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

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Chapter 60

The Curtain Comes Down

When we landed, we went to collect our luggage and all of the paraphernalia that we had, and made our way to the mini-bus that was waiting to take us take us back to Tip and Ty’s house where all the cars were parked.

When we arrived at the house, Zack was waiting for us with Zavi Oleander and Ron Rakes.  Chris ran to Zack and hugged him, “Dad, we missed you. We had a good time, until yesterday.”

Zack looked at me, “What happened yesterday?”

Chris answered, “I'll tell you after everyone leaves.”

The band members took their instruments to the basement.  Tio’s Dad was talking to Roddy, “Rod, you are going to take care of Tio, right?  Are you still planning to do it here, so you can help Bart?”

Roddy nodded, “What time will you be dropping him off, here?”

Ron answered, “I’ll drop him on my way to the office, since it’s not far from here.  Tio will probably be here about 8:45.”

Tio looked at his Dad, “Daddy, does that mean I’m going to have two Dads like Chris does?”

Ron picked Tio up, “Would it bother you to have two Dads?”

Tio hugged and kissed Ron, “Nope, but I get to be the boss like Chris is, right?  Dad, put me down, I’m too big to be held.  Chris and I need to go get my other things and bring them down so we can go home. I want to see where I’m going to be living.  Will I still be able to go to the same school?”

Zavi nodded yes, “Yes, son, you will still be able to go to the same school.”

After everyone had departed,  Bart, Chris and I filled Zack in on everything that happened  in New York.  He got upset when we told him about what had happened to Chris at the theatre. 

Zack informed us that Ty had called and their flight was delayed and they wouldn’t be arriving until about nine o’clock.  When we finished eating the meal that Zack had fixed in the crock pot, the two boys were taking care of the dishes and we heard them talking.

Chris asked Bart, “Do you think, we’ll ever see Jeff again.  If it hadn’t been for him, that man might have really hurt me.”

Bart answered, “Chris, I’m guessing that we will see him again.  I can’t figure him out.  He must have money, and I’m guessing something bad happened to him, like happened to you and me.  Maybe someday we’ll find out.”

Chris sighed, “I hope we see him again.  I think Roddy really likes him.  Do you think we’ll ever see Allie and his brother again?  They are good, aren’t they?”

Bart chuckled, “Allie’s Granddad was a stitch.  He kept referring to Allie as Little Al.  He looked like a typical cowboy.  He was wearing  cowboy boots and a bola tie.  I was surprised that he didn't have a cowboy hat on, as well.”

 

“Bart, where is Algeria anyway?”

Bart answered, “It’s in northern Africa.  I’ll show you after we finish, where it is.”

Chris giggled, “I’m glad we were never hit by a bullet like Allie, his brother and Mr. Waller.  That would hurt.”

After the two guys left, Zack put his hand on my you know what.  “It sounds as if you met some interesting people in New York.  I hope you were able to keep your penis in your pants.”

Chris returned and sat down next to us, “Dads, what am I supposed to do with the checks that people kept giving us?  Bart says we should put them in the bank.”

I hugged Chris, “That’s probably a good idea.  You need to save the money until you find something that you really want to buy.”

Chris persisted, “Dads, how soon can you take me to the bank, so I don’t lose them or someone steals them.”

Zack was laughing, “I’ll come home at lunchtime tomorrow and take you to the bank.  How many checks do you have and how much are they worth?”

Chris jumped up, “We got four checks.  I don’t how much money I have.  I didn’t add it up.  I’ll go get them.”

Bart came to where we were sitting in the living room and handed me the mobile phone, “Dad Nano, Mr. Oleander would like to talk to you.”

“This is Mark.”

“Mark, this is a joke isn’t it.  Tio didn’t really get paid for doing the shows, did he?”

“Zavi, the checks are not a joke.  Chris included Tio in his act, and he got paid as well as the other performers.  Chris was just asking Zack and me what he should do with his checks, when you called.”

Zavi laughed, “Heck, my son has more money than I do.  Tio hasn’t stopped talking about the trip since we got in the car.  The kid has done things that I’ve never done.  Thanks for taking him with you.  I’m sure this will be an experience that he won’t soon forget.  Talk to you later.”

I had just turned off the phone when it rang again.  “This is Mark Leavitt.”

“Nano Mark, Jeff is going to be coming to spend the week with us.  He’s going to be arriving on Thursday night.  He has a concert at the Arts Center on Sunday night.  Mom and Dad have okayed that he stay here with us.”

“Oh, so you two are going to be shacking up, are you?”

“Nano Mark, give me a break.  Jeff wants to talk to you when he gets here.”

“Rod, why does he want to talk to me?  I hardly know the young man.”

“Nano Mark, I don’t know.  I do know that he thinks you’re some sort of god, because of the way you treated us.  He hasn’t talked very much about his life, but I don’t think it has been that great, even though he obviously has some money.  I couldn’t believe that he paid the tab for our meals at the hotel last night.  My Mother would like to talk to you.”

