Sunday morning, Mr. Ken woke up at his usual time when the boys weren't in school. It was 8:15 a.m., and the man dressed in his usual nylon running shorts, t-shirt, and Crocs, then went outside to get his morning newspaper. The air was warm, but there was a low cloud cover. He hoped the clouds didn't portend rain later on.
This time the boys' 'dad' decided to take breakfast tacos out for everyone and place them into the convection oven and have them ready for the boys when they came down to eat. He set aside three breakfast tacos for each boy, including himself, as he had done not too long ago.
Billy was first down. He took care of getting fresh water and kibble for Chief who gave the teenager a few doggie kisses for doing that for her. Billy then headed over to get the cereal when Mr. Ken told him to check the oven.
Billy went to the big double ovens and looked inside. Mr. Ken saw what the teen had done and he told him to check the convection oven. Billy did just that and was pleasantly surprised there were breakfast tacos in there. Mr. Ken told him to take three different ones and enjoy. Billy got a glass of milk and sat down to eat his breakfast.
The rest of the boys came downstairs about twenty minutes later. Billy told them to check the oven, the convection oven, that is, and then laughed. He told them to take only three different tacos and then get their drink of choice.
The boys all thanked Billy for heating the tacos for them. The teen let them think he had done it, but after a few minutes, he told them the truth, that Mr. Ken had done that for them. That was the second time their 'dad' had done that for them recently.
Robert was the first one to thank his dad for heating the breakfast tacos for him and his 'brothers'.
Charles did his brother one better. He walked over to the man and hugged him. The teen then said, "I was going to suggest we go out for breakfast, but this ... this is just as good, dad."
The rest of the boys thanked their 'dad' for fixing them their breakfast tacos. Mathew even went over and hugged his 'dad'.
"Boys, we have a busy day ahead of us today. The rest of the lockers need to be built and then installed. I'll probably have Billy and Todd build the last two since they did such a good job yesterday. There are still three to be inspected and installed, besides the two unbuilt ones. Any ideas on how we should proceed?" asked 'dad' Ken.
"Well, when we are finished with our lockers can we ... can we ride our skateboards?" asked Matthew.
"Let's wait and see before we all head away from the project. Something could come up that we'll need all the bodies to help us out. We still have to clean up the boxes, straps, and any loose packing materials, too," replied 'dad' Ken.
When the boys finished their breakfast, they cleaned up their mess and then headed upstairs to get ready for the day. Then, showers taken and fresh play clothes on, they all headed out to the ramps to use them, before their friends arrived.
The Cover's friends and the four carpenters all arrived around the same time. The carpenters still needed to be signed in to the estate, so Mr. Ken had to go up to the Main Gate and do the deed. The owner of The Cove then had the men entered into the database, so they wouldn't be delayed when they arrived for the Memorial Day Picnic.
When everyone was assembled at the Pavilion, Mr. Ken and Mr. Wayne rechecked Conner's lockers, and when they were approved the team carried them to the back wall where the carpenters told them what to do.
Once the lockers were in place, the carpenters had each boy drill a hole and install a fastener. The younger boys had a difficult time pushing the drill through the metal and into the wall but once they got it done, they were all proud of themselves.
Mr. Ken did have Billy and Todd's teams start building the last two locker sets. The man also assigned a number of the boys to start the cleanup of the boxes, packing materials, and straps that keep the parts from falling out.
Gabe and Jamie's teams weren't too far behind Connor's. They had their inspections and after tightening up a few nuts and bolts and adding a few missing ones they took their lockers to the back wall for installation.
The carpenters had the boys line their lockers up on either side of the ones already installed. Once the lockers were in the proper alignment, the boys got to drill the holes and tighten the fasteners. The younger ones came away with big smiles on their faces just as their friends had done the previous day.
As the boys were cleaning up the cardboard and other debris, Kevin came across a box that hadn't yet been opened. He went to his 'dad' to come and see what they found.
When Mr. Ken saw the box, he immediately opened it. There he found the bottom plates that closed up the legs of the lockers to give them a sleek, clean look. The man took a few to the back wall and placed them in front of the installed lockers to see if they were worth taking the time to install them at this late time.
