This Old Mansion

By: John Bowling
(© 2013-2014 by the author)

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Dateline: Wednesday, July 3, 2013, 10:00 A.M.,
JT narrating 

Side note: Before we get into this chapter I have a few things to say.

I am JT, and I pick on wascally wabbits, also I have been getting more like these Yanks, and losing some o' my Ozark Mountain boy stuff. Dad Manny says I got'sta. He just told me: "I did not; what I said was, that it was cute, but you could fit in better if you're more like the people here!" I want to stay part Ozarkian and become part Michigander! Oh, I also want to know if the women are called Michigeese?

I also noticed that the author, one of those wascally wabbits, called me TJ in several spots in the chapters rather than JT. Boy! Is he going to get it when he gets home, if I let him in! I'll make sure Jason is here to protect me. Great-Aunt Helen said I could!

The other thing he did was something Jesse Mercer told me about. The Organ Console picture was from a later time period. Our author said it's OK, and none of the great readers will know the difference. Typical Yank! Jesse spotted it right away!

So we're taking Germane into the hospital right now to check on his malnutrition. I know we just took him in yesterday, but Doc Chip wants to check some more things. We includes Doc Chip, Jason, Grant, Jeremy and Darren. And some of the local Woodward Lake people who are going for a ride on the MLS. Doc also wants all of us young'uns to get vaccinations - more needles and sore arms and behinds. I got'sta have me a man-to-nurse talk with that head nurse, Renné Madropé.

First let's get going riding the train. It's settin' waitin' at the depot, with two modified Pullmans and a flat car that has side rails put on it, which Great-Aunt Helen said is like when the politicians used to stump from place to place giving speeches before the elections, what ever stumping is. 'Course, back then we didn't have companies buying huge amounts of ads to influence the voting and control the ones who got elected like it's done now. Much of what they say is lying about the opponents. If they want to give me the money, I'll fix everything.

Germane was nervous about the train, and about getting shot again, so I pick him up and hold him as I am talking with the passengers. I already made sure he had a good breakfast, so he could get rid of the malnutrition. That reminds me, they are doing a huge BBQ on the Fourth, so that will stop the malnutrition.

"OK, folks, it's time to start the rides on the WLS. We have two Pullman cars, and a special flat car with railings where people can stand. We request that, for your own safety, y'all be inside the Pullman cars as we go fast through the woods. There is a section of cleared land along both sides of the track so the branches won't slap you. As we approach towns and are going slow, you can stand on the decorated flat car provided you hang on." I am being rather commanding as I speak, trying to be like a real conductor. Am I doing OK? Shouldn't I have on a conductor's uniform, and shouldn't Jason also have one?

"We will first go to Cadillac and stop at the city park where they have a few boring speeches by politicians and others. There will be more speeches there on the Fourth, so if you don't like them, don't ride that day. I got'sta. We will let people get on or off in Cadillac when they expect more Cadillac people to be celebrating, and when the politicking is done, come back this way and do another exchange of passengers, and then on up to Mesick. We will make this run four times each day through the 7th, so everybody who wants to can make the trip. The big train from the sand pits will probably make a daily trip in between sometime.

"The 4th is the only official day for the political speeches, so you can avoid them if you want.  We also have a small band and a trio of lady singers with us on the fourth, playing ancient music from the 1800's and early 1900's. They call themselves the "New Andrews Sisters" but they ain't no sisters. Don't tell the politicians I said not to ride that day, or they will ask Jason, the muscle freak, to whip me. Not really, he is the driver for our trips, and I am the Conductor. Guess I'm enough of a live wire for that.

Jason wrapped a bare muscular arm around my chest.

"How many times do I have to tell you, punk, that is Engineer, not driver! Do I have to use my muscles?" And he did flex a little.

"Seriously, folks, I am a gymnast, and I would never hurt our little pun-ductor or any other child."

I told them all, loudly. "All aboard! Go start your engines, and no doing back flips over people while we're moving."

"Yes, you little tyrant. I may report you to the politicians! I'm glad you are not running for Mayor or something."

"That gives me an idea. I want to be the first Mayor of the Maple Express Project home for kids and grands! You all can vote for me on the Fourth."

Jason asked Doc Chip: "Do we want that little punk becoming Mayor?"

We were whizzing through the wooded area and I announced in both Pullman cars via the PA system: "We will soon go around the Northern tip of Lake Mitchell, and you will probably see some speed boats hauling skiers and a few fishing boats, if you want to step out onto the flat car. Just make sure you hang on, and any young people need a belt around their waist connected solidly to the railing, just like mine!" I demonstrated.

