Published: 18 Dec 2025
From the Previous Chapter:
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.
When Monday morning came, and his alarm went off, Ken Thomas felt like he’d just gone to bed. But he knew better than to hit the snooze button to get another ten minutes because that would only lead him to getting behind his normal schedule. So, the owner of The Cove got out of bed and got himself ready for his day.
Mr. Ken greeted Momma Maria, as he entered the Kitchen Nook, and she, in turn, brought him his first cup of hot coffee. He saluted her with it, after his first sip of the hot brew and then he went to taking the morning newspaper out of its protective sleeve and separating it before settling down to read what was being reported that day.
When the three younger boys came downstairs and into the Nook, Matthew and Darrin took care of rinsing out Chief and Sarge’s kibble and water bowls and then they filled them with fresh product before washing their hands and sitting down to a Momma breakfast.
‘Dad’ Ken listened to the boys’ banter, as they ate and talked about their shooting experience from yesterday. Darrin was the most vocal since that was the first time that he ever had the opportunity to hold a pistol and shoot it. His enthusiasm over his experience came through loud and clear.
The three older boys came down to breakfast about a half-hour after their younger ‘brothers’ had left to catch their school bus. The teenagers all said good morning to their ‘dad’ and Momma Maria before sitting down to a Momma breakfast.
And, just as their younger ‘brothers’ had done, the teens talked about the way they were able to shoot better yesterday, as compared to what they’d done two plus months ago. They also liked the idea of getting to shoot different pistols and they compared the way the Glock 9mm GLK 19 Gen5 shot versus the Sig Sauer P365 XL Nitron.
Robert shot his Glock 26 Gen-3 9mm pistol, that had been his biological dads, but he also got to shoot the Sig Sauer. So, the three teens first talked about the pistols grip and how it felt in their hand. Then they talked about the recoil each gun gave them and whether or not it made a difference in the way they had to hold the gun in order to maintain a good grouping. Then they gave their overall opinion of which gun they preferred best.
‘Dad’ Ken sat behind his newspaper listening to the teenagers talking about their shooting experience. He liked that they didn’t talk over one another, but gave one another the opportunity to express themselves and speak their minds about the guns and how they saw the event as compared to what they had previously experienced. He remarked to himself that the three were evolving into mature young men with good social speaking skills.
At their school that morning, the three younger Covers were inundated with questions about
how well they did at the shooting range the previous day. Matthew and Phillip had been to the range before, and their friends knew that, but they still wanted to know how well they did.
So, the two Covers each told them how fun it was to go and shoot some more and have Mr. Dan correct what they were doing wrong, and then see how much better a shooter they were afterwards.
Darrin couldn’t contain himself as he told his friends about getting to shoot a Glock .22LR Rimfire pistol. He went through the entire process that Mr. Dan had him go through even before he even sent one round down range. He even told them how he screwed up after he did send his first round at the target, and then he turned around with the gun not aimed at the ground, or the target.
Some of the classmates listening in laughed, but the Cover’s friends cringed knowing who Mr. Dan was and recognizing that the man was probably not too happy with Darrin at the time.
The Cover told the boys how much he apologized for doing what he did and he added that he never let that happen again, as he sent another ninety-nine bullets at the target. The teen then told how his first fifty rounds were all over the target, but that after a break and some more instruction by Mr. Dan, he was able to get them closer together. Darrin told the group that he hopes he gets to do that again, and soon.
As soon as he entered his office, Mr. Ken called Doctor Jennings’ office. When he finally got to talk to Doug Jennings, he told the doctor that he felt there might be some continuing poignant stressors going on inside of Darrin.
The foster dad told the doctor about what the teen said about his father the previous night and he paraphrased it for the doctor by saying that Darrin told him, ‘That he would always remember that day, because it was something that his father would never have done with him and his older brother’. Mr. Ken then explained that he’d taken all of the boys to the shooting range yesterday
Doctor Jennings thanked Ken Thomas for the additional observations on his new foster son and how the teen is beginning to express himself and possibly letting his internal feelings to rise up. The doctor asked the foster dad to continue to inform him of these little nuances, or subtle remarks made by his new foster son. Mr. Ken said that he would.
