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

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Chapter 5 

Not So Poor Brother

Tanner and I took Timmy to the bedroom, and I took a shower with him while Tanner was doing his assignments.  When Timmy and I were in the shower, Timmy looked at me,  “Brian, I don’t understand what’s happening.  Can you tell me if I do something wrong?  I don’t want people not to like me.”

I knelt down and hugged Timmy, “Timmy, it is not you who has done anything wrong.  You’ve been wonderful.  There is so much happening right now, that even I don’t understand what’s happening.  Let’s get out of here and get you to bed.  I still have some things I need to do before morning.”

Timmy was asleep, or so I thought, and Tanner was sitting at the desk working on something.  I was reading on the sofa when Dad came into the room without knocking.  He whispered, “Guys let’s go to our bedroom.  We would like to talk to you, and we don’t want to wake the Little One.”

Timmy sat up, “Daddy, please don’t call me the Little One, especially if some of my friends are around.  They’re going to think I have the smallest penis.  I know it’s smaller than anyone else' here, but please don’t make fun of me.”

Dad was taken aback by Timmy’s comment, but he recovered nicely, “Timmy, when I called you the Little One, I wasn’t referring to your penis.  Timmy, I only meant that you were the littlest person in our family.  I promise you that I won’t call you the Little One again, if wish me not to.”

“Daddy, I rather like it when you call me that, but please don’t do it when there are people other than the four of us and Mother around.”

Dad sat down on the bed next to Timmy, “Littlest Benson boy, would it be okay if I take your two brothers so your Mother and I can talk to them.  You need to get to sleep.”

Dad hugged Timmy and kissed him, “I promise that they won’t be bleeding when they return.  You need to get some sleep.”

While Dad and Timmy were talking, I pulled on a pair of Bermuda shorts and tee shirt since I was only wearing briefs when Dad had arrived.

When we arrived in Dad and Mother’s bedroom, Mother was still dressed.  She invited us to sit down.  She started, “Tanner, we would like to go over some things with you, and we have some questions.”

Dad took over, “Tanner, we just had a call from the police who have been patrolling the house where you lived, and they reported that Mr. Butcher left the house with a suitcase.  When he was questioned, he indicated that he was on his way to Ithaca to take care of his son.  Tanner, you wouldn’t happen to have a key to that house would you?”

Tanner shook his head no, “No, Dad, I don’t.  But, Mr. Butcher put a key to the front door under the urn that used to sit on the porch so that Justin could get in, because he kept losing his key.”

Dad stood, “Tanner, let’s take a ride over to wherever you used to live and see if that key is still there.  It would make things easier for what we need to do, to make sure that the Butchers get what’s due them.”

Tanner and Dad left.  Mother looked at me, “Brian, you might want to peruse the folders that your Dad had for you.  He has made some notes for you.  We’ll be glad to answer any questions that you might have.  Right now, we need to concentrate on making sure that Tanner isn’t hurt anymore.”

I hugged Mother and went back to our bedroom and Timmy was lightly snoring.  I went to the desk and looked at the first packet.  It was the one that Ron had given me from Mr. Johnson.  I opened it and pulled out the contents.

The first thing I saw were two certified checks from the Johnson Art Gallery.  One had my name and the other had Timmy’s name on it.  There was a post it note on each of them.

The note on Timmy’s read,

Brian,

The paintings that you did of Timmy sold almost even before they went on display.

J.

The note on my check read,

Brian,

You need to send some more artworks so we can keep packing the people in.  Kelly is suffering from withdrawal.

J.

There was also a photocopy of the checks that John and Chris had received.  They were indeed for substantial amounts.”

There was one last note from Mr. Johnson.

Brian,

We have decided to keep your exhibit up during the Christmas holiday season.  We would like very much if you could make at least one visit in the meantime so the people can meet the artist.

If there is any way that you could send some more artworks this way, it would be greatly appreciated.

The highlights of the exhibit continue to be the painting that J.R. did of you and your three self-portraits.

By the way, we have a separate gallery dedicated to Chris’ photographs. 

J.

I put the contents back into the packet and opened the second packet and it was the items that we had received from Monsieur Fourcault.  Dad had written a note and attached it to the paperwork.

