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

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Chapter 16 

The Scam

On Tuesday when I woke up, it was raining, I was inspired to do a landscape painting which I didn’t often do.  I altered the scene of what I was actually seeing to the chalet and the rain was snow.  I did superimpose Timmy in the picture with his tongue hanging out as if he was tasting the snow.

I went to take a shower and I started to manipulate my penis, but before I could relieve my tensions, Timmy joined me, “Why didn’t you wake us?”

“Timmy, it’s raining.  I figured you and Tanner needed to catch up on your sleep.”

Timmy looked at me, “Do you want me to leave while you take care of your penis?”

“Timmy, get your butt in here.  We’ll take our shower and go wake our lazy brother.”

Timmy and I were dressed when Tanner woke up, “Guys, why didn’t you wake me?”

“Tanner baby, you didn’t leave a wake up call.  Get ready for school while Timmy and I go fix us some breakfast.”

While we were eating, Mother lowered the boom, “Tanner, why don’t you drive my van since you will be taking all five of you to school this morning. Leave the keys to the Corolla, in case I need to go somewhere.”

You could see Lauren’s jaws tighten, “I guess that means I’m not going to get any money to buy lunch today.”

Morgan didn’t even look up, “You should have thought of that when you were getting your pedicure and manicure.  You can make yourself a sandwich.”

Lauren turned to Morgan, “Shut up, Morgan.”

Tanner, Timmy and I excused ourselves and took care of our dishes.  We went to brush our teeth and get our backpacks.”

When we returned, Lauren had tears in her eyes.  Tanner announced, “All who are going ashore via the Tailor taxi service need to be ready to leave in five minutes.”

While Timmy was in the van, he kept talking to everyone and they were responding to his questions or comments.  Unfortunately, he was the first to be discharged.   When he climbed out of the van, he yelled,  “You all have a great day.  I’ll see you this afternoon.”

Nothing was said as we dropped Morgan off except, “See you later.”

When we arrived at the high school, Lauren climbed out of the van and started toward the door without even saying a word.  As Tanner and I were approaching the door, I stopped.  “Tanner, there’s your mother’s husband.  Go to the other door before he sees you.”

As I was passing Mr. Butcher, he growled, “Benson, where’s that no good son of mine?”

I shrugged my shoulders, “Mr. Butcher, how would I know where Justin is?”

“You know damn well that I was talking about Tanner.”

“Mr. Butcher, I thought you understood that he’s not your son, and never has been.  So buzz off.”

The man started toward me and John and Todd came and stood beside me.  John spoke, “Mister, Brian told you to buzz off.  I suggest that’s what you do.  Robin, go alert the security officer that there’s a man out here threatening a student.”

Mr. Butcher backed away, “You’re all a bunch of fruits.”

Todd snickered, “At least we’re not a rotten apple like some people around here.”

The policeman on duty appeared, “What seems to be the problem here?”

John answered, “That man was threatening to hit Brian Benson.”

Mr. Butcher turned to the officer, “I’m just trying to talk to my son and this Benson person started to give me some lip.”

“Officer, Mr. Butcher was trying to find out where Tanner Tailor was.  I told him that Tanner, is not and never was his son.  Tanner has been adopted by my parents.  You can call them and verify the information.”

I pulled out my wallet, “Here’s my parents’ business card.  They should still be at the home number.”

A big crowd had formed around where we were, and there was no way that Mr. Butcher could leave.  The officer pulled out a cell phone and Dad must have answered.  “Mr. Benson, this is Officer Fry.  I’m here at the high school.  A Mr. Butcher threatened to hit your son for not telling him the whereabouts of a Tanner Tailor, who Brian says is your adopted son. … Yes, sir, I understand.  Thanks for your time.”

Officer Fry turned to Mr. Butcher, “Mr. Benson tells me that there is a court order that says you aren’t to be within 100 yards of Mr. Tailor.  Mr. Benson, also told me that he and his wife did indeed adopt Mr. Tailor, so I suggest you leave.”

“Yeah, they just wanted to get their hands on the money that belongs to me and my son.”

John started to laugh, “Officer Fry, me thinks that Mr. Butcher is speaking with a forked tongue.  Come on, people, the tardy bell is getting ready to ring.”

The morning went fine.  When I paid for lunch, I pulled out a twenty dollar bill and the lady gave me the change.”

Tanner and Ron were already at the table with Todd and his girl friend when John, Robin, Lindsey and I joined them.  I had just started to eat when Lauren approached the table, “Brian, I left my wallet at home.  Can you lend me five dollars for lunch?”

I was caught between a rock and hard place.  If I had said what I was thinking I would not only have embarrassed Lauren, but myself.  I pulled out my wallet and handed her five dollars.  Tanner leaned over to me and whispered, “Brian, your parents’ won’t be very happy when they find out what just happened.”

