Chapter 18-3
A Nudist Paradise
Part 4
After Stringham went over my work, he handed me two checks, one for me and one for my employees. Telling me I had made the right choice by delegating my work. Telling me it should be one of the best things I could learn, because no one should carry the full load on their shoulders. Because if that happens, you never have any time for the more important things in life, school and sports or hobbies and family. Even love, and in my case all of the above.
That not even he does do everything all by himself or Dave; It takes people to run a business. Showing me how to keep a timesheet and how to calculate the hours. Putting a machine in my box of work that needed to be done that will time stamp the hours for me and my employees that I hire.
It wasn't for him to teach me these skills of delegation. I wouldn't have been able to do anything that I wanted to do as a chef or a manager. Instead, I would have most likely ended up in a dead-end job like my father going nowhere. Adding five extra boxes that will be waiting for me on Monday to pick up on my way back to my Rothwell home.
He even handed me my own personal credit card to be used for paying bills, paying for equipment, or whatever I needed to do within reason. Like buying clothes for Jake and Billy and school supplies they might need now that they had lost everything in the fire. Mostly it was so my mother couldn't use the card or see me carrying around big bills as I pay for things when she's with me. Making sure I kept the receipts for it so he could use it as a tax write-off at the end of the year and keep me honest.
Almost like clockwork. Mrs. Earl and my mother came to get us at one p.m. sharp. Mom frowned, seeing us all fully dressed in nice pullover shirts and new pairs of jeans, and good work shoes. Telling us she preferred us all naked, having Mrs. Earl laugh when she said it. I placed Sparky inside the car, including a large bag of dog food and his new dishes that Dave engraved in the store with his name on it. I had to admit Sparky was spoiled by everyone and looked sharp on his new dog caller. Stringham said he'd see us all at the party, giving my mother a kiss and all us boys and Mrs. Earl.
I asked Mom where Jennie was, and she said. "Where do you think?" Then laughed said. "She's watching Paul as he's having a nice day just like he wanted setting up tables and chairs in the scorching sun and getting a nice full tan. With his two boys that were smart enough not to take five horny pills, and put on sunscreen, especially in those more delicate places." We all laughed, knowing what those delicate places were.
We quickly pulled into the driveway of Bishops Earl's home long enough for me to put up Sparky and give them the responsibility to Greg and Chad to watch him. Who had the day off from Stringham's helping set up tables and chairs? His sister Cindy was still at work at the Payson Dairy Queen and wouldn't get off until three. Wishing they could come with me but had plenty of work here and we needed the room for the things we bought at the store.
I quickly introduced Greg and Chad to my three friends, telling them they were new members of our club. After I said that, they gave a more appropriate greeting like kissing instead of the basic handshake. Greg introduced them to the rest of his family including his Dad, giving us all the same greeting.
The fact they were naked, including my brother Aaron didn't faze them as much as if it would have if they hadn't been accustomed to it. Then again, almost everyone here at the moment was boys and except for the women who were in the kitchen or out setting the tables. I didn't know any of them, or their kids that were making good use of the pool, like Aaron was. Even Jennie was helping out, but being neutral, she was among the few women who were clothed.
The only ones who were having a difficult time were Paul and his two boys Michael and Robert. Either dropping things or trying to cover up the fact they were naked when the girls came by. While their younger sister and brother were swimming in the pool with the other children. Aaron waved to me but stayed in the pool playing with his friends. It hurt feeling the distance between us as he, in a sense ignored me, but I had to remember I wasn't really part of his family anymore and this was his life, not mine.
I smiled at Billy as he looked at the women and the girls that were naked, that were there setting up for tonight. Longing to take each one of their breasts and make a meal out of them like he did with Tally and Bethany, wanting to strip down like the rest of them. Would have joined them if he didn't need to buy some new clothes, and besides he had promised my sister Becky that he could have the honor of doing it for him. Even though I would let him have a little fun before that, but not until we at least had the basics. As we hustled to the car wishing, we could stay and sample the merchandise.
I hated shopping because it was the most boringest thing in the world. I like to just go in and get what I need and get the hell out. Women, on the other hand, take their time moseying along, having to look at every little thing that catches their eyes. Man, I was glad I didn't need their approval regarding what we boys like to wear, or we would be in the store shopping all day.
