The Castaway Hotel: Next Generation Book 3 - 54. September Birthdays

Now that school was in full swing, the weekdays all seemed to blend together. The boys were busy doing their homework and taking care of Dobby and Flash, and now they were getting ready for bed an hour earlier so we’d have time to read the next chapter of The Hobbit to them. That was how every school day went until Joshie’s birthday, which fell on Friday, September 14^th.

We all wished him a happy birthday when he came down to breakfast that morning, before he left for school. After dinner that evening, we had the family party for him and sang Happy Birthday as Trey carried in the cake with the lighted ‘one’ and ‘three’ candles on top. As soon as he made a wish and blew out the candles, we gave him our gifts. He was a teenager now and one step closer to becoming an adult.

Dion and Trey had arranged another party for Joshie the following afternoon and told him he could invite four friends. In the end, he invited four of his classmates who were in the chorus with him, and they, along with Joshie, were often chosen to participate in various combinations and performed as duets, trios, quartets, and quintets.

Joshie’s friends had been told to arrive at the house by 1:30, and then they could either call their parents when the party was over or one of us would give them a ride home. The boys were also told to wear comfortable, dark color clothing, but they weren’t told why. As soon as Joshie’s friends arrived, Dion explained to all of them that we were taking them to play laser tag. Even though none of them had ever played before, they were all eager to give it a try, so we divided them up so we could head out. Dion had Joshie, his friends, and Benny load into his and Trey’s SUV, while Brandon and I took Ryan, Tristan, Revin, Hunter, Hayden, and Wyatt to the laser tag facility.

Dion had reserved the place for an hour, from 2:00 to 3:00, and he divided the boys into two teams. Joshie, two of his friends, Ryan, Wyatt, and Revin were on one team, while Benny, the other two of Joshie’s friends, Tristan, Hunter, and Hayden were on the other team. As soon as we arrived, a staff member instructed the boys about how everything worked, followed by a brief safety lecture. He also explained that Joshie’s team would be wearing vests with blue lighted targets on it, and Benny’s team would be wearing vests with green lighted targets.

After stating the obvious, that they should only shoot at those on the opposite team, it was explained that the lighted areas on the front and back of the vests, along with the weapon itself, was what they should aim at. They would score points every time they hit one of those areas and lose points when those areas on their vests were hit.

Next, they were instructed on the use of the weapons and told they would only work if the boys held onto them with two hands. He then showed them were to place their hands so they were covering the sensors, because it was the only way their weapon would fire. They were also taught how to reload it with ammunition when it ran out, and then they were told the best strategy was to go on offense, rather than playing defense.

After that had been discussed, the instructor explained that when one of their sensors were hit they would hear a beeping sound and their weapon would be deactivated for five seconds. Since they could be hit multiple times even when their weapon wasn’t functioning, they were told to seek shelter whenever that happened to prevent getting shot again. Multiple hits would extend the time their weapon was deactivated, thus leaving them vulnerable.

Once all of this was covered, the boys were told the safety rules: no running, no climbing on or over the barriers, and no lying down on the floor to shoot, because they might get stepped on. They were also told they couldn’t cover the sensors on their vest to keep them from being hit, and no physical contact with the other players was allowed, as well as no abusing the equipment. They were also told there would be two referees observing the game and infractions of the rules would result in them either getting ejected or causing their team to forfeit.

They were then given a chance to ask questions, and once those had been answered, they were told to study the layout of the playing area. When they were ready, Dion, Trey, Brandon, and I were shown to an observation area so we could watch them play. The teams were led to the entrance they would use to enter the arena, and once they were all inside the game began. The first time they played was slow and slightly awkward. We could tell they weren’t sure what to do or how to locate the other team, but they caught on quickly. Before long you could see laser beams extending from the boys’ weapons to their targets, and Benny’s team ended up winning the first game. Then, the two teams went back to the starting locations before facing off again.

The second game was more exciting, since the boys were catching on to how to play, and considerably more points were being scored. When that game ended, Joshie’s team was declared the victor, and then they discovered there was enough time remaining to play a third match. This would allow them to declare and overall champion, and this time both teams were out for blood.

Joshie and his team appeared to come up with a strategy for the third contest. Half of the team was used to protect the backs of the other three players, and then they became the aggressors. They often ganged up on one of the players from the other team and scored numerous points, and when the game ended Joshie’s team was victorious again.

