Ken.

The foster dad then asked Phillip if he had his guitar and A-frame music stand down in the Great Room. The boy said he didn’t, so the man asked him to finish his breakfast, wash his face and hands and run up to his room and grab the two items and take them down to where he will have his guitar lesson.

The two boys looked to one another, and then they quickly finished eating. They cleaned up their breakfast plates and then went and did what Mr. Ken asked them to do. While the boys were off doing what they were asked to do, the ADA, Mr. Bindy and Stewart Russell arrived at the Foyer Door.

“Gentlemen, welcome to my humble home,” offered a smiling Ken Thomas. The boys are getting their spaces ready. Mr. Bindy, it is good to meet you. Phillip and you will use the Great Room as you did the other day. He’s upstairs getting his guitar and music stand.

“Welcome Stew, Bill was wondering if you were coming, today. And Mr. Green, it’s been a while since you’ve been over here, welcome, John. Bill is deciding where you three will sit down and talk, as I need to use my Study,” offered Mr. Ken.

Just then, Phillip came down the stairs carrying his guitar and music stand, with Chief following him. Bill wasn’t too far behind.

Phillip and James Bindy walked down to the Great Room to start the guitar lesson, while ADA John Green, Lawyer Stewart Russell and witness Bill Dirketson walked up to one of the guest bedrooms that had a sitting area that they could use to talk about the upcoming trial of Bennett Grafflers and Weston Thrumble and their home invasion of Levi, Miriam and Mark Golderson.

Down in the Great Room, Mr. Bindy had Phillip play for him as he did the other day. The man then showed the boy how to play some chords and the two of them played together. Phillip picked up playing the chords immediately and he liked how he could move through them so easily and make the song sound so full. Mr. Bindy showed the boy a lot that day and the boy was like a sponge and soaked it all in.

Up in his Study, Mr. Ken could hear the music the two were playing down in the Great Room. The songs weren’t loud, but they had enough volume that the man was surprised at how well his foster son could play. He was now happy about his decision to buy the boy the guitar for Easter and provide him with some guitar lessons.

Upstairs, Billy Dirketson started telling ADA John Green about his being banned from The Cove and his few days spent at The Goldersons. The teenager then went into how he saw what happened on that fateful day of the Golderson’s home invasion. From that point, ADA John Green began asking the Cover specific questions about the invasion and what the surviving invaders, Bennett Grafflers and Weston Thrumble, did to him.

When those questions were over, the ADA then began asking Billy about his mom and step-dad. That caught the teen by surprise, but his lawyer, Stewart Russell, explained to him that the defense lawyers would try to defame his character by associating him with his parents and thus calling into question his truthfulness. Even so, Billy didn’t like having to answer questions concerning his mom, but especially about Jody Franks, who was killed during the shoot-out with Sheriff’s Deputies some two to three years earlier.

The three other Cover boys eventually came down and had their breakfast tacos. After eating and cleaning up the Kitchen Nook, they stopped by the Study to thank their ‘dad’ for heating them up for them. They also told him they were headed up to the Pavilion to make sure the restrooms were clean for everyone.

Robert, before he left, also told his dad that he and Eric would cut the field the next day and they would also cut it the weekend before the Memorial Day Picnic, so the grounds looked good. He then asked his dad if the regular groundskeepers would have the rest of the estate looking good for the Picnic, too. The teen’s dad laughed and then made a note to talk to Chris about that.

It was about 10:15 when Mr. Ken recognized that the guitar music from the Great Room had stopped. He figured that Mr. Bindy and Phillip would soon come up the stairs from the Great Room, so he headed out to meet them and talk to James Bindy about Phillip and his guitar playing ability.

“Mr. Bindy … I apologize that I failed to introduce myself earlier, I’m Ken Thomas. Now, can I talk with you before you have to leave?” said Mr. Ken, as the two guitarists came up from the Great Room.

Phillip knew he needed to let the two men talk, so he again thanked Mr. Bindy for the lesson and then took his guitar and A-frame and headed up to his room. He also told himself he should also take his shower and get ready for the day, while he was up there.

