Just as the last time 'dad' Ken was going away, the breakfast table was very quiet. All you could hear were the utensils the boys used to feed their hungry stomachs. Mr. Ken knew what that was all about and he knew he needed to reassure his 'boys' he'd be back.
"Boys ... this is not the end of the world," began the man, before he was interrupted.
"That's easy for you to say," got out Matthew. "You aren't the one being left behind."
"Matthew ... I left before and I returned ... and it will happen the same way again, this time. You just have to get used to it. All of you ... have to get used to it. As my businesses grow, I'll have to check on them, so this will happen more and more. I believe I told you that the last time I had to go away," explained 'dad' Ken.
"Yea ... but, we don't have to like it," retorted Matthew.
"Boys, boys, boys ... let's liven up this breakfast table. You'll all be going off to school, soon, and I'll be gone when you get home. You should be wishing me a 'Good trip', a 'Safe return' and 'Hurry home!' Now, are you going to let me leave here feeling like you don't love me, or even ... like me?" said Mr. Ken, laying it on thick.
Matthew quickly got out of his chair and ran to the man and hugged him tight and cried. Mr. Ken knew how fragile the youngest Cover was, so he hugged the boy tight. Soon, all the boys were in line to get a hug. Even Eric got in line to get a hug.
The boys got their hugs and by that time they had opened up, some. They talked a bit more and they did tell their 'dad' to have a 'Safe trip' and to 'Hurry home'. Mr. Ken reassured them he would hurry home because he needed to adopt his second son the following day. That put a big smile on Charles' face.
The six Cover boys headed out to school just about the time Billy was getting ready for school. When the teen arrived in the Kitchen Nook he came in all happy and talkative. The boy said Hi to everyone, then took care of Chief and happily sat down to one of Momma's great breakfasts.
"You sure are in a good mood today, Bill," said Mr. Ken.
"Yes, I am," chuckled Billy.
"And ..." said Mr. Ken, which essentially meant he wanted the 411.
"Ahh ... Mr. Ken ... at school yesterday a ... a number of the female persuasion, ahh ... they came over and talked to me longer, a lot longer, than any had before. I may have a few 'lady' friends before long to invite over to The Cove," said a smiling Billy, who then put a forkful of waffle into his mouth.
"Well, well, a few female friends, you say. I wonder ... I just wonder how your 'brothers' will handle that," laughed Mr. Ken.
"I think they'll be OK with it. They told me when you first built the ramps, they had a few girls stop by. I'm not sure, though, if any of the girls actually got to try the ramps. Then, Matthew told me ... that he has this one girl as a friend at school."
Laughing, the teen continued and said, "He told me how his 'brothers' kept him from inviting her to the big Holiday sleepover. I'll bet that wouldn't have gone over very well, if she'd been there. The lone girl in a sea of young males," laughed Billy, as he continued to eat his breakfast.
Mr. Ken laughed too. He remembered the controversy between the boys differently, but he wasn't going to say anything. He knew he wouldn't be there to see and hear how Bill and the boys handled that difference of opinion. He then laughed to himself.
When the younger Covers arrived at school, they sought out Cody, Gordon, Josh and David. They asked their other friends to give them some time and the nine boys walked away.
"Did your parents talk to you about the trial starting sometime in May?" asked Robert.
The four boys looked at one another and said they had. Charles spoke up and told them their 'dad' told them last night and that he hoped the men would take a plea bargain as they would get less time in jail.
Robert told their friends that their dad would probably hire lawyers for them, as he had when they talked to the police after the attempted kidnapping. David said his mom was pissed and that he argued with both of his parents that his friends didn't do anything wrong and it was the men's fault.
Charles asked David if he was still going to be allowed to come over and the Cover's friend said he didn't know. David said he hoped Mr. Ken could talk to them. Charles told the assembled boys that his 'dad' was out of town, until late tomorrow night, and the adoption was Friday at 1 p.m. Charles then asked them if anyone of them would be able to attend.
