Published: 9 Sep 2021

From Previous Chapter:

Mr. Ken ruffled the teen’s hair and said now that he had passed the safety course using the personal watercraft was a right-of-passage and to have fun. Billy smiled back at the man and then hugged him for being someone he wished he knew a long time ago.

Mr. Wayne headed off to his guest bedroom and told his employer he’d be up by eight because he expected the boys to arrive around 8:30 to get ready for the sailing lessons. They said Goodnight to one another and Mr. Ken headed down to his private retreat.

Now, with Mr. Ken home, the boys slept more soundly than they had the past two nights. Mr. Ken also slept well, as he was now in his own bed and home with his family. The Cove was quiet that night.

Mr. Ken got up at his usual, non-school day time, took care of his morning business, put on his running shorts, nylon t-shirt and crocs, then headed outside for his morning newspaper.

As the owner of The Cove was getting himself started for the day, Matthew and Charles were already up, had put on their wetsuits and were in the Kitchen Nook having their breakfast. They wanted to be ready for when their friends arrived, because they needed to get them their wetsuits, have the boys put them on and they all needed to get out onto the dock by 9 a.m.

“Well, this is a surprising sight,” commented ‘dad’ Ken, when he saw his ‘sons’ already sitting in the Nook eating their breakfast. “It is good to see you two up and getting ready for your sailing lessons, boys.”

“Our friends should start arriving in about fifteen minutes, ‘dad’, and we need to meet them and get them a wetsuit. We all need to get out on the dock by 9 o’clock,” replied Matthew.

Charles didn’t say anything. He kept eating his breakfast and looking at the time. He wanted to make sure he and his ‘brother’ had eaten and were outside waiting for their friends to arrive.

Mr. Wayne came into the Kitchen Nook about that time, got his first cup of coffee and then sat down to his breakfast of scrambled eggs, crisp bacon and hash browns. Momma also served the same thing to Mr. Ken.

After the boys left to wait for their friends. Mr. Ken asked Wayne to tell him about what he alluded to that happened at the Lakeside restaurant. Mr. Wayne qualified himself by saying it is only speculation on his part, but he got the distinct feeling that they didn’t want him there with six youngsters.

Mr. Wayne told his employer how they delayed seating him at his reservation time, even though they arrived early. The Estate Master said the Hostess made excuse after excuse for not having their table ready, even though they continued to seat people who came after he and the boys had.

Wayne told Mr. Ken he believes that Bill’s mentioning his name and that his own ‘sons’ couldn’t get a table at his own restaurant was the only reason why they were seated. He said he couldn’t prove it, but no sooner after Billy’s comment was made, the man came back and had the hostess put two tables together, assign two wait staff and serve them. Something they could have done during the preceding thirty to forty minutes as they waited.

Mr. Wayne did say the service and the food were just as outstanding as it was that night before the Grand Opening. He added that the deserts were better presented, but there weren’t as many selections, yet they were as good as, or maybe better than, that first night.

Mr. Ken was dismayed at what he heard. He knew he needed to go out there and decided he’d make an appointment to talk to the hotel manager, restaurant manager and the Executive Chef together about the entire operation, since the Grand Opening. He then would pull the restaurant manager aside and ask him about the treatment Wayne and his family received the other night.

Matthew and Charles met their friends at 8:30 at the garage and they all walked through the Kitchen Nook on their way to the Men’s Locker Room to get into the wetsuits, and then out to the dock where they would meet up with the sailing instructors.

The boys all said good morning to Mr. Ken, Mr. Wayne and Momma Maria on their way through to get changed and ready for their first sailing lesson.

The sailing instructors didn’t have any trouble with the security guards when they approached The Cove’s dock that Thursday morning. With Mr. Chris coordinating their arrival, and the boys being there waiting, the instructors were welcomed after they proved who they were.

Robert, Billy and Kyle came down to the Kitchen Nook around nine o’clock. They said good morning to their ‘dad’, Mr. Wayne and Momma Maria and then sat down. Chief barked a few times, and Billy immediately got up and took care of getting her fresh kibble and water.

“Boy’s what do you have planned for today?” asked ‘dad’ Ken.

Kyle said he was going to use the Skate Park before his friends arrived. Billy said he was going to ask Robert to show him how to use the WaveRunner. Mr. Ken told the teenagers to put their wetsuits on and for Robert to show Bill what he has to do each and every time. He then told the boys to go out on the lake, but stay close to the cove. Both teens smiled, but Billy’s smile was much bigger.

