The Covers returned home around 8 p.m. Chief was waiting for them and jumped up all over them as they walked into the Kitchen Nook. Each Cover scratched behind the resident dog's ears and some even scratched her rump. Chief's tail wagged back and forth as the Covers paid all that attention to her. She was disappointed none of them had her favorite treat for her that night.
The Covers all used the facilities before heading to the Study to talk about their day. As they entered the large Study, they took their regular seats. Charles thought he'd be funny and asked if he shouldn't get a better seat now that he was thirteen. The boys answered in unison and they all said "Nooooo!" Then they all laughed, including Mr. Ken.
"Boys, did we all have fun today?" asked a smiling 'dad' Ken.
Each of the boys told their 'dad' what they thought about their day. Some loved that they got to go to a movie and eat at another different restaurant. Some liked all of that and they added they enjoyed looking at the new clothes that they might get later, as school let out for the year.
Billy was the lone holdout. Mr. Ken noticed he hadn't said anything and he noticed a worried look on the oldest Cover teen. The man ignored it. He decided he'd pull him aside unless one of the boys asked him about his day. Then, he figured he play that by ear.
Mr. Ken reminded his 'boys' about staying at the hotel next Friday night, and they needed to tell their friends not to come to The Cove next Saturday, until they heard from them. He also told them to make sure they each had some nice school clothes to wear to the ribbon cutting.
It was then Mr. Ken noticed the light blinking on his answering machine and he decided to listen to it with the boys there. When they all listened, they heard an Assistant District Attorney asking where they were. The man said he wanted to start getting the twins ready to testify at the trial against the men who tried to kidnap them and was told the weekends were the best time.
The twins asked if that phone call concerned them. 'Dad' Ken told them it did and their 'brothers' and friends, who were out with the Trick-or-Treating with them. The twin's 'dad' told them he would try to get the trial delayed until they were out of school.
Hearing about the trial being held after the end of school, made Matthew ask if that would delay their trip to visit his amusement parks. 'Dad' Ken told him that it might. The man then explained that DA Morris was trying to get the men to take a plea bargain, since two of the men had turned 'state's evidence' against them, and would be testifying against them all.
The twins' two older 'brothers' knew what having to go to trial was all about. They both knew they had to help Kevin and Kyle get ready for the trail no matter what. They just had to figure out how they could do that.
"Robert, Charles, Kevin and Kyle, be prepared to have a visit from the District Attorney's office tomorrow. They may want to start preparing you, or they might just want to tell you about what to expect. Then they will set up dates to return to prepare you to testify. Robert and Charles have done this already, so they might be able to help," advised 'dad' Ken.
"And, I've been to trials, too," spoke up Billy. "I had to talk to lots of lawyers and testify at my moms' trial. The DA will want to make sure you can tell what happened, without being scared. If you show you don't know what you're talking about, or can't remember the details of their attack the men could get off."
"Thank you, Bill, for speaking up and telling the twins what to expect," said Mr. Ken. "You four might want to sit down and talk about that night and refresh your memories. Then say it out loud to one another to practice what you want to say. You'll be surprised how much you'll stumble saying it out loud what you want too, verses saying it in your mind. You'll see."
Mr. Ken then asked his two sons what progress they had made in finding lockers, bike racks and trash cans for the skate park. The two teens looked to one another and by their looks their dad knew they hadn't done anything. Their dad asked them to take a few minutes tonight or tomorrow morning, find what they liked and to talk to Mr. Wayne when they see him.
"Oh, one last item to remind you about. Bill, Charles and Matthew, two weeks from today ... you'll be scheduled to attend the Texas Boater Safety Course. Boys, find out which friends of yours want to go, as well, and tell them you'll give them the address of the training course on Tuesday. The sooner they know when the course is the better chance, they can make their own reservations and attend with you.
"Now, is there anything else we need to discuss before you head up to your rooms to read, relax, watch TV, or even check the internet for lockers, bike racks and trash cans," laughed 'dad' Ken.
The boys laughed and then they all headed up to their rooms. Mr. Ken was going to hold Bill back, but he knew if he did the other boys would want to listen in, too. So, he decided he'd wait about ten minutes and walk up to Bill's room and talk to him there.
"Knock, knock, knock," said Mr. Ken, as he knocked on Bill's door frame
"Oh, hi, Mr. Ken, come in," offered Billy.
