Bart and Chris
by: E Walk
(© 2009 by the Author)
 

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Chapter 52

Meet Nano, Junior

On Monday morning, Zack and I were awakened by Chris and Tio, “Dads, Bart’s in a bad mood this morning.”

I sat up, “Why is he in a bad mood?”

“Because we caught him playing with his penis.  Dads, can we go running?  It’s still early and it’s a nice morning.”

I looked at the clock and it was only six fifteen. “Okay, go start the coffee.  Put the filter in and three scoops of coffee and fill it to the line that says twelve cups.”

“Dad, I’ll tell Bart to do it.  He’s almost dressed.  He kicked us out of the bedroom.”

When we arrived in the kitchen, Bart was talking to Zavi, “But, Mr. Oleander, how could you let that happen?”

“Bart, I was stupid.  The woman had me completely duped.”

I looked around, “Where are Chris and Tio?”

“They took coffee to Uncle Tip and Uncle Ty and were going to wake the other four children.”

Chris came skipping into the kitchen, “Dads, can we go now?”

I asked, “Yes, but whose going to fix breakfast.”

Chris answered, “This can be a cereal day.  Mr. Oleander, are you going to go with us?”

“I’ll go to the park with you, but I’ll sit and drink my coffee while you exercise.”

Chris got out the cereal and the bananas so everyone would know that it was a cereal day and we went to the park.

After the run, Tio was walking with his Dad as we walked back to the house, “Daddy, you really should run with us, it makes you feel better.”

When we arrived at the house, Bobby announced, “Nano Mark, we’re just about out of cereal.”

Bart shook his head, “Bobby, there’s more in the pantry.”

Bart went to the pantry and brought four new boxes of cereal, “This should last us until you get back from Disney World.”

The day at school was productive and when I arrived home with the children, Bart was agitated, “Dad, Mr. Corbin called and wants you to call him immediately.  He said it was important.”

I called Mr. Corbin.  I won’t bore you with the conversation but he told me that the sponsors of the show had seen the tapes and Chris and Farmer Bear and the Fab 9 now 10 and wanted us to come to New York on Wednesday instead of Thursday.

“Mr. Corbin, I can’t commit us to that now.  I need to clear it with everyone and it would mean changing the airline reservations and that could prove costly.  The young people don’t get out of school until Wednesday.”

“Mark, I appreciate the concern, but these sponsors are willing to pay whatever it costs to get the young people here on Wednesday.”

“The Fab Ten are due here shortly and I’ll run it by my sons.  I’ll call you as soon as I can get a response.”

After talking to the Fab 10 and having them make some phone calls, we were cleared to go leave for New York on Wednesday with one exception.  I called Zack’s office and he came on.  When I told him what was happening, he apologized, “Mark, there is no way I can be away for three days.  In fact Zavi is going to be working with me the next several days so he can fill in for me when I’m gone.  I’ll be fine.  Remember, I just finished six years of college, taking care of myself.  Why don’t you take Tio in my place?”

I called the airlines and told them what was happening and I was able to change the reservations and we were going to be departing KCI at ten o’clock Wednesday morning.  When I enquired about the cost to transport the instruments and costumes, I was appalled. 

I was fixing dinner as I was making my calls.  I called Mr. Corbin again and told him that I was able to change the reservations, but that the cost the airline was going to charge for us to bring the costumes and the instruments was rather steep and he put me on hold.

“Mark, the sponsors will cover the costs.  I’ve reserved three family suites for you at the Seven Seas Hotel. I hope that’s enough.  We’ll pick you up at the airport and my people will help you get to where you need to go.  You can’t believe how excited people are to meet these young people, especially Chris and Farmer Bear.”

I called the young children and told them to get ready for dinner and asked them to set the table.  I went to the basement and talked to the teenagers.  We made plans to meet at our house and load the instruments and whatever at seven o’clock on Wednesday morning.

When I returned to the kitchen, Chris and Tio were sitting at the breakfast bar.  Chris looked at me, “We didn’t know if Tio’s Dad would be here so we set a place for him just in case.  Dad, it’s going to be boring for me when we go to New York.  I’m going to be the only little kid there.”

