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

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Chapter 35  

Oh No, Not Again!

Benji entered my bedroom on his hands and knees, meowing.  “Alex, if you’re going to sleep with me, then get into bed.  After midnight, I change into a vampire, if I’m still awake.  “Daddy, why is Burnsey sleeping with you?”

I put my finger to my mouth to indicate that we needed to be quiet, “He’s afraid that his Mother is going to come back here and try to kidnap him again.”

Benji and Alex disappeared quietly, but unfortunately, Burnsey had a very restless night.  He tossed and turned and even talked in his sleep, “Please don’t let them put me back in that prison!”

Finally, I gave up trying to sleep and went downstairs and made some coffee.  I put on a pair of walking shorts and a tee shirt and went out on the deck to watch the sunrise.  As I sat there, I was thinking, ‘How did we become embroiled in this latest mess?  I think I need to sit down with Benji and the boys and explain that we can’t solve everyone’s problems.’

I heard the door open and Burnsey was standing there in his briefs with tears streaming down his face. “I was afraid that you were leaving me, so my parents could take me away.  I thought I was all alone.”

“Burnsey, you don't need to worry; the doors are all still locked except the deck door.  I promise you that no one is going to take you anywhere.  I suggest that you go put on some shorts since there are ladies in the house.  You might cause them to faint, if they saw you like that.”

Burnsey started to laugh, “Dr. C., you must be blind.”

“Go ahead and get some clothes on, and we’ll see what we can find for breakfast.”

When Burnsey returned, he was dressed, and he was accompanied by Rocky, Pete, Benji and Alex.  Benji asked, “Daddy, are we going to church and are we going to take the Grandmothers to lunch?”

“Yes, Dad Cole is planning to be here in time to go to church.  I don’t know why we wouldn’t take the Grandmothers with us and to lunch.  I am sure they’ll enjoy meeting our new friends.”

When Alex and I were just about finished fixing breakfast, the Baldwin’s came in with Alexis.  Walt announced, the youngest four boys are on their way.  Rollie is having the time of his life.  He says for you to tell all woman that they need to go home so you can take the boys skinny dipping.”

I had Benji call Grandmother McBride and let her know what the plans were.  She and Grandma Bertie had no problem with the plans.  We were all suitably dressed when Cole arrived, followed by Coach Lewis.  Coach Lewis asked, “Where is everyone getting ready to go?”

Benji went over to him and stood right in his face, “Coach Lewis, it’s Sunday, and we’re going to church, where we go almost every Sunday.”

“Well, I’m certainly not going to church.  I don’t believe in church and besides, I need to get back to Atlanta to make plans for this week’s football game.  Come on, Junior.  Your Mother is madder than a wet hen.  She is threatening to come and take you back to the military school.”

Benji scowled, “Coach Lewis. You’re a day late and a dollar short.  Burnsey’s mother showed up here yesterday.  She was blasting her horn and nearly caused some horses to throw some young children off their backs.   See my fat lip?  She did this to me. She is mean.  You’re not taking Burnsey anywhere.  Come on everyone, we need to load up, if we’re going to be on time for church.”

“Coach, maybe you need to go to church so you can find out how to be a good parent, instead of worrying about football games all the time.”

The coach was sucking air, but he decided to go to church with us.  Burnsey made sure he rode with Benji and Rocky in the special van so that his Dad couldn’t take him away.

We were followed, from Summerhill, by a big fancy car, but the windows were tinted, so I couldn’t see who was in it.  When we arrived at the assisted living center, the car was still following us.  The other vehicles had gone directly to the church.  When we had the two grandmothers loaded, Grandmother McBride looked at Benji, “What in the world happened to you, this time?”

Benji shrugged his shoulders, “Burnsey’s Mother slapped me on the face.  She was trying to kidnap Burnsey and take him back to that military school.”

Grandmother Throckmorton asked, “What kind of woman would slap a seven year old boy on the face, and give him a fat lip?  Is she that snotty Hope Starr person they were talking about on the news, last night, who almost caused the horses to run away with the young people on them?”

