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 15 

The Punk

When I arrived at the Neon Goose, Mother was sitting in the waiting area and she was taping her foot,  I looked at her, “Mom, it’s a minute after noon.  Some of us don’t have all day to make people's lives miserable.  Let’s go get a table.  I do need to go back to work this afternoon.”

We had hardly sat down and she started on me, “What was Randy thinking about when he spoke out  as he did yesterday?  Mr. Baxter is a very influential person.  He’ll have us all looking like we have egg on our face.”

I started to laugh and Mother asked what was so funny.  “Mom, it isn’t us who is going to have egg on our face.  I’ll send in the egg patrol and Mr. Baxter will think he’s an omelet.”

We were joined by my Dad, who never took time out for lunch.  “Meg, you’re over reacting.  Everyone knows that Ralph Baxter is a jerk.  What Randy did was perfectly acceptable.  He tied his statement into his understanding of the Bible, and Baxter was espousing rhetoric of the far right wing. Let’s have a leisurely lunch.”

Mother was still up tight and I was surprised that Dad was standing up to her because he usually let her go her own way.  We were eating our lunches when Mrs. Egan stopped by the table, “Hank, what would you and Randy recommend that we talk about next week in the Talk Back class?”

I looked at my parents and Mrs. Egan, “After what happened yesterday, I doubt that Randy or I will be attending any more Church School classes.   Mr. Baxter has my Mother upset, and Randy feels that he opened the beehive.  In fact we may have to shop around for a different church.  I don’t appreciate some of the comments that Mr. Baxter made yesterday.  Furthermore, I don’t think that something like the health care bill should have been being discussed in a church school class.  What has it got to do with religion?”

Mrs. Egan looked a little pale, “Hank, I was already being chastised  by the pastors for even broaching the subject.  Your right.  We need to discuss things that have to do with the church and the scripture.  I would appreciate very much if you would return next Sunday to prove to Ralph Baxter that he can’t bully everyone.”

I stood, “I need to get back to work.  Thanks for lunch.”

When I arrived back at the school, I was seething.  I wanted to punch Mr. Baxter out.  I took several deep breaths before I entered the office.  It’s a good thing I did.  Gloria grinned as I walked in, “Good, you’re here.  Superintendent Brown called and has requested that you be at the school board meeting tonight at seven o’clock.”

“Gloria, do I get overtime pay for attending these night time meetings.  I’m a farmer and have things to do.”

Gloria laughed, “Sell the farm and move into town.  That way you won’t have to use so much gas.”

Ted came into the office, “Mr. Adler, have you decided what the hours are to be?”

Gloria answered, “Most of the elementary schools have limited hours during the summer.  I suggest that the building be locked except between the hours of nine and eleven in the morning and one and three in the afternoon.  That will prevent the young people from coming in to visit because they’re bored.  When Mr. Adler and I sign out at the end of June. You can work the hours that you and your supervisor agree upon.”

By the end of the afternoon, I had redlined so many items of the order request forms that I was sure that I wasn’t going to be the most popular person on the planet, but give me a break.  How many cutesy workbook pages do the boys and girls need to do?”

As I was pulling into the lane to the farm, there was sign on the fence post.  Anyone who isn’t invited is to stay away or you will get the egg treatment.”  I started to laugh, ‘I needed something like that.”

When I arrived at the trailer, there was a car sitting there and the driver was honking his horn.

I climbed out of my car and went to the car, “Sir, may I help you?”

A young man, who looked to be about sixteen or seventeen, glared, “I’m here to pick up the brats.”

I decided that the kid had a definite attitude problem, “I have no idea who you might be talking about, since I wasn’t aware that there were any brats here.”

“Look, Mr. Whatever. I’m here to pick up my brothers.  They’re causing me to waste my allowance on gas to bring them here and pick them up.”

“Get your ass out of the car.  It sounds as if you need a good whippin'.  I still have no idea who you’re brothers are, or why you’re sitting here playing with your penis.”

“I’m jacking off, if you must know, and my brothers are Alan and Adam Brown.”

“In that case, your brothers are probably in the barn area.  Depending on where they are, they may or may not hear the sound of your honking.  Put your dick in your pants and we’ll go find them.  I’m Hank Adler and this is my farm.”

“Then who was the man I saw this morning when I dropped Alan and Adam off?”

I shrugged my shoulders, “I’m guessing it was Billy and Bobby’s Dad whom you saw, since no one else lives here.”

The young man followed me to the barn.  Billy looked at me, “Dad Hank, we have everything done but the milking.  You need to get me a step stool or something so I can plug the machines to the tubing.  It would save a lot of time, especially when Daddy is busy.”

 

“Where is your Dad anyway?”

Billy giggled, “He’s in the house cussing because he thinks things aren’t going as smoothly as he thought they would.  He needs some help.”

