Published: 11 Dec 2025

From the Previous Chapter:

Down in his retreat, Ken Thomas sat on the edge of his king-sized bed and thought through what was before him, as far as how busy he will be through the Holidays. He always looked forward to this time of year, but he also knew that it came with loads of busy time for him, and his ‘family’.

Knowing that he just needed to take each objective, one at a time, and not try to do, or even start, the next one until the first one was complete would help him keep himself on an even keel and focused. The man then turned off the lights and before long he was fast asleep.

The Cove household would be safe and sound throughout the night.

Knowing he was taking the boys out for breakfast, Ken Thomas, dad and foster dad, got up early that Sunday morning. He did that so he could first get himself ready for the day and then get the chance to read some of the Sunday newspaper before they all left to go eat and then go on to the shooting range.

That day the man didn’t have to put any thawing breakfast tacos into the convection oven when he came in from retrieving the newspaper. All he needed to do was pour himself a cup of that hot brew, he loved so much early in the morning, and then sit down, separate the thick bundle of news print, after taking it from its protective sleeve, and begin reading from Section A, World News.

The boys began waking themselves up around 8:45 that Sunday. Darrin and Matthew first took care of their resident pet by initially cleaning the bowls and then fixing Chief and Sarge’s fresh kibble and cold ice water.

The two then joined their ‘brothers’ in getting ready for their day by taking their showers, then getting dressed. Billy reminded them to wear nice after school clothes, as they joined the rest of their ‘brothers’ before they all headed downstairs, together, to the Kitchen Nook.

Chief and Sarge had stayed in the Nook with Mr. Ken after they ate their morning meal. They did pester the man for a few behind the ear scratches and a belly rub, and the man happily gave the resident pets their loved affection from the people they love.

It was the resident pets who announced the arrival of the boys to Mr. Ken by giving out a few loud barks and woofs. The man looked up from reading his newspaper and then looked at the time.

“Is it almost 9:30, boys?” asked ‘dad’ Ken, as he put down the section of the paper that he was reading. “I got so engrossed in reading the newspaper that I lost track of the time. Let me use the half-bath and I’ll be right with you. Bill, how about you getting the van out of the garage for me, and I’ll meet you and the boys outside,” finished ‘dad’ Ken, as he got up and left the Kitchen Nook.

Mr. Ken had Bill drive the van over to IHOP where they met up with Mr. Wayne, Mr. Dennis and Mr. Dan for breakfast. Ms. Judy and Eric were also there, as Eric was a Cover, too. Since it was a Sunday morning, the restaurant was quite busy, so they had to wait for the staff to put tables together big enough for the large group.

While they waited, the boys talked about what they needed to do to group their shots. Darrin listened to what the boys had to say about steadying their aim. Robert talked about putting your feet on solid ground and about a shoulder-width apart. Charles said something about avoiding jerking the trigger and that you should press, or squeeze, it slowly, so that it almost surprises you when it fires.

Darrin then heard Billy say that you needed to see your target and when you’ve lined up the target, through the front and rear sights that is when you squeeze the trigger slowly and steadily. It was then that Phillip spoke up and said that you needed to do all of that, but if you don’t control your breathing, you’ll probably mess up your shot.

The five adults were listening to the boys tell Darrin what they all thought was important for him to know when he gets to the range later. It was Mr. Dan who went over to the newest Cover and talked to him.

“Darrin … everything that your ‘brothers’ told you was true, but … but until you squeeze that trigger and feel that recoil none of that … none of that will resonate with you. We’ll get you out on that range later, and you’ll get to feel that pistol in your hands and from there … we’ll introduce you to everything you ‘brothers’ just mentioned. OK?”

Hearing that made Darrin smile.

“Our waitress just came to me,” spoke up Mr. Ken, “and she just told me that our table is ready. So, boys, men, lady, let’s sit down and have a good breakfast, before we have ourselves some fun!”

Eating at IHOP (International House of Pancakes) was second nature for the boys. All that was except for Darrin, who didn’t get to eat breakfast out all that much when living with his parents and older brother. He has enjoyed eating out at all of the restaurants that he’s gone to ever since he began living with his foster dad, Mr. Ken, and this was another new experience for him.

