The Krispy Kreme donuts were such a hit the previous day, Momma Maria brought two dozen with her that Thursday morning. She hadn't made any of her special sweet cakes as of late, so she wanted to have something special and sweet for the boys and the men.
When Mr. Ken came in from retrieving his morning newspaper, he spied the Krispy Kreme donut boxes on the counter. He went over to them and upon trying to take one to have with his coffee had his hand smacked with the spatula Momma was wielding. The owner of The Cove knew not to mess with Momma Maria.
The boys also spied the special Krispy Kreme donut boxes sitting on the counter, and their 'dad' told them to not touch them or they'll get their hand smacked as his was. He rubbed his hand to make a point. He then told them they were for after they had breakfast.
As the Covers ate breakfast, 'dad' Ken asked the boys what they had on their schedules for the day. Charles said it was his Team's turn to host the barbeque. So, he would be busy cracking the whip, making sure his men set up the barbeque by slicing the tomatoes and onions, getting the dispensers filled and the sodas on ice. The teen's 'brothers' laughed at the way he described what he was doing that day.
Robert said he'd like to take the PWCs out again. Billy spoke up and said he'd like to do that, as well, but he wasn't sure if he'd have any friends after yesterday. Mr. Ken then asked if they had come up with a way to share the watercrafts with one another. Billy said he hadn't talked to either Robert or Charles about doing that. Mr. Ken told the oldest teen to do that before anyone took the PWCs out of the cove today.
The twins asked if Billy's friends didn't' come over if that meant Jameson and Xavier wouldn't be coming back either. Matthew then asked the same question about Jonathan and Damian. All Mr. Ken could tell the boys was they had to wait to see how the parents reacted to his talk with them last evening at the Main Gate.
In the meantime, the Covers finished their breakfast, had taken their dirty dishes to the sink and rinsed them and then sat down at the Nook's table, hoping Momma would let them have a few Crispy Cream donuts. She did.
The boys practically purred as they ate the wonderfully sweet glazed donuts and washed them down with plain white milk. Mr. Ken also enjoyed the wonderful donuts with his coffee and this time his hands weren't smacked with the spatula.
Momma saved some donuts for Wayne and Chris, for when they arrived at The Cove, which was not too long after the boys left the table to get their showers.
"You are a wonderful woman, Momma Maria,” said Chris Dominions, as he sat down to a cup of hot coffee and two of the Krispy Kreme donuts. He ate the wonderfully sweet donuts slowly to savor the taste and enjoy them, as he knew this was a treat that wouldn't be repeated for quite some time.
Mr. Wayne smiled when he saw the special red, white and green donut boxes sitting on the counter. He had hoped there were some donuts left for him and when Momma told him to sit and she brought him a cup of hot coffee and a plate of two glazed donuts he knew he was in for a real treat.
While the boys were taking their showers, Billy asked Robert and Charles about their ideas on how they could share the personal watercrafts. The teen told them Mr. Ken wasn't happy they hadn't decided on how they would do that, yet.
Charles agreed with Billy and told how his dad had also asked him if they had made up some sort of schedule or agreement on how they would share the machines. Robert said he didn't have any idea on what would be a fair way, other than they rotate every third day.
Billy asked if they could share them between noon and three and then between three and six and that way, they would only miss out every other day. Charles said that sounded fair on the surface, but he'd want to see it on paper. Robert agreed with his brother and asked if the three of them could sit down before their friends arrived and do just that. Billy was on board to do that.
While the Covers were getting their day started, Mr. Chris received a phone call from the gate guard. The guard said there was a driver with a tractor there to take the construction trailer away. Mr. Chris told the guard to allow them in and that he'd be right there. The Estate Manager stopped by the Study to tell Mr. Ken the good news.
After the removal of the construction trailer, the entrance to The Cove looked so much better. But the area round where the trailer was parked was dirty. Mr. Ken asked Wayne if he wouldn't mind getting the pressure washer out and cleaning that area up, so it didn't look so bad.
Mr. Wayne said he'd change into some old clothes and get right to it. As the Estate Master was taking the pressure washer out of the shed, Billy saw him and asked him what he was going to clean. Learning he was going to wash down the area where the construction trailer was, Billy asked if he could help. Mr. Wayne told him to put on some old clothes, or his swimsuit, and meet him up there.
