Published: 4 Jul 2024

From The Previous Chapter:

Matthew went to his room to make sure Rusty had a roommate, and Phillip did the same for Jessy. Collin told his ‘brothers’ that he was heading to bed and that he’d see them at breakfast. Then, before long, all of the Cover teens were back in their own rooms, getting into bed after visiting the porcelain gods.

Mr. Ken thought back on the day as he was getting ready for bed himself. It had been a very busy one and he hoped that tomorrow wouldn’t be as full. Then, before long, The Cove was quiet and everyone, including its guests, were fast asleep and enjoying a good night’s rest.

Ken Thomas again woke up early so he could read his morning newspaper before the day took control of his life. He quickly used his en suite, got dressed for the day and then headed out to the Kitchen Nook where he figured Momma Maria and her amigas were already there fixing breakfast for the large number of people at The Cove that week.

“Good morning, Momma, Sophia and Isabela,” offered Mr. Ken, as he entered the Kitchen Nook, before going to get his first cup of coffee, which Momma had already filled for him.

Mr. Ken accepted the hot cup of freshly brewed coffee and went to sit at his usual seat at the morning table and begin to open his morning newspaper. He separated it into the sections, as he usually did, and then began to read.

The Cove’s guests and the boys began to arrive in the Kitchen Nook around 8:30. Jessy immediately went and began taking care of Chief’s bowls and Phillip looked on to make sure he did it right. Jessy wanted to show his mom that he could take care of a puppy, if she would let him have one of Chief’s.

“Mom, did you see that I took care of Chief’s bowls?” asked the younger Partlunds boy.

“Yes, honey, I saw that you did that for Chief, and I know she appreciated it, as she gave you lots of her kisses,” answered Kate, as she hugged her youngest.

When everyone was there, including Wayne, Momma asked them to be seated at the Dining Room table, and she and her amigas would begin putting the family style breakfast out on the table for them.

That morning’s breakfast included pancakes, waffles, scrambled eggs, crisp bacon, maple syrup, cut up strawberries, sliced strawberries in a sugary sauce, blueberries, powdered sugar, hot coffee, orange juice, regular and vanilla milk. It was what most people would consider a standard American breakfast.

The children loved that they could have pancakes, or waffles, or both, along with strawberries and blueberries, and what they liked the best was that Momma made vanilla milk, which was something that the four younger children never had before.

Reynolds and Sylvia couldn’t believe the foods that they had already eaten, while being guests at The Cove, and they’d only been there two days. Reynolds told his wife that if they continue to eat that well, he will definitely put on at least ten pounds. Everyone at the table laughed.

The children asked what they would get to do today. Mr. Ken told them that they could skate until they open the gates for the carnival, and then he’d like to show them around the area. He mentioned that he was building a new amusement park and marina that he was very proud of and that he hoped when they all came back, they would be able to enjoy.

Jessy asked Mr. Ken if anyone had decided not to take one of Chief’s puppies, yet. Mr. Ken smiled and told the youngster that Chief would not have her puppies until the end of July, and the people wouldn’t get to decide if they wanted their puppy until the end of September, so, he had to wait for four months for that answer.

Jessy looked to his mom to see if that was right. All Kate did was nod her head that what Mr. Ken was saying was true. The young boy looked down and Kate pulled her son to her and told him that he just had to wait and see if someone didn’t want a puppy. When the boy looked up, everyone saw that he had tears in his eyes.

Dessert that morning was fruit salad and pound cake, with a whipped topping available for the diners to use if they chose. The adults took a little dish of the wonderful blend of fruits, while the children dug right in with lots of fruit and a big dollop of the whipped topping.

When everyone was finished eating, the older boys helped clear the table and then they gave hugs to all of the women for making such a wonderful breakfast for them. Even Rusty and Jessy hugged the women, which surprised Kate because they hadn’t done that the other day.

Kate then took her boys up to get cleaned up for the day. The Cover boys also headed upstairs to get their showers and dressed for the day. On the way up, Rusty asked Billy if he would help them on their skateboards. The teenager said he would, so for him and his brother to meet him at the golf carts with their helmets and pads when they were ready.

Mr. Ken asked Reynolds and Sylvia to meet him in his Study, so they could talk about their trip to visit Vivian tomorrow. The man nodded for Wayne to follow them. The parents told their children to go over to their guest house and get cleaned up.

