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

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Chapter 40

Regeneration

I put the boys into our bed after I hugged and kissed them.  I had had every childhood disease when I was growing up.  Yes, I even had the mumps and they obviously hadn’t affected me, because I had three beautiful young boys plus Benji to show for my fertility.

I was sitting in the den, grading papers and waiting or rather hoping for a call from Cole.  It was almost ten o’clock before the phone rang.  “This is, Doug.”

A falsetto voice started, “Oh Dougie, I be missin’ you so much.”

“Look, Mr. Weaver, we have some serious things to talk about.  Our sons, or at least the three oldest have come down with measles.  Have you ever had the measles?”

“How would I know?  We people with dark complexions don’t show signs of such diseases like you fair skinned people.  We can go to school even when we have those diseases.”

“Cole, what have you been drinking?”

“Doug, I just finished my last final and I’m going to be graduating with a perfect grade point average.  I’ll be home by noon tomorrow and help you nurse your patients.  Now go to bed and get some rest because I’m going to wear you out tomorrow night.”

After I hung up the phone, I went to our bedroom and the four boys were sprawled all over the bed.  I decided that there was no way that there was any room for me, so I went to Benji’s room and took a shower and crawled into his bed.

During the night I was joined by a little body.  It was Mikey.  “Daddy, the other three guys were hogging the bed, and I almost fell out.  I’m going to sleep with you, okay?”

The next morning when I woke up, I had four bodies in the bed with me and Benji was chastising me, “Daddy, why didn’t you sleep with us?”

“You guys were sprawled all over the bed and there was no room for me.  You three older guys even kicked Mikey out of bed, because you were hogging the bed.”

I expected Benji to argue with me but he didn’t.  Instead he said, “We’re growing boys and we need our space.  Dad, I think Mikey needs some lotion, too.”

Mikey indeed did have red spots all over his body, so I went to get the lotion and applied it to all four boys’ bodies. I looked at them, “None of you will be going anywhere today.  I need to call the school and tell them you won’t be there."

I went to find Denny and Collie to tell them what was happening and they reacted totally differently than I expected, Collie announced, “We’ll send the boys over as soon as they’re dressed.  Better they get the measles now than when they’re older.”

I called Clark and told him that I would be in after lunch.  I figured that I needed to give him an advanced warning, before Karen got to the college.  I called the three older boys’ school and talked to the school nurse.  She advised me that the boys would probably be able to return to school the day after tomorrow.  She added, “That’s good, that way they won’t miss the awards ceremonies and field day.  You need to come if at all possible.  It’s a fun day for the children.”

I called the boys’ pediatrician and explained what was happening and asked if there was anything that I should do.  She informed to “Grin and endure the next day.  They’ll be fine and raring to go in a day or two.”

I made one last call to Mr. Morgan at the bank and told him that I would like to find a reputable numismatist because the boys had found some gold coins.  He assured me, “Doug, I know a young man who is just now getting into the business.  Since he’s my son, I’ll make sure he cuts you a square deal.  I’ll have him call you as soon as I can get in touch with him.  By the way, has Howie had a chance to talk Cole?”

 

“Not that I know of.  Cole is due back about noon.  He had his last final yesterday and will be graduating with a perfect grade point average.”

I had just finished grading my papers when Benji came and tapped me on the shoulder, “Dad, there’s a Mr. Morgan on the phone and would like to talk about the coins we found.”

I went to the phone. “This is Doug Christiansen, how can I help you.”

“My Dad said that you needed my help to pawn off some coins on some poor unsuspecting investors.  Is that correct, Dr. Christiansen?”

I looked at the phone and was wondering what was happening, “Actually, my sons found the coins, so technically, they are theirs to decide what they want to do with them.”

“Me and my four sons will be there for dinner after I pick them up at school.”

“Mr. Morgan, my four sons have the measles.”

“Not a problem.  My four boys have already had them.”

“Will your wife be coming with you?”

“Look Doc, my situation is very much the same as yours except I ain’t got no football freak to take care of me.”

The phone went dead and I wondered what was happening.  ‘The man didn’t even ask directions as to how to get to Summerhill.’

We were just about to start eating lunch when Cole pulled in with the truck and the boys went to hug him.  His comment was priceless, “Guys, you look good in red polka dots.  But they’re rather boring.  Could you exchange them for multi-colored spots.”

Benji looked at Cole, “Dad Cole, you’re mean.”

After I explained to everyone what was going to be happening later, I went to the college because I had to post my grades and see what I needed to take care of.  The campus was quiet because finals were scheduled to start the next day.  Clark was doing the same thing as I was.  We were entering the grades for the classes we had taught into the computer when Doris burst in, “We did it.  We were able to get the land in the block that was leveled by the tornado.”

She wasn’t done, “Doug, you’re going to be in charge of the new facilities.  You won’t have time to teach any classes for the next two years.  You are now the Vice President in charge of facilities.”

