The weekend wasn't any different than the normal days before it. The boys rode their skateboards, swam, ate and went home. On Sunday, Mr. Ken made sure the boys went home earlier than normal, so he could spend time with Charles and Robert. They went over and drove the go-karts after dinner and then they went back home to sit around and talk about the week to come.
Bed time was difficult for the boys as they'd gotten used to going to bed closer to midnight than 10 PM. The lads did go up to their rooms in time for them to get under the covers by the appointed 10 PM, but neither of them were tired enough to go to sleep, so they talked.
Robert explained the layout of the school to Charles so he'd know what to expect the next morning. Robert went through his normal routine as a 7th grader, hoping Charles would be able to find his way. It was closer to 11 when the boys went to pee and then get into their own beds. Chief followed Charles to his room.
Monday, the first day of the new school year, was not an easy day for the Cover boys. Used to getting up closer to 9 AM, they had to get up at 6 AM and get showered and dressed and down to the Kitchen Nook for breakfast so they could catch the bus at 7:10. Both Cover lads yawned the entire time they got cleaned up and dressed. They didn't stop yawning through breakfast and it wasn't until they went outside to begin walking up to the top of Three Finger Cove to catch their bus that the much cooler air finally woke them up.
Eric was already on the bus. He greeted his Best Friend, Robert, with a hand shake and the two sat together. Also, on the bus was Michael Summers a new 6th grader who met and talked to Robert on their bus last January. They were already on the bus as the driver picked up the students in reverse order from the way she'd drop them off after school. Robert introduced Michael to Charles and the two sat together as they traveled to school.
When their bus arrived at school, a few of Charles' friends were there waiting for him. Jacob, Asher, Cooper and David welcomed Charles as he got off the bus and they took him away from his 'brother' Robert. Charles waved at Robert as he walked off.
Robert and Eric watched Charles walk away and they immediately headed to their own meeting place out on the school yard. There they met up with their friends Logan, Cody, Brad, Gordon, Chuck, Josh and Trevor.
Charles and his friends soon met up with the rest of the guys, Hunter, Mason, Camm, James, Dylan and Tyler. They congregated in their own corner of the school yard and began talking about how they hoped the new school year would pan out.
Charles' new friends began introducing him to more and more of his classmates. Leah Hoalmes, saw the cute boy she sort of met at Six Flags and she immediately went over to Charles and hugged him like she was resuming an old friendship. She then wanted to take the newcomer around to meet her friends but the 7th grade boys would have nothing to do with that.
"Whoa, where'd that come from?" asked Dylan, after the pretty girl walked away. "Leah is one of the hotties in our class and you've been here, what, a whole 15 minutes and she hugs you like an old lost friend." The lads all laughed.
"Well, I sort of met her when Mr. Dan took us to Fiesta Texas. She saw Camm there and … well, he introduced me to her. She took a shine to me and … I guess the rest is history," laughed Charles.
The 7th graders walked around with Charles, letting him meet more and more of his classmates. As they were walking around, Charles spotted a lad leaning against the school wall. Charles looked over to the lad and to him it looked like the preteen had no friends and was really down in the dumps.
"Coop … who's that kid over against the wall?" asked Charles.
"Oh, that's Richie. He really weird and just doesn't fit in around here and … he doesn't want to talk to anybody," explained Cooper.
Charles heard what Cooper told him and then looked at him and said, "What … just like Camm and James were, Coop?"
Charles again looked at Cooper and then started walking over to the preteen. Coop tried to stop his friend but Charles already had a jump on Cooper and the lad had to hurry to catch up.
"Hi … my names Charles … I'm new here and Cooper is taking me around and introducing me to everyone. What's your name?" said Charles, as he went up to the lonely looking boy while holding his hand out to shake.
The boy stopped leaning on the wall and stood straight up. He looked over the newcomer in front of him, then at Cooper, trying to decide what kind of game they were playing.
