Published: 26 Oct 2023

From The Previous Chapter:

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.

Monday started out as a typical day. Mr. Ken woke up early, went out and got his newspaper and read it while the boys came down for breakfast. Afterwards, the owner of The Cove went and got ready to go to the office, and begin what he knew was going to be a very busy work week for him.

At the office, Mr. Ken got with Ben and the two talked about what Robert and Charles discussed with him about them announcing the new name for Edgewood, so the people could get a chance to buy up the remaining Edgewood memorabilia, and them getting the new park’s merchandise produced for the following year’s opening season.

Ken Thomas also wanted to know what Ben thought about offering a 5-Park Pass that people could buy that would allow them to visit all five Three Finger Entertainment amusement parks just as Six Flags did for all of their parks. Ben like the idea, but was concerned about the pricing and if it would reduce each park’s overall bottom line.

The owner of Three Finger Entertainment (TFE) felt that the park would retain the money for the 5-Park Pass, but when the guest travels to the other parks they will spend money on food and hopefully the FFF Passes and merchandise and eventually stay at one of their hotels and eat at one of their restaurants, while using his Drive – Stay – Fun promotions.

Ben Walthers was just hearing some of this for the first time and Mr. Ken had to explain to his President of TFE his vision of either building hotels, or motels, and restaurants, or joining forces with established hotels near their venues, and creating his Drive-Stay-Fun promotion to bring families to their amusement parks. Mr. Ken told Ben he always wanted to create the amusement parks as destination places for the families, thus his reason for buying the extra parcels at or near the parks. Ben liked the concept.

The two men also discussed announcing what new rides would be coming to Edgewood when they have their Grand Re-Opening. Mr. Ken said they also needed to firm up which new roller coasters they were putting in each of the parks. Ben asked if Edgewood was also getting a new coaster and his boss said that if the manufacturer can accommodate them, then he wanted to do that, as well.

Mr. Ken qualified his answer to say that with Crystal Lake getting a water park they would not be getting a new roller coaster. Ben then asked if they had ordered four coasters for next year or only three. The man reasoned that if they ordered four then the fourth could go to Edgewood, instead. Mr. Ken said they needed to check their contracts, since they were using more than one manufacturer to build and install them. Twenty minutes later they had their answer.

During their talks, Mr. Ken reminded Ben that he would be visiting all of the parks during the first two weeks of June, and that he needed to plan to visit them, as well. He also said he wanted to ask Jackie to go to all the parks, as a secret guest, and report back to them on what she saw and felt the parks were doing right, and what they needed improvement on. He said he would ask her and her family to go and they, TFE, would pay for everything.

Ben was curious as to why Mr. Ken was doing something like that. The owner of the parks said he wanted a first-time visitor’s honest feedback, so that he could judge for himself if his parks are actually giving their guests their money’s worth. Mr. Ken said he wanted to know if the parks were only being ‘on their toes’ when he’s going to be there, or are they doing the same thing day in and day out.

The two also discussed their getting the new restaurant equipment for Edgewood before opening day, and when would it all be there and establishing a menu, and a regular food and paper products supplier. Ben told Mr. Ken that Jason talked to the local suppliers again, and they agreed to being paid directly for everything, until their accounts were satisfied through the Bankruptcy Trustee.

After his meeting with Ben, Mr. Ken then called DA George Morris about Kaden’s trial, but he was told the man was in court today, and that he would have to return his call later today or tomorrow morning. Mr. Ken asked his office to have the man call him when he had the time.

The foster dad then decided to call the rehabilitation center to ask about Mackenzie Flores, and when would be a good time for her son to visit. It was decided that the boy could visit that evening, and Mr. Ken said he would try to be there after school let out.

While Mr. Ken spent his morning in his meeting with Ben, or on the phone, Rosemary, his executive secretary, took a call from the man’s veterinarian. When Mr. Ken called the vet back, he learned that Chief should be ready for mating later that week, or the beginning of the following week. Mr. Ken smiled and knew when he returned home that evening, he needed to sit down with the resident pet and find out which mate, Apollo or Sully, she wanted to mate with.

