Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2012 16:05:51 -0600 From: Pete McDonald Subject: TIME-TO-SEE-69- TIME-TO-SEE-69 It was three-thirty sharp that afternoon when the Murphy town car pulled up in front of Castle Dromoland. It would not be dark for another four or five hours; so the boys were ecstatic with the seemingly endless possibilities to be explored. It wouldn't occur to them until much later that it would actually take weeks to exhaust them all. Like roman candles going off, all four boys jumped out of the car in different directions. "Dad, look at the towers. Do you think they shoot arrows from up there?" Murph yelled to Max. "Well, son, perhaps a few hundred years ago, they did. But there's no need to defend the castle now. Ireland is a modern country." The concierge sent assistants out to the arriving Murphy party, to help unload the baggage from the cars. "Dad, should I bring Spirit in right now?" Sean asked. "I think we need to receive our suite and room assignments first, but check with Brandy before we bring the puppy inside. You won't want to move him around too much," Max answered. Hugo and Kevin stepped out of the town car and took in the breath-taking beauty of the countryside that surrounded Castle Dromoland, and the two lakes that stretched out in front of the castle. Pruned shrubbery, flowering gardens, huge green trees, and woodlands separated Castle Dromoland from the commerce that lie beyond it's grounds. The effect was to be immersed in the elegant luxury of another century. "Max, this is gorgeous!" Kevin commented to Max. "Oh, I'm so glad you like it, Kevin. I have very fond memories of visits to Dromoland when my parents were alive... It's always like a return to the simplicity of my youth when I'm here," Max replied. Hugo walked back to the sedan where Jimmy was helping the concierge to unload the car. "I'd like to take that small black bag in myself, Jimmy," Hugo said pointing to his bag of important documents. "Of course, Sir," Jimmy replied, and he handed the bag to Hugo with a smile. Meanwhile, Brandy was organizing the "youth group": "Alright, boys, here's what we're going to do. We'll go in and find out where our rooms are. Then we'll go to the rooms and see that our bags arrive. Sean, you can carry Spirit with you, and then come back out to the car and get his little sleeping basket and all the rest. Then, when the business is out of the way, all of you and I will all go down to the lake and take a ride in one of their row boats. I'm sure there will be someone who can row you boys around... Then after a while, we'll all have to come back in and get showered and dressed for dinner. We will have our evening meal in the S.T. restaurant in the grand dining area inside of the castle. Sound like a plan?" All of the boys had been listening intently to Brandy as he told them what would be happening next.... all except Murph. Nicky said, "Sure. And I can help Sean with the puppy formula and stuff." Jilder asked, "Brandy, is there anything you want me to do?" Brandy responded, "Just help us all keep together; so no one gets lost. Later you can all go exploring on your own, but for right now, we all need to get into our rooms properly." "Yes, Sir." Jilder replied. Murph had been paying only half attention to Brandy's organizing. He was looking up at the tops of those castle towers for signs of archers with bows and arrows. "Murph!" Brandy called the boy out of his reverie. "Did you hear what I just said?" "Uh? Mostly, Sir..." Murph fudged, trying to appear cooperative. Brandy added specifically for his dawdling son number one: "Well, just follow Sean and Nicky and Jilder. They know what to do. We're going inside right now to the main desk. Follow me..." and Brandy lead his band of rag-tag explorers up to the castle's main door. Then over his shoulder he called, "Max! Come on... I have the kids organized; so they won't get lost... We'll meet you inside at the main registration desk." And up to the castle they went. Hugo took Kevin's hand and smiled, "Goodness, Honey. I never expected anything as elegant as this... What did we do to deserve this?" "Nothing, Babe," Kevin replied. "That's the beauty of life. So many of the good things come to us without our deserving any of them" Max finished with Jerome and Jimmy, leaving them to garage the vehicles in the appropriate areas. "Jerome, Jimmy. Please stay this evening and join us for dinner, if you like. Then, Jimmy, I realize that you may want to return to Dublin for the remainder of our two-week stay. But you've both worked very hard driving and getting us here safely; so you both