Published: 5 Oct 2023

From The Previous Chapter:

The Cover boys talked with Mr. Wayne that evening before going to bed. In Robert’s room, the teen asked him if he thought if his dad was seeing Kate while he was at Chrystal Lake. All Mr. Wayne did was smile, and then tell the teen to ask his dad when he got home. Robert said he’d think about that, and then smiled himself.

All the Cover boys slept well that night. Chief also had a good sleep, as she relived her romp with Apollo, and looked forward to meeting another male dog tomorrow.

Mr. Ken had called Amy Ozarker, his local lawyer, when he arrived, to meet with him that Friday morning before he flew back home. The lawyer was happy to see him, and she was curious to know why he wanted to meet with her.

“Hello, Amy, it’s been a long time … what … since we met with the State Investigators?” chuckled Mr. Ken. “Anyway, why I wanted to meet with you was … to see if you could find out who we will need to work with, or talk to about using the lake’s waters for the new water park we are going to build out at Crystal Lake.

“Now … we haven’t announced it yet, so try to keep that under your hat. What we want to do is use the lake water, filter it, treat it to use in the water park and then … at the end of the season we’ll return it back to the lake cleaner than when we took it out.

“Now, before you ask … back in Texas, where I live, the water park I built there … that is what I … well, we did. We worked with the County Commissioners and they schmoozed it through with whomever controlled the lake’s water, as it was a county program, which sponsored the building of the water park, explained the man.

The lawyer sat there thinking about the assignment. “OK … it sounds cut and dried. But I’ll be discreet and not let out why I am asking the question. Can I ask when are you planning to announce your plans to build the water park?” finished Ms. Ozarker.

“As soon as Ben, oh, you haven’t met him yet. He’s my President of Three Finger Entertainment, and runs my five,” and was stopped right there when Amy asked a question.

“Five? You now have five amusement parks? When did you get the last one?” asked Amy.

“Oh, yea, that … well, you remember the Rocket roller coaster accident last year, well … the amusement park … it went into bankruptcy and … and I bid on Edgewood, and I won the bid. So, now I own my fifth amusement park,” answered Ken Thomas, with a smile.

“Wow! You are building your amusement park collection one park at a time. I sure hope buying that park will work out for you, Mr. Thomas,” offered Amy Ozarker.

“Thank you, Amy. Anyway, Ben … he is finalizing the water park plans, as we speak, and he is now finding an eastern located construction company, with experience in building water parks, and when he is ready, he’ll bring the plans to the local Planning and Zoning Commission. It is then we’ll make the announcement. End of July; maybe sooner?” finished Mr. Ken.

Amy smiled and said she would get on it right away. She then asked him if he had any plans to start building homes out on his lake properties. Mr. Ken told her that she was the second person who asked him if he thought about doing that. Amy asked him who was the first, and he told her Kate. The woman smiled and inwardly wanted to know if he’d asked her to marry him yet, but knew that wasn’t the place, or the time.

Mr. Ken then asked Amy what information she could tell him about the new highway project that will eventually pass by the amusement park, and head out to his lake properties. Amy said that the highway department and the county have awarded the contracts, and that the actual construction should begin later that summer.

The lawyer said he should have seen that the power, water, sewer and cable companies had already begun moving their lines out of the right-of-way on his ride out to Crystal Lake. Mr. Ken said he wondered what all that side construction was even though there was no actual road construction visible.

Mr. Ken told the lawyer that he and his ‘boys’ would be back visiting Crystal Lake in the beginning of June, and that he’d be back east for the Grand Re-Opening of Edgewood, and, if necessary, he can stop back that way again. After their meeting, Mr. Ken headed over to the airport to wait for his charter flight home.

At their schools, the Cover boys were asked by their friends what were they going to do that weekend. Billy and Robert told their friends that they had to finish pressure washing the Cove Skate Park before they planned anything else. The two older teens also reminded their friends that they still had to clean both restrooms before the Memorial Day Picnic, and they probably would wait until the Sunday before to do that.