After lunch, Mr. Ken asked Ms. Jackie into his office to discuss the progress on the installation of the utilities and the restrooms between the Go-Kart Track and Miniature Golf Course at Four Corners, and how the search for the train was going.

Jacqueline Kromiere, Ms. Jackie, Mr. Ken’s Projects Manager, told her employer that everything was on schedule and, barring any weather delays, they should be able to install the rides that Ben Walthers had ordered by the middle of June.

Ms. Jackie then told Mr. Ken that his Construction & Design Group had surveyed the area for where the train could go and stay within the set-back limits allowed by county code. The woman told him that she has contacted three companies that build and can install either the 15-inch or 16-inch gauge amusement park trains like those he wanted.

The Projects Manager further told her employer that they have the survey with which to bid on the project, and their bids are due by the first of June, with the winner beginning the installation no later than 1 September, with completion no later than 1 May.

Mr. Ken asked her about the buildings they discussed and she told him they would be responsible for providing them and she has the Architect Group working on providing the plans for the Railroad Station to include restrooms, concession stand and merchandise sales, as well as the ancillary buildings out and about the rail line. Mr. Ken was happy with that report.

Mr. Ken then asked Jackie what she and her family had planned for their summer vacation. She told them they really hadn’t discussed it yet, but had been kicking around a few venues. Mr. Ken dropped his own paid vacation proposal on her, and then explained what she and her family would do the entire time.

Ms. Jackie was surprised at the offer and said she’d have to talk to her family to see what they thought and had to say. She then asked what time frame he had in mind. He told her that mid-July would be a good time, as he and his boys would be visiting the parks in June, but whatever would fit into her family’s, and especially her husband’s, schedule would be good for him. She told him she would let him know later in the week.

After that lengthy meeting, Mr. Ken remembered he was to call Bill Jackson and ask him about Bill’s lawsuit against the alarm company. He learned that the alarm company had offered another low-ball settlement figure saying that the home invasion trial had tainted the local jury pool, and they would be asking for a change of venue. Bill told Mr. Ken that he told the alarm company’s lawyers to ask away. Mr. Ken laughed knowing they had all the time in the world.

That afternoon, when Mr. Ken returned home from the office, he told Phillip that the two of them would go over to visit with his mother. The youngster was ecstatic he’d get to see his mom again. The boy had so much he wanted to tell her.

Then, after dinner, the two Covers arrived at the rehabilitation center about 7:30, but it was then they learned they only had about 30 minutes to visit with Mackenzie, as visiting hours were over at eight o’clock. Phillip made the best use of that time.

Mackenzie was happy to see her son. It had been about ten days since she’d seen him last and just knowing he was doing well was a relief to her. Phillip started telling his mom about how he and his friends had been playing their instruments together, and that the other boys had told them they played well together.

The Cover then told his mom about the two bells and how they were installing them to see which one would be the better one to call everyone to lunch. Then Phillip switched gears and told his mom about the sleepover, and how many boys were there, and that they had pizza, a Dive-In Movie, a midnight snack, that he helped cook breakfast for everyone, and then they all made sub sandwiches for lunch.

Mackenzie had to look to Mr. Ken for clarification on that last bit of information. Mr. Ken told the woman a more complete version of what happened, but it paralleled what her son had told her and that made her smile knowing her Philly was having experiences he never had before.

Mackenzie then thanked Mr. Ken for sending a cleaning company to their apartment, and for what they did there. That surprised Phillip as he didn’t know that his foster dad had sent a cleaning company over there to clean their apartment.

Mackenzie told him that her mother told her that she had the cleaning company sweep up all of the destroyed glassware and dishes, straighten up the furniture, hang up all their clothes, vacuum the floors and then wash the tile floors as well as clean the bathroom and kitchen.

Mr. Ken told her that he was happy to do that for her and her son. He added that she wouldn’t be strong enough to do that when she returned there and it was his gift to them for when they were reunited. Mackenzie smiled and then opened her arms for Phillip to go to her and they hugged.