“Kyle, where’s your brother?” asked ‘dad’ Ken.

“He said he was going to sleep as much as he could,” replied the younger twin.

“Well, when you finish your breakfast, I want you to go up to your room and wake him. Then, tell him I said for him to get dressed and to come down here and eat his breakfast. Will you do that for me?” asked ‘dad’ Ken.

“Yes, sir, but I know he won’t be happy about it,” replied Kyle.

“Let me worry about that,” answered ‘dad’ Ken, with the teens chuckling in the background.

After they finished breakfast, Billy was going to take his shower, but Robert told his ‘brother’ he’d need another one after they ride the personal watercraft. So, the two teens just put on their wetsuits and headed out to the beach where the Jet Ski and WaveRunners were beached.

When Mr. Chris came to The Cove that morning, he got his first cup of coffee and one of Momma’s sweet cakes and sat at the table with his employer. The Estate Manager told the man he’d ordered all of the lifeguard equipment he requested, and that he expected it to all be there sometime Friday.

Mr. Wayne told his boss that he did order a 15 foot x 20 foot floating platform that will also be delivered Friday. He told the owner of The Cove the supplier, when he learned what they wanted it for, said he would build a standard size lifeguard stand on its long edge and provide a side ladder to climb onto the platform. Mr. Wayne also said they would anchor it wherever they wanted it in their cove. Mr. Ken was pleased with hearing that.

The next piece of business the men discussed at the breakfast table was the use of paddle boards by the lifeguards. Mr. Chris told Mr. Ken there were many different types and he would have to show them to him. He also suggested they talk to the lifeguards as to what they think would be a good way to guard the boys, other than using the personal watercraft or paddle boards. Mr. Ken agreed to do just that.

Robert and Billy saw the twelve would-be sailors standing on the dock listening to the instructors when they arrived at the beach. Robert then explained what the procedures were that Billy had to do each and every time he was going to use one of the watercraft. Billy watched and then performed the procedure before Robert would allow him to start the machine.

Robert then had his older ‘brother’ do the same to the Jet Ski, so the teenager would see there was one big difference between them. Robert showed his older ‘brother’ how to start the Jet Ski using the pull cord, as it was an older machine and didn’t have the electric start.

Robert added that other than that, the machines were the same except the name and that the Jet Ski was for three people, whereas the WaveRunners were for two people only. Robert explained they used the Jet Ski when they pulled someone behind on the towable water ski tube. Billy said he couldn’t wait to try that.

With the two personal watercraft warmed up, Robert got lifejackets for them to wear and then took the bigger machine and had Billy take the WaveRunner and follow him out into the lake. The two Covers drove the machines slowly back and forth near The Cove’s marina, so Billy could get familiar with the machine.

While the boys were learning how to sail, and the teens were riding the personal watercraft, Kevin finally came down to the Kitchen Nook. The older twin asked Momma Maria where his ‘dad’ and Mr. Wayne were, and Momma Maria told him they went to get ready for the day, and for him to sit and eat his breakfast.

Kevin heard the tone in the woman’s voice, as she answered him, and he knew not to argue with her. He knew from Kyle telling him that ‘dad’ Ken had him wake him, and wanted him down to eat his breakfast, that he was probably in trouble.

Billy was getting the hang of driving the WaveRunner, and was beginning to pick up his speed. He was having fun and was now very happy he had taken the safety training course. He knew his friends were going to be disappointed they weren’t out there too, but he was out there now and they weren’t, but right now, he didn’t care.

The twelve boys taking sailing lessons spent their first hour being shown and then practiced what knots they needed to know. The instructors then oriented the boys to the sailboats they had brought for them to learn to sail on. Once the boys showed they knew the basic knots they’ll use and the parts of the sailboats, the instructors broke them into six groups.

The groups were broken into what the instructors felt were equal sized groups. They wanted a bigger boy paired with a smaller one for the next lesson – righting an overturned boat.

The instructors showed the boys how to do it, and then the boys tried it themselves. With six training sailboats each group had their own sailboat to practice with. The groups with the bigger boys were able to right their boat fairly easily, but one group, unfortunately, had two somewhat smaller boys, and they had a little more difficult time, but eventually they got the sailboat up righted.

