Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2007 08:02:08 -0700 (PDT)
From: E Walk <cane_lane_candy@yahoo.com>
Subject: The Doctor Gets a Visitor Chapter 28

The Doctor Get a Visitor
Chapter 28 -- New Year's Day Dinner
By E Walk
(copyrighted by the author)
Edited by Radio Rancher

I was awakened the next morning by someone sitting on top of me.  "Doctor
Dad, time to wake up.  Breakfast will be ready in fifteen minutes."

I opened my eyes and Spencer was sitting on my stomach.  When he saw me
move, he moved off of me and lifted the covers and said, "Yep, Doctor Dad,
that weapon of yours looks like you need to go to the bathroom.  Now put a
move on; we're hungry."

Spencer disappeared and I lay there mortified that a ten year old boy had
seen my penis in a stiff state.  I climbed out of bed and solved the
problem and took a quick shower.  When I got to the kitchen, everyone was
drinking juice and munching a sweet roll except for Tyler and Jeff.  "Where
are the other two guys?" I asked.

Spencer spoke up and said, "Jeff took a casserole to Grams Tillison's house
and Tyler went to help Kevin carry Mrs. Baxter downstairs.  He should be
back shortly.  The rest of us slaves are to report to the Tillison's house
by nine o'clock."

Just then the timer on the stove went off.  Spencer got up and took a
casserole out of the oven. "Okay everyone, come get a plate and I'll dish
up the casserole."

We got our helpings of the casserole and Tyler came in and said, "I'm sorry
I'm late."

Spencer handed him a plate and said, "Sit down and eat or we'll be late and
then Jeff will yell at all of us."

When everyone finished, Tyler led the guys to the kitchen and said, "Let's
get these done and then we'll all go shower and get dressed, before we go
to help Jeff."

When they were finished, Spencer came to me and asked, "Doctor Dad, can
Teddy and I use you shower?  It would save time."

"Yep but make sure you bring your dirty towels down to the laundry, or Jeff
will be upset."

Everyone departed and when they came back, they were dressed in khakis and
a dress shirt.  They departed in the van and Mrs. Tillison's car.

Linda, Eric and I just sat around chatting over coffee, while we watched
the Rose Bowl parade on the Television in the kitchen, until we decided it
was time to get ready to face the day.

When we reassembled, we got into the Camry and left for Mrs. Tillison's.
As we were arriving, Jane and Hank were pulling up.  We were met by Toby,
Teddy and Spencer.  They greeted us with a hug and took our coats.  Teddy
hung them up in the closet and Spencer ushered us to the living room.

Jeff popped in and said, "Aunt Jane, Grams wants you to serve as the
hostess until she gets here and introduce the people.  Uncle Hank and Dad,
you are to act as the bar tenders and take care of the liquid needs of the
adults.  If you need any non alcoholic from the kitchen, the butlers will
bring it."

The door opened and Toby ran to the two men, I didn't know, saying, "Hi,
Uncle Josh and Uncle Ben."  The other two greeted them and Spencer ushered
them into the living room.

Jane said, "This is my brother, Josh Benson, and his partner, Ben Jameson."
She introduced the rest of us to them.

They were followed by the Hendrix's and the Gilberts. The next to arrive
were Barry and Mandy Tillison and their two daughters, Melody and Melanie."

When Spencer saw the girls, he seemed surprised.  "What are you two doing
here?" he asked.

"This is our grandmother's house, but we never come here.  Mom says that
Grams is a poor bag lady." one of the twins said.

Mandy turned to say something but the Baxters arrived accompanied by Tyler.
Spencer wheeled Mrs. Baxter into the living room.  Toby was answering the
door and greeted Norm and Nancy and the twins.  They were followed by the
Ellisons with a screaming Jimmy.

Spencer went to them and asked, "Is it okay of I talk to him and calm him
down."

"Be our guest." replied an exasperated Cindy.

"May I pick him up? Spencer asked.  "I'll be real careful.  I won't let him
fall."

Steve nodded yes.  Toby and Teddy were watching, not quite sure what to
think.

Spencer picked Jimmy up and started to talk to him.  Jimmy started to relax
and then settled down and fell asleep while Spencer was quietly talking to
him.  Spencer put him back in the carrier and took him into the kitchen
with him.

Jeff came in with all the young people and said, "I understand that
everyone is here except for Dr. and Mrs. Thompson.  I am sure they will be
here shortly, and I will be right back.  He went up the steps and came down
with a radiant looking Mrs. Tillison on his arm.  She was elegantly dressed
in a light purple cocktail dress with matching heels.  Jeff announced,
"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce our hostess, Mrs. Grams
Agatha Tillison."  Everyone applauded.

