Published: 9 May 2024

From The Previous Chapter:

The Covers did swim until about ten o’clock and then Mr. Ken sent them up to their rooms. Mr. Ken did go up to their rooms to say goodnight to them all before settling down himself.

The Covers slept fairly well that night. The boys did have some reservations over their ‘dad’ leaving a day early. Mr. Ken, on the other hand, wished he knew what Lane was holding over Kate’s head, all this time, which was making her so upset. He felt with him being there for her, it would help her get through all this.

When Ken Thomas awoke that Monday morning, he had hoped that the storm that had moved into the area overnight had abated, but it hadn’t. The storm wasn’t one with loads of lightning and thunder that would have awakened the boys, but it did bring with it heavy rains that had persisted into the morning.

The owner of The Cove got ready for his day, before heading out to the Kitchen Nook for breakfast. When he arrived, he was happy that Momma had brought in his morning newspaper, because that saved him from getting wet himself.

While Momma Maria was getting the man his breakfast, he told her that he and Charles had a change in plans and that they would be leaving tomorrow morning, instead. He did say that they planned to be back home Saturday night and hopefully Kate and the boys and her mom, Edith, will be with them.

Mr. Ken also reminded her that Kevin and Kyle, and their aunt and uncle, Sylvia and Reynolds, and their two children, would be visiting The Cove beginning the 2^nd of July, and would be staying until the following Sunday, and possibly longer. He added that with all the extra people that were going to be at The Cove during that time, that if she felt she needed to bring in her amigas, Sophia and Isabela, she should go ahead and plan to do it and just let Chris know, so he could make sure he paid them.

Momma thanked him for telling her that she could bring in her amigas. She told him that feeding an extra ten people for a week will be a tremendous task for her and them. The woman then started speaking Spanish to herself, as she finished making her employer’s meal.

Collin came into the Kitchen Nook just then and said good morning to his Big Bro and then asked him what Momma was talking to herself about. The young man’s ‘big brother’ said she was talking about what meals she was going to fix, while she had all those people staying there during the 4^th of July Holiday week.

Collin, without thinking asked, “How many people will be here Bro?”

Collin, in asking that question, had forgotten that Kevin and Kyle, along with their aunt, uncle and their two kids, and that Kate and her family and mom would also be there and that there would also be the seven of them and Mr. Wayne, who usually is at The Cove during the week.

“Collin … Kevin and Kyle and their aunt and uncle and two cousins are coming and hopefully, Kate and her family will also be here. And then, when you add all of us, there will be at least seventeen, and counting Mr. Wayne, who is usually here every day, that makes eighteen,” chided the young man’s Big Bro.

“Oh, sorry, bro. I’m just not, you know, not used to having that many people around at any one time,” apologized Collin.

As the two Coves were talking, Momma placed the man’s breakfast in front of him and she told Collin his would be ready in a few minutes. Collin thanked the woman for telling him that. He then told Momma Maria that he needed to ask for her help in planning what he was going to serve his guests Wednesday night. Hearing that Collin needed her help, with something, put a smile on the woman’s face.

Collin then told his Big Bro that he listened to Phillip and his band-mates play and he asked the man what he thought about his asking them to play at his get together Wednesday night.

Mr. Ken smiled at the question and then told the young man that if he thought that the boys would be good enough for his classmates, then he needed to talk to all of the boys’ parents, as the boys would be out until, at least, after 10 p.m.

Mr. Ken added, “The boys do play fairly well, and this would give them a boost in their self-esteem. And, as you have noticed, their music is fine, but what you may not have noticed, it is difficult to hear the boys singing, when there is a lot of talking going on under the Pavilion. So, the one thing that they don’t have is a sound system.”

Mr. Chris arrived just then. He got himself a cup of hot coffee and a Momma sweet cake to go with it and sat down to talk to the two Covers. He said good morning to them and then took a drink of his hot brew and a bite of Momma’s wonderful baked cakes. Momma then placed Collin’s breakfast in front of him.

“Chris … Sylvia and Reynolds … they will probably call you today to help them get on Vivian’s visitor list in order for them to take Kevin and Kyle to visit their mom, when they are here the week of the 4^th of July. Also, give them any other helpful hints they will need, so that they can plan on them before they get here, like the $25.00 of quarters they need to buy sodas and snacks at the visitor’s center.

