tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521440831133442982024-03-14T02:32:16.662-07:00Torvald Yamaguchi's Lutefisk and Sushi BarWith a title like that, expect just about anything. Expect, in particular, entomophagy, Christian music, social stuff, and experimental cooking.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16953582155385508486noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652144083113344298.post-87794254091928557922023-02-08T11:37:00.001-08:002023-02-08T11:41:56.631-08:00Are You Walking in the Light?
<p> It was a beautiful moonlit summer night. I decided to take a
walk in the woods behind my house. I got behind my shed, which blocked
out the big dusk-to-dawn light. It was like stepping into another world
--soft dim bluish lighting, and the shadows were all but blurred into the dim
light. It was surreal out there. My eyes adjusted to the light and
I found myself dodging branches and limbs, stepping over obstacles, almost as
if it was daylight.</p>
<p>In a clearing, I heard a growl. It was quite close, but I couldn't
identify its source! Most likely, I'd startled a raccoon, but even a
raccoon, when cornered, can cause quite a bit of damage. My eyes were
telling me I could see, but I really couldn't see what was important or
dangerous. The leaves thrashed and crashed as whatever it was ran deeper
into the woods growling and grunting the whole way. Yeah, I thought that
to be a cool experience. I wandered around some more and headed back to
the house.</p>
<p>I neared the shed and looked back to the woods. Bright moonlight is
beautiful. The woods felt so alive. I walked back to the house and
into that nasty old bright dusk-to-dawn light. I covered my eyes and even
winced a little. Then I imagined a creature who lived in the dark and how
it would cower from such light. To see such critters in any kind of
light, we have to be very careful and introduce it slowly. The light
hurts the dark, and things accustomed to living in the dark. It irritated
my eyes and I'd only been out in the moonlight for maybe half an hour.</p>
<p>Then the Biblical parallels to my experience rushed in. John 1:5 is
one where I particularly like versions which say the darkness did not comprehend
or understand the Light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalm 119:105
says a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What it says is you can still see darkness around you, but if you stay
in the light, you won’t stumble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
doesn’t say a floodlight in your eyes, blinding you to things of the dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That bright, in-your-face approach doesn’t
work on many.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’ll more likely drive
potential converts back into darkness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
may live in the Bible Belt, but that’s not usually the best way to win souls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><p><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">I like Jaci Velasquez's song, Show You Love where she sings, "Please forgive me, if I start to preach, 'cuz I don't want to be the one to push you out of reach..." <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1u3jGLQRBQ">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1u3jGLQRBQ</a></span></p><p><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmZaZY2w2AC3A1saCntcOFHS5QVQf7EN4MON8BkyZchG1xnF16UvheUyPd0n5wlDM4Dj0baUPUC91Qa4hz-QGD8pkkoebPre_4kgHSHYw9QbqrwMXF2F5qM_ZzF6308KejHAe6OK5L9gBA_7yyy6GHKGuph9JozRMqLUQ5rxpq0K5GC94YJtuNRDD2A/s4000/DSCN3773A.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmZaZY2w2AC3A1saCntcOFHS5QVQf7EN4MON8BkyZchG1xnF16UvheUyPd0n5wlDM4Dj0baUPUC91Qa4hz-QGD8pkkoebPre_4kgHSHYw9QbqrwMXF2F5qM_ZzF6308KejHAe6OK5L9gBA_7yyy6GHKGuph9JozRMqLUQ5rxpq0K5GC94YJtuNRDD2A/s320/DSCN3773A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
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<![endif]-->Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16953582155385508486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652144083113344298.post-49026618000767605372022-11-04T08:17:00.001-07:002022-11-04T08:17:57.206-07:00DCTV Channel 12 News Debut (trying photos here)<p> <br /><br /></p><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IT2v6cSc3lTRM8iy6UYbnDY4jg4H7SaLTMIKuaYsNmz26WsNZgWD3DwTiT1ihgHdOYquQW9IE89o-MpIBEm0EZxWDC9DYE7WP5DjqesFfVNeq3dpwHwObtlZrKqhMVLkmmAZvv1_OoCKyTpV94LmGE-k4IP8KcEw6EG-Lw13ZiuNHTJ6WN3g8xiC2w/s4000/DSCN9141.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><br /><p></p>Buster Slick anchor, Mindy Truth co-anchor, field reporter Dusty Meadows. 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM27lJTLVuazjITOrlAgwfYYDFgcBGemV7O8eOJAowCWZ0hw5Wf-x8NBf-m2aLsj-Ngeb2n164bP98mOhjx4SKqL5O0jNnYt5V4mt-OW1R49lptCCgWSlfyueaLSuDelMljFp--DnY_Z3JS85ULAsTrQdDC9v6UGGtrkyVb_EjsqTLN84dhR7C4nhHfg/s4000/DSCN9141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM27lJTLVuazjITOrlAgwfYYDFgcBGemV7O8eOJAowCWZ0hw5Wf-x8NBf-m2aLsj-Ngeb2n164bP98mOhjx4SKqL5O0jNnYt5V4mt-OW1R49lptCCgWSlfyueaLSuDelMljFp--DnY_Z3JS85ULAsTrQdDC9v6UGGtrkyVb_EjsqTLN84dhR7C4nhHfg/s320/DSCN9141.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcimLGmdIYnohU8Bos8YpEAwPr_QbY5dr-4BfwWsiwoYvDkfwHlVKMfX9XIAj9acG2vt4sno2qkCEQqXaX5K9XfKTdp-VulDD7yLpwEMqMn2U67kx3Bm3Ma-JUQRqs6CkrUfy7UYKkgHG0KsGR2yDDNr1YKigL_YbeaAnt_wdEQ3aA9g_QJI3F3lhgQ/s4000/DSCN9142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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</p><p class="MsoNormal">Donowutt County is unique in Missouri, or possibly even in
the whole USA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What other county can
boast it’s not documented in state or national records anywhere?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The county is, however, documented at the
County Courthouse in Higginsburg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most
of the early records were lost in the Civil War when Quantrill burnt the
courthouse in the early 1860s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a
