"How's the practice going, Roger," Bill asked.
"It's going well, Bill. I can't tell you how nice it's been to be my own boss," Roger replied.
"Not everyone can do that, but I knew the minute I met you that you could handle it," Bill replied.
"Well, I've been able to do it with your help, of course." Roger continued and looked around the table, and said, "Bill's been sending clients my way. It's been very helpful in getting the practice off of the ground."
"Thank you Mr. Houston," Peter said. "Thank you for helping our son."
"Bill, please," Bill requested.
"Thank you, Bill," Peter reiterated and shook his hand.
"How did you two meet?" Joanne asked.
"Well, it's a bit of a tragic story, and not one suitable for a child's birthday party, but suffice it to say, I met Cynthia first at the hospital. She told me what her husband did for a living. I consulted him on a legal matter once, and was very impressed, and found him to be quite helpful and professional."
"That's our son," Peter beamed, and put his arms around Joanne, who remained characteristically stoic.
"Do you have any other children besides Mattlock?" Jacob asked.
"No. I'm afraid not. My wife had trouble having children and we didn't have him until late," Bill replied and took a bite of pizza.
"Where's your wife today?" asked Deborah.
"She passed away when Mattlock was 2 years old," Bill replied.
"I'm sorry, Bill," Deborah said.
"That's alright," he replied.
"So, it's just you and the boy, then?" Jacob asked.
"Yes and no. There are plenty of people around us at home. Mattlock has taken a shine to two of my ranch hands and the family cook," Bill replied.
"So, there's no feminine influence?" asked Deborah.
"Well, I suppose if you count my friend Annie Hickok. She takes care of him sometimes and is at the house quite often, playing poker with me and some other friends," he replied.
"Deborah's got me learning Bridge," Jacob said.
"Definitely a fun game for couples. Annie and I play Texas Hold'em, mainly, but occasionally Five Card Stud. We play with some friends pretty regularly," Bill replied.
"I can't remember the last time I played poker," Peter said.
Joanne shot him a disapproving look. "When did you play poker?" she asked.
"I just said I didn't remember, dear," he replied. "It's been a long time."
Roger deflected. "Bill, I don't think you've ever told me if you have other family. Do you?"
"I have an older brother. He's nine years older than me, and left the house to join the Army in World War I when I was 8 years old," Bill replied.
"Did he survive the war?" Peter asked.
"Oh, yes. My brother's still around. You could say that he is very resourceful," Bill replied.
"Are you two close?" Deborah asked.
"He was my hero when I was a kid, but he was gone for most of my childhood, and really, most of my adulthood, so far. He became an Army officer and was abroad for most of that time. He was in World War II and was in Lisbon at the end of the war, helping to free refugees. He came back stateside in 1948 and lived in Virginia for a time, after retiring from military service."
"Sounds like a fictional character," Cynthia remarked.
"He's led a very interesting life. Much more interesting than mine. But then again, he was always understimulated by life in Texas."
"Where is he now?" Roger asked.
"For years, he kept talking about some 'Company'. In fact, he called it 'The Company.' He'd never tell me what that was all about. He got married to my sister-in-law, Florence Parker, in 1948, and she apparently convinced him to take a job closer to us at the University of Arizona in Tucson in 1950. It's a little closer to us, but still quite far away. At least Eisenhower's been creating this interstate system. That will make visits more convenient. In fact, they are all coming this Christmas for their first visit."
"All of them?" Cynthia asked.
"Yes. Roy, Flo, and their son Will – Mattlock's cousin. He's just a few months younger. I'm very excited for their visit. They're the only immediate family I have left," Bill replied.
"Well, feel free to consider yourself a part of this family," Roger replied.
"I'm touched, Roger. Thank you," Bill replied.
"What does your brother teach, Bill?" Peter asked.
"He teaches criminology. He's recently taken up writing – I think he's writing spy novels," Bill replied.
"That's enough about Bill's brother, everyone. Bill's the one at the party. Tell them what you do, Bill," Roger defended.
"It's simple – I'm in oil, petrochemicals, and ranching. Just your basic businessman," Bill said.
"Oh – I know who you are, now," Peter said. "You're the man who founded Houston Oil."
"Yes," Bill replied.
"I read about you in Fortune magazine. You've done quite well for yourself," Peter said.
"True. But I don't think money makes the man," Bill replied.
"No – But it doesn't hurt," Jacob replied.
"I'd like to hear about what Cynthia's been doing," Bill said, changing the subject.
"Not much to tell. I've been making my usual rounds. We've been starting to see some early cases of flu. I've been reading about the Salk vaccine for Polio. They'll be starting human trials soon," she said.
"That would be something – to eradicate Polio. We live in amazing times," replied Bill.
"I'd still like to eventually start a private practice myself – mainly because I'd like to have more control over my schedule. I don't know how I'd do with the business aspect, though," Cynthia said.
"It would be challenging at first, but you'd ease into it, and I think you'd like it," Bill said.
"I keep telling her that," Roger said.
"Roger is right," Bill agreed.
"Okay, okay," Cynthia replied with a smile.
