Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2010 17:14:07 -0700
From: dnrock@rock.com
Subject: The Beneficial 8

The Beneficial
by:  dnrock(dnrock@rock.com)


8:  Consequences

Tom hated this being out of the information loop, not being in control of
everything around him.  God he was worried about Nate and Richard.  "Is
this what it will be like when Eddy becomes a teen, with a drivers license,
maybe a LB of his own."  Was he sure he wanted to be a parent?  Tom, went
up and checked on Eddy.  The boy was snuggled up to one of the pillows, his
blond hair contrasted to the chocolate brown sheets and dark gray blanket.
He looked so peaceful.  Tom decided it was worth the price, any price, to
share love with this child.

Edith finally called, no Richard was not in the parking lot, she would get
a cab home.  The snow was coming down hard now and building up quickly.
Traffic was advised to stay off the roads.  Tom looked for Nate's keys, not
to be found.  He called Richard cell then Nate's, no answers.  Edith
arrived and Tom summoned her before she could get inside her own home.
Checking on Eddy and finding him sound asleep she came down.  "How come he
is in your bed?"

"He likes the silk sheets, I'll move him later."

"You spoil him, now he will want silk sheets on his bed and don't you even
think about buying them for him, or silk pajamas either."

Tom would not dream of silk pajamas, hell in his house, no pajamas was the
rule, having his lovers naked body pressed against his was to important for
that.

"Okay, I promise, I don't mind moving him, he isn't all that heavy, and if
a small thing like going to sleep in dad's bed makes him happy, I don't see
the harm."

"You are too indulgent with all the boys Tom, especially the younger ones."

"I've been told that before, I guess I can't change.  When Ted died I began
to think I was not indulgent enough and I resolved to treat each day as the
last day of my life.  Now where are those boys?"  Tom was pacing again.

"They are seventeen and can look after themselves, you worry about them
like you do Eddy."

"Ya I was thinking about that earlier, maybe I shouldn't be a parent if I
have this to look forward to but I went up and check on the little angel.
I guess it's just part of the job."

"I didn't know fathers worried as much as mothers?"

"Oh ya, and more because we probably been there and done that, we know what
mothers can only guess at.  Most men never show it, that's all, but like I
said, every day is like my last day, I just let it all hang out."

Richard and Nate came in laughing and singing and falling down, inebriated
on some intoxicating substance or another.  Edith could see Tom was livid,
his eyes were blazing.

"Eddy's sleeping boys," She said.

Both young men stopped momentarily and fell onto kitchen chairs.  Tom
regained his composure and spoke quietly and pointedly,

"You two are in no condition to walk let alone drive a car.  You are
fortunate that it will snow enough to close most if not all the schools in
the city.  Edith, please take Richard to your house so he can sleep it off.
I'll help Nate to his bed in the 'play room.  We will deal with this mess
in the morning."

"Tom, remember, every day," Edith admonished.

Tom was smiling with a sarcastic smirk.

"My mother would deal with me just like this.  I never thought any woman
could make so much noise the next morning but Garth's mom was a close
second," Tom informed.

Edith smiled a knowing kind of smile.  The boys still thought everything
was a big joke.  As Edith ushered Richard out the door, Tom could over hear
"but mom, I, but mom."

"Yes!"

Tom took Nate down to the playroom and opened up the hide-a bed sofa.

"I hate the thought of anyone sleeping on this thing, well except for an
inebriated teenager, maybe.  It's the price you pay for stupidity," he
thought.

He helped Nate get his clothing off making sure to fondle and excite him as
much as possible.  He even held his semi erect penis while the boy pissed
in the pot.  "Good, now suffer, he thought."  Tom figured this was not
booze he would have smelled it.  From the silliness he figured Cannabis or
some designer drug.  Probably some Cannabis but he did not smell any smoke.
He would find out in the morning, very early in the morning.  He hoped
Edith caught his meaning and would set the clock nice and early.  Tom
snuggled next to Eddy, who half woke and pressed his body tight against him
placing his head on Tom's chest, his stiff little penis pressing into Tom's
tummy and continued sleeping.  How many times had he and Garth pulled the
same stunt, to many too count.  Risk taking and limit definition are part
of being a teenage male, part of growing up, Tom knew that.  He knew that
punishment was not the answer, guidance was.  They had transgressed the
rules, sure no one was hurt and no great harm was done but rule
transgression needs to be minimized, risk taking should be prudent and
rational.