DoDo started to talking, “Mark, do you realize how much money the kids made?  I can’t believe they got paid that much and we still did everything that we did and the only thing we had to pay for was some meals.  I not sure if we will be able to bring Roddy back to Earth.  It’s as if he’s drunk, knowing that Jeff is coming to visit.  What time are we going to meet, tomorrow?”

I started to laugh, “DoDo, you sound like Chris.  You just talked about three very distinct things without taking a breath.  Why don’t we meet at the school at nine.  I’ll call Wilt and tell him that we’ll be meeting at nine. Talk to you tomorrow.”

I added, “Tell Roddy to go take a cold shower to cool his hormones down.”

Chris and Zack were at the table and Zack was saying, “Chris, I think you need to teach me how to be a ventriloquist.  You’re making more money than I am.  We need to get this money in the bank so it can make you some more money.”

Chris shrugged, “I’m going to go get ready for bed.  It’s going to seem strange without Tio.”

I hugged Chris, “Son, we’ll be there as soon as the others get back from Florida.”

Zack and I watched as Chris went up the stairs and Zack pulled me close, “I think our two boys are growing up.  I think the New York experience was good for them.”

I kissed Zack, “I need to make another phone call.  I need to call and talk to Wilt.  I need to go check the number.”

I went to get my briefcase to get the telephone number.  I dialed, “This is Jason, how can I help you?”

“Jason, it’s Mark Leavitt.  May I talk to Wilt?”

“Aw gees, do you gotta talk to him, now.  I was just getting ready to punish him because he was a bad boy.”

I wasn’t sure what to think, “Have him call me when you get through punishing him.”

“Mark, here he is.”

“What’s up, Mark?”

“Nothing’s up, here.  But it sounds as if that might not be the case there.  The reason I called is to tell you we were going to be meeting at nine tomorrow morning, at the school.”

“That’s great.  That will give me time to get revenge for the punishment I’m going to receive tonight, before I need to be at work.  Seriously, Mark, Jason and I have been talking about what we're going to be doing, and we both think that we should include him or another counselor on the team so that we don’t step on anybody’s toes.  Are there funds to include an additional person on the planning team?”

“Wilt, I’ll check first thing tomorrow.”  I started to laugh, “Bring Jason with you tomorrow, so I see how badly you beat him up.”

Jason came on the phone, “Mark, you’re nothing but a lecherous old man who wants to see what we look like in our natural splendor.”

“Jason, I wouldn’t want to have to throw up all over you, if I saw you in your natural splendor.  Talk to you tomorrow.”

I had just turned off the phone when we heard the door open and Billy’s voice announced.  “We’re home.  Is anyone here?”

I called back, “Nope, no one’s here.”

Billy came and plopped down between Zach and me. “Nano Mark and Uncle Zach, we had a great time.  You need to take Chris there, someday.  Where are Chris and Tio?”

Zack answered, “Chris is probably asleep in his bed, and Tio is home with his dad.”

Billy looked downtrodden, “We have some souvenirs for them.”

I hugged Billy, “They’ll be here in the morning.  You can give the souvenirs to the boys, then.  I think it’s time that we get you in bed.  It’s already after nine o’clock.”

Ty was carrying Barbie when he entered, “Mark, I’ll get the girls ready for bed if you’ll take care of the boys.”

Zack and I helped Billy and Bobby up the steps with their luggage.  After the two boys brushed their teeth and went to the bathroom, we put them into bed and hugged them and it was as if Billy’s energizer battery ran out of juice and he was gone.  I hugged Bobby and he whispered, “Nano Mark, is my penis always going to get hard on it’s own, all the time?”

“Bobby, we’ll talk more about that tomorrow when we’re fresh.  I’ve had a very long day, too.”

When Zack and I finally got to the apartment, both guys were sleeping in bed and Chris was curled against Bart, holding Farmer Bear.

Zack and I made up for lost time before we finally fell asleep.  Needless to say, I was a little sore when I woke up.  I got my revenge in the shower and Zack was going to have a difficult time sitting down.

As Zack and I were getting dressed for the day, I was thinking it has been a strange five months.  It’s almost as if someone crammed five years into the time period.

As Mark is reminiscing about those five months the curtain on Bart and Chris is coming down.  The story will continue, in some form and you will be informed of what is and has happened to everyone.  But Bart and Chris have found a better life.

The End.

Author’s note:  This has been a fun story to write.  But I need to pull away from it for a while. I want to thank those readers who read this story, and I especially want to thank those of you who sent your comments.  E

Editor's Notes: I want to thank E Walk for writing this wonderful story.  I know I have fallen in love with these people and I certainly want to know what is going on with them as they continue to go through their lives.  I know it is difficult for E Walk to write so many different stories and keep everything straight, so to speak. He is doing a wonderful job of telling some exciting stories.  If you haven't read his other work, shame on you. I strongly suggest that you take a look for any of his work.  I know you won't be disappointed.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 11/27/09