The lead security guard was working the gate when he noticed two men walking towards the gate to enter into the estate. Most of the neighbors knew there was limited parking, so they would walk to the Holiday Party. That wasn't so unusual.
What was unusual was that these two men were on Mr. Ken's 'Watch List'. As soon as the lead security man noticed the men approach, he radioed his two closest partners who came as fast as they could.
Even though his team members hadn't arrived, the security guard decided to walk out to meet the men before they got too close to the entrance. When he stopped to talk to them they both got agitated. The guard asked them where they lived and on what street. He was trying to delay them, so his team members could arrive.
When the men couldn't tell him the names of any of the local streets, the guard told the men they couldn't enter. He didn't tell them he knew they were on a list that Mr. Ken had posted to be on the lookout for. That didn't deter the men as they started to walk around the guard and into the estate.
"Hey, stop!" yelled the guard. "You are not allowed to go into the estate.
The guards yelling to the men to stop got the attention of the Sheriff's Deputies, so one came over. That was when the other security guards arrived. The deputy wanted to know what the problem was, so the lead guard pulled them aside while his team members stayed with the men.
"What's the problem with these two men entering the estate?" asked the deputy with an attitude.
"These two men look like two of the four men Mr. Thomas has on his 'Watch List'. They have been known to harass the boys and follow them when they are outside The Cove," explained the lead security guard.
"Well, we weren't told about not letting some people into the Holiday Party. You should just let them in," argued the deputy.
"No! Mr. Ken left strict orders to watch for these men and keep them from gaining entrance," countered the lead guard.
"Hey, what gives?" yelled one of the men being held back.
"Hold your horses," yelled back the lead guard.
The two men didn't hold their horses and they started to push their way past the other two guards' intent on gaining entrance to the estate. The lead guard went over to the men and he and his men stepped in front of then and stopped them from entering. Another Sheriff's Deputy came over to see what the problem was with those two men.
It was while Lt. Dan Fischer came to The Cove that the six people had the driveway entrance blocked, so he couldn't pull into the estate grounds. The lieutenant got out of his patrol car and walked over to the men to find out what was happening.
"Lt. Fischer, boy am I ever glad that you are here," said the lead guard, who knew who Dan Fischer was.
"Can I ask you to step aside with me so I can explain what is happening," spoke the lead guard.
"Hey, don't I know you two?" asked Lt. Fischer, of the two men being blocked from entering The Cove.
"No, we don't know you, so you don't know us," replied Lincoln with a smart remark.
The lead guard then whispered into Dan Fischer's ear that those two men were on Mr. Ken's 'Watch List'. Dan said he wanted to see the list. The first deputy came over to the lieutenant and told him they weren't given any directions not to let anyone into the grounds, and he told the guard to let them enter.
Dan and the guard walked into the Gate House and looked at the list and pictures of the four men. Dan immediately got a pissed off look on his face and walked out very fast to the two men who were being delayed from entering The Cove.
"Yes, I do know who you are," announced Lt. Dan Fischer. "You, there, are Lincoln Redwingger and you like to beat up on little kids. And you ... you are Lonny Acheterts who attacked a friend of mine earlier this week.
"You both are not welcome on these grounds. If you don't leave immediately you will both be arrested for trespassing. And, don't ever attempt to enter these grounds again, because if you do you will be arrested. Now leave," commanded Lt Fischer.
The two men turned to leave, but then Lincoln turned back to the Lieutenant and told him he would be seeing him again. The lieutenant waved at him and told him he would welcome the meeting.
The lieutenant then had a few choice words to say to the deputy who tried to interfere with the security guards. The Sheriff's Lieutenant then moved his vehicle and drove inside the estate.
"There's my favorite Sheriff's Deputy," called out Ken Thomas, when he saw Dan enter the home.
"We need to talk and fast," spoke Dan, and then dragged Mr. Ken to his study. It was there Dan told him what just happened at the Main Gate.
"So, they never got inside?" quickly asked Mr. Ken.
"No, they didn't. Your security guards did their job, but an overzealous deputy almost made them let the men in," explained Dan.
"Who were they? Do you know who it was?" asked a somber Ken Thomas.
"Yes, Lincoln Redwingger ... and Lonny Acheterts," replied Dan.
"Damn, I never figured they'd try something like that. What do I do now?" asked Ken.
"Right now, you go back out there and enjoy your Holiday Party. They won't try anything else tonight especially after what they just tried. Your security guards are pumped and primed and will watch out for them," replied Dan Fischer.
