The Doctor Gets a Visitor
by: E Walk

(Copyright 2007 by the Author)
Editor: Radio Rancher
 

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

 

Chapter 19

 Dinner and Shopping

Jeff returned to the kitchen and had everyone working. When we had finished our drinks, Spencer and Toby took the glasses to the kitchen. They came back and announced, "Dinner is ready." and they escorted the two ladies to the table. The five of us sat down and Drew brought the bread and Kenny brought a big salad. They disappeared back into the kitchen, and the four guys came back carrying bowls of soup.

When everyone sat down, Jeff said, "Let's all hold hands, while I say a short prayer. Our Father, we thank you for this food and the special friends we have here with us. Please bless us all and help us to be the best we can be. Amen."

I looked around the table and almost everyone had a tear in their eye, especially Tyler and Spencer. Jeff started to eat his soup and everyone followed.

"This tastes like onions." Toby said with disdain.

"Toby dear, this is French onion soup, and it is some of the best I have had since I was in Europe. It sure didn't come out of a can." Mrs. Tillison admonished.

Everyone cleared their bowls and Jeff got up and started to the kitchen with the empty bowls and Drew, Kenny and Tyler did the same. They came in with plates of pasta with a white sauce. Jeff said, "Everyone start eating." He poured a glass of red wine for the three adults. When he got to Spencer, he said, "I don't think you would like this, but why don't you smell it."

Spencer did and all he said was, "Yuck!"

Jeff did the same to Toby and the others and they shook their heads no. Jeff left and came back with a bottle of sparkling red grape juice and poured the five of them each a glass.

The salad and the bread were passed around and everything just seemed to disappear.

"I thought spaghetti always had red sauce." said Spencer.

"I did too." said Toby. "This is great. It even has shrimp in it."

At that point Mrs. Tillison decided it was time for her to interject. "Tyler, why were you and Spencer living in that awful building downtown and why on earth did you come to Fremont? I don't think you are from here, are you."

Everyone stopped eating and turned to Tyler. He began, "It's a long story, Mrs. Tillison."

"We've the got plenty of time, Tyler. Just tell us the abridged version and we can get all the details later, but I really do want to know them." Mrs. T. said.

Tyler began, "Our family lived a good life on a farm outside of Scribner. I was planning to go to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln this fall. It was on the 20th of July that everything changed."

"Spencer and I were out in the field cutting some hay when I saw a funnel cloud heading right at us. Fortunately, there was a cave close to where we were working. We made a dash and got back as far into the cave as we could." Tyler was interrupted by Spencer.

"I was so frightened that I wet my pants. Ty just held me as close as he could and said, ‘We'll be fine, my man.' When the roar had stopped, we went out, but the tractor and the wagon we were working on were gone. We walked back to where our house and barn had been, but there was nothing there."

Tyler picked up the story. "We tried to find our parents, but it was like they had just disappeared into space. There was an older couple who lived across the road from us, and they had disappeared also."

"The entire town turned out to help look for them, but no one could find any remains. Everyone pitched in to pay for a memorial service." Tyler sighed.

"The bank repossessed the farm, since there were no remaining buildings or livestock. Basically, Spencer and I were homeless. The town tried to help us, but we needed to get away from the horrors, and so here we are being taken care of by our guardian, Jeff, tonight." Tyler said, quietly.

"Hey, you could do a lot worse. Just because he is demanding doesn't mean he doesn't like you. Like Kenny said earlier, he only wants us to not be ordinary." Drew said.

"Enough talk everyone. Finish eating. We have some serious shopping to do after dinner, before we have our banana split dessert." When everyone finished eating, Jeff ordered, "Toby, go get the timer on the kitchen counter please."

Toby came back with the timer and handed it to Jeff who set it and it started ticking. "Okay, Toby and Spence, go watch some more of Spiderman until the dinger goes off. Then get you little bottoms down here and put your coats on." Jeff ordered.

He turned to Drew and said, "Go get three cups of Lemon Lift tea for the adults please, and bring them into the living room and then help Kenny and Tyler with the dishes. I am worn out, and need to talk with my Dad. I'll be in when you are done, to make sure that you did it correctly."

Everyone reacted and Jeff and I escorted the two ladies to the living room. Once he was sure everyone was out of hearing range, he said, "I think we should have a surprise birthday party for Tyler tomorrow, and include Spencer. I doubt very much if either of them got any presents for Christmas. I don't think they have more than one change of clothes with them."

Jeff stopped to breathe and then asked, "Where do you propose we take them?"

Mrs. Tillison thought for a short time and said, "I think that we should take them to Farmer Brown's in Waterloo. What do you think Jack?"

"I think that would be great, and it would be even better if we could get one of the private side rooms." I answered.

