The Doctor Gets a Visitor V
by: E Walk

(© 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 13

Kansas City, Here We Come

On Saturday morning Beau was up early. He had stripped his bed as well as Aunt Evelyn’s and Ginny’s and was doing the laundry.

He took Ben and Josh their coffee.  He crawled into bed with them and said, “Dads, I think you should take Jason and some of his friends to Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, and maybe to a baseball game.  The Royals are home this weekend.  I think that Jason is a little upset that he wasn’t invited to go with us, but I don’t think we can leave you two home alone by yourselves yet.”

Josh grabbed Beau and said, “Benson, you are bad.”

“I so know Benson.  Now get up.  Breakfast is almost ready.” Beau said as he pranced out of the room.

Josh and Ben went downstairs and Jason seated them and said, “Gentleman, let me refresh your coffee.  Beau says that you are going to take us to Kansas City.  Can I call my friends and see if they can go?  Can we take Davey, Larry and Lenny?”

Ben grabbed Jason and said, “Jameson, we’ll figure everything out after the monster is out of here.  Besides, some of your friends and their families are still probably asleep.”

Jason was bouncing up and down, “Beau, how soon are you leaving.  Call everyone and tell them to get here now so we can get started.”

Josh got up and held Jason and said, “Jameson, either you calm down or we’ll stay home.”

Jason looked at Josh and said, “Dad, I guess I was acting like Beau.  I was really out of control.  I’m sorry.  Please can we go after Beau and his friends leave?”

Everyone started appearing and Beau helped to load the van.  The luggage was in the carrier on top except for his backpack and Ranger’s dishes and food.  Mrs. Wanamaker gave them a cooler and said, “I put some snacks and a lunch in here, so you could eat at a rest stop and save some time.”

Beau hugged her and said, “Grandmama, I like the way you think.  I’ll remember this for the next time.

As soon as Dylan and Carole Anne pulled away, Jason looked at Ben and Josh.  They nodded okay and within half an hour, Davey, Lenny and Larry were at the house with their bags.  Ben and Josh locked up and away they went.

They got to Kansas City long before the Colorado contingent got to the nude dude ranch.  They were checking into a hotel when Josh asked for a three bedroom suite.  Jason said, “Dad, we only need two beds.”

The young clerk said, “I’m glad, because all we have available for tonight are two bedroom suites since all of the three bedroom suites are booked for the weekend.  It so happens that I have one two bedroom suite available now and it is on the top floor.  It will provide you with a beautiful view of the city.”

Jason said, “We’ll take it.”  He pulled out his wallet and started to take out a card. 

Ben said, “Jameson, put that away.  Your Grandmother gave me some money so we could do something special.”

“But Granddad, I want to see if this piece of plastic works.” Jason complained.

Ben said, “Jason, it will work, so save it for when you need it.  Now give it to me.”

The young clerk was amazed at what was going on.  The guys went and got their bags and went to their suite and they unpacked their bags.  Josh announced, “Okay guys, get cleaned up and then we can have lunch and go to the water park.  I will be right back.”

Josh went and made reservations for tickets to the baseball game.  The six guys walked to a nearby Mexican restaurant.  The young guys each had two tacos and Ben and Josh each had one.  They walked back to the hotel and changed clothes and had the hotel shuttle take them to the water park and arranged to be picked up at 4:30.

Needless to say, the guys had a wonderful time.  They rode back to the hotel and showered and changed their clothes.  Ben and Josh had decided they would eat at the baseball stadium.  The guys were thrilled when the limousine dropped them off at the stadium.  They had a box seat right behind the Royals’ dugout.  The guys were busy talking to the players.

Josh said, “Okay men; let’s go get something to eat before the game starts.”

They got their food and went back to their seats.  Ben and Josh had purchased a program and a pencil for each of the four guys.  They were so busy filling out their scorecards that they almost forgot to eat. 

Ben went and got the guys each a Kansans City hat and tee shirt.   The guys were thrilled and put them on.  They were busy yelling and keeping score.  All of a sudden, Jason said, “Granddad, I have to go to the bathroom.”  He and Lenny got up and went with Ben.  They went to the bathroom and when they came out, a man was following them.

Jason turned around and challenged, “Why are you following us?  Are you trying to take advantage of us or what?”

