The Doctor Gets a Visitor II
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 39
The Memorial Service

The next morning, Jeff had us out of bed by seven. We were all dressed, waiting for everyone else. We had breakfast at the restaurant and then went to the home. When we got to the home, the lawyer, Ms. Andrea Cleary, was waiting for us. After the introductions, Mrs. Powers lead us to a small conference room.
 
We covered what we needed to do for the day. We left for the bank with Jeff driving Mrs. Powers' special van with a lift for her wheel chair. He had the two boys with him. When we arrived at the bank, we were met by a vice president, Mr. Nelson. Mrs. Powers took over. She handed him her safe deposit key, and said, “I believe Jason’s Mother and Father had a box too. We don’t know where the key is, and since his parents are both dead now, we would like to check in it please.”
 
Mr. Nelson came back with two boxes. Mrs. Powers opened hers and handed Ben two documents. The first was Jason’s father’s birth certificate, and the second was the paper, where Robert Powers had adopted him and had his name legally changed.
 
She closed her box and then Mr. Nelson opened the other box after talking to Ms. Cleary. Ms. Cleary started to take things out, and a stenographer was taking notes. The first item to come out was a pack of money with a note saying. “This is the money from the government for Jason, since his father died.” Ms. Cleary handed the money to Mr. Nelson who counted and reported, “There is $110,000.00 here.”
 
The next thing was Jason’s birth certificate, followed by the deed to the house, saying it was titled in Jason’s name. There were no liens against the property. The last item was the will and of Jason’s mother, leaving everything to Jason.
 
Before I knew what was happening, I was signing papers for Jason’s accounts, since I was technically his guardian. Neither Ben nor Mrs. Powers seemed to have a problem with that.
 
Mrs. Tillison said, “I hate to break this up, but we need to eat and then get dressed. Visitation starts at one.”

Mrs. Powers said, “Jeff, take me back to the home, and I’ll eat and change there, and you can pick me up at 12:40.” The guys left and switched cars and met us at the hotel for lunch. We ate and then quickly showered and dressed. Jeff had to help the guys with their ties.
 
The guys left and retrieved Mrs. Powers, and drove to the funeral home. They went in and were met by the person in charge. “Hi Mrs. Powers, I’m surprised to see you here.”
 
“Rick, Mrs. Black was my daughter in law. Her first husband was my son, and this is her son, Jason. The Black’s have only been married about a year. This is Jeff Wilson, and this is Beau Benson. Guys, this is Rick Collins.”
 
“Mr. Collins, do you have a keyboard of any kind that could be available?” Jeff asked.
 
“Yes, there in the corner is a small spinet organ.” he answered. “It’s set up to go.”
 
The four of us arrived and Mrs. Powers made the introductions. Mrs. T. took Mr. Collins off to the side and started to talk business details.
 
The first couple to arrive was the Parks. Jason ran to them and said, “Hi Aunt Becky and Uncle Austin. He hugged both of them and then made the introductions. “These are my best friends, Aunt Becky and Uncle Austin. They live right next door to me, and Aunt Becky used to watch me after school. Uncle Austin sells houses.”
 
Mrs. Tillison perked up and asked, “Do you happen to have a key to the Black’s house?”
 
“Yes, I’ve been putting the mail in, each day.” Mrs. Parks answered.
 
“Good, could you please let us in after the service, so we can look around, and so Jason can get the things he wants to take back to Fremont?”
 
“Mr. Parks, you sell real estate?” Mrs. Tillison asked.
 
“I guess that’s close enough. I own a real estate company.” he laughed.
 
“Good, we’ll see both of you at the house then, after the services.” Mrs. T. said.
 
The next to arrive was the minister, Father Franklin. Both Jeff and Mrs. Tillison went to visit with him.
 
Ms. Cleary arrived, and Mrs. T. said, “We’re going to meet at the Black house right after the service. I hope that you’re available.”
 
“I’m at your command all weekend.” Andrea answered.
 
The people were beginning to arrive, so Mrs. T., Ben, Josh and I went and sat in the second row, with the Parks and Andrea.
 
The home was starting to fill up and at 1:45 Jeff went to the organ and started to play hymns appropriate for a funeral. At 1:50 they had to open another room for additional people. At precisely 2:00. Jeff stopped playing, and Father Franklin gave a short eulogy for both Mr. and Mrs. Black. At 2:15, he closed by saying, “The family has requested that there be no services at the grave sites. They thank you for coming, and now Mr. Jason Powers, Mrs. Black’s son and his step brother Mr. Beau Benson will close the service accompanied by Mr. Jeff Wilson.”
 