Brian,

The best I can make out of this mish mash is that you and Timmy are extremely wealthy young men.  We need to find a way to meet with Archie and Will and have them explain exactly what’s happening.

Dad

I put the contents back in the packet and open the third packet with my name on it.  There was a note from Dad.

Brian,

This packet is for your information only.  It has the information about Tanner.  He will be a very wealthy young man, someday. 

Please read this when he’s not around.

Dad

I put the three packets into the desk drawer and decided to work on the watercolor painting I was doing of Tanner and Ron until Tanner and Dad returned.  I had just finished the painting when I heard voices downstairs.  I washed my supplies, which I had been using, in the bathroom, and was walking into the bedroom when Tanner opened the door, “Thanks for everything, Dad.”

He looked at the watercolor painting of him and Ron and giggled, “Holy Cow, Ron and I look as if we’re moonstruck lovers.  Brian, you’re not going to let anyone see this, are you?”

I smirked, “Thanks for the title, Tanner.  And yes, I have to take it to show the class so they will be motivated to do better.   How did your detective activities go with Dad?”

Tanner had shed his clothes, “Brian, come into the bathroom and I can tell you what happened, while I’m taking a shower.  Dad is certainly very thorough.  He had two police officers accompany us,” so they can testify that we took nothing that didn’t belong to me.”

“Mr. Butcher is either very stupid or very naïve, because the safe with papers that are important for my well-being was easily accessible.  Dad had the police officers take them so they could get notarized copies made, so that we can file charges against the jerk when and if he returns.”

“Dad is going to meet with the police and other officials along with Uncle David in the morning and decide how to proceed.   Brian, are you sure you wouldn’t mind if your parents adopted me.  Dad says that if I were adopted, we might be able to stop Mr. Butcher from taking any further action.”

Tanner had been was drying his hair as he was talking, “Tanner, I’ve already said I would be happy to have you as a brother, and I meant it.  The girls are fine with it, and Timmy already thinks of you as a brother. Now, let’s get to bed.”

As I was trying to go to sleep, I had a sudden brilliant idea, ‘I wonder if I could get Tanner and Ron to pose in the nude and kiss each other.  I’d have to make it so their penises didn’t actually show, but it would make for a beautiful painting.’

I woke up at six o’clock feeling refreshed.  As I was going to the bathroom, I was joined by Timmy, “Dad Brian, are we going to run?”

I grinned, “I will if you will, but we’d better wake your other brother and tell him to do his homework.  I don’t think he got it finished last night.”

When Timmy touched Tanner, Tanner grabbed and pulled Timmy on top of him, “How dare you wake me up?  I need my beauty sleep.”

Timmy giggled, “Sorry, brother, but sleep isn’t going to help, no matter how much you get.  Now get up.  Dad Brian says you need to finish your homework while we go running.”

Tanner jumped out of bed, “Why is everyone always telling me what to do?  I guess Brian’s right, though, I kinda got sidetracked last night.  Have a good run, guys.”

Timmy talked the entire time we were running, “Brian, when are we going to go for another carriage ride.  It would be really fun to spend the night in our house in Paris.  Don’t you want to see Lady Vicky again?  It‘s not going to seem the same without Grampa Nappy.  Do you think he’s in heaven?”

I heard a voice, “Yes, I’m in heaven.  Why don’t you go to London this weekend.  Reggie would be glad to have some company and so would Mr. Peters and Mr. Cox.  Why don’t you take Tanner with you?  He’s one of us?”

I looked and Timmy and he was looking at me.  Timmy asked, “Grampa Nappy, why did you say that Tanner is one of us?”

The voice continued, “Tanner doesn’t know it, yet, but he is going to be Brian’s right hand man.  That’s why I sent him into your lives.  You guys need to finish your run.  I’ll talk to you later.”

Timmy looked up at me and I could tell that he had some questions, “Brian, did you just hear Grandpa Nappy?”

I took a deep breath, “Yes, Timmy, I did.”

“What did he mean when he said that Tanner was one of us?”

“Timmy, I guess Grampa Nappy was saying that Tanner has special powers that he doesn’t know about. Let’s try to send him a message to see if he hears it.”

I sent a message, ‘Tanner, we’re on our way back and we’re hungry.’

