Published: 1 Aug 2024

From The Previous Chapter:

The two, Big Bro and Little Bro, talked about Collin’s remodel of Wilkinson and how he needed to handle the architect to get him to speed up the final design plans and get them to the county for approval. Collin then needed to put them out for bid. Collin’s Big Bro told him to get Uncle Andy involved and have him threaten the architect with a lawsuit if he didn’t hurry it up. The two then had a good laugh over getting Uncle Andy involved.

Mr. Ken gave Chief a few behind the ear scratches before heading down to his retreat to go to bed. As he got ready for bed, the man thought about his conversation with the twins. He was glad he had it and got them to reconsider seeing their dad until they were hopefully older when they might be able to handle the hurt, they will undoubtedly feel when they finally confront him over what he did with Kevin, and how it affected his twin brother, Kyle.

The Cove was quiet the whole night through.

Ken Thomas was up at his usual Monday morning time when he was going into the office. He used his restroom facility, took a shower, got dressed for the day and then went out to the Kitchen Nook to read his morning newspaper and have his first cup of hot coffee.

“Good morning, Momma, Sophia and Isabela,” offered Mr. Ken, as he walked into the Nook. He then sat down at his usual seat at the Nook’s table where his newspaper was already waiting. Momma brought over his cup of coffee, which he graciously accepted.

It was still early that Monday morning when Sylvia and Reynolds came into the Kitchen Nook, sans their children. They sat down at the Nook’s table and Momma brought them both a cup of coffee.

“Ken,” began Sylvia, “how long do you think it would it take us to drive to Fiesta Texas?”

“You should plan at least two hours for the drive. Is that where you are planning to go today?” now asked the couple’s host.

“Yes, we thought that the children would like that. It was one of the places we thought we would take them when we were planning to come here. Do you think that Kevin and Kyle … do you think that they would want to go with us?” now asked Sylvia.

“Well … the boys … they did ask me into their room, so I did talk to the boys last night, and … well, after we finished, I think I had convinced them not to go to see Parker, until they were much older. I did tell them that they have a new family, you, and that they have to start making new memories. I reminded them that they would be going with us on our trips and visiting us more and so we would be their extended family, as such. I hope what I said works for you,” offered Ken.

“If we’re going to go to Fiesta Texas, what time should we leave by, then?” asked Reynolds.

“Well, if you want to make a full day of it, then you want to leave here by nine or nine-thirty. That will get you there just as the park opens. Then, don’t forget you will have that same two-hour drive back in the dark, if you stay the full day. And it is the summer, so expect the lines to be long, unless you want to pay for their Ride Pass, but for six people it will be expensive,” explained Ken Thomas, their host.

Collin came into the Kitchen Nook just then. The young man said ‘Good morning’ to the adults and asked them what they were talking about. Reynolds asked Collin if he could go back upstairs and wake the twins and ask them if they wanted to go to Fiesta Texas. The man then asked Collin that if they did want to go to ask them to get cleaned up and come down and they would leave before nine-thirty.

Collin did what he was asked. He came back down to the Kitchen Nook about ten minutes later and told the Parchsons that the boys were going to get showers and dressed, and that they would be down as soon as they got ready. Sylvia got up and went over to get their kids ready.

“Momma, I don’t think you’ll need to cook too much breakfast this morning,” called out Mr. Ken.

Momma, Sophia and Isabela had begun to make breakfast and serve it to those who were at the Nook’s table. The men at the table, Ken, Reynolds and Collin thanked the women for serving them a hearty breakfast and then they dug in.

As the men ate, Collin told his Big Bro that he was going to pack and then leave after he ate his breakfast. Reynolds said that after Sylvia and the kids had something to eat that they would leave and they would not be back for dinner. Momma heard that exchange and knew that there would be seven less people for dinner that Monday night.

The Cover boys began to come into the Kitchen Nook and wonder why everyone was there. Mr. Ken filled them in and then Momma told them that breakfast would soon be ready and for them to have a seat in the Dining Room. That was when the twins came into the Kitchen Nook all freshly showered and dressed to go to the amusement park.

