The Fremont Saga
by: E Walk
(© 2009 by the Author)
 

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Chapter 3 

Revenge Is Mine, Sayeth Brian

I was lying in bed trying to go to sleep, and I kept thinking about what Tanner had told me.  I was tempted to send a message via the airways to Ben and Grant to tell them what was happening and ask  them to help me expose Tanner’s stepbrother, Justin Butcher.  I figured there was nothing that could be accomplished by my sending them a message that might wake them up or disturb whatever they might be doing.

Instead, I popped out of bed and booted the computer, so I could send them a message thinking they could answer when they had time.

Hey guys,

It be the brat. I have a favor to ask of you.  Would you find a Justin Butcher and kick his ass for me?  He was forcing himself on his stepbrother, Tanner Tailor, and Justin’s Dad threw Tanner out.  Something happened at school today, and Tanner came to my rescue.  Tanner is now our foster brother.

Please find his jerk of brother and kick his butt or better yet make him an eunuch.  He sounds like a real prick.  Ben, you probably know him since he went to Fremont High.

I’ll talk to you later.  I need to get some sleep. 

The Brat,

Sir Brian

I decided to see if I had any other emails and was reading them.  I had one from Vicky and one from Mr. Johnson.  I decided to open the one from Mr. Johnson first.  I was starting to read what Mr. Johnson had written when the computer went ‘ding.’

I opened up the message that had arrived.

Hey Brian,

I knew the prick, Justin, from high school.  I was going to class today, and he approached me and asked if he could borrow fifty bucks.  I told the jerk that I was kinda strapped for cash.  He told me he’d give me a blowjob for $10.00 and if I paid him $25.00, he’d let me have my way with him.

In high school, he was always bragging about how much money he had, so I asked him why he was so broke.  He was almost crying when he told me that he had spent all of the money that his Dad had given him.  He told me that he had already dropped out of college, and didn’t have the money get back to Fremont.

Let us know what you want us to do.  I can assure you that I won’t do anything sexually with the asshole.

Ben

I suddenly realized how tired I was and shut down the computer.  I climbed into bed and thought, ‘I really need to talk to Dad about what to do.  Something, doesn’t seem right.’

I was awakened by Timmy, “Dad, can we go for a short run?”

I stood, “Timmy, I need to go to the bathroom.”

I was relieving my bladder when Tanner joined me, “Brian, do you guys run every morning?  It isn’t normal for an eight year old to wake up this early and want to go running.”

I chuckled, “Wait until I tell Timmy you said he wasn’t normal.”

As we were running by the clump of trees where I had found Timmy, Timmy pointed, “Tanner, that’s where Dad Brian found me.  When he found me, I didn’t have any clothes on and was crying.”

I stopped running and knelt down, “Timmy, please don’t tell anyone else about this.  Remember, even Lauren and Morgan don’t know where and how I found you.”

I looked up at Tanner, “Tanner, please promise us that you won’t say anything about this conversation to anyone except Timmy, my parents or me.  We need to get back, so we’re not late for school.”

As we were walking back to the house, Timmy was walking between Tanner and me holding our hands,  He looked up at us, “I had the weirdest dream last night that some mean man came to our house and tried to take Tanner away.  He said he was Tanner’s Dad, but I think he only wanted to take Tanner so he could get Tanner’s money.”

Tanner chuckled, “Timmy, I don’t have any money.  Maybe you can loan me some.”

Mother and Dad were having a cup of coffee and reading the paper  when we walked into the house.  Timmy went and hugged and kissed them.  “Good morning, Mother and Daddy.  I hope you had a good night.  Daddy, could I have a couple dollars?  Our school is raising money to help the food pantry at the church.  The pantry needs some money to help buy milk and meat.  The pantry is having a hard time trying to feed all the poor people who need food.”

Timmy wasn’t done, “The classes are going to see which class can collect the most money.  The class that collects the most money is going to get to help at the pantry for an afternoon.”