Mr. Ken then made one more phone call before his Monday morning meeting of his Group Managers.
“Hello, Chris … I need you to make some changes to Phillip and my trip this coming weekend. I plan to pick the boy up from school right after lunch, so what I need for you to do for me is to reschedule the plane for Friday, the hotel for Friday night and for you get us some good Mavericks basketball seats for Friday night’s game.
“Also, we’re going to come home late Sunday night after we visit the Museum of the American Railroad for a few hours and then Speed Zone, for a few hours more. So, you’ll need to change the hotel for only Friday and Saturday and the limo for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Oh, and figure an eight o’clock, at the earliest, take-off Sunday night.
“Also, I’ll be leaving with Ben on Monday afternoon for our trip to Orlando Florida for the IAAPA Expo, which is the reason for the changes. Phillip is already aware of what I want to do, and he’s onboard with them.
“I’ll also be coming home Thursday night, since Kate and family will be arriving Friday and I want to be here when they arrive. I’m not sure what Ben’s plans are. I’ll ask him and let you know after my morning meeting, if he’ll be coming home with me Thursday night.
“Let me know if you run into any problems. I got to run.” Mr. Ken then hung up without letting Chris Dominions, The Cove’s Estate Manager, ask any questions.
Mr. Ken’s Monday morning meetings were always well attended and not by just the Group Managers, but by their co-managers, as well. Everyone wanted to know what was happening with the Four Corners Amusement Park, as everyone knew that Mr. Thomas had made it his personal project ever since he began conceiving it, just before Ben Walthers came onboard as the President of Three Finger Entertainment.
For some of the Groups, the time frame leading up to the Holidays meant that their areas of concern would slow down because people weren’t buying properties, or building homes, and there wasn’t much of a need for architectural services. So, that meant that their input to the meeting wasn’t much, if anything, at all.
The Hotel/Motel Group, though, had a big contribution to the meeting that Monday. They had been busy talking with their counterparts near Mr. Ken’s other amusement parks trying to establish what Mr. Thomas had envisioned as a ‘Drive-Stay-Fun Plan’ that would offer families a combined hotel/motel room along with park tickets for a reasonable price per day, just as the big parks were doing.
The Hotel/Motel Group Manager reported that they had tentative agreements with at least two properties near each of Mr. Thomas’ five amusement parks, and that all they needed to do was establish packages the hotels and motels could offer their guests.
Hearing that his idea of establishing a way to get families to drive to the area and not only stay there to see the local sights, but to also have a discounted ticket to his parks, was coming to fruition put a great big smile on Mr. Ken’s face. He told the manager to get with Ben and they could work out a reasonable admission price at the individual parks.
With the Group Managers reports over, it was time for Jackie Kromiere to give her report on what was happening out at the Four Corners Amusement Park. Ms. Jackie was Mr. Ken’s Projects Manager and she was responsible for overseeing the installation of the new train, the added buildings near the tracks and the new railroad station.
Ms. Jackie told everyone how the far along the railroad station was and that since the roof was now on it would look as if nothing was being done, but that was because everything was now being done on the inside. She also reported that the railroad installation supervisor and Mr. Sanders have come to an agreement not to install the railroad crossings at either the new parking lot or the entrance to the park until after the Holidays.
Ms. Jackie didn’t go into any detail as to why and how it would affect the overall completion of the project. Mr. Ken didn’t press her, Nelson Sanders or Ben for any more information. He decided to himself that it would happen in a private meeting, later.
Ben Walthers then addressed the meeting and told them that he has released the artists rendition of what the Four Corners Amusement Park should look like once they install the new train, roller coaster and other rides they have planned for late next year.
