Published: 2 Nov 2023

From The Previous Chapter:

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.

Thursday morning was a bright and sunny one. The boys were happy that it wasn’t raining, and said so, as they ate their Momma Maria breakfast. And, as they ate, Momma reminded them that dinner would be up at the Pavilion tonight. Charles then told her that he had an orthodontist appointment, when he returned home from school, and that he and his dad were going and they should be back in time for dinner. Momma thanked him for telling her that.

When the first three boys left to catch their school bus, Mr. Ken headed to his retreat to get ready for his own day. He wanted to be ready to go to the office after he had the chance to talk to the other two boys, while they ate their breakfast. And when they headed to catch their school bus, he’d leave and head to his office.

As Mr. Ken was leaving for his office, a little after eight that morning, Wayne, his Estate Master, told him that Sully, Bruce Price’s Golden Retriever, was due there at about nine, and he and Chief would have another day of play, and hopefully mating. Mr. Ken asked if the two dogs mated yesterday and Wayne said they had. That information put a smile on the owner of The Cove.

Chris Dominions was coming to work at the same time, and Mr. Ken asked him if he had the chance to talk to his family about adopting one of chief’s puppies. Chris said that they had talked about it, and, for now, it was two against two, the adults against the children. Then Chris laughed.

Chris qualified himself by saying that Sandra was against getting the puppy, but that he was all for it, but was siding with his wife for now. He added that he was trying his best to persuade her to get the children the puppy, as their kids were 11 and 10, and were fairly responsible enough to care for it now.

At the office, Mr. Ken called Kate. He usually called her sometime during the week and he was missing her, and he just wanted to talk to her and tell her what was going on with the amusement parks, Chief and his three new ventures.

When they talked that morning, he told her all about his having to step back from making the decisions for Edgewood, and let Ben Walthers, his new President of Three Finger Entertainment do all the heavy lifting. Kate could tell by the tone in his voice that he was missing being fully involved, so she told him to get involved elsewhere.

On that note, Ken Thomas told her about his going to visit the self-service car wash, the boat storage lot and the marina project to include the restaurant. He told her how close the car wash and storage lot were to being finished, and how he envisioned their grand openings, and that he got Jackie and his real estate group manager involved in planning them.

Kate could now hear the enthusiasm back in her boyfriend’s voice, so she asked him why he involved the real estate group manager. Mr. Ken laughingly told her that the manager was always holding open houses with balloons and banners and strings of flags, so he knew where to get them, and that he and Jackie could find the right stuff to use to put together a Grand Opening celebration the people would remember.

Kate then asked Ken about the marina restaurant and when would it open. Ken told her that it wouldn’t open until the end of September or the beginning of October and then he added that he hoped she could be there to go to that grand opening with him. She told him that she’d have to think about that, and then she laughed.

At both schools, the Cover boys went to the individual boys and girls they intended to invite to The Cove that Saturday. Billy invited four girls, who had never been to The Cove, and he wanted to make sure they could come over. He asked them if their parents said it would be OK for them to come over. He was relieved when they all said they’d be there at noon. Billy told them he’d meet them at the Main Gate.

Robert also went to the four girls he invited, Alice, Claire, Emily and MaryAnn. None of those girls had ever been to The Cove before and Alice and Claire told the Cover their parents said they were happy they were getting to go.

Emily also had never been at The Cove before, but since she would be there with Alice, Claire and MaryAnn, and her parents knew them, she said they were OK for her to go, as she would be there with other girls her age. Robert also told his classmates that he’d meet them at the Main Gate, and he reminded them to bring their skateboards, swimsuits and a towel with them.

Charles had invited two girls who’d been at The Cove before, Holly and Bristol. He checked with them first thing, that morning, to see if they could make it on Saturday. The two of them said they would be there. Then he searched out Keira, who had never been at The Cove, to learn if her parents were going to allow her to come over to The Cove. She said they told her to have fun.