Charles and Matthew also told their friends essentially the same thing. But Charles added that everyone has been slack in jumping up and taking care of the barbeque, so he’ll be talking to his older ‘brothers’ to set up another list of teams, since the twins are no longer there, and there will be at least one new lifeguard.

Phillip and his friends were also curious what the weekend would bring. Phillip told them that Mr. Ken was still away, but was due home that afternoon. The Cover’s friends again asked Phillip why his foster dad was gone. Phillip reminded them that he had bought an amusement park called Edgewood, and was there to get it ready to open on the first of July.

The boys said they remembered him telling them that, but they still didn’t understand. The Cover told them to ask his foster dad that weekend when they see him, because he doesn’t understand it either. The boys began pointing at each other, as to which one would be the sacrificial one to ask Mr. Ken, and then they all laughed.

Phillip then told his friends that they were still going to be cleaning the Cove Skate Park that weekend. But Westin still asked if he thought they could play duets together. Then Jeffrey asked if he could at least bring one of his drums with him, so they could all play together.

All Phillip would tell them was to bring them and they could try to play like they did last Sunday after they helped clean wherever they needed to. Westin and Jeffrey said they would.

Mr. Wayne and Chief were up at the Main Gate at nine o’clock that Friday morning. They were waiting for Bruce Price and his dog, Sully, to arrive. That was so Chief and Sully could get to know one another, in the off chance that the two could ultimately mate, and produce a litter of pups.

Just as Chief and Apollo did yesterday, Chief and Sully romped all over the soccer field, around the Pavilion and played on the Cove Skate Park. While the two dogs got to know one another, the Estate Master and Bruce walked over to the Pavilion, where Mr. Wayne filledtwo bowls with fresh water and ice for the dogs to have a nice cold drink, when they were thirsty.

Mr. Price asked Mr. Wayne questions about Mr. Thomas and the estate and the Estate Master answered them, as he did yesterday for Mr. Hayes. And, as the previous day, Bruce was amazed that Mr. Ken fostered boys of all ages, adopted two, and provided the boys and their friends all those amenities, with which to have fun.

The man also realized that Chief was given the best, too, so even though she wasn’t AKC registered, she looked to be well cared for, had a huge place to run, and had a lot of boys to give her lots of loving and tons of attention. He felt good now about his decision to let Sully meet Chief, and hopefully mate with The Cove’s resident Pet, and produce a large number of pups.

Just as Mr. Hayes had the previous day, Bruce Price noticed that Chief had already shown signs that she would soon be in heat. So, he asked Wayne when he thought the mating could occur if Sully were chosen to be the sire. The Estate master told Mr. Price that their mutual vet told him that later next week to early the following week would be the ideal time in his estimation.

The two dogs ran all over the estate grounds play fighting and chasing one another and then changing places. They each came and got a drink of the cold water, and then went back at it again. When the hour was over, Bruce called Sully over to him. Both dogs came over and each man gave their dogs some well-deserved attention. Then the dogs went and got a good drink of ice-cold water, again.

The four, the two men and two dogs, walked over to the Main Gate where the men shook hands and Bruce put Sully in his dog carrier. Chief watched as the man and his dog drove out of the estate, and then the two Cover’s rode on a golf cart down to the house, where Chief found a quiet corner in the Study and took a nap.

It wasn’t long after that when a delivery truck came to the estate and Mr. Chris was called up to the Main Gate to sign for two very large boxes. When the Estate Manager came back to the house, he asked Wayne to come to the garage to help him offload the two boxes, and then help him open them and take a look at, what Chris hoped, were the two dinner bells that Phillip wanted.

The two Cove employees opened both boxes to find that they were indeed the dinner bells that the youngest Cover wanted to try to see which one would be the best one to call the boys to the barbeques.

In the first box was a large ranch, or cowboy triangle dinner bell, that Phillip thought could be loud when rung. But he wanted to hear it in person to decide if it would actually be loud enough to be heard all over the estate.

Chris had Wayne take it out of its wrappings and hold the triangle up and use the separate iron bar to hit it multiple times against all three sides of the triangle to hear how loud it actually was. Chris had to put his hands over his ears the sounds was so loud inside the garage. Mr. Wayne laughed and put the triangle back in the box on top of all the wrappings.

