The Doctor Gets a Visitor IV
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 34

Recharging

On Wednesday morning it was raining, so Beau let us sleep until 6:45.  Then he terrorized everyone in the house.

We gathered at the table and he served breakfast.  He cleaned up and he took Doctor Crane, and away he went.  They stopped at the Coopers and picked up a signed check and they joined Kevin and the guys at the trucking company and away they went to Oakland.

Beau led the trucks to Mr. Swanson’s place and he showed the crew that was staying there around.  Mr. Swanson had everything he wanted out of the house.  Beau and Les led the other crew to Mrs. Olson’s house and she met them at the door.

“C. C. C., I have a bunch of other things that I would like to get rid of.  So would it be okay if we did this on a commission basis, since you haven’t seen it all?”

Beau said, “Aunt Lydia, I’ll do whatever you want, and I promise I'll do my best to get as much as I can for you.”

Kevin, Les and Beau walked next door.  They were met by Grant and his brothers.  The three of them were so excited about the possibility of going to Washington but Beau shrugged it off and said, “Guys, Jeff is going to have us practicing until our toes are coming out of our mouths.  Now we need to show Kevin where my loot is, so we can get it out of your parent’s hair.”

They were just coming out of the house when Chief Ryder pulled up.  “Hey Beau, how are you?  Do you have time to come and see my sons?”

“Chief, I heard you were the proud parents of two beautiful boys.  I’d love to see them.  Why don’t Doctor Crane and I follow you to your house, since I have no idea where you live?” Beau asked.

They went to the Ryder’s house.  Beau made the introductions and took the two babies and said, “Chief, you take your lovely wife and this crazy doctor to the Swenson’s for lunch.  I’ll take care of the guys.  I think I’m in love.  They are so handsome. Don’t worry; I’ll call you if I have any problems.  Have a good time and bring me back a sandwich. Now I have to spoil these two young men.  Just go and we’ll be fine.”

The three of them left and had a leisurely lunch and when they got back to the house, Beau was sitting on the sofa with the two little guys asleep on his lap.  Beau looked at the three of them and told them to be quiet.   He took the guys to their cribs and they settled down right away. 

Beau came back and said, “Mr. and Mrs. Ryder, you need to read to the two guys.  I pretended I was reading a book to them and they were perfectly quiet.  When I told them it was time to go to sleep, I held them both and they just snuggled.  Chief, I that think you need to hold them more, so that they know you love them too.  Come on Doctor Icky, we need to go check on the guys.” Beau said.

Beau went and kissed the two boys and he and Les departed.  They went and terrorized the two moving crews.  Beau had Les take him so he could get some sodas and snacks for the crews.  Les was amazed how the crews responded to his snacks.  When they were finishing up, Kevin said, “We’ll deliver the things first thing in the morning.  Where do you want the things delivered?”

Beau said, “Mr. Swanson’s things go to Doctor Crane’s house.  We have a problem, in that the Antique Shoppe isn’t finished yet.  We may have to put the rest of the things into temporary storage.  Let me get back to you tonight as to where we can put them.”

Beau and Les were not permitted to help loading things because of insurance and union rules.  The two trucks were finally loaded and they made their way back to Fremont.  Everyone else was at the house when Les and Beau arrived.

Beau said, “I’m exhausted watching those guys work today.  No wonder Kevin is a grouch all the time.  Dad, can we store my things in the garage until the Antique Shoppe is finished?”

I agreed and Beau called Mrs. T. and asked if he could store the things from Mrs. Olson’s house in her garage until next week.  She agreed and Beau called Kevin and told him what was happening.  He finally sat down and asked, “Dad, may I have a small glass of wine.  I’m exhausted.”

I handed him a small glass of wine and Jason took it away and said, “I’m not going to sleep with a drunk.  Now get in here and help us serve dinner.”

After dinner, Beau helped with the dishes and said, “I’m going to bed.”  Beau disappeared up the stairs.

Jason came to me and asked, “Dad, is Beau okay?  It’s not like him to be this quiet.”

“Jason, I’m sure he just tired, but I’ll go check.”

I went upstairs and Beau was propped up on my sofa reading with some quiet music playing in the background.  “Beau, are you okay?  Jason is concerned because this is so atypical of you to be this quiet?” I asked as I sat down beside him.