The instructors showed the boys how to bail the boat out, using a simple makeshift device made out of a plastic gallon bottle. After that they began to show them how to sail and steer. They explained about tacking and jibing to use the wind to go down and come up wind.

The instructors showed the boys what to do, explaining as they were doing it and then each instructor took one boy out in a training sailboat and let them try it themselves. The selected boys were now having fun learning how to sail.

The two hours were over faster than the boys knew. Only four boys got to go out and try to actually sail the small training sailboats. The instructors told the boys that they weren’t ready to go out by themselves, so for them to tie up the sailboats, and they would take the rest of them out on the lake tomorrow, and they would all have the chance to try their hand at sailing.

The boys were disappointed they couldn’t take the sailboats out, but they were all glad they were learning to sail. Sure the water was cold, but the wetsuits helped keep them somewhat warm.

Since all the boys were wet, Matthew asked them if they wanted to try out the new Rock It water toy. Three boys took Matthew up on the challenge, and they swam out to the new water toy.

They each climbed onto a riding tube and it was then Matthew told them they needed to rock it up and down as fast as they could to see if they could make someone lose their grip and let go. The boys wondered what the fun was in that. Matthew told them to wait and see.

Matthew, Noah, Aaron and Ryan were the boys on the Rock It. Matthew had them start rocking the water toy up and down, and in doing so it also went around due to the uneven distribution of weight. The four boys did get the water toy rocking fairly well, when all of a sudden Ryan, who was the lightest of the four, lost his grip and went flying into the air and came down splashing into the water.

When the youngster came up from his dunking, he was laughing hard. “That was fun! Did you see how high I flew?” Let’s do that again!” said Ryan, but he was too late, as Max had taken his place.

After getting cleaned up and ready for the day, Mr. Ken went looking for Kevin. He wanted to have a talk with Kevin about his propensity to want to sleep his life away, but the twin was already upstairs getting himself ready for the day.

Mr. Ken then went back to his Study to call Mary Taylor to talk to her about coming over and looking at the office plans, and his private retreat he was building on the top of the building. He asked her to stop by tomorrow as he was already quite busy that day. She agreed and said she would be by around 10 a.m.

It was close to twelve noon, when Mr. Chris came to Mr. Ken in his Study and told him the news media was up at the Main Gate, and they wanted to ask him about his involvement with the Rocket accident investigation.

Mr. Ken sighed at hearing that. He knew he couldn’t avoid the news reporters, so he decided to call Bill Jackson first, before he went up to the Main Gate to talk to them. After the lawyer told him to be careful of what he said, the owner of The Cove, along with Mr. Chris and Mr. Wayne drove one of the golf carts up to the Main Gate to answer the reporters’ questions.

The three lifeguards were coming into the estate as Mr. Ken was arriving at the Main Gate. He told them he needed to talk to them about their hours, now that the summer started, and about a few other things, and for them to make sure they talked before they left for the day. Russell said he would catch up with the man when they ate, later. The man agreed that would work for him.

“Ladies and gentlemen, what can I do for you?” was how Mr. Ken addressed the news media when he walked outside the Main Gate, with Mr. Chris and Mr. Wayne closely following behind him.

The news reporters immediately threw questions at him concerning his involvement with the State investigators asking him questions about what he knew about the Rocket roller coaster accident, back at Edgewood Amusement Park.

Ken Thomas told the news media how he was interested in purchasing the park, and had sent a trusted employee to inspect the property and send a report back to him. He added that the report was thorough enough that he went and inspected the park himself, along with that employee.

The owner of The Cove added that after seeing the condition that the park was in, for himself, he made an offer he felt reflected what he would need to spend to bring the facility up to the standards his other three amusement parks were in. Mr. Ken said the owners refused to consider his proposal.

But the media wanted to know what was in the report that the State investigators alluded to that they said they would not reveal until they filed their final report, but said he could, since it was his report. Mr. Ken inwardly smiled at their question knowing what was said during the news conference, so he had decided what and how much he wanted to tell them.

“All I can tell you at this point is … that the person I sent to inspect the property did a thorough job of inspecting every ride including the Rocket. My inspector took pictures of every ride, from every angle, and of their maintenance folder and what was in it. We handed the entire report over to the investigators after answering their questions. What more do you want?” answered Mr. Ken.

