"Morning boys," announced 'dad' Ken as the lads walked into the Kitchen Nook.
"Morning 'dad'," both boys voiced as they entered the Kitchen Nook. "Morning Momma Maria," added the lads who then sat down across from their 'dad'.
"So, what do you two have planned to get into today?" asked Mr. Ken.
The lads looked at one another and Robert nodded to Charles that he should tell their 'dad' what he was planning to do.
"'Dad' … I talked to Collin last night," began Charles.
"Ohh, what did he have to say?" asked 'dad' Ken.
"Well … I called to talk to him about my surgery. I wanted to know what he thought about it. 'Dad' … he told me that he had the same kind of surgery done to him down in the Laundry Room. Is that true?" said Charles.
"Yeah, 'dad', did Doc Powers really do the surgery down in the Laundry Room?" quickly added Robert.
"What else did your older 'brother' tell you Charles. That way I can answer all the questions at one time," smiled Mr. Ken.
"Well … he told me you helped him take his showers at first … then he said he returned the favor when you got shot. He also told me Doctor Powers used more than 25 stitches to close up his butt and 25 more to close up the wounds he got when he fought the guy who was told to kill him and then dump him in the lake," replied Charles.
"Anything else?" asked Mr. Ken.
"Well … Robert and I were talking earlier and … well, Robert thinks Collin should be considered a 'hero' as he not only fought his attacker but he also swam more than a mile to get here and save his own life," added Charles.
"Oh, I see. Okay, the answer to your first question is, yes. Doctor Rick did do Collin's Surgery down in the Laundry room," started Mr. Ken.
But, before he could continue, Charles asked, "Did he use your big flood lights that are out in the garage?"
'Dad' Ken laughed at Charles's question, and then continued answering the lad's initial questions. "Boys, the answer to the lights question is, again, YES. Doctor Rick needed as much light as I could provide in order for him to do the operation. So … I went out to the garage … and I brought back both of those portable light stanchions. As for all the stitches, well, Doc Powers did what he thought was needed to stop the flow of blood from Collin's back side and the bleeding from the defensive wounds on his arms and stomach. And, for the question did I help Collin take his showers, the answer, again, is yes, I did."
"But 'dad', wasn't it … well, he wasn't your son and you didn't know him so … why did you help him take his showers?" Charles wanted to know.
"Well, 'son' the lad asked me if he could take a shower. I think he told me he felt grungy and he hadn't had a shower for more than three months. I wasn't sure he could but decided to err on the good side and ask Doctor Rick for forgiveness later. I told him not to get his backside stitches too wet and then got the shower at a good temp and helped him under the water. I swear he literally purred," explained 'dad' Ken.
"But … he was naked, 'dad'. Didn't you think that was, well, weird?" spoke up Charles.
"Charles … I don't know where this is coming from but the lad asked to take a shower. I let him. End of story," replied an almost irritated 'dad' Ken.
"Yeah … that's what he kinda told me, too. He also told me that you used to sit with him in your special chair down in the Theater. I guess like Robert does and now I do, too. … He told me that he not only watched the movie with you but he … he would tell you about the things that those men did to him … while he was held captive.
"He told me you would hold him tight when he would cry as he told you his stories. … 'Dad', he also told me in all those times you sat together, and you held him, that not once did you ever, you know, touch him where you shouldn't. 'Dad' … he also told me …well, that I needed to trust you. I'm sorry if I sounded like I don't. It's just … I still have this fear that Smokey's friends may get me and do those same things to me again," a now tearful Charles finished, as he then came running to 'dad' Ken to cry on his shoulder.
As 'dad' Ken held his 'son, Charles continued through his tears and cried, "'Dad', I really do trust you. You've done so much for me and … and you've never once tried to do anything to me. After you were shot … Collin … he told me you didn't want him to help you shower because you thought you could do it yourself. But, because you couldn't move your injured arm you relented and asked him to help you anyway. He told me you two showered together for about three weeks before your arm got good enough that you could do it yourself. He also told me you were both naked but that again nothing ever happened between you.