need a good dinner and rest on me." "Yes, Sir, Thank You, Sir," Jerome replied. "This does indeed remind me of our visits here many years ago when your father was with us. My goodness, has that much time passed?" "I'm afraid so, Jerome. But with our new friends and the boys, we have another chance for more good times here." ***** Max and Hugo and Kevin had barely made it to the main registration desk when Murph yelled out: "Dad! Dad! Will you ask them about the archers who shoot from the towers and also ask them whether they looked in our rooms for spiders!" "Alright, Murph, just give me a moment," Max replied patiently. "Archers? Spiders?" The desk clerk asked. "Oh, that's alright. My son is infatuated with the idea that once archers may have defended the castle by shooting arrows from the towers. Vivid imagination, you know..." Max replied to the clerk smiling. "Oh, no matter, Sir. We have a docent tour that explains all of the history of the castle, and they do indeed include mention of the castle defenses. Perhaps your son-- ah? Sons?--may want to take in that tour." the clerk suggested. "Oh, no doubt. We expect to be here for two weeks; so there ought to be plenty of time for the tour. Now, I wonder whether we might receive our room assignments for the Murphy Reservations?" Max asked. "Oh, indeed, Sir. I have them right here. We'll be assisting you in moving your luggage to your rooms." the clerk replied. "But, if you don't mind, Sir; what did your son mean: Spiders?" "OH, that... Well you see, back in Dublin, at the University, the boys were taken on a tour of the Arachnid Museum, and I'm afraid it made a major impression on my son. He now checks thoroughly that there are no spiders in any space he'll occupy. Perhaps you can take a cursory look-see to add a bit of reassurance for my son. I certainly hope he grows out of this! Imagine his wife on their honeymoon...." Max explained. "Oh, indeed, Sir. I haven't seen a spider in this castle in I can't remember when.... Uh? really, NEVER, Sir!" the clerk replied. "Don't worry..." Max said with a smile. "Ian, Samuel, please see that the Murphy party receive priority for their luggage." the clerk held up keys and called for his staff assistants. "Please pick up the keys..." There would be two suites of rooms: one for Kevin and Hugo and their boys; a second for Max and Brandy and theirs. As soon as Brandy heard the room assignments he smiled and turned to Max and added: "It goes without saying that it will only be a matter of time before the boys cook up their own room assignments in a fashion that will have all four of them staying together... Just wait and see, Max. Humm? Just how long that will take to materialize I won't guess; but I'll wager," he added with a wink. Max turned to Brandy and smiled. He understood the inevitable too, but he went about his business of setting up the suites anyhow. Kevin and Hugo will enjoy an entirely private setting, and certainly Max and Brandy deserved a suite to themselves as well. The boys were, perhaps it might be said, citizens of both clans! ***** The boys followed Ian and Samuel to their initial room assignments. Hugo and Kevin sat down in the sitting room of their suite, looked at one another and smiled. "I hope you brought that suitcase of condoms with you, Kev," Hugo said with a devilish gleam in his eye. "Now, Babe! Don't you know I ALWAYS think about US first!" and he smiled back. "Somehow we've got to find a few hours of privacy, but with this army of boys patrolling the castle, I'm not sure just when that will happen." "Few HOURS?@!!" Hugo replied. "I feel like I only need a few minutes, it's been so long!" "It HAS NOT! Hugo." Kevin replied. "Well then it just SEEMS like it's been a long time..." "YOU are just running a high libido these days, Hugo. Maybe it's something we're eating here in Ireland." Kevin said. "I'm just warning you. Watch out. I can't hold out another day, Kev!" Hugo smiled and patted Kevin on the butt on his way to explore the rest of their suite of rooms. Hugo called back to Kevin, "Kevin come in here. This bedroom is unbelievable... Did anyone say they were giving us the King's bedroom?" Kevin went after Hugo speaking as he went, "Not that I remember.... OH MY GOD!" Kevin and Hugo just stood gawking at the threshhold of their bedchamber. The room truly was palatial with brocaids and natural woods and a grouping of elegant sitting room furniture to the side of a grand canopied bed bedecked with the castle Coat of Arms. Even fresh flowers adorned all of the tables. "Those Murphys never seem to travel tourist class, do they?" Kevin said. "Boy, you can