Mr. Ken told everyone that he needed to get to his office. He told Phillip that he would call Mr. Wayne about the sheet music and they would talk about it. That put a big smile on the young Cover. It also started a conversation at the breakfast table.

Sylvia and her two children, Jaxson and Alani had come up to the house for breakfast and then the women explained that she and Reynolds were taking the four to Six Flags Fiesta Texas and would be back around ten-thirty. She added that they hoped to leave before nine-thirty.

Billy ate quickly and then thanked Momma and her amigas and told them that he had to get to his job, with Lonnie, at the top of the driveway. The teenager then left the house.

By then Mr. Chris and Mr. Wayne had arrived and they had sat down to breakfast. Phillip couldn’t contain himself and he told the Estate Master that his ‘dad’ was going to call him later about buying him some sheet music. That surprised both men and they had the young Cover explain what he meant.

The Parchsons soon gathered up their four and asked them to use the restroom before they loaded into the car. They told everyone that they would see them all later, or tomorrow, before they headed to the airport, as they had an early afternoon flight. The two adults then used the half-bath off the Study, and before anyone knew it the six were off to Six Flags.

Collin came down the stairs just then with his suitcase, and he told everyone that he planned to be back Thursday evening. He told Mr. Wayne and Mr. Chris that he was going back to check on the architectural plans for Wilkinson and try to get the architect to speed things up. The young man then walked out of the Foyer, to his car and then he drove out the Main Gate and headed to his home at Wilkinson.

The rest of the Cover boys went back upstairs and got ready for their day.

At the office Mr. Ken met with Ben Walthers, his President of Three Finger Entertainment, LLC. He wanted to know the status of the Four Corners Amusement Park and would it be ready for opening day on Friday. Ben told his boss that Nelson had trained the men and women he had hired and would be training the teenagers this week on how to operate the rides. Ben added that Nelson was also hiring the people he needed to run the refreshment stands and the supplemental people he also needed.

Mr. Ken then said to Ben that Friday would be more like a ‘soft’ opening than anything else. Ben agreed that with everybody being new it would take them time to jell as a team. Ben suggested that they slowly open a few rides at a time and let the team members get the feel of operating them and the others filling in and maybe opening a refreshment stand or two and just let things take their course. Ken told Ben that they should talk to Nelson and get his take on what he just suggested.

Ken also talked to Ms. Jackie, his Projects Manager. She told him that her kids couldn’t wait until next Wednesday when they would all begin their vacation to visit all of his amusement parks. Mr. Ken smiled and asked her if she had enough memory cards for her cameras in order to take hundreds of pictures at each park. She laughed at his silliness.

Mr. Ken did ask her if she was prepared to make notes at each park of what she saw, experienced and felt that the park staff was doing either right, wrong, or indifferently. He did remind her that she was his ‘secret park guest’ and was there to ‘spy’ on them for him. The two had a good laugh. Mr. Ken did ask her to have her husband and her son and daughter also tell her what they thought about the park and the employees, and if they saw anything that they should change. Jackie said she knew what he wanted.

Later that morning, Ken Thomas did call Amy Ozarker, the lawyer he hired to help Kate. He wanted to tell her that he asked Kate to try to remember who were Lane’s friends when they were in high school. Ken told Amy that was just in case that Lane turns out not to be Rusty’s father and they needed to focus on who could be the potential daddy.

Amy thanked Ken for the heads-up so she knew where her investigations should be headed. She asked Ken if it was alright for her to try to get unauthorized DNA samples from those friends and have them analyzed just in case they needed it. Mr. Ken told her as long as it wasn’t illegal to go ahead. Amy laughed and told him that this time it was usually her telling him that she wouldn’t do anything illegal. More laughter between them.

Mr. Ken then called Wayne about getting some sheet music for Phillip. The Estate Master told his employer how the young Cover told him about it at breakfast. The two talked about what kind and how many. Mr. Ken told Wayne that he doesn’t give the boys an allowance, so he should talk to the band and ask them how much they were contributing and then go from there. Wayne said he understood and the two ended the phone call.

Billy and Lonnie continued to work on the Main Gate Guard House that Monday. They were being very careful around the windows and doors and they helped one another holding the vegetation back, as the other power washed the building behind it.