“Chris, Dad Zack says he can’t go, and he suggested that maybe Tio could go in his place.  We need to check with Mr. Oleander to see if he would permit Antonio to accompany us.”

Chris was giggling, “Dad, why didn’t you say what you meant.  Why didn’t you say, ‘We need to ask Tio’s Dad if he can go with us?’”

Our conversation was interrupted by the door to the garage opening, and  Zack and Zavi came in.  Chris jumped down and went and hugged Zack, “Hi, Daddy, did you have a good day?”

Zack dropped his briefcase and picked Chris up, “Yes, Christopher Warren, I had a very busy day, but it was a good day.  How about you?”

“Dad, I had a good day, but Dad Mark just made it even better.”

“Oh, what happened?”

“Dad Mark said that you suggested that we should ask Mr. Oleander’s permission for Antonio to accompany us on our journey to New York since you will be unable to assist him in making sure that we are not mistreated.”

Zavi was laughing, “Chris, I’m a simple man and I have no idea what you just told your Dad.”

Chris looked at Tio, “You better explain to your Dad what’s happening.”

Tio walked toward his Dad and stuck out his right hand, “Good evening Father, I trust you had good day.”

That caught Chris’ attention but he didn’t say anything.  Zavi, grabbed Tio and I thought Tio was going to cry.  “How come Mr. Zack gets a kiss and a hug and all I get is a handshake?” 

Zavi picked Tio up and kissed him on the lips and that was all it took for the dam to break.  Tio was hugging his Dad and sobbing, “Daddy, why couldn’t it have always been like this?”

The touching scene was interrupted by the garage door, and Tio pleaded, “Daddy, please put me down.  I don’t want anyone else to know that I’ve been crying.”

We had finished eating and Bart was supervising the cleanup.  When the young people were out of the room, Zavi sighed, “Mark, there is no way that I can afford for Tio to go to New York with you.”

“Xavier, our travel expenses and hotel expenses are being paid for by the people in New York.  I can cover the other expenses that we might incur.  We aren’t asking for you to pay anything other than to love Antonio unconditionally.”

I hadn’t heard the doorbell, but Bart escorted Ron Rakes into the dining room.  Ron apologized, “I should have called, but I was so excited by what has been happening that I had to come and talk to Mr. Oleander.  I think he is going to be a very happy man.”

Bart asked, “Mr. Rakes, have you eaten?”

Ron looked at Bart, “As a matter of fact, I’ve been so busy that I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”

Bart turned and said, “I’ll go nuke you some food so you don’t die of starvation.”

As Ron was eating, he explained, “Mr. Oleander, I have the check for $20,000.00 that I promised you.  In addition, we have recovered the things that Mrs. Oleander and her accomplices removed from the house before they torched it.  The Arson Squad has confirmed that Mrs. Oleander and her two friends set fire to both of the properties.  It seems that her two accomplices have long histories of arson.”

Zavi asked the obvious question, “Ron, what are you suggesting that I do?”

Ron nodded, “Do you have the paperwork that proves that Mrs. Oleander has no legal claim to the properties?”

Zavi seemed confused, but answered, “I did, but it was in a wall safe in the house.  It was probably destroyed by the fire.”

Mr. Rakes had finished his dinner and laughed, “It was so good to not have to eat fast food for a change.  My compliments to the chef.  I’m going to take Mr. Oleander to the house and see if the documents he was referring to might still happen to be there.”

Ron picked up his eating utensils and took them to the kitchen.

Bart looked at me and I shrugged.  Bart asked, “Dads, is it okay for me to go play tennis with Roddy, Andy and Steve?”

Zack frowned, “I didn’t know that you knew how to play tennis.”

Bart smirked, “I don’t, but Andy and Steve said it would be good practice for developing my agility skills for football.”

I remembered that I had seen a tennis racquet in the garage, “Bart, I believe there’s a tennis racquet on the top shelf in the garage.  I think there might even be a can of balls there also.”

Ron Rakes was laughing, “Let him go play tennis, he’ll be so sore tomorrow that he won’t be able to move without a cane.”