Dad pulled out his wallet and handed Timmy four $5.00 bills, “Timmy, here’s your allowance for the week.  You can spend it however you want.”
 

“Daddy, can I give all of this to the pantry fund?  I don’t need any money for anything else.”

Tanner was having a difficult time trying not to laugh.  Dad answered, “That’s all the money you get for this week.  It’s up to you what you do with the money.”

Dad handed Tanner $20.00, “Tanner, I’m afraid that you no longer qualify for free lunches now that you’re living with us.”

Tanner started to argue, “I thought all foster children ate free lunch.”

Dad put up his hand, “Tanner, that was just an excuse that Mr. Oliver made so he could spend the money on his own needs.”

I looked at Timmy, “Timmy, why don’t you and Tanner go get ready for school, while I fix breakfast.  The two of you can do the cleanup while I get ready for school.”

Timmy caught on, “Come on, Tanner, I know when we’ve told to disappear.  Brian has something he wants to talk to Daddy and Mother about.”

I watched as the two guys were leaving the kitchen.  “Dad and Mother, Timmy is right.  First I had an email from Ben saying that Tanner’s stepbrother, Justin Butcher, is broke and was trying to borrow money from Ben.  Not only that, but after Ben turned him down, he offered to provide Ben sexual services for a fee.”

I put up my hand, “That’s not all, Timmy told us this morning while we were returning from running that he had a dream that some mean man was going to be coming to visit and try to take Tanner away.  Dad and Mother, you gotta make sure that Tanner isn’t hurt, any further.”

I had started to fix some scrambled eggs and bacon when Timmy and Tanner returned, dressed for school.  I looked at them, “Timmy, why don’t you set the table while Tanner gets the orange juice and makes some toast?”

 

Dad, Mother, Timmy, Tanner and I were eating when Lauren and Morgan finally arrived.  Morgan sat down and practically demanded, “Well, isn’t anyone going to fix our breakfasts?”

Mother looked at her, “Miss Benson, you’re big enough to fix your own breakfasts.  In fact, you and Lauren can do the dishes when we’re finished eating.”

Lauren started to complain, “But, Mom, I have practice this morning.  Why can’t the guys do them?”

Morgan entered the discussion, “Why don’t you make Brian and his flunkies do the dishes.  I guess you think boys are more important than us girls.”

Dad stood, “Morgan, you just got yourself grounded for two weeks.  You haven’t done a lick of work around here since school started.  You and Lauren are going to be responsible for doing the dishes for the next two weeks.  If you have a problem with that, then you can forget about an allowance.  Maybe you could get some babysitting jobs.”

I went to get ready for school; I was surprised when Dad followed me, “Brian, your Mother and I have already started to have Mr. Butcher investigated.  We felt that something wasn’t right.  I’ve already talked to David Burns and he’s taking care of the legal aspects of the case.  Do you suppose that Tanner would have a problem if we were to adopt him?”

The conversation had been taking place while I was in the shower.  When  I stepped out, I looked at my Dad, “Dad, why don’t you address that question to Tanner?  I think we need to be very careful, or we’re going to antagonize Morgan and Lauren even more.  It’s too bad that we can’t let them know what is happening.  Dad, we really need to talk tonight, so I can make some sense out of what is happening.”

Dad hugged me even though I was naked, “Brian, you’re something else.  I doubt that there are many teenage boys who be so open about having their dads see them naked.”

“Dad, why should I be embarrassed by you seeing me naked.  I know that I certainly don’t have the biggest penis on the planet, but I’m sure that it’s not the smallest, either?”

Our conversation was interrupted by Timmy, “Daddy and Brian, why don’t the girls like me and Tanner, especially Morgan.  We didn’t do anything to them.”

Dad put his hands on Timmy’s shoulders, “Timmy, the girls will get over it.  You guys have been taking care of the dishes and things, and they rather have gotten used to it.  Just ignore them.”

