butch...ar
New member
to be cont'd
Chapter 7..........."THE Family "
The sharpness of the late night phone call jared me awake, for I had fallen asleep in the recliner in front of the roaring fire. Even though it was a strange voice on the other end, I could sense compassion, a crackling voice trying to speak thru broken words. It was the English Teacher's sister who lived in the foothills of the Ozark mountains. Thru solemn quite words she told me of the tragedy of the death of her sister. I was stunned-I was speechless-I could not breathe. I could not talk back to her sister. I was asked to please come and be with the family for the English Teacher had allready started preparing and telling her very big family of a special beau down south. I was not given directions to the family home, just was told to call this number when I arrived at a certain Mom and Pop grocery store in a far away town in the mountains.
It was a five hour drive for me and I left at firstlight, heading due North for Yell County. Nervousness and anxiety ran rapid giving the adrenalin fuel to feed upon.
I knew that someday I would meet this special family, but as I drove north that clear cool morning, I was really hoping it had been under more pleasant
circumstances. Memories came flooding back to me , remembering the special times, the laughs, the frowning looks she gave me as I did the craziest things. Teaching her to skip flat rocks across the lakebed. Showing her how to chew and spit tobacco farthur than a watermelon seed. Seeing her eyes light up as the big cat fish, was caught on a trotline and the sounds of the nightlife on a southern lake. She sat freezing to death, shaking, grumbling, on her first ever Deer stand with me, constantly wanting to return to the fire, to all of a sudden be the first to see the monster White Tail 8 point slipping across the white Oak flat. Tears rolled down her cheeks like spring water as the 30-06 made it's report. A few short months ago, I had never seen her and now I was driving North to be with and console a family I had never met.
The phone rang and rang and no one never picked it up at the number I was to call from a old country store on a dirt road. I had driven over one hundred and 40 miles on backroads America, to find the store and get no-answer from the number I had been given. Stalling for time, I piddled around the counters of the establishement, opened a old refridgerator and got a soda pop called Rock and Rye made from a local in town bottling works. reached for the peanuts and saw out of the corner of my eyes that the sotre owner was watching every step I made not moving away from a high counter. His wife came from the back of the store and she too, was giving me the once over. Guessing they thought I was a grandson of Jessee James the notorious bank robber. I eased over to the counter to pay for the bill of snacks and it came to 25 cents. A big grin came over my face at the charges for down at home this would have been more like 75 cents to a dollar. Trying to start a conversation with the two, I still felt inside that they just did not trust me for some unknown reason. I asked them if they knew where a certain family in these parts lived and they instantly looked at each other's faces.
The lady reached for the phone and started dialing a number as the man went around the corner of the counter and went into the back room with a very fast and determined walk. From being raised around firearms all my life, I knew the sound of a double barell shotgun as it was broken open to load shells and that was what I heard exactly coming from the backroom. I headed for the door quickly and stepped outside as the lady hung up the phone from talking with someone. I could hear the man's footsteps approaching me as I quickly headed for my truck. Was quite relieved and felt better to see blue-flashing lights from a patrol car from the county approaching at a preety fast speed.
The patrol car with lights a flashing came to a screeching halt less than 6 feet in front of my truck. I took a big shake of the peanuts in my mouth and started to chase it with the soda, when out of the patrol car stepped a very tall lady deputy and with my eyes budged out on stems I spit soda and peanuts all over the place. It was the "English Teacher"...or so I thought. She, approached me with style and a smile--held out her hand for a handshake and introduced herself as the twin sister of the "English Teacher". She knew what I looked like from pictures she had been shown. I turned and the old man and woman was standing on the porch grinning like posummns eating sour grapes. I started to settle down but wondered why all the comotion of all this.
The old man and woman from the store,was the lady's grandparents and lived close by up the hill and across another mountain on the same farm as her parents did. I was quickly informed softly with good manners about the 'why' of all the secreacy. It seemed that the father of the "English Teacher" was a retired special agent from the government and did not wish for just anyone know where they lived. They had moved here to be left alone and for it's quiteness and was very protective of each other. I turned and asked the older man why he had loaded the shotgun in the back of the store. He grinned real big and said: "I didn't, I unloaded it you just thought I was loading it!
I was told by the splitting image of my sweetheart to follow her and she would escort me to the farm and to meet her family. Yep, it was just like I pictured, on top of a mountain, with only neighbors being kinfolks themselves, clean pastures, painted barns, healthy lifestock, dogs barking, kids running here and there and the yard was full of cars and trucks from the unexpected death of this family. I felt funny reaching for the hand of her father for a frown came upon my face as I studied his facial lines and he noticed I was looking at him strangely. He was a slitting image of a grownup man who had posed when he was younger--somewhere I had seen a picture of someone who resembled him back home. He looked more like kinfolk than a stranger.
I was escorted inside to the huge table of food, having to wade thru huge numbers of kids running everywhere. The deputy started small talk and it went into I have known you special people all my life. I got very comfortable with them and they settled down to telling me of thier daughter's life before I met her. It seems the twins were identical looking but where opposite, in thought about life and how to be happy.
I spent 2 days and nights with the family after the funeral and we all became quite close, sharing everything with each other. One such afternoon I was re-united with another special friend, a big strong healthy black tom cat, who lived at the deputy's home just around the mountain. Questioning her sister about this instance I was shown the torn piece of papper she had written my name on and phone number as she had copied it from Lucy's collar that day deep in the forrests as she had put it. This place after hearing of what they were told was leass than 12 miles right behind my country home. Lucy and Clyde were making thier way back home when the tragedy had struck them.
