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

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Chapter 25 

It Hit’s the Fan

After the dishes were done, Morgan and Timmy were lying on the living room floor playing a game of Sorry with Tanner and Ricky.  I went to get my easel and was painting when Lauren came down the stairs screaming.  “My phone is dead and my computer isn’t working.”

Dad looked up, “Miss, I thought I made it clear that you have lost all of your privileges after the way you treated Timmy.”

The doorbell rang Lauren went to answer the door, “Doreen, what are you doing here?”

“We came to see Tanner and Brian.”

Lauren brought the visitors into the living room, “Brian and Tanner, the Wards would like to talk to you.  What did you two do this time that they would make them want to talk to you?”

Timmy looked at the young woman and sent a message.  Is that the girl we helped today?

Both Tanner and I nodded in the affirmative.

Timmy jumped up, “Hi, I’m Timmy Benson.  Do you know my Daddy and Mother?”

Dad answered, “Timmy, we know Doctor and Mrs. Ward very well.  Lou and Helene, it’s good to see you.  Hi Doreen.  Let me introduce everyone.”  Dad went around the room.

After the introductions, Dad motioned, “Perhaps, we should move this conversation into the office, so we can talk freely.  Timmy, you need to make sure that we we’re not disturbed.”

Timmy giggled, “Yes, boss.”

Dad added, “ Lou and Helene, I gather you would like to speak to Brian and Tanner.”

Doreen answered, “Yes sir, if you wouldn’t mind.”

Tanner and I followed Mother and Dad and the Wards into the office.  When the door was closed, Doreen hugged both Tanner and me, “Guys, I wanted to thank you in person for what you did for me today.  Had you been much later, I would have been defiled.”

Doctor Ward asked, “Guys, I’m curious as to how you knew where to find Doreen and that man.  Just so you know, that man was my brother.  He will no longer be residing in the Fremont area.  We saw where he had taken her, and it is not exactly on the beaten track.”

Tanner looked at me, so I answered, “Doctor and Mrs. Ward, Tanner and I were just lucky enough to be in a place that we could discern what might be happening, and fortunately we were able to save Doreen from being compromised.”

Doctor Ward started to laugh, “Brian, you do have a way with words.  I noticed you were working on a painting when we arrived.  I understand that you've done quite well with your paintings.”

I shrugged my shoulders, “Sir, again I just happen to be in the right place at the right time and got lucky.”

“Son, me thinks that thou aren’t being exactly truthful.”

Dad stood, “Let’s move the conversation back to the living room.”

Doreen was walking with Tanner and me as we went into the living room, “Guys, I assume you both have dates for the dance on Saturday?”

I grinned, “Yep, we have dates coming the whole way from London, England to go to the dance with us.”

Doreen stopped, “You’re kidding, aren’t you?”

Tanner chuckled, “Nope, what Brian said was the absolute truth.  Do you need a date?”

“Yep, I just broke up with my boyfriend when I found out that he was sleeping with every girl in town that would go to bed with him.  Do you know anyone who might be available and who wouldn’t try to get into my pants?”

I started to laugh, “Doreen, I didn’t know that this was how junior girls talked.”

Doreen feigned innocence, “After what you guys stopped what was  happening today.  I can talk how I want.  I’m still a little rattled by the experience.”

I sent Tanner a message, How about Ricky?

Tanner arched his eyebrows, Why not?

I decided that it was worth a try, “Doreen, do you know Ritchie Alvarez?”

“I know him from school.  Why do you ask?”

“The young man who Dad introduced as Ricky is the one and the same.”

Doreen looked at Tanner, “Tanner, Brian’s kidding, right?”

“Nope, Brian’s cold stone sober.  Uncle Archie and Uncle Will took him and Justin and made them look like they’re fashion models.”

“Do you think he’d be interested?”

I shrugged my shoulders, “Well, there’s only one way to find out.  Let’s go ask him.  If he’s busy we could always ask Justin to escort you even though he’s already graduated.”

Doreen looked confused, “Do all you people live here?  Where do you all sleep?”

Tanner shrugged his shoulders, “We’re managing to get along just fine.  Some of the people are only here temporarily.”

“Where are your visitors from England going to stay?”

I put out my hands, “Here, of course.  We haven’t worked out the details yet.  Let’s go talk to Ricky.”

When we came out of the study, I noticed Lauren was sitting there and I could tell she had all sorts of questions, but I ignored her, “Timmy, where’s Ricky?”

“He went downstairs.  He said he needed to do some schoolwork.”