And that's just what Ken Thomas did. He walked out of his Study and joined his Holiday Party. Although he wasn't very happy about what happened almost under his nose, he was glad his hired security guards did their job.
"'Dad', 'dad'," Mr. Ken heard from a distance.
It was then Matthew came up to him dragging a boy and another person who was probably the lad's mother.
"'Dad', I want you to meet Max. He's my new friend. And this is his mom, Evelyn, Evelyn Staffans," smiled Matthew, as he introduced mother and son.
"Welcome to The Cove," offered Mr. Ken, while holding out his hand to shake theirs.
"'Dad', can I show Max my room?" asked Matthew.
'Dad' Ken sent Matthew and Max on their way and decided to talk to Evelyn. He showed her around some as they talked. The one thing Ken Thomas wanted to ask Max's mom was about the present he had ready for her son if she agreed.
"Ms. Staffans, Evelyn if I may, my foster son, Matthew, has recently been trying to get to know Max. And, I think they are slowly becoming friends. Matthew ... he has also been, ahh ... maybe we can find a quieter place to talk. If that will be okay with you," suggested Mr. Ken.
Evelyn was a bit suspicious about then going to a quiet place. So she said, "I don't think so."
"OK, that's fine, I was trying to talk to you about something that may be embarrassing to you if other people hear us," replied Mr. Ken.
"Just tell me, Mr. Thomas. Let's this get this over with," said Evelyn.
"OK ... Matthew has been helping pay for your son's hot lunches," blurted out Mr. Ken.
"You've got to be kidding me. I give Max enough money for lunch every day," protested Evelyn.
"Yes ... a cold lunch. Matthew ... he has been adding to that money so Max ... so Max could have a hot lunch. Matthew has told me that Max has been a much happier boy ever since. Look, Evelyn ... I have four foster sons who came to me having even less to eat and, so I totally agreed to let him do that," answered Mr. Ken.
"You have no right to interfere with the way I raise my son," almost yelled Evelyn Staffans.
"I ... am NOT interfering with the way you raise Max. I am allowing my son to help keep your son from going back to being the bully ... that he is known to be at school. Now ... would you join me in my Study, so we can discuss this in private? I'll even ask Sheriff's Lt. Dan Fischer to join us if you are concerned about being alone with a strange man you do not know," replied Mr. Ken.
Evelyn agreed to go with Mr. Ken as long as Dan Fischer joined them. Dan had a big smile on his face as he sat there almost as a referee.
"So, tell me ... what you want me to do. That is obvious why you brought me in here, Mr. I took a bullet for someone, Thomas," sarcastically said Evelyn Staffans.
"No, that is not why I wanted to talk to you. The reason I wanted to talk to you was ... I wanted to ask you if you would allow me to let Santa, later on, give your son a lunch card that will allow him to use that along with the money you give him so he can have a hot lunch. That way he won't eventually feel embarrassed that he's allowing someone else to help buy his hot lunches for him.
"I also learned from Matthew, that ... that your son loves you, but he also feels ... like you are not paying enough attention to him and doing things with him. I may not be a true father, but I am a foster dad to four boys who, through no fault of their own, are in the CPS system.
"That's because he adopted one of the five boys he was fostering," added Dan Fischer.
"I know from fostering during the last four years that the boys crave attention and they need friends and excitement in their young lives. Even Collin, who watched his parents being murdered in front of him, was kidnapped and then almost killed twice needed to have a family that accepted him and loved him.
"Evelyn, I know you are doing your best to raise your son. It's just that ... that he has needs you are unknowingly ignoring. His lunches are one thing he felt bad about because he needed a warm meal in his body to make him feel good about himself. That might be a reason he was acting up and being a bully at school."
"I ... I didn't know. ... What else do you know about me?" asked the embarrassed mom.
"I also know you would like to find a much better position if you only knew where to look. It might be what you need to make your life so much better, and thus add to your son's as well.
"Evelyn, I would like, with your permission, to give Max that school lunch card. I would also ask you if ... if I could be allowed to take him with us this coming Monday when we all go to Six Flags Fiesta Texas," asked Mr. Ken.
"Cover 2 to Cover 1," was heard on Mr. Ken's two-way radio.
"This is Cover 1, go," replied Mr. Ken.
"Dad, everyone is looking for you. Where are you?" asked Robert.
"I'm in my Study taking care of a ... a problem. I'll be out there in a few minutes," answered the teen's dad.
