As the Cover's and their guest retired from the Kitchen Nook, Mr. Ken asked Charles and the twins if their homework was done. Learning they still had a few more things to finish, 'Dad Ken' sent the three lads back up to their bedrooms to finish. He then told them they could find him and Robert in the Study, if they absolutely, positively needed them. Otherwise, they were to make themselves busy until he, Robert and Mr. Russell were finished.
The three youngest Covers weren't happy they couldn't listen in to what Mr. Russell and their 'dad' and 'brother' we're going to talk about, but they knew not to argue, so they headed back up to their bedrooms to finish their homework.
Mr. Ken, Stewart and Robert entered the Study and Mr. Ken closed the door.
"Hey, Kevin, have you two decided on which four friends you want to invite over on Saturday? 'Dad' will want to know before you go to school tomorrow, so it would be better if you make up your mind tonight before we go to bed," cautioned Charles.
Kevin looked to his younger twin and asked him who he wanted to invite. Kyle told his twin he didn't know and then turned the question back to his brother. For the next few minutes, the twins went back and forth as to whom they wanted to invite over on Saturday. It was Charles who recommended they put all the names into a hat and they each pull out two names reminding them that the other three would automatically be invited over on Sunday.
The twins discussed Charles recommendation and they did just that. Kevin pulled the first name out and it was Isaac. Kyle chose next and pulled Landon's name out. Kevin went next and Grant's name was picked. Kyle chose the last name and it was Blake's. That meant Nathan, Eli, along with Andrew and Nicholas, who'd already been to The Cove on a few occasions, would be asked to come over on Sunday.
Charles reminded the Twins to tell their friends they could arrive about twelve, noon, and they should have their skateboards, swimsuits and possibly a change of clothes with them. Charles also told the twins to have their friends plan to leave between 5 and 6 o'clock.
Kevin thanked his new 'brother' for helping him and his twin decide who to invite and then walked into his bedroom to complete his school assignments. Kyle also thanked Charles and he, too, went into the bedroom to complete his remaining homework assignments.
The first thing Mr. Ken did before he allowed Stewart to begin his briefing was to present the lawyer with all the findings his Estate Manager, Chris, had collected concerning the contracts where Mildred had skimmed a large sum of money. Stewart quickly read through the list and amounts and which contractor was involved. He then told Mr. Ken he would coordinate with Bill in the morning and have subpoenas written up to 'invite' the contractors to appear in court. Ken Thomas smiled at that and then asked Stewart to begin his presentation.
As the small group got close to finishing for the evening, Mr. Ken asked about Robert's countersuit and Stewart told the man that Bill Jackson wanted to talk to him and Robert on Saturday about that. Ken Thomas was OK with that and the three reviewed what they talked about.
It was close to 8 PM when the meeting in the Study was done for the evening. Mr. Ken accompanied Stewart Russell to the Foyer door just as the three lads came down the stairs. They all said good-night to the man and then followed Mr. Ken back into his Study."
"'Dad Ken' … we have decided on who to invite over on Saturday," announced Kevin.
"Yeah, Charles suggested a way for us to choose who to invite without us arguing over it. So, you wanted to know who we wanted to invite and we decided to ask Isaac, Grant, Blake, and Landon. Charles also told us to tell them to plan to arrive after twelve noon and figure on leaving between 5 and 6. Is that going to be OK with you, 'Dad Ken'?" finished Kyle.
"Yes, Kyle, that will be fine. But don't forget to tell your friends, and I mean ALL your friends to have one of their parents to call me by tomorrow night to verify the invitation. That way there will be no hard feelings if you invite them and their parents don't believe that they were invited over here. You both understand what I'm saying, don't you?" finally asked 'Dad Ken'.
The twins told their foster dad they understood and they would invite their friends' first thing tomorrow at school. Robert then spoke up and told his 'dad' that he still had homework to finish, so he got up and hugged the man and headed upstairs to his bedroom. The other Cover lads then hugged Mr. Ken and followed their older 'brother' up to the bedrooms.
When the boys left the Study, Mr. Ken quickly pulled out Megan's and Christy's phone numbers to ask them if they were available to lifeguard this whole weekend. He then checked his notes of the meeting he and Robert had with Stewart. He wanted to make sure he was comfortable with the direction his lawyers wanted to head when they refuted Mildred Johnston's accusations and then presented their defense.