“Also, Chris … I asked the boys to build the whelping box, so show them where it is. They are also going to place it under the stairs in the Great Room, so Chief knows where to go when she feels the need to birth her pups.

“Oh, and by-the-way … Charles and I … we will be leaving tomorrow instead of Wednesday to go to Edgewood. I’ve already called the air charter service to make the needed changes. Charles … he is going to stay with Jason, as I fly on to meet up with Kate. She is having a problem with her boys’ father, and I want to be there for her.

“I will fly back to Edgewood on the 30^th for the Grand Re-Opening on the 1^st. You might want to cancel my hotel room for Wednesday, but leave it open for Thursday in case things work out for Kate and my return to Edgewood sooner.

“I’ve also asked the boys to help you with the carnival. They’ve been around it enough times to know what they can do. They also need to get the Pavilion and the restrooms cleaned before the carnival. They’re also supposed to get you the sizes of the boys who will be the referees for the Cove Skate Park during the open skating time. I hope you can get the shirts in time.

“Oh, and don’t forget to dust off that sign you had made for the open skating last year, and the Police Explorers will need the release forms to pass out to the people who want to skate and those wristbands … please get out those wristbands that you used last year, so the referees know they have submitted a release form,” finished the owner of The Cove.

Mr. Wayne came in the Kitchen Nook just then and he got himself a cup of hot coffee and a sweet cake and then he sat down at the table to see what was going on. Chris told him about all the instructions he just received, and told him that he’d better get out a pad of paper and be ready for his list. Wayne laughed and told Chris he got his yesterday.

Mr. Ken told the group that he had a lot to get done at the office today, so he needed to get a move on. He told them that he’d call them if he remembered anything else. Ken Thomas then quickly left the Kitchen Nook and headed to the office.

After Collin finished his breakfast, he asked Momma if she had some time to talk to him about his get-together, he had planned for Wednesday night, starting at about 6:30 and lasting until about 10:30 or 11:00. He explained he’d invited some of his classmates from school, and that there should be at least thirty of them, or maybe a few more.

Momma told him that she better wait until she feeds the other boys, otherwise, she will no sooner get to thinking of what he could do than she would have to fix the boys their breakfast. Collin said he understood and would go and get ready for the day.

No sooner had the young man gone back up to his guest suite, than the five Cover boys came into the Kitchen Nook for breakfast. They all said good morning to Mr. Wayne, as Mr. Chris had already gone down to his office. Mr. Wayne told the boys that Mr. Chris mentioned that the whelping box was out in the garage for when they wanted to start building it.

Billy thanked the Estate Manager for telling them that and added that with it still raining, that after they ate, it would be a good time to work on that simple project. Billy then told Momma Maria that Collin was having a party Wednesday night and he told him to talk to her about giving him some ideas of what to serve.

Billy kept talking about the party and told Momma that he was thinking that if Collin was just having his high school friends over for socializing, then he could easily have salsa and chips, guacamole dip and chips, pretzels, peanuts, regular chips, cupcakes, and things like that, which didn’t necessarily need to be kept warm or cold.

The teenager added that if he was going to ‘feed’ them, then he could serve them those miniature tacos like they have at the big box stores, and other pre-made things like that. Billy said that they could heat them up in the Kitchen Nook and keep them warm on the grilling plates over the grill and just put them out as they need to.

The entire time, Momma was making breakfast, she was listening to what Billy had to say. When the teenager had finished, she thanked him for his ideas, and then she told him that Collin had asked her if she could help him after they had all eaten. Momma then asked Billy to join them when they sat down to talk about his ideas. Billy said that he’d like to do that.

At the office, Mr. Ken, at his usual Monday morning meeting, thanked Ms. Jackie and the manager of the Real Estate Group, in front of everyone, for their hard work in getting the Car Wash and Boat Storage Lot ready for their Grand Opening. He also thanked them for getting distinctly different promotional items for each new business for the teens to hand out.

Mr. Ken then told everyone about the delay in opening the amusement park until the 14^th of July. He explained that Nelson needed the added time to hire his crew and get the park fully ready. He then told everyone that he was leaving tomorrow for the Edgewood Amusement Park and its Grand Re-Opening and that Ben would follow on Wednesday.

As the meeting continued, Mr. Ken asked the Architect Group how they were coming along with the plans for the railroad station, which included 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.

