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 57 

City Slicker

When we got to Dr. Hubbard’s motel, he invited me in, “Hank, it will take me just a few minutes to change.  You don’t need to sit out here in the sweltering heat.”

When we arrived at the farm, we were met by Willy, “Hi Daddy and Dr. H.  Did you have a good afternoon?”

Dr. Hubbard answered, “We had a very good afternoon.  How about you?”

Willy grinned, “Freddy used the litter box this afternoon.  He ate a little more but he’s been sleeping most of the time.”

“What about the other kitten?”

“Teddy, has been trying to climb out of the box all day.  He doesn’t want to listen to Wally,”

“Willy, why don’t you take Dr. Hubbard to see the other guys while I change clothes?”

“Come on, Dr. H., before the guys yell at me for not doing my work.”

When I arrived at the stable, Dr. Hubbard was actually putting the milking machine on one of the cows.  He looked up and grinned, “I guess some things never change.  The gadgets just get a little fancier.  Guys, I’m impressed at how clean the stable and the cows are.

Wade nodded, “We try to keep it clean as we go, so it doesn’t take so long to clean at one time.”

“Dr. Hubbard, let’s go check on the other guys.  Everyone, more or less, has their area of expertise.  Willy, Wally and Wiley have taken over the feeding of the chickens, and gathering eggs, with Walt's help.  Bobby pretty much takes care of the pigs, horses and the steers.  If we get in a bind, Randy and I can help, as can the four Latham sisters.

After he made stops at each area, Dr. Hubbard commented, “People know what is expected and do it without complaining.”

“Billy and Bobby will help the guys clean the eggs and put them in cartons.  It‘s amazing how many eggs the guys sell.”

“Geez, I wish my Grandson Michael could be here.  This would be a perfect place for him to start over.”

Nothing further was said about the Michael person, because things began happening.  Witt did something that we didn’t do very often; he rang the dinner bell which caught everyone’s attention.  Everyone surfaced and started toward the house.  Witt called out, “We need to eat early.  We have to meet the professor at the house, at seven, so we can evaluate his student’s work in decorating the rooms.”

Dinner was a real hit with Dr. Hubbard.  We had just finished eating when my parents arrived.  Witt grinned, “Good, you're just in time to go to the other farm and help evaluate the students’ work.  Billy, please go tell Mr. and Mrs. Wallace that we’re going to the other farm to check it out, in case they want to go with us.  Tell them the wagon will be leaving in ten minutes.”

My Mother, being who she was, complained, “We didn’t come here to evaluate some college students’ work.  I have some important things to propose.”

“Grandmother, dearest, there are other important things that have to be taken care of.  Some of these students need this grade to get their degree." Witt smirked, "Besides, you know very well, you would have complained if we hadn’t asked for your help in evaluating the finished product.”

Mother pouted, “Witten, you’re beginning to act like Henry.  Leon, I want to go home.  No one appreciates me.”

“Meg, you know darn well that your nose would have been out of joint if you weren’t asked to give your two cents on the remodeling.  Besides, your other proposals are going to take a lot of work to pull off.  I fully expect the guys to tell you to buzz off.”

When we arrived at the Latham farm, there were cars parked everywhere, plus there was a television van and a car with a Omaha Paper sticker in the window.

After Witt stopped the tractor, he came back to the wagon, “Dad, what’s going on?  Why are all these cars and vehicles here?”

“Witt, I don’t honestly know.  These smacks of something that Mother Dearest might have arranged.”

The professor of the class announced, “Witt, we think we have finished the project.  If I do say so myself, I was extremely pleased at the results and asked the media to see what can be accomplished by the education system and the local people working in harmony.  We have made a book to remind you of the metamorphosis that has taken place here at the house in a short time.”

Mr. Fountain, the television person, nodded, “Mr. Latham, we will be featuring your house on the Remodeling About Town portion of our local news, tomorrow.  Do you have a problem with that?”

“No sir.  These people deserve to be recognized for the work that they did.  Of course, the plumbing work here at this house and Mr. Adler’s house was done by The Taylor Plumbing Company.  It was amazing to watch the transformation of the two houses during the short period we’ve been living with Mr. Adler.”

The newspaper person added, “We’ll be doing a special section in the Sunday paper on What’s Going on About Town that features stories such as this.”

Mother looked coyly, “That would be great.  The guys were planning to do an open house at the two farms this weekend, on Sunday, from two until four.  They were planning to have a petting zoo and horse rides to keep the children busy while the parents toured the two houses.”

