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

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Chapter 7 

Disney World Here They Come

After the visitors had departed, Cole and I took the guys to get them ready for bed.  As we were saying goodnight to the four boys who were all in Benji’s room, Benji asked again, “Dads, are you going to be okay when we’re gone?”

Cole hugged Benji, “Son, I promise I won’t let anything bad happen to your Daddy.  I suggest that you go to sleep.  Tomorrow is going to be another long day.”

Cole had the boys clothes organized and we put the new clothes into their small suitcase so they could pull them.  We had just finished packing the boys' clothes and were taking them downstairs when the phone started to ring.

I answered, “This is Doug Christiansen.”

“Doug, this is Keith Miller.  Why don’t we meet you at the church at the eleven o’clock service.  You can bring the boys suitcases and we can have lunch before we need to go to the airport.  Enid and I were talking and thought it might be good if we had a power of attorney in case something should happen to one of the boys while we were gone, heaven forbid.”

“Dr. Miller,  I have that covered.  I had Uncle Howie take care of it so that you and Mrs. Miller have the power to authorize anything that the boys would need while you’re gone.  Are you sure that you’re up to chasing after four young boys for a week?”

Dr. Miller laughed, “Doug, you don’t have any idea how much we’re looking forward to this week.  This is something that we never thought would happen.  We’ll see you at the church at eleven o’clock.”

When Cole and I were in bed, I asked, “Cole, when are you going to need to go start practice?”

Cole shook his head, “Doug, I honestly don’t know.  There are obviously problems that I know nothing about and the coach said he would let me know this week.  I thought the layers of coaches was bad in college but at the pro level it’s even worse.  It’s as if everyone is jockeying for position.  Did you know they have brought in a veteran quarterback to be the starter?  That pisses me off.  It’s like they’re saying that I’m not good enough to be a starter at the pro level.”

I kissed Cole, “My man, I’m sure you’re overreacting.  They need someone with experience to step in case something should happen to you.”

I was awakened by a strange sound.  I went to see what was happening and Benji was in the kitchen trying to fix coffee and juice.  “Son, what are you doing?”

“Daddy, I’m worried that you and Dad won’t eat right while we’re gone.”

“Benji, we’ll be fine.  What would you like for breakfast.  I’ll fix it while you go get your brothers and your Dad up.  We’re going to be meeting your Grandpa and Grandma Miller and Grandmother McBride at church and then go for lunch before you go to the airport.”

“Daddy, why don’t you fix French toast and some bacon?  That doesn’t make too many dishes.”

I had everything just about ready when my five guys appeared.  Cole came and hugged me and whispered, “Why didn’t you wake me?”

After breakfast, I pointed to the four young boys, “Why don’t you call your grandparents.  I’m sure they’re up by now.  I doubt if they’ve gone to church yet.”

Benji went to the phone and dialed, “Good morning Grandma, it’s Benji.  We just called to see if you were okay. … Yep, the wedding was fun, but I felt like someone from a movie wearing those funny clothes. … Here’s Mark.”

When Mikey handed me the phone, it was almost thirty minutes later, “Hi, Dad and Mom, I think the boys pretty much told you what was happening here.  It’s going to be quiet around here with them being gone for a week. We’ll have them call you when they get back from Florida. Talk to you later.”

After I hung up, Benji called the Summers, “Hi, Grandpa S., it’s Benji.  We just wanted to call and check on you before we left for Florida. …Yep, Trent and Cindy had a nice wedding.”

I could see our phone bill by the time the four guys finished to Autumn’s parents.

We packed the boys' suitcases into the van and departed for the church.  When we walked in we didn’t see the Millers or Mrs. McBride so we went to the pew where there was room for a wheelchair.  We had just taken our seats when Grandmother McBride and the Millers arrived.

Benji was seated next to Grandmother McBride and they were having a good conversation.  Mark and Matt were talking to the Millers and Mikey was seated between Cole and me.  Mikey looked at me, “Daddy, am I always going to be the littlest and the last one who anyone talks to?”

Cole hugged Mikey, “Son, you are the one who is going to stand out.  Your brothers are a little older than you, but you will never be the last person to be talked to.”

 

When the church service was over, Dr. Miller, came and took Mikey’s hand, “Michael, where do you think we should go for lunch?”

“Grandpa, can we go to one of those places that have things on a table so you can take what you want?”

