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

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Chapter 5 

The Brothers-In Law

When Dad and I crawled out of the Land Rover, I noticed that both my brother-in-laws, Lucas Richardson and Raymond Larson called Dad, Al.  My two sisters, Pam Richardson and Penny Larson and my two nieces, Tammy Richardson and Amy Larson all said hello, but there was no demonstration of affection.  Pam asked, “Where’s Mother with the big surprise?”

Dad frowned, “Pam, your Mother is at church where she is almost every Sunday at this time.  The surprises are singing, so they’ll be here after the service.  I take it that you all didn’t go to church today, since you’re here so early.”

Amy shook her head no, “Grandfather, we didn’t have church today since Reverend Pocatello left for a three week vacation in Hawaii.  We had to go to church three times last week so he would have enough money to go.  He didn’t get enough money, so he couldn’t take his wife.”

Ray put his hand over Amy’s mouth.  “Amy, Al and Ed don’t need to know everything.”

Tammy took over, “We went to the early service.  Dad had to be there to assist Reverend Miller, so Reverend Miller could tell us we were al going to hell to pay for allowing all the foreigners into our country and ruining it.”

Lucas grabbed Tammy and pushed her away. “Miss Richardson, go sit down and keep your mouth shut.  Al wouldn’t understand because he goes to a heathen church, and Ed probably hasn’t been in a church since he went to college.”

I looked at Dad and he was about ready to unload.  I held his arm and whispered,  “Dad, it will be okay.  Relax, me and the guys will be okay.”

The unpleasant scene was interrupted by the arrival of the Volvo.  Penny asked “Dad, did you hire a chauffeur?  Is there something wrong with mom?”

Dad had a funny look on face, “Nothing is wrong with your Mother, and no we didn’t hire a chauffeur.  Ed’s friend, Brahim, is driving.”

 Allie jumped out of the car and opened the door for Mother and helped her out.  He came running to Dad and me. “Granddad  and Dad, you should have been there.  After Bra and I sang the song, the people were clapping even Father Cahill was clapping.  The people I met in Sunday school were also there.  Even Jeff and Jason stayed for the service, even though they were at the first service.”

I grabbed Allie, “Son, slow down, so we can introduce you to the others.”

Dad looked at the others who weren’t quite sure what was happening, “I’d like to introduce Little Al and his brother, Brahim.  They’re going to be living with Ed.”

Lucas asked, “What do you mean they’re going to be living with Ed?

Where are they from anyway?  They certainly aren’t from Texas if they’re dressed like that.”

Allie looked at Lucas, “Sir, Dad is going to buy a house in Houston, and Bra and I are going to be living with him.  We’re from Algeria and we’re dressed like this because we were singing in church today.”

Ray moaned, “Oh shit, some more freeloading foreigners.  Ed probably came to borrow money so he could take care of them.  He probably can’t afford to take care of them on the money he makes as a stupid petroleum engineer.”

Allie and Bra both looked at me as if asking, ‘Can we please leave?’

Mother stepped into the discussion, “I want you all to listen and listen well.  You and your bigoted attitudes have no place around here.  As far as Dad and I are concerned, Brahim and Allie are members of the family.  Ray, since you brought the matters of finances up, “Exactly how much are you making?  We have not  received a cent, since you borrowed the money for the down payment on your opulent house that you neither need or can afford.”

Ray answered, not knowing that he was digging himself into a hole.  “I’m making $75,000 a year.”

Penny looked at him, “If you’re making over six thousand a month, why am I working?  Dad and Mother, I had no idea that the bastard was making that kind of money.”

Mother was brutal, “Penny, you and Ray need to discuss your problems in private.”

Mother turned to Pam, “Do you have any idea what Lucas is earning?  The two of you have not repaid anything on the two loans that you borrowed from your Dad and me, or has he been keeping you in the dark as well?”

Pam started to shed tears, “Mom, we’re barely hanging on by the skin of our teeth.  Luke was fired for espousing his or should I say Reverend Miller’s religious beliefs, while at work.  It seems that was all he could talk about what was what Reverend Miller said.  If I hadn’t been able to find a job, we would be homeless and starving.  He hasn’t been able to find employment since he was fired.  He hasn’t been really trying.  He sits at home and does nothing or goes to talk to Reverend Miller.”