Burnsey answered, “That’s my wonderful, self-centered stuck up Mother.  She only thinks about herself and making herself look important.”

It was interesting to see how Burnsey manipulated the seating, so he wasn’t seated anywhere near his Dad.  He was sitting next to me and Peter Baldwin.  He looked up at me, “I still can’t believe that people don’t worry about how they are dressed.  Some people look as if they’re going to go swimming.”

He was looking around, then he fell against me and gasped, “Dr. C., she’s here.”

 

“Burnsey, who are you talking about?”

“My Mother is sitting right over there, watching us like a hawk, and glaring at Dad.”

I looked around and didn’t see anyone that looked like Hope Starr. “Burnsey, who are you talking about?  I don’t see anyone who looks at all like Hope Starr.”

“Dr. C., she’s that woman who's sitting on the other side of the aisle right across from us, the one who is wearing the blue dress.  That’s how she looks when she’s not acting.”

I looked again and the lady saw me looking, “So that’s what the real Gwen Bradford looks like without her makeup.  She must have been a very pretty woman, when she was younger.”

When the service was ending, I made it a point to go talk to the 'lady', “Miss Bradford, I am reminding you that Burnsey is our guest.  I will definitely not allow him to be spirited away by you, or your ex-husband.  Whatever the animosity is between you and your ex, it shouldn’t be taken out on Burnsey.  He didn’t ask the two of you to be born.”

Mrs. McBride approached Miss Bradford and me, “Young lady, aren’t you Gwen Bradford?”

The woman looked a little surprised, “Yes, but who are you?”

Benji was standing there beside me, “This is my Great Grandmother, Emily McBride.  Are you going to slap her, too?”

 

Ms. Bradford’s face went white, “What is your name?  You have no right to talk to me like that.”

Grandmother McBride shook her head, “Gwen, you had no cause to strike my great-grandson, either.  It seems to me that you need a good lesson in humility.  The guys told me what you were trying to do, yesterday.  I’ve known your son for over a week, and he is perfectly happy and content living with Dr. Christiansen and his family.  I cannot begin to fathom what your grandparents would do if they were here to witness what has been happening.  Why don’t you go to lunch with us and see what Burnsey is really like.  He's not a Martian or some kind of freak, who should be hidden away in a military school.   You should be ashamed of yourself.”

“I suggest that you and your ex-husband try to act civilly while we enjoy a nice lunch.  I’m surprised that your parents would permit you to treat their grandson the way he says you and your husband and his new wife treat him.”

Ms. Bradford shook her head, “Mrs. McBride, my parents died right after Ray, Jr. was born.  I'm sure that if they were still alive, Ray, Jr. would be living with them.  There is no way I could maintain a public life if he were to live with me, and Ray’s new wife hates my guts, so she takes it out on Ray, Jr.”

I didn’t say what I was thinking, but instead said, “Ms. Bradford, since you have your own vehicle, why don’t you follow us to the club?  We would very much appreciate it if you and your husband would try to behave like responsible adults while you’re in the presence of our sons and our guests.”

I knew I wasn’t making any friends, but frankly, I really didn’t care.

As we were riding to the club, Burnsey was almost crying, “Why did you have to ask my parents to the club?  They’ll probably just sit there and fight and ruin lunch for everyone.”

Benji giggled, “We’ll just have to make sure that they aren’t sitting anywhere near each other, or you.  We’ll get Dr. Baldwin and Pete to keep Coach Lewis occupied, and Alexis and Mrs. Baldwin can keep Burnsey’s Mother busy.”

Benji made sure that Burnsey was sitting between Grandmother Throckmorton and Grandmother McBride.  He and Rocky sat on the other side of their great-grandmothers.  It made having a sustained conversation nearly impossible, but it worked.  Cole, Alex and I were taking care of the four little guys.  Alex and Cole were having a good discussion.  In fact, I was feeling like the lone man out.

As we were leaving the club, Ms.. Bradford asked, “Could I please be permitted to talk to Burnsey when we get to Summerhill?”