And before they could answer, he also asked about the building plans for the design of the schoolhouse, a cottage with an outhouse, a farmhouse with paddock, the 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 manager of the Architect Group was ready for that question. He knew the importance Mr. Thomas had put on the amusement park, and especially the train and the buildings he wanted them to design for that area adjacent to the tracks.

The manager told Mr. Thomas that the minor buildings, such as the schoolhouse, cottage, farmhouse, and saloon were completed, since they weren’t going to be inhabited, and, as such, they didn’t need to be designed to meet building code. He did say that the railroad station was taking a bit longer, as it was more complicated, since it had multiple uses.

Mr. Ken thanked the man for the update. He then told him and the assembled group that the railroad track installation would begin the week after the 4^th of July Holiday week. He told the Architect manager that they need to relook at the railroad station plans, and especially the size of the restrooms because the parks operations manager, Nelson Sanders, recommended that they have them at the entrance to the park.

Mr. Ken said that, for now, the railroad station would essentially be located at the entrance of the park and since Nelson recommends, we have restrooms at the entrance we might as well make them big enough to handle the crowd while they are there, and when they begin departing the park. The architect said he could easily do that.

Mr. Ken also told the architect manager that the track installation supervisor told him that he would rather build the track to the station rather than the carpenters build the railroad station to the tracks. The owner of the Four Corners Amusement Park asked the manager to get with Nelson, to not only size the restrooms but any other rooms situated in that building that he feels that might need to be bigger.

Before Mr. Ken continued going around the table to get the other Group’s inputs, he told the Architect manager and Construction Group’s manager, as well, that they needed to plan the railroad station being built during the winter time frame, so the track installation can be completed and the train be operational for the spring. He gave them a March first completion date.

Collin and Momma sat down, along with Billy, and the three of them discussed what the first foster son could serve during his get together with his high school classmates on Wednesday evening. The first thing Momma wanted to know was did Collin want to serve warm/hot or cold food items.

Collin said he wasn’t sure, which was why he was talking to her. He asked Momma to give him some ideas of what he could serve, either hot or cold, or both, so he could decide.

Momma began to name some cold appetizers that Collin could serve. She offered corn Salsa, chipotle guacamole, salsa fresca, chipotle salsa, black bean and corn salsa, mango salsa all served with tortilla chips on the side and a cheese board with a variety of different cheeses, crackers, fruits and an antipasto platter with a combination of Italian meats, cheeses, vegetables and breads.

Momma then recommended some warm or hot appetizers Collin could also serve. She told him he could serve potato skins, chili cheese fries or cheese fries topped with melted cheese and smoky bacon, sausage balls, spinach artichoke dip, cocktail sausages simmered in the crockpot in a sweet and savory barbecue sauce, bacon wrapped smokies, mini pizzas, mozzarella sticks, mini quiche and cocktail wieners wrapped in crescent dough.

Collin was blown away with the large number of appetizers that he could serve. He told Momma that he had no clue which ones he should serve his classmates. Momma told him he needed to decide what did he wanted to accomplish. She asked him if he was going to feed them, or was he just giving them something to munch on, while they talked about their high school days and what they’ve been doing ever since.

Collin thought about what Momma Maria said and then he told her that he felt that they will probably all stand around talking about their high school days, what they’re doing in college and what they plan to do after they graduate from college.

With that decision, Momma started telling Collin that he could have a mixture of warm and cold items as long as he had somebody there to keep the warm items available and the cold items filled. She told the young man that he could buy many of them at the big box stores and what he couldn’t she could make for him, as long as she knew before too long.

Billy then told his older ‘brother’ that he could probably have his classmates park inside the estate on the old soccer pitch and, if he wanted, that he and his younger ‘brothers’ could pick them up in the golf carts and drive them up to the Pavilion. The teenager reasoned they could wear their white Three Finger Entertainment polo shirts and dark shorts and, after all the invitees were there, they could help serve the foods. Collin instantly smiled and told Billy that he liked that idea.

While Ken Thomas was still conducting his Monday morning meeting of all his managers, his cell phone vibrated telling him he that had a call. It was 10:30 a.m. CDT when he looked at the caller’s name and seeing it was Kate, who was an hour ahead of him, knew it had to be important.

But the man also needed to get all of his Group Manager’s inputs during this meeting. He would be gone for the remainder of the week and there would be no meeting for during the Holiday week, so the information flow was necessary for both he and them. He quickly texted Kate that he was in a big multi-Group meeting and would call her when it was over, in maybe ninety minutes.