“So, tell me … what do you think about Phillip’s ability?” directly asked the boy’s foster dad.

Mr. Bindy smiled and said, “It’s too bad the boy didn’t get lessons sooner. He has a good ear for music. He easily picks up what he’s shown and he remembers what he’s learned. What he doesn’t have is confidence in himself.

“Phillip told me you hadn’t gotten him the metronome yet, and I hope you will soon. I gave him an App he can download and put on his phone and his computer, so he can have the beat he needs to play his guitar with as he practices. But the metronome would be better for him overall.

“As for the confidence issue … I think … I think it’s because he never had anyone give him any positive feedback on his playing. I say that because … well, because he told me that his mom … that his mother always complained that his playing was a waste of time, and that he would never amount to anything by playing it.

“But the boy … he indeed has talent; that I can tell. He just needs some good, positive encouragement and … and if he has a few friends, who also play and they could all play together it would … I think it would greatly help him build up his confidence.

“And who knows what the future would bring the young man. And the more lessons he gets, the better player he’ll become. Now, I better get a move on to my next student. Should I pencil Phillip in for next Saturday?” finished Mr. Bindy.

As James Bindy was exiting through the Foyer Door, Ms. Judy Turner, the Director of Children’s Protective Services was coming in.

“Ms. Judy, to what do I, we owe this unexpected pleasure?” chuckled Mr. Ken.

“Well, as you so kindly reminded me the other night, I am here to do a Home Study Inspection on my three foster children. I hope you’re ready,” teased Ms. Judy.

“Why, yes, Ms. Director, please enter into my lair,” laughed Ken Thomas, as the owner of The Cove, and foster dad to the three boys she was referring to, led Ms. Judy into his Study.

“Ken … can I ask you who was that man who just left?” spoke up Ms. Judy.

“That, Judy, was James Bindy … guitar teacher for Phillip,” answered Ken. Ms. Judy smiled at learning the boy was now getting guitar lessons.

The two then talked about Phillip and what had transpired since Rafael Ruiz and his two cohorts came to The Cove last weekend to do whatever they had planned. Ken went on to explain about getting Phillip the guitar and his hiring James Bindy to give the boy some guitar lessons. They talked some more about Phillip seeing his mom and grandmother and Judy reminded the foster dad that the judge had to approve the contact.

The two then talked about Billy being upstairs with ADA John Green and being prepared to testify beginning sometime next week at Bennett Grafflers’ and Weston Thrumble’s home invasion trial. They then talked about Matthew.

Ken Thomas asked Judy Turner, Director, Children’s Protective Services, if there was any movement on the boy’s situation. But the Director told Ken that the boy’s mom, who was due to be released from prison when the boy turns sixteen, told them she was not relinquishing her parental rights and had stressed her desire to be reunited with her son. That wasn’t what Mr. Ken wanted to hear and he knew that wasn’t what Matthew would want to hear, either.

As the two adults were talking, Robert, Charles and Matthew, along with Eric, stopped by the Study. Robert said they cleaned up the Pavilion’s restrooms and straightened up the Storage Room and they were now headed upstairs to get their showers.

Just then Phillip came by the Study and was surprised to see Ms. Judy there. He said ‘Hello’ to the woman and then told his foster dad he’d talk to him later. But Ms. Judy asked him to stay as she stopped by to talk to him. That surprised the boy, who slowly entered the study and sat down.

Mr. Ken told the two to have a good talk, as he was going to get ready for the day, as they had guests arriving at twelve noon and he needed to be presentable and smelling clean. Ms. Judy said they would and not to hurry on their account.

Phillip sat there not knowing why Ms. Judy was there and then he asked, “Did … did I do … did I do something wrong?”

“Oh, no Phillip, it’s just that I … well, that I should have been over here sooner to talk to you about how you are doing. You’ve been here three weeks now, so tell me … how do you like living here with Mr. Ken and all your ‘brothers’ and Chief, of course?” finished Ms. Judy.

