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

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Chapter 17 

Good News, Bad News

When I went to find my parents, they were still in the dining room which was not a good omen.  Dad motioned for me to be seated across from them.  Dad took a deep breath, “Brian, I apologize if you felt I was jumping on your case this evening.  Your Mother and I both appreciate how you handled Lauren’s request at lunch time.  I can only imagine how you felt.  She has been instructed that she is not to do that to either you or Tanner again.”

Dad continued, “She has also been told that either your mother or I would be picking her up after school tomorrow.  We still haven’t decided what we are going to be doing for the Thursday football game.  Somehow, she has decided that you and Tanner have money and she doesn’t understand how you got it and she didn’t get any of it.  Heaven help us should she realize how much money Timmy has.”

Dad shook his head, “Enough about that problem.  I had a call from Will, and he and Archie are going to be arriving tomorrow afternoon, about two o’clock.  So be thinking about what you want to do with the Chateaux.  They want to go to Denver to see some old friends while they’re here.”

Mother stood and started to pace, which was not a good sign, “Brian, I took Grandmother to see Dr. Crane today.  He checked her over and told me in private that she probably wouldn’t be able to make it until Christmas.  On the way home, Grandmother looked at me, ‘Becca, I know I won’t be around for very much longer, but don’t let Timmy know.  He’s so innocent.  Please make sure he comes to see me as often as he can.”

“Mother and Dad, this is not what I needed to hear.  Grandmother has always been there for us.  Mother, are you going to be okay?”

Dad stood, “Son, when I first met your Grandmother, when I was about your age, she had given up hope and was planning to go into an assisted living facility.  We were able to make it so she could maintain her independence.  She has enjoyed her life and is ready to go to meet her maker.  She didn’t have an easy life.  So do as your Mother asked and make sure that Timmy spends as much time with her as possible.  It would also be great if you and Tanner could spend some time with her, without it seeming too obvious.”

When I got to the bedroom, Timmy was sprawled all over the bed.  I had no idea where Tanner and Ron were.  My mind was a blank and I decided to go to the bathroom and go to bed.  When I walked into the bathroom, Ron was orally ministering to Tanner’s penis.

That was more than I could handle.  I raised my voice, “Guys, why are you doing this where Timmy might see what you're doing.  I don’t mind you doing it, but I have a big problem with you doing it where Timmy might see what you’re doing.  You could have locked the bathroom door, or better yet gone into Ben’s room and locked the door.”

When I went into the bedroom, Timmy was sitting, rubbing his eyes, “Dad Brian, why were you yelling?”

“Timmy, I’m tired and it hasn’t been a very good day for me. Let’s just go to sleep.”

“Where’s Tanner?”

“He’s still doing his homework in Ben’s room so he wouldn’t wake you.”

Timmy rolled against me, “Okay, let’s go to sleep.  He’s going to be tired in the morning.”

Timmy was asleep when Tanner came into the bedroom.  I could tell that he wanted to talk, but I pointed to Timmy who was lying on my arm and shook my head no.

On Wednesday morning, Timmy woke me by crawling over me so he could go to the bathroom.  Of course, that caused me to need to relieve my bladder as well.

When we returned from the bathroom, Timmy opened the blind on the window which woke Tanner.  Tanner crawled out of bed and went into the bathroom.  He must have been having vivid a dream from the way his briefs were stretched.  I pulled out two pairs of sweat pants and sweat shirts for Tanner and me, and Timmy took that as the signal to do likewise.

As we were going down the stairs, Tanner looked at me and whispered, “Brian, we need to talk.”

I nodded in agreement but pointed to Timmy and shook my head no.

I started the coffee and we went for a run and Timmy talked the entire time we were running.  As we were walking back to the house, I warned the guys,  “Uncle Will and Uncle  Archie will probably be here when we get home from school.  We need to make sure that Ben’s bedroom is ready for them.  Tanner and Timmy why don’t you make sure it’s all set for them while I fix breakfast.”

I was fixing breakfast when Morgan came in, “Where’s Timmy?”

“He and Tanner are making sure that Ben’s room is ready for Mr. Larceveque and Mr. Overmeyer.  They’re going to be arriving this afternoon instead of tomorrow, to talk to Dad and Mother.”

Timmy came in all dressed for school, “Hi Morgan, did you sleep okay?”

“Yep, my medicine made me fall asleep as soon as I took it.  Remind me to take my other pill after we eat.”

After breakfast, I went to get ready for school.  When I got downstairs, everyone else was ready to leave and I noticed that Lauren had a lunch bag.  Of course, as long as Timmy was in the van, there was not a lack of conversation.  After we watched to make sure Timmy arrived at the door of the school, he turned and waved to us.

Morgan was asking questions about Archie and Will, wanting to know what they needed to talk to Dad and Mother about.

I turned to Morgan, “I guess they need help, trying to make some more money.  That’s what Dad and Mother are good at.”