They did as much as they could, but they needed a ladder to get to the high points of the building, so they went down to the garage to get one. Then, while one held the ladder steady, the other power washed the high points and before long, the entire Main Gate House was finished and it looked fresh and clean. The two teens stood back and admired their work.

Mr. Wayne went up and talked to the band members. He mentioned to them about their need to get some fresh music to play, and their desire to buy some sheet music. He asked them how many songs did they each plan to purchase, so he knew how many he should get for Phillip to add to the mix.

The boys told the Estate Master that they all talked to their parents about buying some sheet music, but the question that came up was which ones did they want to buy and how much was each band member going to contribute. Mr. Wayne said he felt that was an honest question to ask.

Mr. Wayne then asked the boys if they had done any web searches for what they wanted. The boys looked at one another and said they hadn’t. Mr. Wayne asked them to do that and then talk about what they wanted to get and then decide how much it cost and what they could all chip in to buy it. They boys said they would do that and get back with him.

After the Estate Master walked away, the boys talked about the way Mr. Wayne had talked to them about the issue. To the one, they all felt he made some good points and that tonight they would all check the internet and identify which songs they would want to buy and the cost.

Phillip asked them to email their findings to each other, so they could look it over before they get together tomorrow. They all thought that was a great idea, so they could see if there were any duplication’s and then that wouldn’t waste too much time tomorrow when they got there.

The boys at The Cove did what they usually did. They skated, drove the PWCs, sailed the boats, burned the burgers and dogs, swam, and, of course, the band played. They all had fun and when it was time to go home, they did.

‘Dad’ Ken returned home from the office just as Momma was ready to serve dinner. He thanked her for waiting on him, but she told him that he was right on time. The Covers sat down to a wonderful meal prepared by Momma, by herself, as there were only the seven of them that night, since the Parchsons, including the twins, and Collin were all gone.

After their meal, the Covers headed to the Study for their normal meeting. ‘Dad’ Ken started their meeting by reminding the boys that the Parchsons, including their ‘brothers’ Kevin and Kyle, had a 1:30 flight out of Austin-Bergstrom, so they would be leaving them tomorrow around ten o’clock. He asked them all to be downstairs to say their goodbyes.

“Boys, I am scheduled to leave on the eighteenth and head back east and I will return on the twentieth, unless there are extenuating circumstances that require me to extend my time. Mr. Wayne will be staying with you during that time.

“I also want to remind you that your big ‘brother’ Collin … he will be a fixture here at The Cove for the foreseeable future, while he remodels Wilkinson. I figure he will be here at least through next year at this time, as the remodel is very extensive.

“Also, I want you to be watching out for Chief. She is due to birth her pups starting next week about the time I’m gone. She is an important member of this family. You shouldn’t have to do anything, but be prepared. I do believe Mr. Wayne has asked you all to review the web site about what will happen during the birthing process, and what you can do to help her if she needs some help.

“Boys … after the pups come … we will all need to help keep the whelping box clean. So, please read up about what we need to do there. We will also be able to help keep the pups clean and we will have to make sure Chief has her food and fresh water down near the whelping box for her to have, as she will be feeding her litter. More about that after the pups come.

“As for the Four Corners Amusement Park being scheduled to open this Friday … I talked to Ben and what we might wind up doing now is just operate a few rides at a time to allow the new hires to get used to working as a team. So, this will be a ‘soft’ opening and we’ll probably hold a Grand Opening after we work out any kinks that are sure to make their appearance.

“Also, Billy, Robert and Charles … don’t forget about that career assessments profile I have scheduled for all of you for this Thursday morning. Robert, did you talk to Eric? I will drive you there and we have to be there at nine o’clock, if I hadn’t told you that before.

“And one last item. Bill …I do believe your six months of holding your leaner’s license is up. So … you need to schedule an appointment to take your driver’s test. And I do believe I will have to be there as your guardian, so please make it for this Saturday, if you can. And, let me know if you can and what time you made it for,” offered a smiling ‘dad’ Ken

“Does anyone have anything for me?” finished ‘dad’ Ken.