When the adults were in the Study, Mr. Ken began, “Sylvia, Reynolds … I would recommend that you leave Jaxson and Alani here with us tomorrow. The reason I say that is … well, because tomorrow will be … will definitely be a roller coaster day of emotions for the twins.

“I took Bill to see his mother for the first time and I know from experience that … well, take my word for it that those boys … they will have a difficult time seeing their mother dressed in her prison garb.”

Wayne spoke up just then. “Sylvia, Reynolds … I took Robert to see his mother and let me tell you it … it was tough for him seeing his mom coming through those heavy steel doors and dressed in her orange jump suit. It isn’t something you’ll want your own children to see.”

“I’d also suggest you leave here at about nine o’clock,” then spoke Mr. Ken. “The drive … it might take you two or three hours depending on where she is housed. And with your not being familiar with the roads, and how to get there, it could take that long. Also, getting through the initial security takes some time, especially if there are a number of vehicles in front of you.”

“Yes, they will have all of you get out of the car and have you pop your hood, the trunk and they will even look in your glove compartment. They do a thorough check and that’s even before you enter the screening building,” added Wayne. “Then, when you get into the visitors center, they will have you take your shoes and belts off and go through a metal detector.”

“And since you’ve never been there, you’ll have to fill out a form that will take some time to do,” started Mr. Ken. “They won’t bring Vivian out until all the T’s are crossed and the I’s are dotted and that could be another twenty to thirty minutes. That’s why you need those quarters, because if you are thirsty, or if you want a snack, you can only get them from inside the visitor’s center. You can’t bring them in with you.”

The Parchsons were glad that Ken and Wayne sat them down and talked to them about what they should expect tomorrow, when they take the twins to see their mother. They asked a number of questions and afterwards they felt better about taking Kevin and Kyle to visit their mother.

It was while Mr. Ken was talking to the Parchsons that the Foyer Doorbell rang. Wayne went to answer it only to find the carnival operator there asking if Mr. Thomas was available for his ten o’clock meeting with him. Wayne went to his boss and told him who was at the door. Mr. Ken excused himself from the Parchsons and asked Wayne to finish talking to them, while he and the carnival operator talked.

Rusty and Jessy were having a good time riding their skateboards up at The Cove Skate Park. Billy, Robert and Charles were helping the two young boys work on doing some of the tricks that Billy was trying to teach them. Even Jaxson and Alani were up there learning things they didn’t know about skating before coming to The Cove.

When the Cove Skate Park referees came into The Cove, Billy knew it was close to the guards opening the Main Gates for the carnival to open, so he knew to send the children back down to the house, so they wouldn’t get mixed up in the crowd.

Mr. Dennis also arrived to check on the drink machines. He was pleased that the boys filled them up the night before, which meant the drinks were cold for the people to buy, if they decided they wanted them instead of the drinks the food booths were offering.

Mr. Ken had offered to show the Parchsons, their children, the twins, as well as Kate and her boys, around the area to show them what he was involved in, and especially the new amusement park he was building close by The Cove.

The Cove’s owner took his guests in the Sprinter van, since it held a large number of passengers. He drove slowly out of the Main Gate, as people were filing into the estate to attend the carnival. As the man drove along, he pointed out the new linear park that he had convinced the county to build along the estate and lake out to where they were headed.

Silently, Ken was thinking that the linear park would be a nice place for he and Kate to take an evening stroll once the carnival had left the estate and the boys were enjoying the skate park, or swimming in the indoor pool.

Ken was explaining to everyone what they were seeing as they drove over to Four Corners. The twins were surprised at how nice the linear park looked, and they were eager to see what their ‘dad’ had done at Four Corners.

It was when Mr. Ken drove into the parking lot and he drove up to where the Four Corners Amusement Park would eventually be, that the twins were not only totally surprised, but they innocently said, “‘Dad’, you’re building this?”

The Parchsons, hearing what the twins just said surprised them and Mr. Ken saw that surprise on their faces. He ignored it for the time being, but knew he needed to pull them aside to try to calm them down over it.

Mr. Ken began telling the group what they were seeing and what he was ultimately planning to do. There were some barricades in place, so he began to walk around them when the guard came over to them and told them that they couldn’t enter the restricted area. It was then that the guard recognized the man as being Mr. Thomas.