bit upset that he couldn’t find it on his maps and assumed it was part of a
Northern plot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that’s another
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The new courthouse was started in
the late ‘60s and finished in the mid 1870s about when the great locust plague
hit our part of the state.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I want to tell you so much about the courthouse and
county.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tend to get a little excited
about it because I find it all so fascinating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So please bear with me, as this may tend to be a little disjointed at
times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess I’m proof Donowutt County
is not impossible to find.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How I came to
be the Recorder of Events for the county was a bit odd, but I guess it keeps in
character with the rest of the place –a bit odd.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I was writing the story of one of the county’s accidental
citizens and while researching, actually found myself in the county.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Word got around I was writing Redtail’s
story and I became known as “the author” or “that author”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The police dispatcher out in Thistle Dew
began calling me Mr. A. and it stuck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On
one of my sight-seeing drives, I happened upon the courthouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a beautiful big old building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went inside to look around and was stopped
by one of the county commissioners who was seemingly expecting me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had a certificate of appointment, signed
by the Count, himself (They call the head administrator of the county the
count.), and met me quite near the main entrance to the building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He handed me the certificate and briefly
explained what was going on and disappeared off to conduct other county
business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I looked at the certificate and it stated that the
commissionership had appointed me as Recorder of Events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t even know they were aware of
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I looked around, still not
knowing what had really happened, I spotted an office door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There, to the right of the door was a painted
wooden sign labeling the “Recorder of Events” office, with my nickname below,
“Mr. Author”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I went in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything happened in a blur to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was only visiting, and now I had my own
office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This writing is my attempt to
make sense out of what happened, and to learn my new surroundings, while
telling you of my findings in Donowutt County.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Organize my thoughts here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I guess the first thing I should do is learn my way around my office a
bit, then around the courthouse, but in doing that, I can’t neglect the whole
reason I came to the county, Redtail’s story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I'd hate to leave that story without some sort of closure.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My office is a pretty good sized room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>High ceiling with three hooded incandescent
lights hanging on long wires, a tall narrow window on the wall behind each
of the two desks, four floor lamps, and a desk light for each desk and one near
the computer provide the lighting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>During the day, the ivory walls with the windows provide a very pleasant
diffused light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really gives a sort
of soft-focus surreal feel to the office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s like a step back in time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
feel like there should be ashtrays on pedestals and background clutter like in
a 1940s detective movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t smoke,
so that’s out of the question, and the clutter is really missing, since my
office assistant, Sue, keeps things pretty tidied up.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sue is an interesting piece of office equipment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shouldn’t call her ‘equipment’ but she just
seemed to be included with the office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
seemed shocked and embarrassed at encountering me for her first time in the
office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s what I’d call, in no
derogatory sense at all, a little old blue-haired lady.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her ‘real’ job is the writer of obituaries
for the county paper, “The Donowutt County Record”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s also a printing assistant for that
office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The paper is published out of
the basement of the courthouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve not
been down there yet, but probably will have been by the time this document is
finished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sue worked at one of the two
desks in my office for many years before I arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was vacant, so she put it to practical
use. She asked if she could be my assistant because she was bored writing just
obituaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I agreed, pending my finding