Both Timmy and I received a reply, ‘Would you please talk one at a time so I can understand what you’re saying?  I was so startled when I heard your voices that I almost burnt my penis.  Breakfast is ready.’

I hugged Timmy, “I guess he is one of us.”

Tanner was waiting for us when we entered the house, “Would you guys care to explain what happened this morning, and how could you talk me when you weren’t even here?”

Timmy looked up at me and we both started to giggle.  Timmy answered, “Grampa Nappy said you were one of us.  We decided to check and see if it was true.  I hope you didn’t really burn your penis; that would really hurt.”

Tanner turned white, “You guys heard what I was thinking?”

I nodded, “Yep, we heard.  We’ll check you out for damages after breakfast.”

As we were eating breakfast, Dad looked at Tanner, “Tanner, we may need to take you out of school for a while, today.”

I spoke up, “You can take him anytime except fifth hour and he needs to be at football practice, since he’s going to be the starting tailback in tomorrow night's game.”

Dad looked at me, “Brian, why does he need to be there for fifth hour?”
 

“Because he’s one of the models for the project that the students are working on, in art class.”

Timmy added, “Brian painted a picture of Tanner and Ron that looks as if they are more than just good friends.”

Dad looked at me, “Brian, I hope the painting is decent.  I don’t think that you would want to have to go before the school board again.”

Tanner chuckled, “Dad, the painting is decent, but suggestive.  I was tempted to slash it this morning after Brian and Timmy went running, but thought better of it, or Brian would make me pay big time.”

Since the schedule had been for the girls to do the breakfast dishes, we guys went upstairs to get ready for school.  The only problem was that Dad went with us.  When we went into the room, Dad looked at the painting of Tanner and Ron.  He turned to me, “Brian, this is one of the best paintings that you have done.  Tanner was correct.  It’s very proper and at the same time very suggestive.  You should work in watercolors more often.”

“Dad, I don’t really like to work in watercolors.  The subjects seem so one dimensional compared to what I can do with oils.”

Timmy interrupted, “Daddy, me and Brian talked to Grampa Nappy and he thinks we need to go to London and Paris this weekend.  He says that Tanner is one of us and that’s why he sent him to us.”

Dad and Tanner were like statues frozen in space by Timmy’s pronouncement.  Dad asked, “Timmy, why did you say that?”

“Daddy, both me and Brian heard Grampa Nappy talking to us this morning when we were running. After he stopped talking, me and Brian sent Tanner a message and he answered it.  He told us he almost burnt his penis when we were talking to him.”

Dad turned to Tanner, “Son, is that true?”

“Yes, sir.  I was so surprised when Timmy and Brian were talking to me at the same time and weren’t even within sight, that I dropped a sausage link I was cooking on the floor.”

Dad was a little flustered, “Guys, get ready for school.  I need to think about what is happening.”

When we went downstairs, Dad asked, “Does anyone need money? 

The three of us shook our heads no.  Dad wasn’t done, “Brian, give your cell phone to Tanner.  Tanner, after I figure out what’s happening, I’ll call you.  I’ll send you a text message so that you can meet us wherever we are, if we need you.  Take my car to school today.”

When we departed to school, John asked, “Where’s Tanner?  Isn’t he going to school today?”

Timmy answered, “Uncle John, Daddy gave his car to Tanner to drive so Tanner could go meet Daddy and Mother if they need him.”

After we deposited Timmy at his school, John looked at me, “Brian, I don’t suppose that you would care to share with me what is happening.  I still don’t understand why you had the funds the sale of the painting of me and Robbie sent to me.  My parents have asked me a lot of questions about your relationship with me that I have had to answer.”

I took a deep breath, “John, I never meant to mean my gesture as any more than caring for you as a person.  Do you want me to talk to your parents?”

John looked at me, “Brian, I’ll be okay, but you’re such an enigma that people have a difficult time understanding why you do the things that you do.”

I started to laugh, “John, I’ve been called a lot of things in my life, but never an enigma.”

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:  Well, that was another wonderful chapter.  Didn't I tell you that things are looking better and better?

Obviously, Timmy knows he has special gifts, and it looks as if Tanner does, too.  I think it might have spooked both Tanner and Beau. 

Let's hope they both calm down and take it in stride.

I am ready for the next chapter, NOW!

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 01/08/10