Upstairs, Kevin and Kyle knocked on Charles' bedroom door. When their 'brother' let them in, the older twin again asked Charles if he would talk to him and his twin about the reason he was in the foster care system. Charles again put them off telling them he wanted Robert to be there when he did, and if the older 'brother' didn't finish in time it would just have to wait until tomorrow. Kevin wasn't happy he'd still have to wait, but he knew he would just have to wait until Charles was ready.
After the twins left his bedroom, Charles knocked on Robert's bedroom door. He wanted to talk to his older 'brother' about talking to Kevin and Kyle like he had about his entry into the foster care system. The two talked but in the end, Robert told Charles it was totally up to him if and what he told the twins. Robert said he wanted to stay neutral in his 'brother's' decision, but told him he would support him in whatever decision he made. The older Cover then when back to finishing his homework.
It was just past 9:00 PM when Robert knocked on Charles' bedroom door to let him know he was finished and wanted to know what the pre-teen had decided. Charles asked his older 'brother' in to talk. After about ten minutes, Charles decided to tell the twins why he was now living with Mr. Ken.
Charles and Robert went to the twins' bedroom and Charles knocked on the door. Kevin immediately answered the door and invited the two older boys in.
"Have you decided if you are going to talk to us, Charles?" anxiously asked Kevin.
Charles looked at Robert and then looked to Kevin and Kyle and said, "Yes."
The twins sat down on one bed while Charles and Robert sat on the other.
"OK, I want to remind you both that you CAN NOT tell anyone what I am about to tell you. And, I mean ANYONE! Do you agree NOT to talk to anyone about what I'm about to tell you?" directly asked Charles.
Kyle looked to his brother Kevin and getting a nod answered for both of them by saying, "Yes, we understand what you are saying, and we agree not to talk to anyone about what you tell us just as we agreed not to talk to anyone about what Robert told us the other day."
Charles wasn't taking any chances and asked Kevin, directly, to answer out loud that he agreed. The older twin said he did.
"Alright," said the pre-teen, as he let out a big breath, "where do I begin? … OK, well, I lived with my mom in an apartment. We weren't rich or anything, but I'd guess we did OK. As time went on … my mom started using marijuana. I could smell it when she used it and when I said something to her about it, she said she was doing it just for fun, to relax. That went on for a long time.
"Then she started dating. Some of the men she dated were losers. At least that was what I told her. She dated some more, but then she started dating a man who rode a motorcycle. He was ok. At least he did some things with me. He let me ride with him and he took me to a few places. The thing that I wasn't aware of until later was that my mom had started using heavier drugs.
"As she started using the other drugs … she started missing work and we didn't eat as well. The neighbors saw what was happening and some of them would invite me over for dinner so I would have a good meal now and then. But as time went on, my mom … she got hooked on worse drugs and it wasn't until later that I found out her biker friend … he was the one who got her hooked on the heavier drugs.
"Then, what I found out later was … her biker friend began using her to deliver the drugs and collect the money. She had lost her job by then because she was using drugs more and more, and she needed a way to pay the rent and buy food. That was whenever she thought about it. To do what she had to do, she'd be gone very late at night, and I'd be left home alone by myself. Then as she used the drugs she got what they call 'strung out' and sometimes she slept all day. There was nothing I could do. I still went to school, but by then I didn't have good or even clean clothes.
"As time went on, Smokey demanded more and more of my mom to drop off his drugs and pick up the money. Her drug habit … it got to be so bad she started taking me, I was only eleven at the time, to the places to make the drug drops and pick up the money. I thought we'd be caught one day and then I'd have to go to juvie for what she made me do."
"Did you say … Smokey? Wasn't that the biker … who was killed right after the 4th of July?" asked an astonished Kevin.
"What do you know about Smokey?" quickly asked Charles.
"He was the biker dude, and I think his friends, who got into a gun battle with the Sheriff's deputies," replied Kevin.
"Hey, wasn't it he and his friends who were arrested for trying to crash a 4th of July party or picnic?" followed up Kyle.
Charles looked to Robert to see if he should answer their questions. All Robert told him was he started to tell them his story and that definitely was part of it.
"Guys, it is VERY important THAT you NEVER, EVER tell or talk to ANYONE about what I am going to tell you! You hear me?" said Charles, louder than he had intended.
"If I ever hear that you have I'll … I'll talk to 'dad' to have you sent away and split up!" promised Charles.
"Why? Why would you do that to us? WE haven't done anything to you!" yelled Kyle.
