I Woke Up 246 by M.P. Arsent
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"Hey, if we do then we make the best of it. Best we get showered and ready to go before we head over for supper."
"Yeah getting there around 7 will be pushing things a bit."
It was still only early afternoon so we just crashed out for a few hours before we got ready to go.
"Well you boys are certainly looking good tonight."
"What can I say Gert. After supper we're headed to the office Christmas party. We only got the word a couple of hours ago."
"Well, it is your office afterall Dennis."
"Yes it is Stan. It's about the only reason we're going."
So it was a quick supper here and then back over to the house and out to the garage where I took the keys for "baby". We were at the office a short time later. The lot was still fairly empty. Karl and I made our way inside and found Stan Bellows right by the front door.
"Dennis, glad to see you could make it, Karl good to have you to."
"Merry Christmas Stan. So just to get it out of the way, anything happening I should know about?"
"Nope, it's been business as usual. Refreshments are in the break room but You're likely to find people just about anywhere on the first floor."
"I suppose we had better start making the rounds then. Looks like a light turnout though."
"Oh they'll all be here shortly. Everybody hates being the first ones so they all come a little later. Within the next half hour the place will be packed."
Stan wasn't wrong. By 8 We were surrounded by familiar faces, well at least to me they were. Mrs Daniels and her husband and Bob Anderson were among the first to arrive. They were followed closely by Alan from the mail room and Angela Morrisy and Mrs Hines, who just had to give me a big hug. Angelo with his wife and Patrick came in together and the multitude of others who kept the office running.
I had a few words with almost all of them. But Patrick I pulled aside.
"How are things going with Alex?"
"Things have kind of evened out for him. A lot of his friends backed off for a bit once he told them, but almost all of them have gotten over it."
"That didn't take long and I'm glad of it. What about the gymnastics?"
"He's working hard at it. He is the first alternate for the high school team. First time a freshman has ever made it."
"Yeah, I didn't make it until my sophmore year. Tell him congratulations from me and with any luck I'll see him at the all state in May."
"They are having a good season so that just might happen."
Karl and I just got out and mingled with everybody and had a good time of it. Thankfully nobody asked me to say a few words, and by about 10:30 the crowd had thinned out considerably. Even though tomorrow was the day before Christmas, it was still a working day.
Karl and I got home and crashed out almost immediately as we knew we had jogging in the morning.
5:45 and it was up and out. Aaron and Roland were there waiting on us and it was down to the park and our laps run. As almost always we saw Dana on patrol and gave him a wave. We were back to the house, showered, changed and fed. Now all we had to do was fill the day until it was time to go carolling tonight. Karl had resigned himself to the fact that we were going to end up with Rustic Acres again this year.
"So what are we up to for the rest of the day?"
"Not a damn thing unless you have any last minute shopping to do."
"Nope I'm good lover."
"Not even one last toy store run?"
"Not even that lover."
"There wasn't any school today,so we can go over to the house and rehearse I suppose."
"Think we pretty much got this down by now Karl."
"Yeah I suppose. Guess we just kick back until it's time to go over for supper."
Which is just exactly what we did. We had a light lunch and made damn sure the place was spotless afterwards. Showered shaved and dressed we were over to Karls house for dinner at 5.
"So where did we get this year dad?"
"For a change we're going to the Anderson retirement center and then on to Carter and then Bennetts."
"Who got stuck with Rusty Acres?"
"Nobody, they didn't call us this year."
"Any idea why not?"
"Sorry Dennis not a one. I suppose we can always take a ride past and see what's going on."
"Something pretty serious if they didn't call I'm betting."
"Pretty likely."
We quickly had our dinner and just an hour later Aaron showed up and were on our way to the Anderson Retirement Center. This was the first time I could remember ever coming to this center. It appeared fairly new and well kept with one large building which housed small apartments for each of the clients.
Their rec hall was plenty large and a good variety of activities seemed available to everyone. We did our show for the folks and we were warmly recieved. We spent a good half hour after the show just socializing and then got on the road over to the Carter facility.
Again we were made welcome and proceeded to work our way through our presentation. It was another half hour of socializing and then off to Bennetts.
Once again they were happy to see us and we went and did our show and spent the usual half hour socializing. Stan got us all back in the van and headed out, but not for home. It didn't take a Holmes to figure out where we were headed.
Stan pulled up in front of Rustic Acres and the only light on in the place was at the front door. Not a single Christmas decoration could be found anywhere. The sign in front of the place now had a few added statements to it.
"Private Property, No Trespassing, Under New Managemnt."
"It's only 10 and all of the lights are out and the front gate is closed? I can't ever remember the gate being closed dad."
"Neither can I Karl, but that is up to the new management."
"Management I intent to look into the day after tomorrow."
"Dennis, not your problem young man."
"Maybe not my problem Stan, but it sure as hell is my concern."
"Dennis..."
"Dad, you've already lost this discussion. I know that look."
"There are people to look into these things Dennis."
"Yes people who need facts before they can do anything. How many of those folks have anybody that worry about them, or are close enough to do anything about it?"
"No idea, and I can see that Karl is right. Just be damned careful Dennis."
"Everything strictly legal Stan. Now let's get home so Santa can come."
So it was back to Karls house and we spent the night there so Bobby didn't need to come looking for us in the morning. Every body crashed out almost immediately and the next thing I knew Stan was knocking on our bedroom door.
"Let's get it in gear boys."
Karl and I had actually used sleep pants last night so it was just throwing on our bathrobes and heading out. There were a few "goofy" gifts around today as well as the usual clothes for everyone. The video games for Bobby all got a close inspection before he was allowed to break the seals on any of them.
So we were all dressed and headed out to the IHOP for breakfast. We did run into Pete and his mom again this year. Then it was back to the house and us guys settled in for some football while Connie and Gert got busy in the kitchen.
I sat there with the guys, but my mind wasn't on the games. I was wondering just what kind of person had taken over Rustic Acres, if it even was a person and not some mindless corporate entity looking for a potential tax writeoff for running the place at a loss.
Next thing I knew Karl was nudging me.
"What?"
"I know what's eating you lover and you need to let it go, at least for tonight."
"What can I say. It's bothering me. Those folks had little enough joy and it looks like even that has been taken away."
"Those places have to maintain at least a basic minimum lover. As long as they do that there's nothing the authorities can do about it."
"So my question is are they meeting those requirements consistently or just when the inspectors show up?"
"Something we may never know love."
"I'm damn sure going to find a way to find out."
"How, short of getting somebody living or working inside the place?"
"First off finding out who owns it now and doing a background check on the people in charge and who own it. I can run most of that through the business. The rest....I don't want to get the lawyers into this if I don't have to."
"I suppose you could always hire your own private investigators."
"Yeah I could Karl, but I have no idea where to even start looking and who is a good one or not."
"Dennis, I have to advise against getting that involved."
"Stan, it's not right. Those folks have probably all worked hard all of their lives. They deserve better than just a roof over their heads."
"No argument there Dennis, but let the authorities handle things. If these guys are below standards they'll get caught at it soon enough."
"And who gets hurt in the meantime? All of the clients that's who."
"Again no argument Dennis, but if you go digging into things you may very well open yourself up to problems you have no idea of. Problems that might well affect your ability to get your brokers license. You get an ...unsavory reputation and the board has to take that into consideration."
"The licensing board only has any jurisdiction AFTER I get licensed. I pass the test I get my license regardless."
"True enough Dennis, but keeping it is another question, and if you loose your license the whole damn business could come crashing down. Is it worth it?"