Charles then had to find Erin, who also had never been to The Cove. When he found her, he learned that her parents wouldn’t let her go over to The Cove. The girl told the Cover that her parents said she spent all week with her classmates, and she needed time to be away from them.

Charles told her he was sorry to hear that, and that if she could change her parent’s minds, that she should stop by the Main Gate and have the Security Guards call him, and he’d come over and sign her in.

Charles told her they’d skate and then have lunch and if she wanted, they’d swim and that his dad has lifeguards, if her parents are concerned about that. Erin thanked him and said she’d work on them and tell him at school tomorrow, if they changed their minds. Charles then gave Erin the phone number to The Cove that rang at his dad’s desk, and told her to have her parents call his dad if they had any questions. The young girl smiled.

Matthew and Bailey talked at school that morning. She was happy she was getting to go over to The Cove again. She had helped her Cover friend to choose the other three classmates, Kylie, Jade and Molly, none of whom had ever been to The Cove, officially. They may have been there for the Easter Egg Roll, or during the Holidays Open House, but had never been invited to The Cove to skate or swim.

Matthew caught up with all three girls before the first bell, and they all told him they were looking forward to going over to The Cove on Saturday. They asked the Cover again what they’d get to do and Matthew told them to bring their skateboard, their swimsuit and a towel if they intended to swim.

Molly said she wasn’t very good at skating, and Matthew told her to bring it anyway, as the Cove Skate Park had different areas for all levels of experience, and that the older boys will probably want to give her some pointers. Molly smiled at hearing that, and said she’d make sure she did.

Kylie asked what there was to do if they didn’t want to swim. The Cover told her about the four large games, the beanbag toss, toppling timbers, connect-four and washers that all the boys play when they are tired of skating, and/or don’t want to swim. Kylie said the games sounded like fun, and that she’d probably challenge the boys to a game or two. The two had a good laugh.

Phillip met his four friends right after he got off the school bus that morning, and he told them he needed to find Kurt, Ty, Tony and Travis, so he could invite them to The Cove on Saturday. When the Cover found the four boys, he told them his foster dad told him he could invite four more people over to The Cove on Saturday and he decided to invite them. The four boys were pleasantly surprised, and then thanked him for the invitation. The four then asked him what they needed to do.

Phillip told them they needed to ask their parents, and to let him know if they could make it. The Cover told them to let him know at lunch time, or tomorrow at school. He also told them they could call him tonight, and he then gave them his cell phone number.

Phillip explained that if they can come to The Cove, they should come to the Main Gate at noon and that he’d meet them there to sign them in, and for them to bring their skateboard, a swimsuit and a towel. The four invitees all had smiles and told the Cover they’d let him know as soon as they could talk to their parents.

After Kate and Mr. Ken finished their talk, Mr. Ken called in his Construction & Design Group to talk to them about what they were involved in. The project that he was the most interested in, though, was their work on his undeveloped land next to his hotel and office buildings out by the lake.

They were supposed to be drawing up an urban use plan for that undeveloped land to include roads, traffic lights and side streets, as well as where they would locate strip offices, store fronts and light industrial warehouses along the main road and larger industrial areas further back.

His partnership group was wanting this plan put together, since the county didn’t have one yet for the undeveloped land. They were ultimately hoping that if they submitted a plan that they envisioned for the land, the county would use it as their model, and design the utilities around it and it could speed up their development of the property.

The Construction & Design Group had only been working on this urban plan since last February and Mr. Ken was pleased with their progress, and told them to continue working on it. He then asked to see what they had designed for his new amusement railroad at Four Corners.

The members of the Group were surprised at that request, but were happy to bring out that survey. They told him it was a fun project to work on, as it got them out of the office, and they did something totally out of the ordinary.