Momma Maria heard the clanging and came out to the garage to see what the noise was all about. She saw Wayne putting something into a box and asked him to show it to her. As Wayne showed Momma the triangle, Chris told Momma, “Momma … Phillip thinks the boys need some sort of bell to call them to the Pavilion when the barbeque is ready.”

Momma smiled and asked what was in the other box.

The Estate Master opened the flaps on the other box and pulled out a large flat black cast iron farmhouse dinner bell. He handed the 25-pound bell to Mr. Chris to ring this time, but it was awkward to hold and try to ring at the same time, so Momma Maria came over and as Mr. Chris held the bell, Momma moved the lever that you would tie a rope to and rang the bell.

All three cringed from the loud noise the bell made, as it rang inside the garage. It was very loud inside the garage, even with the garage doors opened. Mr. Chris gently placed the bell back inside the box on top of the wrappings that the bell came with.

“Phillip wasn’t sure which would be the best one … that is why Mr. Ken had me order both types, so they could test them and decide,” added Chris Dominions.

“So, Momma … which one did you think was the better one?” asked Wayne Mitchell.

Momma thought about the question for a few moments and then said, “Iss don’tss knows. Theyss ares boths loudses. Its woulds bees betes ifs they weres outsided ups ats thes Pavilions ands rungs theres, soss yous cans hears hows louds theys weres.”

Chris said he agreed with Momma Maria, that the boys will have to hang the bells up and ring them up at the Pavilion, and see which one can be heard the furthest away. The Estate Manager then told Wayne that one of them will need to get a length of rope to tie to the lever in order for the boys to ring the bell, after someone attaches it to a postthat doesn’t exist up at the Pavilion. The two men laughed and Wayne said he’d send Dennis out to get said items, when he arrives.

Dennis had arrived, while the three were out in the garage, and heard the last part of their conversation, as he walked in, and he said, “You’ll have Dennis go out and get what items?”

The Estate Manager looked to Wayne to answer and then took the shipping information off the sides of the boxes and went down to his office to enter the info into the computer, so he could clear the credit card when the bill arrived.

“Oh, Dennis,” started Wayne, “the bells that Phillip wanted just arrived, and we tested them out. The one bell will need a length of rope and a post to hang it on. I was going to ask you to go out and get some rope and a 10-foot pressure treated 6×6 post, so we can hang the one bell on it in order to test it.”

Dennis said he could do that and went and got the keys to the F-150 truck and headed out to the big box hardware store. But before he left, he asked Wayne if he knew if there was anything else the boys needed, while he was out. Wayne asked him to check to see if they had enough cleaning supplies to finish scrubbing the Pavilion and Cove Skate Park. Mr. Dennis said he’d check before he left.

The limousine brought Ken Thomas back to The Cove around three o’clock that Friday afternoon. Chief heard the noise the different vehicle made, as it drove up to the front of the house, and went barking to the Foyer Door. Mr. Wayne looked out the Study windows and saw the limo and knew the boss was back. He and Dennis went to the Foyer Door to open it, so Chief could go out and greet the man, as he exited the vehicle.

“Woof, woof, woof,” barked the resident pet, as she scrambled to get to the limousine and her first master.

“Well, a big welcome to you, too, Chief,” said Mr. Ken, as he bent over and scratched behind Chief’s ears, while the driver retrieved Mr. Ken’s bags from the trunk of the limo.

By then Mr. Wayne and Mr. Dennis had arrived at the vehicle, and they welcomed their boss back to The Cove. The two men then grabbed the bags, as the men and Chief walked into the house.

“You don’t know how good it is to be back, men,” offered the owner of The Cove, as he sat down behind his desk in the Study. Chief then went to his side and nudged his hand for some more ear scratches, which she received.