"I'm so sorry 'dad' … for acting the way I did. I guess I'm still afraid to be alone with men after what Smokey and his gang did to me. I hope you won't be mad at me," pleaded the youngster.
"Oh, Charles … I am not mad at you. I'll never get mad at you. But what you just told me only reinforces the reason we need to talk with one another so I can learn about your fears and expectations. Robert and I have done that, and we still do. We just need to make the time and do it together, too," explained 'dad' Ken.
"Thank you, 'dad'!" exclaimed Charles, who then hugged the man even tighter.
It was then Mr. Chris came into the Kitchen Nook to talk to Mr. Ken. He never said anything to the boys; he just went directly to his employer. The lads figured something was up so they quickly exited and went up to Charles's bedroom and did a Google search about rectum surgery.
The 'brothers' didn't find too much about the surgery Charles was going to have. They typed in a number of different search criteria but they couldn't find anything that fit exactly to what Charles surgery would entail. They did read about colon tears as well as anal and rectal surgery and Charles now knew that it was hemorrhoids that Doc Powers mentioned and not hemirods as the lad called them earlier.
Charles was as satisfied as he could be about what he found concerning his pending surgery. He thanked Robert for helping him do the search and the two decided to head down to talk to their 'dad' about letting their friends come over. When they turned the corner leading into the Kitchen Nook, they found him still talking to Mr. Chris. They waited until they saw a break in their conversation and then approached the two men.
"'Dad' … can we call our friends and tell them they can come over?" asked Robert.
"Yeah, and can I call James up and ask him over, too?" quickly asked Charles.
Mr. Chris sat there looking put out that the kids interrupted his private conversations with his boss. Facing the way they were, the boys could see the look on his face and knew he wasn't happy they interrupted him.
"Sure, I don't see why not. Give them a call and tell them to bring their swim suits along with their skateboards. I know it is lunch time so they may not be over until they've eaten. But I know you guys will get hungry after a while so plan on cooking some burgers and dogs. Make sure you let Mr. Chris and me know when you do, so we can have one or two ourselves. Will that work for you guys?" smiled 'dad' Ken, as he answered his boys' questions.
The two 'brothers' hugged their 'dad' before they exited the Kitchen Nook.
When they got far enough away from the Nook, Robert asked Charles, "Did you see the look Mr. Chris gave us when we asked 'dad' if the guys could come over?"
"Yeah, I wonder what that was all about?" replied Charles.
"And you know what? When you were gone with 'dad' yesterday, he came outside to the ramps and yelled at us, and he told us to stop making so much racket. That's what he called it. I wondered what that was all about. 'Dad' never complained about us making noise and having fun on the ramps," added Robert.
"Yeah, he seemed like a nice guy when we first met him and the few times we were around him," inserted Charles.
"Come on … let's call our friends. Are you going to call Camm as well as James?" Robert asked Charles.
"Sure, they'll both be in my class when I go to school in August, so why shouldn't I?" replied Charles.
"I don't know; I never looked at it that way. They must know one another so there shouldn't be a problem. Make sure if James is coming over to tell him to bring his swim suit besides his skateboard," Robert reminded Charles.
That said, the two lads took out their cell phones and began calling all the guys. Charles started with James and explained what they'd do when he came over. James told his new friend he'd have to ask his mom and that he'd call back in a few minutes. Charles then called Camm who was very happy he could come over again. He told Charles he thought his friend was mad at him for something, because he hadn't received a phone call yesterday. Charles then explained about his physical and Camm was happy with that information. Camm then said he'd be over about one.
Just as Charles hung up, his cell phone rang. It was James. His new friend said he wasn't sure if the number he called was right because he knew the number to Three Finger Cove was 555-2683 (Cove). The lad was glad he called the number on the Caller ID and not the house phone. The lads talked some more about the day and James said his mom would bring him over after lunch, about one o'clock. Charles was very happy his two friends would be over.
All the lad's friends began arriving close to one o'clock. They decided to be up at the Main Gate because the hired guards were still around and they didn't want there to be any problems with their friends getting into The Cove.