Benji answered before I could, “Only if there is another adult there, when you do, so you can’t try to kidnap him again.”

When we arrived at Summerhill, Benji whispered, “Dad, you stay with Burnsey.  Dad Cole can keep Coach Lewis busy.  I don’t think Burnsey’s parents like each other very much.”

Walt announced, “Margi and I need to take Alex and Alexis shopping for some appropriate clothes, if they’re going to be properly attired when they start working for Dr. Christiansen, tomorrow.”

Ms.. Bradford asked, “What is it that the two young people are going to be doing for Mr. Christiansen?”
 

I thought to myself, ‘Why should she care?  What does that have to do with Burnsey?’   I answered, “They’re going to be working half days, as my secretary’s assistants and going to school the rest of the time.  However, I fail to see what this has to do with Burnsey.”

Ms. Bradford was frowning, “Mr. Christiansen, I’m having a difficult time understanding what’s going on here.  There are so many things that make no sense at all.  Who are you, anyway, and who owns this place you call Summerhill?   Why do you have so many young people running around?  It’s as if you’re running a boarding school.”

I looked at Benji, Burnsey and the rest of the boys, “Why don’t you guys go see if Dan and David can help you saddle the horses, so you can go for a ride, while Dad Cole and I talk to Ms. Bradford and Coach Lewis?  We’ll go swimming, later.”

Rollie put his hands on my knees, “Remember, Dr. C., you said we could go swimming without clothes, before I had to go home.”

The young guys departed and Ms. Bradford snapped, “What did that boy mean, go swimming without any clothes?”

“Just what it sounded like, Ms. Bradford, there is nothing wrong with us going swimming in the nude.  We do it all the time?  The boys think nothing of seeing a nude man.  Our boys’ grandfathers have even been swimming in the nude, with us.  You need to get your mind out of the gutter.  Let’s go out on the deck, so we can keep an eye on the young people.  Cole, why don’t you and Coach Lewis join us out there?  Perhaps, we can give Burnsey back his life.”

When we were all seated, I looked at the participants, “Ray, you know some of what I’m going to say, but please don’t interrupt.  I think that Ms. Bradford needs to understand that Cole and I have no ulterior motives in having Burnsey stay with us.  Where would you like me to start, Ms. Bradford?”

“For starters, who are you and what is your relationship with Mr. Weaver?”

“I am the president of the Harwood Community College.  After my wife’s death, Cole and I formed a relationship, but we don’t flaunt it.  Yes, the boys all know that Cole and I sleep together, and it doesn’t bother them at all.”

“Who owns this farm, you call Summerhill?  Why is it called that?”

I scowled, “Ms. Bradford, if it makes a difference, technically, I own Summerhill.  My wife lived here before we were married, and we subsequently increased the size of the ranch after we got married.  Summers was my wife’s maiden name.  We had some young friends who decided that the spread needed a proper name.  Thus it is now called Summerhill.”

“What happened to your wife?”

“She was pregnant with twin girls when the three of them were killed in a vehicle accident.”

Ms. Bradford asked, “So, you and your wife had four sons before she died?  How is it that you’re related to Mrs. McBride?”

I shook my head, “Benji, is adopted.  Cole found him abandoned in a field, after a tornado.  Autumn and I adopted him.  Benji was even present at our wedding. In fact, he was a participant in the wedding.”

“Mr. Christiansen, you’re making this up as you go.  That is something that the screen writers would write.”

Cole stood up, clenching his fists, barely able to hold himself back. “Ms. Bradford, you seem awfully interested in the affairs of Summerhill. I thought you came here to talk about your precious son that you don't want hanging around you.  If you want to talk about your son, do so, but the affairs of Summerhill are of no concern to concern to you or Coach Lewis.”

Ms. Bradford’s jaw tightened, “I have every right to know what’s going on here.  It’s obvious to me that you have all been brainwashing my son.”

Coach Lewis bristled, “You damned bitch, he’s just as much my son as he is yours.  How do you think I feel, when he won’t even acknowledge that I’m here?”

