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

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Chapter 15
Will He or Won’t He?

When I woke on Tuesday morning I was reviewing what was to happen this day.  I looked at the clock and it was 5:45.  I checked the two guys, and they were asleep so I decided to run on by myself.  When I returned to the house, Bart looked at me, “Dad, do you realize what time it is?  It’s nearly seven thirty.  Where did you go?”

I looked as everyone as they were eating their breakfast, “I guess I was lost in my own little world, trying to figure out how to make everything happen the way I wanted.”

Chris looked at me, “Dad, maybe we should talk about things.  You have enough to worry about.  Do you have a presentation again today?”

“Yes, but this is the last week that we are going to be doing them.  Dr. Robinson and I decided that we needed to take care of other things and David has no problem with us stopping.  He and Doctor Robinson are going to be going to Washington, D. C next week to see about getting David enrolled into Gallaudet University for the summer session.”

Bobby looked at me, “Why does he want to go there?  That’s pretty far away.”

I nodded, “Bobby, it is a long way from here, but it is a special school that is able to teach people like David, who can’t hear,  new things.   It is a very old school and is about the only one of its kind in the world.  If David were to go there, he would probably know more than me.”

Ty stopped any further conversation, “Come on you young people, we need to get you to school.  Bart, I guess you’re stuck with the dishes again, since it’s getting late.”

When we had everyone out the door, Bart and I did the dishes.  I had Bart watch Barbie while I took my shower and got ready for the day.  When I got back to the living room where Barbie was waiting to go to school, I looked at Bart, “Your other Dad said it was okay if you wanted to sing with the band as long as you acted responsibly.”

Bart got a funny look on his face, “What exactly does that mean?”

I nodded, “I guess it means no booze, nicotine, drugs or sex of any kind.”

Bart smirked, “We’ll talk about the latter when we are free this afternoon.”

I reminded him, “Remember, Ms. Sweet has arranged an appointment for you at the Monmouth Academy this afternoon.  We may need to talk about it later tonight.  Get ready, because she should be here shortly.”

When I returned with Barbie from play group, Bart was dressed in khaki slacks, a dress shirt and a sweater.  Ms. Sweet announced, “Come on Barbie, we’re taking these men to lunch.  We need to make sure that they are eating properly.  Let’s take them to a new Mexican restaurant that I just heard about.  It’s close to the Academy.”

As we were getting ready to leave, Ms. Sweet suggested, “Maybe we should take two cars.  You can teach Bart how to drive your bug and one of us can bring Barbie home, so she won’t be bored while Bart is being tested.”

I followed Ms. Sweet to a Mexican restaurant.  When we walked in, there was a line waiting to be seated but it moved quickly.  As soon as we were seated, the waitress brought us two baskets of chips and a dish with queso sauce and a dish of salsa.  Barbie was sitting on her knees scooping the queso sauce with her chips.

When the waitress brought our drinks, she brought another dish of queso sauce.  When the waitress was taking our orders, Barbie ordered a taco.  She was adamant, “I don’t want any of the green or red stuff on it.  I just want the meat and the cheese.”

Ms. Sweet was laughing as she ordered, “I’ll have a taco with the red and green stuff, but I would like chicken instead of beef.”

Bart looked up, “I’d like the daily luncheon special, please.”

The waitress looked at him, “What kind of meat would like, Sir?”

Bart didn’t realize what he was saying, “I’ll have one of each.”

The waitress didn’t even smile, “Very well, sir.”  She turned to me, “And what can I bring you, sir?”

I winked, “I’ll just have a seafood enchilada.  I’ll probably have to help my son eat his food.”

The service was quick.  The waitress brought the plates.  Barbie’s had exactly what she asked for which was just a plain taco.  Ms. Sweet had her chicken taco, but she also had Spanish rice, refried beans and corn bread.

My plate had the same things except that I had the enchilada.   I thought Bart’s eyes were going to pop out of his head when he saw what was on his platter.  He had three tacos and three enchiladas and three burritos with all the trimmings.

He looked at the waitress.  She was ready, “Well, you said you wanted one of each.  Don’t call me if you get sick.”

Bart looked at us as if asking for help.  Ms. Sweet wasn’t about to give Bart any space, “Look kid, you ordered it.  You'd better eat all of it or we aren’t taking you out to lunch anymore.  Miss, would you please bring him two doggie bags.  He’ll be eating that food for the rest of the week.  He may never be able to eat Mexican food again.”

The waitress was enjoying the shenanigans.  She went and got two take out containers, “Here you go, sonny.  We wouldn’t want you to throw up here.  I sure don’t to clean up the mess.”

Bart looked at Ms. Sweet and me, “You two planned this, didn’t you?”