"Mom, I thought you said Grams looked like a poor bag lady?" Melissa
Tillison said.  "She is beautiful."

"Thank you Melissa, your mother is upset with me because I wouldn't wear
that slinky aqua dress at her wedding with heels.  I couldn't walk without
tripping and falling, so I wore my running shoes."  Mrs. T. laughed.

Just then the door opened and Greg and Anita came in.  "I'm sorry we are
late, but Anne Campbell called.  She fell and sprained her arms so badly
that she will be unable to play, and I have been trying to find someone to
fill in playing the organ with no luck.  To make matters worse, she was
going to provide the special music also.  Grams you look absolutely
wonderful." Greg said.

"Thank you, dear.  Now let me make sure that everyone is properly
introduced."  She started with the adults.  When she came to anyone Jeff
hadn't met, he went to them and greeted them and said something personal to
them.  When she finished with the youngest, that being Jimmy, Spencer
picked up a sleeping Jimmie and showed him to everyone.

Jeff said, "All people under 21 to the kitchen, stat.  We have an emergency
to take care of.  That includes you two beautiful ladies too, if you are
under 21."  Melanie and Melody went with the rest of the young people.  We
heard giggles coming from the dining room.

Jeff came in followed by the young people and announced "Ladies and
gentlemen, it is time to adjourn to the dining room."  He went to escort
Mrs. Tillison, Drew got Aunt Cora, Kevin got his Mother, Tyler got
Mrs. Robinson, S. S. got his Mother, David got Nancy, Kenny got
Mrs. Hendrix, Toby got Anita, Candy got Mrs. Gilbert, Michael got Mandy,
and Spencer got Cindy and took her in one arm.  That left me to escort
Jane. The rest of the men followed and they were shown to their places by
Georgia, Melanie and Melody.

"Mrs. Ellison, we have a place for Jimmy at our table, since he is under
16." Spencer said, and then added, "We didn't want our table to only have
13. I'll make sure he is okay."

Mrs. Tillison had placed name tags at everyone's place.  Jeff had been
placed between Josh and Ben and everyone else was seated rather randomly.
I noticed that the under 16 table was rather seated by age.

Everyone sat down and was greeted by a shrimp cocktail but before anyone
could start to eat, Jeff asked, "Father Gilbert, would you please bless our
gathering today?"

After the prayer was finished, the devastation began.  When everyone was
finished, Jeff, Tyler and Kevin took the dishes from the adult table and
Drew and Kenny did the same for the under 16 table.  Kenny came in and put
salad plates at each place and then Jeff came with bowls, and for starters
we have chilled cream of pineapple soup.  He was helped by Drew, Kevin and
Kenny.  When everyone was served, they all sat down.  On some prearranged
signal, the young people all rose and started taking the cups to the
kitchen.

When they returned, Kenny and Drew placed dinner plates at each of the
tables and everyone else brought in a bowl or plate of something.  There
was sliced pork, Bavaria sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, apple sauce, lasagna
and Caesar salad.  Jeff had fixed enough plates and bowls so that there
were four of everything on the adult table and two for the under 16 table.

When everyone was served and had begun to eat, Mrs. Tillison asked, "So
Greg, what are you going to do about the music for tomorrow?"

"I don't know, Grams." He answered,plaintively.

Candy interjected, "Have David play his electronic keyboard.  He can make
it sound like an organ."

"No way." David jumped in.  "I don't play by myself and I have never played
religious music."

"Get Jeff to play the organ.  He played at our church in Minneapolis."
suggested Teddy.

"Teddy, I haven't even had time to examine the organ, so I don't know if I
can play it." Jeff scowled.

It's a standard pipe organ, Jeff.  I'm sure you could do it." said Father
Gilbert.

"Okay, but I am not doing the special music, since I haven't had time to
practice.  Wait a minute.  I have an idea."  All the people under 21 are
going to provide the special music for tomorrow.  That is not negotiable.
We'll practice as soon as the dishes are done." Jeff looked at the young
people.

"Grams, can we go swimming after dinner?" asked Toby.

"Not for at least an hour after dinner, and everyone has to have suit.
There is no skinny dipping in my pool."  Mrs. Tillison answered.

"You have a pool?" asked Mandy.

"Yes, it's not Olympic size, but it's pretty close.  I try to swim 20 laps
each day, but it is not so much fun since Cora stopped swimming last year."
Mrs. T. sighed.

"My old bones just have stopped working right, and I couldn't do it
anymore."  Aunt Cora laughed.

"Mrs. Ellison, where is Jimmy's diaper bag?  I think he needs a diaper
change." Spencer asked.