That evening the Covers didn’t have their usual meeting in the Study, as Mr. Ken and Phillip returned to The Cove after 8:30 and the owner of The Cove needed to talk to Chief about which mate she wanted, Apollo or Sully.

After sending the boys up to their rooms, Mr. Ken sat at his desk and asked Chief which male sire she preferred. He didn’t know either of them, so he mentioned the mate by name and asked Chief which one she preferred. Being the typical female, Chief couldn’t make up her mind.

Mr. Ken told the resident pet that her vet told him today that she would be prime to mate either by the end of the week or by the beginning of next week, so she needed to tell him which sire she desired to mate with.

The man told her to sleep on it and to let him know tomorrow, so he could call the sire’s owner and have him bring the one she wanted over on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Monday and Tuesday. He added that he didn’t want the boys to watch her and either Apollo, or Sully, mating and ruining a very private thing. Chief barked a thank you “Woof” to her first master.

Mr. Ken talked to the boys before going to bed that evening, but he didn’t mention anything about Chief’s going to mate sometime in the next week, or so. He wanted that to be a private thing between Chief and the sire that she had picked.

He did tell Bill that his lawyer, Bill Jackson, heard from the alarm company’s lawyers and had again offered a low-ball settlement. The foster dad told the teen that alarm company’s lawyers told Mr. Jackson they were going to ask to move the lawsuit trial. Mr. Ken told Bill that his lawyer told them to go ahead, as they had the time.

Tuesday morning was just like Monday, but only a day later. Unfortunately, Tuesday also turned out to be a rainy day. The boys lamented that they had to run up to the school bus stop in the rain, hoping that their ‘dad’ would drive them up there. All ‘dad’ Ken said to them was for them each to take an umbrella and to leave them at the Main Gate Guard Shack, and then to bring them back when they came home from school, because he would still be at the office.

Mr. Ken waited for Chris to come to work that day. He wanted to talk to him about getting out the invitations for the Memorial Day Picnic. He especially wanted to make sure he obtained the address for the archbishop to invite him, and a companion, and he also wanted to invite Phillip’s grandmother, Adeline Flores, so he needed to get her address, and to tell her to bring a friend, if she wanted.

The two also talked about the 4^th of July Carnival. They decided to have it for two days that year, but in doing so, Mr. Ken also decided that Chris needed to get the addresses for the neighboring communities. They were going to send the residents directions on how to get wrist bands that would get them unlimited rides on the amusements, and tickets for the food booths. They also had decided to charge a $10.00 admission fee for anyone else, and those people would also ‘pay as you go’ for the food and drink booths.

Mr. Ken also told Wayne, who was also in the meeting, to dust off the Rules for the Cove Skate Park sign as it would be open both days. The owner of The Cove said he’d ask the older boys to wear the striped shirts again and to be the referees during the skate time, as they did last year.

Mr. Ken asked Chris to send out this 4th of July Carnival invitations when he and the boys went on their trip. The invitations would tell the parents to bring the card with them, and either their children, or their student I.D. cards to get the proper number of wrist bands and food tickets.

They also discussed the flyers they would create and ads they would place in the local newspapers, so people would know that non-locals would pay $10.00/person for the two days, and they would also pay for their food and drinks. They all knew that the carnival was getting too big for the estate, and after that year, if Mr. Ken was going to continue it, they would have to move it somewhere else.

The foster dad told the two men that Phillip had his eleventh birthday on Thursday, and that he had ordered the boy his birthday present, and when it came for them to put it into the Pavilion garage storage building. He told them to pass that on to Dennis, so he knew what to do if he was here when it came.

Then, before Mr. Ken left for his office, he asked the resident pet which sire she wanted him to ask to be her mate to have her puppies with. The man reminded Chief that he asked her to sleep on that question last night, so he was asking her if she had decided. Chris and Wayne were there in the Study and Chief was torn between the two mates. Chief didn’t respond to the question.