I was very glad to see Clyde again and picked him up to only be ignored by the tomcat that, is the way of cats. They are in control all the time, but when he saw the old beat up 4x4 truck he knew he was going home to see his dogs , so he could tantalize them some more.
Last morning at breakfast as we sat around knowing I was fixing to leave. Her father shared with me, that he had to be protected for fear of danger to his life and his families life. I respected this and told him of a family member of mine back home that lives similar to this also. He questioned me on this farthur and his wife brought out some old photos from a war gone by and the first picture I was handed was the pic I had seen at a cousin's home one day when I was just a boy. I told them at the table that morning as the deputy sat right beside me sipping her coffee, that the man on the left in the picture was my 3rd cousin. Eyes lit up, mouths stopped talking--glances were thrown at each other with mysterious looks and family trees were discussed deeply and
and, with heavy moisture I arose and hugged some kinfolks I had heard about for years and it turned out that the "English Teacher", was my fifth cousin. It seemed a happy time, but then the reason of why I was there suddenly closed back around all of us and we all as a family that time had a very close time together sharing a loss of a loved one.
Someone once said there is a thing called destiny and nothing can change it from happening for a reason or for a season of for a lifetime. Lives cross paths for reasons--souls connect for reason unknown.
With Clyde lying across the dashboard of the truck, his usual riding place we said our goodbyes, shared a few more soft moments with each other and started off that mountain for the long 5 hour drive back to the country home
and the meadowlark sang...
to be cont'd
Chapter 8........"The Reunion"
A full vacation can be spent driving behind a Camper or a local School Bus, when one is in the Ozark mountains for there is just no place to pass. About, the time you get up your nerve to try, you swing out and get a glimpse of a canyon off to your left where rooftops look like specs in the horizon and you pull back in behind and ride it out. I honestly believe one could go off one of those curves and they would not ever discover your wreck.....but;
Coming down the mountain was different than going up and I got to noticing what great time I was making. The local schools were allready in session for the day and most of the local plant workers were at work. It left the major roads without heavy traffic. Clyde, had taken him a short snooze on the way home and had eased up to me and layed back down across my lap and just atared at me while I drove. Every so often I would glance down at the fur ball and wonder how a dog man had came to have such respect for a common alley cat. He had been treated grand while he was away. His coat was slick and was getting his thick heavy winter clothing. It was slick as wet glass and very shiny. His blue eyes would blink of approval as we ventured closer and closer to home. All Clyde knew was he was with an old trusted friend once again and he just could not report on how he came to live so far away and of the trajedy that had taken the life of his running buddy!
The old ford 4x4 turned off the main highway onto the country lane and started its climb up the gravel lane to the dead-end and a place called HOME!
It was a tireing journey both emotionaly and pyshicaly. Stopping the truck in the carport, Instantly down behind the house, on the trail to the dog kennels a roar of greetings was coming from the dog pens...for the dogs knew the sounds that old truck made. amazingly, Clyde heard this familiar sound and perked up, jumping up on the dash and looking around. His blue eyes toild of his recognizing his homeland. Clyde, was home.
Where I thought he would have went to his porch swing out back, one of his favorite napping places, I was soon fooled and will forever have the memory stored deep into my soul what my eyes witnessed in the next few minutes. Just, as soon as Clyde's feet hit the ground it was down the trail as fast as he could run, never looking back, for he was going to see his dogs. Rosummn and Rowdy saw Clyde coming down the trail lickety split and set in a very loud report, so as the other younger dogs in different pens did likewise.
Clyde, neared the pens and paused cordialy as he walked by the post and Lucy's empty dog house. rubbing up against the gate that held the pens shut he let everyone know he missed them and was glad to be home. the dogs acted like they were just as glad for his return. Not a one of them seemed to mind him, for Clyde ran up the red oak tree and out on the limb he had used so many moons before and leaped into the pens that held the meanest of the crew. Rosumn and Rowdy, galantly went to chasing him around and around in the pen and one would have honestly thought they would hem him up, doing bodily harm. Clyde knew how to handle these two tuffies. He held his ground, walked up to both of them and wrapped his body around each of thier faces. Really, it would have been an insult to most dogs, to have a cat do this to them. Odd situation to say the least when a common old alley cat and grown hunting dogs makes bonds like that. They were united once again except one was missing, one who had left months before on the great chase, failed to return home.
Clyde could not understand why I wanted him to go to the club with me the next afternoon for a night's work. He never grasped that there would be another reunion there for Bonnie and Tim and hundreds of patrons had asked daily of-- heard any news from the cat? Where I wanted and wished he would go with me, he stood his ground staying with his buddies around some old dog kennels down close to the pond, where the deer played and the meadowlarks sang. I trusted in him to be there when I returned in the wee hours of the morning. So, it was the next morning right before daylight, I took a light and went looking for Clyde after arriving home from the club. Where, did I find him--asleep in one of the dog boxes, curled up beside one of the toughest, meanest, dispositioned dogs I had ever known.
It was days before Clyde would be ready to go the Club, for he spent his nights inside with the dogs and could escape if he so wished to and he napped daily on top of old 'Lucy's dog house. I saw him several times sitting there on the trail starying down into the deep forrest like he was waiting on her to just suddenly appear. He knew they had left together that fatefull morning and only he could tell the tail of how far they went and of thier expierences, of being the last to arrive home and one did not make the trip.