“Mr. Thomas … I can’t let you go in there,” offered the guard. “If I let you go in there then everyone else would want go in, too, and I can’t have that.”

Mr. Ken was going to argue with the man, but he knew the guard was right, and that he was only doing his job. Mr. Ken thanked the guard for sticking to his guns. So, he walked his group along the barricades and tried to explain to them, what they would see. The one thing he told them about, that not many people did know, was that the miniature golf course would eventually be removed and the area would be used for the park’s operations building.

After talking about the amusement park, the group’s host took them over to see the new marina that he was building. The twins knew their ‘dad’ was going to build it and now they were seeing it. The whole group was surprised at the scope of the project. They all could see the large number of boat slips, the marina building, and the fueling depot.

Kate asked about the seafood restaurant. Ken told her that it was on schedule to open around the first of October. Then he told her that he was still hoping that she would be his date for the grand opening night. Kate blushed and Sylvia smiled.

Ken then asked the group if they wanted to go back and use their food vouchers at the carnival or eat there at the Four Corners Diner. Reynolds and Sylvia opted for the carnival. They reasoned that what good was it to have those free coupons if they didn’t use them. They added that they also wanted to taste those wonderful foods the churches made. The group then headed back to The Cove.

Mr. Ken told everyone that Momma and her amigas wouldn’t be there tonight to fix their evening meal. He explained that with all the people coming to the carnival and with the traffic, he told them not to bother. He also reminded everyone that they had their food vouchers, and so they should use those.

The young children wanted to ride a few of the rides, so the adults let them, but soon after Kate made Rusty and Jessy go in and take a nap. The two young boys complained, but mom was adamant telling them that with the fireworks later tonight they would want to stay up and watch them, and if they don’t take a nap now, they will fall asleep during the show. Rusty and Jessy practically fell right to sleep as soon as they laid their heads down on the Great Room sofas.

The adults did get something to eat, then they headed up to the Pavilion to eat it. When they got there Phillip and his bandmates were playing and when they finished the song, the young Cover went over to his ‘dad’ to ask to him, something.

“‘Dad’ … while we were playing, a boy came up to us and asked us if he could play with us. He told us he played a bass guitar, and it is something that we need. His name is Bryce, Bryce Harris. I asked him how old he was and was grade he was in and if his parents were here.

“Bryce told me that he is twelve and that he will be in the seventh grade in the fall. He went and found his parents and we talked. I told him that you had to approve his coming to The Cove. I got their home phone number and Bryce’s cell phone number.

“‘Dad’, do you think that he could maybe join us?” finished Phillip.

“Phillip, give me the phone numbers tomorrow, and I’ll have to let you know. It might be Friday before you know, though,” offered Mr. Ken.

Mr. Ken told all of his guests that when they heard the report and saw the flash bang that the pyrotechnician sent up to check the wind direction they should start making their way to the middle cove finger, the marina dock, or go to the Patio for the best viewing area. It was a little past nine o’clock that the fireworks display began.

Ken and Kate sat next to one another with Rusty and Jessy sitting in their laps. The Cover boys sat on the picnic table, or they brought beach chairs to the middle cove finger to watch the fireworks. The Parchsons and their two children decided to sit on the marina dock benches and watch the show from there.

The show started off slowly with a different aerial firework being sent up about every twenty seconds. But soon the pyrotechnicians were sending up the fireworks quicker and the people saw the many different types. There were silver dragons, spiders, snow flake peonies, falling leaves, coconuts, jelly fish, waterfalls, chrysanthemums, and some were inter-spaced with whistles, crackles, fountains, and glitter.

The show lasted almost an hour, before there was a lull. And then out on the barge everyone saw a large American flag in red, white and blue being lit and from there the finale was started. The barge had roman candles continuously shooting off, while there were large numbers of flash bangs and many more of the other fireworks being sent up into the air. There were so many fireworks that a person didn’t know which way to look.

And then the fireworks began to peter out and before long, there was one last report sent up. It was a huge flash bang rocket signaling the end of the fireworks show. It was quiet all over the lake, shoreline and The Cove grounds for a split second and then the applause started and the horns from the boats out on the lake joined in. The appreciation from the people was evident and the ovation continued for a good three minutes. Ken Thomas felt he had done another good job that night.