Bart wasn’t going to be outdone, “Mr. Rakes, for that comment, the next time you come to dinner, I’ll make sure it’s cold.”

Zavi and Ron left in Ron’s car, and Bart went to look for the racquet and balls, “Dad Mark, you were right.  The can of balls hasn’t even been opened.  I’ll be back as soon as we finish playing.  See you later.”

Tip and Ty had gone to the family room.  I looked at Zack, “I think I need an injection to make sure I don’t get into trouble while I’m stuck in New York with ten teenagers and two eight year olds for four days.”

We went to the apartment and Zack injected me so well that we had to take a shower before we could get the six youngest ready for bed.  When we arrived in the kitchen, the six young people were eating ice cream sandwiches.

Bobby spoke for the group, “I hope it’s okay that we helped ourselves.  I figured these weren’t for anything special, so I decided that they would be good for our snack and we wouldn’t need to bother you.”

I smiled, “Good thinking, Bobby.  When we get home from school tomorrow, we need to get everyone packed for your trip to Disney World and New York.  I’ll check with Dad Ty and see what kind of clothes he wants you to take after you’re ready for bed.”

Chris and Tio finished and Chris announced, “Dads, we’ll go take our shower.  Can you please get Tio some of his clean clothes.?”

I took Tio into the laundry room and all his clothes were either folded neatly on the shelf, or hanging on hangars on the rack.  “Tio, what would you like to wear tomorrow?”

“Dad Mark, since it’s field day, may I wear shorts and a tee shirt?”

“Of course.”  I got the step stool for him, “Here, climb up on this and get what you would like to wear.”

He picked out some clothes, “Are these okay?”

 

“Yes, but you might want some briefs and socks, also.”

He looked at me and giggled, “I guess I’d better wear some briefs so people won’t accidentally see my penis if I fall down.”

I hugged him, “Yep, you can bet that everyone would try to sneak a peak.”

After we had the children settled, Zack and I went to the family room and Zavi and Ron were there talking to Ty and Tip.  Ron was saying, “Ty, I suggest that you file for Mr. Oleander’s divorce immediately.  I’m guessing that Zavi will also be called to testify in the case against Mrs. Oleander and her friends.”

Ty asked, “We can take care of the divorce paperwork tomorrow, but we will have no control over whether he is called to testify.  Were you able to recover the paperwork that you needed?”

Zavi laughed, “The stars were looking out for me and Tio again.  The safe was intact and it opened on the first try.  The papers were unharmed and all of the important papers are safe.  Ron needs notarized copies of some of the papers and I told him that we could take care of that at the office tomorrow morning.  Mark, it’s as if you were sent into our lives at just the right time.”

The conversation was interrupted by Bart hobbling into the family room.  “Dads, I’m home.  Mr. Rakes, do you have a cane that I can borrow?”

Bart was chuckling, “We had a great time.  Roddy was the city tennis champion in the fifteen/sixteen year age bracket last year and was number two singles player on his high school team this year.”

Zavi looked at Bart, “Bart, I have a question to ask you.”

“Sure, ask away.”

Zavi took a deep breath, “Since you are going to be watching Ty’s four children and your brother during the day while everyone else is at work, would you consider taking care of Tio, as well?  I don’t want him to have to sit in an apartment, or wherever, all day by himself.  Both his maternal grandparents work, so I can’t ask them, and I really don‘t know anyone else I can trust.”

Bart looked at me as if looking for help, but I decided to see what he would say.   He thought before he answered, “Mr. Oleander, I wouldn’t mind watching Tio, but I might have another possible solution for you.  You and Tio already know Roddy Del Rio and he is looking for a job for the summer.  Why don’t you ask him?”

Tip spoke up, “Bart, I have a better solution.  Why don’t you and Roddy both take care of the six children?  The two of you can share the salary we were going to pay you.  That way you would have someone your own age around to talk to, but here’s the best part, he could cover for you when you have to go to football practice later in the summer.”

Bart had the funniest look on his face, “Uncle Tip, I didn’t know that I was to be paid, which really isn’t necessary, since you’re already paying Dad and we live and eat here.  Now you want me to be Nano, Junior.”