Phillip told his case worker all about his time at The Cove and how much he loves living there. He told Ms. Judy that he wished he could see his mom more, but hoped that Mr. Ken could find out how she was doing. The boy then told her about the guitar Mr. Ken got him for Easter and that he was now getting guitar lessons and was looking forward to his next one.

Phillip also told his caseworker about Mr. Ken buying all the boys bullets for Easter and his foster dad taking them all to the shooting range. The boy continued and told the Director how much fun he had shooting the .22LR handgun and how Mr. Dan also gave him some help in keeping his shots grouped. Phillip told Ms. Judy that he hoped that Mr. Ken would take them there again because it was something he’d never done before and it was a lot of fun.

The boy’s enthusiasm was boiling out and Ms. Judy was happy for him. She knew that Mr. Ken was doing for Phillip what he’s done so well for all the boys who have come to him, which was to give them a loving stable home, good nutritious meals, an environment in which to grow and develop and a place to have their friends come, play and have fun.

As the two talked, Ms. Judy heard the other boys coming down the stairs as they were talking loudly, so she got up hoping to see Matthew was there, as she needed to talk to him, as well.

“Oh, hello, Matthew … could I talk with you for a few minutes?” called out Ms. Judy to the young Cover, who was with Robert, Eric and Charles.

Matthew and Ms. Judy walked into the Study and Matthew was surprised to see Phillip there. Ms. Judy explained that she was there to talk to all three of the foster boys, as she needed to do a house visit every so often and today was the day she picked. Ms. Judy then asked Phillip if he had anything else he wanted to tell her and, if not, he could go and catch up with his ‘brothers’, while she talked to Matthew.

Mr. Ken came by just then and saw that his Study was still being used by Ms. Judy, so he went to the Kitchen Nook to get a fresh cup of coffee and finish reading his morning newspaper. As he sat down, Phillip asked him if he heard anything about how his mom was doing. He honestly told the boy he hadn’t called, but he would and asked the boy to give him the house phone from the wall.

With Phillip standing nearby, Mr. Ken called the hospital where the boy’s mother, Mackenzie Flores, was being treated. He asked the nurse who answered the phone if she could give him any information about Mackenzie. The nurse told him she wasn’t authorized to do so over the phone and that he would have to talk to the woman’s doctor. Mr. Ken asked if the doctor was there and learning he was he asked if she would ask him to call him before he left the ward.

Phillip was disappointed that the doctor wasn’t immediately available to tell Mr. Ken about his mother. Mr. Ken told the boy that he could wait until the doctor returned the call, or he would tell him what he learned later. Phillip decided he could wait and he headed outside, but before he left, Mr. Ken reminded the young Cover that he should be at the Main Gate around noon to meet and greet his new friend and his parents. Phillip, with a big smile on his face, said he would be there.

It was going on 11:45 when Mr. Ken decided to head up to the Main Gate. He called Bill to remind him that he had guests arriving soon. The Cover teen told his foster dad that they weren’t finished and asked if Lonnie or his other friends could host the girls, as they also knew them, until he was finished and got his shower. Mr. Ken agreed knowing the teen needed to be ready for next week when he was called to the witness stand at the trial.

Mr. Ken stopped by his Study to remind Matthew that he had guests arriving in about fifteen minutes and that he was taking the last golf cart. Ms. Judy told the twelve-year-old that she had what she needed and to go with Mr. Ken.

The Director of Children’s Protective Services then asked if Billy would be available to talk to her. But Ken told her he was being prepped by the ADA for the trial beginning the first of May and then he had guests, too. So, Ms. Judy said she could come back later or maybe tomorrow. But Ken told her that they were going to visit Bill’s mom and would be gone most of the day, but that she could join them for dinner later that evening and then talk to the teen there or come back to The Cove. Ms. Judy agreed to the invitation.

Mr. Ken and Matthew arrived at the Main Gate just as the lifeguards were arriving. The owner of The Cove called them over to talk to them.

