As soon as Matthew arrived at his school, he searched out his three best friends. He wanted to ask them about some of the other boys in his class, because he wanted to have a few more friends he could ask over to The Cove.
"Brant ...do you know Greg very good?" asked Matthew.
"Yea, he and Aaron are best friends. You can usually see them hanging around together. They're over by the school entrance right now. Why are you asking about him?" replied Brant.
"I like having you and Ryan and Noah as friends, but ...well, all my 'brothers' they have like six to eight friends and ...and I want to have a few more, too. I've talked with Greg and Aaron a few times, and I think they could be good friends, too," answered Matthew.
The four friends walked over to where Greg and Aaron were talking. When they arrived, Greg smiled at them and asked them, "What's up?"
Matthew said, "Greg, Aaron ...I've only been at The Cove for three weeks now and ...well, at the time ...I didn't know how many friends I was allowed to have. When I first arrived at The Cove, Mr. Ken introduced me to Brant and Ryan and through them I met Noah. Well, I would like to have a few more friends that I can invite over to The Cove.
"We've talked a few times and I think ...well, I'd like to be good friends with you two as well. My brothers' each have six to eight friends and well ...last night, I talked to Mr. Ken and he said it was okay for me to have a few more friends, too. And, would you like, you know, would you like to be my friends as well?" finished the young Cover.
Greg and Aaron looked at one another and turned with big smiles at hearing that and told Matthew they would really like to be friends with him. They all shook hands and just then the first bell rang and the six boys had to head into the school.
That morning, Grace Turnsten's friend, Carter, staked out The Cove for the second day. He was supposed to watch for the school bus and follow it to the school her son attended. The woman wanted to talk to her son and knew it was going to take too long going through the courts. She also knew if she was seen around that big house and grounds those guards would probably call the sheriff's office on her.
Grace thought Carter could find out for her where Matthew went to school, and then she could wait for him after school one day and see and talk to him. Carter thought that wasn't going to be a difficult task, except for having to get up very early and wait for the bus to show up.
Outside the school grounds that morning, Carter Dunlapman used binoculars to watch whom Matthew hung around. He saw Grace's son, upon arriving at the school, head for the same three boys he went to yesterday. He watched them talk some and then one boy point to another group of two. He saw the four boys walk over to the other two and talk some. Then, he heard a bell ring and all six friends walked into the school.
At The Cove that morning, Mr. Ken talked to Mr. Chris and Mr. Wayne about the buying of Christmas gifts for the boys. Mr. Ken had an extensive list of things he wanted to get the boys, but he wanted to get their take on what he planned to buy them.
Mr. Ken also told them that Matthew was probably going to have a few more friends by the time of the Holiday Trip. The owner of The Cove then explained his talk with Matthew the previous evening, so he told Mr. Chris, he needed to reserve the biggest bus he could. The three men had a big laugh over that. Mr. Ken also told his two employees that he asked the boys to talk to their friends and ask their parents to volunteer as chaperones.
The three men talked about the upcoming Holiday events and how much that still needed to be planned. Mr. Ken also wanted to talk about his trip after Christmas with the boys. He wanted Mr. Chris to be here until he and Wayne returned as there might be some last-minute issues that may pop up and would need to be taken care of.
Mr. Ken also asked Wayne to take Matthew to his appointment with Doctor Doug that afternoon. The Estate Master's boss told him Doctor Doug had wanted to be invited to their next amusement park trip. So, he asked Mr. Wayne to tell him about the trip and that he was already signed up as a volunteer chaperone. The three men had a good laugh over that.
When the men were finished with their meeting, Mr. Ken decided to call Bandera County Detective Joel Carrier and ask him about the twin's parents. The owner of The Cove wanted to know if the boys could visit with their parents before or after the Holidays. It was then he learned the bad news about the twin's mom.
