A Blank Canvas Part 2

Chapter 264-1

A Blank Canvas

Part 2

 

 

 

Everything was kicking in high gear with the bakers being put into the oven as Dad and the boys started rolling in the 500 or so tables and chairs that I had calculated I could get 6 to 8 people around them. Watching them stack them against the wall for now as well as all the boxes that said dining room decor on them, or the room they belonged to which was my job to make sure they got there so when our crew came in they could start putting everything together. I checked the green-eyed clock monster on the wall telling me it was now 2 am in the morning.

The cords were almost done, and the potatoes had about 30 or so minutes before they can start turning them into twice baked. Every time I tried to help, they would tell me to go to bed. I stated not unless we all go to bed. Mom ended it, stating fine, calling Dad and Mr. Vincent asking them how long will it take to bring everything out of the storerooms. Dad said rubbing his chin, about an hour.

Mom asked Chef Mack’s wife Carla how long she needed to finish making her 12 pans of seven layer salad. She stated she be done 15 minutes all she had to do was cover them and put them in the walk-in and clean up her station. Chef Mack said when the 600 potatoes come out of the oven it should take no more than hour for him and four people to put them together.

Mom said. “Well, then there is no need for my son Nate to be here or his Dad for that matter.” I gasped watching them all gang up on me and Dad.

Dad looked at me said. “Looks we have been outvoted, son.”

Mom came over and put her arms around me and Dad said. “That’s exactly what that means.” Placing Dads hotel key into his hands, said. “Let’s go boy’s, I know a soft bed with both your names on it. I have had Dr. Sars whip something special just for you.”

Chef Mack said. “We will be fine on our own, boys I’ll give you a wake-up call when we need you.” Mom walked us to the door telling Mr. Vincent and the rest of my crew to leave and get ourselves to bed. Not taking no for answer. Mom walked us all across the street, it was cold and snowing again, but there wasn’t much traffic at 2 am in the morning. Everything looked different for being one of the busiest cities in here in Utah. You could see the Salt Lake Temple all lit up like a skyscraper.

Mom pushed the button to our floor and personally escorted me and Dad to our rooms as the rest of the crew found their rooms all saying goodnight and turning the key and went inside. Rhoda was waiting for me, as Mom told her that I needed to be up 7 am at the earliest. I corrected her stating I needed to be up by 5 am because the stage crew was coming 6 am. Mom shook her head said, not going to happen, son. Try pushing it and your Dad and I will make 8 or 8:30. 

“You are not the only one that could put meat in the oven, and as far as the stage crew is concerned all they need is some to tell them where to put the stage, considering that they won’t actually need your help.” I gave a heavy sigh as Rhoda pulled me along shutting the door, telling Mom she has everything under control. Knowing I couldn’t say no to her or Mom for that matter, not without good reason. All Rhoda had to do was drop her robe, and watch me smile, knowing I couldn’t refuse beautiful naked women. She helped me undress and told me not to think about moving as I lay on the bed completely naked. Closing my eyes, but once more all I saw where the same ghouls waiting for me.

Rhoda touched me as I jerked awake, screaming as my panic overwhelmed me. She held me down making it worse as I thrashed and screamed trying to break the monster's grip. Next thing I knew there was a bright light, and a warm feeling all around me, then when light burst I was standing in a meadow of purple flowers and tall green grass, blowing in the wind. I could smell the scent of fresh pine trees. I turned and found Rhoda lying on a bed dressed in a white nightgown, that wasn’t there before, calling my name. It was if I had died and gone to heaven as I made my way to the bed into her arms feeling her kissing me and smelling her beautiful warm scent that I knew better then anyone.

The next thing I heard was a buzzing in my ear, at first I thought it was a bee buzzing around me collecting the pollen from the flowers, but then I felt someone shaking me then finding a strong light in my eyes, asking me if I was all right as their words sounded underwater.  It took several minutes before I was able to blink, and voices become clearer. Rhoda, Mom and Dr. Sars gave a sigh of relief as I began to sit up.

Mom was arguing with Dad over the phone about me needing more sleep than 4 hours. Which made me turn to look at the clock seeing it was past 8: 30 in the morning causing me to jump out of bed noticing Rhoda must have dressed me in clean pair of boxers because all that I remember about last night was she removed every stitch of clothing I was wearing. The moment I stood on my own two feet I started to fall on my knees and into Dr. Sars arms before my face hit the floor. My head felt like an anvil and my body so weak that I could barely lift it.

Dr. Sars told Rhoda to hand her the glass on the nightstand, as Mom was explaining to Dad that I was in no condition to work today. Dr. Sars said. “Karen, give the boy a moment and tell your husband that he is on his way. He’ll be right as rain the moment he drinks my quick pick me up. I promised the boy I would make have something that will think he had slept for a week.”

Mom argued. “And at what price, he needs sleep more then he needs some energy drink. He can barely function. If wasn’t for Rhoda and I knock him out, he would be up all night.” Dr. Sars ignored her and told me to drink every last drop, I cringed seeing the green vile stuff that looked like grass gunk and smelled worst than my wet gym socks.

I gagged it all down wanted to vomit it all back up as Rhoda handed me large glass orange juice. I looked at strangely as I sniffed it first then drank it, tasting not only freshly squeezed oranges but pineapple and bananas as well. Within moment my head cleared and my body seemed lighter as if I was walking on air. Dr. Sars said. “See Karen he right as rain. This should last him for few hours, I’ll give him another dose in few hours, to help him get through the day, and then after the party, we put him to bed, where he can sleep until noon or longer if need be.