“I’m not sure if you know this or not, but Russell … he has decided not to return this summer, so I will need to hire at least one more guard. So, with that … Jordan, I want you to take over as being the senior guard and to start the training as you all did last year.

“Also, if the four of you know of someone who is looking for a position, give me their names and I’ll do interviews as I did last year. Also, please give me your sizes so I can get Mr. Chris to buy you all new uniforms for the year, and also give me a list of any pieces of equipment you think you need or that needs to be replaced. Any questions?” finished Mr. Ken.

“Oh, Jordan and Dakota, you’re both eighteen now, so I would like it, if you both would take the Texas Boating Safety Course, then give me your certificates to copy for my files. This way you can both drive the personal watercraft and pull the boys behind you. I did buy another personal water craft, a 300 horsepower Sea-Doo GTX Limited, and three-person raft for more fun this summer.

“Gavin and Annie … both of you can take the course, as well, and you can drive the PWC’s, as well, but until you are eighteen you can’t drag the boys behind you, or have anyone sit on the back when you are using the personal watercraft.

“They offer the course on the weekends and you can also take it over the internet. If you plan to take it on the weekend, please don’t all of you take it at the same time. But we will be gone for about two weeks after school is over, so you could wait until then. But I would appreciate if Jordan and Dakota would at least have that training. You’ll see my appreciation in your paycheck,” chuckled Mr. Ken.

As the lifeguards were talking to Mr. Ken, the Cover’s friends were beginning to arrive. So, Mr. Ken told the lifeguards to go and get the pool area ready and begin their training for the new swimming year.

Mr. Ken then told his boy’s that he wanted to use a six-seat golf cart to take Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins around the estate and that they would have to use the other six- and four-seat golf carts, as best they could.

As Brett and Lonnie came through the Main Gate, Mr. Ken asked them to play host to the girls Bill invited over today, as he was busy right now and would be out when his other guests left. Lonnie nonchalantly mentioned that the ADA must be still getting him ready for the trial next week and that he understood. Mr. Ken just shook his head and smiled.

All the regular Cover friends were arriving and along with them the invited girls also began coming to The Cove. Robert, Charles and Matthew were there along with Brett and Lonnie who greeted the girls. Phillip was also at the Main Gate, standing with Mr. Ken, as they waited for Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins, and their children Jeffrey and Jordyn.

As the invited girls began arriving, a few of the parents who drove them, when they saw Mr. Ken at the Main Gate, parked their vehicle and went over to talk to him. They thanked the man for inviting their daughter, but he corrected them by telling them it was one of his ‘son’s’ who did the inviting, but he was happy they were able to come and enjoy the day of skating, playing a few of the large games and maybe do some swimming.

It was while Mr. Ken was talking to some of the invited girl’s parents that the Jenkins arrived. Mr. Ken excused himself from them by telling the parents he had some special guests arriving and he needed to tend to them and asked if he could possibly talk to them later.

Mr. Ken, Phillip and Charles walked over to the vehicle in the new parking area and greeted the Jenkins as they got out of the vehicle.

“Welcome to The Cove, I’m Ken Thomas and these are two of my ‘son’s’, Charles and Phillip,” offered the owner of The Cove.

Donald Jenkins, Jeffrey’s dad, introduced himself, his wife, Frances, and daughter and son to Mr. Ken and his ‘sons’. They all shook hands and Mr. Ken asked them to walk over to the Main Gate where the guard would register them in the database.

Of course, Mr. Ken had to explain why they needed to be registered and after the simple explanation, and the Jenkins getting their names placed into the database, Jeffrey went with Phillip and Jordyn went with Charles over to the Pavilion.

Also, upon entering the estate, the Jenkins couldn’t believe what they were seeing. Their children heard there was a Cove Skate Park and large Pavilion and had told their parents about it, but none of the Jenkins had any idea they were as big as they were and that there would be as many boys there as there were.

Mr. Ken then asked Donald and Frances to be seated in the golf cart and told them he would start their ‘nickel tour’ down at the house. Along the short ride down to the Foyer Door, Mr. Ken told his guests that he was hosting a Memorial Day Picnic, on the Saturday of the three-day weekend, and they and their children were invited.