Momma Maria decided that she would go with Collin to go and buy some of the appetizers the young man was going to serve his classmates Wednesday night. In the meantime, Billy had received a phone call from Lonnie asking if they would be working today.

The Cover teen asked Mr. Wayne about them working and the Estate Master told the two teenagers that the rain would have soaked the ground where they would be working and it might not be safe for them to work and they should just take the day off. Billy texted Lonnie they were taking the day off. The teen then quickly asked Collin if he could go with them. The three took the van and Billy drove.

Robert, Charles, Matthew and Phillip were working on assembling the whelping box for Chief when they, too, received phone calls from their friends about whether or not they should come over. The Cover boys asked Mr. Wayne and he told them to tell their friends to wait until twelve, noon, and to call again to see if the rains looked like they were going to let up.

The four Cover boys’ texted their friends what the Estate Master told them and then they went back to getting the whelping box together. They were building it under the stairs leading down to the Great Room where the floor of the whelping box would be solid and waterproof. The box was about 4 feet x 4 feet x 18 inches high and it should be tall enough to keep the growing pups confined for several weeks.

Once the box was completed, Chief jumped in to check it out. The boys all smiled as the resident pet walked around inside the enclosure and even laid down a few times to get the feel for the space she had. The boys then moved the box and then laid down a rubber mat and some old carpet Mr. Chris brought with him. Then they placed the box back on top of those things.

The boys then brought down some absorbent puppy pads and placed them aside the whelping box for when they would need them. They also brought down some old towels and placed them alongside the box, as well.

Mr. Wayne came down about then and thanked the boys for taking care of building the box for Chief and setting the pads and towels nearby for when they would need them. He then asked the boys to use the extra time, while it was raining, to read up on what they might have to do to help Chief when and after she had her pups. He told the boys that they will all have to help keep the box clean and dry. The boys said that they would after they put the tools away.

Momma, Collin and Billy returned about the time the boys were putting the tools back in the garage. They helped bring in all the food items Collin bought for his get together on Wednesday night. Momma then put them in the extra-large refrigerator.

Billy then told his ‘brothers’ that they will be helping Collin Wednesday night. When they asked him how, Billy told them that they would wear their white Three Finger Entertainment polos and dark shorts, they would drive the golf carts, bringing the classmates from their vehicles to the Pavilion. He added that when all the people were there, they would help keep the food bowls filled.

Collin then asked Phillip if he thought he and his band mates might want to play at the get together. Phillip was speechless when he heard what Collin asked him and he had to ask his oldest ‘brother’ to repeat what he said.

When Collin explained to Phillip what he wanted him and his band-mates to do, the youngest Cover excitedly said he’d have to call them and ask them if they wanted to. Then he said they would have to ask their parents. Phillip took out his cell phone and began making phone calls.

When Ken Thomas finished his protracted Monday morning meeting it was close to 12:30, almost two hours after Kate had called him. So, he quickly went to his office, closed the door and called Kate.

When the woman answered her phone, Ken quickly offered, “Kate, I’m sorry, but the meeting … well, it went way longer than I expected. Can you tell me what happened at the courthouse this morning when Amy filed her papers?”

Kate had time to settle down by the time Ken had called her, and she calmly told her boyfriend that the judge called an emergency hearing for Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. Kate then explained that she and Amy Ozarker went to the courthouse to file with the court that Lane be require to clarify why he hasn’t paid any child support for the last six to eight years, and that since he wants to claim that Russell, i.e., Rusty, is his, they want him to prove paternity for Rusty.

Kate went on to explain that Jesse was indeed Lane’s son.

Kate told Ken that when the judge asked about why they were questioning the paternity over Russell, Kate told Ken that Amy told the judge that Lane had been demanding money from her, ever since he got out of jail this last time. Kate told Ken that the judge went ballistic over hearing that Lane had been demanding money from her, and that she hadn’t reported it to the authorities.

It was then that Kate broke down and cried. Ken tried to console her over the phone, but Kate was so distraught over what was now happening with her, and to her, that she couldn’t talk about it anymore. And then, exasperated, she told Ken not to bother coming. And then she hung up.

