Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2010 04:43:56 EDT From: Bwstories8@aol.com Subject: The Castaway Hotel: Grand Reopening - Book 8, Background The Castaway Hotel: Grand Reopening --Book 8 - by BW Copyright 2009 by billwstories Chapter 3 -- A New Friend and a Prankster. **Author's Note:** Please read the disclaimer in Chapter 00 before you read this. "Anyway," Duck continued, "I made it to the highway and tried to hitch a ride. It wasn't easy, because no one does that much any more. I suspect that after hearing all the news stories about the terrible things that have happened when people help strangers, nearly everyone is afraid to stop and let someone they don't know into their car or home. "After trying for a really long time, a trucker finally stopped to pick me up. He looked like a very rough and crude type of guy, kind of like my father, so I was a little scared about accepting a ride from him at first and didn't get right in. Seeing my reluctance, he rolled down the passenger side window and asked where I was going. At first I didn't say anything, but he didn't seem like a bad guy, so I told him I'd go wherever he was heading. I also said the farther away he could take me, the better it would be. "The trucker looked puzzled and maybe unsure that he wanted to get involved at that point, so he asked me why I wasn't in school. I lied and told him I was sixteen and had dropped out of school and was now planning to go someplace where I could start over again and maybe even get my G.E.D. He asked me why I couldn't do that where I was, so I told him my father was pissed because I'd quit and threw me out of the house. He nodded slightly, as he thought he was beginning to understand my situation. "He told me to hop in and treated me really well from that point on. He bought my meals for me and even let me stay with him until we got to the end of his run. Then, he told me he would be heading back to his home, now that he'd delivered his load and picked up his return cargo, so he wanted to know what I planned to do. When I said I wasn't sure, he gave me a choice. "He offered to let me stay with him and told me I could either work on my G.E.D. or get a job. Either that or I could just get out where we were and try to make it on my own -- whichever I wanted. After thinking it over, I took him up on his offer and rode back with him. I didn't really have any other options at that point. I knew there was a risk involved and I might end up being his captive, but he had just made me feel so good while I was with him that I thought I'd give it a try. "I ended up staying with him for a couple of years, but I know if I hadn't met up with him, I probably wouldn't have survived. If I had been out on the street on my own, I could have gotten sick, been injured or even died along the way. Instead, I got my G.E.D., and while I was still living with him, I enrolled in a two-year college and got my associates degree. After that, I transferred to a four-year college in a nearby city. I thanked him for all he had done and then went to live in the dorms. I ended up getting my bachelor's, but without his help, I'd never have done it." "Duck, how old are you?" I asked him, since I didn't think he looked old enough to have done that much already. "I'm almost 26," he grinned. "I know. I look like I'm eighteen or nineteen. Everyone tells me that, but I'm really much older. Honest," he added, holding up his hand, like he was being sworn in for a trial. We all chuckled at his antics. "Okay, we believe you," I told him, after looking at my sons. He smiled back at us. "Anyway, that guy saved my life and gave me a chance to become something, so I was just trying to pass along the favor, so to speak, by helping your son." He looked at Vinnie and smiled. "I'm just glad his situation was better than mine and he didn't need to go on alone." "Duck, you are a truly amazing young man and I'm very impressed. I'm also going to tell you my family and I will always be there for you, should you need anything… anything at all." At that moment, I took a notepad and pen out of my pocket and jotted down our names, address and several phone numbers, so he'd have them if he ever needed anything or just wanted to contact us. After explaining what each number was for -- home, office, my cell phone, Vinnie and Kevin's cell phones -- I took out another piece of paper and had him do the same for me. After we exchanged this information, I let the boys tell him a little about our family until our meals arrived. The food was very good and I let everyone have wine with their dinner, which came as a surprise to Duck. He didn't expect me to allow Kevin and Vinnie to have the wine too, even though they were both over eighteen. I told him I allow all of my sons to have wine on special occasions, which he seemed to approve of, and then we continued to explain a little more about the family. After finishing our meals and having dessert, I ordered Duck and myself an after dinner drink and the other pair had another soda each. While we were relaxing, Kevin and Vinnie went on to tell Duck a little more detailed information about themselves. Once they finished their personal stories, I informed Duck he was welcome to visit any time, for either a short or long term stay. He thanked me for the offer and said he might just do that. He then asked if it would be all right to visit us around the holidays, since those were the times when it was the roughest for him to be alone. He even admitted