Published: 11 Apr 2024
From The Previous Chapter:
The boys talked about what Robert and Charles mentioned and they said they would talk about anything between themselves first, go to Mr. Wayne next and then Mr. Dennis if they could get things resolved.
The boys got to bed around ten o’clock that night, after their long talk.
But it was Ken Thomas whose head no sooner hit the pillow on his king-sized bed at 9:10, that same night, who would get the much-needed rest that his body and mind badly needed.
When the boys came down for breakfast Friday morning, Robert noticed that his dad’s coffee cup was never used and that the carafe was still full. He wondered if his dad ever got up for work, so he told his ‘brothers’ he was going to check on his dad. So, the teen, with Chief walking beside him, walked back to his dad’s bedroom, only to find that his dad was still in bed.
Robert knew he needed to wake his dad so, he lightly called out, “Dad … dad … it’s after nine o’clock.”
After getting no response, the teen called out again, but this time a little louder. “Dad … dad … it’s after nine o’clock.”
But the teenager still got no response. This time, though, Chief went over to her first master and began licking at his face. That got some response from the man and Chief kept doing it.
Soon, Ken Thomas recognized what was going on and abruptly said, “Chief, what are you doing?”
Robert called out, “She’s waking you up, dad! It’s well after nine o’clock! You overslept!”
“Wha … What? It’s after nine o’clock? I must have slept through my alarm. Damn, I must really have needed the sleep. Thank you, son, and you too, Chief, for coming and waking me. I guess I’d better get up and get my day started. Is Mr. Chris here yet?” asked the teen’s dad.
“We haven’t seen him, dad. We just came down to the Kitchen Nook and saw that you hadn’t had any of your coffee, which was why I came back here to check on you,” offered Robert.
Robert and Chief left the bedroom, so their dad could get himself ready for his day. The teen went and told his ‘brothers’ that their ‘dad’ was still in bed when he and Chief checked on him, but he was now getting his shower and would be out when he was ready to go to the office. He told them that he asked if they’d seen Mr. Chris.
The boys then went about getting themselves something to eat for breakfast. Some decided to heat up breakfast tacos, but others opted for cereal with bananas. Either way they all couldn’t wait until Momma Maria came back on Monday.
As they ate, Phillip told them that now they all knew what he had to do every morning when he was living with his mom. The young Cover added that he hoped that when he went back to living with his mother, again, that his mom would at least make some breakfasts for him.
What Phillip didn’t know was what Charles had, or didn’t have, very little to eat for not only breakfast, but also for lunch and dinner, too, as his mom got deeper and deeper into her drug habit. And, also, what Robert, Charles and Billy had to put up with when they were living in those other foster homes. Or, what Matthew had to deal with while living with his mom and what Lincoln would do to him if he didn’t eat everything, or complained about not having enough to eat.
None of Phillip’s ‘brothers’ mentioned those hard times that they had to endure, as they knew it wouldn’t matter once their youngest ‘brother’ was once again living with his mom. They were all happy for the youngster because it was something that three of them would never have again, and one never wanted to ever happen again.
Even though Ken Thomas hurried to get ready for the day, it was still 9:40 by the time he came out to the Kitchen Nook. He saw that one of the boys had gone out and retrieved his morning newspaper and as soon as he arrived in the Nook, Charles filled his favorite coffee cup with hot coffee and placed it before him at his favorite seat at the table.
“Thank you, boys for doing this for me. I really appreciate this. I must have truly needed that sleep to have overslept my alarm,” offered the boys’ ‘dad’.
Just then Mr. Chris came into the Kitchen Nook hoping to find the boys before they went out to the Pavilion or somewhere else on the estate.
“Good morning, boys,” bid the Estate Manager, “I hoped your ‘dad’ mentioned to you about giving out the wrist bands and food coupons for our neighbors this weekend and the next.”
The boys responded that their ‘dad’ had mentioned it to them at dinner last night and that he would tell them what they needed to do this and next weekend.