Mr. Ken saw how they just didn’t draw a straight line and standard curves around the property. They actually tried to make the train ride interesting, without having too many ‘S’ curves. They also included a dual tunnel, which he wanted in order to store the trains, as there would be two of them, and there would also be a siding, near the station, where they could park one of the trains, when there wasn’t a need. Mr. Ken was pleased with the layout, and thanked them for not planning a run-of-the-mill train design.

The next group Mr. Ken called into his office, were the Architects. But specifically, the ones working on the railroad station design and the other buildings, which would be positioned around the railroad that would encircle the Go-Kart Track, the Miniature Golf Course and eventually the amusement park he and Ben were developing to open that summer.

None of the building designs were completed, as of yet, which didn’t bother Mr. Ken. But he wanted to see what the architects had envisioned. As he looked at the design, he was glad he did. He told them he wanted the railroad station to be older looking, more to resemble the 20s and 30s, with the large overhang, clapboards, baggage carts and a ticket window.

Mr. Ken then asked them to supplement the amusement park’s main restrooms, but not to over plan them, and to place them at the end of the building. He also wanted them to plan a medium sized merchandise selling area, with a wash sink and a small office, and to include a small office for the railroad team to put their hats, jackets and a place to take a break. He added that a concession stand would be good there, as well for people to buy drinks and snacks when they get off the train.

As for the other buildings, he told them he also wanted them to design a schoolhouse, a cottage with an outhouse, a farmhouse with paddock, a saloon with a horse hitch, and watering trough and whatever else they thought would fit the available area, without making the area too crowded.

The architects told them they were glad they talked, as they now had a better idea of what they should design. They also asked when the final designs and construction plans were needed.

Mr. Ken told them that he’d like the buildings designed and installed by the time the trains begin running at the beginning of April. The architects looked at one another and knew they needed to work a little faster, if they were going to get all five plus structures designed, approved and built by next May. But since the buildings were not going to be inhabited, they knew they didn’t need to design them to code.

Mr. Ken then talked with his Games Group. He asked them about what prizes they had planned for the carnival type games, which were planned for the Four Corners Amusement Park. That question caught them flat-footed, as they had never heard about carnival games being installed at Four Corners.

Mr. Ken rang Ben and asked him to come to his office. When Ben Walthers, the President of TFE, came to Ken Thomas’ office, Mr. Ken asked him if he coordinated with the Games Group about the carnival games going in at the Four Corners Amusement Park, and what prizes they would offer.

Ben said he hadn’t and that he had totally forgotten about needing prizes for Four Corners. He apologized by saying that he always had the prizes at the parks, and that he had totally forgotten about needing to buy them for Four Corners, because he never started up a brand-new park before.

He quickly recovered by saying he could have each of the amusement parks send them some of their different sized plush prizes, and that would give them a start with the games he was buying for Four Corners. He said the rides and games weren’t due to be delivered for another month so they had 40 plus days before the rides and games would even be inspected, and they could begin to train the employees.

Mr. Ken told Ben and the Games Group to get together and decide which type of prizes they would award to the player and to decide what they needed to do to earn it. Ben Walthers said they’d have that worked out by the time they open the Four Corner’s Amusement Park.

Mr. Ken dismissed the Games Group, but asked Ben to stay. After the other people had left the office, Mr. Ken asked Ben if he had allowed for enough time for the new employees to be properly trained to operate the new rides, and had he hired an operations manager yet, and had he started to advertise for ride operators, concessionaires, cleaning crew, etc.

Ben Walthers told his employer that he felt that until the utilities were installed and accepted, he couldn’t even begin to install any rides, and until the rides were installed, he couldn’t even begin to train any operators.

Mr. Ken told Ben to hire the operations manager and have him handle the installation, training and all the other ancillary aspects that go along with opening a new park. Mr. Ken then told Ben he should have already had the man on the payroll and involved with everything right now.

Ben Walthers sat there and realized he’d made an error in judgment, as he had planned to do much of that himself, but his other duties as President of TFE had him so busy, with other things, especially, the new Edgewood Amusement Park acquisition, that he had let those little things slip past him.