We then traveled through town, past the high school, and around the Northern part of Lake Cadillac, and slowed for a stop on a side rail at the City Park where the festivities would happen. They had an old steam locomotive parked in the park for people to check out. Of course I did! Lots of it, including the fire box, were welded shut. Glad I've got a real one.

"Folks, you may disembark and visit the city, and go back on any of the four trips today, or the next few days. There are taxis available if you need one, so you can tour or go shopping. Some of us have to go get Germane checked at the hospital, but we will be back for the return trip. See you all in two hours."

We took the car Great-Aunt Dot had ordered for us, and arrived at the hospital. Doc Chip had called them to expect us and what to be ready for.

"Good thing they warned me you were coming. I have the horse syringes ready for you." Renné told me.

"Not me, but you can do these other guys, Mrs. Renné Madropé."

"Yea, you too. Kid, my name is pronounced ma-droop-eh, not 'mad rope'"

"Then call me JT. not Kid or TJ!"

"OK, but you are going to get the largest injection, JT."

"No, I's been almost shot to death by you guys!"

"Yea, and see how much healthier you are. You keep growing like you have and Jason's gonna have stiff competition."

"His future husband already competes with him as big stiffs. They's always playing with their adult toys."

"JT, when have you been spying on us?" Jason asked.

"Not! You guys often have tents in your pants, and I can't help noticing?"

"OK, kid, but you can't touch, and keep out of our room, you 'wascally wabbit'"

"Well!" I pouted, and acted just like Jack Benny from old TV shows. One arm across my stomach, holding my other elbow, and holding up my chin with that one. A while back Great-Aunt Helen told me about him, laughing about it, and even showed me a video.

"You, JT, are much too young to replace the great Jack Benny." Renné said. "Now get that arm ready, or do you want this one in your spanking spot?"

I flexed my arm, showing my little muscle.

"You are a long way from being Jason, now relax and show Germane that it doesn't hurt.

"I got'sta have some fun. And you always want to be mean." She pulled the needle out, and I never felt it. "Well, do it!"

"All done. Germane's next."

Hearing his name he began to try getting away, whimpering, so I picked him up and held him while she prepared two syringes, one to draw blood for some more tests, and the other with his first vaccines. I was trying to keep his attention distracted.

"Now, you little angel, let me tell you about the frogs at the stream behind our house. Always hopping around, and going in the water to catch insects and small fish. I've seen some that are big enough to make good eating. Have you ever had frog legs? When we get back, and my job of conductor is done, I'll take all of us down and we'll see what we can catch, along with a nice mess of perch and trout.

"We can have fun catching them, and then some good eats. I'll show you how to clean them, and then we can fry up a batch."

Just then Renné said "You're already, shots all done." Germaine looked over at her, surprised, and whimpered a little, then smiled and giggled.

"You were being very good then, and now you're ready to go ride the train again. We will bring you back and get some more clothes for you, but you need lunch first and then a nap. For now, have a snack. It's a personal size cherry pie that has just enough sugar for energy and the herb, stevia, to add sweetness. Our Traverse City people have a commercial bakery make them, but they want to build a bakery here so all the young guys have lots of good, healthy, deserts to eat." We wanted to get back to healthy, but not get fat.

"Yea, train ride! This is good! More."

"One is enough for a guy your size. You want to be my assistant conductor?"

By then the twins were done with vaccinations, so we went back to the city park to get the MLS ready for the trip back. After boarding, we went up to the WLS depot. As we exchanged passengers again, Germaine wanted to stay with me, so we took him up to Mesick, and went into a restaurant where some of us got hamburgers topped with morel mushrooms. Jason and Doc Chip had chicken sandwiches, also with mushrooms. Germaine told me their pie was not as good as the snack one I gave him. I gave him a hug and told him we would have more at home.

We returned and us young'uns, that is myself and Darren in his powered wheel chair on the rough ground, Jeremy, Lucent, Germane, along with Jason and Grant, wanted to have some fun trying to fish down by the creek and the pond. I guess the older guys still don't want to be grow'd up. We went back to our house, and I put up a sign on the door: Gone Fishing...

Then it was off to the tool shed and we got our fishing poles. We didn't have one short enough for Germane to handle, especially in his weak condition, so I cut a sapling and attached a line he dangled in the water with a hook and bait. We took a shovel with us and pretended we were there with Tom Sawyer going down by the creek. We turned over a shovel full of grass and got several worms for bait. We also wanted to catch some frogs. It started sprinkling as we were getting to the creek. Good, 'cause the fishing is better in the rain.