Morgan commented, “Yes, and that’s why they can spoil us.  They get paid for telling people how to make more money.”

Lauren mumbled, “The parents are out of touch with reality.  There is no way that teenagers today can live on twenty bucks a week.”

Morgan turned to Lauren who was in the back seat, “If you need money so badly, then maybe you should get a job.  We have more than any of the other people I met in the hospital.  So chill out.”

After Morgan had gotten out of the car, the tirade began.  Lauren lit into me, “You big blabber mouth, why did you tell Dad and Mother that you gave me money for lunch yesterday?”

Tanner pulled over to the side of the road and stopped the van. “Lauren, you’re acting like a little child.  It was you who blurted out that you had hit up Brian for lunch money, not him.  So don’t blame him.”

Lauren was hot under the collar, “I want to know why you people seem to have money when I don’t.”

I looked at Tanner, “We need to go or we’ll be late.  Lauren, first, Tanner and I haven’t had time to spend any money with practice and homework.  Second, I have some money because some of my paintings have sold.  Tanner has some money because he sold his parents’ house.  Dad and Mother met with me last night and told me that we were not to give you any money under any circumstances.  So don’t try to pull the stunt you did yesterday because you’re going to wind up with egg on your face.”

“I think that you need to apologize to our parents.”

As soon as the van was parked, Lauren vanished.

As we were walking to the building, I looked at Tanner, “Tanner, I apologize for raising my voice last night, but I meant what I said.  I have no problem with what you and Ron were doing, but where you were doing it.  I don’t want Timmy to be inadvertently exposed to such activity.  I would rather you do such activities in our house or Ron’s house rather than in a car where you could be caught by the authorities.  Having said that, the case is closed.  Let’s go in the side entrance because I sure don’t want to have another encounter with the Butchers.”

When I arrived at the fourth hour class, John was waiting for me, “Where were you guys this morning?  The Butchers were waiting for you.  The police were there to make sure nothing would happen.”

I grinned, “John, that’s what I was afraid might happen, so we went in the side door, by the gym.”

When we were in the lunch room, I kept waiting to see if Lauren would approach either me or Tanner for money and it didn’t happen.  Little did I know why I didn’t even see her, which seemed odd in itself.  One of Lauren’s friends came to the table where we were eating and asked, “Where’s Lauren?”

 

“Beats me.  She came with us this morning, but I haven’t seen her since, but that’s not unusual.”

The pep rally was scheduled for fifth hour, so at least I didn’t have to teach art.  The principal stood and announced, “The time of the game tomorrow has been moved to three o’clock in the afternoon.  Superintendent Black has cancelled afternoon classes so that as many of you as want to go can make the trip to Lincoln to support the team.”

“Buses will be leaving the high school at twelve thirty and the fee will be $3.00 per person to cover the cost of the bus rentals.  The fees need to be paid by nine o’clock in the morning to insure that we have the proper number of buses available.”

As the team was entering, I looked at the cheerleaders and Lauren was missing.  I thought to myself, ‘Please don’t have let her have flipped out, too.’

During the pep rally, Tanner leaned over to me, “Where’s Lauren?”

I shrugged my shoulders, “I don’t know.  I was wondering the same thing.”

After school, we went to the dressing room and Coach Henderson was waiting for us when we arrived.  As soon as everyone was present, he announced, “Guys, we’re not going to practice tonight.  We’ll be departing by bus for Lincoln tomorrow at noon, so bring a sack lunch so you can eat it on the bus.  We don’t need a repeat of the last time we played Lincoln Southeast.   Get lots of rest tonight, so we can go kick some ass tomorrow.  Before you leave, please make sure your equipment is all set so we can load it on the trucks in the morning.”

Tanner and I departed the building via a side exit.  We met John in the parking lot.  “Guys, you missed the Butchers again.”

Tanner laughed, “Shuckey darn.  I’ve been looking forward to meeting them.”

When we arrived home, we were greeted by the sight of Timmy and Morgan raking the leaves in the yard.  I put down my book bag, “You people are doing this the hard way.  Tanner, take my book bag and put it in our bedroom.  Morgan, go get the yard waste barrel, and Timmy, you come with me.”

I gassed up the lawn mower and put on the bag to catch the leaves.  Timmy was complaining, “Brian, we don’t need to mow the lawn.  We just want to rake the leaves.”

“Timmy, trust me.  This will be a lot easier.”

I started to go across the lawn and there certainly were a lot of leaves.  The yard waste barrel was full in no time, and I lifted Timmy into the barrel, “Jump up and down, so we can get more leaves in the barrel.  Morgan, go see if we have any of big brown yard waste bags that we can put leaves into if we need to.”

We were almost finished with the front yard when a car pulled up.  Mr. Larceveque and Mr. Overmeyer stepped out of the vehicle.  Uncle Archie yelled, “We’re looking for the home of Timmy Benson.  Could you please help us?”

Timmy ran to the car, “The Bensons moved to Mars because they heard two movie stars were coming for a visit.”