Wayne, seeing the indecision in Chief, called her over to him. The Estate Master discussed Apollo and Sully with her and what fun she had with each of them last week. He told her he watched them out in the soccer field and them running around the Pavilion and Cove Skate Park. He then reminded her what they did and then he asked her which one was the one she was more taken with.

The Estate Master then mentioned each sire’s name and told Chief to bark at which name she wanted to mate with.

“Apollo.” There was no bark. The three men smiled.

“Sully.” Again, there was no bark.

Wayne looked at Chief and told the resident pet that she had to make up her mind. He told the resident pet that his right hand, and he held up that hand, was Apollo and his left hand, and he held up his left hand, was Sully. Mr. Wayne then told Chief to pick which one she wanted to mate with.

Chief looked at both hands. The men could see the dog’s head moving right to left and back again. The resident pet moved her head back and forth three or four times before licking Wayne’s left hand.

Wayne hugged Chief and then scratched behind her ears and told her she picked Sully and that he would call Mr. Price and ask him if he would bring Sully by tomorrow, Thursday and Friday to play, and then Monday and Tuesday. Chief barked out her approval.

Before he left for the office, Mr. Ken stopped by the Kitchen Nook and told Momma Maria that Thursday was Phillip’s eleventh birthday, and asked if maybe they could do a dinner up at the Pavilion. Momma liked that idea. She said she’d plan that with Bill, as he liked to help with those. She also said she’d make a nice birthday cake for the boy, too.

At the office that Tuesday, Ben asked Mr. Ken to come to his office. The President of TFE wanted to show the man his examples of the polo shirts he designed for him to wear, when he visited his amusement parks.

The first example was white with the gold lettering, as Mr. Ben described when they were at Edgewood the previous week. Mr. Ken asked to see the other examples Ben said he had. There was the red polo shirt with white lettering and then a blue polo shirt with white lettering.

Mr. Ken asked Ben if the program could change the shirt color and stitching color, too. Ben began showing the amusement parks owner different color combinations. In the end, Mr. Ken chose the white polo, but with the dark green lettering.

The man reasoned that the predominate color of Three Finger Entertainment logo was dark green, and that the main personnel of the parks should also have a distinctive polo shirt, but not necessarily white. Mr. Ken asked Ben to order him five shirts in the appropriate size for him, and he hoped they would be there for him when he and his boys visited the parks in June.

After lunch, Mr. Ken sat down with Ms. Jackie and asked her about the progress on the self-service car wash, and the boat storage lot. He also wanted to get her take on when they should start advertising the hiring of managers for the car wash and boat storage facilities, what qualifications they should have, their salary, and who they should report to.

Ms. Jackie wasn’t prepared for those sorts of questions. Sure, she was the Projects Manager, but she wasn’t in the so-called chain of command, and she wondered where this was going. So, she asked her employer.

Mr. Ken told his Project Manager that she was intimately involved in both projects, and had all the facts and figures about both endeavors, so he figured who else he could ask those types of questions. Ms. Jackie said she was flattered and told him to ask away.

Ms. Jackie told Ken Thomas that the construction on both new businesses were on schedule and barring any weather delays both of them were due to be ready by the first of July, or maybe before. Mr. Ken was happy to hear that.

The two then discussed when they should start the hiring process. Then after some discussion, the two decided they’d hire retired men, or women, who were looking for a challenge, but not something that would keep them busy 24/7. Since they decided that, they also decided to begin the hiring search around the first of June.

The two also discussed whether they should offer them a salary, or an hourly rate. Mr. Ken thought that after the initial start up the self-serve car wash wouldn’t need but four or five hours a day of attention, and the boat storage wouldn’t need that much unless people didn’t pay their rental fees on time. They decided on an hourly rate to begin with.

Now, Mr. Ken wanted her to be their direct supervisor. Ms. Jackie respectively declined. She told her employer that she never had supervisory experience, and she enjoyed the position she already had. Mr. Ken told her to think about it some more.

Mr. Ken then asked his Project Manager what her and her family decided on his offer to send them on an all-expense paid vacation to all five of his amusement parks. Jacqueline Kromiere told her boss that the trip intrigued them, but they wondered how long the trip would be and would they fly, or have to drive.

