What Do I Do Now, Mom?
by: E Walk
(© 2009-2011 by the Author)
 

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

Chapter 53 

Nugget

I had just hung up from talking to the Sadlers about seeing the golden retriever that they needed to get rid of because they were moving to Japan when Witt, Walt and Wade were coming toward me.  I looked at the carts the guys had and it was apparent that they hadn’t put much in the carts.

I went to meet them.  I looked at the contents of their carts, “Guys,  unless you’re planning on doing laundry every day, you’d better go get some more clothes, and make sure you get everything that you need.”

Witt started to give me some lip, “Mr. Adler, you and Mr. Taylor have already done too much for us.  We will have money coming in each month from the government once the paperwork goes through.  You don’t need to be buying all of these neat things for us.”

“Witt, we still don’t know how much money you will be receiving from the government, or when.  We’ll discuss what’s going to happen when you receive the first payment or payments.  Until then, humor me and do as I ask you to do.”

I could tell that the boys were concerned, especially Witt, but so be it.

After the boys had complied with my request, we stopped for a sandwich at the new hamburger joint, Freddy’s.  We each had one of their special hamburgers and fries.  As we were eating, Walt asked, “Dad Hank, shouldn’t we go home and make sure the younger guys get something to eat.”

I chuckled, “Never fear, Walt me boy,  my Mother was going to check on the boys.  She’s not about to let the boys starve.  She’s probably already planning the menus for the week.  Wade, do you have everything taken care of so you can play football?”

“Yes, I need to be at the high school tomorrow for a physical and there is some paperwork you need to sign.”

“Witt, how about you?  Is there anything that you need to take care of for the school year?”

“There probably are some things I need to do.  I’ll have to call the other officers and set up a meeting with the class advisor so we can make plans for the year.  I’ve rather let that slide with everything else that has been happening this summer.  I’ll make some calls tonight and see what I can set up.  Shouldn’t we be going home?  It’s almost one o’clock.”

I had wanted to check on what Walt would need to try to become the drum major of the band, but I couldn’t very well talk about it in front of the other two guys, since they didn’t know what Walt had in mind.  

When we arrived at the farm, a comical sight that greeted us.  The produce stand was open and Mother was sitting in a lawn chair with an umbrella over her head.  We stopped and Wade jumped out so he could help the guys and relieve Mother.

Of course, Mother, being who she is, lit into me, “Henry, don’t you know that there are other people who have things to do and places to be.  Look at me.  I’m beginning to look like a raisin in the sun.”

Wade laughed, “Grandmother, I’ll take over.  Look at it this way; it’s better to be a raisin in the sun than a dried out prune.”

Mother sniffed, “I’ll never be a dried out prune, I‘m too sweet.  I’d probably be a sweet date.  Henry, take me to my car before the boys call me a fig.”

Witt and Walt were trying not to laugh.  When Mother was getting in her car, I told her about the appointment to interview for a dog for Wylie’s birthday present.”

“Hank, be careful.  Some dogs, especially older dogs, don’t like to be uprooted.  Make sure that the dog and Wylie are compatible before you bring the dog home.  You know how intensely loyal an animal can be.  Just look at Wylie and Hector.  I’ve never known of a chicken who was as fiercely loyal as Hector is to Wylie.”

“Mom, I’m going to take Wylie with me when I go to meet with the Sadlers.  I’m well aware that dogs can be very possessive.  Remember Boscoe?  He wouldn’t let me out of his sight.  I’ll make sure that the dog will be a match for Wiley and the other boys.  Thanks for being here to watch the guys.”

After Mother had departed, I went into the house and decided to make some phone calls.  The first call was to the band director at the high school.  I knew him because he was the sixth grade band instructor at Birchcrest before he moved to the high school.

I dialed the high school.  He just happened to be there.

“This is John Swags.”

“John, this is Hank Adler.”

“Hi Hank.  What can I do for you?”

“John, I now have eight young men living with me.  One of them is interested in becoming the drum major for the high school band.”

“That’s odd that you should call, today.  The reason I’m here today is that I just received word that the young woman who was scheduled to be drum major is transferring schools.  Who is this person who is interested in being the drum major?”

“His name is Walt Latham.  He claims he plays the trumpet.  I’ve never heard him play.  He says he practiced on an old school trumpet last year.  He hasn’t let to his family know that he is able to play for personal reasons.  When would be a good time to talk to you so he can show you what he can do.” 

“Can you have him here at two o’clock?”