"Because … what I am going to tell you is so SECRET that … that it could get me … killed! That's why!" replied a now teary-eyed Charles.
"Killed?" the twins said simultaneously. "Bu but how?" asked Kyle.
By then Robert had pulled his 'brother' to him and held him while the pre-teen cried on his shoulder.
"Guys," started Robert, but Charles stopped him.
"Kevin … Kyle … … Smokey … he already tried to … to kill me … once already! And even though he was killed by the police … some of his friends are still out there … and they … they could be out there looking for me because of what I told Sheriff Barnes," explained Charles.
Hearing what they did, the twins went over to Charles and hugged him tightly.
"We're sorry, Charles. We promise we'll NEVER tell anyone about what you just told us," spoke the twins at the same time.
It was then that 'Dad Ken' came knocking on the twins door. Kyle opened the door for him.
"Guys … what's … why's Charles crying?" asked the man, as he went to his 'son' to comfort him.
"'Dad'," started Charles, "Kevin and Kyle … they … they wanted to know why I was in the foster care system so … I was telling them," offered Charles, while sniffing his nose.
"I didn't intend to mention Smokey's name, but when I did they … they asked me if that was the same guy who was killed by the police and … and if he was the one who tried to crash the 4th of July Picnic. Thinking about what almost happened to me made me cry, 'dad'."
"'Dad' he told us that Smokey tried to kill him and … and his friends might want to try to kill him if they ever found him," offered Kevin.
"Is that … true?" honestly asked Kyle.
"Charles … is this something you want them to know?" asked a concerned Mr. Ken.
"Yeah, 'dad' if they are going to be my 'brothers' then … then they should know something about me. I didn't intend to tell them about what happened on the 4th of July but … well, they already knew about Smokey. It's just that … when I told them he tried to kill me and that his friends would too, if they ever found me," explained Charles, "that I began to cry."
"OK, I think I understand. Are you finished with your story Charles, because it is getting late and you guys have school tomorrow?" asked 'Dad Ken'.
Kevin and Kyle looked to Charles hoping for him to continue his story, but Charles said he'd finish it tomorrow. The twins said they were disappointed but that they understood. The Covers shared 'good night' hugs with one another and Robert and Charles headed to their own bedrooms.
'Dad' Ken followed Charles into his room to talk to him a little more. What they didn't do was close the bedroom door when they walked in.
"Charles … it is up to you who you share your life with, but I want to make sure you're not doing it just because Kevin and Kyle are pestering you to tell them. They've only been here a week now and I don't think you've shared any of your story with anyone else, other than your older 'brothers' yet," counseled Mr. Ken.
"'Dad', they are going to be my 'brother's' until next June and we'll all be living in this big house the whole time so … well, I think it is better they know my story. That way they'll understand if things go haywire along the way," replied Charles.
"I'd only gotten to the part that Smokey tried to kill me when I started to think about him holding that knife to my throat that I began to cry. I never told them about that … and us having to hide until they caught Smokey and his gang. 'Dad' I think it would be good for them to know what they could be in for if some of Smokey's friends ever find out I am living here and come after me," finished Charles, who then ran to this 'dad' to hug him. "'Dad' … do you think that's the right thing to do?"
"Charles, I am glad you decided to stop telling your story. I think after you sleep on it tonight you'll have a better perspective in the morning. But … I don't want you to dwell over this. If tomorrow you decide to finish your story to the twins that will be up to you. I won't stop you. I do hope you've stressed to them they shouldn't talk to anyone about you or what happened to you," said 'dad' Ken.
"I have already, 'dad'. I did stress to them that if they ever told that I'd talk to you about sending them away and splitting them up. … I guess … that wasn't such a nice thing to say, was it? But … well, I wanted to make sure they wouldn't tell anyone," meekly let slip Charles.
'Dad' Ken grabbed his 'son' up into a big hug and the lad melted into his arms and began to cry.
"Why … why 'dad' did this happen to me? I didn't ask for all this to happen to me, 'dad'!" cried Charles.
"I don't know, Charles; I just don't know! … Sometimes … bad things happen to good people and … and, well … it tends to make them stronger as they grow up. I hope that is true 'son' because after all that has happened to you, I am sure you will be a 'force' to be reckoned with in time to come, I am sure!" counseled 'dad' Ken, as he continued to hold his foster son.
When 'dad' and 'son' released their hug they saw Kevin and Kyle were standing there with their mouths wide open.