“Tanner, we’ll talk about this later.  Right now, I’m really pissed off.”

When I was walking to art class, Ron caught up to me, “Brian, you seem really uptight today,  I have a question for you.  Why did you feel it was necessary for you to invite someone, whom I haven’t met, to come and be my date for the Homecoming Dance?”

I whirled around, “Ron, if you would prefer, I’ll send Vicky a note and tell her that you’re not interested in having a date.  I thought it would be a good cover for you to go the dance with good looking chick whom you might have met when you were in England.  Besides, she is a special friend of the young lady whom Tanner will be taking to the dance.  I wanted to make it as easy as possible for you and Tanner to spend time together without people getting suspicious.”

“Brian, relax.  I’m just surprised that you would arrange a date for me without asking me.  What if I already had a date?”

I threw up my hands, “Ron, I apologize.  I can’t seem to do anything right, lately.”

As Tanner and I were coming out of the locker room after football practice with our gym bags, John and Todd were standing talking to a guy who had his back toward us.  Tanner frowned, “That looks like Justin.   Why would he be here?”

“He’s probably here for the same reason his Dad was here this morning.  They’re desperate for money.  Go back in the locker room and go out the other exit.   I’ll meet you at the van.”

I walked up to John and Todd, “Hi guys, what’s up?   Is Justin, trying to get you to pay him for performing sexual favors.”

Justin turned around and cocked his fist.  John grabbed Justin’s arm, “Creep, I wouldn’t do that.  There are three of us here and you’d look pretty funny walking around the school area without any clothes.”

Justin pulled his arm free, “What’s taking Tanner so long?  Is he giving someone a blowjob?”

I started to walk away, “Garbage mouth, for your information, Tanner is long gone.  Put your dick in pants and get out of here.  Come on guys, let’s go home.  It’s been a very long day.”

As we were walking to the parking lot, Todd asked, “Where is Tanner anyway?”

“Tanner recognized Justin from the back, so I told him to go out the other way and meet me at the van.”

Todd asked, “Brian, it’s obvious that you don’t like the Butchers, and they don‘t like you.  There must be things that happened that  we don’t know about.”

“Guys, come to the house after dinner and we’ll explain.”

Tanner was waiting in the van.  I jumped his case when I got in. “Look, Tailor, I’m tired fighting your battles.  First your Mother’s second husband threatened to punch me out this morning and his son was ready to throw a punch at me just now.”

Tanner chuckled, “I guess I owe you a couple.”

When we arrived at the house, Mother and Dad were in the kitchen, I greeted them, “How are our favorite set of parents this fine day?”

Mother laughed, “If you’re speaking to me, Mr. Brian, then we’re fine. Where’s Lauren?”

I put up my hands, “Beats me.  I haven’t seen her since she came to our table at lunchtime.  I figured she probably hitched ride with a friend.  She didn’t talk the entire way to the high school this morning.  Where’s our favorite eight year old boy?”

Mother answered, “He and Morgan just called and said they were leaving Grandmother Gleason’s house.”

“How did they get there?”

“Your Dad wasn’t home, so I let the two of them walk to Grandmother’s condo.  Timmy was pulling the food in your old wagon.  They called me when they got there and they called to tell me they were leaving.”

We heard the garage door go up and we heard Timmy and Morgan laughing.  Dad grinned, “It’s good to hear Morgan laughing.”

Timmy and Morgan came into the kitchen.  Timmy was carrying a bag. Timmy hugged Tanner and me, “Did you two have a good day, or did you have a horrible no good day like Morgan?  She thinks all her teachers hate her.  She says she has so much homework that it all wouldn’t fit in her backpack and she had to put the rest in her shoes.”

Timmy handed Dad, the bag, “Daddy, we found this bag on the work bench in the garage.  The food will spoil if it stays in the garage.”

Dad opened the bag and frowned.

Mother looked at the clock, “Let’s go ahead and eat.  I don’t understand why Lauren isn’t home or hasn’t called.”

We heard the front door open and heard Lauren call out, “Thanks, I’ll see you at seven thirty.”

Lauren stuck her head in the dining room, “I’ve already eaten.  I have some homework that I need to get done before the girls come to get me.”

Dad stood, “Young lady, get in here and sit down.  You have some explaining to do.”

After Lauren was seated, Dad asked in a very controlled voice, “First, would you mind explaining what the lunch that you packed this morning was doing sitting on the work bench in the garage.”

Lauren was almost defiant, “I can’t take a sack lunch to school or people would laugh at me.  I put it there.  Who found it anyway?  I was going to throw it away when I got home.”

Dad asked, “So you decided not eat any lunch rather than be seen eating a sack lunch.”

Lauren obviously answered without thinking what she was saying, “I borrowed money from Brian, to buy lunch.”

Dad shifted his attention to me, “Brian, why did you give her the money.”

