Published: 19 Oct 2023

From The Previous Chapter:

All of the boys thanked him for letting them have that special race tonight and they each gave him a hug. The man told them to sleep well tonight, and that he’d see them sometime in the morning. Charles did ask his dad if he’d take them out for breakfast, but the teen’s dad laughed and told the teen that it wasn’t in the cards. The two hugged and dad Ken headed to his own retreat.

While getting ready for bed, Ken Thomas thought back to what he did with the boys that night. It was something totally out of convention for him and it felt good to have done it. He went to bed feeling really good and he slept very well that night.

14 May – Sunday

‘Dad’ Ken was reading his Sunday newspaper, when the boys began arriving in the Kitchen Nook. Phillip went right over to rinse out Chief’s bowls, and then filled them up with fresh kibble and water with some ice cubes.

“Morning, dad,” said Robert, “and thank you for letting us drive the karts a second time last night.”

“Yes, Mr. Ken, that last race was longer than ever before. And I learned so much more about driving them. Thank you for letting us drive them without anyone else,” spoke up Phillip.

The other boys also thanked ‘dad’ Ken for letting them drive the karts so late last night, and they all talked about the second race and how much fun they had driving. A chuckling Charles added that it was fun watching his brother racing to catch up to Phillip, after he passed him. Matthew and Billy laughed right along with Charles.

“Go ahead and laugh,” spoke up Robert. “I was so busy trying to keep Billy from passing me that I … well, that I forgot that Phillip was right behind us, too. And … well, it was an oversight by me that I let him pass me and get to the Finish Line at the same time as me. I had to drive hard to catch up with him. He drove a good hard race and I have to give him credit for that. Good going Phillip.”

Dad Ken was pleased that his son didn’t bemoan the fact that his younger ‘brother’ tied him last night at the Finish Line. The teen told it as it was, and then congratulated Phillip for driving so well.

While the boys were waiting for the breakfast tacos their ‘dad’ had put in the convection over to finish heating, they were talking about finishing up digging the hole for the dinner bell post, and how they would keep it upright.

Billy told them that Mr. Ken explained it to him how they would use those 1×2 inch furring wood strips and stakes to set the post. Phillip asked his older ‘brother’ how they would do that, but Billy told him it would be easier to show them when it came time to do it, than to explain it there in the Nook. It was then the oven bell rang and the boys scrambled to get their breakfast tacos.

After eating their breakfast, cleaning and then straightening up the Kitchen Nook, the boys went up to take their showers, even though some of them would be getting sweaty and dirty when they finished installing the dinner bell post.

The Cover’s friends arrived, as they usually did, which was around twelve noon. Phillip’s friends immediately asked about finishing the hole for the post. Billy brought out the posthole digger and showed them how it worked, and then let the boys give it a try. The hole got deeper as the boys got sweatier.

Phillip had the tape measure and he’d stop them from digging, every once in a while, and he checked how deep the hole was. When the hole was down to twenty-four inches, the young Cover asked Billy if he thought it was deep enough or should they go deeper. Billy picked up the very heavy 6×6 10-foot-long post and set it in the hole, and then he decided that they needed to go down at least another six inches. The young boys went back to digging the hole.

While the younger boys were digging the hole for the dinner bell, the other boys were pressure washing the Cove Skate Park deck, which kept part of the Cove Skate Park off limits to the other boys who wanted to skate, because not only was it wet, the water and pressure hoses were stretched across the skate park, as well.

Since they couldn’t skate, the boys who were going to be responsible for the barbeque that day went and filled the dispensers, took care of filling the two soda machines, cut the tomatoes and onions and covered them up, and then they set up the serving line for when they did eat.

When the hole was 30 inches deep, Billy went inside and asked Mr. Ken to come outside to tell them what they needed to do next. When the owner of The Cove came out and saw how deep the hole was, he told Billy they needed to drill the holes for the dinner bell. The man explained it would be easier to put the bell in place after the Quikrete set than to try to hold that 25-pound bell and then try to drill the holes.

Billy went and got Robert and Charles to help him with that part of the installation of the dinner bell. The question they had to ask themselves was if they wanted to use the bolts, or the screws. Mr. Ken listened to the teens talk the problem out, as they were trying to decide to use the screws, or use the bolts.

