What Do I Do Now, Mom?
by: E Walk
(© 2009-2010 by the Author)
 

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Chapter 34 

Getting Ready For the Fourth

After dinner, I put everyone to work, Witt and I took Wade and the three young guys to fix up the barbecue spit, to roast the pig.  I decided that we should roast some chickens as well for those people who weren’t particularly fond of pork.

I had Randy and Billy, Bobby and Walt taking care of making the pickled eggs; since he professed he knew how to do them.  It was almost nine o’clock when we had the skewers for the chicken ready as well as the pig roasting apparatus for the pig in place.  Witt asked, “Dad, why do you have the things to roast pigs?”

“Witt, my partner, Ron, who died, and I, ran across it at a farm auction and decided to buy it on a lark.  We only had a chance to use it one time, before he died.  You do realize that we will need to kill five chickens tomorrow along with everything else that is happening.  I should have kept my big mouth shut and we could have gone to the lake on the fourth and let everyone else do the work.”

When we arrived at the house, the guys had an assembly line going with the eggs.  Randy looked at me, “Next time you get to do the eggs.  I forgot how much work this was.”

I fed the three youngest a snack and sent them to get ready for bed.  I looked at Billy and Bobby, why don’t you get a snack and get ready for bed.  Tomorrow is going to be a very busy day.  They’re coming to pick up the steers, twenty five pigs and some chickens to take to the slaughter house.  They’re also going to be taking the animals from the guys’ farm, so we need to be ready to help when everything starts to happen.”

When Randy and I finally got to bed, I hugged him.  “I guess you’re finding out that being a farmer can be hard work.  Which would you rather be, a farmer or a plumber?

Randy chuckled, “Gee, you mean I don’t have any other choices.  I wanted to be a principal, just like you, Dad.”

“I’ll tell you what, my man, you can be the principal and I’ll be the farmer and the plumber, any day.”

The next morning, I heard movement and went to see who was up. Witt and Wade met me in the hall.  Witt frowned; I guess this is the last time we’ll have to go take care of the animals at our old home.  When we come back, we’ll kill the five chickens for tomorrow.”

Wade asked, “Are we going to stuff the chickens?”

“Wade, that’s not something I had even thought about.  What do you guys think?”

Wade grinned, “Since the pig is going to be barbecued, it might be a nice change to have the chickens stuffed and just roast them.  We can always eat the left over stuffing later, if there’s any left.  Who all is going to be here?”

“I thought we could invite the Browns, the Corns, the Snowdens and your four sisters, and of course, every relative will be mandated to be here by my Mother.  She doesn’t take no for an answer.  We need to find some time to get some fireworks to shoot off, at dusk.”

Witt started to laugh, “We’re probably going to meet each other coming and going.  We’ll have to put Ritchie, Aaron and Eric to work for sure.”

Billy and Bobby came out of there room.  Billy giggled, “Up a little early aren’t you, old man?  Do you need us to get your wheelchair for you?  Are you helping in the barn this morning?”

“Yep, I’ll help until Witt and Wade get back from their farm.  We’re going to be some busy critters around here, today.”

Wade came out of the bathroom, “Let’s get rolling.”

I watched as the five guys went toward the stable and Witt and Wade climbed into the truck.  I went to start something for breakfast and decided that someone needed to go to the store for some bread and stuffing mix, if we were going to stuff the chickens.  I guess we’ll have to make a shopping list while we are eating breakfast.  Randy may have to take some time out of his plumbing duties to pitch in so we can get everything done.

Randy came into the kitchen and I hadn’t heard him.  “What are you doing?  Replacing me?”

“Nope, I’m lying in wait to tell you that you won’t be doing much plumbing, today.  You have to be the gofer.”

Randy hugged me, “That’s good, since I need to go to town to get some more plumbing supplies, anyway.  You will need to make a comprehensive list for me.  My memory ain’t what it used to be.”

I won’t bore you with the details of the day, but we did manage to get everything done that absolutely had to be done.  The three oldest Latham boys were a Godsend and we didn’t have any of the Rollin, Hamilton or younger Brown boys, since it was a Saturday.  Everyone I called accepted the invitation to come to the pig roast.  Even Ritchie, Aaron and Eric came to the farm early to help out.”

I guess Mother was afraid to come to the farm, but I was to find out that she and Dad had a wedding to attend.

