The Affected: V's Story

[willc453]

The Affected: V's story
Chapter 1

I know many look at Ben as a good man (as I do) but we all know he has his bad side, such as the number of people he has killed and for a bit of time, distributing drugs. But without Bens traveling thru time, I, along with our 4 children, would not be here. I'm not speaking only about how he rescued us from the hijacked plane, but several of my ancestors who were originally from France.

    It was in our fourth year in America that he was here for a visit (by “accident of course” while I was making fresh pastries) while waiting for my husband to finish up with what ever he was busy with. I have always had an interest in our family history, especially since our family escaped from France during the French Revolution and Madame Guillotine. I had just received a tin type of Lady Francine De Lothchild, a direct ancestor, via an antique dealer in Paris. Ben happened to be behind me when he said, hey, if it aint Lady Frances, boy, was she was one hell of a woman AND a knockout. Having heard some of the shenanigans that Ben has done from my husband, I quickly turned to face him and asked how would he know who she was when this tin type just arrived? I actually heard him mutter oh shi...shoot, gotta go, but I quickly reached out and grabbed him, something I would never of thought of doing with anyone else for any reason, but then I was dealing with Ben. Told him I have been stuffing his belly with pastries, fish and chips, beef pies and other home cooked meals for some time now and he owed me an explanation....and a truthful one at that. Ben was quite startled in being grabbed and then “grilled” by me as Americans would say.

    He asked if I really wanted to know how he knew my great, etc. relative and the way he asked, made me hesitant because some times, I have eaves dropped (curiosity you know) when he would discuss with my husband on what he has been up to, including how he's gotten rid of some very nasty individuals from this planet. I asked him if it was a bad thing he was going to tell me and if so, I did not want to hear it. He said no, it wasn't a bad thing, but he did have to kill some people in order to save not only her life, but other members of her (and there for, mine) family lives! I asked him how could he save their lives....unless he learned how to travel thru time and if so, how was that possible? He said he'd tell me everything once the pastries were done. Once they were, we sat down and like a child, he started stuffing his mouth with pastries and milk, but at least attempting not to speak with his mouth full.

 
    He first started telling how my husband got a letter from himself, built a time machine and what they had done in the past. I knew my husband was very, very smart but never realized that they had gone back in time together along with planning a colony on the moon at that time and now there's one on Mars?! It was with utter horror when I learned of the nuclear bombs that had been planted on four aircraft by those terrorists. It also explained why my husband looked just a tiny bit older when I did see him that evening, with him saying he'd just had a long, hard day. I always understood the money coming in was from his patents on various machines. Believe me, after our conversation, I was going to have a talking to my darling husband....but then Ben said I couldn't because if I did, he'd know Benjamin had talked/betrayed a confidence. Reluctantly I agreed, but now that he's gone.....

    Ben said he “borrowed” the time machine for “just a minute”, but as soon as he said “just a minute”: I knew there was more to this. This is when I find out more about this man whom I thought who could only teleport himself around the world. In real time, he thinks (?!) he's “about” 250 years old...maybe older?! He said with time travel, he's not really sure any more. In our time, meaning here and now, he's in his mid 60's, though now he looks like he's in his early 40's?! I had been thinking unkind thoughts as if he had gone to a plastic surgeon to appear more youthful along with going to a gym. This is when he told me about the woman known as Lady Death, her cousin The Siren and what happened to him when he killed Lady Death. No wonder my husband was always being confounded by Ben. What Ben did was quite simple (according to him) was to travel back in time, put a piece of cardboard with the date and time of being there, photograph it, then he'd jump away from the time machine so the he in the future or past (yes, it IS confusing) could jump to just after that time he arrived at which time he'd jump to where ever he wanted to while the him that was already there would jump back to the time machine and go for another “jaunt” as he put it. I hope someone reading this understands what I've written as I'm having a hard time with it myself.

    As to his time travels, it goes as far back to various dinosaur ages to the 1960's and yes, he does have more than one type of dinosaur in “the deep, darkened jungles of the Amazon”. He also took many plants which are flourishing quite well due to the unknown efforts of his friend, Dancing Wind. He has about 100 archeologists and botanists studying these dinosaurs and plants. Of course, I was QUITE SURPRISED that day when he brought “Spot” into our home because I didn't know about his time travels at the time, accepting his explanation and this photograph of him with another type of dinosaur.