Robert argued that the bolts would be best, as they would go all the way through the post and give the bell better support than the screws that would only go into the post so far. But Charles argued that the screws were just as good, and when held against the post they showed they went in almost three-fourths of the way into the wood, which would give just as much support as the bolts.

‘Dad’ Ken put an end to the discussion. He told them that he would prefer the bolts because, like Robert said, the bolts would give support through the entire post, whereas the screws only went in so far. He also told the boys to make sure they didn’t drill on the grain side to make sure they didn’t split the post.

Phillip and his friends watched the entire discussion unfold, and then Phillip asked if he could help. Billy told him that there were already too many cooks, meaning too many people helping, and asked him to let his older ‘brothers’ handle putting the holes in the post.

Disappointed, Phillip asked his friends if they wanted to go play their instruments. Hearing they did, Phillip told his friends to meet him at the storage garage, and then he took a golf cart to go and get his guitar, leaving his ‘brothers’ there at the Pavilion.

Five minutes later, Phillip came back with his guitar, and then he opened the storage garage. The three friends then took their instruments over to the Pavilion and began to play. Phillip and Westin tuned their guitars first and then they played a few songs from Phillip’s song book. They wanted to get into a rhythm before Jeffrey joined in with his drum.

Soon, Bryson took the music book, looked through it and asked his friends to play a song that he knew. The three friends began to play it and when they came back to the beginning Bryson began to sing. The boy didn’t sing loud, but loud enough that the boys in the Pavilion playing the large games could hear.

When that song was over, the boys found another song that Bryson could sing, and the four played again. This time Bryson told Preston to sing along, but the boy balked at doing that. While the boys played, Phillip tried to sing, but never having sung before it was a bit rough. The boys chuckled as he sang, but he never gave up. That made Preston rethink his not singing, so he sang some, too.

As the boys played and sang, the Cover teens had drilled the post holes for the dinner bell and were now preparing the post to stand it up in the hole. Billy screwed a wood stringer to each side of the post and hammered four wood stakes into the ground about three feet away from the hole. The three teens then stood the post and centered it in the hole and using the post level they leveled the post. Billy then screwed the stringers to the four stakes to keep it level.

Their next task was to set the post in the Quikrete, so Billy read the instructions. He read out loud: “The Quikrete 50 lb. Fast-Setting Concrete Mix was a special blend of fast-setting cements, sand and gravel, designed to set hard in 20-40 minutes. It is used to set posts without mixing and easy to use by simply adding water. And it was used to set mailbox posts, fence posts and lamp posts without mixing. Just pour the dry mix into hole and soak with water.”

Billy’s ‘brothers’ heard what the instructions said, and the older teen asked them what they thought they should do. After talking it over, Robert said they should talk to his dad.

‘Dad’ Ken told the boys to do as the instructions told them, but do it one bag at a time. Billy asked Charles to get a bucket of water and then took the first bag of Quikrete and began pouring it into the hole. When he had half of the bag in the hole he stopped and waited for the water.

“Charles … pour about half a gallon of water in there,” said Billy.

Once that was done, Billy poured the remaining Quikrete into the hole and then had Charles pour another half-gallon of water on top of it. The boys watched as the concrete sort of sat there. Robert asked his dad if they should sort of mix it. But Billy didn’t wait for the answer and took one of the wood stakes and tried to mix the concrete, but it had already begun to set.

“Well, that answers that question,” chuckled Charles. “Let me do the next bag.”

Charles then opened the next bag of Quikrete and emptied half of it into the hole and Billy poured about a half-gallon of water onto it. He then quickly mixed it. Then Charles added what remained in the bag and Billy poured another half-gallon of water onto it and mixed it some.

The boys did the same thing to the next two bags of Quikrete with Robert getting the chance to pour a bag of Quikrete with the boys taking turns pouring the water. When all four bags were in the hole the boys stood back and admired their work. It was then they finally noticed the boys playing up in the Pavilion.

It was then someone went over and rang the dinner triangle. The cooks had been burning the burgers and dogs, and it was now time to eat.

