Benji in Control
by: E Walk
(© 2009-2010 by the Author)
 

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Chapter 5 

The Blackballer

After Cole and I had made sure that the house was secure, we checked on the four boys and they were all in Benji’s bed.  I looked at Cole and whispered, “Why are they all in Benji’s bed?”

Cole shrugged his shoulders and rolled his eyes to indicate that he didn’t have the foggiest idea, either.  When we got to our bedroom, I queried, “So what’s my punishment going to be, big boy?” 

Cole went to his dresser and retrieved a clean pair of shorts, “Since we have so many empty bedrooms, I’m gonna you make you spend the nights alone until you can learn to be nice to me.”

I faked a deep sigh, “You thought the tear stains were bad downstairs.  You leave me alone in this room, and the entire upstairs will need to have the carpets cleaned because of my tear stains.  The four boys will really be after you if you aren’t nice to me.  Now get in this bed so I can make you feel better.”

Cole wasn’t about to let me win easily, “There you go, bossing around like I’m a slave again.  I’m going to call to the NAAMB.”

I frowned, “Don’t you mean the NAACP?”

“Not unless you started referring to my beautiful chocolate colored skin.”

I was laughing, “What the heck is the NAAMB?”

Cole pushed onto the bed, “Why the National Association Against Mean Bosses, don’t you know?”

I pulled him on top of me, “I thought you knew.  They whitewashed me when someone else tried to get them to get them to punish me.”

Cole kissed me, “When I get done with you, you’ll probably be

blackballed.”

I rolled Cole over so I was now on top of him, “Look, Mister, you’re the only person who is going blackball me.  Now get with it.”

Cole blackballed me so good that I was going to have difficulty walking from the parking lot to my office in the morning.  The next morning, Cole rolled against me, “Do you suppose there’s time for you to give me a quick lesson on what it’s like to be white-balled?”

We were interrupted by a knocking on the door,  Cole put on a robe and went to see who it was.  “Good morning, Benji.  Won’t you come in?”

Benji was carrying a tray with a cup of coffee for me and a glass of juice for Cole, since Cole didn’t like coffee, “Dads, are you sure that you’re going to be okay if we go to Disney World with Great Grandmother and the Grandparents?”

Cole hugged Benji, “Benji, I promise I won’t let anything bad happen to your Daddy while you’re gone.  Are your brothers up, and why was everyone sleeping in your room?”

Benji shrugged his shoulders, “Yes, they’re up, and they just wanted to sleep in my room last night.  It was fine with me, but they pushed me out of bed and I went to sleep in Mikey’s room.  I was joined by Mikey during the night.”

I guess I was frowning, “Benji, do you want us to talk to them and tell them they should sleep in their own rooms?”

He shook his head, “Dads, they’re still little boys.  When they get older, they’ll want to sleep in their own rooms.  I don’t mind because it tells me that they like me and know I won’t let anything bad happen to them.”

After Benji had exited, Cole started to laugh, “Benji acts more mature than some adults I know.  We had better be careful or he’ll be telling us what to do.”

When I arrived in the kitchen where the boys were eating breakfast, I handed them each one of the gift certificates from Applebee’s and a pen, and asked them to sign them.  As they handed them to me, I wrote a note to each of the teachers thanking them for providing the boys with a good learning experience and signed them.

I handed the envelopes to the boys, “You shouldn’t make a big deal about giving these to your teachers.  There are some boys and girls who don’t have enough money to do things like this.”

Benji grinned, “Guys, sneak it onto your teacher’s desk when no one is looking.  Don’t worry if some of the other boys and girls make a big to do about a gift they brought.  I know that there are some boys and girls in my class who almost don’t have enough money to buy food to eat.  Not everyone is as lucky as us.”

After I walked the three oldest to the bus stop and made sure they were on the bus, I walked into the house Cole was laughing, “Grandfather Benji has struck again.  Are you going to be able to be at Mikey’s graduation?”

I hugged Cole, “Look, blackballer, I’ll make every effort to be there.”

I went to collect Mikey so I could drop him off at his Baby School. He looked at me, “Daddy, aren’t we going to take the gifts with us?”

