Benji in Control
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 2 

A Little Late

When I arrived at Summerhill, the four boys were talking to a pack of Cub Scouts who had come to work on their horsemanship skills.  They were eating in the picnic area where Denny’s two brothers were cooking  hot dogs and hamburgers.  I thought to myself, ‘I need to check with Denny and make sure he was not losing money on outings such as this.’

When the boys saw me they came running.  Benji spoke for them, “Hi Daddy, those scouts are from the city.  Uncle Denny wants to come talk to you after dinner.  Dad just got back from Atlanta and is changing clothes.  Come on, guys, let’s go see if Aunt Patty needs some help.” 

We’d started toward the house when the Miller’s car pulled into the driveway. The boys ran to meet them.  By the time I arrived, Benji was helping Grandmother McBride up the handicapped accessible ramp.

After I greeted them, I excused myself and went to change into comfortable clothes while Cole served them a cocktail.   When I entered the living room, I heard Doctor Miller say, “Guys, we talked to your Dad and he said it would be okay for us to take the four of you to Disney World if you would like to go.”

Benji asked, “Which Dad  and who is you?”

Doctor Miller was taken back by the question.  Mrs. McBride answered, “Doctor Christiansen,  and the you is all four of you boys.”

Benji turned to Cole, “Dad, did you know about this?”

Cole shook his head no, “Nope.”

Benji asked, “Dad, would you have a problem if we went with Grandpa and Grandma Miller and Grandmother McBride to Disney World?”

Cole again said, “Nope.”

Benji stood in front of the three visitors, “You promise you’ll bring us back to our Dads, right?”

Mrs. Miller answered, “Yes, Benji, we promise.”

Benji wasn’t finished, “Grandmother, are you going to go with us?”

Mrs. McBride nodded, “Yes, your Grandparents were able to arrange it so that I could accompany you.”

Benji turned back to Doctor Miller, “Grandpa, how are we going to get there and where will we be staying?”

Doctor Miller answered, “We plan to fly so we have more time to enjoy the parks.  We will be staying in one of the Disney resort hotels so Mother McBride can go with us.”

Benji turned to the other three boys, “Guys, what do you think?  If you would like to go, raise your thumb.”

I watched as Mark, Matt and Mikey raised their thumbs.  I watched to see what Benji would do.  He asked another question, “If we go, when would be going.  I’m going to be in Uncle Trent’s wedding on Saturday.”

Doctor Miller grinned, “That’s why I made the reservations for Sunday afternoon.  Your Dad told us you were going to be in a wedding.”

Mikey was getting bored, “Benji, are we going to go to Disney World or not?”

Benji sighed, “I’m a little worried about leaving our Dads here by themselves.  They’ll probably get into trouble and get shot again.  I guess it would be okay if we go.  We’ll have the Sheriff stop by and check on them.”

The discussion was interrupted by Karen, “Your highnesses and most honored guests, dinner is ready to be served.  Please be seated in the dining room.”

Benji helped his Great Grandmother into the dining room  The Millers and Mrs. McBride kept the boys talking about their day, as we ate.  It was as if Cole and I didn’t exist.

Cole put his hand where it was causing some growth and whispered, “We’ll have to take care of this, tonight.”

The boys had just asked to be excused when the front doorbell started to chime.  Benji announced, “I’ll go get it while you guys start to clear the table.   I’ll help as soon as I see who‘s here?”

Benji brought Mayor Langdon and a gentleman into the dining room, “Mr. and Mrs. Langdon said they had an appointment to meet with you.  They promised me that they wouldn’t try to shoot anyone.”

I started to laugh, “Mayor Langdon, I assume this is your husband.”  I shook their hands, “You’ve already met our eldest son, Benji, these are our other three boys, Mark, Matt and Mikey.”

The three boys waved and went about clearing the table with Benji.

I stood to introduce everyone, but Mayor Langdon cut me off, “President Christiansen, we know the Millers and Mrs. McBride.  Who is the handsome stud sitting beside you?”

Cole started to laugh, “Mayor, I’ve known you and your husband longer than I have known Doug.  You used to come into The Shack every Wednesday night and eat before you went to choir practice.  How could I forget?  You never left a tip.”

Mr. Langdon frowned, “You mean to tell us that you’re the scrawny kid who used to spill food in our laps.  I thought you were going to quit school.”

Cole nodded, “Mr. and Mrs. Christiansen, kicked my butt, and here I am.”

Mayor Langdon chuckled, “Cole, we knew who you were.  I came to ask if you would be the Grand Marshall for our Harwood Days Parade on June 12^th.”

Cole seemed to be at a loss for words.  Everyone was watching to see what he would say.  He took a deep breath, “Mayor Langdon, I have a counter proposal.  Since there has never been a black Grand Marshall, as far as I know, I think it might be prudent to have two Grand Marshalls.  Doug could be the other one.  It would seem fitting since he’s going to be the President of the Harwood Community College after next week.”