"Eddy, sweetheart, Eddy wake up little man."

"Dad its not wake up time, its to early."  Eddy rolled over and tried to
curl up in a ball under the warm duvet.  Tom dressed and brought Eddy's
cloths in to him.  Holding his boy close to his body and stroking his back,
Tom entreated Eddy to wake up and get dressed.  He did.

"Wow look at all that snow.  Its a snow day, back to bed," Eddy announced.

"It may be a snow day but right now I have a job for you.  I think you need
to run through your music lesson.  You know lots of scales."

Eddy looked at him with incredulity and puzzlement.

"Nate and Richard came in last nigh in a highly inebriated state."

"Are they all right do they need help, what does inebriated mean?"

Eddy was ready to rush aid to his inebriated buddies, although he did not
know what inebriated meant.

"They were drunk or on drugs Eddy, not sick or hurt, In fact, if they were
sick from drinking to much that would be punishment enough but they are
not.  I want you to make Nate's, morning as unpleasant as possible."

Being hung over from something like cannabis is usually less unpleasant
then from to much alcohol.  Eddy got that mischievous twinkle, that only
young boys seem to get, in his eye and headed for the playroom.  Tom looked
out at Edith's but saw no light on.  He pulled on his boots and parka
heading across the lane way.

The kitchen was empty, on the table was an empty water glass, an empty tea
cup and a half eaten chocolate chip cooky, a home made cooky, just a little
over baked.  Tom took off his boots and opened his coat.  He thought for a
moment listening intensely.  He picked up the post it note pad, that lay be
the telephone and headed up the stairs.  He was not quite sure why he did
that but it seemed like a good idea.  These townhouses are all captured
with a thick pile that deaden sounds.  Bathroom was empty, Eddy's room
empty, toy room/office empty.  The door to Edith's room was partly open.
Tom could clearly see Edith and Richard in her bed.  Their clothing strung
about the room, as if removed and flung.  Tom is a smart man and an
experienced man, no prude.

What to do?  Should he wake them up and possibly embarrass Edith.  He had
no illusions about Richard.  Should he leave them sleep?  He wrote a quick
note on the post it and reached into the room placing the note on the wall,
just above the light switch.  He quietly retreated, confiscating the half
eaten cookie, after smelling and inspecting it, on his way out.  After
making a pot of coffee and getting the now silent and contrite looking Nate
dressed and sitting at the kitchen table, phoned Edith's.  He hoped Richard
would grab the phone.  He did.

"Read the yellow sticky and follow the instructions," he said hanging up.

It was quite obvious when Richard stumbled in that he did not get much
sleep.  The effects of the drugs or what ever were more or less gone, from
both boys.  Eddy stood by his BB.

"Are you Okay?"

"Yes just tired."

"Nate's tired too," Eddy proclaimed in a very bubbly voice.

Richard and Nate both had that "spare me" look on their faces.  Tom did not
speak at all, just handed both boys a cup of black coffee.

"Tom, I, uh we, uh..."

"No need, I'm not mad, well not too mad, a boy has got to do what a boy has
got to do.  Right now I know two boys who have the overwhelming urge to do
community service on this fine snowy morning."

"Can I explain," Nate asked?

"No need."

"Tom, I think I need to...."

"Richard I said no need to explain anything to me."  He held up a sandwich
bag with the half eaten cooky in it.  "You may want to explain to others."
Richard looked very embarrassed, Eddy looked very puzzled, and Nate just
hung his head.

"You two have appointments to keep and much snow to shovel before you
sleep.  You know where the hats, gloves and parkas are."

Tom was thinking about the Robert Frost poem Stopping by Woods On A Snowy
Evening, well the lest three lines of it anyway.  "But I have Promises to
keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep."  He
was kind enough to Frost's memory not to mash it up or force the quote into
his instructions.  He nevertheless thought about it.  Eddy gave a big yawn,
it was obvious he wanted to head back to bed.

"Hay little guy why not go to Edith's and snuggle with her for a while."
Eddy smiled.

"good idea."

"Don't forget to ware your PJ's."  Eddy gave a thumbs up pulled on his coat
and was gone.