"Momma?" Cady had crept up to the adult table and leaned against Cynthia.
"Yes, Cady?" Cynthia replied.
"When are we going to start playing games?" Cady asked.
"When everybody's done eating, Cady," Cynthia replied and put her arms around Cady's shoulders and squeezed.
"We are done eating," Cady said.
"I mean the adults, too," Cynthia replied, looking askance at Cady.
"Okay," Cady said and walked back to the kids' table.
"I guess we better eat up. The natives are getting restless," Cynthia said to the adults.
"Where does Cady go to school?" Bill asked.
"Barrick Elementary," replied Cynthia.
"That's where Mattlock goes," Bill said.
"Oh? Who's his kindergarten teacher?" Cynthia asked.
"Miss Hotchkiss," Bill replied.
"Oh. Cady has Miss Weatherford," Cynthia replied.
"I wonder if they've seen each other at school," Bill said.
"Perhaps, but it is still pretty early in the year. They may not have crossed each other's paths yet," Cynthia replied.
The kids' table was laughing loudly and hysterically. Mattlock was pretending to punch Charlie and Steven, who pretended doing the same to him. The girls squealed. "We better get started on these games if we know what's good for us," Roger said to the adults.
Deborah stood up. "Why don't you kids supervise the younger kids while we grandparents clean up," she said. She took the lead. "Peter and Bill, would you mind bringing the presents out here while Joanne and Jacob and I clean up?"
"Not a problem. Come to think of it, I left Cady's present in my car. I'll get that and come in and help Peter," Bill said.
"Thanks Bill," Deborah replied. The three started to clean up while Roger opened a box of mason jars and a bag of clothespins.
"C'mon over here, kids," Roger announced.
Seven kids came running and circled around Roger. "Okay, kids. We're going to play a game called 'Clothespin Drop.' Here's what you do," he said, and then demonstrated.
The kids stood there silently for what seemed like a full minute. Cady blurted out, "Daddy, that's a boring game!" The rest of the kids murmured among each other.
"I told you, Roger," Cynthia said.
"Yeah, brother-in-law. That's a terrible game," Robert said. "Hey kids, how about Pin-the-Tail-on-The Donkey?" Robert asked.
"Yea!" the kids shouted in unison. Robert grabbed the picture of the donkey and pinned it to the Parsons' shed wall.
"C'mon, Janice. You and I can handle this," Robert said.
Roger stood holding some clothespins as the kids ran over to play the more exciting game. Cynthia put her hand on his shoulder. "Sorry, dear," she said, and the two sat down and watched Robert and Janice with the kids.
"Alright kids, since it's Cady's big day, she gets to go first," Robert announced. "C'mon over here, Cady," Robert said as he gestured to her. Janice blindfolded Cady. Robert spun her around a few times until she was slightly disoriented and pointed her toward the donkey picture. "Okay, Cady. Pin the tail on the donkey." Cady wavered and swayed and snaked her way to the picture. The children all laughed as they watched her. She laughed too. She confidently pinned her donkey tail to the shed wall, pinning only the far right edge of the poster. She whipped off her blindfold and laughed. The kids laughed with her.
"Cady! You almost missed the whole thing!" Robert said jokingly.
"I know, Uncle Robert," she said, placing her hands on her hips.
"Well, better luck next time," he said. Cady joined the other children.
"Who's next?" Janice asked.
Charlie raised his hand. "Me!" he exclaimed.
Robert tied the blindfold on him and spun him around. "Okay, Charlie. Give it your best shot," Robert said.
Charlie held out his donkey tail and walked forward and found the poster and pinned it to the shed, getting a little closer than Cady. "Oh, Cady, Charlie did better than you," Robert said, and Janice elbowed him.
"Uncle Robert!" Cady exclaimed with her hands on her hips again. "This is just 'pposed to be fun!"
Robert dangled the blindfold. "How about you Dorothy?" he asked his daughter.
She stepped forward and once blindfolded and spun around, she tentatively walked forward until she pinned her donkey tail to the poster, pinning it about an inch away from Charlie's.
After Bill and Peter had brought out all the gifts and placed them on one of the picnic tables, they sat down and watched the kids' game with Cynthia and Roger. Eventually, Deborah, Jacob, and Joanne came out after cleaning up, and joined them.
Steven finished taking his turn. "Okay. Who's it going to be? Betty Lou?" Robert asked. She nodded 'no' and turned away.
"I'll go!" Mattlock announced, and he bolted forward and fidgeted while Janice put on his blindfold. Robert spun him around and Mattlock laughed. "I'm dizzy!" he exclaimed and laughed some more. The other kids laughed with him. Robert let him go and he did no better than the others.
"Looks like Steven's gotten the closest," Robert announced. "Okay, Betty Lou, that leaves you. Do you want to give it a try?" She nodded 'no' again and started tearing up.
Janice approached Betty Lou and quietly asked, "What's the matter, dear?" She started crying harder. Janice escorted her over to Cynthia who walked both Betty Lou and Janice away from the rest of the kids and adults.
"What's wrong, Betty Lou?" Cynthia asked.
Betty Lou was crying hard enough to get out of breath. "I – just – wanna – go – home."
