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

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Chapter 41  

Nothing Worse Than a Woman Scorned

When Benji and Rocky returned with Greg and Jordan, I suggested, “Why don’t you three guys go take a shower in our bathroom?  You can lie on our bed and watch to see if there’s any more news on television about R.B.’s Dad, while I talk to Greg and Jordan. And make sure you don’t make a mess.”

Benji put his hands on his hips, “I’ve never been so insulted in my life.  See guys, I told you that when people get old, like Daddy, they get cranky.  Let’s get out of here before he spanks us.”

We heard the guys laughing as they were going up the steps.  When they were out of earshot, Greg offered, “Dr. C., Benji and Rocky are worried about what’s going to happen to R. B.  Is there anything that we can do to help him?”

“Guys, I don’t even know what I can do to help him, right now.  Just be a good friend to him and listen if he wants to talk.  I’ll see you guys in the morning.  I have a feeling that this is going to be a short night to start a very long week.”

When I got to the bedroom, the three guys were lying there watching television.  It was apparent that all three of them, especially Benji, were fighting to stay awake.  I decided to go ahead and take a shower and figured the guys would let me know if there was any new information.

When I walked into the bedroom, the ten o’clock news was coming on.  The announcer was saying, “Tonight’s lead story concerns the sudden death of Coach Ray Lewis, the Atlanta Falcon head coach.  We have finally been able to get in touch with his widow.  Carol Lee is standing by to talk live to Mrs. Lewis.”

“Mrs. Lewis, this must be very difficult for you.”

The hysterics started, “Miss Lee, it happened so suddenly.  Why did my Ray have to be taken away just when we were making big plans for the future.  I’m completely devastated.”

“Mrs. Lewis, may I ask where you were when Coach Lewis died.  It took us three hours to make contact with you.  Where is your son?”

Mrs. Lewis started to get a little huffy, “Miss Lee, a friend of mine and I were listening to the game on radio.  I don’t know where Ray, Jr. is.  He’s disappeared.  He never came home after the last home exhibition game.  I’ve had people trying to locate the poor little guy.  He has a mental problem, you know.  I need to find him so I can take care of him.  He’s such a sweet innocent boy.”

R. B made a mad dash to the bathroom.  We could hear him barfing.  We heard the toilet flush and the water running.  When R. B. returned he apologized, “That woman made me sick.  She was lying through her teeth.  Dad Doug, is there anything that we can do to prove that’s she’s lying.”

I hugged R. B., “Son, I have the feeling that she is going to make a fool of herself, and everyone will find out what a phony she is. I’ll call Uncle Howie and talk to him and ask for his legal help.  Your Dad’s lawyer, Mr. Nicely, said that Mrs. Lewis would be trying to cause problems.  We can’t stop that, because we haven’t any idea what she might do.  We need to be ready to react when she starts attacking.”

I sent the boys to their rooms and turned off the television.  I didn’t want to hear any more about Coach Lewis or about his wife.

I was awakened the next morning by the phone.  I looked at the alarm, ‘Who the heck is calling at six in the morning?  Did something happen to Cole?’

“This is Doug Christiansen.”

“Dr. Christiansen, it’s Warren Nicely.  Did you perchance see Mrs. Lewis’ performance on television, last night?”

“Oh yeah, we saw it.  It made Ray’s son physically ill.  If Ray, Jr. is mentally challenged, I would be the most surprised person on the planet.”

“Dr. Christiansen, the first explosion is about to happen.  Do you get the morning Constitution Journal?”

“We get it later in the morning, because of the distance we’re located from Atlanta.  Why?  What’s in it?”

“Coach Lewis wrote his own obituary, and made the arrangements for his own funeral.  The details will be in this morning’s paper.  I’m sure that Mrs. Lewis will make an issue of the arrangements  I have not had the opportunity to meet Ray’s son.  If he is not mentally challenged, as you say, you need to have his lawyer refute that statement as soon as possible, or she’ll use it to try to get her hands on the son’s property.”

“Thanks for calling, Mr. Nicely.  I’ll do what damage control I can, from here.”

While I was in the shower, I decided to call Rich Caster and see if he could help, since it was the station he worked for that had the live report from Mrs. Lewis, with the statements about R. B.

I heard the boys stirring, so I knew they would all be up before long.  I went down and turned on the news, “This is Rich Caster, I just arrived back from San Diego.  We have received word that Coach Lewis died from an inoperable tumor in his brain.  His lawyer has informed us that the Coach wrote the obituary that appeared in this morning's paper.  It seems that the Coach found out about the tumor three weeks ago.  He didn’t expect his death to occur this soon.”

“In related news, the police have been searching for the coach’s son whom Mr. Lewis’ wife has said had disappeared and is mentally challenged.  Coach Lewis’ lawyer has informed us that the funeral arrangements in the morning paper were made by the Coach himself.  We have been unable to contact Mrs. Lewis for her comments this morning.”