Detective Joel Carrier told Mr. Ken that Vivian Parchsons had indeed been arrested just before Thanksgiving on Felony Child Endangerment charges, but other indictments were pending the completion of his investigation. Detective Carrier said he would prefer he didn't bring the boys to visit either one of his parents, but if they truly wanted to visit with them he would see what he could do to make the arrangements.
Mr. Ken thanked Joel for saying that as the boys hadn't seen either of their parents in a very long time. The man said the twins deserved the opportunity to talk to them and hear directly from them what they had to say for themselves. The two men agreed that when Joel could make things happen, Mr. Ken would bring the boys to BAMC during the school's Holiday break. All Mr. Ken needed to do is coordinate with Joel a few days beforehand.
At lunch, Matthew told Greg and Aaron that if they wanted, they could come to The Cove on Saturday. Matthew told them that if they decided to come over they needed to have one of their parents call The Cove and talk to Mr. Ken to confirm the invitation.
Greg asked Matthew for the phone number, but the Cover didn't know it and didn't have a cell phone to look it up. Brant had his cell phone with him and he checked his phone list. It was then he realized he didn't have it either. He told the gathered boys that he had Robert's and Charles' cell numbers, but not the main Three Finger Cove number. Matthew said he'd go find one of his older 'brothers' and get it and then give it to them.
Greg and Aaron were all smiles they were asked to go to The Cove. They'd been there for the Easter Egg Roll, when they were younger, and had been to one Holiday Party, but this would be their first time going over to Three Finger Cove as a friend.
When Matthew found Charles, he asked the pre-teen for the phone number he could give his two new friends. He explained it was so their parents can call their 'dad' to verify he asked them over. Charles gave his younger 'brother' a hard time by asking him who they were and how did he know them. Matthew told Charles he needed it before lunch was over, but Charles kept asking him questions.
By then Brant and the other four boys came over to where Matthew and Charles were talking. They heard Charles' giving their friend a hard time, but didn't know what that was all about.
"Charles, give them 'dad's' number, so their parents can call to ask Mr. Ken if their sons were asked over," an irritated Matthew said.
"How do you know they have to call 'dad' before they come over?" demanded Charles.
"Because he TOLD me SO. He told me they needed to last night when we talked. NOW ...are you going to give them the phone number or not? If not, then I'll go find Robert," almost yelled a now very pissed off Cover.
A bunch of kids heard the somewhat argument building between to two Cover's, and started to gather around. Robert saw the kids gathering around his 'brothers', so he headed over to see what it was all about.
"Charles ...give them 'dad's' phone number!" demanded Matthew.
"Charles, why don't you give Matthew dad's number?" asked Robert.
"I'm just having some fun with him and he gets all bent out of shape," laughed Charles.
"Charles, this isn't like you to do that," answered Robert. The teen then gave Greg and Aaron Mr. Ken's phone number that rang at his desk at The Cove.
Matthew's new friends thanked Robert for the phone number and they told the youngest Cover they'd have their parents call tonight. Matthew told them when they come over they needed to bring their skateboard, swimsuit and a towel.
That confused the two new friends until Noah told them they'd might get to swim in the indoor pool. That put an even bigger smile on their faces. That's when the bell rang announcing the end of the lunch break.
Mr. Wayne stopped by the school to sign Matthew out, so he could take the boy to his doctor appointment. Ms. Andrews didn't say anything directly to Wayne Mitchell about the Cover boys all being taken out for doctor appointments. She already made her feelings well known which almost got her fired. The school secretary signed Matthew out and that was the end of that.
Carter Dunlapman saw Matthew walk out of the school with a young man that wasn't Mr. Thomas. He noticed that same man take another boy out about the same time, the previous day. Carter wondered why the two boys were leaving school well before the rest of the boys and girls. Carter decided to find out what that was all about, so he followed them from about four car lengths behind.
