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

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

Chapter 53

The Trip

Tuesday morning was almost a repeat of Monday, except that Mr. Oleander said he would walk but he wasn’t going to run and Bart stayed behind to fix breakfast, saying he was just a little stiff from having played tennis the evening before.  He looked at Zack and me, “Dads, I think I used some muscles I didn’t know I had.”

Tio walked with his Dad while Chris ran with Zack and me.  He looked up at us, “Dads, I think maybe Mr. Oleander and Tio will be okay.  Tio wants so much for his Daddy to love him like you do me.”

Zack looked at me and I’m sure we both had tears in our eyes.  When we arrived back at the house, everyone was sitting down to scrambled eggs, toast and sausages.  Bart looked at us, “Dads, maybe you'd better call Mr. Rakes and tell him I need to borrow two canes.”

When I arrived at the school with the children, I was standing at the door greeting the children when Dr. Plummer came to talk to me. “Mark, I understand that you and Dr. Del Rio are going to be gone for the rest of the week.  Would you care to share what’s happening?”

“Dr. Plummer, I’ll come to your office and explain what’s happening, after we get the children settled.”

Wilt and Jason arrived and they were beaming and there was absolutely no question about what was happening.  I was almost afraid that they were going to kiss each other in front of the children.

When DoDo arrived, she grinned, “Mark, I was so pleased with what happened last night.  I would never have guessed that Roddy would have been brave enough to say and do what he did.”

After the last of the stragglers arrived, I went to Dr. Plummer’s office.  And after I explained why we were going to be gone, she threw up her hands, “Oh great, now we’re going to be having a celebrity in our school and two parents of celebrities on our staff.  Mark, I couldn’t be more pleased.  I have a request to ask of you.  Would you, DoDo and Wilt please attend the field day activities?  We have had some problems in the past with some of the students, during the events.”

I went to our offices and told Wilt and DoDo what Dr. Plummer requested and it was a good thing we were there. Field day was divided into two sessions.  The three lower grades had their activities before lunch and grades three through five were in the afternoon. All three of us had to intervene with at least one child going into meltdown at each session.

As I was driving the children home, Chris asked, “Dad, why can’t people understand that they can’t be the best at everything.  Why can’t they just relax and have a good time?”

Bobby was sitting in front with me.  He turned around, “Some parents think that it is more important for the children to be the best at everything.”

Tio added, “Yeah, like my old parents.  I think my Dad might be changing.”

When we arrived at the house, Bart was starting dinner, “Dad, Barbie and I laid out clothes for everyone to take on their trip, on their beds.  I tried to make it as little as possible.  I called Uncle Ty to see what he wanted his children to take.  By the way, the cleaners did a good job on Tio’s clothes and they are as good as new.”

The children were eating their snacks, and I went to check to see what Bart had laid out and it looked great to me.  I packed Billy and Bobby’s things in one suitcase and Becky and Barbie’s in another.  I went to see what he had laid out for us.  What he had laid out for Chris and Tio was fine, and I went to get a suitcase to put it in. 

When I got to Zack’s and my room, I started to laugh.  All that was there was a thong.  I went to the kitchen and asked,  “Was that for you or me?”

Bart giggled, “Me of course.  Dad, I had no idea what to pack for you.”

Bart and I were finishing fixing dinner, and the children were setting the table when Zavi and Ron arrived and announced. “We’re here to kidnap two eight year olds.”

Chris looked at them, “Which two?  If it’s Tio and me, we’re busy.  We’re having enchiladas for dinner and they’re really good.  Go wash you hands and we’ll set another place for Mr. Rakes.”

After dinner and the dishes were done with Ron helping, I might add, he announced to the rest of us, “We’re going to take Tio and Chris to check my apartment to see if it would be  suitable for Tio to live there.  We’ll have them home by 8:30, since they have an early flight in the morning.”

We had all of our things collected in the hallway to the garage when  the call came in for Ty, announcing that his reservations were changed to about the same time as those for us going to New York.”

I had his children’s luggage packed, but Tip and Ty went scurrying since they weren’t scheduled to leave until three on Wednesday afternoon instead of nine thirty in the morning.  Ty looked at us, “Why don’t I call a shuttle service and have them pick the lot of us up, and take us to the airport.  They can deliver us and pick us up when we return home and we’ll save the cost of parking, since there are so many of us.”

