Can We All Just Get Along? Part 4

Chapter 267-3

Can We All Just Get Along?

Part 4

 

Dad looked at grandma and said. “Still don’t think the dead don’t interfere with the living?” Placing more food on his plate, and took several large bits.

Grandma blanched said pushing her plate away stating she had just lost her appetite. “That depends if there is anything at all in that safe deposit box and what I can see on camera as it is happening. I still think you and Stringum are in on this.”

Dad rolled his eyes and shook his head and said. “Well, I for one, going to love watching you eat those words. But that’s not important at the moment we were discussing why Aaron here has been kicked out of his foster home and how we can help, since its obvious that seeing as his belongings and his mothers dog is here that he has nowhere else to go and you Doris, aren’t leaving until this is settled and you are just as curious as we are to know what is taking place down at that bank.

“Any case, I will set Mrs. Holliman at ease, by making sure that she has enough money to live on so they don’t live in a cardboard box, but on the conditions that her husband works for me down at my store in town or one that me and Mr. Vincent is opening up in Salt Lake City or American Fork. If the jobs don’t pan out, with no strings attached. I happen to have a couple of vacant houses now since my daughter Kerry and her husband Tom, have decided to move here on our mountain so they can be close to us and no longer need the one they were living in Orem, and the one I have in Highland is still up for grabs.

“Or if they do take the jobs, offered and the money doesn’t pan out like you think it won’t Doris. Being as you think we are pulling the strings and trying to bring her and her family into our so-called club of do-gooders; when the evidence is staring us right in the face. Stating that; some higher power wants them to live here and be part of this kayos that you believe we are wasting our time and putting our families lives on the line for no good reason that we should get out and mind our own damn business.

“While we watch them kidnap and murder children and their families that are either taken as slaves to work for men like Mr. Tate; or used for sacrifices in the satanic church, not more than 15 miles from here and all over the damn world. That we are crazy to even think we can make a difference. Crazy to think we don’t have people helping us that need our help as common citizens. That knows what it’s like to be physically and sexually abused and raped by people that should be held accountable.

“The government needs people that can help and want to help. You want proof that we are not acting alone, you want proof that says someone in authority has our backs. I will give you the proof you want. Give me two minutes to call someone that can be here before you leave this house today. Knowing that I have whole Army at our fingertips; then if that doesn’t convince you. Then I have nothing left to say and we will be sitting on opposite sides of the courtroom on Wednesday." He got up from the table and picked up the phone. He quickly asked if General Mays was available giving him some sort of code identifying himself.

Grandma said. “He’s just pulling my leg and I know for a fact that there is no one on that line…”

Dad said overhearing her, “let me put him on speaker.” Someone answered said. “Yes this General Mays speaking. I am a little bit busy at the moment. Due to that storm in your neck of the woods what the hell happened up there? It looks like world war three happened.”

Dad said leaning over the counter. “More like the gates of hell opened when I was out in it and riding home with my tail behind my legs, but I am sure you understand what I am talking about, being as who and what are friends are capable of doing General. What’s the ETA on the clean up if may ask? I have some business I need to attend to in Salt Lake and I promised my wife and the girls they could spend the day shopping. Plus my son’s grandmother would like to get off this godforsaken rock of ours.”

General Mays said. “I would forget about Salt Lake Mr. Rothwell, the canyon is a mess and the back roads down the other side are taking a beating; But if give me an hour I can have a chopper up there and fly old crow home. Hell, I can have the ladies in Salt Lake if you really feel it’s necessary.

“I have a few of my men take good care of them. They are doing nothing but sitting on their hands and being a pain in my a*s. Landan took some off me a while ago being as they need to clean up that mess you left behind. He said to tell you that everything fine and dandy, but to tell Chef Philips that his party favors for tonight are on schedule. Oh, I was just told that I can have that chopper to you the moment it's gas up, and it's yours for the entire day.”

Dad said. “Sounds good, I’ll have his grandmother and the ladies ready when you arrive. Just be careful when you fly, I don’t need to be replanting the roses or my new fruit trees.”

Dad hung up the phone and grandma laughed, “damn that fine acting Mr. Rothwell, I bet you called some old coot thinking I was going to take the bait.”

Dad said, “I guess we just have to wait and see won’t we? Now then back to the main issue at hand.”

Mom said. “Rhoda would mine telling the girls that we need to get a move on it if we are going shopping today.” She got up from the table and said. “Do you want me to pack your suitcase, Mrs. Shepherd?”

Grandma said. “No, I can manage thank you. Considering no one is leaving here until the roads are clear. Landan will be walking through that door any minute now and I want to see Mr. Rothwell eat his words when the guys come back empty handed.” Rhoda shrugged her shoulders and went down the hall.