"Dad, you better make it 30 seconds. We have a restless crowd out here. Out!" finished Robert.
"Evelyn, please think over the two items I'd like to help you help Max with. I also know of a company who is looking for someone who can be a front person for their business and who also can do office type work such as typing and filing, meeting the public, etc. I can get you an interview there if you are interested. Please think that over, as well. I do need to get back to my guests," said Mr. Ken, as he immediately left the Study.
"Does he always get involved with his foster sons friends?" Evelyn asked Dan.
"The short answer is, often. He will do whatever he can that will help his boys have a good life. He never yells at them; he never gets mad. He might be disappointed at what they do, but ... he never ... never gets mad. And on top of all that, if he treats his boys to something ... their friends are always included.
"Take that invitation to take Max with him and his 'boys' to Six Flags. He rented a 57-passenger bus, with toilet, air conditioning, heat and WiFi. He is taking 43 boys to Fiesta Texas, along with eight to ten chaperones. He did that last October when he took 40 boys to SeaWorld's Howl-O-Scream.
"Let's go out to the Party. You can think about what he's offered you and Max when you get a good meal in you and meet some of the parents of the boys who are his 'boys' friends.
"Mr. Ken, you've outdone yourself this year with these decorations," commented Mary Taylor, Ryan's mom and his interior decorator.
"Thank you, Mary, I wanted to do it up much better for the boys this year," replied Mr. Ken.
"Yes, I hear you've adopted one boy and now have four boys you are fostering. I also see a glow in you that you didn't have last year. It's those boys. I can tell. You had it when Collin lived here. It suits you so well, Ken. I'll bet you have all sorts of trips planned for them and will make their young lives more memorable than the reason they are living with you," praised Mary.
As the two friends talked, Evelyn Staffans overheard the exchange and asked Dan Fischer what did the woman mean. Dan told her about the woman's son and how the man took the boy under his wing. The LT then gave her a short version of Collin's story and of Eric Turner's, as well. Dan then told her what he'd done for his current foster sons.
"I see he can definitely afford to do that, but ... why?" asked Evelyn.
"I think it's because he sees the injustice these boys had to endure before they came to him. He tries to build their self-esteem and give them a place to call home and grow and mature into awesome young men. Yes, he spoils them to some extent, but he also gives them the love they didn't have before coming to The Cove.
"Mr. Ken has a big heart and will support and defend those boys with everything he has. He's taken on the District Attorney, kidnappers, a rogue FBI agent and a sitting judge. He has the money and he isn't afraid to use it to do what he thinks is right. Did you notice the security guards when you arrived?" asked Dan.
"Well, I saw loads of uniformed men and women up at the gate, but ... I didn't know there were security guards there as well," honestly answered Evelyn.
"There were. Two of his foster sons, and their friends, were almost kidnapped at Halloween when they were out Trick-or-Treating. All of his foster sons are here because of what their parents did, not what the boys did themselves. Some of those parents want their kids back, but Mr. Ken won't allow it until the courts say so," explained Lt. Fischer.
"Can I ask you ... why everyone calls him, Mister Ken? It seems so strange that a man ...so young to be given such an honor by so many who are so much older than he is," asked Ms. Staffans.
Dan Fischer gave the woman the full story of what happened after that huge storm of four years ago. Dan then gave her more background of Collin's story and how people were out to kill him and how Mr. Ken was shot. Dan included how he helped the dad of one of his foster son's friends find a better job to keep his family together.
Evelyn Staffans was now a believer. She decided to let the man give that gift to Max and take him along to Six Flags on Monday. She also decided to accept the job interview and see if she could get a better position that would not only help her, but also make a better home for her son. Dan told her he would let the owner of The Cove know.
"So, I see you are becoming friends with Max," stated one of Matthew's classmates, who was attending the Holiday Party.
"Yes, I am and you should too. Max was mistreated by many of you just like what you did to Ryan. Neither of them deserved being ignored and made to feel unwelcome. You all call Max a bully ... but by your own actions it is all of you who are the bully," countered Matthew, who then walked away. Bailey heard and saw that exchange.
It was close to 8 PM, and Santa was getting ready to make his big entrance. The man who played Santa checked with Mr. Ken one last time to make sure he had all the facts he needed in order to pass out the presents that were in his sack and what would be pushed out to him from under the platform.
