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

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Chapter 10 

Out For Good

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon.  Ron picked Tanner up but Timmy and I opted not to accompany them.  Timmy was playing with some of the neighborhood children and I was doing a painting of the children playing kickball.

Tanner and Ron returned at four o’clock with a gentlemen, “Brian, this is my father, Rafe Woodruff.  He would like to see the infamous paintings that you have done.”

I shook Mr. Woodruff’s hand, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.  I guess you’ve come to demand that I trash the paintings to stop your son from bellyaching.”

“Actually, my wife wanted me to see them.  I’ve been rather busy and haven’t had an opportunity to see any of your paintings.”

When I showed him the paintings, he started to laugh, “Ron, I hadn’t realized how much you have grown up.  Brian, I can see why the guys are embarrassed.  You don’t really show off their endowment in the picture where they’re kissing.  Guys, these are great.  Brian, you are extremely talented.”

As Ron and his Dad were leaving, Dad saw Mr. Woodruff and went to talk to him.  They obviously knew each other quite well, because they were laughing.  I thought to myself, ‘I need to ask Dad what Mr. Woodruff does.’

After the Woodruffs departed, Timmy came and started to pull Tanner’s and my arms.  “We need to go get Grandmother.  It’s almost five o’clock.”

We went to get Grandmother, and of course, she had to sit between Timmy and Tanner.  Derek had stayed for dinner and there was no lack of conversation.  Timmy surprised everyone, “Grandmother, we’re going to have a birthday party for you on Wednesday evening.  Who would you like us to invite?”

Grandmother chuckled, “Timmy, most of my friends have passed away.  Let’s keep the party small.  Why don’t you have Brian invite, Doctors Jack and Tommy Wilson, and maybe Father Wanamaker and Doctor Crane, if they’re not busy.  I’d really would like to talk to David Burns, sometime soon.”

“I’ll make sure that Brian invites those people as soon as we’ve finished the dishes.”

Mother came into the kitchen, “Tanner and Timmy, I think you need to take Grandmother home.  She’s getting tired and she insists she wants you guys to take her home.”

After Tanner and Timmy had departed with Grandmother, Dad and Mother came into the kitchen where I was finishing the cleanup.  Dad asked, “Brian, do you want me to call the people and invite them?”

“Dad, you heard the boss give me my marching orders.  I’ll do it as soon as I finish here.  Father Wanamaker wants to talk to me anyway, and I haven’t a clue what it’s about.  Why does Grandmother want to talk to Uncle David?”

Mother put up her hands, “Son, I have no idea what’s on her mind.  I guess we’ll have to wait and see.  What do you think we should serve.”

“Why don’t you make a cake and Tanner and I can make some homemade ice cream.  Grandmother really likes teaberry ice cream.  I’m betting that Timmy and Tanner have probably never had homemade ice cream.”

Mother totally changed gears, “Are you going to be ready for the School Board meeting tomorrow night?  I have no idea what to expect.”

“Mother, I have no idea what to expect either.  I’m not sure who is being so vocal about getting Coach Henderson fired.  I take it that it’s a supporter of the Athletic Director, Mr. Wagner.  As far as I’m concerned, the man is a total jerk.”

Our conversation was interrupted by the return of Timmy and Tanner.  Timmy came skipping in, “Grandmother wants to know if we can have homemade teaberry ice cream for dessert at the party.”

I picked Timmy up, “Dad and Mother had decided that you, Tanner and I could make some homemade ice cream.  Now come help me invite the people to the party.”

Everyone I called was pleased to be invited to the party, so that part of the planning was done. 

Before I went upstairs, I asked, “Dad, who is Mr. Woodruff and why haven’t I met him before?”

Dad laughed, “Ron’s Dad is the U.S. Congressman from our district.  He took the place of your Uncle Mick, when he became president.  Mrs. Woodruff refuses to live in Washington, D.C.”

Monday was a really good day, until we went to football practice. We were greeted by Athletic Director Wagner. “Coach Henderson has been suspended as have his assistant coaches.  I’ll be running the practice this week, until I can find a suitable replacement.”

I started to remove the pads that I had put on, “Mr. Wagner, I refuse to be a part of the team, if you’re going to be involved after the way you acted Friday night.  Tanner, I want to leave as soon as possible.”

Mr. Wagner was shaking because all the team started to remove the pads and he was left in the dressing room looking like a fool.  I don’t think I’m ever going to be one of his most favorite people.  He yelled as we were leaving the dressing room.  “You’re all a bunch of fucking queers.”

Todd and John started to go toward Mr. Wagner, but I stood in front of them, “Ignore the man, he’s been caught with his pants down and he’s being spiteful.  Let’s get out of here before we have to listen to anymore of his filth.”

When we arrived at the parking lot, I looked at the team members, “Guys, there’s going to be a Special School Board Meeting tonight to fire Coach Henderson.   Be in the Board room at seven o’clock, so we can make our voices heard.”