The older boys headed over to the carnival to ride the rides, knowing it would close down at midnight and it was already 10:15. The four younger children wanted to go over there too, and the adults relented and took them over for one or two last rides before taking them to bed.

Reynolds did tell the twins that they had intended to leave at nine o’clock the next morning to take them to visit with their mother. He asked them to be up, showered, dressed and had eaten some breakfast before they left.

All of The Cove’s guests did head to their bedrooms right after the carnival shut down. It had been a busy two days for everyone, and they all were looking forward to a good night’s rest.

The twins were up, showered and dressed and down in the Kitchen Nook by eight-thirty that Wednesday morning. ‘Dad Ken was already there reading his morning newspaper, so they went over to him and hugged him and told him, “Good morning.”

Momma and her amigas knew that the Parchsons and the twins were going to leave The Cove by nine o’clock that morning, so they had already begun fixing a good breakfast for them.

Reynolds, Sylvia and their children came into the Kitchen Nook not long after the twins had. Momma asked Jaxson and Alani to wait until the rest of the guests were there, as they would all eat in the Dining Room.

Chris and Wayne arrived to ask the Parchsons if they had any questions about their drive that morning. Reynolds told them that they had their phone numbers if they got lost. Chris asked to make sure that they had their $25.00 in quarters in case they wanted a drink or snack.

When the twins finished eating their breakfast they went and used the half-bath off Mr. Ken’s Study. Reynolds and Sylvia used it as well, before the four of them started on their journey to visit with Vivian, the twins’ mother.

The ride to the holding facility was very quiet. Each of the boys were lost in their thoughts of what they wanted to say to their mother when they finally got to see her.

It was close to twelve noon when the Parchsons turned into the entrance for the women’s prison. There they joined a line of other vehicles, which were waiting to be cleared into the facility.

When it was their turn, the four had to exit the vehicle. One guard asked them to show him their identifications, while the other guards had them open the hood and trunk of their vehicle and he also searched the glove compartment of the vehicle for unauthorized items. Once they were cleared, they were told whereto park their vehicle and which building to go to be cleared into the visitor’s center.

Before the four walked over to the visitor center, Reynolds, Sylvia, Kevin and Kyle placed their cell phones and any paper money they had in the glove compartment, because they were told by the guards that they weren’t allowed inside the facility.

Once inside, the four had them remove their shoes and belts and take out their wallets and anything else they had in their pockets, like the car keys, the bag of quarters they brought to buy sodas and snacks, and place them in a plastic container before they walked through a walk-through metal detector. Sylvia had her purse searched as well.

Once they cleared through security, they were then allowed to put their belts and shoes back on, put their wallets and the keys back in their pockets. Kevin was in charge of the quarters, but now they all had to pull out their identifications again in order to fill out some papers to register in the database of visitors.

Because there were four of them it took longer than they figured it was necessary, but the guard told them that once they were in the database their next visit would go much smoother.

Once registered, the four were shown where they could sit and wait while the guards went to get Vivian Parchsons, the twins’ mother, and brought her to the center. They told them it could take as much as twenty minutes before they brought her to the visitation area.

But it took longer than that because Vivian wasn’t prepared for visitors that Wednesday. She was completely taken by surprise when the guard told her that there were four people out in the visitor center waiting to visit with her. She asked the guard who they were, but the guard wouldn’t tell her. Vivian now had to hurry up and make herself presentable.

The twins were still very quiet and in their own world of doubt and angst wondering if being there was the right thing to do. But then the four heard the steel door down the long corridor open and through it came the guard and the twin’s mother, Vivian.

Everything the twins had been dreading up until then went out of their minds, when they saw their mom. They wanted to run to her, but the guard indicated to them to stay where they were, until she was right there with them. Then when Vivian was there, next to them, the twins hugged their mom like there was no tomorrow.

The guard knew that this was Vivian’s first visitors, since she was brought to the women’s prison, and knowing it was her twin sons the guard let them hug longer than was allowed.

“Oh, my boys … look how much you have grown,” declared Vivian Parchsons. “And thank you Reynolds and Sylvia for bringing them to see me. This is something that I was not expecting and … and it is such a great treat. Boys … tell your mother about what you’ve been doing.”