It took the teen a little while longer to look through the extensive menu before deciding what he wanted to eat that Sunday morning. He eventually asked for the 2x2x2 Combo, which was two eggs, two pancakes and two rashers of bacon. Then he, along with the other boys, ordered orange juice to round out his meal.

The talk around the table still centered around the boys shooting, and Darrin continued to listen to what his ‘brothers’ had to say. But the teen knew, what Mr. Dan had told him was true, that until he held that pistol in his hands and pulled the trigger and felt that recoil, none of that would make any sense to him. But, even so, the teen continued to listen to what each of his ‘brothers’, even young Phillip, had to say about what it was like to fire that gun and hit the target.

It was close to twelve, noon, when the large group walked out of the restaurant. And before the Cover boys all loaded into the van, Charles asked his dad if he could ride with Mr. Dan. Then hearing that being asked, Robert asked if he and Eric could ride with Mr. Wayne. Not to be left out, Phillip asked if he could ride with Mr. Dennis.

“What’s this, all my boys jumping ship?” jokingly asked ‘dad’ Ken.

“No, dad, we’re jumping the van,” laughed Charles, who was joined by the other boys.

So, left to go in the van to ride to the shooting range were Mr. Ken, Billy, who was driving, Darrin and Matthew. Ms. Judy drove home by herself knowing Ken would bring her son, Eric, home after they were through.

The shooting range was about a forty-minute ride away from the restaurant. Mr. Wayne had called ahead and reserved seven shooting stalls for them at one o’clock. That would give them enough space to spread out to shoot without hurrying one-another, even though they would have to share a gun at some point.

Once they arrived at the shooting range, Mr. Ken took all of the pistols out of the locked storage vault he had in the van. Each pistol had been Safed with a trigger lock, which he kept on as he and the boys carried them to their assigned shooting booths. Mr. Ken and Billy then went down to the van and retrieved all of the ammunition, safety glasses and hearing protection.

Before handing out the pistols, eye and hearing protection to the boys, ‘dad’ Ken and Mr. Dan reviewed a few gun safety rules to them. And being that the Sheriff’s Lieutenant was the consummate professional, Mr. Ken asked Dan Fischer to talk to the boys first.

“Boys … always treat the gun as if it is loaded. Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction which, in this case, is either towards the ground or down range towards the target. Keep your finger OFF the trigger until you are ready to shoot. Always ensure the gun is unloaded before you turn away from the target. That means the slide is all the way back, you have released the magazine and have set the safety. Mr. Ken, your turn.

“Boys … always keep the gun pointed down towards the target area, while you are loading the magazine into the pistol grip and chambering a round. Never release the safety until you are ready to shoot. And most of all … NO distracting your ‘brother’, while they are in their shooting mode!

“Remember to stand firm with your shoulders straight; take proper aim through your rear and front sights and control your breathing and at the end of your exhalation squeeze the trigger. We are not here to see how fast you can send 100 rounds down range. We’re here to see if you remembered what you learned from the last time you shot the pistol, and to see if you can get better. Are you ready?” finally asked ‘dad’ Ken.

After getting a rousing round of “Yeses”, ‘dad’ Ken unlocked the pistols and began handing them out, along with the eye and hearing protection. He handed Robert his Glock 26 Gen-3 9mm pistol, which was once his biological fathers. He also handed him a box of 50-9mm rounds of ammunition. He told his son that he and Eric will have to share for the time being, and then he handed Eric his own box of 50 cartridges.

To Bill he handed the Glock 9mm GLK 19 Gen5 15 FSS MOS pistol with a 15-shot magazine. He also gave the teenager a box of 50 rounds of 9mm ammunition. To his son, Charles, he handed the teenager the Sig Sauer – P365 XL 9mm Nitron Black X-Series Striker handgun that had a 12-shot magazine, as well as a box of 50-9mm bullets.

He then asked Wayne to work with Matthew, as he handed the pre-teen the Walther P99 9mm, with the 4-inch barrel and a 15-round magazine. This would be the first time that Mathew would be shooting a 9mm pistol, but ‘dad’ Ken felt that since the boy would be thirteen next month, he should be given the opportunity to try that gun out. A box of 50 rounds of cartridges was also given to the boy.