The two Covers talked in the car as Mr. Wayne drove along. Matthew told the man what Charles did to him earlier at lunch. Matthew was almost crying at how he felt that his older 'brother' would do that to him. Mr. Wayne told the youngster that when there are a number of kids in the home they always have some disagreements and sometimes the older ones will tease the younger ones. The man told Matthew that those things happen and it is part of living in a big family.
Matthew didn't want to hear that, but he was an only child and didn't know any better, so he believed the man he looked up to and admired. After the young boy got that off his chest, he opened up about his two new friends, Greg and Aaron. Mr. Wayne was happy to hear the quick change of demeanor in the boy and he just continued with the talk.
As they drove towards Doctor Doug's office, Carter had inadvertently gotten too close to Mr. Wayne's vehicle and decided to pass him on the right. As he passed, Matthew was looking out the window when he saw a man he thought he recognized drive past. Then, as he and Mr. Wayne passed a store where the car had stopped, he got another glimpse of the man. And at that same time the man starred back at Matthew.
"Mr. Wayne ...ahh that car we passed back there. I ...I think I know that man," said Matthew.
"What is there about the man that makes you think you know him?" quickly asked Mr. Wayne.
"Well, I'm not sure, but ...his face ...it seemed so familiar for some reason. I saw it when he passed us and when we passed that store he was at he ...he stared right back at me while we passed him. I don't know why he'd do that," exclaimed Matthew.
"Well, you were staring at him, soooo ...he was staring back at you," teased Mr. Wayne.
While he parked his vehicle, Mr. Wayne noticed a similar car pull into the same parking lot he just stopped in. He didn't say anything to Matthew, but he did want to see the man's face. As the two entered the office building, where Doctor Doug has his office, Mr. Wayne looked back out the glass door to see if the man had followed. He hadn't but Mr. Wayne was still curious.
Matthew and Mr. Wayne entered Doug Jennings outer office and the receptionist asked them to take a seat and that Doctor Doug would be with them soon. When Matthew finally went into the doctor's office, Mr. Wayne went back outside to look for that car he thought might have been following them.
Mr. Wayne saw a familiar car out there in the parking lot. He thought it was the same one he saw pass them and was at a store when they passed him. He looked around to see if there was a man nearby, but there was no one. He wrote down the license plate number.
As Mr. Wayne walked back into the building, a man came out of the restroom and looked up at the Directory. The Cover noticed the man place his finger on the glass and draw it across to the glass to what looked like an office number.
Mr. Wayne walked passed the man trying not to look at him. But, he did try to see where the man's finger was pointing. When he saw over his shoulder the man had walked out of the building, he quickly walked over to the Directory to see if he could still tell where the greasy fingerprint was pointed. Seeing what he thought was the office number the man was looking at, he quickly walked out the door to see if the car was still there. He watched it quickly drive out of the parking lot.
Matthew and Mr. Wayne got home well before the other Cover boys. As soon as he was out of the vehicle, Matthew went directly to see Mr. Ken. When he entered the Study, the boy had a long face on him and didn't say a word. Mr. Ken saw the young Cover walk into the room and waited for him to say something, but the quiet was loud enough he knew something was wrong.
Mr. Ken got up from behind his desk and walked around to talk to Matthew. When he did, the youngster jumped up into his arms and cried, hard.
"Why did he treat me like that, 'dad'?" cried Matthew.
"I didn't do anything to him, 'dad', and he just ...he just wouldn't tell me your phone number," continued to cry the young Cover, as he tried to tell Mr. Ken what happened.
Matthew did get out that Robert came over and gave the phone number to Greg and Aaron and the two new friends told him they would have their parents call him tonight. Mr. Ken was glad to hear that and noticed Matthew had begun to calm down while still in his arms.
"Matthew ...what say we go sit down and talk this out. No ...better still, let's go out and raid Momma's ice cream stash," teased 'dad' Ken.
Matthew smiled at hearing that and quickly let go of Mr. Ken and ran towards the door. "Come on. My 'brothers' will be home soon and I don't want to share," laughed the soon to be eleven year old.
