The Fremont Saga
by: E Walk
(© 2009-2011 by the Author)
 

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Chapter 54

The Entertainers

On the ride back to the chalet, Dad suggested, “I think it would be best to not say anything about what’s happening.  There are enough of our people who have no idea exactly what is happening, so it would be best to keep it that way.  If we were to talk about what’s happening too much, the unknowing might get suspicious and start asking questions.”

When we went to the slopes, we still were asked a myriad of questions, but we answered the questions with partial truths.  Timmy was by far the best evader.  He would plead that he didn’t understand what was happening.  In fact, the four of us found that the less we said the better it was for us.  People lost interest when we did not have a big story to tell.

The dynamics of the chalet were definitely changing.  People who were supposed to be couples weren’t couples any longer.  On the other hand, people who weren’t supposed to be together were.  Robert Rosenberry and Robbie were together all the time, as were Vicky and Ricky.  Even more puzzling was the fact that wherever John went, Tanner was sure to follow.  Louie and Merry seemed to be spending an awful lot of time together.  In fact, about the only two teenagers who weren’t connected were Kristina and me. 

Kristina told me that she had a boyfriend back in Amsterdam.  The situation was perfect for working on some paintings when I wasn’t running, eating, skating or skiing.

We four skaters were caught in the proverbial crunch.  We only had three days to get ready for the show. Mr. Menninger was going to have a choreographer and a costume designer available at the Palladium each morning, to help us; we tried very hard to let as few people as possible know what we were doing.  We wanted it to be a surprise.  We certainly didn’t want to create any undue impressions that we were as good as the professionals.”

Dad made sure that we were at the Palladium at nine o’clock on Thursday morning.  We met the choreographer and costume designer.  They were a couple who had won some major awards for skating.  Mr. Menninger introduced them as Otto and Georgette Cartier.

They were the perfect match for us.  They had some suggestions, but couldn’t do much to help us as far as routines in such a short time.  Georgette suggested “Let’s go find some costumes for you.  That will help you keep your focus on what you are doing and get the spectators involved.”

When the skaters started to arrive for open skating, Georgette took us to a room filled with costumes.  She talked to us the entire time we were looking around for costumes to wear.  She finally stopped, “People, this is a waste of time.  We’re not going to have any costumes that will fit Timothy.  Everyone line up; I’m going to take your measurements and make you costumes.  They won’t be the fanciest costumes, but they will get the spectators into the acts.  I’ll have them ready by tomorrow morning, so you can try them on and I can make adjustments before the show on Saturday.”

As we were going to the chalet, Timmy commented, “I don’t think I want to be a skater, if everyday is like today.”

Dad chuckled, “Timmy, being a good skater takes a lot of work.  You wouldn’t have time to do anything fun.  Have fun doing the show on Saturday, regardless of what happens.  There are going to be some very good skaters there.

We got back to the chalet in time for lunch.  As luck would have it, I was in front of Vicky in line to get food I turned to her; I see that British girls don’t waste time finding a new love interest.”

“Brian, that was cruel.  Ricky is fun to be with.  I thought we agreed that we were too young to limit our attention to one person.  Don’t tell me you’re jealous because I’m paying more attention to Ricky than I am you.”

“Actually, I’m relieved that you are focusing your attention on Ricky, instead of Tanner.  I’ll probably never see the Rosenberrys again and I live in the same house as Tanner.”

During the afternoon while we were skiing, Uncle Archie motioned to me, “Brian, you need to make sure that Timmy, Morgan, Kristina and you don’t overexert yourselves.  I had a call from Mr. Menninger.  He reported that your costumes are ready for you try on in the morning.  Georgette would like you to be at the Palladium at eight, in the morning, to see how many alterations, if any, need to be done on the costumes.”

I met with the other three skaters and told them what was happening.  Timmy insisted that he wanted to run and eat breakfast before we went for the fittings.

After running, and eating breakfast, we were preparing to leave the chalet.  Uncle Archie was the designated driver, since he had business he had to do in town.  Tanner squinted his eyes, “You four are up to something.  Are we going to find out what you’ve been doing everyday when you've been gone during the morning?  You’ve been missing some great skiing.”

Timmy answered, “Our bodies aren’t as big and strong as yours, so we’re getting our exercise by taking skating lessons from the Cartiers.  I finally learned to go backwards on skates.   I’ll probably never be a good skater, but it’s fun as long as I’m not always falling on my rear end.”

The outfits that Georgette had made needed only minor modifications, which she did while we were practicing what Otto wanted us to do. Finally I had it, “Otto, there is no way that I’m going to be able to remember all the moves that you want me to do.  The others only have to remember the moves for one routine and I know that I’m going to get the two routines confused.”