I knew when I saw Clyde ready to jump inside the cab of the truck one evening he was ready to go see his other buddies at his other home. It was going to be an eventfull evening with his return, more loving than he had ever knew for it was a saturday night, a new popular band was in town and I had hired an extra bouncer for just that one evening. All of his college cuties would be there to dish out the loving and even might make some new friends to. As usual he was a fixture of the club and everyone who walked in that remembered him wished to hear the story of his travels. He never moved from the end of the bar, sprawled out like he owned the place and just maybe he did. How, he could curl up and nap with such a heavy crowd an loud music was beyond me. A late arrival that evening got his attention for she was a new college cutie and he took to her instantly as she touched his coat, not saying a word. It just seemed like when thier eyes met each other they communicated. She and two of her friends had first taken in a movie and decided later to check out the new band in town and get to hear some of the finest honky-tonk music West of the Mississippi.
Bonnie, eased up beside me as I was changing out one of the last kegs for the evening and pumping the primer, I listened what she had to say. It seemed one of the new young ladies was under age for Bonnie had carded them before serving them drinks. Bonnie was strict on this and very dedicated to not serve a minor spirits, but sometimes they had fake ID's and slipped thru the cracks.. Just like some of the patrons that had started coming to the club all of a sudden. Where just a year before The Pump House had such a fine reputation of good clean place to have fun and the owner did not allow no bull. It seemed after the run in with the Bad Red Headed young hombre, that just like the old west was years ago every one who had an attitude was showing up one at a time to try the owner or try out Tim who was ageing fast
Sometimes they came in pairs, one would start something with a lady patron just to get a chance on whipping Tim, but most were escorted thru the door. some got very desrespectfull to the band at the time and once even threw a frosted mug at the lead singer. All this was just to try out the bouncer or the owner, to make his mark and let the world know that he was the dumbest, foolish man alive.
In the old days of the old west when a noted gunslinger was the fastest draw to a one to one duel of death, they came for miles and miles to try the gunslinger for they wanted to beat the best. So, it seemed the once nice place to have fun had made a turn and all the foolish termites were coming out of the woodwork, taking down each weekend the reputation of The Pump House and so the patrons who came to have clean fun and start no trouble were now coming to be a witness in case another red headed man showed up and the hickory club came out. they came indroves, one after another and it soon became very tireing to the owner and Tim the bouncer. Bonnie was growing weary of having so many underage young people to have to ask to leave.
Months of looking forward to each night, not knowing if I would have a good party minded crowd easy to handle with good times. OR, one would drive for hours from another state just to try out TIM or the man who will bite your ear off......
Bonnie slipped up and said Tim was allready ushering one out the side door, but she just saw two men shove a lady patron into the ladies restroom. I reached for the hickory club, waded thru patrons on the dance floor, looked back at Bonnie and nodded as I reached the bathroom door and with a cue from me she turned out all the lights to the club....it was total darkness and with wall to wall patrons, when the lights went out, one could have heard a pin drop...for each band had been notified in advance if the lights go out--everyone for himself....but Bonnie , knew to count to 25 slowly and then turn the lights back on. Most everybody would still be shocked over the lights going off, but the trouble maker would allways step forward and announce his intentions. So, as it was so many times before---the dumb male patron opened the ladies room door stuck his head out, to see what had happened and was force fed a smoking hickory club to the chin. Down he would go and to my knees I went awaiting the other jerk for just as soon as he pulled his pants up he was coming thru that door also with both 6 guns a blazing, going for the gunslinger.
If you ever wish to take some stupid man out that is being unruly, there is something living in the gutters will tell you. Go for his knees or his Adams apple, both of these will render him helpless and very easy to get his attention.
down on my knees i waited for idiot number 2 to appear.......
to be cont'd
Chapter 9.........."The Lady"
All eyes of the patrons was on the ladies restroom door by now, expecting and most knew what was fixing to take place. The band quit playing when the lights had went out and were watching with grins on thier faces. I looked around the crowded room and saw Tim coming back inside. seeing me down on my knees with the hickory club drawn back, he quickly made his way to me thru the heavy crowd. I motioned for him to be quite, with pressing a index finger to my mouth and with my head nodded towards the closed door, Tim understood. Time stood still for the door never opened, it was like the idiot inside was waiting for me or Tim to come get him. then, we could start the hear of some low moaning sounds coming from inside the room and fear went over both of us for we thought the man was being very unhorable towards the young lady patron. Tim and I, looked at each other and knew it was time to go in.
Stepping back two steps, Tim raised his big number 13 cowboy boot , pulled his long lanky leg to his chest and with a quick heaf ho, kicked the restroom door open and started in. I stayed on my knees with club half cocked, in case he made a rush to get past Tim. He never got past the doorway and went to backing out, with tears running down his cheeks, turned looked at me laughing his head off. He was so tickled at the sight he saw and motioned for me to look for myself. I cautiously got to my feet and peeked inside the door and not seeing anything but two sets of legs and feet lying on the floor. I had to take two steps inside and peek around the stall divider to see what was going on.
A big broad smile came over my face as there on the restroom floor was the other idiot, who did not know how to have a good time when drinking--gasping for a few last breath's of air before he passed out. He had allready turned a very dark blue in the face because of no-air. His cowboy jeans where at his ankles and he was caught into a bear hug from behind by probably the toughest female ever to be born in Arkansas. What these two idiots did not realize when they shoved the young lady into the restroom to do whatever-there was allready a lady in there siting on the pot and it ticked her off to high heaven to be treated so rudely. Carla, had the man in a sizzor lock with her massive sized legs and with her strong arms around his chest she was sqweezing the life out of him slowly. He was beginning to show signs of death and his eyes pleaded with me to do something quick. He could not talk, just groan.
