Dung duet Jai (ดึงดูดใจ – to attract or gravitate towards.)

Chapter Twenty-Five

The dilemma I faced was that I had recommended both Ben and Angie for advancement to full Colonel. The board said that only one could be promoted. They were equally rated in the top two percent of their peers. It was a difficult decision. How could one be chosen over the other? It exhausted my mentality to select one. It shocks me that two incredible people are here. They represent the best in the Air Force. They overcame the worst obstacles life could throw at them.

I called Lieutenant General James Matthews in the Philippines. Jim said no problem. Technically Ben is assigned to the Philippines. He is the commander over the rescue unit under my command. Half of them are here and the other half are on loan to you. I have already recommended him and his deputy commander to be advanced to the higher grade. Ben has been approved, and Angie will be as soon as your recommendation is processed. They can begin wearing their new rank today, although Angie's date of rank (DOR) will be a couple of days after Ben.

Only two other women rank higher than Angie in the Air Force. One is a colonel with a longer DOR and a Brigadier General. All three have flying certifications. Angie is the only one of the three with combat experience. Her primary mission is support, but her secondary duty is rescue. The alternative responsibility lands her in direct defensive combat. Her action against the PH gang and Chinese infiltrators qualify her for the Air Force Cross.

I am proud of Angie and Ben. No one can take credit for their successes. It is easy to feel like an older brother basking in the reputation of his younger siblings. Dawkmymy along with me glow when we are with them. The day seems brighter in their presence. When they quarrel with each other, it is done with tenderness and adoration.

Ling Noy and General Matthews came in to Chiang Mai. Ling Noy was meeting with Nang Chom and Dawkmymy. Ling Noy is still Chair of the Board at Crystal Dragon Corporation. Nang Chom is President while Dawhmymy is Vice President. These women get together twice a month. Only the highest priorities are reviewed at that time.

Dawkmymy invited the other two and their husbands to a water buffalo bar-b-que rib dinner. Raawl does not usually cook. However, he is a master in Thailand at grilling tough meat. It turns tender under his loving care into a culinary delight. The process takes twenty-four hours to prepare. Water-buffalo is soaked overnight on the bones in a combination of fresh orange, mango and pineapple juice. The excess liquid is drained and mixed with several large pureed tomatoes and onions. He drizzles in honey, and spices to make a wonderful and tasty dish.

It is simmered in a large pot until the flavors are merged together. At this point he includes twenty-four ounces of a good beer. Pour the concoction into two eight-quart electric roasters. Turn it on low. Let it cook until the sauce is thick. Then add twelve more ounces of beer to each roaster. Do not worry, any alcohol will evaporate.

Slowly grill the tough chunks over burning hickory fragments, shavings and chips. The wood will turn to coals. Salt and pepper the selections as needed. Turn the ribs every two minutes to keep from burning. Baste them at each turn with olive oil and beer. In two hours cut each rack into four rib sections. Leave on heat for another hour. Place the pieces into the bubbling sauce for a minimum of two hours.

Serve the finished product to your guests. They will claim it is the best and most tender item they have ever eaten. You can substitute with chicken halves or pork steaks. The selection can be sliced, cubed or pulled. If you use shrimp, peel, devein and grill them for only a few minutes before adding them to the sauce.

Schuss!!! The mystery ingredient is the beer. It tenderizes the meat and adds flavor to the sauce. All ingredients can be adjusted to an individual's palate and sensitivity. Thai chilies should be available as a paste on the side. Enjoy the gourmet treasure.

That evening a Japanese movie production company offered Ben the lead role in a martial arts movie. Ben rejected the project, because it would take too much time away from his Air Force job. A few minutes later the firm asked if they could use his image in a comic-book featuring MDCC fighting. It would present him as a heroic cartoon character. The roll of the champion would be fictional, but respectful of his career and his family.

Ben agreed that they could use his fighting alias, "Mad Man." For his likeness and ring name, he would receive a twenty-five percent royalty. His right to review and reject any edition of the publication was included in the contract. The periodicals were not to represent war or become propaganda, but represent good defeating evil.

The first run sold ten million copies in the language of several countries including Russian and Chinese. From his first royalty check Ben funded benevolent projects that would benefit the needs of people in most geographical areas. He gave away eighty percent of his income to church and private organizations who had low or no operating costs.

After the beginning issue, several more comic-books were added to the series. The media company made a full-length cartoon movie based on four of the publications. Ben collected millions in royalties from the films.

Ben increased giving to ninety percent of what he received He began the Mad Man's Foundation to distribute bequests to worthy causes. An administrator, treasurer, and secretary was appointed to research and recommend the awards. Additionally, an investigator was hired to make sure funding was used correctly. Gifts, in excess of ten thousand dollars were to be approved by Angie, Dawkmymy and him.

As fate would have it, the orphanage that Ben grew up in was for sale by the bank. It was twenty thousand dollars in debt. He paid off the bill, and the bank gave him the deed to the land and buildings. The banker told him that a development company was looking at the property, but they had not made a decision. If they do it, you will make forty thousand more than what you paid.

Ben asked about the orphanage. The banker said, "The home will have to close. It takes more to operate than the state allots per kid. They previously had several donors that kept them open. The contributors have either died, or moved away. The elderly lady that manages the place uses her social security checks to keep it going. She had to borrow money from us to repair the roof and replace the heating unit.

Angie told Ben, "I have a feeling that we need to see the place. The children's residence is part of your roots. If you don't, you will never have closure. It does not matter how bad you were treated. The center will be discontinuing soon. You need to make peace in your mind."

