Taking Texas By Storm
by: E Walk
(© 2009 by the Author)
 

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Chapter 3 

Meeting the Grandparents

I looked at Joe, “Your Mother and I will be there shortly.  I need to check something before the meeting.”

Joe left and I turned to Mrs. Lawrence, “Everything is falling into place.  If Joe and Dan are your foster sons, why are there names different?  Are you also connected to Juan’s wife, who Joe said was his sister?  Is she a daughter or foster daughter?”

“The boys came from two different families.  Dan came to us when he was fourteen.  His parents were killed in a car crash. Juan’s wife is Joe’s biological sister;  it was her marriage to Juan that caused Joe’s father to become so abusive.  He couldn’t handle the fact that his daughter had married a Hispanic person.”

Mrs. Lawrence changed the entire focus of the conversation, “You certainly recommended some nice salaries for the people who will be working for you?  It looks as if you are being booted upstairs with the big guys.”

“Mrs. Lawrence, I thought I was being very fair.  What do you mean I’m being booted upstairs with the big guys?”

She pointed to the job descriptions that I had provided President Odom. “Did you look at these?”

“I wrote them, but haven’t looked at them since President Odom handed us our copies.  Should I have?”

Mrs. Lawrence nodded, “I think you might want to take a gander at them before you hand them to your staff.”

I looked at the descriptions and the amounts that I suggested.  The figures were crossed out and the amounts were significantly higher with some initials.  I skimmed the sheets and there was a page that I hadn’t given to President Odom.  All it said was, ‘Ed Waller, $250,000.00 per year.  Ad___  Od___.’

I fell against the wall, “Mrs. Lawrence, surely this is a joke.”

Mrs. Lawrence shook her head, “Ed, I can assure you that this is not a joke.  President Odom doesn’t have time for jokes.  I don’t know all that you have done, but enjoy it while you can.”

I looked at Mrs. Lawrence, “I don’t suppose you would come in and help me face the music?”

She chuckled, “I think I had better come in.  It will be interesting to see the reactions of these people since I know some of them.”

When we walked into the office, my staff was sitting, talking.  “Thanks, for coming.  I know that you all have had busy days, but I think we need to review what is going to be happening this weekend.  Unfortunately, I won’t be able to be here to be of any assistance.”

“Oz, how did the recruiting at the university go?”

“Joe, Grant and I were busy for three hours interviewing people.  Like I said on the phone, there are a great number of students who are in desperate need of cash. The funny part was that when we told them what they would be doing, about half of them said, ‘No thank you.’   We still were able to sign up eighty-two persons who are to be here tomorrow at nine o’clock.”

Mrs. Lawrence asked, “How many people do you have lined up to supervise them, and do you have enough supplies to do the job?”

Juan answered, “We have the supplies the people will need.  We have an abundant supply of rubber gloves and face masks in addition to the cleaning supplies and equipment that they will need.”

Steve Carlson interrupted, “Juan and I need to be here to supervise the installation of the equipment to log people in and out.  We’ll make sure that these people have the supplies that we need.”

Oz took over, “Mrs. Grimes was able to find three accomplices who would be willing to work as team leaders, Greg, Grant, Joe and I can handle the other teams.”

I looked at Ms. Miller, “M. B., I trust you have people lined up to operate the equipment that Greg and Juan have arranged to have installed.”

She grinned, “Yes, sir.  We’ve scheduled some of our people to come in for training on Sunday afternoon. I’ll have people here all weekend, making sure that these cleaning people don’t rob the company blind.  They sound kind of shifty to me.”

I looked at the assembled group, “People. I want to thank all of you for going 100%.  I submitted your job descriptions to President Odom, and he took exception to what I thought you should be paid.  You will see that he has crossed out the figure that I proposed.  He has provided Mrs. Lawrence and Mr. Taylor, in finance, a copy of his revised figures.  All of you will need to report to the Finance and Human Resources office on Monday at the latest, to update your files.  It’s getting late and I need to get home.”

I handed each of them their job descriptions, after I folded them over.  I was totally unprepared for what happened. 

The first to react was Joe, “Mr. Waller, has Mom seen these figures?”

“Yes, President Odom gave her a copy of them.  Why do you ask?”

Joe started to chuckle, “Mom and Dad will probably start charging us rent, now that they know we're making some money.  Maybe we should move out so they don’t keep us awake all night.”

Oz stood, “For this salary, I’ll show you that I’m wearing clean underwear.  Maybe now, I won’t have to wash them every night.”

I stopped any more frivolities, “People, we need to get out of here,  I have a two hour drive ahead of me, tonight.”

I met Juan and Greg in their office and Juan went to get his car and pulled to the side door.  I looked at the two guys as I got into the car, “I hope I don’t have to do this for the rest of my life.”