I looked at Randy, Witt and Jake and they looked as confused as I was.  “I didn’t know that we were planning an open house with entertainment on Sunday.”

Witt recovered nicely, “Dad Hank, why don’t you take everyone else back to the farm, and the media can get pictures of the other farmhouse to include in their articles, while I make sure that I don’t owe anyone for any work that was done.  I know that you have some 'before and after' shots of the progression of your remodeling.  I can run back to the house after I secure this house.”

Witt commended the students, "Everyone, I’m overwhelmed by the finished product here at this house.  It doesn’t even feel like it’s the same house that I grew up in.”

After the media people left, Tim came in and handed a sheet of paper to Randy, “Randy, I took the liberty of designing the logo for the van and for business cards for the Plumbing Company.  I’m off tomorrow afternoon and can apply the logo to the van if you give me the go ahead.”

Mother looked at the work that Tim handed Randy, “Tim, I have a suggestion.”

I shuddered, “Mother dearest, you have already dropped your one time bomb for today without checking to see if it was okay.  Some of us have things to do other than worrying about having an open house this weekend.”

“Henry, all I was going to suggest is that Tim put the two kittens at the sides of the fish bowl to give the fish a reason to yell for help.  Leon, since these people don’t seem to appreciate my help.  I want to go home.  Shouldn’t Witt be back by now?”

Witt walked in as Mother was asking where he was.  He lit into Mother, “Grandmother Dearest, the next time you commit us to something, would you please check with us before you do so?  Did you have anything to do with the media being there tonight?”

“Witten, I was as surprised as anyone to see the media in attendance tonight.  But it was the perfect opportunity for us to get some free advertising for the open house.  Come on, Leon.  Let’s get out of here before the guys can yell at me any more.”

After the parents had departed, Dr. Hubbard asked, “Is the atmosphere always like this when the Adlers are here?”

I shook my head, no, “No, but she has time on her hands to come up with schemes that seem so wild at first, that they make it okay.  This open house is coming at a wrong time for me as far as school getting ready to start.  I thought that the Wallaces would be moving in this weekend, now that the house is finished.”

Randy answered, “Jake and Sarah are planning to go to Nebraska City for the last load of their belongings.  That way they can move in as soon the house is cleaned after all of the people who might attend an open house.  This is really the last weekend we could do something like this, since Arrows for Aerospace is the next weekend and school starts the following Monday.”

On the way to Dr. Hubbard’s motel, he commented, “Hank, I’m thoroughly impressed with your family and friends.  I just wish my grandson Michael was here.  Maybe he could learn a thing or two.  He would never have been able to do what Witt has done.”

“Dr. Hubbard, where does this Michael live?” 

“He lives with his father in the Chicago suburbs.  His father has lost control over Michael, now that his mother, my daughter, has died.”

As Dr. Hubbard was getting out of the car at the motel, I asked, “Dr. Hubbard, you haven’t mentioned how old Michael is?”

“Michael’s going to be eighteen, shortly.  He is supposed to be a senior in high school this fall.  That is assuming, that he even goes back to school.  He has rather become involved with some less than desirable people.”

“Dr. Hubbard, you certainly may invite Michael to come for a visit.  I’m not sure how much difference we can make in his attitude?”

“Hank, I don’t even know if he will consider coming.”

“Dr. Hubbard, call the house and someone will come pick you up when you get back with your meeting in The Omaha Public Schools Offices, if you want to spend your free time this weekend with us.”

Dr. Hubbard laughed, “I wouldn’t miss what’s going to happen at your houses this weekend.  I’ll let you know what’s going to happen with Michael.”

When I got home, it was quiet and there were only a few lights on.  I stopped to see who was downstairs and realized that it was already after nine o’clock.  I secured the house and went to find Randy.  He had already had his shower and was lying on the bed looking at plumbing fixture catalogues.”

I quickly took a shower and we talked about everything that had happened and I explained about Dr. Hubbard’s grandson, Michael.

Randy shook his head, “Hank, I hope that you’re not inviting problems.  Michael doesn’t sound like someone we would want to be associating with the boys.”

“Randy, I didn’t commit us to anything other than a visit.  Dr. Hubbard gave me the feeling that he was really looking for help with his grandson.”

When I arrived at school on Friday morning, I realized immediately that it was going to be an extremely busy day by the number messages on my desk. I guess I should have gone back to school after the meetings yesterday.