“I would leave him in bed all weekend along if we could, but you know that isn’t an option with that premier at Mr. Tate’s estate where we need him to help us break the code that will let us in the door to whatever Mr. Tate was hiding behind that door. Not too mention catching as many rats in our trap as possible.

“Then you can tie him to the bed, if necessary, so he can regain his strength after a very hard week.” Dr. Sars helped me up allowing Rhoda to attend to me, finding a nice warm bubble bath waiting. I tried to tell her I didn’t have time, other than a quick shower as she helped me remove my boxers almost falling to the ground as I grabbed the railing of the tub for some support.

She pointed to the corner of the tub and told me to get in it, as she dropped her robe placing her hands on her naked hips. “They can wait a little longer my dear sweet husband of mine. I want you nice and clean after a very hard day, it’s not going to kill you to be a little late. Besides Chef Philips can put the roasts into the oven or Chef Mack, hell a trained monkey could do that. We won’t be long, but you need a moment to be with me and you need time to let that energy drink we both made for you to work.” I knew she was right, and I knew I couldn’t argue with her, so I let her have her way with me.

It was 9:15 when I walked through the event center door, dressed in a clean Chef Jacket with my case of knives in my hand. And another clean jacket and pants as well as my shiny black shoes. I tried to ask what Rhoda was going to be dressed as at the party tonight after everything was all said and done. She only giggled telling me whatever it was I was going to like it.

Everything was in full swing seeing the large stage and its metal scuffling as they were hanging the lights and the red velvet curtains and plugging up the sound and light board. Dad and the boys were busy arranging my tables using my blueprint that I had drawn up as the girls were putting on the table clothes and the skirting.

A another crew was putting up the decor around the room with light and dark fabrics draping the ceiling creating an starlight sky as little white Christmas lights were being hung and little stars made of silver and gold and white that sparkled hung down from the canopy above, Someone was hanging small crystal-like chandlers all over the dining room including a large disco ball over the dance floor. The hay had also arrived as men were placing in the corners and along the sides of the walls with each there own scarecrow that included big black crows sitting on the arms and on the haystacks.

The pumpkins haven’t arrived yet since they were still waiting to be judged by me and Chef Philips around noon. I made my way over to Jackie as Rhoda followed me putting mine and her coat away asking me how I like it. Since I put her and Rhoda over the decor; I nodded stating that it was beginning to feel like Halloween, as she was conferring with our High School cheerleaders where the ghost should be placed and the witches they had made from old brooms, fabric, clay molds that they had been working on for weeks.  They looked awesomely cool now that they had been painted and accessorized.

I looked at the clock telling me it was 9:30 as I made my way into the kitchen. Chef Philips and Chef Mack were just putting in the last of the rib roasts into the ovens. I apologized stating I had slept in. causing them to laugh stating, that they didn’t expect me for at least another couple of hours. That they told my adopted parents not wake me until no early than 10 am. Considering there was not much I could do once the roasts were in the oven and they could do that easily enough.

Plus the fact everyone was here doing what we had assigned them to do, which was true. I said. “Well I am here now, and there is no way I am going back to sleep missing out on all the fun.” I picked up the clipboard and finished making my rounds walking from one end of the build to the other examining each of the rooms checking too make sure everyone had everything they needed.

My mother was nowhere around; she had gone to therapy and wouldn’t be back until 3 pm. I knew she didn’t want to go, but she had to keep her promise to the doctors. Even though she was scheduled to go back first thing tomorrow morning, besides she would be bored as hell, and couldn’t do much… more so in the kitchen. She was hoping that she could convince my two sisters to come to the party and see if Aaron's foster parents were willing to let him come also. I knew Aaron would be easier, knowing my father and my sisters, Becky maybe. Yet knowing my father she had no chance convincing him to let them come to the party even though I had sent them invention and tickets.

Chef Philips found me asking me if I was ready to go judge some pumpkins. As always Stringum was nowhere to be found and been told he was busy setting up for the premiere for tonight and tomorrows big party for Mr. Tate’s clients. Landon met us outside with the limo. He told me that my grandmother was excited about coming to the party tonight and to tell me how much she has enjoyed the roses. That it made her feel extra special getting a surprise gift each day and was looking forward to coming to my party. It really made my day feeling that I made her week; even though mine was fairly crappy and very busy.

Chef Mack was taking care of the kitchen and making sure that reminder of the rib roasts made it over to our hotel so I wouldn’t have to worry about them. Then he was going to take a nice long nap with nothing to do until we actually start cooking. Even though he said it only took him a couple of hours to remake and finish those twice bakers.

Something said, he sent everyone to bed and did all the work himself; which was a good sign of a good leader, which also made feel guilty because I was in charge of this party not him and yet he was the one that saved the day. I made a personal note to find some way to thank him and his wife Carla, who I had no doubt also stayed too help her husband.

It wasn’t a long ride considering we were visiting 4 middle schools and 4 high schools; that we have asked to help with our pumpkins, and choosing the best ones for our decor. We visited the ones in Salt Lake City first, so the girls could have those pumpkins the moment we had left the high schools and middle schools; as a semi followed us.

In truth, we had decided to use every single pumpkin regardless if they were ugly as hell. We wanted to make the students feel special when they saw their pumpkin with their name under it on individual place cards the moment they walked in the door. We didn’t care if we had too many pumpkins, we wanted them to feel special, and everyone would be given some sort of prize and a ribbon.