Pinochle
by: E Walk
(© 2007 by the Author)
Editor: Will B
 

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

Chapter 77
Unadopt Me

This is Brian.

Mother and Dad were watching the news in the kitchen while Mother was cooking when I got home.  Dad looked at me, “Son, you’re just in time for the news.  Why don’t you and Timmy sit down and watch it.”

I wanted to ask, “Why should I watch the news and thought perhaps something like 9/11 was happening again.  I sat on a stool at the breakfast bar and Timmy was leaning against me with his elbow in a very uncomfortable position.

The anchor lady came on, “We had the opportunity this morning to interview the two local residents from Fremont High who have made such a splash on the art world.  Mr. Chris Jameson is reported to be a master photographer and his photographs are selling like hotcakes in a gallery in London.  He is the son of Jason and Terri Jameson.”

“The other young man, whose works are the main feature of the show that opened yesterday in London, is Mr. Brian Benson.  Brian is the son of Beau and Becca Benson.  We have been informed that the gallery has been overwhelmed with people paying to see their works.” 

“We received word that while the young men and Mr. and Mrs. Benson were in London, they had lunch with the Queen of England.  When we spoke with the two young men this morning, they volunteered nothing, but they did answer the questions that were asked of them.  If you had been there you would have thought that nothing that happened was a big deal.”

“There was a crew from the Nebraska ETV network who was doing the day in the life of your average or not so average Nebraska high school student.  They were going to follow Brian around for the day, and are planning to air the show next Monday night at seven.”

“I would like to make an editorial comment.  This was one of the most refreshing interviews that I have been involved with during the seven years I have worked for this station.  Both young men seemed embarrassed to be the center of attention.  I salute these two fine young men.”

Timmy looked at me, “Brian, you’re famous.”

I looked at Timmy, “Timmy, I don’t want to be famous.  Let’s see what we can do to help Mother with dinner.” 

It was five after six and neither Morgan nor Lauren were home, so Mother decided that we were going to go ahead and eat.  Lauren came in as we were starting to eat.  She was dressed in her cheerleading outfit, “Sorry I’m late, but the van we were riding in had a flat tire.”

Daddy and Mother looked at her.   Dad asked, “Where were you in this van when you had a flat tire?”

“We were on our way back from Columbus where we went to cheer for the Junior Varsity Football team.”

Mother looked at Lauren, “I have several questions.  Whose van was it that you were riding in, and who gave you permission to go?”

Lauren was a little flustered, “Mother, you and Dad signed a permission slip authorizing me to be a cheerleader.  At the same time you signed a slip authorizing me to go to away games as long as we were in a district vehicle.”

Dad looked at Lauren, “Why didn’t you tell us that you would be going to the game?”

Lauren was getting frustrated, “Dad, you weren’t home this morning when I had to take Morgan to school.  She had tryouts early, so I went to school and watched your precious Brian make a spectacle of himself this morning.”

I started to stand but Dad firmly said, “Brian, sit down.”  He looked at Lauren, “Young lady, one more outburst like that and you will no longer be a cheer leader and you will find yourself grounded for an indefinite amount of time.  Now sit down and eat your dinner.”

Lauren sat down and no one said a word.  Timmy looked at me, “Brian, is it always going to be like this when we’re all home?”

Mother heard what Timmy asked and answered, “Timmy, it’s not always like this.  I think we’re all tired.  I think we should all go to bed early.  Lauren, I think you owe Brian an apology.  We love all of you children the same, and now that Timmy is legally your brother, we need to all make sure that he knows we love him.”

I could tell that Lauren wanted to ask a question but wasn’t quit sure what to ask.  She was saved by the front door slamming and Morgan dropping her book bag on the counter, “What’s for dinner?”

Mother looked at her. “Miss Benson, do you suppose you could show some manners and say something like, ‘Hi, everyone, I’m sorry I’m late.”

Morgan flipped back, “Oh hi, everyone, I’m sorry I’m late.  What’s for dinner?”

Dad stood, “Young lady, it appears to me that perhaps you need an attitude adjustment.  Perhaps you should go to your room after you explain why you are late.”

Morgan realized she was in trouble, “Abby’s Mother took us to Omaha to go shopping for our outfits since we made the cheerleading squad.  It took longer than we expected.”