Mr. Ken saw that Billy and Wayne were up at the construction trailer site and were washing the area down. He was happy Billy got involved, as the teenager wasn't one to waste time and he did like to get involved.
Robert and Charles went over to see what the two Covers were doing and when Billy was using the machine they talked to Mr. Wayne. They asked if they could use it to clean the Pavilion as it hadn't been done since before the Grand Opening and would look good for the Picnic.
Mr. Wayne said that wasn't a bad idea and when they were finished, he'd supervise as they washed down the Pavilion tables, benches and floor. The Estate master told the two teens to go change into old clothes, or their swimsuits, as they would get dirty and wet.
The upper area, where the trailer was, cleaned up well, but now the entire area needed to be pressure washed so it looked even. Mr. Wayne decided to let the other boys use the machine to clean the Pavilion first, as it wouldn't take as long as the upper driveway area would.
While Billy was pressure washing the upper driveway, where the trailer was, the boys' friends began to arrive. Amongst them were Billy's friends. Billy smiled when he saw them arrive. He was relieved that he still had friends. He told them he would be over to talk to them when he was finished cleaning the area.
Robert and Charles did change into their swimsuits and headed up to the pavilion. They told their friends, as they arrived, that they would be washing down the area and for them not to put anything on the tables, benches or on the floor as the stuff would get wet.
It was about twelve o'clock when Mr. Wayne brought the pressure washer over to Robert and Charles. He again explained to the teens how to start it and that they needed to use the safety glasses and ear defenders while they used the machine. The man explained they needed to start in one area and work their way towards the opposite end and to change off as it would get tiring.
Robert decided to start near the grill, wash sink and counter. That way those areas would be dry when it was time to burn the burgers and dogs. The teenager set the machine up, put on his safety equipment and started the machine. As soon as he began to pass the wand back and forth, he could already tell how much dirt had accumulated since the Memorial Day Picnic.
The Pavilion was a large structure and it would take the teens about four hours to thoroughly clean all the tables, benches and the extensive floor. And Robert and Charles weren't the only ones to use the pressure washer. Logan and Eric also wanted the chance to help. Billy's friends also wanted the chance to use the machine.
All-in-all, ten different teenagers helped clean the Pavilion that Thursday and lunch still went on as planned at about two o'clock, as the teenagers worked their way towards the far end of the Pavilion, which was away from the main cooking and serving area.
Mr. Ken was pleased the boys had taken it upon themselves to clean the Pavilion. He could readily see it was needed and with the Picnic that Sunday, having a clean Pavilion would be a nice touch. Mr. Wayne did tell his employer that he would have to go back tomorrow and continue to clean the upper driveway area to blend the clean with the old, so it didn't stand out too much.
Earlier, while the pressure washer was being used, Mr. Ken and Mr. Chris talked about some things concerning The Cove. They talked about what would be a good time to have the Fire Chief come by to talk about what he wanted to do with the Fire Drill. Mr. Ken asked Chis to see if the week after the Picnic would work.
Mr. Ken then mentioned that maybe they could try out those emergency ladders he had installed in all of the bedrooms. The owner of The Cove said it would be good to know they worked and that when the boys pulled them out the fire alarm did sound. He told Chris to make a note to talk to the Fire Chief about them
The two men also talked about when the insurance man would come back to check the CCTV cameras for the Skate Park, to see if they were indeed hooked up and working. Chris said it would be a good time to show the man they indeed have the required boating completion certificates, lifeguard training certificates and licenses, signed release forms for the Skate Park, water toys, PWCs and indoor pool, as well as the rest of his requirements in order to show him they meet the companies conditions.
While the men were talking, Mr. Chris told his employer that he had reserved six rooms at the Lakeside Hotel and a conference room for that weekend after Labor Day. When Mr. Ken asked Chris why six, Mr. Chris said that was just in case he did buy Edgewood and invited the operations manager from there as well. Mr. Ken said Chris was getting to know him far too well.
Mr. Chris then asked Mr. Ken if he intended to go back to all of his amusement parks as he had indicated. He asked so that he could begin calling his travel group to start making arrangements for the business aircraft, hotels, and transportation. Mr. Ken told Chris to look at the first week of August for ten days. It would be just before the boys went back to school.
Mr. Chris then asked his boss if he ever bought Charles and Robert their birthday presents. Mr. Ken said regrettably he hadn't. He told Chris that he did tell Robert while they were on their trip that he bought him what he bought Charles. Mr. Chris asked him what it was. Mr. Ken laughed and told him the same thing he told his son, nothing. The two men laughed, but Mr. Ken said he needed to talk to the teens to see what they would like.