After the animals had been taken away, we started the fire in the Pig Roaster, and I suddenly remembered that I hadn’t told Randy how much barbecue sauce makings we would need to take care of the pig.

When Randy returned from his shopping expedition, we went through what he bought, and I sent Witt to get the remaining items we needed.

By the time we ate dinner, everything was ready and there were some very tired young men on the farm.  In fact, there were two very tired older men as well.  We went to bed early, since I planned to get up at four, and start the pig.

Randy and I got up at a quarter to four, rekindled the fire in the Pig Roaster and placed the spit with the pig on the turning mechanism.  Fortunately it started to turn.  We both started to baste the pig with the prepared sauce, using paint brushes.  I looked at Randy. We’re going to have to take turns keeping this monster basted, and the fire going, while the guys take care of farm work.  The farm work should be a lot easier, now that some of our animals are gone and the animals are gone from the Latham farm.”

At six o’clock, Witt appeared, “If you tell me what to do, I’ll take care of the pig.  Walt and Wade can help Billy and Bobby with the chores and then help me with the pig and getting the chickens started.  Are you going to church, today?”

I shook my head no, “We can’t all be gone.  We probably should all stay here.”

“Dad Hank, Walt, Wade and I will stay here.  I think Billy and Bobby really want to go, and I think it would be good for the three youngest brothers to go and have a chance to meet some new people.  They’ve never been exposed to many outsiders.  Besides, Wade and Walt are dying to set up the fireworks display.”

I hugged Witt, “Whatever you say, Mr. President.”

As we were driving to church, Randy muttered, “I’m not opening my mouth, today.”

I laughed, “How much do you want to bet?”

“We’ll discuss the wager later.”

When Dad and Mother saw us, Mother started in on me, “I thought you were taking care of the meal for today?”

“Mom, Randy and I had everything rocking and rolling by four this morning, and Witt, Wade and Walt volunteered to man the pig until we got home.”

Mother wasn’t done with me, “I hope you had the foresight to provide an alternate protein source for people who aren’t especially fond of pork, like me?”

“Yes Mother dearest.  We made some tofu just for you.”

Mother looked at Dad, “Leon, I don’t think we’ll be going to the picnic today.  Did you hear the way our son is talking to me?  He knows I hate tofu even worse than pork.”

Dad laughed, “We’ll discuss this later, Meg.”

After church, during which the five boys were wonderful, we delivered them to their respective church school class and went to the Talk Back Class, and it was rather boring since there must have been a lot of people out of town.  In fact, if it hadn’t been Randy’s input, it would have been down right boring.  After the class, people were talking to us when the five boys came and approached us.  The people had their eyes open when Wylie spoke, “Dads, we had a good time, can we come again next Sunday?”

“Of course, Son.”

I decided to stick it to my Mother, “Mom, why don’t you explain to people how Randy and I happen to now have eight sons instead of two.  See you when you come to eat your tofu.”

The looks I got from Mother would have frozen the water in Lake Erie.

When we arrived at the farm, the guys had everything under control.  Wade grinned, “The chickens are stuffed, ready put on the spits at eleven thirty.  Where are the tables and utensils that we’re going to use?”

Billy answered, “We’ll go change and show you where the things are, while the Dads fix us some lunch to hold us until the picnic.  The pig smells good enough to eat already.”

Randy and I went to change and Randy shook his head, “Hank, you shouldn’t be so mean to your Mom.”

“Randy, I’m not being mean to her.  That’s the way we started treating each other when I was in high school.  She’d think I was sick if I acted any differently, and I would know that she was upset with me for sure if she acted any differently.”

Randy and I took the guys sandwiches and juice.  Even the three little guys were helping.  I looked at Witt, “Why don’t you take a break?  You’ve got to be warm.”

Witt nodded, “It does get a mite warm.   The chickens are on the rotisseries and ready to start. 

Wade grinned, “We’ll start the chickens as soon as we eat our sandwiches.”

It was a little after three when people started to arrive and thankfully Kenny and Blake arrived with lots of cool liquid refreshments.  We were ready to eat when the Snowdens pulled in with the Latham girls.  When everything was ready on the table, Witt started to carve the chickens, and I was carving the pig while the young guys put the meat and stuffing on the serving table.  Randy had put the pickled beets and eggs on the table, and the table looked very festive. 

