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

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Chapter 25 

A Whole New Ball Game

When I walked into the office, Greg was sitting at his desk, “Good morning, President Christiansen, this silence is scary after everything that has been happening.  I’m not sure if we’re going to be able to handle it.”

I laughed, “Greg, this is what the doctor ordered.  Maybe we can finally get caught up.  Please advise Drs. Lewis, Summers, Mitchell, Armbruster and Solt that I would like to have a staff meeting at ten.  Call Mr. Oliver and tell him to be here, as well.”

Karen came into my office with a packet of letters for me to sign.  “Dr. C., Drs. Lewis and Summers are here to see you.  They said it was important, but had nothing to do with school matters.”

“Send them in.”

Austin and Derek came into my office and I motioned for them to sit down, “Good morning, gentlemen, since you want to talk about something that’s important and it doesn’t have to do with school, I can only assume that it has to do with Jimmy, Jay and Jack.”

Derek laughed, “That’s very astute, but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out.  The boys are concerned about what’s going to happen to them.  They’re afraid that they’re going to be placed in some sort of home.”

I stood. “Guys, I’m not an expert in this area.  What is it that you would like to happen?”

Derek nodded, “We’d be glad to take them into our home, permanently.  I’m sure that we will never be permitted to adopt them, because of our alternative lifestyle.  They have been extremely helpful and appreciative of everything that my mother has done for them.  Mother is ecstatic to think that she might finally have some grandchildren.”

“Derek and Austin, I suggest that you call Uncle Howie and ask for his advice.  You need to act quickly, though, since we know that the boys’ father is dead, and the boys are technically wards of the state.”

It was almost nine thirty before I got the paperwork, that Karen had given me, signed.  I went into the office and was talking to Karen when the door opened and Jack Smith walked into the office.

I looked at Jack, “Jack, if you’re looking for Mr. Summers or Mr. Mitchell, their offices are down the hall.”

“President Christiansen, I came to talk to you, if you have time.”

“Jack, go into my office.  Do you want anyone else to be present while we’re talking?”

“Sir, could it just be you and me?”

“Of course.”

I looked at Karen and Greg and arched my eye brows.  I was going to leave the door open, then thought better of it.  I sat down beside Jack.  “Jack, how did you get here.”
 

“I walked.”

“Does Mrs. Mitchell know where you are?”

“President Christiansen, I didn’t tell her where I was going.  I asked for her permission to go see an old friend and told her I would be back by lunchtime.”

I laughed, “Thanks for telling me I’m old, Jack.  What is it that you would like to talk about?”

I could tell that Jack was really nervous, “Mr. Christiansen, me and the other two boys would like to be able to live with Mr. Summers and Mr. Mitchell, but that’s probably not possible, because they’re queers.  Besides, they probably wouldn’t want us, after Mr. Summers caught me jerking off in the shower, this morning.”

“Jack, I don’t think the two gentlemen would appreciate you calling them queers.  I think that they would prefer if you referred to them as being gay or being committed to each other.  Do you have a problem with them being gay?”

“No, sir.  In fact, I’d feel safer knowing that we were living with men who wouldn’t try to make me and my brothers do things we don’t want to do, like some men would.”

“Jack, have you or your brothers ever been made to do something by a grown person?”

“No, sir, but now that I’m growing up, I’ve noticed men watching me.  I was almost afraid to go to the bathroom.  I’ve seen what some men do to young guys and I don’t want that to happen to me, Jay or Jimmy.”

I was still confused, “Jack, I still don’t understand why you would  decide to come talk to me.  Besides, Mr. Summers and Mr. Mitchell and I have already talked, this morning.  I told them that they needed to call and talk to my Uncle who is a lawyer and that they had to call Social Services and tell them where you and your brothers were living.”

Jack stood with clenched fists, “Damn you, sir.  You were the one person I thought could help me and my brothers.  What did you do, but make it so we’re going to wind up in a home or some foster home where they don’t really care about us?   If they try to separate us, we’ll run away.”

Jack started toward the door, and I grabbed him and held him, “Son, I only did what I thought was best.  If Mr. Summers and Mr. Mitchell didn’t notify the authorities of the whereabouts of you three boys, it would have only been a matter of time before they would have been arrested and you and your brothers WOULD be in a home.  The police know what happened and they will be reporting your presence to the social services people.  Son, I know you’re upset with me, but please relax.”

