The Mark and the Mole
by: E Walk

(© 2007 by the Author)
 

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Chapter 8
Now a Granddad and a Twin?

 

Mike and I went downstairs and Chad was holding his two sons and singing to them.  It was a very touching scene.  Chad looked at us, “The coffee is ready and the boys have been changed and fed.  Go get your coffee and then you can watch the boys while I shower and get the residue from last night off of me.”

 

Mike caught on that something was bothering Chad, “Okay son, spill.  What residue?” 

 

Chad looked at us with tears, “I was sleeping last night and Kevin was gently rubbing up and down my penis through my briefs, and I creamed them good.  I am so embarrassed.”

 

I went and took Jon and put him in his bassinette and then did likewise with  Mark.  I sat down and held Chad.  “Son, I am sure that Kevin just was fascinated by what he saw.  If you would like, Mike and I will visit with Kevin, but it would be best if the two of you could come to some understanding about what is and what isn’t acceptable.”

 

“Dads, I am so confused.  I liked what Kevin was doing, but I also don’t think I could ever be in a long term relationship with him.  I need to think about the boys and how they might feel.”

 

Mike stepped in, “Chad, go take care of the residue, as you called it.  Then wake my nephew and tell him to get his butt in gear.  We will be leaving in an hour for Iowa City.”

 

By the time Chad and Kevin returned, everyone had assembled for the breakfast that Mike and I had fixed.  As we were finishing eating, Mrs. Long looked at Chad, “Chad, before you start to complain, I promise that we won’t let anything happen to the boys while you are gone.  After all,  they are going to be my grandsons.  Now get ready to go.”

 

Chad was almost at a loss for words, but he answered, “Okay, but don’t spoil them.  They have to learn to take care of themselves.”

 

I thought Grandmother was going to break out laughing, but she held it in somehow, “Chad, we will be gone approximately nine hours, if your car can make it.  How spoiled can the rug rats get in that short amount of time?”

 

Chad looked like he wanted to say something, but thought better of it.

 

The trip to Iowa City was interesting, to say the least.  Chad was constantly complaining about the way everyone was treating him and his two sons.  “You people realize that the boys are my responsibility and I need to find a way to take care of them and I don’t want any charity.”

 

After he made that pronouncement, everyone was somewhat subdued.  The rest of the trip was quiet until we pulled up at Grandmother’s house.  She took charge, “Okay men, let’s get the things I need, and get out of here quickly, so I can go back and spoil my great great grandsons.  Chad, don’t even think about talking back to me.”

 

Chad and Kevin were helping Grandmother get the things she wanted when the phone rang,  I picked up the receiver, “This is the Henrietta Walker residence. … Oh, hi Dad, let me get Grandma for you.”

 

I went and got Grandmother and she picked up the phone, “Bryce, what’s the problem?  I hope you aren’t asking for money. … We are packing my things so I can move back to Des Moines, and take care of my two great great grandsons while their boy daddy goes back to school. … Well, come on over and we can talk, but Chad is chomping at the bit to get back to his sons. … See you in fifteen minutes.”

 

The guys had loaded my van, Grandmother’s trunk and back seat and Chad’s jalopy with the things Grandmother wanted to take with her.  My father pulled up in his Lexus sedan.  Grandmother went on the offensive, “Bryce, what is so important that you just had to talk to me?”

 

Dad looked as if he had been hit by lightening, “Mother, Anna has left me.  She said she never wanted to see me again.  She said she was going to get a divorce and marry Ted Thompson.”

 

Grandmother was shaking her head, “Bryce, how could you be so blind?  Anna has been diddling around with Mr. Thompson for years.  Where did you think she went when she would take her three week mental health vacation each year.  What kind of strings did she attach to her departure?”

 

Dad looked sheepishly, “She cleaned out the joint checking account, but didn’t take her Camry or anything from the business account.  She also said that she wanted nothing further to do with the house, or me.”

 

I was surprised when Chad spoke up, “Granddad Walker, you need to get away for a few days and make a plan as to how you are going to handle this situation.  Dads, there's a room at your house for Granddad to hang out until he decides what to do, isn’t there?”

 

Grandmother spoke up, “Everyone listen to me, Chad has made a very good suggestion.  Bryce, take the two guys with you and get the things that you would need to stay with Mike and Doug for several days and we can make some plans.  Perhaps they could also take the Camry, because I don’t think Chad’s jalopy will make it to Des Moines.  We will buy the Camry for him so that I know that my great great grandsons will be safe.”