Mr. Ken asked the carpenters what they thought. The four men were evenly divided. Two of the men said he should install them for a clean, complete look. The other two men said he should leave them off to allow the areas to dry better once they got wet from the rains, they were sure would fall on the lockers.
Robert and Charles listened to the conversation. They liked the way the bottom pieces looked against the lockers. They told their dad that the plates hid the inside wood framing and made it look as though they belonged there all along.
Mr. Ken agreed. He gave plates to both Billy and Todd and told them to add them to their locker bottoms and the outside before they brought them to the back wall. The man, made sure one locker set had the endplate on the opposite side than the other.
In the meantime, he asked for boys with small hands who thought they could reach in and add the nuts and bolts from behind. He told them they would start at the middle lockers and work their way to the ends.
A number of the younger boys volunteered. Mr. Ken looked them over and chose Max, Greg, Jonathan, and Damian, the ones he thought had the smallest, and hopefully the nimblest hands. He told them what he wanted them to do, where to begin, and to work their way towards the ends.
Mr. Ken warned them their fingertips might get sore as they held the bolts and nuts while they tightened them. He added they were to switch off so their fingers could recover. The boys got a set of screwdrivers and box wrenches and set about their assigned task.
Max and Jonathan and Greg and Damian formed the teams and began to work. They had to lay on the concrete and reach into the backside of the locker legs to place the nuts on the bolts while their partner inserted the bolt through the plate and into the locker leg. The going was slow at first until they got the hang of the task. Then they moved along at a good pace.
Mr. Ken was very happy the boys accepted the job of building the lockers with gusto and enthusiasm. He heard no bitching, other than the initial bickering as they first got started, but afterward, they worked together as the teams they were.
Conner, Jamie, and Gabe's lockers had been installed and now all that was needed was Billy and Todd to finish the last two sets of lockers and the project would be complete. In the meantime, Robert and Charles got the boys to put the barbeque together, but not to cook anything until the last of the lockers were installed.
Billy and Todd completed their lockers at the same time. They had them checked over to make sure they were complete. When they got the go-ahead, the teams took their locker sets to the correct end. The carpenters had the boys set the lockers as they had the others and when they were in the proper place the carpenters gave the boys the drills and they went to work.
When the final fastener was tightened, the boys gave up a cheer. They congratulated one another for a job well done and they also thanked Mr. Ken for allowing them the opportunity and giving them the responsibility to do the job.
Now there were two more tasks to accomplish. Mr. Ken asked them if they wanted to install the locker numbers and locks now or after they ate. The boys voted to do the last two jobs now and relax afterward.
"'Dad' what kind of locks are these? They're different than the ones we have on the pool deck," asked Matthew.
"These are cipher locks, 'son'. At the pool, the key is wrapped around your ankle, and you leave the key in the lock when you leave for the day. But here you're going to leave your skateboard and whatever else you want in the locker, and if you take the key home and forget to bring it the next time you're over here, then what?
"The cipher lock is a four-digit number that only you know. Then when you come back you punch in the number and the lock opens and you take out what you want and close the locker. Once you set the cipher, you'll use it each time you want to gain entrance to the locker," explained 'dad' Ken.
"Oh," was all Matthew said in response.
The question Mr. Ken now had was which way to number the lockers. He asked the boys should they place the number tags across the top, 1 through 30, and then across the bottom 31 through 60, or up and down from left to right.
The boys looked the lockers over and envisioned the numbers in both configurations. It was Kyle who spoke up and said they needed to be set up like the ones in the pool area, up and down. Mr. Ken thought for a moment and agreed and had one of the boys place the correct tags inside the lockers on the middle and bottom shelf.
Once that was done, Mr. Ken had the boys attach them in their proper location on the locker doors. Mr. Ken was then set to have the boys attach the locks, but Mr. Martinez told him he needed to use pop-rivets to ensure no one could open the locks by just loosening the nuts and bolts. Mr. Ken told the man he didn't have them.