    He explained that he felt rather stupid when talking with my husband because he was so smart and useless when around Dancing Wind “who could do stuff he couldn't like make things grow” while all he could was jump. I said that in itself is quite an accomplishment and he said no, really it's not. Not when Brainiac is making machines to better humanity AND not only having them survive on other planets, but also live while Dancing Wind keeps coming up with newer/bigger plants to feed people, which will hopefully end world hunger.

    I asked him how he knew my distant relative and he said that he had met and “hung out with her” and her family for awhile?! I thought he was telling one after another “whopper” as our boys would say. I told him I was surprised he would come up with such stories and I must be getting supper started and would you mind leaving because it's one thing to tell our children such stories, another to tell such things to what I think you would consider a trusted friend. He stood up, saying still don't believe me, eh? How about I know your middle name is Francine and it's a FAMILY tradition that the first born of every other generation female will have that as a middle name? I was shocked as this wasn't something you would tell anyone or that anyone would know. He said wait a minute, disappeared/reappeared, opened a small leather pouch, dropping a ring and 2 earrings in my hand, saying Frances gave these to me and until now, didn't know who to give them to. The ring was gold with diamonds in it and there was my former French family crest! The earrings were gold and emerald about 2 inches long, also with the family French crest inscribed on them. These items were something I had a drawing of, given to me by my mother many years ago and kept in a photo album. She told me, as her mother told her, that one day someone worthy would be found and these items would be returned to the family. It was something I had NEVER spoken about with my husband or anyone else. This is when the boys came downstairs, asking when supper would be ready. Ben asked if it would be okay if they (the children) had take out for supper tonight and I said yes because my mind was in such a state of confusion. He brings back pizza (from Italy), chicken wings (that Hooters place of course) and Chinese (Momma Chiuns). Then he rings a triangular piece of metal, saying come and get it before I feed it to the hogs. He informed them that HE KNOWS how many pot stickers there are and he expects to get at least 4 of them AND 6 wings or as your mother would put it “I will be very vexed with you”. Once they were settled and eating, we continued our conversation.

    He said he went to the French Revolution period because he knew some people who liked/wanted furniture from that time period. Besides, with the king and queen dead or soon to be, there was “all sorts of stuff to acquire”. The only problem was making sure his clothes matched the time period, though being quite cautious, he wore kevlar and chain mail (?!) under his clothing. That's not quite the full story he said, hold for a bit and I'll be right back. He did return, but this time in the most amusing costume: that of The Scarlet Pimpernel! I couldn't help myself but start laughing at the thought he had actually gone thru time, met my great, etc. relative AND was the Scarlet Pimpernel?! But then I noticed he wasn't amused and realized he had a pair (which he called a brace) of flintlock pistols AND a rapier in a scabbard. He showed them to me and I KNEW they were not only real, but had to be several hundred years old. He told me he keeps a lot of this “old stuff” in a cave that's existed for several thousand years. He blocked off the entrance and just leaves it there till he needs it. Then he showed me his ring which opened up so you could see the 5 petals of the pimpernel flower and a little bit of wax stuck to it. I asked him how can you jump when you're wearing a gold ring and he said it was actually brass shined up to look like gold. He said he never could figure out why he was attracted to me (not in THAT way of course). My husband of course because of their working relationship and his genius. He said it was because of me that he spent a lot of time here, though he didn't know why at the beginning....and of course, the pastries, etc. helped he said with a smile and wink.

    This took quite a bit understanding, then he said if you're ready, we'll get the kids a sitter if need be and I'll take you to Paris. When I asked him why, he said Frances said she left something hidden and the day I found a distant FEMALE relative with her name, I was to take her there and she'd know where to look for what she hid. I asked him why didn't he tell me all of this shortly after we met each other. He said you weren't ready, I mean, would you of believed me if I had spoken about this earlier? Besides, I didn't know you were related to her until now. I immediately thought of karma and fate that decreed we meet like we did. Asked him what was hidden and he said he had no idea, but wanted to see if I could find it.....and now I was driven by curiosity, so I said yes. Asked how long we would be gone and he said only a few minutes hopefully, it just depends on how long it will take you to figure out where what ever is hidden. I used the intercom to let my husband know I'd be out for a bit, the children were being fed and he best hurry as they were devoring the food at an alarming rate. He said he'd be right up and I said I was ready.