That left the Glock G44 .22 LR Rimfire pistol with a 10-round magazine and the Ruger® SR22™ .22 LR Rimfire pistol with a 10-round capacity for Mr. Ken to decide which one to let Phillip shoot, while he and Mr. Dan gave Darrin some instruction on how to shoot the other one.

While he let Mr. Dan decide which of the two pistols, he wanted to train Darrin on, Mr. Ken gave his Glock 20, Gen 4, 10mm 15-round clip with laser sights to Dennis to shoot with. He also gave the Assistant Estate Master a box of 50 rounds of 10mm ammunition to send down range.

“Phillip … you’ll be in the shooting booth right next to us. Since this is only the second time that you are shooting the gun, I’ll get you started. Here is the Ruger® SR22™ .22 LR Rimfire pistol that has a 10-round capacity. I’ll have you first show me what you remember from the last time and we’ll go from there,” declared the boy’s foster dad.

While Phillip and Mr. Ken were in the next shooting booth, Mr. Dan began explaining to Darrin the Glock G44 .22 LR Rimfire pistol and how 10-round magazine worked. After the teen answered some questions about the gun that the lieutenant asked him, Mr. Dan began showing the teen how to grip the gun, then stand and aim and, while he was doing all that, he explained how the teenager should breathe before pulling the trigger.

The Sheriff’s Lieutenant had Darrin go through the motions five or six times before he let the boy dry-fire the pistol. The man again explained to the teen to slowly squeeze the trigger after he had let out his breath. It took Darrin four tries before he got it right.

Then it was time to show the teen how to load the magazine, with one round of ammunition so that he could send it down range. Once he’d done that, Mr. Dan repeated to the boy for him to point the gun down range, as he slid the magazine into the handle of the pistol. When that was done, the lieutenant had Darrin cock the gun by pulling back on the slide.

Darrin was all smiles at this time, as he knew the next thing that he was going to get to do was fire the pistol he had in his hand. Mr. Dan then told the teen to assume the shooing stance that he’d been practicing and to then aim the pistol, as he’d been shown and to start his breathing and, on his exhalation, to slowly squeeze the trigger.

Darrin did as he was instructed and when he squeezed the trigger and the gun went off, he couldn’t contain his exhilaration and he turned with the gun facing away from the target.

“Whoa, there sport,” quickly yelled Mr. Dan. “Point that thing down range!” As the man then pushed the hand with the gun to point towards where the target was.

“Oh, sorry,” apologized Darrin, as he quickly pointed the gun down range, and cleared the gun as he’d been shown.

Mr. Ken was pleased that Phillip had remembered his training from a few months back and was able to safely load the Ruger .22 LR Rimfire pistol with five rounds of ammunition and properly take aim and shoot off those same five rounds.

‘Dad’ Ken had the young Cover do that again with five more rounds of ammo and when the boy had loaded and shot the gun without any difficulty, the foster dad was very happy to see and know that the boy had retained his training and he would let the boy continue to shoot the remaining forty rounds.

And knowing that his good friend, Dan Fischer, was taking good care to properly instruct Darrin on the safe loading and firing techniques of the Glock .22LR Rimfire pistol, Mr. Ken decided to check on the other Cover boys.

His first stop was where Robert and Eric were having to share Robert’s Glock 26 Gen-3 9mm pistol. He stood back, without them noticing his presence, to see how they were handling the gun and to make sure there was no fooling around between the Best Friends.

He was pleased as he watched the two young men carefully handle the gun, as they were taught. They had just changed shooters and Robert made sure the gun was cleared and the safety was on before handing it to Eric. Eric then checked the pistol to ensure it was cleared before he loaded a magazine with ten rounds of ammunition into the guns handle grip. The teen then chambered a round by pulling back on the slide and letting it go forward. The teen was now ready to shoot. That was when Mr. Ken entered the shooting booth.

