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 27

Is This a Joke

Tuesday morning was normal.  Beau had people running with him.  He came back and woke everyone up.  When he took his Dads their coffee he dived bombed them and said, “Dads, tell everyone to stop worrying about me.  I can handle almost everything, as long as I am not caught completely by surprise.”

He hugged them both and went and dive bombed Jason and Clay and started to tickle them.  Ben and Josh heard Clay say, “Stop, I’m going to the bathroom all over you.”

Beau went down and knocked on Mrs. Gleason’s door.  She said, “Come in.”

Beau opened the door, “I’m just checking to see if you would like coffee or tea.  Breakfast will be in forty minutes.”

“Beau, I can get my own coffee, but I like my coffee black if you have any.”  Mrs. Gleason said.

Beau took off and came back with the coffee and put it on the night stand. As he was leaving, “Remember only 38 minutes until breakfast Grandma Renee.”

Everyone was assembled and Beau served everyone, biscuits with sausage gravy and some fresh melon and juice.  Mrs. Gleason looked at what she was served, “No one eats like this for breakfast.  This is more like an evening meal.”

Jason spoke up and said, “Grandma Renee, if you live with us, we don’t have cereal very often.  Better eat up, because this might be the last meal of the day.”

Everyone finished eating and the plates were void of any food.  The guys went into the clean up mode and Beau made some phone calls.

Carole Anne and Dylan came in and Beau went into action. “Grandma Renee, don’t talk to any of your children.  Right now, they have no idea where you are, and we want to keep it that way.  Mrs. Wanamaker is going to pick you up about 10:30 and take you to lunch and introduce you to some of the other ladies.  Now we need to go to the bank for our 8:30 appointment.  Grandma Renee, do you have all of your checks except the one from me?  I’ll go get it now and Dad, I need my folder with my checks please.  I’ll be ready in two minutes.”

“Dads and Jason have a good day.  I’ll probably see you late this evening after we finish the house.”

They took Clay with them to the bank.  Mr. Carmichael met them and Beau started.  “Mr. Carmichael, Mrs. Gleason needs to establish on interest bearing checking account for now with only her signature on the account.   When she decides where she is going to live, then she can visit with you about how to better make the money work for her.”

“While Mrs. Gleason is signing her checks and completing the paperwork, I have several checks that need to be deposited.  I indicated how much I want in which account.”  Beau said, as he handed the paperwork to Mr. Carmichael.  He didn’t look at them because he was showing Mrs. Gleason what to do.

When Randy Carmichael finally looked at Beau’s deposits, he said, “Beau, this is some kind of joke isn’t it?”

“No sir.”  Beau said, as he showed the slips to Carole Anne and Dylan.  “Tell Mr. Carmichael they are for real.”

Dylan and Carole Anne indeed confirmed that they were real.  Mr. Carmichael went to make the transactions and when he handed the paperwork to Beau, he had written a note.  “You keep this up and you’ll have more money than Mrs. Tillison.”

Beau said, “I’m trying. I’m trying.”

Mrs. Gleason handed her paperwork to Randy.  “Are you sure that I shouldn’t have someone’s signature on the account?  My children always told me it was necessary.”

Beau stood his ground, “Grandma Renee, once you decide where you are going to live, then we can revisit this question but under no circumstances are your children to have access to any of your accounts.  You’ll know exactly how much money you have and the statements will only come to you whereas your children had the previous statements sent to them.”

“If you have any questions about finances, call Mr. Carmichael and he’ll take care of you.  We don’t want to give the children any clue as to where you are until later in the week, and then they aren’t going to like what I have to say.”

Beau walked with Clay while Dylan and Carole Anne walked with Mrs. Gleason.  “What is it about Beau that makes him so special?  I would be proud if he were my grandson.

Carole Anne said, “Mrs. Gleason, Beau is very special.   Just do as he asks or tells you and 99.9% of the time he will be right.”

When they returned to Ben and Josh’s house, Beau and Clay went up the stairs.  Beau changed into his grungy clothes and came down carrying a small suitcase and Clay had Beau’s backpack.  Clay said, “Okay Daddy D. and Mommy C., I am ready to go.”