Greg looked at me, “Ed, I think my family will be backing away from you, but it’s Mr. De Soto and his connections that we’re worried about.  I don’t know everything that happened, but you have set yourself up for some big trouble.”

I was exhausted when we arrived at the Daniels’/our house.  I just wanted to go to bed.

Allie came bounding out of the house when Juan pulled in, “Hi Dad, I
packed us some sandwiches and other things so we wouldn’t have to stop unless someone has to go to the bathroom.  I’ve already put our luggage in your car;  Brahim has his nose in a book.”

We started the trip to my parents’ ranch.  Both guys were jabbering about their days.  Allie was sitting in the back and handing us food as we went.

We pulled into the drive that announced that we were entering the Double 00 ranch.  Allie asked, “Why do your parents call it the Double 00 ranch?”

I answered as best as I could, “Allie, I think it was Grandfather who named the ranch. You need to talk to my parents.”

When we pulled in front of the house, it was apparent that my parents were waiting for us to arrive.  Dad was sitting on the banister  looking like a rugged cowboy.  Mom was sitting on a rocking chair looking like a grandmother.

Allie commented, “Dad, it’s easy to see why you’re so good looking.  Are your parents going to like Brahim and me?”

“Let’s go find out.”

As we were getting out of the car, Dad started toward us.  He stuck out his hand as he approached Allie, “Welcome to the Double Zero Ranch.  I’m Al Waller.  Who might you be?”

Allie shook Dad’s hand, “It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. Waller, I’m Allie Safi.”

I could tell from the glint in Dad’s eyes that he was about to tease Allie, “Look kid, when you’re around here, you will call me Big Al and I’ll call you Little Al.”

“Mr. Waller, Dad would whip me if I called you Big Al.  I’ll cut you a deal.  You can call me Little Al and I’ll call you Granddad or Grandfather whichever you prefer.”

“Okay kid, score one for the Little Al team, but that’s last point you’ll get while you’re here.  If I had my choice, I would rather be called Granddad rather than Grandfather so people won’t think I’m a clock.  Ed, you should have warned us that you were bringing a smartass kid home.  Liz, we’ll need to train this one.”

Mother was laughing, “Al, knock it off.  Allie will think you don’t like him.”

Allie giggled, “That’s okay Grandma, I know when I’m being picked on by a big bully.”

Allie went to shake hands with my Mother.  She wasn’t having any of that.  She hugged him. “Little Al, if I didn’t know better. I’d swear that you were really Eddie’s son.”

Allie grinned, “With a little luck; maybe, I will be, someday.”

I stopped any more conversation, “Dad and Mother, this is Allie’s older brother, Brahim.”

Dad embraced Brahim and looked at him, “Fine looking specimen you have here, Ed.”

I hugged Dad, and went to give my Mother a kiss.  She insisted that Brahim do likewise.”

Allie stopped any more talk, “Dad, you need to sit down and rest your leg or it’s going to start hurting again.”

That caught my parents' attention; Dad questioned, “What’s wrong with his leg.”

Allie nonchalantly answered.  “He was shot in the leg and has five stitches.”

Mom had a funny look, “When were you shot and where were you when you were shot?”

I nodded, “I’ll explain everything after we get the luggage.”

Allie stopped me, “I’ll get the luggage, Dad.”

Dad went to help Allie get the luggage, “Don’t start explaining until me and Little Al get the luggage put away.”

Dad and Allie disappeared into the house.  Mother suggested that we move into the house as well.   Allie and Dad were talking as they were coming down the stairs.  I heard Allie say, “Granddad, I’ve never had the opportunity to ride a horse, but I’d like to.”

Dad laughed, “We’ll take care of that problem in the morning.  I want to hear Ed’s story of why and how he was shot.”

Mother had taken us into the kitchen so we could have some dessert while we talked.  While were eating some of Mother’s Texas sheath cake, I explained why and how I was shot.  Neither of my parents said a word as I was talking until I told them about what had happened today. 

I hadn’t even told my guys.  When I explained that my pay had been doubled today, Dad asked the obvious question, “So how much will you be making.  You must not have been being paid very much if your salary was doubled.”

I grinned, “I guess it’s a matter how you look at it.  I was told on Tuesday that my salary would be $125,000.00.  Today, President Odom bumped my salary to $250,000.00 a year.”

The look on my parents’ faces was one of disbelief.  Dad started to laugh, “And you had the audacity to ask your Mother and me for a loan to buy a house?  It is us who should be asking you for a loan.”

I grinned, “We’ll discuss money issues later.  Just so you know, I’m not the only person who has been shot.  Allie and Bra both were shot, since I met them.”