Alan looked at his brother, “Ritchie, you can help with the milking while Mr. Adler changes his clothes.”

“Say what?  Why would I help you with the milking?  I’m not a slave.”

Billy looked at guy, “All we’re asking you to do is connect the hose to the tubing so we can put the machines on the cows.  You wouldn’t even have to get your lily white hands dirty.”

Ritchie frowned, “Okay, but I’m not touching the cows.”

I wanted to laugh, but I maintained my cool, “Guys, where are Bobby and Adam?”

Billy answered, “They were going to go check on the horses and the heifers.  They’ve already taken care of the pigs.”

“I’ll be back as soon as I change clothes.”

I stopped in the house to check on Randy.  He was indeed cussing, albeit quietly.  “Randall Lee, we don’t use language like that on this spread.  The boys said you were cussing up a storm and that you think you need some help.  Take a break and come talk to me while I change clothes.”

As we were walking to the trailer, Randy grinned, “We had some surprise visitors, today.”

“Oh, who was that?”

“Dr. Ring stopped by and he had the Director of Christian Education, Rhonda something, with him.  He wanted to let us know that we needed to continue to attend church, regardless of Mr. Baxter’s actions.  The Rhonda person wanted to know if I would consider facilitating an adult church school class in the fall.  Dr. Ring asked me to stop by and visit with him when I had an opportunity.”

I was standing there in my briefs, “What did you tell them?”

“You look good enough to eat.”

I chuckled, “We'll take care of that problem tonight when we’re in bed,  What did you tell the visitors?”

“I told them that I needed to discuss their visit with you and that I’d get back to them.  Dr. Ring was surprised that you were still working.”

“Dr. Ring’s wife is a music teacher in the district.  Let’s go help the boys and see if our visitor has gotten his lily white hands dirty yet.”

Randy scowled, “Hank, who is the visitor with the lily white hands,

anyway?”

I arched my eyebrows, “He claims to be Alan and Adam’s brother and I caught him jacking off in his car.  By the way, who made the sign that’s at the entrance to the farm.”

“What sign?”

“You’ll have go read it for yourself.”

When we walked into the stable, Ritchie was complaining, “Alan, you and Adam are going to get my car all dirty and I have a date tonight.  The car will smell like a barnyard.”

Billy stood up, “Ritchie, all you’ve done since you’ve been here is complain.  You need to get a job.”

I looked at Ritchie, “Ritchie, this is Billy and Bobby’s Dad, Randy Taylor.  We have a proposition for you.”

Randy shook Ritchie’s hand.

I took a deep breath  “How would you like to work here and help Mr. Taylor with installing the new plumbing in the house?”

Ritchie’s mouth popped open, “Mister, you’re either nuts or you’ve been drinking.  I know even less about plumbing stuff than I do about farm work.  Are you really serious?”

Randy sighed, “Ritchie, I’m a certified plumber.  What I need is a gopher and some  extra muscle to help me.  There will be times when I need to go places and you can make sure that nothing happens to the guys while I’m gone.”

Ritchie started to giggle, “Great, now the truth comes out.  You need me to be a gopher and a babysitter.  Next, you’ll be expecting me to haul the rug rats around when they want to go somewhere and do the farm work.  How much would I be paid for my services?”

I shrugged my shoulders, “Mr. Brown, that would depend on how hard you would be willing to work.   All this is predicated on your parents’ approving that you could work here.”

“No problem with that, they’ve been all over my ass telling me I needed to get a job.  How soon would you want me to start?”

Randy smirked, “Since you’re a teenager, I suppose we could start work at nine in the morning.  We wouldn’t want to interfere with you getting your beauty sleep.”

Alan asked, “Mr. Adler and Mr. Taylor, would it be okay if me and Adam come with Ritchie?”

I deferred to Randy who answered, “Alan, you’re certainly welcome to come with your brother if it’s okay with your parents.”

Adam and Bobby entered the stable and Bobby hugged me, “Did you have a good day, Dad Hank, or did you complain all day like Daddy?”

“Bobby, I had a very strange day.”

Ritchie looked at his watch, “Guys, we need to go.  Dad, has a meeting tonight so we’ll probably be eating early.   Mr. Taylor, I’ll see you at nine in the morning.”

The three Brown guys departed and we finished the farm work.  As we were walking to the house, I announced, “I need to eat a quick dinner since I have a meeting at seven o’clock.”

Randy moaned, “See, boys, I told you that Mr. Adler was going to stiff us with doing all the work around here.  Maybe we need to move back to that old hotel.”

Bobby turned to his Dad.  “Daddy, be serious.  Me and Billy aren’t leaving.”

I hugged Randy and whispered, “Be careful what you say.  Ritchie may arrive in the morning to find you chained to the bed.”

Randy sniffled, “You wouldn’t do that to me would you?”

“Nope, but your sons might.”

