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

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Chapter 29  

I’m Not a Puppet

When I left for work on Monday morning, all six guys were still sleeping, so I decided not to wake them.  When I arrived at the college, I went to talk to Logan to see how construction was going.  He and Jordan were looking at something.  Jordan handed it to me, “Dr. C., one of the workers found this and no one has any idea what it might be.   You might want someone who is involved in archeology examine it.”

Logan and I discussed the construction; he assured me that things were proceeding ahead of schedule.  He shook his head, “Doug, it’s as if the gods are smiling on us.  Do you realize that we have not lost a construction day because of rain?  Jordan, put your head down here so we can knock on some wood.”

Jordan chuckled, “Mr. Turner, that’s the wrong part of my body to be looking for wood.”

When I arrived back at the office, Greg pounced on me, “Dr. C., when school starts, my hours are going to be limited.  This job is too big for Karen to handle by herself.  We need to find her some help, especially when basketball practice starts.  I’ll try to arrange my schedule so I can help her, especially in the morning.  She really needs someone full time who can fill in for her, should she become ill.”

As I walked into my office holding the relic that Jordan had handed me, I was thinking, ‘It’s only Monday morning.  Don’t tell me this is the kind of week I’m going to have.”

The staff arrived for the Monday morning staff meeting.  I figured that it would be a short meeting, since I really had nothing much to talk about.

I started the meeting and there was much more to discuss than I imagined.  It was as if everyone had spent the weekend contemplating what was happening at the college and what should happen.  Austin started the discussion, “Doug, we’ll be starting new student orientations the Monday after next.  We need some students to escort the new people around during their day long visit.  We’re all going to be pretty much tied up, acting as advisors for the new students.”

Derek nodded in agreement, “I agree with Austin, even though I probably can handle most problems that come to me, as the Dean of Students, it sure would be nice to have a lady to assist me.”

Lisa put in her two cents, “Mackenzie and I were talking over the weekend, and we really do need at least one more full time staff member.  We think it might be wise if any new hires that are made be married and preferably have children, since all of the major players presently on the staff are leading an alternative lifestyle.”

Clark laughed, “Yeah, we wouldn’t want people to get the idea that we were a gay college.”

Bill Oliver shook his head, “I swear, you people are daft.  Before you ask, Dr. Christiansen, there is money in the till to accommodate two or three more professional people on our staff.  You need to think about hiring a person to head the Human Resources division.  You people are going to be too busy putting out fires, to be interviewing people.  I suggest that you have Greg be head of student escorts and let him organize them, since he probably knows more about the college than anyone else we could find.”

I shook my head, “Greg, hit me up when I first arrived this morning telling me that I needed to find a full time replacement for him to assist Karen when school started.  Everyone keep a look out for people to fill the positions.  In the meantime, Clark, would you give this to Larry and see if he has any idea what it might be.  Logan’s people found it while they were working.”

After the staff meeting had ended, I walked into the reception area,

“Greg, you’re being reassigned to be the assistant to Drs. Summers and Mitchell, starting two weeks from today.”

Greg looked as if he was going to cry, “Dr. Christiansen, what did I do wrong?”

“Greg, let me assure you.  You did absolutely nothing wrong.  You’re going to be head of the student escorts when the new students arrive for their orientation, starting two weeks from today.  As such, you are going to need to find some suitable escorts to assist you.  You are going need to train them.  You were recommended for the position because you already know more about what is happening around Harwood Community Junior College than almost everyone else.  When school starts, you could work in the Dean of Student’s office, to assist students who have problems or questions.”

Greg shook his head, “Dr. Christiansen, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.  I feel like I was kicked in the pants and landed in a pot of honey.  Now all we have to do is find a suitable assistant for Karen.”

I was about ready to go home when Jordan came into the office, “Dr. C., Mr. Turner wanted me to give you five more of those things that we found today.  I swear that man is trying to make me have a hernia.  He’s afraid I’m better in bed than he is.  What did you do to my man?  When we were eating lunch today, he was babbling about being demoted and promoted at the same time.  Talk to you later.”