Wayne then briefed Mr. Ken on how Chief’s meeting with Apollo, a Labrador Retriever and Sully, a Golden Retriever, went the past two days, and that the two dinner bells had arrived. He told him that he and Chris tried them out, and even Momma came out to the garage to see what all the noise was about. The Estate Master said they rang them both and that they had a very loud ring to them, but the boys will need to hang them up at the Pavilion, and ring them there in order to tell how far away they can be heard.

Dennis then told him that he went out and bought some rope for the one dinner bell and a pressure treated 10-foot 6×6 post they will need to install it on, to hang in order to ring it so they can hear it, and some Quikrete® fast setting concrete mix to set it in. The Assistant Estate Master then told his employer that earlier in the day, he went over to the Flores apartment and met with Adeline.

Mr. Dennis explained that he was surprised that there was a lot more damage than he remembered, when they went over there to get Phillip’s things. The man said that Adeline was dismayed over all the destruction, and that there wasn’t much that the men didn’t find to destroy.

Mr. Dennis added that the large furniture was pretty much still intact, but much of the dinner service and glassware was broken. He said that the clothes were strewn all over, so the cleaning company put them all back on their hangers and hung them all up.

Mr. Dennis continued and described how the cleaning service did everything as Mackenzie’s mom directed them, and when he left, the cleaning service had swept up all the broken debris and disposed of it, and was about to clean the bathroom and kitchen, while another group began working on the floors. The man told his employer that he felt that the cleaning service did a good job and that Adeline was thankful for his very gracious gift.

Mr. Ken looked at the time and decided he wanted to unpack before the boys came home, so he excused himself from the men and headed to his retreat to do just that. He knew the boys would have lots of questions for him, and that if he didn’t do it now, he wouldn’t get it done until he went to bed later tonight.

Charles, Phillip and Matthew were home from school first and the first place they went, was to the Study to see if their ‘dad’ was there. He wasn’t and they were disappointed. The three boys headed out to the Kitchen Nook to have their after-school snack, and Momma Maria asked them if they’d seen Mr. Ken.

That question made all the boys smile and were about to head back to the Study to see if they had somehow missed him when Momma said, “Eats, eats!” The boys knew they better stay there and eat what Momma prepared for them, or else she might get ‘the spoon’ after them. Charles then had to explain what was meant by ‘the spoon’ to Phillip.

While the boys were eating their snack, ‘dad’ Ken came into the Kitchen Nook. Matthew saw him, got out of his chair and went to him and hugged him. ‘Dad’ Ken sat down with the boys and had a snack along with them, and the four talked about Mr. Ken’s trip. When the three boys had finished their snack, they all went up to their rooms to get any weekend homework done before dinner.

It wasn’t long before Robert and Billy returned from school, and Robert went looking to see if his dad was home yet. When the teen saw his dad sitting behind his desk, he went to him and hugged him, and the teen asked him to have a snack with him and Billy. The man did, but he didn’t eat a lot, as he didn’t want to ruin his dinner.

Dinner was a lively affair, as the boys kept asking their ‘dad’ lots of questions about Edgewood, and how Jason was doing in getting the park ready. ‘Dad’ Ken told the boys that it had only been three days and Jason was just getting the workforce together, and that they had to give him a few weeks to see how well he does.

During their meeting in the Study after dinner, Robert wanted to know when they were going to announce their building the water park at Crystal Lake. The teen’s dad said they wouldn’t until the plans were all approved, and they had a contractor all lined up. The man said they hoped they’d have all that together by the end of July.

The Covers talked some more about Chief having a litter of pups. ‘Dad’ Ken said that Chief never had a litter of pups the entire time she was at The Cove, and that she was now looking forward to having her first litter, and they were looking for a proper sire for her to mate with.

Mr. Wayne told the boys that two male dogs, Apollo and Sully, came by The Cove the past two days, and tomorrow that Chief would meet one more sire, and after that she would have to tell their ‘dad’, which male she wanted to mate with.

After that there were lots of questions from the boys about how many pups Chief will have and how long it would take for the pups to be born. The boys also wanted to know what they would have to do before and after the pups were born. Mr. Wayne told them they should all search the net and read up on it for themselves, because when the pups came, the next six to eight weeks would be very interesting around The Cove.

