The ‘den’ Triplets
by: E Walk
(© 2009-2010 by the Author)
 

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

Chapter 7  

This Interview Is Over

As I was approaching the house, I saw two television broadcasting vans parked in front of the house.  I drove past as if I was driving home.   Fortunately my house is located on a corner lot and the entrance to the garage is on the street away from the front entrance to the house. 

I drove around the block and came in from the backside.   I made sure that I turned off the lights as I approached the house.  I opened the garage door with the remote control, pulled in and shut the door before I got out of the car.

Todd was waiting for me, “Good, you’re home.  You can answer the phone and the door from now on.  I’m off duty.  Ever since you left after lunch, this place has gone absolutely bonkers.  I took at least two dozen phone messages, and the television people have been camped outside since about two o’clock.  The camera crew came to the door and I advised them that you were not here and that you had gone back to work.”

“There are also some messages on the answering machine that I haven’t even had time to listen to.  I figured you could take care of them when you got here.”

Todd was working at the counter with his back to me.  I went and put my arms around him, “Todd, relax.  We can only do so much.  We need to take care of one thing at a time, but it is going to take the two of us working as a team to make it work.  Dinner smells really good.”

Todd turned around, “Mike, I’m sorry for unloading on you like that,  but we agreed that the boys had to come first.  I had nothing to do with dinner.  A Mrs. Sheffield called right after you left at lunchtime, and told me she would be bringing dinner.  All I had to do was put it in the oven.”

“Todd, I’ll go change clothes and put clean sheets on my bed.”

Todd got an evil grin on his face, “I already changed the linen on your bed, cleaned your bathroom and moved some of your clothes to my room.  You might want to check to see if I forgot anything.  Don’t dally because the boys are due to wake shortly and dinner is almost ready.”

I stopped in the master suite and it was immaculate.  There were even two pieces of candy on the pillows.  The bathroom was squeaky clean and sparkled.

I was unprepared for what I saw when I entered Todd’s bedroom.  I stopped and started to laugh.  I was laughing so hard that it was making my stomach hurt.  There was a two by eight plank in the middle of the bed.  The top had something that looked like barbed wire running the entire length.  On either side of the plank was a large brown plastic garbage bags.  I picked one up and examined it.  There were two holes at the side that were obviously where the legs were to go.

There was a small circular opening on the front that would probably accommodate one of the triplets’ penises and another small opening about the same size on the back side.   There was a piece of chain and a small lock lying under the bag.  I started to laugh again and I realized Todd was standing behind me snickering.

I grabbed him and hugged him, “When did you find time to do all of this?”

“I called a friend of mine who works at the Community Playhouse in the props department and told him what I wanted to do.  He delivered the things about three o’clock.”

I let go of Todd and backed away.

“Now, Mikey, he is just a friend.  He’s married and has five children.  He’s even straighter than you are.  I volunteer at the Playhouse when I have time.  Gene and I became good friends and nothing more.  In fact, he’s pastor in his church.  The playhouse job is a way for him to supplement his income.”

We were interrupted by Mother’s voice, “Yoo-hoo, guys, where are you?”

Todd yelled back, “We’re upstairs in my bedroom.  Come see if you approve of the bundling board and the chastity belts.”

When Mother saw what Todd and his friend had done she started to laugh, as I had.  “Guys, I needed something like this to brighten my day.  How long until dinner?”

Todd looked at his watch, “We have just enough time to change and feed the boys and then it should be ready.  You people need to let me know what time you’re going to be here, in the future, so I don’t have to guess.”

I dropped to my knees and started to bow down, “Yes, boss.  I will, boss.  Whatever you say, boss.”

Todd ignored my theatrics, “Mikey, get your clothes changed, so you can help take care of the guys.”

When I got downstairs, Mother and Todd were each feeding one of the boys.  Todd looked at me, “Feed Jaden.  Aiden is just about finished.  I’ll get the food and put it on the table while the other two boys are finishing.”

The boys were satisfied, but they didn’t go right back to sleep.  It was as if they were trying to focus and see what was going on.  They were definitely responding to sounds.  Mother grinned, “It appears that the boys aren’t deaf.”

We had just finished eating when the doorbell rang.  Todd looked at me, “I’m not answering it.  I’m off duty, remember?”

Mom and Dad Hammond were standing there.  “Why didn’t you just walk in?  I guess I must have fallen asleep because I didn’t realize that it was nine o’clock already.”

Dad grinned, “We were able to get away a little earlier than we thought we could.  We ate on the way so we’re fine.  Where would you like me to put our luggage?”

“Dad, you and Mom Hammond will be sleeping in the master bedroom.”

Dad looked perplexed, “Where will you be sleeping?”

I smiled, “I’m going to bunk in with Todd while you and Mom Hammond are here.  Don’t worry, Todd has it fixed so that nothing unplanned will happen.  I’ll show you after we get you luggage upstairs.”