out rules of the job that might preclude that, but, my certificate of
appointment said my duties were to be performed in accordance with rules of the
Office of Recorder of Events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I
discovered those rules are written and adapted by the Recorder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems I get to make my own rules for the
job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, Sue knows her way around
both the Courthouse and the county, and that will be a great help for me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The office alone holds a wealth of information that would
provide me with fuel for writing for years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Three walls are lined with five foot file cabinets, punctuated by the two
windows and a narrow door behind which I’d not yet explored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those cabinets hold copies of all the county
papers back to when they started in the 1840s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I looked at one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wow! That’s some
brittle paper now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see digitizing
those as a project some day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder
how difficult that is?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh well, on with
the tour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other cabinets held records on
individuals –biographies, trivia and so much more. Cabinets of histories of
each of the cities in the county –oh this is neat!—even former and
unincorporated towns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am REALLY going
to have fun hunting through all this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now I’m wondering if Ruby has tapped into this resource.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s a history enthusiast and home schooler
in Thistle Dew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I heard she likes to
write on important and unique citizens of the county.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it’s only for her home town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, she wrote a paper for school on
Redtail.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I should probably wander the building some –oh yeah, the
office furniture!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s all in wonderful
condition, but it looks like it’s all World War II vintage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s beautiful stuff!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Big desks, wooden chairs –they roll and tilt,
but not so far they try to throw you out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the long wall opposite the windows, are two deep cushy-looking padded
chairs flanking a long dark wood coffee table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A large stand-up height table is by the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m guessing it’s to spread open
newspapers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll get back to other
details of the office later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On to the
rest of the building.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Starting back outside in front of the main entrance, you walk up the wide concrete steps
and come to four doors: double set in the middle with two singles at each
side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Step inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About 15 feet straight ahead is a flight of
stairs to the second floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On either
side of the stairs are carpeted areas, each equipped with desk and chair, like
temporary workspaces if needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Long
hallways extend down past the stairway on either side, and those halls are
lined with wooden benches, almost like church pews between the multitude of
offices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My office is the first office
on the left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why an office like Recorder
of Events is located there escapes me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’d think a more important office like county collector or assessor’s
office should be most accessible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still,
it affords me a nice vantage point to observe the comings and goings of county
business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess since the Courthouse
is the hub of county business, I should tell you a little of what I know, or
<i>the</i> little I know, of county government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Being effectively lost to the state and nation, the government has to be
self-sustaining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it’s really a
neat set-up.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Donowutt County is divided into three regions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The western region is mostly flat farmland
with its main city being Midtown –named because it’s really mid-sized in
comparison to others in the county.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
central region is the Missouri highway 13 corridor, and it contains the two
largest cities in the county, Higginsburg and Big River.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The eastern region is rocky and hilly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looked promising for lead mining, but I
don’t really know yet, whatever became of that undertaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know at least the Nowhere (pronounced
now-here) project was abandoned before it took off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the region in which Redtail and her
home town of Thistle Dew, or Wilder is located.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The eastern region also has the small town of Baldspot in the north.