While the men were talking, the fire extinguisher company dropped off the many extinguishers that the food booths and the rides needed, to fulfill the terms of the permit to hold the 4th of July Picnic. Mr. Ken was happy they were there, even though they took up valuable space in the Parking Coral.
Billy and his friends did get the chance to talk about the interaction between his foster dad and their parents last night at the Main Gate. Jamie said it was his mom who was pissed more than his dad was. He also said his brothers argued they didn't want to be excluded from The Cove after they just started going over there.
Gabe said it was his dad who was the one who was mad that Mr. Ken got the Sheriff's detectives involved and brought them to their home. The teen said his brothers were scared they would be restricted from coming over there because of it and what was said at the Main Gate last night.
But Gabe said their mom stood up to their dad and told him that whether the detectives showed up the other night or next week, they still would have come to the house and the questions would still have been the same, about Kaden and what he knew about the teenager and his drug dealing.
Lonnie said he didn't have a problem. His parents told him that Mr. Ken did the right thing and that he should have said something to them about what he knew about Kaden. Lonnie said he didn't know about Kaden's activities at the County Skate Park until Brett mentioned it the other day. The teen said that took the pressure off of him, and then said he was good to come back here to The Cove
Brett was the lone holdout. The other freshmen looked to him for some comment, about what his parents thought, about Mr. Ken talking to the Sheriff's Department about Kaden and what he supposedly was doing at the County Skate Park.
"Guys, look … my parents … they … they think marijuana should be legalized and that … and that if that is what Kaden was dealing in, then he shouldn't have been arrested. They think Mr. Ken … that he should have kept his busybody nose out of it and let the police figure it out for themselves.
"Yea … my parents … they use pot. I don't and never have and never will. And Billy … if that is enough to ban me from here then let me know and I'll never come back. You only asked me if I was using illegal drugs … not if my parents were,” finished a somber Brett.
"Guys … I used to use pot before I was put into the system,” started Billy. "I even had drugs with me when Ms. Judy brought me here. But Mr. Wayne … he told me I had better flush them down the toilet or the Sheriff's Office will be called and that will be the end of my stay here at Three Finger Cove.
"Mr. Wayne … he also told me that if any of my friends bring any sort of illegal drugs here and they are found out, the Sheriff's Office will be notified and they will be arrested and probably sent to juvie.
"I remember what he told me. He said, 'Don't mess this up, Bill! You have a great opportunity here to have a good life and a future you could never consider in your dreams'.
"Then after I picked my room, he told me to take the time to divest myself of any excess fluids, and while I was at it, to flush any drugs I might have. And you know what? He never mentioned the illegal drugs to me ever, again!
"Guys, I don't ever want to have illegal drugs here on The Cove. I have it too good here and from what I hear from my 'brothers', there are some more awesome trips in my future. And I'll even bet Mr. Ken will even put me through college, if I keep my grades up. There is no way that I am going to mess this up!” explained Billy, as he bared his soul about himself and his coming to The Cove.
The five teens also talked about their using the PWCs again. Billy explained that he, Robert and Charles agreed on how to share them, so that they would only miss out using them every other day, unless they trade off because they are responsible for the barbeque.
The Cover described they would use them either from noon to three or three to six and would switch off. Billy's friends said that it sounded fair. Then they asked who was using them today. Billy said it would start tomorrow as everyone was busy pressure washing today.
During lunch, Mr. Ken asked Russell to walk with him for a bit, as he had something, he wanted to talk to him about. When the lifeguard and the owner of The Cove were away from the boys, Mr. Ken asked Russell if he ever took the Texas Boater Safety Course.
The eighteen-year-old said he never had, as it wasn't something, he ever thought he needed. Mr. Ken told him they offer it every other Saturday and he would like him to schedule, and take it.
The lifeguard's employer told the teenager that the boys needed someone eighteen or older to drive the Jet Ski to pull them on the water tube and he would like to add that to his job description with an increase in pay. Russell was flabbergasted at the offer and said he would love to be able to do that. The two shook hands. The next Course was the following Saturday.
