The Doctor Gets a Visitor
by: E Walk

(Copyright 2007 by the Author)
 

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

 

Chapter 7

The Circus

I was awakened at 7:00 by Jeff blowing in my ear. "Dad, I'm leaving for the church now. The coffee is ready and there is fresh orange juice in the refrigerator. I'll see you later." He squeezed my penis as he left.

I crawled out of bed and went to the bathroom. I looked in the mirror and thought to myself that I was beginning to feel old.

Jeff arrived at the church and went to Father Gilbert and asked, "Is the organist here?"

"Yes Jeff, she is over there having coffee. Let me introduce you. Anne Campbell this is Jeff Wilson. He is going to be providing the special music today." Father Gilbert made the introductions and left to do other things.

"Ms. Campbell, I didn't know until yesterday that I was going to providing the special music today, so I am totally unprepared. What was Ms. Carter going to sing?" They walked to the organ. She handed the music to Jeff.

Jeff looked at it, "Could we try it?"

She started to play and Jeff sang it quite well, "I think I could do this. One other question Ms. Campbell, do you have the music to accompany The Lord's Prayer?"

Anne searched through the music storage rack and handed the music to Jeff. They ran through it. When he finished he asked, "Which one should I sing Ms. Campbell?"

Before she could answer, Father Gilbert interrupted, "I want you to sing both. Do the Gloria during the special music time and then after I finish the Prayer for our concerns I would like you to sing The Lord's Prayer."

Jeff and Ms. Campbell nodded and got prepared for the first service since the congregation had begun to arrive.

When it was time for the special music, Father Gilbert announced, "This morning Mr. Jeff Wilson has agreed to fill in for Yvonne Carter who is ill." Jeff stood and the organ music began. Jeff didn't seem to have any music with him.

The congregation was silent when the music ended. Father Gilbert began the prayer and nodded and Ann began to play the Lord's Prayer. There was not many dry eyes in the congregation as Jeff sang the final Amen.

After the service Jeff was sitting watching the people leave and Toby came bounding up and threw his arms around Jeff, "You should hear what people are saying. They think that you sing like an angel."

As I approached, Jeff asked, "Dad could you go get me some gooey doughnuts? I'm going to need some sugar to get through the next service?"

"You got it son." I answered as I turned to go.

"Doctor Wilson, can I go with you? I know the best kind of gooey doughnuts." asked Toby.

"Come on Toby. Let's do it."

"Jeff, where did you come up with some of the things you did this morning in those songs. I had a difficult time trying to follow where you were going. You certainly didn't follow the music as it was written?"

"I'm sorry Ms. Campbell but I was trying to read my listeners. Don't be surprised if the next service is even different. I hope that I am not upsetting you. Thank you for adjusting to my singing." Jeff smiled.

Ms. Campbell looked at Jeff and gave him a big hug, "Jeff, that is what music should be about -- getting to the listeners. I am not upset nor do I think you did anything wrong. Quite the opposite, I think you are probably one of the most poised and talented young people I have ever encountered."

Toby and I returned and Toby announced, "I've got lots of doughnuts here. Lets go eat."

Mrs. Tillison came up to us as we were eating with a couple and their teenage son, "Jack and Jeff, I would like to introduce you to Bill and Eva Hendrix and their son Kenny."

We shook hands and Mrs. Tillison continued, "Bill, I need you to do a small job for me. Jack would like to make a few modifications to his home. Would you possibly have time to do them this week before Jeff's family gets here on New Year's Eve? It sure would make things a lot easier."

"Kenny and I were going to take some time off this week but I'll look at it in the morning. If it doesn't take too much work, I think we can squeeze it in and still enjoy some leisure time. Jack, would it be alright with you if we come over in the morning about eight to look at what you would like to have done?"

Jeff looked at me, "We will be ready. I'll make sure that Dad is decent when you arrive."

"Good, see you then." Bill laughed.

"I have to go get ready for the second service people." Jeff announced as he went to the bathroom.