“Timmy, you’re younger than I am, would you please go inform him that his presence is required in the kitchen?”

Timmy frowned, “Could you please talk in words that I can understand?  I guess you want me to tell him you want to talk to him.”

The six adults were laughing.

Tanner and I took Doreen into the kitchen to await the arrival of Ricky. 

When Ricky and Timmy arrived, I looked at Ricky, “Senor Ricardo Alvarez do you have a date for the dance on Saturday night?”

“Brian, you know I don’t.  Why are you asking?”

I looked at Doreen, “Well mademoiselle, what do you think?  Would you be amenable to having Senor Alvarez ask you to go to the dance?”

Doreen sniffled, “I don’t know.  He’s so good looking that all the other girls would flirt with him and I’d be left like a wall flower.”

Timmy had been listening, “Ricky, ask the lady to the dance, would you?”

Ricky was into what was happening and was playing the game to the hilt.  He got down on a knee in front of Doreen, “Mademoiselle Ward, would you do me the honor of accompanying me to the Homecoming Dance on Saturday night?”

Doreen giggled, “Senor, I’m not sure that my parents will permit me to go out with the likes of you.  We’d better go check with them to see what they say.”

I expected Ricky to rebel, but he stood, “Very well, mademoiselle.  We’ll do this in the traditional way.” 

We followed Ricky into the living room and he knelt before Doctor and Mrs. Ward.  When it was quiet, he started, “Madame and Monsieur Ward, I request permission to take your fair daughter to the Homecoming Dance on Saturday night.”

Doctor Ward answered, “Son, we’ll pay you to take her to dance on Saturday.  It will save us from having headaches from hearing her complain all week about not having a date for the dance.  I don’t suppose you know anyone who would be willing to take her ugly sister, who will be coming home from college this weekend, to the dance?”

Ricky asked, “Are you talking about Danielle?”

“Yep, she be the one.”

“Timmy, go get Justin, please.  Tell him his presence is required.”

“Yes, master.  What are you trying to do, make me tired?”

Timmy returned with Justin and Ricky started in on him, “Jus, Madame and Monsieur Ward have a proposition for you.”

Doctor Ward laughed, “Justin, we’ll pay you to take our daughter Danielle to Homecoming Dance this week.”

Justin started to chuckle, “Why are you arranging for someone to take Danielle to the Homecoming Dance?  She was last year’s Homecoming Queen.  Surely she has lots of dates.  Besides she and I didn’t exactly move in the same circles.  I’m sure she wouldn’t even consider being seen in public with me.”

Mrs. Ward grinned, “I’ll tell you what, if she won’t go with you I will.  Why don’t we call her right now and see if she would be receptive to the idea of going with you.”

Mrs. Ward pulled out a cell phone, “Hey Danny, it's Mom. … Your Dad and I found you a date for Saturday night. His name is Justin Butcher.  He’s staying at the Benson’s house and would be willing to accompany you to the dance.  I told him if you wouldn’t go with him, I would.  You need to see him.  He looks like a movie star.”

Mrs. Ward turned to us, “Danny wants to know if Ben is coming home for the dance?”

I answered, “I’m not sure if he and Maria are planning to come or not.  I’ll have to ask.”

“Brian’s going to check to see if Ben and his girl friend are coming. … Okay, I’ll tell Justin that you would be delighted to go to the dance with him, … Here, you can talk to him and make arrangements.”

Justin was talking to the Danny person whom I had no idea who she was when the phone rang.  Lauren started to get up but Dad intervened, “Brian, please get the phone.”

“This is the Benson residence, This is Brian speaking.”

“Brian, I’ve been trying to get in touch with Lauren; is something wrong?”

“Hi Derek, Lauren’s just fine.  She’s been kind of busy.”

“Is there a problem?”

“Sort of.”

“I guess I can’t talk to her now, then?”

“No, it probably would not be advisable.  I’ll call you later.  Have a great game on Tuesday.  Hopefully one of our teams will lose so we don’t have to kill each other on Saturday.”

“Okay, give me a call and tell me what’s happening.”

“Will do.”

You could almost see the smoke coming out of Lauren’s ears but she couldn’t really say anything because the Wards were still there.

Finally the Wards left and Ricky escorted them to their car.  Dad turned to Tanner, “Son, I think you need to take your little brother and get him ready for bed.  Morgan, you do have school tomorrow.  Did you take your meds?”

Timmy answered, “She took her meds.  Come on everyone, we’re being told that they don’t want us to hear what’s going to happen.”