Carla, Carla I said. Let him get some air and she started to let up on his chest but not completely letting go. The young lady that they had shoved into the restroom, bolted for the door and took her place outside standing along with all the other patrons who by now where on thier feet watching to see what was happening. Tim came in and bent down to get control of the man but Carla was not going to let him up. She was enjoying being in control of the situation. She said: "TIM, I will let this idiot up if you promise me I can drag him out into the crowd with his pants down, so all can see that I whipped his ar## without throwing a punch"!
Tim, glanzed at me for approval and I thought it was a hillarious idea. So, Tim got the man on his feet and allowed air back into his lungs. Carla, stood up behind him and that mouth of hers started in on a lecture that he would remember for a lifetime. She stood probably 4 inches taller than he and was twice as broad across the shoulders. He looked small compared to the way Carla was built and this young cowboy was quite a man himself. Very young and very foolish, he allowed his drink to take over common sense and liked to lost his life by being sqweezed to death by a woman. Where most men would rather die than for the world to know this--he seemed more than glad to get to where he could talk but his mouth shut quickly as Carla took him by the collar and drug him to the dance floor, with his jeans still around his ankles.
The full house of patrons roared with laughter and started applauding Carla for most of them there knew her. It was not easy to not know Carla, for her presence in a room, especially a crowded room stood out for her massive size.
With the heavy crowd that evening I had my hands full running the bar and had very little time to look up and had not known Carla was in the club. She only came around once or twice a month and usually I had a good conversation with this lady. Carla, had a crush on Tim for years and would drop by on occasion just to drink one beer and eyeball her secret flame. Carla did not let life intimidate her. She had been raised with 7 brothers on a farm and had to scrap for every bite of food she got. She was hauling pulpwood billets by the time she was 16 and could run a McCulloch chain saw all day long, without even flinching. Her brothers had deep respect for this lady and left her be, for she had more than once ran each one of them down and got that bear-hug scizzor lock at different times just to show them who was in control.
Carla allways was neat and clean. She had nice clothes on and not a lot of makeup, for this stuff made her look more broad than what she was. Most of the eligible men around dodged her for she could out shoot any of them, she could gut and skin a full size white tail deer in 12 minutes flat--she drove a old beat up pickup--she had her own boat and motor. This lady had a personality about her if those guys would have given her a chance would have made someone very happy. I really think they were scared of carla for her legs did look like a full back for the Packers from green Bay, she had a small tiny waist and small feet--but her shoulders and arms were like big and strong from all the hard work shouldering those heavy billets when she had to survive. I wished she had been in the club the night the red-headed man had visited, for things would have not went as far as they did.
Tim, took control of the man, told him to pull his pants up and leave or he would allow Carla to escort him out the door. With his buddy allready gone-he quickly without hesitation left to never be seen or heard from again.
The crowds just kept getting worst and worst each weekend that went by. They no longer had respect for the bands and the good bands quit making and booking a repeat dates. Where once top class bands were calling me wanting a jig--I found myself scrambling at times to find someone who was worth thier salt. I would allways give a new band a 3 day jig, if they had a good beat. Bonnie had her hands full with carding the sneekers who tried to paint up thier faces to look older, in fact she had motioned for me to come to a table of newly arrived college chicks, for she was having problems getting one to leave.
and the band played on.......
to be cont'd
and the band played on...
a story like this never really ends for each new day would be another story inside a story from meeting different cultured people all sizes, shapes and forms. With the aluminum smelter starting back up after several years of being down, I was one of the first called back to work. I had a very keen desire to go back to a more gentle life style and get back to the basics of life. Trying to pursue something my heart was telling me to do and that was look for or start a family.
With a very handsome profit from the sale of the Pump House, I did take a wrong turn in life and regretted it for years, there was no detours available for I had married a patron of mine who had a cute butt, small framed, no education,cute mouth,and wanted a good man to have kids with. A desire to be a father and not listening to warnings or ignoring them cost me dearly over the next several years but I did accomplish the things my heart so desired and that was to hear the words "DADDY". I worked, one could set thier watches or clocks when they saw me coming home from work each day, for I had become a dull routine. I stayed in a very un happy marriage for years and years, just so I could see my son daily and watch him grow. I planned my escape--I planned my future.
Bonnie, worked at the club for just a few months after it was sold and then she quit and started to college with some of the reward money. She, met a nice young man who was nearly a foot shorter than she was, fell head over heels in love and married him. He became a medical doctor and they moved to Houston,Texas and had another set of twins, both boys. She got just what she had allways dreamed of and that was a thing called love. She sends me a Christmas card every year
Tim, the fearless warrior, bought himself a new Harley Davidson motor and hit the road in search of another adventure. He died a very young, 43 year old in a place called Oregon, doing what he knew the best, giving an attitude adjustments to the unruly. I was the only one listed as beneficary and I left all but his personal things with the FOP of Hot Springs, Arkansas in 1981. Kept his hog for several years and then stored it in a barn.
