What Do I Do Now, Mom?
by: E Walk
(© 2009 by the Author)
 

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

Chapter 7 

The Monster

After Kenny and Blake left on their cycles, I looked at the guys, "I'm going to go change into my work clothes.  I hear the cows mooing.  I guess I didn't feed them enough this morning."

Bobby looked at me, "Dad, I think they're telling you it's time for them to be milked.  Let's get changed so Billy doesn't have sores all over his arms tomorrow when he goes to school from taking care of the chickens. Thank goodness pigs don't lay eggs."

I could hardly keep from laughing.  When Randy and I were in the bedroom he started on me, "Hank, I really like your family, especially your parents, grandparents and Uncle Mark.  I'm not too sure about Kenny and Blake though.  Actually the two boys think they're great so I guess, I'll have to learn to accept them even if they are gay.  I'm just kidding.  They seem so happy together  I'm totally overwhelmed by what has been happening.  To tell you the truth, I was contemplating suicide while I was walking back to the school on Friday."

Randy took a deep breath, "I realized that I couldn't just let Billy and Bobby be alone, without someone to take care of them.  I'm feeling really guilty now that I realize that I allowed myself to reach such a point."

I pushed Randy against the wall, "Listen, you asshole, I don't ever want you talk like that again.  You have two wonderful sons.  We need to make sure that they have a good life.  Now get your ass dressed, so we can teach you how to help take care of the animals.  I'm tired of taking care of them by myself."

When Randy and I arrived in the barn, the cows were already in their stanchions and Bobby was feeding them.  Billy was cleaning their udders and the milking machines were on a cart waiting for the milking process to begin.

I looked at Billy, "Do you want to give your Daddy a lesson on how to work the milking machines, or do you want me to do it?"

"Dad, why don't you do it this time, so I can take care of the steers and the chickens?  I'm sorta getting hungry again." 

Randy had all sorts of questions, "Why is Billy cleaning the cows teats?"

Billy answered, "Dad, we do this so we don't get any dirt in the milk."

It took three cows before Randy caught on to what he needed to do.  I looked at Billy, "Billy, you stay here and make sure your Daddy's doing it right.  I'll feed the steers and chickens and collect the eggs tonight.  I want to see how the horses are doing.  Tommy and Tammy are about to have a baby."

"Dad, I want to see the horses after Daddy and I finish the milking.  You will need to explain to Daddy how to clean and sterilize the milking equipment.  I still don't understand what all you do."

I went to check on Bobby and he was checking each of the pig pens, "Dad, I don't think that pig feels good."

I looked at the sow and it was obvious that she was going to be delivering her newborns soon.  "Bobby, I think she is going to have some babies.  We need to go check on the other animals so we don't bother her..  I'm guessing when we come back, in the morning, she'll have some babies.  Let's go feed the steers and check on the horses."

When we walked into the area where the horses were located, Tommy was reacting to what was happening in the adjacent stall.  When I looked into the adjacent stall, Tammy had just delivered a foal.

I went into the stall to make sure that everything was okay.  Bobby was right beside me.  "Dad, is the baby horse going to be okay?"

The foal was trying to stand and Bobby was concerned, "Dad, something seems wrong with the baby horse's legs.  It can't stand up."

I suddenly realized that Bobby had seen things he shouldn't have.  It was too late and I couldn't do anything about it, now.  "Bobby. he looks fine to me."

"Dad, how do you know it's a boy?

"Bobby, trust me.  It's a boy, and he's going to be a fine specimen.  Since you were the first to see him, Why don't we call he Sir Robert after you?"

"But, Dad, won't that make Billy feel bad?"

"Let's go check on Billy and your Daddy, I still need to take care of the chickens."

When we walked into the stable, Billy was trying to explain what needed to be  done to purge the pipes so they would be set for the morning.  I took over, "Bobby, take Billy to see Sir Robert.  I'll explain to your Daddy what he has to do to clean the milking system.  We still need to feed the chickens and gather the eggs."

Randy and I were in the chicken house and were gathering the eggs when the two boys arrived.  I could tell that Billy was a little up tight and it didn't take long for him to let us know why.  "Why does Bobby get to have a horse named after him and I don't have anything named after me?  Does that mean you like Bobby better than me?"

I grabbed Billy, "That's not what it means at all.  When school is finished for the year. we'll go find a horse for you and will call it Sir William.  Bobby was there today and watched Sir Robert being born so that's why the colt was named after him.  Now let's finish here and go fix some dinner. We probably need to shower before we fix any food.

When we were walking to the house, Billy looked at Randy and me, "Dads, I'm sorry for acting like a little boy.  I agree that the new horse should be named after Bobby.  There has been so much happening, I don't know what to think anymore.  Why don't you take your showers first while me and Bobby clean and put the eggs away?"

Randy and I went to the bedroom, and I suggested, "Randy, I'll take my shower first and go fix some dinner."