Ken Thomas immediately called Amy Ozarker to get the full story about what happened at the courthouse that morning. When the two talked, Ken learned that Kate had to tell the judge about why Lane was demanding money from her. But Amy wouldn’t tell Ken why it was that Lane was demanding the money.

Amy did tell Ken, though, that they verified that there is a Real Estate Agent in the office, where Kate works, who is real good friends with the secretary, but is also somehow related to Lane. Amy explained it as a distant cousin on his mother’s side.

Amy said the relation somehow learned from the secretary when Kate was getting her payouts from the closings on the properties she was involved with, and was undoubtedly telling Lane when they were and how much they were. Amy said that they would consider going after that relation depending on how things work out against Lane.

Ken told Amy that Kate was upset about what was happening to her and told him not to come. But he told the lawyer that he was coming now more than ever. He informed the lawyer that Kate needed someone, other than her mom, in her corner, who cares very much for her and wants to see her get through this, no matter what Lane is holding over her.

Ken then told Amy that he has this feeling that Lane has some sort of incriminating photos of Kate, or maybe even a video of her with some other men. Mr. Ken continued and stated that if he were a betting man, he would bet that Lane is threatening to expose her as a ‘loose’ woman and would ruin her reputation, if she didn’t continue to give him money. And that Lane would make it so she couldn’t hold her head up in that city any more.

Amy Ozarker told Mr. Ken that she won’t reveal to him what Lane has been holding over Kate all these years. The lawyer recommended to the man to leave it up to Kate to tell him at her own time, and at her own pace, and when she feels she is strong enough to tell him.

The lawyer did tell him that her investigator knows what Lane has been holding over Kate’s head and is working on a way to try to obtain that damning information. She added that she hopes he can get it by Wednesday and, if he does, they will present it to the judge and Lane will be toast.

Mr. Ken told Amy that he is flying there on Tuesday and should arrive sometime around one o’clock. He told the lawyer he is dropping his son, Charles, off at Edgewood along the way. He added that has to be back there Friday night for the Grand Re-Opening of the amusement park the next morning, though.

The lawyer thanked Mr. Ken for thinking about Kate, and that even though she may have told him not to come, she knew that the woman really cared for him, and that she knew that Kate would be really happy to have him by her side.

Mr. Ken then asked Amy if any of them had received any phone calls from Lane hinting about getting a possible sum of money to just let Kate and the boys leave the state for the Holiday. The lawyer told the man that her investigator mentioned to her that he did leave subtle hints at the office over the weekend, but neither she, nor Kate received any calls from Lane.

Mr. Ken reminded Amy to make sure that if Lane, or anyone else, like the relation, or the man’s mother, makes a call about money, or anything concerning Kate and Lane and the boys, and Kate and the boys going away for the Holiday, that they record it. Ken Thomas reasoned that they have the rest of today and all day tomorrow for someone to try to make the Wednesday hearing go away, especially if Lane doesn’t want to take a paternity test.

Amy Ozarker agreed with Mr. Ken and indicated that she would get with Kate as soon as their call was over to remind her about recording any phone calls from any of those three people. The lawyer assured Mr. Ken that she was in Kate’s corner too, and was going to do everything she could to get that jerk, Lane, off the woman’s back and away from her for good. The two then ended their call.

Phillip’s friends were just as surprised and excited as he was when they heard that they were asked to play Wednesday night at Collin’s get together, with his high school classmates. Of course, the parents had loads of questions. They wanted to know the ages of the people who would be there, how long the boys would be playing and if there was going to be any alcohol served.

Since this was Collin’s party, he answered all of the individual parent’s questions. First, he told them that he was Mr. Ken’s first foster son, and was now staying with him, while his own home was being remodeled. He explained that Mr. Ken suggested he have this get together with his old classmates to catch up with them, since he was sent to live with his grandmother and didn’t actually get to graduate with them.

Collin then told the parents that he had listened to the boys play, and he felt they could do a good job, and this would give them some experience, and a boost to their self-esteem as a band. He told the parents that he would ask them to play from 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesday night, and that since none of his guests were over twenty-one there would be no alcohol served.

After talking to five of the six parents, he hadn’t talked to Mr. Ken yet, they were all going to allow their sons to play Wednesday evening, and they would have them there at 6:30, so they could set up. They asked if their son needed to wear something special. Collin said that whatever the boys agreed to would be fine. But then on second thought, the young man added that maybe a white polo shirt and dark shorts might be an easy outfit.