Mr. Chris had brought with him computer printouts, carnival wrist bands, food coupons/vouchers and carnival game tickets to show the boys what they would be doing. He explained that the families were to bring with them the card they’d received from him and either all of the family members, or their I.D. cards, so they could receive the appropriate number of wrist bands and food coupons.
Mr. Chris went on to tell the boys that they would set up the folding tables just inside the Main Gate and that they would check the neighbors name off on the list and annotate the number of people in the family and remind them that there were no replacements, if they were lost.
Matthew asked when they would be doing this. Mr. Chris said they would be doing this from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday and 12 noon until 4 p.m. on Sunday at the Main Gate, this and next weekend. He added that he would be there tomorrow to help work out any kinks in the process, and to give them support and answer any of the neighbor’s questions, and that they would then be able to answer on the other days.
Phillip asked, “Mr. Chris … how would the people get past the guards to get to us at the tables, since they aren’t in the database?”
Billy spoke up right then and asked Mr. Ken if the neighbors could show their card, that Mr. Chris sent them, to the guards, so they could come inside the estate. The teen reasoned that the only reason they would be there was to get their carnival gift package, and that they would only be going to the tables, and the card would be like a pass.
Mr. Ken laughed and asked, “Bill … where did you get ‘Carnival Gift Package’ from?”
“Oh, ahh Mr. Ken … well, that is essentially what the wristbands, food coupon slash vouchers and game tickets are and that is much easier to say than carnival wristband, food coupon slash vouchers and game tickets don’t you think?” reasoned the teenager.
Mr. Ken chuckled and agreed with the teen and told the boys that if they want to refer to all that as the Carnival Gift Package, then he was OK with it. The owner of The Cove then told the boys that Bill did have a good idea to have the guards let the people enter with their card to receive their ‘Carnival Gift Package’, and that he would talk to the guards to have them pass that on to the morning crews for this and next weekend.
It was Matthew who asked what they would do if the neighbors didn’t bring the card, but were on the computer printout. Mr. Chris said, tongue in cheek, that the card was their ‘Get out of Jail Free Card’ and without it they receive no ‘Carnival Gift Package’. He then chuckled at his own attempt at a joke.
The Estate Manager went on to explain to the boys that his instructions on the card were explicit, as the card was their only method to receive the wrist bands and coupons and for the family not to lose it as the carnival would be $10.00 per person, for both days, and that the food would be what the church groups decide to charge and that would also apply to the carnival games.
Robert asked how many of them needed to be at the tables. Mr. Chris said they all should be there on Saturday to see how the operation went. He went on to say that he felt that the majority of the neighbors will come that Saturday to redeem their card and to ask questions about the carnival and why the change of venue. He told the boys that was why he was going to be there with them.
Mr. Ken had stayed for the briefing and once the boy’s questions had been answered he told the boys that he was headed to the office, and that he’ll be back at his usual time.
Billy then looked at the time and said that Lonnie was probably looking for him as they were supposed to start power washing the estate walls beginning at ten and he was late. His ‘brothers’ laughed at their older ‘brother’ as he ran out of the Kitchen Nook.
On his way out the Main Gate, Mr. Ken stopped and told the guard about the neighbors coming to the estate that weekend, and the next, to receive wrist bands and food coupons/vouchers and game tickets for the 4th of July Carnival that he holds every year. He told them to pass that information on to the morning crews to allow the people who have the invitation card, that was sent to them, to enter and go to the tables manned by his ‘sons’ to pick up those items.
Mr. Ken then decided he wanted to see what Nelson had done at the Four Corners Amusement Park to get it set up. So, before heading in that direction, he called Ben and asked him to meet him there and to bring Jackie along, as she knew the route the new train would take. He mentioned they would then have lunch at the Four Corners Restaurant and they could continue to discuss any issues they foresaw at the new park. He then called Ed Henry.
Once the four met at the Four Corner’s Amusement Park, Mr. Ken wanted to make sure that Nelson wasn’t going to site any of the rides where the planned train was supposed to go. So, he had Jackie show him approximately where the train was planned to run at the front between the Go-Kart Track and the Miniature Golf Course.