The boys let Phillip and his friends eat first that day. They thanked them for playing and singing, then told them that they sounded pretty good, and they hoped they would play some more, when they had the chance.

As the boys ate, Mr. Ken got the boys’ attention. He told them that Phillip had just started taking music lessons, but was pretty much self-taught, and his guitar instructor told him yesterday that he was like a sponge, and that he would be accelerating his lessons. Mr. Ken also thanked the boys for their playing, and told them the more they play together the better they would become.

Mr. Ken then told the gathered group that Phillip thought they needed a bell of some sort and today they’ve already used the triangle. He mentioned that they’d seen Phillip and his friends digging a hole yesterday and today his ‘boys’ were installing the pressure treated post for another dinner bell that Phillip wanted to try out.

The owner of The Cove then told the boys that it will be a few days before the concrete hardens, and the Covers can install the new farmhouse dinner bell atop the post. Mr. Ken then said that next weekend they will try out both bells, and then they will decide which one they’ll keep to use to call them to the barbeques. He then told the boys to go ahead and get back to what they were doing.

As Mr. Ken was walking away, Chuck yelled out and asked him if it was true that Phillip beat Robert at the Go-Kart Track last night. The whole Pavilion got quiet at the question.

“So, Chuck, you heard about last night’s race, did you?” laughed Mr. Ken.

“Yes, sir, so … it’s true then that Phillip … that Phillip beat Robert?” persisted Chuck, with the rest of the boys wanting to hear how Robert’s dad was going to answer the question.

“OK, ok let me tell you what happened last night. Robert … he was fighting off Bill who was trying to pass him. Well, as the two were sort of sparing, they forgot that Phillip was right behind them, and, as they went wide, Phillip … well, he went low and sped right past them.

“Well, you should have seen Phillip speed past the ‘big’ guys and keep on going. And just as he passed them the yellow light turned on. Robert then floored it and raced as fast as he could to catch up to Phillip.

“Charles and Matthew came into the Start/Finish Line and got out of their karts and cheered on Phillip. Phillip drove his kart harder than he ever drove before. And what you don’t know is … that was probably Phillip’s fourth time driving the karts.”

“You’ve got to be kidding us, Mr. Ken. How could … how could Phillip do something like pass Robert whose been driving the karts for years?” challenged Chuck.

“Phillip … come over here, son. Tell them … please tell them how many times you’ve driven the Go-Kats,” encourage the boy’s foster dad.

“Well … before last night … I’ve only ever driven the karts twice. Honestly! And before we drove them last night, my big ‘brother, Billy … he gave me some pointers. And we got to drive them twice. The first time there were other people on the course with us. And then after the race we all headed to the van, but Mr. Ken … he called out to us to get back in line. So, we hurried up and did.

“Then, when we got back into the karts, we were the only ones on the course and we must have driven forty or fifty laps. It was so much fun. Then, when Matthew made a mistake, I passed him and the same thing happened with Charles. So, I had to pass Billy and Robert if I wanted to win, and I wanted to win really bad, too.

“I saw them fighting back and forth and I timed it just right, because they were focused on each other, and not on me. And when they went left, I went right and under them, and I sped past them, and I was through the turn before Robert realized what happened.

“It was then that I saw the yellow light was lit and … and I knew I had to stay ahead of my big ‘brother’, if I wanted to win. My heart … it was beating so hard and so fast that I thought … I thought it was going to break out of my chest. And I was sweating under my helmet and I was scared I wouldn’t win.”

The gathered boys all began to laugh at the way Phillip told them how hard his heart was beating.

“I’ve never won anything before and … and I wanted to win so much that I floored the pedal, and drove hard. I knew Robert was catching up to me, but I never looked back because I knew … I knew if I did; I’d mess up.

“I saw the Finish Line up ahead, and then I heard Robert’s kart coming up behind me and then … and then he was beside me. Then before I knew it, he was right there … he was right beside me. But as we crossed the Finish Line, I felt like I had won.

“It was when we got back to the Finish Line that Robert said that he’d won. But I disagreed and I told him that I had won! But, Mr. George … he’s the track manager … he came out with this picture he called a photo finish. He told us that it was the closest race finish he’d ever seen.