when the holidays rolled around, he missed not having a family the most. I told him he was more than welcome to join us for all of the holidays, and not just for some of them. I then went out of my way to let him know he could stay with us for as long as he wished, even if it was for a week or more, if that suited his schedule. I also reminded him it would be a two to three hours drive each way, so he should leave early in the day and then spend as much time as he felt comfortable with, before returning. Somewhat confused by my offer, he asked how we could allow him to stay so long with all the boys we had living in the house. I merely replied there was always room for one more and then went on to explain how the boys paired up when we had company, such as when my biological children came to stay for a while. He just smiled and said that sounded neat and he looked forward to seeing us, maybe at Easter, if that would be acceptable. When I told him we'd have it no other way, his smile widened and he thanked us all again. After leaving the restaurant, we went back to Duck's place for a little while and talked some more about many different topics. Finally, we realized it was getting late and we were all tired, so we said good night and went to check into a motel. Duck had offered to let us stay there, but we told him there was no way he had enough room for all of us, so we got a room, with two double beds. Kevin and Vinnie took one and I was alone in the other. I think the boys waited until I fell asleep before they did anything, but I could detect the smell of sex in the air the next morning, when I awoke. I hoped they'd had fun. After cleaning up and dressing, we checked out and then called Duck, to ask him if he'd like to join us for breakfast. He was a little hesitant at first, and I surmised he didn't want to take advantage of our generosity or wear out his welcome, so I told him we'd be disappointed if he said no. After another slight hesitation, he agreed, so I drove back to pick him up. Duck was out front, waiting for us, as I pulled in. He had an ear-to-ear grin on his face. "I wasn't sure I'd see you again so soon," he announced, as he climbed into the front seat. "This sure beats eating alone at my place." I nodded and then asked him to direct us to an establishment that served a decent breakfast. That's when he told me he knew just the place. It was a small local diner that was very busy, which was a good sign. We had to wait a while for a table, since the Sunday church crowd was already out and about, but we didn't mind. When a table opened, it happened to be in a back corner, which gave us some privacy. Once we were seated and had placed our orders, I decided to ask Duck a few more questions. "Duck, do you attend church on a regular basis?" I wondered. "Not really," he admitted. "I went with my mom every Sunday when I lived at home, but I kind of gave up going, once I was on my own." "I make sure my family attends every week," I explained and this is one of the few Sundays we haven't done that in quite a while." Duck looked at me, and then at Vinnie and Kevin, before he responded. "I wouldn't mind going with you when I visit," he told me, "but I don't really want to go to a strange place like that by myself. My girlfriend doesn't go either, but if I went with your family, I'm sure I could handle it." "Then we look forward to you joining us," I replied, with a smile, just before the waitress showed up with our meals. While we ate, I also mentioned to Duck about our St. Patrick's Day plans. "How would you feel about joining us and being a leprechaun for a day?" Duck looked a little surprised and didn't respond right away. It was a good thing too, because our waitress showed up to refill our drinks and ask if we needed anything. Once she left, Duck finally answered. "I'm sure you've already made your plans and they don't include me," he stated, with a touch of sadness in his tone. "We can always squeeze in one more," I replied, "if you don't mind sharing a bed with one or two of my sons. It will only be the younger boys, which means the high school seniors on down, so if that doesn't bother you, we'd love to have you join us." Duck seemed even more startled by this comment. "Oh, I'm not sure Kevin and Vinnie would be willing to have me in the room with them, as it might cramp their style, and I don't know your other sons yet. I'm not sure they'd like the idea of sharing a room with a stranger, so maybe I should wait until after we've gotten to know each other first," he answered. "I'm sure the others would welcome the opportunity to have you come along, once they saw you," I responded. "I'm sure they wouldn't mind, but Kevin and the other college boys won't be with us. They'll still be at school, but the rest of us would love to have you come along." "You might even get molested," Vinnie teased, "but not by me. I only do things with Kevin, but the others probably will jump your bones, if you're agreeable." Duck looked at him, with his mouth agape. "Many of the others are gay or bi too," Vinnie explained, "and you're very cute, so they might want to try something with you." "You're joking, right?" Duck shot back. "He's not," Kevin agreed, "and that's why I was so worried when I first saw you. You are so handsome that I was afraid Vinnie had done something with you when he stayed at your place, but I know better now." "I might have, if I wasn't so damn depressed about you," Vinnie teased back. "In fact, I should have done something