Kyle deferred to his older twin Kevin, who recapped their living with Mr. Ken and having a great home to live in with lots of friends, good meals, clothes that weren’t from second hand stores, that their ‘dad’ built a skate park for them and their ‘brothers’ and friends and that he took them on trips like cruises and to the amusement parks that he owns.

Vivian had to ask who this ‘dad’ was and who were these ‘brothers’, they mentioned, as she didn’t remember them telling her about them.

“Mom,” began Kyle, “‘dad Ken’ is the name we shortened to just ‘dad’ after a while, and our ‘brothers’, they were Robert, Charles, Matthew, Mark and Billy. They were the other foster boys in the house. But Robert and Charles … they were adopted by Mr. Ken to be his sons.”

“Then Uncle Reynolds and Aunt Sylvia … after you and dad were convicted … they came and took us away to live with them. And it is nice living with them. We have a nice home, lots of friends, good food to eat and we still share a bedroom,” added Kevin.

“But why mom? Why did we ever have to have this happen to us?” now demanded Kyle. “Why did dad … why did dad have to do those things … with Kevin and … and all those other men and boys? And, and why didn’t he spend any of that money on us, too? We still had poor clothes; we had to share a small bed and you kept all of our friends from coming over. Why Mom, why?” continue to ask Kyle.”

Sylvia and Reynolds just sat there wondering where the conversation was going. They tried to steer it to more pleasant topics, but the twins had other ideas. They never had the opportunity to talk to either of their parents about the circumstances that brought them to that time and place.

“Mom … dad and Kevin … they were making all that money …” began Kyle, but he was interrupted by his mother.

“What money did he make?” asked Vivian.

“Mom … we both know how much money was given to Kevin by the judge to be put into his Trust Fund started by Mr. Ken. I wonder how much was truly made, but was used to pay the lawyers defending our dad.

“And you had all that money and you still kept us like paupers, while you and dad had a high-end bedroom suite, a walk-in closet loaded with very nice clothes, a 65-inch digital TV, a digital DVD player and a cable box and what did we have? Nothing? Nothing, mom; we had NOTHING!” almost yelled Kyle.

The guard had to ask the younger twin to try to keep it down.

“Mom … I know now, what dad and I did was wrong,” offered Kevin. “I talked with Doctor Doug. We talked almost every week and he got me to understand that what I did might, at the time, feelgood, but it wasn’t healthy for my mental growth at my age. I loved doing it with dad because, well … well, because I was with dad and that Kyle … that he never was asked to go. So, I was made to feel very special. But I never got anything out of it at the time.”

“Mom, living with Aunt Sylvia and Uncle Reynolds … it has been nice,” now began Kyle. “The area is nice, their kids are great, but they tried to make us forget ‘dad Ken’ and our brothers’, and all the people we interacted with at The Cove. But how could we? ‘Dad Ken’ … he did so much for us after we went to live with him. And our ‘brothers’, we all shared the reasons why we were in the foster care system, and it gave us that feeling of … of ‘family’, as if we were, you know, ‘brothers’ in Mr. Ken’s family, as he called us.

“I love aunt Sylvia and uncle Reynolds, they have treated us good, but … well, I would have preferred to have stayed with Mr. Ken. He had a lot more for us to do there, and he treated us as if we were his kids. He didn’t treat anyone differently than the others. He took us on fabulous trips, and I know we’re missing out on what he is doing now. And … and he will probably be getting married to Kate soon, and we’ll miss all that,” lamented Kyle, as the tears fell from his eyes.

Vivian saw the tears and she wanted to go to him, but they were sitting at the table and were told to stay that way until it was time to leave. She did reach across the table to hold his hand. But he pulled it away and turned his face.

Kevin pulled his twin to him and the two cried together.

Sylvia asked Vivian if there was anything that they could do for her that would make her life there easier. Vivian told them that if they could send her some money into her prison fund account so she could buy the feminine products she needs she would be extremely grateful.

When the twins separated and Vivian saw that they weren’t crying, their mom spoke to them. “Kevin, Kyle … hindsight they say is always 20/20 and … as I look back, I’d have to say it’s true. If I could, boys, I’d do things differently. I’m truly sorry that this … that this had to happen. That accident … it started all this to unravel and, if it hadn’t, by now it would have been all over.”