“Robert looked at it and said his right front tire was ahead of mine, and it showed he had won. Then I looked at the photo, and I told him that my left tire was ahead of his, and that I had won. We began to argue, but Mr. Ken said that Mr. George had the final word, and he called it a draw. But, anyway … I still say … I won!” cheered Phillip, with his hands in the air.

The boys all cheered along with him, and no matter how loud Robert yelled to get their attention to tell his side of the story, the boys wouldn’t let him. They all loved that the underdog won last night. Phillip was all smiles, and his friends were patting him on his back.

Dad Ken went over to his son and hugged him. He told the teen to ‘let it go’ and just take any light-hearted ribbing he gets from his friends. He reminded Robert that Phillip never had anything close to what he has there at The Cove, and with his ‘brothers’, and now with his mother in the rehab center the boy needed something good in his life.

Robert looked up into his dad’s eyes and said he understood, and he hugged the man back. The teen then went over to his younger ‘brother’ and hugged him too and raised his hand to indicate he was the winner. Phillip smiled at his older ‘brother’ and hugged him and a few tears fell from his eyes. Robert saw them and hugged him a little harder.

The barbeque team cleaned up the Pavilion, while the others went back to finish the Cove Skate Park deck. Phillip and his friends picked up their instruments and began to play some more. The boys who weren’t involved in doing anything decided to go swimming.

Sunday turned out to be a good day. Billy, Robert and Charles cemented the pressure treated post in place, the boys finished pressure washing the Cove Skate Park deck, and Phillip and his friends got to play their instruments together and out under the Pavilion, and the boys told them they played well together.

As the boys departed The Cove at five o’clock, Mr. Ken stopped Karson Bell and asked him how his first weekend on his new job was. The teenager told him he never expected it to be anything like it was and that he was looking forward to the rest of the summer. The owner of The Cove told his new lifeguard that he hoped to have his new uniforms by next weekend.

Westin couldn’t wait to tell his mom and dad about how they played together as a group out under the Pavilion, and how the other boys liked how they played. Even Jeffrey was feeling good about what they did that day. He and his friends somewhat performed for the rest of the boys and it was exhilarating to him, and he couldn’t wait to tell his parents.

At dinner that evening, the Cover boys told their ‘dad’ what they thought about the weekend. Phillip, though, was at center stage, while they talked and ate. The boy’s dinner bells had arrived and the triangle was used earlier in the day to call the boys to eat. Phillip and his friends also played their instruments and sang, which was something new for everyone.

The other dinner bell was big and bulky and required a large post, which his ‘brothers’ and his friends dug the hole for the previous day, on which to install it. Earlier that day Billy, Robert and Charles finished that project by using the Quikrete, Mr. Dennis had purchased, to solidly imbed the post in the ground, so when they ring the 25-pound bell the post would not waver.

The boys also talked about the previous evenings Go-Kart races, and how well Phillip did for his fourth time racing. But Phillip thanked Billy for some good tips on how to drive the kart before they raced, and his watching his ‘brothers’ make mistakes and his taking advantage of them.

Phillip also talked about how much fun it was playing his guitar with his friends up at the Pavilion today, and the other boys saying that they played pretty well. He told his foster dad that he hoped that after they returned from their trip that he’ll allow Jeffrey to bring his full drum set over, so they could see how well he can play with all his drums.

Mr. Ken told his foster son that he had no problem with that, and that Jeffrey could keep the drums up in the storage garage, as long as his parents didn’t mind their son bringing and keeping it there. Phillip smiled at hearing that.

During their meal time talk, ‘Dad’ Ken asked his ‘boys’ to thank their friends for all their hard work in cleaning the Pavilion and Cove Skate Deck. He said that the place looks really clean now, and he knows their guests will appreciate the clean look when they are there enjoying the day during the Memorial Day Picnic.

‘Dad’ Ken then reminded the boys that last year, before they went on their trip, he asked them if they wanted their rooms painted, but that they had procrastinated, and it was too late to do so when they finally decided. So, he asked them again if they wanted to change the color of their rooms.

‘Dad’ Ken told them that during the week, he would have Mr. Wayne, or Mr. Dennis, go out and get some color samples, from which they could choose, and then he would have Mr. Chris schedule a painting contractor to come in and paint their rooms a color they both approve of. Mr. Ken added that they would also paint the hallway, and the bathrooms, so the entire upstairs would be clean. That got the boys talking about what color they would like to have.