Randy was sitting with his head in his hands when I returned from taking my shower.  "Randy, is something wrong?  Don't you feel well?"

He looked at me, "Hank, you'd don't have a clue, do you?"

"Randy, I have no idea what you're talking about.  Why don't you lay what's bothering you on me."

"Hank, for starters Billy and Bobby think of you as a Dad or perhaps a  God.  It's as if they love you more than me.  I have to admit that I think of you as some sort of God, too."

I started to say something but he held up his hand, "Hank, let me finish.  I'm guessing that you would like to get into my briefs as soon as possible, and that's why you're keeping us around.

I sucked in a big breath of air, "Randy, I told you before and I'll tell you again, I'm not going to have sex with you, just for the sake of having sex.  When and if we ever do anything sexual, it will be because we love each other.  It appears to me that you would like me to have sex with you.  

"As far as your sons, I'll do everything that I can to keep them from being hurt by what has happened.  I can't believe that two young boys like them would be so willing to do the work they are doing here on the farm.  I'm sure you realize that my parents and grandparents are totally taken by you and the boys, just as am I.  Granddad Adler threatened to castrate me if I let you get away, and Grandma Kuhns said she was expecting a wedding invitation, imminently."

I went to the kitchen and pulled out a casserole that Mother had made and zapped it in the microwave to defrost it and stuck it in the oven.  I looked in the cupboard and realized that we needed to go to the grocery store.  It dawned on me that feeding two growing boys and their Dad was going to require a lot more food than when it was just me.

The boys arrived and Bobby was carrying a dozen eggs. "I thought we might need these for breakfast."

"Thanks, Bobby, good thinking.  Your Daddy's out of the shower.  Why don't you boys go take your showers while dinner is cooking so you're ready for bed?  We need to go to bed early, since we have school tomorrow."

Randy came and was standing next to where I was working, "Hank, what should I wear tomorrow when I go see your Uncle Mark?"

You might want to wear dress clothes, since we have no idea what you might be doing.  I'll get them for you after dinner.  Why don't you set the table, so we can eat when the boys finish their showers?"

After dinner, I took Randy and had him try on my blue blazer.  Heck, it looked better on him than it do on me.  I glared at him, "I'll get the other things, while you get your hair wet."

"Why am I getting my hair wet?"

"Because I told you to.  Now go do it, and I'll meet you outside the trailer."

After Randy left, I pulled a barber's kit from the shelf, that I hadn't used since Ron's accident.  We used to trim each others hair all the time.  It not only saved money, but time as well."

I went into the kitchen and got a breakfast bar stool and took it outside and a TV tray to put the barber tools on next to the outside electrical outlet.  Bobby, tell your Daddy to bring a towel with him."

When Randy came out he looked perplexed.  The boys had followed Randy outside to see what was going on.  I pointed to the stool, "Get your butt on that stool and don't move, or I might cut an ear off."

Billy and Bobby were sitting on the steps, giggling.  Randy was sitting patiently as I started to hack on his hair.  It took me thirty minutes before I was satisfied.  I looked at the boys, "Does your Daddy look okay?"

Billy faked a sob, "Dad Hank, that can't be our Dad.  That must be some movie star.  Why didn't you cut our hair instead of us having to go to a hair salon to get our haircut?"

"Guys, I forgot I had the barber's equipment until I was getting some clothes out of the closet for your Daddy.  Billy, I think you're wrong, though, I think your wrong,  he looks more like Clarabelle the clown than a movie star.  Randy, you might want to go check and see if you want me to trim anymore."

Randy went to look at what I had done, and the boys helped me take things into the trailer.  I got the boys an ice cream sandwich from the freezer and they were eating the at the breakfast bar when their Dad came out of the bathroom.  "Adler, you're going to pay for what you did to me.  I'll probably never to be able to show my face in public again."

Randy grabbed me and hugged me, "Hank, I don't think my hair has ever looked this good."

I chuckled, "I guess you'll be known as the handsome plumber from now on.  Boys, you need to brush your teeth and get to bed.  It's almost 8:30.  I hugged the boys as they went to brush their teeth, as did Randy."

When the boys had gone to brush their teeth, Randy looked at me, "Hank, why don't you sleep in the bed with me.  You would be far more comfortable there, than you would be on the sofa.  I promise I won't molest you, even if I'm tempted."

When I woke in the morning, I felt a presence next to me and an arm draped over my body.  I moved the arm so I could get up and Randy mumbled, "Please don't leave me alone."

I was wondering what he meant by that comment as I went to the bathroom to empty my bladder.  I went to wake the boys and their room was empty.  I looked at the clock and it was just now 6:00.  I went back to the bedroom and shook Randy, "Your sons are not in their room and it's only six o'clock.  Get up and help me look for them, if they're not in the barn.