Now that their time was up, they turned in the equipment and thanked the referees and owner before they left, and once they were outside, they began to shout and rib one another.

“That was a blast,” Joshie said. He was thrilled to be on the winning team. “Thanks for taking us to do this,” he told his dads.

“Yeah, and thanks for inviting us, Mr. Currie,” Joshie’s friends told Dion. They were all very familiar with him, seeing Dion was the music teacher in charge of the chorus.

The boys loaded back into the SUVs to return to the house, and on the way there the members of the two teams started razzing one another. They would joke about how many times they shot someone, how someone else kept missing them with the laser beams, or how they trapped another person between two members of their team. It was all done in fun and no one got mad, and we could tell they were all hoping they might get a chance to do this again.

When we got back to the house, Trey led them inside and set the cake on the dining room table. It had the same two candles on top, the ‘one’ and ‘three’, and after they sang Happy Birthday to Joshie with his friends harmonizing, he made a wish and blew out the candles. After the boys finished devouring the cake and ice cream, they agreed to go outside and play kickball before they called their parents for a ride home.

“It appears the party was a success,” Dad stated to Dion and Trey after the boys went outside.

“Yes, it went extremely well,” Trey responded.

“And I think they all had a great time, and obviously still are,” Dion answered, “and I was pleased that Joshie was on the winning team.”

“Yes, that was an unexpected bonus and an additional birthday present for him,” I agreed.

There was one minor glitch during the kickball game, and it happened when Hayden sprained his ankle while running to first base. He stepped on an uneven patch of grass and twisted it, and then Ryan carried him inside so I could take a look at it. It was starting to swell, so I put some ice on it, but he was definitely out of the game. He would probably be fine in a few hours, although his ankle would still be a little tender, but after I iced it and stopped the swelling, I’d wrap it for him so he’d still be able to get around, although gingerly.

When the kickball game ended, the boys came inside to get a drink and then Joshie’s friends called their parents to be picked up. They thanked Joshie, Dion, and Trey before they left, and they told Hayden that they hoped he was feeling better soon. They also told the other boys that they had fun playing with and against them over the course of the day, and we told them they were welcome to come back any time.

After the last of his friends had been picked up, Joshie thanked his dads several more times and told them that he’d really enjoyed his party. A few minutes later, we spotted Joshie and Benny heading upstairs, and this caused Dion and me to glance at one another. It was obvious we were thinking the same thing and instinctively knew they were going to their bedroom to have anal sex for the first time.

I believe our suspicions were verified later, because when we called them down for dinner we noticed Benny was walking funny and was very careful about how he sat down. Seeing this gave us a good idea about what he’d given Joshie for his birthday.

“I hope Joshie didn’t hurt Benny,” Dion told me when we were alone.

“I’m well aware that Joshie is better hung then most boys his age, or even many that are older, but Benny didn’t appear to be in pain, just a little tender. I’ll keep an eye on him, but I’m certain he’ll come to me if he’s having a problem. I may even ask him about it later, when we’re saying goodnight to them, and I promise to let you know what he says if I do that.”

The rest of the night went without further incident. Hunter was letting Hayden lean on him to get around so he wasn’t putting all of his weight on his ankle, and Ryan carried him upstairs when it was time for them to get ready for bed. After we read to the younger boys and bid them sweet dreams, I went up to say goodnight to Ryan next. I thanked him for helping Hayden, and then I went down to say goodnight to Benny and Joshie, as well as talk to them. Dion and Trey had already been there and left, so I quickly explained my suspicions to Brandon before we entered their room. I walked over and sat down on the foot of the bed, just below Benny’s outstretched legs, while Brandon stood next to me.

“So how did it go?” I asked indirectly.

“How did what go?” Benny asked after glancing nervously at Joshie first.

“Dion and I are well aware that you two had intercourse earlier.”

“How do you know that?” he shouted back.

“I could tell by the way you were walking, which means you were on the receiving end.” Both of their mouths dropped open.

“You just said we couldn’t do it until Joshie’s birthday,” Benny blurted out in his defense.

“I’m not saying you did anything wrong, I just want to know if you’re ok and that you weren’t injured in the process.”

“Yeah, I’m just a little sore. I guess Joshie’s dick is bigger than those dildos I was using to prepare with.”

“So did you enjoy it?”

“Yeah, I did. It didn’t really hurt while we were doing it, but I was a little sore afterward.”