Mr. Gooders suggested he run over to the hardware store and get them while the boys ate. He explained the process was simple, but otherwise permanent. He even said the boys could do that task as well, as it was simple enough.
The boys cheered and as Mr. Gooders went to his vehicle to head to the hardware store, the rest of the workers walked to the back patio for burgers and dogs. Kevin heard what they were planning to do, so he ran to the day's grill master to tell him to start cooking the burgers and dogs.
While they ate, the boys talked to the carpenters about what it took to become one. The carpenters stressed they needed to know about numbers and especially fractions. The men told the boys they also needed to be able to figure things out in their heads. And lastly, they told the boys they needed to measure twice and cut once. Then the men laughed.
Some of the boys were dumbfounded by what the carpenters said last. Billy heard them and he went over to them and told them that when you're working with wood you couldn't afford to waste it. The Cover teen continued and explained that you measured twice to ensure when you cut the wood it would fit and not have to be thrown away.
Just as the barbeque was winding down, Mr. Gooders came back to The Cove. They had set aside two burgers and hot dogs for the man and they talked to him as he ate. The boys put away the picnic items they could while the carpenter ate.
Before everyone headed back to the Pavilion, Mr. Gomez gathered the boys and explained how they would attach the locks using the pop-rivet gun. The man explained that with sixty lockers and fifty boys they would each get one lock to install and a few others would get the chance to do two. The boys all smiled they'd get a chance to again, do something different.
After that little discussion, everyone walked back to the Pavilion. Mr. Gleese showed the tool to the boys and how it worked. The man then looked through the boys and chose one boy, Blake.
He showed the boy what to do and then told him to go ahead and attach the lock. The boy found it awkward as he'd never done anything like that before, so he asked Grant to hold the lock for him as he scissor pumped the tool.
Grant was then chosen next, since he was close to the action and saw how to use the pop-rivet tool. He, in turn, asked Kevin to help him. And that's how the rest of the boys were chosen to install the rest of the locks on the lockers.
The six men watched and talked about what the boys had accomplished over the past two days. Mr. Ken was all smiles that it only took the boys two days. He also thanked the carpenters for their fortuitous arrival the previous day.
Mr. Ken added that without them, he'd have probably made a few mistakes attaching the lockers to the wall and would probably never have thought to build a pressure-treated wood frame to put under the lockers to help prevent rust over time.
Mr. Ken had the boys put all of the collected trash into the construction dumpsters. When they were finished cleaning up the Pavilion and collecting the remaining nuts and bolts, Mr. Ken had them all come to the back of the Pavilion to admire their handiwork.
Mr. Wayne brought out his camera and a tripod and had the boys line up against the lockers so he could take their pictures. Mr. Ken had the carpenters join in the picture and, when Mr. Wayne was ready, he set the timer and quickly joined the group.
The Estate Master took three pictures that day to make sure no one was picking their nose, or scratching their ass, or even putting up the two fingers behind their friend's head when the picture was snapped. There was some time left in the day that the boys got the chance to use the old ramps.
Billy and his friends sat and talked, as they watched the other boys ride their skateboards. They talked about the locker build and how much fun it actually was. Kaden said he was doubtful about the whole thing, especially with them having to work with a bunch of young kids.
Kaden added that he was surprised that working with the younger boys was actually fun and they sort of looked up to him for direction. He told his friends he let the boys do most of the work because they were all so enthusiastic that they were doing something they never had done before, and that they were doing it for Mr. Ken.
"Billy," began Kaden, "I got the impression that the boys ... that they all looked up to Mr. Ken like he is, you know, some sort of pied piper. That's all they talked about as we put the lockers together. They couldn't say enough about what he'd done for them and had given them as a place to hang out and have fun.
"And, I still can't believe he pays for all those burgers and dogs, as the boys call them, and the sodas ... I forgot about all the sodas we drink. It has to be costing him a fortune every time the boys have a barbeque. I don't get it. What does he get out of doing all that to a bunch of kids he has, you know, no attachment to?"
The five other teens thought about what Kaden just said. Some of them also wondered what Mr. Ken got out of spending all that money on kids who weren't his own.