I picked up the box that Jordan deposited on my desk and he was indeed correct; the box was heavy.  I took the box to Clark’s office and set it on his desk.  “Here are some more of those things from the construction site.  You might want to drive your car to the door to load them.”

When I arrived at Summerhill, the young guys were waving to the last group of visitors.  I went to talk to Patty, “Patty, are six boys too much for you to watch?”

Patty started to laugh, “Dr. C., I almost never see them.  My brothers keep them so busy, and the guys even make their own lunches, if there isn’t a party over lunch time.”

After dinner, I was sitting, reading the paper, when Benji led the other five boys to where I was reading, “Dad, what should we do with the money we keep getting?”

I frowned, “What money?”

Mikey answered, “Daddy, Uncle Denny keeps giving us money when we help with the parties.  Sometimes we get more than other times.”

“Guys, take your money and hide it where no one else will find it.  Never tell anyone that you have money, here.”

Benji giggled, “Just like when we found the coins at the college.”

I shook my head, “We need to take your money to the bank so it can make you more money.”

Burnsey asked, “Does that mean me, too?”

“Guys, I need to go check on something.  Take your money and hide it, and start getting ready for bed.  You can watch television in our bedroom when you’re clean.”

I went to the trailer and knocked, Denny opened the door, “Come in Dr. C., we were just reading the boys a bedtime story.  Is there a problem?”

 

“Denny, it’s not a problem, but I’m confused by what’s happening.  Why are you giving my boys money?  Are you paying for them to help with the parties?”

“Dr. C., they are not being paid to work the parties.  That would be like them paying themselves to work.  The money is from the tips that the people leave.  The tips are significantly higher if the young guys are involved in the parties, so why shouldn’t they receive some benefits from their unsolicited participation.”

“Denny, I had no idea that tips were so significant that you could share them.  I’m impressed with the way you’re managing the estate.  It’s significantly more profitable than I ever imagined it could be.  Denny, all I can say is thank you, to you and your family for being here.”

Denny hugged me, “Dr. C., it is me and my extended family who should be thanking you for allowing us to be here.”

When I walked into the bedroom, Benji, Rocky and Burnsey were lying there in their briefs, watching a baseball game.  “Daddy, Dad Cole wants you to call him.”

I went to the phone and dialed, “This is Cole Weaver.”

“Cole, my man, Benji said you wanted me to call you.  Did the coach ride your butt into the ground?”

Cole started to laugh, “Actually, Coach Lewis was like he was lost in space most of the day.  He came to me after the afternoon practice session and asked that I have Junior call him.”

“Here, you tell Burnsey what his father wants.  Burnsey, Mr. Weaver would like to talk to you.”

“This is Burnsey … Mr. Weaver; if my father would like to talk to me tell him to call me.  I’m not his puppet. … No sir, I will not call him. … Okay, here’s Dr. C.”

“Doug, here.”

“Doug, what do I do?  I don’t want to be caught in the middle of the Lewis family feud.”

“Cole, if Ray would like to talk to Burnsey then it would behoove him to call, because judging from what I’m hearing, Burnsey isn’t going to budge.”

“Doug, how did we get caught up in the middle of this mess, anyway?”

“Cole, I wish I knew.  There must be something in our astrology signs that is causing this to happen.  When will you be home?”

“I probably won’t be home until Sunday. We have two a day practices for the next two days and then we’re flying to Seattle early Thursday morning for an exhibition game on Saturday night.”

“Cole, call tomorrow night, and maybe we can talk after the guys are in bed,”

When I arrived at the office on Tuesday morning, Greg was already there, “Hi boss, as soon as Karen gets here, I’m going to go meet with Dr. Summers and Dr. Mitchell to find out what they expect of the student escorts.”

It was almost noon when the door to my office burst open, “Hi Dad, we’re here to take you to lunch.  The grandmothers are already in the van.  David is driving, since Dan is meeting with Greg about being an escort.”

“Who’s paying?”