Nor did we find it necessary to try on clothing right at the racks or run in and out of the dressing rooms once we knew our sizes, thanks to Mr. Stringham and Dave. I loaded the cart with everything; we found we boys liked and plenty of the basics like socks and underwear.
The fact they were having a sale made my day. By the time Mom and Mrs. Earl came to find us, we boys had filled two carts and were ready to head to the check-out stand and move on to the next stores on our list. Mom cringed when she watched the register as the items totaled. Mrs. Earl was ready if I needed help and I said. "Nope" having put away her checkbook. Instead, taking out my new credit card and handed to the clerk, giving me a strange look after she checked my ID and my signature to make sure it was real.
She hesitated as the card reader took its time and was about to call the manager when it went through with no problem. Signed my name on the line where it was indicated and went on my merry way. With my mother asked me what my limit was. I said. "I didn't know, because it was my work card, and being my work card I had to account for every penny, that I had to get permission if I wanted to use it for anything else other than what I was told to use it for.
She said, asking. "Such as?"
I said. "Clothes and school supplies for Jake and Billy and their Mom and Dad."
I had Mrs. Earl stop at the bank so I could deposit my two checks, opening another checking account for the other check I was given to use as payroll for my employees. Having my mother gasp over my shoulder I saw the amounts of the checks. She gasped. "That's more money than your father makes in a week."
I smiled and said. "I am not my father, Mom." It came out harsher than I wanted, seeing the hurt in her eyes.
I had the bank make out cashier checks giving her a list of names and the amounts Stringham and I had agreed on to pay my employees. Until my own payroll checks arrived with my letterhead and Stringham's Enterprise incorporated across the top. I gave Adam his first paycheck for helping me and told him there was more where that came from if he continued to help me.
He gasped, seeing three hundred dollars … telling me he'd never seen that kind of money in his hands before. I shrugged my shoulders and said. "Now you have." Placing the rest of the checks inside my pocket for safekeeping while Adam counted the money in his hands over and over, liking the feel of it in twenty's and ten-dollar bills.
I gave Jake and Billy each a crisp one-hundred-dollar bill as directed by Stringham. Added another one inside two envelopes and put Jake's and Billy's names on each of them and said. "Jake, Billy this one will be yours when your grades come up. I will give you two more when I see two A's on your midterm grades.
Stringham told me if you managed to get all 'A's' you would get five hundred dollars. I am even offering Jake a job, if you want it, helping Mr. Brady coach the wrestling team. And I am willing to offer Billy here a job of mowing lawns and shoveling snow for people I will have on a list when we go home." Taking that responsibility off my shoulders and not leaving my customers high and dry. Plus, give both boys an incentive.
"Providing you Jake keep your nose clean and your grades up and do the work you have agreed to with the other boys that are staying after school to earn that clean slate. I and Adam and my friends have been instructed to help you with your classes, to help achieve that five hundred dollars.
"Mr. Stringham told me if you graduate with good marks that he will give you two thousand dollars and a full-time position at any of his stores in the area, with a full benefits package and a reasonable starting salary of thirteen dollars an hour."
I smiled as he tried to calculate all the money in his head. I knew how much because I had at the time already calculated it and it was a nice tidy sum. That my father would foam at the mouth, knowing it would take him two months to earn that kind of money with three jobs. Stringham wasn't messing around when it came to getting an education and making sure the ones who earned it got what they needed. Including a desk and office supplies and a basic electric typewriter. I was told that on Tuesday to purchase all of Jake's, Billy's, and Adams' books or order them from Barnes & Noble for all their classes.
I told my mother that I had been authorized to give Susan and Becky and Aaron regarding making the grades. Yet both Stringham and I doubted that they would take it. Yet I did place the money inside an envelope with each of their names on it as instructed and handed it to Mrs. Earl, telling her why stating the fact clearly that I didn't trust my sisters or my father finding it. Again, I saw the hurt in her eyes, knowing it said I didn't trust her either, for a good reason. Watching me hand out cold hard cash to everyone but her.
It didn't matter how hard I tried not to give her a small slice of the pie as I opened my wallet and handed her two hundred dollars of my hard-earned money. Telling her it was to be used as she saw fit, as payment for letting my three friends stay with her over the weekend.
Even though she was doing it for free because Bishop Earl was providing the food to keep us well-fed and was already paying the utilities on the house. So, my mother could concentrate on school. So, she can get a good job afterward and pull them out of the hole they have dug themselves in before going into bankruptcy.
