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 28
New Year’s Day Dinner

I was awakened the next morning by someone sitting on top of me. “Doctor Dad, time to wake up. Breakfast will be ready in fifteen minutes.”

I opened my eyes and Spencer was sitting on my stomach. When he saw me move, he moved off of me and lifted the covers and said, “Yep, Doctor Dad, that weapon of yours looks like you need to go to the bathroom. Now put a move on; we’re hungry.”

Spencer disappeared and I lay there mortified that a ten year old boy had seen my penis in a stiff state. I climbed out of bed and solved the problem and took a quick shower. When I got to the kitchen, everyone was drinking juice and munching a sweet roll except for Tyler and Jeff. “Where are the other two guys?” I asked.

Spencer spoke up and said, “Jeff took a casserole to Grams Tillison’s house and Tyler went to help Kevin carry Mrs. Baxter downstairs. He should be back shortly. The rest of us slaves are to report to the Tillison’s house by nine o’clock.”

Just then the timer on the stove went off. Spencer got up and took a casserole out of the oven. “Okay everyone, come get a plate and I’ll dish up the casserole.”

We got our helpings of the casserole and Tyler came in and said, “I’m sorry I’m late.”

Spencer handed him a plate and said, “Sit down and eat or we’ll be late and then Jeff will yell at all of us.”

When everyone finished, Tyler led the guys to the kitchen and said, “Let’s get these done and then we’ll all go shower and get dressed, before we go to help Jeff.”

When they were finished, Spencer came to me and asked, “Doctor Dad, can Teddy and I use you shower? It would save time.”

“Yep but make sure you bring your dirty towels down to the laundry, or Jeff will be upset.”

Everyone departed and when they came back, they were dressed in khakis and a dress shirt. They departed in the van and Mrs. Tillison’s car.

Linda, Eric and I just sat around chatting over coffee, while we watched the Rose Bowl parade on the Television in the kitchen, until we decided it was time to get ready to face the day.

When we reassembled, we got into the Camry and left for Mrs. Tillison’s. As we were arriving, Jane and Hank were pulling up. We were met by Toby, Teddy and Spencer. They greeted us with a hug and took our coats. Teddy hung them up in the closet and Spencer ushered us to the living room.

Jeff popped in and said, “Aunt Jane, Grams wants you to serve as the hostess until she gets here and introduce the people. Uncle Hank and Dad, you are to act as the bar tenders and take care of the liquid needs of the adults. If you need any non alcoholic from the kitchen, the butlers will bring it.”

The door opened and Toby ran to the two men, I didn’t know, saying, “Hi, Uncle Josh and Uncle Ben.” The other two greeted them and Spencer ushered them into the living room.

Jane said, “This is my brother, Josh Benson, and his partner, Ben Jameson.” She introduced the rest of us to them.

They were followed by the Hendrix’s and the Gilberts. The next to arrive were Barry and Mandy Tillison and their two daughters, Melody and Melanie.”

When Spencer saw the girls, he seemed surprised. “What are you two doing here?” he asked.

“This is our grandmother’s house, but we never come here. Mom says that Grams is a poor bag lady.” one of the twins said.

Mandy turned to say something but the Baxters arrived accompanied by Tyler. Spencer wheeled Mrs. Baxter into the living room. Toby was answering the door and greeted Norm and Nancy and the twins. They were followed by the Ellisons with a screaming Jimmy.

Spencer went to them and asked, “Is it okay of I talk to him and calm him down.”

“Be our guest.” replied an exasperated Cindy.

“May I pick him up? Spencer asked. “I’ll be real careful. I won’t let him fall.”

Steve nodded yes. Toby and Teddy were watching, not quite sure what to think.

Spencer picked Jimmy up and started to talk to him. Jimmy started to relax and then settled down and fell asleep while Spencer was quietly talking to him. Spencer put him back in the carrier and took him into the kitchen with him.

Jeff came in with all the young people and said, “I understand that everyone is here except for Dr. and Mrs. Thompson. I am sure they will be here shortly, and I will be right back. He went up the steps and came down with a radiant looking Mrs. Tillison on his arm. She was elegantly dressed in a light purple cocktail dress with matching heels. Jeff announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce our hostess, Mrs. Grams Agatha Tillison.” Everyone applauded.

“Mom, I thought you said Grams looked like a poor bag lady?” Melissa Tillison said. “She is beautiful.”

