Bart and Chris
by: E Walk
(© 2008 by the Author)
 

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Chapter 13

Ted’s Story 

All of the young people had disappeared and I began to get concerned.  I had never spent much time on a farm nor had Zack, Tip or Ty.  Zack and I went to see what the young people were doing.

Bart and Tory had saddled two riding horses and were giving the younger children a ride.  When they returned from the pasture or wherever they were riding, Chris looked at Zack and me,  “Dads, can we live on a farm?”

“Come on, let me show you what we did.  We gathered the eggs.  Have you ever milked a goat?  It’s so cool to see how the milk comes out.  Dads, can we get a dog?”

I picked Chris up, “Son, you’re out of control.  The first thing we need to do is get Dad Zack graduated so he can make some money.  As long as we live with Uncle Tip and Uncle Ty, they would have to agree that you could have a dog and so would their four children.”

Chris wasn’t to be deterred, “But Dad, Randy and his family have two dogs.  Why can’t we have one too?”

Zack looked and pointed his finger at Chris, “Son, we need to talk about this.  Dogs are a lot of work.  Do you have enough money to buy food for a dog if you had one?”

Chris wasn’t about to give up, “Why can’t my dog eat the food that we don’t eat?”

I hugged Chris, “Christopher, Dad Zack said we would discuss this later.  Now go have a good time.”

 As Chris took off running, I looked at Zack, “Who said that being a parent was going to be easy?”

We were joined by Ted Sharp, “You city boys gettin’ your eyes full da  county.  Ma Sweet said you wuz city slickers thru and thru when she called us las’ night and told us to be prepared for the invasin’.  I swear I ain’t nevah seen chilin’ take to farm like these uns’.”

I looked at Ted, “Mr. Sharp, please stop playing games with our minds.  They are already rather fragile.  The children are having a blast.  I get the feeling that maybe you and Ms. Sweet are more than an employer and employee.”

Ted started to laugh, “Guilty as charged, Mr. Leavitt.   I was about Chris and Randy's age when I first came to live here with my parents.  My father was the manager/hired man or whatever you want to call him.  I was the youngest child.  I have two older sisters.  You have already met one of them today.”

“Yeh, Trish is my oldest sister. Our other sister, Terri, and her husband live in Columbia.  Pete is a professor at the university.  Anyway our Mother died of cancer when I was about the same age as Bobby and Ricky.  It was difficult for our Dad to cope with her death.  He continued to manage the farm, but it was as if he wanted nothing to do with us three children.”

“The Sweets became our surrogate parents.  The Sweets paid for both of my sisters to attend college.  When I started high school, Dad finally realized that he had been neglecting us, and things were starting to seem normal.”

“I had just turned 16 when our Dad was killed in a freak farm accident.  I was late getting home one evening after football practice and found him trapped under an overturned tractor.  The coroner reported that he had been killed instantly, but I was convinced that I could have saved him if I hadn’t stayed after school.”

“I had called Mr. and Mrs. Sweet and told them what had happened.  They came immediately and helped me take care of the funeral arrangements.  Everyone tried to convince me that the accident was not my fault, but I went into a state of self denial after the funeral and stopped going to school.  I had always been a good student, but I just simply didn’t care anymore.”

“When the Sweets realized what was happening, they made me move in with them.  The next thing I knew, I was visiting with Dr. Xavi Lightfoot every other day until he helped me realize that what had happened might well have happened even if I had been there.”

“The Sweets hired some temporary help to take care of the farm and I was enrolled in the Monmouth Academy and I stayed with them.  Trish was already married to Rick, and Terri, who was 21, was still in college so I basically became the Sweets’ foster son.  They made sure that I had only the best.”

“Anyway I thrived at the Monmouth Academy and earned an athletic/ academic scholarship to Iowa State University.  I thought I wanted to be a veterinarian, but I soon realized that I what I wanted to do was actually live on a farm and run it.  I met Louisa at Iowa State.  She had grown up on a farm, so she had no problem living on a farm.  She has her teaching degree and substitutes when it is a quiet period around here which isn‘t too often.”

We were interrupted by Chris, “Dads, come see the great slide that Holly and Kara have in the barn.  It is really cool.”  Chris and Randy were pulling at our hands.

Randy was pulling Ted's arm, “Come on, Uncle Ted, make them come and see.”

Ted led us to the upper level of the barn.  He had built a slide that was enclosed so that the girls could go up the stairs and not fall off because of the railing.  The sides of the slide were enclosed so it was like you were coming down a tunnel.  At the bottom of the slide was a big pile of hay.  “I built the mini playground in here so the girls could be with me if Louisa was teaching or had some errands that she needed to do.  I tried to make it so they wouldn’t get hurt.”

Ted looked at his watch, “Chris, we need to go do the milking.  Are you and Randy going to help me?”

The two boys started off with Ted.  Chris turned around, “Come on, Dads.  You can help us too.”

When we got to milking area, Ted was showing the guys how to make sure the cows had the feed that they needed.  After the two young guys made sure the cows had their food, Ted let the first twenty cows come in and they went to the their assigned places.