Barbie looked up from eating her taco, “Uh uh, I heard you say you wanted one of each; you better eat or it’s going to get cold.”

Bart ate the three tacos but put the enchiladas and burritos in the Styrofoam containers.  I insisted that I pay the bill, but Ms. Sweet left the tip.

Ms. Sweet led us to the Monmouth Academy.  As soon as we walked into the office, the principal or headmaster came out of his office, “Amber, it so good to see you.  This must be the young man you called me about?”

The gentleman walked to Bart and stuck out his hand, “Good afternoon young man, I’m Gregory G. Gregory.  Yep, you heard me. Gregory was the only word my Mother could mutter when she saw how ugly I was.”

Bart shook hands with the gentleman, “Good afternoon, sir, I’m Bart Leavitt and this is one of my Dads, Mark Leavitt.  The young lady with Ms. Sweet is Barbie Jefferson.”

Bart’s next comment caught everyone by surprise, “Mr. Gregory, either you have had a lot of facial surgery or you’re wearing a Halloween mask.”

Ms. Sweet started to laugh, “Greggie, I think Bart got you good.”

I shook Mr. Gregory’s hand, “Please to meet you Dr. Gregory?”

Mr. Gregory looked at me funny, “What makes you think that I’m a doctor?”

I almost didn’t know how to answer without seeming like a smart aleck.  “I assumed that your were a doctor because the sign on your office door says Dr. G. G. Gregory.”

“Amber, I think the academy is in big trouble   I can feel it in my bones; these two clowns aren’t going to miss anything.  I have arranged for one of the students to show you around the facility before Bart talks to one of the counselors.  Amber, as you requested, he will be visiting with Angela Wagner.”

The secretary looked up, “Dr. Gregory, Andrew is on his way.”

Andy North, the drummer from the band, came into the office.  He looked at Bart, “Don’t tell me that I'm escorting Elvis Bart and Nano Mark around the facility.  I can’t even get away from them here at school.”

It was apparent  that Dr. Gregory wasn’t very pleased with the way Andy was acting, “Andrew, that is no way to impress visitors to the school.”

Bart answered, “Sir, Andy and the rest of the band spent the evening last night at our house practicing and Dad Mark asked them to call him Nano Mark or Mark.”

Andy looked at Ms. Sweet, “It’s good to see you again Mrs. Sweet.  Thanks for your help.  Kenny is doing great at his new school and will be back on track in the fall.  Andy knelt down and looked at Barbie.  I don’t think I know you.  What’s your name?”

I was curious as to how Barbie would respond.  She did very well, “I’m Barbie Jefferson and I’m almost five years old.”

Andy was putting things together, “So, your Daddy must be Ty Jefferson and Nano Mark is your Nano.”

Barbie nodded yes. 

Andy looked at Mrs. Sweet, “Will you be accompanying us on the tour, Mrs. Sweet?”

She shook her head no, “I’m going to take Barbie home so she can rest.  Mark, I have arranged for Victoria to bring Bart home after school.  We have some things we need to talk about.”

Andy showed us around the school and I was quite impressed.  I guess I was expecting the same kind of environment as when I went to Catholic school.  Instead it was very open and friendly and students were intermingling as they worked.

We saw Steve and he came to talk to us.  “So what did your other Dad say, Bart.”

I told the two guys what Zack had said and Steve laughed, “That sounds like something my old man would say.  “Bart, are you going to be going to school here?”

Bart looked at me and I answered, “Guys, we're exploring the possibility.  We’ll know more after he meets with Mrs. Wagner after the tour.”

Andy looked at his watch, “Speaking of which, she is expecting us about now.”

Andy led us to the administrative section of the building and knocked on an open door.  “Mrs. Wagner, I have the Leavitts with me.  I believe you’re expecting them.”

“Show them in Andy.”

We were unprepared for what we saw; a lady in a wheelchair was moving toward us.  “Good afternoon, I’m Angela Wagner.  Gees guys, you don’t make this easy.  I can’t tell which of you I am supposed to be working with.  Andy, maybe you better leave both of them here.”

Bart was giggling, “Yeh, I brought my son for you check out.”

I put out my hand, Mrs. Wagner, “I’m Mark Leavitt and this is my son, Bart.  Thanks for taking the time to visit with him.  He knows how to get in touch with me if you need to talk to me.”

Mrs. Wagner had a twinkle in her eye, “Are you sure that I don’t need to work with you too.  I’ll bet Amber has been taking good care of you.  I’ll talk to her later, after I have evaluated Bart.  I may need to have him return to finish everything just I so I can see you again.”