“But the accident did happen, mom,” fought back Kyle. “And if it hadn’t, would I have been brought in to do what dad was doing with my brother? Huh, mom, huh? Answer me that!” now yelled Kyle. The guard again asked the twin to keep it down.

“Boys, I’m sorry. I went along with what your dad wanted. He controlled everything … including the money. He decided what we bought and it was him who decided that he didn’t want your friends anywhere near the house. Why, he never said. … Are … are you boys … are you going to see your father?” the twins’ mother wanted to know.

Kevin and Kyle looked to one another and did their twin talk. Kevin then told their mom that they hadn’t decided if they wanted to or not. Kyle then told their mom that if they did go and see him it wouldn’t go as nice as it did with her. Then he smiled at her.

Mother and sons talked for a little while longer with Reynolds and Sylvia joining in. They talked about their schooling and their new home, and what they hoped they would do as they grew older. The twins said they wanted to travel like they did with ‘dad’ Ken, and maybe travel with him and their ‘brothers’.

Because that was the woman’s first visitors and it was her sons, the guards gave them some additional time, as they did when Robert and Billy visited with their mothers. But the time did move along and the guard had to end the visit.

“Boys, I am so happy you chose to come all this way to visit me. I hope you will try to do it again, and soon,” offered a smiling Vivian Parchsons.

The boys, even though they were upset at her for doing what she and their father did to them, still went to their mom and hugged her. The three cried and cried and then the guard placed her hand on Vivian’s shoulder to indicate that it was time to return to her cell.

Sylvia called out to Vivian, as she walked down the long hallway, that they would get her mail information from Mr. Ken, and she should look for some money to be added to her prison account. Vivian called back a thank you.

While the twins were visiting their mother, Billy and Lonnie went to start power washing the Main Gate Guard House. They had started with the backside, so they could go slow, as to not break any of the windows and to get used to the intricacies of the building.

After breakfast and getting cleaned up and dressed for the day, Robert and Charles took Rusty, Jessy, Jaxson and Alani up to the Cove Skate Park to let them skate without any interference from the large number of their friends.

Once they all drove up to the Pavilion the Cover boys knew exactly what they were smelling. They called down to Matthew and Phillip and told them wear old clothes, as they were coming right down to change themselves.

The Pavilion restrooms had been heavily used during the carnival, as they were last year, and now they stunk to high heaven. The Cover boys knew they needed to clean them and clean them good. Robert stopped by the Main Gate Guard House to tell Billy that they are going to need both pressure washers to not only clean the restrooms, but the Pavilion picnic tables and benches as they were all messed up with food debris.

While the younger Cover boys got ready to clean the Pavilion and the restrooms, Billy and Lonnie unhooked the pressure washers and took them over to the Pavilion. When they got there, Billy remembered what they looked like after only one day of use, and this time they were used for two days and they stunk much worse. The two teens hookup both pressure washers and got them ready.

Mr. Ken and Kate talked about what they wanted to do with the remainder of the week. Kate thought that if the Parchsons went to SeaWorld she would like to take Rusty and Jessy there, too, as they had never seen an animal park. Ken agreed and said they’d ask the Parchsons when they returned.

The carnies worked from sunup to begin packing up and getting ready to head off to their next location. Some of the smaller rides had already been moved out of the way, while the entire crew worked on closing up the larger rides and packing them into their trailers. Closing down took half the time it did to set up. The carnival would be off the estate grounds by early that afternoon.

The Covers were still working on cleaning the restrooms when their friends began to arrive. Many of them were surprised at what they were doing, but some of them remembered from last year, and they pitched in to help. Phillip and his friends asked if they could go play their music. But Billy told them that it would be best if they helped first and played their music later.

It was around noon when Mr. Dennis came in to empty the drink machines and to reset them to Free Vend. The boys were still cleaning, so he asked them why they were doing that and when Robert told him how badly they smelled, and what the people left on the picnic tables and benches, he thanked the boys for being so conscientious. The man then emptied both machines and again was surprised at the amount of money they made the previous day. He took it all down to Mr. Ken’s Study.

