DRIVIN FAST, LIVIN LARGE

DRIVIN FAST, LIVIN LARGE

I dun tole ya! Jessie hollered ta Walter whilst Buster was yellin faster. Howard was jes a grinnin from ear ta ear cause he liked speed too, ya know. He jes loved ta see Walter a devlin Jessie drivin so fast. Tha red an blue lights was a flashin when Walter pulled over ta tha side of tha road. Jessie said ta Walter that he was gonna git hisself a ticket an wadn't no way out of it this time. Thar was six of em in tha car; tha boys and 2 of tha Brittain cousins. Thay had all ben out ta a lil party an that Old McBrayer kinda snuck up on Walter. First off thay begin by playin Pitch at Everett's with some of tha boys from Tar Bottoms an then headed on over ta tha 11-70 Club down by tha river. Buster and Jessie wadn't goin steady with nobody at this time but Howard and Walter had that Snow gal and Lil Lynette thay was seein regular. Lil Lynette was a pistol fer shor. She was chin high ta Walter and toted tommyhawks with her ever whar she went. That is ta say, she was half French and half Injun. Walter said when ya got her riled it was like tanglin with a bobcat.We seen her set ole Walter ta sail a time or two that's fer shor. Course tha boys was tha cause of that on occasion a gittin Walter ta do sumthin she didn't want him ta do. Buster did see that 6 foot tall Injun gal that worked over at tha Holiday Inn by tha name of Bonnie Wahela Emmadine Sullins Morgan fer a time but weren't nuthin serious. She was tall nuf ta dance with though. Now Jessie on tha other hand had more gals than Carter had lil liver pills with them pheromones of hisn poppin out all tha time. Bout when he thought he had em under control thay'd pop out an a gal would cum rite out of tha woodwork it seemed. In tha least likely places, one of em would latch on ta Jessie. Why one time Jessie was a walkin by a storefront downtown with hisn pa and jes decided ta git sum 20 Mule Team Borax at tha WalMart on tha corner. Plus it was cummin up on hisn ma's birthday an him an his pa reckoned thay would git her present whilst thay was out. Thay didn't git ta tha city too offen and this was as good a time as any. When Jessie an hisn pa went ta tha store tha lady at tha counter went plum google eyed over Jessie an tole hisn pa she wanted him ta take out her daughter. She even had her picture she showed em. Her name was Jenny an she was a rite purty thang an a rodeo queen ta boot. She barrel raced an was real good at it. Well, Jessie Senior got ta talkin ta tha lady fer quite a spell an cum ta find out thay knowed sum of tha same folks. Mr. McBrayer invited all tha Olivers over fer supper after church on tha followin Wednesday so thay could all meet an visit. Well, Jessie was fit ta be tied! He tole hisn pa he jes wadn't up to no courtin cause he had bizness an lawyerin on his mind. He ben a helpin Mr. Omar Green thar in town an at hisn law office an was a studyin up on contracts and sich. Mr. McBrayer said now Jessie, ya got ta be sociable an ifn a gals ma asks ya ta escort her daughter ya ort ta preciate that. Thay seem ta be good Christian folks an want a nice feller like youself that has good raisin ta be friends with thar gal. It was a rite nice compliment fer Jessie an his folks so he reckoned he would take her out fer ice cream at Leake's drugstore an tha picture show on Saturday ifn all went well on Wednesday evenin. Both Jessie's ma an pa was happy bout that, I tell ya.
Anyhow, back ta Walter an tha po-leece. Two State Troopers cum up ta tha car an asked fer Walter's driver's license an checked him out. All tha rest of tha boys stayed in tha car whilst thay took Walter an put him in tha back seat of tha po-leece car.
Whilst the troopers was waitin fer word on Walter, thay begin ta talkin bout how dry it was in them parts. Walter said he didn't mean ta interrupt but down in Groom it was so dry a tree had ta chase a dog. Them two Troopers busted out laughin an bout that time tha radio cum on an tha dispatcher said Walter was clean. Them two troopers jes looked at each other still a laughin and tole Walter to git on out of their car but ta drive tha speed limit. Walter had him a snoot full an tole Buster ta drive on home. Walter dun got out of another un an Jessie said Walter was luckier than a outhouse rat. He could talk tha brass horns offa billy goat.
Saturday after tha picture show, Miz Inez Adams asked tha boys ta help clean up the trash left in the rows an she said thay could have 2 passes each. Well, tha boys said thar weren't no need of that an thay would be proud ta do it. Thay had that buildin spic an span in no time flat and Miz Inez give em passes anyhow. Whilst thay was thar thay found a billfold of cash an papers. It belonged ta a feller passin thru town that had a lil time ta kill so he went ta the picture show. Tha feller was a Yankee, but Injun, lookin fer oil and gas leases in tha area an also lookin fer sumbody ta invest in a oil an gas well. Seems he had a pardner that jes died an had cum from tha funeral at Higgin's Switch an had ta wait whilst his car was fixed over at Baxley's Texaco station. Loomis Burks had ta cum over an do sum weldin on tha axel too . Anyhow, tha feller had a lease over in Oklahoma fer a gas an oil well an was flat busted ceptin what he had in hisn billfold when he rolled thru town. He needed a stake ta prove up tha well an knowed it would pay off. Wildcattin was a gamble fer shor but he jes had a good feelin bout tha well cummin in. When tha boys caught up with tha feller he was plum dejected sittin on tha side of tha road out of gas. Buster had a five gallon can of Amoco gas in his truck and he put that in tha fellers tank. Howard handed over tha fellers billfold an tole him thay found it in tha picture show. Tha boys knowed which a way he was goin when Acey an Loomis over at tha station tole em tha direction he was headin in. Tha boys got inta Humnoke an had coffee with tha feller an he shor nuf preciated what thay dun. He offered em a reward but tha boys wouldn't take it. He tole em all bout tha gas an oil leases an his pardner. He said he was a lookin fer a stake and he dang well knowed it would make a pile of greenbacks. Shor, wildcattin was a gamble but not when he knowed it was rite under hisn feet. Tha feller was called Joe Whitetail an he was a Cherokee and Kootenai Injun. He was raised with his ma in Oklahoma till he was 13 and moved with hisn pa after hisn ma died. He said he knowed ever inch of that Anadarko Basin an could even show em whar tha gas cum rite out tha ground like a artesian water well. Tha boys asked him when he was a goin back ta Oklahoma ta prove up the well an he tole em in bout a month when he settled some thangs in Sandpoint, Idaho whar he was from. Tha boys give Joe thar contact information an ta call em when he was a headed back. Thay jes might want ta hook up with him again. Joe said he would an thanked em all agin fer bringin his billfold ta him. It was rite neighborly an he knowed thay was all good men.
Well, all boys dun sniffed out another adventure. Thay figured thay could jump in an help Joe cause Howard was good with heavy equipment, Walter could weld pipe or anythin else fer that matter, Buster was stout as a ox an would work like a Turk an Jessie would do tha researchin, plus all em of was smart as a whip. Jessie's pa and Uncle Cecil worked fer Southern Natural Gas an knowed all bout gas wells. Heck fire, that's how hisn family got in tha gas bizness cause of one of them surface gas wells. Jessie an his pa an Uncle knowed fer true surface gas wells was a fact seein how thay had one.
Cummin on ta summer, Joe Whitetail called up tha boys an said he was a cummin thru to go back ta Oklahoma an said he wanted ta stop an visit fer a bit. Jessie's ma said ta cum on ta tha house an thay would have a big supper an all tha boys an thar folks would be thar an visit with him one evenin. Well, tha boys dun made up thar minds to go with Joe an tole thar folks what thay was a gonna do. Since thay was all old nuf ta make decisions on thar own an had thar own money an school was out; thay didn't make no never mind that thay went. Tha boys' folks had plenty of help an knowed thay would be careful an Uncle Cecil and Aunt Liz lived out that way in Weatherford an would keep an eye out fer em. Tha boys had thar money from thar various bizness enterprises an decided ta go whole hog ifn it looked like a good thang ta do. Jessie purty well would fill em all in on what was what in tha gas an oil bizness. Jessie's pa and Uncle Cecil andtha folks thay knowed in SONAT could advise em too. Joe cum on in a couple of days later an Mrs. McBrayer an Mrs. Ollinger an Buster's grandma Clara fixed up a feast fit fer a king. Walter an Jessies's sisters cum ta supper too an since Joe was single, young an good lookin, thay was more than willin ta help an stay fer a spell. Durin supper everbody visited an Joe tole bout hisn raisin an hisn folks. Joe was 24 an shor nuf had tha drive ta make this deal work ifn he could git a lil cash. After supper, all tha folks went inta tha parlor fer homemade vanilla ice cream that Buster's grandma made an, fresh peach pie an chocolate cake. Fresh coffee was an sweet iced tea wetted thar whistles an then tha boys tole Joe thay was gonna invest an work with Joe in Oklahoma to bring in hisn well. Tha folks tole Joe that tha boys had the money an wanted ta do this ifn he wanted em in on it. The split would be 5 equal ways said Joe ifn thay agreed. Tha boys shor nuf liked tha idee but tole Joe ta make it 50/50. Tha boys half and him half. Joe purt near fell outa hisn chair an bout shed a tear when thay said that. Joe tole tha foks that these here boys were mighty fine young men an would always be hisn brothers. He said thay cum by it honest by thar raisin an could be rite proud of em. Tha next day tha boys started gatherin up thar belongins fer tha trip an tools too. Thay made arrangements at tha bank fer tha money ta be used in a account fer tha venture. Thay called thar new company 5 Brothers Exploration. Joe went on ahead tha next day an tha boys would meet up with him in a day or two when thay was ready ta leave. Joe said thay was gonna tap that artesian gas well first an git that ta goin an then drill with tha money thay would make on first well. It was a plan. Buster an Walter an Jessie took Buster's Ford an Howard got Belle ready to fly an flew her ta whar thay was gonna be. Thay figured ifn thay had to go sum place fast that Belle was tha best way plus Howard wanted ta keep up with hisn tricks by practicein when he had tha chance.
Joe an tha boys settled in Elk City bout 42 miles from Weatherford whar Jessie's Uncle Cecil lived. Joe an tha boys, with Uncle Cecils's help, begin ta gather up tha equipment thay as gonna need an hired an old wildcatter to open up that artesian gas well. Sam Riggins was a crusty ole feller but took a likin ta all tha boys. Uncle Cecil knowed Sam an got him ta sign on. It wadn't long that thay had that well tapped an capped an SONAT bought all tha gas thay could pump from that well. Tha boys put in $150,000.00 inta 5 Brothers Exploration an made a tidy profit fer ever cubic foot of gas sold. Thar advance was enuf ta pay off all tha debts an pocket $50,000.00 a piece with a nice bonus fer Sam. Joe tole tha boys that thay was ready ta drill now an ifn thay wanted ta keep on drillin with him. At supper one nite at Uncle Cecil's, thay all discussed thar plans. Uncle Cecil had tha deal made with SONAT fer all tha gas thay could git an any oil too ifn thay struck sum. The next well wadn't quite as easy as that first surface well but ole Sam brought er in. By this time he dun gathered up a real good crew an thangs was a runnin smooth like. When number two was hit sum dang ambulance chasin lawyer begin ta give sum grief an stir up trouble. Sumthin bout Joe's dead pardner's people wantin in on tha profits offa tha wells. Joe had hisn papers an thay as all in order leavin him full ownership of tha leases. Tha contract stated that ifn one of em died tha other one would git hisn half. Since thay never did drill nor made any money thar wadn't nuthin ta split. One day Joe went inta Oklahoma City with Howard in Belle ta see a lawyer bout all tha fuss. Howard went ta see tha sights in town whilst he was a waitin fer Joe. Joe never showed. Joe was kidnapped an a ransom note was left on Belle at tha airstrip. Howard called tha po-leece an tha boys an Uncle Cecil cum with tha boys ta Oklahoma City ta find out what was a happenin an all tha goins on. Tha note said that thay wanted tha contract an all tha rites ta tha wells or Joe was gonna end up daid. That evenin at tha motel, Buster said ta Walter, Howard an Jessie, that thay had ta do sumthin an he had a idee. First off, Howard was not ta feel bad bout Joe bein kidnapped. It wadn't hisn fault. Next off thay needed ta call Mr. Holmes fer help from Dalton an Devane. Thay all agreed an Buster made tha call. Uncle Cecil also thought that was a good idee an would call all tha folks from tha phone in hisn room. Tha folks at SONAT gave tha boys an office at thar headquarters building in Oklahoma City till Joe was found. That shor helped ta have a central location fer support. Mr. Holmes answered on tha first ring. How he dun that Buster didn't know. It was like he knowed Buster was callin. Anyway, Buster didn't waste no time in tellin Mr. Holmes what all dun happened. Mr. Holmes said he would git rite on it an took all tha particulars from Buster. Buster an tha boys thanked Mr. Holmes an tole him how much thay preciated hisn help. Thay don't know whar in tha world Dalton an Devane cum from but it wadn't 4 hours later that both of em landed in town an was a gittin tha low down from tha po-leece. Dalton an Devane met up with tha boys an Uncle Cecil at thar motel an begin ta tell em what all thay was a thinkin bout all this. Tha note was on a large scrap of paper that cum from Chicago, IL. How thay knowed that was by traces of DNA left by a paper cut. Sumbody had accidentally cut themselfs on tha paper an didn't even know it. Tha DNA matched a sample from a local Russian Mafia gangster thar in Chicago. Tha feller had ben arrested thar fer fightin in a union dispute whar he mite near kilt a feller with a ball bat. DNA samples was taken fer tha case an was on file so thay was available ta Dalton when thay got tha results from tha lab on what was found on the note. Devane tole em he was leavin rite then fer Chicago an would be in touch. Dalton phoned Mr. Holmes with the information an that shor nuf got his attention, I tell ya. Cum ta find out after a lil investigatin that a cousin of Joe's daid pardner was a ex KGB agent an was knowed ta be tied ta tha Russian Mafia in Chicago.
It begin ta add up real quick what this was all bout an Dalton sat em all down, includin Uncle Cecil, an give em tha skinny on what thay figured was goin on.
Dalton tole em all thay ben round tha block a time or two an that this was leadin ta sumthin him an Devane an Mr. Holmes knowed mite be held in sich secrecy that only 3 men in tha world even had an idee what it was all bout. Thay couldn't tell em rite then what all it concerned but Mr. Holmes was tha onlyest one that knowed all tha details. Thay was jes gonna have ta wait an see how this all played out. First thangs first said Dalton. Not nary a word an he meant that, not nary a word. Dalton said he knowed thay was gonna stick thar noses in this an ta keep em safe an not crossways with tha bad guys an tha government, thay all had ta do exactly what Mr. Holmes said to do. It was that or thay was gonna be held till Joe was found. Thay all agreed ta tha conditions an swore thay wadn't gonna take matters in thar own hands. Mr. Holmes said he wadn't kiddin nun bout this an South America an tha Bahamas put tagather was a cake walk compared ta this. He also said not ta ask any questions till thay was briefed cause thay wadn't gonna git no answers unlessen thay needed one. Dalton also tole em that he didn't even know all tha details but it so secret, so serious that the President didn't even know all tha details. Thar wadn't no sleepin fer em an Dalton had a plane waitin fer em ta go ta Chicago. Uncle Cecil was gonna stay behind in OK City an git thangs cleaned up thar an then go on back ta tha house with Aunt Liz. He was ta stand by thar till all of this was over. SONAT was workin with Mr. Holmes an Uncle Cecil was ta be under Mr. Holmes orders till further notice. All tha folks back home had thar minds put ta ease by Mr. Holmes an Uncle Cecil that tha boys was all OK and thay would be kept informed of what all was goin on or at least as much as possible. Tha folks understood an knowed tha drill from tha past fracas thay was in. Everthang was movin real fast an that was good. Tha sooner thay found Joe tha better.