Later that morning the boys returned.  Tom was working in his office, Eddy
was playing with Conrad at his home and Edith was studying her night course
materials.

"Tom, are you going to tell our parents," Nate asked?

"No, why would I do that?"

"But what we did was wrong," Richard said.

"What was wrong about it," Tom asked?

"We used illegal substances and drove the car under the influence," Nate
offered.

"You broke two laws.  So why should I tell your parents," Tom said?

"So they can punish us," Richard said.

"Do you need punishment? Besides I think Rita and Rich would have a hard
time punishing you for indulging in cannabis that they helped to plant in
the first place and Nate if you look at your dad's driving record, I think
you will find at least one license suspension for blowing over limit.  We
were no angles, non of us," Tom said.

"What did your mother do when you came home inebriated," Nate asked?

"You experienced it and my dad did just what I am doing," Tom said.

"Make us do community service," Richard asked?

"Well yes, but I did not make you do that, I only suggested it.  My father
insisted I perform community service.  Neither Garth's nor my parents ever
told the other, at least officially.  That task was left to us.  My dad and
Garth's dad insisted we take responsibility for what we did, take
ownership.  Understand the possible consequences and articulate what lesson
we learned from the experience.

What you can't quite understand and what I did not understand until just a
few hours ago, is what a parent feels when the child puts themselves in
potentially harmful circumstances.  I guess you got to be a parent to get
it.  I was not and am not angry with you for what you did.  I was fearful
that you could have harmed yourselves or someone else.  Hell, I did that
and a lot more at 17, that is why I refused your explanations, they are not
needed.  The reason I banned illegal substances from this house and the law
is hard on impaired drivers, is to protect all of us but most of all the
little ones.  Also, I guess a little pride too, no harm shall come to my
charges, on my watch.  These things can get a bit emotional too.  You have
no idea how bad, how inadequate, how impotent, how miserable I was when Ted
died.  I blamed myself for not being able to save him.  That is not
rational, I know that, I knew that at the time but emotions like love are
not rational.  I don't ever want either of you to go through that kind of
gut wrenching experience.  Nor do your parents.

That is why adults get so up set with teens.  This knowledge will not cause
you to stop testing and experimenting, nor should it.  Perhaps it will
cause you to interject a element of prudent planning in that
experimentation.  That is why any of us would willingly come and get you,
no questions asked, if you felt it was not safe for you to drive.  That is
why I keep a boxes of condoms scattered around the house for your use."

Richard and Nate took ownership, assured Tom they had learned their lesson
and that they would make sure their parents got the same message.

"Now tell me, was it good stuff," Tom asked?

"Ya, I mean it only took one of those cookies and wow," Nate said.

"You found the patch along that old trail on the other side of the frog
pond, on the back 20, right," Tom inquired?

"How did you know that, I though Eddy had the spirit eyes," Richard asked?

"Rich found it in his day, Garth and I found it in ours, I'll bet every
senior group has found it since and probably back to 1867.  I always
thought it was originally planted by the Shaman but I never knew that for
sure, all I do know, some of the sweet grass that is in those pipes, at the
sweet lodge, has one hell of a kick.  Was this your first time," Tom asked?

"No, but it was the first time we baked it in cookies," Nate admited.

"Where are the rest of the cookies," Tom asked?

"Well hidden with our stash, and not around here," Nate replied.

"Are you going to give some to Edith, Richard?"

Richard turned red at Tom's question, now you may not think someone with a
tan skin color could blush red but think again.  Nate not knowing anything
about what happened between Edith and Richard looked at his buddy.

"Ah, well, uh, if she asks for some I guess."

"You want to tell us about what happened last night," Nate asked?

"No, but I guess I should,"

"You don't need to be embarrassed with us buddy and you know we will keep
our mouths shut," Nate counciled.

"After we left, she sat me down in the kitchen for a little, "mother and
son" talk as she put it.  I figured I would get the usual lecture like I
expect from mom Rita but Edith was different, she was more like you Tom.
Anyway, when I took my coat off I put the bag with that last cookie on the
table.  I guess my mind was not to clear, anyway, she was having tea and we
were talking about drunk driving and how dangerous it was.  I went to pee
and when I came back she had looked in the paper bag and found the cookie.
I learned something at that point, she likes to dunk cookies in her tea.
Before I could stop her she had it half eaten.  That is all it took, I
guess she is smaller and lighter than us because she started to get high in
no time at all..."  Richard hesitated not wanting to describe what happened
next.