“Dad, I’m just tired and the next two weeks are going to be really busy, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to recharge.  It’s just nice to be away from the hustle and bustle.  After all I had over a year of when I had no interaction with anyone, except on a sexual level.”  Beau sighed.

“Beau, I agree.  Sometimes it is just nice sit and do what you want.  I see you are reading The Archeological Study Bible.  Where did you find that?” I asked.

“I checked it out of the library.  It helps me understand some of the things that happened, better.  Someday I want to buy my own copy if I can find the time.”  Beau said.

I leaned over and kissed him.  “I’ll go down and tell them that you are recharging, so they'd better watch out in the morning.”

“Love you Dad.  See you in the morning.  Tell everyone to be ready.”  Beau laughed. 

I went downstairs and reported what I had found out and everyone decided they would go to bed also.  Jason went to shower and Dale and Les went to their room.

Jeff and I followed.  When I checked on the guys, Beau had his arms wrapped around Jason and they were both asleep.  Tommy’s light was out so I didn’t disturb him.

Jeff and I took our shower and went right to sleep.

Thursday morning, Beau came in and announced, “Anyone who wants to go running needs to be ready in five minutes.  Jason and Tommy are not going nor is Doctor Icky.”

Jeff got up, but I opted out.  I had some things I needed to take care of.

Dale, Jeff and Beau came in and went to shower.  Tommy and Jason had fixed breakfast, so when the three of them assembled, we sat down to eat.  Les said, “Beau, I think you need to be at the house, to make sure everything is okay and tell the movers where to take the things, since I have no idea what all is coming.  I need you to make my place masculine but comfortable, so that when my parents or Dale’s Grandmother come to visit, they will feel welcomed and at ease.”

“Oh, so you want it to look like the Biltmore but feel like a dude ranch.  Is that what you are saying?”  Beau asked.

“I guess something like that, but remember I don’t want my house full of clutter like Mr. Swanson’s house, so I guess I want simple but elegant.” Les said.

“Doctor Crane, you do realize that I am 13 years old and have never been anywhere other than Oakland and here in Fremont and you want me to do all of that?” Beau complained.

Jeff said, “Beau, if anyone can do it, you can.”

Beau glared, “Let me make some phone calls.”

Beau went into the hallway and made some calls.  He came back and said, “Okay Doc, the crew will be there to help me after school.  Tommy, you make sure that Coach Winston knows that there is no way I can be at the game.”

“Come on; let’s get these dishes done so we can be there before the movers arrive.  Dad, leave the garage unlocked so Kevin can put my things in.”  Beau said, as he started the dishes.

Everyone left for the day and Beau went with Les.  Dale told them he would bring them lunch.

The movers arrived right at 8:30.  Les checked off the items and Beau directed the movers as to where to put the items.  When the movers left, Beau threw up his hands and said, “This is a mess.  We need help.  Give me your cell phone.”

Les handed Beau his cell phone and Beau dialed, “Aunt Anita, help, Doctor Crane needs your help.  We have a house jammed with furniture and boxes and nothing on the windows.  Would you be available to help the decrepit old man?  This is not my area of expertise, and he and Father Wanamaker can’t stay here without something on the windows.”

“Okay, I’ll tell the quack doctor you will meet them at 7:30 tonight.  So I guess they will be freeloading at Doctor Dad’s for a couple more days.  See you tonight, Aunt Anita.  I’ll be here with Jeff to make sure they don’t do anything too wild.”  Beau said, as he handed the phone to Les.

“Mrs. Thompson, I appreciate your help.  My sidekick here is out of control, but he is right, we do have a problem.  I have all these wonderful things and have no idea how to use them to make it feel like me.  I’m looking forward to visiting with you tonight.”  Les said as he signed off.

Beau convinced Les that they needed to get away.  They both needed a break and they went to pick up Father Wanamaker for lunch.

Beau took them to the Madison’s and as they were eating, Beau said, “Father Wanamaker, you said the only family that you were close to is your Grandmother who lives in Peru.  How old is she, and do you think she might be willing to come here and live with you two?  She could add a nice woman’s touch to Doctor Crane’s house.”