Devane had a lead on tha Russian when tha plane landed. His name was Boris Gorsky an he was bout ta offered a deal he couldn't refuse. Buster an Walter flew Belle ta Chicago whilst Jessie an Howard went with Dalton. Tha boys wanted Belle with em an would be a bit behind but would catch up after thay stopped fer sum stuff thar in Elk City. Devane an Dalton left Jessie an Howard with tha plane an took off on thar own. Thay snatched ole Boris an brung him back all trussed up an bleedin a mite but still breathin. Devane asked Howard an Jessie ifn thay recognized tha feller an Jessie said he seed him thar in Elk City at tha café an Howard said he seed him lollygaggin round tha buildin whar that lawyer was that Joe was posed ta meet up with. Devane had a car take tha boys ta a hotel an would be back later. That Russian was tuff as boot leather but not as tuff as he thought he was. Devane knowed a thang or two bout gittin a feller ta talk an when he was dun tha feller was sangin like a canary. Boris tole Dalton an Devane whar tha cousin of Joe's pardner was holed up an that he had Joe. Anton Petrov was Tony Peters, Joe's pardner. He died of natural causes, a heart attack. Tony lived in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho whar he met Joe an thay hooked up ta make thar fortune. Tony's people cum from Russia an changed thar name ta a English version. Pavel Petrov is Tony's cousin. Now that Dalton an Devane had tha location of whar Pavel was holdin Joe, it was time ta fetch tha boy on back home. But, thar was a catch ta that. Believe it or not, Joe was bein held at tha Russian Foundation till tha oil an gas conference was over that was ta be held thar. Thar was a secret room in tha basement an it was heavily guarded. Dalton said this was gonna be a tuff one seein how thay was highly visible. But Dalton, Devane an Mr. Holmes cum up with a plan. Mr. Holmes had ta keep tha fire dept. from answerin tha call of tha security system an tha extraction had ta be dun early of a mornin, like 3 am. All was go an tha sooner tha better but tha 6 guards were bad news but tha plan was doable.
Everthang went off like clockwork till thay cum ta takin out tha guards, it got kinda dicey thar.
Two was guardin tha staris and elevator ta tha basement an 4 guards were stationed in tha hall an at tha door of tha secret room. Dalton and Devane each took a guard but Dalton's man pulled tha trigger of hisn machine pistol an fired off a burst as he went down. Both of em were daid as a doorknob but tha alarm was sounded. Thar shor nuf was a shootout now, I tell ya but a couple of grenades did tha trick. Time was short and thay had ta move an fast. Tha door was locked an nun of tha guards had a key. Devane set a small charge an blew it. Joe was out cold with drugs ta keep him quite an Devane him outa thar in a fireman's carry. Thay lit out thar headin fer tha airport. Tha boys was called an tole ta meet em thar so thay could git airborne quick. Pavel was nowhar to be found durin tha raid an he had ta be dealt with later. First thang was ta git Joe up an talkin. Buster an Walter was fuelin up when thay was contacted by radio ta meet up with Dalton at a private airstrip jes outside of St. Louis. A doctor would be waitin thar ta tend ta Joe an thay would make plans thar. Joe cum round in tha rooms thay got after tha doctor treated Joe. It took bout 6 hours an thay all used tha time ta rest up an make plans an gather information from Mr. Holmes. Nuthin else could be dun till Joe cum round an tole em what all he knowed.

When Joe cum to, everbody was all ears. Boy he had a tale ta tell, that's fer shor an Mr. Holmes was a listenin as he was a tellin hisn story. When Howard left Joe at tha lawyer's office, sumbody grabbed him from behind an stuck a rag over hisn mouth an he went out like a lite. When he woke up, Pavel was thar an begin ta ask him questions an bout tha boys too. Seems as he was rite interested when thay was up ta Crow Creek in Utah on thar trip. Pavel was ta use hisn cousin ta git all tha rites ta tha gas field in tha Anadarko Basin but he up an died fore thay could kill Joe. The gas field was one of tha largest in tha world an tha Russians wanted it. Tha money it would generate would be in tha hundreds of billions of dollars. Pavel had a feller cum in an talk ta Joe by hisself bout sum kinda technology an what he knowed bout tha boys an how he met up with em. Joe said that it was shor strange ta him why that feller was so interested in tha boys an all an tole him how thay met an thar bizness deal. Cum ta find out Joe did have notions on what all took place up at Crow Creek with tha boys. He was Indian an that kinda stuff was passed down from generation ta generation. Fact is, his people had thar own brand of Julian. tha feller asked Joe ifn he knowed whar tha technology was an whar it cum from. Joe tole him he had no idee but didn't think tha feller believed him. The feller even asked him ifn he talked ta tha aliens who brung it ta Crow Creek. Joe tole him he was nuts an turn him a loose. The feller jes turned round an left tha room. Then Pavel cum back in an tha guards held him down an thay give him a shot. Mr. Holmes tole Dalton an Devane it was jes as he suspected an ta be mitey careful that tha Russians wadn't dun with em yet. Bout that time thay figured thay better move on out an got inta a couple of SUV's Dalton had arranged fer in St. Louis. As thay was drivin back ta tha airstrip, two motorcycles an 2 cars pulled up long side of tha SUV's an started shootin at em. Well now, tha race was on. Dalton was in one SUV an Devane was in tha other and thay begin ta shootin back. Dalton an Devane had extry guns an give em ta tha boys an tole ta keep thar heads down.
Tha chase an tha shootout was bringin lots of attention ta tha ruckus an po-leece sirens was a heared in tha distance. Then, one of the tires was shot out an tha SUV that Walter an Jessie was ridin in crashed. The driver was also wounded but managed ta git the SUV inta a parkin lot of a bizness. It was St. Louis MotorSports. Walter an Jessie run in whilst Devane an Joe hunkered down firin back at tha Russians. Walter grabbed tha keys ta a Lamborghini an Jessie jumped in. Devane an Joe made a break fer a car whilst Walter an Jessie give em cover. The 2 motorcycles was took out a while back when one crashed an Dalton shot tha other un. When Devane and Joe got inta a Porsche thay lit outa thar like thar tails was on fire.
Walter was jes a grinnin an laughin with Jessie hollerin at him ta drive faster. Walter hit a hundurt in bout 4 seconds with Devane close behind. Jessie was a jumpin up an down yellin faster Walter, faster. At a hundurt an fifty Walter had her levelin out an left tha Russians in thar dust. Devane cum up behind em an blinked hisn lites to pullover. Tha po-leece had dun took over an tha Russians that was left got away but was bein chased. When Buster an Howard an Dalton got thar whar thay was stopped, Walter was a funnin Jessie bout drivin faster. Jessie tole em all that that was one time he wanted Walter ta drive fast since he wanted ta keep hisn hide intact. Pavel was on tha run but thay would git him. Now was tha time fer a meetin with Mr. Holmes, so thay headed ta tha airstrip an took off ta Washington. Belle was left thar with a pilot dispatched ta take her back ta Elk City.

Mr. Holmes said fer shor sumthin sinister was a brewin an he needed ta talk turkey with tha boys and Dalton an Devane. Uncle Cecil was left out this conversation on purpose. Need ta know basis he said. Mr. Holmes give em tha lowdown on what was happenin. It was really a carryover of tha old Russian regime an from what dun happened when thay all went ta French Guiana. Tha pig farmers wanted ta take over tha United States any way thay could. Why them Russians didn't even have last names till a hundurt years ago. Control of a few over many was their agenda but it ain't a happenin said Mr. Holmes! The rulin class wanted ta make a pile of money offa tha gas wells or blow em sky high; whichever thay could do first. Tha other thang was military superiority an this technology thay was talkin bout ended up at Crow Creek. Mighty strange thangs happened up thar an portals was knowed ta exist thar. Aliens from a time back had a technology thay give ta tha Aztecs an thay moved it ta Utah up at Crow Creek an buried it thar. Tha Spaniards chased em all tha way ta Utah an tha aliens had em ta go ta Crow Creek whar thay could cum an go thru portals in dimensional space. Seemed far fetched ta most folks but tha boys dun had a taste of it with Julian an Doc Freibot. Now Mr. Holmes wouldn't tell tha boys exactly whar this here technology was buried at Crow Creek or what it was but thay had ta make a trip back up thar with Dalton an Devane ta show em whar had their experience with Julian. Joe said he was a goin too an wadn't gonna be left behind. Tha next day all em left on out ta Utah. Tha plane flew em inta Vernal an agents met em thar with 4 wheel drive SUV's an gear. Walter showed Dalton an Devane tha ice cave an Howard an Jessie recounted tha snake lodge ceremony ta em too. Buster tole tha story of Julian jes appearin an leavin like he did an bout all tha weather changes in a hour's time. All tha pictures was on tha rock walls an Jeff Houston an Josh Wilkerson cum by an tole em all bout tha skinwalkers an Sasquatch sightins. Howard was on a 4 wheeler an seed em on tha road home from work an asked ta cum up fer a beer an tell thar story. At tha Weston Plaza Motel that nite, Dalton called Mr. Holmes an he said fer Devane ta go on back with tha boys ta Elk City an fer Dalton ta stay thar fer excavation of tha technology. Guards were on thar way an were ta be posted all round tha site. Them Delta Force boys meant bizness with orders ta shoot ta kill.