Beau picked Clay up, “I want you to give everyone who you like a big hug and kiss from me.  Now have a good time.”

The three of them left and Beau said, “Grandma Renee, Grandmama Wanamaker will be here shortly.  I need to go.  I’ve asked people to do too much already. Bye, see you tonight.”

Beau went out just as David and Boris pulled up.  Beau climbed in the van to find some of his friends already in the van.  Mr. Cooper pulled up in his van with the some more of the guys.  Beau reacted immediately, “Who’s working.  You just got all of those things from Mrs. Gleason’s house this morning so who is unpacking them?”

Mr. Cooper took over, “Chill Beau, we handled the store by ourselves before you guys arrived, and the things from Mrs. Gleason’s house can wait until we get you back on track.”

There were ten people working including Mr. Cooper.  Beau had them working in teams.  Some people started to tape, some started to paint the ceiling others started paint the trim and then they started to move through the inside of the house like a well oiled machine.  At 12:00, Mr. Cooper went and brought back fried chicken lunches.

At three o’clock two more vehicles pulled up with some of the Five Star Yard Care Company guys and their equipment and they went to work in the yard.  They started to mow, trim and weed and even edge the lawn.  It wasn’t long before a contingent of high school students arrived to paint the exterior of the house.

Beau was so overwhelmed that he just sat down and started to cry.  Spencer and Jason went and held him.  All Beau could say was, “But, I didn’t have a clue.”

The two guys got him settled as another van pulled up.  Mitchell and Barbee crawled out.  “Okay Benson, where do you want the food to be set up?”

“Mitch, what are you talking about?  I didn’t order any food.” Beau asked.

“We had an order to have food to serve about 50 people at this location at 6:00.  The food will be arriving in approximately 30 minutes.”  Mitchell said.

Beau threw up his hands and said, “I guess we had better put the food in the garage but we don’t have any place for people to sit.”  Just as he had said that the rest of us started to arrive with lawn chairs.

Beau finally figured out that Mrs. Tillison had arranged everything.  Even Aunt Cora was with us and after everyone was served and the adults were sitting in the shade of several large trees. 

The young people ate and went back to work.  In no time they had finished and made sure the area was cleared of trash and you couldn’t tell that there had been a large number of people who had eaten there.  The people from the country club took all of the trash. 

Everyone took off and everyone had left except Jeff, Beau and me.  Beau was elated at how well everything had turned out.  He went out to put a sign in the front lawn that said, For Sale by Owner (Shown Only by Appointment), Call 593-6211.

Beau no more than had the sign in the ground than a van pulled up.  A lady and a gentleman got out and asked, “Young man, is the owner here?  We’d like to look around.  The house is beautifully maintained.”

Beau said, “I’m the owner.  I’d be glad to show you around but some of the paint might still be a little wet.

Beau looked in the van and said, “Guys, you can get out and play in the back yard if you would like.  Jeff and Doctor Wilson will make sure nothing happens to you.”

The couple followed Beau into the house and everything was immaculate.  Beau said, “I had planned to change the carpeting and appliances, but I just bought the house yesterday.  The carpet and appliances are still serviceable, but they could stand to be updated.”

Jeff and I followed Beau and the couple around.  While your sons are still small they could share two of the bedrooms but when they get older they might want to each have their own space.  There is a place for another bedroom and bath in the basement and there are even the hook ups for another bathroom facility.”

The wiring has been updated.  The lot is large and there would be lots of room for your sons to play.  They look to be about elementary school age and they could just pop out the back door and they would be there.  It might get a little noisy during recess time, but better then than when everyone is trying to sleep.”

Beau let the couple  look and around and we went to watch the boys.  They were playing soccer so Beau joined in.  Beau went for the ball and tackled the oldest brother trying to get the ball.  The youngest guy who was 5 or 6 went and kicked Beau in the privates. 

Beau doubled over and the oldest son said, “Back off Zack.  He didn’t hurt me.  It was a clean tackle.”

“But Uncle Bart told us to kick someone where it would hurt if anyone ever tried to hurt any of us.  I’m sorry sir.  I thought you were hurting my brother.” the little guy said.