Fortunately Nate asked a question or two about her attitude toward
cannabis.  Richard mentioned this was her first time and she kind of liked
the feeling.  Tom was about to mention that when ever he used it he seemed
to get a real craving for sex.  Now Tom craves sex most of the time, like
most men but pot really sets him off.  He kept his mouth shut and the
conversation changed subject.  Richard had learned at his mothers knee not
to talk about a woman's sexual experiences.  She had always told him it is
important to a woman to keep some things close.  Richard learned that
lesson.  He had no problem talking about his male sexual experiences with
other males.

Tom sent the boys up to Eddy's room for a nap and went back to work.  Snow
or no snow he had lots to do.  Right after the first, grade school concert
at the department store he was scheduled to spend two weeks in California,
interviewing several scientists for magazine articles he was preparing.  It
he could generate six full articles, six book reviews and two essays a year
he could earn enough for a comfortable living.  Generating two science
columns a week, for 45 weeks with the local paper was almost doubled that,
now being syndicated.  Anything else he got published or any interviews he
gave on radio or TV, lectures or what ever, would pay for any added cost
related to Eddy's presence in his life, like trips to Disneyland.  Between
Tom and Garth they pulled in a very handsome dollar.

That afternoon Edith called Richard to her house while Nate, Eddy and Tom
enjoyed a round of hot all male sex.  Tom was working at his word processor
putting the finishing touches on this Saturday's column while Eddy and Nate
were paying lick the boy pop.  Tom looked out the window, the snow had now
stopped and the city was beginning to dig itself out.  The soft sounds of
oral sex and giggling began working their way into Tom mind.  When he began
making errors and writing tongue in cheek sexual innuendoes, he gave up and
headed for the boys.  Nate and Eddy were laying side by side, their legs
spread wide for each other.  Tom pulled off his sweats and gently moved
Eddy's mouth away from Nate's anus by kissing the boy.  Driving his tongue
into the teen was almost a pleasurable as the fuck Nate would be giving him
in a few short minutes.

"Oh, Oh god you two are to much Oh...man fuck me please, please fuck me
Tom..."  Nate was almost begging.  All the while Eddy was focused on Nate's
long curved cock which he was deep throating.  Tom slid himself up and Eddy
guided his penis into Nate's empty hole.

"Wow, is Nate hot," Tom thought, "I don't think I've ever seen him like
this before," as his thick penis was engulfed into Nate's molten butt.

They were all spent, at least for the moment.  Eddy lay between Nate and
Tom as they toyed with his smooth hairless body.

"To bad Richard missed out," Nate observed in an off hand tone of voice.

"Oh, I don't think he is missing all that much," Eddy observed.

Tom, ever quick Tom, picked up on his comment.  What did Eddy know?

"Why is that little man," Nate asked?

"He is probably getting it on with my mom, that's why," Eddy responded in a
matter of fact kind of voice.

"And your spirit eyes now see through walls," Nate resounded.

"No", Eddy chuckled, "when I went home and snuggled in by her this morning,
she was naked and I could smell Richard in the sheets," Eddy looked at Tom
to see his reaction.

"Does that bother you Eddy?"

"Hell no, I share him with you two, and mom's a good person, I don't mind,
she had been kind of up tight lately, with the new job and school and us
and well everything."

"That is a very generous attitude little guy, a lot of boys would be
jealous if their BB was paying attention to his mom and not him," Nate
observed.

"That is why we love him so much isn't it," Tom observed and both Nate and
Tom began tickling Eddy.

Just then the phone rang and Tom got up to answer it.

"No Con, I was just finishing up my Sat. column.  Anything I can do for
you?"

"Yes, I think the boys would love to go swimming and the walk to the pool
will do them all good."

"Eddy you better go get Richard, I know he will want to go swimming too.
Call before you head over please."

"Oh dad, you take all the fun out...Ya, Tom."

Tom knew that but he also knew that Edith would not just walk into his
house, it was only polite.