Mr. Ken told them all they needed to bring some lounge chairs, swimsuits, towels and skateboards. He told them he has lifeguards for when the kids swim and a caterer who will prepare the foods all day long and there will be loads of other parents and other dignitaries there, as well as lots of games they could participate in and good conversation, so they will not be bored.

The owner of The Cove added that there would be at least two hundred people there, or more, and that he had invited the families of all of his ‘boys’ friends, the people he works with, and friends he’s made along the way. He also told them that he’d invited some special guests, such as, the County Commissioners, the Sheriff, and his Deputies who were on Duty that day to stop by for a bite to eat and also the District Attorney.

Continuing, he mentioned he also invited the Fire Chief and the local fire company to stop by to eat, as well as his business partners, the Catholic Archbishop and many more. Mr. Ken then suggested that they could meet a banker, a college professor, a heavy machine operator, a public relations manager, builders, investors, an architect and lots of people in between and he hoped they would consider attending and possibly making new friends, since they were new to the area.

Mr. Ken told Donald and Frances that he’d adopted two sons and currently has three foster sons for a total of five boys at The Cove. He added that the boys each have their own friends and that is where all the extra boys came from and that today they also invited a few girls, since Jordyn would be there.

The owner of The Cove told the parents that their son, Jeffrey, could continue to return to The Cove tomorrow at twelve noon and every day that Phillip is there, but he would have to leave by six o’clock when there was no school the next day and by five o’clock when there was.

Up at the Pavilion and Cove Skate Park, Lonnie, Brett, Jamie, Gabe and Gus did a great job of hosting Billy’s friends Mikayla, April, Kendra and Katelyn. They explained to the sophomore girls that Billy had some people stop by that morning and he had to talk with them and he’d be up there as soon as he could.

Robert and a few of his friends reacquainted Claire, Alice, Taylor and Whitney with the Pavilion and the Cove Skate Park. They also challenged them to play some of the large games, such as, the beanbag toss, toppling timbers, giant four-in-a-row and washers. The girls who didn’t skate told the boys, “They were on!”

Charles told London, Faith and Morgan that they’d been there before and knew their way around, but that this was Jordyn’s first time there and he wanted to make sure she knew her way around and he was going to give her the ‘nickel tour’. The Cover added that they could tag along when he took her down to the house to show her around.

Matthew took Bailey, Kylie, Jade and Molly over to the Pavilion and told them they could skate or play the games and that they would burn some burgers and dogs later and then they’d swim. Matthew and Bailey then went out on the Cove Skate Park and began to skate. Matthew’s friends then began talking to the girls.

Phillip was happy Jeffrey could come over to The Cove. As he and his new friend and his other friends walked over to the Cove Skate Park, the Cover explained how the Cove Skate Park came about. He told Jeffrey that he was glad he brought his skateboard and that there were essentially three areas of difficulty on the Skate Park, so that he didn’t have to make a fool of himself. Jeffrey laughed at hearing that and said he was happy because he wasn’t all that good.

The five boys walked over to the lockers and Phillip told his new friend that he could select one that wasn’t being used and that he could continue to use it for as long as he came over to The Cove. Jeffrey didn’t understand until Preston told him that he could come back every weekend when Phillip was there and when school was out every day that Phillip was there. Bryson then added, “Unless you screw up and Mr. Ken bans you.”

“Wait … you mean … you mean I can come over tomorrow, too?” asked a questioning Jeffrey Jenkins.

“Yes, that is what he means,” answered Phillip.

“Look … all of our friends … they can come back whenever we are here and they can stay until six o’clock when there isn’t school the next day and until five o’clock when there is. And as long as you help us when asked, and don’t cause trouble, when you are here, you can come back and enjoy everything that we have here. Well, everything except the personal watercraft, because we aren’t old enough and the sailboats until we learn how to sail.

“Oh, oh, and guys … Matthew … last night when we were having our nightly meeting … he asked Mr. Ken if we could have a sleepover next weekend. And, Mr. Ken, he said … yes! So, I need you to ask your parents if you can sleepover next Friday night.

