The boys back at The Cove were enjoying the last day of their three-day Holiday. They tried to do some of the tricks Mr. Wayne had shown them, but they just couldn't get them down right. Some of the lads asked Robert to go inside and ask Mr. Wayne to come back out, but Robert said the man was busy doing his laundry, and he told them he'd be out when he had the chance. The boys all moaned and groaned, but they knew they would just have to wait for the man to come back outside.
Charles then asked who wanted to go swimming. Most of the lads put their hands up so the pre-teen Cover lad told them to put up their skateboards and follow him. All of Charles friends, and a few of Robert's, followed him to the Patio and the back entrance to the indoor pool. There all the lads got into their swimsuits and jumped into the pool. Some of them asked Charles if they could take their suits off, but Charles said they shouldn't because Mr. Wayne might not like them doing that. Some more groans were heard, but after a few minutes, it was all forgotten.
Mr. Wayne did go outside to the ramps and was surprised there were so few lads using them. He asked Robert where the other were and when he learned they were inside swimming, the man said that's where he was going to go. The rest of the boys looked back and forth at one another and soon they were following right behind him.
Of Course, Mr. Wayne went up to his en-suite to change into his swimsuit, while the teens went to the Men's Locker Room and changed into theirs. Mr. Ken's stand-in adult arrived at the pool just as the older teens got into the water. He asked them what they had in mind and the fun and play was about to begin.
Down at BAMC, Joel Carrier introduced Jose Cortez to the twins and explained what he wanted the older twin to do. The detective placed a few picture books on the coffee table and asked Kevin to slowly look through them and point out any of the boys he knows from the Sunday meetings. Kevin methodically looked through the books and when he thought he recognized a boy he asked for a piece of paper to mark the page so he could go back and take another look.
Kyle was watching his brother look through the books, but he only saw the pictures upside down. So, the younger twin went behind his brother and look over his shoulder. As Kevin looked through the three books he had marked a few of the pictures, so he could go back and make sure he knew the boys. Kyle was surprised that one of the books had pictures of the kids they used to go to school with. Kevin never marked any of those pages.
"OK, that last book, it was pictures of all the kids we used to go to school with, and I know none for them were ever at our Sunday get-togethers," offered Kevin. "The other two books had some pictures I thought I recognized and didn't want to spend too much time staring at them. Now that I have seen all the rest, I want to go back and look at them again."
Detective Cortez brought back the first book with three pieces of paper stuck at the pages where Kevin thought he recognized some of the boys. Kevin look at the pages one more time and when he was finished, he said he recognized two of the three boys.
Kevin then took the other book with pages marked and looked at the five pictures he thought that looked familiar. Of the five pictures he had initially wanted to look back at, he identified three of the boys' pictures as being at the places they met on Sunday.
Joel Carrier and Jose Cortez had great big smiles on their faces when Kevin finished identifying five boys they could now talk to and try to put some pressure on them for information. Detective Carrier thanked Kevin for taking the time to sort through all those pictures and show them five faces of interest they could now go to and talk with. They all shook hands and then Kevin asked about his dad.
"Kevin, I'll be honest with you and your brother. Your dad is in big trouble. I haven't arrested him, as of yet, but as I explained to your Mr. Ken here, as I build my case with more and more material that points to him and his accomplices I will arrest him. It is just a matter of time."
"What about our mom?" Kyle asked.
"Kyle, now that you and your twin are finished talking to her, Jose and I are going to go in and talk to her. This will be the first time I am doing this, but now that I have more evidence it is time to find out what she knows. I do not have any evidence she was involved, but … if she is she will also be arrested," stated Joel Carrier.
Upon hearing that Kevin immediately ran to 'Dad Ken' and hugged him and began to cry. Kyle wasn't too far behind his twin, and he too hugged the man and cried, as well.
Mr. Ken looked to the men and just shook his head and mouthed to Joel to call him later whether it was good or bad news. Joel said he would and the two detectives left the lounge and headed to the nurses' station to get dressed in the infection control garb.