“Boys … I watched the gun exchange and I am proud of the way you handled it. Robert … you Safed the gun and made sure the gun was cleared before handing it to Eric. Eric … you made sure the gun was clear before inserting the magazine into the grip. I see that you are now ready to shoot and now all you will need to do is to face your target, release the safety and then do as you were taught,” counseled ‘dad’ Ken.

Eric did just that. The teenager then faced the target, released the safety, aimed, released his breath and then squeezed the trigger. He shot the gun nine more times, then he made sure the gun was cleared before he released the magazine from the pistol grip.

“Dad,” began Robert, “you need to get us another gun, so we don’t have to share.”

“I hear you son. Maybe Santa Claus can bring us another one this year. We’ll see,” teased the teen’s dad, who then told the boys to continue doing what they had been doing before he left to check on the other boys.

Darrin profusely apologized to Mr. Dan for making the biggest mistake of shooting by not continuing to point the gun down range, before clearing it, after he had shot the gun for the first time.

Mr. Dan accepted the apology with the continued stress on the need for gun safety. The man then let the teen show him how to safely load another round into the magazine and ready the pistol to be fired.

Darrin did as he had been taught. He first put the cartridge into the magazine. Then he checked that the gun was clear before he slid the magazine into the pistol grip. The teen then pulled the slide back to chamber the round. Mr. Dan then had the teen prepare himself to shoot and when he was ready to continue.

Darrin got into his stance, began to aim, slid off the safety and as he was at the end of his exhalation his slowly squeezed the trigger. When the gun went off, the teen didn’t flinch and this time he didn’t turn around to say anything to his mentor. The teen checked to make sure the gun was Safed before he ejected the magazine.

Dan Fischer was pleased that Darrin had done it right, so he let the teen load five rounds into the magazine. This time the teenager would go through the whole procedure again, but Darrin would be allowed to shoot all five rounds before checking that the gun was cleared.

Darrin had a big smile on his face, as he loaded the five cartridges into the magazine. He then checked that the gun was clear before inserting the magazine into the pistol grip. Darrin then pulled the slide back to chamber a round and then he got into his shooting position. When he was ready, the teen aimed the gun, slipped off the gun’s safety and began to breathe and as he exhaled, he squeezed the trigger.

Dan Fischer was delighted that the teenager didn’t go bam, bam, bam, bam, bam with all five shots. He watched as Darrin took his time and deliberately minded his breathing between each and every shot. Then after the Cover had ensured the gun was clear, Dan had the target brought to the booth so they could look at it.

‘Dad’ Ken continued his observation of Bill and then Charles as they shot their 9mm pistols. Both Covers did as they had been previously taught and they both took their time sending the bullets down range. Neither teen hurried to shoot all 50 rounds. He did see that Bill did bring his target up after his first twenty rounds to check how he was grouping them. Charles did that after his first twenty-five rounds to check his accuracy.

‘Dad’ Ken did stop and talk to both teenagers, individually, about their shooting stance and so forth. He did suggest that they talk to Mr. Dan about any corrections they feel they might need to make to better group their shots.

The last stop the dad and foster dad made before going back to see how well Darrin was doing, with his first try a shooting a gun, was where Wayne was working with Matthew on his first attempt at shooting a 9mm pistol.

When there was a lull in the shooting, Mr. Ken dropped into the booth to get some idea on how well the soon-to-be teenager was doing. Wayne Mitchell told the foster dad that Matthew was doing very well with the Walther P99 9mm. The Estate Master attributed to the fact that the young Cover had already shot the .22LR and knew what to expect and all he needed to do was deal with the bigger recoil.

Wayne said that Matthew did fairly well keeping his shots in the same area, considering this was the first time that he’d ever shot the 9mm.

Mr. Ken told Wayne not to forgo his own time in shooting today and to maybe use that time to give Matthew some pointers on how he handles his own pistol.

Mr. Ken did stop to talk with Dennis Florkert, the assistant Estate Master, to see how well he was handling the Glock 20, Gen 4, 10mm pistol with the laser sights.

Dennis told his employer that the extra weight of the laser sights, although minor, did make it a bit harder at first, because he wasn’t used to it. The man then added that he was also distracted by the red dot on the target until he decided to stop thinking about it.

