Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2010 23:50:20 -0600
From: dnrock@rock.com
Subject: Chinook 13

Chinook
by:  dnrock(dnrock@rock.com)


13:  Is Anyone Sure?

Royce's life had changed so much in the short period he had known his sons,
he would have been overwhelmed, had he the time to ponder it.  He didn't.
Others around him did notice and marveled at it.  Royce had always been a
busy person.  He had always been productive and involved.  He had always
been so wrapped up in himself that he usually failed to notice others.  He
was never humble but almost never arrogant.  He had always been a likable
enough person.  He always has an abundance of energy and creative spirit
about him.

Since these boys came into his life, a profound change had slowly come over
him.  It was not some obvious difference, resulting from an erudition but
profound none the less.  Royce was now two or three orders of magnitude
more productive then ever before.  He worked far fewer hours to produce
results of higher than normal quality, which was high to begin with.  He
was generating new ideas on an almost continual basis.  He moved through
his life with a purpose.  Royce suddenly became organized, his drive and
energy focused and meaningful.  He was relaxed in manor and attitude, in a
way that complemented his drive and passion.  In short, Royce had matured,
grown up.  He was the leader of this pack, he lead by example.  His art
projected a joy and profundity of just being alive.  It didn't matter what
the subject was, it spoke to the viewer, it reached into their
personalities with long grasping fingers, taking hold, refusing to let go.
His joy, his love and his wonderment, became theirs.

Royce, who just ten months ago didn't even like children all that much had
been so completely seduced by them, he could not imagine himself in any
other status, except dad.  As creative and imaginative as he is, his mind
was unable to conceive of a life that did not include his two sons and
their multitude of friends.  Royce thrived on the energy these young people
brought.  He had become addicted to it.

The children recognized in Royce a uniqueness.  He was not just an adult.
He was one of them in spirit if not chronology.  Royce delighted in
everything they did, in discovering, learning and experiencing.  He loved,
accepted and respected each and every one of them: as presented, as found,
as unique human persons, as equals.  They in turn gave back that love and
respect, not as the weak to the powerful but as one equal to another,
sharing in the same experiences.

The first edition of the boy series sold an astonishing number of copies.
Pre publication sales of the second series was running strong but were not
ever expected to top Series A.  By December he had produced enough material
for monthly printing releases through the next full year.  Posters,
greeting cards and a host of other image based products, were being
licensed right around the world.  Royce needed a rest.  He could afford a
rest.  Royce moved from full time artist and part time dad, to full time
dad and part time artist.  In his own unique way he became one of the boys,
the one with a drivers license and credit card.

He would paint in the morning after the boys went to school, he would work
on his art when they were doing home work or music.  The remainder of his
time was spent on domestic duties or being a volunteer at school, kids
sports, scouts the whole nine yards.  Royce was dragging Harvey into being
a boy again too.  He some how talked him into dressing in a Halloween
costume with himself, to hand out candy and chaperone the "Jelly bean"
dance at a community center, for the 6 to 13 age group.

Royce and Harvey took the first two levels of coaching from the Coaching
Association of Canadian and the soccer and hockey associations.  Royce
served as assistant scout master and on the parent board of the local
marshal arts club, where the boys went.  He got them family passes to the
local leisure center, public skating, swimming, rock climbing and so on.
He became as much participant as parent.  Cliff and Rom realized their dad
was more involved in their lives then other kids parents seemed to be.
Unlike many kids they did not mind this, to them it was normal, it was just
the way dad did things.

Royce did not need a clock to tell him the boys were due home from school.
Tumbler would satiation himself at the front door mid afternoon and
patently bid his time, until he could hear the children leaving Eugene Cost
or hear the older ones voices walking home from Woodman.  His head would
raise from his paws, his ears pick up, his tail would begin to thump on the
polished hard wood floor and when he recognized a child voice, his boys or
their friends, he would jump up and excitedly dance before the still closed
door.

Rom and his gangue, as Royce called them, usually came in first, they did
get out about ten minutes before the Jr. high and were only a half a block
away.  Rom's gangue consisted of two boys his best buddies, Richard and
Jason, a third, Fred once in a while and some times as many as three
neighborhood girls.  Rom's male buddies were also on most of his sports
teams the girls he knew from school but also from music lessons and marshal
arts.  One of the girls was also in the scouts.  (Scouts Canada runs
programs open to both girls and boys, the Guides are just for girls.)