John arrived and I wondered how we were going to get five of us in the car after we picked up the two girls.  As we were crawling into the car, John greeted us, “Robbi and Lindsay had to go to school early so Robbi was going to drive.”

We met up with Todd Messing and Ron Woodruff in the parking lot.  As  the five of us were about to enter the building, we heard a voice, “That’s the prick who broke my nose.  He and his friends think they’re too good to associate with us.”

Ron, who hadn’t seen what happened yesterday, turned around, “Oliver, shut your mouth.  When I got back in town last night, my cousin told me what happened.  It seems that you were the person who was going to take a swing at Brian.”

John added some salt to the wound, “I thought your Daddy was going to unenroll his wonderful son.  What’s the matter, wouldn’t any other school accept you, or are your parents too poor to pay any tuition?  I heard that all of the foster children were taken out of your home.”

“You’re a fucking liar, Waters.”

John had his fists clenched, but I put my hand on his arm, “John, don’t do anything to him, or we’ll get in trouble again.”

John took one last parting shot, “Oliver, I know for a fact that Tanner is no longer living at your house. I also know..”

Ian interrupted, “He was thrown out for what he did to me.  We’re going to sue him.”

Todd laughed, “Go ahead, Ian, and we’ll get Brain and his family to sue your family for defamation of character.  John, what were you going to say before the creep so rudely interrupted you?”

John had relaxed, “I was just going to say that three of the other boys who had been foster children of the Olivers were placed with the couple who lives next door to me.  I talked to them last evening and they said that everyone had been removed.  They told me some of the things you tried to make them do, you fat slob.  Come on, guys, let’s get to our classes.”

Everyone left Ian Oliver standing there by himself.  It was going to be interesting to see if he even entered the school.  Thank goodness, the slob wasn’t in any of my classes.

I was sitting at my computer in creative writing when Mr. Peters came and sat down beside me, “Brian, your story has received a lot of hits since it went up.  Are you going to write anymore?”

“Mr. Peters, I was just working on one.  Why don’t you read what I’ve written so far and see what you think?”

He read through what I had written so far.  When he finished, Brian, you’re not only a very talented artist but a very talented writer.  I almost can feel that the love these two young men must feel for each other.  Brian, is this autobiographical?”

 

I started to laugh, “No, sir.  This is not my thing.  The two young men do know each other, but they haven’t arrived at the point that they know they love each other, yet.  I going to work on that.”

Mr. Peters laughed, “Brian, you have a  devious mind, if nothing else.”

The rest of the morning went fine.  John and I was the last to arrive at the cafeteria.  Tanner and Ron were waiting for me in addition to the regular crew.  Tanner was right behind me in line as we started to get our food.  He leaned forward, “Brian, you don’t know how exciting it is to be able to get what I want to eat instead of the free lunch.”

We heard a voice complaining, “Why can’t I have a choice of foods like everyone else?”

The lady looked up from what she was doing, “Because people on free lunch can get only the basic food.  Unless you can pay for the extras, then that’s what you get.”

Ian Oliver looked at his tray, “I’ll starve on this little amount of food.”

John snickered, “Ian, maybe now you’ll be able to lose some those extra pounds.  I take it you didn’t have any breakfast.  I guess this is going to be your only meal of the day.”

“Up yours, Waters,”

As we were eating lunch, I looked at Tanner, “What do you have fifth hour?”

Tanner was confused by the question, “I have a study hall, so I can do my homework.  When I lived at the Olivers’ house, there was never time to do the assignments at home.”

I sighed, “I guess you’ll just have bust your backside tonight doing your homework, since you’re going to be going to art class with Ron and some of us today.”

As we were walking out of the cafeteria, Ian was sitting by himself at a table.   It was obvious that his tablemates had departed, and he was taking their leftover food.

When we arrived in the art room, I pulled out the supplies that we would be using.  I had decided to prove to Ron’s Mother that I could work with watercolors even though they were not my favorite medium to work in.

Everything was ready when the tardy bell rang.  I was getting ready to start class when Ron stood, “Mr. Benson, I would like to have your permission to speak to the class before we begin the lesson.”