Collin then asked Phillip if his band had any microphones or amplifiers. The young Cover told his oldest ‘brother’ that all they had were the three guitar amplifiers and when they sang in the storage garage opening it somehow just sounded good. Collin thanked his little ‘brother’ and remembering what his Big Bro told him this morning about the band not having a sound system, he then went to his room.

Collin knew he needed to do something about that, so he went to his laptop and Googled band sound system packages that included amplifiers and microphones. He found a long list of them and then saw that there was a local supplier who had something that was a good startup system and that wasn’t too expensive, so he gave them a call. Ten minutes later he, Billy and Robert drove out of The Cove.

The rains in central Texas usually don’t stay for very long. They usually come and move on fairly rapidly. That day’s rains, that came in during the night, seemed to go in waves during the morning and into the afternoon. And even though the rain would stop and it looked like they were done, another round of rain would soon move in. That starting and stopping of the rain kept the Cover boys’ friends from coming over to skate and swim that Monday.

Charles used that time to pack for his extended trip with his dad. He knew he would be gone for at least five days, so he packed for six, as he was taught, one extra day just in case. He was looking forward to being back at Edgewood, and hopefully getting a better, behind-the-scenes, look at how an amusement park operated.

Charles also called his friend Richard to see how he was doing, and to tell him that he was going away for a few days, with his dad. The Cover explained to Richard why he was going and that he was really looking forward to this chance to see what goes on behind the scenes at his dad’s new Edgewood Amusement Park.

Richard said that he hoped his dad would soon let him come over to The Cove. Charles then remembered to tell his friend that Kevin and Kyle would be visiting for the 4th of July and he hoped that he could stop by to see them. Richard told Charles that he would talk to his dad about coming over then.

After the two friends hung up, Charles felt that there was something inside of the soon to be high school freshman, that told him that was where he wanted to work after he graduated from college. He felt that being there at Edgewood and watching how everyone did their job, and seeing what it took to make it all come together was what he was looking forward to, while he was there with Jason. Charles was really excited inside for this trip.

There was so much on Ken Thomas’ mind that Monday, at the office, that he had a difficult time trying to focus on what was important. He finally told himself that all of his Group managers knew what they were doing and he had to let them do their job, and for him to stop trying to micro-manage them.

Ken Thomas did stop by Ben Walthers’ office to discuss the Grand Re-Opening of Edgewood. The two talked about the order of events for the ceremony and that Ben would confirm with Jason tomorrow that everything would be in place for the ribbon cutting and the unfurling of the new name banner.

Ben told his boss that he picked up the banner on Saturday and his son, Rylan, was trying to see what it said. The father told Mr. Ken that he had to bop his son on his head to stop him from trying to look at it and only he and the owner of the park knew the new name. Ben said Rylan looked at him and told him that the maker of the sign also knew. The two men laughed.

Mr. Ken then went and talked to Ms. Jackie and asked her to oversee the Car Wash and Boat Storage Lot while he was gone. She told him that he definitely needed to find someone to be the overall supervisor of those two businesses, as she was very busy with the amusement park train and the Blessed Waters Academy vocational building, which was quickly coming to an end and was taking up a lot of her time right then. She then added that she and her family were really looking forward to her paid vacation. Then she laughed.

Collin found a great starter sound system that he was going to buy for the youngest Cover and his band. Billy and Robert agreed with his selection of the complete portable DL system that was compact and light weight.

When the three older Covers returned to The Cove they immediately drove over to the storage garage to unload the new sound system. Collin then had Billy call Phillip and have him come up there so he could show him what he bought the band.

When the young Cover arrived at the storage garage, he asked Collin why he had to come up there. Collin told the young band member to take a look at what he bought him and the band and then stood aside.

Phillip looked at what was there and he didn’t know what he was looking at. So, he asked Collin what it was. Collin told the youngster that it was an entire sound system. Phillip still didn’t know what it meant.

Billy told him to follow along. “Phil, here are 2-20-inch-high speakers with collapsible speaker stands, a mixer with a built-in FM radio tuner that also has Bluetooth connectivity, 4 balanced XLR microphone inputs, a total of 10 inputs, a master volume control and much more. Also, Collin bought you 4 professional grade dynamic microphones with steel mesh grills and on/off switches, since at least four of you sing,” finished the teen Cover

Phillip was speechless. He continued to look at everything and then he ran to Collin and hugged him and thanked him over and over for buying that for him and the band. He then told his oldest Cover ‘brother’, that he couldn’t wait to try it out. He then told Collin he only wished he could have his friends come over and try it out.