When we arrived at the house, Mother and Timmy were in the kitchen, fixing dinner.  Timmy looked up, “Why are you guys here so early?   Tanner, you can help me take Grandmother’s food to her.”

After the guys had left with the food, I asked, “Mother, is there any way we can see how much the school district paid for the vouchers so we could eat at The Golden Rooster on Friday night?  I’m curious to see how much Mr. Wagner paid his relatives for the food.”

Mother looked surprised, “I’ll call Mr. Coleman, the district business manager.  If anyone can find out, it will be him.”

I was picking at my meal and Timmy was chastising me, “Brian, you need to eat something.  You’re going be really hungry if you don’t.”

“Timmy, I’m not very hungry.  I’ll eat something when I get home after the meeting tonight.”

Timmy looked at me, “Do I need to go to the meeting?”

 

“Nope, you need to stay here and take care of Dad.”

When we arrived at the Board Room there was a big crowd assembled and they had to open the doors to the adjacent room.  Not only were all the football players there, but also many of their parents.”

After the opening formalities, Mother looked at Mr. Hogan, “You’re the person who called for this meeting, would you care to explain what the purpose for the meeting is?”

Mr. Hogan stood, “I think it is an atrocity that the football team rolled over and quit in the face of adversity.  I think that reflects on the quality of the coaching staff and they should all be fired.  Mr. Waters, has tried to rebuild this program and has encountered nothing but grief from the coaching staff and the players.  Did you hear how the players treated him on Friday night.  I understand they didn’t stick around today after they found out they might have to do some work.  I move that Coach Henderson and his staff be fired.”

I had all of Mr. Hogan’s rhetoric that could stand and stood,  “Madame President, I would like to respond to Mr. Hogan’s outrageous charges.  First, Mr. Wagner arrived at the game after Mr. Messing had forfeited, because we had only ten players on the field.  When he arrived, he smelled like a brewery.”

“News reporters have reported that Mr. Waters is the brother of the coach of the team we were playing.  Furthermore, the reporters have indicated that the restaurant where we ate before the game was owned by relatives of Mr. Wagner.  Mrs. Benson, have you been able to determine how much the district paid for us to eat at that restaurant?”

Mother looked at Mr. Coleman, “Mr. Coleman, were you able to determine what it cost for the team to eat at The Golden Rooster.”

“Yes, Madame President, we received the bill this afternoon.  The charges were $15.00 per person for sixty people.  That seems rather exorbitant considering that there were only thirty five players, five coaches and the trainers and the driver of the vans with the team equipment and the band instruments who made the trip.”

I looked at Mr. Coleman, “Did the school pay for the band members to eat as well?”

Mr. Coleman shook his head no, “They had to pay for their own meals.”

I turned to Mr. Hogan, “Why are you so interested in what’s happening.  I don’t believe I've seen you at any of our football games.  I assume that you might be related to Mr. Wagner and are trying to protect him?”

Mr. Wagner stood, “Dad, don’t answer the prick.  He’s trying to make me look bad.”

I wheeled around, “Mr. Wagner, you have done a great job of discrediting yourself.”

I turned back to Mr. Hogan, “Sir, I suggest that you resign or the members of the football team and I will be canvassing to get enough signatures to get you recalled.  So, Mr. Wagner is your son?”

Mr. Hogan was red in the face, “Mark is right.  You’re a prick.  If you must know, Mr. Wagner is my stepson.”

“Oh, so you’re saying your wife is a member of the school board, who is using you to put her agenda before the public, even though she wasn‘t elected to the position.  It appears to me that her agenda has nothing to do with providing a quality education for the children in our district.  First, you were involved in the McCoy mess, and now you’re protecting someone totally incompetent, to be the Athletic Director.”

Mother took charge of the meeting, “Members of the board, there was a motion made and I have not heard a second so we cannot vote on it.  Is there any other business that we need to discuss tonight?”

Mrs. Conway nodded, “Madame President, I move that Coach Henderson and his staff be reinstated, and that the Athletic Director be relieved of his duties immediately.”

Mr. Phillips spoke, “I second the motion.”

Mother was very official, “It has been moved and seconded that Coach Henderson and his staff be reinstated, and the Athletic Director be relieved of his duties immediately.  Is there any discussion?”

A gentleman I didn’t know stood, “Madame President, I would like to speak in favor of the motion.”

“Go ahead Mr. Petersen, you have the floor.”

“I was so upset when our son arrived home on Friday night and he was almost comatose.  In fact, we took him to the emergency room and they kept him overnight, because of rancid food that he had eaten.  He was so dehydrated that he was in the emergency room the entire night.  When I picked him up on Saturday morning,  he told me that he had seen rodent droppings and roaches in The Golden Rooster.”

Mr. Hogan jumped up, “Pete, you’re lying.  We’ve eaten there a number of times, and we’ve never seen signs of animals.”