with Duck, even if it was just to get even with you for what you did." Kevin looked horrified by the thought, but then realized Vinnie was just getting in his digs while he had the chance. "Well, I'm sure some of the others might do it, if Duck is agreeable," Kevin stated. "Dad doesn't mind if we do things, as long as both guys agree and no one is forced or gets hurt." "Well, depending on what your brothers are like, I probably wouldn't have to be forced," Duck said, with a huge smile. "After that first guy, I've been too scared to try anything like that again, but if I found someone who was willing, and we hit it off, then I might just go for it." "Like I said, only the younger boys will be with us and I don't know how you'd feel about doing anything with someone that much younger than yourself," I stated, "but if they're willing, it's not a problem with me. However, everyone will be home for Easter." "I won't decide yet," Duck replied, "but you might be right. I've always gotten along well with younger guys, but I'm not sure about messing around with one. One of the older boys might work though." "Then you'll have to agree to join us," I insisted. "We'll drive by and pick you up on our way to Chicago and you'll have a great time." "Okay, I'm willing, if you're sure," he answered. "I am, so I'll be in contact with the details," I added. We finished up and the waitress came by to ask if we wanted anything else. When I responded, "Only the check," she hurried off to calculate it, so she could bring it to me. After settling up, we took Duck back to his place and bade him farewell. I told him I needed to get home as quickly as I could, because I had a lot to do, including taking Kevin back to college before I returned to work tomorrow. Duck said he understood and thanked us for all we had done, but I told we had enjoyed our time with him too. We each hugged him good-bye, even Kevin, and then we set off on our return trip. Kevin and Vinnie rode in back and were all over each other the entire way home. It was mostly just kissing, hugging and a little petting, but never went much further than that. Even though it was quite restrained, it definitely showed they had put the past behind them and moved on. During the trip, all I could think about was Duck and what that poor boy had been through. I hoped he still had a way to contact the trucker who helped him, because I was going to suggest he write the guy a letter or call him or something, just to let him know how much his kindness had meant. Duck should also let him know how well he had done since that time, if he hadn't done so already. Knowing a little about Duck though, I reasoned he most likely has kept in contact or found another way to thank the guy. However, I would check anyway, just to make sure, and suggest it, if he hadn't. I would also see to it that Duck was included for every holiday and became a part of our family. In fact, I couldn't wait for Easter, when I would get the chance to introduce him to our extended family. I'm sure he'll get along well with the entire group. I'm also certain he'll be a big hit with the boys when he joins us for St. Patrick's Day, but I will warn them, in advance, that Duck is bi, but seems to prefer girls. In fact, maybe he and Mark will hit it off, seeing they are closer in age, and maybe they'll even go on double-dates together. We finally arrived home shortly after midday, but we soon discovered things weren't quiet or completely under control. The day had started off okay for the rest of the family and Jake had taken everyone to church. However, once the service had ended, they surprised Jake and talked him out of going somewhere for brunch. It turned out that some of the boys were suffering greatly during the church service and didn't think they could also to sit through our normal Sunday outing, so Jake took pity on them and brought them back home. They just happened to be pulling into our driveway about the same time we were and Jake immediately filled me in about what had happened while we were gone. It seems that sometime before they left for church, our mad, anonymous prankster had struck again. It was obvious someone other than Ricky was managing these stunts, because he was still away at college, but none of us had any idea who was bucking for Ricky's title as our most infamous prankster. Anyway, this time that person had set up Andrew, Graham and Little Ricky. The amazing part was that no one was aware that anything was amiss until everyone was in church and sitting in our normal pew. It was then that the three targets began to wiggle uncomfortably in their seats and Jake asked them what was wrong. They said they felt a burning sensation around their privates and butt and had tried to rub or scratch it, but it just got worse. After the service, they were in pain, so Jake opted to bring them directly home. Now that they were back, we soon discovered what had been wrong. While those three individuals had been showering, someone had smeared a layer of odorless Ben-Gay on the crotches of their underwear. It took some time for enough of it to transfer to their skin and make them uncomfortable, and that didn't happened until they were in Church. Whenever the boys rubbed or scratched the area, more of the substance was moved to their skin, thus making the heat generated from it more intense. Once the boys got home, they ran to change, but that's when they encountered the follow-up pranks. The first to discover the second foul deed was Andrew. After