Ben and Angie went to South Side Residential Institution. It had the look of an old decaying school building. The bricks were crumbling. The doors and window frames were rotting. The parking lot was full of breaks with weeds filling the cracks. The interior walls were an aged dreary white with an irregular pattern of water streaks. Miss Grace, the seventy plus year old matron, greeted us with a big smile on her wrinkled leathery face.

Ben shared with Angie that Miss Grace was the administrator when he was there. He divulged to his wife that the elderly director was much shorter than he remembered. The two caretakers and cook were as old as the matriarch. The children were at school, except for a thirteen year old boy. He was sitting on his bunk reading a Mad Man's comic book.

Ben's imagination hardened as he concentrated on the youngster. He had seen the boy many times in a reoccurring dream. As the vision unfolded, he thought the boy was himself at a younger period. He asked the boy what his name was. The lad's name shocked him to the core when the child said, "Ben Crossman." His Momma was Deloris Crossman and his Grandmother was Mary.

Miss Grace affirmed that Deloris was Ben's younger sister and Mary was his mother, and they lived above the Backstreet Tavern near the McKinley Bridge about four blocks from the children's home. The elderly head mistress, with a tremble in her voice, quietly exclaimed, "Both of them are known prostitutes, and are on most occasions drunk."

Ben's demeanor went cold gray. He collapsed onto a squeaking chair. His shoulders were slumped over. His eyes went from calm to rage in a matter of seconds. The information had him shaking his head left to right. He began calculating and stuttered, "Oh my!"

Ben got up and went to where the boy was sitting. He eased down next to his nephew and said, "My name is the same as yours, Ben Crossman, but my fighting name is Mad Man!" The youngster looked up from his comic, with his jaw gaping, while pointing to the cartoon likeness and said, "Your Him!"

"Yes, but I'm also your uncle. Would you like to go to lunch with us to Burger Chef? I need to speak with Miss Grace for a moment. I'll be right back."

Ben asked her if it would be alright to take the boy to lunch, and he wanted to know what he had to do to adopt the little guy. She said, "I will get the paper work ready while you are out to lunch. If you get his mother to sign the forms it will be easier. A smile returned, and his composure relaxed.

Little Ben asked, "Are you my aunt?

"I believe I am. My name is Angie. Ben is my husband. That makes me your aunt by marriage."

"Can I call you Aunt Angie?"

"Yes, you may."

"You sure are pretty! You're the Mad woman in the book."

He pointed to the caricature and said, "That is your picture. My aunt and uncle are famous. No one at school will believe me that my aunt and uncle are real people. Do you and uncle Ben really fly airplanes?"

"Yes, we do."

"Have both of you fought criminals and other bad guys? Is your daughter's name Mad Girl? Are both of you rich, and do you live in a ten-room house?"

"Yes, we have fought bad people. My daughter's real name is Lilly, and we live in a big house."

"Can I come live with you?"

"If you would like to, and it is okay with the judge."

"I learned to fight from the comics. I know how to hit, kick chop, clinch, flip and throw like Uncle Ben? Do you want to see?"

"I believe you. If you want to show me, go right ahead."

Little Ben went through a series of workouts that would be recognized by professional MDCC fighters as great.

"That is a wonderful job. Why did you learn MDCC techniques?"

"To protect the smart students from the bad kids. The reason I'm not at school today is because the seniors on the football team were beating up a freshman girl. They were ripping the clothes off of her. I am the youngest and smallest freshman in school. I had the senior quarterback, three times my size, in an arm clinch. The principal suspended me, and let the seniors go."

"Well, I am proud of you."

Ben came back from Miss Grace's office with a humongous grin. "Sorry I took so long, but I had some important things that needed immediate attention."

"Did you know your nephew wants to go home with us?"

Ben looked at the boy, with stars shooting from his eyes, saying, "That is what took me so long. Your Mom, Grandmother and Miss Grace have agreed that you can go home with us. You will be Angie's and my son."

Big drops of tears oozed from the youngster as he proclaimed, "That means you are my Mommy and Daddy.

"That is exactly what it signifies. We already love you, and want you to be happy. My first official act as your father is to meet with your principal tomorrow. I promise that you will never have to stand alone again."

Big Ben, Angie and son were together in the school office waiting. They were joined by the school superintendent, the chief of police, , several parents. and the assistant principal.

Principal Max Warden appeared thirty minutes late. The school superintendent said, "Are you always this late for an appointment?" Angie had Ben Junior remain seated outside of the principal's office.

"I thought one of my students was going to be complaining about a minor issue." Ben said, "Do you believe attempted rape is a small infraction? Let me introduce myself. I am Colonel Benjamin Crossman, Senior. Many people worldwide know me by my fighting name, 'Mad Man.' I am mad, at the present, because you used your position to abuse my son. As I speak, four of your seniors on the football team are being arrested. Three seniors were detained last night. They claim that they have been paying a thousand dollars a month to you to overlook their little indiscretions like rape, extortion, intimidations, and many other crimes."

The police chief chimed in, "We checked your personal finance records and discovered that you made a thousand dollar cash deposit every month for the last ten years. Shame on you."

Mr. Warden was sweating profusely. He was shifting positions in his chair every few seconds. His face was sullen, and set like stone.

added "We have records going back years showing where you interceded for criminals in your school. Some of the crooks confessed that you have organized and recruited lawbreakers for over a decade. These parents are here today reporting the abuse their daughters suffered directly from you."

Suddenly, the principal produced a pistol and said, "I am not going to jail!" He put the barrel of the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. The wall behind him was splattered with brains and blood.

The police chief said, "I never expected that."

The prosecuting attorney proffered, "It's a shame!"

The school superintendent volunteered, "He was going to retire at the end of the school year.

WgjY@_;