Allie nodded, “And we weren’t the only people who were wounded either.”

Mother was shaking her head, “I can hardly wait to here this story, but first I have a question.  How did you two gentlemen come to be able to speak such beautiful English if you’re from Algeria?”

Brahim answered, “I wanted to make sure that Allie would be able to get a good job when he gets older so I was having him tutored.  I would practice with him.  It was because I could speak English, that I was assigned as Ed’s driver when he arrived in Oran.”

Allie endeared himself to Mother, “Grandmother that was really good cake.  Where would you like me to put the leftovers?”

Mother started to stand, “Grandmother, I can do it if you tell me what to do.”

Allie put the cake away, rinsed the dishes and put them in the

dishwasher.  He went and put his arm around Dad, “Granddad, what time do we have to get up in the morning?”

Dad shrugged his shoulders, “Whatever time you want to.  I’ll probably get up about seven, since it’s Saturday.”

Allie kissed Dad, “I’ll see you in the morning Granddad.”

Allie went over and hugged and kissed my Mother, “Goodnight Grandma.”

“Dad, we put your and Bra’s things in what Granddad said was your old bedroom.  I’ll be in the room across the hall if you need me.”  Allie hugged me and Bra and disappeared.”

Dad looked at Brahim, “From what Allie tells me, I guess we should refer to you as Son.  How old are you and how did you become the caregiver for Allie?”

Brahim took a deep breath, “Dad, I’m 28.  I was studying voice in Italy when our parents and sisters died in plague epidemic that hit Algeria.  Somehow, Allie survived, and I had to go back to Algeria to take care of him.  We moved to Oran so I could find a job.  My parents hadn’t saved any money, so there was no way I could go back to school in Italy.”

Mother added, “I think it is ironic that Allie looks more like Ed than you.  In fact, Allie looks almost exactly like Ed did when he was ten.”

Brahim grinned, “Allie looks like our mother, and I take after our father.”

All of a sudden I realized how exhausted I was, “Dad and Mother, I really need to go to bed.  This week is finally beginning to catch up with me.  We’ll see you in the morning.”

When Bra and I got to what had been my room, I looked at the clock and it was eleven o’clock.  No wonder I was tired.  I looked at Bra, “Why don’t you take your shower first and I’ll take one after you, since the shower is so small?”

Bra pouted, “You don’t love me anymore.”

I hugged Brahim, “I’ll prove to you in the morning how much I love you.  I’m exhausted tonight.”

When I awoke in the morning, Brahim was gone.  I looked at the clock at it said eight o’clock.

When I arrived in the kitchen, Brahim and Allie were sitting talking to my parents.  Allie jumped up when he saw me, “Well look who decided to finally join us.  Good morning, Dad.  Do you realize that the rest of us have been up for hours?”

Allie brought me my coffee and breakfast, “Is there anything else your majesty requires.  The grandparents want to take us shopping for real clothes as soon as you’re ready.  While you're getting your act together, Granddad is going to show me around.  Bra, are you coming with us, or are you going to stay here and make sure that Dad does his dishes?”

Brahim stood, “I think I’d like to go with you, since, I’ve never seen a ranch before.”

As soon as Dad left with my two guys, Mother started on me, “Ed, your father has totally fallen in love with your two guys.  When we came down this morning, the two guys had already fixed the coffee and breakfast.”

“Mom, Allie captivates everyone he meets.  You can see why I fell in love with the two of them.”

“Ed, I’m a little worried about what might happen tomorrow when your sisters arrive with their families.  It’s not your sisters that I’m worried about; it’s their husbands.  Your Dad doesn’t cotton to either of them much.”

“Mom, we’ll be fine.  Allie and Brahim will be able to handle any unpleasant situations.  After all, they have endured meeting the Presidents of two countries and being shot at a number of times.  They certainly will be able to handle the attitudes of the two brothers-in-law.”

Mother and I were still talking when Dad and my two guys returned, “Granddad, that was so cool.  Can we go for a ride again before we leave?  How many people work here on the ranch?”

Dad had his arm around Allie, “Little Al, we can go for a ride anytime you want, but first, we need to get you and Bra some proper clothes.  I think we have twenty some people who are working here on the ranch.  Let’s see if your lazy Dad and your Grandmother are ready to go shopping.”

I’m afraid you’ll have to stay tuned to see what happened on the shopping trip and the rest of the weekend.

To be continued...

Editor's Notes: Why did I have a feeling that was going to happen?  I think the grandparents are totally in love with the boys.  No one is immune to Allie's charms, unless, of course, they are bad people, and he takes care of those kind of people in short order.

Not surprisingly, I am ready for another chapter or twenty. 

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 11/20/09