When I took Dad Hammond to see Todd’s room, he started laughing so hard that I was sure that he was going to go to the bathroom in his trousers.  He finally collected his thoughts and went to the door, “Hey, Marty, you have to come see where Todd and Mike are going to be sleeping.  It’s like something out of the 17^th or 18^th century.”

The boys were obviously asleep because my Mother and Mom Hammond came up the stairs followed by Todd.  When Mom Hammond saw the bundling board she almost croaked.  “I hope you both have had your tetanus shots.”

She picked up the bags, “Well it’s apparent now, why it took Jill so long to get pregnant.  Todd, I'm surprised that you aren’t making Mike wear a set of armor to bed.  It would be so heavy that there would be no way for him to climb over the bundling board.”

Todd was ready with his answer.  “Professor Hammond, I thought about that, but the only color of mail that playhouse had was pink with purple polka dots, and I was afraid that Mikey would want to keep it.  I sure don’t want to have to wash it ever day.”

Our levity was interrupted by the doorbell.  I went down to answer, and Aaron Shoemaker was standing there with another handsome teenager.  “Hi Aaron, I’m surprised to see you tonight.  Who’s your friend?”

Aaron was very proper, “Mr. Naylor, I would like to introduce you to my friend, Tim Patrick.”

I decided to play mind games with the boys, “Gees, from what Sheriff Patrick told me I was expecting to see a wimp.  You look as if you could be a football player.”

The guys didn’t know what to make of what I was saying.  Aaron  looked at me, “Mr. Naylor, we didn’t come here to be bad mouthed.  Dad asked me to bring this check to you as payment for what you did for me last night.  You already know that Tim and I have a special relationship, so please don’t make fun of us.”

I put my arm around the guys, “Guys, I wasn’t making fun of you or ridiculing you.  I was just trying to get you to laugh and relax.”

Aaron sighed, “Mr. Naylor, last night was a very scary experience for me.  I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t arrived when you did.”

Tim took over,  “Dad said that you might need us to baby-sit from time to time.  Who would be sitting for?”

“Follow me, the three victims are asleep or I think they are asleep.”

I took the boys to the nursery and Aiden was stirring and starting to complain.  Tim picked Aiden up and asked, “What do you need big boy?  Let’s get your diaper changed while your Daddy shows Aaron how to get your food ready.”

When Aaron and I returned, all three boys were awake and they had all been changed.   The two teenagers were sitting on the floor feeding Aiden and Kaden.  I had just started to feed Jaden when the doorbell rang

Mother must have answered, “Michael, there are two very handsome young men at the door asking to see you.  Give Jaden to me and I’ll finish feeding him.”

‘What’s new? Everyone keeps ordering me around.’

I went to the foyer and David and Jeff were standing there, “Hi guys, come and meet my family and a couple of young friends.”

I introduced David and Jeff to the Hammonds who were sitting in the living room and went into the nursery to get Mother, Tim and Aaron.

When Tim saw Todd, he started to laugh, “Well if it isn’t the wicked nurse of the north who never let me get away with anything.  Mr. Naylor, I need to talk to you about how mean Nurse Todd is.”

Todd wasn’t going to let Tim get the best of him, “Look, Timmy, you'd better watch your “p’s” and “q’s” or I’ll make you wash the boys’ dirty diapers.”

After everyone was introduced, I looked at the assembled people, “The triplets are fine.  Why don’t we move to the dining room, I think I saw an interesting looking dessert sitting on the counter.  We can visit while we eat.

Tim and Aaron helped Todd and Mother serve the dessert and the drinks and everyone had just gotten seated when the doorbell rang.  Todd looked at me, “You started this mess, you go answer it.”

‘There they go again.  Someone’s always telling me what to do.’

I opened the door and was surprised to see District Attorney Ray Howard and another gentleman whom I recognized as Mayor Lynn, only because I had seen him on the news and his picture in the newspaper.  “Please come in, gentlemen.”

I shook Ray’s hand, “Ray, I’m surprised to see you again so soon.  What’s it been, three hours?”

I moved to the Mayor, “Mayor Lynn, I’m Mike Naylor, welcome to my home.”

The mayor shook my hand, “Please call me Jim.”

“Gentlemen, might I ask why you are here?”

The Mayor started, “Mike, quite frankly you created a hornets nest this afternoon when you made your statement to the media.  The city has been receiving so many calls demanding to know what is happening.  What you said was the perfect thing to say.  But the media people are trying to make a name for themselves.  They are demanding all the information that we have.”

Our conversation was interrupted by the doorbell.  ‘Who can be there now?’

I answered and a young woman was standing there with a camera man.  “May, I help you?”