“Permission granted, Mr. Woodruff, but don’t take too long, though.  We have work to do.”

Ron walked to the front of the room, “As a few of you know, I spent the weekend in London.  My Mother insisted that we had to go see the exhibition with Brian’s artworks.  She was so overwhelmed that we spent four hours at the gallery on Saturday.  Guys and gals, you would have to have been there to truly appreciate how talented Brian is.” 

“My Mother was so impressed that she dragged us back for four more hours on Sunday.  We had to stand in line for an hour and a half before we could even get into the gallery.  Anyway, on Sunday when we went back, the painting that Brian had done of John and Robbi was on display as were most of the teaching examples he had done for us here in class.  Even the nature mosaic that he did Friday was on display”

“I questioned Brian as to how they could gotten to London and be matted and framed so quickly.  He claims that they must have made perfection connections on the airlines.  Anyway, the mosaic that he did with things from nature sold for a ridiculous amount as did the pencil drawing of the tree he did.  The painting he had done John and Robbi sold for an incredible amount as did some paintings of his younger brother.”

I stopped Ron because he was embarrassing me, “Time's up, blabbermouth Woodruff.  For embarrassing me, you get to be one of our models for today.”

Ron frowned, “Who else is going to be a victim, today?”

“Tanner is going to be the other.  Let’s take our art supplies outside, since we’ve already done a water color inside.  We can set up shop near the water fountain, so we have access to water.”

We walked to the park that was adjacent to the high school.  There was a bench in front of a cluster of trees.  I looked at the two guys, “Okay guys, here’s how I want you to pose.  I had Ron lean back with his arms on the back of the bench.  I posed Tanner so he was sitting  sideways and was looking at Ron.”

“Okay guys, get your bodies comfortable because you can’t move for the remainder of the class period.”

Ron stretched his legs and cross his legs below the knees so that there was a definite protrusion showing in his pelvic area.  Tanner, on the other hand, was turned sideways and had his right leg under the knee so there was also a very definite protrusion in the pelvic area.  “Perfect guys. Class, make a very faint outline of what you intend to put in the painting.  For today, get as much of the background done as you can, because we can always have our two models pose for us in the classroom, if we need them to.”

Mr. Peters was standing watching what I was doing, “Brian, I’m overwhelmed by your talent.”

“Thank you, sir. Please keep track of the time.  I don’t need to get in trouble again.”

No one had their paintings done when it was time to return to the building, so I informed Tanner and Ron that they had to wear the same clothes again tomorrow

Tanner was waiting for me at my locker after seventh hour, “Brian, are you really going to make me go to football practice.  I’m not a football player.”

“Look, Tanner, if I have to play the silly game, you do, too.  Practice was going fine until Coach Henderson put the starting tailback Lenny in for a series before practice was to be over.

I was standing next to Tanner watching, since I had had my share of playing time.  We were watching as Lenny, took a handoff from John and started to run to the right.  All of a sudden he fell, and we heard a crack.  I rushed onto the field, “Lenny, don’t move.  Coach Henderson, call 911.”

I was holding Lenny head, “Brian, it really hurts, bad.”

“Lenny, the paramedics will be here shortly, relax.” 

I wiped tears from his eyes, “Look, kid, football players don’t cry. We’re tough, remember.”

The ambulance left with Lenny and the team trainer.  Coach Henderson looked at the us, “Team, let’s call it a day.  I think we’re all emotionally drained.”

I was glad to see that Tanner wasn’t so bashful today about taking a shower.  He was standing talking to the fullback as they were showering.  As I was getting dressed, I thought to myself, ‘Okay Brian, what else can happen today?’

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:  When are these people going to learn that those words are an invitation to disaster?  

Knowing Timmy the way I do, I would pay pretty close attention to any dreams he might have. 

Somehow, I think we are going to be in for some serious things in the next chapter.  I guess we will just have to wait and see, though.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 12/18/09