"Eddy you should also ask permission from mom, just don't tell her, please.
Nate if you need a suite take one of mine."

"Okay, thanks."

"Are you sure you won't come with us Tom," Con asked.

"Quite, I just have to much to do, but are you sure you want to go
yourself?"

"I promised Conrad."

"You are looking very pail, Nate and Richard can look after the boys, why
don't you stay here a while."

"Ya Mr. Sample, Nate and I are both on a competitive swim team and since
Charley is not here, Nate can be Conrad's BB for the afternoon."

Tom hoped he did not mean in the fullest sense of the idea.

"Dad fell on the ice, one minute I was looking up at him the next down,"
Conrad offered.

Tom moved closer to Con and pulled off his hat.

"That is quite a bump, I think you should stay here until the boys return
Con."

Tom handed Eddy some money.  Eddy looked quite surprised at the large
amount.

"As I recall the DQ is between here and the pool, don't spoil you
supper. Don't forget to look for that old Greek Archimedes at the pool,
Conrad."

"I know he is the Eureka guy who ran naked through the streets, you are
just trying to fool me again."  Conrad poked Tom in the rigs.  "What does
your book say about new son's friends that are smart asses?"

"It said new dads should tickle them."  Tom made a half hatred attempt to
catch Conrad but the boys all ran out the door.  "Coffee with your
aspirin?"

"Yes please, Conrad sure has taken to you, he is usually quite shy around
adults."

"I noticed, but then I'm still a kid, I guess the boys recognize that."

"Tom, Eddy talks a lot about,his camping experiences and Richard.  Is that
at the MBRS camp near Middletown."

"Yes it is, the Anderson's and Big Chief's were among the founding
families."

"Deb and I were quite impressed with the change in him over the summer and
we were even more impressed with the change since you adopted him.  Are all
the MBRS people like you?"

"I wish, but then I am not objective.  We all have a lot in common and most
of us are related the founding families.  I would say 99.9% good people.
We don't all agree on everything, in fact we probably don't all agree on
anything, except a few basic ideas like: family never judges, family
supports, family accepts you as you are, family wants every member to be
all they can and want to be, our kids are our greatest treasure and the
greatest truly renewable resource."

"I'd say that was one hell of al lot in common.  Does it really work?"

Tom wondered just where this conversation was going.

"I guess it is a lot when you lay it out but it does work, not perfect but
it works."

"Deb and I are most impressed with the members we have met so far, you,
Wayne, Garth and my boss.  My boss, the district manager I work for has
been trying to interest us in membership for about two years, he even
offered to be our sponsors.  Now that we have met you and seen the change
in Eddy and Edith, we are talking about it again."

"Your District Manager is?"

"Noddy Chen."

"I know him quite well we were class mates, he sat right behind me,
Andersen, Anderson and Chen, I don't think we are directly related though.
Why don't you tell him what you just told me and see if he is still
interested in being your sponsor."

"We will but what if he no longer is interested, I don't want to hurt my
work relationship."

"If not let me know and I'm sure between Wayne and I we can work something
out.  I think Richard's mom, Rita will sponsor Edith to the woman's group
when she is ready.  Second, family and work are quite separate things,
Noddy knows that, he would never let the one influence to other."

"Can you tell me why your family is inviting, all be it on a highly
selective basis, new members."

"Sure, that is easy.  We have, since 1867, included new members, in those
days it was new people moving into the area around Middletown.  If a member
identifies a family they feel would do honor to us and they showed interest
in the principals laid down by the founders, they have been invited.  In
recent years since the late 1940's more and more of us are living away from
Middletown.  So as we encounter good people in our new communities, you
see.  In addition, simply declining birth rates.  Families are smaller now
then before it takes more of them to keep up our numbers.  Between Wayne
and I we have 4 children but Richard's mom only one and looking across the
board, Nate is an only child, etc."

"I think the thing that held us back before was the size of the commitment
we would need to make."

"It is large, no question about it.  Not any more expensive than a lot of
other things, It does have a time component too.  For example, I am
expected to give one week a year to the camp plus my fees and now Eddy's
fees.  I can pay my fees and Eddy's with additional time.  In return I got
a full scholarship to university where I earned two Ph.D.'s.  I put in a
lot of other time too over the years, Being a BB takes a lot of commitment
but it is and was more then worth the investment."