Devane escorted tha boys back ta Elk City an stayed tha nite before leavin out tha next mornin fer Crow Creek. It was bout 2 in tha mornin when thay busted in on Joe an Buster. Rooms had ta be shared cause thar jes wadn't nuf of em ta go round fer all tha men. Devane an Jessie bunked tagather an Walter an Howard throwed thar bedrolls in tha same room too. Tha pilots took tha last room.

When Pavel an tha thug with him kicked in tha door, Buster was a waitin fer em. Reckoned thay woulda ben kilt daid ifn he hadn't a heared em outside tha door when he got up ta git a extry balnket. Buster grabbed Pavel round tha guzzle an was takin an a bit of a thrashin but he didn't turn him a loose. Joe throwed a lamp at tha thug an he missed as he fired hisn pistol. Devane an tha boys cum a runnin an helped Buster hogtie Pavel. One of tha pilots shot tha thug in tha haid an put him outa of commission. Devane begin ta question Pavel an Devane wanted ta know how thay cum to foller em. Pavel jes laughed and showed them ugly teeth of hisn an said it was tha tracking device thay implanted in Joe's left eyebrow whar thay whacked him durin interrogatin him. Joe never knowed it was thar till now. Devane called Mr. Holmes an Dalton an tole em what all happened an said he was gonna bring him ta Washington fer further questionin. One of tha pilots was left ta guard Pavel whilst tha boys loaded up Buster's Ford an Devane helped git tha plane ready fer immediate takeoff. In tha meantime, Pavel had a trick or two up hisn sleeve an got ta a hidden handcuff key an got a loose. He jumped tha pilot an pole axed him with tha chair he was sittin in. Then he escaped ta tha helicopter he an hisn thug cum in. Pavel was a pilot too an could fly most any kinda of aircraft. Well, Walter an Howard seed Pavel git ta tha helicopter an thay run ta Belle ta chase him. Howard took off a chasin Pavel in Belle. Pavel's helicopter couldn't out run Belle but thay was bout even when it cum ta speed. Howard was rite on hisn tail when Pavel begin ta shoot at Belle. Walter still had his Mac 10 an opened up on tha helicopter. Howard had hisn pistol he was give durin tha chase in St. Louis too, so thay had sum firepower. Neither one of tha aircraft could git away from tha other an Howard hollered ta Walter ifn he could hold on a wing walkin till he got near Pavel's open cockpit door. Walter said heck yeah, let er bump. Thar was one grenade in Howard's coat that he got when he got out of tha SUV an he give it ta Walter. Howard asked him ifn he got close enuf ifn he could toss it in on Pavel. Walter said ta consider it dun; jes git him close enuf fer a good throw. Howard tole Walter this was gonna be a bit scary but ta hang on an he would git him close enuf ta bring him down. Howard pulled straight up, spiraled, rolled, dove an cum up under tha helicopter. Howard made a move an brought Belle rite next ta tha open door in tha helicopter. Walter only had a split second an them G's had him puckerd up like a green persimmon, but he made tha throw. Walter had already pulled tha pin an after 1001 he chunked tha grenade in tha open door rite in Pavel's lap. You shoulda seed tha look on hisn face when that grenade cum flyin in. That was 1002. 1003 cum after Howard banked hard left an then thar wadn't nuthin but a ball of flame. Howard landed an Walter got down offa tha wing an Buster an Jessie tole Howard that his practicein them tricks shor paid off. Walter said it shor was a rush but didn't care ta do it agin.

Mr. Holmes was called again an Devane briefed him on what dun happened. After everthang settled down, Devane left back ta Crow Creek an tha boys went ta Uncle Cecil's tha next day.
Thar was back slappin an Aunt Liz said she was aprayin with tha rest of tha folks an phone calls was made to let tha boys' folks know thay was allrite. Aunt Liz made Uncle Cecil throw steaks on tha grill an chicken fer Jessie. Uncle Cecil called Sam after supper an thay all agreed ta crank up tha drillin as soon as possible. Tha crew was a waitin fer word so drillin was ta commence as soon as thay could git tha equipment moved in.

Joe an tha boys hit on several more shallow wells when thay was approached by a feller name of Robert A. Hefner III. He wanted ta buy out Joe an tha boys with hisn two pardners, Laurence Glover an David Kennedy.
GHK Exploration would give em cash up front an sum stock in tha company plus a royalty on tha gas sold. Tha deal was ta stand with SONAT an thay was ta drill one more well tagather that Joe was bound an determined ta do. She was called tha Bertha Rogers; the deepest drilled well in tha western world at 31,441 feet. It was tha culmination of Joe's dream.

When than boys left out of Elk City ta home thay dropped off Walter an Jessie in Oklahoma City ta pick up Walter's new car he ordered. He got him one of them Lamborghini's an had Jessie ta ride long with him back ta tha house. Jessie said ta Walter he would jes like ta drive it once. Course, Walter said yes as he knowed Jessie never did drive fast. Well, Jessie pulled out on ta I 40 an let tha hammer down. Jessie throwed ole Walter so far back in hisn seat it would take ta Sunday fer him ta git outta it. Jessie topped her out bout 185 with Walter jes a squealin ta Jessie ta slow down. Jessie looked over ta Walter an said turn bout is fair play an jes don't never judge a book by its cover. Walter never dun that agin.

BUSTER AN HIS BUDDIES

BUSTER AND HIS BUDDIES

The Early Years

Well now, bless your hearts for reading about the life and times of Buster and his buddies. Some may relate to this kind of raising and growing up but some won’t, (City folks, you know).

Ole Buster had a few friends growing up, namely Sammy Joe when he was 7 and Sammy was 5 and then Charlie in his later school years. But that is all another story told when we have more time.

The 4 musketeers of brotherhood were Buster, Jessie, Walter and Howard. Buster being the oldest 3 years ahead of Jessie, then came Walter 9 years junior to Jessie and last but not least Howard 2 years younger than Walter. Howard was Buster’s oldest of his 3 BEST friends; then came Walter and Jessie. Jessie was closer to Buster’s age than the other two and was raised in the part of the South that was nearer to Buster. Walter and Howard were just ole Texicans but as good as they get.

All 4 of these boys were cut from the same bolt of cloth; just each one had a bit of a shade of color different from the rest. Only thing is that Walter never could tell the difference cause he was a touch color blind. Both he and Buster wore Pink and Buster just loved the color and Walter couldn’t tell the difference, poor feller; took the teasing you know. Buster was the biggest of the bunch, then Walter; he was about the same size but didn’t have Buster’s heft. Howard was say medium sized but Jessie was the smallest of the group and the quietest but could bow up like a banty rooster!

All four of the boys were honest to a fault. Worked hard. Played hard. Had the givinest hearts you ever saw but could ball up like a coon on your head in a heartbeat. All were tough as a nickel steak and whit leather to boot. Tender hearted as all get out. Their mamas loved them all dearly. All the boys had a story of their own but Walter and Buster came the closest of having it kinda rough in some ways growing up. Buster’s was school and town kids and Walter’s was just day to day living. All the boys were danged smart as whips too. In later life that would come to tell on them as they succeeded in the work they did. Career, Community, Church and helping their neighbor.

Walter was the trickster of the bunch and Howard was right behind him!!! It was that cute little boy smile that got him out of a bunch of whuppings. Now Walter on the other hand was the runt of his family till he got out of high school and then grew like a weed. Boy would tussle at the drop of a hat but didn’t start no trouble but shore could finish it and grinning all the way. That boy has a way about him that made all the girls and mamas want to give him huggems. Heck Buster too!

Buster dearly loved his 3 best friends; all the same but all different. They are true brothers to him. Take Jessie for instance. As close as a brother he was (might be kin too) but hard for most folks to read. He was the proverbial book that was judged by the cover. Man oh man was that a mistake. He was probably tougher and meaner than a snake, more than all 3 of the others combined. That boy didn’t have no quit in him.

Buster’s grandpa Gus used to say that if you had one true friend you were a lucky man; well Buster had 3! Lord surely blessed Buster, that’s for sure.

Now Howard was the one that would take the lead and never look back except to see if the others needed help. He just took to the bit and ran with it. Of course, Walter wouldn’t ride a horse or anything thing else unless it was a gray. He read about the Indians and General Custer and that had to surely inspire Walter. But being a bit sensitive to colors like he was; we just didn’t always tell him what color it exactly was.

Never forget the time in the barn when Buster wanted to make a chicken lay an egg. Buster dearly loved to gather eggs. Well those boys brought in a rooster and told Buster this chicken lays the best eggs. Well, that danged ole rooster flapped those wings and pecked the fool out of Buster’s hands and chased him to a 2x8 that he used to get to the loft. Buster took off a running and the yellow jackets got stirred up and stung Buster so bad he swole up like a toad frog and to beat that when Buster slid down that board he got splinters in his butt and ended up in a pile of cactus. Buster couldn’t sit down for a week!

Plum pitiful I’d say but how those boys did howl. Laughed themselves silly till they cried. Well as I said Howard liked to instigate and when he did Walter fell right in. Jessie would sit right down and analyze the whole situation. Real good at advising,

Like the time Buford, boy down the road, come by go to swimming in the canal. Water was ice cold and on a hot summer day was just perfect from that deep well on the place.

Howard told Buford he needed a little help milking before they all could go skinny dipping. Walter was up to mischief for sure then. He picked out a cow for Buford to milk and told Buford he could do it through the fence. Well, ole Buford reached through the fence and started to milk that cow. Trouble was the cow turned out to be a bull and he kicked Buford plum through that fence. Broke boards and all. Well, that certainly was not the end of it! Buford got up and took off a running. He was so ditherated that he was a stumbling and when he tried to jump that wire fence; well, he just didn’t make it and straddled that fence and went to yelpin. That wire fence was electric you see and boy did it light up ole Buford! He tore that fence down and squalled like a pig stuck under a gate. Buford never did come back to go swimming again. Wonder why not?

Boys will be boys but did their mamas did come a looking for them with a willer switch once! They done got in the First Christian, Catholic and Episcopalian church’s wine stock they used for communion. Only one they left out was Howard’s Baptist church cause they don’t believe in drinking. Had to go to his daddy’s hiding place for that and that was just too dangerous for them to take that chance!

As I said, between Walter and Howard they was always into something. Except for one Halloween when they was accused of turning over the outhouse at the old maid Thompson’s house. Someone told that they saw the boys a runnin from the scene of the crime but that just wasn’t the case. They saw em runnin all right but that was because ole man Duncan was chasin Buster with his shotgun for sparking with his daughter. It wouldn’t have been so bad but ole maid Thompson was in the outhouse when it was turned over. They heard her all over town a bellerin and hollerin to beat the band. The High Sheriff come by and got her out and she was fit to be tied. Only thing that saved the day for the boys was the circuit preacher riding by on his horse coming back from a late meeting with that snake handling bunch of Holy Rollers. He told the High Sheriff it weren’t tha boys but the Inman boy what done the dastardly deed. Clyde surely had a mess to clean up the next day. Kinda like the time the boys were down by the pasture fence of the Roper place. Now Walter and Howard thought it was plum funny to catch up that Shetland pony of the Ropers and have a ride. There was a boy they knowed from town named Billy Cain Bailey and thay had him come along for some fun too. Well, they talked Billy Cain into getting on that pony and riding him. Well, that pony didn’t quite take to that idea and was bucking like all get out. Then, Walter run up in front of that little horse and went to hoopin and hollerin. Well, that dang pony reared up and lit a shuck in the other direction. Ran to the fence and pitched Billy Cain about a mile high don’t ya know. Wouldn’t been too bad but he got throwed into the town sewer pond on the other side of the fence and went plum under. Billy’s mama had to throw away his clothes (which he didn’t have many) plus had to keep him out of school for a week cause he smelled to high Heaven. Took a month before any of the kids would come up to Billy Cain; that smell just wouldn’t wear off!