“John, it may a little tight.  We’re scheduled to be elsewhere at three o’clock.  We may have to leave Walt and come back and pick him up.

See you at two.”

I hung up, “Walt, go find Wylie for me and tell him that we need to go someplace.”

Walt looked at me funny, “Dad, why are you being so secretive?  What does Wylie have to do with me being in the band.”

“You’ll see.  Just go get him.”

Walt returned with Wylie.  Wylie was complaining, “Walt, why do a I gotta go and the others get to stay here.  I wasn’t being bad.”

I answered, “Wylie, I’m not punishing you.  I need you to help me do something.”

“Okay.”

We were a little late getting to the high school.  Fortunately, the parking lot was empty so we practically parked almost next to the office entrance.  When we walked in, I stopped at the office, “We’re here to see Mr. Swags.”

“He’s expecting you.  He’s in the band room.”

When we walked in, John stood, “Hi Hank.  Hi Walt.  So this is the Walt you were talking about?  Whose your friend there.  Is he going to be in the band, too.”

Wylie shook his head no.  “I’m Wylie and I get to go to school when the big boys go to school.  I’m too little to be in the band.”

John laughed and turned to Walt, “Walt, Mr. Adler tells me that you’re interested in becoming the drum major.  He also said that you can play the trumpet.  Can you show us what you can play?”

Walt went to a cabinet and returned with a beat up trumpet that looked as if it had been around for years.  “What would you like me to play, Mr. Swags?”

John handed him a piece of music, “Can you play this?”

“I can try.” 

Walt started to play and even if I’m not an expert in music, I could tell that he was quite good.”

John stopped Walt and Walt’s face was down trodden.  John went to cabinet and pulled out a shiny trumpet, “Walt, try playing the piece of music on this instrument.  I think you will see the difference in sound.  The valves may seem a little sticky at first.”

I stood, “Wiley and I need to leave for our appointment.  That will give you two time to mess around.”

Wiley had tears in his eyes, “Daddy, what pointment?   Is it going to hurt?”

“It’s a surprise.  I hope it doesn’t hurt.”

We pulled up in front of house that wasn’t too far from my school.  “Let’s go check on the surprise, Wiley.”

Wiley reluctantly got out of the car.  I rang the doorbell and we could hear a dog barking.  Wiley was standing close to me, “Daddy, that dog sounds really mean.”

The door opened and a young teenage girl was standing there with a beautiful golden retrieve, “Nugget, sit.”  The dog sat down. 

“Hi Mr. Adler, won’t you come in?  My mother will be with us in just a minute.  She’s talking on the phone to the packers.  They’re supposed to come and drop off their supplies so they can pack our things, tomorrow.”

“Is this a sudden move or were you planning to take Nugget with you?”

Amy replied, “No, we thought Nugget was going to go live with my cousin, but we found out that my cousin is allergic to dogs so we need to find a good home for Nugget.”

Mrs. Sadler came into the room where we were standing,  “Good afternoon, Mr. Adler.  Who’s your friend?”

“This is the youngest of my sons, Wylie Latham.  We’re looking for a birthday present for him.  Could we take Nugget outside and see how the two of them get along?”

“Of course.”

It was quickly apparent that Nugget and Wylie were going to be fine.  Wylie came to where we were standing, “Daddy, are you going to buy Nugget for my birthday?”

“Would you like that?” 

Wylie nodded in the affirmative.

“I need to talk to Mrs. Sadler and Amy and see what we can work out.  You stay here and take care of Nugget.”

When we went inside, Mrs. Sadler invited me to have a glass of iced tea, “Mr. Adler, as far as I’m concerned, Nugget is yours.  I do have  several questions though.  As I recall, you live on a farm, but I didn’t know you were married and I didn’t realize you had any sons.”

“I’m not married and we have nine young males living in the house, plus there are four young ladies who live in a trailer close by with their foster parents.”

“Are you telling me that you’re a foster parent for all those guys?”

“No, only six of them and I’m not technically a foster parent.  The boys’ father named me as their guardian.”

Mrs. Sadler looked at the clock, “Mr. Adler, I’m sorry to seem like I’m kicking you out, but the packers are going to be bringing supplies so they can start packing our things in the morning.  As far as I'm concerned, Nugget now belongs to Wylie.  She’s yours for the taking.”

“Mrs. Sadler, how much do I owe you?”

“Mr. Adler, you owe us nothing.  We’re relieved now that we know Nugget will be in a good home.  We’ll be sending her food and water dishes and her pillow with her so she doesn’t think that she’s been abandone.   We have a little of the food she has been eating that we‘ll be sending along. She’ll be far better on the farm than cooped up in kennel somewhere.”