“Thank you Melissa, your mother is upset with me because I wouldn’t wear that slinky aqua dress at her wedding with heels. I couldn’t walk without tripping and falling, so I wore my running shoes.” Mrs. T. laughed.

Just then the door opened and Greg and Anita came in. “I’m sorry we are late, but Anne Campbell called. She fell and sprained her arms so badly that she will be unable to play, and I have been trying to find someone to fill in playing the organ with no luck. To make matters worse, she was going to provide the special music also. Grams you look absolutely wonderful.” Greg said.

“Thank you, dear. Now let me make sure that everyone is properly introduced.” She started with the adults. When she came to anyone Jeff hadn’t met, he went to them and greeted them and said something personal to them. When she finished with the youngest, that being Jimmy, Spencer picked up a sleeping Jimmie and showed him to everyone.

Jeff said, “All people under 21 to the kitchen, stat. We have an emergency to take care of. That includes you two beautiful ladies too, if you are under 21.” Melanie and Melody went with the rest of the young people. We heard giggles coming from the dining room.

Jeff came in followed by the young people and announced “Ladies and gentlemen, it is time to adjourn to the dining room.” He went to escort Mrs. Tillison, Drew got Aunt Cora, Kevin got his Mother, Tyler got Mrs. Robinson, S. S. got his Mother, David got Nancy, Kenny got Mrs. Hendrix, Toby got Anita, Candy got Mrs. Gilbert, Michael got Mandy, and Spencer got Cindy and took her in one arm. That left me to escort Jane. The rest of the men followed and they were shown to their places by Georgia, Melanie and Melody.

“Mrs. Ellison, we have a place for Jimmy at our table, since he is under 16.” Spencer said, and then added, “We didn’t want our table to only have 13. I’ll make sure he is okay.”

Mrs. Tillison had placed name tags at everyone’s place. Jeff had been placed between Josh and Ben and everyone else was seated rather randomly. I noticed that the under 16 table was rather seated by age.

Everyone sat down and was greeted by a shrimp cocktail but before anyone could start to eat, Jeff asked, “Father Gilbert, would you please bless our gathering today?”

After the prayer was finished, the devastation began. When everyone was finished, Jeff, Tyler and Kevin took the dishes from the adult table and Drew and Kenny did the same for the under 16 table. Kenny came in and put salad plates at each place and then Jeff came with bowls, and for starters we have chilled cream of pineapple soup. He was helped by Drew, Kevin and Kenny. When everyone was served, they all sat down. On some prearranged signal, the young people all rose and started taking the cups to the kitchen.

When they returned, Kenny and Drew placed dinner plates at each of the tables and everyone else brought in a bowl or plate of something. There was sliced pork, Bavarian sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, apple sauce, lasagna and Caesar salad. Jeff had fixed enough plates and bowls so that there were four of everything on the adult table and two for the under 16 table.

When everyone was served and had begun to eat, Mrs. Tillison asked, “So Greg, what are you going to do about the music for tomorrow?”

“I don’t know, Grams.” He answered,plaintively.

Candy interjected, “Have David play his electronic keyboard. He can make it sound like an organ.”

“No way.” David jumped in. “I don’t play by myself and I have never played religious music.”

“Get Jeff to play the organ. He played at our church in Minneapolis.” suggested Teddy.

“Teddy, I haven’t even had time to examine the organ, so I don’t know if I can play it.” Jeff scowled.

It’s a standard pipe organ, Jeff. I’m sure you could do it.” said Father Gilbert.

“Okay, but I am not doing the special music, since I haven’t had time to practice. Wait a minute. I have an idea.” All the people under 21 are going to provide the special music for tomorrow. That is not negotiable. We’ll practice as soon as the dishes are done.” Jeff looked at the young people.

“Grams, can we go swimming after dinner?” asked Toby.

“Not for at least an hour after dinner, and everyone has to have a suit. There is no skinny dipping in my pool.” Mrs. Tillison answered.

“You have a pool?” asked Mandy.

“Yes, it’s not Olympic size, but it's pretty close. I try to swim 20 laps each day, but it is not so much fun since Cora stopped swimming last year.” Mrs. T. sighed.

“My old bones just have stopped working right, and I couldn’t do it anymore.” Aunt Cora laughed.

“Mrs. Ellison, where is Jimmy’s diaper bag? I think he needs a diaper change.” Spencer asked.

“Oh dear.” said Cindy. “I’ll go change him. His bag is in the living room.”