As the boys were eating, a storm that had been building, finally moved into the area. The thunder that was in the distance became more and more prominent, so Mr. Wayne told everyone to put the barbeque away and get their skateboards into their lockers. He told them they could either wait the storm out there, under the Pavilion, or down in the house. They boys wanted to watch the storm from the Pavilion.
Summer Texas storms can be anything from just rain, to thunder and rain, to lots of thunder and rain, to thunder, lightning, rain, hail and wind, or a mix of everything. The storm that came through just then was similar to the storm that chased the boys off the Patio and caused them to help clean up the patio and the Skate Park, afterwards.
Even with the large size the Pavilion was, the windblown rain didn't spare the boys from getting somewhat wet. When they realized they were getting wet they all scrambled to hide in the restrooms, the closet and the storage room. With almost sixty boys trying to get into those small places it was a very tight fit. Some now wished they had gone down to the house where they could have at least been swimming.
The storm lasted about an hour. And even when they thought it was over, a light rain continued on for about another forty minutes before it moved out of the area. The boys did get to move out of their small hiding places, but the benches and tables were all wet, so all they could do was stand and talk about what they just experienced.
Because of the storm, many of the parents called their sons and told them when the rain let up, they would be there for them. That meant that most of the boys left The Cove early that Thursday and the ones who didn't, weren't there much longer as word got out and the rest of the moms or dads came to retrieve their boys.
Momma was happy she got to get the dinner on the table early that evening. At dinner, the boys talked about the storm and how happy they were that there wasn't any storm damage as there was that first time something like that had come through so unannounced.
After dinner, when the Covers met in the Study, Mr. Ken talked to the boys about the Picnic. He told them the Police Explorer's would pass out the tickets, as they did last year, and they would be used for the food booths and games, and the rides would be free.
The man also told them there would be additional Deputies on the estate grounds as compared to previous years. He said after last year's run-in with the biker gang and the attempted kidnapping, he wasn't going to take any more chances. Billy, not being there last year, quickly asked what happened.
Mr. Ken had forgotten Billy wasn't there, and neither were the twins or Matthew, and that revelation sort of let the cat out of the bag and now, he had to figure out how he was going to take back what he just said.
But Charles spoke up. "Billy … 'Smokey' and his gang …'Chickee', 'Greaser', 'Butcher' and 'Spider' saw the carnival lights and they came to The Cove to check it out. It was then that 'Smokey' … he saw me here. I was just brought here by Ms. Judy. My 'brothers' … they tried to tell him it wasn't me, but he knew … who I was.
"They caused lots of trouble for the Deputies and were all arrested for trespassing and other things, but somehow … he was let go, or made bail, and he came back here, looking for me. He found me and … and with this huge knife to my throat, he dragged me over to the far corner of the estate, you know, where the storm culvert is?
"Anyway, the short story is … when they realized no one knew where I was, they all started looking for me. Chief found me and the Sheriff's Deputies came after me and 'Smokey' … 'Smokey' told me he'd slit my throat if they came after him.
"Chief, in the meantime, snuck up along the fence, and then sprung after 'Smokey. When Chief surprised him, I was able to pull the knife away from me, but … but it hit Chief and I cut her … badly. 'Smokey' … he went around the fence at the water line. He somehow had a boat ready to escape with. He got away that night.
"I'm sorry Dad for telling them that. But that was why you needed to add extra Deputies and … and I knew you couldn't tell them without me, so … so I told them another part of my story. Guys … you know you can't tell anyone else about this. 'Smokey' … he was my mom's … boyfriend and I was surprised he wasn't in jail since my mom was,” added Charles.
Billy then spoke up and said, "'Greaser' … he got a frantic phone call the next night from 'Smokey'. He told my mom he had had to go out and meet 'Smokey', and the rest of the gang. He went through the house looking for some guns he had and the ammunition and then headed out. That was the last we heard of him until they came to the house to tell my mom that 'Greaser' was shot dead during the shootout with the Sheriff's Deputies.
"The deputies had a search warrant with them, and before I knew it, they had found all the drugs my mom and 'Greaser' had stashed there. They also found all these guns that I didn't even know about. And these guns … they all had their serial numbers filed off. They arrested my mom and … and they took me to the Sheriff's Headquarters and then Children's Protective Services came to place me in my first foster home.
"And, just as Charles said, you can't tell anyone what I just told you. It is why I am in the foster care system. My mom and step-dad … they ran drugs for 'Smokey'. The same man that dated Charles' mom, and who almost killed Charles and did what Charles told us the day he was adopted. We both knew that man but … but in totally different ways,” finished Billy.