Each of the three regions has a commissioner, elected by the people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those three commissioners choose from among
them one to be the head administrator, or Count or Countess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He or she heads the county, so it’s a fitting
title.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The region from which the count
is selected then re-elects a commissioner as a replacement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That way the Count can perform duties in a less biased manner.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The count holds the office for six years, but can be ‘fired’
by the Posse which is selected by the head judge and law enforcement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s starting to sound like a police state,
but it’s really far from it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Posse
is made up of volunteer citizens, but, they’re selected by Law Enforcement and
sort of appointed to their positions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They can decline the appointment with no ill repercussions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Posse is an independent citizen watch group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This group, however. has the power to remove
the head judge and members of the commissionership if their behavior is deemed
unethical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not real clear on how
this is done yet, but it’s an area to look in on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An appointment to The Posse is a lifetime
appointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Membership can be revoked
by two-thirds vote of Posse members and unanimous vote of the judges, or a
member can resign voluntarily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Posse
serves as the eyes and ears of Donowutt County Law Enforcement (DCLE).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Posse is organized like a military
organization, and often assists DCLE as needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was formed during the Quantrill episodes in the 1860s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Posse ran Quantrill and his men out of
Donowutt County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My office shares a wall
with Posse headquarters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might be fun
to listen in on what goes on there, but they’re just a spooky enough group I
wouldn’t want to be caught doing that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Posse has a conference room under the main stairs and toward the
back of the Courthouse building, pretty much in the middle. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Posse’s distribution throughout the county
and their connections with DCLE serves to keep misbehavior in the county to a
minimum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m on pretty good terms with several
members, and with the head judge, whose office is upstairs.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The whole DCLE and commissionership organization is nicely
self-monitoring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Commissioners are
voted by the populace, and the head judge is appointed by the Count/ess to a 10
year, potentially repeating term.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
judge and sheriff, who is elected, select the law enforcement personnel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The law enforcement folks observe and
recommend Posse members who are screened and approved by the judge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Posse has power to remove the
commissionership and it takes the Posse and the commissionership to remove
Posse members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think the commissioners
can replace judges, too, but I’d have to double-check that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the system really checks and balances
itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now, back to the Courthouse
building.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The next office down from The Posse’s office is the County Clerk’s
Office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It oversees all county, state
and national ballots and elections and serves as a resource center for
municipal activities in that area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Somehow, and I’m not sure how yet, Donowutt County has access to higher
government elections and voting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also
have Post Offices, yet, we remain strangely elusive to outsiders of the county,
bordering on their thinking many times that we might even be fictitious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That seclusion has its perks.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That about sums up the north wall of my hallway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My office is about 30 feet, east to west and
about 12 feet wide north to south.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don’t think that hall looks a hundred feet long, so I’d guess the other offices
couldn’t be quite so spacious as mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll have to poke my head inside to snoop someday under the guise of
introducing myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Back over to the main entrance where we started, facing the
stairs, but to the south hallway this time, the first office on the right,
straight south of mine, is the Sheriff’s and Juvenile Officer’s office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have another more-regularly used office
in their annex, but it’s their presence in the Courthouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To the east and opposite The Posse’s Office
is the County Collector’s and County Treasurer’s office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d not really considered much how tax
collection takes place, but taxes are collected in about the same proportions
as in the rest of the state, but since Donowutt County is really lost to the
rest of the world, income which would otherwise have been routed to state and
national government is collected in case the county is found and everyone
demands back taxes, but more as a fund to be used with discretion for projects
as needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The county might come across
as poor, but it’s not at all lacking in funds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s a benefit of conservative spending practices.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Next to the Collector's and Treasurer's office and opposite the County Clerk’s
office is the office of Assessor and Surveyor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All up the east end of the building are the commissionership
offices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two entrances open on the north
hall and two on the south.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I briefly
covered that side of my floor, since I only spend brief time there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll get back some time, but I need to give
you the quick tour of the upstairs, or court offices, then the basement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s head back to the main entrance.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Standing by the main doors again, look straight ahead. Up
the stairs and stop at the top puts us on the judicial floor of the Courthouse.
