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 40  

Why Now?

After the Lancers had departed, I hugged the guys, “Guys, go get ready for bed.  Benji and Rocky call Grandmothers McBride and Cunningham and tell them that we’ll be coming back here for lunch, after we go to the late service, and they can watch the football game with us.  R. B., I have some papers that I need to talk to you about while the other guys are getting ready for bed.”

Benji put his hands on his hips, “Guys, don’t you hate when big people have something that they don’t want us to see or hear,  They think we’re too little to understand what’s going on.  Come on, guys, let’s go leave a mess in the bathrooms to get even.”

I looked at Benji and scowled, but decided not to respond to his accusations. I took R. B, into the study of our bedroom, “Son, I think you should read these papers that your parents had me sign.  They can’t really do much to make things okay, but Doctor Lancer thinks you need to read them, so you can see that your parents aren’t the awful people that you think they are,  I’ll be back as soon as I say goodnight to the other guys, since they think I’m being mean to them.”

I went to Mikey’s room.  “Hi, Mikey, aren’t you going to sleep with Benji.”

“Daddy, now that I go to school with the big boys, I’m big enough to take care of myself.  Daddy, what’s happening?  Is R.B. sick?”

“I don’t think so, Mikey.  Why did you ask that?”

“Daddy, it's just as if you are paying more attention to him than us.  I sometimes think that you’re mad at me.”

 

“Mikey, I promise I’m not mad at you or any of the guys.  I’ll try to do better.  It’s been a very busy week.  I love you.  Go to sleep and I’ll see you in the morning.”

I went to Mark and Matt’s room and knocked.  The guys were lying in bed looking at comic books.  Mark looked at me, “Daddy, are you and Dad Cole having a fight?”

Talk about a confusing question, “Mark, Dad Cole and I aren’t having a fight?  Why did you think that we were?” 

Matt answered, “He almost never comes home anymore, and when he does, he leaves before we get to say goodbye to him.  Can’t you tell him to stop playing football?”

“Guys, I could ask him to stop playing football, but it’s important to him that he be able to play football.  How would you like it if I told you, ‘Mark and Matt, you need to stay home? You’ll have to stop going to school?’”

Both boys sat up.  Mark answered, “Daddy, that’s different.  We need to go to school, so we can grow up and make some money.”

I hugged the boys, “Guys, that’s how Dad Cole feels.  He wants to play football so he can make some money, and help you guys go to college.”

As I was leaving the twins' room, I thought, ‘Doug, what you said makes no sense at all.’

I stopped in Rocky and R. B.’s room, “Rocky, are you okay?”

“Dad Doug, why wouldn’t I be okay?  I’m confused by everything that is happening.  Is R. B. going to be okay?  He seemed so happy until he talked to Doctor Lancer.  He’s hardly said a word since we were at the lake.”

I hugged Rocky, “Son, I’m confused, too.  We need to give R. B. some time to figure out what’s happening.  He should be here shortly.”

I stopped in front of Benji’s door which was almost closed.  I was almost dreading what was going to be said when I went in to talk to him.  If the other guys were concerned about R. B., I couldn’t imagine what was going through Benji’s mind.  I knocked and heard, “Go away, I don’t want any.  If you come in, you’d better be prepared to be whipped.”

I pushed the door open, “You lay a hand on me, you brute, and I’ll report you to Dad Cole.”

“A lot of good that’s going to do you.  He’s in San Diego don’t you know?  He’ll forget before he gets home.  Daddy, why don’t you want us to know what’s happening to R. B?  Did he do something bad that he needed to talk to Doctor Lancer?  What’s he reading in your bedroom that you don’t want the rest of us to see?

I hugged Benji, “Benji, R. B. has done nothing wrong.  I signed some papers this week that Doctor Lancer thought R. B. should know about.”

“Does that mean that R. B. isn’t going to get to live with us?”

“Benji, the papers that I signed make it so R. B can stay with us, at least for the time being.  We’ll just have to see how everything works out.  I’m sure that R. B. will talk to you guys when he’s ready to tell you what’s going on, so be patient.”

I was in the bathroom brushing my teeth when R. B. came in and was practically yelling, “Dr. Christiansen, how long have you had these papers?   Why didn’t you tell me that you had them?”

I grabbed R. B., “Son, I just received them on Monday.  The ones from your Dad are the papers that Dad Cole brought home on Monday night.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about them before today?  Didn’t you think they were important?”