Nelson Sanders, the Four Corners Amusement Park Operations Manager, told Mr. Thomas that he was glad they had that meeting, as he had already planned to place some smaller rides and a few games there. Jackie told him that there was a planned railroad station with a small refreshment stand, souvenir shop, restrooms and a small office for the train workers to put their personal belongings there when they come to work.
That description got Nelson to ask where was the operations building was going to be. He said that he’d need an office, and a secure place for revenue to count the day’s receipts. He then mentioned that he will also need a wardrobe area, sections for maintenance, electrical, construction, security, dry goods, as well as a commissary with a freezer, and if they didn’t plan to outsource the landscaping, that he would need an area for them, too.
Nelson didn’t stop there. He said that the recently built restroom was a nice size, but they also needed them at the front of the amusement park, too. The new operations manager added that an amusement park usually had ride and food supervisors, as well as section, or area supervisors and as of today he had none of those.
Nelson told Mr. Thomas that since all the rides were brand new, the ride manufactures will send a representative to train the ride operators on how to effectively operate their particular ride. He then reiterated that he still needed to place the rest of the rides and get the key people hired to learn how to operate all of the new rides who, in-turn, can train the ride operators when they finally open the park.
Ken Thomas looked over to Ben who felt the heat coming off those eyes. In his defense, Ben Walthers offered that everything, but the building, was doable before the planned opening day, if they worked at it continuously between now and then.
Ben then indicated that for the park to work effectively, as any good amusement park does, it does need an operations building as part of the surroundings and not blocks away. He told his boss that in order for them to give Nelson what he needs to properly run and maintain the Four Corners Amusement Park they should consider re-purposing the Miniature Golf Course site and building the operations building towards the back corner and using any unused area for possibly more rides in a future expansion.
That wasn’t what Ken Thomas wanted to hear. But he knew what the men were telling him was what was needed for the park to be successful. So, he told them that they should sit down at a working lunch meeting and get the particulars better identified, especially while everything they just discussed was fresh on their minds.
Mr. Ken then asked them if they should ask his secretary, Rosemary Martin, over to take notes. They all felt it was the best thing to do, while everything was still fresh in their minds, and they also decided that they could continue to discuss the park while Rosemary made her way there.
As Rosemary Martin made her way over to Four Corners, the four discussed the placement of the rest of the rides. Nelson and Ben had already sited the three children’s rides: the Helicopters, the Kiddie Swings and the Monster Trucks. But there were a number of children and family rides that had yet to be put into place.
As they walked around, Ben and Nelson showed Mr. Ken and Jackie where they planned to position the other children’s rides: the Frog Hopper, a small Motorcycle Carousel and the Paratrooper and then the family rides: the Tilt-A-Whirl, the Octopus, Speedway and the Scrambler.
The midway games were going to be the Balloon Blast, Balloon Darts, Ring the Tower Bell, Ring Toss on the Glass Bottle, and the Ball in the Cup. They didn’t discuss which refreshment stands were purchased because until they saw what space was available to place them it would be futile to even try.
The Cover boys met their friends that Friday at noon and many of them decided that they wanted to drive the PWCs. But that brought up another problem, one that had plagued the boys last year, which was what group would be able to use them and when.
Now that it appeared that Billy’s friends wouldn’t be coming to The Cove all that often, then Robert’s and Charles’ friends would be the main users of the PWC’s. But there were only seven of those and Robert had ten (10) friends and Charles had eleven (11). That meant that the two teen Covers needed to work out a system that would be equitable for everyone.
The boys who were involved with the barbeque team for the day would reduce the number by two or three depending on the day, but that still might not allow all of either group to use the PWCs. And if Jordan was going to use the Sea-Doo to pull people behind it, then that was one less PWC for them to use. Robert and Charles told everyone that they would figure something out.
That day Charles set up and played for their friends the second DVD he created on their ‘dad’s’ amusement parks. Today’s video was all about Mountain Fun Park. Again, the boys enjoyed watching the rides and seeing what the park looked like. They asked questions about the park and the Covers answered them as best they could.