Dr. Miller responded, “That sounds like a good idea to me.  We’ll go to the country club, since your great Grandmother will be able to go in without any problem.”

After lunch, we made sure that the boys went to the bathroom, and went to transfer the boys' luggage to the Miller’s van.  Cole and I watched as the van pulled away and headed toward Atlanta.  I looked at Cole, “This is going to be the first time that I’ve been separated from the boys for this long of a period.”

Cole hugged me, “Don’t worry, my stud, I’ll make sure you don’t get too bored.”

As Cole and I pulled into the parking lot, Dan and Dave walked toward us.  Dan spoke for them, “Dr. C., the horses are taken care of and they seem to be fine.  Would you have a problem if we went to see our parents?  We’d like to bring our three youngest brothers back here for a while since our Mother is having the twelfth child.”

I looked at the two guys, “You certainly may go visit your family anytime you want, and we have no problem if you bring your brothers back here as long as Denny and Collie have no objection.”

David nodded, “We checked with them and they have no objection as long as the boys don’t trash the place.  We’re going to need their help, since there are three groups scheduled to come for riding lessons tomorrow.”

I was concerned, “Guys, how did that happen?  Are you going to be able to handle three different groups?”

Dan nodded, “Sir, we’ll be fine if we have Darryl, Devin and Denton here.  We didn’t know about the third party until some lady called from Atlanta today, saying that she would be bringing ten girls.  Fortunately, the groups are scheduled for one, four and six.”

Dan wasn’t finished, “Sir, we could even make more money for you if you would authorize us to have hayrides and offer the guests the opportunity to swim in the lake.  David and I are both qualified lifeguards so we could be on duty when the guests are swimming.”

“Dan, have you and David discussed this with Denny?”

“No sir, the idea cam to me this morning when Davey and I were working.  I kept thinking about what happened with your sons and Greg’s brothers and it seemed to be something that should happen.  That would give your sons something to do.  Benji is a natural leader.”

Cole started to laugh, “Dan, with a mind like yours, why aren’t you in college?”

“Cole, you know my family well enough to know that my parents can’t provide me any financial support.  Plus, as you know, I didn’t want to be away from Davey.”

I looked at the two guys, “You two haven’t been paid yet.  Here take this as advance and go get your brothers.  Do you need money to provide the food for the parties tomorrow?”

David answered, “No sir, Denny has set up a special account for the parties.  We have money to provide the burgers and chips and drinks for the parties tomorrow.”

Cole asked, “How many other groups are scheduled this week?

Dan answered, “We have a group on Wednesday, another on Friday and two on Saturday.”

The two guys left in Dan’s old car which sounded like a tank.  I looked at Cole, “Those two young men have it together.  They sound somewhat like you did when you first came to work for us except they aren’t going to get in our pants like you did mine.”

“Be careful old man, or you may be walking to the Memorial Service tomorrow in your blood stained briefs.”

Cole and I were eating our salads with hard boiled eggs, ham pieces and fresh mushrooms on the deck with a beer when we heard two vehicles approaching.  One was obviously Dan’s old jalopy and the other was Cole’s old truck.

We were joined by eight young men.  Dan and David brought their brothers and introduced them to us.  The oldest, Darryl, who turned out to be eleven thanked us for allowing them to come and stay with Dan and Davey.

Greg, Jordan and Greg’s three brothers came up on the deck. Greg had a funny grin, “The guys wanted to know if we could go skinny dipping again.”

“I’m sure that the Coburns wouldn’t mind.  Cole and I will join you as soon as we finish eating.”

Dan didn’t hesitate, “Let’s go get the tractor and wagon.  This time we’ll remember to take the towels.  You never know who is going to show up around here.”

We watched as the tractor and wagon started toward the lake.  Cole leaned over to me, “Daddy Doug, I don’t think we’re going to have time to get bored while the boys are away.”

We were taking our dishes into the kitchen when the phone started to ring.  Cole answered, “This is Summerhill, Cole Weaver speaking. … Oh, hi Benji.  Just a minute while I put your call on the speaker so your Daddy can hear what’s happening.  Okay, what’s happening.”