It took Mr. Ken almost five minutes to get the twins settled down. They then sat on the couch and talked about what Detective Carrier just told them. Once the twins said they understood what 'Dad Ken' was telling them, they all headed to the restroom before they started their long trip back to The Cove.
Mr. Wayne was the unknown to most of the lads when it came to swimming. Most of the boys hadn't been around Mr. Wayne, so they were a bit more reserved with the man. But that didn't stop Robert and Charles from having fun with their authority figure. Even Eric got into some of the antics the other three were doing. Then, before long the rest of the boys saw that Mr. Wayne was a lot like Mr. Ken who would play around with them as they swam. Soon, they were playing many of the water games they usually got involved in.
It was 4 o'clock when the lads realized they hadn't cooked yet. Chuck asked Robert if he could get the grill started while the rest of the lads got all the stuff out. Then hearing the grill was going to be warmed up, the rest of the boys all said they were hungry. Charles quickly asked Mr. Wayne what he wanted to eat and soon the boys were changing back into their street clothes and getting all the barbeque fixings out and the tables set up.
Mr. Ken told the twins he wanted to get away from San Antonio before they stopped to eat. The boys said they were okay with that. As the three drove along, Kevin and Kyle told 'Dad Ken' about how their mom reacted when they told her they called Robert and Charles their 'brother'. The man had a good laugh at the boys telling him their mom wanted to talk to him and tell him what she thought about that.
The twins then told him how their mom reacted to their telling her he and Robert had to go to court. After that story was told Mr. Ken had another good laugh. Those stories lightened the mood in the truck as they traveled back toward The Cove. When they were about an hour's drive outside of San Antonio, Mr. Ken asked the boys to pick out the place they wanted to eat.
The boys spied a sign with a super large brown hat and asked what that was. Mr. Ken told them that was an Arby's and they had roast beef sandwiches. The boy's liked the sound of that so Mr. Ken pulled into the parking lot. The twins were surprised at the French fries Arby's offered. They told 'Dad Ken' they never saw anything like them and wanted to try them. The three Covers all wound up getting a regular Arby's roast beef sandwich with curly fries and a drink.
At the table, the twins opened their sandwich and saw there wasn't anything on it, like ketchup or mayo or mustard. 'Dad Ken' explained those items were on the serve yourself counter so he took them over to it. He showed them the different sauces they could use to make their sandwich taste better, but that there was also ketchup for them to use.
The twins next asked what those little cups were used for. Mr. Ken, instead of telling them, took one and filled it up with one sauce. He handed it to Kevin and then got another cup and filled it with a different sauce and handed it to Kyle. After they had three of each and three of ketchup the three Covers went back to their table and Mr. Ken told the boys to try a little on a corner of their sandwich.
The boys liked the zing the Arby's sauce gave the roast beef. The lads also liked the way the curly fries had a nice lite spice to them, as well. The three Covers had a good, late lunch before heading back towards The Cove.
Mr. Wayne joined the boys out on the Patio after he changed back into his own street clothes. He watched the boys cooking and noticed they didn't joke around with anyone and were seriously watching that the burgers didn't burn. He also noticed how the boys sat in groups and weren't overly loud or complaining the food wasn't ready.
When the burgers and dogs were done, Chuck called Mr. Wayne over first to get his hamburger and hot dog. Then, while the man was fixing his food, the rest of the lads got in line and got the items they requested and followed right behind Mr. Wayne to fix out their burgers and/or dogs.
Neither Robert nor Charles sat with Mr. Wayne. They'd been around him enough so they decided to let the other guys sit with him and get to know him.
Mr. Wayne was surprised at how many of the boys wanted to sit and talk to him. There were even some boys who stood right alongside the table so they could hear what he had to say. That whole experience gave Wayne Mitchell more confidence that he could stand-in for Ken when he needed him. Wayne also figured having a few more Hamilton's in his wallet wouldn't be bad either.
When the group feed was over, the boys put everything away and cleaned up after themselves. The boys then asked Mr. Wayne to go out to the ramps and show them some tricks they could learn. The man smiled at the request and told them he'd be right out, that he had to check the dryer.