Jeff started to play, and the guys knew instinctively what to do. They sang The Lord’s Prayer in a way I’m sure it had never been sung before. It was outstanding.
 
The ushers took Mrs. Powers, Jason and Beau out, and then came to get our row. We all stood off to the side, as Jason thanked everyone for coming. Finally everyone had left except for one distinguished gentleman.
 
He came to Jason and said, “Jason, I’m Alex Coleman. I was your mother’s employer. I have here a check for the salary due her, plus unused vacation pay. I had the check made out to Jason Powers, since he was listed as her beneficiary. Here is another check from the other employees, made out to the Jason Power’s Education Fund.”
 
He added, “I don’t know if you know this or not, but she had a nice sum set aside in a retirement fund account. I also know that she had an insurance policy, because she had been having her premiums paid from her pay check.”
 
Mrs. Tillison said, “We’re meeting at the Black house, shortly. We’ll see what we come up with. May we have a number where we can reach you, if we have any questions?”
 
He handed her a business card, and wrote his home phone number on the back. Mr. Collins brought a box with a lot of cards in it and said, “These are for Jason. We’re ready to go to the cemetery now.”
 
Jeff and Josh switched car keys. We agreed to meet back at the house as soon as Mr. and Mrs. Black’s remains were interred. Jeff, Jason and I followed the hearse to the cemetery. We stopped at Jason’s father grave, and his mother’s urn was placed into the ground. Jason placed a basket of flowers in front of the grave and said, “Good bye, and mommy.”
 
We moved to Mr. Black’s burial site, and again Jason placed a basket of flowers on the grave and said, “Good bye, Cliff.”
 
We started back to the house and Beau was holding Jason. All of a sudden, Jason sat up and said, “They’re in heaven with Daddy and Granddad Powers, now.” He announced, “I’m hungry; can we get something to eat, please?”
 
I saw a pizza shop and picked up a large pizza to go, and Jeff went next door and got some drinks and took them back to the house. Jason got the paper products and we served everyone a piece, and a drink. Everyone finished the snack and Mrs. Parks said, “Jason honey, here is the mail, but I think you need to open this one first.”
 
Jason opened it and read it, and handed it to Jeff. He was starting to cry, and Beau held him. “Jeff, read it to everyone.” Jason sobbed.
 
‘Dear Jason, I’m writing this from Kearney Nebraska. I have just left you on your own in Fremont, Nebraska. I had a dream that told me that was where you would best find the people that would love and take care of you. I am dying, from an inoperable cancer, and Cliff knows that you don’t really trust him. Please take care of Grandma Ginny, and be the best you can be. I love you. Before we left, we called the police to tell them that there was an abandoned child at the rest stop. Please don’t hate me. Mommy.”
 
Everyone had tears in their eyes, and Jason had crawled onto my lap and it was totally silent.
 
All of a sudden, Jason sat up and said, “Okay people, we need to be happy. Mommy and Cliff are in heaven.”
 
Mr. Parks said, “Jason, I’ll write you a check for two hundred thousand dollars for this house. That way, no one will have to worry about it.”
 
Jason looked at me and then at Ben and Mrs. Powers and said, “That sounds great, Uncle Austin.”
 
“Here, I’ll write the check now, and you can put it in your education fund.” Austin said.
 
The doorbell rang and Beau answered it and brought back a gentleman who introduced himself. I am Gary Archer. I was Mrs. Black's insurance agent. I have here a check for $250,000.00, made out to Jason Powers.”
 
Jason went to him and said, “Thank you Mr. Archer. I have no idea how much money this is, but it must be quit a bit for you to deliver it on a Saturday afternoon.” He hugged Mr. Archer and then handed me the check. Again, I was signing the paperwork for the check and Mr. Archer left.
 
Jason looked around and said, “Okay everybody, let’s go eat. I’m hungry.”
 
Mr. and Mrs. Parks took us to a nice restaurant with a buffet. Jason said, “Do you suppose Jeff is going to undress any people tonight?”
 
The Parks, Mrs. Powers and Ms Cleary looked at him funny, and Beau told them what happened last Sunday. Everyone laughed.
 
When we finished, Jason said, “Let’s go back to the home. We promised the people we’d be back.”
 
Mrs. Powers paid the bill and Mrs. T. left the tip. I was surprised, but the Parks and Ms Cleary accompanied us to the home. Jason went right to the reception desk, and made the announcement that the group was back and would be providing some entertainment in five minutes in the activity room.
 
