The Doctor Gets a Visitor III
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 40

Beau Is Planning

On Thursday morning Beau came in and flipped the covers off of us and said, “Come on you ping pong balls, Tommy, Jason and I are ready to go.”

We left for our run and Beau led us on a leisurely four mile run which nearly killed me.  The four guys took it in stride.  When we got back to the house Beau said, “Someone take Dad upstairs and give him a hot bath.  Here’s his coffee.”

Beau had breakfast ready and left and came back with Aunt Evelyn in her dressing gown.  “Jason, how do you want us to dress today?”

“Aunt Evelyn, wear what you feel comfortable in.  The guys and gals aren’t interested in what you will be wearing, but what you have to say.  If you come all dressed up you might lose some of them right away.” Jason said.  “Just let the kids see the real you.”

Jason looked up and said, “Come on Dad.  Davey’s inbound.”  Jason ran to get his jacket and backpack.” As we were leaving he said, “See you in about two hours.  He threw everyone a kiss.

Uncle Lyle told the guys he would do the dishes and the guys took off.

The trip to the school by the Peoria people was a roaring success.  They had a wonderful time with the young people.  Ginny and Rea sat with the fourth graders; Jason, Lenny, Larry and Davey at lunch.  Uncle Lyle and Aunt Evelyn were commandeered by the fifth graders with Spencer acting as their host.

After lunch they said goodbye and went back to the house to rest.  Uncle Lyle was ready for Tommy when he came to take him to baseball practice.

Beau called me at lunch time and asked, “Dad, is it okay if we have a dinner party on Sunday.  We will make it early like 5:30 so everyone can relax but still get home early for Monday?”

“Beau son, don’t try to do too much.” I answered.

“Dad, I won’t.  Thanks.  I love you.” Beau said as he hung up.

When I picked the guys up Beau was like a bouncing ball.  Jason said, “Dad, give him a sedative.  He is on overload again.”

“I am not on overload.  My mind is just working on three things at the same time.  There is so much to do and I only have a short time to get it all done.”

When we got home Beau set the table for nine people.  Jeff was just finishing Mickey and Chris’ piano lesson when Mrs. Davis arrived.  Aunt Evelyn had been watching and listening.

Mickey and Chris were getting ready to go when Mrs. Davis said, “Chris, I just realized who you were.  You are Chris Bressler and your grandparents live right next door to me.”

Beau came in and said, “Grandma Davis, these two yokels are both ushering on Saturday. You already know who Chris is and Mickamus is Jeff’s half brother?’

Mrs. Davis laughed and said, “It’s a small world.  See you handsome men on Saturday morning.”  The two guys left and Beau helped everyone get seated at the table. 

Everyone was eating when Beau demanded a full account of the visit to school.  Jason was so excited.  He started to tell about what happened.  “The guys and gals all loved these people.  These people made everyone feel comfortable and special.  Heck, I almost didn’t get to sit beside Grandma Ginny at lunch.  Spencer made sure that everything went smoothly.  He was acting like General Beauregard.  Everyone is so jealous that they are staying with us.”

Beau turned to Uncle Lyle and asked, “So Uncle Lyle, what is your prognosis for the so called baseball team?”

Uncle Lyle said, “They have the potential to be really good.  I would guess that they will make some waves this year but I’m guessing they are about a year away from being a really good team.”

As we were finishing Beau said, “Tommy and Jason, you get to do the dishes while Jeff and I go practice for Saturday.  Come on Grandma Davis, we’ll be working with the piano instead of the organ but you can tell us what you think.”

The guys ran through the songs and Mrs. Davis said, “That was wonderful.  I just wish you could sing and play a song at the grave side.  It would finalize the ceremony.”

Uncle Lyle who was standing there listening with Aunt Evelyn said, “Jeff, why don’t you play on your guitar and Beau could sing something like Swing Low Sweet Chariot.”

No one said anything but Beau dashed out of the room and came back with Jeff’s guitar and banjo.  He said, “Let’s hit it, Jeff.”

Jeff played the first verse on the guitar and the second on the banjo.  He asked, “Grandma Davis which would you prefer?”

“Either one would be absolutely perfect.  I’ll leave it up to you experts.”  Mrs. Davis said with tears in her eyes.

Ginny asked, “Mrs. Davis, would it be okay if we stayed until Saturday so we could go the funeral service and then take off for Peoria?”

“Ginny, stop calling me Mrs. Davis, my name is Lucy.  You are more than welcome to stay, since you knew who Miles was and almost all of your boys are taking part in the service, except Jason.  Beau didn’t think Jason could handle another funeral just yet.  I understand he has lost many loved ones and he is only nine going on fifty.”  Mrs. Davis looked at Jason.

“Grandma Davis, I heard that.  Thank you for not asking me to be a part of the service.  I would rather just come and be a bystander.   Grandma Ginny, how many times do we have to tell you Peoria people that you are welcome to stay as long as you can stand us?” Jason admonished.