Mr. Ken sat on the empty bed and looked over at Billy. "Bill ... I noticed that ... that you didn't say much when we talked about our day, earlier. As a matter-of-fact, I noticed ... I noticed a worried look on your face that told me that ... well, that there was something wrong. Care to tell me about it?"
Bill didn't know what to say. He knew he needed to be upfront about his friends and if they ever came over to The Cove then he would be violating Mr. Ken's edict about drug users. He was troubled over it all as he used to smoke pot with them. He just didn't know how to say it.
"Bill ... I see the wheels turning in your mind. I take it ... I take it that you just don't know how to tell me. So ... so, why don't you just start from the beginning? Tell me about your friends and ... and what it was about them that caused you to flinch when you first met them earlier," counseled Mr. Ken.
Billy sat there looking at Mr. Ken, not knowing what to say. He was confused. Other adults just yelled and demanded answers. But here was his new foster dad, Mr. Ken, acting contrary to what he knew about adults and how they usually acted.
He thought back to when he first arrived at The Cove. He remembered how the man treated him and never yelled at him or his 'brothers'. Billy knew the man was a special person and he needed to trust him.
"Ahhh, Mr. Ken ... I, ahhh, I wasn't happy to see Austin, Anthony, and Micah. I've used drugs, as you figured I had, and it was with them that I smoked pot. They asked about being invited over to the Cove, but ... well, I know they've used drugs and probably still do. I was thinking of how I could avoid, you know, that awkward question of them being invited over here, when they talk to me on the phone.
"Mr. Ken, what do I do? How do I handle it?" asked the worried foster son.
Mr. Ken thought about the question for a few moments. Then he answered. "Bill ... what you do is to be upfront, open, and best of all ... honest with your friends. Don't beat around the bush with them. Tell them straight out about my rules and directives about drugs, and since you know they were big users, and probably still are, tell them you can't invite them here."
"But ... but what if they decide to tell everyone about me and that ... and that I was a drug user and my mom and step-dad were ... were dealers. How do I handle that?" asked Billy.
"Bill, I knew about you before I decided to foster you. I also knew about your mom and stepdad. As far as I am concerned, you are a changed teenager. Let them bring up the past. I can bury them in minutia and they will be known to the whole world.
"Let them see if they, and their families, can survive that sort of personal scrutiny. Bill ... you are now a Cover ... and I protect those who live and work here and whom I love," revealed Mr. Ken.
"You ... you would do that ... to them? I mean ... why their families?" asked Billy.
"Yes, I would! And, as for their families ... if those boys decide to attack my family, they, and their families, will get what they deserve. You can tell them that if they begin to raise a stink about you, a former drug user, living here and that they can't visit, I will reign hell back on them!
"Bill ... I will use all my money and all my contacts to crush them ... if they think they are going to harm anyone who is associated with The Cove. Trust me, Bill. Please don't worry about what they think. Tell them what I just told you. If they press the issue let me know, and I will try to fend them off, legally," offered Mr. Ken with a smile.
"You ... you'd do that for me? I'm ... I'm only a foster kid in your care. Why ... why would you do that for ... me?" seriously asked Billy.
"Bill ... it is because you are a Cover! When you came here ... you became a part of our family. Yes, your mom is out there in prison somewhere, but you ... you now have a new family for as long as you want it. And, I take care of my family," defended Mr. Ken.
"I ... I don't know what to say, Mr. Ken. No one has ever talked to me like you do. You ... you treat me as if I really am your ... your 'son'. I trust you more than anyone I have ever trusted in my life. Thank you ... 'dad', err, Mr. Ken," offered Billy, who went to the man, hugged him, and then cried on his shoulder.
Robert saw his dad coming out of Billy's room and asked him if his 'brother' was in trouble. Mr. Ken asked his son why he thought that. All Robert could say was that he saw the door was closed for the longest time and he heard the two of them talking.
Dad Ken smiled, and asked Robert, "Did you hear any yelling and screaming?"
"No, you never yell and scream at us. But that doesn't mean that Billy isn't in trouble," argued the teenager.
"Well, to set your mind at ease. We talked about today and the sudden appearance of his friends. He never thought he'd ever see anyone from his old neighborhood and was taken by surprise by it. Isn't that right Bill?" asked Mr. Ken, of the older teen who was standing in the doorway of his room.