Mr. Dennis then told Mr. Ken that he was now enjoying himself after he figured out what he needed to do with that pistol to get the rounds in the same area of the target.

Ken Thomas told the man that they would all take a break after the first fifty rounds to give their eyes and ears a break and themselves a chance to get a drink, or use the restroom. Dennis thanked him for that info and then Mr. Ken went back to where Darrin was shooting.

The range master saw Mr. Ken come out of another shooting booth and, so he stopped him as he wanted to talk to him.

“Sir … may I talk with you for a few moments?” asked the range master. Mr. Ken had no problem with that, as he knew the man was responsible for the safe operation of the range

“Yes, sir, how may I help you?” replied Mr. Ken.

“Sir, I am, Ezra Martinez. I am the range master and I am responsible for the safe operation of this range. I noticed that you were coming and going in and out of a number of shooting booths. I also noticed that you came here today with a number of teenaged shooters.

“What I wanted to say to you was that I am happy to see that you also brought along with you a number of men to help you supervise the younger gentlemen, as they shot here today. I also saw that two men are giving special instruction to two younger teens and I think that is wonderful that you have friends who have the time who can devote to making sure those young men learn the correct way to shoot.

“I’ve seen you here before and I liked that you personally checked up on the boys. I wish other adults would share that same responsibility that you have with your group.”

Mr. Ken was a bit taken aback by what the range master had to say. And he knew he needed to say something in response, so he said, “Well, I don’t know what to say, Mr. Martinez. I … I just want the boys to know how to properly handle a gun, and not to be afraid of it. A good friend of mine … he’s the one who convinced me that I needed to do this. He began teaching his son at the age of ten, but with a .22LR.

“And with me today I have a good friend. He’s a Sheriff’s Lieutenant. He’s helping me teach my new foster son how to handle and shoot a gun. He’s also helped me with my other ‘boys’ and he is the best thing those boys could ever have in a teacher.”

“Sir, I’m sorry, but I do not know your name, but I bet I know who you are. I applaud you for what you have done in and around and for the people of this county. And I want to thank you for what you are doing especially for those boys who have nowhere else to go. Please, let me shake your hand!”

By the time Mr. Ken arrived back where Darrin was learning to shoot, the teenager was now beginning to send ten rounds down range. Dan told Ken what happened after the first shot and the foster dad cringed. But Dan told Ken that it was probably a good learning lesson right from the start. and since then, the teen had done wonders with everything.

Ken told Dan that after they shoot fifty rounds, they should all take a break and get something to drink, let their eyes and ears take a break and maybe use the restroom. Ken then told Dan about the simple conversation he just had with Mr. Martinez, the range master.

After everyone, but Mr. Ken, had shot their first fifty rounds, they all got together to talk about their shooting and to let their eyes and ears rest, to get a cold drink and to use the restroom, if needed.

Everyone, though, could see the shit-eatin’ grin that Darrin had on his face from shooting his first ever gun. The grin was ear-to-ear and he couldn’t wait to tell everyone about his shooting experience. But Mr. Dan beat him to it when he told them what the teen did after he sent his first round down range.

Darrin owned up to his mistake, and he told everyone that he never made that mistake ever again, which was verified by Mr. Dan. The Cover then got his chance to tell everyone what it was like for him to send those first fifty rounds down range. When he finished it sounded pretty much like what everyone else had said after they had shot their first gun, too.

Matthew did get to tell everyone what it was like to now shoot a 9mm and Mr. Wayne added to the telling by adding how well the soon-to-be teenager did with the much stronger gun versus the .22LR that he’d used in the past.

When they all went back to shooting, Mr. Ken had Phillip and Darrin exchange guns, so they would have the opportunity to get the feel for the different way that gun felt when shot. He also had the other boys change guns, as well, so they, too, could get used to the feel of a different gun.

This time Mr. Dan got to shoot his Ruger GP100 357 Magnum 4.2in Stainless 7-round revolver, while Mr. Ken stayed with Darrin, while the teen sent his last fifty rounds down range. Mr. Wayne, he too, also got to shoot his own Taurus PT111 Millennium G2 9mm pistol that afternoon.