“No, son, Dad Cole is going to bring them when we come for your graduation ceremony.”

Mikey hugged me, “Does that mean that both of you are going to be there?”

I picked Mikey up and hugged him, “Son, I’m going to try my hardest to be there.  Dad Cole will definitely be there.”

I watched as Mikey skipped up the walkway to his school.  As I was driving to the college, I was thinking, “I hope Mark and Matt don’t feel as if we’re neglecting them.  Cole and I will have to spend some quality time individually with each of the boys.”

When I walked into my office, the biggest giant met me.  “Dr. Christiansen, would you like a cup of coffee or anything?” 

“Greg, I’m fine.  Why don’t we go to Human Resources and get you on the employment rolls while Karen takes care of finding you an appropriate place to work.”

Karen fell back in her chair, “Look, President C., if you are going to be demanding me to do all of these extra things, then I had better have a big pay raise starting next month.”

As Greg and I were walking to Human Resources, he asked, “Dr. Christiansen, am I creating problems?”

I shook my head no, “Karen, and I have worked together for six years.  She’s not only my secretary, but she lives at Summerhill with Patty.  We’re very good friends.   How is it that you know Karen, and why did she recommend that I interview you to be her assistant?”

Greg stopped, “Dr. Christiansen, are you sure you want to know the answers to those questions.  You may change your mind about having me around.”

“Greg, it would be more likely that I would change my mind if you don’t answer my questions.”

Greg took a deep breath, “I’m a good friend of Karen’s brother, Jordan.  We were talking to Karen and Patty the other night and I was complaining about not being able to find a job.”

I was enjoying making Greg squirm, “What kind of good friends are  you and Jordan?”

“Dr. Christiansen, why are you asking me questions like that?  If you must know, we friends similar to what you and Cole are.”

“Oh, so you sleep in the same bed?”

 

“Not quite. We both still live with our parents, at least for the time being.  Jordan is home from college for the summer.  He goes to
the University of Georgia.”

I nodded, “So when am I going to meet this Jordan person, to see if I approve?  I can’t have my employees keeping company with just any Tom, Dick or Harry.”

Greg was laughing, “He’s right across the street.  Mr. Turner hired him to be his lackey for the summer, now that the college is expanding thanks to you and your sons.”

I left Greg at the Human Resources office, and looked at my watch. 
If I was going to be on time for Mikey’s graduation, I needed to get my ass in gear.  I stopped in the office to tell Karen where I was going.  Call me on my cell phone if there’s a crisis.”

When I arrived at the preschool, the parking lot was filled, but I found a parking space at the very end of the lot.  When I walked into the school, one of the children handed me a program.  I went to a seat next to Cole, “Is this seat taken, mister?”

He leaned over and whispered, “I was saving it for a sexy stud.”

“Okay, I’ll move.”

“You move and you’ll be walking funny for the entire time the boys are in Florida.”

The formal program started and the sixteen graduates came in, each wearing a collar and a home made mortarboard with a tassel.  The eight boys were wearing dark blue outfits and the girls had white outfits.  Mikey was the second person to receive his diploma because they were being awarded alphabetically.

After the ceremony, the children’s teacher, Christi Wood, spoke, “I want to thank everyone for coming and invite you to enjoy some cake and punch in the game room.  Mikey Christiansen has provided a graduation gift for each of the graduates.  They are on the table with each person's name on them.”

Cole leaned over to me. “I think our youngest son just grew several inches.”

I grinned, “Cole, I need to get back to the college.  I’ll go tell Mikey I’m leaving.”

On my way out, I was stopped by Mrs. Wood, “Dr. Christiansen, I never imagined that the gifts would be so elaborate.”

“Christi, you need to have Cole tell you about his shopping experience, to buy the treats for the bags.  Thanks for providing Mikey with a good learning experience.  You’ve had all four of our boys, and there aren’t likely to be any more.”

When I arrived back at the campus, I walked over to the construction site.  Logan was talking to a handsome young man, who definitely filled his jeans nicely, “Hi Logan, still on schedule to be ready to start the construction on Tuesday morning?  Did Bill get revenge last night?  Good morning,  Mr. Carpenter, I believe you know an acquaintance of mine by the name of Greg.   Isn’t that so, Jordan?”