Phillip raised his hand and told his ‘dad’ that all of the band members were supposed to search the web tonight for which sheet music they thought would be good for them to learn. He added that they were also supposed to email what they found to one another, as well as the cost and then they will talk about it tomorrow.

Phillip then asked his ‘dad’ if he called Ms. Judy about his mom. ‘Dad’ Ken told the boy that he was very busy at the office and that was one phone call that he didn’t get the opportunity to make. But he did tell him that he would call Ms. Judy right now to see if she knew anything off the top of her head.

Mr. Ken then picked up his desk phone and called Ms. Judy. When she answered he made some small talk and then he asked her if she knew how long Mackenzie’s classes would take. He explained that Phillip was trying to figure out when he and his mom might be able to get back together.

Ms. Judy told Ken that each class was about one week long, and that Mackenzie would also be attending a work training course that would last two weeks. Judy also reminded Ken to tell Phillip that his mother had to get and keep a job, but she wasn’t sure for how long. Judy thought that Mackenzie had to work for a minimum of four weeks before the judge would allow them to get back together.

‘Dad’ Ken told the youngest Cover what he heard from the Director of Children’s Protective Services. The boy thanked his ‘dad’ for finding that out for him. But he had tears in his eyes as he said that. Billy saw them and ruffled his hair and told him the time will fly right by if he doesn’t think about it too much. That made Phillip smile some, and he thanked his big ‘brother’ for saying that.

None of the other boys had anything to bring up, so they all went up to their rooms to read or play games on their computers. Phillip used his computer to search for sheet music he thought the band could learn.

Later, Mr. Ken went up to talk to the boys. When he talked to Billy, the teenager asked his foster dad if the man thought he was ready to take his driver’s test. ‘Dad’ Ken told the teen that only he knew if he was ready, but the foster dad told the teen that he’d been driving quite a bit, as of late, and that he did a very good job driving to SeaWorld and back. Billy thanked the man for the reassurance and said that he’d try to make the appointment tomorrow for Saturday.

In Phillip’s room, the youngest Cover showed his ‘dad’ what his search for sheet music revealed. He told his ‘dad’ that the thirteen songs in that sheet group would cost $16.95. The boy asked if that was too much. ‘Dad’ Ken told the boy that if that was what he wanted, then he would ask Mr. Wayne to order it for him.

Phillip hugged the man tight and thanked him for doing that for him. Mr. Ken saw some light tears in the boy’s eyes as they pulled apart. He then reminded his youngest foster son to drain his dragon before going to bed. The boy laughed and then Mr. Ken left the room.

‘Dad’ Ken had talked to all of the boys and told them not to stay up too late. He then went back down to his Study to wait for the Parchsons to return from their trip to Six Flags.

The six arrived back at The Cove around 10:45 p.m. The host talked to the twins before they headed up to their room. He reminded them that their aunt and uncle wanted to leave by ten o’clock and that they needed to be showered, dressed and packed when they came downstairs. The boys got a hug before they went up to bed.

With the twins back home and headed up to their bedroom, Ken Thomas relaxed, since everyone was back home. The man headed to his retreat and got ready for bed and soon he, too, was in bed. The Cove was quiet the whole night through.

When Ken Thomas awoke that Tuesday morning, he went ahead and got ready for his day at the office, even if he wasn’t going to be there until later in the morning. He had told his secretary, Rosemary Martin, about his guests leaving that morning, and that he wouldn’t be in until they had departed The Cove.

Upon his arrival in the Kitchen Nook, Momma Maria had his morning newspaper waiting for him at his usual place at the Nook’s table, and she brought over his first hot cup of coffee, as soon as he sat down.

It wasn’t long after the owner of The Cove sat down and began to read the newspaper that the four Parchsons came into the Kitchen Nook. They all said good morning to their host and then sat down. Sylvia asked if the twins were up yet. Mr. Ken told them that he reminded the twins before they went up to bed that they needed to be showered, dressed and packed before they came down, and he hoped they set their phones to wake them.

Since there were five people there in the Kitchen Nook, Momma and Sophia decided to make them their breakfast. They already had the bacon crispy and still warm and the eggs and pancake batter were already mixed and all they had to do now was just cook them.