When I arrived at the Board Room, there were quite a few people there including my parents and Uncle Mark which I thought was odd.  I went and sat down beside my parents, “Why are you here?”

Uncle Mark frowned, “Ralph Baxter has been creating waves.  He has recruited a group of his conservative cronies, and they’re going to protest your being hired as the next principal of Birchcrest.  In fact, they’re going to demand that you be fired.”

I looked at my parents.  “Why don’t I just leave in order to save you from being embarrassed.  I never wanted to be a principal anyway.”

My Mother looked at me, “You leave now without a fight and you find yourself disinherited.  Both sets of grandparents are rooting for you.”

The Board meeting started and there was no controversy until Personnel Committee made it’s report.  We recommend the hiring of the these new teachers for the next school year.  They have met the necessary requirements to fill the vacancies that we know are going to exist.  I so move on behalf of the committee.”

The motion was seconded and approved.  However, the fur started to fly on the next action.  The committee chair stood again, “On behalf of the personnel committee, I move that Mr. Henry Adler be appointed the principal of Birchcrest Elementary School.”

Mr. Baxter jumped up and went to one of the microphones.  “I strongly object to that appointment.”

Mrs. Fischer pounded her gavel.  “Sir, you’re out of order; the motion is not open for discussion since there has been no second.”

Mr. Wishman spoke, “Madame President, I second the motion and I’d like permission to speak after Mr. Baxter has his say.”

Mrs. Fischer looked at the people, “I’m going to limit the amount of time that each person can speak to the motion to three minutes since I already see eight people lined up.  I would ask that each person identify who they are and where they live.  Mr. Baxter, please tell us where it is that you reside and why you are interested in the proceedings of the school board.”

“My name is Ralph Baxter and I live at 7676 Applewood Lane.  I have a problem with you hiring a queer like Henry Adler to replace a fine upstanding gentleman like Michael Hamilton.  I understand that the queer caused Mr. Lawrence Dailey to resign.   I think it is a travesty that you people would even contemplate placing someone like Adler in a position of responsibility.”

A woman in a suit, whom I didn’t know, went to the front of the line at the other microphone.  “I’m Lorena Hamilton.  Mr. Baxter is so far off base that he obviously doesn’t know what he talking about.  My husband is in no way a fine an upstanding gentleman.  He’s been shacking up with Mr. Lawrence Dailey for two years.  Mr. Baxter, I have visual proof that you and some of cohorts have been to some of their orgies at there apartment.  I will be presenting the evidence at my divorce hearing, which is scheduled for Friday.”

There was an exodus of Baxter supporters, which was going to grow shortly.  Mr. Wishman stepped to the microphone.  “The Personnel Committee is well aware of Mr. Baxter’s sexual preferences. What I would like to point out to some of you in this room that don’t seem to understand, because someone is openly gay doesn’t mean they are pedophiles.  We have had two children who have had Mr. Adler as their teacher, and I can assure you that he never did anything inappropriate.  Unlike some other people who are present in this room, he has never tried to take advantage of someone.  Madame President, I call for the question.”

Mr. Baxter sputtered, “But there are others here who would like to speak against the motion.”

Mrs. Fischer was so cool, “Unless they’re invisible, sir.  I see no one else wishing to speak.  Please take the vote.”

The vote was taken and Mrs. Fischer stood “There are seven affirmative votes with no negative votes for  Mr. Henry Adler to be appointed as the new principal of Birchcrest Elementary School.  Mr. Adler, please stand so people can see who you are.”

As I stood, people were applauding and I guess I started to turn red.  I was saved by Mrs. Fischer’s gavel, “There will be a ten minute recess while the board goes into executive session.”

Dr. Brown approached us, “Okay, Hank, what have you done to my sons?  When I left the house, they were trying to decide when they were going to be going to work in the morning at your farm.”

I started to laugh, “I thought Randy made it clear that they were to be there at nine o’clock.  I take it you and your wife have no problem with Ritchie being a gofer and a babysitter?”

“Heck no.  He needs something to keep his mind busy instead of worrying about spending money like it’s water.  There is no need for you to stick around for the rest of meeting, unless of course you want to.  I think you need to get home to your guys.”

My parents and Uncle Mark were talking to some people, and man, you would have thought I committed the crime of the century when I departed without saying goodnight,  as I was to find out later.

To be continued...

 Editor's Notes: Things seem to be looking up for Hank. I think he has a lot more friends than he thought he had. 

Mr. Baxter is not as influential as he thought he was, either.

It puzzles me as to why so many self proclaimed 'good Christians'  put down others for being sinners of one kind or another, while they practice some, if not all, of the things that they bad mouth others for supposedly doing.

I think that Ritchie is going to find he will need that attitude adjustment, and rather quickly, too.  He is going to find out that he won't get much slack from either Randy or the other kids. 

I can hardly wait for more chapters of this interesting story.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 04/23/10