Jordan turned bright red, “Who the heck are you, and how did you know my name?”

Logan was watching the exchange, “For starters, you look just like my secretary, except for your body structure, and second Mr. Patterson informed that you had been hired to be Mr. Turner’s lackey.”

Logan started to laugh, “Lackey, this is President Christiansen.”

Jordan turned bright red again, “Why wouldn’t I have guessed that you were President Christiansen.  I guess when you’re the president, you need to know everything about everyone.”

Jordan shook my hand, “It’s a pleasure to meet, Dr. C., the biggest giant said that you were special.”

Logan had a questioning look, “Who’s the biggest giant?”

“You’ll meet him the next time you come to my office.  Talk to you later.

When I walked into the office Karen was explaining something to Greg.  She looked up, “Boss, you’ve had a number of calls.  The messages and the mail are on your desk.  I put a sample thank you letter for the financial gifts that the college has received on your desk for you to look at.”

“Thank you, Karen.  Biggest giant, I just met the lackey.  It’s easy to see the family resemblance between him and his sister.  I need you to get us something to eat.”

Both Karen and Greg responded that they had brought a sandwich  Greg added, “I’ll be glad to go get something for you, Dr. C.”

I pulled out my wallet and handed Greg a $20.00.  Just get me a sandwich and a container of unsweetened iced tea.  Karen likes her tea sweetened, and get something for you to drink.  There’s a deli just down the street.  Their food is good.”

As soon as Greg had departed, Karen stood at the door to my office, “Doug, is there anyway that you could get an advance on next week’s pay, for Greg.  I know that he has absolutely no money.  He’s a very proud young man so we need to be careful how we handle it.  I’ll be surprised if he even buys himself anything to drink.  He’s absolutely overwhelmed by the fact that you gave him Cole’s old truck to use.”

“Karen, let me call Bill Oliver and see if there is anything that we can do from this end that might be acceptable to Greg.”

I was just finishing my conversation with Bill Oliver when Greg returned with my sandwich and iced tea, “Here’s your change Dr. C.;  I hope you don’t mind if I bought a bottle Gatorade to help the peanut butter and jelly sandwich go down.”

It was five until one when I looked up from what I was doing.  I went to the door, “Greg, you need to go to your appointment in Dr. Lewis’ office.  Do you need me to go with you?”

“No sir, I think I can make it there by myself.”

Karen and I were working on the thank you notes for the donations when Craig Schumacher arrived. 

Craig laughed, “The Dean of Admissions wants you to come put the fear of God into the six young men who are being tested in his office as we speak.”

“Why would Clark want me to read them the riot act?  He could probably do it better than me.”

Craig and I went to the room where the six guys were being tested.  They had just finished taking the entrance exam when we arrived. Clark looked at me, “Dr. Christiansen, would you please explain to the young men what it would take for them to be able to keep their scholarships should they be approved by the board.”

I glared at Clark for putting me in this position, “Well, for starters, they will be required to maintain at least a C average with no failing grades.  If they want to go to a major university, then I would recommend that they get their butts in gear and maintain an B average or better.  Harwood Junior College is not going to spoon feed you.  It is up to you young men to earn your way.”

I was in my office after I talked to the six would be basketball players when Greg arrived and knocked on the door; “You laid it on the line didn’t you Dr. C.?  Four of the guys are worried that they won’t be able to meet your requirements.”

I scowled, “Greg, which two of you aren’t concerned?”

Greg grinned, “Dan and I think we can meet your requirements, but some of others are going to need some help.  What’s going to happen if the board doesn’t approve the formation of a basketball team?”

“Greg, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”

It was almost five o’clock when Mr. Oliver arrived with a check for Greg, “Here you go young man, this should help you survive this holiday weekend.  Please sign this receipt showing that you received this advance payment on your next paycheck.”

After Bill had departed, Greg hugged me, “Thank you, sir.”

“Don’t thank me.  It was Karen’s idea.  Let’s bust out of this place.”

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:  That was a very nice chapter as always. I always enjoy getting new chapters from E Walk.  Of course I am eagerly waiting for the next chapter.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 01/15/10