The President of TFE then brought out a large poster showing what was depicted for everyone to see. Ben went on to say that the posters would be placed around Four Corners and they have taken out a full-page ad in all of the weekend’s newspapers, so the public can see what was in store out at Four Corners, by this time next year.
Some individuals at the meeting asked Mr. Thomas if he could really fit everything that they see in the poster in the small footprint that Four Corners presently occupies.
Mr. Ken smiled at the question and reminded everyone that what was talked about at that meeting was for their information only and not to be discussed with loved ones or significant others. He then told the inquisitors that what they see on the poster are exaggerations of the rides and other additions to the park. The parks owner went on to say that what he intends to add there will indeed fit, but that it will not be anything as large, except for the coaster, as what the poster depicts.
The people around the table all smiled at hearing what the parks owner and the President of TFE were doing with that poster. They all now knew that it was an advertiser’s way of garnering conversation and interest in Four Corners and its future.
What they didn’t know was that this poster and the weekend’s coming ad was being done in the hopes that the owner of the 8+ acre property right next door to the Four Corners Amusement Park would see that it would be futile to hang on to his property and try to build an office building knowing that all that noise would be right next door.
With the meeting over, everyone went to their respective offices. Mr. Ken didn’t even mention to Ms. Jackie, Ben or Nelson that he wanted to see them in his office. The man waited until he was in his executive secretary’s outer office and then he had her call them individually and ask them to meet with him in fifteen minutes.
When the three invitees came to his office, Rosemary had them take a seat in the small conversational/greeting area Mr. Ken created for relaxed meetings, such as the one he was about to have.
Since Mr. Ken wasn’t there just yet, they all discussed why they thought they were there. Then they asked one anther why none of them had told the boss what Nelson and the railroad installer had agreed to before now.
When Mr. Ken came into his office the three all stood and the man asked them to be seated. But before Mr. Thomas could ask any of them about what Ms. Jacke mentioned at the meeting about the delay of the installation of the railroad crossing at the park’s entrance and parking lot, Ben Walters asked his boss if he could talk.
Then, when given the opportunity, Ben offered, “Mr. Ken … we all saw the amount of interruption that occurred when the railroad company installed the railroad crossing at the Go-Kart Track. It was beyond what anyone would expect to happen with an accomplished company.
“Nelson and I … we talked about the problems we both saw and we both agreed that we … that we shouldn’t have to have our hundreds, if not thousands, of guests, during the holiday Season, have to deal with the mess and safety issues that come with so much land being dug up and being not only unsafe, but unsightly, as well.
“So, I suggested to Nelson that he talk to the installer supervisor to see what they could work out. And they did agree to a workable solution that unless you knew what was supposed to happen you would never have known any different,” finished Ben.
Mr. Ken sat there thinking about what he just heard. The owner of the park then spoke. “So, Ben … you’re telling me that I have nothing to worry about. That the train installation will continue to be on time and we should have its initial tests come this spring and the train operational by the end of April, or is it March?”
Ms. Jackie spoke up right then and offered that the train contract calls for it to be operational by the first of April. She then added that the agreed delay in the railroad crossings installation will not affect that completion date. She indicated that the supervisor will use that time to add the final ballast on the completed back side track to help limit the growth of vegetation that might interfere with the track, and to facilitate water drainage around and beneath the tracks.
Mr. Ken sat there thinking some more. He reasoned that they saw a problem, they thought it through and found a workable solution that wouldn’t interfere with an important time in the park’s operation, namely, the Holiday Season.
“OK. I’m convinced. I only wish you’d had said something to me before today. … Ben, I need to talk to you about a few things, so if you would please stay. Jackie, Nelson, thank you for stopping by.” And with that, Mr. Ken stood up indicating the meeting was over.
Mr. Ken then talked to Ben about his upcoming trip to visit the remaining amusement parks. He asked his President of TFE if his family was going along this time. Ben laughed and told his boss that it was probably only going to be he and his son, Rylan.