He jumped into Mr. Will’s arms and hugged him, and did likewise to Mr. Archie.  He was pulling their arms, “Come on, you gotta meet my youngest sister Morgan.”

As Morgan was shaking Will’s hand, he complained, “You didn’t tell us your sister was Miss Teenage America.”

Morgan looked at him, “Mister, you’ve got to be blind.  I have braces on.  Who would ever vote for me to be Miss Teenage America?”

Will answered, “With your gorgeous eyes and smile you’d win hands down.”

Tanner came out of the house and shook the visitors’ hands.  We helped Uncle Archie and Uncle Will with their luggage and Timmy was explaining, “You’re going to sleep in Ben and Grant’s room.  We gotta share the bathroom.”

Tanner and I took their luggage to Ben’s room while the visitors were talking to the parents.  When we returned to the kitchen, Mother looked at Tanner, “The food is ready to take to Grandmother.”

Timmy grinned, “Uncle Archie and Uncle Will, Grandmother wants to meet you.  She likes to watch baseball and basketball games.”

While the guys and Morgan were delivering the food, I finished the lawn and put the things away.  I was helping Mother in the kitchen and I asked, “Mother, where’s Lauren?  I haven’t seen her since she jumped out of the van this morning?”

“She’s in her room sulking.  We took her to see Dr. Gates this morning.  Lauren is furious that we even dared to take her to see a psychologist.  She’s threatening to run away.”

I looked confused, “Who’s to know that she went to see a psychologist if she doesn’t tell anyone?  Do Timmy and Morgan even know?”

Dad had been listening, “No, we have said nothing to either of them.    We thought it best that you know, just in case.”

Our conversation was interrupted by the visitors and the enforcer.  When they entered the kitchen, Timmy announced, “Grandmother finished every last bite.”

Archie was laughing, “She was afraid that you would spank her if she didn’t.”

Morgan giggled, “Grandmother was so busy listening to Uncle Archie and Uncle Will talking that she forgot that she was eating.  She probably would have eaten more.  She wants them to come visit her again.”

Dad asked, “Gentlemen, can I fix you a cocktail or anything?”

Uncle Archie answered, “Some wine with dinner will be sufficient.  Neither of us are big drinkers.”

Mother nodded, “Dinner’s ready.  Brian, why don’t you go get Lauren?”

I thought to myself, ‘Why me?’

I knocked on the door and Lauren yelled, “What do you want?”

“Lauren, it's Brian; our visitors are here and dinner is ready.”

“Eat without me.”

“Lauren, they know that you’re here.  What are they going to think if you don’t join us for dinner?”

Lauren unlocked the door and opened it, “Do you know what happened to me, today?”

“Yes, but I’m the only one who knows.  Timmy, Morgan and Tanner haven’t any idea.  I’m not going to tell anyone what happened, so no one will know unless you tell them.  Now please come meet the visitors.  I’m sure you’ll like them.”

Lauren glared, “Okay, but don’t expect me to talk to them.”

Lauren ran a brush through her hair before she followed me down the stairs.  When we entered the dining room where Uncle Archie and Uncle Will were talking to Dad, both of the visitors stood.  “Uncle Archie and Uncle Will, this is our older sister, Lauren.”

This time it was Archie who applied the charm as he was shaking Lauren’s hand, “Brian, if all of the girls in this hick town are as pretty as your two sisters, we may never leave.”

Lauren grinned, “Timmy was right.  You two do look like movie stars.”

Dinner was fun and Lauren must have forgotten that she wasn’t going to talk.  We were finishing dinner when the phone rang and Timmy went to answer it.  “This is Timmy Benson, how may I help you. … Hey, how are you? … I don’t believe we have anyone here by that name.  Would you spell the name for me? … Just a minute Uncle Derek, I’ll see if she wants to talk to you.”

Timmy came into the dining room giggling, “Lauren, there's this guy on the phone who sounds like he’s drunk.  He says his name is Derek.  He wants to talk to you.”

Lauren looked at the parents and Dad nodded his head one time to let her know it was okay.  “Timmy, I’ll take the call in the den.  Would you please hang up the phone in the kitchen when I‘m on?”

Tanner and I started to clear the table and Timmy and Morgan did likewise.  We were just about finished with the dishes when Lauren came into the kitchen.  “Brian, Derek would like to talk to you.  I think you might want to take it in the den.”

As I was going to the den, my mind was all over the planet.  ‘What in the world would Derek want to talk to me about that I need to take it in the den?’

To be continued...

 Editor's Notes: I am getting the idea that there is always going to be some sort of mystery at the end of chapters.  I wonder what Derek wants to talk to Brian about. 

I wonder if Lauren is feeling better, now that she has talked with Derek. 

Brian seems a little out of sorts as well.  I can't say that I blame him, though.  He has been under a lot of strain, lately.  Everyone seems to be loading him down with responsibilities. 

Let's hope that things will get better soon.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 04/02/10