Mr. Ken engaged the twins in conversation on the way back. He asked them what they were expecting when they went out Trick-Or-Treating. The boys told him they hoped to get lots of candy. Then Mr. Ken asked them what they were going to do with it all. That perplexed the boys so they asked him why he would ask that. 'Dad Ken' told them Momma Maria was buying lots of candy for him to give away that night and what was left over they could have. He then explained that when they brought back all the candy they went out begging for they'll have way too much.
The twins saw the smile in 'Dad Ken's' face, so they knew he was teasing them. They then did their 'twin talk' and when they finished, Kyle told 'Dad Ken' that he could just keep what he doesn't give away for next year and save some money. The twins then laughed out loud over that. Mr. Ken then realized the twins were catching on to him, so he laughed right along with the boys.
Mr. Wayne was the star of the afternoon out on the ramps. The boys all applauded him when he did something they couldn't. They also asked him to show them how to do some of the things he did. Mr. Wayne took some time to show the boys the basics and then how to layer on the added embellishments. Logan was the first to get most of what Mr. Wayne showed them. The man told the teenager he needed to continue to hone that trick and then add to it as he got better.
The lads and Mr. Wayne were riding the ramps when the traveling Covers returned from San Antonio.
"Well, I see they have lassoed you into riding with them Wayne," teased Mr. Ken.
"Yeah, Mr. Ken, he's good. He's even showed us how to do some of the things he can do," chimed in Tyler.
The twins hurried into the house and up to their bedrooms so they could change into after school clothes and join everyone out at the ramps. Mr. Ken asked Mr. Wayne to go inside with him, so they could talk about Wayne's day.
When the twins returned outside, Sam and Terran asked them about their mom and dad. The twins looked at one another and then they began telling how their parents got mad at them for calling Robert and Charles their 'brothers'. Then, they told their friends how their mom got upset when they told her that Mr. Ken and Robert had to go to court.
The twins made it sound like their world was ending because their parents didn't understand, but then they told everyone how they were able to explain to them why they called Robert and Charles their 'brother'. They finished telling their story by explaining why Mr. Ken and Robert had to go to court to fight the lawsuit Ms. Johnston brought against her former employer, and that Robert was suing her for attacking her and causing him bodily harm.
The lads all laughed at how easily parents can take the wrong words and make a big deal out of it. The boy's friends were all happy the twins got it all straightened out. The twins were happy they didn't have to tell the truth.
Soon it was time for the lads to go home. Some of their cell phones began to ring and when they answered them they learned it was their parents waiting up at the Main Gate. All the boys knew that was the sign they all better be making their way up to the top of the slight rise, so they all walked up to the gate and waited until everyone either was picked up by a parent or they rode their bike home.
All the Covers had eaten a very late lunch, so Mr. Ken didn't think they'd want to go out for dinner, but he was wrong. When Mr. Ken mentioned dinner, the twins told him their mom said she could see they were growing and that a growing boy needs food to do that. Again, Mr. Ken was caught off guard by the twins. He told everyone to wash their hands, up to their elbows, and they'd head over to Four Corners Diner to eat. The owner of The Cove invited Wayne to join them. Wayne said he would, but he had to get all his clothes into his car first. The lads all helped carry something to his vehicle.
At dinner, they all talked about their day. The twins talked about seeing their mom and retold the story about the 'brother' comment and the trial. Mr. Wayne told how he saw his day and how he enjoyed being there and actually getting something done while he had fun with the boys riding their skateboard and swimming. It was then Mr. Ken asked Wayne if he needed him to buy a new skateboard for the new stand-in parent. Everyone had a good laugh at that but then Wayne said, that he wouldn't mind having a good board to ride when he was here. That elicited another round of laughs.
