Love Refound
by: E Walk
(© 2008 by the Author)
 

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

Chapter 18

Scare Tactics

I shrugged my shoulders, “Guys, Derek’s Grandfather asked me to call you and tell you to be here.  I did and here we are.  He will be having a meeting with you all sometime over the weekend.  I don’t know when.”

Trevor looked at me, “Are Jeff and I going to be required to attend?”

“Trevor, you and Trent will be required to attend and I hope that your Grandfather will also let Jeff be present.  It will be a good lesson for the two of you.”

Austin glared at me, “Doug, if you know what is happening, why don’t you just come right out and tell us what’s so important that we need to be here.  Do you realize that none of is going to be able to sleep tonight, because we will be conjuring up all sorts of ideas.”

I took a deep breath, “Guys, I do know what the meeting is about, but  since I am not personally involved, I am not at liberty to tell you about it.  Just trust me, it is nothing that you should lose any sleep over.  Now if you will excuse me, I’m exhausted.  I’m riding tomorrow and I need to get some sleep.”

I took a shower and was just crawling into bed when there was a knock on the door.  I figured I had on my briefs and had the sheet over my lower body so invited the visitor to come in fully expecting that it would be Trevor and Jeff.  But that was not to be.  Trent came in and sat down on the side of the bed.

“Mr. Doug, Trevor and Jeff just told me that I was going to be invited to a meeting.  I can understand why they and Derek and Austin might be invited, but why me?   And how come you are the person that had to tell us?”

“Trent, I’m not sure why your Granddad involved me.  I’m sure that Trevor has told you that I’m going to be taking the position at Harwood Community College that your Grandfather had.  He just wants to retire and enjoy life.  Please, just be gracious enough to listen to what he has to say when he does have the meeting.”

I sat up and hugged Trent, “Don’t lose any sleep over it.  Everything will be fine.”

Trent surprised me.  He hugged me back, “Mr. Doug, thanks for demonstrating that it is okay to show someone that you care for them.  I hate to say this, but that was the first time I have been hugged since I was little, except by Cyndi.  Your and Miss Autumn’s children will be very lucky if you treat them like that.”

Trent’s comment had me sucking for air and I decided to do something that I would probably regret.  I held Trent and kissed him on the cheek, “Trent, all of us need to know that someone cares for us.”

Trent laid his head on my shoulder, “Mr. Christiansen, I know that our parents love us, but they never tell us that they do or show how much they care about us.  Oh yeah, they buy us all sorts of things, but that’s almost as if they’re trying to buy our love and respect.”

Trent had me backed into a corner, “Trent, I don’t know how to respond to your comment.  Remember, I’m a Johnny come lately.”

Trent sat up and started to giggle, “Yeah, Trevor said that you take care of your private needs just like us teenagers.”

Trent stood, “I guess I had better go to bed, so I can beat you and Cracker Jack tomorrow.  Thanks for talking to me.”

I stood and hugged Trent, “Trent, anytime you want to talk, please feel free to come and talk with me.”

I watched as he left and thought to myself, ‘He’s the one person whom I am concerned about tomorrow when his Grandfather tells the assembled people he has AIDS.  Why am I so attached to these two guys?

’

I had set the alarm for six since I needed to go to Uncle Howie’s and pick up my riding gear before I went to pick up Cole.  The door was open and I walked in, I was greeted by a sight.  Both Uncle Howie and Mr. Nixon were fixing breakfast in their briefs, which hid nothing.

Uncle Howie looked at me. “Why are you here so early?  Why do we have to meet with Mr. Nixon after the event?”

“Look, I’m here to get my riding outfit, since I’m riding Cracker Jack today, and then I need to go pick up our new stable master.  As far as the meeting with Mr. Nixon’s father, stop worrying about it.  He just has something he wants to tell you.  Don’t ask me what it is about, because it has nothing to do with me.  Now if you will excuse me, I’ll see you at the jump arena.”

I drove up in front of the shack and Cole came bounding toward the car.  I looked at him, “Did you sleep in The Shack or what?”

“Not exactly, we live in the house next door.”

When we got to Autumn’s and Spring’s spread, Cole had his first lesson when he saw Autumn taking care of the horses.  He looked at us, “Do you mean that I gotta make sure that the manure is cleaned out of the horses' stalls?”

I hugged him, “Yep, I’m afraid that goes with the job.  Now let’s help Miss Autumn so we aren’t late for the ‘white equestrian’ event as you proclaimed them to be.”

When the tack was loaded and as we started to load the horses, Cracker Jack began to act up.  Both Autumn and I were unprepared for what was about to happen.  Cole grabbed Cracker Jack’s halter, “Look C. J., you need to get your butt in the trailer.  What would Miss Spring think if she saw you acting like this?”