"Cover 1 to all Covers, Santa is on his way. Make sure you are all in the Great Room or up on the balcony. Cover 1, out!" radioed 'dad' Ken, to all of his 'sons'
Everyone heard the ringing of sleigh bells and the unmistakable "Ho, ho, ho!" of Santa coming into the home.
As Santa Claus arrived everyone began to clap. The little ones were mesmerized at his large size, white hair and beard as he kept ringing his bells and saying, "Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas everyone!"
Santa took up his position in his specially built chair that was right next to the platform. When Santa was ready, he reached into his bag and pulled out a present and announced whom it was for. The little girl came rushing up to Santa and sat in his lap. Santa talked to the little girl and then had her open up her gift. When she saw what it was she squealed and thanked Santa and ran to her parents.
Santa gave out a number of gifts before he called out Kyle's name.
"Kyle ... I know you're here because you and your 'brothers' are all wearing green vests. Now, come down here young man and have a seat on Santa's lap," announced Santa.
Kyle hurried over to Santa and immediately sat on the jolly old man's lap. The smile on his face was priceless. Everyone clapped as the boy presented himself to Father Christmas.
"Have you been a good boy, this year?" asked Saint Nicholas.
"Well, most of the time," replied Kyle, which brought a large roar of laughter from those present.
"At least you are honest. And honesty is the best policy! Now ... let me see what I have in my magic red bag for you. ... Oh, yes, here it is. I understand you want some toys to dive for when you're using Mr. Ken's large indoor pool. Well, let's see now ... oh, yes, I have this very heavy gift for you," spoke Santa. "I'll be glad to get it out of my bag, for sure."
Kyle took the heavy gift out of Kris Kringle's hands and tore into the package. When the young twin opened the box he found an assortment of Diving Disks of different sizes and point values, weighted rings, torpedo gliders, and colorful but heavy washers in many different colors.
"Thank you, Santa, I wanted some toys for my friends and me so we could dive for them when we play in 'dad's' pool. These are great, Santa," excitedly said Kyle, who then hugged the man in the bright red suit.
Everyone applauded that the young Cover got one of his wishes for Christmas. Kyle then went to his 'dad' and thanked him for getting him those. All Mr. Ken would say was for the boy to look at the names on the gift tag and if he saw his then he'd accept the thanks. Kyle smiled at his 'dad' and hugged him tight.
"Ok, now let me see what else do I have I this big red bag. Hmmmm, where's Matthew? Matthew, I know you're here because you're also wearing a green vest like your 'brothers'," announced the Big Red Suited Fellow.
Matthew walked up to the man in the red suit. As soon as he got close enough, Santa pulled him into his lap. Matthew giggled, as he was also lightly tickled. When the Cover was settled, Santa pulled out a present from his magic bag.
"Matthew, I'm not going to give you a hint at what this is like I did your 'brother'. You'll just have to open it and see what it is," said a smiling Santa Claus.
It was a much bigger wrapped gift than what Kyle had, so Matthew couldn't imagine what it could be. The eleven year old slowly slipped off the bow and ribbon. Kevin then yelled out for him to rip off the wrappings and to hurry up and find out what was in the box.
So, Matthew ripped into the package. As the young Cover opened the box he saw what looked like a big plastic pillow. But Santa had him pull the whole thing out of the box and look at it. When Matthew did, he saw he had a long foam pool float that had a pillow top for a person's head
"It's a pool float we can lay on when we watch the Dive-In Movie Wednesday night. Thank you, Santa," said Matthew, as he hugged the jolly old elf.
Santa called out a few more names to give out the gifts some parents had brought for him to give to their own kids. Then, Santa called Max's name.
"Max, where are you? I saw you hanging out with Matthew, so I know you're here. Come on over here Max," called out Father Christmas
Max gingerly walked over to Santa. He knew the man would pull him onto his lap, so he was ready. But, the Jolly Old Man didn't do that, he just indicated for the youngster to sit in his lap instead.
"Max, I knew you would be here tonight. You've found a good friend in Matthew and I know he personally gave you and your mom an invitation. This present isn't as big as some of them I've already given out tonight, but ... they say big things come in small packages. Open it and see," suggested Santa.
Max opened the small box and inside he saw it what looked like a credit card. It wasn't until he read what was printed on the card that he understood it was a lunch card for his school. He held up the card for people to see, but it was so small in his hand that very few understood what it was. But the crowd all applauded him. Max then searched out his mom to thank her for the gift.
"Thanks, mom for the lunch card," said the youngster, as he hugged his mom.