In other news.  Capitol Hill is expected to continue the bickering between parties over pending legislation.  The people there have little regard for what their constituents want, but rather to stick together as a party.”

I turned the television off.  I had heard enough.  I was joined by the six guys when the phone rang.  Benji answered, “Summerhill, Benji speaking.”

“Oh hi Dad. … We’ll be gone by the time you arrive. … Okay, I’ll tell Daddy that you’ll meet him at the college for lunch. … See you when we get home from school.”

Benji hung up, “Daddy, that was Dad Cole.  They just now landed and he’ll be home as soon as possible.  He’s going to come talk to you at the school.”

I watched as the six boys got on the school bus before I started to the school.  As I was driving, I decided to call Uncle Howie and tell him what was happening, and also call Rich Caster at the television station, to see if there was anything that he could do to stop Mrs. Lewis from spreading her propaganda about R. B.”

As I was walking into the office, both Karen and Alex were on the phone.  Alex looked up, “Just a minute, sir.  Dr. Christiansen is walking in as we speak.  I’ll have him pick up the phone in his office.”

“This is Doug Christiansen.”

“Dr. Christiansen, this is Warren Nicely, again.   Mrs. Lewis just realized that she wasn’t in control.  She has been calling everyone from the attorney general and anyone else who will listen.  She has been booked on Channel 7 during the noon news.  I plan to be there to refute her accusations, but she’ll win some sympathetic listeners to her side.  Is there any way that you can have Coach Lewis’ son there to tell his side of the story?”

“Mr. Nicely, I don’t want Ray, Jr. anywhere near that women.  I have no idea what she might do.  Let me see what I can arrange.  There is no way that I’m going to let that woman win.”

After I hung up, I called the private number I had for Rich Caster.”

“This is Rich Caster.”

“Rich, I need your help.  Why is your station giving so much play to the death of Coach Lewis?  Surely you people realize that Mrs. Lewis is out for revenge.  I just had a call from Coach Lewis’ lawyer saying that Mrs. Lewis was going to be featured on your noon news.”

“Doug, I just landed two hours ago.  I’m not aware that we have been seemingly featuring the Coach’s death.  When I gave the news, this morning I was only saying what the teleprompters were telling me to say.  I don’t usually do the morning news, but Mr. Ambrose called in at the last minute and I had to fill in for him.  What is it that you need my help with?”

“Rich, I hate to ask this, but could you be at the college during the noon news, to meet with Coach Lewis’ son so he can refute whatever it is that Mrs. Lewis has to say.  After she called him a mental retard last night, he hates that woman even more than he did before.”

“How is it that you have Coach Lewis’ son there?”
 

“Rich, trust me.  Coach Lewis and his ex-wife knew or know that their son is here.  They both made me the guardian for Ray, Jr. should something happen to either of them.”

“Doug, I’m intrigued.  Will you have Coach Lewis' son there?”

“I'll go get him myself, if I have to cancel my class.  I'll have the school’s conference room sanitized so that no one will know where you’re broadcasting from.  I simply don’t trust Mrs. Lewis.”

I called Uncle Howie and explained what was happening and asked that he be at the broadcast.  Cole called at ten o’clock and I briefly synopsized everything that was happening and asked that he have R. B. in the conference room at noon.  “Cole, I think that it would be best if you were to remain out of camera range.  I’m afraid that we would be inundated by reporters should you and I be identified as being involved.”

My heart wasn’t into teaching my class, but I guess I did okay, because no one left early, and I was almost late getting back in time for the broadcast.  When I walked into the office, the television was tuned to Channel 7.  The newscast started, “This is Howard Ambrose reporting the news live at noon.  We will be joined today by Mr. Caster from an unidentified location.  The lead story continues to be the death of Coach Lewis, and the strange events that have occurred since his death.  Please welcome the Coach’s wife.”

After Mrs. Lewis was seated, Mr. Ambrose asked, “Mrs. Lewis, you said that you were concerned that someone had gotten control of your mentally challenged, son.”

“Mr. Ambrose, it’s very obvious that someone is controlling young Ray for their own purposes.  Did you see the obituary that appeared in this mornings paper?  It said that all memorials were to be used to provide funds for Ray, Jr.’s education.  That’s unthinkable.  The young man will never progress beyond the mental state where he is operating beyond the first or second grade level. Not only that, it announced that visitation would be next Friday and that memorial services would be held next Saturday at ten.  Did you notice that there was almost no mention of me?  The arrangements were all made without my input.  I am, after all, the man’s wife.”

A gentleman spoke from the audience, “This is Warren Nicely.  Mr. Ambrose, I need to tell you and the snotty Mrs. Lewis, that it was Coach Lewis who personally wrote his own obituary, and made arrangements for his own funeral service and not someone trying to control Ray, Jr.   Coach Lewis was well aware of his wife’s indiscretions, and that’s why he took matters into his own hands.  I can assure you that I have never met Ray, Jr., but I find it difficult to believe the young man is as simple minded as Mrs. Lewis would have us believe.”