“Young man, I’m a security guard.  Someone reported that this man and his friend were trying to take advantage of you.”

Jason bent over and started to laugh.  “You jerk, this is my Grandfather.  He and Dad Josh are only making sure that no one tries to misuse us.  They brought me and my three friends to Kansas City for the weekend.  Now get lost.”

Ben held Jason and said, “Jason, he was only doing his job.”

“Granddad, why is someone trying to make us feel dirty when we are not doing anything wrong? I don’t understand.”

Lenny asked, “Doctor Jameson is this the way all the people in a big city think?  I like Fremont better.”

The security guard said, “Gentlemen, I apologize.  I’ll certainly talk to the person who complained and tell them they should mind their own business.”

The guys got back to their seats and everyone was jumping up and down.  Jason picked up Davey’s scorecard to see what had happened.  The Royals had a grand slam homerun.  Jason and Lenny started to cheer.

During the half inning, a gentlemen and his son came down and said, “Gentlemen, I’m sorry I accused you of something that wasn’t true.  I apologize.”

Jason said, “As well you should, because Lenny and I missed seeing a grand slam homerun because of your accusations.”

“Jason, you’re acting like Beau again.”  Ben said.

Jason said, “Granddad, I’m sorry but I have never seen a major league homerun.  How am I supposed to act? Tell the man that I am sorry.  So just tell him and his son to sit down before we miss anything else.”

The five young guys were yelling and all of a sudden Davey got up and said, “Dr. Benson, I have to go to the bathroom really bad.”

Josh took Davey and Larry to the bathroom and when they came back they had eight pretzels.  Jason was leaning over the dugout talking to the next Kansas City batter.  “All you gotta do is look at the ball and think it is a big pumpkin and hit so hard that everyone has pumpkin seeds coming out of their ears.  Now go get them Tiger.”

The batter was laughing so hard that he took the first pitch for a strike.  He looked at Jason who pointed and said “Now.”

The batter connected and hit the ball over the waterfalls.  When he got to the dugout, he stopped and said. “Guys, that is the first homerun I have ever hit in the major leagues.  I’m the pitcher and we don’t get to bat very often.”

Jason said, “Well in that case, I’ve been watching their batters.  The next guy is like a squirrel so look at him and throw him a nut and he will ground it out.  The next batter looks like a jackrabbit so pretend like you are throwing him a carrot.  The next batter is difficult.  He reminds me of a kangaroo.  If you throw him something slow he will probably miss it or ground it out.”

When the pitcher went to the mound he looked at Jason and did as he was told and after three pitches the opposing team was retired.  When the pitcher came to Jason he asked, “What do I do the next inning?”

Jason said, “I don’t know yet.  Go tell your teammates, I want to see a couple more homeruns.  Their pitcher is serving up lollipops so tell them I want to know flavor they are.”

The five young guys were having a great time.  The first two batters did indeed hit homeruns and the opposing team changed pitchers.  The home team pitcher came around the corner and asked, “Okay what do we do now?”

Jason shrugged and Kansas City was retired.  The pitcher came out and asked, “Okay what animals am I facing this inning?”

Jason said, “This first guy is like a cheetah.  You have to keep him off the bases.  He’ll try everything to hit on it on the ground.  Throw the balls down and to the inside at the knees and he will hit it in the air.  Just don’t give him anything he can hit on the ground.”

The next player swings like an elephant swinging his trunk.  So pitch him on the inside at the letters and he’ll either miss it or foul it out. The third guy is like a gorilla.  You have to throw him nothing but heat.  Throw the first one down the middle since he usually takes the first pitch.  Throw the second high and tight and then throw the third down and away and he’ll be so confused that he will swing at anything.  Whatever you do don’t throw him a slow curve because he will probably crush it.”

The pitcher went to the mound and when the batter stepped in; the pitcher looked at Jason and started to laugh.  He called time and had the catcher come to the mound so he could tell him what Jason had recommended.  They followed Jason’s suggestions and it was a one, two, three inning and Kansas City won. 

The guys were standing and applauding when the players came to the dugout.  The pitcher said, “You guys sit tight for a few minutes.  I’ll be right back.”