After everyone had departed except for Lauren, Dad, Mother and me, Dad stood, “Let’s move this discussion to the office.  Lauren, I don’t want to hear one word from you.  You were confined to your room, and what did you do?  You played Little Miss Priss the entire time the Wards were here when their visit had nothing to do with you.”

When we were in the office, Dad shut door and started to pace.  “Lauren, you’re acting more and more like your relatives on your mother’s side of the family, every day, and you are going to wind up in a pile of hurt if you don’t get your act together.  I want neither you or Brian to say a word, because your Mother and I will be telling you things that we hoped we would never have to tell you.”

I had already heard Dad’s story and thought to myself.  Mother’s story surely can’t be any worse.  I’m going to synopsize what happened because there is no way that I could remember all of what Dad and Mother said.

They started with how Dad had found Grandmother and the financial shape she was in because of her children.  I don’t think they left any stone unturned because they even told us how Mother had been raped by her cousin.

Dad was saying, “Your Mother and I worked our asses off in the antique shop until we went to college.  We were fortunate that we were well paid for our endeavors.  Your Mother and I have built a good business, but we have pulled away from it because of Grandmother and the way you two girls have been acting.  Having a young son like Timmy also complicates our ability to travel.  Your Mother and I are not poor, but nor are we as rich as Lauren thinks we are.”

“Lauren, what you did to Timmy tonight is unpardonable.  You will not be going to school tomorrow or on Tuesday and you will not go to the football game on Tuesday.  What happens after that is up to you.  Your jealousy of the money that Brian, Timmy and Tanner have is your problem.  I can assure you that none of their money came from your Mother and me.  In fact, we may be needing to borrow some from Timmy.  Lauren, you may be excused, we would like to speak to Brian for a few minutes.”

After Lauren left, I lost it, “Dad and Mother, why did you feel compelled to share the sordid details of Mother’s early life?”

Mother came and put her hand on my shoulder, “Son, you know more about your dad’s and my past than anyone.  Perhaps it will help you to be a better Chief Wizard.  We’re hoping that the information we shared tonight will help Lauren realize that money isn’t everything.”

When I arrived in our room, Timmy was still awake, “Dad Brian, is something wrong.  You look as if you’ve been crying.”

“Timmy, I’m just tired and I think I need to get some sleep.  You two look as if you’ve already had your shower, so I’ll take a quick one and then we can go to sleep.”

When I crawled into bed, Timmy backed into me, “Brian, please hold me.”

I was almost asleep, when I heard a voice, “Chief Wizard, I hope what you heard tonight and what happened today helped you realize that young woman as well as young men are going to need your help.  The fun is just beginning.”

I was awakened by Timmy, as per usual, “Brian, can we please go for a short run?”

“Go see if Uncle Archie and Uncle Will want to go and I’ll go check on Ricky and Justin.  We’ll meet in the kitchen in five minutes.”

It was the first time that the seven of us had gone running, so it was a new experience.  When we were passing by the area where we had found Doreen, Timmy sent a message, That’s where you found Doreen isn’t it.  That’s the same place you found me. 

Tanner and I nodded yes and Timmy stopped and put his finger to his lips and took off for the clump of trees.  The six of us followed.  We  were greeted by the sight of two little babies in a clothes basket.  Timmy turned around.  “Uncle Will, go get your car, we need to take these babies to the hospital.  They’re hungry.  We don’t have any baby food for them.”

Uncle Will and Uncle Archie, went to get their car, but fortunately had the foresight to call the police who responded immediately.  The babies were taken to the hospital after we were questioned by the police. 

When we arrived back at the house, Dad and Mother were given a bunch of instructions by Timmy, “Daddy and Mother, you gotta make sure the little babies are okay.  Take my card to pay, so they get the best care.  Daddy, you know my pin number, right?”

Tanner added, “Please don’t let them be placed into a foster care situation where there isn’t any love.”

As we were leaving for school, Dad took me aside, “Brian, your Mother and I don’t need this stress.  Do you realize the restrictions that Timmy and Tanner just posed?  We’ll do the best we can, but we’re only human and plus we have Lauren under house arrest so to speak.”

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:  Timmy is quite the hero, isn't he?

I have the feeling that Grandpa Nappy had something to do with this.

How can anyone abandon a tiny baby?  I can't imagine leaving a little child in a basket in the park, without at least making sure that someone would be told where the babies were. 

I hope we get a new chapter soon.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 05/28/10