"I see you don't know how to take me, thus your reluctance to tell me your name. You know I'm new here … because you didn't see me here at all last year. But you probably did see my 'brother' … Robert," said Charles.
"Robert … there are a number of Robert's here," sort of laughed the lad in front of Charles.
"Come on … all I want to do is learn your name. How hard is that?" responded Charles.
The boy just looked on at Charles. The Cover could tell the lad was trying to decide what he was going to do. While this was happening, Cooper stood back and watched. It was then Charles felt his friend could be the reason the lad wasn't talking, so he turned to Coop and asked him to leave them alone and that he'd see him later. As Coop walked away, Charles noticed how much more the lad relaxed now that Cooper was no longer there.
"OK, Coop isn't here anymore … now, will you tell me your name?" simply requested Charles.
The lad looked at Charles and said, "Richard. My name is Richard but they (pointing towards Cooper and the other 7th grade boys) insist on calling me Richie. Why aren't they calling you Charlie?"
"It's a long story, Richard. Maybe we can talk later and get to know each other?" asked Charles. It was then the bell rang. Richard told Charles that bell was called the first bell, and they should head to their homerooms. Richard then walked away.
Charles knew which room to go to and was surprised to see some of his new friends in the same homeroom. Cooper wasn't one of them. He waved at Camm, Dylan, David, Hunter and Mason and found an empty seat. The second bell, the tardy bell, rang and the teacher asked for quiet. The teacher then introduced the new students by calling out their names.
"Students … let me introduce to you our newest student, Charles Lewis. Charles lives over by Four Corners and a few of you may have ridden on the same bus as him. Please welcome him to our school," announced Catherine Polk, the homeroom teacher.
Mrs. Polk then took attendance and then made the morning announcements. It was while the teacher took attendance, Charles heard Mrs. Polk call out Richie Longger.
"Ahh, Mrs. Polk, teacher, ahh, he likes to be called Richard, ma'am," spoke up Charles.
Mrs. Polk looked at Charles with darts in her eyes. She didn't like students speaking out of turn and especially on the first day. But, knowing Charles was the new student she gave him a pass, but told him to raise his hand and wait to be called on. She then went back to calling out names.
Richard looked over to Charles and gave him a light smile and thumbs up. Charles gave him the same thing back.
After finishing taking attendance, Mrs. Polk told her students there would be a school assembly when the bell rang. She reminded them to sit in their assigned seats and not congregate with the rest of their friends. Charles made sure to sit next to Richard in order to get to know him better.
When the bell rang, Charles tried to move over towards Richard but his friends kept talking to him and corralling him towards the auditorium and their assigned seats. Charles finally saw where Richard was seated and it was if the people around him treated him as though he wasn't there. Charles made a conscious decision to befriend the boy and hoped he could do that by the end of the school day.
As the assembly at the school proceeded, Mr. Chris still hadn't showed up for work. The Estate Manager usually told his boss, Mr. Ken, in advance, if he had an appointment but there hadn't been any communication from him for that Monday morning. Ken Thomas thought about calling Chris but then figured he was a big boy and he'd tell him what, if any, the problem was that morning.
While Mr. Ken waited on Mr. Chris to arrive, the phone at The Cove was already busy. Over the weekend, Ken Thomas had emailed out the invitations for the coming weekend's Labor Day Picnic and many of the parents were calling to confirm their acceptance but most importantly they wanted to know what they could bring.
Since many of the parents, particularly the ones of Charles' new friends, had never been to a Three Finger Cove Picnic they didn't know all they needed to bring was themselves, an appetite and a swimsuit and towel. Some of the moms insisted on bringing something but when Mr. Ken told them there could be upwards of 80 to 100 people there, the women accepted the Picnic would be a catered affair.
It was while Mr. Ken was on the phone, explaining everything to a caller that Mr. Chris walked into the Study. The two men exchanged glances and then Mr. Chris sat down waiting for his boss to get off the phone. Mr. Chris heard his employer say something about seeing her and the family this Saturday and saw the man hang up the phone.