“Didn’t you use the lube?”

“We kinda forgot that we’d used it all up on the dildos, so I just told Joshie to use his spit.”

“You probably wouldn’t be quite as sore right now if you’d come to me and asked for more lube.”

“We didn’t want to wait and I didn’t want to say anything to you cuz we thought you might try to talk us out of doin’ it.”

“You were wrong about that, but live and learn. How about you, Joshie? Did you enjoy it?”

“Hell yes. It was incredible.”

“I’m glad to hear that, but I’m slightly disappointed that you boys didn’t trust me enough to come to me for more lube.”

“I’m sorry,” Benny responded. “You’re right and I’m paying for it now because I didn’t come to you first.”

“You’re lucky you’re only sore and not injured, so please come to me with any questions or if you need advice or more supplies in the future.”

“Ok, we will,” Joshie agreed for both of them.

Brandon and I then went downstairs and filled in Dion and Trey about what we’d learned, and Dad and Pop listened in to our conversation. I think Trey was disappointed that Joshie had done it already, but it had been Dion’s call. He was the one who told Joshie it would be ok, but he just wanted him to wait until his thirteenth birthday.

Once that had been cleared up, we chatted about a few other things until the six of us decided to call it a night. Brandon and I went up to our room and did the same thing Benny and Joshie had done earlier, but without any negative repercussions, and then we went to sleep.

We spent Sunday the way we normally would: going to church, out to brunch, and then I took Hayden and Hunter to see their mom. It was a fairly routine visit, although Julie noticed something right away.

“Why are… you limping?” she asked Hayden when she saw him.

“I hurt my ankle when I was playing kickball.”

“It’s only a sprain and I’m watching him closely,” I quickly offered.

“Good,” she replied simply.

Seeing Hayden was having trouble walking, Hunter and I pushed the women in their wheelchairs when we took them outside. We spent a couple of hours with them and the boys told her about playing laser tag at Joshie’s birthday party and how much fun it was. Eventually, we took the women back to their room, and after the twins hugged and kissed each of them we said goodbye and headed home.

Sometime before dinner Holly called, and she did more than just say hi. First, she told us how she was doing, and then she asked about her brothers.

“When I called my mom she told me that Hayden was limping. Is he all right?”

“Yes, he just sprained his ankle playing kickball.”

“Ok, I just wanted to be sure. How are they doing in school?”

“They both seem to be doing well, and we’ll let you speak to them if you want.”

“I do, but I want to ask you about Mom first. Is she doing ok, or is she getting worse?”

“I haven’t noticed any difference in her condition, but we only see her for a few hours on Sunday. Did she mention something specific or do something that you’re referring to?”

“No, I just wanted to see what you thought.”

“She appears to be doing well and seems satisfied with the nursing home and her roommate.”

That seemed to satisfy her, so I let her chat with Brandon next, and then she talked to both of her brothers. Those conversations appeared to go well and I took the phone back from the last boy so I could say goodbye to her before we ended the call.

Once again, the next two weeks were fairly ho-hum and nothing much happened. We finished reading The Hobbit to the boys on Monday, the 24^th, and the next day we started reading the first of the young adult Harper Hall of Pern trilogy, starting with Dragonsong.

The next event on our calendar was Tristan’s birthday. Like Joshie’s, it fell on a Friday and we all wished him happy birthday when he came down for breakfast and before he left for school. We then had the family party for him after dinner, and as Brandon carried the cake into the dining room with two ‘ones’ lit on top indicating he had turned eleven, we sang Happy Birthday. After he made his wish and blew out the candles, we had the cake and ice cream before he opened his presents.

We had another party for him on Saturday and we allowed him to invite four friends. We mailed the invitations to their houses and asked that they not talk about it at school, because we didn’t want to hurt anyone else’s feelings, because we couldn’t invite his entire class. They were told to show up at 2:00 and we’d take them home afterward.

I’d talked to Tristan about this beforehand and asked him what he wanted to do. His initial reaction was that he wanted to go to the go-kart track, but I didn’t want to take the chance that his friends could drive and wouldn’t get injured. After talking about it some more, he said he wanted to play miniature golf instead, so I just hoped the weather cooperated with us.

After Brandon and I got out of work on Saturday, we went home and had lunch with the family first, and then Tristan’s friends showed up just before 2:00. We split the boys up between Dion’s and my SUV and got ready to take off. Brandon and Trey were going to stay home, because they said they had other things to do, and they would also have everything ready by the time we got back.

