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

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Chapter 20 

He Doesn’t Quit

I decided to call Cole, first, and there was no answer.  That was not a good omen.  I called Uncle Howie’s number and fortunately he answered, “This is Howard Willingham.”

“Uncle Howie, what’s happening.  I’ve had phone messages from all over the place from almost everyone I know.  What do I need to do?”

“Doug, I think we have everything under control.  Senator Hodges is being a real pain in the ass.  He’s claiming you caused him to be put in jail and causing Senator Leggett’s death.  The man has gone off the deep end.  He has had his tentacles working in every place you can imagine.  You’re going to be in for a tough couple of days.  Although it seems that people are realizing that the man has lost his reasoning powers.  I just talked to Karen, and Clark has everything under control at the college.”

“Doug, I’m too old to be changing your diapers all the time.  By the way, your Mother just called me and they’re coming for the weekend, so they can see you and the boys in the parade.  Austin said his parents were coming, too.  I’ll talk to you when you get back to Harwood.”

Benji, Peter, Grandmother Cunningham and Sergeant Hood were coming out of the Dairy Twist.  Benji looked at me, “Tell Sergeant Hood that he needs to shine his shoes.  The rest of him looks like he had his uniform painted on him.  Everyone will laugh at how dusty his shoes look.”

Sergeant Hood threw up his hands, “Benji, I have a shoe shine cloth in the cruiser.  I promise I won’t embarrass you.”

We followed Sergeant Hood’s cruiser to where the press conference was to be held.  As we walked into the facility, I was surprised to see that Mr. Caster was there with a crew.   When we walked in, he approached us, “Senator Hodges has been having a field day with you being gone.  He thought he was going to run over everyone, in your absence.  After what happened to Cole and your sons this morning,  we flew down here in the company’s plane, because we wanted to see the fireworks fly, since this is Hodges’ home district.”

The Mayor, a Mr. Bell, stepped to the platform, “Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great pleasure that we are assembled here today.  Our police force has been instrumental in disassembling a major counterfeiting ring, and in doing so, confiscated over a hundred thousand dollars worth of illegal drugs.”

“I would like to present the people who were instrumental in solving the case.  First, I’d like to recognize Detective Don Murky.  He was the officer who spearheaded the efforts to solve this heinous crime.”

Peter leaned over to me, “Dr. C., that man used to come and talk to Mr. Jackson once or twice a week.”

I stood, “Mayor Bell, you are blowing so much smoke that we’ll all be suffering from dark lung disease.  It was not the Columbus police force who single-handedly solved the problem,  The police had a  hand from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and a young man who just informed me that you were a frequent visitor to the Cunningham house.  What have you to say for yourself?”

Mayor Bell shouted, “Who the hell are you and how dare you make such ridiculous statements?”

“Mr. Bell, I have been in the company of Mr. Peter Throckmorton Cunningham, the Fourth, since he arrived in Columbus this morning.  It was he who led your officers and the agents from the F.B.I. to the find.  It was a Sergeant Hood, who actually found the counterfeiting plates and the drugs.  As for who I am, I’m Dr. Douglas Christiansen, president of the Harwood Community Junior College.”

Rich Caster asked, “Dr. Christiansen, would it be permissible for us to ask Peter some questions?”

I leaned over to Sergeant Hood, “Go tell your boyfriend, Detective Murky to make sure that the Mayor doesn’t try to get away.”

I turned to Mr. Caster, “I’ll defer that question to Peter’s Great Grandmother Cunningham, since she is the only living relative that Peter has.”

Mrs. Cunningham spoke, “I will permit Petey to be questioned, but I will not permit you to badger him.  Petey, go up on the platform, so people will be able to hear you, and remember, watch your language.”

Peter went to the platform and the Chief of Police handed him a microphone.  Mr. Caster asked the first question, “Peter, you told Dr. Christiansen that Mr. Bell used to come to your house once or twice a week.  Are you sure?”

Peter stood up straight and spoke very clearly, “I know that the Mayor used to come to talk to Mr. Jackson at least once or twice a week, because he would always arrive in a big car.  I had to answer the door, because Mr. Jackson wouldn’t be wearing any clothes other than his smelly, dirty briefs.  I have pictures of the Mayor arriving, on my camera. …”

Peter suddenly stopped and started again, “Now I remember where I saw that man that hurt Benji last night before.  He and the Mayor would come to the house together, except they would arrive in separate big cars.  They would always leave the house with brown envelopes.”