“We’d like to see the report for ourselves,” piped up one reporter.

“Well, now … if I gave you access to my report, then my competitors … they too would have access to what I know about Edgewood, and they could then use that to outbid me, if I decide to make another offer on the park,” replied Ken Thomas.

“Then, just give us that part of your report that refers to the Rocket, and what you found that was so interesting to the State investigators. Ohh, and that part of the report that the State used to shutter the other three rides, if you please,” asked another reporter.

“You all ask a lot out of me. Now, as a businessman, I need to consult with my lawyer to make sure I will not run afoul of the State regulators, and investigators, by releasing my report. What they say out of one side of their mouth isn’t necessarily what they mean out of their other side,” chuckled Mr. Ken.

“What I will say, for now, is that what we provided the State investigators gave them our insights on the ride … and what we thought of it as of January and February of this year. We provided the three investigators with the digital pictures that were taken of the ride during our inspection. They greatly appreciated having access to something they rarely have when an unfortunate accident such as this occurs.

“As for the other rides they decided to take off line … they have our report that was created by our inspection of the property, and the accompanying digital pictures. They must have read our report and looked over those rides and decided they needed some additional work or inspections or maintenance, or whatever. That is purely on those men and woman doing that investigation,” replied Ken Thomas.

“Mr. Thomas … why won’t you help us get to the bottom of this accident that seriously injured twelve passengers and a number of people on the ground? You have a report that you gave the investigators who are using it to decide the cause of the accident. The public has a right to know what is in that report, Mr. Thomas,” demanded another reporter that other news media people joined in on.

Ken Thomas stood there waiting for the news reporters to settle down. When they had quieted down, he said to them, “The Edgewood Amusement Park report … that was created for me … is private to my business operations. It is not for public dissemination at this time.

“I gave a full copy of it, including hundreds of digital pictures, to the investigators as a courtesy, and as a concerned citizen doing what he could to assist them in determining the cause of that terrible accident of last weekend.

“I truly understand your desire to get to the bottom of what happened, but I am sorry, I am not going to release my proprietary information out to you, so my competitors can have an advantage over me. Good day!”

With that said, Ken Thomas walked back inside the estate, followed by Mr. Chris and Mr. Wayne, and the three Cover men took the golf cart back to the house.

The boys taking the sailing lessons finally got tired of being cold, so they all went inside to take a warm shower and change. Once they were finished they were all hungry. Matthew asked Charles to ask their ‘dad’ if they could go up to the Pavilion and make some hot dogs to eat for lunch.

When Charles went looking for his dad, he learned that the man, Mr. Chris and Mr. Wayne were up at the Main Gate talking to some reporters. Momma asked him why he was looking for him. Then learning that the twelve boys wanted to make hot dogs for lunch, she told him to have them all come to the Nook and she’d feed them.

When Charles told the boys Momma was going to feed them, they all got big smiles on their faces and hurried to the Kitchen Nook. By then Billy and Robert came into the Nook to find something to eat and Momma told them to find a seat. then Kevin and Kyle came looking for their ‘brothers’ to ask them how the sailing lessons went, and they too were told to have a seat for lunch.

Even though it was past twelve noon, and the Cover’s friends were arriving and skating on the new Cove Skate Park, none of the Covers were up there skating. Billy told Momma he’d better go up there and tell them they were eating lunch, and would be up there soon. He passed the three Cover men along the way.

“Well, what do we have here?” asked Mr. Ken, when he entered the Kitchen Nook, seeing fifteen boys, sans Billy, waiting to be fed.

“Thesese boyses ares hungries ands Mommas is goings to feeds thems. Sits ands Mommas wills feeds yous toos,” announced Momma.

Mr. Ken knew not to argue with the woman when she had her mind made up. He was just as curious as what she was going to cook for all those people. He would soon find out when she presented the table with hot dogs and baked beans. The boys all applauded.

Billy quickly told his friends they were eating lunch, and he’d be back up to tell them about his going out on the WaveRunner earlier and having a blast. Billy then hurried back to the Nook for a Momma Maria lunch.

Mr. Ken pulled Matthew aside and asked him why the boys were so happy they were being fed hot dogs. The youngster told him Charles was supposed to ask him if they could go up to the Pavilion and cook hot dogs, as they were hungry after their sailing lesson and playing on the new water toy, Rock It. Mr. Ken just smiled.