"Momma ...we're here to raid a few dishes of ice cream before the other boys get home. And please don't tell them. This is a special occasion," explained the owner of The Cove, as he and Matthew went to the freezer and pulled out the vanilla ice cream.'
Mr. Ken began to dish out some of the cold concoction when Momma Maria came over and took the dipper from him and pushed him aside. The woman then dished out one scoop each of the vanilla ice cream and gave the bowls to the two Covers.
"Eets! Itss alsmosts times for the boyses to gets home. I'ss don'ts wants yous to loses youses appetites and thens you won'ts eats Momma's snacks. Eeats, eeats before its melts," said Momma Maria.
The two Covers smiled and ate their concoction.
"'Dad' ...why would Charles treat me like that?" asked a much calmer Matthew.
"Matthew ...to be honest ...I have no real answer for you. I ...I do have my suspicions, but ...I don't know for sure. I'll talk to him later, alone, but Robert ...he might bring it up when you boys come in to talk to me after you eat your snack.
"I hope you won't overreact, but ...but when asked ...just tell your story as it happened. That's all I can ask of you. It is still festering inside of you and you feel hurt by it and ...and until you know why it ...well, it might take a little while to let it go," counseled Mr. Ken.
Matthew thanked his 'dad' for talking to him and listening and not getting mad at him for crying. Mr. Ken hugged the boy, ruffled his hair and sent him up to start his homework. The man told the almost eleven year old he'd send someone up to get him when this 'brothers' got home.
Mr. Wayne was waiting for his employer in the Study. When Mr. Ken entered Mr. Wayne stood up. Mr. Ken smiled at the respect the man gave him and told Wayne to sit down.
"I take it you have something for me, otherwise you wouldn't have stood up," laughed Mr. Ken.
"Mr. Ken, today ...as I was taking Matthew to Doctor Doug's something ...something interesting happened," started the Estate Master.
"Oh, do tell," replied the man's boss
"Well, after having to listen to Ms. Andrews go on about your boys being taken out of school so often, Matthew told me what happened between him and Charles. I saw you two talking, so I'm sure you already know about that.
"But ...did Matthew tell you about the man he saw today?" directly asked Mr. Wayne.
"No, no he didn't," quickly answered Mr. Ken, as he leaned forward, "tell me more and don't leave anything out, and I mean anything. Now, start from the beginning!"
Mr. Wayne recounted the entire afternoon from the time he signed Matthew out until they drove home from Doctor Doug's. Mr. Wayne did tell his employer that he searched high and low for the same car as they drove back to The Cove and that he never saw it again.
What Mr. Wayne added was that he got the license plate number of a vehicle that he 'thought' was the one that passed him and that they passed a few moments later. The Estate Master qualified his statement that he couldn't be sure it was the same vehicle, but he wanted to be safe. What he told his employer next was that he wrote the license plate number down. He then passed the piece of paper to his boss, Mr. Ken.
"Wayne ...it could just be a coincidence that the man followed you to the parking lot. I bet you followed a few other cars there, as well. Now, as for Matthew noticing this man ...did he say he definitely knew the man, or was it just a feeling?" asked Mr. Ken.
"Well, he never said he definitely knew the man, but ...but he seemed to recognize him. Unfortunately, he didn't have a name. I didn't make a big deal out of it and when he went in to talk to Doctor Doug ...that was when I went outside looking for the vehicle.
"It was then I saw a man looking at the Directory board and pointing to what may have been Doug Jennings name and office number. I'd already gotten the license plate number, so I went upstairs to wait for Matthew,' explained Mr. Wayne.
Mr. Ken just sat there thinking to himself of all the scenarios that could come of that chance observation, none of them good.
The rest of the Cover boys returned from school about the same time they usually do. They stopped by the Study to see if Matthew was in there, but finding out he wasn't there Kyle went up to his younger 'brothers' bedroom to get him.