I had Mrs. Earl stop at the office supply store so Jake could pick out a desk and chair as well as his own personal typewriter and everything else he would need for school and had sent to my Rothwell house except the things he would need to complete his papers for Mrs. Hothner and Adams Dad Mr. Thomas.
I couldn't wait to see their faces when Jake turned in his papers on time and typed. I knew from the start today that I would be the one typing most of it. Because he had only taken one type-class of, and he coasted his way through it doing the bare minimum as a D student, which was fine by me, after all, friends do favors for their friends all the time. I even bought his brother a small desk and a small manual typewriter so he could have one of his own to practice on until his mother could sign him up for a type-class.
Again, I saw the hurt in my mother's eyes as I swiped my credit card. There was very little I could do about her wanting the money besides the money I had just given her at the bank as she watched me spend it as I was directed to.
I am saying she didn't go without, nor did she really need it. I was told to wait to see if she was serious about school before I was allowed to help her any more than I had already. She really didn't need it considering VOHC Rehab enrolled her at Trade Tec or UVSC now called UVU and paid for her first semester including her books and supplies.
Bishop Earl made sure she had transportation and clothing and food in the house, and my brother stayed out of her hair. Providing a place for Aaron to stay either at his house or the Kenly's when he came home from school. My two sisters either went to the church house or their friend's houses. So, my mother could have time to do homework without them getting in her hair.
So, what more did she want? Other than going crazy wild on a spending rampage, like I said she has a hard time with money, thinking she had an unlimited amount to spend. If it wasn't for Bishop Earl and his councilor keeping her on a tight leash, the bills would never get paid, and they would be living on the street starving to death.
And because of that, Susan and Becky have the same problem not knowing how to manage their money or keep house or cook for that matter. I did buy lunch for all of us using my own money, cringing when I paid the check that made my mother a little happy because she was benefiting from my hard-earned cash.
I even bought my mother a whole complete outfit and had her hair done as we boys all had a quick haircut as well as Mrs. Earl so she could look nice for her husband this weekend. Once again, my mother joyfully skipped alongside me, expressing her gratitude and thanking me. Wanting to know how much money I had. I said. "Not a lot," being my answer.
Knowing if she got her hands on it, she and my sisters would make sure of that being true as they emptied my checking and savings account, which was why I hated to go shopping with them. Call me selfish all you want, but I learned over the years that nothing is free. Everything you earned came by hard work, not handed on a silver platter.
It was nearly four o'clock when we finally arrived at my mother's house and stowed our belongings. As soon as I stepped into my room, I could tell that my father had been there. My heart sank as I surveyed the mess, evidence of his desperate search for pictures or my sisters' quest for money. But there was nothing of value here. Determined to protect my privacy, I silently resolved to always keep my bedroom door locked, whether I was home or not. My mom, upon seeing the disarray, winced in disappointment. She had assured me that my father and sisters wouldn't meddle with my belongings, and she had believed that Sparky, my loyal dog, would be safely chained up in the backyard.
It took me an entire hour to put my things right, refolding clothes and stuffing my pants pockets where they had searched for anything like money or a picture. Mom apologized, and I shrugged my shoulders, acting as if it wasn't a big deal. When it really was and it was the main reason, I never hung anything on my wall of my life and always carried my backpack with me whenever I left the house.
Knowing my things weren't safe here. I either took it with me or left it at my friend's house. Well, until I moved home permanently. Yet even then I took risks, learning quickly that nothing was safe in this house and when my friends came over and compared their bedroom to mine. Mine was a barren wasteland. It was like I was just an unwanted guest in my own home.
I and my friends quickly changed into our new clothes, and got ready for the party, having Jake and Billy ask why considering we were going to a nudist party. I smiled said. "Because it's more fun having them rip your clothes off, finding the special prize inside.
Having them say. "If you say so."
Adam knew what I was talking about and said. "Trust us, it will be worth it." Even my mother was dressed up, folding her robe over her arm. She still had a problem of being naked in a crowd of people even if they were nudists. She even brought one for Jennie just in case she changed her mind, wanting to participate or hoping she would. Something told me that wasn't going to happen, not when she hadn't dared share herself even with us here in my mother's house. What makes my mother think she would be among complete strangers?