And even though it had stopped raining, it was almost four o’clock and Collin didn’t know if his friends’ parents would let them come over for just a few hours. Billy spoke up and told Phillip that if he didn’t call and ask them, he would never know. So that’s what Phillip did.

“Jeff,” excitedly said Phillip, when his friend picked up the call, “you’ll never guess what my oldest ‘brother’ Collin bought for us? And while you’re trying to guess, do you think your parents would bring you over for a few hours, so you can see it and try it out?”

When Phillip called Westin, Ty, Preston and Bryson he had the same excited voice when he asked them the same questions. When the band-mates learned what it was, a few of the parents asked if they could see it too. Phillip looked to Collin who said, “Why not!”. So, the young Cover told his friends to bring their parents.

Mr. Ken came home early that Monday. And when he saw that everyone, including Mr. Wayne, was up at the Pavilion, he went up there, too.

“What has everyone up here?” asked the owner of The Cove.

“‘Dad’, ‘dad’, you need to see what Collin bought me, I mean the band,” excitedly announced Phillip, who then dragged‘dad’ Ken over to the storage garage. Then, as Mr. Ken was looking over the new sound system, Phillip told his ‘dad’ that his band-mates were coming over to try it out.

Then, within fifteen minutes, Phillip’s band members, along with their parents, began to arrive. Then it was time for the boys to learn how to hook up the sound system up and use it. It took them and the adults about thirty minutes to figure it all out, and, as soon as they did, the boys tuned up their guitars and began to play.

The boys started out slow and as they played and sang, Billy worked the amplifier volume on the microphones to help the boys get a feel for how loud they wanted to be heard. Everyone was amazed at how much better the group of boys sounded, now that their voices were projecting out of the garage. And the smiles on the boys’ faces told them that they were now thrilled with their new sound system addition to their group.

But before long it was coming up on six o’clock and the boys and their parents knew it was time to leave. Phillip told his friends that he can’t wait until they come over tomorrow so they can play again and hear what the rest of the boys have to say about their new sound. The boys all agreed.

The Covers said goodbye to everyone as they made their way over to the Main Gate. And it wasn’t too long after that when the Covers were inside having another one of those awesome Momma Maria dinners.

After dinner, Mr. Ken held his usual meeting in his Study and covered the usual ongoing events that would occur around The Cove. At first, he reminded Phillip and Matthew about their Doctor Doug appointments and then he reminded them that the carnival would arrive sometime that coming weekend.

‘Dad’ Ken told them that he and Charles would be leaving at five o’clock in the morning and for them not to expect them back until late Saturday night. He did remind the boys that Kevin and Kyle, their aunt and uncle and cousins would be there next Sunday and the twins might try to contact their friends to see if they could stop by during the week. ‘Dad’ Ken then told the boys that Mr. Wayne had a handle on everything else and, as such, there was no need for him to cover it, since he would be gone for the next five days.

The Covers sat around the Study talking about Phillip’s new sound system and the band playing at Collin’s class get together on Wednesday night. It was then that ‘dad’ Ken learned that the rest of the boys would be dressed in their Three Finger Entertainment polo shirt and dark shorts and would not only be driving the classmates up to the Pavilion, but would also help in serving the warm and cold foods.

But before long, ‘dad’ Ken told the boys that he needed to pack and then he would be up to say good night to them as he was going to bed early. He then suggested to Charles that he go to bed early as well, as he’ll need to get up with enough time to be showered, dressed and downstairs by five o’clock. Charles took the hint and headed up to his room.

As the boys headed up to their rooms. Mr. Ken told Wayne that if he thinks of anything that he’d call, but for now, for the Estate Master to just go with the flow.

After he packed, ‘dad’ Ken made a quick stop upstairs to say goodnight to the boys. The only problem he had was with Matthew, who never liked it when he went away. Mr. Ken assured the pre-teen that he was coming back and for him to help plan some good times for his twin ‘brothers’, for when they visit.

Before long, Mr. Ken was down in his own retreat getting himself relaxed in order that he could fall asleep in order to get enough rest for what was ahead of him in the following days. And before long The Cove was quiet with everyone fast sleep.

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

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