   
    Benjamin got a strange look on his face and I asked him if everything was fine with him shushing me, saying he needed to concentrate on this place. Held his hand out, so I took his and next thing I know is we're in total darkness. At least I didn't have to go thru what he calls the ng, ng, ng phase after being rescued from that airline flight or being taken to “The Island of Horny Cannibalistic Amazonian Women” so my husband and I could have some alone time. My God, even typing those words on this keyboard make me giggle.

    Ben had a torch (flashlight) which he gave to me and as I looked around, I realized we actually in someone's basement! All the furniture and paintings were covered with sheets and spider webs/dust everywhere. He said after he got Frances and some of her family out of France, he got this room sealed up at her request. He had (when I asked him) put these sheets on himself as Frances at the time didn't have time to do it. When I asked why, he said there was a large party of frogs (meaning French citizens) after them and he was busy enough jumping them to England to stay with friends of theirs, then he “had to deal with a bunch of A holes who were going to steal everything there”, but not while he was around. Seems he dressed up in his Satan costume and started “poking some frog butts” with his pitchfork and those people were VERY superstitious back then, but not so much now, but in any case, they couldn't run fast enough to get and stay out of her place. You have to be VERY careful when listening to Ben saying something which in this case was “but not so much now.” So I asked him what the year was and he told me our current year. But in understanding Ben, I asked him “BENJAMIN, what year is it here and now?” Another shock when he says it was the summer of 1923!

     In a daze at that bit of information, started looking at furniture and other things that were over a hundred years old. In one trunk, I found not only her diaries, but tin types of her children and other family members along with paintings of her parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. on the walls. My God, here was a completely unknown chapter of my family history right before me. Then Benjamin, said hey, do you know how to play the harp? When I said no, he walked over to it, leaned it against his shoulder and started stroking the strings! I said, My God, don't do that, somebody must surely be living here and they'll hear it. He said no, everyone “knows” this place is haunted by a ghost, then he smiled and winked at me! Told me that every once in awhile, he'd wear a white sheet and moan after the museum was closed with only the janitors or night watchmen on duty in the museum. He said what was a lot of fun was sometimes someone would chase him, with him running at a wall and of course, jumping to another room...or better yet, jump to be behind the chaser and either grabbing or touching that man, saying got cha! Said more than one of them would faint when he did that! After “Satan” appeared, he had no trouble sealing off the basement.

    When I asked him where we were, he said in a museum, you know the one where they used to keep the Mona Lisa. When he said “used to”, I asked him outright, did you actually steal the Mona Lisa? He said no, I just “borrowed” it, leaving a really good copy of it in its place. The guy I got it for will eventually die one day and at that time, I'll get it, then return it right after I borrowed it. My head is spinning at all of this as only God and Ben (and I'm not sure about God) knows what he's been doing thru his time jumps. Ben said, you know, she's still here, Frances, I mean. I didn't understand and said so. To him, he was seeing her as she came thru a door with 47 people, not including some of her servants, she was that kind of woman. When you travel thru time, NO ONE has ever died, which was a curious saying, but I understand what he meant now.

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[willc453]

The Affected: V's story
Chapter 2

Then says, oh yeah, here's something I almost forgot and hands me a brass tube with the top sealed in wax and I could see very faintly, our family crest. One of my duties as the first born was to learn to read, write and speak French, so when I opened it, I immediately knew what she was talking about. While there were many things such as gold coins, jewelry, etc., but more than anything else, there were additional family heirlooms. Ben is such a dear, sweet man he took the time to take everything that had been hidden along with the diaries, portraits, etc. Of course he grumbled, saying this should not only make us even on all the meals I've had, but there should be a few extra pastries in this for me. And of course there always were....because I would call him when they were almost ready along with fish and chips and other family meals that he enjoys eating. And that is something my husband never knew in how Ben would appear “by co-incidence” just as things were about ready.

Of course, I was almost dying of curiosity wanting to see not only Paris as it was in 1923, but London. Both were a bit disappointing due to the amount of air and water pollution not only in both cities, but overall in both nations, something that isn't remembered now. But we spent a week in each city, with Ben being a perfect gentleman during the entire time. I thought we would only be in Paris for an hour or so because I had to get back to the children and husband. Ben explained with his ability to travel thru time, we would be back to my home just minutes after we left for here. Of course, I needed appropriate clothing for that time period which Ben easily took care of. He has residences in both cities with several dress makers taking my measurements and several hours afterwards, I had a full trousseau, including luggage! Then he wanted to buy me what he calls “bling”, meaning jewelery, something I did not accept because I thought it would be improper, so I wore pieces left behind by my ancestor, getting many compliments from other ladies which made me feel quite happy and good inside. Ben lent me money, though he tried to just give it to me, which again, I would only accept as a loan. I believe Americans call this time period the flapper (?) era or Roaring 20's and believe me, many were having a jolly good time of living it up.