The boys said they had planned to, but now that this thing with the trial came up, they weren't sure. Charles said he understood, but hoped they would be.
The rest of the Cover's friends got tired of being ignored, so they came over to the group. They wanted to know what was so secretive and why they were talking alone. Josh decided to tell them about the phone calls, and that they all may have to testify at the trial of the men who tried to kidnap Kevin and Kyle.
That shocked many of the boys, because they had forgotten that 'little' episode from last October. The friends then had a ton of questions, all of which none of the boys involved in the attempted kidnapping had any idea of the answers.
The boys did a lot of speculating about what would happen at the trial, but eventually, the first bell rang and they all had to go inside for their classes.
Billy was looking forward to his day at the school. With all the girls fawning over him, he was going to take advantage and get a few names and phone numbers. He even thought he'd use the promise to invite them to The Cove in order to get close to them.
When the oldest school-aged Cover arrived at his school, he was met by his friends. There were no females in sight. Billy asked his friends what happened to all the 'women' and they told him the girls were congregating on the other side of the campus. None of the teens had any idea why the girls were staying away.
Billy did tell his friends about the trial that would soon start. He explained it was from back when his 'brothers' were almost kidnapped. He further explained they would all probably have to testify and he wasn't sure how it would affect The Cove.
His friends asked Billy what he meant, and all Billy could say was that the boys would have to be prepared to testify and the only good time would be over the weekends before the trial. The Cover added he wasn't sure if anyone would be allowed over during that time. The teens moaned at the thought. Then the first bell rang.
Later that morning, Mr. Ken talked to his two male employees. He asked Chris to check with Ed Henry over at the Four Corners Restaurant to ensure the 'After Adoption Reception' would be ready to go. He also asked his Estate Manager if his friend would have the plaque ready for him to give Charles at the reception.
Mr. Ken got with Wayne and asked him to stay on top of the skate park project. The owner of The Cove knew there were more than five weeks left on the contract, but he wanted the supervisor to know how important it was that they finish the majority of the park and the entire Pavilion by the 1st of June, and particularly for the Memorial Day Picnic.
Mr. Ken gave the two men his contact, hotel, and flight information, in case of an emergency, and they needed to get in touch with him. He again explained to them why he felt it was important for his flying back east to convince at least four, and hopefully more, of the Commissioners, to accept his proposal, to fund their portion of the five-lane divided highway that led to and past his Crystal Lake property.
Mr. Chris told the man he was thinking about just that. The Estate Manager mentioned that he wasn't a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and that he may not be qualified, or even trained enough, to monitor that proposal, if it were adopted, as it was explained to him.
The man said that the way Mr. Ken wanted him to monitor the taxes of the amusement and other properties, he might have in the area, was way over his head. Chris told his employer that watching over and ensuring the taxes were halved each year, until his investment was recouped, sounded like that was for someone more qualified.
Mr. Ken knew what the man was saying, and said so to Mr. Chris. The man added that with his expansion of the amusement parks he knew he needed to create a new organization to handle all aspects of the amusement park business. And, he already knew whom he was going to appoint as its first President.
Mr. Ken told the two men he was thinking that he needed to probably revamp his entire 'empire' and start putting more responsibility on others, and just take the credit. Both men laughed at his pronouncement.
When the men finished laughing, Mr. Ken told them he was serious. Their employer quickly ticked-off all of the projects he was personally handling. He added he could feel the stress of dealing with all of them himself and, on top of them, the boys as well.
The owner of The Cove said that there had to be major changes in the way he ran his enterprises. He told them he would start talking with companies who can advise him on what to do and look for, when establishing a new board to oversee every one of his ventures with him as the CEO.
Mr. Ken told them that he was in the initial stages of doing just that, and he wanted it kept a secret until he was ready to announce the formulation of a new corporation to do just that.
Seeing the time was getting away from him, Mr. Ken told the men he had to hurry and finish packing. The man asked his employees to take care of The Cove and his 'boys' and he'd be back soon enough.