Down by the water we began our fishing. Most of us are not fishermen, but we managed, even with all the joking around. We got wet, and had fun, and got some fish and a few frogs. The star fisherman was Germane who caught six with his short little pole. They were in a hole near the bank, so he got one quickly every time he dropped the line in. I had to help pull in a few. We got a mess of them, and everyone got into the action. Ranger was also with us, and he got along well with Germane. They are both about the same tall, so Germane can walk along with him with one arm over Ranger's shoulder. I think Germaine is taking over my dog. He needs a good companion.

I've got'sta say, it sure ain't never quiet around here. It began to really rain hard, and we already had a mess, so we decided to get back to the house, and packed up with our catch in plastic bags filled with creek water. We put the pokes (even if they were not paper) into Damion's basket on his wheelchair, and started back to the house.

Ranger, excited as always with us, ran over to an old shack by the creek, and started barking. I know him well enough to know he found something, and it was bad but not dangerous. I went over there, and I heard some bad moaning and crying going on inside, so I went into the shack. Inside, there was this little dark haired guy, about my same skin color, who must have been about eight, sitting by an old Native American style blanket thrown over an old wood bed. On the bed was a woman who looked like she was really sick.

I don't know how I knew it, but she moaned one last time and it sure felt like she done gone to heaven. Petr was alone 'ceptin' for my gang. I just knew 'twas his name.

I pulled the little guy into a hug: "Come on, little one, and let's get you something to eat?"

"Ma?"

I checked and she had a very weak pulse, and was barely breathing. I called Dad on the mobile and told him where she was and needing some doctoring, and that I was bringin' Petr home with my gang. I asked Jason to carry him, and he hugged the little guy, with me carrying Germane. We walked back to the house slow enough so they wouldn't get hurt, weak as they were, with Ranger urging us to hurry. By the time I got back to the house I heard sirens and flashing lights and Dad was jumping into the 'mergency truck to direct them to the shack. I got Ranger into the house, and he went to the door and whined, but I didn't let him out until the sirens stopped. We don't need a runned over dog.

I told Petr: "They are going to take her into the hospital and get her fixed up." He nodded, but was still frowning.

Jason and Grant went back to the depot to start the next run to town.

Petr didn't appear to have any 'mergency problems like his mother, only just the malnutrition. I gave him one of the snack pies as we were going to the house. We got him and Germane into the house and brought some of the leftovers from the fridge out along with a glass of milk. I warmed up what he wanted, stew from last night's dinner, and some good ol' country biscuits with real butter. I remember how it was for me before Dad 'dopted me, so I made sure he had lots of good food, along with Germane. I gave them both a second snack pie, and let them eat while I ran the tub full of warm water. After they ate, they both said "Thanks". I took Petr into the bathroom and tossed his clothes onto the floor, along with mine, and I picked him up and put him in and got in beside him. He was too weak to be able to clean himself up, so I scrubbed him to get the dirt off. After that the water was like mud, I drained and refilled it, and we did it all again, and then I got some of my older clothes I'd grown out of, out of the box we been planning on taking to Goodwill, and put them on him. Still a little large for his skinny body, but better than the filthy rags he had on. We will go get him some clothes on one of the train runs into town.

I walked with him out to the kitchen telling him about us, and filling Germane in. With all the excitement of the project, we have to skip things for a while. "My name is JT, short for James Leo Toro. My Dads, Manny and Cliff, 'dopted me a 'cause I had nowhere to live. They are real good dads who got me Maple Stirrup, my horse. I'm 12 and I'll go to school over in Cadillac when it starts. I like being a farm boy, and sometimes one of those Michigan potato farmers, makin' me a real hillbilly. Course we don't do a lot of them, just a patch for us and some neighbors, but we do keep the hills and furrows like they do on the large farms. I grew up in the Ozark Mountains so some of these Yanks think I'm a hillbilly from down south."

" 'Kay, can I call you hilly billy?"

"Don't be silly. You *may* call me JT, you wascally wabbit."

"I'm Petr, a boy, not Peter Cottontail."

Dad was back and he asked: "Do you want some more food, son? Or any of the rest of you?"

He didn't talk much, but nodded. After fixing another bowl of stew and a biscuit for both of our new malnutrition boys, I talked with Dad.

"How's his mom?"