"But, son, I didn't get you that gift. Somehow Santa knew you wanted it, so he got it for you," said a smiling Evelyn.
"But who then?" asked Max.
"Just thank Santa is all I can say, son," suggested Evelyn, as she hugged her son.
Santa gave out a large number of gifts that night. Some of them were the two free dinners to Four Corner's Restaurant that Mr. Ken gave to some of the adults who attended. But there were three more gifts left in his magic red bag.
"Will Robert, Charles and Kevin come up here please," announced Father Christmas.
"Boys, these are my last gifts to hand out. They are all for you Cover boys. The red one is for Robert, the blue one is for Charles, and the green one is for Kevin. Open them up, boys, and show everybody what you got," announced Santa Claus.
Robert had what looked like the bigger package and it took him a bit longer to open it. That was because Momma or Sandra had packed in a second box to make it fun to have to open two boxes to get one present.
When the teen finally opened the second box he found a closed-cell foam triple-dipped in marine-quality vinyl pool float. This one was more than six feet long and almost four feet wide. The tag with it said it was designed to resist the effects of chlorine, sun and salt water and help prevent tears, splits and punctures.
When Charles opened his package he found exactly the same thing only this one was packaged in its original box. He pulled it out and held it up to size it to his body. He saw he had lots of length to spare.
Kevin had a more difficult time opening his present, as it was very heavy as there were two water floats wrapped together inside. He pulled them out and saw they were the same colors as his brothers. He too, held one up to see how big it was.
"Thank you, Santa," simultaneously said the three Cover boys.
"Boys, I knew you all wanted some pool floats for your Dive-In Movie nights. Since there are five of you I gave you five floats, so this way you don't have to share. I know how 'brothers' are ... they aren't too keen on sharing," laughed Santa, who was joined in by many of the adults nearby.
It took almost an hour to give out all the gifts Santa had in his magic red bag. People still couldn't figure out after four years how Santa was able to get all those huge gifts out of that small red bag.
What they didn't know was Todd, Mr. Ken's Beach Master, was under the platform passing them out to the man in the red suit through a special zipper sewn into the 'magic' red bag. And now while Santa talked with some people, Todd was closing up the secret zipper on the bottom of the bag.
After Santa finished passing out gifts, many of the Cover's guests began to leave. Most of them searched out Mr. Ken to thank him again for hosting such a wonderful annual Holiday Party for his neighbors and far away friends.
"You were real busy tonight," offered Bailey to Matthew. "I saw you talking to so many adults I wondered if you had anything more to say," laughed the young girl.
"Yes, 'dad' told us many of our neighbor's will want to know more about us, since he didn't have any kids living here last year. He also told us we were The Cove's ambassadors and gatekeepers. Our 'dad' told us we had to be on our best behavior and represent ourselves at our highest level and be courteous and friendly to all of our guests.
"Did you know this was 'dad's' fourth Holiday Party. Well, what I mean is this is the fourth year he held these Parties. He'll have another one tomorrow night and then on New Year's Eve he'll have a party in the Great Room and one out in the garage," offered Matthew.
"Well, I knew I'd been to a few. ... What did you mean by being a gatekeeper?" asked Bailey.
"Oh, that, well 'dad' wanted us to make sure no one got past the DO NOT ENTER signs. He gave us all hand-held radios to keep in touch with him or Robert or Charles if someone wanted to go where they weren't invited," explained Matthew
"I saw how friendly and kind you were earlier with Kent when he bugged you about being a friend to Max. I guess not all of our classmates want you to be friends with Max. I heard what you told him," said Bailey.
"Yea, and until he changes his mind he won't be invited over here to skate or swim, or anything else," said a smiling Matthew. "At least not any time soon by me," he added.
As Matthew and Bailey talked, a few of their classmates, who attended the Holiday Party, stopped by. They thanked Matthew for having a great party. Matthew told them he just lived there and it was his 'dad', Mr. Ken, who hosted the Party and they should thank him. They said they would and shook Matthew's hand before walking away. Bailey walked away then, too.
As the evening wound down, the Cover boys were standing with their 'dad' as he accepted all of the Thanks from his guests. The neighbors told the man how they appreciated what he's done for them ever since he moved in.
The neighbors, and some of Mr. Ken's out of the area guests, also told him how glad they were that he used his wealth to improve the area, namely the Four Corners. But they were also grateful for his building the Lakeside Water Park and the Lake Water Safety and Rescue Team Headquarters.