“R. B., I fail to see what difference they make and why you’re so upset.  Would they have made a difference in what was happening here, and at school?  You were fine until you talked to Doctor Lancer today, and now your upset.  I almost wish I hadn’t asked the Lancers to dinner, tonight, if this is the way you’re going to behave.  These papers mean nothing more than I will be able to take care of you, if something should happen to your Dad and Mother.”

R. B. plopped down on the bed, “Dad Doug, I’m sorry I yelled at you.  Maybe my parents aren’t as bad as I thought, but I still don’t love either of them, and I don’t know that I ever can.  One thing that scares me is there is nothing saying Dad’s wife won’t try to do something to get me, if something should happen to Dad.  I never want to see that woman again.”

I sat down beside R. B., “R. B., go get ready for bed,  Things will seem better in the morning.  We’re not going to be able to solve anything tonight.”

I was almost asleep when there was a knock on the door.  I knew that it wasn’t a Benji knock.  This was someone who usually didn’t come visiting.  I opened the door expecting to see R. B.  Instead, Rocky was standing there, “Dad Doug, what’s wrong with R. B.?  He's hitting his pillow and moaning, ’Make her go away.  I’m not her son and I never will be.’

“Rocky, R. B. is having a nightmare.  Why don’t you get in bed so we can get some sleep?”

I was awakened the next morning by Benji, “Daddy, why is Rocky in bed with you?”

 

“R. B. was having a nightmare and keeping Rocky awake, so I had him sleep with me.  Go check to see that R. B. is okay while I get dressed.  Why are you up so early?”

Benji hugged me, “Because I have to worry about all of you.  I’m starting to get gray hair.”

He stuck his tongue out at me as he went to check on R. B.

Benji and I were lying on the deck in one of the reclining chairs.  Benji didn’t say anything.  He looked up at me and smiled and snuggled closer to me.

It was a tight squeeze to get everyone to church in one vehicle, but we made it.  After church, we went to Summerhill and had sandwiches and fresh fruit for lunch.  After lunch, I suggested that the boys and I go swimming so the Great Grandmothers could rest before the game started.

When we arrived back from the lake, Patty and Karen were in the kitchen.  Patty grinned, “Since we skated all weekend I figured that we would make dinner for you guys and the Grandmothers.  The grandmothers are waiting for you in the living room.”

At half time, we broke a cardinal rule of Summerhill, we actually ate in the living room.

The game was tied at half time and it was not looking very good for Atlanta, since the number one running back was injured as was the starting tight end.

It was the fourth quarter and San Diego was ahead by a field goal and score was 20-17.  San Diego had to punt the ball and it went out of bounds on the Atlanta one yard line.  The guys were moaning because it looked as if Atlanta was doomed.

San Diego was expecting Atlanta to pass, so San Diego was playing in drop back zone defending against a long pass like Cole had thrown the week before.”

Cole stepped up to the center and called the signals.  He dropped back into the end zone as if to pass.  He pulled the ball down and took off running and was evading tacklers left and right.  There were two players between him and the end zone.  He made a sharp cut to the right and both players went for the fake, as Cole reversed directions and went into the end zone.

The television announcer was saying,

“It’s amazing how quiet nearly seventy thousand people can be.  The fans are sitting in stunned silence, since their beloved defense gave up a running touchdown that is reminiscent of something they might have seen from The Galloping Ghost, Red Grange.” 

Benji looked up at me, “Daddy, who is Red Grange?”

Grandmother McBride answered, “Your Daddy is too young to remember much about The Galloping Ghost.  He was a great football player when Bertie and I were young.  Some people say he was the greatest football player of all times.”

Mikey turned over, “Does that mean Dad Cole is a great football player?”

I answered, “Mikey, we know that Dad Cole is a good football player.  He has only played two professional games.  It’s far too soon to call him great.”

The game ended and the score was Atlanta 24  and San Diego 20.  The announcer was saying,

“That gives Atlanta a record of two wins and no losses.  I don’t think that anyone would have predicted that was going to be the case.  Atlanta has served notice to the rest of the league that they are not going to lay down for anyone.  I hate to say this, but Cole Weaver seems to have created a positive atmosphere in the Atlanta locker room.”

“Coach Lewis is talking to the San Diego staff, accepting their congratulations.  Oh, oh, something’s happening, Coach Lewis just slumped to the ground.  The trainers are running onto the field.”

“An ambulance has just arrived and Coach Lewis is being loaded into the ambulance,  Ladies and gentleman, our time is up.  Stay tuned to your local stations to find out what happened to Coach Lewis.  When they took him from the field he wasn’t moving?”