Dad had to add some salt to the wounds, “Son, tell these two fine pseudo-Christian men how much you’ll be making starting tomorrow.”

I looked at Dad with a questioning look, “Ed, just do it, since they seem to think that their religious leaders are more important than their families.”

I looked at the people, “Starting tomorrow, my salary will be $250,000.00 a year.”

Lucas jumped up, “Ed, you’re a liar.  You have to be hallucinating.  You haven’t been working for Shell that long.”

Dad turned to Allie and Bra, “Go get some suitable clothes on and we’ll go to the club for lunch.  I ain’t taking no city slickers to the club.”

After the two guys had departed, Dad wheeled around, “If anyone says another derogatory word about Little Al, Brahim or Ed, you will be a person non gratis around here.  I happen to be on the board of Shell Oil, and I knew before Ed told us that Ed would be assuming the position of Special  Assistant to the President.  Ed, I apologize for being so rough on you and asking so many hard questions, but I wanted to make sure you weren’t hiding any skeletons in your closet.”

I hugged Dad, “Dad, you don’t have to apologize to me.”

Allie and Brahim arrived dressed in their cowboy clothes and Dad glared, “It’s about time you two got some decent clothes on.  Let’s go, I’m hungry.”

I think my sisters and their families were suffering from shell shock because no one said a word as Dad threw his key to Bra, “Here you drive, Liz will give you directions.  Little Al and I have some things to discuss.”

It was as if I was an outsider the entire way to the club because Dad and Allie were talking about everything.  Mother and Brahim were having their own private conversation.  Heck, I could have stayed at the Double 00 and no one would have missed me.

When we walked into the club, we were met by a young man I didn’t recognize.  He bowed, “If it ain’t the El Presidente, I spose you be wantin’ the best table in the house.  Sorry suh, you gonna have to put up with me, today, since you be so late.”

Dad laughed, “Jimmy, you can cut the corn.  Ed, this is little Jimmy Hendrix.  He goes to one of them Ivory League schools.  I think it’s called something like a lock company.”

Jimmy glared, “Look Mr. Pres., you’d better be nice or I’ll spill everything I touch over you.”

I looked at the young man, “Are you sure you’re Jimmy Hendrix?  When I babysat for you, you had buckteeth and were wearing glasses.”

“That be me. Ain’t it a miracle what an orthodontist and some corrective eye surgery can do?”

I chuckled, “You’re going to have a lot of young women chasing you.”

Jimmy whispered,  “It ain’t the young women I care about.  I’m concerned about members of the other sex.  In fact, I already have a special friend who is going to school with me.  See that stud over there at the next table?”

I pointed to Bra, “Jim, I'd like for you to meet my partner, Brahim Safi.”

Jimmy looked at me funny, “As in the kind of partners I was just talking about?”

I nodded yes, “The young man sitting next to my Dad is his brother and my son, Little Al.”

Lunch was strained, to say the least, but the service was impeccable. 

When we arrived at the ranch, the two brothers-in-law sat on the front porch not saying a word. My two sisters were talking to my parents in the house, and Allie and the two nieces were sitting on the grass in front of the house, talking.

I sensed that Brahim wanted to talk, so we walked to the stable and were leaning on the fence talking,  Bra laid it on the line, “Ed, I don’t like your brothers-in-law.”

I hugged him, “Dad, doesn’t like them either.  I hadn’t realized what jackasses they were until this weekend.  I have no idea what my parents are talking about with my sisters, nor do I want to know.  Dad really threw a bomb shell today when he announced that he was on the Shell board of directors.  I have no idea what to expect on Tuesday, or for that matter the rest of the week.”

Our conversation was interrupted by the arrival of two galloping horses.  Jeff and Jason Knight dismounted, “Is Allie here?”

I pointed to the front lawn, “He’s talking to his two cousins.”

Jeff and Jason tethered their horses and went to see what Allie was doing.  Brahim and I were walking toward the house when we were met by my sisters.  I had no idea what to expect. Pam spoke for the two of them, “Brahim and Ed, we apologize for our husbands' behavior.  It is not our prerogative to caste judgment.  Dad has made it quite clear that he considers Brahim to be more of the family than our husbands.”