The afternoon was well spent by everyone, and even Mr. Ken did get to send some rounds down range, but not the one-hundred as everyone else had. And by four o’clock, after they had policed their brass and all of Mr. Ken’s guns were Safed with trigger locks and locked away in his gun vault, did they all talk about where they wanted to go and have dinner.

There was lots of discussion about where the group wanted to go and eat that Sunday evening. Some suggested they go to the Lakeside Hotel. Someone suggested they go to Mr. Gatti’s where the boys could get all the pizza and drinks they wanted, plus they could play the games in the back. One of the boys suggested they go back to Cracker Barrel, but the other boys said that they’d already done that and they wanted to go to someplace they hadn’t gone to in a while, or to someplace new.

It was then that Mr. Ken then said that he knew the right place for them. The man explained to Dan, Wayne and Dennis where the restaurant was and how to get there. It was on the way to the Lakeside Hotel and when Robert heard the directions, he knew that his dad was going to get himself a large basket of onion rings.

As he drove the van, Billy said he remembered that place, and that his mouth was already watering for those wonderful onion rings and juicy burgers. ‘Dad’ Ken admonished the teen driver to keep his mind on his driving and not on his stomach. The boys in the van laughed.

When the large group arrived at this seemingly out of the way restaurant, the other Covers remembered stopping at that place, when they were going to spend the night at the penthouse. They all remembered the place for its humongous burgers, fries and onion rings.

Luckily, the group of eleven arrived just before the Sunday evening rush and were able to get two tables of six for them to use. Mr. Ken designating Bill and Robert and Charles and Darrin to take a seat to hold the two tables for them, while everyone else placed their order.

Dan, Wayne and Dennis couldn’t believe what was on the menu. This restaurant had six different sizes of burgers, ranging from the standard burger, that most restaurants serve, all the way up to a full one-pound burger for someone who was really, really hungry. They also had three different sizes of French fries and onion rings, ranging from small, to medium to large baskets.

Mr. Ken told the men that when he was there last, he ordered a third-pound burger with cheese, bacon, mayo, lettuce, tomatoes, along with a large basket of onion rings and that’s what he was going to order this time along with a decaf soda. He then told them to hurry up and order because the boys were hungry.

Dan and Wayne ordered what Mr. Ken had but got large sodas, while Dennis only got the quarter-pounder and French fries and a medium soda. The four men then took their sodas and order number to the tables to let the four boys get in line to order what they wanted.

The seven boys got a variety of different burger combinations. Robert and Eric each ordered the third-pound burger and they topped them with cheese and bacon then loaded them with mayo, lettuce, tomato and onions and they each got a medium sized basket of onion rings.

Billy and Charles also got the third-pound burger and loaded their burger the same way, but one got a medium basket of French fries, while the other got a medium basket of onion rings, so they could share.

Darrin, Matthew and Phillip only ordered the quarter-pound burgers with cheese, bacon, lettuce, mayo, tomatoes, but insisted that there were no onions. They then decided to order two medium baskets of French fries and one large basket of onion rings to share. Of course, they had to order drinks and they got the large ones, as compared to what their ‘brothers’ had gotten, which were the medium sizes.

The banter around the two tables, as the boys ate, was filled with tales of how the boys shot that day and how well they grouped their shots. They got a bit excited and some of the local men who were eating around them heard the boys talking and asked them what kind of guns they were shooting.

The boys told the men that they didn’t know exactly what the actual full name of the guns were other than one was a Glock 9mm and one was a Glock .22LR and that one was a Sig Sauer 9mm and the other was a Ruger .22LR.

The men asked them how they liked shooting them and the boys couldn’t contain themselves, especially Darrin, who told them that today was the first time that he’d ever shot a pistol, both the Glock and Ruger .22LRs. The Cover teen then added that he had a Sheriff’s Lieutenant teaching him and that he was sitting right there.

The men took a look at Dan Fischer, who had his Sheriff’s badge showing from his wallet, and the men sort of ended the conversation by telling the boys to be safe when they are out there shooting. The men then got up and left. The group all had a good laugh over that.