Mr. Wayne sat there dumbfounded at hearing those revelations that evening. He sort of knew what was said, but tonight he was hearing it for the first time directly from the boys themselves.
Mr. Ken thanked his son for telling his 'brothers' his story and went to him and hugged him tight. Charles just melted into the man as he felt the love coming from the man who just weeks ago adopted him and made The Cove his forever home.
Mr. Ken then went to Billy and hugged the teenager, as well. He told the teen that he didn't have to tell his 'brothers' what he had, but in doing so, it probably filled in some blanks for them. Billy smiled and didn't feel at all embarrassed at being singled out or being hugged in front of all of his 'brothers'
Mr. Ken then made an executive decision. He told the boys to get on nice clothes as they were going out for Sundaes. Kevin asked if they were going to DQ or to Mr. Ken's Kreamy Kone. Mr. Ken said they would find out when they got there.
Mr. Ken's Kreamy Kone won out that night for the boys to have Sundaes. The line was still out the door, so the boys got to talk to some of their school friends while waiting their turn. Mr. Ken made sure not to invite any of them over to skate.
But the boys did tell their friends that the Cove Skate Park would be open to skating from noon until six p.m. on Sunday and, if they wanted to try it out, they needed to have a parent sign a release form and wear safety equipment. Mr. Ken was happy to hear that.
The boys all got three scoop Sundaes that night. They each got three different ice cream flavors in their cup, but only one topping along with whipped cream, nuts and a cherry on top. They all went outside and sat at the tables provided as they enjoyed their cold treat.
As they ordered their concoctions, Mr. Ken ordered a double scoop of vanilla ice cream and had them keep it in the freezer until they were ready to leave. The server wasn't sure if they could do that, but one of the other servers knew Mr. Ken was the owner and told the man there would be no problem. The second server then told the first server to remember the face, as he was the owner, and who the boys were as they were his 'sons'.
Chief got her second cup of scooped ice cream from Mr. Ken's Kreamy Kone and it took her more time to devour it than it would the one from Dairy Queen. But she persisted and finished the cold treat, then went to her 'provider' and gave Charles some doggie kisses for thinking of her.
Later that evening, when Mr. Ken visited the boys, before them going to bed, when he stopped at Billy's room, he asked him what his friends had to say about their parents and his exchange at the Main Gate.
Billy told him all about what his friends told him. Mr. Ken was taken by surprise by what Brett told Bill, though. The foster dad asked Bill about what Brett said about his parents. All Billy told the man was that Brett was honest when he asked him about his use of drugs. The teen added that he never asked about his parents' use, and he didn't think that should keep him from coming over to The Cove.
Mr. Ken said he had to agree. He said he only asked Bill to qualify his friends' use and not what their parents did, or what they thought about illegal drugs and their use. Billy thanked his foster dad for letting Brett continue to come to The Cove.
The storm that came through late Thursday afternoon cooled off the air, so that when Mr. Ken went out to retrieve his morning newspaper, he could feel the change. The air smelled clean and was cooler than it had been. But the man knew that in a day or two the heat and humidity would be back up where it usually was at that time of year.
The boys filtered down for breakfast and were disappointed that Momma hadn't brought those special donuts for them today. She did have waffles for them that morning along with strawberries and blueberries as toppings for them to use or powdered sugar along with whipped cream. There was crispy bacon on the side for them to also enjoy.
"Boys, did you decide on how you're going to share the PWCs?” asked 'dad' Ken.
"Yes, sir,” replied Billy. "We're going to use the machines from noon to three and three to six and we'll switch off, so that we'll only miss out every other day. We'll also trade when we have barbeque duty,” was how Billy finished explaining their decision on how they would share the watercrafts.
'Dad' Ken was pleased they worked out an equitable sharing plan. He then told the boys he asked Russell to take the Texas Boater Safety Course and, when he did, he would be available to use the Jet Ski to run them back and forth on the water tube. The man said that might mess up their use of the PWCs, but all the boys liked going out on the water tubes, so they will just have to manage.
The three younger Covers were happy to hear that Russell would be able to take them out on the water tube. They figured that would give them another way to have fun out on the water as the summer progressed.
Mr. Ken also reminded the boys that the carnival trucks would start arriving today and that they had to keep themselves and their friends away from where they parked their trucks. He told them The Cove would start becoming a very busy place, which was why there would be no skating tomorrow.