"We're sorry for listening in 'Dad', the door was open and … we didn't know how long you were going to be talking to him, so we waited," started Kyle, "But … well … we wanted to come to Charles to tell him we won't say anything to anyone about what he already told us and that if he didn't want to tell us anything more than we would understand. We saw how just talking about what brought him into the foster system made him and we don't want him to have to think about it any more than he has to."
Charles went over to the twins and pulled them into a hug.
"Thank you, Kyle, for saying that. You heard much of what happened after they brought me here and as 'dad' asked me, I'll sleep on it tonight and decide tomorrow if I am going to tell you the rest. There really isn't all that much more to tell, but still … I want to think it over," replied Charles.
"Hey, why is everybody in here?" asked Robert, who stopped by Charles' room as he was going to the bathroom.
"Hi, Robert," started Charles, "'dad' stopped in my room to talk to me about me telling the twins my story. We didn't close the door and Kevin and Kyle came over to tell me they wouldn't tell anyone about what I told them but then they heard what 'dad' had to say. Sorry we didn't invite you, but I didn't know it would be this crowded," now laughed Charles.
"OK, boys … I think it's time for bed. How about you all drain your dragons and head off to bed. You all have school tomorrow. Kevin, Kyle … let Charles decide if he wants to continue his story. If he does, he'll let you know. If he doesn't say anything to you, then please don't bug him about it! … Do you hear me, boys?" finished 'Dad Ken'.
Kevin looked to his twin and using twin speak, Kevin looked to their new 'dad' and said they understood.
Charles hugged Mr. Ken one more time before heading to the bathroom to relieve any excess water he may have. His 'brothers' had already beaten him there. Before long all four foster brothers were fast asleep.
Mr. Ken stopped in his Study before heading off to bed himself. He made a note to talk to Doctor Doug about Charles. Then, he made a note to call Dan to see if he had found out any more information about Judge Terryman.
The Cover lads slept pretty well that night. Charles did have a few bad dreams over his retelling of his story and Kevin had a dream concerning him and his dad, but it wasn't anything like the one that woke him up in a cold sweat. Robert and Kyle slept without any interruptions.
At breakfast, 'Dad Ken' reminded the twins to tell their friends to have their parents call him by that evening to confirm the invitation and to let him know if the boy was indeed coming over on either Saturday or Sunday. The twins said they understood.
Robert added that his new 'brothers' had to remind their friends to bring their skateboards, swimsuits and a change of clothes if they wanted. The four Cover lads had a laugh over that after Charles told everyone he had told the twins that same thing only last night.
Before long, the Cover boys headed up to the Bus Stop and another exciting day at school.
As soon as the twins arrived at school, they gathered their friends together and told Isaac, Landon, Grant, and Blake that they could come over tomorrow, Saturday, but they had to get their parents to call The Cove and talk to their 'dad'.
Nathan and Eli were a bit disappointed they couldn't come over on Saturday, but their spirits picked up when they heard they could come over on Sunday. Kevin and Kyle also told Nicholas and Andrew they too could come over on Sunday, but they all had to have their parents call Mr. Ken that night to coordinate their coming over. The eight lads were all smiles when they went into their classroom that morning.
Just as the twins caught up with their new friends, Charles was catching up with his friends. As they gathered together the Cover told them about Kevin and Kyle getting to invite two friends, each, on Saturday and Sunday and that the ramps might be a bit more crowded on those days.
It was while Richard was walking over to join up with Charles, and their group of friends, when a much older teen abruptly stopped him by grabbing his shirt and pulling the much smaller lad to him and almost lifting him off the ground.
"Listen up Richie … you got a friend of mine in trouble and I don't like it. You better stay clear of her and me if you know what's good for you! Do you hear me?" screamed the older teen.
"I didn't get anyone in trouble," argued back Richard, while his heart began beating faster. "I don't even know who you are talking about. Anyway, most of the kids … they ignore me so how could I have gotten someone into trouble?"
"Just stay out of her and my way!" reiterated the older teen.
"I will, I promise I will. But … ca can you tell me … who you are you talking about and … and who you are?" gulped out Richard.
"You stay away from Leah, you hear me?" yelled the teen.
"Yeah … I'll, I'll stay away from her," agreed Richard, who was beginning to sweat because he was now so scared. "But … wha what is your name? You don't go to school here too, do you?"