The Family Day was a rousing success as far as the Covers were concerned. Mr. Ken thanked the men for supporting him that day by just being there with the boys and helping them with their shooting skills. They all departed from the restaurant, said their good nights and went their separate ways.

After dropping Eric off at his home, the Covers stopped at DQ for medium cups of ice cream for Chief and Sarge. Of course, the two resident pets loved the cold concoction and they chased the cup around the Kitchen Nook, as they licked at the ice cream in it.

In the Study afterwards, ‘dad’ Ken covered what was happening that coming week and weekend and that he was asking for volunteers to help clean the guns tomorrow after school. All the boys’ hands went up.

‘Dad’ Ken then reminded the boys that with Christmas being just around the corner, they needed to start thinking of what they wanted as presents and what they could get their ‘brothers’ as gag gifts. He also asked them to think about what would be a very nice present to get The Cove Staff for Christmas. He then mentioned the leather briefcase for Chris, the monogrammed aprons for Momma and the suitcases for Mr. Wayne, as what was gotten them in the past.

When ‘dad’ Ken asked the boys if they had anything they wanted to bring up, it was Charles who got up and went to his dad and hugged him and thanked him for their Family Day. The rest of the boys got up and joined Charles in hugging and thanking ‘dad’ Ken for what he did with, and for, them today.

The boys continued to thank their ‘dad’ when he came to say goodnight to them that Sunday night. They each had something personal to say to the man about what it meant to them that he took the time and made the effort to take them out shooting and then to take them to that out of the way place restaurant with such great food.

When ‘dad’ Ken talked with Phillip, he told the boy that he was going to change up their three-day trip some. He told the boy that instead of leaving for their trip right after school and returning home on Monday afternoon, he would pick him up from school at noon on Friday, so they could get to a Maverick’s basketball game Friday night.

He then added that on Saturday they would go to Six Flags all day just as the other boys had, and then on Sunday they would visit the Museum of the American Railroad, and after that they would go to Speed Zone before flying home late Sunday night.

‘Dad’ Ken explained to Phillip that he needed to be home in order to leave on Monday afternoon, with Mr. Ben, for the IAAPA exposition, down in Florida, which was why the change in the schedule. The man asked his foster son if he understood why there was this change.

Phillip told his ‘dad that he did understand and said that everything that he wanted to do he was getting to do and that with him coming home a day early he would then get the chance to practice with the band.

‘Dad’ Ken thanked the boy for being so understanding. The two shared a hug before the man left to talk to Darrin.

Darrin was still on a Cloud 9, sort of high, from his day of shooting the two different .22LR pistols. He told Mr. Ken that this was a day that he would always remember, because it was something that his real dad would have never done with him and his older brother.

Mr. Ken felt bad that the boy had that sort of ill feeling towards his real father, even still in the man’s passing. That was something else that he felt he needed to talk to Doctor Doug Jennings about, so the man and the teen could possibly find a reason for that kind of contempt of the teen’s father, even after death.

Mr. Ken told the teen that he was happy that he could give him something that he’d never experienced before, and that as the foster dad that was something that he strived to do for the fosters because they were usually in the system because of something far beyond their control, and that he wanted to give them a better life than what they had where they were before.

The two shared a hug before Mr. Ken made his way down to his own retreat.

Ken Thomas was perplexed about what Darrin had said about his father. He wondered if it was the teen just saying something, because the dad didn’t have the time nor the money to do things like that, or was it something that went much deeper inside of him, that came out.

He also wondered if this had anything to do with what he broached with Doctor Jennings just a few days before, about some emotional stressors he thought might be going on inside of Darrin because of the way he expressed himself about living at The Cove, when none of the other boys had ever done so.

Ken Thomas decided that he couldn’t do anything about it tonight, so he used his facilities, and got ready for bed. He sat on the edge of his bed and thought about Darrin, again, and how complex the teen is beginning to portray himself. The man hoped it wasn’t a sign of that would lead to something more.

The owner of The Cove then tuned off the light in his room, got under the blankets and before long the Cover household was peaceful and quiet throughout the night.

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

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