Robert asked if their 'brother' Collin would be coming to the Picnic. The teen's dad said he wasn't sure. All the man could say was that he invited him, and Collin said he would try to be here, but he wasn't making any promises. Mr. Ken told the boys that Collin had a big responsibility right now with C.W.E. Inc. and that he was trying to learn as much about the business as he could.
"Robert, Charles … I've been remiss in getting you two your birthday presents. I have a good excuse, but … it is time that I asked you both what you would like as your birthday present. If you know what you want, tell me and maybe we can go out together and get it today. If you still want to think about it, then it will have to wait until next week as, due to the Picnic, you know I will be too busy until then,” said the teen's dad.
Charles said he knew what he wanted and asked if they could go and get it today, so that way he could use it during the Picnic. Robert asked his brother what it was and learning what it was said he thought that was a great present and wished he had thought of it, too. He asked his dad if he could get one, as well.
Dad Ken told the teens to get cleaned up and meet him at ten o'clock and they'd head out and buy them their presents. The younger Covers asked if they could go along, but Mr. Ken said it was a father and sons' trip.
When Mr. Wayne arrived that Friday, he immediately took the pressure washer out and went up to the top of the driveway to 'blend' clean the area where the construction trailer was so it didn't look so out of place.
Mr. Ken stopped to talk to Wayne to tell him where he and the boys were going and that he'd be back later with the boy's birthday presents. He told him to hold down the fort and then the owner of The Cove drove off.
Mr. Chris knew the boss was going to be gone, so he worked the Picnic issues. He called the church groups, the fireworks contractor, the Police Explorer's contact, the Sheriff's Off-Duty coordinator, the trash company and the fire department.
After all his phone calls, Mr. Chris sat back and looked back at the past year. He realized that come Sunday, he would have worked for Mr. Ken Thomas for one full year, and it had been the best year he could never have thought he would have had when he applied for the job.
He thought back to his wife pestering him to find something to do and for him to get out of the house. He remembered seeing the ad for the Three Finger Cove Household Manager and figured he'd apply. He had no idea what he was applying for, but his wife was happy he was out looking for a job.
Chris thanked his lucky stars he had gotten the job. His employer was so open to his comings and goings to his medical appointments, that he knew no other employer would be so amenable. Then when he started talking to the boys about his injury, and how he got it, they were all so easy to talk to, that he felt comfortable in doing it.
That was the catalyst to his getting over his aversion to talking about his losing his leg. Then when he met Frank Longger, who had the same injury he had, he now had someone he could share his story with. And that was what got him through his mental problem about losing his leg.
Chris Dominions owed Ken Thomas so much for hiring him. And on top of all that, he loved the job. He had almost complete authority to do what was necessary to run Three Finger Cove. He also had access to hundreds of thousands of dollars in multiple accounts with which to pay bills, salaries, taxes, and anything else associated with running a large estate.
What Chris also loved about the job was the medical and dental insurance he had not only for himself, but for his entire family. Mr. Ken didn't go cheap when it came to protecting his employees and his 'boys'. He couldn't believe how much money the man spent just on what he fed all the boys every day with the barbeques. He didn't know how much money his employer had, but he was sure the man had enough money to keep The Cove going for many years to come.
The phone rang just then and brought the Estate Manger out of his daydreaming. It was his wife. They usually talked once a day and this time he told her all about what he was just daydreaming about.
The Cover boys' friends arrived as they usually did. Robert's and Charles' friends couldn't wait until their friend returned to see what their dad got them for their birthday. The 'brothers' knew what it was, but they knew their older 'brothers' would want to show their friends what it was, so they kept their mouths shut.
Billy's friends asked if they could take the PWCs out. Billy said they could, but only until three. But he figured they would be back well before then as their feet would be cold first. All the older teens changed into their swimsuits. Billy did tell Mr. Chris he and his friends were taking the machines in case anyone asked. Mr. Chris thanked him for the heads-up.
The five friends checked the machines out before they started them. Today, Lonnie said he wanted to take the Jet Ski out, so Billy let him do the check on that machine. When they all had their life vests on and the machines started, Lonnie was going to be the leader and they slowly drove out of the cove and into the lake.