As they continued to talk, Charles asked his dad if they were going to do another fire drill, as they did last year, with the fire department coming over and them going down the fire ladders as they did last year. That question got Phillip’s attention, and the youngest Cover asked what that was all about.

Phillip’s ‘brothers’ quickly told him how the fire department came to the house, and they used the emergency fire ladders in their rooms to practice escaping in case there was a fire. Matthew told him how much fun it was to finally learn how to use those emergency ladders under the windows, and know that they work. The pre-teen then told how the firemen stayed for a barbeque and showed them their equipment on their fire trucks.

When the Cover’s finished their dinner, they went for some ice cream. Tonight, they went for soft serve and all of them, except Phillip, got banana splits. Phillip decided on a large strawberry sundae, instead. They ate their ice-cold concoctions at the ice cream restaurant, and they continued to talk about what was to happen in the coming months.

It was there that ‘dad’ Ken told the boys that he and Kate went out to dinner one night and then he and her and the boys went out another night. He told them how Rusty and Jessy asked about them, and how they were looking forward to seeing them when they visited in June. Billy spoke up and told his ‘brothers’ they would have to ride some rides with them now that Kevin and Kyle aren’t there this year.

Phillip had no idea who Kate, Rusty and Jessy were, so Billy gave him a quick Cliff’s Notes summary of who they were, and that the twins liked riding the kiddie rides with the boys. Phillip said that he might like doing that when they meet the boys. His ‘brothers’ all smiled at his offer, and said they would let him do that.

When it was time to leave, Mr. Ken gave Phillip some money to buy Chief her medium cup of vanilla ice cream; she so loved. While Phillip was doing that, Robert asked his dad if they should be giving the resident pet all that sugar, if she was going to have a litter of puppies. The teen’s dad told his son that it was a great question and that after this cup, they will sit down with Chief and explain to her why she wouldn’t be getting her ice cream until after the puppies are born. Robert agreed and said that Chief would understand it better this way.

Chief heard the garage door open and was anticipating that they had brought her back her favorite treat – ice cream. They had and Phillip had it. Chief knew from the first time the young Cover gave it to her she made a mistake by knocking him over, so she waited for him to place it on the Kitchen Nook floor.

Once Phillip placed it on the floor, Chief went at the cold concoction with gusto. The Covers watched as Chief licked at the cold treat, as it moved all around the Nook’s floor. The resident pet lapped at the ice cream trying to get every last morsel. When the cup was empty, Chief went over to Phillip and thanked him for her favorite treat by giving him lots of doggie kisses.

The Covers then headed to The Study to have their usual evening meeting, even though they talked during dinner. There, in the Study, ‘dad’ Ken told the boys who had doctor appointment and then covered what was going to happen around The Cove in the coming weeks and months. He then asked the boys if they had anything they wanted to talk about.

Not hearing anything that the boys wanted to discuss, he sent them up to their rooms to start getting ready for bed as they all had school in the morning. As the boys were leaving, ‘dad’ Ken asked Robert and Charles to stay back as he wanted to discuss something with them.

Billy, Matthew and Phillip asked if they should be included and Robert told his dad that they probably should be as this will affect them as much as it would him and his brother and, in this way, they would know what the meeting was all about.

Mr. Ken thought about it for a few moments and then agreed with his son that this was best if all of the Cover boys knew why the decision was made, so he asked them all to return. The boys then took their regular seats in The Study.

Mr. Ken then asked Chief to come over to him, as he had something very important to talk to her about. Chief came over and sat down in front of her first master and looked straight at him.

Looking eye-to-eye at the resident pet, Mr. Ken said, “Chief … we know that you want to have a litter of pups. We also know how much you love your ice cream.”

Chief barked out a “Woof, woof!”

All the boys laughed.

“Chief … it is because you are going to have a litter of puppies that we all have to think of your health, and the health of your pups. And it is because of that … that we want you to be healthy and … that after tonight … we are no longer … we are no longer going to be buying you that … that cold sugary treat,” revealed Mr. Ken.