My caseworker said. “Anyway thanks, Mr. Rothwell, I betting that contract we just signed is on the up and up. I know for a fact that job at the middle school is real and I am taking it. However, when my husband called the high school, they said that position wasn’t currently available as of yet being as Mr. Tate is still currently employed there and the last time they checked he had no intention of leaving.”

Grandma said smiling. “Now that’s what I am talking about, I knew it; I knew that everything you two just told me about that little side trips your little ghostly friend…”

Dad leaned back, stippling his fingers, as grandma said. “Ghostly friend; what you going to make another phone call that will prove me wrong?”

He said. “Nope I got something better, I got it on film. Tony and his crew always record their missions so we can use them to see where we could do better.” Dad got up from the table and told me and Eli to start clearing the table now that everyone was done eating.

Dad came back with a videotape that said take-down of Mr. Tate. He was quite pleased about it, he said. "What I am about to show you hasn’t been released yet. Being as its top secret and if the word got out that Mr. Tate is dead before he is found dead would be very bad for us tonight. Don’t worry this isn’t anything your boys haven’t seen on TV. Dad had everyone join them in the living room as he placed the video into the VCR and pressed play. The tape soon ended showing Mr. Tate and Antonio die fall over and turn to dust as if they were never there.

Grandma's hands shook, and voice quivered. “Ok, I am a little bit scared to know that I just watched men die and disintegrate into nothing.” The boys did a huge arm pump says that was awesome can they watch it again.

Dad obliged them said. “Sure, it’s my favorite part too.” He hit rewind said let's do it in slow motion this time. The boys did it again, asking him to play it again.

Grandma said. “I think I am going to be sick.” She removed herself from the room and made a beeline to the bathroom. Dad gave the boys the remote control telling them they can watch it again if they like; getting a very happy yes from all them.

Dad said. Taking his seat, “I say give the school a couple of days, and then give them a callback. When they realize that Mr. Tate isn’t around anymore, and I am sure they will be more than happy to have your husband fill that position. “Now you were saying” watching grandma come back into the living room.

“I was saying Mr. Rothwell is right. The main reason I am here today is, according to Aaron’s foster parents; they no longer think its best that he should stay with them. There have been some issues regarding him and their son Mike. That they thought it would be best that Aaron be removed from the home immediately.

“I know in the past that Aaron has stayed with you before when his mother was in the hospital and need some time to recover before Aaron was allowed back into her home. So I was wondering if it was alright with you Mr. Rothwell that Aaron stays here until his mother is well enough to be at home on her own. I know it’s a lot to ask when you already have your hands full with so many boys, but it’s only…..” Dad cut her off and looked at Aaron and smiled.

Dad said. “Oh, I think we can work something out, besides it only temporary until his mother is well enough to go home with a doctor’s care. I am sure we can find him a spot somewhere in this house. But if you wouldn’t mind telling me and my wife what the reason was that Aaron's foster parents had decided that it would best if he didn’t return; if I may ask?”

Grandma growled. “Hell no, I rather if Aaron's stays with me, then staying here the way things are… Mr. Rothwell is not going to add another one my grandsons to his list of boys that…”

My caseworker said cutting her off. “As I have said and proved to you that I am quite aware of what Mr. Rothwell and family are doing, Mrs. Shepherd. In fact, I have known for quite some time. You forget Mrs. Shepherd that it was I that suggested that instead of them being foster parents, where the boys would be under a contract that only hinders the boys more often and not by having to report to a caseworker monthly.

“Plus the fact that caseworkers are often changing being as they are underpaid and overworked. Most don’t stay more than a few months; which is one of the many reasons why these boys bounce around in the system or have fallen through the cracks, which is one of the many reasons the system is broken. Because they find that most caseworkers are only doing it until they find something better; so they don’t really care how the boys are doing. Only too be scrutinized by them and judged if they are doing well enough to go home.

“Only to be placed back into the system months later, because their home life is worst then the foster homes they were in. Where they were receiving the care and the love they weren’t getting at home Where before they had been before some knot head decided that it would best to put them back into unstable home with their parents to save the state a buck and overcrowded system.

“Only to have them placed back into the system and placed into another home and another home. Instead of returning to the foster home they were in that was doing the most good. Because the foster home they had been removed from has already been filled. Not only that, the caseworker themselves have moved on having their charges handed off to be someone else problem.