"I can see that, I'm still paying off Deb's and my student loans."

"Do you and Noddy work closely together?"

"We did but in the last year I have been more out on my own, since I got my
own area to manage.  That is why I'm off on this snow day.  My area is
mostly light industrial and our customers are all closed."

"I guess snow like we just had is bad news for the courier business.  More
coffee?"

"Noddy, explained a lot of stuff to us before but one confusing part was
the requirement that boys and girls 8 to 10 must attend the summer camps,
monthly meetings and a number of winter events."

"Yes that is a requirement.  If it is any kind of financial hardship, the
society will cover all costs and provide any needed transportation and so
on.  In fact, Edith was quite taken aback at just how much support is given
to the young families."

"Is it the society that is covering the Wednesday night music lessons that
Conrad attends."

"Yes, Norma is at the university studying music education on a society
scholarship.  Part of her terms is to provide lessons to members."  Tom
than told Con about his conversation with Harold about Eddy's voice
lessons.  "If he in fact is invoicing the society or not I have no idea.  I
do know that once a child displays a special talent or skill, the society
will insure that he or she has the best instructions or instruments or what
ever and the parents are only expected to provide what support they can.  I
can afford to pay and have offered, but no invoice has come.  In some cases
that support is little more then encouragement, in others, when the parents
can't afford it, many thousands of dollars.  Did you know Noddy played
piano for Harold when they were kids?"

"No, Noddy never mentioned that and I guess I never thought about how a
great talent like Harold honed his skills.  Speaking of Harold, he is a bit
strange, what does the society think about him?"  Tom knew he had to answer
with care.

"Harold and Garth and I were palls all through school, right up until he
went off to New York to study and Garth and I went to the Univ. of Chicago.
Harold has been, well Harold since we were boys, lets face it, when Garth
and I were out chasing girls in high school, Harold was dressing like one.
I think he has toned down in recent years but he is gay and has never
hidden that.

The whole extended family accepts each and every member as they are.  When
we look at Harold, or Richard's mom we do not see a gay person or a
straight person or a bi person, we see one of us, we see his or her kind
and generous heart, talent of course, and most important dedication to
excellence.  That is part of what we teach the kids at the camp.  This is
your spiritual brother or sister, they are loved, respected and cared for
as you are.  We teach them self respect so they respect others, we teach
them attempting can never fail, failure results from not attempting.

They are given a good ground in self confidence and practical lessons in
how to measure his or her own abilities and skills, so they won't become
over confident.  Color, sexual orientation, national background and things
like that are never and I mean never considered.  Those with some
disability are treated with dignity and respect for their abilities.  That
is part of the glue that holds the thing together.  If you choose to join
us Conrad will be assigned a Big Brother and you will gain a part time
teenage son and in a few years a daughter for Samantha.  The down side is
they are teenagers, the up side is they will be as dedicated to their
Little Brother or Sister as if they were biologically related."

Tom explained the system for Con and about Richard finding his dad as Con
had overheard Eddy and Conrad talking about it.

"When I called my mother to tell her she laughed and laughed.  Telling me
how foolish you men had been; every woman that was old enough to have
changed Garth's dippers had that one figured out before Richard was six
weeks old.  No one ever talked or gossiped about it, we just respected
Rita's wishes.  That tells me the women's society operates a lot like the
men's."

"Tom, do you think Edith would mind if I tried her drums?"

"No, I don't but you know Conrad would by thrilled if you ask him to show
you."

"Yes, that is a good idea."

Tom hoped Con and Deb choose to join up.  He looked forward to a new boy in
his sex life and well, the parents of that new boy were also highly
desirable.

Edith had spent the afternoon making sure things were organized for the
concert at the store in the morning.  Mrs. Wilneske contacted all her
singers to confirm and Tom made last minute arrangements with Carl.  The
store PR people had arranged for print and electronic media to be on hand
and Carl's office had released several education related press releases
during the week.  They did not get much coverage, that was part of the
plan, setting the stage.

Tom pressed in a short text message on his cell, sending it to Carl's press
secretary's cell, "On Time".  The risers were set up on the ground floor
near the escalators.  The sixth song in the first set was the "Little
Drummer Boy" Eddy sang and Conrad played the drum with the others in the
background and Mrs. Wilneske playing the piano.  Carl and his group came in
during the second song and slowly moved up to the front.  The press was on
the other side and several recognized the governor.  Eddy moved so that as
soon as he was finished he could start his play acting.