Beau said, “We’re having a small dinner party tomorrow at 5:30 Grandma Davis.  You just pop in anytime before then.  We have to eat early since both Tommy and I have sitting jobs tomorrow night.  Jeff, you stop and pick up Danny on your way home.  We’ll eat as soon as Mr. Carstairs gets here.”

Mrs. Davis said, “I hate to eat and run, but I have a few things that I need to take care of.  Thanks for dinner and the company.  I guess I’ll see you about 5:30 tomorrow if not before.”  She said good night to everyone and Beau walked her to her car.

When he came back he had tears in his eyes.  I started to ask what was wrong but was interrupted by the doorbell.  Beau answered the door and brought in Alex and Brad West.  Alex had a board and some rolled up papers.

Alex said, “I have some preliminary plans for you to look at.  Maybe you should see if Mrs. Tillison is available.”

Jeff went and made a call.  He came back and said, “Grams and her entourage will be here in five minutes.  Would you like something to drink?”

Alex surprised me and said, “Might I have a Courvoisier on the rocks, please?”

Beau said, “Brad and I will have one also.”

Jeff said, “Let me see some identification, please.  You both will be lucky to get water.”

“Come on Brad, we’ll raid my secret stash.  We don’t need some nerdy 18 year old telling us what we can do.”  Beau laughed as he dashed from the room with Brad.

The people from Peoria were having a ball watching.  Beau came back and said, “D. Dad, after you get Mr. West’s drink, why don’t you take him into the dining room and we’ll see if we can get these people a little tipsy on some of those special shakes.  Just then Mrs. T., Ben, Josh and Barry walked in.

Beau asked, “Where are the Bobbsey Twins?

“They’re on their way.  They want to say thanks to Lyle before he leaves tomorrow.”  Mrs. T. said.”

“Oh, didn’t you hear?  They’re moving here permanently so they can do all my work for me.  I am too feeble from overwork to be able to go on.”

Mrs. T. went to grab him but Beau danced away and said, “Brad and I are going to make some of those special chocolate shakes for our guests.  Would you like one also?”

“I’ll have one but make mine a double strength one please.”  Mrs. T. teased.

“Brad, go card her and make sure she is old enough.”  Beau said as the two guys disappeared.

The door opened and Kenny and Drew just walked in.  Drew said, “We just wanted to come and say goodbye to you all.  You are all so wonderful.  Uncle Lyle, if we have any questions about baseball, can we call or email you?”

“Either is fine.”  Uncle Lyle said.

Kenny said, “We have to go get our homework done.  I think all of the teachers hate baseball players.  The homework seems to be multiplying.”

Beau said, “That’s because you two have been sleeping in class.”

Beau and Brad served the drinks and Kenny and Drew took Beau down and had him spread eagled.  Everyone was laughing but Beau did something that got him free and he wound up straddling Kenny’s back and shouted “Hi ho Silver!”

Beau got Kenny up and Drew and Kenny hugged everyone as they left.

We went into the dining room to look at the plans.  I asked Uncle Lyle to give his opinions on the design.  He was very noncommittal and said, “Let’s get Beau in here.”

Jeff went and got Beau.  Beau came in and looked at the plans and said, “Mr. West, there are several problem areas.  First there needs to be five or six exam rooms in the family practice wing.  In the pediatrics wing here, we need to have a play area where the children will be at ease.  In the OBGYN wing there needs to be at least three large exam rooms so that Uncle Barry and his people can do whatever it is they do.”

He thought for a minute and said, “We need a wing here so that the internal medicine people and other specialists have adequate space and finally, we need a shrink wing here with nice comfortable rooms to facilitate talking.  They won’t need any exam rooms.”

“The core area needs to be large enough to handle the initial screening, x-rays and other testing devices that doctors use.”

Beau stopped and thought and said, “I hope you can make the reception area so that it is inviting to young and old.  Make it like a reading room and make it so it doesn’t feel like a medical facility.  Since there will be children using the facility make sure that there are adequate restroom facilities.  Now, may I go, please?”

Everyone including Uncle Lyle was shaking there heads.  Mrs. Tillison said, “Alex, I hope you can remember everything that Beau said, because I can’t.”

Jeff said, “That’s okay Mr. West.  I was tape recording it.  I’ll make a copy and give it to you when I see you.”

Beau looked back and said, “You’ll be seeing him when he and Brad come to dinner on Sunday.”

Everyone left and the people had gone to bed except for Beau, Jeff and me.  Jeff asked, “So what’s happening Sunday?”

Beau said, “Dad said it was okay to have a dinner party on Sunday.  I have invited about 60 people.  I still haven’t heard back from a couple of them yet but it will be a lot of fun.  Don’t you worry about anything.  I’ll take care of the food and everything.”

“Jeff, remember you are to pick Danny up tomorrow.  Now I’m going to bed.”  Beau said as he went up the stairs.

Jeff looked at me and asked, “What is he plotting now?  He must have some ulterior motive.”

Jeff and I cleaned up and went up the stairs and literally fell into bed and held each other.

To be continued...

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Editor's Notes:

Ulterior motive indeed.  Knowing him the way I do, I am certain there is an ulterior motive.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 10/05/07