Mr. Ken told her that those were very good questions that he hadn’t thought through enough. He told her that he would fly them there on a charter plane, they’d stay at the hotels he usually stays at, they’d spend a day and a half at each park, have a rental car and a credit card to charge all their expenses to. He asked her how that sounded. Jackie smiled and said July sounded like a good time to them.

There was so much was happening at the office and being gone all of last week put Mr. Ken behind on what was happening there. But lucky for him he had assembled a great team who handled all of his many business concerns. After he checked up on those issues, he was personally involved in, he spent the rest of his free time talking to each of those business managers.

When Billy returned home from school that afternoon, Momma Maria asked him about helping her fix dinner at the Pavilion on Thursday night. Billy told her he was ready and he asked her if she had thought about the menu. Momma told him she was going to do a salad with a choice of dressing, steaks, baked potatoes and green beans. The teen then asked what was she going to have for dessert. Momma told him it was going to be a surprise.

At dinner, the Cover boys talked about their friends and how they were looking forward to the Memorial Day Picnic. Billy reminded his ‘brothers’ that they still had the Pavilion restrooms yet to clean and that they’ll do them late on Sunday afternoon, after the barbeque.

Robert then asked if they could ask some of their friends over on Saturday. The teen reasoned that after that is the picnic, then the end of school and then they will be gone for two weeks on their trip, so this would be the last weekend they’ll have the chance to invite them over.

‘Dad’ Ken asked the boys, in general, how they felt about asking some of their school friends over on Saturday. The man added they could invite some of those students they hadn’t yet invited over to try to give them a chance to experience The Cove, and maybe make a few other friends in the process.

Phillip asked how many other friends could they ask over. The boys foster dad said that the boys usually invited no more than four. ‘Dad’ Ken then asked for clarification from Robert and Charles to see if he got that right. The two teens said that by each of them inviting four that would add twenty extra boys, and or girls, and that it shouldn’t be a problem.

It was Matthew who then asked if they had to invite classmates they hadn’t invited over yet. Mr. Ken said they didn’t, but that it would be nice to let other students experience what they’ve undoubtedly heard, about what The Cove has. The boys’ ‘dad’ then reminded them that if they do invite someone who’d never been there before, they had to be at the Main Gate to vouch for them, as they entered the estate.

As the Covers finished their meal, Momma Maria told them that on Thursday she planned dinner for them up at the Pavilion with Bill’s help. She said that as long as the weather was nice that was where they would have dinner. She told them they would have a nice salad, steak, cooked to their liking, a baked potato and a side of green beans.

The boys all hugged Momma for the great meal she served them that night, and for what she was planning for tomorrow. The Covers then headed to the Study for their usual evening meeting with ‘dad’ Ken and Mr. Wayne.

‘Dad’ Ken thanked the boys for their discussion at dinner. He told them it should shorten tonight’s meeting. He reminded the boys that Bill would visit with Doctor Doug tomorrow and that next week Phillip would see him on Tuesday, Matthew on Wednesday and Robert on Thursday.

The boy’s ‘dad’ told them that the following week would probably be the last week any of them would visit with Doctor Doug now that school would be over. He told them that if they felt they wanted to talk to him during the summer, they should say something to him, or Mr. Wayne, so they could get on the schedule.

Mr. Ken then told the boys that their older ‘brother’ Collin is due to visit, and he would be there for the Memorial Day Picnic, and that he should be there by next Thursday. The boys were all happy that the older teen, now a young adult and finishing up college as a sophomore, would be there with them, and they all said they couldn’t wait. What their ‘dad’ didn’t tell them was that Collin would also have his own appointment with Doctor Doug on that Friday, while they were in school.

After their meeting, the boys went to their rooms to finish any homework they had. In Phillip’s case, he went to his room to practice on his guitar. Mr. Bindy gave him some more chords to practice, and to try to pick up his speed in going through the ones he had already learned. He also assigned him a song to learn, out of his music book, that used the chords he was learning.