Robert asked his dad when he would have to travel again. The teen’s dad said he had no plans to travel until they all went to visit the amusement parks, but that he would be traveling to Edgewood, when they have the Grand Re-Opening. Robert then asked if they had decided to rename it and if so, what name had they chosen.

‘Dad’ Ken told the boys that they can’t tell their friends. They are going to change the name, but they won’t reveal it until later. The man indicated that they will probably wait until sometime around the end of August, or sometime in September. He added that until then, they will sell off all of the Edgewood merchandise.

“But dad … wouldn’t you want people to know,” started Robert, “that you’re going to change the name, so … so they would want to have their final mementos of the park? Also, shouldn’t you be manufacturing the new merchandise for next season?”

“Hmmmm,” hummed the teen’s dad. “You, son, gave me something to think about that neither Ben, nor I, ever considered. Maybe we should announce the new name the day we have the Grand Re-Opening. We’ll only have half a season remaining, since we’re opening on the first of July, and we won’t have any new rides to entice the people to come out to the park with.”

“But dad,” quickly spoke up Charles, “the people … they’ll want to come out to see what you’ve done to the park, now that you’ve bought it. I’ll bet you’ll have TV ads highlighting some of the changes you’re putting into place. And, of course, you’ll need to advertise what the daily and half-season ticket prices will be. And dad … will you be offering a five-park season pass now that you own five parks?” added Charles.

“Yea, and what about the Halloween and Christmas seasons you’ll also have?” asked Robert.

“Well, we are going to have a Halloween Spook-Tac-U-Lair, but we decided not to have a Celebrations of Christmas Wonders. We felt that we needed the park closed, so that we can install the new rides. And Jason … he wants to build the new restrooms, as we did at all the other parks, so, if we have lots of people walking around it could interfere with all that construction going on,” explained ‘dad’ Ken.

“What rides are you going to buy, ‘dad’?” asked Matthew.

“Hmm, let me think. Ben … he feels that a Boomerang would fit well in the space where the Rocket was. And we’ll probably put in a swing ride, like many of the other parks have. You know, the one that tilts as it goes around. I asked Ben to see if they have one that also goes backwards to have something different. As a replacement for the Para-Drop … Ben feels a tower drop like Crystal Lake has. We haven’t decided on a height yet, but it will be at least 300-feet, if not higher,” offered ‘dad’ Ken.

“What about a brand-new ride for the park, dad?” asked Charles. “All you’re doing is replacing what was taken out. But you’re not giving them a new coaster, or something like you gave all the other parks. Have you thought about doing that?”

“No, son, we didn’t. But it isn’t too late to do that, mind you. But let me ask you something now. OK? Where do you think, I am going to get all this money from, huh? I just spent a ton of money to buy the park, I’m using a bunch of money to get it back into shape and … and I’ll empty a barrel of money to replace the old broken-down rides.

“And now … and now you want me to come up with another bag of money to spend to give them … to give them another new ride like a coaster, or a maybe the three new flat rides that I put in the other parks,” finished as he put the onus back on his son.

“Well … I heard you tell someone you do have a few extra nickels to rub together,” laughed Charles.

Mr. Ken sat back taking in what his two sons had asked him. They were things he never even considered, and now the two teenagers were making him think ‘outside the box’, as they call it, to look forward and not to today.

The man quickly made notes and thanked his sons for speaking up and giving him something to really think about for his new park. He told the boys that he and Ben hadn’t even considered creating a five-park pass, as Six Flags has, but that it might be something they would want to study for next year.

After the Cover’s evening meeting in the Study, Mr. Wayne excused himself, and told everyone to have a good night, and he went home to his apartment. The boys thanked him for staying with them while their ‘dad’ was away. Phillip went up to him and gave him a hug, which caused the other boys to give the man a group hug.

That night when ‘dad’ Ken went up to talk to the boys, before they went to bed, they all talked to him longer than they usually would have. The man started at Bill’s room and the oldest teen told his foster dad that Mr. Chris told him that his mom did get the money they sent to her, and he was happy that she now had a few more dollars to buy some of the feminine things she needed.