Howard was a pickle himself. I told you he liked to instigate. He done talked us into doin some trappin. Said we could get a quarter a hide for a skunk. To the boys that was right smart a bit of money cause hard cash was something hard to come by. Well now they went off down on the bayou by the Davis place and set an old trap they found and greased up with some of Buster’s grandma’s lard. Sure nuf they had a skunk the next morning. Well sir, they got that skunk in a toe sack and was ready to take him to town for that quarter, but had no way of getting there. So Howard and Walter had Buster to sneak out his folk’s ‘50 model Oldsmobile. Jessie did the scheming and they sneaked the keys and took off. They threw that skunk, trap and all, in the trunk and took off to town. All them boys could drive since they was 9 years old so getting there was no problem. Into town they went to Robinson’s fur house. Got there quarter and split er up. Had a penny left over so they flipped for it and Walter always was lucky and won it. Well, this ain’t the end of this story cause when it rained that car would smell so bad you couldn’t stay in it. Phew! Buster’s folks had to sell the car but on a sunny day with lots grandma’s mint in the car. Got a Pontiac after that. But did those boys, and I mean all of them, get into a peck of trouble. No picture show for a month and had ta shovel the barn and do the hired hands chores too. Punishment for sure, thought the boys’ parents but you know the boys. They just laughed and made a game of it and still sneaked down to the creek for a little swimming when the folks weren’t looking. Mischief, plain and simple for those 4 boys.

Now in school, they were into lots of pranks. The boys only went half a day cause they had work to do at home and in the field. Mrs. Goetz was the English teacher and was allergic to pencil shavings and deathly afeared of snakes. So you just know this was too good to pass up for the boys.

Walter went and caught up a garter snake, and Jessie had Howard and Buster got all the pencils they could find at dinner time and sharpened them to the nub and made a pile of shavings. Jessie done put that snake in her top drawer of her desk and when they all came back from dinner and was setting down for class; she opened that drawer. You never heard such a yellin and squealin. She was plum excited and jumpin up and down and took to swoonin. In come the Principal and was he ever havin a conniption fit of who done it. Nobody told on the boys and class was let out till the next day. As I said, it ain’t over till it’s over and all them boys was in the Planners and Thinkers Union of which ole Charlie Snider was the founder of that little group. Charlie was a friend but lived over in the next county and the boys would only see him ever once in a while on a Saturday. They all liked Charlie and he was a lot like Howard; all the women folks thought he could do no wrong. Well, the day before they let out for deer season, Jessie got Walter and Howard to make an excuse to talk to Mrs. Goetz outside right before class was to begin. This gave Jessie time to put the pencil shavings in her top desk drawer. When she came in all of the class was seated; she opened that drawer and then she commenced to wheezin and sneezing and coughin. Here comes ole man Brasher, the Principal, again. But this time Butch Ritchenback got blamed for it as he was seen near her desk about that time. He was only putting a homework paper on her desk but he deserved the time for the crime. It was earlier on that the boys got blamed for pulling the fire alarm during assembly but it was really Butch. He was seen by Jessie hiding under the stage a laughing up a storm. Thay got even on that day I tell ya. Well school was let out early that day too and off to the woods thay went for a week of hunting and eating and card playing and shooting marbles, pitching washers and horseshoes and listening to tall tales from the men at the camp. What fun!

Walter’s daddy used to take him to help custom cut grain across the country side for outside work for extra money. Walter fell in with the hobos and learned a lot from them on how to survive going cross country with no money. How to hop trains and get a meal and where to go to get that. Walter carries that knowledge with him to this day. Said if we ever needed it that he could get us by for a spell.

Howard was a real good motorsicle rider. Professional class. But he done had a spill and knocked out his front teeth and broke a few bones and quit that after that. Rides for fun now and helps all us boys with our riding skills.

Buster played football and other sports when he wasn’t working and had time off from chores. Did pretty well at that and got all bowed up but was cornbread stout. Stoutest of the bunch. Lift the back end of a Volkswagen car and was carrying 4 toesacks of soybeans for his grandpa at the dryer seeing how they had no conveyor. That was 480 pounds if ya was cypherin on that.

Jessie was always smarter than most and had a mind of his own. Worked at the local radio station for a spell as a disk jockey and part time reporter. Like I said, the gals all loved Jessie. He went on to be a dang good lawyer but almost went to flying for Delta Airlines. When they found gas on his folk’s place, all of the men folks went to work for the gas company as part of the deal. Jessie could have done that too but wanted to do what he wanted to and make his own mark. He did.

Guess y’all don’t recall when Judge Berry was Postmaster do you? Well back then the boys would come visit Buster down at his grandpa Gus’s place at 4 Forks. Grandpa Gus give the place to Buster’s mama to live in when she married up with Buster’s real daddy, Russell. He was a ne’er do well from Kentuck and that is another story too. But Buster’s other grandpa Lawrence looked after him while his mama worked. Anyhow, there weren’t no blue rock road back then, just dirt and it was pretty danged hard to travel when it rained and the boys would have to stay over when it did. They had the best time, especially at harvest in the fall. Ripe persimmons, wild plums, fishin, huntin and campin, sippin grandpa Tipton's white lightning (called it Blue Moon cause it burned such a purty blue flame) and sneaking out a pie from one of their mamas when thay left it on the old wood stove to cool down.

When they put in the blue rock gravel so the mail could be delivered; ole Judge Berry come down one day after a drizzling rain and got stuck in the gumbo, buckshot mud. He was tryin his darndest to get out but didn’t have no luck. Well the boys was just happening to pass by while gathering wild honey and running from some razorback hogs. They needed to get on in before dark but just couldn’t leave the Judge by himself. You gotta understand; all those boys were stout! Baling hay and working in the field plus chores made men of those boys before their time. They grabbed aholt of that old jeep the Judge drove and manhandled it to solid ground. Judge Berry never forgot that about those 4 boys and he also knew the kind of people and their stock they came from.

The Judge lost his ring that evening and never found it. 40 years later an old Negro feller had one of his grandkids show him something he found in a dirt clod he was throwing and busting up. There it was plain as day. The ring! Judge Berry made a real big deal of that in town when they brought it in to him. The ole man remembered the story being told about the Judge losing his ring and the Judge’s name was inscribed in it. The old man couldn’t read but he knew lil Jessie and went to him and told him about it. By then Jessie was a Roll Tide Philadelphia type lawyer and he went with the old man to give it to the Judge. The Judge grinned from ear to ear and bought the old man and his grandson supper, smoking terbacky and some sweets from Swaim’s Store.

He said with tears in his eyes that he was beholding to Jessie and the Negro boys for bringing it to him. It had right smart of meaning to him. He told Jessie that all of us 4 boys were a wonder for our mamas and daddies. He knew that early on. Then he began to tell about the other 3 and what they had done for the folks in the county. Howard and his daddy would pick sweet taters and deliver a wagon load for the folks that didn’t have enough to eat.

Walter would cut and bale hay and deliver it on the side for their stock and tend to their chores when folks in need were stove up and in dire straits; Buster worked out and made a quarter a week and would cut firewood for those folks too. He would take what money he earned and would buy milk for the younguns that were going without. The Judge looked at Jessie over his specs and said now Jessie let me tell you what I know of your deeds. Both of us are in the business of law. You have been exemplary in pursuing justice. You have donated your time, knowledge and skill for the underprivileged and those in need.

After retiring, you entered into a new career utilizing all of your abilities to create a reputation beyond reproach to provide homes and medical care to peoples around the globe. All you boys have exceeded all expectations and make us all proud.

Miss Inez used to let those boys in the picture show for a nickel when it went to a dime. She would let them take up tickets and seat folks till the picture show started and let them sit in the balcony. They loved that.

Now all those boys loved Jesus and were baptized. They all went to different churches; Walter was Catholic, Howard, Baptist, Buster, First Christian and Jessie a little bit of Methodist (his mama’s side), Presbyterian and Episcopalian. Didn’t really make no never mind to him as long as the preachin was good and they had Sunday dinner on the ground.

All them boys could eat! But Buster was the worst. When he hit your front door, hide the key to the refrigerator. When he went to the service he had to get special permission to eat 4 times a day; 4 chickens and all the trimmings at supper; breakfast twice a day (dozen eggs, loaf of bread, pound of bacon, SOS, pound of butter, bottle of ketchup, ½ gallon sweet milk, ½ gallon chocolate milk, cup of coffee) and whatever they had for dinner. Absolutely no liver or beets though!

Then, they all went their separate ways….. the 4 winds blew them to a new path to knowledge; to a man, they wanted to KNOW!

These four men continue to strive for the betterment of mankind in the healing arts, technology and spiritual development.

This is a never-ending story. The end is in the beginning.

The Later Years

Jessie: University of Alabama. Juris Doctor a renowned attorney with a world wide reputation. Benefactor and Philanthropist. Businessman (Mining). Married (about not to be), 3 children. Accolades and accomplishments to numerous to mention. One of four who founded and maintain the Worldwide Non-profit Medical Organization, The Healing Center, Inc.

Howard: Businessman. Mining, Excavation and Construction. Benefactor and Philanthropist. Married, 4 children. One of four who founded and maintain the Worldwide Non-profit Medical Organization, The Healing Center, Inc.

Walter: Businessman. Mining, Construction and Refinery. Benefactor and Philanthropist. Married, 2 children, 1 granddaughter. One of four who founded and maintain the Worldwide Non-profit Medical Organization, The Healing Center, Inc.

Buster: Businessman (Mining, Safety), Politician, Doctor, Writer. Benefactor and Philanthropist. Married, 1 child, 1 grandson. One of four who founded and maintain the Worldwide Non-profit Medical Organization, The Healing Center, Inc.

Those 4 boys could not forget where they came from. You can take the boy out of the country but can’t take the country out of the boy, as they say, and that is exactly how it is with them.

Take Howard. He married up with that pretty little Snow gal from Alabama and had 4 younguns. That gal made the best BLT’s this side of heaven and worked like a Turk to make ends meet. Let me tell you she could ride like the wind. Made no never mind if it was a 4 wheeler, snowmobile or jet ski. She could drive anything too and so could her youngest girl Sarah. Always made you welcome and always had a smile on her face. Their oldest had a lot of dog in her like what was hid in her daddy; came by it honest. The middle girl was pretty as a picture but mean as one of them snakes Howard messed with when you got her all riled. The boy had his own way about him and left home for the big city. Liked pets too. They had dogs and cats but Howard would court danger by messin with them Texas rattlers. Just had no sense as far as thay were concerned. Scared the tar out of em, I tell ya! Howard even put the ugly things in the refrigerator. Buster never did open that door without asking! Caved in hungry or not, he wasn’t taking no chances. Howard found Alma Mae whilst he was a racing motorsicles. Those big ole brown eyes and that tiny little waist did ole Howard in.

Now Walter. He was partial to all kinds of ranch animals. Those Watusi bulls took the cake though. Don’t you dare try to get in that pen! I know that danged goose was a pain a chasin everybody all the time, but that goose dearly loved Walter. He would even fly in his winder and roost for the night. His better half, lil Lynette, would have a hissy fit cause that goose wouldn’t let her in the bed. Course you had to be a goose and able to fly since that bedstead was so high you had to have a ladder to get in it. Her other bedsteads were something else too; they all leaned to one side and ifn you weren’t careful you’d roll out on the floor.

But she does keep a clean house and makes the best cornbread and gravy ya ever ate. It is every bit as good as Buster’s grandma’s. She is also sunrise and sunset pretty. Walter met her at the rodeo and she was wearin all white. Had a little shower and he picked her up and carried her across a mudhole. Love at first sight but took the boy 2 years to take her to a dance. They cut a rug now though, Texas Two step and Waltz. They make quite a pair. Walter and lil Lynette had a boy and a girl. That boy Chadro was the spittin image of his daddy and ever bit as good a man as him too. Buster and his wife took a likin to that boy the first time they met him. Buster says he is his half daddy and that no offense meant to Walter and lil Lynette but that is how much Buster thinks of that youngun,; like he was his own. Of course you know the first born and especially a girl is gonna look like her daddy, and she does. Fine young woman and is to marry up real soon to a real good feller. If you go to lil Lynette’s house, bring your own aigs! She is just not used to cooking up a big mess of vittles as she has ole Big Boy on a diet and keeping him fit as a fiddle.