When the second service was over, Anne Campbell put her arms around Jeff and said, "That was wonderful. You were right this service was very different from the first service."

"Dr. Campbell, why do you have your hands around my brother? You know you are married. What would Dean Campbell and Bobby say if they saw you?" Toby demanded.

"Toby honey, I was just telling your brother how special he was. Please don't report me to my husband." laughed Ms. Campbell.

"Come on everybody." yelled Toby. "I'm hungry. Dad, I'm going with Jeff, okay? Grams you go with Doctor Wilson."

"Dad, Toby and I will meet you at the house. That way we won't have two cars at the club."

Toby talked the entire trip to the club. "Grams, can I get a red T Bird? Grams, what's for lunch? Jeff, can I spend the night at your house sometime?" Toby stopped to breathe.

"Toby, slow down. First of all, we will talk about a sports car when you are graduated from high school. Second, there will be enough choices at lunch that you will be able to find something you like." answered Mrs. T.

"Thirdly Toby, I am betting that you will be over at our house many times." added Jeff.

By the time we arrived at the club, everyone else was already seated in a private dining room. Our head waiter, Mitch, announced the choices for the main course and sure enough there was something that everyone should like. "Before the main course you will have a shrimp cocktail, cold cream of watermelon soup and a house salad with house dressing.

The servers brought the shrimp cocktails and Mitch started to take orders for the main course and the drinks. When Mitch got to Jeff, Jeff said, "Since I have had lots of fowl lately, I think I will try your tornadoes with a small helping of rice pilaf and steamed vegetables. My Dad over there will have two raw carrots and two stalks of celery with no dressing. I'm putting him on a diet."

"Jeff, if you don't be nice to me, you will have to sleep in your car."

"Dad, don't worry about it. Mrs. T. will let me stay with her." Jeff answered. "Won't you Mrs. T.?"

"Jeff, you are out of luck. I'm afraid if you stayed with me you would expect me to iron your underwear." laughed Mrs. Tillison.

"Toby brother, you'll let me stay with you won't you?"

"You can't stay at my house if you behave like this and I'll divorce you as a brother. Now apologize to everyone. I'm getting hungry." Toby ordered.

"I'm sorry everyone." Jeff said.

"That's better."

Mitch turned to Mrs. Tillison, "Mrs. Tillison, you didn't tell me you were bringing clowns with you today."

"I am sorry Mitch. I thought I could keep them under control, but I guess I wrong." she laughed.

Mitch went back to taking orders, "Young man what would you like?"

"I'll have what he is having." Toby pointed to Jeff. "But if I don't like it, could you bring a hot dog and some onion rings?" Toby asked.

"Sure thing sir."

The dinner conversation was light and fun. Toby cleared everything off his plate and called Mitch over, "May I have the hot dog and onion rings now?"

"Yes sir, coming right up." Mitch brought the hot dog, onion rings, mustard and catsup. "Is there anything else sir?"

Toby looked at what was available and asked, "Do you have any pickle relish?"

"Yes sir, here you go."

"Toby, can I have one of those onion rings? They smell really good." asked Candy.

"You can have one for a dollar." he said as he continued eating.

Candy opened her purse and took out a dollar. "Okay here's a dollar."

Toby stopped eating, took the money and looked through the rings with his fork until he found the smallest one and handed it to Candy.

"Hey, this is small." she complained.

"The big rings are $5.00." announced Toby.

Mrs. T. reached in her purse and pulled out a ten dollar bill. "Toby, I don't have anything smaller. I'll take two please."

Toby looked at the bill, "Grams they're three for $10.00." He put three on the fork and handed them to her.

No one laughed even though we wanted to. As the wait staff cleared the table, Toby asked, "What's for dessert? I hope it's something sweet."

"I think your Grams said she ordered three saltines and a glass of water for you." Jeff told him.

"Nun uh."

The waiters started serving large pieces of shortcake covered with fresh strawberries and lots of whipped cream. When Mitch got to Toby he set down a plate with three crackers and a glass of water and kept right on serving the others.

Toby looked at Jeff, "Have I been really bad?"