The first six photos were taken in Paris, the others in London. Once again, I was surprised/shocked multiple times by Ben with whom he knew and who knew him. A example was when he asked if I wanted to go to Sylvia Beach's bookstore which was named Shakespeare and Company as he knew how much I read and insisting that the children also read, which included the classics. Sylvia Beach was a very famous person in those days after publishing James Joyce's Ulysses in 1922 in English due to Joyce's inability to get an edition out in English speaking countries. That is her in photo number 5. He asked if Jim (James Joyce) was around and I was able to get him to autograph his Ulysses book! Then it was informing me that Mary was having a tea party and would I like to go? I had no idea who this Mary was until later I found out that “Mary” was actually Mary Pickford, a VERY famous American actress of her time. Photo six are some of the girls at the tea party. The London photos are of Number 10 Downing Street, The Pavilion Theater, The Hippodrome, London Bridge, the slums, what used to be part of the Chinatown district and Trafalgar Square.

In reading Sams entry about Ben and his fight outside of Mama Chiuns restaurant, I had no doubt in believing it as I saw him change from a very outwardly going man to something entirely new....and scary. I hadn't realized how things really were in London or France during the 20's if one was poor or even of the living and sanitation conditions during that time. Ben is the one who insisted that while I had seen the “uptown” (?) side of London and Paris, I should also see its dark side, which meant the slums. In both cities, Ben rented a carriage for us which would be available any time, day or night. You could see the gradual decline in the people, buildings and streets from where we were, to the slums.

We had a carriage and driver, but some times were walking thru this area and quite frankly, I was frightened by the looks that some men were giving me. Then I saw a man beating a boy about 9 years old, telling him that he was “worthless as a thief as his mother was as a whore.” This is when Ben got out of the carriage calling to the man, saying if you want a fight, fight a man, not a boy. In fact, I'll even make it worth your while if you think you're really tough and pulls out 5, 20 pound notes (which was an astronomical amount of money back then) and tossing them to the ground before him. This of course, got a lot of attention by everyone including 8 other men who said they looked forward to beating Ben “into a bloody Yank pulp and take your bird for some additional pleasure” as they started towards us. This is when I saw our driver shaking his head, saying those poor bloody sods and I didn't understand why he was talking about the 9 men coming towards Ben.

Now I was terrified and wondered why Ben simply didn't jump to us out of that awful place and from those men. Then Ben says I have good news and bad news for you boys at which time the men stopped only 20 feet from him. One man says the good news is we's gets all yo money, leave you in a bloody and moaning Yank pulp and afterwards, the bird. At time Ben said, nope....I'm going to keep you alive so you'll be examples for what happens to those who would threaten my family and generally are sorry pieces of ****! One thing NONE of them expected was Ben not only appearing behind them, but with a large, thick staff! And he just didn't just jump to strike these individuals by appearing behind them, but moving like the actors in those martial arts movies the boys would watch. I HEARD their bones being snapped and knew that with hospitals and medical knowledge being what they were during this time, they were indeed, going to be in pain for the rest of their lives. These men may have well been tied up and beaten with that staff, as they had no chance against him. What surprised me was when one of them attempted fleeing, but instead of jumping to the man, Ben called out for everyone to get out of the mans way, which they promptly did. Ben then simply pointed his staff at the man, with a light flickering on, then off from the crystal (?) at the end of the staff, with the man violently propelled into a buildings wall, then slid down to the ground where he laid motionless. I asked him how did he do this and he said sorry, it's a trade secret!? I realize now that Ben is a man of many secrets, with his friends and acquaintances not knowing everything about him.

Later, I was surprised when he asked if he could take the boys (and later, Jennifer) to a Shaolin temple for martial arts instructions as part of their summer time with him. His thought was they should learn how to defend themselves, which is why I agreed. After the fight between him and those 9 men, I asked how did he know martial arts, at which point he said, they (the Shaolin monks) owed him for helping them deal with first, a large number of bandits “awhile back”, then some Japanese troops and later on, some of the Chinese army who were attempting to capture at least one Abominable Snowman whom the monks were friends with! He spent 14 years with the monks, learning their martial arts, then several more years of training with people named Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris.

