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 44
Nonverbal Communication

The trip to Omaha went without a hitch. The cars were parked and everyone gathered to go into the restaurant. Jeff walked in first and approached the hostess and asked, “Is Kyle working today?”

“Yes he is,” answered the young hostess.

“There are fourteen of us, and we would like Kyle to be our server.” Jeff said.

“Kyle is busy but I can seat you at a table for fourteen in the back section.”

“I would like to speak to the manager on duty, please.” Jeff said.

The young lady came back with a young man, “I’m Joe Horner; how can I help you?”

Jeff shook his hand, “Sir, the last time we were here, Kyle was our server. Today there are fourteen of us, we would like a nice quiet area if you have one, and would really like Kyle to serve us. Your hostess did nothing wrong, she was just trying to even out the workload as I am sure she has been directed to do.”

Mr. Horner left and everyone was standing there with their mouths open. Josh asked, “Do you always cut to the heart of the problem? You sound like my mother. I assume you have been out to eat with her.”

“Uncle Josh, the only places other than home that I have eaten with Grams is where she has prearranged the meal.” Jeff answered.

Kyle appeared and said, “Welcome gentlemen. Hi Jeff. Good to see you Doctor Wilson. Drew and Kenny, I’m sure school is going well. I am so glad you could come back so soon. Let me show you to your table.”

Spencer walked up to Kyle and said, “I am Spencer, and this is my friend Bobby. Thanks for taking care of us today. We’re here to make sure these adults behave themselves. I hope you will help me, because I’ve never been in a big restaurant like this before.”

Kyle stopped at a table and hugged Spencer and Bobby and said, “If you two gentlemen need anything, just wink.”

Everyone sat down and there were six seats on either side so Jeff and I took the seats at the ends. Kyle started to pass out the menus and Drew said, “Kyle, please give me the check when it’s time.”

When Spencer looked at the menu, he asked, “Drew, are you sure you have enough money for all of us?”

“Yes, unless you decide to order one of everything on the menu.” Drew assured him.

“Drew, you don’t have that much money, unless you robbed a bank.” said Jeff. “We’ll talk about this more after Kyle has had a chance to take our orders.”

Kyle explained the specials and said, “Joey will take your drink orders while I take your food orders.”

Mr. Horner said, “We have freshly made lemonade, brewed iced tea, soda and coffee. If you would like a beer or other alcoholic drink, we can bring that too.” He went around the table and when he finished, he said, “Seven lemonades and seven iced teas coming shortly.”

“Jeff, I’ll start with you.” said Kyle.

“Jeff, can I just have some soup? Everything else on the menu is too expensive, and I don’t know what most of it tastes like anyway.” Spencer interrupted.

“No, Tiger.” Jeff said, as he turned to Kyle.

“Kyle, I’d like the lobster bisque, Caesar salad, the special seafood plate, no potatoes and the green beans. Mr. Spencer will have the same thing, but I think he would like French fries and we’ll split a lobster tail.” Jeff said, as he handed his menu to Kyle.

Kyle took Spencer’s menu and moved to Bobby. Bobby said, “I’ll have the same thing as Spencer and if Doctor Wilson would share the lobster tail with me, I would like that also.”

“You got it, Bobby.” I answered.

“Me three, and I’ll share my lobster with Kevin.” said Tyler.

Kevin said, “Me four, but I would like a baked potato with sour cream, please.”

Josh said, “I’ll have the same, but no potato please, and I’ll share my lobster tail with Ben.”

Ben said, “Me too.”

“Me three.” I said as I handed Kyle my menu.

“I’ll have the same with a baked potato, and I’ll share my lobster with Paul.” Lash handed Kyle his menu.

“Same.” said Paul.

“I’ll have the same and share the lobster with Mark.” said Matt.

“Same please.” Mark said.

Kenny said, “I’ll have a banana split with a crème de menthe and kalua topping please, and I’ll share my lobster with Mr. Drew.”

“Is that Martian for the same with French fries, sir?” asked Kyle.

“Si, mien Herr.” Kenny said.

“Lash maybe you should take the Martian’s temperature and pulse, and I think we may need to give him a shot for mental confusion.” I said.

Everyone including Kyle and Joey started laughing. All of a sudden Spencer clapped his hands and said, “Knock it off. We’re making fools of ourselves and everyone in the restaurant is glaring at us.”

Kyle moved quietly to Drew and whispered, “Yes sir, what would you like?”

“I think I will have two cigars filled with marijuana, a shot of coke and three jiggers of Wild Turkey on the rocks.” Drew answered, as he handed Kyle the menu.

Bobby looked at Drew with disgust and said, “Drew, you wouldn’t really have those things, would you?”

Jeff quickly intervened and said, “Bobby, Drew was just saying he wanted the same as everyone else, and I think it is safe to say that Drew really hates all of those things.”