Chief heard what the man said and she hung her head. She heard she was no longer going to get her favorite cold treat, that she loved so much, and she was sad. Mr. Ken and all the boys saw how she reacted, and Mr. Ken knew he had to further explain it to his dog.

Mr. Ken took his hands and put them on Chief’s muzzle and lifted her head, so they were looking eye-to-eye. The man wanted the resident pet to look at him, as he further explained it to her.

“Chief … this decision … it is for your health, and the health of your puppies. Once you deliver your pups and they, and you, are all doing well, we will slowly let you have your favorite treat again. I hope you do understand Chief … that we are doing this to make sure you have a healthy litter. All that sugar … it is not good for you … or them. You do understand. Right?” finished Mr. Ken.

Chief didn’t do anything but sit there. And then she barked, “Woof, woof, woof.”

Chief then got up and went to Mr. Ken and gave him some doggie kisses, and he in turn gave her some behind the ear scratches. The boys came over to the resident pet and hugged her and gave her some behind the ear scratches, while she gave them some doggie kisses in return.

Mr. Ken then sent the boys up to their rooms, and told them that he’d be up there in a few minutes to say goodnight.

‘Dad’ Ken started in the oldest Cover boy’s bedroom that night, which was what he usually did. When the man entered the first room, he was immediately asked by Billy if he knew when Kaden would have his trial now that his accomplices were found guilty, and were facing upwards of 50 plus years in prison.

Mr. Ken was taken aback by the question, but he quickly told the teenager that he didn’t know, but that he would contact DA George Morris that week to see if he had any advance knowledge of Kaden’s situation. The foster dad reminded his foster son that Kaden would be tried in juvenile court, and not in the adult criminal court system, so the teen’s outcome could be extremely different than his associates. Billy said he understood that.

The teenaged foster son then asked his foster dad if he knew anything about the lawsuit the Goldersons and he have against the alarm company. Mr. Ken told the teen that he hadn’t heard anything, but now that the home invasion trial is over, he expects the alarm company lawyers to ask for a change of venue, because they will argue that the jury pool will be tainted due to the publicity.

Mr. Ken told the teen that he will contact his lawyer, Bill Jackson, during the week and ask him what he knows about the lawsuit, and then they will have to go from there.

Billy then again thanked Mr. Ken for everything he’d done for him, but especially for allowing him back to The Cove to live. Mr. Ken heard the emotion in the young adult’s voice and then saw the tears beginning to form in the teen’s eyes, so he pulled Billy to him and hugged him.

After 30 seconds to a minute, Billy apologized to his foster dad for crying as he did. Mr. Ken told the teen that he had a rough early life, and that when good things happen to him his emotions tend to overtake him, and he has yet to grasp how to deal with them. The two hugged one more time before ‘dad’ Ken headed to his son’s room.

When in his son’s room, Robert asked his dad if he could go and visit his biological dad before the 4^th of July. For the second time that evening the man was hit with a question he wasn’t really prepared to hear. He and his son had talked about Robert going to visit his biological dad, but nothing had been formally decided.

Dad Ken told his son that he wasn’t going to guarantee he could make that happen, as there were many other things going on before the 4^th of July that he just couldn’t see a way they could do it before then. Robert said he understood, but that he would still like to see and talk to his ‘real’ dad and that he also wanted to talk to his mom again before school started.

Robert also asked his dad if he was going to take a 3-day trip, as he had with all the other foster boys, for him and Phillip. Dad Ken told his son that he hadn’t even thought that far out, as he felt, just like with Mark, that Phillip wouldn’t be with them at The Cove for a very long time, and that he would be going home with his mother, and they wouldn’t have time to schedule that.

Robert told his dad that he was just curious, as he hadn’t heard him talk about doing it and he didn’t want it to come as a last-minute surprise to him or Phillip. The teen’s dad said that he originally felt that Phillip would be going home right after their trip, or after the 4^th of July, so until he knows something more, that is how he is playing it.

The two shared a hug and Mr. Ken walked over to his other son’s room.

Charles was waiting for his dad to come to his room. He knew his dad usually started with the oldest, and worked his way towards the youngest and he was next. When dad Ken entered the teen’s room, they hugged and then Charles asked him his question.