It was still early when the Covers got back to The Cove. Mr. Ken could see the twins were beginning to drag, so he asked them to consider going to bed early that night. 'Dad Ken' replayed their long weekend to them as how it didn't give them a chance to get caught up on their sleep with an early rise on both Saturday and Monday. Kyle said he was tired and would go up and read some and maybe fall asleep. Kevin thought about it for a few seconds and then joined his brother on the stairs leading to the upstairs bedrooms.
It was while the twins' had gone upstairs that Joel Carrier called to talk to Mr. Ken. The detective told Mr. Ken that Vivian Parchsons readily answered their questions at first, but when they told her why they were there to talk to her she began to be evasive at their questions and wouldn't give them a direct answer on many things. Joel Carrier told Mr. Ken they were now going to start a full investigation on the woman. The detective told Mr. Ken that he would appreciate a call before he took the twins back down to see their parents. Mr. Ken told the detective he understood and would abode by his request.
Robert and Charles had come to the Study to talk to their 'dad' and overheard some of the conversations Mr. Ken had with the detective, so their 'dad told them to have a seat. Mr. Ken filled them in on what transpired at the hospital and that the twin's mom was now going to be investigated, also. 'Dad' Ken also told the older Cover lads how Kevin picked out 5 lads, from different school yearbooks, that he said were at the Sunday meetings.
Hearing that shocked the lads some, but it was Robert who asked if the Parchsons had been arrested yet. Mr. Ken told the boys that with the younger boys being identified, the detectives would now focus on them to get more information on the other men and that Joel had told him he hoped to wrap it all up in two more weeks.
Robert then told his 'dad' he showed Eric his Halloween Costume and then he asked if Eric could go with them when they went out 'begging' for candy. Mr. Ken laughed and said he didn't have a problem with that, but they needed to clear that with Ms. Judy.
Charles then asked if Eric was going to spend the night and, if so, when did he get the chance to have one of his friends spend the night. He went on to say he asked about it yesterday, but that it got nixed. Charles went on to complain that he hasn't had the opportunity to have a simple sleepover without a thousand other kids having to be invited. The pre-teen became distraught over what he just said that he ran out of the Study.
Robert looked to his 'dad' and asked what that was all about. Mr. Ken told the teen that Charles had asked twice, now, if he could have one of his friends spend the night and he wasn't allowed to, but that Robert not only had Eric stay there, but he stayed with Eric. Robert said he understood what was happening but, in his defense, said he hadn't anything to do with Charles and his friends staying over and that Charles had all his friends spend the night just recently when he had his friends stay over.
Mr. Ken told Robert that the teen really didn't understand what Charles was saying. 'Dad' Ken told the teenager that Charles wanted his own choice of friends staying with him in his room and not in the Great Room with a load of other kids. 'Dad' Ken told Robert that Charles hasn't had any of his friends spend the night, other than at a mass sleep-in, ever since he had his surgery, almost two months ago.
Robert then asked if that would keep Eric from spending the night at Halloween. Mr. Ken said he didn't think it would, but that he as the 'dad' needed to make this up to Charles. Mr. Ken further explained to the teen that he's been spread pretty thin with him and the twins and that Charles is like the middle 'brother' who gets lost in the shuffle. "Dad' Ken further explained to the teen that it was up to him to make it right for his pre-teen 'brother'.
Robert didn't know what to say. This was the first time that he saw that having so many boys in the house could cause problems for everyone. He wanted to know what he could do, but he knew he wasn't the one who told Charles he couldn't have a buddy spend the night, but he also knew that he hadn't had that opportunity that often either. What the teen did recognize was that his 'dad' wanted to be fair, like when he took them on different trips.
Before he left the Study to go up to bed, Robert told his 'dad' that there was an open weekend coming up and that Charles could invite one of his friends to spend that night and then the following weekend when Eric does. 'Dad' Ken said he'd think about it and then said goodnight to the teen. Robert started out of the Study, but before he did he ran back to his 'dad', hugged him and thanked him for trying to be fair with all of them. The two smiled and the teen headed up to his room.