Mr. Ken chuckled that the hustle and bustle and rushing around wasn’t what his wife and daughter liked the first time around. Ben told Mr. Ken that Rylan loved what they had done and he might be someone who would be like his son, Charles, who could be an asset to Three Finger Entertainment in the future.
Mr. Ken then talked to Ben about their upcoming trip to IAAPA. The boss wanted to confirm that they would depart on Monday afternoon and it was then that Mr. Ken told Ben that he was returning Thursday night. Ben told Mr. Ken that it would be alright with him to come home that night as well.
The President of Three Finger Entertainment then broached a ‘trial balloon’ with his boss that had to deal with his Four Corners Amusement Park.
“Mr. Ken … with the multiple construction projects going on around the Four Corners Amusement Park … Nelson and I, and Jackie also agrees, that we should close Four Corners for about ten weeks after the Holidays. Now, let me fully explain our reasoning and what we plan to do during the down time.
“Mr. Ken … we’d like to close the park beginning that Monday after the first week of the new year, which would be the eighth of January. Then, during that time, the train installation supervisor can fully install both railroad crossings, at the same time, without having to deal with all of the people coming and going. Also, the fence installer … he would also benefit by also not having to deal with the onslaught of guests, too. It will also give the station contractor free reign to freely move around the construction site without having to deal with the people every day.
“Then, while the contractors are doing their thing, Nelson … he plans to clean Four Corners. He says, and I agree, that the park has taken a tremendous hit by the continuous onslaught of people day-after-day ever since it has opened. And by ‘hit’ we mean that the rides are beginning to look dingy and dirty, the ride queues are also beginning to show wear patterns, the areas in front of the food stands are also showing food stains and the list goes on.
“Nelson … he wants to get on top of these things, now, before you have your Grand Opening of the new train, which has yet to be named, by-the-way. The other parks … they have the time during the week to do these things, that Nelson wants to do, since they only operate on the weekends after the Holidays. Your park operations manager says that with his park being open every single day he needs this time off to get on top of things and not let the park get a bad reputation.
“Mr. Ken … the employees … they will work during this time to accomplish what needs to be done. And that includes the teenagers, so that no one will lose what they have been used to earning. It will also give the contractors the freedom to work without concerns for the guests walking around their sites. They can also clean up after themselves and then straighten out the areas so they look presentable when we reopen sometime after the sixteenth of March, a Friday.
“I wanted to let you know what we were thinking about doing, so you had time to consider our proposal. But ultimately, if you don’t go along with our proposal, Nelson … he will have to close off sections of the park to guests in order to clean the park and keep it looking like what you explained at the Fall Amusement Park Meeting.” Ben then sat back waiting for his boss to say something.
It took Ken Thomas a few long moments to comprehend what Ben Walthers just presented to him. What he was thinking was what he didn’t like about the proposal was that the park would be closed for a considerable amount of time.
But what Ben was telling him sounded like a good plan to get through a rough period of construction that would keep the public away from possible harm. He also knew that by keeping the park open every day he wasn’t being fair to Nelson Sanders and his being able to maintain the park in as pristine condition as possible.
“Ben,” began Ken Thomas, “on the surface … I don’t like what you want to do. But on the other hand, I know it is what needs to be done from a safety stand point, and to give Nelson the opportunity to spruce the park up. So … have you two decided on how you would announce this closure to the public?”
During lunch, Mr. Ken called Chris. The man told the Estate Manager that Ben Walthers would return with him on Thursday night, so he should make the return flight arrangements for them both.
Chris then told his employer that he was able to make all of the changes he requested for the three-day trip. The Estate Manager then told his boss that he never got the chance to ask what price point he had for buying the Mavericks ticket. So, he told the man that he bought him what he thought would be good seats and something that Phillip will remember for the rest of his life.
When Mr. Ken asked his Estate Manager what kind of tickets and what were the price, Chris Dominions told the man that he hoped that he wouldn’t fire him. The man continued by saying that when you look for tickets at the last minute all the cheap seats up in the rafters were all gone.