"Hey, Charles," called out Logan as he exited his mom's car. "I hope your physical went well yesterday."
"Yeah, I heard you had to see Doctor Powers, yesterday," Brad chimed in. "He's been my doctor since I was born. He's a good guy and I know he'll take good care of you. And hey, look what he did for Collin and now Robert."
"Yeah, thanks guys. He did a god job doing my physical. He seemed like a good guy," mildly agreed Charles.
"Did he make you drop your drawers and make you cough?" laughed Gordon.
"How'd you know?" quickly asked Charles.
"He does that to all us boys when we play sports or are his new patients and are into puberty," explained Gordon.
"Oh .., and yeah, he did and I did," laughed back Charles, not knowing what else to say.
It was then Camm got out of his mom's car and came over to Charles and hugged him. He then said, "Thank you again for asking me over, Charles."
James arrived just as Camm hugged Charles. His mom, Allison Whitely, parked the car at the gate and got out with her son. She wanted to talk to Mr. Ken about the 'play date', as she called it, so she went up to Charles as asked him to see if Mr. Ken could come up there when she noticed all the guards.
"Charles … I'm not sure it will be safe for my James to remain here. Come, James," Mrs. Whitely said as she abruptly voiced her concern.
It was Robert who went over to her and told her that the guards were a result of the altercation the night of the Carnival and that James was safer there than at the county's free skateboard ramps. The new thirteen year old also told the woman that Mr. Ken had five skateboard ramps built for him and his 'brother' and their friends to use. He also told the lady about the Water Jungle Joe and Inflatable Water Park and how they'd all be able to play on them because they were all 'industrial sized' as Robert put it. Lastly, thirteen year old Robert explained that their 'dad' had three personal water craft and when there were enough driver's over the age of eighteen they'll all get a chance to either drive them with an older person along, or they'll get pulled behind on one of the water toys designed just for that.
Still not being satisfied, Mrs. Whitley asked if she could talk to Mr. Ken. So, Robert relented and pulled out his cell phone and called Mr. Ken. He told him what was transpiring at the Main Gate and told him how Mrs. Whitely asked to speak to him. Eight minutes later both Mr. Ken and Mr. Chris arrived at the Main Gate.
While all that was happening, James had seen Camm hugging Charles and he went over to the two and said, "Cameron, what are you doing here?"
"It's Camm, Jimmy, and Charles asked me to come over. I've been here three or four times already," sarcastically replied Camm. "What are YOU doing here?"
Charles thought he saw a problem arising, so he answered for James, "I invited him, Camm. We met at Doc Powers' yesterday. Just like I met you at Penney's and invited you to come over, I did the same for James. So, you two know each other?"
"Well, yeah," started Camm, "we're in the same class at school, although we aren't good friends."
"Camm, you're not friends with any kids at school," snickered James.
"Guys, guys … James, I don't know why nobody likes Camm and I don't care. I like him and he's going to be one of my friends and I hope you are as well. I'm the new kid and I need to meet all the kids in my class and I hope everyone will like me and I'll like everyone, too. Now … let's see what 'dad' and your mom decide, James. Okay?" Charles asked his two friends.
Mr. Ken introduced Mr. Chris to Mrs. Whitely, as the Estate Manager, and explained that he would help chaperone the boys while they are there at The Cove. Allison Whitley thanked the young owner for that information, but she wanted to know more about the guards all over the place. Mr., Ken was honest and up front and told the woman that because of the altercation at the 4th of July Carnival he felt it was prudent to hire some people to keep the lookie-loos away from the property. He told her he didn't see them there long term, but for now they would help secure the property and, as an added bonus, they would also help keep the boys safe.
"Well, since you put it that way, then I guess it will be alright for my James to stay and play," announced Allison Whitely, so that everyone could hear. She then thanked Mr. Ken for introducing her to Mr. Chris and then she sauntered over to her car and drove away.
Some of the other parents, who had been dropping off their kid's during that time decided to stay and find out what the woman was talking to Mr. Ken about. They all snickered to themselves after hearing the woman announce her kid would be staying to 'play'.