"Yea, Robert, Mr. Ken, and I talked. He saw earlier that I was bothered by something, so he came to my room to ask me what it was. I told him that the sudden appearance of my friends wasn't something I had expected. I guess ... I guess when I go off the estate, I'll have to remember that I could meet just about anyone from my old life," replied Billy.
"Good," said Robert. "Our dad doesn't get yelling mad at us. He makes us realize we did something wrong by making a subtle hint to us. So, if our dad gets mad at you, us boys stick together and help one another. Keep that in mind," said a laughing Robert.
The man hugged his son and gave him a noogie for teasing him. By that time the rest of the Cover boys were out in the hallway. Charles wondered if someone called a special meeting and they forgot to invite him. The boys all laughed at what he said. Dad Ken told them he and Bill were talking and nosey Robert had to know what it was about.
"Well, dad ... what was it all about?" asked a smiling Matthew.
'Dad' Ken grabbed at the boy who ran laughing to his room and closed the door. When Mr. Ken opened the door, Matthew asked him why he didn't use the Three-Knock Rule. 'Dad' Ken told him it was an emergency tickle attack. The man then grabbed the boy who squealed and laughed at what his 'dad' was doing to him.
The rest of the boys looked on and laughed at what Matthew had brought upon himself.
"And let that be a lesson to you," said 'dad' Ken. All the boys laughed some more.
Mr. Ken gave all the boys a goodnight hug out there in the hallway instead of in their individual rooms. The man then told his 'sons' to sleep well and pray for nice weather for tomorrow. Mr. Ken then went down the stairs to head to his own bedroom suite.
The sun was shining brightly that Sunday morning when Mr. Ken went outside to retrieve his morning newspaper. The man was happy the rainy weather hadn't stayed around, particularly for the boys' sakes.
The owner of The Cove went into the Kitchen Nook and filled his coffee cup with the hot brew before sitting down to read about the latest happenings in the world and around the local area. And, since the man was up at an early hour, he knew he could read the paper in peace before the boys came down to eat breakfast.
That peace was broken at 9:15 when the twins and Matthew came into the Nook by saying 'good morning' to the man and then proceeded to make noise as they got their own breakfast. The three older boys weren't too far behind their younger 'brothers' making lots of bantering noise as they entered the Kitchen Nook.
"Good morning, dad," called out Robert, who then went to the freezer to get some tacos.
"Good morning, Mr. Ken," said Billy, as he followed Robert to the freezer.
"Good morning, dad," smiled Charles, who then went over to the man who adopted him just two days ago and hugged him tight.
After Charles finished his hug, he went over to the coffee carafe, brought it back, and refilled his dad's coffee cup. The teen smiled at the man, who returned the smile as well as a tip of his now full cup of coffee as a thank you.
The three older boys heated enough breakfast tacos for them and Mr. Ken and within about twelve minutes, the four Covers were eating a warm breakfast and they were talking about the previous day's outing and what was in store for the day.
It was while the Covers talked as they ate that phone rang. Matthew answered it and hearing what the person wanted, took the handset to his 'dad' and told him the call was for him.
'Dad' Ken talked to the man who called and the boys could tell, from his part of the conversation that the man was from the District Attorney's Office. The gist of the phone call was, the man wanted to stop by after lunch to talk to Robert, Charles, Kevin, and Kyle about the upcoming trial. Learning that put a damper on those four Covers outlook for the day.
"'Dad', will our friends still be able to come over?" asked Kyle.
"I don't see why not," replied 'dad' Ken. "They can ride their skateboards while you four talk to the ADA. And the best part is ... the ramps won't be overcrowded with you inside," now laughed 'dad' Ken.
The four boys all booed their 'dad', while smiling the entire time.
"Oh, and before I forget. Billy, Charles, and Matthew ... make sure you ask your friends which ones want to go to the Texas Boater Safety Course in two weeks. Tell Mr. Wayne who they are when he gets here.
"Keep in mind all Mr. Chris will be doing is making reservations for them. They will have to make their own transportation arrangements to get there. Now, all of you go and get ready for the day," finished 'dad' Ken.
The Assistant District Attorney arrived promptly at 1 p.m. Mr. Ken had prepared the guards for his arrival so he wasn't delayed at the Main Gate. The man drove up to the Foyer Door entrance and was met there by Mr. Ken himself.
"Tell me again why that man is coming to talk to Robert, Charles, and the twins?" asked Max.
It was Cody, one of the other five boys who were attacked by Julian Hankers and his cohorts, who took the question. He explained what happened that fateful night he, David, Josh, Gordon and Eric were out Trick-or-Treating with their Cover friends.