The boys name is (was?) Edwin and came over when Ben called to him. They had fallen upon hard times when his father was killed while unloading a ship at the River Thames and of course, there was no health or life insurance, etc. in those days. With no funds or actual skills..... We went to their flat (apartment) which was nothing more than 1 small room, but it was well kept. Find that Edwin would sleep outside while mother was “entertaining” her “gentlemen friends.” She insisted he not only go to school as much as possible, but keep himself clean, which according to Edwin, “having to take a bath at least twice a month”! He asked her if she could sew or able to work with her hands and when she said yes, he knew of a cloth mill that could possibly use her. This is when I found out that this woman and child were not the only ones that were helped by him in getting them a job at the mill, which was NOT a “sweathouse” (?) for those working at this mill. Not only was he a partner in this mill, but had gotten rid of several “greedy and oafish sods who had sticky fingers and were not gentleman.” The way the one woman who talked to me about it, I knew they were no longer of this earthly realm. He made sure that she took everything she wanted from their place and they have a place of their own with 2 bedrooms, a parlor and of course, a kitchen. And while small in my first opinion, I realized it was like living in a mansion compared to what they had been existing in.

Surprised (again) when several dozen or so children came running up to us, shouting it's Ben, Ben's back....along with how some of the children had made a few pence betting against the 9 men. I heard one of them say “there's a sucker born every minute” which surprised me in hearing a American slang expression being spoken, but then with being around Ben..... He then told the children to line up, which surprised me when they not only did that, boys were in one line, girls in other. I had wondered about the sacks in the back of the carriage and he told me it was hope and love which I thought was rather peculiar. First he announced that everyone who had gotten something extra last time, needed to get out of the line to make room for those who hadn't gotten anything before and surprised again when several children did step out of line. Each child got a apple, banana and pear; followed by several hard candies. And yes, some children did receive extra fruit, but noticed not one child complained. Those who had received a double portion earlier from his previous visit, still got fruit and candy.

Of course, he did bring my books and presents for the children back when we returned home which was only two minutes after our leaving time! When we walked thru the door, my husband looked up in surprise, saying he thought I'd be out for a bit, but when he saw Ben, he said oh.... Ben (that ever so sly man) said he saw me outside (which was true or as he would often say, kind of, sort of true) and had some things he thought I and the children would like. The photographs were taken using a Kodak camera of that time period, of which, Ben owned several different kind. I had no trouble getting my husband to have 2 rooms added to our home so I could properly show my families legacy.

I saw Bens face when he talked about my ancestor and truth be known, I strongly suspect (woman’s intuition you understand) he may have been in love with her. For unknown reasons, I have always felt attracted to Ben (not in that way of course), but simply he seemed like one of those people that when you first meet them, it's like you've been friends for years. And having said that and about Ben maybe being in love with Lady Francine.....could he possibly be one of my ancestors?! I now wonder IF I really want to read her diaries, though curiosity will have me eventually doing so because I remember what he told those men what he was going to do for threatening his family. And he can be SO infuriating because seconds before he left, he said I should of asked better questions such as about the SIX Musketeers, Merlin (and he actually bowed when he said Merlins name), Art (meaning THE King Arthur?!) and Excalibur. Of course, when the opportunity arose, I did ask him.....with the nasty sod telling me “oh come on, everybody KNOWS they're just legends or fairy tales”! “I was just pulling your chain” and just smiled at me!

[willc453]

The Affected: V's story
Chapter 2 contd

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The Affected: V's story
Chapter 2

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[willc453]

The Affected: V's story
Chapter 2 contd

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[willc453]

The Affected: V's story
Chapter 2 contd

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[willc453]

The Affected: V's story
Chapter 2 contd

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[willc453]