Most of the boys' classmates attended the Party and they shook hands with all of the Covers as they and their parents exited the home. Mr. Ken reminded them to make sure they voted for what they thought was the best Toy Soldier.
Many of the Cover boys' classmates told them that they loved the large animated figures out by the lake and it was one of the best Christmas parties they had ever attended. They then told them they'd see them at school or out doing Christmas shopping.
As Max and his mom were leaving, Mr. Ken asked him if he was doing anything on Monday. Max said he'd probably spend the day inside playing his video games, as his mom had to work that day.
"Matthew ... would you like to invite him?" asked a smiling 'dad' Ken.
"You mean ... I ... I can invite him to ... to go with us to Six Flags on Monday, 'dad'?" asked a very surprised Matthew.
"Yes, son, but I think he now already knows," laughed Mr. Ken.
"So, Max ... what do you say? Would you like to go the Fiesta Texas with us on Monday? There will be 43 other boys going and about 10 chaperones.
"And, as for your mom working, she can drop you off here on her way to work and pick you up about midnight. Or, Evelyn, you can join us and be a chaperone. I'll make sure Max, she isn't assigned to your group," laughed Mr. Ken.
"What do you say Evelyn? Would you love to have a fun day out for a change? You could always call in sick," teased the owner of the Cove.
"I would love to go, Mr. Ken. I'm ... I'm not so sure my employer would appreciate me calling in sick with it being the last week before Christmas. But, it sure sounds tempting. Can ... ahh, can I tell you on Monday? It will give me time to see what I can work out.
"Yes, yes, you can. Maybe we can work that out?" replied Mr. Ken.
"For now, I'll plan to go to work and Max will have to be here very early. About 7 AM, I'd have to say. Will that be ok with you?" asked Evelyn Staffans.
"Yes, sure, we'll, or at least I'll, be up," laughed Mr. Ken. "And when he arrives he can have breakfast with us, err me. Will that work out for you Max?" asked Mr. Ken.
Some of Max's classmates over heard what Mr. Ken had said to Max Staffans. It surprised them to no end as here was Max, the class bully, being asked to go to Six Flags with the man and his 'sons'. They inwardly complained and talked amongst themselves that all they ever get were invitations to parties, but never to come over to skate or swim.
When all of the guests had departed, Mr. Ken did a walk around with the boys in tow. He wanted to see how many people left their hats, or coats or even their sweaters, or other things. The owner of The Cove noticed how many discarded cups and plates were also strewn around the patio and surrounding grounds.
The owner of The Cove was very happy to see that the high school students he hired as his busboys and servers, were out there with plastic bags gathering up the mess.
The Covers then went over to the tent and got one last plate of food before the caterer cleaned and straightened up before they left. The caterer was the same one he'd used for all his important events and she knew the man would want one last plate of food and some of it put into containers for him and his boys to eat during the following day.
Now that the man had five foster boys to feed, the caterer decided to leave a good portion of the remaining barbeque brisket, beans and potato salad for them to have for lunch tomorrow. She knew she could then take the remaining foods to the soup kitchen for them to use to feed the homeless.
"'Dad', was that what all your Holiday Parties are like?" asked a curious Matthew.
"No, Matthew tonight's was even livelier than usual, since there are the five of you now living here. Many people came, I do believe, just to meet you five and see what type of boy I foster. There were also many more kids here tonight than usual. I also think it was because they were your classmates and they wanted to see how you live," replied 'dad' Ken.
"'Dad'," started Matthew, but was stopped by 'dad' Ken.
"Boys, it has been a very long day for all of us. You had school, played on the ramps and then ran all over here tonight having fun. I think it is time for you to get to bed and we can talk about the party tomorrow when we go out to breakfast. Is 9 o'clock too early to ask you five to be downstairs and ready to go out for breakfast?" finished 'dad' Ken.
"Well ... I think we could be down here at 9 ... if we were going to someplace different than, let's say, Four Corners," spoke Up Charles, with a cheeky smile.
The boys and Mr. Ken laughed at Charles' way of saying he wanted to go somewhere other than Four Corners Diner.
"OK, be down here at 9 and we'll go to someplace other than Four Corners. Maybe McDonalds for a change," laughed 'dad' Ken.
All five boys yelled, "Nooooo!"
Mr. Ken sent his charges up to their rooms to relax some, before getting into bed. He went up fifteen minutes later to say Goodnight to them.
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