Billy, his ‘brothers’ and their friends, all headed up to the Skate Park when they finished their lunch. Billy couldn’t wait to tell his friends what it was like to get out on the lake driving the WaveRunner. He told them he had to learn the correct starting procedures for both the WaveRunner and the Jet Ski, before he could go out on the lake, with Robert.

Kaden quickly asked if he had to ride behind Robert. Billy laughed and told his friends that Robert took the Jet Ski, which he added, they use with the towable water ski tube, and he drove the WaveRunner. Billy told them he started out slow to get the hang of the machine and before long he was zooming along as fast as he dared.

Billy’s friends asked him when they would get the chance to drive their own personal watercraft. Billy laughed and told them as soon as they bought one they could. The teens all laughed and then Billy told them Mr. Ken had bought him, and all his ‘brothers’, wetsuits and he was pretty warm out there, although his feet were cold. The teens all laughed, then they got their skateboards and went out on the new Skate Park.

Mr. Ken and his two employees sat in the Study and talked. The men’s employer told them he was headed out to the hotel later to talk to the hotel and restaurant managers and the executive chef. He said it was time they discussed the operation, since their Grand Opening. Mr. Wayne then hinted at what also happened the other night, when he took the boys out there to eat. The Estate Master then had to explain it to Mr. Chris.

Mr. Ken also asked Chris to call Megan and Audrey to see if they were interested in lifeguarding this summer. Mr. Ken then mentioned to Chris about his kids wanting to come back to The Cove to skate. The man suggested that while he and the boys were gone for ten days, he and Sandra should plan to bring the kids over a couple of times and have a picnic and let them use the Cove Skate Park.

Mr. Chris thanked his employer for suggesting that, as it didn’t even dawn on him to even think to do that. The Estate Manager said he would talk to his wife tonight, and try to plan to do that at least twice while the boss was away. He thanked Mr. Ken again for the suggestion.

The men talked some more about all the new lifeguard gear. Mr. Ken said that with his insurance company’s focus on safety, he wanted to make sure he was doing everything possible to ensure the boys were safe, when they swam out on the cove, thus the added floating platform and lifeguard stand and other ways for the guards to watch over the boys, while they were out in the water and away from the beach.

Mr. Ken then asked Chris about his search for two more personal watercraft and sailboats. Chris wanted more guidance on the sailboats. He asked if he was to get the same size as the boys were learning in or a little bigger. Mr. Ken told Chris to talk to the instructor tomorrow to see what he recommended. Chris said he would.

Mr. Chris then asked how many he should buy. The Estate Manager said that with twelve boys knowing how to sail, should he only get two, as he first suggested, or would three be better, so there would be four craft, including the Sunfish, the boys could take out on the lake. Mr. Ken smiled, at the suggestion, and said three new two-person sailboats would be enough. He added green for the color, before Chris could ask that. All three men laughed.

When it came time to barbeque, Billy and Robert were again the leaders. They chose the boys to cook and put the barbeque together. Again, it was learned that no one had taken the time to fill the ice dispensing machine, nor the ketchup, mustard and relish dispensers. Nor had anyone put the sodas on ice. Billy decided to call all the boys over to the Pavilion.

To get everyone’s attention Billy had to yell loud, “Hey, everyone, listen up! … Mr. Ken … he told us there would be a steep learning curve with the new barbeque setup and twice now … no one jumped up and took care of filling the ice, mustard, ketchup or relish dispensers, nor did anyone put the sodas on ice.

“I’m still the new guy here, but I can see we’re going to have bigger problems if we don’t get our act together, with this new barbeque and Pavilion setup. Since there are six Covers and their friends, we could rotate that responsibility, so that each group gets to do it every sixth day. How does that sound to you? We can talk about it while we eat.

“Robert and I … we can get us a big calendar and we can post it up here and list which Cover group has the responsibility to take care of doing those things. That way we aren’t trying to assign someone every day.

“And don’t forget … Momma Maria … she’s buying us a food mandolin and is going to show us how to slice our own tomatoes and slice and chop our own onions as well as prepare the lettuce, so we have them ready for our hamburgers. We all need to chip in and do our share of making the barbeque a success. If we don’t … then we can expect the barbeques could go away.