Clyde the cat lived several more years with me and became a very loving trusted companion. He suddenly and very quickly closed the doors of life one morning lying on my chest.
a few years after the Pump house was sold, it had a bad fire and the new owners did not build it back up. the building the last time I saw it was a union rescue mission.
memories are the some of the things that give lift to my wings, as I soar like an eagle
like the sands of the hour glass, so are the days of our lives
[attachment 33002 bill.jpg]
Chapter 7..........."THE Family "
The sharpness of the late night phone call jared me awake, for I had fallen asleep in the recliner in front of the roaring fire. Even though it was a strange voice on the other end, I could sense compassion, a crackling voice trying to speak thru broken words. It was the English Teacher's sister who lived in the foothills of the Ozark mountains. Thru solemn quite words she told me of the tragedy of the death of her sister. I was stunned-I was speechless-I could not breathe. I could not talk back to her sister. I was asked to please come and be with the family for the English Teacher had allready started preparing and telling her very big family of a special beau down south. I was not given directions to the family home, just was told to call this number when I arrived at a certain Mom and Pop grocery store in a far away town in the mountains.
It was a five hour drive for me and I left at firstlight, heading due North for Yell County. Nervousness and anxiety ran rapid giving the adrenalin fuel to feed upon.
I knew that someday I would meet this special family, but as I drove north that clear cool morning, I was really hoping it had been under more pleasant
circumstances. Memories came flooding back to me , remembering the special times, the laughs, the frowning looks she gave me as I did the craziest things. Teaching her to skip flat rocks across the lakebed. Showing her how to chew and spit tobacco farthur than a watermelon seed. Seeing her eyes light up as the big cat fish, was caught on a trotline and the sounds of the nightlife on a southern lake. She sat freezing to death, shaking, grumbling, on her first ever Deer stand with me, constantly wanting to return to the fire, to all of a sudden be the first to see the monster White Tail 8 point slipping across the white Oak flat. Tears rolled down her cheeks like spring water as the 30-06 made it's report. A few short months ago, I had never seen her and now I was driving North to be with and console a family I had never met.
The phone rang and rang and no one never picked it up at the number I was to call from a old country store on a dirt road. I had driven over one hundred and 40 miles on backroads America, to find the store and get no-answer from the number I had been given. Stalling for time, I piddled around the counters of the establishement, opened a old refridgerator and got a soda pop called Rock and Rye made from a local in town bottling works. reached for the peanuts and saw out of the corner of my eyes that the sotre owner was watching every step I made not moving away from a high counter. His wife came from the back of the store and she too, was giving me the once over. Guessing they thought I was a grandson of Jessee James the notorious bank robber. I eased over to the counter to pay for the bill of snacks and it came to 25 cents. A big grin came over my face at the charges for down at home this would have been more like 75 cents to a dollar. Trying to start a conversation with the two, I still felt inside that they just did not trust me for some unknown reason. I asked them if they knew where a certain family in these parts lived and they instantly looked at each other's faces.
The lady reached for the phone and started dialing a number as the man went around the corner of the counter and went into the back room with a very fast and determined walk. From being raised around firearms all my life, I knew the sound of a double barell shotgun as it was broken open to load shells and that was what I heard exactly coming from the backroom. I headed for the door quickly and stepped outside as the lady hung up the phone from talking with someone. I could hear the man's footsteps approaching me as I quickly headed for my truck. Was quite relieved and felt better to see blue-flashing lights from a patrol car from the county approaching at a preety fast speed.
The patrol car with lights a flashing came to a screeching halt less than 6 feet in front of my truck. I took a big shake of the peanuts in my mouth and started to chase it with the soda, when out of the patrol car stepped a very tall lady deputy and with my eyes budged out on stems I spit soda and peanuts all over the place. It was the "English Teacher"...or so I thought. She, approached me with style and a smile--held out her hand for a handshake and introduced herself as the twin sister of the "English Teacher". She knew what I looked like from pictures she had been shown. I turned and the old man and woman was standing on the porch grinning like posummns eating sour grapes. I started to settle down but wondered why all the comotion of all this.
The old man and woman from the store,was the lady's grandparents and lived close by up the hill and across another mountain on the same farm as her parents did. I was quickly informed softly with good manners about the 'why' of all the secreacy. It seemed that the father of the "English Teacher" was a retired special agent from the government and did not wish for just anyone know where they lived. They had moved here to be left alone and for it's quiteness and was very protective of each other. I turned and asked the older man why he had loaded the shotgun in the back of the store. He grinned real big and said: "I didn't, I unloaded it you just thought I was loading it!
I was told by the splitting image of my sweetheart to follow her and she would escort me to the farm and to meet her family. Yep, it was just like I pictured, on top of a mountain, with only neighbors being kinfolks themselves, clean pastures, painted barns, healthy lifestock, dogs barking, kids running here and there and the yard was full of cars and trucks from the unexpected death of this family. I felt funny reaching for the hand of her father for a frown came upon my face as I studied his facial lines and he noticed I was looking at him strangely. He was a slitting image of a grownup man who had posed when he was younger--somewhere I had seen a picture of someone who resembled him back home. He looked more like kinfolk than a stranger.
I was escorted inside to the huge table of food, having to wade thru huge numbers of kids running everywhere. The deputy started small talk and it went into I have known you special people all my life. I got very comfortable with them and they settled down to telling me of thier daughter's life before I met her. It seems the twins were identical looking but where opposite, in thought about life and how to be happy.
I spent 2 days and nights with the family after the funeral and we all became quite close, sharing everything with each other. One such afternoon I was re-united with another special friend, a big strong healthy black tom cat, who lived at the deputy's home just around the mountain. Questioning her sister about this instance I was shown the torn piece of papper she had written my name on and phone number as she had copied it from Lucy's collar that day deep in the forrests as she had put it. This place after hearing of what they were told was leass than 12 miles right behind my country home. Lucy and Clyde were making thier way back home when the tragedy had struck them.