Robert stopped at Charles' room. He asked if he could come in. But Charles wasn't in a very receptive mood right then. Robert stood in the doorway and told his 'brother' he was sorry he hadn't had one of his friends spend the night as of late. The teen then told Charles that he and their 'dad' had talked about his not having a buddy spend the night. Robert further told Charles that there were two weekends coming up that he could invite a friend to stay over and that if he wanted to, he could have his friend go Trick-Or-Treating with them.
That last part got Charles' attention, so he asked if six kids going together would be too many. Robert said he'd have to think about it, but that if they worked it right that they could manage it. Charles thanked his 'brother' for stopping by and talking to him. Robert said he wanted to try to be fair and that until he talked to their 'dad' that he had no idea what his 'brother' was going through.
Mr. Ken got to thinking about what he and Robert were talking about, so he headed up to Charles' room to talk to the lad. When he rounded the corner he saw Robert leaving the pre-teens room and wondered if they had talked and, if so, what about.
"Charles … can I come in 'son'?" asked 'dad' Ken.
Charles motioned his 'dad into his room and then apologized for acting the way he did down in the Study. 'Dad' Ken told the lad he came up there to apologize to him for not thinking about him and his needs no matter how small they may seem. The two smiled at one another and then they hugged.
"Charles … I must admit that I've been swamped by the twins needs and, with the trial and all with Robert, you sort of got lost along the way. They always say the middle child doesn't get noticed and I'm afraid that's what's happened to you. I didn't mean for it to happen, it just did. Robert … well, he mentioned there is this coming weekend and Halloween weekend that you should be able to invite a buddy or two over," summarized 'dad' Ken.
"Yeah, he was just in here, well, he was actually standing in the doorway, because I wouldn't let him come in I was still so mad. I guess I need to apologize to him for doing that but, 'dad', I think what you just told me about the middle son has to be true because that's how I feel; left out. I know it isn't your fault the twins need lots of attention right now. When I look back, I can see all the attention you devoted to me during those first few weeks I was here, too. I guess I need to be quicker on the draw when I want something, like a sleepover," smiled Charles.
"Charles, I want you to plan a sleepover for this coming weekend and the next one, too. But you need to ask your friend if he is going out with you guys 'begging' for candy. If he is he'll need to be dressed up in some way," said 'dad' Ken.
"OK, 'dad', Robert suggested that we could all go out, but work out the problems if all six of us go to the same house at the same time," offered Charles.
"OK, let's sleep on it and talk about it after school tomorrow. OK?" replied 'dad' Ken.
"Ok, 'dad'," said a smiling Charles. The two then hugged.
At school that Tuesday, the big talk on campus was about the 37 lads who went to SeaWorld over the weekend. The boys told their fellow students all about their SeaWorld Trip, as they began to call it. Each lad, depending on their grade, told about the rides they rode, but the kids wanted to hear about the haunted areas. The SeaWorld lads didn't disappoint them.
During lunch, Charles talked to his friends and told them Mr. Ken bought him a Halloween costume and he wondered how many of them were going out 'begging' for candy. The guys had another laugh about Mr. Ken calling Trick-Or-Treating 'begging' for candy. Charles told his friends he was going out Trick-Or-Treating with Robert and the twins because he didn't ever get the chance all that much and this might be the last year he got the chance.
Just before the lunch period ended, David approached Charles and told him he wanted to go out Trick-Or-Treating, but wasn't sure if his parents would let him. Charles told him if he was allowed he could spend the night next weekend and go out with him and his 'brothers'. David said he'd work on his parents and let him know, but he especially liked the idea of spending the night, too. The two laughed as the first after lunch bell rang.
Down at the Brooke Army Medical Center, Vivian and Parker Parchsons had a lively discussion over their room phones. Vivian was caught off guard, the previous day, with the arrival of Detectives Carrier and Cortez and their asking her questions about her husband's extracurricular activities with his son. She waited until Tuesday to talk to her husband as she wanted to calm down and think things through. She called him right after lunch to make sure he was up and could talk.