"They are taking her into the emergency room. Apparently they had not eaten for several days and she had the flu. We'll go soon, and take him with us to see what we can find out. What is your name, son?"

"Petr." Between bites.

"How about your mother's name?"

"Julie."

"Any last name?"

"Morgstn"

"Did you mean Morganstein?" He nodded.

"That name sounds like it's German, but you and your mother both look like Native Americans."

He nodded and grinned, then took another bite. I brought out a big tub of chocolate pudding, again not all sugar, but enough for energy, and stevia, and put a couple of dollops in a bowl for each of them. After a few bites, Petr grinned and said: "This is good!"

"Yeah!" Germane echoed.

"Do you want to go to the hospital to see how your mother is?" He nodded again, so we took him on the next trip.

They got her recovered taking two weeks to do it. Petr and Germane slept with me every night, and I knew for sure they were boys no different from me, just different amounts of tan.

After she got out of the hospital, Petr and his mother moved in with us. He is a really nice guy, but he's a little too small yet for some things. Germane is only a couple of inches shorter than Petr. If they keeps hanging with me, they'll grow faster like I have. In the short while I've been here, I've added several pounds of muscle. And I just know his mother will make a nice house mother for all of us when she's well. Putting up with this gang of misfits is hard for me, and I like all of them. No, not in that way! Dad Cliff says we are turning into a gaggle of Michigeese misfits. I'll show him misfit.

And later that day, while we were about to get ready for bed, I heard a bark outside, along with a mournful howl. Ranger was inside. He came up to us, did a little bark himself.

"It's Nothin."

"It sounds like another dog, or a wolf."

"It's Nothin, my dog." Petr insisted. "He was out hunting when you brought me here."

I opened the door, a little, and the barks became friendly, Nothin came in and put his paws up on Petr's shoulders and began dog kisses. Ranger, who was bigger, was making sure it was OK, though I'm sure these two canines knew each other. Petr had his arms around Nothin, who looked like he was more wolf than dog.

"Nothin, meet my friends. Those two 'dults are Manny and Cliff. Then there is Jason and Grant, Lucent, Damion, Jeremy, and Germane. And you know Ranger."

"How'd he get that name?"

"I found him in the woods last fall. He was only a few days old, alone. I picked him up and took him to our cabin and got him some milk which he was able to lap up from a saucer. Later that week, I found his mother's body, torn up with shot gun pellets. So, I've been his mother. And now he brings me and mom rabbits. I named him Nothin cause he was so little."

Just then Yallow cat came moseying up like the queen of the house that she was. She bristled at first with the new dog, but settled down and took a nap, lying across the two canine pillows.

Jason and Grant were back from the last train run of the day. The 'dults were preparing for a BBQ tomorrow at the depot, setting up about four half barrels with grills, and putting some of the smaller wood pieces from the trimmed trees around the mansion. They also put in dried pieces to get them the fresh ones started first thing tomorrow. The fresh ones would burn slower and longer.

OK, readers, JT here, and I'm turning over the narrating to Cliff, 'cause I want to find out how we all got here, and I'm done talked out. That's hard work!

"Hi, everyone. For those who don't know me, I am Grant, Manny's husband, and everybody has gathered near the depot at the picnic tables we brought in. The sun has set and we have some blankets on the ground for sitting on along with the benches, and a wood fire in one of the BBQ half barrels to keep warm. We will refill it before the festivities tomorrow.

"For a legal record, and your information, we are recording this in three different ways. A transcript will be made available for those who need it.

"Some of the people here are from the neighborhood, some from Chicago, and some are wandering strangers, and young people. I see from the Chicago areas, we have both of the Great-Aunts, Mildred, Joe Young, Jason and his partner Grant, who is local. Also local are Heloise, Clare, and George, from Traverse City, our partners Doc Chip and Thomas Kline, and their adopted sons who have just arrived here for the first time, Daniel, 18, Donald, 16, and 15-year-old twins, Dillon and Darrin. Recovering from an auto crash are brothers Lucent, Damion and Jeremy. And our newest prospective sons, Germane and Petr, both of whom have nearly starved. Petr's mother will be joining us as soon as she has recovered sufficiently. And we do have several adults with us whom most of you have not met yet. They are prospective staff. And some of them will have their families with them, Included in that group are the Cararras, Hank, Stella, and their 12-year-old daughter Misty.

"Our family has certainly gotten bigger over the last couple of months. Someone mentioned AAKD, that is Add a Kid Disease, but it's much more than that. In coming months, we will add a lot of adult staff, lots of kids, and a lot of retirees and other elderly. Also, several who are physically challenged, as are Helen and Damion.