say THAT again," Hugo answered as he walked over and sat down on the bed... "Feels like a cloud, Kevin! Come try this...." Hugo added. ***** "Dad," Nicky said walking in unannounced and without asking permission to enter his dad's bedroom. "Dad, is this YOUR bedroom?" "Yes, it is, Nick. Pretty nice, isn't it. How is yours? Aren't you and Jilder staying in the same bedroom?" Kevin asked. "Yeah, Dad, and it's really big! And it has TWO beds. Each one is a big bed, big enough for two people." Nicky replied. "Did your suitcases arrive in your room?" Kevin asked. "Yeah. And Ian is getting yours too. He said he'll be right back." Nicky added. Then a loud thundering down the hallway ended when Sean and Murph came running into Kevin's and Hugo's bedroom looking for Jilder and Nicky. "JILDER! NICKY!" they shouted "Where are you?" "In here, Sean, in my dads' room... Just keep looking, you'll find us." Finally they appeared, "Oh, there you are." Sean said. "Let us see your room; then you can come see ours." "Oh, hello Kevin. Hi! Hugo. Do you like your room?" Sean asked. "Yes, indeed, Sean. Your dad found these wonderful rooms for us to use. We'll certainly have to thank him... Where are Max and Brandy?" Kevin asked Max's boys. "Oh, back there in our rooms. Somewhere... I don't know where to tell you to go... Just go look," Murph said. "Well, that's a great idea, Murph. We ought to do just that... Come on, Babe, Let's go find Max and Brandy...." Kevin said to Hugo. As they turned to leave, Ian appeared with several suitcases packed under both arms. "Will you be wanting these bags in your bedroom, Sirs?" Ian asked. "That would be perfect, Ian. Just put them down over there." Then Kevin went over to the luggage and paused, "Let's see... Yep! Everything's here... Hugo, you feel like taking a walk out to find Max and Brandy?" "Sure, Kev. Let's do it..." and Hugo began leaving the room poking Kevin in the butt as they went.... Ow! Ow@! Ow!" Kevin protested, delighting in every one of Hugo's jabs... "Boys!" Kevin called back to the kids who were all in Nicky's and Jilder's room. Better make sure that all of the puppy stuff is in the castle and that he's not hungry. Don't forget that the puppy has to eat no matter what else is going on..." "Ok, Dad!" Jilder yelled "We'll be there in a minute..." ***** "Dad! Watch out for Spirit. I just finished feeding him, but he'll be hungry in another hour. We're going down to the lake; so you'll have to make sure Spirit is fed! Ok?" Sean checked Max's understanding of his responsibility as babysitter for his "grand-puppy." "Yes, Sir, son. I'll make sure he gets his food while you're away. Don't worry. I understand your instructions," Max replied. "Good. Thanks, Dad!" and out the front doors of the castle all four boys ran with Brandy making a hurried caboose on their express train to the lake. "Wait up!" Brandy called... "You can catch up, Brandy.... Run!" the boys yelled back... "Oh, my, God!" Brandy said to himself. "Is caring for children ALWAYS this energy intensive???" "Brandy. Look. There's Ian down at the dock..." Nicky called out. "Yeah! I bet I'll beat you all," Jilder said as he pulled out in front of the crowd. Then Sean opened up with an incredible burst of speed, passing them all up and reaching the dock a full twenty yards in front of the rest. Murph was last to arrive at the dock, "Sean! Where did you learn to run like that? You are like a deer!" he yelled. Sean chided them all, "It's you Americans! You don't get enough exercise." He said smiling as each of his friends reached the dock. And, of course, huffing and puffing, Brandy finally got to the dock where Ian was already distributing life jackets to each of his crew members. Ian said: "Alright, boys! Each one of you will have to wear a life jacket. They're small; so you will hardly know you have them on. But if we capsize, you'll be glad you have one..." "Yes, Sir..." the boys said as they scurried to get their life jackets buckled up properly. "Is this right, Ian?" Jilder said. "Yes. That looks perfect. Jilder you check everybody else until you are certain all the life jackets are being worn properly," Ian said as he headed down to the lake's edge where he had pulled up a large rowboat, suitable for 6 passengers. "Will you be joining us, Sir," Ian said addressing Brandy. "Uh? Well, if you think you can handle this mob of boys, I think I'll let you supervise the whole lot, and I'll go back up with my friends. "Oh, no problem, Sir. They are complying very nicely. I'm sure we'll have an orderly and pleasant trip out on the lake." "Very, Good, Ian." Brandy replied... Then he turned and addressed the boys directly and loudly, "NOW YOU BOYS LISTEN TO IAN. BE SURE YOU FOLLOW HIS DIRECTIONS EXACTLY; SO THERE ARE NO ACCIDENTS! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?" "Yes, Sir...." they each one replied complying with Brandy's wishes. Brandy turned and walked leisurely back along the path toward the castle, while Ian loaded the boys into the boat and pushed off from shore. "Bye, Brandy. We'll be back later..." Murph yelled out. Brandy just waved to the happy band of boys who were only a couple of yard off shore and moving slowly under Ian-power. ***** When Brandy arrived back at the Murphy Suite, Kevin and Hugo were visiting with Max who sat in the living room in his bare feet holding Spirit in his arms while feeding him a bottle. Brandy laughed and chided Max, "Well if it isn't mon pere grandfather Max babysitting..." "Alright, Brandy. No wise remarks!" Max said taking his responsibility for Spirit quite seriously. Max went on: "I can't let anything happen to this pup on my watch; so you just calm down... Besides, I didn't see you volunteering for puppy duty..." Max said in come-back. "Oh, I quite fully understand, Max. I'd be just as concerned as you are to do everything correctly. I can't imagine the tragedy that would ensue should that puppy get sick or worse..." "We have four dogs at home," Kevin said. "They do tend to take over until you get used to having them around." "But none are puppies?" Brandy asked "Oh, no," Hugo replied... "They were full grown when we got them from the Animal Shelter, which was a huge help, I can see from all that this puppy is requiring.... Max said: "Well, I do think Spirit is critical to Sean's well-being, given that he identifies with this orphan puppy whose mom died... The parallel to Sean's life is incredibly clear. You could see how he first started to open up when he encountered this puppy in the Pet Shoppe. I think this puppy saved us months of hard work reaching that boy." Kevin replied, "Oh, I'm sure you are right about that. I still feel weak when I think about the horrors that boy experienced. He is actually doing remarkably well. That little crisis at home when he went berserk over the story of soldiers killing King Buru was actually another blessing for Sean. And you two handled it like professionals. How did you know what to do?" Max said, "Well, I'm no professional...I just followed my gut: I simply could not see anything sick about Sean being hysterical over what he was recollecting. I was prepared in part by knowing a little about his experience. But I will admit that the sheer depth and intensity of his anger and then the equally consuming desolation and crying for his lost parents was just gut wrenching for me to witness. I was ready to dissolve into tears myself... "I wanted more than anything in the world to be able to rescue him from the horror he was reliving, but it was obvious that THAT simply was not possible. Sean was reliving his horror, but this time in the safety and loving protection of Brandy and me. That was the most that we could provide. I would have remained with him all night, that night, had it been necessary. It is remarkable that the human spirit can be so resilient and he calmed eventually..." Kevin commented, "Yes. But you said it right, Max. The savior was in the loving presence and support that you and Brandy provided. I watched the two of you with him; you were as close as if you had been with him that terrible night. That's when you became his fathers, and he became your son." "Yes," Brandy said, "I know you're right, Kevin." And Brandy seated himself next to Max on the sofa; put his arm around Max and gave him a soft kiss. He reached over Max with his other hand and smoothed Spirit's fluffy white fur, staring into the distance contemplating their dear son, Sean. After a moment, Brandy spoke: "Then I was entirely over my head trying to grasp what had befallen Sean when LLiam and his wife showed up from Ulster. The boy has a deep grasp of humanity that I haven't learned in my several additional years on this planet beyond his own few . Sending them back home with no wish for revenge but only for the peace of the city and the entreaty for everyone to Stop the Killing... I knew Sean was God's gift to me and Max, but apparently also to the entire City of Ulster! ***** "All right, you boys, just don't do a lot of jumping around in the boat; move slowly, or you might easily end up in the drink..." Ian cautioned. Murph said, "Can we help you row, Ian?" "Absolutely. Let me just get us out into the middle of the lake. Then we can distribute the extra oars and get you