"Uncle Carl he shouted, running up and flipping off Carl's hands, hand
standing and landing on his shoulders."  All this while the tape was
rolling.  Carl praised the singers "and you too Eddy, who blushed and waved
to the cameras.  They bantered back and forth a bit, Eddy asking if Carl
had come to hear him sing and Carl responding no he was not aware "that it
was your class until I saw and heard you, I came to by a present for
Philip."  Eddy responded in a loud wisher, "he wants an electric train."
Eddy got down and pulled Carl to the piano so he could sing his solo which
was "I Dreamed a Dream", from Les Miserables.  This got a standing ovation.
Eddy brought Mrs. Wilneske over and introduced her to the governor, saying
she had said "she wanted to give you a piece or her mind."

Carl listened to her complaints about the lack of funding for public
education and programs like Music and Art in the grade schools.  Tom
shouted out and "crappie text books too".  The news people were eating it
up.  Carl quoted from his recent press releases.  Explaining that the
governor did not have the power to increase funding to schools, that was
the job of the legislature but he was trying to get them moving.

One of his aids suggested they were late for a meeting with the budget
committee, giving Eddy a chance to say, "Are you going to play in the sand
box Uncle Carl?  Do the legslat..ors really look like young baboons and is
there sand in the Leg.?"

Giving Carl a chance to present a civics lesson to the third grads class
they would never forget and lots of good sound bites for the media, placing
all the blame for underfunding squarely on the shoulders of his party's
legislators.

"It's important Uncle Carl, you got to speak for us kids because adults
forget about us and don't listen to us, but they will listen to you."

"Eddy, children, I will do that, I will speak for you.  The children of
Minnesota are our greatest treasure and I'm proud to be your advocate."

"Like I said, an election winner, if I ever thought of one," Tom thought.

The media was asking all kinds of questions of the governor, Eddy and Tom.
At the end of the scrum one reporter asked Carl if he was concerned about
the majority leader running against him in the next election.

"The only opponent I would be concerned about is Eddy and fortunately he
isn't old enough to hold office yet.  I would say that the majority
leader's actions of late may suggest he thinks he is the governor.  I would
remind, him I was elected to that office, by the people of this state and
he was elected to his office by the people of his district.  Maybe he
should run against me next time but I doubt he will make it out of the
primary.  No my disagreement with him will not split the party but his
disagreement with the platform might.

Our party's platform on education was a clear statement in support of high
quality public education that was adequately funded.....the majority
leaders instance on fiscal restraint for schools while increasing highway
construction in his district is not living up to the spirit of that
platform..."  It all went very well.

Finally someone asked Tom why he called the legislators baboons, that was
something many of them would take as offense.  Eddy popped in, "dad wrote a
smilie, he said they were acting like young baboons playing in a sandbox,
even us third graders know the difference between a smilie and a metaphor."

That one will be on the TV for sure Tom thought, "My mother used to say "if
the shoe fits, ware it", Tom answered as the mike was pushed toward him.
The class reassembled for their second set, broke for lunch and sang two
more times before heading home.  Each time the shoppers were most
appreciative and gave long rounds of applause.  The press was quite
surprised that Carl was such an accomplished musician.  That gave him a
chance to point out his mother was the music teacher at his grade school
and how important strong public school education was, he being an example:
professional football player, come governor and now musical accompanist to
a child prodigy.

.............................

"Edith, I want to tell you my self just how pleased the company is with
your singing idea.  In fact you will be asked to go to all our other stores
during the year to tell them how you did it.  I think the PR department is
going to try and steal you away from us too."

"Don't worry Stephen I'm not interested in PR, I still like accounting."

"Good, one more thing, I smell Tom Anderson's Machiavellian mind in that
first concert.  Am I right?"

"You know how creative Tom is better than I."

"I have no problem with it, in fact we got extra publicity and one pile of
good will.  I just want to warn you never to play chess with Tom unless you
are at the grand master level."

"Thanks I keep that in mind, no chess and never debate him either.  They
both laughed and Edith departed with another raise.