Mr. Ken, Kate, Dennis, Wayne and Chris were all talking about the money that was brought in by the Police Explorers during the carnival. Chris Dominions had gotten a total of 3750 wrist bands to pass out to the neighbors with the reminder to be sold to anyone who wanted to attend the carnival. It was his and Mr. Ken’s way of restricting the number of people who would be on the estate grounds during the carnival.

The Cover boys passed out 1225 wrist bands to their close neighbors and another 40 to their close friends. That meant that the wrist bands brought in well over twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00). And they were surprised about the money generated by the drink machines, which amounted to close to thirty-five hundred dollars ($3500.00) from the two days of sales from the sodas, flavored and plain waters.

Mr. Chris told his boss that the drink money can be put into the household account and will be used to replenish the drinks for the machines. He then told everyone that he’ll need Billy and a licensed driver to go over to the big box store and fill the truck up, as there definitely will be a deficit of drinks up at the Pavilion, and the boys will need them by the weekend for sure.

Mr. Ken told Chris to deposit the wrist band money into the bank and earmark it as a charitable donation on the books. The owner of The Cove then said that the two of them will have to determine who will get what amount and/or if there is another group out there that could use an influx of a one-time donation.

Dennis did tell everyone how the boys were cleaning the Pavilion and its restrooms from the smell and mess that occurred over the two-day carnival. Mr. Ken said he remembered how bad the restrooms were after last year’s carnival, and he was glad the boys jumped right in, getting them cleaned up right away.

When the boys were finished cleaning the Pavilion and the restrooms, they decided to have a barbeque. The day’s cooking team got everything ready and when they were ready to start cooking, they took the golf carts down to the house, so the adults could have a ride up for lunch.

When lunch was served, the boys reheated the bacon and they put the cheese out on the counter, so the boys and adults could make a bacon cheeseburger. Rusty and Jessy stuck to their favorite lunch meal which was a grilled hot dog fixed their way. They got chips and their own drink from the machine, which they loved.

Chris was there and loudly mentioned that they needed to go and restock the drink supplies. Billy said that he would drive, as long as another licensed driver went along. He added that he couldn’t wait until he could take his driver’s test later that month. Some of the boys cheered.

The Parchsons, along with the twins, arrived back at The Cove around five o’clock. The twins rushed into the house and, as they did, they called out, “‘Dad’, ‘dad’”, and they ran towards the man’s Study.

Mr. Ken heard the boys calling out to him, so he got up from behind his desk. And as they ran into his Study, he opened his arms and they ran into them. The boys openly cried with the man. They didn’t know who was in the Study, and if they would have, they probably wouldn’t have cared.

Reynolds and Sylvia came in behind the boys and they not only heard them call their host, Mr. Ken, ‘dad’, they saw for themselves the relationship they had with the man, as the three hugged and the boys cried.

‘Dad’ Ken consoled the boys the best he could and then asked them to seat themselves, but there weren’t enough seats. So, he asked everyone to head down to the Great Room where there was enough space for everyone. When the twins went down there, they wanted to sit next to Mr. Ken, so the three of them sat together on one of the couches.

The boys told everyone all about their visit with their mom, including Kyle getting angry with her about them not spending any of that money Kevin earned them. Kevin explained that their mom told them that it was their dad who controlled the money, and that he made all the decisions. Kyle said he didn’t believe her, and that they got into a discussion of what would have happened if they never had that accident.

Sylvia, trying to steer the conversation away from Vivian, mentioned to Chris that they needed Vivian’s mailing information, so they could send her some money. Chris told her it wasn’t that easy, and that he would have to explain it to them when they had some time to spare.

Kate asked the Parchsons when they were going to take their children to SeaWorld. She told them that she wanted to take her two boys there, and thought that they could go as one big group.

But it wasn’t long before Momma came to the clear banister and told Mr. Ken that dinner would soon be served. Mr. Ken then called Robert to bring all of his ‘brothers’ down to the house, as Momma was getting ready to serve dinner.

It was another wonderful Mexican dinner that Momma Maria, Sophia and Isabela put together for the large group of visitors Ken Thomas had invited to The Cove. The conversation was lighthearted as they talked about the carnival, the fireworks, the mess at the Pavilion, and the amount of money the drink machines made. The boys were surprised that the two machines generated that much money over the two-day carnival.