Ty stood, “Bart, we were going to talk to you and Mark about this, over the past weekend, but other issues took precedence.  I really like the idea of two of you being here with the children.  That way if one of the children were to have an accident, heaven forbid, one of you would be here to take care of the other children.  Why don’t you call Roddy and invite him over so we can take care of this tonight, since everyone is going to be busy tomorrow evening?”

Bart started toward the kitchen, “Be right back.”

When Bart returned, he announced, “Roddy is excited about the proposal.  He and his mother are on their way over to talk with you.  They’ll be here in ten minutes.”

Ron started to stand, “I should be leaving; this has nothing to do with me, since I don’t have any children and probably never will.”

Zavi shook his head no, “Ron, this very well may affect you, if Tio and I should take you up on your offer for us to move into your apartment with you until I can find someplace suitable for us to live.”

Zack poked me and I could tell he was getting the same vibes I was. 

The doorbell sounded and Bart went to get it, “Why didn’t you just walk in?”

Bart escorted Dr. DoDo and Roddy into the room and bowed, “Gentleman, Dr. DoDo Del Rio and her son Rodrigo Aurelio Del Rio.”

Roddy was laughing, “Watch it, Bartholomew Leavitt, or the next time we play tennis, I will aim one of my power serves at a certain part of your body, and you be doubled over in pain.”

Everyone was laughing.  DoDo looked around, “Bart, I know everyone except that handsome stud sitting over there next to Xavier.”

Bart pointed with his open hand, “Dr. DoDo, I'd like you to meet Mr. Ron Rakes; he is one of them insurance adjustors.  He’s handling Mr. Oleander’s insurance claims for the loss of his home and his law office.”

 

DoDo shook Ron’s hand as did Roddy.  Roddy also shook Tip, Ty and Zack’s hands.  I had forgotten that he had never been formally introduced to them.

When everyone was seated, DoDo asked, “Now, what's this about a job for the guys?”

Bart answered, “They want us to be Nano Juniors.”  He explained what Tip and Ty had said and added, “We’ll get with them and negotiate a contract after we get back from New York City and Disney World.”

Roddy stood, “I need to tell everyone so that you know up front.  I’m definitely gay.  Nano Mark already knows that, as does Bart.  I will understand if you wouldn’t want me to be around your children.”

Ty went and hugged Roddy, “Roddy, that took a lot of courage.  I’m positive that this is the best situation for all of us.  I admire you for laying it out in the open so that it wouldn’t come back to haunt you.  What you do on your own time is your business.  I have complete faith that the two of you young men will not permit the children to be put into a compromising situation.”

Roddy hugged Ty, “Thank you, sir.”

“Mom, come on; I need to go home. I have a final in the morning.”

Roddy shook everyone’s hand and Bart took the Del Rio’s to the door.

I looked at Bart when he returned, “What did you do with Tio’s dress clothes?”

“Oh, I forgot to tell you.  I took them to the dry cleaners.  I’ll pick them up tomorrow.  I couldn’t figure out how to get the smoke smell out of them.  They said they couldn’t guarantee that the smell would be completely gone, but I figured it was worth a try.”

Ron stood, “I do need to go as well, I’ll see some of you at Ty’s office in the morning.”

When Zack and I were entering our bedroom, Bart was coming out of the bathroom, “Dads, please hand me my briefs, they’re on your bed.  I’ll be finished shortly as soon as I brush my teeth.”

When Bart had gone into the living room, Zack looked at me, “Mark, is it my imagination or has Bart suddenly matured.  He's better looking than most of his friends.”

Bart was standing in the doorway, “Thanks Dad.  It’s because I have two studs for Dads.”  He hugged us, “Dads, I just wanted to tell you that I loved you both.  Thank you for believing in me and trusting me.”

What was there to say after that exit.  Zack and I fell on the bed and held each other.

Editor's Notes: Things seem to be going well for everyone.  I am not sure why, but I have a feeling that Zavi and Ron might become a lot closer friends.  I am sure that the children are going to have a wonderful time on their visits to New York or Florida.

I can hardly wait for the next chapter.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 10/02/09