“Beau, Grandmother is 72 and has lived all her adult life in Peru.  She will never leave, while she is mobile.” Dale said.

“Father Wanamaker, get her on the phone.”  Beau said, as he took Les’s cell phone.

“Hi, Grandmother, this is Dale.  I have someone here who wants to talk to you.”  Dale said, as he handed the phone to Beau.

“Hi Grandmama, this is Beau.  I dun been thinking that Father Baby Maker and Doctor Icky is goin to need some supervising.  I was wanderin if you might be able to come to this outpost in Fremont, and see if you can help them.  They be getting mighty tired of eatin nothing but grits and dried beef.”  Beau laughed.

“Tell you what Grandmama, you pack a couple of suitcases and I’ll send someone to get you tomorrow, I can’t come, since everyone makes me work all of the time.  You’ll be spending the first couple of days at Doctor Dad’s house, since Doctor Crane and Father Wanamaker can’t afford electricity or water yet.  You be packed and ready to leave, since the stage coach will be picking you up at noon.  Now here’s your ugly Grandson.”  Beau handed the phone to Dale.

“Grandmother, you better be ready at noon, or Beau will kidnap you.  He’s right about almost nothing.  I haven’t eaten this well since I left for Georgia Tech.  You’re going to love these crazy people in Fremont.  See you about noon tomorrow.”  Dale said, as he hung up.

Dale looked at Beau and said, “Beau, you just threw away any chance of Les and I ever developing a relationship.”

“Honey, your Grandmother already knows you’re gay, right. So why hide?  Hey, if she likes Icky, she might even spring for the cost of a wedding.  Look at it this way, everyone will feel sorry for you all, since you have to have your Grandmother to look after you and the klutzy Gerontologist.”

The two guys dove for Beau but he evaded them and said, “Come everyone we need to get back to work.  Bye Mrs. Madison.”

They dropped Dale off at the church and Les and Beau started to move furniture around.  Beau said, “Doctor C., go get some shelf paper please.”

When Les got back Beau had the upstairs arranged, and had put anything that he felt didn’t belong into the hallway.  Beau had Les find the linens so they could wash them.  Beau went and started lining the kitchen shelves and putting the dishes in the dishwasher and doing dishes.

The other 13 year olds arrived and Beau put them to work.  All of the extra things and empty boxes were put into the garage.  At 5:30 Beau announced, “That’s it for today, guys.  Doctor Crane, take Danny, Denny and Mickey home, and then come back for Chris and me.”

Fortunately Jeff got home early and had fixed dinner.  Everyone was assembled and Tommy came and slammed down his glove, “I hate baseball.  I’m never playing another game.  This is all your fault, Beau.”

Beau went up to Tommy and put his finger in his face, “What do mean it’s my fault?  I wasn’t at the game.  How can it be my fault?”

“That’s the problem.  Coach Winston made some dumb decisions, and then he derided us the entire way home because we were so inept.  I will not play for a coach like that.”  Tommy said, defiantly.

We got him settled down and started to eat dinner.  The doorbell rang, Beau went to get it.  He came back with a crying Berto.  He sat him down and tried to give him something to eat but Berto didn’t want anything.  He just said, “I lost the game, and the Coach kicked me off the team because he said I was so immature.”

Before he could say anything else, Kenny and Drew came in.  “Beau, this is all your fault.  The entire team is quitting, including us.  You created a monster.  All Coach Winston can think about is winning, and he doesn’t care about the players.”

Before Beau could say anything David, Bobby T, Sammy and Brent were there, “Beau, what are you going to do to fix this mess?”

“Guys, I didn’t make this mess.  I’ve tried to tell Coach Winston that you were a year away from being a good team.  What was Coach Murphy doing while all this was going on?”  Beau asked.

Drew said, “Coach Murphy and Coach Winston had several confrontations today.  Coach Murphy finally threw down his hat and said, ‘I resign.  I don’t need this kind of verbal abuse and neither does the team.’”

Beau said, “Okay guys, you were to have a game on Monday.  I suggest that you don’t show up, and then see what Coach Winston does.   Maybe then he will realize that winning isn’t everything.  Whatever you do, do it as a team.  You are good and can only get better.  Now, I have to eat cold gruel since we’re meeting Aunt Anita at 7:30.  Guys, this isn’t the end of the world.  You guys have two or three great years ahead of you and I can assure you that I won’t be at any of your games except as a spectator from now on.  Now go in peace.”