Ben apologized to Mr. Ken for the oversight. He told him he’d bring in an assistant ops manager from one of the other parks to handle the Four Corners Park rides and games installation and park opening, and he will keep them here until he can find a permanent full-time operations manager. Mr. Ken told him not to dawdle and then told him to get on it.

It had been a very busy morning for Ken Thomas. He was initially disappointed with his President of TFE, but he had put a lot of tasks on Ben, with his purchase of Edgewood, and their having to rebuild that park, while, at the same time, the man was building his Three Finger Entertainment Team, which would take care of all five of the amusement parks, well, six, now with the addition of Four Corners.

At The Cove, Bruce Price had brought his Golden Retriever, Sully, over to play with Chief and for the two dogs to mate. Chief was anxiously waiting for Sully, and as soon as Bruce let his sire out of his traveling cage the two dogs ran off to play and eventually, they did mate.

Bruce and Wayne talked about how well the two dogs were getting along, and that with as many times as they had mated, in the past two days, the two men were hopeful that there would be a successful litter of puppies, in the next 60 some days.

After lunch, Mr. Ken called his Real Estate Group Manager, the Lodgings Manager, and the Restaurants Manager into his office. He wanted the Real Estate Manager to review all of his real estate property acquisitions next to and around his amusement parks, and to get with the Lodgings and Restaurants Managers to determine how many hotel/motels and regular and fast-food restaurants were nearby, and to get back with him.

He explained to them that with five amusement parks he may want to build hotels, or motels, and sit-down and fast-food restaurants to fill in a future need. He explained his Drive-Stay-Fun promotion he wanted to implement in the future, and that he either needed to have his own hotels and/or motels, or an association with the local ones in order to implement them. The managers understood what their employer wanted, and told him they’d get the information he needed and they would get back to him when they had it.

Mr. Ken was home well before he needed to take Charles to his orthodontist appointment. He took that time to talk to Wayne about Chief and her ‘play-date’ with Sully. The Estate Master told the owner of The Cove that Chief and Sully were getting along very well, and that he and Mr. Price were very hopeful that there would be a big litter of pups come the middle to the end of July. Hearing that put a big smile on Ken Thomas’ face.

‘Dad’ Ken ate an after-school snack with the three boys, and when Charles was finished, he told his son to go and brush his teeth, as he didn’t want the dentist to see that he’d been eating Momma’s sweet cakes. Charles’ ‘brothers’ laughed, as the teen went to brush his teeth.

At the orthodontist’s office, Charles had his current braces taken off, and the dentist technician cleaned the teen’s teeth, and then had him brush his teeth before putting new braces on. Charles got to pick the colors again and this time he decided to stay with his blue on the top and green on the bottom. He reasoned they weren’t as noticeable as some of the other colors were.

While those two Covers were at the orthodontists’ office, Momma Maria and Billy were getting the evenings dinner ready. Billy was surprised when he saw the birthday cake for Phillip, and asked if that was why they were having the dinner at the Pavilion.

Momma told the teenager that it was warm enough for them to have another dinner up at the Pavilion, and it just so happened to be Phillip’s birthday, too. Then she told him to stop asking questions, and to take the stuff up to the Pavilion, and put everything in the refrigerator to keep it cold, until she started cooking, or she’d get the ‘spoon’ after him. Then she smiled.

Billy laughed right along with Momma, and carried the things Momma wanted him to take up to the Pavilion, and placed them in one of the golf carts. He told Momma that he would clean the grill while he was up there, so it was ready for her. Momma thanked him for thinking about doing that.

The Covers were all up at the Pavilion by six o’clock that Thursday evening. Momma had fresh rolls and butter on the table and their salads ready, while the grill was getting hot for her to cook their steaks. She presented them with four different salad dressings for them to use on their salads, and, as they ate those, she asked them how they wanted their steaks cooked.