When the DVD was over, some of the boys went and changed into their swimsuits and went out to the cove to play on the water toys. Other boys went and skated, while the barbeque team made sure everything was prepared and ready for when they cooked at about 2 o’clock.
Phillip and his friends did go and change into their swimsuits. They went to the Men’s Locker Room, but this time they didn’t hesitate, too much, to change. Preston and Bryson, as well as Phillip, all took off their shoes, socks and then stood before they took off their pants and underwear, but they left their shirts on. Once those three had done that they turned to face the wall and then slipped on their swimsuits.
Ty was the first one of the other three to start doing what his friends just did and soon thereafter Jeff started and then so did Westin. They all giggled as they thought about the process and not showing their ‘boy parts’, as they changed into their swimsuits. Soon, all six friends went out to the pool deck and placed their clothes in a locker and then headed out to the sandy beach.
They had all heard about what fun all the other boys had out on the water toys and this time around they didn’t want to be left out on all the fun. Of course, since they were all under twelve, they had to wear the insurance required life vests, so they found the right size on the rack that Mr. Ken had bought last year and Todd kept near the beach entrance to the cove water.
The six boys swam out to the mat that connected the two large water toys and they sat on it, trying to decide which one they wanted to try out first. Since this was the first time the six boys went out on the larger-than-life water toys, they were a bit hesitant. They didn’t know what to expect, especially being out there with the much older teenagers.
They saw that the older boys were playing the ‘King of the Raft’ game and that some of the smaller boys were being thrown off and landing in the water with a splash. That made them decide to head to the Jungle Joe 2 where they could climb on the outside, slip down the slide into the cove’s water, or sit on the inside in the warmer water that the boys usually splashed in there for that purpose.
It was while they were sitting in those warm waters talking, that Charles came out to them and told them that Jordan was going to run the new Sea-Doo GTX Limited 300, which could do 65 mph, and tow the three-person water tube, and he wanted to ask them to try it out first. The boys couldn’t swim fast enough into shore, so they could get to ride on the water tube.
Jordan had taken the Texas Boater Safety Education course as Mr. Ken had asked him to, and now he had Charles sit as the observer on the back of the Sea-Doo as he pulled Phillip, Preston and Bryson out into the lake waters on the three-person water tube. The lifeguard slowly went back and forth letting the boys enjoy the ride, but he increased the speed each time and made the turns a bit tighter each time, as well.
Then, as Jordan began increasing the speed, the tube began bouncing and the boys were enjoying the ride so much they were all laughing. That is, up until the lifeguard made a very tight turn and all three boys were unceremoniously dumped into the lake’s waters. The three friends came up from under the water still laughing and their friends watching from the cove finger were laughing at them being spilled into the lake’s water.
Now it was Ty, Jeff and Westin’s turn to try out the new three-person tube. The three boys knew what was coming, so they held on for dear life. But Jordan didn’t do what he’d done to the first three. He took them out on a longer ride around the lake and as he did that the three boys began to relax and enjoy the ride and the scenery.
But unbeknownst to the three friends in the water tube, Jordan had worked his way back towards The Cove’s cove and before they knew it, he went really fast and made a tight turn and he dumped the three of them all into the lake’s waters. Now it was the other three friends’ turn to laugh at their friends being dumped and getting all wet.
Jordan ran the Sea-Doo with the other boys behind it, too. But before long it was time to eat and this time the barbeque team used the farmhouse bell to call everyone to the barbeque. The bell was loud enough that it was heard all over The Cove and even out onto the lake waters and above the Sea-Doo’s roar.
The talk that afternoon, while the boys ate their burned burgers and dogs, came from the boys who got the opportunity to ride behind the Sea-Doo GTX Limited 300 and on the new three-person water tube and got abruptly dumped into the lake’s water.
The boys also watched the video of the Mountain Fun Amusement Park, again, as they ate, and they all wished they could go there some day and enjoy something new as all they have locally were SeaWorld and Six Flags Fiesta Texas down at San Antonio.