When the cows were in place, Ted clicked a button and the cows were contained by metal stanchions.  Chris was standing there with the funniest look on his face, “Uncle Ted, how did the cows know where to go?”

Ted looked at Chris, “The cows have been conditioned as to where to go.  These are the older cows.  The next group may not be so easy to get settled.” 

Ted started the milking system and Chris was just enthralled by what was happening.  Randy showed Chris how the milk went directly from the cow through the tubing to the big refrigerated storage tank  When Chris returned, he was watching Ted.  “Uncle Ted, could I try to put those things on the next cow?”

Ted looked at Chris, “Why don’t we move to the other side.  Old Bossy won’t kick at you like some of the younger cows.”

Chris followed Ted into the stall and did as Ted told him,  Bossy looked around and mooed.  Ted started to laugh, “Bossy just said she likes you.”

Chris wasn’t amused, “Uncle Ted, cows can’t talk, can they?”

Ted was laughing, “Not really, my friend.  I think you and Randy need to come down and learn what farming is all about.  I think you might be a good farmer with a little training.  What are the other boys doing?”

“Ricky was showing Bobby how to feed the pigs.  Kara was showing Billy and Robbie and Becky how to feed the chickens.  Bart and Tory were still riding the horses the last time we saw them.”

The first set of cows was finished and they were released.  Chris yelled, “Dads, come help get the feed for the new cows before they arrive.  They are probably hungry.”

Ted was right, this second group of twenty was not very cooperative.  Chris looked at the cows, “Look, you know where you are supposed to be, so get with it and do it now.”

The cows looked at Chris and they went into their stalls.  Ted was standing there laughing, “Chris, I think you need to let me record your voice.  That was about the easiest time we have ever had getting them into the proper stalls.  Are you sure you don’t want to come to work for me when my two helpers are gone like today?”

The discussion was interrupted by Bart and Tory, “Dads, Mrs. Sweet says you are to come, since you are in charge of manning the barbecue grills.  We’ll help here.”

Chris spoke up, “Forget it, Bart, Randy are I doing just fine.  The cows would probably kick you because you have been kissing a girl and smell like horses.”

I watched as Chris went to put the milking machine on the next cow.  The cow started to fidget, but Chris talked to her in a calm voice.  “It’s okay, I’m not going to hurt you.  It will be over before you know what happened.”

Randy wasn’t about to be outdone.  He went to the other side and was doing as Chris was doing.  Ted was monitoring both sides very carefully.

Zack and I went to see what the three ladies had for us to do.  Richard had started the fire and gladly relinquished his job after Zack and I had washed our hands. 

The ladies brought us a platter of ribs and some barbecue sauce and some hamburgers.  Mrs. Sweet looked at us, we should be ready to eat in forty five minutes.   Everything else is ready unless you two new Dads botch the meat up.”

We looked out as we started to cook the ribs.  Chris and Randy were walking toward the house holding Ted’s hand.  We could see Chris talking animatedly to Ted.  As they approached us, we heard Chris ask, “Uncle Ted, can me an' Randy come down sometimes and help you.  That was fun.”

Ted looked at Zack and me, “Chris, you are welcome to come visit anytime.  You and Randy and your Dads can sleep in the bunkhouse with Ned and Nate.”

You could almost see Chris bristle, “Who are Ned and Nate?”

“Ned and Nate are both college students.  They live here and go to the junior college each day,  They will probably be leaving at the end of the summer.  Maybe you and Randy could come and help me when they leave.”

Chris looked at Ted, “Uncle Ted, Randy and I are only eight.  We wouldn’t be much help.

Dinner was just about ready when a pick up truck pulled into the drive.  Two good looking guys hopped out of the truck.  One of them started, “How come no one invited us to the party?  Mr. Sharp, is there anything we need to do?”

“Nope Nate, Chris and Randy did all of your work.  Get yourselves up here and park for a spell.  We’re getting ready to eat.”

Ned scowled, “Who are these two people that are trying to take our jobs.  We know who Randy is and he’s a wimp, but who is Chris?”

Chris jumped up, “I’m Chris.  What are you going to do about it?”

Nate and Ned started to move toward the two eight year olds and grabbed Chris and Randy.  Bart started to get up, and I could tell he was in the attack mode.  I put my hands on him and whispered, “Bart, it’s okay.  Chris is just making new friends.”

Nate and Ned started to carry Chris and Randy away.  Chris was yelling, “Dads, make these two thugs behave.  They’re trying to rob us, but we don’t have any money.  Beat them up.”

The two guys put Chris and Randy down, “Chris, what do you mean by calling for your Dads?”

Chris was as innocent as ever, “Bart and I have two Dads.  Come on, we’ll introduce them to you.  They’re rather busy cooking right now, but they will probably have time to get you straightened out.”

Chris introduced Nate and Ned to us and I think they were floored that Zack and I were more than friends.  That didn’t deter them from sitting with us when we sat down to eat.

When we finished eating, Bart mobilized the troops.  “We ate, so now we need to clean the mess that the adults made.  The utensils and things all disappeared as did the ten youngest.  Nate looked at Zack and me, “Are you sure that your sons are human.  I can’t believe that no one gave Bart any lip.”