Just about the time the grade 5's finished the cookies and drinks; Royce
always had a large supply of cookies, gallons of milk and juice at the
ready; Cliff, Spencer, Leo and usually Simon, would appear.  The junior
high boys were starting to get interested in girls, it was tentative but
real.  None of their female friends came around much but Royce knew they
existed.  He would hear the boys talking about them, see their names on
e-mails and the like.

The Jelly Bean dance was quite something.  All the kids, most of them
anyway, were in costume.  The boys all sat or lined up along two walls and
the girls gathered in little groups talking and dancing with each other.
Once in a while a girl would pull one of the boys on the dance floor.
Royce could have done without the rap music, in fact, he could have done
without most of the teenybopper music.  He and Harvey got tired of this
same old same old, it was the same when they were that age and began
dancing with the nearest available girl.  That seemed to brake the ice and
both Cliff and Rom stepped forward followed by most of the others.

For most teens or almost teens (tweens?), their parents doing something
like that would be highly embarrassing.  Not for Rom or Cliff they knew
Royce and Harvey well enough to realize, they only wanted the kids to have
fun and they were determined to have as much fun themselves as possible, in
the process.

The fall progressed toward winter and the Christmas season.  The Evers
family was gaining quite a reputation around the schools and community.
Rom seemed to be developing into a social butterfly.  He wound up with more
then a few detentions for "being a disruptive influence" in his grade 5
class.  He found it increasingly difficult to sit still.  He was just so
full of energy, keeping physically and vocally to himself was just not
possible.  The administration believed at first that he lacked self
discipline but all of the attempts to instill it failed.  He obviously had
no learning disabilities, since he mastered everything he tackled almost
before he began to try.  His academic skills were well above his grade
level.  Royce insisted that Rom be in the room for the conversation.  He
did instruct him to sit, listen and speak only if spoken to.

"Mr. Evers I think Rom would benefit from a drug such as Riddlin."

"No Principal Edwards the teachers would benefit, the drug companies and
pharmacies will make money, Rom will suffer."

"Several other students are on it and their academic performance and
behavior has vastly improved."

"I am not doubting that.  What I am saying is simply this.  I will not have
my son medicated to treat a non existent organic problem.  Taking something
like Riddlin will not boost the boy's I.Q., it will not improve his
academic performance or improve his social skills, he does not have any
known syndrome that has an organic cause."

"Rom's behavior is causing other students to loose focus and their grades
suffer."

"With all due respect Mss Hardley, if your students are so easily
sidetracked by Rom's jokes or his whispering, I suggest the problem lay
with the teacher not the student.  Rom is a very compliant and affectionate
child.  He always tries to be cooperative.  I know he does not `misbehave'
out of spite or defiance, that is just not his nature.  Have you ever
considered that your students or some of them anyway, Rom specifically, are
lacking academic challenges?"

This conversation went back and forth for some time.

"In my view Rom and probably several of the other boys need significantly
more physical activity, spaced throughout the day, not drugs.  I'm talking
a good hard run or something, once around the schools grounds as fast as
they can go or 10 hard laps around the gym.

I think the brighter students need to be challenged, challenged to think,
not memorize.  Different people learn differently, you know that or at
least should.  Rom memorizes your list faster then you can write it on the
board.  For him grade five is bo...r...ing."  Rom nodded in agreement.

"Perhaps he should be in a special program for gifted students or skipped
ahead."

"I don't think either of those options are in his best social developmental
interest, nor does Miss Black, you remember her principal Edwards, you were
a student teacher, in this building, when she was the Principal of Eugene
Cost.  Besides, that only addresses Rom's problem, not the problems of your
other bored students."

"What are you suggesting, Mr. Evers?"