I had Bart call the band members to tell them what was happening.  It was almost 8:30 when Zavi and Ron arrived with the two boys.  Chris and Tio hugged Zack and me and Chris announced, “We’re going to go get ready for bed.”

Tio hugged his Dad and Ron before he left.  Zavi walked Ron to the door and when he returned he announced, “I need to go to bed.  I’m exhausted.”

Zack and I went to the apartment and Bart was lying in his sofa bed singing.  We hugged him and went to check on the two young guys and they were already asleep with Farmer Bear between them.  When Zack and I were in bed, he decreed, “Markie, you’d better feed me my vitamins so I can get through the rest of the week without you.”

He got a double dose of vitamins to make sure that he would be able to survive.

The next morning, we were awakened by two over excited young boys.  Chris was complaining, “Dads, you gotta get up or we’ll miss our plane.”

When we got to the kitchen, everyone was there, eating.  I looked at the clock and it wasn’t even six thirty yet.  Bart was in charge and had fixed Eggos and bacon and no one was complaining.  Everyone rinsed their own dishes except for Barbie, and everyone was ready for the shuttle to arrive.  Amazingly enough, everyone was at the house before two shuttle buses arrived.  We had a large one to take the those of us going to New York, and a smaller one for the Disney World travelers.”

When we arrived at the airport, we went to separate airlines and a porter came to unload our luggage.  When he saw how much we had, he handed the cart to me, “Sir, please have the young men start loading this cart while I get two more carts.” 

I sent Bart with the porter and when we entered the line to the ticket counter, I thought the T.S.A. people were going to go to the bathroom in their pants.  The person who was directing the traffic ordered, “You need to have some of these people take their own luggage and go to another line.”

My hackles went up, “We’re traveling as a group, and we were told that luggage would not be a problem.  Call the head of your team and get him or her here and get them here now!”

An older gentleman appeared and asked, “What’s the problem here?”

I looked at the gentleman’s nametag, “Mr. Longway, this young lady says we can’t all clear you’re inspection at the same station.  We’re traveling together, and it would be nearly impossible for us to separate our luggage and go to the different stations.”

Mr. Longway looked at me, “Young man, what is your name?”

“My name’s Mark Leavitt and I’m escorting these young people to New York for a television show.”

Mr. Longway looked at the young woman, “Danica, I advised you people that this party would be coming through this morning.  Mr. Leavitt, I apologize for any inconvenience.”

We were cleared through security and checked in, in almost no time.  I asked the agent who was checking us in how much the luggage was going to cost and he replied, “Sir, it’s already been arranged for.”

We got through the last security check point and Chris announced, “Dad, I need to go to the bathroom really bad.  Those people really scared me.”

Andy and Steve took Chris and Tio’s hands, “Come on, we have to go too.”

I waited for the four guys to come out of the bathroom before I went to our gate.  Not that I didn’t trust Andy and Steve, I didn’t trust the weirdos in the bathroom.  We were sitting, waiting for the attendants to call for us to board.  The attendant announced, “We’d like to board our passengers in rows one through eight, and our frequent flyers at this time.”

I looked at the three tickets I had, and Chris, Tio and I were in row 1.

Our entire group stood and went to the area where we were checked again, so we could board.  The attendant looked at Chris and Tio, “I guess you’re a little young to have a photo ID.”

Chris pointed to me, “That’s my Dad, and he has a power or attorney for Antonio.”

When we arrived on the plane, Mrs. Sweet was seated next to me and the two young guys were seated across from me.  The Del Rio’s were behind  Mrs. Sweet and me and Roddy and Bart were behind Chris and Tio.

 

When everyone was seated and their backpacks were stowed, the other passengers started to come onboard.  A large middle aged man stopped and glared at the two young guys, “How come you get to sit in the seats with all the leg room.  I always get to sit there when I fly this flight.”

Chris looked at him, “I guess you won’t be able to say 'always' again.  This is where we were assigned to sit.  Do you want to see our boarding passes?”