The Affected: V's story
Chapter 3

As to The Island Of Horny Cannibalistic Amazon Women, this was Bens rather blunt way of “getting some romance” back into my husbands and my life. I was worried about him because he started once again, becoming more distant, then started ordering (!?) me about, but what made it worse was his refusal to see or hear from the children. He even locked the doors to his laboratory AND shut off the intercom between the house and laboratory. On the 5th day, I called Ben who was right there. Of course, at the time, I didn't know about his time jumping ability which enabled him to see many people basically at the same time. I explained the problem and he went to see my husband who made the mistake of ordering him around for additional parts for what ever thing he was building/thinking of building. I was quite surprised when he reappeared and asked if I would like to run around naked with my husband for a few days. It was the way he said it and I could see he was saying one thing, but meant another, other wise I would have been offended. He explained there was an island in the south pacific he knew of and if I wanted to, he'd jump both of us to that island and it's a really, really nice place. How about 4 days there? Did I think that was enough time to be together? I said yes, but didn't think my husband would be too happy in being forced to be on an island, unable to continue developing new machines and patents. And what about the children, who will watch them? He said he would and hoped that I knew that he would allow no harm of any kind to befall on them. When he said that, I knew it to be true. That he was pretty sure once my husband was on the island, he'd be interested in something else and he tried to wiggle his eyebrows which I didn't understand at the time. He said there would be supplies on the island, fresh water and other things as he knew how we ladies like our comforts.

Now Ben took me to this island and it's beautiful. No thorny bushes, no biting bugs, parrots of many different colors, along with a small water fall he said (with a VERY big grin) that is ideal for two people to shower in. He had a “small hut” (with sinks and some cabinets) along with a hammock (and mattress on it) hanging from the ceiling which was the size of a king size bed! Along with a medium sized refrigerator stocked with food, there was a pantry with additional supplies. The refrigerator, along with a small (25 gallon) water heater, several large fans in the hut and a small stove were all powered by my husbands solar panels! “Small hut”? I wonder what he would consider large? I could not believe some of the plants that were growing there: strawberries the size of my thumb, cherries the size of your American baseballs, blueberries and raspberries the size of my thumbnail, bananas so long they were in length from my elbow to the tip of my fingers weighing about five pounds each and cocoanuts the size of basketballs. He was quite happy to tell and show off my husbands and Dancing Winds achievements. He said there was a couple on another nearby island, but they wouldn't bother us until the afternoon of the fourth day and when I asked why, he said he had told them about your problems with Brainiac and they understood. I dislike that word ever so much, but Ben said it was a worthy title for someone so smart.

So there I was waiting for my husband to arrive and it was quite a sight. I had a slightly short sarong on as we were in the South Pacific and a orchard the size of a 6 inch dinner plate placed in my hair. I was ready for my husband, but what I got for a little bit, was NOT my husband, but then I changed too. It was what Ben calls “ganja” which, as you know now is an aphrodisiac. It was of course, from a bush from the one he calls Mother and her planet. I also suspect that he added a little of this “ganja” to our tea leaves as there is no way we would have been at each other sexually like we were for three days. When I asked him about this, he looked very, very hurt, but like my husband, I was getting wise to his shenanigans as you Americans would say. He said, why would you think I slipped you a mickey when you had a beautiful island all to yourself for four days and you could run around naked or do what ever you married people wanted to do? Then he gave me what my husband calls his Cheshire Cat smile and jumped....taking the last meat pie with him, or so he thought. Of course, what he didn't know was I had another 8 that were almost finished.

Give a day or two leeway and nine months later, our second daughter Elizabeth was born. I almost forgot to mention that Ben actually had a sign posted about the islands name on a tree near the waterfall. When I asked him about the name of the island, he said it sounded like a title to a Roger Corman film, something I had to look up. It is still quite delightful recalling upon seeing my husband the first time out of breath from being chased by those “Horny Cannibalistic Women” with him saying “they want to eat my wiener, my God, don't you understand, THEY WANT TO EAT MY WIENER!” I thought he was having some sort of nervous breakdown until I remembered what Ben had told me earlier. He had also been getting a rather large “spare tire” as you Americans would call it, around his waist. But since then, his attitude and eating habits have changed and life is so much more fuller and enriched because of it. There were two things about this waterfall that Ben didn't mention. The water didn't simply come down like a stream, but for a short distance, it was actually a water slide, which not only the children, but we enjoyed. And there was a door under the waterfall area where there was a sauna!