"I'm not suggesting anything, I don't mince my words, as my father would
say.  Look, I am as aware or more aware than most, when it comes to the
miserable way the provence is treating the big city school boards.  A
subject we could spend hours agreeing about.  I am not willing to allow you
the luxury of using class size, for example, as an excuse for drugging
children.  I will not allow you to use drugs on my son to moderate a
perceived behavioral problem in your class room, all be it none of your
making.  I look at this, just the way I look at my work.  I'm am a
professional artist, my clients don't tell me how to paint and draw but
they do tell me what they expect for a finished product.  I'm not telling
you how to teach, I am telling you that I expect my son to receive a well
rounded, quality education and that includes a lot more then provincial
test scores.  I expect the system to encourage all students to do their
best, nothing more but noting less either.  I will not stand by and allow
the system to label and drug young people because you professionals can't
academically challenge them."

"If his behavior does not change and you won't agree to try Riddlin then I
will be forced to expel him and call social services."

"That's Ok with me, you must do what you feel you must do."  Royce took out
his business card and wrote Harvey Fanto and his cell number on the back.
"This is the number of Rom's former case worker at S.S.  If you do nothing
to encourage that desired change, I think he and some others would be
better off expelled.  Drugs like Riddlin have a place in treating certain
behavior and learning problems.  They are not a substitute for effective
professional teaching."

The principal's expression said it all.  She was more concerned with
running a smooth sailing ship and teaching to the average more then in
challenging the students to excel.  Royce knew what he had to do now, the
school board member for ward 12 had just resigned and her place will not be
filled until the election next fall.  He would stand for that office.

Rom and Royce left the meeting.  They talked about what was said and what
it all meant.  Rom promised to try and be better behaved in the class room.
Royce assured him even it he wasn't, two things were for sure.  One, he
loved him no matter what; two, if he had to he would `home school' him and
he would still be able to see his friends in the neighborhood.  Rom, Cliff
and Royce went to visit Mis Black at the seniors lodge, he needed her
advice.

Later that night he talked with Rom and Cliff about responsibility and the
burden of talent.  Cliff was a born leader.  Others would follow him, his
skills they knew, Rom was a double up, music and his near photographic
memory.  Each came with expectations.  Family, community, society,
themselves, all had expectations about performance, application and so on.
There would always be pressure from many sources related to these talents
or skills.  People will always try and tell you what to do and how it
should be done, he told them.

"Just be your own man and do what you think is right, to the best of your
ability, that's all you can or should do and all you can or should expect
from yourselves.  As for my part, dad will always love you, back you up as
best I can and respect you," Royce said.

Puberty was hitting Cliff hard but it was hitting Spencer even harder.
Cliff was into yo-yo weight gain and a real growth spurt.  He had wild mood
swings and the dreaded zits.  He was not alone of course, even it he
thought he was.  Spencer was having massive skin problems.  Spencer also
seemed much more sensitive to being kidded then usual, he was very self
conches.  It was a few days after Rom's school problem that Royce noticed
Cliff and Spencer spending more time then usual in Cliff's room, with the
door closed.  It was obvious that Rom felt excluded but he didn't seem to
complain at all.  Royce figured the boys had discovered the joys of group,
all be it small, masturbation.  Royce thought little more of it until a few
days later when Spencer's dad called.  Mr. Littlechild asked for a meeting.
Royce suggested they go to one of the local pubs for a beer and some quiet
conversation.

Royce had met Spencer's parents a few times but he did not know either of
them very well.  He figured that Harold was part Cree by his name and his
features.  He judged Virginia, a very blond woman, of nordic decent, from
her facial features.  Royce pays attention to details like that, part of
being an artist, always on the look out for interesting faces.  Harold
started out by thanking Royce for his kindnesses toward Spencer and Leo,
including them on trips to the ranch and supporting the idea of a garage
band, etc.  He finally got around to the purpose of this little meeting.
Harold was concerned about Spencer's moods and his immediate future.  Both
his older sister and brother had run into difficulties in the grade 8-9
time.  While the brother managed to get his act together, he had 4
grandchildren from the sister who never finished school.  Royce noted that
Harold was not bitter or disappointed in his older children, it was obvious
he wanted to preempt problems early.  Royce agreed that the 13 to 14 age
group was probably the most difficult.  He admitted he was sure, this was a
time he did not wish to live over and he was sure his dad didn't either.
Harold laughed and admitted, him too.

"Is there something specific that raises your suspicion," Royce asked?