It was Billy who spoke up and answered what Kaden thought and said and brought it into perspective.
"Guys ... Mr. Ken ... he does all this because ... because he can! You know he has the money because you see it every time you come over here. I was told he never flaunted his money until ... well, until he gave us boys our own skate park.
"But ... but the main reason Mr. Wayne told me Mr. Ken does this for us is ... is he wants us foster kids ... he wants us, foster kids to enjoy things and have a life that we could never have had, now that we are in the foster care system," stated Billy.
"Is it that he is ... taking pity on you now ... now that you are away from ... from your parents?" asked Kaden.
"NO, no ... no nothing like that. It ... it is more to ... well, to make up for what our parents now can't do for us. He understands that kids in the system don't get the best of anything as many people take in foster kids just to make extra money from them. At least, that is what Mr. Wayne told me.
"I talked to Robert and Charles about the places they lived before coming to The Cove and their experience mimicked what happened to me in the foster homes I was in before coming here. We didn't get good food, or new clothes and we had to do extra chores around the house even though they had kids of their own who could have helped.
"I even acted up at my foster homes. I used to sleep in the nude and walk to the bathroom that way. The women were pissed I did that. I also used to argue with them. I had to show them I wasn't their slave.
"Geez, when I came here, I acted tough and I started arguing with Mr. Ken about some rules he hadn't even told me about. Boy did I ever screw the pooch by doing that. Mr. Ken, he got pissed ... then, he walked out of the room. Mr. Wayne stayed back and told me that I was making the biggest mistake of my life.
"Ms. Judy, she's my caseworker, she's the one who brought me over to The Cove. Oh, she's also the Director of Children's Protective Services, and she explained to me who Mr. Ken was. She told me about his contacts with the governor, the school board, the county commissioners, and the Sheriff.
"She told me that if I didn't apologize and, you know, make it sincere there was no need for me to unpack my meager things. So, I apologized and the rest is history. I am happier than I ever was in my life!
"Mr. Ken ... he's given me an opportunity that I would never have thought I would ever have. Look ... I get to live in this awesome house. He treats me as he does the other boys. No better; no worse. He supported me fully when I got into trouble. He hired a lawyer for me. Well, he actually has a lawyer on call for all of us boys, when we need someone who knows about the law.
"He's going to take me on a three-day trip with just the two of us. All I need to do is pick somewhere here in Texas to go to. Then, after school is out, he's taking us all to visit his four amusement parks. Then, there is the 4th of July Picnic
"Guys, I am not going to do anything that will cause me to have to leave this place. I don't have to be an 'A' student. All he wants me to do is my best and never give up. He also told me that if I ever fell behind, he'd hire a tutor to help me. Would your parents do that for you? And I'm ... I'm not even his 'son'!" Billy carried on.
Billy's friends heard the enthusiasm Billy had in his voice, as he told them about his coming to The Cove and what he felt was in store for him as he lived there. Some of them sort of envied him and what he could have in his future being so close to all that wealth.
When it was time for the boys to leave, they asked if they could lock their skateboards away in the new lockers. Mr. Ken told them that when they come over next weekend, they'll all read and understand the cipher lock instructions and they could start using them then. The boys thanked the man for telling them that as they exited The Cove.
Time had gotten away from the older teenagers and they never got the chance to ride the ramps, when someone said it was time to head up to the Main Gate and wait for their parents. The boys who rode their bikes took off home while the rest waited.
When the parents began to arrive the boys just had to tell them about their day and what they were allowed to do. Damian couldn't wait to tell his mom that he was picked to add the bottom plates to the lockers.
Gabe and Xavier listened on as Damian told his mom his story. The boy couldn't contain his enthusiasm and he talked so fast his mom made him slow down. Gabe had to finish telling their mom how Damian volunteered, like twelve other boys had, and was one of four picked to attach the bottom plate of the lockers.
Natalie and Jace, the boy's mom and dad, were proud of their boys. They went over and thanked Mr. Ken for allowing their sons to participate in such a worthwhile project. Other parents came over to the owner of The Cove and thanked him as well, for giving their sons a chance to not only help him, but give them a chance to look forward and share in an endeavor that had them working as a team, with boys of different ages.
