The Mark and the Mole
by: E Walk

(© 2007 by the Author)
 

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Chapter 13
And Now There Are Thirteen

Since Elaine had no idea when anyone would be arriving, she had fixed big tossed salad and made some spaghetti sauce.  She looked at Mike and admonished, “You could have called and warned me that you were bringing an army.”

Fortunately, Frank had called her before we had departed from Iowa City and told her what was happening.  She welcomed the newcomers with open arms and hugged them lovingly.  Kevin and Kendra openly greeted them as well and made them feel welcomed.

Chad took charge, “Okay people, let’s get your things put away.  I will show you where you will be sleeping for now.”

He took the three girls to the last empty bedroom, which had a queen sized bed.  Chad hadn’t been in the room before, but he pretended like he had been in here lots of times.  “You three girls will need to share this large bed for now.   You have two dressers and look, there is a walk in closet and here is your bathroom.”

Chad hadn’t realized that this room had a private bathroom, but he reacted immediately.   “Just because you three will be the only people using this bathroom doesn’t mean you three can be slobs.  Grandmother will probably be inspecting the bedrooms and bathrooms daily.  Now go ahead and put your things away and then go see if you can help Aunt Elaine with anything.”

Kevin and Kendra were having a ball watching the real life drama as it was being played out live.  Kendra stayed to help the girls get their things put away.  Chad was still in control, “Okay, Billy and Bobby, let’s get you settled, why don't we.”  He took them to what was to have been his room.

“Billy and Bobby, you are going to be sharing this room with Tim and me.

Tim, would you help them put their clothes away, while Kevin and I do something about the bed.  The four of us can’t sleep in this bed very comfortably.”

Chad looked around and started to move the furniture.

Kevin looked at Chad, “Chad, if you would tell me what you are thinking, I could at least try to help.”

Chad was frustrated, “I’m trying to make it so we can take the mattress off of the box springs so we would have two beds.”

Kevin started to laugh, “Well, why didn't you say so?  Let’s take all of the little pieces of furniture out of here, except one night stand and a lamp and put them in the closet or in Jon and Mark’s room, temporarily.  Then we will put the two mattresses against the long wall and everyone will still be able to move about.”

Chad shrugged his shoulders, “It won’t look very neat, but we can live with that arrangement.  Come on Tim, give us a hand.”

The guys removed all of the unneeded furniture and it really looked pretty grim, but it would work.  Chad looked at Bobby, “Bobby, go ask Dad Mike if he has any extra pillows, sheets and a blanket.”

Mike told me he was appalled by what he saw when he walked into what was to have been Chad’s room.  Chad looked at him, “Dad Mike, I know it doesn’t look very neat, but we can figure out something better later.  If you have a couple extra pillows and sheets and another blanket, we will be just fine.  We have everything here or in the closet that we need.  We put the extra things in Mark and Jon’s room.”

Mike showed Chad where the linens were kept and Chad handed Mike  three pillows and grabbed two more sheets and a blanket.  He knocked on the girls' door and handed them one of the pillows and a pillowcase and went and made up the two beds.  Chad turned to his brothers, “I want you to go to the bathroom and get ready for dinner.  I need to go take care of Mark and Jon.”

Mike was thinking, ‘I think Doug and I have completely lost control of our lives.  What happened to the meek, mild Chad who arrived on Christmas Day.  I guess that was the way older brothers acted.  I rather remember being like that with Tommy.  I wonder where Tommy is tonight.  This is the first year that he hasn’t spent Christmas with our parents since Kim died.  In fact, I haven’t heard from him in several months.  I’ll have to ask Dad and Mom about him.’

Frank was driving as we made our way back to Des Moines, so I called the house on my cell phone.  Grandmother answered.  “Grandmother, we are about an hour out.  Why don’t you all go ahead and eat.  I’m sure the young people aren’t used to eating this late.  Frank and I will eat when we get there.”

Grandmother and Elaine made sure that everything was ready and Chad decided that there were too many people for everyone to eat in the dining room so he suggested that the people be divided into two groups; the guys would eat in the kitchen and the girls could eat in the dining room with the adults for tonight, until we could figure out a better arrangement.  He was helping Elaine and Kendra serve the food and the Harmon children’s eyes were opened wide when they saw what they were served.

Billy looked at Kendra with his big eyes, “You mean that is just for me?”

Kendra was a little surprised, but quickly responded, “Yep, and there is more if you are still hungry.”

The group was just finishing up, when Frank and I arrived and Chad jumped up and hugged us.  “Go get ready; I’ll bring your food as soon as you are seated.”

I looked around and it looked like everyone had cleared their plates and Chad announced, “Now, if you ate, then you can take your dishes and utensils to the kitchen.  We all need to help.  Tim, take Grandmother’s things, I’ll take Granddad’s; Kevin you get Dad Mike’s and Kendra, you get your Mother’s things, so they can sit and visit with your Dad and Dad Doug.”