“I can do it Mrs. E. I promise I won’t drop him.” Spencer said, and he left.

He came back shortly with a quiet softly cooing Jimmy.

Mrs. Tillison asked, “When are you having Jimmy baptized?”

“I guess we hadn’t thought about that.” Steve answered.

“Father Gilbert, could you baptize Jimmy tomorrow?” Mrs. T. asked.

“It’s highly unusual to do a baptism on such short notice, but I guess we can do it at the 8:30 service, if that is okay? Can everyone be there?”

Cindy answered, “We can be there. How about you, Dr. Wilson?”

“I am ashamed to admit this, but I have never been baptized.” I answered.

“You what?” demanded Jeff. “Father Gilbert, we need to take care of that tomorrow, too. Will that work?” Jeff asked.

“I’ll do Jack first, and then he can hold Jimmy while I baptize him. I think this may be a first for our church.” he laughed.

Norm said, “Mrs. Tillison and Aunt Cora, I have you scheduled for an appointment on Monday at 10:00. Will that work?”

“We’ll be there. Anita, can you drive us? Everyone else will be working and, Jeff needs to take Drew to the high school to register him.” Mrs. Tillison asked.

Anita said she'd drive and then Linda said, “Mrs. Tillison the furniture you gave Jack to get ready for us is wonderful. I think the furniture in our bedroom is a Chippendale set, the twin bedroom set is Stickley and that double set is 18th century French. The Steinway grand piano is superb, but Jeff hasn’t had time to play it for us yet.”

“You have a discerning eye, Linda. Yes indeed, everything is as you thought. Each of my husbands brought one of the sets back with them, from their travels.”

“Mrs. Tillison, you gave away furniture like that? It would be worth a fortune if you had sold it.” said Mandy.

“Well, no one was using it, and I didn’t want a bunch of people walking through my house to look at it. I had to stop playing the piano when my arthritis got so bad, and the piano was just sitting there, gathering dust for someone to clean.” Mrs. T. replied.

Jeff diffused the situation and said, “Clean up crew, clear the tables. Time for dessert.”

All of the young people sprang into action, except Spencer who was holding Jimmy and feeding him a bottle. When all of the dishes were cleared, Jeff came in with a cart. He poured some clear liquid into a very large chafing dish and then lit it with a match. It started to flame. When the flame died down, Drew, Kenny, Kevin and Tyler started dishing up bowls of ice cream and Jeff poured the topping from his dish. Teddy and Toby started serving everyone a dish of cherries jubilee.

“Mom, who prepared this outstanding meal?” Josh asked.

“You are sitting beside the young man who planned and organized it, honey.” she answered.

When everyone finished, Jeff got up and started to take the dishes to the kitchen. All the young people reacted instantly, and did the same thing. Jeff said over his shoulder, “Grams, why don’t you take everyone into the living room and keep them entertained with an after dinner drink or something?”

To be continued...


Editor's Notes:

Now that was very nice. Isn't it just like youngsters to make a fuss when an older person gives their expensive belongings to someone that they care about and not let it be fought over after they are dead. My Grandmother had given specific instructions as to who was to have certain things, several years before her passing, but her family insisted that she keep possession of her things while she was alive so that she could have use of them. No sooner had she passed away, than the arguments began. It was like a bunch of vultures circling. All her plans and decisions she had made earlier, went right out the window. To give you an idea, When I was little, Grandma always served sausage on a really pretty platter that had the most beautiful blue markings on it. She asked me if i wanted it, and I told her that it would be nice because it reminded me of her. Once she died, it was given to me. I left it in my mom's house cause it was china, and I really didn't have a safe place to keep it. This was many years ago. When my mom died, my cousin who had always wanted that platter took it from the wall in my mom's house, and I never saw it again. When I walked into the house, all the pretty decorative things that had been on mom's kitchen walls were gone. I really didn't care if Marilyn had the things, except for that one wedge wood platter, but she didn't even bother to ask me. She just grabbed everything of value and took it away before I got there. Everyone in the family knew that Grandma had given me the platter, but it was flat gone. I didn't give a flying fish what it might have been worth; It was what it meant to Grandma and me. Sorry, I didn't mean to get on my soap box. To coin a phrase, "I'm an editor, not a politician."

Thank you Dr. McCoy.

How is that for getting off topic?

Darryl
AKA Radio Rancher


 

Posted: 04/14/07