Clark started to laugh, “Dr. Christiansen, I think President Harder just told you that you were now the chief janitor.”

Doris threw a pencil at Clark, “Doug, why don’t we plan to sit down and meet tomorrow at nine.  Clark, if you screw up you’ll be out of here on your head.”

After Doris had departed, Clark looked at me, “Doug, which head do you suppose she meant? Is it the one with hair on the top or the one with hair at the bottom?”

I started to laugh, but answered, “Probably both and then poor Andre would be devastated because both of your heads would be broken.”

“That’s okay, my body is like a salamander’s and regenerates new and better parts to replace the broken parts.”

I started to laugh, “Clark, I’m out of here for the day.  I’ll be home if something important comes up.”

“Oh, I guess that means Cole is home and his something is up?”

When I arrived at Summerhill, there were ten boys playing.  I recognized our four boys and Denny and Collie’s twins.  When I climbed out of the car, Benji came up to me, “Daddy, come meet our friends.  They’re from Atlanta.”

When I saw who Cole was talking to I recognized the man.  He had been in one of the classes while I was working on my doctorate degree at Georgia Tech.

I approached Cole and the gentleman and put out my hand, “Good afternoon Mr. Morgan, I’m Doug Christiansen; thanks for coming so quickly.”

The gentleman shook my hand.  “The name is Larry. Mr. Morgan is my father and is in Atlanta.  I figured it would be fun to get my revenge for having to sit through your boring classes at Tech.”

Cole was laughing, “Larry, aren’t you a little young to be in the coin business?  I thought numismatists were always older people.”

Larry shook his head no, “Actually, the business is owned by my four sons.  It was given to them by their deceased mother’s father when he retired after the accident.  I only manage it for them.  The boys pay me rather well, though.”

The man was confusing me, “Larry, if you manage a business how can you get away like this?  Did you close the shop?”

Larry grinned, “Dad Gardner, had two very capable and reliable people who worked for him.  They now work for the boys, so I’m able to spend quality time with the boys.  The shop is only open from nine to five during the week and nine to noon on Saturdays.”

We saw a vehicle approaching and Benji yelled, “Dads, it looks as if Uncle Howie is coming to visit.”

Uncle Howie climbed out of his truck with an envelope and approached us, “Larry, I’m surprised to see you here.  Your Dad said that you were in the coin business.  I was sorry to hear about the death of your wife and mother-in-law.  How’s Mr. Gardner doing?”

“He’s having a very difficult time coping with what happened.  He still blames himself for the accident.”

Uncle Howie asked, “How do you know Cole and Doug and why are you here?”

“Mr. Willingham, I had never met Cole in person until my sons and I arrived here at Summerhill this afternoon.  However, I was bored by your nephew for three semesters when he was my instructor at Georgia Tech.”

“How do you know that Doug is my nephew?”

“Easy, Benji announced that Uncle Howie was coming, and besides, my Dad said that you and he were hammering out the details of a contract with the Falcon’s hierarchy for a superstar by the name of Cole Weaver.  As to why I’m here, it seems that Dr. Christiansen claims that his sons found some rare coins that they want to try to pawn off on some unsuspecting buyers.”

Uncle Howie handed Cole the packet he had in his hand, “Cole, we think we have put together a nice compensation package.  I think you will be pleased.   We are scheduled to meet with the Falcon brass on Saturday at four o’clock for your official signing.”

Uncle Howie turned to me, “Doug, what makes you think that the coins the boys found are valuable.  If they are, what are you going to do with the money they generate.”

“Uncle Howie, I initially suggested that the boys give the money to the college since that’s were the boys found it, but Cole suggested that we divide any money that the boys made to the people that the Hogan person duped.”

Uncle Howie changed the subject, “I just heard on the way here that the police have determined that Mr. Hogan’s death was a case of homicide instead of a case of suicide as initially reported.”

I threw up my hands, “Oh great.  The police will probably be coming to arrest me momentarily.”

Larry looked at me as if I were daft, “Why would the police be coming to arrest you for the man’s death?”

Benji had approached and was listening to the conversation,  He answered, “Because Dad punched the prick in the nose when the man tried to take the coins from Mark and Matt.  Dads, can the we take the boys riding.  They’ve never been riding before.”

Cole looked at his watch, “Come on, I’ll help you saddle the horses.  You have time for a short ride before dinner.”

Cole handed me the envelope that Uncle Howie had handed him, “Doug, take this and we’ll look at it later.  Thanks Uncle Howie.  Doug, why don’t you have Larry look at the coins while I take the boys riding?”

“Benji, where are the coins?”

 

“Dad, I don’t know where Mark and Matt hid them.  I’ll go find out where the coins are.”

Mark and Matt arrived carrying the two socks.  Mark announced, “We hid them in the stable ‘cause we figured that mean man wouldn’t look there.”

The twins took off running toward the stable.

When Larry, Uncle Howie and I entered the house, Patty announced, “Dinner will be ready in about 30 minutes.  I take it the boys are going riding?”