"Thanks 'dad' for coming up here and talking to her," said Charles. "When she arrived she sounded like she wasn't going to let my new friend stay and have fun with us. Thank you too, Mr. Chris for coming up here, too."
'Dad' Ken hugged his 'son' and then said, "Well, what are you boys waiting for? The ramps are there waiting for you and I am sure you'll be hot soon enough that you'll want to get out on the water toys. Now let's get inside the gate and you all have some fun!"
With that said, the guards opened the gate and allowed the boys to enter The Cove's grounds as they already knew most of them by sight. They did ask James to sign in, for his first time, so the other guards would have his name and signature on file.
The lads quickly headed to the skateboard ramps. James, had only ever been to The Cove during the Holiday parties or Carnivals, lagged behind with Charles and, of course, Camm. Charles explained how they shared the skateboards so everyone got the chance to skate. He then had to explain, to James, why there were two real young kids in the group.
When the last three arrived at the ramps, James was very surprised at what he saw. Robert came over to him and explained how the ramps were built and further explained that Sam and Terran had also helped build them along with all the other boy's fathers. James now understood why the then 5th graders got to try the ramps out while none of the present 6th graders did. James then asked when it was his turn to skate.
"Hey, guys, what say we let James show us his moves? Let's see if he is any better than Charles and Camm were?" laughed Robert.
James didn't understand why Robert said what he did and the way he did it but he was anxious to try out the well talked about ramps. So, he walked over to the higher side of the half-pipe and got ready to skate down and over to the other side. All the other boys stood by and watched the novice and waited for him to do his thing.
James saw that everyone was watching and thus knew he had to do his best. He setup his board and then pushed off the higher ramp and sped down the smooth middle section. When he raced up the shorter side he did a tailslide as he slid the underside of the tail of his skateboard along the front edge of the ramp and then he raced back to the other side. At the top of the higher side he did a grind and that got him some applause for his trick. James had a mile wide smile on his face and mentally patted himself on his back for doing so well in front of all those lads. When he finally stopped all the lads went over to him and patted him on his back.
But unbeknownst to the boys over in the house, Mr. Chris could hear all their yelling and screaming as they applauded James for his board tricks, and the man was not too happy about it at all. What his employer also did not know was Chris Dominions still experienced some flash backs to his time spent in Afghanistan and Iraq. Sometimes when the veteran was exposed to lots of people and/or loud uncontrolled noise it made him not only nervous but very agitated and gave him a temper he could not always control.
Only those very close to Chris knew he was still seeing his psychiatrist regularly, attending stress management classes, and all the while receiving continuing help in trying to minimize his reactions to loud noises and large crowds. He had been taught some breathing exercises and other ways to focus his mind on innocuous things in order to put the offending items aside and allow him to refocus and settle down. The thing was, though, at The Cove, the boys constant daily screaming and yelling was more than Chris Dominions thought he'd have to deal with. Lucky for him he could leave at any time and show up for work when he needed to as long as his work was caught up or done. Remembering that, Chris decided to leave early that day.
The lad's all road their skateboards hard that afternoon and it showed as their shirts were becoming wet with sweat. It was almost three in the afternoon when Eric pulled Robert aside and asked him if they could go swimming. Robert then pulled the boys together and asked them if they wanted to swim inside or attack the floating water toys. The vote was unanimous – the floating water toys.
After the vote, the lads grabbed their bags and headed to the male changing room adjacent to the indoor pool. Along the way, Charles explained to James what would happen once they got there. It was after hearing that everyone would change into their swim suits, and he'd get to see how big all the guys 'boy parts' were, that James inwardly smiled. He wondered if anyone would get a boner and he now became anxious about what he would hopefully see.
The lads had not only changed and skinny dipped in front of everyone so often that it was second nature for them to take all their clothes off and walk out to the lockers before putting their swim suit on. James didn't know all that and when he saw the eleven year olds (Sam and Terran) walking around naked in front of their own brothers, and in front of the older boys, he thought he was dreaming.
"Hey, James," called out Charles, "you can come over here with me and Camm and change."