Mr. Chris told his boss that he got him tickets in the upper right corner in section 216 at $419.00 each that looks down at the basket, versus a further corner on the same level for $389.00 that has an obscure view of the basket.
Mr. Ken thanked Chris for getting him what he thought would be the best seats for him and Phillip. He then told the man, “It’s only money, and it’s for a good cause,” and then he laughed.
The morning had flown by for Ken Thomas, because he was so busy, that he didn’t even have nor could he have found the time to call his girlfriend, Kate. So, when he had the first chance after lunch, he called her.
The two lovebirds talked for as long as they could that afternoon. Ken told Kate about Sunday’s time at the shooting range and then their evening meal at that out-of-the-way restaurant that had some awesome onion rings.
Ken also told his girlfriend what he had on his plate for the coming week and weekend and that he hoped that she wouldn’t get to upset at him if he doesn’t call, especially over the coming weekend, when he and Phillip are on their three-day trip.
Kate then told Ken that Patrick, Rusty’s father, had asked that the boy be allowed to come out to his home for Thanksgiving week. Kate explained that she told Patrick that she wouldn’t allow her nine-year-old, almost ten. to go out there all by himself after only just meeting his father.
Kate added that she told Patrick that he needed to come there and visit with his mother and that while he was there that he and Rusty could get to know one another and build a relationship before she would allow her son to go out and visit him at his home.
Kate continued and revealed that Patrick then asked her and the boys to come out to his home for Thanksgiving week. But Ken’s girlfriend stated that she let the man know that she and her sons had already made arrangements for that weekend and for the upcoming Holidays, too.
Hearing that Kate advised Patrick that she had already made plans for the Holidays gave him hope that when he asks her over the Thanksgiving week for her and the boys to spend Christmas with him at The Cove she might very well accept.
The two discussed how and when Rusty and his father could get to know one another better, but Kate was adamant that Patrick would have to come there, first, and visit with his mother, so he and her son could get to bond before there would be any long airplane flights. Ken heard the determination in Kate’s voice, over that issue, and he knew that he needed to support her come hell or high water.
When Matthew came home from school that Monday, Mr. Wayne asked him if he was interested in training a puppy or two that coming weekend. When the almost teenager asked him what kind of puppy, the Estate Master let him know that Mr. Price, Sully’s owner, and the man who was given two of Chief’s puppies for Sully’s services, saw how well-trained Sarge was and had asked who had trained him.
Mr. Wayne continued to expound on how his and Mr. Price’s conversation went, but the end result was that Bruce Price felt that his new pups could use some additional training. The Estate Master also said that when Bruce Price learned how much Matthew charged, he was truly interested and all the soon-to-be teen needed to do was agree and the man would bring one pup on Saturday and one on Sunday for him to train.
Matthew was all smiles that he could earn some more money training some pups that coming weekend. So, he told Mr. Wayne that he was very interested in taking on the puppies and all he needed to know was what time did Mr. Price want to bring them over, how long did he want him to train them for and was there anything special he wanted him to train. All Wayne Mitchell could tell Matthew was that Mr. Price would like to see his two new pups be as good as Sarge.
When Mr. Ken arrived home that evening, Wayne was waiting for him in the Study. There the Estate Master told his boss that everything went well with Sully and Chief that morning and that Matthew had picked up two new pups to train that coming weekend.
Ken Thomas was initially caught off guard until Wayne reminded him that this was the week that all they agreed on that Sully would come over and romp with Chief, so that she could have her second litter.
Mr. Ken had to apologize to Wayne for not remembering that was the week they had agreed to let Sully come over. The man explained how busy he was at the office that day that he truly had plain forgot about that. He then asked to hear more about Matthew getting a few more puppies to train that coming weekend.
Wayne then went through the scenario of how Bruce Price saw how well-trained Sarge was when he brought Sully over. And that when he learned that Matthew had trained him, and the other litter mates, and only charged $15.00/hour the man was very interested to get his two pups as well trained as their Sarge was. Ken Thomas was impressed that the boy could earn some more money and continue to hone his skill as a puppy trainer.