"I take it you're having a picnic this Saturday and that was one of the ladies wanting to know what to bring," chuckled Chris Dominions.
"Yes, I asked the boys the other night and they decided to only invite their closest friends and families and a few other adults and their families. By the way, the boys wanted to make sure you and your family are invited and they hoped you'll all be there. The picnic will be Saturday so you have the rest of the weekend to do something with your family," explained Mr. Ken.
"Thank you for that invitation, Mr. Ken. The kids have asked when they'd get a chance to come over again so this will get them off my back," laughed Mr. Chris.
"Oh, I'm sorry I was late this morning. The reason I was late, almost two hours late that is, but it couldn't be helped. There was a huge accident on the interstate. There were at least one 18-wheeler and four small cars involved that I could see. It had all the lanes blocked up and I'd already passed an exit so I couldn't get off to get around it," offered Mr. Chris.
"That's OK, Chris; you've done very well picking up everything Mildred has messed up, so being late is no big deal. I'm just glad it wasn't you involved in that accident, and besides, you know you can come and go in this job as long as you have everything caught up. … Hey … have you talked to the women who work for that contractor you are not too happy with?" followed Mr. Ken.
The two men talked about the house cleaning contract and if the women were willing to bid on the contract. The men also discussed the upcoming trial and what they needed to do to get Mr. Diamond's reports and all the videos together, so Bill Jackson had the information he needed to succeed.
The first assembly of the school year was always when Ms. Abigail Chadwick, the Middle School Principal, did a thorough review of the new Teachers and Students Handbook. She wanted all to know she would enforce what the School Board had directed, but that there was an appeal process to all who disagreed with an outcome.
When it was lunch time, the kids headed to the cafeteria, grabbed a tray and walked through the food line. Charles followed his friends so he'd know what to do. After the student chose his or her 'lunch items they went through a cashier lane to pay for it. Most students had a card, similar to a credit card; they swiped through the card reader to pay for the items they took. Charles had his and did as his friends before him.
Charles and his friends took up two whole tables when they all sat down to eat. Some of the other 7th graders were a bit miffed that they didn't get to know Charles as the others had, but then they understood the luck of the draw. As Charles ate, he looked around the lunch room and looked over the students he had yet to meet. He was just trying to get his bearing when he saw Richard over in the corner by himself eating only an apple.
"Hunter," said Charles, as he bumped the preteen's elbow and pointed, "What's with Richard eating by himself. And why doesn't he have a full meal?"
Hunter looked over to where Charles indicated and then looked back at his friend and said, "That's Richie. He always eats by himself and that's about all he ever eats for lunch. He is kinda weird that way."
"But why … why hasn't anybody ever talked to him to find out why he only has something like an apple to eat? I met him before the first bell but I didn't get to talk to him much. I don't understand Hunter … why do you guys treat him like you did Camm and James? Just because they were quiet and not as outgoing as you were doesn't mean they were bad guys," seriously wondered Charles.
The Cover's other friends heard what he'd said to Hunter and they didn't have an answer. They sort of hung their heads knowing what Charles just said was true, because they didn't try to get to know Camm or James as they should have and the same thing went for Richie.
Charles didn't get any feedback from his friends, so he got up and walked over to where Richard was eating.
"Hi there Rich, or would you rather have me call you Richard?" spoke up Charles, as he approached the lad.
"Oh … hi … and Rich is okay by me … but I hate being called Richie. … Why did you come over here? You going to make fun of my lunch like the rest of the kids do?" asked the lad.
"No … I didn't come over here to tease you or anything. Just like I told you this morning, I'd like to get to know you and when I saw you over here by yourself I wanted to invite you to eat with us," Charles answered back.
"Yeah, right … like I want to be around those guys," replied Rich, through gritted teeth.
