Published: 31 Aug 2023

From The Previous Chapter:

Chief had never thought about having a litter of puppies the entire time she lived at The Cove. She liked the idea and Mr. Ken told her that if she is healthy, she could make the decision. Her first master also told her he would see if he could introduce her to a number of sires that she could choose from. She liked the idea that he wanted her to be the one who decided which male she would mate with.

Chief loved that it was Mr. Ken who adopted her those many years ago and gave her such a wonderful home and lots of boys to play with. The resident pet slept soundly that Friday night and dreamt of having a bunch of puppies to care for.

“Phil … it’s time to get up and help with breakfast,” the young Cover heard, while he was being gently shaken awake.

“Oh, is it seven o’clock already?” asked a still sleepy-eyed Phillip.

“Yea, and wake up any of your friends who are helping. Use the Party Restrooms and meet us outside the garage if you want a ride up to the Pavilion,” whispered Billy.

Phillip quickly woke up his four friends and told them they needed to get up if they wanted to help with breakfast. The four boys got out of their sleeping bags and stood up. They all had pointy PJs that morning, but were still so sleepy that they didn’t realize it until Phillip started to giggle.

“Pervert,” whispered Bryson, with a smile on his face.

Phillip told them to change right there and then use the Party Restrooms and then they needed to head up to the garage if they wanted a ride up to the Pavilion. The five boys stripped off their PJs and even though they were only standing in their underwear, none of them cared as they put on their shorts, shirts and then their sneakers.

Dragons drained, the five youngsters headed up to the garage, but the three golf carts were all gone. But Billy called Phillip’s cell phone and told him he was coming to get them. Phillip thanked his older ‘brother,’ and then he told his friends that Billy would be right there.

Once the five young friends arrived at the Pavilion, they saw that Robert and Eric were making pancakes and Cooper was using the microwave oven to crisp up the already cooked bacon.

Momma Maria arrived and she saw that the boys were already getting the pancakes into the holding pan and the bacon was getting reheated and crispy. She had Phillip and one of his friends go to the refrigerator and get a gallon of pre-scrambled eggs and a couple packages of tortillas for her.

When the boys brought the needed items, the woman got the metal spatula from Robert and then poured some of the eggs from the gallon container onto the grill, and then she began showing him and Eric how to cook the eggs.

As the eggs began to cook, Momma showed the teenagers as she told them how to slowly move the congealing eggs to the center from around the edges and spreading what hadn’t been cooked to the edges, and then chop the cooked eggs with the edge of the spatula.

It didn’t take long for the eggs the woman cooked to be done and then she placed them into a holding pan. She then had Robert pour some eggs onto the grill and do what she just showed him and Eric. Robert wasn’t quick and the eggs began to burn so Momma told him to be quicker and took the spatula and showed him what she meant. Robert got the idea and soon his eggs were done.

Then it was Eric’s turn. He saw that Momma meant business, so he went about it much faster to make sure his eggs didn’t burn and now they had a nice pile of scrambled eggs to use to make breakfast tacos. Momma then told Robert to continue to make pancakes while Eric scrambled the eggs.

Momma Maria saw Phillip standing there watching, so she told him and Westin to go wash their hands really good and to come back there. When the boys did that, she showed them how to make the breakfast tacos.

She showed them to take a tortilla, a piece of crispy bacon and a spoonful of scrambled eggs and then how to fold it. The woman had each boy make one and when it didn’t come out too well, she told them to try again and what they needed to do to get to look better. Their third and subsequent ones were much better and then she had them wrap them in foil wrappers. They got another pan to place them in.

While Robert made pancakes, Eric scrambled the eggs and Phillip and Westin made breakfast tacos, Billy had the other boys set up the serving table. By that time the hungry gaggle of Cover friends were coming up to the Pavilion to eat.

Mr. Ken, Mr. Wayne and Mr. Dennis called for someone to come and get them, since all of the golf carts were now up at the Pavilion. Billy quickly went down and collected the men. As they were going past the Main Gate, Mr. Ken had Billy stop. The man told the guards that Donald and Frances Jenkins were going to come by soon, and to allow them right in and direct them over to the Pavilion.

Mr. Ken was impressed that the coffee was ready and hot and that there were not only pancakes and crispy bacon, but breakfast tacos as well.

There was a slowdown in the pancake making because Momma Maria took the cooks away for about ten minutes to teach them how to cook the eggs, but Charles jumped in and began to help Robert make the pancakes and that helped fill the pan right back up.