"Jeff, get me the phone and a phone book please, and I'll call them."

Jeff got the phone and she called. When some answered, she said, "This is Mrs. Tillison. Is Mr. Wylie there please? … Thank you."

"Howdy Gene, this is Aggie. Do you have a party room open for tomorrow night at say 6:30? …. Right now there are only nine but I have a feeling that number might increase significantly. …. I'll let you know the final number tomorrow by three. We will all have the medium cut of prime rib with a baked potato and spaghetti. We'll have the house dressing on our salad and plan on giving us some of those wonderful fried vegetables with cheese sauce. We also need a big cake that says Happy Birthday Tyler."

"Yep that's correct. Sounds good Gene, and make sure that only I get the bill for the evening. Oh, by the way, would it be okay if I brought some wine for those who want it?" she asked. "Great, see you tomorrow night Gene."

She turned to the rest of us, "They can take up to twenty five people in the room if we want. I just need to let them know how many people there will be by three tomorrow afternoon. Now Jeff, please get my purse in the hallway for me."

Jeff went to get her purse and handed it to her as the two ten year olds came bursting down the stairs with the time. "Time's up, Jeff. What are we going to do now?" Toby asked.

"What was the second part of the instructions I gave you?" Jeff asked.

"Oh yeah." they responded and went to get their coats.

"Spencer and Toby, come here please." said Mrs. Tillison.

They went to her and she handed them each a $20.00 bill, "I want you gentlemen to buy Tyler a neat birthday gift. Now Spencer, you go tell the guys in the kitchen to motor."

"Yes ma'am." he said as he stuck his money in his pocket.

Mrs. Tillison turned to Toby, "I want you to buy a nice gift for Spencer too since he didn't get any Christmas presents." She handed him another $40.00.

Toby kissed her and said, "Thanks Grams."

She turned to Jeff, "I want you to take my car, since the six of you will fit in it easier than your Dad's car. Now ask Kenny and Drew to come in here, please, but first here are my charge cards for Target, Gordman's, Kohl's and my Visa card. If anyone gives you a problem, have them call me here at your house."

Jeff left and Kenny and Drew came in to Mrs. Tillison, and she said, "We are having a surprise birthday party for Tyler and Spencer, tomorrow evening. I want the two of you to put your heads together and get them each a nice gift." She then handed each a $50.00 bill.

Jeff had been watching and said, "Let's roll, everyone."

The guys left and went to Target first, where they got six pairs of jeans and everything else he would need for everyday, including underwear and socks for Spencer. They then went to the men's department and got Tyler six outfits and the accessories that Tyler liked. "Okay everyone; look around to see if there is anything else you need, while I take Toby and Spencer to do something. We will meet the rest of you in twenty minutes in back of the check out stands." Jeff said.

The other three guys left with the cart and Jeff asked, "Spencer, what do you think would be a good gift for Tyler?

Spencer thought for a couple of minutes, "I think a little portable radio that he could use in his truck would be nice, since his radio is broken."

"I think that is an excellent idea." Jeff said, as he led them to the electronics department.

"Okay guys, look around and find something you think Tyler would like."

Shortly, Spencer came back to Jeff and asked, "Could you come look at this, please, Jeff?"

He led Jeff to a boom box that played CD's and tapes and had an AM/FM radio, and said, "This would be really great and we could take it to our room in the evening and have music, since we probably won't have a television."

Jeff looked at it, and said, "I think this would be a good choice. It can work on batteries, an electrical outlet, or the car cigarette lighter socket in a vehicle."

"How much is it?" Spencer asked.

"It is $109.00." Jeff answered.

Spencer looked like he was going to cry. Jeff quickly said, "You guys give me your money, and I'll pay the rest, and then we can say it was from the three of us. Okay?"

Spencer started to smile, but now Toby looked like he was going to cry. He went to Jeff and whispered, "If I give you all of my money, how am I going to get a gift for Spencer?"

"You still have the money that Grams gave you to get his gift, right? I'll tell you what. I am going to get that play station outfit over there for Spencer. Why don't you get two games for him to use on it?" If it costs more than you have, I will pay the difference, and you will owe me big time brother." Jeff said.

"Okay men; let's take this radio to the checkout, before Tyler sees it." They went to the check out station and the same young man who had been there the first day. "Hi, Mr. Wilson." he said. "How are you today?"

"We're fine, Joey." answered Jeff. "Could you please process our purchase quickly so Spencer's brother doesn't see his birthday present?"

"You got it, sir." the young man scanned the radio and then Jeff's card. He quickly double wrapped the radio.

Jeff looked at the young man, "Joey, we'll be returning shortly with some more things."

They went to the car and opened the trunk and pushed the radio to the very back. When they returned to the store, Jeff said, "Spence, go find your brother and tell him to meet us here at the check out area in 15 minutes."