At both schools during lunch, the Covers had to answer loads of questions about the pending trial. None of the boys who were almost kidnapped had any idea what to expect, other than they would have to tell their story at the trial. They all hoped it wouldn't take too long.
Billy, on the other hand, couldn't answer any of his friend's questions about the attempted kidnapping. He told them he'd only arrived four weeks ago and had only heard stories from his 'brothers'. They wanted to hear the stories.
The boys all ate their after-school snack together. Momma Maria was happy all of the boys were getting along so well, even though Bill had only been there for less than a month. The woman watched and listened to what happened at The Cove from her vantage point in the Kitchen Nook. She knew and believed that what she was seeing was genuine.
Dinner was a bit subdued due to 'dad' Ken being gone. Mr. Wayne told them their 'dad' would probably call them later tonight, so they needed to have their cell phones with them. That brightened them up, somewhat, but they still weren't happy.
In the Study, later, the boys talked about their day at school. The younger boys told how the big discussion was no longer about the storm. It was about the trial. That totally surprised Mr. Wayne.
When Billy told them about his day, he mentioned how his friends wanted to know about the attempted kidnapping and the trial. Robert asked how his friends knew about the trial when they only mentioned it that morning to their friends and Gabe and Jamie's brothers couldn't have told them, yet.
Billy confessed he was trying to be the BMOC and sort of mentioned it. Billy admitted he was enjoying the attention he was getting, after the School Board hearing and more and more students were talking to him, including the 'women'. The younger boys laughed at hearing about the 'women' and they wanted to know more. Mr. Wayne was happy the boys were not moping around because their 'dad' was gone.
Billy tried to explain how the girls were hanging around him, and how much he was enjoying their company. Then, he mentioned that none of them came over to him before the first bell and that only a few stopped by during lunch. He said he thought it was his underarm deodorant not working. That made all of the boys laugh some more.
Billy then got down to what he needed from his 'brothers'. He told them he only heard bits and pieces of how the men tried to kidnap them, and he wanted them to tell him more about it. The boys, who were almost kidnapped, talked amongst themselves.
Eric was selected to speak up for his 'brothers'. He told Billy that if he wanted to know what happened to them he needed to read the newspapers. He added they weren't going to tell him what they went through, only to have to relive it for him and when they prepare to testify and then at the trial.
Billy was shocked at what he heard. He couldn't believe his 'brothers' wouldn't tell him anymore about the attempted kidnapping. He was going to argue with them, but Mr. Wayne slightly shook his head at him. Billy saw what the man did and immediately understood what the man wanted, so he held his tongue,
"Boys ... let me say something here," spoke up Mr. Wayne. "The trial ... it is something that everyone at school is going to talk about, now that you've let it out of the bag. All of your friends are going to want to hear about what happened, again.
"As for Billy ... he wasn't here back then and ... and he is curious as to what actually happened ... And, boys ... whether you realize it or not, you are going to have to tell your stories, over and over again, to those in authority. One thing your 'dad' has told you, a time or two, is something that says, 'It is easier to remember the truth, than to remember the lie'.
"What I am trying to say here is that ... that the more you tell your story out loud to someone, anyone, the easier it will be for you to actually tell your story when the time comes. All of you know it in your minds and you maybe think about it from time to time, but how many times have you actually voiced the words out loud?
"Let me try to give you an example. Have you ever had to learn a poem for school, and then recite it in front of the class? If you have ... then you know you said it out loud, over and over again, while trying to memorize it. It is the same thing with your recollection of the attempted kidnapping.
"What I am saying here is ... if you say it out loud, you'll hear yourself saying the words. You will then know if what you are saying is how it really happened, but most of all, how you want to say it.
"Now ... I am NOT telling you to memorize what happened, but when you say it out loud you may remember something that happened in between what you said the first time. Robert, Eric, Charles, Kevin, and Kyle shouldn't listen to each other because you each saw what happened differently, essentially from your own perspective.