R. B. turned to me, “Dad Doug, what’s happening?”

“Son, I have no idea.  Turn to channel seven and see if they have anything to report.  The only persons who know where you are your Mother, Dad Cole and your Dad’s lawyer.  Dad Cole will surely call as soon as he knows what’s happening.”

Everyone’s attention was focused on the television, and we hadn’t heard Greg and Jordan come in.  The two guys sat down on the floor next to the guys.  Benji finally acknowledged that they were there, “Hi giants, were you watching the game?”

Greg answered,  “Yep, we came to see if there was anything that we could help with.  Have they said what happened to Coach Lewis?”

The show that was playing on the television stopped and the announcer came on,

“We interrupt the regular programming to bring you a special announcement.  We have just received word from San Diego that Coach Ray Lewis has died.  The coroner will be performing an autopsy to determine the cause of death.  The owner of the Falcon’s has indicated that more news would be forthcoming as soon as it’s available.  He did say the team will be arriving home at the regularly scheduled time.”

“We know that Coach Lewis is married and lives here in Atlanta.  We have learned that his son, Ray, Jr. has been visiting for the summer.  So far, we have been unable to contact Mrs. Lewis or the son.  We’ll interrupt the regular programming as soon as more details become available.”

The phone rang and Benji picked it up, “This is Benji. … Hi Dad. … Yeah we were watching the news and know R. B.’s Dad died. … Here, I’ll put Daddy on.”

“Hi.  It must be exciting there?”

Cole chuckled, “Doug, pandemonium would be a better word to describe what’s happening here.  We’re getting ready to board the team flight.  I’ll see you in the morning, sometime.

After I hung up, Grandmother McBride suggested, “Grant and Jordan, why don’t you drive us home.  I think Doug needs to stay here.  Things are happening pretty fast.”

The two college students departed with the two great grandmothers, Benji and Rocky.  I sent the three youngest to get ready for bed, “Call me when you’re ready.”

R. B. stood, “Dad, I’ll help the guys get ready for bed.  There’s nothing I can do down here, except wait.  I’ll be back as soon as the guys are settled.”

The phone rang and I began to wonder who it might be.  ‘Surely the press hadn’t found out that Ray, Jr. was here.’

“This is Doug Christiansen.”

“Mr. Christiansen, it’s Warren Nicely.  I was Ray Lewis’ attorney.  I’m sure you’re aware what’s happening.  Have you been contacted by the press, yet?”

“Mr. Nicely, there is no one who knows that that Ray, Jr. is here, except a few close friends, and I don’t think they’ll reveal his whereabouts.”

“Good, keep him out of the spotlight as long as you possibly can.  I’m sure that once Mrs. Lewis is aware that Ray has died, she’ll be making all sorts of waves.  Ray was very thorough in excluding her from ever getting any money from his estate.”  

“While I have never met the woman, I wouldn’t trust her to be in the same building with me.  Since Ray found out that he was terminally ill, he has tried to take every precaution against her having anything to do with his son.  You need to arrange for Ray, Jr. to have his own lawyer, since I will be representing his father‘s estate.  How can I get in touch with you during the day?”

I gave the man my number at the college.  “Thanks, Dr. Christiansen.    I have another call coming in.  I’ll talk to you as soon as I know something else.  All I can say is that there is going be one mad wet hen running around Atlanta, shortly.”

“Thanks for the call, Mr. Nicely.”

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:  While I realize that R.B. didn't think much of his dad, and claimed that he didn't love him, I am pretty sure that deep down, he had at least some sort of feelings for the man who helped give him life.  I am very glad that Doug and Cole are going to be there for R.B.  They will certainly help him in any way they can to let him know that he is loved, and that they will protect him from his step bitch.

She is definitely not going to be thrilled when she finds out that she has been Summarily severed from any funds that are available in Coach Lewis' estate. 

It is obvious to me that he did love R.B. I just don't think he really knew how to show whatever love he had.

It seems that it is usually the children who suffer the most, when a family breaks up. They are left with the sinking feeling that the divorce happened due to some problem that the parents had with the child or children.  They suffer anxiety and feelings of guilt, and many teens and preteens, find that they can't cope with the guilt and end their lives, as a result. 

Luckily, Doug and Cole have already had warning signs, from R.B.

I am sure they will be keeping a close watch on him, along with help from the other boys. 

Burnsey/R.B. will soon find out that he is totally loved.

We are going to need to wait for the next chapter to see what happens next.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 10/15/10