"Hey … is that all you're going to eat?" asked Charles. "How can you get through the day by only eating an apple? If you don't have enough money, I can buy you something using my lunch card. My 'dad' told me he put extra money on it in case someone didn't have enough so … what do you say? Can I buy you a nice lunch so you're not so hungry by the end of the day?"
Richard looked at Charles and thought a moment and then replied, "Yeah … it would be nice to have a good lunch, for a change. But … well, do I have to eat with those guys?"
Charles looked over to his ten friends and then back to Richard and then told the lad he didn't have to eat with them if he didn't want to, but that he wanted to eat with him. Charles then took Richard through the lunch line and the preteen picked out almost the exact same thing the Cover had. Then, with lunch tray in hand, Charles went over and got his tray and the two sat down at the end of an almost empty table.
It was then Robert, accompanied by Eric, came by to see his 'brother'. The teen asked how Charles was handling his first day at school and it was then Richard learned the two were 'brothers' and lived at Three Finger Cove.
"You guys are brothers?" asked Richard.
"Well, we're not blood brothers, Rich," started Charles, "but all of us kids at The Cove call one another 'brother'."
Rich just sat there, not fully understanding what it all meant, but he did learn that both lads had different last names even from the owner of The Cove. But that still didn't mean much to Richard. He'd heard about Three Finger Cove and the man who took a bullet to save someone but he'd only arrived last spring and hadn't made many friends since then.
"Charles … I guess since you live at that big house on the lake you have lots of money," inquired Richard.
"Actually, Rich … I'm a foster kid. I have no money. I only just began living there back in the beginning of July. Robert … he only began living there last January. Neither of us have any money. We don't even get an allowance, but our 'dad' makes sure we have nice clothes, good food, and lots of things to do," revealed Charles.
It was then Camm and James came over to the table after they dumped their trays. Richard said 'Hi' to them as they sat down. Charles decided to introduce his friends and Camm and James said 'Hi' in return.
"So, you guys know one another I see. How is it they treated you like they did me and now you're all their friends?" Richard wanted to know.
"It's a long story," answered Charles.
"Everything with you is a long story, isn't it?" came back Richard
Camm and James smiled at Charles and the Cover decided to tell Rich as much as he could before the end of lunch bell rang. Charles explained how they call him Charles and not Charlie and then he explained how he first met Camm and then James. Richard had to laugh at the part when Charles and James had to get naked and the doctor had to feel their dicks and balls. Those stories broke any divide that may have existed between Charles and Richard.
The two preteens talked through the rest of lunch, with Camm and James participating when needed. The two boys exchanged phone numbers just before the bell rang. The lads never got a chance to talk again because they sat apart in class and took different bus routes at the end of the school day.
"'Dad', 'dad'," yelled Charles, as he entered the Foyer Door.
"I'm where you'd expect I'd be," yelled back 'dad' Ken.
"'Dad', 'dad', I met a new kid at school today. I want to invite him to the picnic if I can," excitedly said Charles.
"Whoa, there sport. So, you met someone new at school and you already want him to join you and your close friends at the Labor Day Picnic? Does he know your other friends? Are there going to be any problems with the other guys if you invite this unknown to the picnic?" 'dad' Ken asked, and wanted to know.
It was then Robert entered the Study and heard the end of the conversation. He told their 'dad' what he knew about Richard but still it wasn't enough for 'dad' Ken to approve inviting the new lad just yet. He reasoned to the lads that they should get to know Richard a bit more and they could then decide to invite him. Charles wasn't pleased with his 'dad's' decision, but at least he had a few more days to get to know Rich better.
That night Charles called Cooper to ask him more about Richard and why everyone treated him the way they did. All Cooper could say was Richie came to school one day after Easter and stayed pretty much to himself, so everyone gave him his space. Coop also added that as time went on Richie never made any attempt to be friends with anyone and since he always ate such meager lunches they left him alone.
