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

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Chapter 28 

Forward March

On Monday morning, I was awakened by the sound of strange voices.  It took me a while to remember that Walt and Wade Latham had spent the night.  When I was walking into the living room, Witt was saying, “Walt, you stay here and help Bobby and Bill, while Wade and I go take care of the animals at the other farm.  I’ll drive the truck and Wade, you can drive the tractor and we’ll leave it there.”

Witt finally realized that I was standing there, “Good morning, boss.  The coffee is ready.  You’ll have to fix your own breakfast, since you told Aaron and Eric Corn that you were going to meet them at 7:30.  Don’t be too hard on them.  They seem like really good guys.”

Randy appeared, “Oh, Mr. Foreman, do you have my instructions for the day?”

“Yes, you and Ritchie need to concentrate on getting the house so it’s livable, and our three youngest brothers won’t need to be taken care of by Mr. Adler’s parents, every night.  If they spend too much time with Mr. Adler’s parents, the boys will become spoiled.  They’ll probably be spoiled by the time they arrive this morning.”

Witt looked at me, “Mr. Adler, could you see if you can find out what is happening to our four sisters?  I feel like we’ve deserted them, but this is not the place for them to be.”

“I’ll try, but I can’t promise anything.  I need to be going, if I’m going to be at school when the Corn guys arrive, late, and I have to rip into them.”

Randy walked me to the car, “Hank, we’ve been taken over by aliens from outer space.  Call me if there are any problems.  I may not be able to help much, with the instructions I have been given, but you can always cry on my shoulder.”

I pulled into the school parking lot at seven twenty five, and there were already two cars in the lot.  I got out of the car and I saw the two Corn boys exit their car.  I looked at the other car and realized that it was Ted’s.  I wondered to myself, ’Why is he here?  I thought they pulled him out to help clean other buildings.’

Aaron Corn chuckled, “We almost went back to sleep waiting for you, Mr. Adler.”

“Watch it, you two.  When I left the farm this morning, the guys said you would probably be trying to relieve me of my family jewels.”

Eric started to laugh, “Mr. Adler, you needn’t worry.  We don’t need or want any worn out jewels.  We’re interested in ones that haven’t been used to death.”

I punched the cipher lock, I turned to the two guys, “The code is 5473.  That way you won’t fall asleep on the mornings I’m not here.  Let’s go find Ted and see why he’s here.”

The two Corn guys and I went looking for Ted.  He was sitting in the lounge, reading the morning paper.  I looked at him, “I thought you were going to be with a cleaning crew in another building.”

“I thought so, too.  I had a call from the head of the custodial staff last night telling me that I was to be here to supervise the cleaning crew for this building.  Ted stood, “If you’re Eric and Aaron Corn, then I’m Ted Sorenson.  Let’s go pretend we’re working, so Mr. Adler doesn’t decide to be a custodian because he thinks we do nothing all day.”

I walked into the office and was trying to remember everything that was to happen this week.  Gloria arrived, “Hank, you look lost.”

“Gloria, so much has been happening in the past week that I’m not sure if I’m coming or going.  You’re going to have to help me remember where I am to be, and when.  What is there that I need to do to close out the school year?  We only have three days before we get six weeks off.”

Gloria laughed, “I don’t know about you, but I have enough to keep me busy.”

I went into my office and was looking at the things on my desk when the phone rang.  Gloria pushed the intercom button, “Hank, it’s Superintendent Brown.”

“This Hank Adler.”

“Hank, it’s Rick Brown.  Just to remind you that we have a meeting with the Special Education Team this afternoon at one thirty.  I’ll drive us to the meeting with Dr. Plumber, tomorrow.  We’ll leave the central office parking lot at nine o‘clock.  One other thing, you need to have Aaron and Eric Corn come to Human Resources Department and fill out employment papers, so we are covered should they be injured on the job.  See you at one thirty.”

I walked into the reception area, “Being a principal sucks.  I probably won’t make it through the next school year before I’m hung in effigy again and again.”

Gloria laughed, “Hank, you can do it.  Things will settle down, once school starts.”

“I need to go talk to our two Community Service volunteers.  I’ll be right back.”

I found Ted and the two Corn guys in Mr. Dailey’s room painting the walls.  I surprised the guys when I walked in, “Ted, you need to take Aaron and Eric to the Central Office, so that they can fill out paperwork to ensure that they and the district are covered, in case of an accident.”

Aaron turned around, “Mr. Adler, you need to wear a bell or something, so we aren’t surprised when you sneak up on us.  I almost dropped my paint.  Mr. Sorenson would probably make us clean up the mess with a tooth brush.”

“Guys, stop in the office, so you can meet the secretary, Mrs. Hawkins, before you go to the central office.  That way she won’t shoot you when you’re in the building.”