During the afternoon, Charles called his dad to ask him to call Mr. Longger to see of Richard could have visitors. The teen’s dad told his son that he was in a big meeting right then, but that he would try to call him as soon as he could. That disappointed the teen Cover, but Charles knew that his dad was extremely busy with everything going on with his businesses, right then, because they all talked about it the other night.
When Mr. Ken’s secretary arrived at the Four Corner’s Restaurant, Ed Henry had the corner table set up for the restaurant’s owner, and he kept the adjoining tables empty. That was so they could have some privacy to talk and not be overheard.
During the luncheon meeting the four discussed everything they talked about before Rosemary arrived. Ken Thomas made sure Rosemary took copious notes on everything they talked about and not to miss a thing, as they would be brainstorming. He then had everyone order off the menu and while they waited for their meals, they began to talk about the long-range plan for the entire area.
They wanted Rosemary Martin to capture all of their thoughts and any new ideas that they may have come up with since they met earlier. Rosemary was surprised that the size of the Four Corners Amusement Park was going to be so large after hearing the number of rides, games, and refreshment stands that would be eventually there.
During their meeting, Ken Thomas lamented to the group that he never envisioned that the Four Corner’s Amusement Park would metamorphose into what it appears to be happening. He told them he figured he’d have a small number of children’s rides and one or two family rides, but not what he is seeing now.
It was Jackie who reminded her boss that he was the one who ordered all the rides, games and refreshment stands, as well as the bigger train, and that if he didn’t want the amusement park to be so extensive, he shouldn’t have bought that many. The other two main people in the meeting, Ben and Nelson, gave their tacit nod to what the Project Manager just said.
The park’s owner told them that since they had gone this far that there was no turning back. Mr. Ken told them that if they were going to make this a minor park, within the Three Finger Entertainment, LLC group, then they had to make sure it was something to be proud of. He told them that they weren’t using all of the space, just yet, and so they could expand over time with more family rides.
Rosemary was initially shocked that Mr. Thomas was considering closing down the miniature golf course. But it wasn’t until she heard the reason for it that she understood that if the small park was to succeed, they needed to run as if it were a large amusement park, with all the bells and whistles the other parks had, albeit in a smaller, compact version.
The luncheon meeting was successful in that they agreed that Nelson had to start hiring individuals who were deemed reliable, trustworthy, could pass drug tests, didn’t have an arrest record and could work with high school students.
It was also decided that Ben would find a construction office trailer and move it there for Nelson to use as his place of operations. It was also decided to contact Jules Diamond Security for a recommendation for a secure revenue trailer to be parked alongside the operations trailer.
Secondly, Nelson, and/or Ben, had to contact the ride manufacturers to schedule their ride trainers to come to their park and train their main individuals who in turn would train the people who would operate the rides in the park. Nelson would also contact the State regulators to inspect the rides and have them certified, so they could eventually offer rides on them.
They also talked about scheduling an Opening Day. Ben, Nelson and Jackie all knew that Ken Thomas wanted the park to be opened by the first of July. But the three all thought that having its opening at the same time that their boss held his 4th of July Carnival was bad planning and they told him that.
The three recommended to him that the weekend of the 15th of July, or a day close to it, would be a better time frame and it would give them more time to not only finish out the park with the walkways, park benches, trash cans and landscaping, but also to hire better men and women as the main ride and food supervisors and hire the high school students and properly train them for opening day.
Ken Thomas didn’t like what his team was telling him. But he instinctively knew it was sound counsel, and he reluctantly agreed to delay the Grand Opening of the Four Corners Amusement Park. So, he took out his cell phone and looked at the calendar. He then told everyone to shoot for that Friday the 14th of July, as the date to have the Grand Opening.
As the meeting broke up, Ken Thomas pulled Ben Walthers aside and asked him if he had thought any more about letting his thirteen-year-old son, Rylan, to go along with them to the Grand Re-Opening of Edgewood.