Now you wouldn’t think Jessie would have a pet but he cottoned to a dang goat. He also inherited a Mexican Chihuahua dog. That durn dog bedeviled him night and day. Always wanted in his lap. But the goat would come in of a morning while Jessie was havin his coffee and expected breakfast. Jumped right up on the stool and sat at the counter waitin to be fed. Jessie had to shuck a few cobs of corn and set it out for that goat or he would butt him till he did. Jessie took a hankerin to a gal while he was learnatin lawyerin at the University of Alabama . The gals pestered Jessie night and day but he would have none of it. He was a one woman man you know. They had 2 boys and 1 girl. That youngest boy Reid was as fine a young man as you could find. Buster and his wife dearly like that boy. The oldest is smart as whip and on his own and makin his own mark in the world. But it is the girl that put the gray in Jessie’s hair. Buster says we got to get her a tank or a chauffeur one. Never seen one person so snake bit with an automobile. Ever know anybody to tear off their front bumper and bring it home in the back seat or drive to a friend’s house and park in the yard and have a tree run up and hit your fender? Boy howdy, she was always callin Jessie for some kind of wreck or car trouble. Anyway, she is off to Nashville doin God only knows what and just doesn’t want to be a teacher any more. Jessie has had a bit of a pickle of a time on his hands. His wife of 30 years decided to call it quits while Buster and Lulu were in Birmingham and it just hasn’t set quite right ever since. But as Jessie says, life goes on and tha 3 other boys aim to get Jessie a new lease on life. Adventures unlimited as we say. We are treatin him too for some ailments and expect a full recovery to normal health in due time.

Time to tell you about Buster and his crazy bird. Perry the parakeet. Buster didn’t want the dang bird but Perry just took to Buster when he was brought home one day. Buster always said that he never had any trouble with critters, old folks or babies; just the women. That bird would sleep on Buster with one eye open. Wouldn’t let a soul come near him! Folks would see two little feet sticking out of Buster’s mouth and wonder what in the world! Well, Buster taught Perry to give him a kiss, a peck on the lips with his beak. One day Buster was eating some atomic fireballs from WalMart and Perry came over and gave Buster a kiss.

Those birds don’t have saliva glands and Perry flew over to his cage cause he got that hot fireball on his tongue and he just had to get to water. You would think that crazy bird would leave well enough alone but NO! He came back for more. Guess it was because it was sweet. Anyway that was how the trick came to be. Also that bird could talk. Learned to say Whoo Pig Sooie and Go Hogs Go! Perry was a big Razorback fan since they were from Arkansas . Perry even had Buster call the TV station one day when he was watchin the news and had them come out.

There was a parrot that was supposed to talk but Perry knew he didn’t hold a candle to what he could say. Heck he could talk for 2 hours on the phone.

Buster married Lulu after courting for only 4 months. Best thing that ever happened to Buster and he dearly loves that woman. Bought her a sewing machine, car, 4 wheeler and a motorsicle. She always said she would marry the first man that bought her a sewing machine and she did. They met up in Little Rock . She went South; met the best, forgot the rest! Now that gal can ride too. Between Lulu, Alma Mae and lil Lynette, I don’t know who is worse for speed. You can’t keep up with those women on any kind of machine. Now Lulu is a genuwine movie star that was in Hollywood and she was a trapeze artist too. She got herself a degree in dress design and dearly loves to sew for a passion. She takes real good care of Buster since he has been laid up too. Buster was married once but not even till the water got hot. He had his son Daryn and raised him and now that boy has a son and runs the company Buster founded. Good lookin boy too, black hair and blue eyes and tall. All the girls like him but he just has not found the right one yet. Went to college for the most part of 13 years and got hisself a 2 year degree too. Had a good time and passed all the courses he took. Just played hard but worked on the side too.

All the boys and their families get along just fine if I do say so myself, Sometimes Buster puts his foot in his mouth but the rest of em look over him. Know he means no harm and just speaks his mind. Course the others have a few quirks too but all are pretty normal. Men of their word, honest as the day is long, believe in Jesus and love their country.

You can count on any of the boys at any time day or night. Well, Jessie goes to bed with the chickens at 8 o’clock in the evening but gets up early.

You must have noticed that the tragedies in each of the boys’ lives were not mentioned up to now. They all had them. Heartache and heartbreak. Loss of their kin, mamas and daddies and grandpas and grandmas and brothers and sisters. There wasn’t a time that they weren’t there for each other; births and funerals; marriages and divorces; health and sickness and good times and bad. Those boys have a bond made only stronger with the passage of time. Gets a little more difficult and challenging now that the 4 winds have blown each of them in a different directions. But I can tell you this, every time they come home they can expect to see one or all of them sitting at the supper table. They ain’t a gonna change! There are lots of family that the boys have and especially Walter. There absolutely is not a better lot of folks on this green earth, plus his brothers are hairy legged and his sisters purty as the flowers abloom after an April rain. But this one older brother of Walter’s is a mess if you ever saw one. He used to tussle with Walter every born day of his life. Thing about it is when lil Walter growed up he was to be reckoned with for sure. A little thumpin was good for ole Kelvin’s constitution! Mike is his oldest brother and a bit naturally devilish in his own right. Nobody would ever expect he would be up to mischief but he does. He married up with a gal that lives the Bible and holds the record of most points scored in a girl’s basketball game, 100. Ole Mike gets up every morning astraddle a horse. He knows good horseflesh and cattle and has a passel of good looking daughters too.

Both of Walter’s sisters set many a heart aflame before they married up. Tall and could dance too. Only thing about both their husbands is they don’t say much!

You know Buster can’t hardly handle that so he just up and sifoddles over and hugs em and kisses their ole heads. Kinds warms em up a bit but he just hangs on. Walter tries to run hisself but lil Lynette says to get him anyway and good; he does.

Howard has learned to put up with it and Jessie just grins and bears it. Howard has one brother that is a dang good shot and a sister that is married to the sacker from the local A & P grocery store.

Jessie has 2 sisters that are sweet as hard candy and a mama that is truly a real Southern lady. Knows the Bible better than any preacher too.

The boys are Buster’s brothers and he is proud as punch of each one of them. Solid gold, each and every one them. (Buster does have a half brother he doesn’t see and a half sister he has never seen). Every set of the boys as husbands and thar wives are Princes and Princesses and Kings and Queens in their example to their family, friends and neighbors.

Life is coming full circle for all the boys now; memories; new horizons, new adventures, living dreams. The important things in life are clearer than ever before and real friends are for life, just like Walter, Jessie, Howard and Buster. This is our life; Buster and his Buddies.

DOIN THANGS

DOIN THANGS

Buster! What in tha dickens are ya a goin ta do with that thang, asked grandpa Gus? Jessie, Walter and Howard was a jes a grinnin hunkered down over thar under a sweet gum tree whilst Buster was a pullin that 2 seater Champ with hisn lil Case tractor he always disked with. Buster an tha boys had dun gone over ta tha Capps place whar ole Reggie was layed up drunker that Cooter Brown hisself. Reggie dun had one snort too many over at Memphis at tha Thunderbird Lounge and reckoned he would buzz the town in hisn airplane. Well, when he got back towards Toltec and landed in tha grass strip at thar place, tha police was a waitin fer him. That was tha end of hisn flyin days fer shor an that weekend Buster made a deal fer that plane with a quart of Old McBrayer and a five hundurt dollars. Reggie was a wantin a drink awful bad an hisn pa an brother dun took all tha drivin stock an keys away from him an he didn't have no way ta git nun. When Buster an tha boys cum by ole Reggie was seein snakes an all sorts a critters that was a tryin to crawl up on him. He made a deal right then an thar fer that airplane with Buster. Walter drove Buster on over ta his grandpa Gus's place an got hisn lil Case an pulled it back ta tha barn. Tha Capps Place was on tha North end of old county road an only bout 2 miles from tha barn as tha crow flies. Buster pulled tha plane crosst the road an on tha back side of tha Richey place on ta Central road an onto thar place by tha back way. The ground was sandy and smooth and it weren't no trouble atall. Grandpa Gus had jes cum in from tha field next ta old man Eason's place checkin on a relift an seen em a cummin. Buster tole hisn grandpa Gus he was a gonna fly that plane cum hell or high water; jes like he dun in World War I at Kelly Field thar in San Antone, Texas. That was fore thay put grandpa Gus in tha infantry an sent him ta France.

Now Howard was also bound an determined to fly that plane too an Jessie an Walter had tha bright idee ta be wing walkers. Thay dun seed that at tha air show at tha old airbase over at Stuttgart. That was whar Buster's mama worked durin tha war (WWII). Howard an Buster got er all un hitched an checked er out real good an fueled er up. Buster dun asked Howard ifn he knowed whar ta start an he said ta take a look an see ifn thar was a instruction book with tha plane. Well, shor nuf thar was but thay couldn't make heads nor tails of it. Greek ta em, so thay jes decided ta take out fer a lil test run. Tha road by tha bayou on tha southwest side was purty durn smooth that time of year an was sandy loam an well packed. Buster hollered ta em all ta stand back an cranked er up with Howard sittin rite thar beside him. Both of em tried out all tha levers and pedals fore thay give er tha gas an was thinkin thay was gittin tha hang of it. Thay had all seed Reggie fly er an remembered some of what he was a doin. Buster eased up tha throttle an tha plane begin ta movin. She got up on two wheels with tha tail wheel barely off tha ground when Buster cum ta a lil bend in tha road. Buster went ta stompin tha brakes an Howard pulled back tha throttle. Thay jes eased over tha side but didn't tear up nuthin but had ta pull tha plane back up ta level ground. Walter an Jessie was jes a howlin laughin when thay seed Buster an Howard walkin back ta tha Case. Grandpa Gus jes shook hisn haid tole em not ta kill tharselfs an thay shor nuf needed ta practice rite smart fore thay went ta flyin.

Well, thay all chipped in an got tha Champ back on level ground an checked er out. She weren't hurt nun an tha boys figured thay would ease on over ta Bill Kelly's at tha Keo airport. He was a local cropduster an ort ta be able ta tell em how ta fly tha Champ. Now Randy Price took ta flyin fer a livin an thay went ta school with him so thay figured ifn he could do it so could thay. Last time thay cut hogs on tha Price place Randy swore he wadn't be no farmer an shor nuf he quit farmin with hisn pa. Bill was a sittin drinkin a coke with peanuts in it an eatin sum cheese an peanut butter crackers an readin tha sports page when thay all cum in. Bill asked tha boys what was up an ifn thay wanted sumthin ta drink. Thay all said shor an tole him bout buyin Reggie's Champ. Bill said it was tha easiest plane thar was ta fly; purt near flew itself. Bill took em out ta one of tha Pawnees he flew an give em tha gist of what thay had ta do. He said ifn thay would help him move sum seed inta tha hanger he would take em up an show em a thang or two bout flyin. Walter an Jessie tole Buster an Howard to go on up first. Now, Walter being tha trickster that he was knowed what Bill was a gonna do. First thang rite off when he got out sight of tha boys was ta show Buster what all was ta be dun flyin an all tha controls an what thay was. After Buster said he bout got tha hang of it, Bill let him fly tha plane fer a spell. After Bill got tha controls back, he went inta sum shor nuf tricks. He rolled an spiraled an flew on his back an dun all manner of tricks. He had Buster green as a gourd an bout ta be a two fer a penny commode huggin yellow dog Democrat callin Ralph. Bill was jes a grinnin an let Buster settle down fore thay went on back. Buster shor was proud ta have hisn two feet on tha ground I tell ya. Bill then asked Howard ifn he wanted ta go up. Howard said he shor nuf did. Boy, thay was gone fer quite a spell when tha boys seen em a cummin in fer tha landin. Howard jumped outa that plane like a Mexican jumpin bean jes grinnin an a jabberin how he was gonna be a jet pilot. Bill said hard as he tried, Howard stuck like glue an hollered fer him ta do more tricks. Bill said he dun all he knowed an still couldn't git Howard ditherated nun. Dangest thang he ever seed. He reckoned Howard mite make one heck of a pilot. Buster said he would fly tha dang thang but he wadn't in fer nun of them tricks an Howard said it was so much fun he could do it all day long. Walter an Jessie tole him he dun found hisn callin. After that Howard was a flyin gyro copters an them parachutes with motors and hang glidin an anythin else he could git in tha air. Buster jes stuck ta plain ole flyin but I'm a gittin ahead of myself in tha story. Tha boys went on back ta tha house an Bill said ta cum back when he wadn't busy an he would teach sum more bout flyin. Buster an Howard tole him thay preciated tha lessons an would cum back when he had tha time an in tha meantime would keep a practicein out at tha farm. Well it wadn't long fore Buster an Howard got tha Champ ta lift offa tha ground an flew er fer a bit an then set er down. Thay dun that a whole bunch of times till thay could take off an land purty good. Both of em was bout as good as tha other till one day thay decided ta fly over ta Bill's airport. Walter an Jessie said thay would drive on over in Buster's Ford an meet em thar. Buster dun tha honors an him an Howard took off an got over ta tha airport an landed. First time thay tried tha landin thay overshot tha runway an ended up in tha cotton field next ta tha airport. Again, thay didn't hurt nuthin but had ta git er pulled back on tha grass strip. Bill cum out an tole tha boys thay needed more practicein but thay was doin good.