“You can arrive at six and we’ll have pizza for dinner and then a Dive-In movie. My ‘brothers’ … they said we’ll watch a movie while we’re in the pool and then afterwards we’ll have a midnight snack and then go to bed. Billy told me we’ll then cook pancakes and make breakfast tacos in the morning, and then later for lunch on Saturday we’ll get to make our own sub sandwiches.

“All you’ll need to bring is your sleeping bag, a pillow if you need one, what you sleep in, a change of clothes, if you want, and, of course, your swimsuit and towel. Oh, and Mr. Ken and Mr. Wayne … they will be the chaperones and we’ll have the lifeguards for when we have the Dive-In movie, in case your parents ask,” finished Phillip, as he explained what would happen during the sleepover next Friday night.

None of Phillips’s friends had ever been at The Cove for a sleepover, even Preston and Bryson, who were Mark’s friends didn’t get the chance to attend a sleepover, since they didn’t meet the Cover until he began attending school.

“Phil … how many people will be here, you know, at the sleepover?” asked Jeffrey.

“Well, all of you and my ‘brothers’’ friends will be here. So, let me think. There would be us five, Billy and his five friends, so that makes eleven. Then there is Robert and his nine friends, and Charles and his nine friends and Matthew and he has twelve friends. So, all together there should be …,” was saying Phillip, when he was interrupted by Bryson who said, “Forty-one!”

“Can I ask why, ahh, Matthew, ahh … why he has so many more friends than, ahh, the rest of you do?” asked Jeffrey.

“Oh, from what I was told it’s because that some of the boys … they are brothers of Robert’s, Billy’s and Charles’ friends and they were friends of Kevin and Kyle, who were foster boys here once and were taken by their aunt and uncle to live with them last year,” explained Phillip.

“Won’t it be kind of crowded and … and where will we all sleep?” now asked Jeffrey.

“Well, I was told that they once had fifty-two boys spend the night, so I don’t think it will be all that crowded. But since you haven’t seen the inside of the house, and what else there is to do, let me show you around the estate,” suggested the Cover to his new friend.

Phillip and his friends walked across the field and down to the house. As they did, Phillip told Jeffrey that he could still see the outline of a soccer field and that when Mark lived there, Mr. Wayne, the Estate Master, had the soccer field made for him, so he could play against the other boys, and also so that his team could also practice there.

Jeffrey was flabbergasted that Mr. Ken would do that just for one boy. That was when Phillip told his new friend that eighteen months ago, for Christmas, Mr. Ken gave his sons and the foster boys the Cove Skate Park and Pavilion. Phillip also told Jeffrey that his foster dad also bought them a new Sea-Doo personal watercraft this last Christmas and he told him to wait and see what is out in the cove. Preston and Bryson just laughed knowing what was there.

As the boys got to the house, Phillip used his finger in order to open the lock on the side garage door to gain entrance into the house. Jeffrey was amazed that the house had that kind of entry system. Once inside the home, Phillip began explaining what his new friend was seeing.

The Cover explained that the Kitchen Nook was where they usually ate all their meals unless they had guests. Jeffrey had to go over to the large picture window to look out to view the lake. He loved the view from there. Phillip showed his friend the back stairs that led up to the bedrooms, and told him that they usually used the main stairs in the front of the house. When asked why, the Cover said it was just out of habit, he guessed.

But the five boys used the back stairs just so they could see that they could get up to the bedrooms that way. When the boys got up there, Bryson told Jeffrey that he had to see the bathroom. Jeffrey asked what was so special about a bathroom. Preston told him to just walk in and then tell them what he sees.

When Jeffrey walked into the boy’s bathroom, he couldn’t believe what he saw. He laughed at first, and the other boys asked him what he thought. Jeffrey said he wished he had one of those in his bathroom, but that his sister would probably be embarrassed with it there.

“My ‘brothers’ … they call it a ‘porcelain god’,” laughed Phillip. The other boys laughed right along with the Cover.