When Ben asked him again why, Mr. Ken reminded him that his son, Charles, wanted to go along and this way the boys would have someone to pal around with, and that they could be used as runners. Mr. Ken then told Ben that the two could be used to unfurl the new name banner when they announced the park’s new name.
Ben honestly told his boss that he hadn’t thought much more about Rylan going along with them. But on second thought, he figured that it could be a nice father/son trip and with Charles going along, the two could keep one another company. And the President of TFE agreed that the two could be used to run errands, help with any ceremonial setup and, of course, they can unfurl the banner during the opening ceremonies.
The two dads agreed that they’d tell their boys the good news later tonight. Mr. Ken then told Ben about the polos that the women at Edgewood got for his ‘boys’ and that Ben should have them get one just like it for Rylan to wear at the Grand Re-Opening.
Mr. Ken told everyone that he wasn’t going back over to the office. He told them that while he was over that way that he wanted to take a look at the new Car Wash and Boat Storage Lot. He reminded Ben and Jackie they should call back the people they both liked to operate them and hire them on Monday, and get those two businesses opened and then schedule their Grand Opening.
Mr. Ken then remembered he needed to call Frank Longger to ask about Richard for his son, Charles. When the two finally talked, Frank told the dad that Rich was still in the ICU ward but was scheduled to be moved tomorrow to the Step-Down Unit. Mr. Longer asked if Charles could wait until late tomorrow afternoon to visit his friend.
Ken Thomas told Frank that he would call sometime after one o’clock to see if his son had been moved, and if it would be OK for Charles to stop by and visit his son. Frank agreed to that and said that his son was asking about his friends and why they hadn’t come to visit him.
Frank then admitted to Ken that he was embarrassed that he kept his son’s friends from visiting. He confessed that he just wanted his son to get better and not be moving around so much as he talked with his buddies that his stitches would open, or he would get an infection. Mr. Ken told Frank he did what he thought was best for his son, and he wouldn’t hold that against him.
Ken Thomas did go over to the car wash to check it out. When he got out of his vehicle, he noticed that the entrances to all of the self-help bays were blocked, as was the automatic car wash. He walked around and it looked like everything was in-place, and all it needed was to be turned on.
The man made a note in his cell phone to try to be there when the manufacture/installer trained the new operator on the multiple controls for the self-service bays and the automatic car wash, the different chemicals and how to regulate them, coin collection, sump cleaning, and everything else the operator needed to know to effectively operate the car wash.
Mr. Ken then drove over to the boat storage lot. Of course, the lot was locked and the only way in was through the gate, but he needed a code. Unfortunately, the codes hadn’t been established yet as the computer program wasn’t active. He made a note in his cell phone to call the program company on Monday to discuss when they would activate the program and get it online so they could begin renting the boat slots.
After spending a good amount of time at both new businesses, Ken Thomas decided to stop over at the Marina to check on its progress for himself. He found that all of the boat slips were now completed and were outfitted with water bibs, that the life rings were hung and the fire hoses were also in place. He knew that if they had a building to start renting them from, they could start generating money.
He then checked out the marina building, which was under construction, and well on its way to completion. He saw that the walls were all roughed in, that the electrical looked completed as was the plumbing, but not being there to talk to the foreman he was just speculating. He knew he needed to get a formal update, so he put a note in his cell phone to call a meeting of all of the investors and have the construction foreman there to give them a briefing on the entire project.
Mr. Ken knew it was fruitless to walk over to the seafood restaurant and look around because all he would see was the roughed in walls, some electrical, plumbing and the heating/cooling ducts. And it would mean nothing to him without someone to explain to him what it all meant. So, he decided to go home.
After the boys finished eating, Phillip and his friends decided to change into their street clothes, so they all headed back to the pool deck to collect their clothes and go into the Men’s Locker Room to change.
It was comical as Ty, Jeff and Westin were still a bit hesitant to change in front of their friends inside the locker room. Preston and Bryson didn’t hesitate to shuck off their swimsuits and stand there in front of the other four boys as naked as the day they were born.