set up," Ian replied. "I've rowed a boat before," Sean volunteered. "You have!" Murph responded in awe. "When did you do that?" "Me daddy took us fishing, and sometime he let me row after we was finished the fishin," Sean answered. "This is the first time I've EVER been in a rowboat," Murph confessed. "Me too," Nicky added. "I've only ridden in a canoe one time at the Water Park," Jilder said. "What's a water park?" Sean asked. "I guess we don't have those here in Ireland?" Jilder explained, "It's a place where there's a little lake or somethin and there's water that comes out of big pipes and rains down on everybody. It makes a place to swim and a place to ride in plastic boats... Mostly it's for little kids, I think." "Oh." Sean acknowledged "No. We don't have anything like that here. We have lots of lakes and rivers and places to go swimming and fishing. I always wanted to go fishing in the ocean, but me daddy never got the time..." Sean said wistfully. "Well, Sean, if you want to do a little fishin, the castle can provide you fishing poles and hooks and bate; and I'll be happy to row you out to a good fishin spot," Ian said. "Yeah! I'd like to do that too," Murph added. "What about you, Nicky? ... and Jilder? Would you like to go fishin one day?" Sean asked his friends. "Yeah. I think that would be fun," Nicky answered. "Me too," Jilder agreed. "Then I'll ask my dads to get us the fishing stuff, and we'll take a lunch out in the boat. It'll be soooo fun," Sean dreamed out loud. "Good," Murph said. "Alright, who is going to try to do a bit of rowing?" Ian asked. "I will," Sean spoke up quickly. "Me too... I want to learn how to do it too," Murph said. "Uh.... I'd like to learn how to row too, but Ian, I have to tell you somethin... The doctors had to put a steel bar inside of my chest, and leave it there; so I can breathe... They'll be able to take it out in a year or two, but in the meantime, I can't do a lot of physical stuff that I'd like to do..." Nicky confessed. "Yeah! And I had to have that done too. So I got a steel bar inside of me too," Jilder confessed as well, looking down somewhat ashamed of his predicament. "Oh. Don't worry about that," Sean encouraged. "If you only have to wait a year or two, that'll go by fast, and you'll be all well because the doctors could fix you..." Sean had no idea just WHAT his friends, Nicky and Jilder, needed to have fixed. He just rallied to them intuitively, as one human being to another who was in distress. "You'll both be good as new. I just know," Sean commented. "Thanks. I think we will. It's just a little inconvenient sometimes..." Jilder replied. "Well, we can use Murph and Sean on the oars... Alright, boys, move into place here on the seat I'm using, and I'll move to the back of the boat to steer," Ian said. With that, Sean and Murph moved to the seat next to where the oars were mounted, each one taking one of the two oars that Ian had been using. "Now, if each one of you mans an oar, you'll have to pull together at about the same speed; so we will move ahead and not go in circles," Ian explained. "I understand," Sean said. "You can tell me. Here let me sit here," Murph said, taking the port oar while Sean manned the starboard oar. Ian said, "Now I'll count cadence. I'll say ROW... and each of you will dip your oar into the water and pull back until the boat moves and your oar comes up out of the water again... Then I'll say ROW again." "We'll keep that up in a steady rhythm, and you'll see that we start moving across the lake pretty easily. You men ready?" Ian asked. "Yes, Sir, I'm ready," Murph said. "Me too!" and Sean poised his oar just above the surface of the lake... Murph tried his best to watch and emulate Sean. "ROW!" Ian called out.... "Woosh!" as both boys allowed their oars to dig into the lake water. "ROW!" And again, "Woosh!" as the boat began to move ahead slowly... "ROW!" Murph was making a major exertion... Just looking at him made one think that his shoulders were certainly going to be sore that night... "Don't try to dig in so deep," Sean advised Murph. "It'll be easier on your back..." "OHhhhhhh! I'm.... gettin.....sore.....already," Murph said, one word spoken with each stroke of his oar. Sean spat out a word back... "Yeah! Take it easy, Murph... We don't have to go fast..." "Okay..." Murph said as he huffed and puffed but pulled his share of the load sending the boat through the water, never mind that he'd be sore later... "Look over there!" Jilder said. "You see that, THERE!.... IT'S A SILVER SWAN SWIMMING IN CIRCLES!!" "Oh, My!" Ian said. And Ian went on..."That's GOT to be the Silver Swan