Adam Blake - 74. Chapter 74

(Dad and I are sitting on the porch, Mom is listening through a window)

“I’m going to be very busy this summer. They want me to schedule seminars of my teaching methods being the major topic. I probably will do a lot of traveling. Marie is truly devoted to that clinic, so I’m not sure marriage is in the cards for now. I think we should wait for 3 to 4 years when all of my work settles down.”

Dad looks at me and I wink. He looks at the window and see Mom almost having a heart attack.

“Are you serious about the seminars.”

“Yes, but If I can arrange it, I’ll do them at the school. The proposal was to set up a school where I could teach my methods. The school was to be in Europe. They wanted me to resign from the Academy, this was my compromise position.”

“You are getting a reputation.”

“Thanks to my army”

Dad laughs, Mom comes out and I get hit on the shoulder and dad gets it on the head. “Mom, you shouldn’t be listening in on our conversation. You could come out here and sit with us and join in our conversation. Try it sometimes, I knew you were listening, just like at home. You would sit in that one kitchen chair where you could hear what we said. Promise from now on no trying to sneak a place to hear, just join us. You know we love you and I’d be interested in what you think."

I got a kiss, Dad got another hit then a kiss.

“How about some coffee?” Mom was going to get it, “No, sit there I’ll get it.” I could hear them talk while I was gone. I yelled, “I can hear you.”

The boys finally got up, mom fixed them a hearty breakfast. They came out on the porch with a glass of orange juice. “You did that on purpose didn’t you?”

“Did you forget that we run each morning? You should have came straight back.”

“Johnny wanted me to see his room.”

“And what else did Johnny want you to see, maybe a swimming pool?”

“Yes, actually he gave me a tour. The study room looks great and that mural, it makes the room homely. I felt as if I was in someone’s home.”

“You were, that mural is a copy of the artist’s home. The room is very similar to his home, I gave him permission to paint that mural.”

“Oh the Oath, where did that come from and the sign Ye Olde Dining Hall?”

“Johnny could have answer the question about the Oath”

“He did but who painted it?”

“Johnny could have told you that as well.”

“Adam, I have one question, are you really going to build a 4 year college.”

“Yes, the plans are already approved, and if you walk over there you’ll see pegs in the ground. By the end of summer, the foundations will be done and the construction will be started. It will be a 4 year liberal arts college.”

“That means no technical subjects? Like engineering?”

“Yes, like engineering. For those you’ll have to go to another school.”

“Are we going to run tomorrow?”

“Of course and we are going to run around the lake.” The boys looked at me, “I’ve done it so you can do it also”

“Adam, can we go fishing?”

“Sure, you know where the rods are, the boat and the fish. Catch enough for dinner and count on two more.”

I’m sure about Billy, he has fished here before, but for Johnny this has to be an adventure. I sat on the porch step and watched them. Billy rowed them toward the middle of the lake, Johnny wanted to try it, Billy gave him the oars, Johnny ended up rowing in a circle until Billy told him how to row. Then they were headed to the middle of the lake. I went and got my camera, took pictures, I planned on sending to Johnny’s parents with my weekly letter.

Fishing lines into the lake, I waited, Billy caught the first fish. I knew if they were biting Johnny would catch one soon. Billy caught another and then I saw the bobbin on Johnny’s line begin to jiggle . Johnny was so excited I thought he would lose the fish, Billy helped him reel it in. It was a big fish, he held it up, I snapped several pictures. Now Johnny was a fisherman, they caught quite a few. When they came in, I met them at the dock. I took a group picture and then one of each, with their fish. Billy knew he had to clean his, Johnny didn’t. He watched Billy and when I handed him a knife, I think he wasn’t sure about the cleaning part. Billy showed him and then I snapped him cleaning his first fish, with all of his faces.

Dinner that evening was a lot of fun. Mom baked the fish and George and Marie joined us. Billy asked when were we going to get married. “I don’t think we’ll get married. I mean once you are married and if you want to stop for a drink with the guys you have to call and tell her which really means you need permission. Who wants that and when you are late for dinner, that one really bothers me. You hear about it for days and of course the food is either cold or burnt. No, It’s easier when you’re single.”

“It isn’t easier for us woman either. No stinky feet to put up with, not allowed to go anywhere without answering a thousand questions, like where are you going, with who , what time are you coming back, who is going with you. Questions after questions. And don’t get me started on having kids.”

I looked at Johnny’s face. Then I started to laugh, Marie came over and sat on my lap, “It’s worth it, right.”

“Yes, babe, it’s worth it.”

Billy looked at me, “You play dirty.”

“No, we like to have fun, ask Mom.”

“So when?”

“We don’t know, there are so many factors that needed to be addressed. Marie’s practice, she can’t walk away without someone to take over. I can’t walk away from school, what would Johnny do. He would miss me as well as the other Knights. Who knows who would take my place.”

I noticed Johnny shivered a little when I said that. “No, the school is too important to get married now. But we’ll be married before Johnny leaves school, he’ll be in my wedding along with all of the Knights. I still have a lot of work to do, still some dusty corners that need cleaning.”

Johnny smiled he was assured I’d not be leaving the school. “Well, gentlemen, should we convene to the porch for an after dinner drink, while the woman clean up.” True to himself, Johnny picks up his plate and silverware and takes it to the sink. I whisper to him, “Five coins for that.”

“Adam, how do you decide who gets the extra coins?”

“Simple, two ways, one if they are asked to do some work, then the coins are like pay earned. The other way is what you saw with Johnny, consideration of others without being prompted, and sometimes when they make me proud of them.”