I was very glad to see Clyde again and picked him up to only be ignored by the tomcat that, is the way of cats. They are in control all the time, but when he saw the old beat up 4x4 truck he knew he was going home to see his dogs , so he could tantalize them some more.
Last morning at breakfast as we sat around knowing I was fixing to leave. Her father shared with me, that he had to be protected for fear of danger to his life and his families life. I respected this and told him of a family member of mine back home that lives similar to this also. He questioned me on this farthur and his wife brought out some old photos from a war gone by and the first picture I was handed was the pic I had seen at a cousin's home one day when I was just a boy. I told them at the table that morning as the deputy sat right beside me sipping her coffee, that the man on the left in the picture was my 3rd cousin. Eyes lit up, mouths stopped talking--glances were thrown at each other with mysterious looks and family trees were discussed deeply and
and, with heavy moisture I arose and hugged some kinfolks I had heard about for years and it turned out that the "English Teacher", was my fifth cousin. It seemed a happy time, but then the reason of why I was there suddenly closed back around all of us and we all as a family that time had a very close time together sharing a loss of a loved one.
Someone once said there is a thing called destiny and nothing can change it from happening for a reason or for a season of for a lifetime. Lives cross paths for reasons--souls connect for reason unknown.
With Clyde lying across the dashboard of the truck, his usual riding place we said our goodbyes, shared a few more soft moments with each other and started off that mountain for the long 5 hour drive back to the country home
and the meadowlark sang...
to be cont'd
Chapter 8........"The Reunion"
A full vacation can be spent driving behind a Camper or a local School Bus, when one is in the Ozark mountains for there is just no place to pass. About, the time you get up your nerve to try, you swing out and get a glimpse of a canyon off to your left where rooftops look like specs in the horizon and you pull back in behind and ride it out. I honestly believe one could go off one of those curves and they would not ever discover your wreck.....but;
Coming down the mountain was different than going up and I got to noticing what great time I was making. The local schools were allready in session for the day and most of the local plant workers were at work. It left the major roads without heavy traffic. Clyde, had taken him a short snooze on the way home and had eased up to me and layed back down across my lap and just atared at me while I drove. Every so often I would glance down at the fur ball and wonder how a dog man had came to have such respect for a common alley cat. He had been treated grand while he was away. His coat was slick and was getting his thick heavy winter clothing. It was slick as wet glass and very shiny. His blue eyes would blink of approval as we ventured closer and closer to home. All Clyde knew was he was with an old trusted friend once again and he just could not report on how he came to live so far away and of the trajedy that had taken the life of his running buddy!
The old ford 4x4 turned off the main highway onto the country lane and started its climb up the gravel lane to the dead-end and a place called HOME!
It was a tireing journey both emotionaly and pyshicaly. Stopping the truck in the carport, Instantly down behind the house, on the trail to the dog kennels a roar of greetings was coming from the dog pens...for the dogs knew the sounds that old truck made. amazingly, Clyde heard this familiar sound and perked up, jumping up on the dash and looking around. His blue eyes toild of his recognizing his homeland. Clyde, was home.
Where I thought he would have went to his porch swing out back, one of his favorite napping places, I was soon fooled and will forever have the memory stored deep into my soul what my eyes witnessed in the next few minutes. Just, as soon as Clyde's feet hit the ground it was down the trail as fast as he could run, never looking back, for he was going to see his dogs. Rosummn and Rowdy saw Clyde coming down the trail lickety split and set in a very loud report, so as the other younger dogs in different pens did likewise.
Clyde, neared the pens and paused cordialy as he walked by the post and Lucy's empty dog house. rubbing up against the gate that held the pens shut he let everyone know he missed them and was glad to be home. the dogs acted like they were just as glad for his return. Not a one of them seemed to mind him, for Clyde ran up the red oak tree and out on the limb he had used so many moons before and leaped into the pens that held the meanest of the crew. Rosumn and Rowdy, galantly went to chasing him around and around in the pen and one would have honestly thought they would hem him up, doing bodily harm. Clyde knew how to handle these two tuffies. He held his ground, walked up to both of them and wrapped his body around each of thier faces. Really, it would have been an insult to most dogs, to have a cat do this to them. Odd situation to say the least when a common old alley cat and grown hunting dogs makes bonds like that. They were united once again except one was missing, one who had left months before on the great chase, failed to return home.
Clyde could not understand why I wanted him to go to the club with me the next afternoon for a night's work. He never grasped that there would be another reunion there for Bonnie and Tim and hundreds of patrons had asked daily of-- heard any news from the cat? Where I wanted and wished he would go with me, he stood his ground staying with his buddies around some old dog kennels down close to the pond, where the deer played and the meadowlarks sang. I trusted in him to be there when I returned in the wee hours of the morning. So, it was the next morning right before daylight, I took a light and went looking for Clyde after arriving home from the club. Where, did I find him--asleep in one of the dog boxes, curled up beside one of the toughest, meanest, dispositioned dogs I had ever known.
It was days before Clyde would be ready to go the Club, for he spent his nights inside with the dogs and could escape if he so wished to and he napped daily on top of old 'Lucy's dog house. I saw him several times sitting there on the trail starying down into the deep forrest like he was waiting on her to just suddenly appear. He knew they had left together that fatefull morning and only he could tell the tail of how far they went and of thier expierences, of being the last to arrive home and one did not make the trip.