“The system is broken, and it doesn’t care about the children it's protecting. So I proposed a solution that would solve the problem after discussing it with my coworkers that actually give a damn. Which is allowing them to adopted boys or girls, that either don’t have parents or parents that are willing to give them up for adoption or if the circumstances change that the parents want a relationship with their child but are incapable of providing a stable environment.

“Then we have them sign a contract that adoption be open, as long as the parents in question are obeying the rules according to the contract that they both agreed upon similar to the one Linda and Mr. and Mrs. Rothwell signed in regards to Eric. But the difference is, the State doesn’t pay them for the child’s care and they take total custody of the child they are adopting until they age out of the system. 

“Yet the parents and co-parents are held to a higher standard and must past the mustard before we allow them to adopt the child in question. Or the adoption becomes void and the child is returned as a ward of the State.

“So far Mrs. Shepherd this idea is working; I have overseen over the past year alone, over 3,000 adoptions. Many of my coworkers have also have had similar results. And the government officials have granted us the leeway to work because we have had more success than the current system and it doesn’t cost them anything. 

“Some have added to the contracts that the parents of the child pay for the cost of living expense and as well as provide medical insurance for the child for those that can afford it. The ones that can’t we have arranged private trust funds where they must contribute a small portion of their income as if the child is living in their home, but for the children that have no living parent or family that is willing to take them in.

“We adopt them outright with no strings attached other than turning in a medical report that covers everything from how the child is doing in school, and in the home, and we visit the child every three months to do our own evaluation with the parents that have adopted them, their doctors and their school teachers.

“If we find that child is doing well we continue to monitor them. If we find that they are not then we remove them from the home and find families that are wanting to adopt and have past the mustard test. So your concern in regards to your two grandsons living here is unwarranted. You may think that you are capable of taking care of your grandsons, but I know for a fact that you can’t. The reasons should be obvious, but if you come to your senses you would find. The Rothwell’s more capable of doing it. They have the expertise; they have the money and the resources.

“You Mrs. Shepherd, you are considered to what we would call being home-bound. Where you don’t drive, nor have a license and according to our records never had one. The other reason is you live on social security as your only means of income. You do not have space in your home where Aaron or Eric can have their own room. You being home-bound prevents you from doing the simple basics.

“I have spoken to your family members and they have stated that if worst came too worst it would be better that these boys remain in foster care, rather then be a burden on them and most of all you. So you have no support structure for them as Mr. Rothwell does. You and I both know that… They living at home without their mother in the home would be very unhealthy for them.

“Do I need to also remind you in regards to your grandson Eric? He is 16 shy of being 17 in a few weeks. The only place he would go is a group home or a halfway house, which is neither going to happen. For if memory serves me he is still married to Rhoda and Eli.

“I have a copy of his marriage certificate that’s says Eric Rothwell or Nate Carrion being his alias why his living here in Heber makes him adult according to the State. That states you Mrs. Shepherd have no say in what he does and neither do Mr. and Mrs. Rothwell if push comes to shove. He and his wife and husband can move out if they chose too.

“Not even his own mother or his father can do much other than advise him like most parents do when they leave the nest. And according to Mr. Rothwell and Mr. Vincent he has a job and pays rent and household expenses for him and his wife and husband who also contribute while staying here. That again states according to the State child welfare that he is recognized as an adult; not only him but his wife Rhoda and his husband Eli and his wife Jackie. Therefore you no longer have the right to dictate his action, or how he lives.

“Now then back to Aaron, who you have stressed clearly that you think Mr. and Mrs. Rothwell shouldn’t be allowed to take Aaron while his mother is seeking medical help. Again, Mrs. Shepherd, I must remind you that you are not his mother, but his maternal grandmother. You can only advise that Aaron shouldn’t be allowed to be placed in Mr. and Mrs. Rothwell’s care.

“His parents are the only ones that have this right unless you have something that says you have full custody of him, which you don’t. It isn’t like last time when you were looking out for grandson’s best interests because his parents couldn’t nor did they want that responsibility at that time. That has changed when it concerns his mother. However, the situation hasn’t changed in regards to his father.

“I have a sworn statement that says his father wants nothing to do with him, giving me his vote of confidence as I represent the state foster care system at this time. Only needing his mother's consent, to make this decision where it would be in the best interests of her son Aaron.”

She turned to face my mother and took out Aaron's file and asked my mother. “So how do feel as his mother? Do you feel that Aaron should be placed in the care of Mr. and Mrs. Rothwell? Or should I place him in another foster home the moment I can find one. Which as you know that it could be after Christmas before new applicants will be available; causing me to place Aaron in a home for boys, or child care facilities until then or until you are able to care for him yourself?” The room was quiet as if the world was waiting for my mother to give her an answer.