"I may have complicated it for you, but ... but, I think you know what I am trying to say. Practice in your rooms with the door closed, and if you want someone to listen you have your 'dad', me and Bill, who weren't there. OK, enough of that.
"Is there anything else we need to discuss tonight" finished Mr. Wayne?
Billy spoke up and asked if they could go to the School Board Meeting tomorrow night. He said he'd like to know what they intend to do with the students that attacked him, Mr. Stanley, Ms. Paulley, and that School Board Member who tried to derail the hearing.
Hearing that, the other boys spoke up and said they'd like to know, too. So, they began asking if they could go if Billy got to go. Mr. Wayne had totally forgotten about the School Board Meeting tomorrow night, and now he had to figure out what Mr. Ken would do.
After a few moments of figuring it out, Mr. Wayne said he'd talk to Momma in the morning to see if she'll advance dinner by thirty minutes, so they could go. He qualified it by saying if she couldn't then they weren't going.
Kyle spoke up and asked if Momma Maria wouldn't change the dinnertime, could they still go and get there late? The other boys agreed with their younger 'brother' and said they'd just like to know the outcome before they go to school on Friday.
The Estate Master looked over to Ms. Judy to see if she had any ideas, and all he got from her was a big smile. He had to think fast. Then, it came to him.
"Boys ... if we go ... you have to begin your homework as soon as you get home as you did last week. Then, if the meeting goes past 9 p.m. we have to leave whether a decision was made, or not. Do you all agree to those terms?" directly asked Mr. Wayne.
The boys talked about it for a few moments and they all agreed.
After the Cover, meeting was over, and the boys were filing out, Mr. Wayne asked Billy to stay back. When it was just the two of them, Mr. Wayne closed the door.
"Bill, I think you know it wasn't fair for you to use what happened to the boys as a way to win friends and influence enemies. By their actions, I think they told you that. They may like you as their 'brother', but they also don't want to be taken advantage of, either.
"Bill, what happened that night wasn't something anyone could have ever predicted. And, if it hadn't been for Mr. Ken hiring Gene and George to watch over your 'brothers' they ... they very well may not have been here when Ms. Judy brought you here to live.
"What I will tell you is ... is that one man wanted to get a hold of the twins, for sure, and we truly believe he was after Robert, as well. The thing is the man ... he was prepared to take all ten boys to make sure he got the three he wanted.
"This is not something they want to have to rehash over and over, again. So ... I will ask you not to bother them about it. Let them come to you if they want to. In the meantime, ... I believe you owe them an apology.
"I believe a sincere apology is in order. And then, afterward, you tell anyone who asks they'll need to read the old newspapers, or wait for the trial." Mr. Wayne stopped right there. He waited for Bill to say something, anything.
Billy was very quiet during Mr. Wayne's talk and when the man was finished, the teen lowered his head in shame. After the teen had thought about what the Estate Master had said, he looked up to the man and said he was sorry. He told the man he hadn't thought of it the way he just explained it. He said that all he was trying to do was have something to tell his friends.
Billy agreed he needed to talk to his 'brothers' and apologize to them and ask them to forgive him and to help him not be so nosey in the future. Billy thanked the man for explaining it to him and said he needed to start mending the fences as soon as he could. The teen then left the Study to go up to talk to his 'brothers'
Ms. Judy was standing outside the Study, waiting for the meeting to be over. When it was, she asked Wayne if he could tell her what that was all about, and what the outcome was, so she could decide if it needed to be added to Bill's folder.
Wayne Mitchell thought about the question for a bit, and then he said to Ms. Judy that it really wasn't anything, but a simple reminder to Billy that his 'brothers' still relished their privacy, even if some of it was made public.
Ms. Judy thanked the man and said she was going up to her room, to relax some before bed.
When Billy went up to apologize to his 'brothers' he heard Charles on the phone with Mr. Ken. He knew the pre-teen wanted their talk to be private, so he walked over to Robert's room where Eric was also staying.