On the east wall is a row of benches like those which line the halls on the
main floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the north and south ends
of the benches are wide doors which open on the north and south courtrooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t see a need for two courtrooms as
their trial load isn’t that much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe
earlier times were rougher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turning an
about face and looking west, gives us a view back down the stairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To the north and south of that stairs
corridor but still on the judicial floor are two doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They open into hallways to access the judges,
prosecuting attorney, circuit clerk and court offices and jury deliberation
rooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can likely get head Judge
Noyugo to give us a better tour of the judicial floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s head back downstairs to the main
floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We turn around and look
to the desks on either side of the stairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Behind those north and south exposed offices are doors on either side of
that central stairwell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those doors open
to stairs down to the basement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since
I’m most familiar with my hallway, we’ll use that door and head down and to the
south.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That bottom landing puts us almost
in the middle of the basement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll
turn left and face east. To our right and left are stairs leading up to the main
floor. In front of us is a fairly large enclosed conference room with wide
hallways on either side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Directly behind
us is a door to the Emergency Management Office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stepping out into the hallway in front of the
conference room and looking left and along the entire north side of the
basement is the Donowutt County Record newspaper office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Outsiders may see the paper’s office being in
the basement of the Courthouse as a conflict of interest, but it doesn’t seem
to keep them from slamming county governmental decisions as they’re
needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll have to see if Sue knows
more about that topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Behind us and on
the south wall are three more offices and a hallway. From left to right along
the south wall are a vacant office, the Public Administrator’s office and the
County Recorder’s office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Opposite the
Recorder’s office is the Human Relations office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I think that about sums up the contents of the Donowutt
County Courthouse. I know I left out lots of detail, but I won’t really
know how much until I learn the Courthouse a little better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mentioned the Sheriff’s office on the main
floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The DCLE is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>such a big part of County operations, I
should mention a little about their organization, since part is in the
Courthouse.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Donowutt County Law Enforcement is rather unique as law
enforcement goes, which shouldn’t really be surprising by now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They seem to have connections with outside
law enforcement agencies, but outside agencies seem to hesitate mentioning
their possible awareness of Donowutt County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They have access to missing persons and abduction networks, as well as
wanted lists and so forth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Sheriff’s
office oversees operations for the whole DCLE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Sheriff appoints police chiefs to the various municipalities which
maintain offices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Officers are assigned
under the chiefs but all have jurisdiction throughout the county.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Officers are appointed by the Sheriff’s
office and the head judge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Sheriff
and Judge select these officers from a pool of applicants maintained by the
assistant judges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of this might
sound confusing, and I hope I didn’t get it too jumbled up here. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ll try to get an appointment with Judge Noyugo to see what
he can tell us about his judicial floor of the building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll also talk more with Sue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got some friends in DCLE and other
places in the county whom I met through my pursuit of Redtail’s story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you haven’t heard her story, it’s really
quite interesting and fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I better be
heading home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tomorrow’s another day.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">*** ***</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Good morning all!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Today, I think I’ll snoop around in the file cabinets in my office and
try to find Judge Noyugo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who knows what
else may happen?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I certainly don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This furniture in here is beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The file cabinets look like they’re made of a
dark oak and they’re highly polished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
all look brand new, but I’m sure they’re quite old originals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s see now, on my west wall, the short one
to the left just as you step in the office, has four cabinets and the mystery
door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Behind the open door is a
wood-posted coat rack with brass hooks and legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The post looks darker than the other wood
furniture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m guessing it might’ve been
an afterthought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sweater must be Sue’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder where she might be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably down working on the D.C.