Cracker Jack got into the trailer without any further complaints.

When we arrived at the arena, we went to see where we would be stabled and of course there was no question as to where our stalls would be.  Autumn and General Beauregard were scheduled to be the first contestants.  I looked at the list and I was scheduled right behind President Dr. Doris Harder.  I had a sinking feeling.  I was to be followed by Trevor, and Trent was to be the last contestant.

Everyone was making sure that General Beauregard was ready while Autumn was putting on her riding habit.  To make a long story short, Autumn and the General had a perfect round.  Cole looked at the rest of us, “I think you are about to be beaten by a lady.  I need to go help her take care of General Beau.”

I thought to myself, ‘This is all I need; another A type personality telling me what to do.’

When it was approaching time for me and the two Nixon guys to get dressed and get the horses ready, both Jeff and Cole went to the stable with us.  While Trent, Trev and I were changing into our riding habits, Jeff and Cole were making sure that the horses were ready for us.  We checked the saddles and everything seemed fine.  I mounted Cracker Jack and he started to act up.  Cole grabbed his bridle and whispered to Cracker Jack so that no one could here what he was saying.

He was holding Cracker Jack's bridle as we walked to the arena waiting area.  We arrived just in time to watch as President Harder started her run through the course.  She and her horse had a perfect ride.  The time wasn’t as good as Autumn’s, but they were the only two perfect rounds of the day.

When President Harder came out the arena, “Let’s see if you can beat that, Dr. Christiansen.”

When my name was announced, Cole said loud enough that we could hear, “C.J. did you hear that.  That lady said you couldn’t beat her time.  Now get out there and show her.”

I surveyed the course with Cracker Jack and went to the starting line.  Cracker Jack was straining to get started.  I was sure that was not a good omen.  I decided to give him as much free reign as I could, and he sailed through the course. 

When I pulled up to where the guys were waiting their turn, Cole commented, “C.J., I’m sorry about that, but what can you expect from an old man.”

Jeff, Trevor and Trent were laughing until the public address announcer came on, “Mr. Christiansen and Cracker Jack have just tied Mr. Trevor Nixon's arena record.  Not bad for an old man riding a horse he has never ridden before.”

I rode into the arena and waved.  As I came out of the arena, Trevor clenched his fist, “You, just declared war, Uncle Doug.”

President Harder, who had been there watching, looked at me, “Dr. Christiansen, you just got your ass fired before you even started to work at the college.  You should know better than show up your boss.  Doug, I don’t know how you managed to have that fantastic ride on a horse you have never ridden before.”

Trevor was the next to ride and he and The Knight surveyed the course.  Both Jeff and Cole climbed up in the stands so they could see Trevor’s ride.  It was a perfect ride and the P.A. announcer came on and announced Trevor Nixon and Knight of Papillion have tied their old record.  Let’s see if our last contestant can make Mr. Christiansen and Trevor Nixon sing the blues.  The last contestant for today is Mr. Trenton Nixon.”

Trenton assumed the ready position; he and The Prince of Tara Heights sailed through the course.  Everyone was holding their breath.  The announcer came on, “Ladies and gentlemen, you’re not going to believe this, but we have a three way tie for first place.  Cracker Jack, Knight of Papillion and Prince of Tara Heights, please come forward to received your trophies.”

Trevor dismounted, “Jeff and Cole, you heard the announcer.  He asked for the three horses to come forward to receive their trophies.  He said nothing about the riders going forward.”

Both Brent and I dismounted and Jeff and Cole strolled to the judges platform.  Jeff saluted and yelled, “The horses are all present and accounted for sir.”

The announcer was flustered, “Where are their riders?”

Cole smiled and spoke into the microphone, “Sir, we distinctly heard you ask for the three horses to come collect their trophies, you said nothing about their riders coming with them.”

The spectators in the stands were laughing and applauding.  The head judge took the microphone, “Arnie, the young men are correct; you did only ask for the horses to come forward.  Will Mr. Doug Christiansen, Mr. Trevor  Nixon and Mr. Trent Nixon please join us here at the awards platform?”

The three of us walked into the arena and jumped on the horses from behind as if we were The Lone Ranger or Tonto.  It’s a good thing that Cole and Jeff were holding the horses’ bridles, because I’m positive that Cracker Jack had never been mounted that way before.”

After we received our trophies and were riding out of the arena, Mr. Robert Nixon the Second approached us, “We will have the meeting at Fairacres at 1:30.  That will give everyone time to get the horses squared away and get something to eat.  Doug, you will be there, won’t you?”