He went into the dugout and came out with the manager and several other players and the catcher.  “Guys we have something for you.  He introduced the other ball players and they handed the guys each an autographed ball with several names on them.  The four Freemont guys hugged the players and the manager and Jason said, “Thanks Mr. Lawton and all of the rest of you.  You have made this a special day.  Not only was it my first trip to a major league baseball game but we got to meet all of you studs.”

“Jason, we need to let these gentlemen who are tired get their showers and the limo is waiting to take us back to the hotel.”  Ben said.

Jason looked at the guys and said, “We’re staying at the Westin Hotel.  You wouldn’t happen to know a good pizza place within walking distance would you?”

The manager said, “Jason, just go out the front door and turn right and right across the street about three shops is Mama Mia’s Pizza Palace.  It’s one of the best in Kansas City.”

Jason hugged everyone again before everyone dispersed.  Royce, the new boy and his Dad were also staying at the Westin.  The guys put their cherished baseballs away and went to the bathroom and washed their hands.

Jason looked in the wet bar and said “Granddad and Dad, can we each have a Pepsi?  The can have a $7.00 coupon for World’s of Fun.”

“Why don’t we wait until we get to the pizza place and maybe the hotel has some discounts?” Ben said.

The guys went downstairs and met Royce and his Father.  They walked into the restaurant and the host seated them at a table for ten.  Jason looked around and said, “Sir, there are only eight of us.”

The host said, “Oh, you will be joined shortly by two others.  They called to say they were on their way.”

The guys sat down and were looking at the menus when they were joined by the pitcher and the catcher.  Jason looked up and said, Hi Mr. Lawton and Mr. Richardson.  I am so glad you could join us.  I’ll introduce you to everyone as soon as I order.”

Jason looked at the waiter and said, “Sir, we would like three of you super sized supreme pizzas with no anchovies.  The five old men will have a beer and us good looking guys will have a huge lemonade laced with rum.  We’ll all have the salad bar.”

The waiter said, “Sir, we don’t serve any hard liquor.”

“Okay, put three extra cherries in the lemonades.” Jason said.

The waiter left and Jason got up and introduced himself.  The pitcher said, “I am Lawson Lawton and this is my apartment mate Rich Richardson.  We have chosen not to move our families here.”

Jason went into hysterics.  He finally settled down enough to say, “Everyone, I would like to introduce La La and Rich.”

Everyone was laughing but Jason hugged them and made them feel welcome.  He introduced everyone else.  He got to new boys and said, “This is Royce Bixby and his Dad who is a Presbyterian minister but don’t let that bother you.  He won’t bite or at least I don’t think so.”

After the pizzas were demolished, Jason had gotten his card from his Granddad and handed it to the waiter.  Everyone who didn’t know what was happening was stunned.  The waiter came back with a folder and Jason said, “Sir, the five lemonades are not on here.”

“Sir, the owner said they were on the house because she was enjoying the entertainment.”  The young man said.

Jason signed the check and slipped $30.00 into the folder.  Royce, his father and the two baseball players were amazed at what happened.  Jason got up and went to the owner who was an older lady and said, “This has been a wonderful experience. Mama Mia.  Thanks for putting up with us.  We’ll be back the next time we get to Kansas City.”  He reached up and gave here a kiss.

The guys walked back to the hotel after they hugged the two players and said goodbye.  The guys went to their room after the Bixbys agreed to join the Fremont guys in their suite for breakfast at 7:00.

Ben placed a room service order for eight at 8:00 and Jason found some $10.00 coupons off the admission price at the hotel and grabbed eight of them.

They went to their suite and everyone took a shower.  When Jason was sure that his Granddad and Dad were decent and settled, he knocked on their door.

After he was told to enter, he dove into their bed.  “Dads, I’m sorry I am acting like Beau.  I love you.  Thanks for a great day.”

Both guys hugged him.  Josh said, “You are acting more and more like your brother, but please just be the wonderful Jason that you are.”

Jason said, “I know that I am not as intelligent as Beau, but please help me control my emotions.  I love everyone like Beau does.”  He climbed on the two guys and gave them each a Chipper kiss and was gone.

To be continued...

Feedback always welcome:     

Editor's Notes:

I noticed something interesting, the new guys just sort of jumped in feet first and got with the program.  It was a little bit startling at first, especially after the way the father acted at the ball park. I guess everything turned out alright though. That was a great chapter.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 01/25/08