Adam Blake - 72. Chapter 72

The next morning, I saw Johnny walking in, he waved and had a big smile on his face. I’m sure I’ll hear all about it at dinner. I had a few phone calls, the same as yesterday. I noticed the boys this morning are smiling so evidently the word got to them they are stuck with me.

James introduced me to the technicians who were going to set up the internet satellite connection. “James, show then where the computers will be and then make arrangements to eliminate the walls that formed that office. I want a room where I can set the computer kiosks.”

Now I need to find Mr. Rusello and find out where we are on getting a new custodian. I went and checked his quarters and he wasn’t there. Then I went to his old quarters in the basement, he wasn’t there. He was in the artist studio. He was there with Able showing him how to age wood. I smiled when they looked up at me. “How’s your apprentice doing, Angelo?”

“He’s doing well. I’d like to teach him longer, he said he has to return to school.”

“He does but that depends which school. Have you found a replacement?” I noted Able’s expression.”

“I have two candidates. One is a relative who has just arrived in America and the other is one of the janitors.”

“Could you give their information to James and then I’ll let you know my results. Have you moved everything from your office in the basement?”

“Yes, everything is moved.”

I smiled and left as they got back to work

I looked at my watch and it was close to dinner time. I walked into the Dining Hall, and several of the boys were waiting for the food to be placed online. “Sir, my parents told me you are staying, is that true.”

“Yes, you can’t get rid of me that easily.” I got a hug, and I gave him one back with a kiss on the head. That started it, while they are waiting for their food, I was getting hugs and they were getting hugs and kisses on their heads. I saw James at the end of the line, when he came up next to me, “If you want a hug and kiss on the head, you’ll have to bend down.”

He just laughed, “I don’t know how you do it but you have all of these kids treating you like a dad.”

“I’m a substitute for the real thing. Remember that, I do.”

“Sir”

“Hello, Johnny how was your evening?”

“Sir, that’s a cool cabin, Billy said you live there when you aren’t here, is that right?”

“Yes, that’s right”

“Sir, if I may say, you have a beautiful girlfriend.”

“Oh, you met Marie.” He just smiled and left.

One of the kids who asked for seafood came and thanked me. “I think you must have talked to Marcel, he has been offering a lot of seafood dishes. The soup last night was very good, agree?”

He smiled, “Yes sir, I had two bowls.”

“And now you can have more.”

“He smiled and I watched as they put a piece of fish on his plate. I noticed all of the boys said thank you.

After everyone had passed through the line, the staff followed. I of course was the last. The fish was excellent. When I went back to complement Marcel, I saw Caleb smiling. I wouldn’t be surprised if he cooked the fish. I saw Ms. Wilson at a table making some kind of dough. “Ms. Wilson, since the original boys are doing other jobs, do you still need boys to work in the kitchen?”

“Marcel and I discussed having a dishwasher. Probably could use two boys, there are times when one dishwasher is overloaded.”

I wasn’t sure if she meant two boys or two machines.

Walking back to my office, “How are my new offices coming along?”

“We can go and check if you like.”

I nodded and headed for the stairs and the office.

“It looks like the file room is ready. We should move the files from the basement to here. Where is your office going to be?”

“It’s on the prints.” Looking at the prints, “My office is here and yours is there.”

“That’s a big office, let’s cut it to here, and put kiosks here and here for tutoring.”

“We can do that. The original president's office was here.”

“You’re joking. You’d need a tour guide,” that was an exaggeration.

At supper, I got a lot of comments from the boys about dinner. “You should thank the chefs and kitchen staff. They work hard to make sure you have a well-balanced meal.”

One of the boys on the end, stood up, “Excuse me, sir”

I watched as he headed to the kitchen, soon Marcel and the complete staff came to the table. “I think the boys want to thank you for the food you’re preparing for them.

The boys stood, hear, hear, hear. Then sat down. Marcel walked away shaking his head. I stood and clapped.

I think the youngest boy we have is 11, the oldest 17 who will be 18 when he graduates this Spring. It’s a strange grouping based on age, but it works. The older boys look after the younger boys, proper respect is shown. I don’t think this would work in a public school system, it works here because the 11-year-old may be a prince, and the 17-year-old may come from old money but not from the aristocracy.