Benji frowned, “Dad, we guys have more than enough money to pay for lunch.  Come on, we have to get back, because we have two parties this afternoon.”

Lunch was just what I needed, because I felt rejuvenated as I watched the guys pull away with the great grandmothers, and no, the boys didn’t pay a cent.

When I walked into the office, Greg looked at me, “Dr. C., Karen has gone to lunch.  Mr. Baldwin is waiting to speak to you.”

I turned to the gentleman, who looked to be about my age, and shook his hand, “Good afternoon, sir.  I’m Doug Christiansen.  Won’t you please come into my office?”

The gentleman followed me into the office and sat down.  I looked at him, “I know that your name is Mr. Baldwin, but do you suppose you could provide me with a few more details, like perhaps, your first name, and why you’re here?”

He folded his arms and smirked, “I understand that you’re shacking up with a black boy.  Is that true?”

I had no idea what was happening, “Yes, my significant other is a man about the same color as you.  What does that have to do with you being in my office?”

Mr. Baldwin stood, “Why didn’t you say a black man about the same color as me.”

“Mr. Baldwin, are you from the NAACP or something?”

“No, actually I’m here to apply for the position of Human Resources Director.  I wanted to make sure that I wouldn’t be in a hostile environment here at the Harwood Community Junior College,”

“How did you find out that we were even considering hiring a human resources director, when the staff talked about it yesterday for the first time?”

 

“My queer brother-in-law called last night and suggested that I come to visit with you, to see if we could perhaps work something out.”

I stood, “Mr. Baldwin, perhaps we should start again.  I’m Doug Christiansen.”

The gentleman stood, “I’m Walt Baldwin.  Just to let you know, that’s all she wrote.  My parents couldn’t spell beyond four letters.  In fact I’m the only person in my family who has more than three in their name.”

I sat down and I shook my head, “Mr. Baldwin, could you give me a clue as to who your brother-in-law might be?”

“Dr. Christiansen, I guess you probably think of him as the keeper of the college’s exchequer.”

“Are you saying that Bill Oliver is your brother-in-law?”

Mr. Baldwin sobbed, “Unfortunately.”

There was a knock on the door and Greg opened the door, “Dr. C., Mr. Oliver wants to see you.  He says it’s urgent.”

I started to laugh, “Greg, show Mr. Oliver in.  You might want to watch this three ring circus.”

When Bill entered the office, he stopped, “Sorry, Dr. Christiansen.  I was hoping to meet you before you met Dr. Baldwin.  He escaped from the loony farm in Charlotte, this morning.  He thinks he might be qualified to be our Human Resources person.”

“Walt, how are Sis and the children?”

“They were all sleeping when I left this morning to find this god-forsaken place.  Whoever, heard of Harwood, Georgia.”

I shook my head, “Walt, are you ever serious?  Could we take time to find out why you might think you could fit into the scheme of things at our Junior College?”

Bill stood, “I’m going to leave you two to talk.  I have some things to take care of.  Walt, are you going to be spending the night with us?” 

Walt shook his head no, “Thanks for offering, Bill; I need to get back to Charlotte.”

Walt grinned, “Dr. Christiansen, I had no idea what I might be getting myself into, when Bill suggested last night that I might be interested in coming here to work.  He knows that I’m skeptical about how long the bank where I’m presently working is going to last, because the bank is under scrutiny by the federal government.”

“A little about my background, I have my doctorate from the Wharton School of Business in Philadelphia.  My primary emphasis was in the Human Resources area.  That’s where I met my wife, Bill’s sister.  She has a master’s degree in library science.  After we were married, she wanted to move back south.”

“Dr. Baldwin, I suggest we move this discussion to Summerhill.  I have a number of questions before I have you meet the rest of the personnel committee.  I need to get you prepared to meet them.  They are even worse than me.

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:  This Walt person seems really interesting. I think he might just fit in quite well. Of course, Benji will have to approve of him, before he can be taken seriously. 

I honestly can't figure out what the artifacts might be. They might turn out to be quite interesting.

I can hardly wait to see what happens next.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 07/30/10