Mr. Petersen looked at me, “Brian, if you and the team  need help getting Mr. Hogan recalled, I’ll have my employees help you.  I agree with you that the Board of Education needs to be worried about providing a quality education for our young people, instead of worrying about how many football games the school can win. 
Let me know when you’re going to start collecting signatures.”

Mother looked around, “Is there any more discussion?”

Mrs. Rose spoke, “I call for the question.”

After the vote which was five to one on the motion with Mr. Hogan voting against, Mr. Hogan stood, “I’m resigning, you people are out to ruin me and my family.  I hope you all rot in hell.”

Mrs. Conroy spoke, “I move that we accept Mr. Hogan’s resignation to be effective immediately.”

Mr. Phillips grinned, “I second the motion.”

Mother looked around, “It has been moved and seconded that we accept Mr. Hogan’s resignation from the board, effective immediately.  Is there any discussion?  Seeing none, are you ready to vote?”

Mr. Hogan was no longer a member of the board as I was leaving with Tanner and John.  We were accosted outside the Administration Building by Mr. Wagner.  “You assholes, you’ve ruined my career.  I‘m going to make you pay for this.”

Mr. Petersen heard what Mr. Wagner had said, “Mr. Wagner, I would strongly advise you to get out of town as fast as you can.  I’ll make sure that there is a story on the news tonight, detailing what has happened and the threats that you just made.”

When we arrived at the house, Dad was sitting on the sofa and Timmy was reading to him.  Timmy looked up at me, “Brian, how did the meeting go?”

Tanner laughed, “It was so boring that I almost fell asleep.  Let’s go take a shower so we can get ready for bed.  You can read while I do my homework.  Brian has some things that he needs to take care of.”

After the two guys left, I sat down beside Dad, “Who is Mr. Petersen?  He came to my aid twice tonight.”

Dad looked at me, “I’m assuming that you’re talking about Adrian Petersen.  He owns the local paper and he also owns a television station in Omaha.  He’s a very influential person in the community.  Why did you ask?”

“He was responsible for getting Mr. Hogan to resign from the School Board.  Who is the Mr. Hogan person who seems to think that he is in control?”

“Mr. Hogan was the former Mayor.  When he got his butt kicked out of office, he ran for the School Board.  He intensely dislikes your Mother because he wants to be the President.”

I fell against Dad, “That’s highly unlikely to happen, now that he has resigned.  Did you know that he was Mr. Wagner’s stepfather?”

Our conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Mother.  Mother looked at me, “I hope you’re satisfied that you got rid of Mr. Hogan.  Who do you suggest that we appoint to fill his vacancy?”

“Mother, how would I know?  It seems to me that you need a person with some legal expertise and who has children in the school system.  Why don’t you have Uncle David Burns fill the vacancy and then I wouldn’t have to come and solve all of your problems.  Now, if you will excuse me, I’m mentally exhausted.”

When I arrived in our room, Tanner quipped, “Your computer has been dinging off the hook and Timmy and I can’t get to sleep.”

“Why didn’t you turn the sound off.  All you have to do is arrow down to zero.”

Timmy giggled, “I know that, but it’s more fun to give you a hard time.  Are you going to read the messages so I know what we need to do?  I peeked and I think there’s one is from Mr. Stewart.  There was another one from Shamus and Jaime.  I didn’t look at the one from Vicky.”

I activated the computer and Timmy came and sat on my lap and Tanner pulled up a chair and sat beside us.  I started at the top of the messages that arrived today.  The first was from Reggie, “Brian and Timmy, you’ll be staying with me on this trip.  Mr. Cox and Mr. Peters are going to be out of town on a holiday.  Shamus and Jaime will still pick you up.  I need to know who will be accompanying you.”

I replied, “Mr. Stewart, it’s only going to be Timmy, my Dad, Tanner and me, this this trip.  Don’t make any elaborate plans.  I have some artworks to deliver to Mr. Johnson.  We want to spend Saturday night at the châteaux in Paris.  Monsieur Foucault has some things he needs to discuss with us and Archie and Will are going to meet us there.”

Shamus and Jaime’s note wanted to know when we wanted to be picked up.

Vicky’s note was something that I would rather not have read to Timmy, but he insisted.  “Brian, you said you were bringing your brother, Tanner, and he was confused about his sexually.  I take it that he isn’t really interested in developing a relationship.  I just happen to know a young lady that might make a good companion for him.  I’ve talked to my parents and they agreed that I could come for your homecoming.  We’ll talk more about what’s happening when you are here this weekend.  Keep me advised of your plans.”

I closed down the computer even though there were some more messages that hadn’t been opened.  “Guys, I’m really tired,   I need to go to bed.  Tomorrow is going to be another busy day.”  

To be continued...

Editor's Notes: As usual, Brian is up to his neck in things he needs to do.  At least this time, they weren't trying to expel him from school.  Timmy and Tanner are getting along very well. I am really happy for both of them.  I wonder what is going to happen on this trip to England. Maybe we will find out next time.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher.

Posted: 02/12/10