Phillip’s ‘brothers’ heard him practice, and when he was trying to learn the song, they also heard him beginning to sing right along. They knew, from the way that Phillip would pick up his guitar and play, whenever he could, that he was dedicated to learning how to play his guitar better than ever and become a good guitarist.

Mr. Ken also heard his foster son practicing and singing, as he walked up the stairs to say goodnight to his boys. He smiled to himself at the dedication the boy had at learning the guitar, and he hoped the boy would continue that when he reunited with his mom.

‘Dad’ Ken didn’t spend a lot of time saying goodnight to the boys that night. He felt they had a good talk at the dinner table, and being the middle of the week, there wasn’t much going on in the boys’ lives. The foster dad did tell Phillip that he could tell he was playing the guitar better each time he heard him, which put a big smile on the young foster son.

The man then headed down to his own retreat and went to bed himself. The Cove was quiet throughout the night.

The rains continued off and on into Wednesday, and it was raining that morning when the boys came down for breakfast. They weren’t happy they had to deal with the rains again, and all their ‘dad’ told them was that they should be happy it was raining during the week, and not on the weekends, then he went back to reading his newspaper.

Mr. Ken passed Wayne as he headed off to the office. So, he stopped and the two talked about Sully coming over today for a day with Chief to see if the two would mate. Mr. Ken asked the Estate Master to try to keep an eye on the two, so Sully doesn’t get too aggressive with Chief, as this would be her first mating that he was aware of.

The owner of The Cove also asked Wayne to watch out for that delivery he ordered and to store it in the Pavilion storage garage. Mr. Ken then walked out to the garage to get into his vehicle and drive over to the office.

It was going to be another busy day at the office for Mr. Ken. He and Ben were in the conference room to review the water park plans for Crystal Lake, and then review the coasters that were going to be installed at the four parks that fall. They were also going to discuss when they wanted to announce the changing of the name of Edgewood, and the installation of their new rides, and when they should announce the new water park and coasters at the other parks.

Ben felt they should announce the name change when they film new ads for the opening of their new park. He felt they could get good traction that way, and they could also have the new name banner ready for opening day.

Mr. Ken was against revealing the new name before opening day. He wanted to announce the new name during the Grand Re-Opening, and let the people know that all of the Edgewood merchandise would be heavily discounted throughout the rest of the season.

Mr. Ken also wanted to announce the new rides they were going to install after the Spook-Tac-U-Lair including the new roller coaster that they were initially going send to Crystal Lake, but with them getting a water park they weren’t going to get it now. The two were at an impasse, but it wasn’t something they had to decide right away.

With the new name chosen, they discussed the design of the new logo and finding the manufacturer for the new park uniforms. They also talked about ordering new prize types, as compared to what Edgewood now offered for the games. Then they talked about adding the new park to next year’s food and paper products contracts.

It was then that Ben suddenly realized that they were discussing things that the owner of Three Finger Entertainment shouldn’t be directly involved in, and he told Ken Thomas that. Ben Walthers told his employer that it was his and his team’s responsibility to get on top of all those issues. Ben told his employer that he shouldn’t have to involve himself with all that minutiae right now, and that he would brief him when they were ready to go out for contracts.

At first Ken Thomas was taken aback at the directness of his President of Three Finger Entertainment. Then he realized that was why he hired him. He was so used to being totally involved in all the decision aspects of the amusement parks that he directly involved himself in it right now, and he knew he had to back himself out and let Ben do what he was hired for.

“Ben … you are right. It is hard for me to give up … you know, to give up what I’ve been doing all these years … making all the decisions for the parks. Go ahead … get your team together and get on top of all of these issues. But for now, as for when the announcement of the new name for Edgewood will occur … ahh, we, that’s you and I, … we will still discuss this some more,” announced Ken Thomas, as he stood up and walked back to his office.

When Mr. Ken returned to his office, Rosemary told him that DA Morris had called to talk to him and asked him to return his call before lunch, as the man had to be in court that afternoon. Mr. Ken asked his executive secretary to call the man and transfer it into his office.