“We could ride in two cars with the four sons.  We each could have two of them riding in the car with us.”

Mrs. McBride interjected, “Andy, I like that idea.  Cole could be sitting on top of the back seat with Benji and Michael.”

Mikey interrupted, “Mikey, if you please.”

Mrs. McBride laughed, “Okay Cole could be riding in one of the convertibles with Benji and Mikey on either side of him.  I would like to have the privilege of riding in the passenger seat of that car.  The other car would be traveling along side with Doug, Matt and Mark.  I believe you and your husband will be in the lead car right in front of us right after the Harwood High School Band and the VFW people who will be carrying the flags. ”

Mayor Langdon grinned, “Emily, what other thoughts might you have?”

Mrs. McBride sighed, “I think it would be cool if Cole could be wearing his football jersey with his number on it.  It would be even better if Benji and Mikey were wearing a similar jersey.  Cole, I guess you haven’t had time to be assigned a number yet?”

Cole nodded, “As a matter of fact, when I was in Atlanta today, looking for a suitable place to hang my hat when I can’t get home, I stopped by the Falcons headquarters and was fitted for my uniforms.  During the process, I had to choose a number.  I chose 13.  Everyone was surprised.  The equipment manager told me, “There haven’t been very many quarterbacks who have worn that number.  They think it a sign of bad luck.”

I looked at him, “Sir, some good things have happened to me on the 13^th of a month.  I‘m supposed to go back on Tuesday and try on the uniform.  I‘ll check with him at the time to see if I can get shirts for the four boys in time for the parade.  If not, they can always wear a Falcon‘s hat.”

Denny came into the room unannounced, he looked at the assembled people, “Whoops, I'll come back later, boss.”

I shook my head, “Denny, let me introduce these people.”

“Dr. C., I already know everyone.  Doctor Miller was our family doctor and he made more money from our parents having children than any of his other patients.  I was the Langdon’s paperboy when I was younger, and Mrs. McBride was my Sunday school teacher.”

I thought, ’This is a small world.’  “Denny, Benji said you wanted to talk to me about something important.  Go ahead and talk unless it’s too personal.”

Denny took a deep breath, “Dr. C., I would like to take Collie and the two boys to the beach for two weeks.  The boys need to have some new experiences.  I’ve arranged for my two brothers to fill in for me while I‘m gone.”

“Denny, where will the guys be living?  Will they be staying in the trailer?”

“Dr. Christiansen, I don’t think this is the time or place to discuss this.  I’ll talk to you tomorrow when there’s no one else around.”

I looked at the boys, “Benji, take your brothers upstairs and get ready for bed.  We’ll come tuck you in.  You have two more days of school and then you can stay up as late as you want.”

Benji smirked, “Grandpa and Grandma, you heard what Dad said.  He said we don’t have to go to bed while we’re at Disney World.”

After we heard the boys in the bathroom, I pointed at Denny, “You have something that you want to say, so say it now that the boys are gone.”

Denny started, “Dr. Christiansen, my two next oldest brothers are more than brothers.  Dan just graduated from high school and should be going to college.  The problem is that he and David are in love with each other, or so they proclaim.  My parents can’t help Dan go to college because they have so many children and seem intent on making more.”

“David is going to be a senior next year and perhaps the two of them could go to college together after he graduates  Hopefully they will get the opportunity to get a good education.  There is no way that they will be able to land in a situation like Collie and I did.”

I put up my hand, “Denny, I have no problem with your brothers filling in for you.  They already spend more time here than they do at home.  I want to talk with them and have them confirm that they will able to keep their sexual activities confined to the bedroom out of the sight of the four sons.”

 

“Dr. C., I’ve already told them that they needed to keep their dicks in their pants unless they’re behind closed doors.”  Denny stopped, “Ladies, I apologize.  That just popped out.”

I decided to rescue Denny, “Please have Dan and David come talk to  Cole and me tomorrow evening.  We’ll work out the arrangements.  You need to make arrangements for the four of you to go to the shore and have a great time.  Cole will be here most of the time to make sure that nothing happens.”

After Denny had departed, we heard a voice, “Dads, we’re ready to be tucked in.”   

Cole went to say goodnight to the boys as I said goodnight to our guests.

As the Millers and Mrs. Bride were leaving, Mrs. McBride shook her finger at me, “No one can ever say that you lead a boring life.”

When I arrived upstairs, the boys’ lights were out, so I went into the master suite.  Cole was lying there on top of the bed in the state in which he came into the world, “Mastah, I be waiting for you.  You promised you’d be taking care of me.  I be needin’ an injection from yuh, so I can function properly.”