I was holding Jack, who was crying, when the door opened.  Greg looked in, “President Christiansen, there are two people from the State Social Services Department who would like to speak to you.”

“Greg, escort them in.  Jack, go sit behind my desk.  There’s a box of tissue in the top right drawer.  Blow your nose and wipe your eyes.”

I went to greet the visitors, not knowing who to expect.  Mrs. Cooper entered with an older man, “Good afternoon, President Christiansen.”

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Cooper.  I hope this isn’t another bogus visitor from the state attorney general’s office.”

The gentleman grinned, “Touché, Doctor Christiansen.  We deserved that hit.  That’s why I decided to come with Mrs. Cooper to apologize in person for the debacle that occurred last Thursday.  I’m Dana Lawrence, head of the Children’s Protective Services in the Harwood area.  After the police and Mr. Willingham called our office this morning and told us that you were involved in the case, I decided that I should be personally involved.”

Jack was sitting at my desk listening intently to what was going on. Mr. Lawrence asked, “Dr. Christiansen, what do you know about the two gentlemen with whom the Smith boys are residing and why did you decide that it was okay?  Who is the young man and why is he here in your office?  I was told that your sons were younger.”

“Mr. Lawrence, you sure do ask a lot of questions without stopping.  Jack, come here and introduce yourself to Mrs. Cooper and Mr. Lawrence.”

I wasn’t sure how Jack would respond, but he came around the desk and put out his hand, “It’s a pleasure to meet you.  I’m Jackson Lee Smith.”

I added, “Jack is the eldest of the three boys you are here to discuss.  He’s here because he wanted to talk to me and was chewing me out for notifying you where he and his brothers were living.  He and his brothers are really concerned that you’re going to put them in a home or foster care where they aren‘t going to really be loved.”

Mr. Lawrence frowned, “Do you think it advisable for the young man to hear what we will be discussing?”

I nodded, “He has every right in the world to hear what is said, since it directly impacts on him and his brothers.”

There was a knock on the door, I looked at my watch and it was ten o’clock.  “Come in.”

Clark stuck his head in the door, “Doug, everyone is here.  Are we going to have a staff meeting or not?  We have things we need to do.”

Clark looked around, “Hi, sis and Mr. Lawrence, I guess that tells me the answer.  If Terri and her boss are involved, then you’ll be busy for a long time.  I’ll inform everyone, we’ll reconvene at three o’clock.”

“Thanks Clark, but would you ask Austin and Derek to join us?”

When Derek and Austin entered the office, their eyes focused on Jack, until I directed their attention elsewhere.  “Gentlemen, I would like to introduce our visitors.  The young lady is Clark’s sister, Terri Cooper and the gentleman is her boss, Mr. Dana Lawrence, who is head of the State Social Services in the Harwood area.”

“Mrs. Cooper and Mr. Lawrence, I’d like to introduce my brother-in-law, Dr. Austin Summers.  He’s the Dean of Students here at Harwood.  The other gentleman is Mr. Robert Nixon’s nephew, Dr. Derek Mitchell, who is our Dean of Admissions.  It is their home where the three Smith boys are currently residing, along with Dr. Mitchell’s Mother, Louisa Nixon Mitchell.”

After the introductions were completed, I had Jack pull my desk chair around so there would be seats for all the visitors.  I went and sat on the edge of my desk and Jack came and stood beside me.  Derek asked, “Jack, what are you doing here, and where are your brothers?”

Jack scowled, “I came here because I wanted to talk to Dr. C.  I told your Mother that I was going to go see an old friend and she was fine with that, as long as I was back in time for lunch.”

Mr. Lawrence frowned, “Jack, why would you want to talk to Dr. Christiansen when Dr. Mitchell and Dr. Summers were here in the same building?  Why wouldn’t you talk to them?”

“Sir, you don’t get it.  Dr. Christiansen, Mr. Weaver and the Gentle Giant, Greg, and Jordan went to the place under the bridge where we were living.  It was Dr. Christiansen who got the place closed when he called the cops and finally the rescue people came and took care of the dead bodies.  It was Dr. Christiansen’s sons who made sure that we had something to eat.  Yes, I know it was Dr. Mitchell who paid for our food and it was his Mother who bought our clothes and shaved our heads to get rid of lice.  I guess, I thought Dr. Christiansen would be able to make everything okay, but I guess I was wrong.”