“If there is anyone who hasn’t been the grill master yet, then talk to Robert. If it is something he thinks you are still too young to do, then you won’t have to. The same will go for using the mandolin, but you will have to pick up your share somewhere else, like icing down the sodas or cleaning all the table tops. Everyone has to contribute. No slackers! Okay?”

“What about the lifeguards? They eat, but they don’t help,” said someone from the back of the group of boys.

Billy couldn’t tell who it was who spoke up, but he answered that by saying he, Robert and Charles would talk it over and then talk to the guards about helping where they could. Billy reminded the boys that Russell, Jordan and Gavin, and there would eventually be two more guards hired, have a paid job to do, and may not be able to do everything they are asked to do. A few of the older boys spoke up and said that sounded fair.

Billy and Robert then began assigning boys to take care of what was needed to put the barbeque together, for now. The grill, being six feet long, now needed three boys to cook and get it cleaned and ready for the burgers and dogs. Putting the barbeque together was still disorganized, but they had only done it a few times, and with everything now in different places the boys needed to think through the process.

Billy and Robert took out their Flow Charts and watched the boys go through the motions of putting the barbeque together. They made notations to the chart as they saw things differently. Slowly, but assuredly, the barbeque came together. The only thing missing were the tomatoes, lettuce and onions which Charles went to the Kitchen Nook to retrieve and to invite the adults and the lifeguards to join them. Momma Maria came up to the Pavilion this time.

The boys told Momma Maria to fix her plate and go through the line first. They then asked her which drink she would like, and if she wanted a cup of ice. They brought her drink of choice and cup of ice to her at the table she selected. Mr. Ken was proud the boys thought enough to give the woman that courtesy.

The men went next, as usual, and after that there were enough cooked burgers and dogs ready to have two lines so everyone got their plate fixed fairly quickly. With all the different sizes of tables and benches more boys could sit with Mr. Ken, Mr. Wayne and Mr. Chris than they could down on the Patio. Many of the boys chose to sit with Momma Maria and talk to her and get to know her better.

As the eating subsided. Mr. Ken asked the lifeguards to go with him, Mr. Chris and Mr. Wayne as he needed to talk to them. When the six were together in a far corner of the pavilion, the owner of The Cove thanked the boys for their continued dedication to the job, and hoped they will be as dedicated as the summer heat beats down on them when they are out in the cove.

“Guys, Mr. Chris will call Megan and Audrey and find out if they are interested in working here this summer. In the meantime, if you three know of anyone still looking, or who might be interested in switching to work here, get me their names. But please … do not tell them they have the job. Megan and Audrey … they have first right of refusal, and I’d like to have at least one female working here this summer. Once I know how many I will hire, I will do some interviews.

“Also, I am buying you lifeguard accessories that I want you to use. That will include swimsuits t-shirts, whistles, lanyards, first-aid fanny packs, rescue tubes and safari hats. I’m also buying a spine board with straps and a head immobilizer, emergency air horns, CPR masks, rescue tubes and megaphones. There will also be a lifeguard stand with an umbrella at the beach and a floating platform with a guard stand, umbrella and a side climbing ladder out in the cove near the water toys.

“Last year the guards used the WaveRunner to watch the boys while they were out in the water. This year the floating platform will be used and I want there to be one other device. I was thinking of using paddle boards, but Mr. Chris wants me to ask you what you think might be a better device you can use to move around and watch the boys as they fall off the water toys and play. Gavin, Russ and Jordan can explain it to you.

“Talk about it amongst yourselves and let me know. Also, beginning tomorrow … I want you here at 11 a.m. and you should expect to be here until at least 6 p.m. every day. There could be some nights I might ask you to stay much later.

“Last year, I had Russell and Jordan stay until midnight, or was it one a.m.? Anyway, I promised the boys a sleepover and I know they will want to swim at least until midnight and with fifty boys I will want at least three of you. I will try to give you a few days’ notice, so you can make plans.

“Another thing you need to be aware of is that beginning next Thursday … the boys and I will be gone … for ten days. Of course you will not be needed during that time. But … depending on what is decided to use besides the floating platform/lifeguard stand I may have you come to work to learn how to use the new equipment we decide to use.

“That will also include you jumping off the new platform/stand and the new equipment and doing what is necessary to get the injured person safely to the beach and onto the spine board, etc. If I need to buy rescue manikins for you to practice with let me know. Mr. Chris will get them for you. He will be at work during those ten days.