When Mr. Ken drove back into The Cove. Robert and Charles wanted to be let out just inside so they could take their new toy over to the Pavilion and show their friends. Their friends saw the Cover teens walking over and they all congregated around them. That was when they saw what they'd gotten for their birthday.
"Your dad … he got you both quadcopters?” said Trevor.
"Yep,” replied Charles, with a big grin on his face.
"Yes, he did and they are both different,” said Robert. "Mine is a Quadcopter Drone that has Live Camera Video and Charles' is a Drone X Pro with an HD Camera. They're essentially the same, but look different.”
"Yea, you'll have to wait and see what they do. Give us some time to set them up and fly them. Then you'll get to see what they do, and if there is any difference, other than the name,” spoke up Charles.
The Cover teens took their birthday presents out of their boxes, only to learn they had to charge the batteries. They both found receptacles and plugged the battery packs in. The instructions said it would take up to an hour to get a full charge
Robert then asked where Billy and his friends were. Logan said they took the PWCs out and would be back soon. Robert's friends then asked him why he asked for a quadcopter for his birthday. The Cover teen said that he felt it would be cool to shoot pictures of the Picnic on Sunday and when they were skating.
Charles said it would be great to have video of them playing King of the Raft and when they do other things around The Cove, or maybe on their trips to the amusement parks or their cruises. Brad spoke up and said they better check the rules on the ships for the drones, as he heard they are prohibited because it is a security zone like an airport.
Billy and his friends weren't gone more than an hour. That was due to the boys' feet getting cold from the lake water. Robert heard them coming back, so he quickly put his battery into his copter and flew it over the house and to the cove and watched the watercrafts come back into the cove.
Charles did the same with his quadcopter, but he flew his out behind his 'brother' and his friends and followed them back into the cove. All of the Cover's teen's friends watched on the small TVs the remotes had.
Everyone liked what the quadcopters could do. Robert even flew his quadcopter down around his 'brother' who looked up and waved, not knowing it was his own 'brother' who was flying it.
The boys skated while Robert and Charles flew their quadcopters and videoed them. When it was time to cook, Robert flew his toy over the grill masters as they burned the burgers and dogs.
When the men came up to have lunch, Robert and Charles told their dad how much they were enjoying their birthday presents. Dad Ken had to try the new toy out for himself.
When the boys went swimming after they ate, the quadcopters were there to capture the action on the water toys. The quadcopters captured the boys heading up to the Main Gate to wait for the parents and as their parents arrived to take their sons home.
Of course, the boys had to have Robert and Charles show their parents their new toys and show them what they could do.
Late that afternoon, a very large package came for Mr. Chris. When he saw the return address, he knew what was in it, so he took it over to the Pavilion. He called the boys over who were going to act as the managers, or 'referees', for the Cove Skate Park on Sunday and he passed out their shirts, lanyard and whistles so they'd have them to wear to the Picnic.
The sign also came that afternoon. It was a very large metal sign with support posts so they could stand it up for the people to see as they entered the estate. There could be no mistaking the Rules for using the Cove Skate Park to anyone who could read.
Ken Thomas did remind the parents that there was no skating tomorrow and they would now have to find something to entertain their boys with. The parents thanked the man for the reminder and said they'd see him at the Picnic on Sunday. And soon, the Main Gate area was free and clear of cars and pedestrians.
Momma had the Covers dinner ready for them and when they came back from seeing their friends off, they sat down to a wonderful Mexican meal.
The Covers did go out to Mr. Ken's Kreamy Kone for ice cream that night, but it was only for hand-dipped cones and not for splits or Sundaes. But Chief did get her cup of a double scoop of vanilla.
Back at the Study, the Covers talked about their day. They talked about the number of carnival rides that did arrive today. But Mr. Ken told them the major ones would arrive in the morning and they would all be set up by late afternoon.
That's when Robert spoke up and said that last year, he and Collin got to test-ride them. He also said he hoped they could do that again this year. All of the boys said they hoped they could do that, too.
Mr. Ken told them to stay away from the rides and to let the carnival operator come to them and ask them and not for them to go bugging him. He then asked them if they understood what he was saying. They all said they did.
Mr. Ken and Mr. Wayne did make the rounds of the boys to say goodnight to them. There wasn't anything special that happened that day to talk individually to the boys about, so the visits went pretty smoothly and quickly.
The Covers were in bed and slept well that night. But the thought of the carnival being in their own backyard wasn't far from the forefront of the boys' minds.
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