I knew when I saw Clyde ready to jump inside the cab of the truck one evening he was ready to go see his other buddies at his other home. It was going to be an eventfull evening with his return, more loving than he had ever knew for it was a saturday night, a new popular band was in town and I had hired an extra bouncer for just that one evening. All of his college cuties would be there to dish out the loving and even might make some new friends to. As usual he was a fixture of the club and everyone who walked in that remembered him wished to hear the story of his travels. He never moved from the end of the bar, sprawled out like he owned the place and just maybe he did. How, he could curl up and nap with such a heavy crowd an loud music was beyond me. A late arrival that evening got his attention for she was a new college cutie and he took to her instantly as she touched his coat, not saying a word. It just seemed like when thier eyes met each other they communicated. She and two of her friends had first taken in a movie and decided later to check out the new band in town and get to hear some of the finest honky-tonk music West of the Mississippi.
Bonnie, eased up beside me as I was changing out one of the last kegs for the evening and pumping the primer, I listened what she had to say. It seemed one of the new young ladies was under age for Bonnie had carded them before serving them drinks. Bonnie was strict on this and very dedicated to not serve a minor spirits, but sometimes they had fake ID's and slipped thru the cracks.. Just like some of the patrons that had started coming to the club all of a sudden. Where just a year before The Pump House had such a fine reputation of good clean place to have fun and the owner did not allow no bull. It seemed after the run in with the Bad Red Headed young hombre, that just like the old west was years ago every one who had an attitude was showing up one at a time to try the owner or try out Tim who was ageing fast
Sometimes they came in pairs, one would start something with a lady patron just to get a chance on whipping Tim, but most were escorted thru the door. some got very desrespectfull to the band at the time and once even threw a frosted mug at the lead singer. All this was just to try out the bouncer or the owner, to make his mark and let the world know that he was the dumbest, foolish man alive.
In the old days of the old west when a noted gunslinger was the fastest draw to a one to one duel of death, they came for miles and miles to try the gunslinger for they wanted to beat the best. So, it seemed the once nice place to have fun had made a turn and all the foolish termites were coming out of the woodwork, taking down each weekend the reputation of The Pump House and so the patrons who came to have clean fun and start no trouble were now coming to be a witness in case another red headed man showed up and the hickory club came out. they came indroves, one after another and it soon became very tireing to the owner and Tim the bouncer. Bonnie was growing weary of having so many underage young people to have to ask to leave.
Months of looking forward to each night, not knowing if I would have a good party minded crowd easy to handle with good times. OR, one would drive for hours from another state just to try out TIM or the man who will bite your ear off......
Bonnie slipped up and said Tim was allready ushering one out the side door, but she just saw two men shove a lady patron into the ladies restroom. I reached for the hickory club, waded thru patrons on the dance floor, looked back at Bonnie and nodded as I reached the bathroom door and with a cue from me she turned out all the lights to the club....it was total darkness and with wall to wall patrons, when the lights went out, one could have heard a pin drop...for each band had been notified in advance if the lights go out--everyone for himself....but Bonnie , knew to count to 25 slowly and then turn the lights back on. Most everybody would still be shocked over the lights going off, but the trouble maker would allways step forward and announce his intentions. So, as it was so many times before---the dumb male patron opened the ladies room door stuck his head out, to see what had happened and was force fed a smoking hickory club to the chin. Down he would go and to my knees I went awaiting the other jerk for just as soon as he pulled his pants up he was coming thru that door also with both 6 guns a blazing, going for the gunslinger.
If you ever wish to take some stupid man out that is being unruly, there is something living in the gutters will tell you. Go for his knees or his Adams apple, both of these will render him helpless and very easy to get his attention.
down on my knees i waited for idiot number 2 to appear.......
to be cont'd
Chapter 9.........."The Lady"
All eyes of the patrons was on the ladies restroom door by now, expecting and most knew what was fixing to take place. The band quit playing when the lights had went out and were watching with grins on thier faces. I looked around the crowded room and saw Tim coming back inside. seeing me down on my knees with the hickory club drawn back, he quickly made his way to me thru the heavy crowd. I motioned for him to be quite, with pressing a index finger to my mouth and with my head nodded towards the closed door, Tim understood. Time stood still for the door never opened, it was like the idiot inside was waiting for me or Tim to come get him. then, we could start the hear of some low moaning sounds coming from inside the room and fear went over both of us for we thought the man was being very unhorable towards the young lady patron. Tim and I, looked at each other and knew it was time to go in.
Stepping back two steps, Tim raised his big number 13 cowboy boot , pulled his long lanky leg to his chest and with a quick heaf ho, kicked the restroom door open and started in. I stayed on my knees with club half cocked, in case he made a rush to get past Tim. He never got past the doorway and went to backing out, with tears running down his cheeks, turned looked at me laughing his head off. He was so tickled at the sight he saw and motioned for me to look for myself. I cautiously got to my feet and peeked inside the door and not seeing anything but two sets of legs and feet lying on the floor. I had to take two steps inside and peek around the stall divider to see what was going on.
A big broad smile came over my face as there on the restroom floor was the other idiot, who did not know how to have a good time when drinking--gasping for a few last breath's of air before he passed out. He had allready turned a very dark blue in the face because of no-air. His cowboy jeans where at his ankles and he was caught into a bear hug from behind by probably the toughest female ever to be born in Arkansas. What these two idiots did not realize when they shoved the young lady into the restroom to do whatever-there was allready a lady in there siting on the pot and it ticked her off to high heaven to be treated so rudely. Carla, had the man in a sizzor lock with her massive sized legs and with her strong arms around his chest she was sqweezing the life out of him slowly. He was beginning to show signs of death and his eyes pleaded with me to do something quick. He could not talk, just groan.