The five Cover youths sat down to more of Momma Maria's Holiday concoctions. That day she had a big plate full of individual 5-inch long Cinnamon Cream Cheese Roll Ups that had been fried. The Roll-Ups consisted of white bread flattened and rolled with a cream cheese and powdered sugar mixture, dipped in butter, and covered in a crunchy Cinnamon and Sugar crust.
The boys felt like they were in heaven that day. Momma also had her wonderful vanilla and chocolate milk ready for them and they drank lots of it as they each downed five of those crunchy cream cheese rolls.
As usual, the five boys stopped by the Study to say 'Hi' to Mr. Ken and talk some before going up to their room's to start their homework. They took their regular chairs after giving Mr. Ken a hug.
"Well, another school day over and one day closer to Santa," laughed 'dad' Ken,
"Yea, I can't wait," said Kevin.
"Why, so you can open a ton of presents?" smiled his twin, Kyle.
"No, not that, but opening a few presents will be nice," laughed Kevin. "I just can't wait until schools out so we can play for two weeks."
"Didn't you forget we're going to Six Flags one day and ...and we'll be gone for about four days visiting 'dad's' amusement parks?" asked Charles.
"Yeah, I did, but the thought of being away for two weeks will make it feel like a vacation," laughed Kevin, while the other boys joined in.
"Well, it will be a vacation. It's your Christmas vacation," added a laughing Robert.
Mr. Ken was surprised there was no discussion of what happened between Matthew and Charles at school, so he sent the boys up to get their homework started. But before Charles walked out of the Study, Mr. Ken asked him to stick around that he wanted to talk to him.
The other boys heard their 'dad' call Charles back, but continued walking towards the stairs. Robert yelled back and wished him 'Good Luck', then continued up the stairs. Charles didn't know what his 'dad' wanted, but still he reluctantly stepped back into the Study. He had hoped what happened between him and his youngest 'brother' wouldn't be brought up, but he knew that previous talk was the calm before the storm.
"Yes, 'dad?" Charles said as he entered back into the Study.
"Come over here and sit with me in the leather chairs," suggested Mr. Ken.
When the two were seated, and Mr. Wayne was looking on, Mr. Ken asked the pre-teen to tell him why he treated Matthew the way he did at lunchtime.
Charles bowed his head and almost cried. He didn't know why he did it, but initially thought that what he was doing was funny. But, what he didn't know was how Mr. Ken would accept that excuse.
As Charles sat there, he realized what he said to himself was that it was an excuse not a reason. The pre-teen grasped that what he did to Matthew was really wrong and he began to cry.
'Dad' Ken saw the boy thinking to himself and then break down and cry. He went over to the pre-teen and pulled him up to him and hugged Charles while he cried. They stayed that way for about two minutes. All the while, Mr. Wayne watched and learned and didn't say a word.
When Charles settled down, Mr. Ken pulled him into the same chair as he. The pre-teen just let himself melt into the man and enjoy the closeness he hadn't felt in a long time.
After a bit, Charles looked up to the man and said, "Thank you. I ...haven't felt this good with you holding me for a long time. I'm sorry for treating Matthew the way I did but I ...I ...I have no excuse.
"I guess ...I guess that I was feeling like everybody but me ...they get to talk with you. They seem to get to do things with you and all I ever get is a pat on the head now and then. It's not as it was before the twins showed up and I understand. I do. But, it's not fair.
"I know why they take up so much of your time and now with ...with Matthew and what his mom did to him, but ...but what about me? When do I get you to pay attention to ME! To ME!" finished Charles, who again broke down and cried.
All 'dad' Ken could do for now is comfort the boy and let him get his frustration and anger out of his system. The man felt he knew what Charles was feeling. The two talked about it once before, so the man knew the boy was also hurting inside by not getting any attention. The attention that all the other boys were getting at what he thought was his expense.