Record.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it’s like usual, she’ll be in
and out fairly often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ha!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Like usual”!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I really can’t say I’ve got a usual, since I’m so new in here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m pretty much discovering the place with
you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wow, this is some excellent handwriting on these file
cabinet drawer labels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder if Sue
did these.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looks like whoever made
these used a copperplate calligraphy pen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’d tried those from time to time, but my lines always turned out ugly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mmmm the smell is like history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt a faint rumble in the first drawer as
I pulled it open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bearings in the
glides still felt smooth, but maybe they could use a little oil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This organization of the old papers is
wonderful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess it’s intuitive,
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looks like the most frequently
the paper was published was weekly, but dropped back to monthly during the late
1910s and back to weekly in the ‘20s to drop back to monthly and even quarterly
during the early 1930s to pick back up again to weekly around 1935.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll guess World War II conservation of
resources forced it to drop to monthly in 1942.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>From 1947 to the present the paper’s stayed a monthly publication.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this is getting me to think maybe part of
this office is being used as a Donowutt County Record archive?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, I’m not going to suggest it should be
stored in the basement with other paper stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These will be fun to browse.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I tugged on the door in the wall, but it seemed to be
painted shut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I poked my pocket knife
into the joint where the door contacted the frame and tried to pry a bit, but
to no avail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess for now, the door
will have to remain a mystery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I’m
into the northwest corner of the office where stands a floor lamp near Sue’s
desk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The desks are spacious things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They both seem to be executive-size.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More file cabinets along the north wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two tall ones like on the west wall, and two
short ones under the window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several
more tall cabinets, the middle window and two shorties, followed by more talls,
another window with shorties and two more talls in that corner, with another floor
lamp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along the east wall is four more
file cabinets.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The south wall of my office is lined from left to right with
a chair, a low table and another chair with floor lamps beside each chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those are straight across from my desk,
implying I might be having guests from time to time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right of the chairs and lamps is a taller
broad table with ample drawers beneath, and back to the door, directly to the
right of the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then there’s my
desk, which occupies the northeast corner of the office. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I sat down in my hard wood rolling swivel and tilting
chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is surprisingly
comfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stretched my arms out and
put my spread my hands palm down on the desktop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I breathed deep a couple times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scanning the surroundings I picked up on more
details of the office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The floor was
tiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d guess the ivory color used to
be white, but yellowed over the years of thick waxing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s probably asbestos tiles, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All around the room, from floor to chair
bump-rail, is vertical wood shiplap paneling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Above that is almost-smooth plaster wall painted ivory in a seeming
attempt to match the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh wow, I’d
not noticed the narrow windows along the south wall ceiling until just
now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all seem to have the option of
opening inward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder how the heating
and air conditioning works?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It feels warmish
in here, but still comfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I smiled
as the window air conditioning unit registered for the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’ll be fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looks like a pretty big unit, but this is
a pretty big room, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I close my eyes,
smiled and took another comfortable long breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The door gave a little creak and I jumped.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sue said, “Oh I’m sorry, am I disturbing you?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“No, I was just regrouping to try to take in more of this