The Jenkins did arrive on time and they were impressed that the boys were all at the grill cooking. They saw a woman was also there and Mr. Ken introduced them to Momma Maria and explained that she was there to train the boys how to cook scrambled eggs, so the boys could make breakfast tacos. He also told them that she cooked all their meals and was a Cover too.

The six adults all got their coffee cups filled and chose to sit at the new conversation area that Wayne and Dennis had bought just a few weeks ago, and was set up on the new concrete pad, opposite the Cove Skate Park. After they set their cups down, they all went over and got themselves a breakfast plate of pancakes, crispy bacon and at least one breakfast taco and then they went over to the conversation area to eat and talk.

All the boys quietly ate their wonderful meal and would go up and thank Robert and Eric for cooking the pancakes, when they went back for seconds. Billy stood up and told them that Eric was mainly responsible for cooking the eggs and they should thank Charles, for helping with the pancakes. The Cover teen then added they needed to thank Phillip and Westin for making the breakfast tacos. All the boys applauded the cooks.

Donald and Frances Jenkins told their host, Mr. Ken, they were pleasantly surprised that the boys actually did cook breakfast, and that it was surprisingly good. Frances asked Momma if she came every time the boys cooked.

Momma told them that she only teaches them one time what to do and after that the boys get better and better at making the breakfast foods. She told the Jenkins that today was the first time the boys cooked scrambled eggs and then made breakfast tacos, and she felt they did a pretty good job.

Momma told them if they came back again, they’d find that the process would be better organized because by her coming today it threw their timing off. She added that usually the older boys did the cooking, but she was happy she could get Phillip and Westin involved with something important. She said she thought that the younger boys could also learn to cook the pancakes and eggs, because it isn’t that difficult, but she thinks Robert and Eric just like doing that. All the adults laughed.

After the adults had filled up their coffee cups, again, and sat back down at the conversation area, Charles brought over Krispy Kreme donuts. He told them they were what was left over from last night’s midnight snack, and he was giving them first ‘dibs’ before the ‘empty stomachs’ got their hands on them. Each of the adults took one and then thanked the teenager for thinking of them.

Once Charles placed the donuts out on the serving table, he took one and then told the boys that the leftover Krispy Kreme donuts were out on the serving line. The remaining donuts didn’t last long.

The boys who didn’t help make breakfast took it upon themselves to do the cleanup. Lonnie ramrodded that endeavor. He had the younger boys put the unused plates, utensils, and napkins, etc. back in the storage room and then wipe that table down.

The teen also had a few boys wash the cooking utensils and holding pans while someone cleaned the microwave oven, and someone else cleaned the grill. The rest of the boys picked up all of the trash and took it down to the dumpsters. Before long, the Pavilion looked as clean as it always did. Mr. Ken then called all the boys together.

“Boys … I think a round of applause is due for the cooks – Robert, Eric, Charles, Cooper, Phillip and Westin,” announced the owner of The Cove.

There was a loud round of applause for the boys from the gathered boys.

“I think another round of applause is also due to the other boys who set up the serving line, got out the drinks, cups, plates, napkins, utensils, etc. It takes a lot of work to put the breakfast on and I hope the next time the Covers put a breakfast on you will consider volunteering to get up at o’dark thirty to help them,” encouraged Mr. Ken.

Another loud round of applause was heard.

“And lastly … I think we all need to give Momma Maria a big round of applause for her coming in on her day off to teach Robert and Eric how to cook scrambled eggs, so we can now have breakfast tacos,” enthusiastically persuaded the man, as he led the applause.

Momma stood and smiled, as the boys clapped for her, as a way to thank her for being who she was, and for showing them how to cook and making their barbeques so much better.

Momma Maria left right after the applause and Mr. Ken walked her to her car. He thanked her for coming in to teach the boys how to cook the eggs. He reminded her he would be gone until Thursday, so she wouldn’t be surprised Monday morning when he wasn’t there in the Kitchen Nook.

As he walked back to the Pavilion, Mr. Ken saw the boys begin to head down to the house to gather up their sleeping bags. The man yelled out to them that Phillip had his guitar lesson at nine o’clock and Mr. Bindy was due soon and they needed to hurry it up, as they needed the Great Room. The man added that having thirty or forty boys in there would not be good. Jeffrey yelled to his mom and dad to wait for him and they could take his stuff home with them when they left.