"Are you sure?" Janice asked.
Cady came over to see what was wrong with Betty Lou. She took Betty Lou's hand and tried to comfort her. "It's okay, Betty Lou," she said with a worried look on her face.
"Betty Lou wants to go home, Cady," Cynthia said.
"Please stay," Cady said, patting Betty Lou's hand.
"I – wanna – go – home," Betty Lou reiterated, slowing her breaths and not crying as hard.
"Are you sure?" Cady asked, cocking her head at Betty Lou.
"Yes," Betty Lou replied.
"Okay," Cady said.
"C'mon with me, Betty Lou. I'll give your mom a call," Cynthia said.
"I'll join you," Janice said.
The two women took Betty Lou inside the house and Cady rejoined the other kids, who were chattering amongst each other after Steven had won the game of Pin-the-Tail-on-the-Donkey.
"Alright, everyone… who's ready for some Musical Chairs?" Roger announced.
"Me!" they all shouted in unison, with Mattlock jumping up and down and waving his hands more than the others.
"Dad, can you help me get the lawn chairs out of the shed?" Roger asked.
"Sure, son," Peter said, and walked over to the shed with Roger.
They emerged with two chairs in Peter's hands and Roger carried three. They arranged two of the chairs back to back with the other three chairs. Roger ran into the house and quickly brought out a few 45 rpm records and his Philco portable phonograph.
"Okay, kids. You know how this game works – walk around the chairs, and when the music stops, you grab a chair. The person who doesn't get a chair, is out," Roger explained.
The remaining kids took their places near the chairs. Roger put on the first record. The kids started moving around the chairs.
Bung, bung, bung, bung, bung
Bung, bung, bung, bung, bung
Bung, bung, bung, bung, bung
Bung, bung, bung, bung, bung
Bung, bung, bung, bung, bung
Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream
(Bung, bung, bung, bung)
Make him the cutest that…
The music stopped, and Mattlock staked his claim swiftly and decisively ,and grabbed the arms of his lawn chair. Cady, Dorothy, and Julia grabbed theirs, and Charlie and Steven struggled over one until Charlie obtained the chair.
"Okay, Steven, you're out," Roger said, and rubbed him on the head. Steven walked away and sat in the grass nearby. Roger took a chair and folded it up and handed it to Peter
"Play a different song, Daddy!" Cady exclaimed. The rest of the children yelled, "Yea!"
"Okay," Roger said, and selected another record and started playing it.
Tweedle dee dee, Tweedle dee dee
Tweedle dee dee, Tweedle dee dee
Tweedle tweedle tweedle dee
I'm as happy as can be.
Jimminy cricket, jimminy jack,
You make my heart go clickety-clack.
Tweedle tweedle tweedle dee.
Tweedle tweedle tweedle dot
How you gonna keep that honey you got
Hunkies hunkies fish that bite...
The remaining five children scrambled to get their chairs. Dorothy grabbed hers. Julia and Cady grabbed theirs. Mattlock and Charlie fought over one until Mattlock prevailed. "I got it!" he proclaimed loudly. Julia, Dorothy, and Cady all looked at each other wide-eyed in reaction to his exuberance. Charlie walked over and sat on the ground next to Steven.
"Good job, Mattlock," Roger replied as he looked over at Bill with a smile.
Roger selected some new music and took away another chair. The kids took their positions.
You made me cry
when you said, "goodbye"
Ain't that a shame?
my tears fell like rain.
Ain't that a shame?
you're the one to blame.
You broke my heart…
The kids went round and round. By the time the song stopped, Dorothy was out. Roger took another chair away and handed it to Peter. He played part of another song, and Julia was out, leaving just Cady and Mattlock, and one chair.
"Okay, you two. It's down to you," Roger said. He put another record on the phonograph. "Are you ready?"
"Yes, Daddy," Cady said with her hands on her hips, her feet shoulder-width apart, and looking at Mattlock with determination on her face.
"Okay, then," Roger said as he put the needle on the record.
(Oh-oh-oh-oh)
(Wah-ah-ah)
(Oh-oh-oh-oh)
Earth angel, earth angel
Will you be mine
My darling dear
Love you all the time
I'm just a fool
A fool in love with you
Earth angel, earth angel
The one I adore
Love you forever and ever more
I'm just a fool…
The two walked slowly with the beat and kept their eyes on the chair. When the song stopped, the two struggled hard with each other to gain the right to the chair, so much so that they knocked it over on its side and Cady fell on top of Mattlock. Everyone present laughed and clapped. Cady immediately jumped up and brushed the dirt from her pink dress, and Mattlock had a look of surprise on his face mixed with fascination. He finally got up from the ground and dusted himself off.
"Well, that looks like a draw to me," Roger announced. Let's have another dance, Roger said, and he put on Bill Haley's Rock Around the Clock and all the kids jumped up and down and tried to do some popular dance moves without much luck. Janice, who had just come back from the house, and Robert, joined in and turned out to be accomplished dancers. Mattlock jumped around like popcorn and bumped into the back of Cady at one point, and Cady retreated to dance with her cousin.