We were saved from anymore conversation because Mr. Horner came back with the drinks and Kyle brought three baskets of warm bread and crackers. They returned almost immediately with the steaming bowls of bisque.

We had no more than started the soup than the salads arrived and Kyle said, “Now let’s hear the rest of this money story.”

“Did Mom give you the money Drew?” asked Josh.

“No.” Drew answered.

“Okay, that means your great grandmother did then, right?” Tyler asked.

Drew just nodded yes.

“Well, who is his great grandmother?” asked Josh.

“Aunt Cora.” said Drew, very quietly.

“Wait a minute; I’ve known Aunt Cora since I was four. I never knew she was ever married, let alone had a child. How many of you knew that Drew was her great grandson?”

The five of us who were there raised our hands and Kenny told the story of how we found out.

“Okay men, no more serious talk until we get the food is served.” Kyle said,

People were clearing the empty soup and salad bowls, the drinks and bread baskets were refilled and the platters with the food were set down in front us.

Kyle said, “Enjoy, and now I am ready to take notes for the next chapter of this unbelievable story whenever you’re ready?”

Everyone was eating and when all of a sudden Bobby asked, “Jeff, is everyone here at the table gay?”

Everyone except Jeff sort of froze. He calmly picked a bite of food and said,
“Bobby, some of us probably are. I know I am, but I am not sure about anyone else, but I’m almost positive that you and Spencer aren’t. Why did you ask that question?”

“Well, there is a lot of nonverbal communication going on around the table. I just feel like I am being left out of something secret.”

Lash looked at him and asked, “Bobby, do you know what gay means?”

“Yes, it means that a guy likes guys better than girls and besides, I have a brother who is gay.”

Mark all of sudden spoke up, “Bobby, you only have one brother. Are you telling us that Frankie is gay? I can’t believe it. He and I were best friends forever when we younger, but we lost track of each when we went to college.”

Bobby put his head down and moaned, “I just screwed up big time. I outed Frankie, and I promised him I wouldn’t do that.”

Josh broke in and asked, “How did your family take it when your brother told them he was gay?”

“Well at first they were a little up tight, and made us all go to a shrink. He talked to us one time and told us he couldn’t understand what the problem was because none of us was fighting the issue.” Bobby thought for a minute and added, “Sometimes I think my parents love Kent, Frankie’s partner, more than they do me. They think he walks on water. Kent and Frankie don’t hide their love, but they don’t advertise it either.”

“Bobby, I don’t think you should use the word shrink anymore, since Uncle Josh is a clinical psychologist and Uncle Ben is a psychiatrist. I really don’t think they appreciate being referred to as shrinks.” Spencer said.

Bobby said, “Me and my big mouth. I keep getting myself in trouble with it. I’ll just keep it shut the rest of the day.”

Ben said, “How do you know about nonverbal communication?”

Spencer answered, “Mr. Bressler told us that if we watch how people move their eyes and body, that they are really telling you how they feel, even if it is not what they are saying. Just like the way Kyle and Mr. Horner just always seem to touch each either when they pass, even if there is a six foot space to move in.”

Spencer turned to Kyle and asked, “How long have you two been partners?”

“Why do you ask that?” asked Kyle.

“How many of the others of the staff call him Joey? None. Now can we see your pouch?”

“What are you talking about?” asked Kyle.

“Well, if you call him Joey, I figure he must be a baby kangaroo and I just thought maybe you carried him around in your pouch.”

Everyone went into hysterics. We were interrupted by one of the waitresses who said, “Mr. Horner, some of the other customers are complaining about the noise coming from this table.”

Everyone got quiet and Spencer got a serious look on his face and asked. “Uncle Ben, may I ask you a question? I would like you to answer, but I’ll understand if you don’t.”

“Ask away Spencer.” Ben answered, not knowing where this was leading.

“Jeff won’t tell anybody where the money came from to fix Gigi and Kevin’s house. By the process of elimination, I decided it had to be you, since Jeff did say that it wasn’t Grams or anybody related to her, and he said it wasn’t any of his relatives, so I figured it had to be you and plus I think I saw you hand Jeff something before he suddenly had money for the work. I was even surer after Jeff took you to the house yesterday. Now can you truthfully tell me that you didn’t provide the money?”

“Yes Spencer, we did, but we would very much prefer that Mrs. Baxter not be told. We did it be because we really wanted to and certainly not out of pity. Spencer, I am amazed that a ten year old could think so logically and even more astounded that he would even care.” Ben answered.

“Well, I won’t be ten much longer. In about two weeks I’ll be eleven. Uncle Ben and Uncle Josh, none of us will ever tell Gigi where the money came from. If anyone in this room says anything, they will feel the wrath of Jeff and me.” Spencer assured him.

“Believe me I’m not saying anything. If your wrath is anything like Jeff’s, I pity the person who screws up.” Kevin said.

“Too much information, Kevin.” Jeff said.