"Yes, I think Spencer and cliff are fooling around sexually," Harold said.

"I guess at that too, but I don't think it involves girls just yet," Royce
said.

"No, but do you think its OK for the boys to, you know."

"I think they need to experiment and try stuff out, to find out who they
are and what they want.  I don't think it means anything that they are
experimenting with each other at this point.  I remember my brother and I
masturbating together behind the barn," Royce said.

"Yes, I shared a room with two of my brothers, we shared experiences too."

"Do you think they are doing more serious stuff than jacking off," Royce
asked?

"No, but I found some porn sites in his internet history file?"

"Yes, I'll bet if I checked Cliff's I'd find some too, have you checked
your stash of Playboy and Penthouses yet?"

Harold smiled and chuckled.

"No, you?"

"Yes, I only have a few and half of those are missing."  They both laughed.
"I think it is just healthy curiosity, that's all.  Did you do the safe sex
talk yet," Royce asked?

"Well, I tried but Spencer just brushed me off, saying they get Sex-Ed in
school.  Cliff?"

"He and I had a little talk a few months ago.  He had some questions which
I tried to answer.  Cliff's aunt is a vet and she told him all about stock
breading.  My stallion, is well, very stallion like," Royce said

Harold smiled.  "Well, uh, some of the sites were gay porn."

"I would not be to concerned about that, as I said, boys need to experiment
and find out what's out there."  Royce wanted to find out what Harold
thought about gay sex.  "Does the gay stuff bother you," Royce asked?

"No, you?"

"I have no problem with any sex that is consensual, shared and non violent.
Rape and S&M are against my sensibilities but as for same sex or hetrosex,
what ever turns your crank," Royce responded.

Harold looked a little relieved.

"Virginia and I have no problem, like you, we do not understand
homosexuality, I guess no real experience but we love our children, no
matter what."

"Harold, I think we agree on everything and I think we both need to have
those little father to son talks; the ones that say, were're with you kid
no matter what.  We don't think children your age should be engaging in
real sexual relationships of any kind, until you are much older, so don't
look for our approval but what ever you do make it safe, shared and honest.
Most important we love you and will love you, no matter what and please
return my Playboys with the covers in tact."

They both laughed some more. Harold commenting that he hoped, "the come
stains were not sticking the fold outs together".  They laughed even more.
....................

"Mary Jo, have you checked this out with Junior?"

"Not yet, I thought I would start with you," Mary replied.

"Why me, should I be flattered," Royce asked?

"Don't be, I got this idea while driving in from Nanton, your just the
first of my brothers that I have had a chance to talk to."

"Oh."

"I had to start someplace, this time your it," Mary quipped.

"I know siss, I just want to give you the gears."

At this point in the somewhat awkward brother-sister moment their attention
was demanded by the child residents of this neat, well not so neat really,
more lived in, Haysboro bungalow.

"Dad, dad!... help!"  Rom was squealing in that half Plaintief, half
laughing voice of a child being subdued and tickled.  This cry was
accompanied by eight feet pounding across the floor with associated
un-comperhensable barking, squealing and laughing.  Mary Jo and Royce
looked at each other, their faces displaying those knowing memories of
having been in the same position; an older sibling attacking them, all be
it in a non threatening way.

Within seconds the thunder of feet pounding on the floor resounded again
accompanying Rom storming down the stares to the studio.  Rom was
immediately followed by Cliff and Thumper in hot pursuit.  The boys were
dressed only in their underwear, tight little colored briefs that
completely covered their small butts with straw thin legs sticking out one
end and only a slightly larger body out the other.

"No running in the studio," Royce boomed.  That got their attention and
they all stopped short.  Cliff turning quite red realizing his aunt was
standing next to dad.  They both greeted her warmly rushing over for a kiss
on the forehead, Thumper came for a pat on the head.  Cliff was not yet to
old to receive some sugar from older female relatives, but self conches
enough to beat a quick retreat to find his pants.

"How come you boys are down to your undies, looking at porn on the
internet," Royce said?

"Da...d!" Rom stung out.  "We were playing a Playstation game about a
jungle boy overcoming challenges."

Rom's tone of voice and facial expressions carried a much larger message.
You adults must be stupid, if you are going to take on a character in an
adventure game you got to look the part don't you.

