Chapter 17

Tuesday, October 26, 1976

It's a great way to wake up also. I seem to be waking up earlier and earlier. I really don't think I need as much sleep now. I'm not complaining. I kind of like being up first.

This morning I was up early, but I wasn't the first. Thelma had already finished her shower and had made a pot of coffee. When I came into the kitchen, dressed in my altogether, she was dressed for work and was munching on a bagel and sipping a cup of coffee.

"Well, good morning sexy," she said as I went for a cup.

"Good morning to you too, Ms. Richards. How is my favorite school counselor this morning?"

"You'd better stop that Ms. Richards shit or I'm going to take you back to bed and fuck your eyeballs out."

"Yes Ms. Richards. Thank you Ms. Richards. Any thing you say Ms. Richards."

Thelma laughed in a rich throaty tone. "After last night I wouldn't think you'd be trying so hard to get me back in bed."

"Awh. You got me. Thank you so much for last night, Thelma. That had to be one of the most awesome experiences I've had in either lifetime."

"Mike it's so hard to believe that you've had almost sixty years of life experience. You look like a buff, very handsome teenager. You certainly don't make love like a teenager though."

"What are you doing up so early, Thelma?"

"I always go in early Mike. I like to sit and have a cup of coffee and listen to the teachers gossip. Sometimes I hear things that clue me in that a child is having a problem. For a long while I just told myself that's what I was doing. I'd listen, but I wouldn't do anything about it."

"Thelma, my love and I do love you by the way, I can remember a time when I thought I knew more about a customer's problems than they did. I got so I totally ignored what they were saying. On the last occasion I did this, I asked for my company to send what I thought was needed. It turned out I could have fixed the problem with what was on hand. When I finally realized what I'd been doing, I managed to cancel the order and fix the problem. The customer never realized I had screwed up, so they thought I was a hero. My boss realized though and I got a first class ass chewing for it."

"Oh, Mike. I love you too. I love all of you, and I hope I fit in okay. Last night was the best love making I've ever experienced, and I want to keep enjoying that for the rest of my life."

I heard a noise in the living room and when I looked up, Missy was coming into the room. She slapped me on the knee to make me turn around then parked herself on my lap. Neither of us were wearing any clothes, so it made for some interesting skin to skin contact.

"Good morning Missy. Would you like some coffee?" I asked.

Missy smiled and nodded.

"You'll have to get up so I can get you some," I told her.

She shook her head.

I was wondering how I was going to manage this when Thelma said, "I'll get it. What do you take in it, Missy?"

Missy looked at me so I said, "Just a little bit of cream, Thelma."

Thelma got the coffee and brought it over. "I'm sorry, Thelma. Missy isn't a great conversationalist in the morning. She usually starts talking when she's on her second cup of coffee. Until then she communicates with grunts and gestures."

Thelma laughed and Missy elbowed me in the ribs.

"I'm going to hit the road guys," Thelma told us. She came over and first gave me a knee weakening kiss, then proceeded to do the same with Missy. "Thank you for the coffee," Missy said.

"My God, she's only taken one sip!" I said in mock surprise.

Thelma was laughing as she went out the door.

When the bell rang, signaling the end of my English class, I asked Mrs. Barnes if I could speak to her for a moment. She readily agreed, as I was becoming one of her favorite students.

"Mrs. Barnes, I don't know if you are aware of it or not, but I am testing out of all of my classes so I can graduate at the end of this semester."

"I had heard something about that Mike. Are you thinking of testing out of this class as well?"

"No ma'am. I am enjoying your class. I enjoy the writing we are doing here, and even the class discussions. What I was wondering though is if you could go ahead and give me the assignments we are going to have for the rest of the semester. I'd like to go ahead and do the writing and turn it in to you soon."

"I suppose I could do that Mike. What would you do then?"

"I am impressed with your knowledge and your feel for writing Mrs. Barnes. I was hoping I could talk you into giving me some additional assignments so that I can improve my skills. I know this is additional work for you and if you don't have the time, I'll understand."

"Mike, I'll be happy to do that for you. It isn't often we have a student who validates that we are the teachers we want to be. Are you going to have the time to do the assignments though? I assume you have a lot of studying to do for testing out of your other classes."

"Actually I only have three more tests to take. That's one a week and then I'll have from then until the end of the semester with nothing to do but attend your class."

