Adam Blake - 163. Chapter 163

At the first full dinner of the Knights of the Round Table, we had the Knights pick their Squires. Then we had the reading of the Oath. We handed out the squire pins and discussed the rules of the Pub. Some of the Knights asked if we could have more choices of snacks in the pub. One of them suggested we move the coin machines to the pub. I thought that would detract from the theme of the pub, they agreed. Maybe we could offer hot chocolate in a replicated mug of 1600. They thought that would be a good idea. Now I had a project.

When we built the pub, we provided space for a fireplace, but I never wanted one that required actual wood. I would’ve settled for gas logs but never got around to buying them. Now I would and get a kettle that would allow the hot chocolate to stay warm. The boys could help themselves as long as they don’t waste it. The mugs would have their name on them, so they will be responsible for keeping them clean. On occasion, I would have hot dogs, hamburgers, and pizza as a special, particularly on the weekend.

The first week we had the hot chocolate ready, the boys emptied that pot, and the next three. The first Saturday, we had roasted chicken legs and hot dogs. Of course, we had to have the appropriate name, like Dragon legs and pigs tails. The boys thought that was great.

Adam came into my office with Franz, “Dad, we were wonder what are you going to call pizza and hamburgers.”

“I was thinking of calling pizza, cow paddies. As for hamburgers, I haven’t thought of any names. We’ll have pickled Dragon eyes next week. Maybe you boys can help and come up with a name.”

“Pickled Dragon eyes, what are they?”

“Pickled hard-boiled eggs, a big deal in England.”

I didn’t expect comments from families that they didn’t want their kids to eat Dragon legs and pigtails. If that is all we can afford, then they will find another school for their child.

At dinner, I asked the Knights how many told their parents about the food at the pub, they all did. “I need for you to do something, please tell your parents what those names are for real. Explain what Dragon legs are and other items with a crazy name for the food we serve at the pub. Some parents thought you were eating Dragon legs.”

The next day I receive telephone calls from embarrassed parents for jumping to conclusions. One parent said when she told her husband, and he laughed, I didn’t tell him I believed it at first.

So my boys did it again, and I think everyone got a laugh. There was one call I didn’t get, Richard’s. I haven’t heard from him for a while. “James, have we received any correspondence from Richard?”

“No, Adam, nothing, shall I call?”

“Yes”

“Adam, there is no answer.”

“James, see if Richard is at the college. He should have left at the end of the last semester.”

“Sir”

I looked up, and it was Richard.

“Richard, you don’t look well. What happened? I haven’t heard anything from your father.”

“Sir, my father is in the hospital. I have been waiting to go home, and I’m still here. I tried calling. I spent the entire summer here. I have finished Kings.”

“Richard, are you packed?”

“Yes, sir”

“Okay, stay here. I’ll be right back.” I went to my apartments, packed a bag, called Marie, and told her what was happening.

When I came back to the office, “Adam, the copter will be here in 15 minutes.”

“Thanks, James, Richard where is your dad?”

“He’s in Brussels.”

“James, call the pilots and tell them to plan on flying to Brussels as soon as we get there.”

“Okay, as soon as the Copter gets here, we’ll be on our way. Has your father been ill before, or is this something out of the blue?”

“No, Father has always been in good health. I don’t understand what is happening or why they won’t tell me.”

“Adam, the copter is about to land.”

“Let’s go. I’ll keep in touch, James.”

The copter and plane ride to Brussels took 8 hours. It was late when we got in, “Richard, let’s get a hotel room for tonight, and we’ll go and see your father first thing in the morning. We need to determine where he is. Since he wasn’t in touch with you, let’s check the hospitals.”

I started to call the local hospitals. One hospital said they had Richard. He was admitted two days ago.

I told Richard, and he wanted to go right away.

“Richard, it’s late. I doubt if the hospital will let us see him tonight.”

“Sir, can we please try?”

“Sure”

We took a taxi to the hospital. Richard went to the desk and inquired about his dad. The lady at the desk said he was resting and shouldn’t be disturbed. Richard said he wants to see him, look at him. She said, “I can’t let you go to 312 to see your father. I’m sorry.”

With her head, she indicated the elevators. Arriving on the third floor, we followed the room numbers to 312. Richard looked in the waiting room and then stopped. “Rachel, why didn’t you call me?”

I guessed that was his sister. “I tried to reach you, but the number I had wasn’t working. Father will be okay. He was shot.”

“How did it happen?” I just sat there and listened.

“He was at a meeting when this gunman came in and just randomly shot people. Dad was standing and talking when it happened.”

“Did they catch the one who did this?”

“Yes, when the gun was empty, security tackled him. He is in jail.”

“Did anyone die?”

“Yes, one of your school friends who was with Father.”

This was horrible. Richard sat beside me, and I put my arm around him. “Who was the young man with the Ambassador?”

“I think his name was Edward.”

My heart sunk. I remembered him. He was a bright student and always fun to be with. The boys looked up to him. This is going to be bad

Richard was crying hard. “I was supposed to be with Dad. I couldn’t make it because of a final I had to complete.”

I needed Dad, and as soon as I said that, my phone rang. It was Gerry. “Father, what happened?”

I walked away from the visitors’ lounge and told Gerry what happened. He was upset about Edward. “Gerry, did Dad talk to you?”

“He said to call you. You needed me. Father, I would never know how to handle something like this. Edward was a good friend of mine. Why do these things happen to the good people and not the bad?”

“No one knows why Gerry. It just happens.”

“Is the school going to hold a service?”

“Yes, as soon as I get back.”

“Let me know and send the plane.”

“I will, Gerry, thanks. I needed to talk to someone. Richard is broken. I need to get back. I’ll call you later tonight.”

As soon as I sat down, Richard was in my lap, his head buried in my shoulder, crying hard. “You must be very special for Richard to act like that.”

“I’m not special, Richard is. Come and sit beside us.”

She came. I put my arm around her and drew her into our hug. We waited like that until morning. No one had come to tell us anything.

I drifted in and out of sleep. Richard had cried himself to sleep. Somehow I knew that the Ambassador would be okay, but Edward’s family would be devastated. I knew I had to go and see them.