After dinner during their usual meeting, ‘dad’ Ken congratulated Matthew on acquiring two more puppies to train that coming weekend. He told the boy to get with Mr. Wayne for any needed equipment or puppy treats he needed before then. The soon-to-be teen’s ‘brothers’ all applauded him for garnering a few more clients.
‘Dad’ Ken then reminded Darrin that he would see Doctor Doug tomorrow. He also reminded the boys that he and Phillip would be going on their three-day weekend beginning that Friday. He added that he would be picking the boy from school right after lunch and that they would be returning late on Sunday night since he and Mr. Ben would be leaving for their IAAPA trip on Monday afternoon.
Robert spoke up and asked his dad if Phillip was being cheated somehow, since they were coming back Sunday night, and not on Monday. The teen’s dad smiled and told his son, and thus the other boys, that he cleared the change with Phillip first, but that overall, the trip would still be the same.
Phillip quickly spoke up, in defense of his ‘dad’, and told his ‘brothers’ that they would be going to a Dallas Mavericks basketball game Friday night, Six Flags Over Texas on Saturday, and then on Sunday they would visit the Museum of the American Railroad for a few hours and then Speed Zone, before flying home late on Sunday night. The younger Cover then added that this way he’ll also get to practice with the band on Monday, too. The young Cover’s ‘brothers’ were pleased that Phillip was happy with his trip.
‘Dad’ Ken continued with his meeting. He recapped what was happening in the coming weeks by telling the boys that over the weekend he needed them to clean the restrooms, so they would be nice and clean for the following weekends wedding reception. He prompted Robert with the necessity of the field and surrounding areas being cut and trimmed for the wedding reception.
The dad/foster dad then jogged the boys’ memory by portraying how busy The Cove was going to be come that Thanksgiving Holiday. He recounted that he would be returning Thursday night from the IAAPA Expo, how Ms. Kate and family would be arriving Friday late afternoon, that the Diamond-Whittier nuptials would occur Saturday morning out on the Patio, with the reception starting that afternoon, and that Phillip’s band would be auditioning for jobs at Four Corners either Saturday evening, or sometime on Sunday. The man then reminded the boys that their friends could not come over to The Cove that Saturday of the wedding and reception.
Mr. Ken advised the boys to be ready to change gears on the go, at any time, because of the weather or other factors that could enter into the week. He also told the boys that he didn’t have any other plans made for the rest of the week other than Thanksgiving Day when Momma and her amigas would cook their Thanksgiving meal. The ‘dad’ added that he didn’t know how many people would be at the Holiday dinner, but he figured there could be close to as many as twenty people there.
The boy’s ‘dad’ then asked them to try on their suits and vests sometime that week. The reason he gave was that they would need them for the upcoming Holidays, and since they’ve all been growing, they probably have outgrown them. The man said that he’d have to take them out and get them new suits sometime during, or after, the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Mr. Ken then hinted to the boys their need to compile what they wanted Santa to bring them for Christmas, and that they all should be thinking of what they all can get the staff for Christmas.
‘Dad’ Ken then mentioned that they should also be thinking of what sort of gag gifts they wanted to get their ‘brothers’, adding that they’ll have to start thinking about shopping for Christmas presents, as soon as Ms. Kate and her family leave to go home on Saturday after Thanksgiving.
When he finished talking, ‘dad’ Ken asked the boys if they had anything they wanted to bring up, or ask. They looked around at one another and then Robert said that he had a question.
“Dad … I know we just had a sleepover, but … well, I was wondering if we could maybe have someone spend one night this coming weekend? It could be either Friday, Saturday or Sunday night, but it would be just one friend and for just one night. So, what do you think?” finished the teenager.
The other boys began talking amongst themselves about what Robert had just proposed. But it was Phillip who asked how he could have someone spend the night, if he was going to be gone until late Sunday night. It was Darrin who quipped, “You snooze; you lose!”