“What do we have here?” called out Billy, as he went into the bathroom to use it before going outside to catch up with his friends up at the Pavilion. “Showing off the ‘porcelain god’ are we?” laughed the teenager.

“Oh, Billy, this is my new friend, Jeffrey. Jeffrey Jenkins. He and his sister are here today and Mr. Ken … he’s giving his parent’s the ‘nickel tour’,” answered Phillip.

“Yes, I met them when Mr. Green and Mr. Russell were leaving. Welcome to The Cove, Jeff. Did Phil tell you about the sleepover for next Friday? I hope your parents will let you come. We always have a great time with pizza for dinner, the late-night swimming, the Dive-In movie, then the morning breakfast and later we get to make our own sub sandwiches for lunch. You’ll see if you get to come,” was how Billy laid out how the sleepover would go to Jeff.

“It … it sounds like a lot of fun. I’ll ask, but since we, you know, just met, I don’t know if they’ll let me,” replied Phillip’s new friend, Jeffrey Jenkins.

After the boys were done talking with Billy, Phillip took his friends to his bedroom to show Jeffrey what it was like and to show him his new guitar and to tell them all about his lesson that morning.

Westin asked if he could try out the guitar and when he did Phillip could hear that his friend could play fairly well. And as Westin strummed on the guitar, Jeffrey began using his fingers on the desk as if he was beating on his drums.

“See, if you had another guitar, you three could play together and sort of start your own group,” spoke up Preston.

Just then Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins, along with Mr. Ken came to Phillip’s room.

“Oh, hi mom, hi dad,” spoke up Jeffrey, when he saw his parents at the door.

“Starting a band, are we?” teased Donald Jenkins.

“A band?” asked Mr. Ken, kiddingly.

“Ahhhhhh, Mr. Ken … it’s Preston … he keeps saying that Westin and me and Jeff … that we should get together during the summer and start playing together and see if we could, you know, see if we could form a, you know, a band,” offered Phillip.

“Well, from what I heard this morning during your guitar lesson, you play very well. And what we heard as we came down the hall the beat was pretty good. So, I take it Jeff, that you play the drums?” Mr. Ken directly asked the young Covers new friend.

Jeffrey smiled at the question and answered, “Yes, sir. I’ve taken drum lessons, but my parents … they don’t like it when I practice. They say I make too much noise in the house. But how else can I get better if I don’t practice?” finished the young boy, as he looked directly at his mom.

Mr. Ken smiled at the boy, then offered, “Well. Jeffrey, I can surely understand your dilemma. At least here, I have loads of places you three could practice, but I’ll bet the music will still carry through the house. But I want Phillip to work on his playing and it would be nice if he had some friends who played and they could get together and … and jam, I think they call it.”

“See mom, dad, he would let me play. Maybe this summer I could bring my drums over here and we could jam some. What do you think?” quickly asked Jeffrey.

The boy’s mom quickly responded and told her son that they would have to discuss that and the summer is still two months away. Donald, the boy’s dad, added that it would be nice to let their son play with his friends to see if he, and they, could form a small school band. Jeffrey smiled at hearing what his dad had said, as his dad once played with a small group in high school.

Moving things along, Mr. Ken asked Phillip if he was showing Jeffrey around The Cove. Phillip said he’d already showed him the Cove Skate Park, Pavilion, Kitchen Nook, the back stairs, the boy’s bathroom and his bedroom and he was headed down to the MRS Room and then the Great Room and everything on that level before heading outside to show him the cove and what they could do once the weather gets warmer.

“What’s so special about a boy’s bathroom?” innocently asked Frances Jenkins.

The five boys snickered as they walked out of Phillip’s bedroom and towards the front stairs, with Chief following closely behind them.

“What was all that snickering all about?” asked Mrs. Jenkins.

Mr. Ken knew, but wasn’t about to tell her. He would let the ‘show and tell’ be his answer. He then knowingly laughed inside of him, as he walked his guests towards the boy’s bathroom.

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

137,622 views