"No Toby, but everyone is concerned about your health. You know if you keep eating like you did today, I may have to divorce you as a brother. I don't want a brother who weighs 400 pounds." Jeff answered. "Now since you ate so much, I think you should pay the bill. Why don't you ask Mitch to bring you the check? If you don't have enough money to cover it, I might be able to loan some money."

Toby turned to Mitch, "Sir, may I have the check please?"

"Yes sir." He came back and handed a folder to Toby. "Here you are sir. I'll take it to the cashier when you are ready."

I saw Mrs. T. motion Mitch over and whisper something and hand him a card. I heard her say, "Play along with the guys but under no circumstance are they permitted to pay for anything."

Toby studied the bill then he handed it to Jeff, "I don't think I have enough to pay this. It sure is a lot of money."

"It says $184.00 for food and drinks but it seems that there is no gratuity included." answered Jeff.

Toby looked at Jeff with a confused look, "What's graty?"

"Gratuity means you reward the people who serve you for their service. Many people call it a tip. Do you think Mitch and his staff did a good job?"

Toby thought for a short time, "I think they did a rather good job. We never had to ask for anything but I had to remind Mitch that I was ready for my hot dog and onion rings. I guess I would say they did a good job though."

"If they do an okay job, people usually give fifteen percent and if they do a really good job, then you give them twenty percent. I think they did a very good job. I think we should give them twenty percent. Is that okay?" Jeff asked.

"How much would that be?" asked Toby.

Let's see." Jeff said as he began figuring. He showed the figure to Toby.

"Does that say $40.00?"

"Yep, that would make the total bill $224.00. I'll tell you what. I'll pay it this time but you are going to owe me big time. You will have to do everything I tell you until you are 18. Did you make your bed this morning? I won't visit your room unless it's neat." Jeff looked questioningly.

Toby looked down, "Okay."

"Mitch, would you would you process this please?" Jeff asked as he handed Mitch the folder with his card.

"Yes sir, I'll be back shortly."

Everyone was talking when Mitch brought back Jeff's card, "Sir, the cashier said she couldn't process this card."

Jeff went white. He turned to me, "Dad, could you help me here? What am I going to do? When I left Minneapolis, I had quite a bit of money in my account."

I shook my head no. "I only have about forty dollars in my wallet and I didn't bring my checkbook. Jane won't permit me to use credit cards."

"Mitch, how long is it going to take Toby and me to work to pay this check off?"

"Well, the club only pays minimum wages so probably somewhere about a 100 hours because they take out social security payments and state and federal taxes. Of course Toby will only be able to work between three and six in the afternoon because of his age. You will probably be working from ten in the morning until ten at night in the kitchen. I guess you could probably get it paid in about two months."

Mrs. Tillison started to laugh and everyone else joined in and started to applaud. Jeff looked around and then turned to Toby, "Man I think we've been duped."

"What does duped mean?"

"Made to look silly." Jeff frowned at Mrs. Tillison

"Mitch, can you check to see if I can book the board room for New Year's Day?" Mrs. Tillison asked.

"Mrs. T., we aren't taking any private bookings for that day because it's Membership Day. The entire club will be crawling with all those members who rarely come because it is free food and cocktails."

"I guess you will have to work that day then?" Mrs. T. asked.

"I am afraid so. I asked Mr. Martin for the day off because my parents wanted to come to visit. He said that was not possible so my parents decided not to come until later when I could get off." Mitch had tears in his eyes.

"If I fix it so you could get off, would they come?"

"No, I don't think so. We have already cancelled their motel reservations." Mitch answered. "They will come some weekend when I can get off and Dad isn't working."

"I guess I can't bring a big group here for dinner that day then." Mrs. T. pondered.

Jeff piped up, "Mrs. Tillison, I'll tell you what. I'll fix New Year's Day dinner for everyone and it won't cost nearly as much as it would if we ate here. We can do it if I can get some help from the other young people. How many people do think we will have?"