“I’m Candy Jeanerette of KXRX-TV.  I want to know why the Mayor and the District Attorney are here?”

I looked at the young woman, “Excuse me.  Why would that be any of your business?  Is the camera running?”

“The camera is running and we are sending the feed back to the station.  The Mayor and the District Attorney are elected public officials, and the public has every right to know what they are doing.”

I was incensed, “That may well be, but I am not an elected public official.  So what right to do you have to invade the privacy of my home when I have done nothing wrong?”

The young woman was unabashed, “Well, there sure have been a lot of people coming in here tonight.  Mr. Naylor, I still don’t understand how you got inside without us seeing you.”

“Easy, Miss Jeanerette, I’m a genie and popped in through the fireplace.  I still don’t understand why you have been waiting for me?”

“Look Mr. Naylor, you’re the person who caused the prostitution ring to be busted.  The Mayor and the District Attorney have already publicly stated that.  So people are interested in you and want to know more about you.”

I started to laugh, “Look, Miss Jeanerette, I’m a very boring person.  I lost my wife ten days ago, after she gave birth to my three beautiful sons.  Let’s go meet the others who arrived to at my house tonight, so you can see that we’re doing nothing illegal.”

I led the visitors to the living room where everyone was sitting except for Todd. 

I started to introduce the people as they arrived, “The lady sitting in the tan chair holding my son, Jaden, is my mother Doctor Linda Naylor.  She is the obstetrician who made sure my three sons arrived safely.  The handsome couple next to her, holding my other two sons, Aiden and Kaden, are my in laws, Professors Gene and Martha Hammond.  They are visiting for the weekend.  They both work at the State University and wanted to see their grandsons again.”

The two young men next to the Hammonds just happen to work for me at my law office.  David is my Public Relations Director and Jeff is Investigative Services Director.

The two young men sitting on the floor are visiting because they wanted to offer their services as babysitters if we need them.  Tim is Sheriff Patrick’s son, and Aaron is the son of a client of mine.  And of course, you already know the District Attorney and the Mayor.

I looked at the Mayor, “Mayor Lynn, I would like your permission to  make a statement that I think the station should carry when and if they broadcast this interview if they ever do.”

The Mayor looked at me, “Mr. Naylor, this is your house and you have every right to say what you want.”

“Miss Jeanerette and who ever is listening back at the station, I think it is time that the news media do what they were do designed to do, and that is to report the news.  The local officials are more than capable of taking care of the problems without your help.”  I managed to say, with all the sarcasm I could muster, which wasn't nearly as difficult as you might think.

“In the case of the prostitution ring, the officials have moved swiftly and confined those were behind the ring.  What worries me is that the media won’t let things take their natural course, in their search for sensationalism.” I paused and looked at each of them.

“You people of the media need to realize that there are more people who will be injured if you don’t let things happen naturally.  I want the people who were behind this heinous crime to be put behind bars, as much anyone else does, but what worries me is that you people of the media will not rest until the victims who were used are soiled more than they already have been.  Of even greater concern to me is the innocent spouses and families of the people who were behind the scandalous operation.”

“I would like to add, to you, Miss Jeanerette, if your news director and your station manager use anything of what I say, then you need to use it in its entirety, or I will sue you and your station for censorship.  I’m sick and tired of you people manipulating the news.  Why not devote your time to all the wonderful things of this city that people are doing instead of trying to manipulate the elected officials.  As of this moment, this interview is over.  I’d like for you to leave now.”

I, not too gently, ushered the reporter and the cameraman out and leaned against the door. 

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:

I do believe that Mike said what needed to be said.

I don't understand what in the world causes these so called news people to push their way into the faces of people who are only doing what the are supposed to do, and ask really silly and unnecessary questions. 

For example; someone's house has burned to the ground and a reporter walks up to the husband and wife standing on the lawn looking at the burned out ruins, and asks, "Well, Mr. And Mrs. Jones, I noticed that your house has been destroyed, four of your children and your grandmother were burned to death,

Your other daughter who is sixteen years old was in bed having a rousing good time with your neighbor's nineteen year old son, and your dog died while trying to rescue you;

Is it true that your oldest son was kicked out of the Marines for being a Homosexual? 

How do you feel about all this?" All the time, he or she is shoving the microphone in their faces. 

I really think any reporter who acts like that should be immediately fired. 

That is not newsworthy.  The news should consist of the reporter telling exactly what happened and maybe searching for the reason for the fire. 

Was it arson?  Did someone leave a cigarette burning while they fell asleep?  Was there an electrical fire?  Did the furnace malfunction? If tin whistles are made of tin, what do they make fog horns out of?  Am I going off on another tangent again?

They should check with the investigators or other officials.

They shouldn't be harassing the already suffering victims.   Let's hurry up and get to the next chapter! Please!!!!!!!!!!!

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 10/01/10