By ten o’clock, I was frustrated because there were so many calls requesting that their children have a certain teacher.  I reminded the parents that the children’s preference wasn’t always the best fit.  I was so glad that I was able to tell the callers that I had told the superintendent the same thing.

The last part of the morning was taken up by The PTO officers making arrangements for the open house on Tuesday night. 

After the meeting with the PTO officers, Gloria came in, “Hank, you need to look at these class lists.  There is no way we’re going to be able to handle many more students.”

I looked at the class lists, “Gloria, we need to do some revising.  We need to make sure that the class list at each grade level have equal numbers.  We also need to try to equalize the numbers of male and female in each classroom as much as we can.”

Gloria shrugged her shoulders, “Good luck.  There are going to be some very irate parents.”

“Gloria, our job is provide the students with the best education possible, not to appease the parent’s uniformed whims.”

I was just about finished revising the class lists when Gloria stuck her head in the door, “Hank, the Central Office called and there is a meeting at the Central Office for all principals at two o’clock.  You’re to bring your up-to-date class lists with you.”

Thank goodness Aaron and Erik Corn were still in the area.  I sent them to get us some lunch for us.  Gloria and I finished compiling the lists at one forty, so I was going to be a little late at the central office, “Gloria, call them and tell them I’m on my way.”

Fortunately, I wasn’t the last to arrive where the meeting was being held.  Unfortunately, on my arrival. Someone piped up, “The television star has arrived.”

Someone asked, “What did Adler do now?”

“His mug and his family's were plastered all over the special feature on television this morning showing the remodeling work that had been done at their farms.”

I turned around and snapped, “I only have one farm.  The other farm belongs to the Latham children.  I’m nothing more than a guardian for the Latham boys.  What does all of this have to do with education?”

Mr. Nash raised his head, “When I was coming out of Menards last night, I saw Adler driving up to the motel with Dr. Hubbard.  You don’t suppose Adler had been getting some on the side.”

Dr. Brown had been listening to the encounter, “Gentlemen, you’re completely out of bounds with your comments.  There are ladies present.  First, what happens at Mr. Adler’s farms has nothing to do with the school district.  Mr. Nash, your comment about Mr. Adler dropping Dr. Hubbard off at his motel has nothing to do with your or our business.”

“One the reasons we called to have this meeting is so that we have preliminary enrollment numbers for each school and can take them to the school board meeting on Monday evening.  Please pass them to my secretary so she can prepare them for the board members.”

After the enrollment figures were collected, Dr. Brown cleared his throat, “That being taken care of, we need to discuss an unpleasant situation that occurred yesterday.  When we reconvened with Dr. Hubbard for the afternoon session, it was obvious that some of you weren’t present.  I had my secretary take roll and she called the buildings of the persons who were absent.  The secretaries told her that you were still at the district meeting as far as they knew.”

“To exacerbate the problem, I had a call last night from board asking why some of our employees were on the golf course during business hours.  The person made a flat statement.  ‘If that is all your principals are paid to do, then maybe we need to adjust their pay.’”

“I asked my wife, who had playing golf with the caller, if she saw you.  She confirmed what the caller had said and she added, ‘You were making fools of yourselves at the bar when they left.’  I’d like for you twelve people involved to stay, and the others may be excused.”

When I arrived back at the office, Gloria handed me a couple of messages, “Witt, called and said he had already picked up Dr. Hubbard.”

I frowned, “Did he say if Dr. Hubbard’s grandson had arrived?”

“Nope.”

“Do we have the back to school packets ready for the welcoming meeting with the teacher’s on Monday?”

“Hank, stop worrying, everything is ready.  There isn’t much more we can do until we see the whites of the teacher’s eyes.  Go home and relax over the weekend, if you can, with the open house on Sunday.”

To be continued... 

Editor's Notes:

I get the impression that the dunderheads that are badmouthing Hank are going to be in for a bit of a problem, especially if they are the same people who are obviously shirking their duties.

Obviously Hank is setting a good example on several fronts.

Doctor Hubbard seems to be pretty impressed with the way the guys are doing what they should, and how they are being treated.

Mother Dearest does seem to still have a habit of sticking her nose where it isn't really very much appreciated.  Of course, her bark is much worse than her bite.  She is obviously very supportive of Hank and Randy, and all the kids, as well.

As this story progresses, there are more and more complications showing up.

I can hardly wait for the next episode in this wonderful soap opera.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 06/03/11