Penny took over, “Our lives have probably changed forever after today.  I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I do know that there are going to be some changes in our house.  Guys, we’ll see you soon, I’m sure.  Dad is totally taken in by Brahim and Little Al.  Guys we’re going to be leaving.  Please don’t disappoint the parents.  We’ve already caused them enough grief.”

I hugged my two sisters and Bra simply nodded since he really didn’t know them.  The sisters collected their daughters and their husbands and departed.  After the departure of the two cars, Allie approached me, “Dad, Jeff and Jason want to know if I can go swimming.”

I looked at my watch, “Guys, we really need to get back to Houston; we’ll be back soon, and you can go swimming, then.”

Jeff and Jason took off on their horses and Allie and Bra went to pack the last of our clothes.  I went to talk to Dad and Mother who were sitting in the living room.  Dad and Mother, “I’m sorry if we caused problems for you.”

I was surprised by Mother’s answer, “Ed, these problems have been building for a long time.  Your Dad and I couldn’t get them to surface before today.  We talked to your sisters, and we will not allow them or their daughters to be hurt.  We’ve known for a long time that their husbands were freeloading religious fanatics.  I think after this weekend, everyone will be better off.”

Dad added, “We’ll bring a cashier’s check for the house and its contents on Tuesday.  Would you tell Little Al that we’d like something substantial for dinner on Tuesday evening before we start home.”

I’m almost positive that Dad knew Allie had entered the room even though he hadn’t seen him since his back was to the entrance.  Allie went and sat down between Mother and Dad on the sofa.  “Granddad, I thought I told you that Tuesdays were my day off.  I guess I can make an exception, this week.  I’ll fix you a typical Algeria meal.  We don’t want you to get too fat.”

Dad hugged Allie, “Little Al, I thought I told you that I’m allergic to Algerian food.  We’ll take you out to dinner.”

Allie giggled, “Granddad, that’s not an option.  I need to see what happens when someone is allergic Algerian food.  I’ll use it as a reference for grammar school dissertation.”

Both my parents leaned back and started to laugh.  Mother asked, “Allie, do you know what a dissertation is?”

“Yep, it’s when you write a long paper that no one wants to read, so they give you another degree so you can add some more letters to your name like you and Granddad did.”

Dad asked, “Little Al, what are you talking about?”

Allie pointed to my parents diplomas and certificates that were hanging on the wall.  Those papers say that you have a PhD Agricultural Engineering from Texas A & M and that Grandmother has an MS of Ed Admin From the University of Texas.  I guess that means that you’re a butcher of animals and Grandmother is a butcher of kids.”

Mother started to laugh, “Little Al, I’ve been called many things, but a butcher is a new one.”

I stood, “Guys, we need to get going, since I want to be at the office early tomorrow to make sure things go well.”

The parents walked us to the car.  We put the suitcases in the trunk.  Of course, we were leaving with two more suitcases than we arrived with because of all the guys' new clothes and the fact that I was taking my western clothes back, at Allie’s insistence.

When Allie went to say goodbye to the parents, Dad picked Allie up.  I thought Allie would object, but that was not the case.  Allie put his arms around Dad’s neck, “Granddad, you be good, you hear?”  He kissed Dad on the lips and leaned over and kissed mother on the lips, “Grandmother, you better bring Granddad's allergy medications with you on Tuesday”

Bra hugged and kissed Mother and hugged Dad and I did likewise.  Dad held me and whispered, “Ed, be good to the guys.”

As we were pulling away, both Mother and Dad were wiping their eyes.   The ride to Houston was relatively quiet because Bra was reading his text books.  Allie whispered, “Dad, I really liked the

Grandparents.  I’d like to be able to spend more time with them.  Tammy and Amy don’t like their Dads very much.”

Bra interrupted, “Allie, I really like the parents too.  I’m with the girls, because I didn’t very much like the brothers-in-law.”

“Bra and Allie, I’m sure that we won’t be seeing much of the two gentlemen, or at least I hope not.”

Allie sounded concerned, “Dad, you don’t think they would try to shoot us, do you?”

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:  That chapter got a little confrontational, didn't it?  Those two husbands are a couple of real pieces of... work, yeah that's it, work. I knew it was a four letter word.

As always, I am ready for more of this fine story!

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 12/04/09