“Come on guys and change,” encouraged Preston, as he picked up his underwear and began to put them on.
“Yeah, guys, we all have the same things hanging between our legs,” added Bryson, with a smile.
Phillip then went and dropped his swimsuit and stood there naked in front of his five friends. After he’d done that, he wondered why he did it, because he wasn’t one to want to show anyone what was hanging between his legs, even though he had been naked in front of Mark and Matthew while they showered before and during their trip. But it was too late now and then he went and put on his underwear as Bryson and Preston had already begun to put on their shirts.
Ty was next to slip off his swimsuit. But he quicky grabbed his underwear and slipped them on just as fast as he took his swimsuit off. Jeff and Westin saw what Ty had done and they did what he did. But Jeff hurried a bit too much and as he tried to put his underwear on, he got one foot through the underwear, but the second damp foot caught on the fabric, which made him stumble and he fell on the floor.
Jeff was so embarrassed when he fell, as not only did he show all of his friends his dangly parts, or ‘boy hood’, but also his butt hole, too. All five of his friends laughed at him.
Jeff was initially shocked that his friends would laugh at him, but then he saw the humor in it, as he was still laying on the floor fully showing them his dick and balls. So, Jeff began to laugh as he got up and put the other foot through the underwear and pulled them up.
“OK, OK, so I screwed up, and fell down on the floor. At least from now on I won’t be so afraid to show you guys my pride and joy when we change, as you’ve all got a good look,” chuckled Jeff, as he finished dressing.
Ty and Westin were sort of chuckling at Jeff, as they finished dressing, and Jeff called them out and said, “What are you laughing at? You two were really quick not to show us your little dicks. Or, is it that you don’t have any?” And the boy let the unanswered question hang.
Ty and Westin didn’t know what to say. But it was Phillip who spoke up and told Jeff that while he was laying on the floor showing them his ‘pride and joy’, he saw what Ty and Westin had hanging between their legs and it wasn’t any bigger or smaller than what they all had, and for him to give it a break.
The Cover then told his friends that they were wasting good playing time and they should hurry up to the storage garage and begin playing some more.
When Mr. Ken arrived back at The Cove, he was surprised to see that Collin had returned from Wilkinson and his visit to his architect. The two talked about the changes the teen wanted to make at Wilkinson and if the architect had indeed made them.
Collin told his Big Bro that the man had done them and after seeing them, suggested a few more details that he felt would enhance what he wanted to do. Collin said he liked those as well and added them and he was happy now that everything was working out for him with the Wilkinson home. Mr. Ken was truly happy for his ‘little brother’.
After all of the Covers’ friends had left for the day, Charles asked his dad about him going to visit his friend Richard. The teen’s dad told his son that Frank Longger asked that he wait until tomorrow, when his son was moved to the Step-Down Unit. Charles was disappointed that he had to wait another day, but he at least knew he would soon be able to talk, in person, to his friend about the fight and the stabbing.
Mr. Ken then asked his boys where they wanted to go out for dinner. They all wanted to go to Mr. Gatti’s, a place that Phillip had never been to.
When they arrived at the restaurant, Phillip loved that he could choose from a variety of different pizzas, pastas, or go to the salad bar and make whatever type of salad he wanted. And what he loved the best was that he could have all the soft drinks he wanted, as long as he didn’t get himself sick.
But what the young Cover loved the most about Mr. Gatti’s was that they had this arcade in the back that his foster dad gave them all a game card for, that allowed them to play the games that gave them tickets they could turn in for prizes, at the end of the night.
Phillip had so much fun in the arcade that evening. He’d never played so many arcade games before at one time. As a matter-of-fact, he never played many arcade games ever, because his mom was more interested in having money for going out with her men friends, that she rarely let him play them at all.
When the Covers returned back to The Cove, they all gathered in the Study to talk about their day and what was in store for The Cove in the coming days and weeks.
Mr. Ken started the meeting by reminding the boys that they needed to be up at the Main Gate by 10 a.m., tomorrow morning, with the tables and chairs set up and ready to receive the neighbors to pass out the wrist band and carnival food coupons. He told them that Mr. Chris would be there to help them, but they should have everything ready well before the appointed time.