I went back to the office and Mr. Rollins was waiting for me.  “Hank, how do you want us to pay you for the people at the farm taking care of Ethan and Elliot?  They were out of bed ready to go at six thirty this morning.  When I finally delivered them, it was like a kid ranch at your farm.”

“Lou, you need to work out the monetary arrangement with Witt.  He’s going to be the person overseeing the care and well being of your sons, while they are at the farm.  Randy will be there most of the time, too, as will Ritchie.”

Mr. Rollins had just departed when my Dad and Uncle Mark came into the reception area.  Uncle Mark looked at Gloria, “Mrs. Hawkins, we’re going to kidnap Principal Adler,”

Gloria smirked, “Just have him back in time for his meeting with the Superintendent, at 1:30.”

I followed Dad and Uncle Mark to the car, and I had the audacity to ask, “Where is it that you're taking me?”

Dad answered, “To the county jail.  Just get in Mark’s car.  I have a surgery scheduled at one o’clock.”

Uncle Mark drove and when we entered the county jail, Uncle Mark went to the window and identified himself.  We were led to a small conference room and Mr. Latham was escorted in by a deputy.  Mr. Latham looked rather scruffy. “Thanks for coming, Mark, and bringing Hank.  Dr. Adler, I‘m surprised to see you.”

Uncle Mark answered, “Mr. Latham, after we take care of the business that you wanted me to do, Leon and Hank have a proposition for you.”

I wondered, ’What proposition?’

Uncle Mark handed Mr. Latham a copy of a document, “Wilber, if you will sign this, I’ll file an annulment for your wedding to Mrs. Margo Wheatfield Latham.”

“Thank goodness! She told me, Sunday morning, that the twins she was carrying weren’t even mine when she was berating me for not adequately providing for her and daughters needs.”

Uncle Mark handed Mr. Latham a second document, “If you will sign this, I will have it printed in the legal notices, saying that you will not be responsible for any bills that your wife has charged to you.  You did say, that you didn’t have any credit cards, didn’t you.”

“I don’t have any credit cards.  I pay for everything, either by check or cash.”

Uncle Mark asked, “You haven’t added your wife’s name to the checking account, have you?”

“No, the bitch has been after me to do so.  My first wife was never on the account, so why would l put anyone else on it.  I have a hard enough time keeping track of what little money I have.”

Uncle Hank pulled out another document.  “Before you sign this, would you please tell us why you want Hank to be the guardian for the six boys?  That’s asking a lot of Hank.”

Mr. Latham grinned, “A Mr. Alexander from the Children’s Protection Agency visited me last night.  He told me that the only way the boys could stay out of a group home would be for someone to be assigned as their guardian.  I figured that since the boys were already at Hank’s place, he could take care of them, and they could still work the farm.”

Mr. Latham looked at me, “Hank, are you going to be able to handle all six boys?”

“We’ll manage, somehow.  Witt, Wilt and Wade spent the night at the trailer.  My parents took Wally, Willy and Wylie home with them, last night.  Randy is going to try to have one of the bathrooms and the kitchen plumbing up and running by tomorrow evening, so some or all of us can move into the house.  When I left the farm this morning, Witt had it all figured out how the work on both farms could be taken care of.  What’s going to happen to your four daughters?”

“Mr. Alexander said that they were already in a home, pending my release from jail.  He indicated that none of the kids would ever be permitted to return to the farm.”

I had a question, “Is the C. P. A. going to allow the boys to stay with us?”

Mr. Latham nodded, “I informed Mr. Alexander, that if anyone can handle the boys, it was you, even if you were queer.  He’ll be calling you to arrange a visit with you.  If you agree to take care of six boys, he’ll have more time to work on the girls’ cases.  Personally, I think the man is fruitier than you are.”

Uncle Mark laughed, “Wilber, sign this and I’ll have Hank sign it before I notarize and file it with the clerk of the court and provide a copy to the Children’s Protection Agency.”

After the document giving me power of attorney was finished, Uncle Mark had a funny grin, “Hank and his father would like to buy your farm, now that Hank’s family has dramatically expanded.  If you would agree, I’ll arrange for a formal appraisal and that’s what they’ll pay you.  Would you be willing to accept that idea?”

“Hell, I've left the farm work to the boys for the last three years.  I’d probably go under in a couple of months, if I were to try farm it by myself.  I’m sure that none of kids will ever be allowed to live with me, now that the Children’s Protection Agency is involved.  Just make sure the sale isn’t done until after the annulment has been granted, to make sure the bitch can’t get her hands on any of the money.”

When we were in the car, I said, “Dad and Uncle Mark, I’m not sure that I can afford another farm.  I have some money in the bank, but I don’t want to put myself into debt.”