new office of mine, or, I mean, ours.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s your office, sir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m just borrowing space.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Na, it’s your office, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By the way, do you know what’s behind that door in your corner?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I really don’t know, but I think it was sealed off because
it was too narrow to access that closet quite right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The closet access is from the hallway now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the unlabeled door next to ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s really our closet, and our computer
printer is in there, too.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The printer’s in there?” I scanned the room to confirm no
printer to be seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My computer was on
the low cabinets behind my desk under the window. And that seemed to be the
only computer in the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Isn’t the
printer being in another room inconvenient?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The computer was such a joy to have, and the old fanfold
dot-matrix printer we used to have took so much space and was so noisy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was wonderful to graduate to a wireless
but more remote printer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve gotten
quite used to it.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I smiled. “I guess I’ll get used to it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are there any building quirks or people with
strange behaviors I should be aware of?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The people here are great, and I’ll let you develop your
own opinions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want mine to
affect your relations one way or another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think we’re all a pretty decent bunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmmm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The custodial and maintenance crew keep
things running pretty smooth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Willie
keeps on top of our needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He always
says, “Things should always be in such good condition the building crew is
never felt to be needed.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He tries to
anticipate everything before it gets noticed by others.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Who’s Willie?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Willie Thomas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s
the head of Facilities Maintenance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
works out of Annex One.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s another
building in the County Government Complex.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Complex?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many
buildings are we talking about?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Now let me see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There’s this one, the Maintenance Building or Annex One, the Law Enforcement
complex, which is a couple buildings down the street a ways, and then there’s
the big storage and supplies center building or Annex Two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, there’s a few buildings for Willie to
keep track of.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A single sharp rap on the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It opened and in stepped a man looking to be
around 50 yrs old dark hair with frosty sides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It looked like he was dressed in olive drab maintenance clothes, which
turned out to be military fatigues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah,
he also had lots more hair than I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anyway, he began. “I heard I got a new next door neighbor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m Mo Anderson, Posse commander.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Welcome aboard!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He extended a hand and big smile.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We exchanged handshakes and I asked, “Might you be available
to answer some of my newcomer questions some time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve not been here long enough to know what
to ask yet.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He replied, “Yeah, I think I could do that for ya. Well, I
gotta run for now, but I thought I’d poke my head in and say ‘hi’ since I
caught you here.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he slipped out.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sue said, “He’s a scurrier, but he’s friendly enough.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I gave a little laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sue asked about it, so I said, “My head does weird stuff sometimes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The thought, ‘I wonder if anyone calls him
Commanderson?’ popped into my head.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sue shook her head. “Oh boy, this’ll be an interesting work
relationship.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I’ll try to behave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think I’ll wander upstairs and see if Judge Noyugo is in.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s Wednesday, and I know he hears cases on Tuesday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might be able to catch him in his
office.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Is there a telephone directory of people who work here
somewhere?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The only directory I’d ever used is the one out in the
lobby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess I got used to walking to
an office if I needed to talk to anyone.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“That must be how you stay so sleek and trim.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sue laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I headed
up to the judge’s office.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The stairs to the judicial floor was brightly lit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why hadn’t I noticed the big skylight right
over the stairs earlier?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh well.