After dinner, Matthew asked his ‘dad’, if they could have a picnic for Kevin and Kyle and their friends one night. He suggested they invite all of the twin’s old friends, get pizzas and swim and maybe do either a Dive-In Movie, or hold the movie out on the Patio, as it would be warm enough.

‘Dad’ Ken asked what night they wanted to do it, and at what time. Then, he added that it would not be a sleepover. Matthew said it would be up to their aunt and uncle, as to which night they would be here, but Saturday or Sunday would be nice. The pre-teen said their friends could show up at six, that they could eat at seven and show the movie starting at eight-thirtyish. ‘Dad’ Ken said he’d talk to Reynolds and Sylvia and he’d let them know.

The older boys took the younger children up to the Cove Skate Park, so they could skate. While all the kids were up at the Pavilion, Reynolds and Sylvia asked if they could talk to Ken, alone.

With the Study door closed, Sylvia asked Ken if he thought that they had acted too hastily in taking guardianship of the twins. Ken Thomas was surprised at the question and sat back after hearing it. He then asked them why were they asking him that question now, after they fought so hard for the boys last Thanksgiving, and for all the money they could get.

Reynolds honestly told him that his brother went out pleading for anyone in his family to come forward and take his boys away from the man known as Mr. Ken, who he said was instilling some bad influences in them, and get them as far away from him and the other boys they were living with.

Sylvia continued and told Ken that was why they were so insistent on trying to break all contact with him and their so-called ‘brothers’. But after knowing what you did for them with their photo books, their computers, and now after what they’ve seen with the twin’s interaction with their ‘brothers’, how they respond to him and listening to how much they talked about him to their mother today, they are wondering if keeping the boys would be prudent.

Ken smiled and asked them if they were now having second thoughts. But before letting them answer, he told them that they have made their bed and now they have to sleep in it. He told them they have to figure out the best way to develop their abilities, their interests and let them remain in contact with their ‘brothers’, who know and understand them.

Reynolds and Sylvia looked at one another and it was Reynolds who asked if maybe they could join in with them when he plans his ‘family’ trips, so the twins can be there, too. Sylvia explained that it was something they said to Vivian that made them think of that. The aunt added that maybe letting the boys come and visit, at his time of choosing, could help them maintain the contact they so need with him and their ‘brothers’.

Ken told them that this was something that they could possibly work out over time, but right now wasn’t the time, as there were many things going on in his life that he didn’t have time to give it his full concentration.

Sylvia smiled and asked him if that was his marrying Kate.

Ken smiled and asked her how she knew that. She told him the twins mentioned it to their mother that they would miss that because they’d been taken away. Ken told them that he hadn’t asked her, as she has some nefarious actors in her life that they are having to deal with first. Ken promised that he would make sure he invites them to the wedding, if, and when, there will be one.

The three agreed to talk about the twins, their having more interaction with The Cove, Mr. Ken and their ‘brothers’, and being a part of ‘family’ vacations over time. Ken then asked them about having the twin’s old friends over for a pizza and movie party one night before they left.

After their private meeting, they loaded everyone one into their vehicles and they all drove over to Mr. Ken’s Kreamy Kone for ice cream. It was a great night at the ice cream store. It was getting late, so it wasn’t all that busy, but when sixteen people walked in it got really busy, very quickly.

Everybody got what they wanted. The children loved the fact that they were out so late and getting an ice cream sundae.

When they all returned to The Cove, the Parchsons thanked their host for the ice cream treat, their children gave Mr. Ken a hug and then they all went into their guest house. The rest of the Covers and their guests went into the house and they all headed to their own bedrooms.

Ken and Kate shared a quick hug and a kiss and they agreed they needed to pin down the Parchsons as to when they are going to SeaWorld.

Ken made a quick stop at all of his boy’s rooms to say goodnight. He even stopped at the twins’ bedroom and they jumped up, hugged him and thanked him for everything he’s done for them. He returned the hug and told them they will always be a part of his ‘family’.

When Mr. Ken stopped at Phillip’s bedroom, the man asked the boy how he liked having a roommate. Phillip smiled and said it would have been nice to have had a younger brother.

Mr. Ken hugged the boy and then he headed to his own suite.

It had been a long day for some, an interesting day for others, and now with everyone back at The Cove and in their beds, hopefully they all would have a good night’s rest.

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

137,633 views