“I know I just hit you with a lot. Know this. Mr. Chris is your main contact, as he is the man who cuts your paychecks. If he isn’t here look for Mr. Wayne, and then me. They both know the score, but ultimately you are the authority out there in the cove and at the inside pool.

“If anyone gives you a hard time, bench them. If they are an adult and they won’t listen to you, come and find one of us. We’ll handle them. Remember, we have five armed security guards to back us up,” now laughed Mr. Ken.

“Also, if I haven’t already told you, any swimmer who is twelve and younger MUST use the life preservers. I’ve told the boys that if they aren’t a strong swimmer and are older they should use a life vest, too,” finished Mr. Ken.

Mr. Ken looked at the time and saw he was going to be late for his appointment out at the Lakeside Hotel if he didn’t hurry. He told the lifeguards to talk with Mr. Chris and then Mr. Wayne if they had questions or comments and to think about using something like a paddle board out in the cove. Then, Mr. Ken was gone.

The three main managers at the Lakeside Hotel were anxiously awaiting Mr. Thomas’ arrival. When they saw him arrive they greeted him and then escorted him into their conference room where cold water, hot coffee, tea and sweet cakes were available.

Mr. Ken told them he wanted them to tell him what they learned from the problems from the night before the Grand Opening, and what changes they had implemented. He also wanted to know what they planned to do when the weather turned nice, and they could begin serving dinners out on the patio.

The four men talked about the three main hotel operations and what problems, major and minor had occurred and what corrective action was taken to ensure it didn’t happen again. After their long discussions, Mr. Ken thanked them for their dedication to the hotel and the great jobs they were doing for him, and he hoped they would continue with him.

As the three men began to file out of the conference room, Mr. Ken called the restaurant manager back. The man wasn’t sure why he was called back, but figured there was something that the other two didn’t need to know. He had always been taught that you praise in public and chastise in private.

“I’m sure you are wondering why I asked you to stay back, so I won’t keep you in suspense. So … my question to you is … why is it that an individual … who had a reservation for seven for six o’clock the other night … did not get seated until almost forty minutes after his reservation?” simply stated Mr. Thomas.

The blood in the restaurant manager’s face drained out of it, and his heart began to race when he heard the question. He just sat there not knowing what to say. He thought about making up an excuse, but Mr. Ken had already begun to speak, since he hadn’t said anything.

“Your silence tells me you have no plausible explanation for what you and the hostess did the other night. What you and she did the other night … was uncalled for and was and IS totally unacceptable. Those were MY ‘sons’ you messed with … and MY Estate Master.

“You came highly recommended to me, which is why this IS your one and ONLY … warning! I will not have anyone … working for me … treat any of our guests … the way you did MY family! I sure hope you understand what I am saying!

“Yes, I want this hotel to have a Five-Star restaurant, but because it is a hotel there will be children who stay here and will eat in this restaurant. If it is necessary, then let’s create two distinct restaurants. One for casual dining and one for formal dining, and advertise it that way. Talk it over with your two counterparts and get back with me if that is what you three think is best, and want to do.

“As for the Hostess, she is GONE! Her actions the night before the Grand Opening and now the other night do not warrant her remaining at this establishment. Fire her and find someone who knows how to talk and treat hotel guests, and their children, and locals who come out to this establishment for a good meal. You have until Monday to replace her.

“I do not want to ever … ever hear of anyone being denied their reservation because of who they are, or they have too many children with them. If we are going to implement a dress code in the future, we need to make sure it is in all our brochures and widely known … well in advance.

“You know my feelings. Make it happen!” Mr. Ken took no questions, nor did he ask for any comments. He just stood up, turned and walked out of the conference room, and headed directly back to The Cove.

Mr. Ken took the time to explain to Mr. Wayne, what he did at the hotel that afternoon, as soon as he returned to The Cove. Mr. Wayne was surprised that he gave the restaurant manager a raking over the coals, and was pleased he fired the hostess. The Estate Master didn’t feel she was the right person for the position, as her personality didn’t fit into the atmosphere of the well-appointed hotel or the elegant restaurant, at all.

The men then talked about which boy still had dentist and Doctor Doug appointments before their trip that began next Thursday.

The saga of Three Finger Cove continues. Let Chowhound know you are reading his story: Chowhound at CastleRoland dot Net.

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