getting home from church, he stripped and changed his clothes, but as he slipped on his jogging shoes, he found they had been filled with shaving cream. However, he wasn't the only one to learn he'd been had again. Still being fairly new to all of this, Little Ricky didn't realize it could get worse and was soon in even more discomfort than he was before. What happened was this. Little Ricky went to the bathroom and tried to wash off the effected area with a wet washcloth, but didn't realize that moisture would intensify the heating effect of what had been used. Now, he was hopping around, in even greater discomfort, and swearing about the person who had set him up. I heard Little Ricky screaming about his predicament and the person who had pulled this off, so I went to assist him. After realizing what was wrong, I handed him a dry towel and told him to just try and rub the substance off instead. That did help, but the damage had already been done. After going back to his room, Little Ricky quickly discovered that wasn't the only way he'd been had. He now discovered all of his clothes were also missing and he had nothing to put on. Someone had taken everything he owned from his dresser drawers and closet and hidden them somewhere. I don't know who is responsible for this, but it's obvious that person had really planned ahead. I asked Graham to go to his room and get something he could loan Little Ricky to wear, until we located his belongings. That was when Graham discovered that someone had tied the legs of all his jeans and the arms of his sweatshirts and flannel shirts into double knots. After Graham retrieved some clean underwear for both of them, the duo sat down and began to untie a few of the knots, so they could get dressed again. I had to admit this joke had been well thought out and executed, but the most amazing thing was that none of us had any idea who the mastermind behind all these stunts was. Jake and I sat down to discuss the possibilities, but we couldn't come up with anyone who would fit the profile. We were at a total loss as to whom we might even suspect, especially since each of them had been a victim at one time or another. Getting back to the situation at hand, we got things calmed down and fixed everyone something to eat. This seemed to help, because boys with full stomachs are less cranky than hungry ones, so the tension began to lessen. Even though everyone wanted to know who was doing all of this and were making their own plans to pay him back, in kind, it was now being done in a lighter and less physically threatening tone. Once our meal concluded, I had a chance to sit down and relax for a short time. As I did, something came to mind. Even though I had enough birthdays to acknowledge with my boys, I wasn't oblivious to other special days. Today was March 7th and that meant a birthday was being celebrated and I was going to miss out being part of it. Today, my grandson Jordan was turning 11. I thought about calling, to wish him a happy birthday, but I wasn't sure how the phone call would be received. His father was among the most adamant about my lifestyle and was equally as firm in his stance about not wanting me to have anything to do with his child any longer. Therefore, I feared such contact would end up ruining Jordan's special day and creating more problems than it was worth. Instead, I made a resolution. I was going to make an appointment with my attorney and do something I had been contemplating for quite some time. I would call him this week to set it up. Once that issue had been resolved, at least as well as circumstances allowed, I summoned Kevin. I told him to get his things together, so I could take him to catch the bus back to school. Hearing this, Frankie offered to drive him there for me, since I had already driven so far. He figured I could use the help and some additional rest, so I accepted and thanked him for his offer. Kevin and Vinnie disappeared for a short time, to say their good-byes and grab the rest of Kevin's belongings. When they returned, both boys looked a little sad, but at least things were back to normal and they were once again confident in their love for each other. The Castaway Hotel: Grand Reopening --Book 8 - by BW Copyright 2009 by billwstories Chapter 4 -- The Farm-Home Takes Shape. Even though Kevin and Vinnie had said their good-byes, Vinnie still hounded me about letting him go with them. Since I knew the two boys wouldn't be seeing each other for a few weeks, I ended up giving Vinnie permission to ride along to the bus station. I did this only after he promised all of his homework was finished and he was nearly caught up with the assignments he had fallen behind on while he was away. After Frankie, Kevin and Vinnie left, I went to the computer, to check out my emails. Going through them, I discovered a message from Lester Foote. He and his wife, Tammy, were the couple who were going to supervise the home on the Becker's old farm, so I concluded he was sending me this email to advise me how everything was progressing. Josh, I just wanted to let you know how things are going here. The renovations on the house are done and the rest of the work is nearly completed too. My wife and I moved in last weekend and your friend, Sally Swarthout, has already introduced us to several young people who want to come live on the farm with us. They seemed to understand the hard work they will be required to do and it doesn't appear to bother them, so they started moving in on