A reporter asked, “Peter, who was the other man, who hurt this Benji?”

Peter turned me, “Dr. C., what was that man’s name.  I remember he said he was a senator, and that his last name began with H.  It was something like Hogs.”

The reporter turned to me, “Dr. Christiansen, what was the person’s name, and why would he hurt this Benji  person?”

I took a deep breath, “Young lady, the man was the illustrious State Senator from the Columbus area, Simon Hodges  He arrived at Summerhill, where we live,  last night, and started spouting insults and obscenities, and my son, Benji, dared to stand up to him and challenge him.  Senator Hodges slapped Benji so hard on the face that I took Benji to make sure there wasn’t any permanent damage.  If you look closely, you can still see the handprint of the creep.”

“Benji, go show the reporters where Senator Hodges hit you.”

The reporters were taking pictures of Benji when we heard a voice saying, “I never struck anyone in my life.  Why would I bother to waste my time on a brat like that?  It was probably his father who hit him and not me.” 

Grandma Bertie wheeled forward and yelled, “You liar, I was there and I witnessed what you did.  I hope you spent an awful night in jail.  If I had my way, you would still be there.  As far as I’m concerned, you are a politician of the worst kind.  You’ve been around for so long that you’ve lost all sight of what the people of this state need.  Officers, arrest that man for assault and battery and we’ll be filing formal charges in the morning.  We should have done this last night.  The man is an imbecile, as my grandson said.”

Both Mayor Bell and Senator Hodges were being restrained and the press was talking to Benji and Grandmother Bertie.  I looked around and Peter and Sergeant Hood were missing and I had a sinking feeling.  Fortunately Peter cam running into the conference room announcing, “Ladies and gentlemen, I have visual proof that the Mayor and the Senator Whatever his name is have been to the house where I lived.”

Sergeant Hood went to a computer and downloaded the pictures from the camera I was to find out was Peter’s.  He flashed them on the screen and Peter started, “There is Mayor Bell arriving, and there he is, leaving with an envelope.”  

Peter started to flip through the pictures and suddenly stopped and backed up.  “Wow, even the Chief of Police was at our house at least one time.”

When Peter stopped the next time it showed the Mayor, the Chief of Police and Senator Hodges leaving the office of Mr. Jackson.  We heard a voice saying, “See, you in two weeks Chaz.  Make sure you have plenty of each set of merchandise, for us.”

Agent Wills stood, “I would like Mayor Bell, Senator Hodges and Chief Moran placed in jail, with no bail.  There is the enough evidence to convict them, and sentence them to good long terms.  Someone from the U.S. Attorney General’s Office will be here tomorrow, to take over the case.  I would like to commend the four people who came here from the Harwood area and helped the law enforcement officials whose efforts were being thwarted by the political hierarchy in this area.  Let’s hope the good people of Columbus, get it right when they elect their next batch of officials.”

Agent Wills came and shook our hands as did Agent Lund, “People, I applaud you.  There are not many people around anymore who would dare take on officials such as these.  We shouldn’t need your help anymore, but in case we would, how can we get in touch with you?”

As we were getting in the van, we were confronted by Detective Murky and Sergeant Hood.  Sergeant Hood, pulled out his gun, “How dare you leave without saying goodbye?”

Benji whined, “But officers, you were so busy arresting the bad guys that we couldn’t find you.  If you’re looking for money, me and Rocky ain’t got none, all Daddy has is a plastic card that they’re threatenin’  to take away, and Grandmother Bertie is scared that they’re going to throw her out of the assisted living, and she’ll have to come live at Summerhill and eat grass soup three times a day.”

Both officers were laughing and Sergeant Hood frowned, “All we was hopin for was an invitation to the Summerhill place.”

Benji giggled, why don’t you come this weekend, since me and Rocky are going to be in a parade with our two Dads who are the Grand Marshalls.  Grandma Bertie and Grandma McBride are going to be riding in the cars with us.  You can cheer for us, since no one else will be.”

Detective Murky asked, “Who is your other Dad and why would he be a Grand Marshall?”

“Dad Cole is the reason we’re going to be in the parade in the first place.”

Sergeant Hood asked, “Benji, what is your other Dad’s name.  We know it’s Cole but Cole what?”

Benji put his hands on his hips, “Don’t you people down here in Columbus know nothing?  Dad is Cole Weaver and he’s going to be the quarterback for the Atlanta, Falcons.”