"In that case, I's be happy to. I'll give you your assignments on Thursday. I'll let Ms. Richards know what we are doing."

"Thank you Mrs. Barnes. I'm sure she'll be fine with it."

I stopped by Thelma's office, but she wasn't at her desk. The 'Testing in Progress' light wasn't on so I peeked in to see if she might be there.

Thelma was seated at the testing desk. Her back was to me and her head was in her hands. I couldn't see her face, but I could tell she was crying. I flipped on the testing light and went on in and sat beside her.

I put my arm around Thelma and pulled her close. "What's the matter, Sweetheart?" I asked.

"Oh Mike," she said as she put her arms around me and laid her head on my shoulder. "We have problems."

"We who, Honey?"

"We, me, you, the family. Well, at least I know I do."

"What happened, Sweety?"

"I went into the teachers' lounge when I got here to get some coffee," she told me. "Coach Daniels was in there along with four or five others."

"Okay."

"Daniels was talking about a dumb, rich bitch and her snot nosed kids. I asked if he was talking about Bonnie and he smirked and said she was the only rich bitch he knew."

"Bastard!"

"Bastard he is. I told him Bonnie was a personal friend and business partner of mine, and I didn't appreciate his remarks. I told him if I heard any more remarks like that I'd report him to Mr. Andrews."

"He just laughed and said I could tell Andrews anything I wanted. He said Andrews is his best friend, so I should tell him and see what it got me."

"Was he threatening you Thelma?"

"I felt like he was. He then asked me if I was a rich bitch too. Mike, I'm not good at confrontations. I didn't know what to say to him. He asked if I was business partners with you and Beth too. I know it wasn't original, but I just told him to kiss my ass and left the room."

"Thelma, I think he's just a hot head. I don't think there's anything to worry about."

"I AM worried Mike. I can't help it. If he decides to follow up on this, we could all be in big trouble."

"We'll just have to make sure nothing comes of it Honey. Why don't you say you're sick and go home and talk to Bonnie about this. She is a very wise woman, and I'm sure that between the two of you, you'll be able to come up with a plan."

"I think I'll do that Mike. I'm sure not doing any good here."

"I'll be home right after lunch, and the three of us can go look at motor homes. That'll get our minds off things."

I killed time in study hall until it was time to meet my two lovely lunch partners. After we were seated, I told them we needed to get Beth into the conversation. <Beth, can you talk with us for a minute?> I asked

<Sure, big bro, we're reading an article right now.>

I explained mentally to the three girls what had gone on between Thelma and Coach Daniels. <I'm a little worried about what he might be up to, > I told them. <Could the three of you take turns monitoring his surface thoughts this afternoon? I'd really like to know what's going on in that poor excuse for a brain.>

They all agreed and quickly worked out a schedule for monitoring.

<Mike, he called Mom a bitch. I'd just as soon give him a heart attack right now, > Beth told me.

<I agree, > Sharon piped in.

<Ladies, I know just how you feel, but violence isn't really the answer. Maybe he isn't even planning anything. It's not right to kill a man for calling someone a name, even if it is our mother.>

<I know you're right, > Beth said. <I just want to rip him a new one though.>

<I know Sweety. I told Thelma to go home sick and talk to Bonnie. When I get home we're going looking for motor homes. Give us a yell when you guys leave school and if we haven't found anything yet, you can join us.>

They all agreed that sounded like fun. We spent the rest of lunch talking with a little under the table groping thrown in.

"So, tell me again. What is the worst that could happen if Coach Daniels gets it in for you," Bonnie said to Thelma as we drove toward our first motor home dealer.

"Bonnie, I could get fired."

"And that would be bad because... ?"

Thelma thought about it for a couple of minutes then said, "I guess I'm trying to get out of my job anyway. It probably wouldn't be all that bad. It's just that I'll never be able to work as a counselor again, but I'm not exactly going to starve."

"Thelma, in 1979 we are going to make at least fifty million dollars," I told her. "I know what happens to the silver market in that year and we already have our broker buying large amounts of silver. I think we'd be set for life when that happens," I told her.

"Fifty million dollars?"

"Yep. Could be more. It depends on how much silver our broker can buy without driving the price up. If he can buy three million dollars worth, we'll make fifty."