Monday. My wife and I are both excited about this and things are going well. So far, we've taken in five boys and a girl, all between the ages of fourteen and seventeen. We thought it best to start with the older children, so they could learn how to do all the things that will need to be done around the farm. After they get used to living and working here, then maybe we'll take on some younger children, and then the older ones can give us a hand instructing them about what they need to do. We've got things planned out pretty well and have managed to keep both farms running in the meantime. The thing is, after talking it over with my wife, we've come up with another idea for you to consider. Seeing there are two farms, with two homes, we thought it might be a good idea to use one house for the boys and the other for the girls. That way, it might eliminate the temptation between the various sexes for some late night get-togethers. Seeing our old house is a little smaller than what the Becker place is now, we thought it would work for the girls. If there weren't enough young ladies to fill the house up, then you might want to include some younger children there as well. When the younger boys get older, they could be moved to the house my wife and I run, but I think this would be a more prudent way to proceed and eliminate potential problems. Of course, you would need another couple to supervise the other house and we don't want to create problems for you or your foundation, but we think this would really be for the best. Please think it over and let me know what you decide. We'll handle everyone in the same house, if you think it's best, but we're just worried it would open a whole can of worms if one of the girls got pregnant or claimed she was sexually accosted by one of the boys. Your friends, Lester and Tammy Foote After reading the email, I went out and discussed Lester's ideas with Jake. "Jake, I just got an email from Lester Foote and his wife, and they suggest we should consider having separate homes for the guys and the girls. What do you think?" "I think he may be right," Jake told me. "I don't want to sound hypocritical, because we allow the boys to have sex with each other here, but I think we've got to be careful about the guys and girls having sex at the farm-home. If that happened and word gets out, it could cause considerable problems for the foundation and might even get the place closed down." "The difference is," Jake continued, "we don't have to worry about the boys getting pregnant and having babies, but it's a whole other ballgame with the young ladies. I hope it doesn't sound like I'm using a double standard here, but I think we should consider Lester's idea." "I know," I agreed, "and Lester mentioned the potential problems too. It is something we have to be concerned about, because I don't want the group home or Foundation to be engulfed in controversy or scandal. Lester thinks we can fix up his old place to house the girls and maybe some younger children." "Do you think the Foundation could handle the expense of fixing up his old home as well?" Jake shot back. "I don't think money is the issue here," I replied. "We'll find a way to cover the expense, so it just boils down to doing what is right and best for everyone involved." "Then I agree with Lester," Jake admitted. "I think it would be safer to have the boys and girls at least spend the nights in separate facilities. They can work together during the day, but they would still need to be closely supervised, and then separated after dark. I think that would help eliminate most of the late night rendezvous and sex escapades if we add the deterrent of having to travel between the two places, since they aren't really that close to each other. Hopefully, the kids will think it's too far to go just to hook up." "Yes, you have a point," I agreed. "Another thing you might want to consider is splitting the workload between the two farms. You could put the hogs, beef cattle and some of the horses over on the girls' farm and they can do the chores involved with their care." "Do you really think the girls will be able to handle seeing the beef cattle and hogs killed for food?" I challenged. "The animals can be taken to the slaughter house for the hard part and then the meat could be brought back and kept in the freezer," Jake suggested. "But if they form an attachment to those animals, it may be hard for them if they know what's going to happen," I emphasized. "That is possible, but if they're going to live on a farm, they'll just have to learn to cope with it," Jake explained. "However, I'd suggest you leave the milking cows, chickens and the rest of the horses over at the Becker's old farm, where the boys can handle the duties. The cows have to be milked twice a day and the barn has to be cleaned too. Since the Footes didn't have any chickens on their old farm or any facilities to keep them in, it might be best if we left the chickens where they are. At least the old Becker farm is already set up to accommodate them. The boys can also be responsible for doing most of the haying, planting and cultivating the corn for feed and operating the farm equipment, but it doesn't mean the girls can't do that stuff too." "Yes, I understand," I replied. "You're just trying to put the more demanding tasks on the guys." "Yes, the way I see it, the beef cattle, hogs and horses don't need as much care," Jake stated, "so that will make it a little easier on the girls." "Yes, I can see your