"Let's see. There will be the 12 of us plus Cora. Then there will be your family and grandparents. I would like to ask my son Josh and his partner, Ben, and my other son Dale and his wife and their two daughters." She thought for a minute, "Mandy won't come unless I ask her parents and then we need to ask their son Kenny too. Of course we should ask Norm and Nancy and the twins right Candy? I guess we should plan on 32 or 33 people."

"If your house can handle that many people, we can feed them. You young people will help me won't you? I'll get my brothers to help too."

Toby scowled, "I'll help if I don't have to touch any fish."

"Toby, you ate shrimp today and they are seafood." Jeff reminded him.

"Okay, but none of those stinky things they put on pizza though."

Jeff turned to the two girls, "Ladies will you help Toby and me please?"

The girls looked at each other and Candy answered, "We'll help, but we are not going to do all the dishes."

"Fair enough." said Jeff. "Mrs. T., we can handle it. I'll get with you later and plan the menu."

"Fine." She turned to Mitch and asked, "Mitch, could you see if the Board Room is open on Sunday at noon. If it is I would like to meet with Mr. Martin and Chef Henri to discuss the menu." Mitch disappeared.

She turned to Toby, "Toby, come here sweetheart." He went to her and she handed him some money and said, "Give this to Mitch and tell him to share it with the wait staff. Now hold out your other hand. When The Chef comes in, give him this and tell him this is for him and his kitchen staff."

He sat down and gave one handful of money to Jeff, "You hold this so I don't get it mixed up."

I saw Jeff count the money and he had $60.00. He leaned over to Toby and asked, "How much do you have Toby?"

Toby counted it. He had $60.00 also. Mitch came back and announced "Mrs. T., the Board Room is yours next Sunday and I will be your head waiter. Mr. Martin went to get the Chef and they will be here shortly."

"Mr. Mitch, could you come here please?" Toby asked as he stood up.

"Yes sir!"

"This is for you and the wait staff. I think it is too much since I had to ask for my hot dog and onion rings. I hope you do better the next time."

"I'm sorry sir." Mitch looked at the money and his eyes got big, "Sir, this is too much. I thought what Jeff was going to give us was too much."

"Sir, you don't understand do you? When my Great Grandmother says do something you don't argue with her. Now make sure everyone gets their fair share." Toby ordered.

"Yes, I will sir." Mitch smiled and went over to Mrs. T. and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

Chef Henri came in with Mr. Martin. "Toby, this is Chef Henri. Would you take care of him please while I visit with Mr. Martin and then I want to plan next Sunday's meal?"

Toby went to Chef Henri, "Mr. Henri, this is for you to share with your kitchen staff. But could you tell them to put a few more shrimp in the shrimp cocktails please."

"Sir I'm sorry you weren't pleased. I'll forward your suggestion to the board."

Mrs. Tillison had been talking to Mr. Martin and I could tell that she was reading him the riot act because he turned beet red and I thought he was going to hyperventilate. Fortunately for Mr. Martin, Toby intervened when he went over to ask, "Grams do you know anybody of the board?"

"Toby honey, I am the President of the Board. I heard what you said and I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you Grams." Toby said as he listened to what Mrs. T. was telling Chef Henri, Mr. Martin and Mitch what she wanted for the Sunday meal.

When the Chef and Mr. Martin departed, Toby looked at Mrs. T., "Grams you didn't order any shrimp."

"I'm sorry Toby. I'll call and fix that before next Sunday. Okay everyone, we need to leave. They want to set this room up for another group."

Everyone got up to leave. One of the young lady servers came over to Toby, "Thank you sir. You made my day. Can I give you a hug?"

"Sure, just don't kiss me."

Mitch came over with a box, "Toby, here's your dessert. I saved it for you. I can hardly wait to see you guys again next week. I haven't had this much fun working in a long time." He shook Toby's and Jeff's hands.

Mrs. T. asked, "Jack, will you and Jeff escort me home please?"

"Of course Mrs. Tillison." I flipped my keys to Jeff, "Jeff, get the car and bring it to the front entrance please."

What next?

To be continued...