The three other adults talked while the Jenkins waited for their son to bring his sleeping bag and other things for them to take home. Mr. Ken told them if they wanted to see how the boys put on a sub making spread, at lunch time, they could come back.

Jeffrey thanked his parents for waiting for him. He then thanked them for letting him spend the night. He told them he had a great time and that was the first time he was ever at a Dive-In Movie, and had a midnight snack of Krispy Kreme Donuts and vanilla milk. Jeffrey then had to explain what vanilla milk was before his mom left.

Phillip had his guitar lesson at nine o’clock and Mr. Bindy was happy to see that the boy now had a nice metronome to use to help him keep better time in practicing his guitar lessons during the week. The man continued to show the boy something new he could do on the guitar and the two practiced it so Phillip could work it into what he already learned.

Phillip was thoroughly enjoying his guitar lessons. Getting them was the best gift anyone had ever given him, and he told himself he was going to thank Mr. Ken by becoming the best guitar player he could ever be.

Mr. Dennis wondered that with all the boys there so early, he’d ask Mr. Wayne if he should get them started on cleaning the Pavilion. The Estate Master said that it will take him a good thirty minutes or longer of instruction to get all of them orientated to the new pressure washer, and how to use the rotating surface cleaner attachment. Wayne then said that most of the boys will want to try the new attachment, and by that time the boys will want to start setting up the lunch menu.

Mr. Dennis decided to go over to the new storage building, which was across from the Pavilion, and open the garage door. He called over to Billy and asked him to come over and help him set up the two pressure washers. That alone caused all of Billy’s friends to come over to help.

As the teen’s did that, of course they had lots of questions, so Mr. Dennis told them that he bought the rotating surface cleaning attachment to speed up the cleaning of the Pavilion floor and the Cove Skate Park deck.

The Assistant Estate Master asked Billy if he knew how to use the pressure washer. The teen said he used the older one last year, but did not know how to use the new one. Mr. Dennis smiled and was glad the teens answered that way.

“Boys, let me explain how to start the new pressure washer.” Mr. Dennis then went through the full starting procedure, and when he was ready, he pulled the cord and the pressure washer started. He stopped it and backed off the switches and settings and then had Billy try it. Once the Cover teen did it, Mr. Dennis had him turn the machine off and reset it to its pre-start position. The man had all of the older teenagers do that and Mr. Dennis was satisfied.

The man then brought out the new attachment. He showed them what it was and he explained how it worked. He then showed them how to hook it up to the pressure washer and then he had them hook the water hose up to the pressure washer and then attach the pressure hose to the machine and then the new attachment.

After starting the water flowing through the pressure washer to eliminate any air bubbles. Mr. Dennis started the pressure washer while making sure he had control of the new attachment, so it wouldn’t go out of control. He then slowly moved the rotating surface cleaner around to show them how easy it was to use. He then let each of the teenagers use the new attachment.

By that time most of the other boys had stopped by to watch what was happening. They all wanted to try out the new attachment. When Gus was the last older teen to use the new surface cleaner Mr. Dennis asked him to turn the pressure washer off.

With the noise gone, Mr. Dennis got all of the boy’s attention. “Boys … the new pressure washer starting procedure is a bit different than the old one from last year. The older teens have all been shown how to start it and either they or I will be the ones who will show you the correct way to start it, before you ever use it for the first time.

“Also, you all know how dangerous the pressure washer is. It has 3200 pounds per square inch of pressure pushing the water out of the nozzle. I do NOT … I repeat … I do NOT want to see anyone pointing it at someone. If I do … you will be sent right home. Do YOU understand?” loudly asked the man.

To a boy, they all said they did.

Mr. Dennis then wanted to get the boys started on cleaning the Pavilion. But Robert argued they were soon going to set up the fixings for the sub sandwiches and they didn’t need the whole place wet. Mr. Wayne jumped in before a shouting match ensued, and told the boys to start on the Cove Skate Park decking. Lonnie and Gabe showed the first boys how to set up the new rotating circular cleaning attachment and the Cover’s friends began the task of cleaning the Cove Skate Park deck.

After the Jenkins left, the boys who weren’t busy with using the pressure washer, started to skate where it wasn’t being cleaned, or play the big games up at the Pavilion. Phillip and his friends listened as some of the boys, who had been coming to The Cove the longest, talked about the coming summer and how they couldn’t wait until they could start swimming out in the cove and playing on the water toys.