“George, sorry to bother you, but I have a quick question for you, if you have the time,” was what Ken Thomas said to DA George Morris, when the man came to the telephone.

DA Morris said he had the time, so Mr. Ken asked him if he knew when Kaden Stylers would have his trial in Juvenile Court. He explained that it was his foster son, Bill, who wanted to know. Mr. Ken further reminded him that Bill was the teen who was attacked during the home invasion that Kaden was a part of, and that he was seriously injured during that home invasion all because of what Kaden did.

The District Attorney said that he remembered what happened to Bill, then added that the Juvenile Court Judge had wanted to wait until after the home invasion trial was over, and that now that it has, he had scheduled Kaden’s trial for early next week.

Ken Thomas asked George Morris if he had any idea what Kaden would get for his part in the home invasion. DA Morris said that it will all depend on which side of the bed the judge gets out of that day, and how well Kaden’s lawyer defends the teenager.

The District Attorney reminded Ken Thomas that Kaden got a sweetheart deal by being referred to juvenile court instead of being tried as an adult, so that whatever sentence he gets will be nothing compared to what Grafflers and Thrumble will get.

Mr. Ken thanked George Morris for talking to him and being honest with him on that issue. He then changed the subject and asked the DA if he would be able to make the Memorial Day Picnic. George said he was looking forward to it, as there were always so many interesting people there. Mr. Ken told him that he invited the new catholic Archbishop, Eduardo Martinez, to the Memorial Day Picnic. George said, “See what I mean.” The two had a good laugh, then finished their call.

At school that Wednesday, the Cover boys were trying to decide who they wanted to invite to The Cove that Saturday. Billy and Robert didn’t have any difficulty deciding who to invite as they both quickly invited four girls from their sophomore and freshmen classes. Charles thought long and hard as to whom he was going to invite, then he chose to invite four girls, as well.

Matthew was having a difficult time deciding if he wanted to invite boys or girls or a mix of both. He talked to his friends to see what they thought. His friend Bailey was a definite invite, and now he had to figure out who the other three would be. He decided to talk to Bailey to get her perspective, and to see who she thought he should invite.

Phillip had the same decision to make. Lucky for him, and Matthew, it was Wednesday and they could take Thursday and Friday to decide, but they both knew it would be best to ask whomever they were going to invite by tomorrow, Thursday.

After lunch, Ken Thomas decided he’d drive over to where the self-service car wash and the boat storage were being built. He wanted to see for himself their progress and gauge for himself when he could plan to hold the Grand Openings for both. He was surprised that they were as far along as they were, but wouldn’t be done for another 2 months.

But then the owner of the two new businesses looked at his phone’s calendar and realized that it was the middle of May and the first of July was only forty some days away, and Jackie said they should be ready by then, or maybe sooner.

The man smiled and knew when he got back to the office, he needed to get Jackie started on ordering the Grand Opening banners and colorful flags, and whatever else she felt they needed to celebrate it. He then remembered he would be out of town the first of July, and hoped the two business would come on board before then.

While he was over at Four Corners, Mr. Ken decided to stop over at the Marina Project to see what progress had been made there, too. He drove onto the property, put on his hardhat and began walking around. Since he was in a suit, the men knew he had to be someone important, and they called the site supervisor to intercept him.

The site supervisor knew immediately who he was, and went up to the man and said, “Mr. Thomas, it’s good to see you visiting the project. Is there anything you wish to specifically see today? You haven’t been here for quite some time.”

Mr. Ken told the site supervisor he was interested in seeing how far along they were in completing the boat slips and building the marina store itself and the restaurant. The supervisor asked the major investor to follow him and he’d show him around.

Ken Thomas saw that the boat slips were virtually completed with the exception of the electrical and water lines. The supervisor told him that the fire lines, hoses and boxes would be installed before they allowed people to store their boats there.