"First, for some of the people who do not know us well, we have some gay couples here, as well as heterosexual couples. Some couples have been legally married, in the states or Canada, and we have some who have not taken that step yet.

"For the record, our fabulous Great-Aunts Helen and Dot, through the years have improved on what they started with from Helen's late husband, financially. They have a lot of land in several states, and have started some new companies in the last ten years. Those companies are formed to provide benefits to their customers and to their employees. They are not public in any way, and have no stocks. All the investments in them have been by Helen and Dot, who have no need for outrageous salaries.

"You should all know by now that this property, the old hotel, depot, rails, and land that covers several square miles have been owned by the Great-Aunts for years, and are being turned into an expansive home for youths and elderly who are without loving and caring relatives. Relatives include missing parents, spouses, or children. They will receive all the love, care, and guidance they deserve right here. None of them, or staff, will have any forced, coerced, or drug induced sex, by any means, or will attempt to do that to others. If anyone here feels they cannot stay within those required, enforced rules, let me or Manny know in the next few days, and we will give you a decent severance package. It is not appropriate for people who do not agree to stay with us, but you may stay until the Independence Day celebrations are over with. We are celebrating, first, the independence of the United States of America from England, and second, the establishment of this home.

"We have plans for a Thanksgiving get together with all the neighborhood, local Native Americans and some First Nations visiting from Canada. That will be a thank you to the Native Americans, and the First Nations. It will also include working with existing food pantries to keep them supplied along with labor help, along with organizations supplying meals for the needy. We will also have several, for want of a better word, companies that do lots of things. A bakery that provides better goods for our enterprise and neighbors. A series of buildings for the DIY (do it yourself) people covering mechanics, electronics, and computers. The equipment is all available to members of clubs here, around Woodard Lake, and the area. There will be a club-based fee to cover insurance and damage.

"Now, we have several new young people here, and it helps us serve them better if we knew more of their backgrounds. Some we know about, so who wants to be first?"

JT spoke: "I suppose you mean me, you meany. You know about my growing up in the Ozarks, my Dad leaving to escape from some trumped up charge, and the fire that burnt our cabin to the ground, and Mom not found. Then I traveled and got raped by bad people until Manny and Cliff helped me out. So now I have a good life here, and I intend to stay. Even though I would like to see my parents again."

Misty then said: "My family is still very happy together, but we do like this area, so I want us to move here."

Next was the Lavines, with Lucent speaking: "We had a good life until the accident. And now that Darren will soon be able to run with his new foot, the MDHS came through and allowed for us all to be fostered together. Good, 'cause I like Jason, especially his muscles. But Grant is partnered with Jason, so I gotta find someone else. JT, go beat up Grant for me."

"Do it yourself, I'm just a little guy. I'll tell everyone what Germane and Petr told me, 'cause they are about to fall asleep. We've been too busy for their naps.

"Germaine was with his dad and they were exploring the woods when they spotted some deer. They kept quiet as they took some pictures, and then the deer got spooked by a couple of coyotes and knocked down his dad. He hid for a while, and then walked over to his dad, and he was not breathing. Scared, Germaine followed the road until he saw this place and tried to find shelter. He found an open window into the old hotel, and we found him in the food cellar.

"Petr and his mother, Julie, just got out of the hospital. They were in a cabin where she had a bad case of flue, so Petr stayed by her. When we found them, they were both, along with Germaine, sick from the malnutrition. We're going to feed them a lot so they can recover.

And then we have four guys that are foster guys for Thomas and Doc Chip. They still live along the Peninsula in Traverse City.

Daniel then spoke. "The four of us are brothers, and Dads; Thom and Chip are really nice. They got my leg fixed up after the car hit me and bent my bicycle all up, and got us some settlements from insurance companies that were trying to screw us because we were just kids who didn't know any better. Dillon and Darrin want to try out the piano in the hotel. They play special music written for four hands, together, and have even reworked some old favorites. Our mother taught them. She was a piano instructor and performer at Interlochen Music Camp. There is an excellent piano at our old place."

Cliff mentioned that the Carraras would be accepting jobs at the Maple Express Project, and living with Misty in a family house on the property. Several of those staff houses were being built, based on what the staff's family needed and wanted.

To be continued... 

Author's note: A big "Thank You" to Gerry Young for his excellent editing. He eliminates a lot of hiccups my addled mind and misguided fingers smudge onto the page.

Posted: 04/25/14