Bill said ta cum back tha next day an ta jes leave tha plane thar an he would check it out hisself ta make shor it was OK. Tomorry mornin he said an fore tha dew burns off an we'll do sum flyin. After lessons with Bill an practicin out at tha farm, Howard an Buster got rite good at flyin tha Champ. Thay both flew with Walter an Jessie an all tha boys got ta know tha lil Champ inside an out. One Saturday Walter an Jessie made up ta try wing walkin. Jessie dun read up on wing walkin an visted with them air show fellers over ta tha airport at Stuttgart an got rite familiar with what ta do an how ta rig up fer a wing walker. Walter jes wadn't a feared of no heights but he shor nuf was of close places. Heck, ifn he got in a tite place he was a gonna cum out an ain't nuthin nor nobody better be in hisn way neither. Tha boy didn't care one whit ifn he'd blister or bleed but he was a cummin out that's fer shor. Anyhow, Walter an Jessie dun rigged up tha wing walkin gear an had Buster an Howard ta take em up jes over tha treetops ta git tha hang of doin it. Course Buster an Howard took it real easy an kept tha Champ steady an level. Tha Champ wadn't no fast plane an it was easy ta control an tha boys practiced all day. Everbody was in town on a Saturday but Sunday was gonna be a town picnic in tha park an tha boys decided to put on a lil show tharselfs. Walter an Jessie dun got em sum goggles an leather helmets an leather gloves an aviator boots ta match thar leather jackets. Jessie an Walter wadn't very big back then an didn't weigh much. Tha Champ would carry all three of em an Howard was lighter than Buster by bout 60 pounds. Tha town was only six miles from tha farm an closer than that as tha crow flies, so thay would have plenty of fuel with only a half tank an that would cut down on weight too. All tha boys had made up tha plan an had it all figured out by tha time tha picnic got inta full swing.

Nigh on ta one o'clock, Buster took off towards town an tha picnic in tha park with Walter an Jessie tied up in tha rigs on each wing. Everythin went off without a hitch an when Buster buzzed tha picnic everbody went ta hoopin an hollerin an a pointin at tha boys. Bout tha time thay got rite over tha doins Jessie unfurled a banner that read "Lil Dubs Wonder Crème" an Walter let one fly that said "Mother Nature's Gift of Youth". Tha boys still made rite smart of royalty money on them products an figured thay would give a lil free advertisin whilst thay was a flyin. Buster flew tha boys on back ta tha farm an Howard took over an flew em back fer another round. After Howard brought Walter an Jessie back, he said he was a gonna go up fer a bit by hisself. Tha boys said OK an Buster was a listenin ta Walter an Jessie tellin how much fun thay was a havin wing walkin. Thay said thay could see folks thay knowed an was a wavin an even sum of tha gals thay was a tryin court was yellin up at em ta cum down fer cake an ice cream. Bout 30 or 40 minutes later, Howard cum back an thay put up tha plane an headed on inta town ta tha picnic. When thay got thar everbody started ta clappin an slappin em on tha back an sayin how wonderful tha show was an how in tha world did thay know how ta fly an wing walk. But tha dangest thang thay said was how much thay liked tha tricks Howard dun in tha Champ. Why that rascal dun larnt how ta do sum of them tricks that Bill dun. Fact is, Bill dun taught him several of em an jes what tha Champ could do. Howard said tha next time thay went ta flyin he would show them tha tricks an Buster said he would watch Howard from tha ground.

Thay all was laughin bout that fer shor. Buster didn't want ta git green round tha gills agin an he knowed Howrd would do it ta him fer meanness. Ya see, he was as bad as Walter when it cum ta trickin an funnin.

Tha boys all met up at Leake's Drugstore Wednesday evenin after church fer a malt an moon pie an Mr. Leake an sum of tha other bizness men in town asked tha boys ta sit an talk a spell with em. Thay said thay wanted ta hire em fer advertisin thar stores over ta tha county fair cummin up an sum special events on tha 4th of July. Heck fire, now thay was a gonna make sum good money fer sumthin thay all loved doin. Bout that time sum of tha gals at school cum over an invited em ta a party on Saturday nite an tha prom queen took up with Jessie an tole him she wanted him ta be her date an escort her ta her comin out dance in Little Rock. Jessie's pheromones was a poppin out all over them gals cause fore he got outa tha drugstore three more was askin him fer study dates, supper an a hayride an weenie roast by tha lake. Walter had lil Lynette and Howard had tha Snow gal but Buster had a passel of em too after him an thay was a wantin a ride in tha Champ. Jessie said ta them gals that he wadn't a gonna go lessen Buster cum too an since all them gals knowed each other thay said that was jes fine. Thay went off a gigglin when ALL tha boys' folks cum inta tha drugstore an said thay wanta talk ta all of em. Lord a mercy, tha boys was a wonderin how much trouble thay was in now. Well, seems like Bill Kelly dun talked ta all tha folks an tole em how good thay was a flyin an he would sign fer em ta git thar licenses. What tha folks said was that on Friday thay was a goin with em ta git thar license in Little Rock an thay couldn't fly no more till thay did. Thar pas jes grinned at tha boys an said thay shor put on a show but Howard's ma was a bit trifled over hisn tricks. He was a gonna take sum real lessons fore he dun that agin. Howard looked over at tha boys an jes rolled hisn eyes an his folks didn't see that or he would been behind tha woodshed. Jessie's grandpa Esker an grandma Mammy was inta town fer tha picnic, which he didn't know, an was rite excited ta see Jessie out on that wing walkin. Jessie had ta tell em all how it was dun an how he larned all bout it. Walter's folks was rite interested in that too an wadn't nun too keen on Walter standin out on that wing but hisn brothers and sisters was, I tell ya. Walter had one up on ole Kelvin that’s fer shor. Well, thangs settled down after a while and tha boys was a havin a high ole time with that airplane. Thay made mite near a year's wages on that July 4th an was in high demand in thar neack of the woods. Buster an Howard got thar licenses an Walter an Jessie performed in tha air show with em tha followin year. Ya know, the funny thang was that Jessie was always a skeered of heights an why in tha world he wanted ta be a wing walker was a mystery ta tha boys an Jessie's folks. Buster asked Jessie how cum he dun it an Jessie tole Buster it was cause he had ta git over it sum how an he jes liked tha notion of tha wind in hisn face. It jes seemed like it would be fun. I'm a tellin ya rite now that that mite be true but he was still skittish bout them heights. He was a white knuckler ifn ya know what I mean. Walter, on tha other hand, was jes a crazy as a loon a grinnin an laughin an havin hisself a big ole time when he was a flyin. That boy always was a mess. Still is ta this day.

Tha boys was inta sumthin all tha time an always doin thangs. Buster dearly loved ta go over ta Jessie's fer dinner, fer supper, heck anytime cause Mrs. McBrayer always had sumthin good ta eat an Jessie didn't eat much. Buster always got Jessie's corn on tha cob an all tha sappy stuff too. Whilst Buster was over thar with Howard an Walter one Saturday tha wall telephone begin ta ringin an Jessie's pa answered it an an spoke ta Mrs. Swaim bout Jessie goin down ta Montgomery, Alabama fer a parade an a dance with her gal Denise an ifn that Jessie could escort her. Sum kinda hoedown thay was havin with thar family all involved in it an thar gal Denise dearly wanted Jessie ta go with her. She also wanted to know ifn tha boys could fly thar airplane an do that wing walkin over tha parade an over tha town too. She didn't ritely know ifn it was OK fer em ta go that far or not. Mr. McBrayer said he would ask Jessie and tha boys an thar folks but ifn tha boys wanted ta do it thar wouldn't be no problem with them; thay dun it so many times now that it was like second nature ta em. She also said tha town was gonna pay fer tha show an thay had em a banner made fer em ta pull behind too. Now Jessie shor nuf fancied Denise an ifn it hadn't a ben fer wing walkin he mite a never sported that gal. Thay had ben ta tha picture show an dated with tha boys an thar gals too. Denise was a purty thang an ever boy in tha school wanted ta go out with her. She was rite popular ya mite say. Jessie was kinda shy bout thangs like that but once ya got him a goin he was hell bent fer leather. Tha boys said thay wanted ta do tha show an thar folks all agreed ta let tha boys go. All of em was a gonna go ta tha dance too an lil Lynette and tha Snow gal was gonna cum down in Buster's Ford. Denise said she had her girlfren to go with Buster an he reckoned that would be allrite cause he seed her with Denise an she was tall nuf ta dance with an purty as a speckled pup. Her name was Ginger Adams an her people hailed from down by Cotton Plant but moved up ta England last year. Her pa was tha manager of tha gin fer tha Hendersons. Well, Jessie jes didn't know what all he was lettin hisself in fer that’s fer shor. When tha boys got thar Denise dun tole Jessie he was ta ride on a float down tha main street. All tha escorts was ta be on tha float an tha gals was on another un fer sum version of a sum dang French holiday thay celebrated down thar. Ain't nun of tha boys ever heared of sich but decided since thay was thar thay would go long with it. Talk bout funny! Thay dun had Jessie put on a dadburn clown outfit that had britches way too big fer Jessie. He had on these tights that them ballet dancers wore underneath so it weren't too bad but it was that hat that made a feller split hisn sides. Dangest thang ya ever saw! Sumthin rite outa tha movies. Well Jessie didn't git ta do much wing walkin cause of him a ridin on that float but he did make a pass or two fore he had to put on that git up. When Jessie got up on tha float, thar was sum fellers thar a celebratin an had sum punch fer em ta drink. Whilst thay was a ridin an wavin ta tha folks Jessie an them other fellers was a throwin beads an moon pies out ta tha crowd. Bein as it was hot an all, that punch was tastin purty good an fore long Jessie was plum snockered. That punch had a kick ta it ya know, it was shor nuf spiked with sum awful fine white lightnin an Jessie was as looped as one of Howard's tricks in tha Champ. Them britches he was a wearin that was too big fer him dun fell offa him an he didn't even know it. Danged ifn he didn't ride tha whole way down Main Street of Montgomery, Alabama with hisn britches down ta his knees.

Tha boys met Jessie when he got ta tha end of tha parade route an seed the pitcher of punch dun went dry. Jessie looked down an declared ta tha boys he was "exposed"! Well, he shor nuf was an thay reckoned Jessie give em a show fer shor a ridin up thar on that float. Thay had ta take Jessie an git him a nap fore he could make it ta tha dance that evenin cause he jes wadn't in no shape fer dancin nor escortin. Cum ta find out tha fellers on tha float with Jessie dun sneaked tha likker in tha punch ta loosen thangs up a bit durin all thar celebratin. When Jessie cum round later that evenin he tole tha boys he knowed it had a lil kick ta it but that punch was rite tasty an hot as it was it was rite refreshin. Well, seein how Jessie got hisn nap an tha festivities was in full swang, all em of headed out fer a high ole time with tha gals. Jessie was fresh scrubbed and had on hisn Sunday go ta meetin suit an Denise was gussied up too. Thay made quite tha pair an Jessie was a dancin up a storm. Ya know his ma had him ta take dancin lessons but nobody knowed that but tha boys an thay was swore ta tha secret.

Tha trip down ta Montgomery was jes as much fun gittin thar as it was bein in tha parade an at tha dance. Buster an Howard flew tha Champ an Jessie and Walter drove Buster's Ford with tha gals. Thay was flyin bout 382 air miles as tha crow flies but by land it was bout 464 miles. Thay stopped fer fuel in Memphis, Tupelo an again in Birmingham fore thay got ta Montgomery. On tha way back thay stopped fer barbeque an ribs at Neely's an rested up a bit before startin tha last laig home. In Tupelo all of em went to see whar Elvis was borned at an went by Billy Cain Bailey's old stomping grounds whar he was raised as a youngun. Hisn brother Carl still lived thar but was layed off from work at tha Lazy Boy plant an had to go to work at tha WalMart as a greeter to try ta make ends meet. Then thay was back on tha road an in tha air. Buster an Howard swapped out flyin an each of em took a lil nap on tha way. Rite peaceful it was an as close ta heaven as a feller could git without a dyin. Whilst thay was a flying, Buster up an asks Howard ifn he thought thay ort ta name tha Champ. Howard said he reckoned it wouldn't hurt nun an he would git ta havin it painted on the plane as soon as thay landed. Howard asked Buster ifn he had thought up sumthin fer a name and Buster said he wanted ta call her "Belle", tha "Belle of the South". Howard thought that was awful purty an voted fer it. When Walter an Jessie stopped fer a rest and ta gas up, Howard landed an Buster run on up ta em an asked em ifn thay thought "Belle" was a proper name fer tha Champ. All of em agreed an Buster said thay was gonna go on ahead an have it painted on tha sides of tha plane before tha show tha next day. Well, all that went off without a hitch an tha "Belle of the South" was painted red, white an blue jes like tha flag. It was dun up rite by a feller thar in Montgomery that Denise's pa knowed an shor nuf was spectacular lookin. Belle always kicked up a stir when she was in town fer a show with tha flyin tricks of Howard an tha wing walkin of Walter an Jessie. Why Jessie even took ta flyin upside down, inverted standin on his haid! Thay was a hit ever time thay flew on Belle an thar act was booked ever year till thay was growed an married up with younguns of thar own. Belle never was sold an still sits in Buster's Grandpa Gus's barn covered with a tarp so's tha pigeons wouldn't make a mess on er. Buster had a mechanic from Little Rock cum by ever month ta maintenance Belle an ta this day she is ready to fly now as she was then.