As the pre-teen cried, Mr. Ken rubbed his back as he always did to the boys when they were crying. It always worked to get them settled before and it was working now. Mr. Wayne just continued to watch, listen and learn.
Charles eventually calmed down and he apologized to his 'dad' for being such a baby. Mr. Ken told him he wasn't a 'baby', but a boy who craved attention that he, his 'dad', hadn't given him. Charles tried to tell Mr. Ken it wasn't his fault, but 'dad' Ken told Charles that is was his job to make sure all his 'boys' were treated fairly and evenly.
Mr. Ken told Charles he honestly didn't know when he could devote a lot of time just for him. The man went through all of the scenarios of the upcoming Holiday events and trips and tried to get the pre-teen to understand how spread out he was right now.
Charles pulled away from his foster dad and looked at him and just asked if they could do something together, alone, just once. Mr. Ken saw what he thought was loneliness and the need to be loved.
Mr. Ken told the boy, "Charles, I can't and won't promise you something that I know I cannot deliver at this time. I think I know why you acted the way you did towards Matthew, but ...well, right now there is so much going on that I don't know when the two of us could do something together. I know what you said to Ms. Judy down at Collin's, and ...and I really wish I could do something with you, right now."
Charles looked at Mr. Ken and replied, "Why can't you and me just go and drive the go-karts or go to dinner just the two of us? I feel so ...I feel so left out, 'dad'. I'm ...I'm that middle child that is forgotten, because the other kids have more needs than I do, but I have needs too!
"I need to know the people around me ...know me, see me, love me! Robert knows he has a forever home and the twins and Matthew ...they just got here, so they are still in limbo as to what will happen to them. But what about Me? ...What I don't know is what is going to happen to me!
"I love living here with you and my 'brothers' and I would love to have them as my REAL brothers, but ...but I don't know what is going to happen to me. I love you 'dad', I really, really do. You're the first man who has treated me like ...as if I am someone. You're the first man who actually cared about me. And you're the first person who made me feel like I mattered," finished Charles, with a few more tears sliding down his cheeks.
All Mr. Ken could do right then was hug the boy to him. It was then the four other Cover boys came rushing into the Study and made it a group hug.
"We love you as our 'brother'," said Kyle and Kevin together.
"I didn't know what you felt like inside Charles," offered Matthew. "I didn't know you felt left out! You didn't ...you never said something, anything to any of us that you felt like the middle child who gets ignored.
"I just got here, so I don't know what you all went through, but ...well, if you need some time with 'dad' then I don't need a birthday cake or presents or even a party. I never had them before, so missing one more won't matter to me. I just want you to feel you belong here like, you know, like the rest of us."
Charles broke out of the group hug and grabbed Matthew and the two hugged one another. As the two boys hugged, Charles, with tears streaming down his cheeks, apologized to Matthew for the way he treated him today and that he really didn't mean to be such a bully. The two continued to hug and Matthew said he forgave him. Everyone was happy with the ending.
After dinner, the Covers met in the Study as they always did. They each claimed their soft leather chair and of course Matthew sat with Mr. Wayne.
"Kevin, tomorrow, Mr. Wayne will take you to see Doctor Doug," started off 'dad' Ken. "He'll be by to sign you out at the regular time. As for next week, Kyle, Kevin and Matthew, you will each have a session with Doctor Doug. That's because Robert only sees him once a month now, or as needed, and Charles sees him every other week. You'll eventually get to that point, too.
"Now, as you know, Matthew has invited two new friends' to come over this weekend. Help him with his new friends as he is still new to hosting his friends here."
Just then the phone rang at Mr. Ken's desk. It was Greg Farrmers' mom, Addison.
The conversation went like all the other times when a parent calls to verify that their son was invited over to The Cove. Matthew listened to his 'dad's' side of the conversation, but he sort of understood what Greg's mom was asking by Mr. Ken's answers.