Momma began to scramble the eggs, while Sophia started to make the pancakes. Isabela, in the meantime, began to set up the table with the plates, dinnerware, glasses and coffee cups. The woman also set out the milk and orange juice, and in less than ten minutes the three women had the five people sitting at the table, their breakfast in front of them.

While those five were eating, Billy, Robert and Matthew came into the Kitchen Nook. Momma told them that she’d have their breakfast ready for them in a few minutes, and for them to wait a few minutes. ‘Dad’ Ken asked the boys if they’d seen if the twins were up. Matthew said that they were packing and should be down soon.

When the people at the Nook’s table were finished eating, they all got up, so the next group could eat. By then Charles, Kevin, Kyle and Phillip had all arrived in the Kitchen Nook. Phillip immediately went and took care of Chief’s food and water bowls and the resident pet gave the boy a few dogie kisses for doing that for her. Chief then went and ate her breakfast. Phillip then washed his hands before sitting at the table.

Momma and Sophia had already begun cooking the scrambled eggs and pancakes, while Isabela reset the table with clean plates, dinnerware and glasses for milk and orange juice. By now Wayne and Chris had arrived, so the boys made room at the table for them, and the ladies made extra for the men to have something to eat, as well. Isabel set out coffee for the men.

The women served the boys and men their breakfast and while they ate, the rest of the people in the Nook talked to them and each other. The conversation centered around the past nine days and all the fun the Parchsons had.

Sylvia asked Chris if he had that information for them so they could send Vivian some money to her account. Chris told them if they were leaving at ten it would be better if he sent them the information and then called them to explain it. Sylvia said that would work, as they couldn’t do anything until they got home anyway.

When everyone had eaten, Reynolds got all the children to gather up all the luggage and bring it to their rental vehicle. He packed it as best he could and then the farewells began. It was a tearful send-off especially as the twins were again leaving The Cove and their ‘brothers’ and ‘dad’.

“But it wasn’t as bad as it was that first time the twins left them. ‘Dad’ Ken had told the twins that they would be able to stay in better touch and they would be able to travel with them. But the tears did flow and the hugs were many. Sylvia did ask all the children to use the half-bath before they loaded into the car, and then before long the Parchsons were headed out the Main Gate and they were on their way to the Austin-Bergstrom Airport.

As soon as their guests had departed the Cove, Mr. Ken talked with Wayne, and with the boys listening, asked him to see if he could find a time that week for the boys to build the new lockers. He added that when they were built, he’d get the men who helped install them come over and help the boys remove the old lockers and install the new ones. Wayne told his boss that he and Dennis will talk to the boys about getting that done.

Mr. Ken then told his Estate Master that he needed to get a move on and before long he was driving out the Main Gate. The boys then headed up to the Pavilion to skate, and wait for their friends, while Billy caught up with Lonnie, so they could now continue their job of power washing the estate’s walls.

Once he was at the office, Ken Thomas was still interested in where the Four Corners Amusement Park was when it came to opening that Friday. He sat down with Ben to talk over their strategy for their now ‘soft’ opening and to see if Nelson was ‘on-board’ with their thinking. They decided they would meet with him tomorrow at the park. Ben would make the call to set it up.

The next thing that Ken Thomas and Ben Walthers discussed were next year’s roller coaster acquisitions and what coaster was going to which park. They decided that the inverted coaster was going to go to Adventure Forest. The suspended coaster was going to Mountain Top. The floorless coaster would be located at Discovery Kingdom. And the last type of roller coaster, the dive coaster, would be located at Fantasy Fun Park. Crystal Lake was already scheduled to get the water park.

Ben would now work up a press release for early August that would also include a visualization of the coasters in action. The President of Three Finger Entertainment had his work cut out for him as this was going to be the first time, he would be putting together this type of press release accompanied with a video of the proposed roller coasters that TFE was acquiring for four of its five amusement parks.

When Phillip met with his band members at the Pavilion, they all had emailed one another their suggestions earlier for their next music selections for them to look over. Now they would have to narrow the selections down and decide how they would pay for them. With seven band members, there were more proposed songs than they could ever learn throughout the remainder of the summer. The boys had their work cut out for them.