When we got to the miniature golf course, we split the boys up into four groups. We let Tristan, and two of his friends go in the first group, and then Revin went with Tristan’s other two friends in the next group. Dion went with Wyatt, Hayden, and Hunter in the third group, and then I went last with Ryan, Benny, and Joshie. I did that in case we started getting flak from those behind us again.

The boys all seemed to play better this time, including the three youngest, so we didn’t hold up the flow as badly this time. When we got done, we had everyone climb into the SUVs again so we could take them back to the house. When we got there, Brandon had the cake setting on the table with the two ‘one’ candles on top, and then he lit them so we could sing Happy Birthday to Tristan.

After the boys finished eating their cake and ice cream, they took Dobby and Flash outside so they could play with them. After doing that for a while, Tristan brought the puppies back inside so they didn’t run off or mess up what they were going to do next. He then grabbed the playground ball and bases from the rec room and asked Benny, Joshie, and Ryan if they would play kickball with them, and they agreed. They put Ryan and Wyatt on the same team, since they were the oldest and youngest, along with Hunter, Revin and two of Tristan’s friends. His other two friends played with him, Hayden, Joshie, and Benny, and they told Hayden to be careful so he didn’t sprain his ankle again.

Unfortunately, the rest of us had to listen to Dobby and Flash bark and whine because they could hear the boys playing outside and wanted to go out and join them. After a while I put their leashes on them so they wouldn’t interfere with the game and took them outside to watch. The puppies did their best to try to get away from me so they could go join the boys, but I wouldn’t let them. Eventually, the game ended and the boys came over and unhooked the leashes from Dobby and Flash’s collars, and then they raced around so the puppies would chase after them.

After they’d done that for a while, I told Tristan’s friends to hop in the SUV and I’d take them home, and Tristan and Revin went with us. As I dropped each one off at his house, the boy thanked Tristan for inviting him and said he’d had a great time, so everyone was happy. That’s two birthday parties down and two to go.

The rest of the day was very low key, at least when compared to earlier in the day. Brandon and I merely went about our normal duties, which included our weekly chores, making sure the boys had their homework done, and reading the next chapter to them. After we did those things, we said goodnight to the boys and tucked them in bed, and when we got to Tristan’s room he had something he wanted to tell us.

“Thanks for the birthday party. It was the best one I’ve ever had. It was a lot of fun and my friends enjoyed playing miniature golf with us.”

“Yeah, I really liked doing that too,” Revin chimed in.

“We’re glad you both had a good time, but it’s probably because we let you choose what you wanted to do.”

“That helped, but you guys made it really special. Even my friends said so.”

“That’s just part of our job.”

“Thanks anyway and I love both of you,” he said as he got up so he could give each of us a hug.

“And we love you too,” Brandon and I replied as we hugged him back.

Sunday started off normally as well. We went to church and then to brunch, and then I took Hayden and Hunter to Shady Pines to visit their mother. It was a nice visit and the boys were eager to tell her about playing miniature golf again, because they’d done so much better this time. They also talked to her more about the adoption and how they were going to change their names.

“I’m glad… you’re keeping… your father’s… last name… as your… middle name.”

“We wanted to do it so he’d know we haven’t forgotten ‘bout him,” Hunter told her.

“And this way we’ll have the same middle names too,” Hayden added.

“Yes… it gives you… another… connection.”

“Yeah it does,” they both agreed while flashing huge smiles.

“And thank you… for doing this… for them. Now, they won’t… feel like… outsiders.”

“I certainly hope not, and we wouldn’t have let them feel that way, even if they didn’t want to be adopted.”

“I know… and it’s why… I chose you. I knew… you were… a good man.”

“Thank you and I’m glad you selected us too.”

After we took both women outside for a quick stroll around the grounds, we brought them back to their room and said our goodbyes. When we arrived home, I told Brandon about our visit.

“At first I was concerned about how this was going to work out, because I wasn’t sure about raising kids who were still close to their mother and she was still alive. I’m glad she’s as supportive as she is, because it’s made this easier for all of us.”

“It’s funny you should mention that, because Alice spoke to me in private and told me that Julie had said something very similar about us.”

At dinner, I decided that I needed to address something else with the boys. “I want to announce that starting tomorrow the rec room will be off limits for the rest of October and no one is to go back there without permission from one of the adults.