I decided to dish it back, “I’ll tell Bart’s other Dad that you need to talk to him.”

Mrs. Wagner was laughing, “This is more complicated than Amber told me it was.  It may take several more visits to get to the bottom of this case.  Andy, please escort Mr. Leavitt to the office.  Mark, I’ll call you later.”

As Andy and I were walking to the office, Andy asked, “Nano Mark, is Bart’s other Dad as good looking as you are?”

I didn’t know how to answer that question, “Andy, thanks for the compliment, but I think you might need to decide that for yourself.  I will tell you though, that Bart’s Dad, Zack, looks more like you than he does me.”

Andy got a funny look on his face, “Nano Mark, did you just tell me that Dad Zack was a black American?”

“No, what I said was that his skin was darker than mine.”

“Dad Nano, don’t play mind games with me.  So you wouldn’t have any problem if I especially liked a male that has skin about the same color as yours.”

I stopped, “Andy, listen to me.  You’re still very young.  When you and Steve left last night, I started to wonder.  Just promise me that you won’t do anything you shouldn’t until you get to college.  You would be completely ostracized if you did especially in a small school like this, where everyone knows everybody.  If you guys ever want to talk, please call, and I’ll arrange to talk to you when Bart isn’t around.”

Andy had tears in his eyes, “Nano Mark, thank you.  I have no one I can talk to.  Steve is just as confused as I am.” 

I hugged Andy, “Dude, Zack and I will be glad to talk to you anytime.”

I went into the office to sign out.  Dr. Gregory was standing there talking to the secretary, “Well, Mark, what did you think?”

“Dr. Gregory, I am very impressed.  I hope that Bart will be able to meet your standards.”

Dr. Gregory nodded, “Amber will make sure he does.  She tells me that we need to get you involved when Bart starts.  She tells me that you are more of an expert in early childhood.  Perhaps you would be interested in a position at our Junior academy for grades one through eight.”

I shook my head no, “Sir, I think I’ll stick with my present job.”

Dr. Gregory was laughing, “Amber said you would say something like that.  I don’t how you impressed that woman, but she thinks you and Zack walk on water.”

I shook Dr. Gregory’s hand and said my goodbyes.  As I was walking to the van, I was wondering what Ms. Sweet wanted to talk about.

When I walked into the house, Ms Sweet was in the kitchen reading and drinking coffee, “Well, it’s about time.  What did you think of the school?”

“Ms. Sweet, I was very impressed.  I am still concerned about the cost, though.”

Ms. Sweet was frowning, “Mark, the cost to you and Zack will be minimal.  You may have to buy a few school supplies.  I thought I had made that clear.  I am one of the school’s major benefactor’s and as such, I am on the governing board.  Money is not an issue.”

Ms. Sweet changed gears, “Mark, I had the strangest call from Richard last night.  He was really upset.  He said he had talked to you and that you said he should talk to me.  Can you explain what caused that to happen?”

I explained, “Richard called last night to see what I thought of the people who were in the band.  I explained that they seemed like a neat bunch of teenagers.  He explained about Tory’s previous boyfriend, but then he challenged me about what kind of example Zack and I were setting for the young people.  Quite frankly, I wanted to slam down the receiver, but instead, I suggested that he call you and ask for your input.”

Ms. Sweet shook her head, “I guess I should have guessed as much.  I need to tell you about Richard and Trish, that’s why it is important that you and Zack be a support system for their three boys.”

Our discussion was interrupted by the four young children coming in the door, “Nano Mark, we’re home what’s for a snack?”

I looked at the children, “You’re out of luck.  I just got home.  You will need to find your own snack.”

Bobby looked at me, “I guess we will need to talk to our Dads and tell them that you aren’t doing your job anymore.  Mrs. Sweet, do you want to be our Nanny?”

“Good grief no!  I don’t want to work for any spoiled brats that can’t help themselves.  Barbie help.  Your bothers, sister and Chris are being mean to us.  Come help us.  Show them how to fix their own snack.”

Barbie went to the refrigerator and pulled out a box.  She climbed on a chair and got a plate and a glass.  She poured a glass of milk and took a cupcake out of the box and put it on the table and started to eat.

The other four children realized that they weren’t going to be waited on, so the did as Barbie had done.  Chris looked us, “That was mean.  I’m going to tell Judge Evans how you are treating us.”

To be continued...

Feedback always welcome:     

Editor's Notes:  Great chapter as always. 

I think Bart is going to do very well at that school. He and Tori will do well in the band too. 

Tori's father seems like a real piece of work, doesn't he? 

Mark seems to really be in demand; everyone seems to want to hire him, but he is loyal and I don't think he is going to change employers any time soon.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 12/19/08