Bill then asked if he could go and see her again before school began. Mr. Ken said he would not make any promises right then, but he would try to make that happen. The two shared a hug and Bill held it longer than usual. And then when the two broke away, the teen thanked the man for everything he’s done for him.

In Robert’s room, the teen thanked his dad for letting Mr. Wayne take him to see his mom. He told his dad that his mom looked good and was very happy that he went to see her. He told his dad that he was still thinking about going to see his dad, and after seeing his mom, he probably would go and visit with him at least one time.

Dad Ken told his son he would support any decision he makes going forward to see his biological dad. Ken Thomas said he would try to be the one who takes him, but that right now, he has many business interests going on that he might not be able to do that, and he hoped his son would understand. Robert hugged his dad and told him he understood, and that it wasn’t something that needed to happen right now.

Charles was waiting for his dad to arrive at his room, and when the man did get there, the teen jumped up and hugged him. “I missed you, dad,” declared the teenager.

The two hugged for a short time and then they sat on the side of the bed and talked. Charles asked his dad if when he goes back to Edgewood for the Grand Re-Opening would he consider taking him. Dad Ken asked his son about his other ‘brothers’. Charles said he didn’t care if they went, or not, but that he’d like to go and observe the whole operation.

Dad Ken told his son that he wasn’t going to guarantee anything right then, as he needed to think things through, and that it was a long way off. Charles said he understood, but had hoped he could still go along.

Mr. Wayne had told his employer about Matthew’s unhealthy focus on his being gone. The Estate Master told his boss he’d asked the pre-teen to talk to Doctor Doug about that and supposedly he had on Thursday. So, ‘dad’ Ken went into Matthew’s room ready for the boy to be clingy.

“Well, Matthew, I understand that you missed me,” said Mr. Ken when he walked in.

Matthew hugged the man and said he did, and the tears flowed. Mr. Ken told the boy that they talked about that once before, and that he has to understand that he will leave more and more as his businesses take off.

Matthew said he talked about that with Doctor Doug, and that he has another appointment with him and he will continue to work on not feeling like he does when he, his ‘dad’, is gone. Mr. Ken hugged the boy and told him that is a start, and for him to know that he is doing everything he can to keep him, but for now his hands are tied. Matthew asked if it was his mom who was causing him problems. All Mr. Ken said was, “Yes.”

Phillip knew his foster dad was working his way from Billy’s room, through his other ‘brothers’ rooms, and would soon be at his bedroom. The boy was strumming on his guitar and didn’t hear when the man walked to his door.

“You are playing better, Phillip,” spoke the foster dad.

Phillip looked up and smiled at his foster dad. The boy then put down his guitar and Mr. Ken went into the room and sat down next to the boy on the bed. The two talked about what happened during the week, while Mr. Ken was gone.

Phillip told Mr. Ken that his ‘brothers’ noticed him being gone a lot more than he did because he wasn’t used to having a ‘dad’ around the house. The boy said that he did miss their evening meetings, even though Mr. Wayne held them, because they weren’t like he did them.

Phillip then told his foster dad that he spent more time practicing his guitar while he was gone, and that even Momma Maria came and listened to him play. The boy continued that Mr. Wayne thought he was practicing too much, but he told him that he wanted to be as good a player as he could, so he wasn’t wasting his money, as his mom said he was.

Mr. Ken pulled the boy to him and hugged him and thanked the foster son for wanting to be a good guitar player. The man told the youngster he wanted him to be successful in his studies first, because that was what would assure him a good life, and then he could focus on his guitar playing.

Phillip leaned into the hug and after almost five weeks, he was enjoying more and more the closeness he was experiencing from his foster dad; something which he didn’t get much of from even his own mother.

After Mr. Ken finished talking to all the boys, he went down to his own retreat to sleep in his own bed after five days. He used his en suite and then lay down on his king-sized bed. The busy week of long days and decision making finally caught up with him, and Ken Thomas fell right off to sleep.

With their ‘dad’ home, the Cover boys, and thus The Cove was quiet the whole night through.

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

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