When we departed the Sadler house, Wylie had all the basics that  he would need to become the proud owner of a dog.  He and Nugget were settled in the back seat.  Nugget had her head on Wiley's lap and he was talking to her. 

As we were pulling into the high school parking lot, Walt and Mr. Swags were outside the entrance area.  Walt was dressed in the drum major’s uniform and was standing on a bench as if he were directing the band.  I started to laugh, Wylie asked, “Daddy, what’s so funny.”

“Wiley, Walt has the drum major’s uniform on with sneakers.  They don’t really go together.”

I heard Wiley whispering to Nugget. “You have to get use to big people.  They do and say the funniest things.”

When we stopped, I went over to where Walt and John Swags were standing, “Did you have a productive session?”

John nodded, “We had a very productive session.  I had no idea that we had someone with the musical talent that Walt has in our student body.”

Walt interrupted, “Dad, can I spend my own money to buy the trumpet that Mr. Swags had me use?  It seems a former student asked him to sell it.”

John Swags nodded, “A former student asked me to get rid of the instrument.  He’d be happy with $150.00.  I know for a fact that his family paid over $600.00 for the instrument.  I also know that he hardly ever used it.”

“Walt, I’ll pay for the instrument, but I expect you to use it.  John, how do you want the check made out.  I‘ll drop it off when I bring Wade in the morning for his football physical.”

I looked to see where Wiley and Nugget had disappeared to.  They were in the practice field next to the school.  Wiley was throwing a ball or something for Nugget to retrieve.

When we pulled into the farm driveway, the produce stand was closed.  It was going to be interesting to see what the response was going to be to Nugget and the fact that Walt was going to be in the band and even more importantly was going to be the drum major.

When we were eating dinner, Nugget laid in the doorway not making any attempt to sneak into the dining room where we were eating.  It was Tim who asked. “How come you decided to buy a dog?”

Wiley didn’t even look up from his meal.  “Nugget is my birthday present and we didn’t have to pay for her.  Amy and her mother gave Nugget to us.  They even gave me dishes so I can feed her and give her water.”

Tim shook his head.  “Wiley, I know better than that.  People just don’t give away a thoroughbred dog.  What’s wrong with the dog?”

I decided to answer.  “Tim, the Sadlers are being transferred to Japan.  They thought one of their relatives was going to take the dog, but she’s allergic to dogs.  Wiley is correct.  The Sadlers gave us a terrific deal.”

I kept waiting for someone to make a comment about what Walt had done, but no one did.  After dinner, Randy and I took Billy and Bobby to get clothes and supplies for school.  On the way into town, Bobby asked, “Are you going to get Wally and Willy a pet, too?”

I was a little confused by the question, “Bobby, do you and Billy want a pet?  Your Dad and I haven’t discussed getting pets for anyone.”

Billy answered, “We already have our pets.  Sir Robert and Sir William are all we need.  I think you should take Wally and Willy and get them kittens so they have someone who belongs to them.”

Randy turned around, “Do you think we should get Witt, Walt and Wade pets, as well?”

Billy answered, “Nah, they’re too old to have a pet.  Witt has his car and now Walt has his horn?  Wade’s saving his money so he can buy a motorcycle.  You need to save your money so you and Dad Hank don’t have to work all the time.   Dad Hank and his parents have already spent too much money on us guys.”

While Billy and Bobby were picking out the school supplies, I questioned Randy.  “Where did the guys get the idea that we needed to stop spending money come from?”

“Beats me, Henry.  But what Billy said is true.  Ever since we moved in with you, you and your parents have been spending money on us.  We need to sit down and go over our finances.  Billy, Bobby and I didn’t come with our pockets lined in gold like the Latham boys and their sisters.”

“Randy, are you saying that you’re not happy living with me?”

“Hank, be serious.  The two boys and I are in dog heaven so to speak.  But, it’s hard for us to accept charity after everything we’ve been through.”

“Randy, believe me, I don’t consider you, Billy and Bobby to be charity cases.  The farm couldn’t get along without your two sons.  In a short time you’re going to have your own business and then you can take care of poor decrepit little ole me.”

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:

I had a feeling that Walt would be good at his music.

All these W people can get confusing sometimes.

I'm glad that Wylie got Nugget for his birthday.  I know that they will get along really well.  Boys and dogs just go together so well.

Maybe things will start to go more smoothly now.

I can hardly wait for the next chapter.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 04/15/11