The man then told the boys that he was going to meet Rene Vaughn, the reporter from KBLY TV, over at the new Four Corners Amusement Park at twelve noon. She was going to interview him about the changes to the carnival beginning next year. ‘Dad’ Ken explained that beginning next year the neighbors would have wrist bands to ride the rides at Four Corners and coupons for free food there, but everyone else would have to pay as they would this year.
Mr. Ken then told the boys that Mr. Walthers, Mr. Ben that is, was taking his son Rylan along with them to Edgewood to help with the Grand Re-Opening. He told them that the young teen would be a runner for them and help hold the banner that would have the new name of the park.
Charles quickly raised his hand and asked, “Dad, ahh … ahh, does that mean that … that I get to go too?”
The teen’s dad smiled and said, “Yes, son, that means that you get to go, too!”
Charles jumped with joy and had a smile on him as big as ever. The other boys asked if they were getting to go along, as well, but their ‘dad’ told them that only Charles was going, as he had asked him back when they were at Edgewood, and with their bringing Kate and her family back afterwards, there wouldn’t be enough room in the plane for everyone.
That disappointed the boys, but they knew it would be a tough sell to get their ‘dad’ to take them, so they didn’t pursue the idea.
‘Dad’ Ken also told the boys that after his meeting today with Mr. Ben, Mr. Nelson and Ms. Jackie about the Four Corners Amusement Park, they decided not to push the Grand Opening to the first of July, but would delay it two weeks until the 14th of July.
The man explained they would use that time to finish setting the rides, installing the walkways and landscaping, while hiring the support staff and training the main ride operators. He held back the information about the Miniature Golf Course being sacrificed to be where the new operations building would eventually be built.
It was a short meeting that Friday night. The boys did thank their ‘dad’, again, for taking them to Mr. Gatti’s for dinner, as opposed to going to the Four Corners Diner. The boys then went up to their rooms to relax before going to bed.
‘Dad’ Ken did go up to say goodnight to all the boys before going to bed himself. He started at Billy’s room and worked his way down to Phillip’s room. In Charles’ room he told his son that he and Rylan would help unfurl the new name banner at Edgewood, and that they would do any other running for him and Mr. Ben. He told the teen that they would leave that Wednesday afternoon and return late Saturday night with Kate and her family.
In Phillip’s room, the two talked about how the boy was enjoying his guitar lessons. Phillip couldn’t thank his ‘dad’ enough for getting the lessons for him and letting his friends come over and them loosely forming their band. The youngster told the man how much fun he’s had and that when he leaves and goes back to living with his mom, he will miss doing all of that.
‘Dad’ Ken told the boy that as long as he continues to practice and perfect his playing, he will continue to evolve as a guitar player. The man added that he might even find there were boys in his neighborhood that also play, and they might even be able to form a band there. Phillip smiled at hearing that he might be able to do that.
Mr. Ken’s last stop that evening was at Collin’s room. The two talked some more about Wilkinson and how much Collin was now looking forward to the changes he was going to make at his home. Collin did tell his Big Bro that the construction could take as long as nine months, once it started, but that wouldn’t be until all the plans were approved and the permits were issued which could tack on another 45 to 60 days. The young man told his Big Bro that he hoped he wouldn’t overstay his welcome.
Collin’s Big Bro told his little brother that he could take all the time he needed, and that he could stay with him until he was ready to move back into his new home. Hearing those words made Collin cry with happiness and the two hugged. Even Chief got into the act and joined them.
Ken Thomas went to bed tired, but feeling a lot less stressed out than he was the other night. When he laid down, he didn’t fall right to sleep, but he did allow his tiredness to slowly let his body fall into a deep sleep. The man slept well that night, as did the rest of the Covers, but especially Collin, in the house that night.
The saga of Three Finger Cove continues. Let Chowhound know you are reading his story: Chowhnd at Gmail dot Com
137,676 views
Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105