But Phillip, Westin and Jeffrey didn’t have any idea of what the older teens were talking about, so Preston and Bryson told them about the fun they had when Mark lived there and they got to play on the big water toys out in the cove. The five boys walked to the back of the house to look over the water toys again and try to envision how they could play on them.

At eleven o’clock, Mr. Ken was up at the Main Gate. He had set up four interviews, at fifteen-minute intervals, with the prospective lifeguards that Jordan and Gavin had given him. He told all four teenagers that he might have a few more interviews to do and that he was going away for three days, so they might not hear from him until next weekend. They said they understood.

When Dakota and Annie came to work that Saturday, he asked them if they had any names for him of any prospective lifeguards for The Cove. They each had one name and a phone number and he thanked them for them. He then called the teens and asked them if they were available for an interview. Only one was still looking for a job and they could come over in about an hour.

The Cover boys and their helpers set out the sub making ingredients around twelve noon. Phillip and his friends helped set up the serving line by filling the ice machine, bringing out the cups, the plates, napkins and anything else Billy said they needed. They were happy they were able to help with getting the lunch setup.

Then, when it was time, the adults went through the line first and they started making the sandwich of their liking; then the morning cooks went through. The Cover boys went next and the rest fell in line and since there were two lines everyone had their own sub sandwich fixed fairly quickly.

Phillip and his friends couldn’t believe that they got to make the sandwich they wanted and could put on it whatever they wanted. They also liked there were different types of pickles and chips available for them they could put on the side of their plate and eat along with their sub.

Mr. Ken interviewed the last perspective lifeguard for The Cove for that summer at one o’clock. He had interviewed two females and three males and they all sounded good to him, but he wanted a bit more information on them before he made his decision.

The owner of The Cove called Jules for some quick background on all five of them. He hadn’t done that on the other guards, but he had the time and he wanted to get the best of the five, as he was only hiring one of them. At least, that was what he planned.

After Mr. Ken talked to Jules, he called Ms. Judy. She never called him back to tell him what the judge said about Phillip visiting his mom, and he was wondering what might have happened to delay that decision.

“Judy … Ken here, can you tell me what the judge said about Phillip and his mom?” directly asked Ken Thomas.

“I’m sorry Ken, the judge … he told me he was going to try to talk to the doctor today and get … and get a reading on her and how long he thought her recovery would take. I was hoping he would have called me by now, but … well, I’m sorry for not calling you last night,” offered Ms. Judy, as her reason for not calling her friend Ken.

“Well, we can’t do anything about that. If he calls you, please call me right away. I’d like to take Phillip over there today, if it isn’t too late. I leave for the airport at around twelve-thirty tomorrow, and I won’t be back until late Wednesday night. But if you don’t know until late tonight, or until tomorrow, or Monday, I guess Wayne can take him. The main thing is for the boy to get to see his mom, Judy. I’m sure you understand,” reasoned Ken.

The boys liked using the new pressure washer attachment. It made cleaning the Cove Skate Park deck so much easier, and they could easily see where they had cleaned even though the Park was only a year old.

Then once the sub sandwich makings were put away, Mr. Dennis told the boys to use the widest tip of the pressure wand so they don’t gouge the surface of the tables. The man had also bought bundles of white towels for the boys to use to wipe down the tables to dry them off.

He asked them to wipe down the metal supports for the tables and the benches when they were clean. But the boys argued that they’d get messed up when they clean the floors. Mr. Dennis thought about that for a few moments and agreed. But he asked the boys to remember to wipe the metal supports once they finished cleaning the Pavilion floor.

As Phillip and his friends helped clean around the Pavilion, Westin told him he was going to bring his guitar last night, but his mom wouldn’t let him. He said she knew they would be busy with the Dive-in Movie and then the sleepover. So, he told his Cover friend that he was going to bring it tomorrow, if that was OK.

Phillip said he thought it would be OK. The Cover also told all of his friends that Mr. Ken was going away for three days. When they asked where he was going, Phillip told them that his foster dad bought another amusement park, and he was going there to get it opened.

Phillip’s friends didn’t understand, saying they thought it would have already been opened, since it was already the beginning of May. Phillip told his friends that Mr. Ken bought it at a bankruptcy sale, or something like that, and he was going to try to get it opened by the first of July.