Timmy started to giggle, “Watch out everyone, Brian’s little pea brain is on overload and is getting ready to explode.  We better go hide before we are covered with pea blood.”

Timmy took off and I skated after him and caught and threw him in the air not thinking of the consequences if I didn’t catch him.  Fortunately, I caught him cleanly and held him over my head and started turning.

Otto and Georgette started to applaud.  Otto had Morgan join us, “Das vas vhat ve needed.   A big bang finish for you act.  Morgan, you take Timmy’s feet like dis vhile Brian holds Timmy’s upper body and Timmy makes a final flip and you all do a split and go to a handstand to a bow.  The timing is going to be critical, but I know you three can pull it off.”

On the way home, Uncle Archie mentioned, “Mr. Menninger is planning to present Mr. Strasser’s reward at the start of the second half of the show.  I had the bank draw up a check from Uncle Nappy’s funds, for you to present at the same time to the manager of the fund for the homeless shelter for children.  I think it would make a big impression if Timmy were to present those funds.  Kristina and Morgan could challenge the spectators to match the reward, and the grant.  I’ve already cleared the activities with Mr. Strasser.”

We arrived at the lodge as everyone was finishing their lunch.  Uncle Archie had called ahead and had the staff save lunch for us.  Needless to say, a number of the gang stopped by to see why we were so late.  Timmy had the answer for us, “Uncle Archie had some business to take care of.  What did you want us to do?  Walk up the mountain.  Not me.  I’m too tired.”

Morgan, Timmy and I made the most of our last afternoon on the slopes, since Mr. Menninger had informed us that we would be having a full dress rehearsal of the program on Saturday afternoon.  To make it worse, Otto and Georgette wanted to work with the four of us in the morning.

At dinner, Uncle Will announced, “We were able to get complimentary tickets to the ice skating competition tomorrow night.  I understand that they’re having a special presentation.  It is also the last evening that the Bensons will be here.  We’ll plan a big bash after the show, here at the chalet, since the flights are scheduled during the wee hours of the night.  Archie is working on the logistics and will advise the travelers what times your flights will be leaving.  It is going to mess with all of the competitors and travelers who came for the competition trying to leave at the same time.”

Saturday morning started like any other morning.  Timmy had us running and our group was even larger.  After breakfast, Uncle Will announced, “Brian, Timmy, Morgan and Kristina, I’ll take you to the Palladium so you can say goodbye to the Strassers.  They want you to stay for lunch.”

It was almost ten o’clock when we arrived at the Palladium.  When we entered, the facility looked so different.  Timmy frowned, “The pointers that were to remind us of what I was to do, when, are all covered up.”

Mr. Menninger overheard Timmy’s comment, “That’s why we’re having a walk through.  Once you get the feel of the ice with the decorations, you’ll feel much better.  Don’t try to do your routines in their entirety.  If you do, you could hurt yourself.  Just go slowly through what you’re going to do tonight.”

I heard some of the competitors comment, “Where did they find the Benson family?  They sure aren’t going to add any excitement to the competition, nor is the Brian and Kristina act.  Their parents must have paid for them to be in the show.”

I looked to see who was making those comments and it was the reigning world female champion.  I ignored what the lady was saying and we did our walk throughs.  When we were eating lunch, the competitors ignored us.  After lunch we were watching the competitors go through their routines.  When it came time for Timmy, Morgan and me, both Timmy and Morgan fell and when Kristina and I were doing our routine, we were totally out of sync.  The competitors were shaking their heads.

After a so so dinner, everyone started to get dressed.  Mr. Strasser came to the four of us, “The competitors have requested that you not change in the same room with them.  The men are reluctant to change in front of Timmy.”

Timmy giggled, “They’re just afraid that I’m bigger than they are.  I guess they don’t want to change our diapers.  That’s okay; we’ll throw our dirty diapers in their dressing rooms.”

That encounter was just what we needed to loosen us up.  I suddenly realized that we had nothing to lose.  “People, we aren’t professionals like rest of the competitors.  Let’s go out there and have fun and help the audience have a good time.”

Morgan, Timmy and I put on our costumes and went to the competitor viewing area to watch men’s free style competition.  The guys were all good but we were very critical of the footwork and jumps and decided that they each had made some mistakes.”

After the men’s ribbons were awarded, the announcer announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, you are in for a pleasant surprise.  We have the three youngest members of a family from the United States who will perform for you.  Sit back and enjoy.”