When Robert’s friends came over to The Cove that Tuesday a few of them had news that was sort of unsettling to the teen Cover. Logan, Trevor, Gordon and Josh told Robert and Eric that they all applied to work at the Four Corners Amusement Park, and that they had interviews later tonight.

Robert, Eric and the other boys were interested in knowing what positions the four were applying for. Logan told them that Mr. Ken told them that they weren’t old enough to operate the rides, but they could possibly work in the refreshment stands, the game booth, or maybe sweep the grounds, or do any other job that needed to be done.

Trevor told the gathered teens that he put down on his application that he was applying to work in all available positions, including the refreshment stand, game booths and cleanup. He told his friends that he didn’t care where he worked as long as he got a job. He also told his friends that his parents told him that if he got a job that he could keep it after school started, as long as his school grades don’t suffer. Gordon and Josh told everyone essentially the same thing.

Cody, Isaiah, Chuck and Brad wondered out loud if it was too late for them to fill out an application. They then asked Robert and Eric if they were going to put in an application, too. They said that they would be a shoe in for a job, since Robert’s dad owns the park. The boys then all laughed.

Robert then told his friends that he couldn’t put in an application because he is scheduled to go on another trip and the park manager isn’t going to let him go away for a week to ten days right after he just hired him. Eric said that he will be going away with his Best Friend, too, so he wouldn’t be putting in an application either. Eric added that besides they both have a job there at The Cove cutting the field. He then reminded his Best Friend that they better cut the field that week.

The teenagers then got around to talking about Chief and when she was supposed to have her litter of pups. They told the Cover that they all noticed how big she was getting in the middle and they all wondered how many pups she was going to have and when she was due.

Robert told them that Chief was going to have seven pups, and was due to have her pups beginning the middle of next week. The Cover told them that they have a whelping box for her to birth her pups in and to keep them in while they grow. The teen added that they would all be helping keep the box clean and would do whatever they needed to do to help Chief take care of her seven ‘babies’. Then Robert laughed.

Charles and his friends did listen into some of what the fifteen-year-olds were talking about. They would all be in that same situation next year, and they might be looking to get a job over at the Four Corner Amusement Park and knowing what they were going through was invaluable for them, so they knew what to expect when they applied for a job at the park.

After that conversation was over, the boys who were responsible for cooking that day got their team together to started setting up the barbeque, while the others decided to drive the PWCs, sail the sailboats, or go swimming.

Phillip and his band had whittled down the list of sheet music songs they had researched to a manageable number. They then decided to set them aside and play until after the barbeque and then they would go swimming.

While Billy and Lonnie were power washing the estate wall, Billy told his friend that his foster dad told him to set up his appointment to do his driver’s test that Saturday. So, when the two took their break to go eat some burgers, Billy looked up what he needed to do to schedule his driver’s test.

When the Cover searched the Texas Department of Public Safety website, he saw that there were a number of things he needed to bring with him, so the teen took a golf cart to the house to go to his room to make sure he had them all before he made the appointment. Then once he was there, he used his computer to schedule his driver’s test for ten o’clock that coming Saturday morning.

Mr. Wayne saw Billy come racing down to the house and when the teen came down the stairs, he stopped him and asked him where the fire was. The teenager explained that for him to schedule his driver’s test there was a number of things he needed to make sure he had, that he had to bring with him.

The teen also told the Estate Master that he had to be on the insurance policy and the car had to have a current registration and inspection. Mr. Wayne said that he would make sure those things were current with Mr. Chris. Then, before Billy left to go back to work on the estate walls, the teenager told the Estate Master that his driver’s test was scheduled for ten o’clock Saturday morning. The two shared a smile as the teen Cover went back to work.

Again, ‘Dad’ Ken returned to The Cove just as the boy’s friends were leaving for the day. With his taking the previous week away from the office there were a number of things that he needed to get caught up on, so he was staying to do so.

At dinner that night, the man learned that a few of Robert’s friends had interviews with Nelson Sanders, the Four Corners Amusement Park’s Operations Manager, that evening. He also learned that Bill made an appointment to take his driver’s test that Saturday, at ten o’clock. “Dad’ Ken took out his cell phone and put that appointment into his schedule, so he wouldn’t forget it.