Charles heard the boys talking, so he came over to clear up any confusion. The teen explained that the new amusement park that his dad just bought had a roller coaster accident last year, and the owners had to sell it in order to pay all the lawsuits and final bills. The teen said when they are on their trip later when school was out, they would be visiting it, so Phillip will then be able to tell them all about it. Westin told his friend to take lots of pictures, so they could see what it looked like.

The day seemed to get away from the boys. With getting up early for breakfast, to gathering up their sleeping gear, to learning how to use the new pressure washer and rotating surface cleaner, to beginning to clean the Cove Skate Park deck, to fixing their sub sandwich, and the cleaning of the Pavilion tables and benches, the boys were so busy they didn’t realize it was already four o’clock when Billy said they should put everything away, as they had tomorrow and all of next weekend to finish cleaning.

It was also the time when Mr. Ken came to Phillip to tell him that the judge said he could take him to visit his mom. The boy jumped for joy and asked the man what was he waiting for. Mr. Ken told him he was waiting for him to go and get cleaned up, as they would go out for dinner afterwards.

Phillip asked his foster dad what would happen to his friends. Mr. Ken said they would be OK for two hours without him, but for him to go take a quick shower, put on some nice school clothes, and meet him in the Study. Phillip’s friends told him to stop wasting time and go and get his shower and they would see him tomorrow.

Phillip couldn’t wait until they got to the rehabilitation center and he got to see his mom once again. He talked the entire time the two Covers drove over to where his mom was now living. And along the way the Cover youngster told his foster dad about everything he wanted to tell his mom.

Since this was the first time Phillip and Mr. Ken were visiting Mackenzie Flores, Phillip’s mother, at the rehab center, the two Covers had to prove who they were. Lucky for Phillip, his foster dad had brought along his guardianship papers, and before long Phillip was taken to his mom’s room.

“Mom, mom,” called out Phillip, as he ran into his mother’s room and hugged his mom.

“Oh, my Philly,” said Mackenzie, as she heard and saw her son coming into her shared room. The two hugged for a long time, and then Mackenzie recognized that Mr. Ken was standing there.

“Thank you for bringing my son,” offered the woman, with a few tears forming in her eyes. “Did the judge … did he relent and change his mind?” now asked Mackenzie.

“Well, with your being sent to the rehab center, I asked Ms. Turner, you know, the Director of Children’s Protective Services, to ask the judge to reconsider his ruling that you two couldn’t see one another, until you were released from here.

“It took quite some time for her to even get on his schedule and even then, he wanted to talk to your doctor before … before he decided to let Phillip come over and visit with you. So, now, until you are released from here and can begin the training courses the judge ordered you to attend … you and your son can now have regular visits,” explained Ken Thomas.

“Mom, why did you have to come over here? I thought … I thought you were doing better?” asked a curious Phillip.

“Phil … the problem is … I am not getting my balance back and … well, I am still experiencing severe headaches, at times. There are a few other problems, too, that you wouldn’t understand, honey, but the doctors … they feel that by me being here these people can work with me to resolve them,” softly spoke Mackenzie to her son.

“But mom … when will we get to live together again?” Phillip wanted to know.

“Son, it won’t be until I can get better. And seeing that I just got here and I still have all these problems I think … well, it will be a while, yet, honey,” Mackenzie revealed to her one and only son.

“I miss you mom,” cried Phillip, as he hugged his mom some more.

Mackenzie hugged her son back, and she let him get his hurt out of his system. When the boy’s crying began to subside, Mackenzie indicated to her son for him to stand up. The boy stood and wiped the tears from his eyes and then sniffed his nose. His mom passed him a box of tissues for him to at least wipe his nose.

“Philly, tell me … tell your momma what you’ve been doing all this time,” requested the young Cover’s mother.

Phillip looked to his foster dad, as if he should tell her everything. Mr. Ken told him he’d been talking all about it during the entire drive over there, so for him to tell his mom all that he’s done.

Phillip started telling his mom about what he’d done that weekend with the sleepover, the Dive-In Move, and helping make breakfast tacos. He then happily told her about getting guitar lessons. And that made him tell his mother about the guitar that Mr. Ken got him for Easter and now he was getting him lessons every Saturday.

Mackenzie looked over to Mr. Ken and asked him if that wasn’t a waste of money.

The boy’s foster dad told her, “No, no it wasn’t, but on the contrary. Phillip’s guitar teacher, Mr. Bindy, told me that Phillip … that he has a good ear for music, and was very good at playing his guitar for being self-taught. And Phillip … he also has two friends who also play an instrument, and that they were going to try to play some together during the summer. You know, for fun.”