I took a deep breath, “Dad, Lauren put me on the spot by asking me in front of my friends for the money.  John, Robbie and Lindsey knew that I had money because I had paid for my lunch with a twenty dollar bill.  From now on, I’ll take enough money to only pay for my lunch.”

Timmy asked, “Daddy and Mother, may I be excused?  What’s happening isn’t making me feel good.”

Morgan stood, “Come on, Timmy let’s get the dishes done so we can go do my homework while we study your spelling words.”

Dad nodded, “Guys, go help Morgan and Timmy.  We’ll talk to you two later.  Right now, your Mother and I need to talk to Lauren.”

Tanner and I took the remainder of the dishes to the kitchen and Timmy was asking Morgan, “Have you ever been to Disney World?  It looks like it would be a fun place.”

Morgan nodded, “It is a fun place.  Maybe we can get Dad and Mother to take us there next summer.  Tanner, have you ever been there?”

Tanner answered, “Yep, but it was a long time ago and I really don’t remember very much about it anymore.  I think I was about four when we went.”

We were going to the stairs when the doorbell sounded.  Timmy went to answer and John, Todd and Ron were standing there.  “Hi Uncle John, did you bring Mr. Todd and Ron with you?”

“Hi Timmy.  I did bring Todd but Ron has his own car.  We came to talk to your brothers.”

Timmy giggled, “Ben and Grant aren’t here right now.  I guess you mean my two mean brothers.  You can make sure they don’t beat me up while you’re here.”

I grabbed Timmy and put him over my shoulder.  “I’ll show you what mean is.  Come on in, guys.  Go into the family room.  I’ll be with you as soon as I get the computer set up so Timmy can study his spelling words.”

I was just leaving the bedroom when Lauren came running up the steps and slammed the door to her bedroom.  When I arrived in the family room, Dad and Mother were talking to the guys.   “Mother and Dad, you might want to hear, what we’re going to be talking about.  John and Todd, were there both times today when the two Butchers were going to punch me. I told them I would explain why they were trying to get to Tanner.”

Dad motioned, “I think it would be best if we moved this conversation to the dining room.  There are some ears in the house who shouldn’t hear this conversation.”

When we were settled around the dining room table, “Dad and Mother, I’m the only person who knows everything that happened today.  Even Tanner doesn’t know everything.”

Dad nodded, “Be our guest, Master Brian.”

When I completed my rendition of why the Butchers were trying to get to Tanner and what had happened to Justin in Cornell, Todd started to laugh, “Brian, Justin would probably have liked it if we had taken his clothes off of him.  If they show up again, we'll deck them for sure.  Tanner, you’re lucky to have some people like the Bensons who took you in and made you a part of their family.”

Tanner looked at the parents, “Dad, I had no idea what transpired this morning, or this afternoon.  Brian, I can take care of myself.”

Dad shook his head, no. “Tanner, the Butchers are hurting and might try to do something irrational.  Let the guys take care of you.   Guys, thanks for being there for our sons.”

Ron chuckled, “Now I understand why Brian was so uptight today.”

I shook my head, no, “Guys, this is only one of the problems that I had today.  I need to go check on Timmy.  I’ll see you all tomorrow.”

When I got to our bedroom, Timmy was shutting down the computer, “Brian, I think I know all my spelling words.  Could you please read to me?”

“Of course, let’s get ready for bed and brush our teeth.”

Timmy and I were lying on the bed in our briefs.  Timmy had his head on my shoulder watching as I was reading.  It was a story about a boy and his dog.  Timmy looked up at me, “Brian, do you think Daddy and Mother would let us have a dog?”

“Timmy, we’ve never had any pets because we go away a lot of times and there would be no one to take care of them.  Just think, who would take care of the pets when we go skiing at your house?”

The door opened and Ron and Tanner came into the room.  Tanner smirked, “Brian, Dad and Mother would like to talk to you.  You might want to put on some clothes so you’re presentable.  We’ll stay and make sure that Peter Pan doesn’t steal Timmy.”

I pulled on a pair of sweat pants and a sweat shirt.  As I was going down the stairs, I was thinking, ‘What did I or didn’t I do this time?’

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:  Poor Brian, sometimes, it seems that no matter what he does, someone is not happy with him. I honestly don't see how he could have done things any other way. 

The funny thing is that Lauren is now being more of a selfish person than Morgan was.  I am glad that Morgan is coming around and acting more friendly, especially to Timmy. 

I doubt that we have seen the last of the Butchers.  They are not, and I don't think they ever were very nice people.  I honestly don't think that Justin is as rotten as his father is, but he doesn't stand up to him, and seems to be following in his footsteps.

I am a bit worried that they will try something desperate, and possibly hurt someone in the process.  Let's hope that Brian and whoever, can do something to stop them from causing any trouble. 

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 03/2610