Benji  was very excited, “Dad, you should see our rooms.  We boys have two bedrooms with big beds and there is a door so we can go back and forth.  Each room has it’s own bathroom.  Grandmother McBride’s room has all these things so she take care of herself and Grandpa and Grandma Miller have their own bedroom.  We have a big sitting room with a refrigerator that has juice and snacks.  Here’s Matt.”

Matt came on, “Hi Dads, we had a good flight.  We’re on the top floor of the hotel and we see the park from the balcony.  Granddad says we’ll able to see the fireworks from here.  We’re all tired so we’re not going to the park tonight.  Here’s Mark.”

“Hi Dads, we have some neat rooms.  When we go out on the balcony we see all the people in the park.  They look like little ants. When we stand on the balcony we can look down at the pools.  Granddad and Grandmother said we could go swimming after dinner if we want.  Here’s Mikey.”
 

“Hi Dads, we wanted to call to make sure you were okay.  We’re getting ready to go to dinner.  We’ll talk to you later.”

The phone went dead and Cole started to laugh, “I guess food won out over talking to us.  Let’s take a cart and see what’s happening at the lake.”

When we arrived at the lake, Jordan was sitting on a towel, “Dr. C., Dan and Dave are right.  You should offer a swim in the lake as part of the party package.  Dan and Dave’s brothers and Greg’s brothers have been having a great time.  Are you going to swim?”

Dan came out of the water, “Dr. C. and Cole, our brothers don’t believe that you would go skinny dipping with us, even though Greg’s brother said you would.”

Cole stood up, we shed our clothes then went to platform and dove in.  We were swimming when Darryl came up to me, “Sir, I never thought a grown man would do something like that.”

I looked at Darryl, “Why shouldn’t I do something like this since it’s our home?  You’ve seen your brothers and they are well endowed.”

“But sir, they’re not Doctors or the President of Harwood College.”

“Darryl, I would never do this if I was acting in that capacity.  But this is my home and I can do what I want here.  I would appreciate it if you and your brothers would not talk about what happens here when you’re away from here.”

“Sir, Dan and Greg sat the six of us down and said that what happened here at Summerhill stayed here at Summerhill, unless someone was hurt.”

I was a little perplexed by that comment and went to talk to Greg and Dan.  “Darryl, said that you sat your brothers down and told that they were not to talk about what happened here at Summerhill unless someone was hurt.  What exactly did you tell them?”

Greg had tears in his eyes, “Dr. C., I’m afraid I didn’t say what I was trying to say very well.  Being open like this is new to me.  Maybe you and Cole should talk to the guys and clarify what you expect of them.”

“Guys, you need to make it clear to your brothers that there is to be absolutely no sexual activity here at the lake at any time.  Otherwise it will be off limits unless Cole or I are around.  I will not tolerate our sons witnessing sexual activities of any kind.  It shouldn’t be me or Cole who tells your brothers, since they don’t really know us.”

Dan spoke, “Sir, I beg to disagree with you.  The guys respect you and Cole.  They look at you as knowledgeable adults.  We’re just stupid older brothers.”

Cole nodded, “Go get your brothers and have them sit on the dock.”

When the six guys were sitting on the dock, Cole and I approached them.  Cole started, “Guys, when you are here at Summerhill, no one is going to intentionally hurt you.  You are also not to hurt anyone else.  What we do here at Summerhill is no one else’s business.  If people were to hear about Dr. Christiansen and me skinny dippy with young people like you and our sons, we could get in big trouble and lose our jobs.”

“We have no problem with people being naked, as long as there is nothing objectionable happening.  As most of you know, we have four young sons and we will not tolerate them being exposed to anything that is not appropriate.”

Devin who was the youngest of the Coburn boys looked at Cole, “Mr. Weaver, I’m not exactly sure what you’re talking about: you’re not going to send us home are you?  It is so nice not have to live in house with so many people.  We’ll do whatever you, Dr. C., Dan, and Davey tell us to do.  We won’t say anything about what happens here at Summerhill.  Will we get to meet your sons?”

I hugged Devin, “Son, they’ll be home next Saturday, You’ll get to meet them then.”

Dan looked up at the sky, “Guys, we need to get back to Summerhill.  The sun is sinking fast.”

To be continued... 

Editor's Notes:  Well, that was very nice.  It looks as if the boys will have some new friends, once they return from Florida,

I am, of course, eager and ready for the next chapter.

Darryl, AKA Radio Rancher

Posted: 01/29/10