Charles also called David, Hunter, Dylan and Tyler to find out anything they might know about Richard but they couldn't add anything Cooper hadn't already told him. Charles asked all his friends to stop calling him Richie and begin calling him Richard, or at least Rich. Charles told all his friends there was more to Richard's story and just like Camm, James and him, they all needed friends, so they could be complete. The guys agreed to be friendlier towards Rich and talk to him.
At school the next day, Charles searched out Rich and found him where he noticed him the previous day. He went over to the lad and they shook hands and resumed their conversation from yesterday. As they talked, Cooper stopped by first and apologized for treating him like he didn't exist and offered Rich his hand to shake. The same thing happened nine more times as the rest of Charles' first friends came over to the lad Charles took an interest in.
"So … you had them all come over and apologize to me? What for? They'll all go back to doing what they did before you. You know that, don't you?" sarcastically said Rickard.
It was David who heard what Rich said and answered for Charles. He told Rich that after he and Charles talked last night he took it upon himself to call the rest of the guys. Dave admitted they all talked about how wrong they were by treating him the way they did and when they realized they had not only done it to him but to Camm and James, as well, they knew they had to make amends. Thus the reason every one of them were there apologizing.
Richard's mouth went wide open after hearing what David just said. He had a difficult time accepting what he heard but changed his mind after recalling what Camm and James told him about their individual stories. Camm told him how he was a loner, somewhat like Rich and was ignored by the rest of the guys. James told him the same sort of story.
Hunter then spoke up and explained how since he already had a number of friends he figured other guys would befriend Rich, but after a while and no one had, he didn't feel it was his job to do so. The twelve year old apologized for being so unfriendly and making the new kid feel like he was a nothing. A few of the other lads agreed with Hunter's way of thinking.
That conversation started the tearing down of the wall between Richard and Charles and his friends. Unfortunately, they didn't get much further as the first bell rang. And, as the previous day, Charles and Rich sat far enough away in the classroom that they could not communicate the rest of the morning.
At lunch, Charles sought out Richard and found him eating an apple at a table out in the school yard. He told his hopeful new friend to come with him and get a good lunch. Richard argued with Charles that he couldn't afford to pay him back, but Charles assured him there would be no need to pay him back.
Reluctantly, Rich agreed to let Charles buy him lunch again. The two went through the line, last, but they each got something hot and then they joined the rest of the guys at two tables Charles' friends had strategically commandeered. With Charles urging and pointing out the error of their ways, all of his friends were making up for the way they treated Richard in the past and were at least attempting to gain his trust and become his friend.
After they finished eating, the large group of lads went outside to talk some more. Dan Chassen, the teacher who helped Logan and Robert last school term, saw the larger than large group of lads walking together which piqued his curiosity so he followed them.
While Mr. Chassen was watching the boys, Robert and Eric saw him following them and wondered what he was doing, so they went over to him and asked him why he was watching his 'brother' and his friends. After a quick explanation, Robert and Eric took their teacher friend over to the large group and introduced him to Charles and the rest of his friends.
"Charles … I want you to meet one of the good guys here at school, Mr. Dan Chassen," began Robert. Then looking at Mr. Chassen he said, "I want you to meet my 'brother' Charles and his friends."
Charles and his friends were surprised by the sudden introduction but were doubly intrigued when Robert told them why the teacher was watching and following them. It was Richard who spoke up and explained why they were all together and how they were all trying to be his friend after they ignored him all last spring term.
Dan Chassen laughed at what he just heard, particularly after what he thought was about to happen. He apologized to the boys for not trusting them. It was Eric, though, who told the preteens how Mr. Chassen saved Logan from going to jail last year and how he saved him after he was beaned by an apple. Robert was present when Logan was attacked so he explained what he saw and what the aftermath was.