"Oh," Royce replied while Mary Jo laughed audibly.  Rom ran off to also put
on his pants.

"You don't let them look at porn do you," Mary asked?

"Yes I do Mary Jo, if they choose to do so but so far only Cliff and it has
been quite limited."

Mary Jo went on for bit about exploitation and respecting the dignity of
other humans.

"Mary, I believe it is better to let them see the human body exploited in
an act of pleasure, often mutual pleasure and tenderness, then watching the
human body exploited by being shot, stabbed, exploded or what ever, don't
you."

Mary did not answer, she didn't need to.

"Now back to your idea, let me see if I understand it."

Royce walked over to the coffee pot, took a cup holding it up to Mary, she
nodded her agreement.  Royce pored two cups and they sat down at his work
station.

It is interesting that in our society we have a name for the display of
sexual activity in written or graphic form but no classification name for
even more evil things that one person does to another.  Moreover the
society puts heavy restrictions on pornography but few on the depiction of
almost unspeakable acts of violence.  For an entertainer to bear her breast
is some how evil but to show men or women being stabbed, shot, burned or
what ever is some how "normal."  This line of reasoning did not flash
through Royce's mind at this point, it had done so many times before.

"You think we should celebrate Christmas, not only as a family but by
traveling around the province, collecting its members as we go," Royce
responded.

"Yes, I though we could stop in Edmonton, go on to Jasper for Christmas eve
and day, down to Banff for a day or two, back to the Lazy E for a few days,
take Junior and family back to Edmonton and return the bus."

"The bus," Royce asked?

"I though we could rent a bus and you could drive, you have a Class 1
drivers license."

"Ok but who is going to finance all this," Royce asked?

"We can all contribute, I will provide the lift tickets, my gift to
everyone.  You can give the boys ski equipment and Junior can get the stuff
for his girls, unless dad beats you to it."

"I don't know Mary Jo, kids like to be in their own homes for christmas."

"You just do what your told little brother."

"Yes mother Mary."

A sarcastic name he had used many times while they all lived at home.  Mary
Jo, like many women believes it is her responsibility and duty to try and
run everyone else's life and saw herself as keeper of the family.  He
realized this was not so much a conches plan, just the way women seem to
be.

"Hum, I think this might prove to be a very interesting idea.  A couple of
days in Banff you say," Royce mused.

"Royce, you have that twinkle in your eyes again, should I be worried?"

"Only if I can't get Harvey to play his part."

"And that is," Mary asked?

"Shepherd a bevy of Rom's and Cliff's friends to Banff on the ski bus, for
a post Christmas party."  Royce was rubbing his hands together as his
creative mind began to take over.  Mary Jo just rolled her eyes, reminding
herself in the future to make Royce the last to know, not the first.  He
refilled her coffee cup.

"Do you think you can still get reservations in Banff and Jasper," Royce
asked?

"Banff will not be to bad but Jasper may be a bit problematic, I'll keep
you informed."

"Is this to be a surprise or can I tell the boys," Royce asked?

"No tell them but not until I clear it with Junior, I'll call him later
today.  You don't mind if I take over your office for a while," Mary asked?

"No, no make yourself at home."

Royce swept his hands around the place.  I have to get my scouts ready, we
are part of the color guard at the Memorial Park Cenotaph, you remember the
11th, hour of the 11th month of the 11th day and all that." (That is
Remembrance Day in Canada and Veterans Day in the US.  The Cournal Belcher
Hospital is the Veterans Hospital in Calgary, it is directly across 4th
Street S.W. from the Memorial Park Cenotaph.  Calgary no longer has an
active military base, as CFB Calgary was closed several years ago. This was
written before the new CBH was built in a new location.  The old Belcher
was raised in 05.)

"I thought the Militia, Cadets and Legion did the color guard and Salute,
not the Scouts."

"They do but this year we are in charge of helping the Vets from the
Belcher, cross the street to the Cenotaph."  Royce went up stairs to get
the boys on the march.  They needed to be in uniform and position by 10:30
a.m.  The boys and girls of the Southwood 49th, Royce's troop along with
several others, pushed wheel chairs or provided a shoulder to steady the
older Vets.