It was nearly four thirty before everyone was through the serving line, but no one seemed to mind.  I was surprised to see the amount of food that was being consumed.  I went to Wade, “I guess there isn’t going to be much stuffing for us to eat for leftovers.  We’ll be having roast pork out the ears.”

“Dad, package it up and send some home with everyone.  They can have barbecued pork sandwiches or even plain barbecued pork.  There isn’t going to be much when every one leaves.  We need to put it in the coolers to keep it from spoiling.  Did you see all those yummy looking deserts?”

Billy had obviously finished eating, “Dad, we need to go take care of the animals.  They’re going to think we’ve forgotten them.  Make sure you save us some dessert.”

Granddad Adler asked, “Where are the guys going?”

“They’re going to go take care of the animals.”

Mother asked, “Why aren’t you going to help them?”

“Because they’re as bossy as you are.  They told me to stay here and cut the rest of the pig so everyone can take some home with them for barbecue pork sandwiches or whatever you want.”

Dad was helping me and he was laughing, “Hank, this has been one of the best Fourth of July celebrations that we’ve ever had.  You need to let someone else do the Labor Day picnic.  You guys shouldn’t have to do all the entertaining.”

I was watching the four Latham girls and they and my two nieces, Emily and Caitlin, were having a blast, or so it appeared.  Judge Corn and the Snowdens were having an animated discussion, and Dr. Brown and Uncle Mark were taking about something.  The Grandparents were talking and content to watch everyone else.

When the guys returned from the barns, Billy announced, “We’ve already washed our hands, can we have our dessert now?”

Mother answered before I could, “Yes, but save some for us old people.”

After people had their dessert, the guys went into the cleanup mode and everything disappeared except the coolers with the meat.  Billy and Bobby brought out eggs and put them on sale in case anyone wanted some.  Of course everyone wanted at least two dozen. 

As it was getting dark, Walt Wade and Eric Corn disappeared and Mother asked, “Where are those guys going?”

“Mom, they’re the pyrotechnicians for tonight.”

“Aren’t they a little young to be doing that on their own?”

“Mom, they probably know more about things like that than I do.  Besides they promised they’d be careful.  They, and only they, know how the set up is to work, so sit back and enjoy the show.”

Once the fireworks started, there was at least twenty minutes of solid activity.  People were even stopped by the farm fence and were watching the show.  Bobby came and put his arm around me, “Dad, I don’t think the animals like all the noise.  Listen to them moving around and making noise.”

“Bobby, you’re probably right.  I should have thought of that, but the animals will get over it.”

After the fireworks ended, everyone packed up to leave, and thanked us profusely for the good time.”

After the last vehicle had departed, I turned to my guys, “Guys, you did great.  Let’s just go get ready for bed and we can take care of the rest of the cleanup in the morning, since it’s a holiday and we don’t have to be anywhere.”

No one argued with me, so we made sure the fires were all doused and made our way to take our showers a couple at a time since everyone was smoky.  I made sure I shampooed the three littlest boys’ hair and conditioned it.  As the three boys were crawling out of the tub, Willy hugged me even though he was still wet, “Daddy, that was the bestest time we ever had.  We are going to get to stay with you and Dad Randy, aren’t we?”

I hugged the three boys after I made sure they were dry and had brushed their teeth.  “Sons, we’re going to do everything possible to make sure you stay with us.”

When Randy and I finally crawled into bed, I commented, “Randy, we have a lot of esteem building to do in the next month.  The Latham boys, other than Witt, aren’t exactly sure what is going to happen to them, especially the youngest three.”

“Henry, you’ll make it work.”

“Randall Lee, I told you not to call me that.”

Randy hugged me, “Sorry, I forgot.  Let’s get some sleep. I’m a little bit tired.  I’m not used to all the work we did today.  I think I’ll stick with being a plumber.”

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:  That was quite an action packed chapter.  It was nice to have a day where all the activities were pleasant. 

I'm afraid that my Radar was triggered by one comment earlier, namely:  I was watching the four Latham girls and they and my two nieces, Emily and Caitlin, were having a blast, or so it would appear.

I always get nervous when I see the words, "so it would appear."

I will just keep my fingers crossed that nothing bad will come of that.

I am ready for the next chapter.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 09/10/10