The people started to assemble, and Mr. Blackwell handed Jeff his guitar as he came in. There were quite a few more people there tonight. Jason stood and said, “Ms. Thomas wanted to hear what Jeff could do with the piano. Well, here he is, doing his thing and then he’s going to sing for you.”
 
Jeff just looked at Jason, but started with a nice classical piece, and then played a medley from the movies. He started to play a medley from West Side Story, and when he got to Maria, he sang. When he finished, everyone applauded.
 
Jeff stood up and said, “Now, it’s everyone else turn.” and he lead the residents in four songs, and then said, “Okay guys, get up here.”
 
Jeff played the guitar as the three guys sang The Sound of Music, Do Re Mi, and Edelweiss. They had everyone join them as they sang Edelweiss. After the applause had abated, Beau stood and said, “For the final number tonight, Jeff is going to play and sing The Impossible Dream.”
 
Jeff just glared at him, but started to play. When he finished, everyone who could, was standing and applauding.
 
Mr. Blackwell stood and said, “Could you please sing the Lord’s Prayer like you did at the Memorial Service today?”
 
Mrs. T. went and pushed Jeff off the piano bench and said, “Go sing with the guys.” Jeff stood between the two guys. Mrs. T. started to play and the guys began to sing. When they finished, everyone, including me, was teary eyed.
 
Jeff got up and handed Mr. Blackwell his guitar, and Mr. Blackwell just hugged him, but didn’t say anything. Everyone was so quiet. Jason couldn’t stand it any longer and said, “There is no mourning. My mother and step father are in heaven with my Daddy and my Grandpa Powers, so we need to be happy. I don’t think we will be back again, before we leave tomorrow afternoon.”
 
“Please take care of each other, and especially Grandma Ginny.” Jason and Beau waved to them and everyone applauded again.
 
We were getting ready to leave when Ms. Thomas came up to Jeff and said, “You are even more talented than I thought. Could I have your e-mail address, so I can write you?”
 
Jeff gave her his email address and somehow the fact that he was a freshman in college came up. Beau said, “He may be only a freshman in college, but he is teaching four classes and getting credit for them.”
 
“You’re kidding, aren’t you? Ms. Thomas asked.
 
Mrs. Tillison spoke up, “Nope. Jeff has the student body eating out of his hand.” Mrs. T. turned to Mrs. Powers and said, “Ginny, we’ll pick you up at 10:35 tomorrow, for church.”
 
Jason and Beau hugged and kissed Mrs. Powers and we departed for the hotel and everyone just went to their room. We quickly showered and crawled into bed. Suddenly Jason and Beau came in and crawled into bed with us. Jason said, “Beau says I’m lucky, because so many people liked my parents. Why doesn’t anyone like me?”
 
Jeff grabbed him and said, “What Beau forgot to say, was that everyone loves you. Now come here and I’ll kiss you until you believe it.” as he gave Jason a big kiss.
 
Jason jumped up and sat on Jeff’s chest and held Jeff’s head in his hands gave Jeff a big kiss on the lips. Jeff flipped Jason over and pretended to sit on him and did the same to Jason. Jason yelled, “Get off me you kissing fool.” Jason started to giggle and Jeff pulled Jason close and held him.
 
I pulled Beau close, and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He crawled on top of me and gave me the same treatment that Jeff had received from Jason. Instead of flipping Beau over I just pulled his face down and gave him a big kiss and held him tight.
 
“Thanks, Doctor Dad. I needed that.” Beau said, as he crawled out of the bed.

“Come on Jason, we need to leave so these old men can get their rest otherwise they’ll be useless tomorrow.”
 
Before Beau could say anything else, Jeff had him on the floor sitting on him. He took Beau's face and gave him a big kiss and said. “Now, who are you calling old Mr. Benson?”
 
Beau grabbed Jeff’s face, and kissed him on the lips and said, “I’m sorry boss, you’re not old, but you are both kissing bandits.”
 
Everyone laughed and Jeff helped Beau up and hugged him. Jason took my face and kissed me. I returned his action and the guys started to leave. Jeff crawled into bed. Just before the two guys went out the door, Beau turned back and said, “What I meant to say was dirty old men.” He laughed and disappeared.
 
Jeff and I laughed and he cuddled against me and was gone as usual and I soon followed.
 

To be continued...

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Editor's Notes:

 My goodness. Another Magnificent chapter. I think we can safely say that Jason is going to be alright. He is a wonderful little boy and he will have all the love he can ever hope for.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 07/27/07