that guards the cave where the ghost of King Brian Buru stays. The swan will lead the way if you want to row to the cave..." "Yeah! LET'S GO," Jilder called out enthusiastically. "How far away is the cave?" Sean shouted. "Oh! That's right. It's much too far away to go and get back before you have to meet your dads for dinner. Maybe we ought to go out to the cave another day, when we have more time?" Ian suggested. Nicky said, "YEAH! we GOTTA go to that cave. I wanna meet the king!" "ME TOO!" Jilder concurred enthusiastically. "Well, you'll have to get somebody else to row you there, 'cause it will wear me out to row a long way," Sean said. Ian said, "That's true, Sean. Actually, the Castle has a very small electric motor that we can attach to the rear of this boat, and then we can make the trip to the cave more quickly and more easily." "Yeah! We better do that, cause I'm gettin tired too. I don't think I can make it to the cave," Murph confessed. "That would be fun. Maybe we can go fishing, and then, if we see the Silver Swan, we can follow her to the cave!" "That sounds good," Sean opined. "But I'm not all that sure I want to go in the cave once we get there... I don't know any ghosts, and I don't think I want to know any!" he added. "Well, that's okay. You can wait for me and Nicky to go find the king and maybe talk to him..." Jilder said. "I wanna go with you guys," Murph said. "I think it would be nice to meet the King. I guess he'd be kinda old, wouldn't he?" Ian was amused by the seriousness of the boy's conversation, but he would never intrude on their speculations... Youth is too short and the wonders of discovery far too ephemeral to be confounded by the hard nosed reality that follows. "I'd like to go with you boys. I think you could use someone to run the motor and steer the boat. Then you'd have plenty of time to take in the sights and go exploring on shore at the cave. Does anyone have a camera? You might want to take pictures of the cave and whatever you find there..." Ian said enticingly. "Yeah! That would be a good idea," Murph said. "Would you see about the motor, Ian?" Murph asked. "Indeed, Murph... You'll need to find out when your dad's will provide the time for you to go out fishing on the lake and exploring for a whole day. Please let me know as soon as you know..." Ian said. "I'll order lunch and get the motor," Ian said. "Hummm? I think maybe we ought to be getting back to the castle." Sean said. "Brandy said that we have to shower and get dressed up with a tie for dinner tonight." "Yeah! You're right," Murph said. "And I think he wants to take you, Sean, to the barber shop too..." Murph volunteered. "WHAT! How do you know that? What's wrong with me hair? It looks very good, I think." Sean responded. "I don't know. But I remember him saying something about getting you a haircut," Murph said. "Jilder? Nicky? Do YOU think I needs me hair cut?" Sean asked. "Well????" Nicky was obviously trying to be diplomatic with his friend. "Maybe it's not THAT long, but the way Brandy and Max wear their hair, I guess they think your hair is long by their idea of long..." Nicky looked at Jilder and widened his eyes communicating a question to his brother, "Did I do that right???" Jilder getting the message from Nicky, "Yeah! That's it, Sean. Your hair looks good to me, but you know adults; they have their own idea of what we kids should do..." "Well, I hope he doesn't want me to cut it too short!" Sean thought out loud..."I think it's just fine, thank you very much..." "Would you boys like for me to man the oars and get us back to the castle while you rest for a little while?" Ian asked. Murph was more than ready to give up his oar, and Sean didn't really care; so in short order Ian had the craft on its way back to the lakeshore nearest Castle Dromeland. ***** It only took another twenty minutes before everyone was sloshing through the shallow waters at lakeside, thanking Ian for taking them out on the water and reminding him that he promised to go again to take them fishing and in pursuit of the ghost King's grotto. "Boys!" Brandy called down to the lake from not very far away... "You'll need to hustle. You've got to get showered yet and dressed for dinner. And YOU, Sean, don't forget I'd like to visit the barbershop with you... I think we'll have time..." "SEEEEEEE! I TOLD YA!" Murph said a little smugly. "Murph!" Nicky yelled at him. "Don't do that. It isn't good to make fun of people! ESPECIALLY YOUR BROTHER!" "OH! Yeah! I'm sorry, Sean. I don't want to make you feel bad." "That's okay, Murph. I understand.... But I STILL think me hair is JUST FINE!" *****