Beau pulled the little guy close and held him, “I would never deliberately hurt your brother.  I just always play to win.  I’m sorry if I upset you.”

The Lighteners, the boys’ parents, were standing there.  Mrs. Lightener said, “Beau, I’m sorry, but our sons were doing only what there Uncle told them to do.  They rather idolize him.”

One of the middle sons said, “Uncle Mel is a catcher for the Colorado Rockies.  Last weekend he was catching when the pitcher threw a no-hitter.”

Beau started to laugh, “Yep, I know, because I was at the game with some of my friends.”

Mr. Lightener said, “You are the young man that sang the national anthem and threw three strikes aren’t you?”

Beau put up his hands, “Arrest me, but don’t let the guys kick me again.”

“Beau, what are you asking for this house?  It’s beautiful and as you said, it does need a little updating.”  Mr. Lightener asked.

“I was going to put it on the market for $125,000.00 once I had the updating done, I could let you have it for $110,000.00 as it is now.  Where do you live now?’ Beau asked.

We live in Fremont right now but my job is causing me to be reassigned to the Scribner area.”  Mr. Lightener answered.

Beau said, “Why don’t you and the family talk about the house tonight, and you pop over to our house tomorrow if you have any more questions.  If you decide to buy it, I will pay the closing costs.  Hey guys bring your swim suits if the weather is nice, and we’ll go swimming.  Here is the address.  It is a small red brick house.”  Beau looked at the guys and said, “We don’t allow any kicking at our house.  If you talk to your Uncle, tell him Beau said hi.”

It was a fun ride back to Fremont since this was the first time we had a chance to talk to Beau alone for a while.  He assured us that he was doing fine, but he was still concerned that he seemed to be getting himself in deeper and deeper and he was getting a little nervous about going to school in August.

When we got back to Fremont, Mrs. T. was waiting for us at Ben and Josh’s.  Beau was telling everyone what had happened after they had left.  The phone rang and Beau answered.  “Hi Mr. Lightener, what’s wrong? … Oh you have decided you want the house. … Okay, pop on over about seven and I’ll have the appropriate paperwork and people here to take care of it. …

Oh, you were wondering if I would be available to stay with the guys on Saturday night. … What time did you have in mind, since I am singing in a wedding that afternoon?  … That sounds great; I’ll be there at 7:00.    Okay see you at 7:00 tomorrow night, and remind the guys to bring their suits.”

Beau looked at Mrs. Gleason and said, “I guess we should renegotiate the price on your house.  I think I just sold it again.”

“Forget it Benson, you paid me far more than anyone else even offered.  It looks like a totally different place since you and your friends fixed it up.  I am just beginning to realize how callous and petty my children are.  I’m not liking them very much.”

“Ma’am, I have given the three children and their spouses an ultimatum to be here tomorrow night at 8:00 since we have rehearsal for our Washington trip on Thursday and then the wedding rehearsal is Friday, and then on Saturday, I’ll be singing and staying with the Lightener’s four boys.  I really don’t want to drag this out any longer than we have to because I have the feeling they are going to do something devious so I think it better to beat them at their own game.” 

Beau added, “You are welcome to stay here as long as you need or want to.”

“Beau, you and your entire family has been more than gracious, but I need to be on my own.  I know now that I don’t really want to go to an assisted living facility yet.  You and your family have shown me that there is more to life than feeling sorry for yourself.  I’ll never let my children take advantage of me again.”  Mrs. Gleason said, as she excused herself to go to bed.

Beau looked at Mrs. Tillison and asked, “So how much do I owe and to whom do I pay for this shindig tonight?”
 

Mrs. Tillison said, “All costs including labor have been paid for today.  I didn’t pay you since you already made $40,000.  Don’t even think about giving me any lip.  Now Jack and Jeff, take me home before he upsets me again.”

Beau got up and said, “I’ve been dismissed.  Thank you everyone for what you have done for me.  I love you all but I’m running on empty.”

To be continued...

Feedback always welcome:     

Editor's Notes:

My goodness, I wonder what will happen when Mrs. Gleason's children get there?  I wouldn't want to be in their shoes after Beau takes them down.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 02/15/08