The teenager wanted to know, again, if there was a way that he could go with him when they have the Grand Re-Opening of the Edgewood Amusement Park. Dad Ken smiled at the repeated request, and he told his son that he had asked Kate and her family to come to The Cove for the 4^th of July, and that he had planned to stop and pick them up on the way home from the new park.

Charles told his dad that his going along would work out for them, as he could help keep Rusty and Jessy busy, while he and Kate talked. The man smiled at how his son tried to justify his going along with him to Edgewood for the 1^st of July Grand Opening of his new amusement park, and he told the boy that he wasn’t going to guarantee that he could go along with him just yet.

Mr. Ken also told Charles that he had to think about what his ‘brothers’ would say about his going along, and the rest of them staying home. The owner of The Cove added that someone needed to be there when the carnival arrived, and began to set up and the church groups also began to get their booths arranged and ready for the festivities.

Charles argued that he was never involved in doing that before, and that Billy and Robert are the oldest and should start getting involved along with Mr. Chris and Mr. Wayne. Again, dad Ken had to laugh to himself at the way his son was still trying to justify his going with him to the Grand Re-Opening of the Edgewood Amusement Park. Dad Ken told his son goodnight and the two hugged and ‘dad’ Ken was on his way to Matthew’s room.

At Matthew’s room there was no surprise question waiting for him. Matthew was just happy that ‘dad’ Ken was there, so the two of them could talk. The pre-teen was still concerned about his future there at The Cove, but he didn’t say anything to his foster dad. The boy agreed to talk to Doctor Doug about his angst over what would happen to him, so he just asked Mr. Ken about their upcoming trip and how much time did he think they would spend at the new amusement park.

‘Dad’ Ken told his foster son that they would spend at least one full day there, and it would probably be like it is at the other parks in that they get there late on day one, spend the whole next day there, and then leave to come home the following day.

Mathew thanked his ‘dad’ for telling him that and he told the man that he was looking forward to seeing what the new park looked like, as compared to what they saw last year, and he hoped they might get the chance to ride a few of the rides. Mr. Ken said that he wasn’t going to make any promises, because all of the rides had to be inspected and any repairs done, then before anyone rides them, the state inspectors have to approve them.

The two hugged and ‘dad’ Ken told the pre-teen to sleep well, and that he’d see him in the morning. The man then went to visit with his last foster son, Phillip.

“You about ready for bed, Phillip?” asked Mr. Ken, when the man went to the boy’s door.

“Yes, sir, it’s been a long day and I’m tired, and I know I’ll fall right to sleep after you leave,” replied the youngest Cover.

“Well, make sure you drain that dragon before you go to bed. We don’t want you wetting the bed, now do we,” chuckled the foster dad, as he tousled the boy’s hair.

Phillip laughed at what the man said and did, and then he asked the man when he would get to visit with his mom again. Mr. Ken told the boy that they should go and visit with her on Monday, or Tuesday, and then asked Phillip which day he would like to go. Phillip said tomorrow.

Mr. Ken told the boy that he would call the rehab center to see if they could stop by tomorrow and, if not then, when would be the best time. Phillip thanked his foster dad for trying to find a good time for him to visit with his mom.

Phillip then asked if Jeffrey could bring more of his drum set over next weekend. Mr. Ken told the boy that he could, but that it would be up to Jeffrey’s parents if they wanted their son to have his entire drum set here, and not at home. Phillip smiled and thanked his foster dad for saying that he could. The boy said they had fun playing together, and they felt they would sound even better if Jeffrey had his whole drum set there.

The two Covers shared a hug, and then Mr. Ken sent the boy to drain his dragon. and then to climb into bed, and get a good night’s sleep. The man then sent Chief outside to do her business, and then to come in and go to bed herself, as she needed her rest as well. Chief then stopped for a few ear scratches before heading down the stairs.

Ken Thomas headed down to his own retreat to go to bed himself. He was so happy he had the boys in his life. They added so much to The Cove and to his whole outlook on life itself, and they gave him a reason to continue to do what he was doing with his businesses.

Ken Thomas, owner of The Cove and ‘dad’ to five boys, slept well that night, as did all the boys in the home that night.

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

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