"Oh dear." said Cindy.  "I'll go change him.  His bag is in the living
room."

"I can do it Mrs. E.  I promise I won't drop him." Spencer said, and he
left.

He came back shortly with a quiet softly cooing Jimmy.

Mrs. Tillison asked, "When are you having Jimmy baptized?"

"I guess we hadn't thought about that." Steve answered.

"Father Gilbert, could you baptize Jimmy tomorrow?" Mrs. T. asked.

"It's highly unusual to do a baptism on such short notice, but I guess we
can do it at the 8:30 service, if that is okay?  Can everyone be there?"

Cindy answered, "We can be there.  How about you, Dr. Wilson?"

"I am ashamed to admit this, but I have never been baptized." I answered.

"You what?" demanded Jeff.  "Father Gilbert, we need to take care of that
tomorrow, too.  Will that work?" Jeff asked.

"I'll do Jack first, and then he can hold Jimmy while I baptize him.  I
think this may be a first for our church." he laughed.

Norm said, "Mrs. Tillison and Aunt Cora, I have you scheduled for an
appointment on Monday at 10:00.  Will that work?"

"We'll be there.  Anita, can you drive us?  Everyone else will be working
and, Jeff needs to take Drew to the high school to register him."
Mrs. Tillison asked.

Anita said she'd drive and then Linda said, "Mrs. Tillison the furniture
you gave Jack to get ready for us is wonderful.  I think the furniture in
our bedroom is a Chippendale set, the twin bedroom set is Stickley and that
double set is 18th century French.  The Steinway grand piano is superb, but
Jeff hasn't had time to play it for us yet."

"You have a discerning eye, Linda.  Yes indeed, everything is as you
thought.  Each of my husbands brought one of the sets back with them, from
their travels."

"Mrs. Tillison, you gave away furniture like that?  It would be worth a
fortune if you had sold it." said Mandy.

"Well, no one was using it, and I didn't want a bunch of people walking
through my house to look at it.  I had to stop playing the piano when my
arthritis got so bad, and the piano was just sitting there, gathering dust
for someone to clean." Mrs. T. replied.

Jeff diffused the situation and said, "Clean up crew, clear the tables.
Time for dessert."

All of the young people sprang into action, except Spencer who was holding
Jimmy and feeding him a bottle.  When all of the dishes were cleared, Jeff
came in with a cart.  He poured some clear liquid into a very large chafing
dish and then lit it with a match.  It started to flame.  When the flame
died down, Drew, Kenny, Kevin and Tyler started dishing up bowls of ice
cream and Jeff poured the topping from his dish.  Teddy and Toby started
serving everyone a dish of cherries jubilee.

"Mom, who prepared this outstanding meal?" Josh asked.

"You are sitting beside the young man who planned and organized it, honey."
she answered.

When everyone finished, Jeff got up and started to take the dishes to the
kitchen.  All the young people reacted instantly, and did the same thing.
Jeff said over his shoulder, "Grams, why don't you take everyone into the
living room and keep them entertained with an after dinner drink or
something?"

If you like this story then you might want to check out this and other good
stories at www.tickiestories.us.

Editor's Notes:

Now that was very nice. Isn't it just like youngsters to make a fuss when
an older person gives their expensive belongings to someone that they care
about and not let it be fought over after they are dead.  My Grandmother
had given specific instructions as to who was to have certain things,
several years before her passing, but her family insisted that she keep
possession of her things while she was alive so that she could have use of
them.  No sooner had she passed away, than the arguments began. It was like
a bunch of vultures circling.  All her plans and decisions she had made
earlier, went right out the window. To give you an idea, When I was little,
Grandma always served sausage on a really pretty platter that had the most
beautiful blue markings on it. She asked me if i wanted it, and I told her
that it would be nice because it reminded me of her. Once she died, it was
given to me. I left it in my mom's house cause it was china, and I really
didn't have a safe place to keep it. This was many years ago. When my mom
died, my cousin who had always wanted that platter took it from the wall in
my mom's house, and I never saw it again. When I walked into the house, all
the pretty decorative things that had been on mom's kitchen walls were
gone. I really didn't care if Marilyn had the things, except for that one
wedge wood platter, but she didn't even bother to ask me. She just grabbed
everything of value and took it away before I got there. Everyone in the
family knew that Grandma had given me the platter, but it was flat gone. I
didn't give a flying fish what it might have been worth; It was what it
meant to Grandma and me.  Sorry, I didn't mean to get on my soap box.  To
coin a phrase, "I'm an editor, not a politician."

Thank you Dr. McCoy.

How is that for getting off topic?

Darryl
AKA Radio Rancher