James smiled at the offer and hurried over to the far side of the room and put his bag down on the bench. By then Charles was almost naked and Camm was just taking his shorts off. James took his time in changing as he wanted to see all he could see. He didn't know where to look as everywhere he did look he could see the other twelve and thirteen year olds in many states of undress or already walking around naked in the room.
James was so mesmerized by seeing all the different sized 'boy parts', so much, his own 'boy part' began to rise inside his own shorts. He knew he needed to get a move on or he'd be the last one to change, but he also didn't want to walk around with his boner leading the way. When Charles and Camm went out to claim a locker, James took advantage and quickly turned towards the wall, dropped his shorts and underwear at the same time and then immediately stepped into his swim suit with none of the other boys the wiser.
"Hey, ohh, you already put your suit on," Charles said to James.
"Yeah, there were so many of you headed out to get a locker, I figured I'd get my suit on and leave more room for you all to put your suits on. That was OK wasn't it?" replied James.
"Sure," answered Charles, "we've seen each other naked, so often, it is just natural for us to walk around without our clothes on."
"Has Mr. Ken ever seen you naked?" James wanted to know.
"Yeah, silly, you were there in Doc Powers exam room," smiled Charles, at James question.
"Oh, I meant has he seen all of you guys, you know … naked down here?" James followed up.
"Well, Mr. Ken doesn't come down here if he knows we are changing. He's told me there is no reason for him to see all us younger kids without our clothes on. You know, he'll even get upset at Robert and me if he sees us walk naked back and forth between our bedrooms and the bathroom," said Charles, telling a 'white' lie in the process. He did not know how his new friend, James, would respond to knowing all the guys there often skinny dip in the indoor pool.
Charles and Camm then put on their swim suits and walked James out to the pool deck so the lad could put his clothes away. The three then walked out the side door and down to the beach. It was then James got a good look the water toys and his eyes lit up.
"Dang … Mr. Ken bought those things for you?" said a surprised James.
"Well, he didn't just buy them for me. He bought them for all of us 'brothers' and our friends to use and have fun with. We just got them the other day and have only used them once. But I'm sure as long as the weather is good and we're around here we'll get to use them," responded Charles.
"What do you mean when you said 'all of us brothers'?" asked James.
"Ohh, that's right, you don't know a lot about The Cove and the people, who are associated with it, do you?" replied Charles.
"Well, other than coming for the Holiday parties and the Carnivals I don't know anything about Three Finger Cove," said James.
"James, I only came to The Cove the day before the 4th of July Carnival. When Mr. Ken brought Robert up to his Study to meet me, I didn't know he was living here. You see, Robert and me used to live at the same foster home at one time. Well, anyway, Robert took me down to the Theater and he introduced me to all of his 'brothers', as he called them – Collin, Ryan and Eric," explained Charles.
"But they aren't brothers," exclaimed James. "Collin was kidnapped and was Mr. Ken's first foster son, I believe, and Eric, I know he lives with his mom. I don't know who Ryan really is but I think he lives with his mom, too," answered James.
"Yes, but what you don't know is that Ryan, who worked for Mr. Ken from the beginning of building The Cove and Collin both called Mr. Ken their Big Bro. Then, when those two teens got to know Eric they began calling him their 'little bro'. Then, when Robert came to The Cove, Collin and Ryan began calling him their 'little bro', too; then the same thing with me.
"Do you know what the one thing we all have in common is? … We are all 'only' children. You know, kids who don't have other real brothers and sisters. Even Mr. Ken, he's an only child, too. So, from that we all call each other 'brother'. It might sound confusing to you, but now I have three older 'brothers' I can call on if I have questions I don't want to ask my 'dad'," clarified Charles.
"There sure are a lot of things about this place that I bet hardly anyone knows. How about you Camm? Did you know all this before you got to know Charles?" honestly asked James.
"Nope, I didn't. I've learned things along the way but I haven't been coming over here all that long either, so I bet there are loads of things I could learn," replied Camm.
"Hey guys, what say we go play on the rafts and talk about this stuff, later" asked Charles.
That said, the three boys all ran into the water and swam out to the rafts.