When the music started, we made our entrance and it was as if the spectators weren’t there.  I was concentrating on reading Timmy’s and Morgan’s minds.  As we were nearing our final maneuvers, Morgan almost slipped, but recovered so that Timmy’s final flip went as scheduled and we completed our routine without any glaring mistakes.

The spectators were standing and flowers were being thrown onto the ice.  We went to pick up some of them to acknowledge the spectators while the others were picked up by young people from the local area who had been enlisted to do the cleanup 

The pairs skating competition followed our exhibition.  When we went to the competitors waiting area, the atmosphere was much, much nicer than earlier in the day.  It was as if everyone wanted to talk to us.  I thought to myself, ’People can be so fickle sometimes.  We weren’t good enough for them, earlier, now they want to meet us.’

After the pairs competition awards had been made, the announcer got everyone’s attention, “Ladies and gentlemen, I direct your attention to the platform at center ice, for some special presentations.  Here is the organizer of this event, Mr. Menninger.”

Mr. Menninger took the microphone, “Ladies and gentlemen, we want to thank you for coming, tonight.  I think you will have to agree that we’ve seen some exciting skating this evening.  At this time, I would like to introduce Mr. Fredrich Strasser with a special presentation.”

Mr. Strasser took the microphone, “I have here a check for $10,000 Swiss francs made out in the name of Mr. Brian Benson.  Brian, whom you have seen skate earlier, was responsible for saving the lives of my daughter and my two grandchildren during the blizzard earlier in the week.  Please welcome, Mr. Brian Benson.”

“Thank you, Herr Strasser.  It gives me great pleasure to accept this reward on behalf of all of the people who were involved in the rescue.  I am hereby turning the funds over to the Police Mission, to feed and provide assistance to the homeless children of your fair city.  To complement that amount, here is my brother, Timmy Benson.”

Timmy was so calm, “Thank you, Brian.  In the memory of Grandpa Nappy Lafontaine, my brothers and I are contributing a like amount, in memory of Napoleon Lafontaine.  We challenge you people who are enjoying the great performances tonight to match the amount of one or both of these gifts.”

After the intermission, I saw the ushers passing boxes in the stands.  I was to find out what they were doing, later.  I had to go change costumes.  When I returned from the changing room, Katrina was pacing. “Brian, I’m getting nervous.”

“Katrina, it’s a little late, now.  Block out the peripheral noise except for the music.  We’ve nothing to gain or lose like the competitors.  We’re doing it for fun.”

When the music started, we breezed through our routine without any noticeable flaws.  The fact that we could talk to each other helped to keep us calm.  The audience did what they had done when Timmy, Morgan, and I had skated.  I finally was able to locate where the people from the lodge were seated.  Heck, they had perfect seats on center ice about half way up the arena 

When Katrina and I exited the ice, I figured we would be permitted to change and join our people, but Mr. Menninger had other plans.  When the women’s champion was announce, Mr. Menninger lined Timmy up first and gave him the Swiss flag to carry.  Some people complained, because Timmy wasn’t Swiss.

Mr. Menninger solved that problem, “Timmy owns Chalet Lafontaine and therefore is a citizen in Switzerland.”

When the contestants were standing behind Timmy, Mr. Menninger announced, “The generous crowd in attendance tonight more than doubled the funds for the homeless children.  In addition, the competitors made significant contributions, so the fund will now be able to provide assistance for the hungry children of Zurich.”

When we finally walked off the ice, our gang was waiting for us, since we were to depart for home, shortly.  I don’t know who figured out the arrangements, but they had to have spent a great deal of time, since we had passengers who needed to be dropped off in Paris, Amsterdam and London.  Uncle Will was going to take care of those people, with the brown horses.  Uncle Archie was taking the Ithaca gang, and Jaime and Shamus were going to take the rest to our homes in El Dorado, Kansas for the Rosenberrys, Stanford, California for Louie and Los Angeles for Merry.
 

We had dropped the Freemont people first, except for me.  Dad decided that there would be less confusion if I were to escort the people to where they were going.  When Jaime and Shamus dropped me off, that’s exactly what it was, since my belongings had been unloaded on the first stop.

As I watched the carriage with the white horses disappear into the sky, I realized that the Fremont Saga was ending, but there is still much of the story to be told. 

Don’t be surprised to see Timmy, Brian and Tanner in another story at a later date.      

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:  As with all of E Walk's stories, when one of the stories end, we still want more and more.  The people he brings into our lives become family, and we love them very much. 

I sort of think of this as being a little vacation, but I am sure we will be seeing more of our friends.  I certainly hope so.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 01/21/11