Upon hearing Logan had been beaned by an apple thrown by one of his fellow students and that Robert had been attacked in the cafeteria and Mr. Chassen had been there both times to protect and take care of them, Richard and Charles realized that that teacher, would be someone to go to if they needed help. Dan Chassen knew he didn't do all that he was supposed to have done but if the lads want to use him as an example, then he wasn't one to interfere. He then smiled to himself as he left the boys to their own desires.
Charles and Richard talked during the remaining time of the lunch break. Charles readily told his new friend about himself but Richard was more reserved at revealing anything about himself or his family. Rich did mention he had a younger brother, in 5th grade, but he never told Charles his name.
Charles walked into his 'dad's' Study and said, "Hey 'dad', I still want to invite Richard to the Labor Day Picnic. The guys all know him now and we are all getting to know him better. … It's just that … there is something going on with him 'dad' that I can't put my finger on. You see ahh … twice this week he only brought an apple for lunch. Oh, by the way, I bought him lunch both days. I hope I haven't used up all my 'short beer' lunch money, 'dad'," laughed Charles.
'Dad' Ken wasn't sure he heard what he did, so he asked Charles to repeat himself. After listening to a slower telling of the story, Mr. Ken was intrigued by what his 'son' told him. He then asked Charles if he could try to find out more about his new friend so he could make an informed decision about allowing him to attend the picnic.
"You just want to get someone to check him out, don't you 'dad'? Even I am intrigued by what Rich hasn't told me and how he came to live here so late in last year's school term. I have his phone number, but it is a home phone. He doesn't have a cell phone. Can that help?" finally asked Charles.
Ken Thomas hurriedly called Jules Diamond, his private investigator, and told him what he needed. Jules told him it would take some time but would hopefully have something for him by the end of the day tomorrow. After 'dad' Ken hung up he gave his 'son' a thumbs' up just as Robert walked into the Study. 'Dad' and 'son' then had to explain to Robert what they were up to and the reason behind it.
Robert couldn't believe what his 'dad' and 'brother' were up to, but he too became intrigued over Richard's story. The teen then encouraged his 'brother' to get closer to Richard and learn more. When Robert finished telling Charles what he encouraged him to do the three Covers stood back and it got very quiet. Then, all three broke out laughing at what they were all thinking that Richard was some sort of spy or someone planted at the school looking for someone.
After dinner, 'dad' Ken went into parent mode and asked his 'sons' about their homework. Robert told his 'dad' that he'd already had a few papers he needed to do by the end of the marking period, one of which had to be about a book he had yet to read. Charles said he only had reading in some of his subjects to take care of for now, but he knew he would eventually have math to work on.
'Dad' Ken used that time to talk to the boys about how important it was to get the homework done and out of the way after they got home from school. He recommended to them to start working on their homework as soon as they got home, well maybe after they had a Momma Maria snack, so they would have more time in the evening to watch TV, or a movie, or even talk on the phone with their friends.
Robert had already been there at Three Finger Cove for three marking periods so he understood what their 'dad' was talking about. Robert also still had the habit instilled into him by his real dad to work on his homework as soon as he got home. Charles, on the other hand, had done his homework as time permitted after he got back home when he lived with his mom and then at the foster homes. Charles was perplexed at what his 'dad' was trying to have him do, so he asked his 'dad' what he wanted him to do.
"Charles, as the school year moves along … well, you are going to have more and more homework and/or projects you'll need to work on. This is going to happen more and more as you move up through the grades," started 'dad' Ken. "Anyway, if you get into a good habit of when you work on all the stuff the teachers present you with you should have enough time for yourself later in the evening. But … well, if you wait until later in the night and you have a program you want to watch or places you want to go you may not get to do either of them because you will have your homework to get finished. Does that make any sense?"
Charles sat there thinking it through, but it was Robert who spoke up and told their 'dad' that he'd explain it to his 'brother', so he'd understand. The teen then said he and Charles would head upstairs and work on their homework and come back down when they were finished. The boys then left the Study, with Chief following close behind, and headed up the stairs to their rooms.