Carla, Carla I said. Let him get some air and she started to let up on his chest but not completely letting go. The young lady that they had shoved into the restroom, bolted for the door and took her place outside standing along with all the other patrons who by now where on thier feet watching to see what was happening. Tim came in and bent down to get control of the man but Carla was not going to let him up. She was enjoying being in control of the situation. She said: "TIM, I will let this idiot up if you promise me I can drag him out into the crowd with his pants down, so all can see that I whipped his ar## without throwing a punch"!
Tim, glanzed at me for approval and I thought it was a hillarious idea. So, Tim got the man on his feet and allowed air back into his lungs. Carla, stood up behind him and that mouth of hers started in on a lecture that he would remember for a lifetime. She stood probably 4 inches taller than he and was twice as broad across the shoulders. He looked small compared to the way Carla was built and this young cowboy was quite a man himself. Very young and very foolish, he allowed his drink to take over common sense and liked to lost his life by being sqweezed to death by a woman. Where most men would rather die than for the world to know this--he seemed more than glad to get to where he could talk but his mouth shut quickly as Carla took him by the collar and drug him to the dance floor, with his jeans still around his ankles.
The full house of patrons roared with laughter and started applauding Carla for most of them there knew her. It was not easy to not know Carla, for her presence in a room, especially a crowded room stood out for her massive size.
With the heavy crowd that evening I had my hands full running the bar and had very little time to look up and had not known Carla was in the club. She only came around once or twice a month and usually I had a good conversation with this lady. Carla, had a crush on Tim for years and would drop by on occasion just to drink one beer and eyeball her secret flame. Carla did not let life intimidate her. She had been raised with 7 brothers on a farm and had to scrap for every bite of food she got. She was hauling pulpwood billets by the time she was 16 and could run a McCulloch chain saw all day long, without even flinching. Her brothers had deep respect for this lady and left her be, for she had more than once ran each one of them down and got that bear-hug scizzor lock at different times just to show them who was in control.
Carla allways was neat and clean. She had nice clothes on and not a lot of makeup, for this stuff made her look more broad than what she was. Most of the eligible men around dodged her for she could out shoot any of them, she could gut and skin a full size white tail deer in 12 minutes flat--she drove a old beat up pickup--she had her own boat and motor. This lady had a personality about her if those guys would have given her a chance would have made someone very happy. I really think they were scared of carla for her legs did look like a full back for the Packers from green Bay, she had a small tiny waist and small feet--but her shoulders and arms were like big and strong from all the hard work shouldering those heavy billets when she had to survive. I wished she had been in the club the night the red-headed man had visited, for things would have not went as far as they did.
Tim, took control of the man, told him to pull his pants up and leave or he would allow Carla to escort him out the door. With his buddy allready gone-he quickly without hesitation left to never be seen or heard from again.
The crowds just kept getting worst and worst each weekend that went by. They no longer had respect for the bands and the good bands quit making and booking a repeat dates. Where once top class bands were calling me wanting a jig--I found myself scrambling at times to find someone who was worth thier salt. I would allways give a new band a 3 day jig, if they had a good beat. Bonnie had her hands full with carding the sneekers who tried to paint up thier faces to look older, in fact she had motioned for me to come to a table of newly arrived college chicks, for she was having problems getting one to leave.
and the band played on.......
to be cont'd
and the band played on...
a story like this never really ends for each new day would be another story inside a story from meeting different cultured people all sizes, shapes and forms. With the aluminum smelter starting back up after several years of being down, I was one of the first called back to work. I had a very keen desire to go back to a more gentle life style and get back to the basics of life. Trying to pursue something my heart was telling me to do and that was look for or start a family.
With a very handsome profit from the sale of the Pump House, I did take a wrong turn in life and regretted it for years, there was no detours available for I had married a patron of mine who had a cute butt, small framed, no education,cute mouth,and wanted a good man to have kids with. A desire to be a father and not listening to warnings or ignoring them cost me dearly over the next several years but I did accomplish the things my heart so desired and that was to hear the words "DADDY". I worked, one could set thier watches or clocks when they saw me coming home from work each day, for I had become a dull routine. I stayed in a very un happy marriage for years and years, just so I could see my son daily and watch him grow. I planned my escape--I planned my future.
Bonnie, worked at the club for just a few months after it was sold and then she quit and started to college with some of the reward money. She, met a nice young man who was nearly a foot shorter than she was, fell head over heels in love and married him. He became a medical doctor and they moved to Houston,Texas and had another set of twins, both boys. She got just what she had allways dreamed of and that was a thing called love. She sends me a Christmas card every year
Tim, the fearless warrior, bought himself a new Harley Davidson motor and hit the road in search of another adventure. He died a very young, 43 year old in a place called Oregon, doing what he knew the best, giving an attitude adjustments to the unruly. I was the only one listed as beneficary and I left all but his personal things with the FOP of Hot Springs, Arkansas in 1981. Kept his hog for several years and then stored it in a barn.
Clyde the cat lived several more years with me and became a very loving trusted companion. He suddenly and very quickly closed the doors of life one morning lying on my chest.
a few years after the Pump house was sold, it had a bad fire and the new owners did not build it back up. the building the last time I saw it was a union rescue mission.
memories are the some of the things that give lift to my wings, as I soar like an eagle
like the sands of the hour glass, so are the days of our lives
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just when you think your outta the woods....