"What my name is isn't important. You stay away from Leah," repeated the older teen. He then added, "And TELL your boyfriend, Charles, to stay away from her, too!" The older teen then walked away after shoving Richard hard.
Richard quickly went to find Charles and the rest of the boys.
"Charles, Charles," called out Richard, as he ran to find his friend.
Charles and the rest of his friends heard Rich calling out and looked in his direction. What they saw was a disheveled shirted lad running with tears in his eyes. They turned to run to meet the distraught lad.
"Rich, what happened to you?" quickly asked Charles.
"Charles … some older kid … who I know doesn't go to school here … he stopped me and then grabbed me by the shirt and he almost lifted me off the ground," an almost breathless Richard got off. "I … I thought he was going to beat me up. He told me, he told me … I got his friend into trouble and that he didn't like it.
"I … I asked him who his friend was and he said, he told me it was … it was Leah. Charles … he also told me … he told me to tell you to 'stay away' from her, too. Then, he shoved me as he was holding onto my shirt. I think he may have ripped it some. I know a button did fly off," finished Richard.
"OK, Rich, try to settle down. What did this kid look like? You said he doesn't go to school here. How do you know that?" asked Charles.
Rich took a few deep breaths and then told the group of 7th-grade boys that the teenager was tall, about six feet tall, and that he had acne on his cheeks and his hair was dirty blonde. Rich told them he knows the teenager didn't go to school there because he remembered the teen was an 8th grader there last year.
After hearing what Richard had to say, the group of 7th-grade boys all looked to one another trying to decide what they needed to do and how they would be able to have Rich's and Charles' back.
"Guys … we need to go tell Mr. Chassen," spoke up Charles.
Some of the lads didn't think that was a good idea and they said 'No' out loud, but Charles began walking away and taking his friend Rich with him. The other boys wanting to know what Mr. Chassen would do quickly followed along.
Mr. Chassen was watching the twins group and didn't see the altercation between the older teen and Richard. That was why he was caught off guard when the large group of 7th-grade boys approached him.
"Mr. Chassen," called out Charles, just as the first bell rang.
"Oh, hello Charles, that was the first bell and you should all head to your classrooms," replied Dan Chassen.
"Mr. Chassen," got out Charles a little louder, but again Mr. Chassen told the boys to head to their classrooms
"Mr. Chassen," again said Charles, but that time a whole lot louder.
"Boys … just go to your classrooms," replied a little bit irritated teacher.
"Mr. Chassen, Richard … he was attacked! " screamed Charles, at the top of his lungs.
Dan Chassen then took a quick look at Richard and immediately told the boys to hurry into the school. He then pulled out a small transmitter that allowed any teacher to press its activation button to place the school into a Lock-Down scenario.
Upon hitting his transmitter, a special alarm sounded throughout the entire school and all external doors were automatically locked and the Sheriff's office was immediately notified by a special signal.
The boys waited for Mr. Chassen just inside the school door and held the door open for him. Upon catching up with the boys, he had them hurry along with him to Principal Chadwick's office to explain the situation.
The automatic 'Lock-Down' signal sent out to the Sheriff's office only told them someone had pressed a transmitter. The Sheriff's office had to call the school to find out what the situation was while they simultaneously sent the deputies there. Lieutenant Fischer was just going off duty when he was notified of the emergency signal and was told to proceed to the school.
The twins had never gone through any 'Lock-Down' training at their old school and they were frightened when the alarms went off in the school, and especially when their teachers had their students take cover under their desks and then she locked the door.
Dan Chassen arrived at the Administration Office, with a large group of students, and told Mrs. Andrews, the principal's secretary, he needed to talk to Principal Chadwick immediately. But the school's secretary wouldn't allow the teacher into her office as she told him the Principal was coordinating with the Sheriff's Office at the time.
Dan ignored the secretary and went to the door and opened it and told Abigail Chadwick he was the one who pressed the panic button because a student had been attacked out in the yard. That stunned Principal Chadwick, but she was quick to recover and told that to the Sheriff's office.
By that time four Sheriff Deputy squad cars had arrived at the school to establish a perimeter and control any crowd that might materialize. Additional squad cars and a command Post vehicle were also in route.
"Mr. Chassen, why are those boys with you?" asked Principal Chadwick.
"Abigail, Charles told me that Richard … Richard Longger was attacked. When I looked at him and saw his appearance I made the decision to lock-down the school," hurriedly replied Dan Chassen.
All comments are encouraged. You may email Chowhound at: Chowhound