Both guys had their mouths hanging open.  Finally, Detective Murky looked at Benji, “Benji, you’re kidding, aren’t you?”

 

Grandma Bertie laughed, “Benji’s not kidding.  We need to get going. It’s a long drive to Harwood from Columbus.  Let’s hope we don’t all fall asleep on the way home.”

After we said goodbye to the policemen, we started the boring trip home.  Benji was talking, “Rocky, please don’t ever talk around Summerhill like you did today.  The little guys haven’t heard such talk.  Our Dads have always tried to make it so we could talk about things but not make it seem dirty.  Today, when you were talking about cocks and scratching balls, I wanted to wash your mouth with soap.  I don’t want our three younger brothers to hear talk like that, so they don’t start talking like that.”

“Benji, I was just saying what that awful man said, and what he did.  I’ll try not to upset you again.  I don’t think we’ll hear talk like that around Summerhill, or at least I hope not.”

Grandmother Bertie had manipulated into the front seat and I had put her wheelchair in the back.  We hadn’t gone more than fifty miles and both young guys were sawing Z’s.  Grandmother Bertie commented, “I’m amazed at how mature the boys acted today.  I know many adults who wouldn’t have been able to handle what was happening today, without babbling.”

I laughed, "Grandmother Bertie, I guess it’s because of nude swim parties.”

Mrs. Cunningham was quiet for the longest time and I was beginning to think she had taken offense at my comment about nude swimming.

“Doug, I want to apologize for something I said earlier.  I’ve had time to evaluate your and Cole’s relationship and you two are exactly what your sons need at this point in their lives.  It’s obvious the four of them absolutely respect and adore both of you.  I want for you to adopt Petey, and as soon as possible.”

“Grandmother Bertie, shouldn’t we allow Peter to have a say in this?  We don’t have all the credentials that we need on Peter to proceed  on my adopting him at this time.  No judge is going to allow that without proper paperwork.  I would be more than glad to have Peter join our family.”

Benji woke up, “Daddy are we home yet?  I gotta go to the bathroom, bad.”

“Benji, climb out of the van and go to the bathroom.  It’s dark and no one is going to see you.”

Both guys jumped out of the van and let the urine fly. They indeed did have to go to the bathroom.  When we arrived at the assisted living facility, I asked. “Grandma Bertie, would you like for us to go buy you something to eat?”

“Doug, I have my own refrigerator and can make a sandwich and have some fruit,  We had a nice lunch so I won’t starve.  Besides, I have all sorts of munchies to eat during the night.”

Benji sat up, “Daddy, me and Rocky will stay here.  It sounds as if she has more food than we do.  We’ll go sponge some food off of Grandmother McBride.”

“Wrong answer, kid.  We need to get home and find out what happened to your brothers and Dad today.  I’ve heard through the grapevine that they had some problems.”

When we arrived at the house, there were vehicles everywhere.  I pulled around to the side, “Guys, there are some vehicles that I don’t recognize, let’s go in the back door and see what’s happening.”

As we entered, people were gathered in the family room watching television.  Mikey was sitting on Cole’s lap, “Dad, when are Daddy, Benji and Rocky going to get back? They should be back by now.  I‘m worried that they were in an accident like we had out front last night.”

Benji had a glint in his eye and put his pointer finger to his mouth.  He and Rocky disappeared and reappeared with towels around their necks as if they were capes.  They ran into the family room yelling, “Never fear, Benji and Rocky are here to save the day.  Why aren’t you young kids in bed.  We need to get our sleep so we can terrorize the natives tomorrow.”

Benji pointed to the stairs, “I want anyone under the age of eleven to get their butts up the stairs, so we can make life miserable for all these old people tomorrow.”

As the five young guys were starting up the stairs, Greg got on his hands and knees and started up the stairs.  Benji turned, “Sorry kid we only allow people who are potty trained to come up the stairs.  Better luck next time.”

I looked at the assembled guests, “Okay, who would like to start?”

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:  I sure hope we will find out what happened, in the next chapter.  Sometimes I think E Walk does this on purpose, just to keep us in suspense.  I almost expect to hear Truman Bradly telling us how wonderful Roma Wine is, and then telling us to, "tune in again next week for another tale, well calculated, to keep you in SUSPENSE!"

For you young folks, Suspense was a program that ran on the radio for many years, and finally crossed over to TV, in the late 1950s or early 1960s, I can't remember which. The TV version didn't last very long, I guess it didn't translate very well.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 05/07/10