Max thanked Cody for telling him what happened that night and said he now fully understood why that man was there to talk to the four Covers. It was Josh who added that he and the other four also had to talk to the ADA, so they all would be ready for the men's trial, which was supposed to happen by the middle of May.
David Fritzer, Charles' friend who was also there that Trick-or-Treat night, told how his parents didn't want him to spend the night after what happened to them. He explained what happened at the police station that night, and the argument they had before he was allowed to spend the night.
Gordon and Eric added their own perspective of that fateful night and all the boys rehashed the significance of what happened on the street, and at the police station. Billy was hearing all that for the first time, and it added to his own perspective of The Cove and what his foster dad did for his 'boys'.
The entire group then talked about what happened the following day during Mr. Ken's and Ms. Judy's press briefing and what the police said later that night. Billy knew some of that, but what he appreciated the most was he was hearing more of what really happened, from four of the boys who were involved.
Billy's friends also heard what the boys were talking about and that surprised them that all that happened to not only the Cover boys, but to five of their friends, as well. That brought up a few more questions from the older teens and the discussion continued without anyone riding the ramps.
Inside the home, Stewart Russell diligently oversaw what the ADA was telling the Cover boys and how they intended to handle their questioning at the upcoming trials. The man had each of the boys tell him their story as they saw that night unfold. Then, when the boys had finished, he tried to twist up what they had said.
The boys were prepared for the ADA to do just that. They were able to keep to their story with only a few missteps. Overall, the ADA was pleased with their performance. He did explain he would need two or three more sessions to properly prepare the boys for them to testify.
Mr. Ken saw the ADA to the Foyer Door. They discussed when the man could return to work with the boys again and he was disappointed none of the boys would be available next Saturday because of the Grand Opening of the Lakeside Hotel. They agreed to work on Sunday again.
Mr. Ken then talked to Stewart Russell about the process, how he saw the preparation and if he would do anything differently. The lawyer told Mr. Ken, in front of the boys, they needed to practice telling their story out loud, so they could hear themselves saying what they knew had happened.
Mr. Ken reminded the boys that he told them that exact same thing, and that during the coming week they had better practice it because he would listen to them individually Thursday night. Stewart Russell inwardly laughed that the man would do that, but he also knew that was what the boys needed, so they couldn't be tricked on the witness stand.
After the lawyer left, Mr. Ken asked Robert and Charles if they had found any lockers, bike racks and trash cans they could talk to Mr. Wayne about, so they could order them next week. The two teenagers looked at one another and then lowered their heads and told their dad they hadn't. Mr. Ken told them to get it done before they went outside.
As the twins headed outside, the two Cover teens quickly texted their friends to meet them in their bedrooms to help them with a project. Mr. Ken saw what they'd done and all Charles said to him was they didn't go outside. The three had a good laugh as the boys went up to their rooms and the man went to his Study.
With a good number of boys inside the house, the ramps were definitely not crowded. Billy and his friends enjoyed the mostly unfettered access to the ramps and they even took the time to work with Matthew and his friends on learning to do some board tricks better.
When it came time to cook, or swim, it was only Billy's, the twins and Matthew's friends available to decide what they'd do. They all decided to 'burn the burgers' saying what better time to know if they learned everything about how to do the barbeque.
Even though Billy was the oldest, he asked his three younger 'brothers', to the chagrin of Kaden, how they should proceed. The three agreed he and his friends should cook and they and their friends would get all of the supplies. The six older teens smiled at the younger boy's decision, and now they had to decide who would cook. Lonnie and Billy were selected.
Robert and Charles, along with their friends, were so busy using the internet looking at all the different types of lockers, bike racks and trash cans that they'd completely forgotten about the time and grilling the burgers and dogs.
Billy and Lonnie got the storm beaten grill cleaned up and lit and waited for the burgers and dogs to be brought to them. The four older teens went with the younger boys and helped them gather all of the rest of the items needed to put on a successful barbeque.
One thing they forgot to do was have someone set up the collapsible tables, so they could set the fixings and buns on. That slowed up the process some, but before long the burgers were on the grill being burned.
Matthew and his buds went inside to ask Mr. Ken what he wanted to eat and they were surprised that Billy and the three younger Cover boys were putting the barbeque together. The men then sent the boys up to the bedrooms to get the rest of the boys.