The two walked through the shell of the new marina store and Mr. Ken was impressed with the size and asked the supervisor when he felt the building would be finished. The supervisor said the schedule had it finished at the end of August, but that didn’t include the installation of any display cases, or racks, and in particular any scuba associated equipment, which the contractor would have to supply and install.

Mr. Ken then asked to see the restaurant site. There, the supervisor explained the foundation was completed, and that they should begin framing soon, with the completion date for the middle of August, as well. The man added that it didn’t include the installation of any restaurant equipment, which would put the restaurant opening at around the middle of September, at the earliest.

Then without asking, the site supervisor told Mr. Thomas that the parking lot wouldn’t be completed until the majority of the three buildings, he then qualified himself by saying the restrooms hadn’t been started yet, and that he expected it all to be done by the middle of September. Mr. Ken thanked him for the personalized tour, and then he headed back to the office.

Once he was back at the office, Ken Thomas called in Ms. Jackie and the Real Estate Group Manager and told them he wanted them to start planning the Grand Openings of the self-service car wash and boat storage lot. The Real Estate Group Manager asked his boss why he was involved.

Mr. Ken told him that he was exceptionally familiar with holding open houses and putting up balloons and flags, and he knew where to get such items, and Jackie needed a person who knew that. The boss continued and told them that he wanted the two of them, and whomever else they needed, to plan the Grand Openings at both places and to make it Grand. He then gave them a budget to spend and to decide if both businesses got equal funding, or one should have a better opening celebration.

After dinner that evening, the boys told their ‘dad’ who they had invited to come over on Saturday. Well, everyone, that is, except Matthew and Phillip. Matthew told his ‘dad’ that he was inviting Bailey, his ‘brothers’ snickered at hearing that, and their ‘dad’ told them to ‘can it’.

Matthew stuck his tongue out at his older ‘brothers’, and then told his ‘dad’ that Bailey was going to help him decide which other girls he should invite, and he would invite them tomorrow before school was over. Mr. Ken told the pre-teen that he appreciated he was going to allow a few other classmates to see what The Cove was all about.

Mr. Ken then asked his youngest foster son what had he planned. Phillip spoke right up and said he didn’t really get to know the girls in his class, as he hasn’t been in the school all that long, and that he’d feel better if he could just invite four other boys from his class.

The boy’s foster dad said that he’d be OK with that. He then asked if he knew who he was going to invite. Phillip said he talked with his friends and they all decided he’d invite Kurt, Ty, Tony and Travis. Mr. Ken said to go ahead and invite them, and to remind them to bring their skateboards, swimsuits and towels. Phillip smiled.

Charles then reminded his dad that he was scheduled to have his braces adjusted tomorrow and he said he wanted to go with him. The teen’s dad thanked him for reminding him. So, the man pulled out his cell phone to check what time the orthodontist appointment was at. ‘Dad’ Ken said he’d be home by four o’clock, and they’d head over to the appointment after he had his after-school snack.

As the boys went up to their rooms to finish any homework they had, or to relax before bed, Mr. Wayne headed home. The Estate Master told the boys to have a good night and that he’d see them tomorrow. It wasn’t too long after that when ‘dad’ Ken headed up the stairs to say goodnight to the boys himself.

‘Dad’ Ken told each boy to make sure the friends they invited over on Saturday knew to come to the Main Gate around noon and to bring their skateboard, swimsuit and towel and that their parents needed to pick them up by six o’clock. The boys said they would.

Phillip, again, was practicing with his guitar, and Mr. Ken was happy to see the boy was dedicated to learning how to play. He knew that the birthday present he got for the boy would be a hit with him tomorrow night.

The foster dad told Phillip to make sure he got a good night’s rest, and not to forget to drain his lizard. Phillip looked at his foster dad with a strange look. Mr. Ken told the boy, “Dragon, lizard, whatever, they both needed to be drained.” Phillip smiled and hugged the man.

The owner of The Cove stopped to say good night to Chief before leaving Phillips Room. The man could tell the resident pet had a good day of play with Sully, and he knew that the sire would be over tomorrow, again. After a few ear scratches, the man went down to his own retreat.

It was a quiet night in The Cove 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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