Mrs. Cooper asked, “Jack, where are your brothers, now?”

“When I left the house, they were proving to Mrs. Mitchell that they could read.  She said she was going to check out my reading ability, tomorrow.”

Mrs. Cooper asked, “Is there any way we could meet Mrs. Mitchell and your two brothers?”

Jack shook his head no, “Ma’am, I’m afraid that guys would freak out if they even suspected that you and Mr. Lawrence were from the Child Protection Agency and were thinking about putting us in homes.”

Mr. Lawrence frowned, “Jack, why do you assume that we’re going to put you in a home.  You’re the only person who has mentioned that.”

“Sir, I may be young, but I’m not stupid.  People in today’s society think that gay people will take advantage of anyone living with them.  Sir, I’d rather live with a gay person who loved me, for who I am, rather than some person who is taking care of me for the money I would be able to bring him or her.  I’ve heard enough stories of how fine upstanding men take advantage of not only boys, but girls as well, and are able to use them when they want because they are able to convince the powers that be, that they are fine wonderful upstanding citizens.  To that, I say b.s.  People don’t really care about us homeless kids.  They keep saying they do, but do nothing to really help us.”

I put my hand over Jack’s mouth, “Son, talking like that isn’t going to make anything better.  Mrs. Cooper and Mr. Lawrence don’t make the laws.  They’re doing the best they can.  I happen to agree with you that this is an area where the public needs to realize what’s happening.  Call your brothers and Mrs. Mitchell and have them meet us for lunch at the Pine’s Deli, in thirty minutes.  I’ll call Summerhill and see if anyone wants to join us.”

Jack took my hand away from his mouth, “Dr. C., I’m not your son.  You didn’t want me and my brothers at Summerhill, so we ended up staying at Dr. Summers and Dr. Mitchell and his Mother’s house.”

“Jack, you know as well as I do, that I would have gladly had you stay at Summerhill with us.  What was the reason you couldn’t stay at
Summerhill?”

“Okay, so you didn’t have anyplace for us to sleep except a stall in a stable, because the guys’ grandparents were visiting.”

“And?”

“Okay, so Mrs. Mitchell commandeered us away so she could shave our heads and make us part of her army.  I don’t have the foggiest notion as to how to call the house where my brothers are being held captive.”

“Get Dr. Mitchell to help you, while I call Summerhill.”

As a result of the calls, we were walking to the Pines Café.  Jack was sticking rather close to me until we approached the deli and he saw Benji and Rocky.  He took off and Mr. Lawrence dropped back to me, “That young man has some very definite opinions.  How old is he?”

 

“He’s twelve, and wait until you meet his brothers.  They are every bit as neat as Jack is.  Jack is very protective of Jay and Jimmy.”

When Benji saw who was with us he pulled back to Cole, “Dads, why is that lady here?  The last time we saw her, someone was trying to kidnap Rocky and that Senator slapped me on the face and the people died almost in front of Summerhill.”

“Benji, Mrs. Cooper and Mr. Lawrence are here to try to help Jimmy, Jay and Jack.  They’re not here to try to hurt or let anyone hurt any of you.  There’s Mrs. Mitchell with Jay and Jimmy.  Go help them.”

Jack looked up at me, “Dr. C., did everything that Benji just talk about really happen?”

“Yep, I’m afraid it did, and that doesn’t even begin to cover everything else that happened.  I don’t even think that your dads know everything that happened.”

Jack looked up at me with tears in his eyes, “Dr. C., please don’t say something like that without meaning it.  We’ve already talked about why these CPS people are going to try and take us away from where we’re living.”

“Son, we need to think positive.  Maybe these people will see the light.  We’ll get them drunk during lunch, and they'll make it possible for you and Benji to be cousins.”

Jack had a beautiful smile when he laughed, “Dr. C., does that mean we’ll have to call you Uncle Doug?”

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:  Now, Uncle Doug sounds really nice, doesn't it? 

Isn't it sad that the powers that be, in many cases, seem to care more about what looks good, concerning children, instead of truly caring about what is really best for the children.  After all, it is the kids' lives that are on the line, not the money that the foster parents can make from having kids in their house.

I am ready for another chapter, soon, hopefully.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 06/11/10