Momma Maria had purchased bone in ribeye steaks for that birthday meal, and cooking them was going to be easy. Of the eight steaks she was to cook that night, seven were to be cooked to medium rare and one to medium. That one was for Phillip as he didn’t like to see too much red when he ate his steak. His ‘brothers’ told him he didn’t know what he was missing.

As Momma was preparing the steaks, she had Billy get the fixings for the baked potatoes out of the refrigerator, and place them on the table. She then had him get the baked potatoes out of the insulated warming bag and, using the kitchen tongs, place one on everybody’s plate.

Everyone then began fixing their baked potato as they liked them and as they were doing that Momma began serving up hot ribeye steaks onto their plates. The last one she plated was Phillip’s and she asked him to cut into it to make sure it was done to his liking. When the boy did, he looked inside and said it looked ‘just right’.

Momma then sat down at her own plate and enjoyed her own medium rare ribeye steak, baked potato, green beans and the fresh rolls and butter. The conversation was quiet at the table, as the Covers enjoyed another wonderfully cooked meal by Momma Maria.

As the Covers were getting full, or finished their meal, the conversation began. Billy started it by saying he learned that today was someone’s birthday. Everybody looked around trying to figure out whose birthday it was, until the older Cover teen said it was Phillip’s.

Phillip asked if today was the eighteenth, and learning that it was, he said that today was his birthday, and that he was now eleven. All of his ‘brothers’ told him ‘Happy Birthday’. Momma said that she had a birthday cake for him, and that’s what they would have for dessert. The youngest Cover smiled.

When everyone had finished their meal, the boys helped clean off the table and put the trash in the trash bags and the dirty dishes in a plastic tub. Momma then went and got the birthday cake that had eleven candles on the top. She had Mr. Wayne light the candles, and then Mr. Ken had everyone sing Happy Birthday to Phillip.

When the singing was finished, Momma cut everyone a nice sized piece of cake. That was so there wouldn’t be much left over, and then she dished out a big scoop of vanilla ice cream for everyone, except Chief.

After everyone had eaten their birthday cake and ice cream, Matthew asked his younger ‘brother’ what did he usually get for his birthday. Phillip said that his mom rarely got him anything and, when she did, it was something like clothes.

Charles then asked his youngest ‘brother’ if his dad asked him what he wanted for his birthday. Phillip said he never asked him. The boys all looked to ‘dad’ Ken with eyes that asked him why he didn’t ask their ‘brother’ what he wanted for his birthday.

‘Dad’ Ken held up his hands and said he got Phillip a birthday present that he thought he would like, so he figured he didn’t have to ask the boy what he wanted. The man then told Phillip to go into the storage garage to see what it was.

Phillip and his ‘brothers’ all hurried over to the storage garage where Phillip used the code to open the door. Charles and Matthew wondered how he knew it, and they didn’t. The five boys went into the garage and Billy opened the garage door to let the light in.

Once the large garage door was opened, Phillip saw siting there a Rogue Rocketeer electric double cutaway guitar, gig bag, strap, guitar cable, a number of picks, and a Rogue G10 solid-state guitar amp. The boy was without words and he had tears in his eyes.

By then Mr. Ken, Mr. Wayne and Momma Maria walked over to the new storage garage and when Phillip saw the man, he ran over to him and hugged him with all his might.

“I take it he likes his birthday present,” offered Mr. Ken, with a big smile on his face. “Go ahead, and plug it in and try it out,” encouraged the foster dad.

After wiping his eyes, Phillip took the amp’s cord over to the closest receptacle and plugged in the amplifier, and then turned it on. He plugged the guitar in and then began to tune it. Once the young Cover was happy with the sound, he began to play something he knew. All of the Covers stood back and listened. They enjoyed what the young boy played, but what they enjoyed the most was the big smile the boy had on his face, as he played his new electric guitar.

When Phillip was finished with his playing, Mr. Ken asked him to keep the new guitar up there, so he had it when his friends came over. The boy said he would and then put everything aside.