I nodded, “Yes, sir.  I’ll be there, but I would also like for Jeff to hear what you have to say, if you don’t mind.  I really think it is important.”

As we were riding to Autumn and Spring’s house, Cole suggested, “You need a catchy name like Fairacres for your spread.  Why don’t we call it Summerhill?”

Autumn turned and questioned, “Why not something like Christiansen Spread?”

“Miss Autumn, that’s too much for people to say.  Just think, when I tell my friends that I’m working at Summerhill, they’ll really be impressed.  It will sound as if I’m working at some plush resort.  That’s not to say that your spread isn’t plush.  I just won’t tell them that I have to muck stalls.”

Autumn was laughing, “Okay, Cole, from now on, the spread will be called Summerhill.  We’ll make sure that is on the deed when Doug buys Spring’s share.”

We got the horses squared away and had a quick lunch.   I excused myself, “I would like to take the two of you with me, but I don’t know if Mr. Nixon would approve. I’ll be back as soon as I can get here.”

Everyone else was assembled when I arrived at Fairacres.  Mr. Nixon and Doctor Butler took us to the living room where we could all be seated comfortably.  Mr. Nixon began, “For starters, I’m retiring from the Harwood Community College as soon as Doug is ready to take my place.”

“That is not the reason for this meeting, however.  I asked Doug to set up this meeting so that I could tell you that I have been diagnosed with AIDS.  Yes, Doctor Butler knows, and he has also been diagnosed with the same disease.  We want to travel together and enjoy whatever time we have.” 

“Before you ask, “No, we did not infect each other.  We made some foolish decisions when we were picking our sexual partners.  In fact, we suspect the same person may have infected both of us, but there is no way to be sure, since that person has died.  We are in the early stages and are not contagious unless we were to have sexual contact with someone.”

“I wanted to tell everyone myself, so that you wouldn’t hear it from other sources.  I wanted to warn those of you who are involved in a homosexual relationship to be extremely careful and if you do find someone else to play with, be extremely careful.”

Trent interrupted, “Granddad, why did I have to be here?”
 

Mr. Nixon took a deep breath, “Trent, you, of all people, needed to hear what I had to say.  When I was your age and even older, I had never had any sexual encounters, and I certainly never thought I would have one with a man.  It wasn’t until your Grandma got pregnant that I began to look around.  It wasn’t a big problem then because no one had ever heard of AIDS.”

“When AIDS became more prominent, I started to use protection when I had it.  Sometimes, I didn’t have the protection I needed, but I proceeded to have sex with both males and females anyway.”

“Trust me, Trent, there will be times when you are tempted.  All I’m asking is that if you do stray, that you always use protection.  Derek and Austin, I assume that you have been tested and I sure hope you have been listening to me.  The same goes for you, Rob and Howie.  Trev and Jeff, I think it was good that you could hear this so you will think twice before you do anything stupid.  I know that Doug gave you some condoms as a gag gift, but use them very sparingly.  You are too young to ruin your lives.  You can love someone without having sex.  Sex and love don’t equate.  Sex is performed out of lust.”

Mrs. Mitchell interrupted, “Dad, aren’t you being a little too judgmental in supposing that these young men are as weak as you were?”

Doctor Butler nodded, “Gentlemen and ladies, all we are asking is that you be very careful in any sexual encounters that you might have.  Trent, Trev, and, yes, you too, Jeff, have a long life ahead for you.  Austin and Derek, please heed the words of advice that Rob has passed on.  Now, if you will excuse us, we have a tee time at the country club.”  

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:  Putting it bluntly, It looks to me as if Grandfather is, in some ways, still trying to control what his family does and doesn't do.  I know he has messed up his own life pretty badly, but even though, he most likely is trying to protect them from making the same mistakes that he did, I think he needs to give them a little more credit for their intelligence than he has been. 

He is still trying to be the bossy old fart that had his children and grandchildren ready to chuck it all and never talk to him again. 

Hypocrisy is just not a good thing. It never has been and never will be. 

I especially dislike someone who has done bad things and then has the nerve to complain about the actions of others.  

I am not going to go for a long diatribe on ethics, so I guess I should stop now, before something sets me off.  You know what will happen if something sets me off, I will just keep yammering and yammering not even stopping long enough to take a breath, then I will find another topic to rant about and things will get worse and worse till I finally drive everyone as crazy as I am, and then where will we be? Can we take that chance? Would it be safe?  I don't think so! Therefore, it is my time to end this and go send it off to the author.  Of course, he will probably remove all this nonsense before he posts it.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 04/17/09