Berto put his hands in the air and said, “Allah has spoken.  Can someone take me home?”

The guys all left.  I looked at Beau and said, “Eat, Beau, you haven’t touched your food.”

“Dad, I don’t have time.  Come on Doctor Crane and Father W. We have to go, you too Jeff.  We are meeting Aunt Anita at Icky’s house.  Dad, you can come too if you want.  Sorry guys.  Tommy, we’ll visit when I get back.”

“Beau, I’ll stay here.  I don’t think this game episode is over yet.  I’ll try to deflect anymore incomings.” I said.

Beau and Jeff left with Les and Dale and met Anita at the house.

Anita and Jeff looked around and Anita said, “Doctor Crane, you have some wonderful pieces and everything is tastefully arranged.  All you need is some window treatments and some wall hangings.”

Beau said, “Aunt Anita, we have a bunch of pictures and art pieces in the garage.  Maybe you can show these two inept clowns where to put them to accentuate the beautiful things that they have.”

Beau led her into the garage and Anita said, “Oh my goodness, there is a gold mine in here.  What you have in the house is wonderful, and I think you can sell the rest of this so that you can retire.”

Beau shouted, “Hey Icky, did you hear that?  You done good.  Now Aunt Anita, what changes do you think we should make?”

“Beau, everything except the downstairs guest room looks ready to go except for some window treatments and blinds and a few accent pillows.”  Anita answered.

“Aunt Anita, I did that deliberately because Father Wanamaker’s Grandmother may be coming to take care of these two yahoos.  He’s going to go pick her up tomorrow.  She may want to personalize the room.  So why don’t you visit with the two occupants while Jeff and I do some major damage in the kitchen?”

The four guys came in and Beau said, “I think I need something to eat.”

Everyone went to the kitchen and I fixed everyone a glass of wine and we sat and watched Beau as he ate his sandwich and salad.  Finally he looked up and asked, “Am I slobbering or something?  Do you think I might have rabies?”

Dale started to laugh.   “Well, you do have a white mustache so I guess it could be rabies but I think it’s from the milk.  Beau, I want to know how you can remain so calm in the face of what has been happening?”

Beau looked at us and said, “I’m sorry if I seem unresponsive, but I promised myself during my confinement that no one and I mean no one would ever be able to tell what I was feeling.  I have made some slips and Dad, Jeff, Tommy and Jason are now pretty much able to read me, and if you two don’t get out of my life soon, I’ll unload on you.  Of course I already love Grandmother Wanamaker, so you better be good to her and make sure she stays.  She will be good for your cover, if and when you decide that you are compatible.”  Beau laughed as he put his dishes in the dishwasher.

“Goodnight everyone.  It’s bedtime.”  Beau was gone.

I looked at Jeff and the two visitors and said, “This place has been a zoo ever since you guys left.  I’m glad Beau wasn’t here.  In fact Dale, I think you should take Beau with you when you go to get your Grandmother.  He doesn’t need to be embroiled in this mess, any further.”

Beau who was standing there, asked, “What mess?  Jason said this place was busy tonight, and Tommy’s still upset.”

“Beau, the parents are supporting what you told the guys to do about boycotting the game on Monday, but quite frankly I am uncomfortable with that.  I also know that guys may not play to their full potential if they do play.  Norm and Dr. Campbell are organizing a meeting for tomorrow afternoon with the parents, players and coaches, along with the administration.  Beau, I don’t want you anywhere near the meeting.  In fact I think you should go with Dale, since you have never been south of Omaha.  You can look at Mrs. Wanamaker’s furniture to see if you can make an offer if she decides to move here.”

“But Dad, I’ve been gone for the last two days.  It isn’t fair to Danny and Denny and the five little guys.” Beau complained.

“Dale you take Beau by Gigi’s house tomorrow morning before you leave, so he can let everyone know that he is alive and that he is going to go get them another Grandmother.  Case closed.  Now I suggest everyone go to bed.”  I said as I got up. 

To be continued...

Feedback always welcome:     

Editor's Notes:

Hurry up I need to know what happens next.

Posted: 12/14/07