"Robert, Eric ... I want to apologize to you both for my insensitivity earlier about asking you to tell me what happened to you when those men tried to kidnap Kevin and Kyle and possibly you, Robert. I was only thinking about myself, and not what it would mean to you having to relive it all over again.
"I don't have much to tell my friends. Well, I do, but ... I don't want to tell them about how my mom and 'Greaser' sold drugs out of the house, and made drug drops for 'Smokey'. It is a part of my life that ... that I would be best to just forget, if I ever could.
"I'll bet ... I'll bet that is how all of you look at why you are all living here with Mr. Ken. You don't want people to know the reason you are here, just as I don't want people to know that ... that reason about me.
"I messed up. I just hope you can forgive me and ... and help keep me from making that mistake again and keep me from being so nosey. Mr. Ken ... he told me you'd probably tell me about yourselves, when you were ready. I know I have a long way to go, before that ever happens," finished Billy, as he walked out of the bedroom.
Billy waited until all of his 'brothers' had talked with their 'dad' before he went into their rooms and said essentially the same thing. When it was his turn to talk to Mr. Ken, he told him what happened in the Study earlier, and then he told his foster dad how sorry he was for being so insensitive. The teen told Mr. Ken he had talked to each one of his 'brothers' separately, and all he had to do now was to see how they accepted his apology.
Mr. Ken called Wayne to ask him his perspective of what happened in the study and Bill's request for the boys to tell him what happened when they were almost kidnapped. The two discussed it and in the end, Mr. Ken was happy with the way Wayne handled it. The owner of The Cove was also happy that Bill had taken full responsibility for asking the boys something so sensitive and asking them to forgive him.
By the time Mr. Wayne went up to say goodnight to the boys, only Billy was still awake, but was about to go to bed himself. Billy did tell Mr. Wayne he apologized to all of his 'brothers' and all he had to do now was wait and see how they act towards him later. Mr. Wayne knew that already, but he didn't say anything to the teenager, only for him to sleep well.
Breakfast the following morning was just like many other morning meals. The boys were talking over one another and laughing and joking as they usually did. There was no mention of what Billy asked the previous night, or his attempt to apologize to them. Mr. Wayne just watched while he read the morning newspaper.
When Billy came into the Kitchen Nook, he immediately took care of Chief's needs and then sat down to his breakfast. The teenager asked Mr. Wayne if his 'brothers' said anything about last night. The Estate Master told the teen that they hadn't, but they were all very animated and were joking with one another, so he took it as a good sign.
Billy was relieved at hearing that. He hoped his 'brothers' had accepted his apology, and for now, all he could do was wait until they were all home from school. When the teen was finished with his meal, he took his dirty dishes to the sink, then hugged Momma for fixing him his breakfast. The teen was soon out the door to catch the school bus.
When the teen arrived at his high school, his friends were waiting for him. As they walked to where they usually waited, and talked before school started, a few other students came over.
Of course, they were interested in hearing about his 'brothers' and their brush with almost being kidnapped. Billy told them he wasn't living with them last October and told them he had no idea what happened, other than what was in the newspapers. He asked them to do a Google search for them and read the accounts there.
One student got indignant about Billy not answering their questions and told Billy, with his fists balled, he had better tell them. A few students, who came with the irate one, told him it wasn't worth it, and that Billy was already known for the way he took care of himself.
This time Billy's friends stood up to the incensed student. They told him Billy only arrived a few weeks ago, and he really didn't know anything more than what the newspapers reported. It was Lonnie, who stood up and got in the student's face, told him to go away and never come back.
Brett, Gabe, Jamie, and then Kaden also stood up, making a statement. The angry student, looked directly at Billy, turned, and finally walked away, followed by his few friends. Then, the boy turned around and gave Billy the fickle finger of fate. Billy laughed at the teen and kept his hands to himself. The first bell rang for the students to head inside the building
Mr. Ken's appearance at the Commissioner's Meeting, back east, was scheduled for 10 a.m. and he arrived about twenty minutes beforehand. He was met by the three commissioners he personally talked with a few weeks back, and they assured him the other four men were interested in his proposal, but they also had some questions. Ken Thomas told them he was prepared to answer all their questions.