As to Aquaman, his wife The Mermaid and their children, they are quite delightful and a joy to be with. It was some time after noon on the fourth day that my husband and I were walking on the beach, hand in hand when suddenly a totally naked man appears out of the oceans waves, while the woman who is naked from the waist up, has a tail just like a fish which then turned into legs! To say we were surprised is an understatement. I had my sarong, while my husband had swimming trunks on as Ben said he would be back on the fourth day, but we had no idea when he would appear. We quickly turned our backs out of embarrassment, at which time Aquaman said they were sorry they had embarrassed us, but they weren't used to wearing clothes in the ocean. We found out that a “rock” on the beach was actually a storage place for their clothes when they needed them, along with a phone they used to talk with Ben when needed. Our 4 days on the island turned to 14 when Ben asked us if we thought the children would like to stay here for a bit and of course, we did. Everyone got deliciously brown from the sun, with the children and ourselves, enjoying holding onto dolphins as they pulled us around in the ocean courtesy of Aquaman and The Mermaid. It was from them that we learned how Ben and The Mermaid met and of their business arrangements.

Now Ben is a good man in many ways but his language leaves something VERY MUCH to be desired. He was not cursing all the time, but it was enough that I didn't want our children hearing it or worse yet, using it. Which is why he was banished from our household for 2 weeks. He could see and visit my husband ONLY in his laboratory and NOWHERE else. He was absolutely contrite when he returned for a visit. His language was most foul while playing video games with our boys and I was horrified at the things he said he would do to those boys during those games until I realized he was “dissing” them as Americans would say. We actually have a corner marked off in the basement where Ben can jump to, BUT my husband has it rigged so when Ben jumps onto it, we're notified. If we're up, we let him know via the intercom, if not, my recorded voice says “Benjamin, we're sleeping, come back later unless it's an emergency”. Now the fact of the matter is, when I use his Christian name, he KNOWS to stop what ever he's doing or in this case, come back later.

As to the video games, these are NOT your commercially available ones. The four (this includes my husband) of them wear helmets and gloves. While I tried it once, only to find it very confusing. Found myself as a soldier in the future fighting and killing aliens. I believe the title was Harp or Halo or some kind of Heavenly titled game, not that it was. I suddenly found myself looking at things that looked so real, that when you reached out to touch something, you could feel that thing. I do not care for violence, but Ben has also brought video games (which three of the children enjoy) such as race cars, fantasy (magic users, dragons), etc.

When school is out for the summer, my husband and I take the children on a road trip for two weeks, using a motor home that Ben owns, but stores here. Then for 3 weeks, he and I are alone as Ben kindly takes the children to be with him during that time. He said we needed time to be husband and wife and not father and mother. I was quite specific in dealing with Ben about taking the children with him, with him telling me where he was gong to take them and why. For example, that Navajo reservation learning how Native Americans used to live and of course, working on the farm there. At Momma Chiuns, where not only our oldest daughter learns to prepare meals and cook them, but the boys too. AND of course, washing dishes, keeping the restaurant clean, etc. Then of course, Ben and that Tibetan temple where the 3 of them have started learning martial arts from Shaolin monks.

When the children returned home, they of course created quite a stir when submitting their first homework assignment of “what I did during the summer” to their teachers, with us being called in for a parents/teachers conference. At this time, Ben wasn't really well known, though later on with those birthday parties, his barbeques, etc., he became quite well known. My husband explained that Ben was like an uncle to him and very, very rich. That because of this, he wanted to enrich our childrens lives, so he was the one paying for these trips. That opsec thing you understand. He then produced photos of the children at these various places and it was obvious to the 3 teachers these were not something photo shopped.

As to his Halloween “jaunts”, that is another story. My husband has posted the 3 photos I took, while the boys took these along with MANY others. I was quite surprised when the boys and Jennifer returned with almost 20 pounds of candy because I couldn't see them getting that much from the neighborhood or town folk even with Bens assistance. Then my husband came in, looked at the amount of candy they had and said “so, where did Benjamin take you trick or treating”? Of course, they said in town and around the neighborhood, but my husband just looked at them, saying “and where else”? That's when they “fessed up”, saying they really didn't know the name of many of the towns or even what state they were in while trick or treating! Now Ben had told us he wanted the kids to really enjoy themselves trick or treating, so they might be gone up to 6 hours to really get some “really good loot” as he put it which was fine with us considering how he's acted not only towards our children, but others in the surrounding area. What he also “forgot” to mention he was taking other children with him trick or treating all over the U.S. Their parents were under the impression since we had given permission for ours to go with him, they felt their children were also be safe and they were.

Having read Bens last entry, I don't believe it for a moment, that is, he won't be returning for a long time. Please remember that Ben says many things, but as Sam said, it's not always the full truth!

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More photos by our boys/myself

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Thank you