Dad nodded, “And who gave you permission to go?”

Morgan looked disgusted.  “I tried to call here at lunch time and no one answered.  I called your office and Ruth Ann said you weren’t going to be in today, so I figured it would be okay since I couldn’t get in touch with you.”

Dad wasn’t going to let Morgan win, “Well, you figured wrong.  Go fix your own dinner and then you can do the dishes by yourself while your brothers and Lauren do their homework.  After you finish the dishes, your Mother and I would like to speak with you.”

Morgan got a funny look, “Why is Ben home?”

Timmy looked at Morgan, “We left Ben, Grant, Jack and J.R. at their school before we came home this morning.”

Morgan was astute enough to realize that something was up, “Then why did Dad say while your brothers and Lauren do their homework?”

Timmy smiled, “Mother and Dad adopted me today.  So I guess I’m your brother.”

Both girls looked at Timmy as if they didn’t believe him.  Morgan blurted out, “What do you mean, they adopted you?”

Dad was getting upset, “We adopted Timmy today.  He is now Timothy James Benson.”

Morgan laughed, “Good, then I can boss you around like everyone does me.”

I stood because I had about all of this kind of talk I could handle, “Come on, Timmy, let’s take our dishes to the kitchen.  I don’t like what’s going on, and I don’t think you need to hear anymore talk like this.  Dad and Mother, may we be excused, please?”

Dad looked at us, “Yes, you may be excused, but leave your dishes there.  Morgan will take care of them.”

Timmy and I left the dining room, and Timmy and I grabbed our backpacks and the painting and went to my/our room.  Timmy was lying on the floor watching me finish the painting of Robbie and John.  I had just finished when Timmy came up to me, “That’s Uncle John and Miss Robbie isn’t it?”

I hugged him, “Yep, does everything look right?”

He stood against me and looked at the painting.  He turned and looked up at me.  “Can you make Uncle John’s eyes sparkle like they did this morning when he told us about his new car?”

I looked at the picture and realized that Timmy was correct, so I added a few strokes as Timmy was watching.  I stepped back and Timmy hugged me, “Da.., Brian, that looks like Uncle John did this morning.”

Timmy looked at me, “Brian, it’s going to hard for me to not call you Dad, but I guess our Dad would get upset if he heard me call you that.  You’ll still love me the same, won’t you?”

I hugged Timmy, “I’ll love you the same no matter what happens.  Now get your spelling words so we can study them before we get a snack and get ready for bed.  I’m getting tired.”

Timmy handed me his words.  I had a brilliant idea, “Timmy, I have an idea.  Let’s try it.”

I opened up my computer.  “I’m going to say your spelling words and I want you to type them on the computer so we can see them.”

It took us quite a while because he had to hunt for the letters.  He only missed one word but I typed the letters he had missed in red and had him punch the letters correctly.  Before I closed down the computer, I checked the emails and I read them to him as he sat on my lap.

As I was shutting down the computer, Timmy looked at me, “Will you teach me how to use the computer, so I can study my spelling words on it and write to Chase?”

I hugged Timmy, “Yep, now let’s go get you a snack before we take our showers.”

After Timmy had his snack, he went to give Dad and Mother a hug and a kiss.  Both parents had watery eyes as they hugged and kissed Timmy.  As we starting to the stairs, Dad looked at me, “Brian, we need to talk to you after you get Timmy tucked in.”

I started to get concerned.  What could be so important that they needed to talk to me tonight?

Timmy and I took shower and I made sure he brushed his teeth really good.  As I was hugging him goodnight, he was hugging my neck so hard that I could hardly breathe.  He looked at me, “Brian, you won’t let anything bad happen to me will you?  You won’t let Dad and Mother send me away will you?”

Talk about my rocking boat, why did he ask me that?, “Timmy, they aren’t going to send you away.  Why did you say that?”

He had tears in his eyes, “I don’t think Morgan likes me very much.”

I hugged him again, “Timmy, I’m sure you’re just imagining things.  I need to go see what Dad and Mother want.  I’ll be right back so don’t let anyone else in our bed.”

I put a pair of sweat pants and a tee shirt on and went to see what the parents wanted.  When I walked into the living room, I decided to be flip, “What’s up, people?”

Dad looked me, “Son, this is not a time to be funny.”