Ned asked, “Guys, when did you decide that you were going to be partners?  It’s rather obvious that you aren’t related because of the difference in pigmentation.  Let’s go to the bunk house so we can talk freely  We have some questions.”

They led us to a bunkhouse that was behind the barn, Nate started, “Just so you know, Ned and I are not biological brothers.  We are both foster children of our parents.  When we were in high school, we realized that we were more interested in each other than the young women we dated.  We have tried to keep anyone from knowing, but after watching the two of you today, it was apparent that everyone knew about you.  I was totally caught by surprise when Chris referred to you both as his Dads.”

Ned took over, “I think that Bart was about ready to pounce on us if we hadn’t put the two boys down.”

I looked at Nate and Ned, “Guys, please sit down and maybe you can understand what has happened to bring us to this point.  Zack and I have not been partners for very long.  I have a feeling that the two of you might want to be able to be more open about your relationship  You don’t have to say anything.  Let us explain how we go to this point.”

Zack and I explained how everything had happened to include how we were placed in charge of the two boys.

Our discussion was interrupted by Randy and Chris.  Chris started, “Dads, Grandma Sweet wants to head home.  It’s almost eight o’clock.”

I looked at Nate and Ned, “Guys, give me a call if you want to talk.  Zack needs to get his nose to the grind stone if he is to graduate from graduate school at K.U. next month.”  I handed them a card with my phone number and address.

Zack and I hugged the two guys and went to join the rest of our group.  Mrs. Sweet announced,  “The same arrangements that we had for coming apply going home.  We’ll meet at my house so I can kick you all out.  Any questions?”

We had no more than pulled away from the farm than Barbee and Becky were asleep.  We were to find out that the other three cars suffered the same phenomena.  When we arrived at Mrs. Sweet’s house it was as if we were moving dead weights to the appropriate cars.

When we arrived at the house, we carried the four youngest children to bed and I undressed Billy and Chris and put them into bed without even having them brush their teeth.  Ty and Tip were doing the same with Becky and Barbee.  Bobby was awake but barely.

Zack and I locked up and when we got to our apartment, Bart was waiting for us.  “Dads, I know you haven’t had much time to think about or discuss my accepting the job to sing with the band; but since Dad Zack will be leaving in the morning, this is probably the last chance we’ll have to talk about it.  The people in the band would like me to give them my answer by tomorrow.”

I really hadn’t even thought about his taking the job and I doubted very much if Zack had either.  “Bart, I haven’t even thought about it.  I would like to meet the band members personally before I give my permission.  What do you know about the band members?”

Bart got this funny look on his face, “Dads, I know nothing about them?  I guess you’re right; we need to find out more about them and what they would expect of me.  I guess that’s why you’re a Dad and I’m just a teenager.”

I added, “Bart, why don’t you call the leader and invite the band over here so I can meet them at least.  I don’t think we have anything that we are doing in the evenings this week.   You realize that they probably get together and practice at least once or twice during the week.  Your school work has to come first.”

Bart nodded, “Dads, I’ll see what I can do.  I have another question. Tory said that I was going to be going to Monmouth Academy in the fall.  Is that true?  Why wasn’t I consulted about it since it is my life?”

Zack raised his hands, “Son, back off.  We hadn’t even heard about the possibility of you going to the Monmouth Academy until last evening after we left the Pizza Palace.  Nothing is set in concrete.  We will discuss where you’re going to school when its closer to the time.  Besides, if Tory goes there, and Mr. Sharp went there if must be a rather good school.  Mr. Sharp told us this afternoon that he had an academic/athletic scholarship, so it can’t be too bad.  Now I suggest you get to bed.  Your other Dad is going to take you to get your driver’s learners permit tomorrow.”

Bart threw up his hands, “Nobody ever tells me anything.”

Before he went to take his shower, he hugged us, “You’re the greatest.”

To be continued...

Feedback always welcome:     

Editor's Notes:  Farm life can be quite the experience.  I grew up on a farm. We didn't have milking machines; we milked our six cows by hand.  Let me tell you that milking a cow by hand takes a lot of energy. My wrists used to get pretty sore.  I was about ten or eleven and I didn't really like farm life very much.  I am anything but a morning person. There needs to be a law that makes it unlawful to get up and go milk the cows before noon. 

Funny thing though, I doubt that the cows would be alright with that idea.

Well, I think I had better get some sleep if I am going to have to milk some cows at five in the morning.  Not very cooperative, are they?

Let's see, first, I will have to get the cows to each trust us.  There is more than a grain of truth to the story, and I need to Moove over to the bed and get some sleep.  I had some coffee earlier which has a bit of calfeen in it, but that was hours ago. After we finished milking the cows we had to pasture eyes it. Hey that's no bull, I promise. Cowabunga, it is really getting late.  Hay, I am going to stop now, I'm too chicken to keep this going much longer. I need to rooster else I'm gonna be too tired in the morning to get up and do my chores. That is eggs actly.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 12/05/08