The two adults talked for about five minutes and the last thing the boys heard Mr. Ken say was for Greg to bring his skateboard, a swimsuit and towel, and the boy would be fed hamburgers and hot dogs sometime during the afternoon.
The owner of The Cove also told Addison that she or her husband should pick their son up by 6 PM on Saturdays and 5 PM on Sundays, for now. Then, as an afterthought, Mr. Ken told her that if they stopped by around noon on Saturday and Sunday, they could meet some of the other parents dropping their sons off then.
The Covers talked about the just completed phone call and the other Holiday plans they had. Mr. Ken also took that time to remind the boys that after dinner tomorrow they would go try on their suits and if they fit they would bring them home.
Then, once again, the phone at the desk rang.
"I bet that's Aaron's parents," spoke up Matthew.
"Hello, Three Finger Cove, Mr. Thomas speaking," was how Mr. Ken answered the phone that time. The boys all chuckled.
"Yes, Mrs. Duggans, Matthew did invite your son, Aaron, to spend the day at The Cove. All your son needs to bring with him is his skateboard and a swimsuit and towel. He'll be fed hamburgers and hot dogs later in the day," answered Mr. Ken.
"Yes, Addison Farrmers did call earlier this evening, and as I told her you can pick your son up at 6 PM on Saturdays and 5 PM on Sundays," was what the boys and Mr. Wayne heard Mr. Ken say.
"Yes, Mrs. Duggans......oh, OK, Claire, your son and Addison's son, Greg, ...they will be allowed to continue coming over here as long as they behave themselves. Also, what I forgot to mention to Addison was that I am taking all my 'sons' and their friends to Six Flags that Monday after their school Holiday starts.
"Yes, yes, I took them to SeaWorld and the Sullivan's were chaperones. By the way, they are going to be chaperones for the Six Flags Trip as well. Would you like to volunteer? We'll meet here at 9:45 in the morning and get on the road at 10 AM. We'll return from Six Flags at 10 PM and hopefully be back at midnight."
"Oh, I chartered a 57-seat Greyhound style bus for this trip. It will be air-conditioned, have reading lights, an onboard restroom, and it will also have Wi-Fi. I am hoping 9 to 11 adults will volunteer to chaperone the boys who range in ages from ten to thirteen, although the older boys proved they don't need close watching."
"Oh, what happened the last time? The parents who didn't volunteer had to be here to pick their boys up, so they were here anyway. Of course, the parents who went along already had their vehicles here. So, either way, the parents had to stop by to retrieve their charges. That SeaWorld Trip worked out very well, and when we returned it was almost party-like here with all the parents talking to one another and their sons."
"Yes, think about it and talk to Addison. You both can come along and your husbands are welcomed, as well. I will treat all the boys and chaperones to dinner, but the boys will be on their own for snacks, drinks and games, etcetera. So, all I ask the parents to do is give their son what money you think he'll need for that.
"Right now, I am planning on 47 boys but three of them will meet us there, possibly later in the day, when their dads can bring them. So, as you can see there should be adequate room on the bus.
"Yes, bring Aaron over around noon, and you can meet some of the other parents. I hope to meet you then, too. Goodbye!" finished Mr. Ken, as he hung up the phone.
"Boy she sure asked a lot of questions," offered Matthew.
"Yes, son, she did, but that is what parents are supposed to do to protect their children. So tomorrow, tell Greg and Aaron I am looking forward to meeting them. Oh, and tell them to wear a hat in case it gets cold out there skating. That goes for all your friends, boys!
"Boys ...it is getting late and if I think of anything more we'll talk about it tomorrow at breakfast. Now, go to your rooms and relax some before getting in the bed. I'll be up in a little while to tuck you in," finished 'dad' Ken.
"Mr. Wayne ...will you come up, too?" asked Matthew.
"Yes, I'll stop up before I go home, Matthew," replied a smiling Wayne Mitchell.
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