“I’m sorry Dad, but Timmy just told me something that upset me.  He said and I quote, ‘I don’t think Morgan likes me very much.’   Now what do you need to talk to me about?”

Mother and Dad exchanged looks, but Mother started, “Brian, this is scary.  We talked to Morgan about her outburst tonight and she is definitely jealous because she thinks that we seem to be spending more time with you and Timmy than we have been with her.  She is feeling slighted.  We probably shouldn’t go with you when you go back for Monsieur Lafontaine’s funeral service this weekend unless we take the girls with us.”

Dad looked at me, “Brian, it’s up to you to decide which way to go.”

I felt like screaming, “Dad and Mother, can we have a family meeting to talk about this before I decide what to do?  I really would prefer that you went with us, but if the girls are going to be upset, and in turn upset Timmy, then perhaps it should be just Timmy and me who go?”

Mother looked at me, “Brian, go see if the girls are still up, and if they are, tell them we’re going to have a family meeting.  I agree that we need to get this matter resolved immediately.”

I knocked on Morgan’s door first she would be the one most likely to be asleep.  She yelled, “Who is it and what do you want?”

I shuddered, “It’s Brian.  Dad and Mother want to have a meeting now.  They’re in the living room.  I suggest that you get down there because it concerns you.”

She opened the door and sputtered, “They’ve already raked me over the coals.  Now what are they going to do?”

I knocked on Lauren’s door and she opened it.  She was talking on the phone, “Just a minute Derek, Brian needs to talk to me.”

“Tell Derek I said hi.  Mother and Dad want to have a family meeting.”

She nodded, “Derek, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.  Dad and Mother need to talk to me.”

When Lauren and I walked into the living room, Lauren asked, “Why isn’t Timmy here if he has been adopted?”

I was having bad vibes about this meeting, “Lauren, Timmy is already in bed.  What we need to talk about affects you, Morgan and the parents not Timmy.”

When Morgan finally appeared, Dad nodded to me, “Brian, I believe you have some things that you would like to address with the girls.”

Before I could start, Lauren spoke, “Why is Brian all of a sudden the most important person in the family?  Why is he running the family.”

I took a deep breath to compose myself because I was getting very angry.  

Morgan made matters even worse.  “Yeh, it seems as if ever since he brought that John person and Timmy home they have taken over the house and everyone is supposed to bow down to them.”

I couldn’t talk.  I heard a voice, ‘See, I told you that Morgan and Lauren didn’t like me.’

I got up and left the room and went to see where Timmy was.  He was sitting on the stair steps in his briefs, crying.  I took off my tee shirt and had him put it on.  “Come with me, we’re going to get this matter settled once and for all.”

As we walked into the living room, Timmy looked at Dad and Mother, “Dad and Mother, maybe we should get Judge Mary to unadopt me.  Morgan and Lauren don’t want me here.  Maybe Uncle John will let me live with him.”

The looks on everyone’s faces was something to behold.  I just hope I can remember what they looked like when I draw them.  Dad shook his head, “Timmy, we’re not going to unadopt you.  Ladies, both of you will stay and visit with your Mother and me after Brian explains what the meeting was called for.”

I started, “Timmy and I need to go to Paris for a funeral on Saturday.  We’ll be leaving right after the football game on Friday.  Mother and Dad have suggested that perhaps they shouldn’t accompany us unless the two of you would wish to go with us.  We will be returning either late Saturday night or at the latest Sunday.  I don’t know what the arrangements are yet.”

Morgan looked confused, “Who died that you need to go to a funeral for in Paris?”

Timmy, who had been huddled against me sat up, “Grandpa Nappy died and we gotta go to his funeral.”

I stopped any questions, “I met Monsieur Lafontaine when I was in England on the previous trip.  When we went back last weekend, Timmy, Chase and I stayed at his house.  He was a very special person and we have been asked to be there.”

Morgan looked at Dad and Mother, “Did you meet the man?”

I watched to see who would answer, and it was Dad, “Yes, we did.  In fact we had dinner with Monsieur Lafontaine both nights we were there and agree with the fact that Timmy and Brian need to be at the services.  Now, would you please answer Brian’s question about whether or not you would like to go to Paris for the day?”