“Look, you prick; you allowed this situation to develop, in the first place.  Christiansen, shouldn’t there be an adult supervising the boys while they are riding?  If something happens to Ray, Jr., I’ll sue you for all you’re worth.”

I shook my head, “Ms. Bradford, or Ms. Starr or whoever, you talk and act with a forked tongue.  Yesterday, you didn’t give a damn that you almost caused some special needs children to be hurt.  Today, when it suits you, you’re telling me that Cole and I are irresponsible, because we’re not supervising the boys while they’re on the horses.  For your information, Dan and David have been conducting riding parties all summer, and not one person has been hurt.  Benji has been riding since he was old enough to sit on a horse.  He could probably ride circles around you and your big shot Hollywood friends.  Our other three boys are also good riders.”

“If you look carefully, you can see that Benji has control of Burnsey’s horse, since Burnsey is just beginning to feel comfortable, riding.  Dan and David have control of Pete and Rollie’s horses, since this is all new to them.”

We watched, as the guys dismounted at the dismounting station.  Rollie came running to us, “Dr. C., Mr. Dan says that he’ll bring the wagon so we can go to the lake after the guys take care of the horses.  Tell the mean woman to go home, so we can go skinny dipping.”

“Rollie, I’ll make you a deal.  I’ll take Ms. Bradford to the lake in the golf cart, and after she sees that nothing bad is happening, I’ll bring her back here, and you guys can go skinny dipping for a short time.  I’m sure that your parents will want to head back to Charlotte before too long.”

Rollie frowned, “Why can’t I stay here like Alex is going to do?”

“Rollie, it will only be two more weeks before you will be moving here, and then there will be lots of time for you to swim and play with Jimmy and Johnny.”

I looked at Cole, “Why don’t you take Coach Lewis in the other cart, so you two can talk football?”

Ms. Bradford reminded us, “I’m not going skinny dipping.  Since I don’t have a swim suit, I won’t be going swimming.”

“Ms. Bradford, I can promise you that we aren’t going to try to make you go swimming.  If you’d rather not go observe the boys, that’s fine with me.  The choice is yours.”

To be continued...

Editor's Notes: I would have to say that the person who calls herself Burnsey's mother is a MOTHER, all right, but to be accurate, you have to add another word that is not polite to use in mixed company, and that phrase would infer that she might enjoy having a sexual relationship with a female person who has children of her own. Now, I think I have made my meaning as clear as possible.  Another name that might fit her might be the one used to describe a female dog. But that would be extremely disrespectful and rude to the dog specie.

Burnsey's Father isn't a whole lot better than his mother is, but at least I don't think he is quite as full of himself as she is, but he certainly doesn't give a flying fig about how Burnsey feels.  Neither of them deserves to be parents.

Both parents want to use Burnsey to inflate their own egos, and, of course, to spite each other in the bargain.

To each of them, Burnsey is a trophy they can use to increase their credibility with their social circle, when it suites them, and pawn him off on someone else when they don't particularly need or want him around. 

Let's hope that Burnsey can stay at Summerhill, and get away from the two greedy bastards that brought him into the world.

I do seem to be obsessing over these two creeps, but, sadly, I know only too well, exactly how Burnsey feels.  I was conceived at the culmination of a heavy bout of sexual excitement. (I would not even consider calling it love making), between two horny people, who later made the excuse that they were trying to get back together, after being separated for over two years.  They said that they wanted to get back together, for the sake of a five year old girl they made in the back seat of an Oldsmobile, before they had even finished high school. The girl was, and still is, a selfish snotty person, and I use that word 'person' very loosely.

Thank God I was adopted by a loving couple, who couldn't have children of their own. They loved me very much, and I am ever so grateful that they picked me. I am also grateful that My egg and sperm donors didn't want to let her be adopted, or I would have had to live with her, too.  I believe I have related some or all of this, before, but I'm old and I forget things, sometimes, so if you already heard this, then, I'm sorry.  Otherwise, now you know, the rest of the story.  Oooo, another rant!

I am ready for another Chapter.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 09/10/10