It was quite tha trip but home was lookin good too. Tha boys all hashed over tha events an did a lil speculatin on what was to cum next. Thay had a check in tha mail from them computers Jessie put money in fer em, IBM it was, an thay decided ta go on over ta Amarillo on Saturday. Well, only Walter could make it an he went with hisn brother Kelvin an sum of tha Brittain boys. Ya know, thar was bout 20 of em, all cousins an brothers. Greg an Stanley was always in sum kinda mischief with Walter an this time wadn't no exception. Thar was a feller from down round Muleshoe in town at tha bar whar Walter and Kelvin an tha boys was havin a cool one. Feller was rite nice an was a football player knowed to be good an a goin ta Tech thar in Lubbock. Well, Walter an that feller got ta a jawin an he says ta Walter that he jes couldn't be took down. He was likable Walter said an wadn't nuthin meant by what he was a sayin took ta be harsh an disrespectful but tha boys jes couldn't let that go by without havin him ta be taught a lesson. 'Tween Walter, Kelvin and tha Brittain boys, thay dun took off that fellers pants an throwed em up onta tha flat roof of that bar. Thay jes left on out a laughin with no harm dun ceptin that feller didn't have no pants on. Tha next day Walter an Kelvin was sittin at tha table eatin with thar pa when he said what was this world cummin to. Thar was a feller in Amarillo arrested climbin on tha top of tha roof of a bar with no pants on. Walter an Kelvin never even batted an eye nor let on that thay knowed anythin bout that feller with no pants on. Thay shor nuf had a hoot over that one though I tell ya. Mischief, jes purdee mischief.

Whilst Walter went ta Amarillo fer tha weekend, Howard went ta visit kin with hisn folks in Ft. Smith. It was a purty good drive fer them days but tha days was rite enjoyable an his ma packed a mitey fine picnic lunch fer em fer tha trip. The lemonade was on ice an sweetened jes rite with fresh peach pie fer dessert. When thay got ta Howard's cousin's place, he tole Howard thar was a motosicle show out at tha fairgrounds an asked him ifn he would like to go see it. Howard tole him heck yeah an off thay went. Thar was this feller name of Evil Knevil that was gonna jump over a crate of rattlers an other pizen snakes with hisn motorsicle. That, Howard had ta see! Well, it cum time fer tha show an this feller Evil Knevil took on off up ta tha ramp ta jump over that crate of snakes when hisn motor sputtered an he lost power. Evil Knevil landed in amongst them snakes with em a slitherin ever which a place an he was shor lucky he wadn't bit nun. Howard didn't waste no time. He grabbed up a toe sack an begin ta catchin them snakes with hisn hands an puttin em in tha toe sack. He musta gathered up two dozen of em an all different kinds too. Evil Knevil was bunged up a bit but nuthin serious. Howard had tied a knot in tha toe sack an give em all back to tha feller sponsorin the event. Then, Howard goes up ta Evil Knevil an asks him ifn he minded ifn he took a look at his motorsicle. Evil Knevil said ta go fer it an watched him set tha motorsicle uprite an cranked er up. Howard did a bit of adjustin on tha carburetor and got her a purrin like a kitten. Howard straddled that motorsicle an turned er round an took off. He hit that ramp an sailed ta tha other side an landed as purty as ya please and rode on back ta Evil Knevil an tole him it was a workin jes fine now. Well ole Evil Knevil was fit ta be tied an hisn jaw dropped plum ta tha gorund when he seed all that, I tell ya. He tole Howard he shor nuf had a future in tha daredevil bizness with him doin tricks like that an mechanicin ta boot.

Howard said no thanks, it weren't fer him but he did ride a bit. Evil Knevil tole him he could ride with him anytime an ifn he wanted a job thar was always one a waitin fer him. That was a good day fer Howard ta be preciated like that. Howard's cousin was jes plum google eyed over it all an when thay got ta tha house he jes couldn't wait ta spill tha beans with tha story. Howard's folks didn't put nuthin past thar boy Howard when it cum ta critters or drivin, floatin or flyin. He was good at all of em.

Tha boys met up after tha basketball game tha next Friday nite an had a laugh or two bout thar trips. Buster an Jessie had ta stay on back ta tend ta chores an look after thar places as thar folks had ta go ta Mississippi. Jessie's pa had people thar that was awful sick an needed help with nursin an tendin ta thar crops fer em. Buster's grandpa Gus an grandma went long too ta help. Rice was grandpa Gus's bizness an he shor knowed what ta do ta make everthin rite. Buster an Jessie tole Walter an Howard thay shor was sorry thay couldn't make it but thay would do sumthin real soon tagather.

Tha picture show was gonna be good on Saturday. HUD was playin with Paul Newman an tha Zorro serial was endin an tha boys all knowed thay wadn't gonna miss that. Tha cartoon was Foghorn J. Leghorn an tha boys liked him a lot; couldn't miss that neither ya know. A hayride was planned fer tha evenin bout sundown out at tha Simms place an a barn dance was gonna be startin bout 9 o'clock that nite too, so be ready fer sum fun boys said Buster. Jessie's pheromones was a perculatin an tha gals was gonna be round him like flies ta honey. It was gonna be a hot time in tha old town that nite that's fer shor!!!

RECOLLECTIN

Recollectin

Don't cha member when Buster throwed that safety pin with a piece of chewin gum an a green leaf inta tha canal? Why, he only had a piece of strang he got outa hisn grandma's sewin basket ta tie it on with an he dun caught that 5 pound Buffalo. Give it ta one of tha hired hands fer supper. An what bout that time when he went deer huintin fer tha first time? He went with hisn grandpa Gus an wadn't gone more than a hour fore he was back with a seven pointer. Course Buster's grandpa Gus thought he dun kilt a doe an was skeered ta look. Buster went ta tha highline road an was jes a sittn on a stump with hisn head in hisn hands when he up an seed that ole buck jes a starin at him. Buster was a shootin George's British Enfield .303 that he borryed an that bolt action worked purty sweet. Buster got a lil buck fever as they say. Hisn first shot hit him daid 'tween tha eyes and then ole Buster got a lil fractious an shucked ever one of them shells out that thar rifle. Had ta pick back em up an reload, I'm tellin ya. When he finally did get a shell in tha chamber an shot him agin; he was so danged nervous bout that deer not bein daid an all, he shot him in tha laig stead of tha heart. Course tha deer was daid anyhow. Then thar was tha time when he went huntin out at tha Davis place with one .22 short in a single shot whilst hisn folks was visitin. Come back with two bobwhite quail. Hit em on tha fly. Bullet went thru one an then got a nother un. Talk bout luck! Member when tha menfolks was shootin bow an arrow above tha pool hall with Rex Hancock an Ben Pearson? George dun hit tha bull's eye on tha target an Buster had that lil 40 pound fiberglass bow of hisn an up an shoots an splits George's arrow. Had em all scratchin thar haids, I tell ya, an ole Rex said now don't that beat all! Sum call that outhouse luck, an reckon it was at that, but shor does give a feller sumthin ta talk bout don't it. Howard an Walter was jes jawin whilst drinkin sum lemonade Mrs. Ollinger made up whilst she was visitin with Mrs. Holmes.

Jessie was in from takin up lawyerin thar in Tuscaloosa an Buster was down at tha VA gittin checked out after cummin home from tha service. Buster was doin allrite now but was a lil skittish an a mite fractious bout tusslin yet. Jessie dun tole Walter an Howard that Buster had what thay called tha "survivor's syndrome". That's when a feller feels porley bout not bein kilt when hisn buddies an other soldiers got kilt in tha war an he cum thru without a scratch. But knowin Buster, he had it all figured out long fore he ever got back home an went ta a doctor. Why heck fire, thay all knowed bout all that a good while ago. Buster tole all em one time that he dun figured out that a feller had ta know he was a good as he was bad an bad an he was good an jes had ta walk on tha side of lite; jes like it says in tha Good Book. What happened was that Buster was at tha VA seein bout tha fatness that dun got him an whilst a talkin ta sum doctors thar, thay dun tole him that's what he had. Course that was all dun an over with by that time. Thar jes wadn't a name put ta it when Buster was dealin with it by hisself. All tha boys jes knowed sumthin was a upsetin Buster but knowed he would cum out of it sooner or later.

Now Jessie on tha other hand dun got all tied up in bizness an jes ain't a havin no fun Howard said. Fact is, Walter wadn't neither, with him gone all tha time a pipelinin. Weldin always cum natural ta Walter but that travelin all over tha cuntry takes a toll on a feller after a bit. Lil Lynette was fit ta be tied with him bein gone all tha time. Come ta think bout it, Howard kinda fit in thar with tha other boys as well, a workin nite an day like he did, but he did seem ta have more fun than tha other three boys though. So, Howard an Walter made up ta do sumthin bout all that. Thar was gonna be sum changes made round here.

First off, they dun kidnapped Jessie! Walter tole Jessie he was jes gonna have ta cotton ta tha fact that he wadn't gonna do no work fer at least 2 weeks. Walter an Howard tole him that hisn ma dun called up ta hisn work an tole em he was porely an he was gonna take off fer 2 weeks or so. She dun left word fer Jessie that he wadn't gonna git nowhar near a phone nor that thar computer he was always a peckin on neither. Walter tole Jessie that he dun growed a mite and put on sum weight so he'd jes sit on Jessie ifn he had too, but he was a goin, period! Tha next order of bizness was ta hogtie Buster. Now, that was a tall order since he was strong a bull and bigger all of em put tagather. Buster was a travelin rite smart of tha time hisself an when he was in tha office he stayed thar up ta 18 hours a day. All three of em cum up with a plan an Buster's grandma dun called up sum of Buster's men and had em ta fill in fer Buster fer 2 weeks or so. Now that everthin was set, it was time ta put all thar plannin inta action. All three of em went ta Buster's office an got him ta go with em ta dinner. Buster dearly loved buffets and tha boys dun took him ta one out by tha airport by tha name of "The Homeplace". Got all ya wanted ta eat ceptin only one chicken fried steak. Ole Buster got fuller than a tick an was a restin peaceful like when thay got him on a plane that a fren of Walter's owned. Thay got Buster on tha plane an tole him thay jes wanted ta show him sumthin. Buster went ta nappin purt near fore thay got in tha air, I tell ya. Well, after a bit Buster woke up an then tha explainin got serious real quick. Aw, Buster weren't mad but he was jes worried bout bizness but tha boys said it was all took care of. Wadn't gonna be no phones nor computers neither; jes tha boys havin fun an restin. Well, all tha boys got used ta tha idee an laughed bout it all an settled inta slowin down tha pace.

First stop, Flordia. Tha boys still had thar dive certifications up to date and Buster was a Master Diver now and it was his thang, as thay say. All of em went divin with tha Manatees and thay jes took ta Howard. He was even feedin some of thar babies. A cavern dive was on tha list an so was a pop; that is a 250' dive that is down an up with jes enuf time ta git yore picture took on a Harley and in a Corvette. That cavern dive was a mite tricky but was a sight ta see when ya got in thar. When tha boys dove down ta tha point tha dive master took em to, thay had ta grab a holt of a rope an pull tharselfs along an thru a openin in tha rock. Now, it got a mite close in that openin fer shor but Buster squoze on thru thar an he made it without gittin stuck. He said he shor nuf had sum thoughts bout turnin back but thar jes wadn't no room to do that. When all of em got thru that hole, it opened up ta great big ole room. It was huge! A beautiful a sight as ya ever saw. Lights thay carried showed all manner of rock formations and thar was even air in thar so a body could breath.