Some of the parents wanted to see what the boys had been working on. But Mr. Ken told them it was getting late and he had six boys to get cleaned up and fed. He told them when they all come to the Memorial Day Picnic and the Grand Opening of the Cove Skate Park, they could see both projects.
The parents were disappointed they didn't get to see their boys' accomplishment, but their sons told them all about what they did and what they knew about the completed skate park and Pavilion so far. The boys then said they'd show them the pictures they had on their cell phones. The parents smiled at hearing that, then collected their boys and headed home to fix dinner.
Mr. Ken had his 'boys' get cleaned up to go out to dinner. Charles, the one who always asks to go somewhere different to eat, asked his dad if they could go to a different restaurant, even if it was fast food one. The other boys agreed with their 'brother'.
The Covers loaded into the van and they headed away from Four Corners. As they drove along, 'dad' Ken asked the boys to call out when they saw a restaurant they wanted to eat at. When they came across an Arby's the twins wanted to eat there.
Some of the other boys didn't, but Kevin and Kyle argued that Arby's had those great curly fries and different types of beef and other meat sandwiches. A vote was taken and then Mr. Ken pulled into that parking lot.
The Covers piled out of the van. Mr. Ken kiddingly asked Mr. Wayne if he was buying. The Estate Master said his boss gave him this great credit card that he could buy almost anything, so he thought he could afford a few fast food dinners. The boys who know what that was all about, laughed at the exchange.
"Robert," began Billy, "what was that all about? You know, about Mr. Wayne buying and his boss giving him a great credit card."
"Ohh, that, well, when Mr. Wayne began working for my dad, he was given a credit card that basically had no limits on it, to what he could buy. It was so he could pay for stuff when our dad wasn't around. When he first got it, my dad made him pay for just about everything.
"It was funny as Mr. Wayne had to pay for our dinners at Four Corners, when we went to the Go-Kart Track, at miniature golf, for ice cream and much more. Even when our dad was there, he'd say 'Mr. Wayne was buying'. It became a big joke between them. It's been a while since my dad made him use the credit card," finished Robert.
Billy smiled at what Robert just told him. The teenager was learning stuff every day he lived at Three Finger Cove, now The Cove, and he couldn't be happier. Sure, he felt it would be much better living with your own family, but he knew they chose the wrong path to follow and he wouldn't be living with his mom for a very long time.
After dinner, the Covers did stop at their favorite ice cream store. While they were there Charles asked his dad when his ice cream store would be opened. Dad Ken told the teen that he and Ed Henry, the man who manages the Four Corner Restaurant/Diner are ramrodding that endeavor and they hoped to have the equipment in place and opened by the 4th of July.
Matthew then asked if they'd be going there for their ice cream instead of DQ. 'Dad' Ken told them that he'd be foolish to not support his own store. Matthew, with a grin on his face, then asked, "Then why do you take us to IHOP, Denny's, and Arby's and here to DQ if you say you should support your own stores?"
Matthew knew what was coming, so he quickly got away from his 'dad' as the man reached for him. The other boys laughed at what they heard and saw.
"I'll get you for that you little stinker," called out a laughing Mr. Ken.
Billy laughed right along with his 'brothers' and inwardly told himself he had to do everything possible to not mess up and be sent away from the best place on earth to live. The teenager had been living at The Cove for not quite two months yet, but he knew a great thing when he saw it, and living at The Cove was a great thing, no doubt about it.
The Covers assembled in the Study, as they always did every evening, to talk about the day and the upcoming week. Matthew made it a point, to stay out of the reach of 'dad' Ken, but he knew the man would get his revenge sooner or later.
"Boys, I want to thank you for the tremendous job you and your friends did this weekend in building the lockers and attaching them to the Pavilion's back wall," started 'dad' Ken.
"But dad, if the carpenters hadn't shown up, like they did, we'd probably still be trying to attach them," broke in Robert.