 

That was all Chad could handle and he started to get tears in his eyes.

 

I was so proud of Dad.  This was so uncharacteristic of him, but he said, “Come on Grandson, let’s get your new car and my things.  I want to see my two great grandsons.”

 

Dad, Kevin and Chad left for Dad’s house.  I was concerned, but Grandmother said, “Guys, I think the true Bryce is about to surface.  He has been subjugated by Doug’s mother for far too long.  Doug, your father is a really good man, but your Mother ruled the roost in your house.  I am so proud that you didn’t let her get you down and walk all over you.  Your meeting Mike, when you did, was such a blessing.”

 

We were having a cup of tea when Dad returned with the two boys, and Chad had tears in his eyes, “Granddad, I can’t take the Camry.  I can’t pay you for it.  I don’t have any money.”

 

Dad wasn’t about to be put off.  “Grandson, we’ll talk about that later.  Right now I want you to transfer the things out of that junk heap of yours, so we can get out of here.  I want to see my great Grandsons.”

 

Kevin and Chad left and made the transfer of the items.  When they came back, I was surprised at the assertive attitude that Dad had assumed, “Okay, here is what we are going to do.  We are going to take Mother’s and my things to Mike and Doug’s house, and then we are going to go get the boys and take them home, so that we can get settled into a routine and get Chad enrolled in school.  Mother and I will take care of the boys during the day and the rest of you can take care of them at night.”

 

Chad was about to say something, but Kevin put his hand over Chad’s mouth and whispered, “Chad, this will work out just fine.”

 

After Grandmother locked the house, we left Iowa City and traveled in a convoy to Mike’s and my house in West Des Moines.  Kevin rode with Chad, I drove Grandmother’s car and Dad and Mike each were in a vehicle by themselves.  The guys quickly unloaded the cars and it was apparent that Chad was getting pretty antsy to get back to his boys.

 

Mike called his Mother, “Mom, we will be having one more for dinner; we will be departing for home right after dinner.  Doug and I need to get back to work, and we need to get Chad enrolled in school.  We’ll explain more when we get there.”

 

We took two vehicles to Ames, since four of us had things there.  That way we could get the twins and our belongings back to Des Moines without any problem.  Chad was very quiet during dinner and the twins were sleeping, Mike’s Dad surprised us all, “Chad, you seem preoccupied.”

 

“Granddad Walker, I was just thinking about my brothers and sisters.  I especially wonder what is happening to my twin brother, Tim.  My parents have probably been watching him like a Hawk.  I have probably made his life miserable by doing what I did.  Could we call my old home and see if we can talk to Tim, or one of the other children after we do the dishes?”

 

Dad Long answered for everyone, “Chad, we’ll take care of the dishes.  Why don’t you take Mike and have him call, since your parents don’t know him. Mike, when someone answers, just say, ‘This is Doctor Long, may I speak to Timothy Harmon.’  That way whoever answers won’t know if you are a M.D. or a PhD.”

 

Kevin went and got the portable phone and handed it to Chad so he could dial.  After Chad had dialed, he handed the phone to Mike.

 

Mike put the phone on speaker.  “This is Mr. Harmon speaking, what is it that you want?”

 

Everyone was watching, “Mr. Harmon, this is Doctor Michael Long, might speak with a Timothy Harmon?”

 

“Why would you want to speak to that queer sinner.  We found him in bed with another guy and they were naked.  I am appalled at what they were doing.  Tim is under house arrest.  So have you been seeing him too?  Or perhaps, you are the person who corrupted him.”

 

“Excuse me, Mr. Harmon, I live in Des Moines, and have never met Timothy.  I was calling to check on his plans for continuing his education after high school.”

 

Everyone at the table looked at Mike and had a look of ‘where did that come from?’

 

Mike continued, “Mr. Harmon, now, may I please talk to Timothy?”

 

There was silence for several minutes, before we heard the receiver being picked up, “This is Tim.”

 

“Tim, you don’t know me.  My name Mike Long, and we have captured your brother Chad.   I assume that your parents are probably standing there listening, and if so, please just say yes sir, or no sir.”

 

“Yes sir, and thank you.”