Dad shrugged, “You just let your Mother and I worry about the finances.  You can worry about how to best take advantage of the extra land.  If you are going to have so many boys around to help, then you and Randy will have to learn how to be able to handle it.”

When we arrived at the school, “I climbed out of the car; we’ll discuss this more, later.  There are an awful lot of cars in the parking lot; I hope nothing serious is happening.”

I met Mrs. Hamilton coming out of the building, “Mr. Adler, I can’t tell you how pleased I am with what has been happening to Devin and Derek.  Jodi assures me that Devin will be okay with a little extra help.”

When I walked into the office, Gloria handed me some phone messages. I went to talk to Jodi Bottom, “Good afternoon, Jodi, Mrs. Hamilton seemed happy.”

Jodi looked up at me, “Good afternoon, Hank.  I hear you’re meeting with his royal highness, Mr. Spiller and his assistant, Cathy Bierbaum in a few minutes.  Wish I could be there, to hear the fireworks.  Greg, has been bemoaning the fact that you are going to be the principal here at Birchcrest.  I hope you make the overbearing prick eat crow.  I’ll talk to you tomorrow.  I’m going to do some testing with Derek Hamilton tomorrow morning.”

When I arrived at the Central Office, I was directed to the Superintendent’s conference room.  I walked in and sat down, and it was a very cold reception.  We were soon joined by Superintendent Brown and Dr. Hunter, assistant superintendent for human resources.  Dr. Brown looked at Greg, “I understand that you have been bad mouthing Mr. Adler.  That will cease immediately.  What exactly is your problem with Mr. Adler?”

“He’s telling me who I can and can’t place into the special education positions.  It’s been our prerogative to place the most qualified candidates into the positions, regardless of the principal’s desires.”

Dr. Hunter pounded the desk, “I thought that we made it clear that the principals have every right to say who works in their buildings as long as the persons are qualified.  You and Cathy are about to lose your little empire.  From now on, you will be on the selection committee, along with the principals, for deciding which special education teachers work in their buildings.  The special education teachers work for the principals, not you.  Once the teachers are in place, it is your responsibility to keep the principals informed of the guidelines, and you have no right to say what’s going to happen in the schools.”

Greg stood, “This is not the way it’s been.  Why would you take the word of an upstart over mine?”

Superintendent Brown frowned, “Greg, I don’t believe Mr. Adler has said one word.  If you can’t handle not being kingpin, then there’s the door.  Don’t look for any endorsements from this administration.”

Greg hit the wall so hard that he made a hole, “I guess the queer has been serving the two of you.  I’m resigning, and I’ll show you who’s in control.  I’ve been offered a job at the Commissioner of Education’s office.”

Superintendent Brown shook his head, “Greg, I think you’re mistaken.  You were one of the people who Commissioner Plumber and I discussed when he was visiting, last week.”

When I arrived back at the school, I noticed the Corn guys’ car was gone.  When I walked into the office, I asked, “Where are Aaron and Eric?”

Gloria shrugged her shoulders, “You’ll need to check with their supervisor, Ted.”

I went to find Ted and he was still in Dailey’s room working, Ted where are Aaron and Eric?”

“Hank, those two guys busted their asses off, today.  When I took them to the Central Office to have them fill out the employment forms, the human resources people made it very clear that they should not work over six hours a day, since Eric is only fourteen.  You should have seen the guys when they found out that they were going to be paid the minimum wage for working.  They fully understand that they will be back before the juvenile court system, if they don’t fulfill their work commitment.”

“Ted, I never meant for it to be so hard on the guys.”

“Hank, after the guys saw what the people had written in the bathrooms, they were really upset to think that their father had anything to do with what happened.  Aaron wants to get rid of that filth as soon as possible.”

Gloria handed me the phone as I walked into the office.  “This is Hank Adler.”

“Henry, this is your Mother.  I’m taking Wally, Willy and Wylie home with me.  Call the storage place, and tell them to deliver your furniture tomorrow afternoon.  Your father and I can’t be tied down by three young boys.  Besides, we’ll be broke.  You need to take Walt and Wade and get them some decent clothes.”

“Yes, Mother.  Is there anything else, Mother dearest.”

“Don’t Mother dearest me.  Just do as I say and don’t give me any grief.”       

As I handed the phone to Gloria, I was thinking, ‘I’ve lost control of my life.’

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:  I do believe that things are beginning to settle down. 

There are a lot of people who think a lot of Hank. 

It will be a lot nicer, once they can actually live in the house.

Getting the extra farm land will be good too.  I suppose they will get the livestock as well, and they will most likely be able to consolidate the two farms into one.

I also think that Hank will have an easier time, once school starts again, now that most of the poor or apathetic teachers have departed. 

I want a new chapter, soon.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 07/23/10