The steward interceded, “Mr. Passmore, you’re holding up boarding.  Please find your seat so we can take off on time.”

After we had leveled off, Chris and Tio were in the same seat looking out the window and Bart was sitting beside Tory.

When the Captain announced that we would be landing at Newark in 15 minutes, the two young guys were strapped back in their seats and Bart had returned to his original seat.  When we had landed, Mr. Passmore had approached the front of the aircraft with his carry on bag.  The attendant stood, “Mr. Passmore, the fasten seat belt sign is still on; go sit down.”

“Listen you asshole, I have an important appointment and I need to get off the stupid plane as soon as possible.”

I stood, “I believe that Mr. Potter asked you to sit down.  Do you need the two of us to help sit down and make sure that you are the last person to exit the airplane.  If that’s what you want, I’ll be glad to assist him.”

The gentleman returned to his seat.  But when the Fasten Seat Belt light when off, he came charging up the aisle and Bart stuck out his foot and man fell flat on his face so hard that his nose was bleeding.

The man was screaming, “I’ll sue you, you little punk.  You did that on purpose.”

The flight attendant and the other passengers were trying not to laugh.  Chris stood and looked at the man, “Mister, that’s what happens to people who think they are better than everyone else.  I hope your nose is broken, so everyone will know what a prick you are.”

The man started to stand and grab for Chris.  I stood in front of the man and challenged, “If you so much as touch my son, you’re going to be hurting so bad that you will never be able to sit down to fly again.  Come on Chris and Tio, let’s get out of here before the stench of this man's blood makes us ill.”

Mrs. Sweet, Chris, Tio and I exited the airplane and were waiting for the other twelve people.  We had met two security guards in the runway as we were exiting the aircraft and they reappeared with a handcuffed Mr. Passmore.

The other twelve of our party finally arrived and we went to collect our baggage.  We were met by a young man holding a placard that said ‘Mark Leavitt Party.’

“I’m Mark Leavitt.”

“Mr. Leavitt, I was expecting someone older than you.  We’re here to take you and your people to lunch and then to have them get set up for the show this afternoon at four.  Hopefully we will have time to get you checked into your hotel before the show.”

The guys helped load the mini bus and we were off to lunch, which turned out to be at a deli, and the young people could have whatever they wanted.  It turned out our hosts paid for it.

The next stop was the studio where the show was going to take place.  The band members positioned their instruments and Bart put his costume changes into a dressing room.  Chris, however, refused to leave Farmer Bear.

When we arrived at the hotel, I asked how the suites were laid out.  The young man, who was checking us in told us, “Mr. Leavitt, rooms are rather tight this week because of a big convention.  Your suite has two bedrooms with two queen sized beds in each room and a sitting room.  The other two suites are smaller and have two bedrooms that have king size beds and share a bath.”

I looked at the assembled people, “You three young ladies can share a suite with Mrs. Sweet.  Tim and Jeremy, why don’t you share the suite with the Mr. and Mrs. Del Rio, and the rest of us can share our suite.”

When we had registered, our escort looked at us, “We’ll be back to pick you up at six thirty, since the show is taped at eight o’clock and then aired at eleven o’clock.  That gives the censors time to edit out objectionable material.  I suggest that you have something to eat in the meantime.”

I looked at the assembled group, “Why don’t we meet in our suite as soon as everyone is ready and we can decide what to do.”

When we arrived at our suite, I was challenged by Bart, “Dad, why did you decide that this was the way we should sleep.”

Chris looked at Bart, “Look, me and Tio will sleep with Dad and you and Roddy can sleep in the other bed.  I’m pretty sure that Steve and Andy won’t mind sharing a bed, and I’m guessing that perhaps Kenny and Dusty won’t either, since they’re always together.”

I admonished Chris, “Chris, that was totally out of line.”

I looked at my eight guys, “Get yourselves ready to meet your public.”

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:  I think that jerk who tried to cause trouble on the plane got just what he deserved.  It is amazing that there are so many people who think they should be treated better than anyone else.

I am sure that the Fab 10 will be a real hit, and of course Chris and Farmer Bear will be very popular as well.  We will have to wait for the next chapter to find out for sure just how popular everyone was.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 10/09/09