Before Frank I knew what was happening, we were being served our food, and Chad even served the wine and topped off the other adults’ wine.  We could hear the young people in the kitchen talking as they were cleaning.

Chad came in and asked, “Dads, may I take the young people to the basement and turn on the television.  I’ll have Kevin turn it on, since I don’t know how, and hopefully there will be something they would like to watch.  We haven’t been permitted to watch television for I think it is about five years.  I hope there is something age appropriate.  Dads, maybe we should go get some videos that would be appropriate for them to watch.”

Chad left and returned shortly.  “We’re saved for tonight, because one of the stations is showing Mary Poppins.  The children are like glued to the television.”

Frank and I had finished eating and Chad pointed at us, “I want everyone over the age of 16 to go to the living room and relax.  Kendra and I will take care of the dishes and watch the twins.  Kevin and Tim are in charge of the mob downstairs.”

When we went into the living room, Grandmother was laughing, “What a difference a week makes.”

Frank looked at Elaine, “I really don’t feel like going to the Hobbs’ party or any other party tonight, for that matter.  Can we just stay home and spend the night with Kevin and Kendra.  After today, I realize we need to spend a lot more quality time with the children.  They are going to be leaving us soon enough.  Besides, we all have had a long day today.  Saturdays are supposed to be for relaxing and taking care of personal things.”

Chad and Kendra were standing, listening.  Chad spoke, “I agree Uncle Frank.  It has been a long day.  Kendra and I are going to go put Mark and Jon in their cribs and then I am going to go get Billy and Bobby ready for bed.  It is already past their bedtime.  Mr. and Mrs. Harmon expected them to be in bed by 7:30.”

The conversation stopped when Billy and Bobby arrived, “Chad, can we go to bed now.  We are tired.  The others are still watching the show.”

Chad was very positive, “Okay guys, come with Kendra and me.  We are going to put Jon and Mark to bed for the night.  Kendra will make sure that they are okay while we take a shower, so I can shampoo and condition your hair.  We need to get you each a haircut.”

Billy looked puzzled, “Chad, what is a shower?”

Chad didn’t hesitate, “Come with me and I’ll show you.”

When Chad had the boys in the shower, Bobby looked at Chad, “Chad, why is your dickey so much bigger than Tim’s?”

Chad was a little shook, but he responded, “I guess mine just grew a little faster than Tim’s.  I’m sure that both of you will be bigger than me someday.  Now, let’s get you both dried off, and I want you to put your pajamas on, brush your teeth and then go kiss our new Dads and Grandparents good night.  I’ll come and tuck you in after I make sure that Jon and Mark are okay.”

The two little guys did as they were told.  They came down and crawled on Mike’s and my laps and kissed us.  Grandmother was almost starting to cry when Billy hugged her and thanked her for having him come to visit.  Dad was having a hard time keeping his composure, as Bobby sat in his lap and hugged him.

Let’s face it, we were all emotional wrecks.  The only person who seemed to be handling the situation well was Chad.  He came down, dressed in his warm up suit and announced, “Okay you two 'younguns' give me a kiss and get your little bellies to bed and don’t wake Mark and Jon.”

I watched, as Billy and Bobby went to hug him.  He picked them both up and hugged them and smacked them on the bottom and sent them up the stairs.  As I was watching the scene unfold, I was thinking, ‘I don’t know how much more I can take today.’

Frank and Elaine decided they had, had enough drama for one day and asked, “Chad, would you please tell Kevin and Kendra that we are getting ready to leave.”

I was surprised when the twins didn’t seem to object.  I looked at them and I think they were as emotionally drained as the rest of us.  I watched as Chad hugged the four Wilkins as they left.  I heard him say, “I want to thank the four of you for everything that you have done for me and my family.  We will be forever indebted to you.”

After the Wilkins left, Chad went downstairs and told the other four Harmons that they needed to go get ready for bed.  The three girls came and thanked us for everything and disappeared.  Tim was rather lingering behind.  Chad asked, “Dads, could Tim take a shower in your room so he doesn’t awaken the boys?”

Mike spoke for the two of us, “We don’t mind, if he cleans up the mess that he might leave on the shower wall.”

Tim turned bright red, but he wasn’t at a loss for words, “Wait a minute.  I have decided to be celibate.”

Dad was almost doubled over, “Son, just because you are celibate doesn’t mean you don’t enjoy the art of self gratification.”

That was more than Grandmother could handle. “Too much information, Guys.  Tim, you'd better go do whatever it is that you need to do, quickly, because the ball in Times Square is going to be starting to fall in about twenty five minutes.”

Dad went to get a bottle of champagne and some glasses.  Tim joined us just before the ball started to drop.  Dad poured glasses of champagne, but Chad shook his head 'no' immediately.  Tim wasn’t so quick to respond.  He looked at Chad, but Chad gave no indication what he was thinking and Tim said, “No thank you, Granddad.”

The two guys were sitting on the floor as the ball started to drop and the silence was interrupted by the doorbell.  Chad jumped to his feet and went to answer the door.  He was greeted by the sight of two little guys about Billy and Bobby’s ages with four suitcases.  Chad looked out and saw a car pulling away.  Chad asked, “How may I help you two handsome young men?”