Vivian knew that her husband and Kevin went off most Sundays and it was from those long excursions Parker produced a good salary, she thought. Parker said he would meet up with men he knew and they'd bet on things, like sporting events, and they also played cards and he told her he was unusually lucky. She had no reason not to believe him, but she had a deep down feeling that something wasn't right because Parker never took Kyle with him.
Now that she was told what the authorities believed he was doing she wanted nothing to do with the man. During their room-to-room phone call, she yelled at him for doing such unspeakable things with her son and she told him that when they got out of there, she would see to it that he never saw the twins again. Parker tried to reason with her by telling her she enjoyed all those extra riches and would be charged along with him unless they could get the twins away from their foster dad's influence. Parker never mentioned his involvement with Robert to his wife.
Vivian wasn't hearing any of that and told her husband that she knew nothing of where he got his salary and would tell the authorities when they returned later in the week. She also told Parker that she would talk to the nurses and ask them to get the legal people in to see her as soon as they could get there. Parker told his wife that he'd already talked to them and had set things in motion to get the boys back with him when they got out of there. Upon hearing that Vivian got thoroughly pissed and slammed the phone receiver down onto the cradle. The woman then cried, hard.
As soon as Vivian had hung up the phone, Parker called his friend Julian and asked him to come to his room when he got the chance, but hopefully that evening. He gave the man a shortened version of his phone call with his wife and added they needed to do something about Vivian too. Julian agreed to be there after dinner.
After school the boys went directly to Momma Maria for their after-school snack. She had it ready and waiting for the boys when they returned from school. They enjoyed pumpkin bread, pumpkin iced cookies and pumpkin cupcakes with orange icing and topped with black sugar sprinkles. When they finished their snacks, all four lads hugged Momma Maria and thanked her for making such a great snack. Then they went to the Study to talk with their 'dad'.
"Good afternoon boys," offered Mr. Ken, as the boys approached his Study.
"How'd you know it was us?" asked Kevin.
"Well, you're the only boys who live here and besides you always come to my Study about this time of day during school," replied a smiling 'dad' Ken.
The four boys entered the Study smiling at what Mr. Ken said and they all sat down.
"'Dad', how many friends can I have spend the night this weekend? And, do I ask them over for Friday night, or a Saturday, or both?" asked a smiling Charles.
Mr. Ken smiled back and asked him how many did he want to ask over. Charles thought about it for a few moments and said he'd like to ask two over each night, then he laughed.
"'Dad Ken', can we have someone spend the night, too?" asked Kevin.
Mr. Ken looked to Robert and asked him if he was wanting to invite one or two of his friends over Friday and/or Saturday night, too. Robert smiled back and told him he'd like to do that, too, but wondered if this weekend and next was Charles' treat to have just his friends over.
'Dad' Ken pondered that for a few moments and then asked Charles if he minded if his 'brothers' also had a few friends spend the night, as well. Charles said he didn't mind as long as there weren't going to be 20 or 30 kids. The twins wondered what that was all about and Robert could see them talking back and forth. The teenager then spoke up and told them that Charles hasn't had anyone stay over since right after his surgery, so 'dad' was making it up to him.
"So, 'Dad Ken', if Charles gets to invite a friend or two, you know, to spend the night, ahh, do WE get to ask a friend, or two, to stay as well?" asked Kyle.
Mr. Ken looked to Charles for confirmation of what he said a minute or so ago and getting a positive nod the man said that's what it meant. Mr. Ken then asked all four boys who they thought they might want to ask over. He further explained the boys' parents might want to make sure the invitation was real and being it was a Tuesday he wanted to know by Thursday after school who was staying over Friday and Saturday night.
Hearing they could ask a friend to spend the night both Friday and Saturday night put a big smile on all four lads. Charles spoke right up and said he wanted to at least ask Richard to spend the night and probably Cooper, as well. Charles then told his 'dad' that he invited David to spend the next Saturday night and to go Trick-Or-Treating with him and his 'brothers', if his parents will allow him to go. Charles said David told him he wasn't sure if he could, but would let him know as soon as he can.