As I was walking to the barn, I saw Bobby going into the pig house.  'I guess he'd already fed the cows.'  When I walked into the stable,  Billy was already just about finished cleaning the cows udders and teats.  He looked at me, "Bobby's gone to take care of the pigs.  He wants to know what to do with the horses.  Where's Daddy?"

"He's coming.  He'll be here shortly."

I had the milking machines on the first two cows when Randy arrived.  He laughed, "I see you found the boys, I'll do this while you take care of some other things.  I went to the pig house and Bobby was counting the new arrivals, "Dad, that mother pig sure had a lot of little pigs.  What are we going to do with all of them?"

"Bobby, once there big enough, we'll put them outside.  When they're fat enough, we'll sell them to a slaughter house.  We'll get the meat from two or three of them, and they will sell the rest of the meat and pay us some money."

Bobby took my hand as we walked to take care of the horses.  When we went into the stable, I could tell that Sir Robert was going to be a handsome horse.  Bobby and I took the horses to the pasture next to the barn.  Bobby looked up at me, "Dad, you were right, Sir Robert seems to be fine.  Look at him running around."

We were returning to the barn when we met Billy.  Billy grinned, "Dad, why don't you help Daddy finish while me and Bobby take care of the chickens."

"Guys, you won't have time to clean and package the eggs this morning.  Just put them in the frig until after school.  Bring the eggs that are in cartons and we'll take them to school and sell them today.  I'll have people sign up for eggs, so we know how many to bring tomorrow."

We had fried egg sandwiches for breakfast and I pointed at Randy, "Mr. Taylor, we're going to leave you with the clean up duty.  We expect the place to be in shipshape order when we get home tonight."

I handed the keys to the truck and my cell phone to Randy as the boys and I were leaving.  

When we arrived at school, I tried to give the boys money to pay for their lunches.  Billy squashed my effort, "Dad, we're going to use the money we made from the eggs to pay for our charge and meals, the next two days.  You've already done too much.  We'll come to your room, after school."

I took the eggs to the lounge and put a sign announcing that they were fifty cents a dozen and went to assume my duty as the official greeter.  When the tardy bell rang, I started to my classroom and surprise of surprises, no one was yelling at my children and telling them they needed to be quiet."

I thought to myself, 'The principal must not be here today.'

The children were absolutely wonderful all morning.  It was as if they had grown up overnight.

When I took my class to the lunchroom for lunch, I got my tray of food, if you call it that, and went to the teacher's lounge to eat.  I was surprised.  The eggs were all gone and there was a list labeled Egg Orders.  There were already twelve names on it, requesting eggs.  I thought to myself, 'Wait until I tell the boys.  They're probably going to want to go into the poultry business full time.  I finished my lunch and took the money and returned to the room, so I'd be there when the children arrived.

I figured that the children would pay me back for being so good in the  morning.  When they arrived in the room, they were sitting at their tables with their hands folded.  I had forgotten that it was field day. When the call came that we were to go to the north playground area. I took my class.  I was the only teacher there.  The other classes were being accompanied by paraprofessionals, so the teachers could finish their report card.  That was a bunch a bull.  They were either in the lounge gossiping, or making sure they could be signed out as soon as possible after the students left on Thursday.

After I walked my class to the door and made sure they had been picked up, I went to the lounge and got the list of people who wanted eggs in the morning.  When I arrived in the room, both Billy and Bobby were waiting.  Billy asked, "Dad, do you want us to take your bulletin board down?"

"Why would we want to do that?  We still have two more days of school."

Billy shook his head, "Dad, all the other teachers are pretending as if last Friday was the last day of school.  Mr. Daily had us take everything off the wall and bulletin board, today while he did our report cards.  We didn't have to do any work.  He told us that we were to bring a book to read tomorrow, to keep us busy, so he could do his year end reports.  He told me I was supposed to bring popcorn so we could have something to eat while we were reading, and we're supposed to bring our own drinks."

I never liked Daily.  He thought he was God's gift to women.  He walked around like he was king of the hill.

Bobby interrupted, "Mrs. Hill, gave us a packet to do while she took down the things from the bulletin board and the walls.  While I was waiting for Billy to come, I saw her throw the packets in the trash can."

The conversation was interrupted by a very handsome looking Randy.  He had a shirt and tie on.  I started to greet him but he blurted, "What the heck are you lazy kids doing here.  You should be home taking care of the animals, instead of having this ugly man baby-sit you.  Now get your little butts out to the truck, so I can get you home and you can earn your keep."

I started to get up from my desk to challenge him, but he gave me a two thumbs up sign to let me know that he was okay.  After the Taylors had left, I sat back and wondered, 'What's happening?'

To be continued...

 Editor's Notes:  Well, I hope Randy isn't going to get all nutty, on us.  I have the feeling there is something going on, but I guess we are just going to have to wait and see what it is.  Is this a cliffhanger?

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 02/26/10