Mackenzie was skeptical at what she heard, so she told her son to tell her more about what he’s done at his new home.

Phillip told his mom about Mr. Ken taking him and all his ‘brothers’ to all the places he was building, so they knew what he was doing in case their friends asked them. Then Phillip told her about going to the shooting range and him shooting a .22LR pistol.

Shocked at hearing that, Mackenzie Flores demanded, “Mr. Ken … tell me you didn’t let my son shoot a gun!”

Proudly, Mr. Ken said, “Yes, I did. All my ‘boys’ … they learned to shoot right after the Holidays, and there was no reason not to show Phillip how to shoot, as well. The older ones … they shot a 9-millimeter pistol and the two younger boys, of which Phillip is one of them, shot a .22LR pistol. I had a Sheriff’s lieutenant there, and he helped teach Phillip how to hold the gun, how to shoot it …” and the man was interrupted by Phillip, right then.

“And Mr. Dan … he showed me how to group my shots. Mom, that was so much fun!” said a smiling Phillip Girroads, who then looked to his foster dad, still showing that great big smile.

Then Phillip got serious. “Mom … Rafael … he came … he came to where I live. Somehow … somehow, he learned I lived at Three Finger Cove and he … and he and two of his men came there when Mr. Ken had his Easter Egg Roll. We don’t know why he was there, but I bet … I bet he was there to get at me.

“I saw him and … and I told Billy and he called Mr. Wayne who called the security guards. He then called Mr. Dan, you know, the Sheriff’s lieutenant. He called his office and they sent some officers over and they and the security guards …they arrested Rafael and his gang members.

“Mom … mom do you know why Rafael … why he and his men came to our apartment? Was he looking for … for a gun, mom?” asked a serious Phillip.

Mackenzie looked shocked at the question her son just asked her. Then she put her hand to her head and Phillip and Mr. Ken knew that it had to have been the man or one of his minions who had hit her.

“Philly … yes … he came demanding to know where … where his gun was. But … but I didn’t know anything about a gun. I told him that, but … but he didn’t like me telling him that and then he hit me. That’s the last thing I remember,” admitted the boy’s mother.

“Mom … Rafael … he gave me his gun to hold for him the weekend before they took me away. I … I was supposed to be there to give it back to him, but …but … but you went out again and left me home alone and they found out about it and … and they came to my school and took me to Mr. Ken’s home.

“Why, mom? Why did you do it, mom? Why, after they warned you, mom? Why?” now cried Phillip. But instead of the boy going to his mother and crying on her, he went to his foster dad and cried with him.

Mackenzie looked to Mr. Ken for help as to what to say. The man mouthed for her to continue to have Phillip tell her what he’s done at The Cove.

When Phillip stopped crying, Mackenzie didn’t say anything about why she went out that last time that got him taken away from her. What she did was ask him to tell her more about where he lives, and what he’s been able to do.

Phillip told her about his four friends and Chief and being able to swim. He told her he’s only been living there for about a month, so he hasn’t done all that much. But he did tell her how Billy’s been giving him pointers on how to drive the Go-Karts better and he’s been having fun driving them.

The young Cover then told his mom that Mr. Ken was taking all of them on a ten-day trip to visit his five amusement parks, including the new one he just bought. The boy said that Mr. Wayne and Mr. Dennis would also be going along to watch over them.

Mr. Ken added that he also invited Ms. Judy and Mr. Dan, who would change half way through the trip, so there would be adequate supervision of all the boys throughout the trip.

Mackenzie asked if they would be driving or taking a bus. Mr. Ken smiled and said they would be flying a charted jet to all their stops, and staying at nice hotels, and they would have Fastest Passes, so the boys wouldn’t have to wait in line to ride any of the rides.

Mr. Ken looked at the time and told Phillip they needed to get a move on, so they could catch up with the rest of his ‘brothers’ for dinner. The man then told Mackenzie that he was headed out on a business trip for the next three days.

Before he could finish, the woman quickly asked who would be watching her Philly.

Mr. Ken told her that he had a licensed foster parent who worked for him and he would be there the entire time he was gone. Mr. Ken also told her that she might get to meet Mr. Wayne the next time Phillip comes over to visit her. He added it would depend on the timing.