The Covers helped Momma with everything that needed to be taken back to the house and afterwards, they had their usual meeting in the Study.

‘Dad’ Ken asked the boys if all of their friends they asked said they were coming over on Saturday. Billy told his foster dad, with a great big smile on his face, that his four female classmates were coming. Robert said that his four classmates were also coming.

Charles told his dad that three of the girls in his class said they were coming, but that one girl told him that her parents told her she was with her classmates all week long, and that she needed a break from them. The teenager told his dad that Erin was going to try to work on her parents to try to change their minds. The teen added that he gave Erin The Cove’s phone number that rang at his desk, so if it rang it might be her parents.

Matthew said that his friend Bailey would be there, and so would the three other girls he asked. He told his ‘dad’ that he thought Molly was going to be more interested in the older boys helping teach her how to skate better than anything else. Billy said he didn’t think there was anything wrong with that. Charles laughed right along with his older ‘brother’.

Phillip told his foster dad that he just invited his four friends that morning and that he asked them to either call him tonight to let him know if they could come over, or at school tomorrow. And just then his cell phone rang. It was Travis who was calling to say he could come over on Saturday. Phillip thanked his classmate for calling, and that he’d see him tomorrow at school.

‘Dad’ Ken then talked about what was coming up for them and The Cove. He reminded Matthew that he would see Doctor Doug next week as would Robert and Phillip. He said that Collin was due there by Thursday night and that the Memorial Day Picnic should kick off by noon on Saturday. He then told Phillip that Mr. Bindy would still be there at nine.

‘Dad’ Ken was reminding the boys that they had a half-day of school on Friday the 2^nd of June and that their amusement park trip would begin that Saturday, when Phillip’s cell phone rang again. Phillip apologized for the phone call and then answered it.

This time it was Ty who was calling to tell the Cover that his parents said it was alright for him to come over on Saturday. Phillip thanked him for calling and then told him he’d see him at school tomorrow, then he hung up the call. The boy then apologized again for interrupting their meeting, and then he said he probably should have told them to text him. All his ‘brothers’ laughed at him.

Mr. Ken told the boys that he would take them out to buy new summer clothes before they left for their trip. Robert quickly asked him if Ms. Judy was going along with them. The teen’s dad turned the question right back on his son and asked the teen if his Best Friend knew the answer. Robert said Eric didn’t know either, which was why he asked him. All the boys laughed.

“Boys, I did ask Ms. Judy to go along with us. If she goes, she would be going for the first five days, and then she and Mr. Dan would trade off like he and Mr. Levi did last year. Also, Mr. Dennis and Mr. Wayne are going along, so the plane will be full, as we travel to all of the parks.

“Phillip, your ‘brothers’ … they have gone on these trips, multiple times, so … just follow their lead. At each of the hotels …you’ll see that I change up who stays with whom, so be prepared for that. And, I expect that Mark … that he will be going along with us, as he is a Cover, too, by the way. I know it’s two weeks before we go, but before you know it … we’ll be getting up at five o’clock in the morning,” teased Mr. Ken.

Phillip looked at his ‘brothers’ and asked if Mr. Ken was teasing, and if they will really be getting up that early. Matthew told his younger ‘brother’ that they will, and then they have about an eighty-minute drive to the airport, and then a three-hour flight to their first amusement park. Phillip said he had to be kidding. Charles said that after he gets to the airplane, he can sleep, but then he’d miss getting to fly it. Hearing that last statement immediately got Phillip’s attention.

Mr. Ken asked the boys if they had anything for him. Phillip asked if he could go and see his mom tomorrow. The foster dad said he’d try to be home by the time the boy got home from school and they’d go over to see his mom before dinner, so they’d have longer than the other night. Phillip smiled at hearing that.