Jeff and Toby quickly went back to the electronics area. Jeff got the Play Station while Toby was picking out two games. They went to Joey's check out area and he had finished processing the purchase when Spencer came up with Tyler.

"One more time, Joey." Jeff said. Joey started ringing up the purchases for all the clothes that were in the cart. When the total came up, Jeff said that Tyler and Spencer just gasped. Jeff handed Mrs. T's card to Joey, and he looked at it and said, "Mr. Wilson, I will need to clear this."

Joey called the manager and when she came and looked at the card she said, "Joey this is fine. Mrs. Tillison called and said a Jeff Wilson would be using her card tonight."

Joey processed the card and said, "Thanks for shopping at Target, Mr. Wilson. If you keep this up, you will own the store before you are finished." he laughed.

When everything had been bagged, Jeff said, "You men go take these to the car and put them in the trunk. Toby, you put yours in the back seat so you can find it easily when we get back to the house." He handed Tyler the keys and then Jeff added, "I'll meet you in front of the store in five minutes. I need to find Drew and Kenny and tell them where we will be."

Jeff found the 16 year olds. "Jeff, we have no idea what to get the two guys."

Jeff said, "We just bought a boom box for Tyler. Why don't you buy him a couple of CD's you think he might like, and make sure you get a gift slip just in case he doesn't like them and he can return them easily? We got Spencer a play station with two games so why don't you get him one of those handheld Game Boys with a couple of cartridges. Do you need anymore money?"

"Nope boss, we got it covered." said Kenny.

"We are going to the Payless Shoe store next door, and then on to Kohl's. Meet us when you are done." Jeff said.

Joey looked at him and asked, "Are you always telling people what to do?"

"Only when they want me to." Jeff answered as he left.

The other three guys had put the things in the car and were just walking up to the entrance as Jeff walked out. He led them to Pay Less, and said, "I want you to find a pair of sport shoes, a pair of dress shoes and a pair of casual shoes you like, and bring them back here." He sat down.

A young man came over to him and asked, "Sir, may I help you?"

"Yes, we are going to need to get six pair of shoes as soon as the two gentlemen find what they want. I hope you will be available to make sure they fit." Jeff answered.

Spencer came back, "Jeff, I don't have any idea what size I wear."

The young guy said, "We'll take care of that real quickly. If you will take your shoes off and put your foot on here, I will be able to tell you what size to look for."

Spencer did as he was asked, and Mr. Tomlinson measured and said, "I think a 4 ½ would be best, young man. That will give a little room to grow."

Toby had been standing right there watching, and said, "Spence, leave your shoes off, and let's find the right size and then you can try them on."

Tyler came walking up with three pairs of shoes and asked, "What do you think, Jeff?"

"The question is not what I think. The question is do you like them?" Jeff answered.

"But I don't need three pair of shoes." Tyler complained.

"Did I ask if you needed them? I think I asked if you liked them."

"Yes." answered Tyler, with a smile. He realized that he had lost control of the situation. He tried them on, but the dress shoes were a little large, and Mr. Tomlinson brought back a half size smaller. Tyler walked around in them and said, "These feel good."

Toby and Spencer came back and handed three pair to Jeff, and Spencer asked, "Are these okay, Jeff?"

"I don't know. Do you like them? You had better try them on first, before you decide." Jeff answered.

Mr. Tomlinson helped Spencer try on the shoes. He had him walk around in each pair and then he asked, "Well young man, what do think?"

"I like them, and they feel really good." Spencer answered, and he looked at Jeff and Tyler for their approval.

Jeff said, "Don't look at us. It is your decision."

"I'll take them, sir." Spencer said.

The guys took all six pair of shoes to the check out stand, and Jeff handed him Mrs. Tillison's card. When it cleared, "Mr. Tomlinson said, "If you gentlemen ever need anything, please look me up. You certainly made my day."

When Tyler saw the total, he leaned over to Jeff and said, "We can't afford these."

"Did I ask you if you could afford them? We already paid for them. They are yours now, so stop complaining." Jeff smiled.

As they were getting ready to leave, Mr. Tomlinson asked, "Jeff, you are the young man that sang on Christmas Eve at the church, aren't you?"

"Yes sir." Jeff answered.

"You sure do have a wonderful voice to listen to. My mother thinks she is in love with you."

Just then Drew and Kenny came in and said, "Mission accomplished. Where to now?"

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:

I think we have burned a hole in Mrs. T's credit card, but, hey, I think she can afford it, and she wants to do all she can for the two boys. I think a Birthday party will be really nice for Tyler. And of course Spence will have a good time too, as will all the guys. This is going to be really great fun.

Darryl
AKA The Radio Rancher