“Oh, Mr. Ken … my mother … she told me that you called her. She said … she said that you’re going to help us straighten out our apartment. I want to thank you for doing that for me and my Philly. But … but I don’t understand why you think you need to do that for us?” said Mackenzie.

Phillip spoke up just then and said, “Mom … Mr. Wayne and Mr. Dennis … they took me over there to get some of my old clothes and my guitar. But mom … Rafael and his gang … they tore up the place looking for the gun I was holding for him. They broke lots of stuff and threw most of everything around. Believe me, mom, it needs to be cleaned up.”

“Oh … I didn’t know,” declared a surprised Mackenzie Flores. “I’ll bet the place looks a mess, then.”

“I’ll have Wayne get in touch with your mother during the week, and hopefully by the end of the week the place will be straightened out and what isn’t salvageable will be thrown away. Your mother will be there to supervise and decide, so if she stops by during the week tell her your thoughts,” suggested Mr. Ken.

Mr. Ken said they did need to get a move on to catch up with the rest of the Covers.

The mother and son quickly hugged and they gave one another a kiss.

“Philly … it sounds like you’re living in a great place right now, so please listen to what Mr. Ken says. I love you, son!” finished Mackenzie Flores, as she kissed her son one last time.

“I love you, too, mom,” returned Phillip, as he kissed his mom back.

The two Covers waved as they left the room.

Mr. Ken and Phillip met up with the rest of the Covers at the Four Corners Restaurant. They were late, but Mr. Wayne had them wait for them before they all ordered. Mr. Dennis was also with them. Then, when the two Cover’s arrived, the waitress, came over and took their drink and menu orders.

“So, how’s your mom?” Billy asked his youngest ‘brother’, Phillip.

“Well … she’s doing OK, I guess,” responded Phillip.

Mr. Ken spoke up just then and asked the boys not to bother Phillip about his mother. He told everyone at the table that Phillip’s mom was still having balance problems, and that she was getting severe headaches and she had a few more problems from being struck on the side of her head. He added that Phillip didn’t know any more than that, and there was no definitive time frame for her recovery.

The boys recognized Mr. Ken’s way of telling them to ‘drop it’, and they went on talking amongst themselves. The waitress brought them their drinks, while they talked.

“Dennis … I really appreciate your coming in today and tomorrow,” offered Mr. Ken. “This doesn’t happen very often, but when it does you can see why I needed the extra person on board to help us out. The boys have readily accepted you, so you shouldn’t expect any problems tomorrow.

“Wayne and Robert will leave around nine and Ben and I will leave around twelve-thirty. Wayne and Robert should be back about five and then you’ll all go out for dinner. My bet is they’ll want to come here to the Diner side, so they can go and drive the Go-Karts,” chuckled Mr. Ken. “Wayne has his credit card. Don’t worry.”

The Covers played miniature golf that night, to the chagrin of the older boys. Phillip enjoyed playing miniature golf, because that was something that he never got to do when he lived with his mom. He didn’t do all that well that night, but he had fun which was what that night was all about. Mr. Dennis and Mr. Wayne both went to their own homes after the game.

The Covers went over to Mr. Ken’s Kreamy Kone for ice cream sundaes and afterwards, they got Chief a double scoop of vanilla ice cream in a cup, that Phillip gave to the resident pet when they all got back to the Cove.

A quick meeting was held in the Study that Mr. Ken wanted to use to remind the boys of who had which appointment that coming week. He then sent them all up to their rooms.

Mr. Ken spent a little time with each of the boys before going down to his own retreat and trying to get a good night’s rest. He knew the next four days would be very busy for him. He knew he and Ben Walthers would discuss what they wanted to accomplish at Edgewood and how they would go about it on their flight tomorrow.

Mr. Ken then knew he had to trust Jason to implement the overall plan and not let himself micromanage Edgewood’s new Operations Manager. He would be there for three days and three days only and then he would have to leave getting Edgewood ready for Opening Day in Jason Zimms capable hands.

Ken Thomas then told himself to stop thinking that the man he hired to run Edgewood couldn’t do the job. Jason came highly recommended by Joseph Shartz, the operations manager for Fantasy Fun Park, and he did an outstanding job for him in inspecting both Edgewood and Crystal Lake Amusement Parks. And he was doing an outstanding job as administrator at Crystal Lake and he’d already implemented some worthwhile improvements that he had the other parks mimic.

Ken Thomas slept well that night knowing he had nothing to worry about at Edgewood.

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

137,608 views