“Yes, will that create a problem?”

“Nope, Dr. C., they’ll be able to eat when they get here since Benji requested spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.”

“Patty, we’ll be in the study.”

I took Larry, Uncle Howie and the coins to the study and poured the coins onto a table.

Larry took one look at the coins, “Doug, I can’t believe that you allowed the boys to hide these coins in the stable.  Actually, that was rather a clever place to hide them.”

Larry pulled a pair of white cotton gloves out of his pants’ pocket and started to examine the coins.  He was aligning them on the table while Uncle Howie and I watched him.  We were interrupted by Mikey, “Daddy, Ms. Patty says its time for dinner.  We’re going to finish our ride after dinner.  We already washed our hands.”

Uncle Howie excused himself, “I’ll see you later.  I need to go check with Rob.  He was making the arrangements for his Dad’s memorial service.  They decided to have it in two weeks since Trev and Trent have finals and Trent is getting married.  Larry, it was good to see you again.  You have some fine looking sons.”

Dinner was a lively affair, since there were eight young boys at the table.  It was impossible to carry on a conversation.  When everyone finished eating, Benji stood, “Come on men, we need to do the dishes.  It won’t take long and then we can go riding again.”

Larry watched as his sons helped take the dishes to the kitchen, He looked at us, “What is it with you people or is in the water down here?  Young boys don’t voluntarily do the dishes.”

Patty and Karen were laughing and Patty responded, “Well, in this house they do.  The boys have been helping, ever since we came here to live.”

Benji returned, “Ms. Patty, what do you want me to do with the rest of the spaghetti sauce?”

Patty stood, “I’ll take care of it.  You boys go for your ride before it gets too late.”

Cole went with the boys and Larry and I went to the study so he could see exactly what it was that the boys had found.  He finally finished examining each of the coins and there were ten groups of coins.  “Doug, these coins are worth a lot of money.  I really think that you should reconsider what you’re going to do with the money, because there are going to be some people who will try to take advantage of the funds.  In fact, I quite frankly think that you should not let anyone know exactly what the coins are worth.  In any case, the coins should certainly not be stored in some smelly socks in a stable.  Do you have a safe where you can store them?  I’d like to take one set so I can take pictures of them and start advertising them on the internet.”

 

Larry wasn’t finished, “Whatever you do, don’t let anyone touch them with their bare fingers.  They’re in mint condition and that’s why they’re so valuable.”

“Larry, we don’t have a safe in the house.  We do have a storm cellar that has a controlled environment.  Would that suffice?”

Larry nodded, “First we need some containers, preferably metal, if you have any and some napkins and some baggies.”

I gave him a pack of napkins and he was wrapping the coins separately in a piece of the napkin while I went to get some tins that people had brought cookies and things in when Autumn had died.  When he had the coins in the baggies and the tins, he looked at me, “I’d take all of the coins and store them, but I think it would be more advisable that you keep all of them, except the one set I need to photograph.  Do you have an email address where I can reach you?”

I pulled out my business card.  It had all the pertinent information he would need.  The eight boys came in and the oldest Morgan boy put his hands on my leg, “Dr. C., Mr. Cole says it’s okay if we come back so we can go skinny dippy? Is that okay with you?  Benji says that you and Mr. Cole skinny dip with them.  Do you think that our Daddy will go skinny dipping with us.  Probably not, he never let’s us see his pecker.”

Benji corrected Tim as we were to find out, “In this house we call it by the right name.  It’s a penis.”

Larry was blushing, “Guys, we need to go.  You have school tomorrow.”

As we were walking to the Morgan’s van, I looked at Larry, “Larry, I hope you weren’t offended by anything.  Cole and I have no secrets from our boys about our bodies, but we never let them witness us making love.  We take showers with the boys so there is no mystery about what will happen to their bodies when they get older.”

Larry stopped, “Are you saying that you permit your sons to touch your cock and balls.”

“Larry, the boys can look at our penises and testicles all they want,  but they know they are never to touch them.  Larry, just be open with your sons.  They will love you even more than they already do.  I’m sure that it is very difficult raising four beautiful boys by yourself.  I was lucky in that I have always had some help.”

Larry got in his van, “Damn you, Christiansen.”

I watched as the Morgan’s van pulled away from the house and thought to myself, ‘What did he mean by that?’

To be continued... 

Editor's Notes:  I think I am a pretty good observer when it comes to E Walk's stories.  I have the feeling that Larry is jealous of Doug having found Cole.  I think that Larry is bi or gay and is afraid to let anyone know it.  Remember that I am only speculating, and I don't have any special knowledge.

It looks as if the measles problem is pretty much over, since the boys are feeling good enough to go riding. 

I wonder just how much the coins are worth. I can easily infer that they are worth a substantial sum. I guess we will just have to wait till the next chapter or later to find out.  I am ready for more, any time.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 09/18/09