“Why are you doing this?” Tristan immediately asked.

“You, Hunter, and Hayden aren’t aware of this, but our family runs a Haunted House every Halloween. Much of it is set up in the rec room and I don’t want you to see anything until it’s ready and we take you through it. Seeing Ryan, Benny, and Joshie, along with some of Ryan’s friends will be helping to set up, they’ll be permitted to be back there.”

“Ok, it sounds like it will be fun,” he agreed.

“But what about Dobby and Flash? Their food and water dishes are back there,” Hunter stated.

“When you boys are done eating, I want you to move their dishes to the foyer. This way you won’t have any reason to go back there. We will be putting black material over all of the windows in the rec room, and anyone caught back there without permission will lose all of their privileges for the month, including being able to go through the Haunted House when it’s ready.”

I think that got their attention and let them know I was serious. I believe it also made an impression that serious repercussions would follow if they didn’t listen. I hope they all heed the warning.

When we went up to read to them after they took their showers, they had a few more questions about the Haunted House. “Is it going to be scary?” Hunter wanted to know.

“I think I’ll let Wyatt answer that question for you, because he’s been through it before and would probably look at it the same way you do.”

“Yeah, it’s scary, but you’ll like it.”

“Is it just for us?” Hayden followed.

“No, it’s open to anyone who wants to come. In fact, I’ll bet a lot of the other kids in you classrooms will show up here on Halloween night.”

“Neat and I’ll bet they’ll want to talk to us about it afterward, cuz they’ll know we live here,” Tristan followed.

I finally had to end the discussion or we wouldn’t have time to read to them, and after I finished the next chapter we tucked them in and said goodnight. When we got to Benny and Joshie’s room, Brandon said goodnight to them quickly, because he knew I was going to have a conversation with them about the Haunted House.

“I want to meet with you two and Ryan tomorrow after dinner so we can go over what we’re going to do for the Haunted House this year. Ryan already has some ideas, and the three of you can help me cover up the windows and do a few other things to get started. I’ll ask Brandon, Dion, and Trey if one of them will volunteer to buy some more black material for us to use, because we’ll need a lot of it this year.”

“Ok and I’m glad you’re letting us help out this time,” Benny stated.

“Yeah, this is going to be awesome,” Joshie added.

“We’ll definitely need your help, and because there are only the three of you this year I had Ryan ask some of his friends to help out too. They’ll probably only be here on the weekends, and you’ll have to make sure no one leaves the door to the rec room open so the others won’t be able to see what’s in there.”

“Ok, we can do that,” Joshie agreed.

After saying goodnight to those two, I went up to speak with Ryan next. “Dad B’s already been here,” he said as I walked in.

“I know, and I’m here to talk about tomorrow. I want to meet with you, Benny, and Joshie about what we’re going to do with the Haunted House this year. I want you to be ready to tell them your ideas, as well as showing them the items we just received, along with the photos of the other things we’ve ordered. Hopefully, we might even be able to start getting the rec room ready, because we’ll have to move a few things around.”

“Yeah, ok. I’m good with that. Do you want my friends here too?”

“Not tomorrow, but I’d like to chat with them on Saturday afternoon. You can ask them to drop by around 2:00, and that way I’ll have time to get home from work and have a bite to eat first.”

“Can we pick some of them up if they need rides?”

“Of course, as long as you know where they live.”

“I’ll make sure I get their addresses and phone numbers when I see them at school.”

“Ok, then we should be in good shape.”

“And this is going to be the best Haunted House ever.”

“I certainly hope so, for what it’s costing,” I joked.

“But that money isn’t just for this year.”

“I know, and I was only teasing.”

After saying goodnight to him, I went down to chat with the others. I grabbed a cup of coffee first and then went into the dining room and sat down. As soon as they’d stop talking to each other, I began.

“I’ll need one of you to pick up some more black fabric tomorrow, because we’ll need a lot more of it this year.”

“I’ll do it,” Trey offered, “so how much will you need?”

I had him help me take some measurements in the rec room and then I did some quick calculations so I could give him an answer. Once that had been taken care of, we went back to join the others again and I filled them in about what I’d be doing tomorrow night and on the weekend, along with what they could do to help. Each of them was willing to pitch in and volunteered to take charge of one of the areas that I’d mentioned previously. This was going to be a team effort.