I started to laugh, “Mr. Weaver, don’t try to play the slave role with me.  It ain’t gonna to work.  Why don’t we take a shower and see what happens?”

After the shower, Cole and I both knew our bodies had been invaded.  When we crawled into bed, Cole asked, “Doug, what’s it going to be like when we get old and the boys are gone.  We’ll wallow around in this house.”

I was stumped, “Cole, why are you even talking like this?  This is our home.  The boys will be coming home with their families from time to time.”

The next morning we were awakened by Mikey, which was a rarity.  He held my face, “Daddy, I need to take treats for the party tomorrow.  Could you get something special?  Could you or Dad Cole come to the party?”

I pulled Mikey on top of me, “Michael, what would you like us to bring for the treats.”

“Daddy, my name is Mikey.  I don’t know what kind of treats, but please make it something special.”

While we were eating breakfast, I asked, “Cole, did you find a place that would be suitable for you to live when you stay overnight in Atlanta?”

“Yes, I was hoping to take you and the boys to see it this weekend to see what you all think.  I guess that won’t be possible since we have to go to Trent’s wedding and graduation on Saturday, and the boys will be leaving for Disney World on Sunday.”

Benji looked up from his breakfast, “Dad, if you think it will work, then take it.  We boys can live anywhere as long as we’re with you and Daddy.”

Cole looked at the three oldest boys, “Guys, I’ll be picking you up after school today.  Benji and I need to get our tuxedos and things for Saturday.  Mikey, I’ll try to find you something different for treats for tomorrow.”

When I returned from accompanying the three boys to the bus stop, Cole was talking to Patty.  “Patty what kind of treat is Mikey to taking to school?”

Patty shrugged her shoulders, “I haven’t the foggiest idea.  Check his backpack and see if there is a note.  If not, call his teacher and ask her.”

I went to the rack and got Mikey’s backpack.  There was indeed a note from Mrs. Woods. 

Mikey volunteered to bring a surprise for everyone tomorrow for their graduation party.  The refreshments are already taken care of.  

I think Mikey must have something in mind.  He is so ready for kindergarten to start.  I guess it helps to have three brothers so close to his age.

By the way, the graduation starts at ten o’clock and Mikey really hopes you can be here.

For your information, there are 16 children who will be graduating:  eight boys and eight girls

Christi Woods

I grinned, “Well, Mr. Weaver, it appears that you and our youngest son have some shopping to do.  Take him with you when you pick up the other three boys.  They can help you find something. I hugged him and left for the college.

On my way to my office, I decided to stop and talk to Clark.  I wanted to run some ideas by him.  When I walked into his office, his secretary looked up at me, “Dr. Lewis isn’t in yet.  He’s always here by this time.  I’m concerned that something might have happened to him.”

“Julie, I’m sure he’s fine.  He probably overslept since he was going to Atlanta last night.  Tell him I would like to speak with him at his convenience.”

As I turned to leave, Clark came in the door, “What’s up boss?  I never realized there was so much traffic coming out of Atlanta toward Harwood in the morning.”

“You mean you drove back this morning?”

Clark had a sheepish grin, “Yes.  I had to stop at the apartment and change clothes.  That’s why I’m late.”

I decided to lay a guilt trip on him, “Dr. Lewis, if you’re going to be the Vice President of Harwood Community College, you will need to get your act together and get to work on time.”

Clark started to respond but was interrupted by Julie, “Dr. Lewis, there’s a Mr. Morgan on the line asking to speak with you.”

“I’ll take it in my office, Julie.”

I followed Clark into his office, even though I wasn’t invited.

“Hey Larry, what’s up? … Yep, I just arrived here and boss is jumping all over my ass.  I’ll probably bleed to death. … I guess I left in such a hurry that I forgot to bring it. … Okay, I tell Doug and I’ll meet you at the Summerhill at seven and perhaps we can arrange to do some skinny dipping.  I’ll call Benji and tell him to arrange it.  See you about seven. … Doug’s standing right here.”

I motioned that I wanted to speak with Larry.  Clark handed me the phone.  “Hi, Larry, it’s Doug.  Why don’t you and the boys plan to have dinner with us about six.  We need to talk about you keeping my Vice President up all night.  I’m sure we can arrange a skinny dipping party.  See you after work.  I hope you can stay awake all day.”

“Doug, you have a dirty mind.  Nothing happened last night.  Well almost nothing.”

I chuckled, “Larry, it’s the 'well almost nothing' that I’m concerned about.  I need to get to my office.  We’ll see you and the boys tonight for dinner.  Here’s Clark.”

To be continued...

Editor's Notes: Well, That was a nice chapter.  I wonder what Mikey is planning on bringing to his graduation party.  Will we get to see a wedding next time?  I guess we will just have to wait and see, won't we?

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 12/11/09