Billy asked if there was anything else they needed to do to get the estate ready for the Picnic. He explained that he wanted to know, because they still needed to clean the restrooms. He explained that he planned to do those right after they did the barbeque on Sunday, and he wanted to know, so he could fit it into his plan. Mr. Ken told him that other than Robert and Eric cutting the field this weekend, he didn’t know of anything.

When Robert heard his dad say something about cutting the field, he realized he’d forgotten all about doing it. So, he pulled out his cell phone and texted Eric that they needed to cut the grass that weekend. The Cover then added for him to ask his mom to bring him over first thing Saturday morning, so they could get an early start.

Charles asked his dad if he was inviting Mr. Owen and Mr. Nathan and their sons, Jayden, Chase and Ryder. Phillip whispered to Matthew and asked him who those people were. The pre-teen told his younger ‘brother’ that they were some people they met at SeaWorld a few years back, and they live quite far away, and their ‘dad’ invites them to big parties like that.

The teen’s dad told his teenaged son that he hadn’t called them yet, but that he was going to that weekend. He kiddingly asked Charles if he didn’t want them to come. Charles laughed and said he just wanted to make sure he hadn’t forgotten about them because he’s been so busy ever since he started working at the office.

‘Dad’ Ken smiled and said he hadn’t forgotten about the men and their boys. He said they hadn’t seen them since the Holidays, and he wondered how much the boys have grown since then. He told the boys that he’ll invite them over, as he did last year, to spend Saturday night with them, since they had a long drive home, so they’ll now have guests Saturday night. But he also told the boys that there will be no others.

When the boys went up to their rooms to finish any homework they may have, and to relax before bed, Mr. Wayne told them goodnight, and that he’d see them tomorrow. ‘Dad’ Ken waited about fifteen minutes before he went up to say goodnight to his ‘boys’. There wasn’t much to say to them, as it was Thursday night, and the weekend was almost upon them, and they were all looking forward to having some new classmates over to enjoy the Cove Skate Park and possibly swim.

Mr. Ken did tell Bill that he talked to DA Morris who told him that Kaden’s trial was scheduled for the beginning of next week, but that he didn’t know which day. The foster dad also reminded the teen that his ex-friend wouldn’t get anything like what his cohorts would be getting when they are sentenced next Friday. The foster teen thanked his foster dad for finding out that information for him.

When Mr. Ken got to Phillip’s room the boy was playing his guitar. He was practicing what Mr. Bindy gave him to work on for Saturday morning. When the boy knew his foster dad was at the door, he stopped playing, got up off the bed and he went to the man and hugged him and thanked him for the electric guitar.

“Now, Phillip, that electric guitar … I hope you know that it isn’t the best one out there. But I wanted you to have one, so that you could begin working with it to see how easy or difficult it is. You’ll need to ask Mr. Bindy on Saturday, and see what he says. OK?” said Mr. Ken to qualify himself.

Phillip told his foster dad that he couldn’t believe how things are so different there at The Cove, than when he lived with his mother. The boy said he loved it there, because he got good food, had nice clothes to wear, and he could have his friends over to play.

Phillip also said he felt that he, nor any of his ‘brothers’ were treated any differently, and even though he got a guitar and a cell phone for Easter, and now an electric guitar, he added that Billy told him that all of them get special gifts for their birthdays and cell phones, and are taken on trips that none of them are singled out as being someone ‘special’.

Phillip then hugged Mr. Ken again and thanked him for being his foster dad, and that he will miss him and his ‘brothers’ when he has to go back to living with his mom. Mr. Ken hugged the boy back and thanked his foster son for what he said. The man told the boy that he knows he will be a better son when he goes back to his mom. The foster dad then told his foster son that he should remember that he will forever be a Cover, and that he can always count on them if he ever needs them.

As Mr. Ken was walking down the stairs to his own retreat, he was thinking to himself that there was only one more day, and then there would be the weekend. He smiled then said to himself that he was now thinking like he was a schoolboy, and then he laughed.

After the birthday excitement, The Cove was quite all 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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