After dinner, the Cover’s all headed to the Study to have their regular meeting. During that meeting, Phillip told his ‘dad’ how the band had over seventy-five songs they had to choose from and how they trimmed the list down to a manageable twenty songs. The only problem he now had was how could they figure out to pay for them. ‘Dad’ Ken told him they’d talk about it later and not bore his ‘brothers’ with the minutia.

Billy told his foster dad about all the minor things he found that he had to make sure he took with him on Saturday to show he had completed all the driver’s requirements, and that he had to ensure the car he took the test in was current and that he was on the policy.

Mr. Wayne spoke up just then and said that he checked with Chris who checked the insurance policy that showed Bill was on it. The Estate Master also added that he checked the registration of the Taurus and it was current and so was the inspection.

Robert then told his dad how unfair he felt it was that his friends could get a job, but that he couldn’t. The teen’s dad knew that this would come up again one day, so he told his son that he had to understand that he couldn’t be both a traveler and a worker. He also told his son that he couldn’t just leave him home alone, while he took his ‘brothers’ away for a week to ten days, just so he could work and be like his friends.

‘Dad’ Ken then addressed the rest of the boys. He told them that if they want to continue to travel, as they have, then as they get older, they can’t just change their focus because they want to do something different that will also affect their ‘brothers’.

‘Dad’ Ken reminded them that their ‘family is different than their friends’ families, and he isn’t going to allow them to stay home alone, while the rest of them are away from The Cove. He added that there is no real reason for them to have to work, other than to have the experience that he could give them, there at The Cove, when necessary.

It was very quiet in the Study after ‘dad’ Ken’s remarks. The boys knew what their ‘dad’ was saying. It was like Robert wanted to have a discussion over it, but he wasn’t sure if that was the time, or the place. None of the other boys were ready to speak up at the time.

After a short pause. ‘dad’ Ken continued and reminded the boys about the Thursday morning assessment, Chief’s having her litter in the next week, or so, the Four Corners Amusement Park’s ‘soft’ opening starting that Friday, and his leaving next week for three days.

‘Dad’ Ken then asked Bill and Robert if they looked at the calendar, as to when they wanted to visit their moms. He asked them to try to find a good date, but he reminded them that he has yet to be told when the dedication of the vocational building would be. He added that he was in conversation with the school and was trying to get a date so he, too, could make plans.

When the meeting was over, Robert was asked to remain. The rest of the boys started to return to the Study, but ‘dad’ Ken told them that this was going to be a father and son discussion.

After the Study door was closed, the father and son took a seat and faced one another.

“Son … I know you asked me once before about you working. And I told you then … that it just won’t work out with all of the traveling that we do. Also, I just can’t leave you here at home alone. Sure, you are fifteen and can take care of yourself. But who will make your meals, clean your clothes and take you to your job? Mr. Wayne and Mr. Dennis, as you know, they now go with us, so they won’t be here with you. So, can you tell me how you can work and not have it affect the rest of the ‘family’?” dad Ken directly addressed his son, Robert.

Robert just sat there not knowing what to say. He wasn’t ready to have that discussion, so he just continued to sit there. The one thing that his dad did see was that there were tears forming in the teen’s eyes, but he didn’t react to them just yet. He wanted to give his son some time to respond to his outburst about his feeling that it wasn’t fair that he couldn’t work, while his friends could.

After about thirty seconds of quiet, dad Ken opened his arms for the teen to come to him and Robert jumped right into them. The teenager then just let the tears flow.

After some time, dad Ken said, “Robert … I think I know what you want to do. You want to be like your friends. But, son … unfortunately you’re not anything like them. You live a life far and above them. And maybe that is not fair. But it is what it is.

“Son … I won’t guarantee this … but maybe, next year, when you are sixteen and you are driving, or have a way to get to a job, we can have this same conversation. But you will have to understand that if you decide to work … you will not be going with us to visit the parks at Christmas, after school is out and … you won’t be going with us on our Spring Break trip.