 I saw  R. B. whispering to Mr. Caster.  Mr. Caster looked at the monitor “Mr. Ambrose, this Rich Caster.  I am sitting here beside Ray Lewis, Jr.  He informs me that you were a frequent visitor to the Lewis' house.  In fact, he says that you would come almost every Monday and Thursday afternoon, at two o’clock and leave after he had been made to stay outside for two hours.  Mr. Ambrose, you are relieved from any further duty at the station.  Ms Lee, take over for the rest of the broadcast.”

“Mr. Caster you have no grounds to terminate my employment.  You’re just a newscaster like me.” 

“I beg to differ, Mr. Ambrose.  I’m not only the news director, and the personnel director, but I am a major stockholder in the company.  I should have realized that you were messing around, but I thought it wasn’t possible, since I know your lovely wife and your three children.”

“Mrs. Lewis, Ray, Jr. has some things to say too.  Go ahead, Ray.”

“Lady, I resent you calling me a moron.  It wasn’t me whom Dad took any financial responsibility away from, but you.  I heard the two of you arguing about all of the overcharge fees he was having to pay, because you never knew how much money you had in your accounts.  That’s when you started to come to me, begging for the money that my Dad and Mother provided me.  I know for a fact that you would go through my dresser drawers if you thought I had any money.”

“As for being a moron, and never being able to mentally advance beyond the second grade level, I suggest that it is you who has a learning problem.  You probably have no idea how to spell any of my spelling words for this week, and I am sure you won’t have any idea what they mean.”

“You little liar, someone is sitting there telling you what to say.  What word would you like me to spell.  I didn’t go to college for nothing.”

R. B. grinned, “If you went to college, you should be able to spell arduous and tell us what it means.”

Mrs. Lewis yelled, “That’s simple, you little prick.  It’s spelled  r-d-y-o-u-u-s.”

R. B. persisted, “And what does it mean?”

Mrs. Lewis looked smug, “Everyone knows that it means are you with us?  How stupid do you think I am?”

Clark stood, “This is Doctor Lewis.  Mrs. Lewis, Ray Jr. has proven his point, that you are almost illiterate.  Ray, Jr., show the people watching the news broadcast that it is Mrs. Lewis who needs to go back to school, so she can find a trade other than taking her male visitors to bed.  Spell arduous and use it in a sentence so Mrs. Lewis will be able to understand what you’re saying.”

I held my breath as R. B. began to spell, a-r-d-u-o-u-s.  We found that it was arduous work to climb Mount McKinley.  In other words we found it hard work and tiring, to climb Mt. McKinley.  I guess we won’t need to worry about Mrs. Lewis overexerting herself, since she doesn’t usually get out of bed until noon.”

Rich took charge, “This is Rich Caster, signing off from the wilds of Georgia.  I’ll be joining you live from the studio for this evening’s news at five. I can assure you that Coach Lewis will not be the sole topic of discussion.  I know the whereabouts of Ray, Jr. and I can assure you that I won’t  be sharing that information.  He seems well adjusted to his environment.”

As Mr. Caster was getting ready to leave, he asked, “Dr. Lewis, why is it that you chose to intervene, today?”

“Mr. Caster, Ray, Jr. has the same middle name and the same last name as mine, which would indicate that we’re related.  We’ve been watching that woman’s theatrics and were disturbed by the garbage she has been spewing.  We had gotten to know Ray, Sr. and Ray Jr.”

Mr. Caster turned to me, “Dr. Christiansen, I assume you have the necessary documentation to be able to be responsible for Ray, Jr.”

“Mr. Caster, I do indeed have the paperwork from of Ray, Jr.’s parents, making me his guardian should something happen to either of them.”

Mr. Caster grinned, “Would you have a problem with me making an editorial comment about the events that have been happening since Coach Lewis’ death?”

“Rich, I don’t think it would be wise to identify in any way where R. B., as we call him, is presently residing.  I don’t trust Mrs. Lewis.  Her pride and reputation have been severely damaged.  There’s no telling what she might do.”

“Dr. Christiansen, I can guarantee you that I won’t compromise the whereabouts of the young man.”

To be continued...

Editor's Notes: I believe that that woman is pretty much a low life piece of trash.  I do hope that Ray's mom will make a statement, informing the public what the widow is trying to accomplish.

R. B. has begun to adjust to his new situation, a situation where he is loved, cared for and respected.  He finally has a chance to live a meaningful life, and I strongly hope that the people who will decide R.B.'s fate will take into account, the evidence supplied by the various interested parties, including what Ray wants.

He certainly doesn't want to live with that snotty bitch.

It will be very interesting to see what will happen in the next chapter.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher    

Posted: 10/29/10