The older of the two boys said, “We came to live with our Uncle Mike.”

We could hear the conversation, “I’m Chad.  Do you gentlemen have names?”

The older boy answered for both of them, “I’m Jason, and he is Jeremy.”

Chad looked at Jeremy, “Jeremy, can’t you talk?”

Jeremy was almost crying, “Please mister, I have to go to the bathroom really bad.”

Chad was feeling really bad now, “Okay gentlemen, I’ll show to the bathroom, if you will just follow me.”

Jeremy yelled, “We know where it is.” as he dashed to the bathroom.

Chad came in and asked, “Dads, do you know a Jason and a Jeremy?  They seem to be familiar enough with your house to know where the lavatory was located and they called you Uncle Mike.”

Mike jumped out of the chair where he was sitting and went to meet the two boys as they came out of the bathroom.  He led them into the living room and when the boys saw me they hugged me.  “Hi, Uncle Doug.”

They also had met Grandmother before, but they had never met my Father.  After they hugged Grandmother, Mike made the rest of the introductions.  “Jason and Jeremy, that is Uncle Doug’s Daddy.”

The guys were very good about shaking hands and then Mike continued, “You already met Chad when he answered the door and the other young man is his brother Tim.  They are staying with us for the time being.”

Jeremy looked at the Tim and Chad, “They look alike, how are we going to be able to tell them apart?”

Mike had something on his mind, “We’ll worry about that later.  Where is your Daddy?”

Jason answered, “When he helped us to the door with our suitcases, he told us to watch until he got into the car, and then to ring the doorbell.  When Mr. Chad opened the door, he left.”  Chad nodded in agreement.

Jason pulled a letter out of his pocket, “Dad said I should give this to you, Uncle Mike.”

Chad realized that something wasn’t right, “Okay Jason and Jeremy, let’s get you ready for bed. Tim and I will help you get ready in Uncle Mike’s bedroom while he reads the letter.  Our other two brothers, who you will really like, are asleep already, so we need to be real quiet.”

The guys took Jason and Jeremy’s suitcases to Mike’s and my room for the time being.  Chad climbed into the shower with them and made sure they were clean.  Poor Chad is going to look like a prune if this keeps up.  The boys didn’t seem to be fazed by showering with someone older.  Chad and Tim got them ready for bed.  They put Jason in bed with Bobby, and Jeremy in bed with Billy, and kissed them both goodnight.

Chad and Tim came back to the living room and Chad asked, “Dad Mike, what did the letter say?”

Mike handed the letter to Chad.  We had all read it, and Chad and Tim were sitting beside each other reading:

Dear Michael and Douglas,

I am sorry to do this to you, but I figured that you two would be the best alternative to make sure that Jason and Jeremy grew to be the men that would make me proud of them.  Dad and Mother are getting too old to care for someone as young as the two boys.

Frank and Elaine will be around to help, but they already have their hands full with Kevin and Kendra.  I am not implying that Kevin and Kendra are problems, but they are at a point in their lives where they are going to need a lot of love and attention.

I realize that having Jason and Jeremy in your life is going to cause you to change your lifestyle, but please do the best that you can for them.  They have had to endure so much since their mother died during childbirth, to what was to be their baby sister. 

I was diagnosed two weeks ago with having an inoperable tumor on the brain.  The doctors have given me a month at the most to live.  I do not want the boys to suffer anymore than they already have.

If you check in their suitcases, you will find all the papers that you need for Mike to become their legal guardian.  Kim and I had arranged our estates so that the boys will not be in need of much financial support.

Please, just love and help them to be the best men that they can be.

Love,

Your Brother

Tom

P.S.  Tell Mother and Dad, Frank and Elaine and Kevin and Kendra that I love them.”

Both Chad and Tim were openly crying when they finished reading the letter.

Chad looked at the adults, “Please excuse us. We thought we had it bad.  We really need to make sure that Jason and Jeremy receive a lot of love.”  The guys started towards the stairs.

Chad came back and hugged the four of us, as did Tim.  As Chad was finally leaving, he turned, “Surely tomorrow can’t be any more hectic than today was, can it?  Dads, just think, a little over a week ago, when you left for Grandmother’s to spend Christmas, there were just the two of you living here.  So far now, there are you two plus 13 others.  Someone had better turn off the spigot.”

I looked at Mike but there wasn’t anything I could say. 

To be continued...

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Editor's Notes:

Frankly, I am totally bowled over with this new turn of events. I think it is just about time for them to either get a bigger house, or, if there is room to do it, add on some more bedrooms. I am so glad there are people in the world that would take on a situation like this, and not go stark staring mad.

Let's hope that everything works out nicely for everyone concerned. Knowing E Walk, I would be pretty sure that things will turn out just fine, given enough time.  I must admit that I was blindsided on that one. I am really eager for the next chapter to see what will happen.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 03/21/08