Robert spoke up and told his 'dad' he'd want to ask Eric over at least for one night, but then he might want to ask Logan over for the other night. That surprised Mr. Ken, and Charles as well, because they both knew that Robert and Eric were as thick as thieves and usually spent most of their time together.
"'Dad', do we have to tell you now who we want to ask over?" inquired Kyle. "I mean, Sam and Terran have spent the night many times before, and it would be nice to have them spend the night, again, but I know I'd like to ask one of our new friends who haven't had that many chances to stay over," Kyle qualified himself. Kevin then spoke up and said he agreed with his twin.
"Boys, no you don't have to tell me who you want to spend the night right this minutes, but I need to know by Thursday after school. So, that gives you tomorrow and Thursday to ask your friends and get an answer back to you if they can spend the night. Remember, you are asking one person each for each night, even though Charles can ask two boys over each night.
Charles heard his 'dad' say he could have two friends over each night, but he thought one each night would be enough, so he spoke up and told his 'dad' that. He told Mr. Ken that 'two's company; three's a crowd' and he didn't want anyone to feel like they were a third wheel.
After they had that short conversation, and before Mr. Ken sent all four lads up to their rooms to start their homework, 'Dad Ken' reminded the twins that Doctor Doug would be there soon to talk with one of them before dinner and one afterward. Mr. Ken went back to working on some plans he was thinking through for his amusement parks. Then he decided to make a phone call.
Up in their shared room, Kevin asked Kyle who he would want to invite over for each weekend night. Kyle thought about it for a bit and then said he wasn't sure. He told his twin that it really depended on whether or not their parents would allow them. Kevin said that was why he asked because they needed to ask them tomorrow, so they'd know Thursday in order to tell 'Dad Ken'. Kyle said he agreed, but wanted to work on his homework and they could talk about it after dinner. Each twin then started on their assignments.
When Doctor Doug arrived around 5, he asked Mr. Ken if he could talk to Kevin first. Mr. Ken called Robert's cell phone and asked him to go to the twin's bedroom and have Kevin come downstairs. When Kevin arrived he and Doctor Doug walked down to the Theater to talk as Mr. Ken was working on something important and needed his desk.
At dinner, Mr. Ken told Momma Maria that each lad would be inviting one friend over Friday and Saturday night. He told her that so she could make some night time snacks for the lad's before she left on Friday. The woman thanked her boss for that heads-up. As that went on, Doctor Doug sat back and watched the 'family' interaction as it intrigued him as how these five unrelated people acted like they were related and treated one another as 'family'.
After dinner, the Covers all met in Mr. Ken's Study. The twins said they were going to think about who they wanted to invite, so they could do it tomorrow at school and get their reply Thursday. But Doctor Doug told Kyle it was his turn for them to talk, so they walked down to the Theater and did their session there, just as Kevin had earlier. The remaining Cover lads went back to their rooms to finish any remaining homework.
After Doctor Doug left for the evening, the Covers all gathered back in the Study. Kevin and Kyle then talked about inviting their friends while they were at school tomorrow, so they could get a reply by Thursday at school. Robert then suggested they could also have their parents call The Cove and talk with Mr. Ken to tell him if they could or could not, especially if their parents want to confirm the invite. The twins smiled at that suggestion and said they'd' be back in a few minutes after they talked about who they were going to invite. Robert and Charles followed behind.
About twenty minutes later the twins came down to the Study and told 'Dad Ken' they wanted to invite Landon and Isaac for Friday night and Blake and Grant on Saturday. 'Dad Ken' thanked the boys for making up their minds so quickly, and then he told them to have their friends' parents call The Cove, if they are going to be able to accept the invitation. The twins said they would.
After the twins left the Study, Robert and Charles came into the room and told their 'dad' they each were going to invite Eric and Richard on Friday night and Logan and Cooper for Saturday night. Charles also reminded his 'dad' he invited David to spend next Saturday night and to go out 'begging' for candy with him and his brothers.
All five Covers slept very well that night. Even Chief had a good night's rest without waking up once. But just like most school nights when the alarm went off the next morning the twins felt like they had just gone to bed.
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