logic," I told him. "Both places can have their own gardens, so they can use the food they grow for themselves," Jake continued. "The girls might even want to plant flowers and such, to help beautify their place too. That should also leave them time to help with the younger children too, if those house parents agree to taking on more." "You know," I told him, "you've made some pretty good points. I'll run them by Lester and see what he thinks of them first and then I'll call Sally. I want to get her opinion on all of this too, seeing she's the one who is technically responsible for the welfare of all the children." "Good point," Jake stated, "and I agree you should do that as soon as possible. In fact, why don't you call them right now?" "I will," I concurred and then grabbed my phone. I dialed Lester first, to tell him the ideas Jake had suggested. I did this because I wanted his input before I mentioned it to Sally and I had a few questions to ask him as well. Lester was quite agreeable to all of Jake's proposals, so it didn't take long to go over everything. When that had all been agreed to, I posed my first question. "Lester, I know you said the second house could house the girls and younger children," I began, "but how young are you and your wife willing to go?" "Well, I've talked it over with the misses and we think it would be best if they were at least in school for right now," he answered, "until we get a better feel for things. Maybe later we might try some younger than that, but right now we'll stick with school aged youngsters." "Do you mean five-years old and up?" I followed, to clarify his statement." "Yep, if they're in kindergarten then they're old enough to do some chores and help out around the farm," he stated. "I'm not sure about the other place, but that will be up to them." "I think that's a wise choice," I concurred, "and I don't think Sally has much trouble finding places for the younger children. Are you comfortable with the number you have now?" "Yep, we've only been together for a few days, but they're all doing pretty well and catching on fast," he drawled. "None of them has ever lived on a farm before, but they do seem eager to help out and willing to learn. That doesn't mean we haven't had any problems, but we've handled them and things seem to be fine now." "I'm glad to hear that," I replied. "So you don't feel crowded in the house?" "Heck, no!" he snapped back. "They've renovated this place really good and there are plenty of rooms for everyone. My wife and I have a bedroom on the ground floor, and the girl has the bedroom next to ours, but the fellas are upstairs. Heck, we have enough room for another girl and a few more boys, but that won't be for a while. I want the ones we've got to get comfortable with everything before we take on more." "A wise precaution," I told him. Shortly thereafter, we finished up our conversation and then I dialed Sally's home number. She picked up on the second ring. "Hello." "Hello, Sally. It's me, Josh. How have you been?" "Josh, it's so nice to hear from you. I'm fine, but what prompts you to call me at home, and out of the blue? Is something wrong?" "No, Sally, just the opposite, but can't I call my best girl without there being a reason?" I teased. "Oh, Josh, you're such a flatterer, and if I didn't know you were with Jake, I'd be after you in a heartbeat." She let out a nervous little giggle after saying this. "But what may I do for you today?" she added, getting back to the point of my call. "Well, Lester Foote sent me an email about the farm and suggested we should consider using both houses. He said we could use one for the boys and the other for the girls and some younger children. This would hopefully deter any sexual shenanigans from taking place, if the two sexes aren't actually living together. I called Lester just a few minutes ago and discussed other things with him, but I wanted your take on those ideas too. You're ultimately responsible for the welfare of the children, so I want your approval before we do anything." "Thank you for that, Josh. I'm glad you're keeping me in the loop," she announced. "I also think separating the sexes would be a wise precaution, but is it feasible?" "Oh, yes. That's not a problem," I confessed. "We can renovate the other place and make it suitable to house more children. The only thing I need from you is to know if you thought it should be done." "Definitely," she answered, and I could tell by her tone that she was intrigued by the idea. "If you did that, not only might it prevent unwanted sexual contact and harassment from happening, but by also increasing to two homes it would benefit a far greater number of needy youngsters. It would allow me to make more placements and I think I can come up with quite a few children that would benefit from this type of environment. Do you have someone in mind to supervise the second home?" "No, Sally. I'm afraid I don't?" I conceded. "That's not a problem either," she replied. "I have an ideal couple in mind. They have taken in a nine-year old girl and wanted to help even more children, but their home just isn't large enough." "That would be nice, but can they handle the farm work too?" I wondered. "Oh, yes," she chirped, excitedly. "They live and work on a farm now. That's the problem. They live in the small two-bedroom, hired-man's house. The bedroom the little girl is in is only seven by nine feet, and I couldn't justify putting another child in that small of a space. But this will work