“Robert … when you work … your employer … he expects you to be there, and not taking off for trips, two or three times a year. That is something you will have to deal with, and I guess I would have to as well, if you are going to stay home. So … what say we let this talk end for now and go and see what your ‘brothers’ are up to?” finished the teen’s dad.

Robert thanked his dad for talking with him. The teen told his dad that he understands what he was saying to him and that next year he’ll hold him to sitting down and talking to him about his maybe working. The two shared a big hug and then they went to the Study door and opened it.

“What took you so long?” asked Phillip, with a big smile on his face.

‘Dad’ Ken went to him and began a tickle attack and the young Cover began squirming and laughing and saying he was going to pee his pants. ‘Dad’ Ken told him to go and pee his pants as the shower was just upstairs. All the boys laughed at hearing that. ‘Dad’ Ken then stopped the tickling, saying that he hadn’t done that for quite some time.

“That was fun,” said Phillip, with a big smile.

The boys headed up to their rooms and Mr. Ken followed. Mr. Wayne had departed The Cove when his employer and son had gone into their private talk.

‘Dad’ Ken started at Bill’s room. The teen was happy that he would soon take his driver’s test and would hopefully be driving. Mr. Ken reminded him that with his new license he would only be able to have one of his ‘brothers’ with him in the car at a time, so for him not to plan to have a big celebration after he passes his test.

In Robert’s room, the teen again thanked his dad for talking to him. The teen did say that he was going to look at that last week of July to go visit his mom. Dad Ken told him to pick an actual day and to tell him and Mr. Chris, so they could work out any details.

In Charles’ room, the young teen asked if they worked out a deal for Robert going to work. Dad Ken asked the teen if he was thinking about working, too. Charles told his dad that eventually, he probably would want to work, as well, but that he would like to go and work with Mr. Jason and learn more about park operations. Dad Ken told him to talk to him when he turns sixteen.

In Matthew’s room, the pre-teen told his ‘dad’ that he didn’t care about working just yet, but that he would like to take care of the beach when Todd goes off to college. ‘Dad’ Ken told, him that the job would be like what he told Robert in that he can’t take care of the beach while he’s traveling. To that, Matthew said that while they’re gone nobody uses the things, so what would it matter. ‘Dad’ Ken told the pre-teen that they would have to talk about that in the future. The two hugged and ‘dad’ Ken headed over to Phillip’s room.

“So, what’s this problem you have with this sheet music?” asked ‘dad’ Ken, as he walked into Phillip’s room.

“Well, the problem we have is, ahh … who’s going to pay for it?” replied the youngest Cover.

“Do you know what you want? And how much it will be?” asked the foster dad.

“Well … I’m not sure if we can get it at a local music store or … if we will we have to buy it over the internet, ‘dad’. But the cost … it could be as high as … forty dollars,” admitted Phillip.

“Well … what say I tell Mr. Wayne … for him to figure out where is the best place to get them and for him to just go and get them? Will that work out for you?” teased ‘dad’ Ken.

“You … you mean it? You would buy all of the sheet music that we were looking at?” asked the youngster.

“Yes, I mean it. I don’t give you boys an allowance and, you know, spending forty dollars for you to have something that I know that you really would use for your band isn’t going to break me, Phillip,” offered a smiling dad Ken in response.

Phillip hugged the man for saying that he would do that for him and the rest of the band members.

Then, before the man left the room, he bent down and scratched behind Chief’s ears and told her to have a good night’s rest, because soon she would have seven babies to take care of and she wouldn’t get much sleep after they arrive.

Chief barked a few ‘Woofs’ back at Mr. Ken, and then gave him a few doggie kisses.

‘Dad’ Ken walked down the stairs to his own retreat to get ready for bed. He thought back to the discussion he had with Robert and knew that as the boys got older their desire to travel with him everywhere might wane. He knew he should start to look at alternatives in the coming years for them to stay home, while he and the younger boys traveled.

After getting ready for bed, Ken Thomas checked that his alarm clock was set to wake him at his usual morning time and then he laid down in his big king-sized bed. He loved the life that he had and what the boys had added to it. He was hoping that he could add Kate to it someday, too.

The Cove was quiet the whole night through and everyone slept well.

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

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