The meeting was set in a large-sized meeting room. Mr. Ken figured it could hold at least 375 people, or maybe more. It didn't faze the owner of Crystal Lake Amusement Park, as he'd been in front of his own hometown Commissioner's Court, and their meeting room held over 500 people, and many times it had been full.
The meeting's agenda was set and Mr. Ken saw he was the third item on the shortlist. He realized the first two were mostly administrative in nature, and that he was the main draw for that meeting. As the man waited for the appointed time, the seats in the gallery began to fill up.
The president of the County Commissioner's Board called the meeting to order and asked the Secretary to read the agenda. Once that was done, the commissioners dispensed with the first two items and then addressed the third one.
"We are here today, to discuss a proposal, from the new owner of the Crystal Lake Amusement Park to assist this Board with determining if it is feasible, practical, or even worthwhile, to our county residents, to continue forward with the previously proposed five-lane divided highway. This highway would most definitely enhance the Crystal Lake property, but we are not sure if it would be in the County's best interest to do so.
"We'll first hear from Mr. Ken Thomas, the owner of the Crystal Lake Amusement Park, about his proposal to have this five-lane divided highway built. He is here at the behest of the Commissioners, as his offer is unheard of in the building industry. Mr. Thomas ... will you tell this Board about your scheme, err, I mean your proposition and what is in it for you?" announced the Board's president.
Ken Thomas sat back in his chair feeling he was being brought like a lamb to the slaughter. The short, but directed remarks by the Board's President said volumes to the Crystal Lake's owner. The man was definitely against building the highway, but Mr. Ken had no idea why. He knew he needed to call Jules, at the earliest break, to ask him if he had any contacts out that way.
Mr. Ken was also mentally kicking himself in his ass for not doing his homework on the four holdbacks to the highway project. He now knew he needed to know about the four men who oppose the five-lane divided highway, and why they didn't want it built.
Or, if they just didn't want it built now, but later, again, why. He also knew he needed to hire a local lawyer who knew their way around the County Government and the way it operated.
Just before Mr. Ken sat forward to reply to the president's statement, one of the three men he talked with previously spoke up against the president's opening remarks. The commissioner took exception to what the Board President had said about Mr. Thomas and his proposal.
The man told the Board President that Mr. Thomas was there on an invitation and that he should not denigrate the man. The commissioner directly asked the president to apologize to the man, who was there to discuss his proposal with them and the residents in attendance.
The two Commissioners got into an argument over what was said, so Mr. Ken took the time to call Jules and tell him what he needed. Mr. Ken used the time to give Mr. Diamond the full names of the four men who opposed building the highway that would go past his property. Jules said he'd have what he could by lunchtime, and more by the end of the day.
The other commissioners got the two men to stop their bickering in order to get the meeting back on track. The Board President apologized to those in attendance for the delay and the total unprofessionalism of his associate.
That caused some more words to be spoken and the meeting was delayed some more. It was obvious to those in attendance there was some animus between the two men and neither one was going to take any insolence from the other. The words they threw back and forth at one another told any observer one of the men was up for reelection while the other wasn't.
Mr. Ken wished he had Bill Jackson sitting beside him. As the two men went at one another once more, he pulled out his cell phone and called his personal lawyer. When they connected, Ken Thomas asked the man if he knew a friendly lawyer he could call upon and have them there before lunch to help him work through the infighting and the government bureaucracy.
The Commissioner pro tem, one of the three men Mr. Ken talked with, took over leading the meeting, as the two arguing men stepped off the podium to discuss their differences outside. The pro tem apologized for the lengthy delay and asked Mr. Thomas to tell them why he was there.
"We still have a quorum. Continue, Mr. Thomas," said the Commissioner pro tem.
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