"Yes, that is probably true. But, boys ... you all rallied together and did a great job as teams. When you see your friends tomorrow, make sure you tell them that I will always remember that they came through for me when I needed them the most," added 'dad' Ken.
"Dad, you heard them. They said it would have been all wrong not to help you when you asked them to. They all appreciate the things you've done for them, like the SeaWorld and Six Flags trips and the barbeques and everything else. And this was a way for them to sort of, you know, pay you back.
"And besides, we all had fun doing that. I just wish I'd been living here when Robert was, and then I could have helped build the ramps, too," lamented Charles.
Then Robert spoke up. "Dad ... our friends, they appreciate that you let us be together and aren't always checking on us. You let us run throughout the house to put the barbeques together, and then burn the burgers and dogs without watching over us. And sure, you have the lifeguards for us when we swim inside and out, but you aren't there supervising that we don't do anything wrong.
"Dad ... all of our friends tell us time and time again that they never had that freedom at home, and it wasn't until they started coming here and showed that they can be trusted that some of them now have more freedom at home. Some even get to cook at home using their outdoor grill.
"Dad, they all attribute it to you! You gave them the opportunity to do things and be trusted, and that showed their parents that if you believed in them then they should give them a chance too," finished Robert.
"Yea, dad!" spoke up Charles.
"Yea, we agree," chimed in the twins, as Matthew nodded his head. Billy was noncommittal.
Mr. Ken didn't know what to say. He sat there thinking through what his sons just told him. All he could do was thank his lucky stars his 'boys' had picked such great friends.
Moving along, Mr. Ken said, "OK, where were we?"
The owner of The Cove reviewed who had Doctor Doug's appointments that week and who had dental appointments as well. Then he remembered that beginning Wednesday four of the boys needed to be at the courthouse at 9 a.m. sharp. He told Wayne they probably needed to move Matthew or Billy into Wednesday's slot just in case and be prepared for a change for Thursday and Friday, as well.
The Covers discussed the Memorial Day Picnic that included the Grand Opening of the Cove Skate Park. Mr. Ken told the boys he wanted to have a big ribbon-cutting ceremony at the start of the day. He also told the boys to remind their friends that their families should bring folding chairs to sit on as all there were only the picnic table benches. He did say that all there would be were hard seats and the women might want something softer.
Dad Ken then addressed Robert and told him he and Eric had to plan to cut and trim the field next weekend and make sure they did it very well. The man reminded his son that this is the first time many of the parents will have been inside the estate grounds since Easter, and he wanted the place to look pristine. Robert understood the reference.
Matthew then asked if their trip to the amusement parks was still on after school let out. Mr. Ken then reminded the boys, that as soon as school was over, the sailing lessons would begin the very next day and continue on for two hours a day for six days.
'Dad' Ken told them that during that time, they would gather their clothes for their ten-day trip and the day before they head out, they will pack their suitcases. He then told Bill he should be looking at where he wanted to take his 3-day trip and he wanted to try to take it before the 4th of July if possible. Billy smiled and said he'd talk with his 'brothers' and have one planned by the time school was over.
"Boys, there are only two and a half weeks left of school. You'll have your final exams and the STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) tests to take and before you know it, your summer vacation will be here. We have almost the first three weeks planned and I am sure there will be more to do as the summer moves along. Does anyone have any questions or anything to add?" finished 'dad' Ken.
Kyle raised his hand. When 'dad' Ken asked him what he wanted to say the younger twin asked when they could plan a big sleepover. His 'brothers' all thought that was a great question. All 'dad' Ken could say was it couldn't be until after they returned from their trip.
Billy then asked if that included all of his friends, too. Mr. Ken smiled and said, "Yes."
Billy thanked his foster dad and asked if he could tell his friends. All Mr. Ken could tell the teenager was that no date had been set, but that there would be a big sleepover sometime after they returned from their ten-day trip and that it would probably include an outdoor movie.
All the boys cheered upon hearing about the outdoor movie.
Mr. Ken sent the boys up to their rooms to get ready for bed as they all had school in the morning. He told them he and Mr. Wayne would be up soon to say goodnight.
All the Covers slept very well that Sunday night.
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