Thay all agreed that it was worth tha time ta see that cavern with all its stalactites an quartz a dazzalin in the beam of tha light. Tha colors was jes sumthin ta behold. Fish was a plenty too an tha boys fed em by hand an marveled at nature created by tha Good Lord. That settin was God's palette an paintbrush of tha wonders of tha deep.

Tha boys had sum good eatin that nite with a good snort of Old McBrayer an then fer bed. Tha boys got up late an eat a good breakfast an headed on out ta thar next destination. Howard an Walter dun had it all figured out ta whar thay was a goin an Maine was next on tha list with a stopover in Ohio. All tha boys went ta a spa an got mudded up and massaged an steamed an rubbed on purty good. It was real relaxin and late that evenin thay got inta Maine fer lobster fer supper. Five Islands Lobster Company in Georgetown, Maine was tole ta be tha best and tha boys shor nuf had a time thar, I tell ya. Ate thar fill an then sum. Danged if ole Greg and Ernie Fontenot wadn't thar from down Louisiana way. Greg an Ernie was doin sum weldin in them parts an Walter knowed em from his weldin days an Buster knowed both tha boys real well cause he worked with em both on a pipelin hisself from when he was doin safety fer a company. Danged ifn Ernie's dog didn't die with tha asbestos pizenin an then tha hurricane cum an took off Greg's roof on hisn house. That Greg would take ta singin anywhar he was. All tha folks eatin thar was rite impressed but tha manager cum up ta Greg an asked him ta stop hisn singin. Ernie up an heads ta high ground as he knowed hisn brother an it was rite embarrassin ta him but not tha boys. It didn't ritely sit well with that manager but all tha folks in tha restaurant dearly loved ole Greg's a singin hisn songs an tole that manger thay wanted ta hear ole Greg an ta let him be. Course Greg was a singin cuntry songs like thay ain't never heared fore that. After spendin tha nite an saying thar goodbyes ta Ernie an Greg, tha boys went a whale watchin. Buster didn't take ta tha boat ridin too well an was a mite green round tha gills.

Next stop, Nashville, Tennessee. Buster knowed some folks in tha music bizness thar and had tha pilots detour a mite fer a lil visit. Buster an Jessie was gittin in tha swang of thangs by now an enjoyin thar time with all tha boys; jes like old times. Buster called up Brooks an Dunn an met up with em out ta whar thay had thar racin cars. All tha boys each had a car ta drive an all of em had a high ole time racin with Ronnie and Kix. Then thay went over an met up with Reba an Narvel at tha Capitol Records buildin. Reba an Narvel landed thar in thar helicopter an had tha boys sit in on tapin a new album of hers. Jessie got ta play fiddle on her record an shor was a grinnin from ear ta ear, jes as proud as punch. Garth was in town an when he heared Buster was thar thru tha grapevine, he looked em up an had em over ta his place fer supper. After visitn fer a spell, George Strait popped in unexpected like thar at Garth's an visited with em too. He asked Buster ifn he was gonna rite a song with Jerry Max Lane cause Jerry Max tole him he wanted Buster ta co-write with him. Dun had tha title, "Gone As A Girl Can Get". Buster tole George he didn't ritely know jes then as he was a workin on "Edie's Song" an would see what Jerry Max had ta say. Jerry Max was 10% owner of Billy Bob's down in Texas an all tha country singers went thru that place. Jerry Max also had tha house band an he was married up ta Sammy Joe's sister.

That girl could sang herself but was, I hate ta say it, dumber than two rocks cause she ain't never been nowhar or seed nuthin. Jerry Max said it was like openin up a closet door an her seein tha world fer tha first time. Purty gal an sweet too, jes inexperienced he said. Jerry Max tole one good un on Jeannie though fore thay all left. Jeannie dun took tha younguns ta McDonalds fer sumthin ta eat after school and when she drove up ta tha winder, tha girl asked her ifn she wanted sum condiments. Well, Jeannie gits all incensed an rite put out an all an says certainly not! When she got ta tha house, sum music folks was thar workin on songs an playin tha pianner. She tole Jerry Max an tha folks tha story after tha younguns went out ta play. Said she tole that girl she ort ta be ashamed of herself, them younguns was way too young fer them thangs like that!

Tha boys left on out an flew inta Murfreesboro, Tennessee an went ta tha Tennessee Miller Coliseum whar "Road To The Horse" was held. Each of three competitors had 3 hours ta break a green bronc ta ride an train him ta lead an foller too. Tootie Bland headed up tha show an produced it an she was thar when tha boys arrived. Tootie seed Walter an cum a runnin an jumped up an hugged hisn neack an bout turned tha boy blue. She had quite a few years on Walter an it wadn't nuthin like ya would be thinkin but Walter jes had a way bout him with all tha ladies. Course lil Lynette knowed Tootie too. Her husband passed an thay all had ben frens fer quite a spell.

When tha boys all split up an went thar way fer a spell, thay didn't git ta do much with each other. After bein interduced ta all tha boys, Tootie said ta em that Walter was tha best danged horse whisperer ta ride tha range. Especially them grays. Tootie said ta Walter why he didn't compete cause she knowed he's win hands down. Walter jes grinned real big an said he was ridin a different trail now an really didn't have tha time anymore but he did miss it. Buster said he dun seed Walter do that horse whisperin up at Crow Creek whar thay owned sum ranch land tagether up thar. Ole Walter was full of surprises; fact is, all them boys had a story ta be tole. Wadn't no grass growin under thar feet, I tell ya. This trip was tha perfect time fer all of em ta catch up on one another git close agin.

Then thar was New York. Jessie dun showed out with hisn fiddle but that wadn't what he was gonna show tha boys. He sorta kept this ta hisself durin hisn college an lawyerin days. Jessie was in South America an other parts of tha world as he traveled way too much fer a family man. But, that's how he made his livin. When talkin bout makin a livin that ain't quite true. All of em had money, as ya well know. It was like a callin fer each of em. Well, Jessie dun took up boxin fer excerise an got real good at it an even got professional trainin. He also took up all manner of martial arts. Heck fire, he could karate chop tha tar out of a feller ifn he wanted to. Well, thar in New York was sum of hisn boxin frens that tha boys met an them bein professional all meant a heap ta tha boys in what thay was a sayin bout Jessie an hisn boxin abilitiy. He was a sparrin partner fer tha world champeen in tha lightweight division when he had tha time and danged ifn he didn't knock him out one time when thay was trainin. But tha big thang was tha boys meetin this here old Chinese feller that was a Gung Fu Master. He dun tole tha boys that Jessie was tha onlyest white man that he ever taught what he knowed.

Reckon that was why Jessie was so calm an collected all tha time. Feller said thay don't demonstrate but would allow tha boys ta watch him an Jessie work out doin thar routines. Danged ifn Jessie wadn't quicker than greased lightnin. Why that boy could tap dance on tha ceilin, I tell ya; but that old man was nuthin but a blur. Ya couldn't see him cummin or a goin he was so fast. Jessie turned tha lights out an tha last time thay seed tha old man he was upstairs. When Jessie flipped tha switch back on, all tha boys was all twisted up an sittin on tha floor an that old man was standin thar jes a smilin an bowin ta em. Tha boys wadn't hurt nun but was he fast. Jes tha flip of tha switch an it was all over. Tha boys asked Jessie ifn he could do that an Jessie said yep but he took another second or two longer than his Master. What really made them boys bout swaller thar tongue was when that old Chinese feller begin ta risin ta bout rooftop level of tha buildin an then seein him cum down. Weren't no wires or nuthin else attached ta him neither. Thay way ya could tell ifn he was a cummin up or down was by hisn robes. Goin up, thay didn't flare out but cummin down thay billered out like a parachute. Now ifn that wadn't tha durnest thag thay ever saw! Jes wadn't no explainin that. That ole man even broke a 2 X 8 board cross tha room without even touchin it! Push Hands, he called it. Jessie tole tha boys that thar was sum thangs a feller jes couldn't cypher on an it was all in what them Chinese fellers knowed fer centuries.

In California, Howard took em all ta see some of hisn frens that rode motorsicles. Thay was a motocross racin an all of em knowed Howard. Durin tha warm up laps thay got Howard ta ride with em an boy howdy, Howard struted hisn stuff fer shor. He was a jumpin an wheelin an jes skinnin back tha ear on that thar motorsicle. Him an a few of tha boys he knowed got ta racin a bit tharselfs an when all was said an dun an back in tha pits, thay tried ta git Howard back inta racin agin. But, Howard tole em he was jes ridin fer fun now an not competin nomore. Had a bang up time watchin them racin an visitin with Howard's racin frens. Tha boys used ta go ta races with Howard but when he got ta travelin all over tha cuntry an Europe, thay couldn't go.

It was a part of hisn life thay didn't git ta share with him ceptin thru pictures an story tellin. Thay was all glad thay had this time with him thar.

Then Walter had em all ta go to tha National Finals fer pro rodeo. Walter was rite good at ridin an ropin an he knowed sum fellers thar an interduced all tha boys to his frens. Thay enjoyed tha rodeo a heap an then Walter had a real surprise fer em. Las Vegas bound! Walter an Howard took Buster ta see Elvis Presley, which he dearly loved, an ta eat a one of them casinos. Tha boys jes let Buster go ta it. Buster shor showed em thar at that restaurant how a feller could eat. That ole buffet line was a heap lighter when Buster was dun an he even got a free Tee shirt fer tha show he put on. Buster didn't gamble anymore but on tha way out he stopped an put in a doller in one of them slot machines. One of them big uns thay have at tha entrance ta tha place. That big ole wheel went round an round an then bells went to ringin and all manner of lites went ta flashin. Well, a bunch of coins dun fell outa that machine an Buster picks em all up an begins ta leave when this old lady hollers fer him ta stop. Well, he did, an bout that time all tha other boys cum up ta see what all tha fuss was bout. Tha old lady said not ta leave cause he dun hit tha jackpot! Wadn't that much, jes $500 dollers but nuf make Buster dance a jig.

Buster give tha old lady all them coins but kept tha $500. Said this was money fer rememberin tha last time he would ever gamble.

Well, Walter an Howard decided on one last stop. Can ya guess? Washington, D.C. Thay went ta see Mr. Hiram Holmes in his retirement an Dalton an Devane. Tha boys visited fer a day an a evenin an relived old times an adventures. Bibi had a awful time of it from a mission that had gone bad an was livin with her folks in Savannah. Jessie an Bibi never got tha chance ta make a life tagather after she was captured an tortured in Iran. Dalton and Devane got her out but not in time. It weren't her body so much; it healed, but her mind. She jes didn't know cum from sic em an ain't nuthin changed over tha years.

Mr Holmes tole all tha boys ta all go down ta Savannah an see her some time. Bibi's folks would be rite proud ta see em all agin. After leavin Washington, it was time fer home.

Gittin back was as hard as it was leavin. All tha boys kinda teared up an promised ta see each other more often. Life seemed ta have its twists an turns but nuthin changed one whit between them boys, all brothers. Thay all said thay wouldn't let life dictate ta em anymore but would dictate ta life what thay wanted. Ifn any one of em needed help in that area tha rest would cum a runnin ta see it was dun. Ain't nuthin stronger than family an thay are.

P.S.: Them pheromones of Jessie's must still be a workin purty good. Ya see, Jessie would ease on down ta Savannah an see Bibi from time ta time thru tha years ta cum. Tha boys did too. One day Jessie was down thar with her alone on hisn motorsicle he dun bought. He put her on tha back of it an took her fer a ride in tha cuntry. Thay stopped up under a big ole magnolia tree on tha bank of a lil stream an Jessie up an kisses Bibi. He tole her ta remember the time when thay was on her motor scooter thar in Cayenne an tha good times thay had after that. On tha way back ta her folk's house she squeezed Jessie so tite he could hardly breathe. Jessie pulled over an Bibi was a cryin; tears was a jes a flowin. She looks up inta Jessie's eyes an says, she remembers.

After that day Bibi got better an better till she was back ta her old self agin. Now that Jessie was retired an back at tha distillery makin Old McBrayer whiskey, him an Bibi are spendin lots of time tagather an travelin too. Thay visit all tha boys and Dalton an Devane an Mr. Holmes an jes generally take life easy. She stays a while back in Savannah an up in Kentucky with Jessie. Life is good fer tha both of em now an growin old is sumthin ta cherish an not ta fear.