"Thanks, Billy for putting the barbeque together," said Robert, as he went outside on the Patio.
The rest of the boys were also surprised that the older teens and the three young Covers, and their friends, were able to put the barbeque together. They were surprised, but happy, as they didn't have to do anything now but eat.
The burgers were well 'burned' and the dogs had a nice char on them, but nobody complained. Even Mr. Ken made it a point to congratulate the cooks and the rest of the boys for taking the initiative and doing a good job, as well.
After the barbeque was put away and everything was cleaned up, the boys went swimming. Even Mr. Ken joined the boys that Sunday. Mr. Ken, in particular, used the time to observe the interactions of the large group as well as watch how Russell and Jordan performed their duty as lifeguards.
Billy's friends did notice the teen wasn't his usual self that day and they bugged him about it. After a while, Billy sat on the side of the pool and told his friends about meeting some of his friends from his old neighborhood. The Cover teen explained how meeting his friends from his old neighborhood threw him for a loop, as he never considered he'd meet people he used to know.
Billy's friends had a good laugh over hearing that. They told Billy that they often see friends of theirs at The Mall, or other places, and they talk and then go on their way. Billy listened to what they had to say and then he realized he was internalizing meeting his friend's way too much. But he did know what he and Mr. Ken talked about could and probably would still become an issue.
Since it was Sunday, the Covers' friends had to leave by 5 p.m. The boys walked up to the Main Gate together and said their 'goodbyes' there. Some of the parents got to know one another better as they waited for their sons to show.
Mr. Ken reminded the parents, and the boys, that next Saturday they would be attending the Grand Opening of the Lakeside Hotel and they needed to wait to hear from their Cover friend before planning to come over to skate. The parents said they appreciated the 'heads up'.
Mr. Ken also told the parents that if their son was going to take the Texas Boater Safety Course in two weeks it would cost them $25.00. The man told them he was going to have his Estate Manager to call tomorrow and set aside as many seats as his boys told him they needed for their friends.
The parents started to ask questions of him about the boating training and all Mr. Ken did was direct them back to their sons and for them to explain why they wanted the training. The parents talked some amongst themselves and then before long the entrance to The Cove was devoid of Cover friends and their parents.
The Covers went out for dinner on the Diner side of the Four Corners Restaurant/Diner combination facility. The boys all liked it when they ate there as they didn't have to be too well dressed up and it was more informal for them.
Mr. Wayne met the Covers at the Four Corners Diner for dinner that night. As they ate, they talked some more about the weekend and what was planned for the coming week. Mr. Ken also learned that all of Billy's, Charles' and Matthew's friends wanted to take the boating course, plus Mr. Wayne. That meant the 25 boys and one adult would take up almost all of the available seats for the course. Mr. Ken only hoped that the program could accommodate all of them at the same time.
Mr. Ken then learned that Cooper's brother, Conner, wanted to attend and so did Kevin and Kyle. Kyle asked if some of his friends could go, too. Kevin then chimed in asking if his friends could also go. Mr. Ken inwardly smiled and then looked to Wayne to get his read. All the Estate Master did was smile back and shrug his shoulders.
Back at The Cove, in the Study, the Covers did their usual round-robin talk even though they had done that at the Diner. It was a force of habit for the boys to gravitate to the Study, and take their seats, so Mr. Ken used that time to review what would happen in the future.
It was Kyle who asked if the trial would delay their going to visit the amusement parks. All Mr. Ken could tell him, and his 'brothers' was that it was possible. The man told the boys he hoped and prayed the men would take the plea-bargain DA Morris said he was going to offer them. Mr. Ken added he had to plan for the worst, going to trial, and hope for the best, going back east and having some fun.
When the meeting broke up, Robert and Charles took Mr. Wayne up to their rooms to show him what they and their friends had chosen as the outdoor lockers, bike racks and trash cans they thought would be best for the Cove Skate Park.
The Estate Master, with a smirk and a smile, thanked the teens for their hard work. The man told them he'd get with Mr. Chris first thing in the morning and hoped they'd be there, and installed, in time for the Memorial Day Picnic. The boys agreed and apologized for not doing that sooner.
Mr. Ken and Mr. Wayne did go up to visit with the boys before they went to bed. The men didn't spend a long time with the boys as they had been with them while they swam, went out to dinner and talked in the Study. There wasn't much more to talk about.
The Covers slept well that night. Mr. Wayne also slept well, but back in his apartment.
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