 

“Tim, I have a young man here who wants very much to talk to you.  Please respond as if this a business call about college so your parents don’t realize who you are talking to.”

 

Mike handed the phone to Chad, “Hi bro, listen to me.  I am fine.  I have two wonderful Dads, a great Grandmother and some wonderful grandparents.  I gather that things are not going too well for you.  I am just overwhelmed by what has been happening.  Tim, I am going to put my other Dad on and he will give you our home phone number.  Please call us at the first opportunity you get.  I love you.”

 

“Tim, this is Doug Walker.  Please write this number down and say that it is The Dean of Admissions at Drake University.  The number is 515-682 -8120.  Now, here is your brother.”

 

“Tim, please call us if things get too bad.  My new Dads and the rest of my new family will do everything we can to help you.”

 

Tim played his role perfectly, “Thank you sir, I will sir.  I will get back with you as soon as school starts.  Thanks for your offer.”  Tim hung up.

 

Chad stood and started to clear the table and do the dishes.  Kevin and Kendra went to help him.  When the dishes were done, Chad came in and asked, “Dads, can we go home now?  There are so many things we need to do.”

 

Chad hugged everyone as he was leaving.  He took Jon to the car which he had already warmed up and then took Mark and buckled him.  Michael decided to ride with Chad so he wouldn’t get lost.  That meant I was stuck with my father and my grandmother.  I could tell that Dad was becoming attached to Chad and his two sons.  Heck, who wouldn’t?

 

When we arrived at Mike’s and my house, the phone was blinking, saying we had messages.  Mike stopped to pick up the phone and put it on speaker,  All we heard was, “Chad, please help me, Dad and Mother are planning to send me to a camp to make me realize the sins of my ways.  I am at Robby’s house.  Please call me.  I feel so helpless.  The number here is 608-5920.”

 

Chad immediately grabbed the phone and dialed the number, “This is Chad Walker, may I please speak to Tim Harmon.  I understand that he is there.”

 

Tim came on.  All we could hear was a pleading voice, “Chad, what can I do?  I do not want to go to some conversion center.  I am who I am and they can’t take that away from me.”

 

Chad reacted immediately, “Timbo, I am going to put my new Granddad on.  He is motioning like he has an idea.  Please don’t do anything drastic;  we will do everything within our power to help you. Now stay cool and here is Granddad.”

 

I was surprised at the finesse with which Dad handled the call.  “Timothy, do you know where Heister Street is?”

 

“Yes sir, That is not too far from where I am right now.”

 

Dad calmly said, “Timothy, I want you to go there and go to the back door of 702.  There is a key to the back door under the second flower pot on the right.  Please go into the house and stay there until we can come, tomorrow.  Please do not let anyone, and I mean anyone, know where you are.  Tim do did you understand what I said?”

 

“Yes sir!”

 

Dad continued, “Tim, there is plenty to eat in the house.  When I or we get there tomorrow, we will come in through the garage.  In the meantime, do not open the doors for anyone, and I don’t want you to talk on the phone.  I have never met your parents, but I already know that I don’t like or trust them.  Now, what is happening with your other brothers and sisters?”

 

Tim answered matter of factly, “Sir, they were being treated like prisoners also.”

 

Dad was angry, “Tim, we’ll take care of that problem later.  Now, get your butt to my house.”

 

“Yes, Mr. Walker.”  Tim answered, as he hung up.

 

Grandmother started to lay into Dad.  “Bryce, what are you doing?  This house can only accommodate so many people.  We already have more than tripled the number of occupants, and now your are planning to quadruple the number and perhaps even more.  Chad, what does Tim look like?”

 

Chad started to laugh, “Grandmother, you sure don’t shift gears easy, do you?  Tim and I are identical twins, but he has been conditioning his body.  I am a wimp compared to him.” 

 

To be continued...

 

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Editor's Notes:

 

I must say that this story is coming along nicely. It looks like Chad and Tim might just be reunited.  I think that will be wonderful. The funny thing is that I somehow think the other kids in his family will need to be rescued as well. This could get very interesting.  More and more with each new chapter, we come to love the people in this story.  I love the way that Uncle Ed tells stories.  It is like we get to meet new members of our family and they are always people we fall in love with. Thank you so much, Uncle Ed for another wonderful chapter of a wonderful story. I'm ready for more, NOW!!!

 

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

 

 

 

Posted: 02/08/08