Fortunately Bobby broke the tension and asked, “Spencer, when is your birthday?”

“Groundhog Day, the 2nd of February.” Spencer answered. “When's yours?”

“February 3rd.” answered Bobby.

“Cool, that’s the same day as Toby’s.” observed Spencer.

“Guess what guys. Guess whose birthday is the 4th of February.” Jeff said.

“Well it’s not yours, since you were born in September I think; so I am guessing its Teddy’s.”

“You just won the right to do dishes all this week.” Jeff said.

“So, what else is new?” sighed Spencer.

Everything was quiet and Jeff said, “Kyle, bring the check and we’ll leave before we start a riot and you and Joey get fired.”

Kyle came back and handed the folder to Drew. Drew and Jeff were sitting beside each other, talking.

“How much should we give for a tip?” asked Drew.

“Spencer, how would you rate the service today?” asked Jeff.

Spencer thought for a minute, “I guess I would rate the service at 99.99%.”

Jeff looked at him and asked, “What happened to the other.01%?”

“Well, my napkin dropped on the floor and Kyle didn’t pick it up for me. I waited ten seconds and then picked it up, since he was busy nonverbally communicating with his little kangaroo.” Spence got a very serious look on his face and said, “I guess a dollar for each of us would be fair.”

“Spencer, if you don’t knock it off, you aren’t going to be landing for three days.” Tyler said.

“So the Stud does speak?” asked Joey.

Jeff and Drew were talking in private when an older lady came to the table and said, “You certainly have a table of handsome men here. You must be celebrating something.”

Spencer stood up and said, “No ma’am, the women in our lives were going to eat out, and do whatever it is that they do. Doctor Wilson and his son Jeff decided that we should go out to eat too, since we just came from church and no one wanted to cook and do dishes,”

“Well, I hope the ladies are having as good a time as you men are.” she said as she walked away.

I think Paul spoke for the first time. “Spencer, do you know what you said? Where did that come from?”

“Did I say something that was not true? We did just come from church and Jeff and his Dad did decide to go out to eat. Drew’s great grandmother, Grams and Gigi are with Aunt Jane, eating. I did not say the women in everyone’s lives were with them. Now what did I do wrong? Besides Jeff would probably have handled the situation better than I did, if he hadn’t been so busy discussing important issues with Drew. Case rested.” Spencer said.

“I can’t believe this entire day, so I won’t say anything else. I am completely blown away by this whole day.” Paul said.

“Me too.” said Bobby.

Jeff took out his wallet and handed some bills to Drew. Drew put the money in the folder and handed it to Kyle and said, “This should take care of the bill, and we don’t need any change.”

Jeff and Drew stood and everyone followed. “Mr. Horner, Would it be okay with you if I gave your partner a hug?” asked Spencer.

“Sure, he’s off duty anyway. We’re going home as soon as we get the tables cleared and set for the evening.” Joey answered.

Spence caught Mr. Horner totally off guard when he hugged and whispered, “Take care of Kyle, I really like him.” Then he went to Kyle and jumped up and hugged him. Kyle caught him and Spencer said, “Thank you for being so nice.”

The rest of us followed, and when Jeff and Drew got to Kyle, he hugged them and said, “Thank you so much, gentlemen. I don’t usually make that much in three days.”

Jeff hugged him and whispered something, and all of a sudden Kyle started to laugh.

We went to the cars and Jeff told Mark and Matt to switch cars. Then he said, “Kenny, lead us to Linens and Things, please.”

To be continued...
 

Feedback always welcome:     

 

Editor's Notes:

Once again I find myself chuckling and having enjoyed immensely, another wonderful chapter. I love Spencer more and more with each new chapter, and Kyle is simply adorable. I like Joey as well. I really love this story, which I have said more than once, but I feel it is worth saying quite often.

There have not been that many stories that I have read that I have found more enjoyable to read and the more of this story that I have read the closer it comes to being at the very top of my list of favorites. There are a number of things that cause me to love a story. One of those things is the plot, another is the cast of characters and their ability to be real for me. The third thing is that I like a story to last a long time so I get to savor the delicacy and the nuances that simply get overlooked in a shorter story. As you can see already, this story fills all those requirements, and then some. It is also a pleasure to edit, because, I can easily follow the flow of the story, without having to change it radically. Every once in a while there is a word missing or a typo, but all in all, it is very readable without any help from me. My job is very easy; find any minor mistakes, and fix them. It is simple and straight forward. I couldn't ask for anything more. Oh yes I could ask for one more thing; longer chapters, but I won't since that would mean a lot more work. I don't like more work. So I will sit here and eagerly wait for more chapters, and I will try to keep from stomping my feet asking for the next one, or ten or thirty. Oh well. I had better stop or he will be editing my editor's notes. Thanks for writing this wonderful story. See you next time.

Darryl
AKA The Radio Rancher


 

Posted: 05/11/07