for all of us. He'll have a job working on a farm and they'll be able to have the additional children they hoped for." "Do you think they'll go for it?" I wondered. "I mean… we're not just talking one or two more children here." "I know, but I'll call and talk it over with them," Sally added. "Then I'll let you know what they say." "Thanks, Sally, that would be great," I admitted, before adding a word of caution. "However, you'll have to let the guy know Lester will be in charge of the overall operation. If he's amenable to that, have him give me a call, so I can learn more about him too. Is that alright with you?" "Certainly, Josh, and I was planning to do that anyway. After all, the Foundation is your baby," she added, but I knew she meant it in a nice way. "I appreciate that, Sally, but the Foundation really came about because of the boys, so it is more theirs than mine. Not only that, but all of this is happening because of Little Ricky and his reluctance to let the farm go to strangers." "I understand and hope they're all pleased with the way this is working out, especially Little Ricky," she confirmed. "This is going to allow us to provide a whole group of children a chance for a much better life in a wonderful environment." "That's what we were all hoping for and I know it will make Little Ricky especially happy. This will not only honor his parents, but it will give other children a chance to enjoy the benefits and lifestyle he enjoyed while living there. The boys, Jake and I will still be regular visitors to the farm, so we can help out and keep an eye on things. I'll also keep you informed how things seem to be going. "Thanks, Josh. You still continue to amaze me with all you do and in the process somehow make my job easier," she added, before we hung up. I relayed our conversation about the changes to Jake and then the boys. They all thought it was a great idea too, but some quickly decided they wanted to spend their time at the boys' house, while others were trying to figure out how they might be able to help out at the girls' new residence. Damn, just what I needed. About an hour later my phone rang and I answered it. I knew from the caller I.D. who was on the other end. "Why Sally, people will start talking if we continue to spend this much time with each other," I teased. "Oh, Josh," she gushed, "they're already talking, but it's all good. My colleagues say we make a great team." I chuckled. "I certainly would agree with that," I stated, "but I wasn't expecting you to call back so soon." "I know, but after we ended our conversation, I decided to phone the couple I told you about," she advised me. "They were ecstatic about our proposal and are anxious to talk to you, so they can get more details. I could only relay the basic information to them, but they want to know more." Sally then gave me their phone number and told me they were awaiting my call. I didn't want to disappoint them or dampen their enthusiasm, so I did so immediately. "Hello, this is Josh Currie," I stated when the wife answered the phone. "Sally Swarthout suggested I call you." "Oh, yes, and thank you for getting back to us so quickly," she replied. "Let me put you on speaker phone, so my husband can be part of this conversation too." I heard her call him and then we exchanged pleasantries. "Sally told me you had some questions," I said, to initiate this discussion. "Yes, we'd like to hear more about what you're proposing," the husband responded. "From what little Sally told us, we are very interested and want to learn more." I then went on to tell them how the idea for this came about and how we acquired the two farms. I also told them about the changes we had made to the Becker's old place and what was going on there. After that, I went over our goals for the farm- home and explained the suggestions Jake made for the two places. "I can take you out and show you around," I informed them, "but we haven't begun renovations on the second home yet. In fact, if you are interested, you could get involved early and give us your input on what you'd like to see." "So we'd be in charge of the girl's residence?" the wife asked. "Yes, the girls and younger children," I answered. "You'd be able to help decide how many and how young you are willing to take in." "Oh, I'd love to have a baby and maybe even a toddler too," she cooed. "I can't have children and this will be the answer to my prayers." "This isn't going to be all fun and games," I advised her. "Some of the children may have emotional or behavioral problems -- nothing severe, but I thought I should warn you." "My husband and I understand that, but we are looking forward to the opportunity anyway," she answered. "I know I have plenty of love to give them, and Sterling is the boss and can handle the discipline, so I think we will do fine." "Then I take it you're agreeing to do this?" I followed. "We'd still like to see the place and check everything out," her husband responded, "but from what we've heard so far, it sounds like a 'go' to me." "I'm glad to hear that," I told them, and then we set up a time for me to give them a tour of both farms and answer more of their questions. I called Sally back, as soon as I hung up, and we were both encouraged and hopeful this issue had been resolved. E-mail responses to the stories, story suggestions, or other 'constructive' comments or advice may be sent to: bwstories8@aol.com - but please put the story title in the subject line, so it doesn't get deleted as junk mail.