“That’s not fair,” replied Phillip.
“Everything in life isn’t fair. Just look at what happened to me,” answered Darrin.
“That’ll be enough,” sternly spoke Mr. Ken.
“Phillip … this is one of those times when you don’t get the Gold Star. But we’ll make it up to you at a later date. OK?” offered ‘dad’ Ken. Phillip meekly agreed to the offer.
“Boys … since this was proposed early enough, I think it is doable. But … it will be up to Mr. Wayne if it happens. Let him know whom you want to spend the night and which night. Also, there will be no Dive-In Movie, breakfast cooked up at the Pavilion or lunch sandwiches. Will that work for you?” finished ‘dad’ Ken.
The boys agreed to their ‘dad’s’ stipulations and then it was Matthew’ turn to say something.
“Guys … when I am training the new pups this weekend, please … please ask your friends not to interfere with my training, or try to coax the puppy to come to them. These puppies … they are Mr. Price’s. They are also the two pups from Chief’s litter, so I need to be really focused. OK?” somewhat implored the almost teen puppy master.
‘Dad’ Ken took the time to add to Matthew’s request by mentioning to the boys that this is their ‘brothers’ primary focus, just as music is Phillip’s. The man described how none of their friends seemed to bother Phillip and his band as they began, and they should all offer Matthew the same consideration, as he begins his new puppy training business.
After the boys went up to their rooms to relax prior to going to bed, Mr. Ken and Wayne talked some more about Bruce Price and his dog Sully. Wayne described how Chief and Sully quickly greeted one another and went about some playing before they made their first tryst. The Estate Master told his employer that he counted at least two times that the two dogs tried to make a new litter of puppies.
Wayne also added that Bruce was really surprised at how well Sarge was trained. The Estate Master revealed how he put the young resident pup through his paces for the man, which caused Mr. Price to ask more and more questions about Matthew and his ability to train the puppies, which eventually caused the man to ask if Matthew would train his two pups.
Mr. Ken was happy for Matthew and he saw a good future for the soon-to-be-teen if he continued to focus his energies on training puppies and young dogs. But he would always encourage the boy to further his education, so he’d have something to fall back on, just in case.
When ‘dad’ Ken went up to say goodnight to his ‘boys’, sans Mr. Wayne who went home early that day, he didn’t stay very long is any of the boy’s rooms. He did admonish Darrin for his earlier comment to Phillip about snoozing and loosing.
Darrin defended himself by saying it was something he and his friends would say to one another when a situation would come up like what happened with Phillip. The teen added that he didn’t mean anything by it.
‘Dad’ Ken asked Darrin to remember that he doesn’t know his ‘brothers’ as well as he did his local friends and what he’d say to them might not be appropriate with his ‘brothers’. The teen commented that he’d better think before he says anything from now on.
In Phillip’s room, ‘dad’ Ken asked the youngster if he was alright after what Darrin had said about snoozing and loosing. The boy said that he thought about what his ‘brother’ had said and he figured it was something that he’d probably say to his other friends back where he used to live. But Phillip added that at the time he wasn’t too happy about it.
‘Dad’ Ken hugged the boy and suggested to him that he start looking at what clothes he wanted to take with him come Friday and start putting them aside so he could pack Thursday night. The two shared another quick hug and then ‘dad’ Ken started down to his own retreat.
Once he was in his bedroom, Ken Thomas sat done on the edge of his king-sized bed and thought about the interaction between Darrin and Phillip during the night’s meeting. The quip that the teen sent out was, on the surface, a friendly jab at one’s bad break. But the man wondered if it really was that after the two instances of how Darrin had acted recently.
The owner of The Cove then decided he’d better get ready for bed. Then, before long, he was turning off the lights in his bedroom and slipping under the blankets to go to sleep. It wasn’t long before the dad/foster dad was sound asleep, and so were the other occupants of the home.
The saga of Three Finger Cove continues. Let Chowhound know you are reading his story: Chowhnd at Gmail dot Com
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