Morgan answered first, “I really don’t wish to fly all night to spend a couple of hours in a city where I don’t know anyone and then fly all the next night.  If I’m not grounded, perhaps we could spend the weekend with Grandmother so you two can go with the brothers.”

Lauren laughed, “Dad and Mother, I think you should go with the guys to keep them out of trouble.  Grandmother would probably be more than happy to have us stay with her.  Besides Derek has asked me to a big dance at Westside High on Saturday night and I would like to be able to go, if you will give me permission.”

Mother chuckled, “Well sons, you heard what your sisters said.  It looks as if your Dad and I will be going to Paris to keep you from getting into trouble.  Now why don’t you two get out of here so we can talk to your sisters?”

When Timmy and I got to the bedroom, Timmy went to the bathroom and crawled into bed with my tee shirt on.  He was lying so his head was on my shoulder.  He looked at me, “Brian, I love you.  I think everything will be okay now.”

I could feel his body relaxing and he finally started to breath as if he were asleep.  I waited a few more minutes to make sure that he was fully asleep before I went to the computer, opened it up and sent an email to Uncle Rod and Uncle Hank telling them that it would be just Timmy, my parents and me who would be going to Paris from Monsieur Lafontaine’s funeral services.

I sent the message and was sitting there thinking about what had transpired this evening when I heard, ‘Hey Brian, did you see the late news tonight on ABC, there was a story about your opening at the art gallery.’

I started to laugh, ‘Ben and Grant, we’ve been too busy adopting and unadopting Timmy today to watch television.  Our sisters are having a difficult time coping with Timmy’s presence.  They think I’m a spoiled brat.’

Ben laughed, ‘Well, aren’t you?  Let us know what the travel arrangements are for this weekend and who will be going to Paris from here.  We’ll talk to you later, Mr. Celebrity.’

‘Yeh, right!  Over and out.’

I was startled by a hand on my shoulder.  I looked up and saw Dad, “Brian, I saw the light on in here as I was going to bed and I didn’t want to wake Timmy so I walked in.  I just wanted to tell you that your Mother and I are extremely proud of how you handled the situation tonight.  We know that you were extremely upset, but you maintained your cool.  I do have a question for you though.  Can you hear when Timmy says something to you without talking?  I think you must be able to, because how else did you know he was on the steps?”

I let out a deep breath, “I don’t understand everything that has and is happening.  I can hear him if he is directing his thoughts to me.  In fact, I just had a nice non verbal conversation with Ben and Grant.  Don’t worry, I can’t invade the mind of anyone.  They have to be talking to me directly for me to hear them and I assume only the person I’m directing my thoughts to can hear what I’m saying.  Timmy is just beginning to develop these skills.”

Dad hugged me as he left, “Son, just use your powers wisely,”

I almost started to cry, “Dad, that’s almost what Grandpa Nappy said to me when he was on the plane last night.”

After Dad left I went to the bathroom and when I crawled into bed it was as if I was a magnet because Timmy rolled toward me and put his arms around me as if to protect me.

To be continued...

Editor’s Notes:  Sibling rivalry can be a problem, but I think Brian handles it just right.  The girls don’t seem to be angry about not going to Paris and I think in time they will come to love Timmy as much as we do.  Will B.

Darryl's Notes:  it looks to me as if the girls are going to be alright with the situation now, and have gotten over their problems for the most part. 

Timmy is a very special person and of course, so is Brian. 

I was very sad that Grandpa Nappy passed away, but he was very tired and I believe he was only hanging on until he could find just the right person he could trust to replace him. 

I don't think that anyone can truly take his place, but I think he realized that Brian had the special ability to think things through and act correctly in most situations. 

Brian is wise well beyond his years. There was a special bond between Brian and Grandpa Nappy. No one else had ever connected with him the way Brian did. 

It wouldn't surprise me one bit if Grandpa Nappy keeps watching over Brian and Timmy for some time to come. 

As you might have guessed, I have really connected with this story. It is up near the top of my list of my all time favourite stories. 

I must say that all of Uncle Ed's stories are very special to me, but this one has grabbed me by the heartstrings and won't let go. 

I have made it clear to him that I certainly hope we will hear much more from Brian, Timmy, Chase and, of course, John.  I don't know what form that will be in, but I won't be satisfied with anything less. I just wanted to make my opinion known in public, so no one can say I didn't let them know how I felt.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 02/27/09