Shoot!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should’ve looked at that
directory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe his door’s labled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned right and walked back along the
stair corridor to a door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I slowly
opened it, and it opened onto another hallway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To my right was the Courts and Circuit Clerk office. Straight ahead was
a jury deliberation room, so I turned left and walked to the corner of the hall
and took another left. Two offices on that hall labeled Associate Judge, and
the courtroom, so I backtracked and took the door to the right of the stair
landing.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Again, but to the left, was apparently<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a second door to the Court and Circuit
Clerk’s office, and another deliberation room ahead of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned right this time to the corner and
took a right down that hall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That looked
more promising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first office was
labeled “Donowutt County Judge”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just to
be sure, I looked at the next office and it was labeled, Prosecuting
Attorney.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of the hall, like
the other side was a door labeled Courtroom. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I knocked lightly but audibly on the County Judge’s
door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A low voice answered, “Please come
in.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I opened the door and Judge Hugo Noyugo stood up and
extended his hand, “Ah, you must be Mr.A. our new Recorder of Events!”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Yes, I’m trying to learn my way around the building, and
got the impression you were quite in-the-know regarding the history of the
county and the Courthouse.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I heard the story of Quantrill’s burning of the original courthouse
and the rebuilding in the 1870s.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“OK, so you’ve got a little background on the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably picked that up while writing about
Redtail, I’m guessing?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You really do have your finger on the pulse of the County,
don’t you?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I’ve got some pretty good connections here and there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you met the commissioners?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I met a commissioner when he gave me my certificate of
appointment as Recorder of Events, but he disappeared quite quickly after
giving me the document.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a fairly
small-framed man.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Ah, that’d be Western Commissioner, Hank, if he’s a small
guy, delivering something on behalf of the Count.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gets stuck with a lot of those duties
since his office is next door to the Count’s.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“So Hank’s office would be in the northeast corner of my
hallway then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things are actually
beginning to fall into place for me.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Donowutt County’s not all that complicated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should watch a trial some time, or attend
a Posse meeting.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“They’d allow me to attend a Posse meeting?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Oh yes, it’s not a secret organization, by any means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just not the easiest group to be a part
of, and it requires some fairly intense dedication from time to time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, you’d need to get permission, and
my recommendation probably wouldn’t hurt, either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meeting attendance and going on a mission are
two completely different things.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I could see that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do
you normally hear cases on Tuesdays?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We get lots of petty stuff, but very few jury trials
anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tales of Posse’s vigilant eyes
and rumors of Rainy Island Prison serve to keep the would-be evil-doers pretty
much in check.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Rainy Island Prison seems to be a topic of its own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A whole book could be written about the
rumors alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s see now –Quantrill burnt
the old courthouse and most of the school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Did you know the school got re-built on the same site, eventually
becoming the library, and the Courthouse got rebuilt on its new site, here?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I heard the Courthouse got rebuilt, but I didn’t hear the
site was changed.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The particulars on that escape me right now, but hey, you
could look all that up in your papers archive.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I certainly do have lots to research.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, I better let you get back to work, and
I’ll probably be around Tuesday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll
see about that Posse meeting, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was good meeting you, Judge.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“And you, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
like old stories, you might check out The Three Maidens Bardic Nights on
Fridays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re outside the east end of
town just up into the hills a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
also like to drop by The Bumpy Log Social Club over in Nowhere on Tuesday
nights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They usually let me do a lot of
tale weaving then.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I let the Judge get on with his day, and I headed back to
the office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sue looked up from her desk.
“Was the Judge in?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Yes he was, and he tipped me off to court on Tuesdays and
that I might like to attend a Posse meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wonder if our newspapers give hints as to how the Courthouse was
rebuilt and why this site was selected?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sue straightened up to go to the file cabinet.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Oh, don’t look that up for me now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m still trying to round up things to write
about”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She smiled and settled back to her whatever it is she was
doing.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“So Sue, how did you land a job writing obituaries?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That seems like an odd assignment.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s not all I do.” She laughed. “I also monitor
subscriptions, do the billing and accounting stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sort of a behind-the-scenes office
assistant, and they give me all the obituaries to write.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not really sure why.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I sat down at my desk and turned around to face the
computer.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sue turned toward me and crossed her arms across her
chest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Perhaps you could tell me, how
you landed your job, and what it is that you do?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">An awkward silence followed her question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sat back, looked at the window and said, “Ya
know, I’m not really sure how I got the job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was just handed to me –almost literally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no job description, and the
certificate seems to imply that the job is mine and I decide what the job
is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m thinking it’s sort of like a
historian or reporter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think what I
might try until I’m told otherwise, is to snoop around the county and write
about what I find.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And here’s where it
feels really weird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know lots of stuff
happened before I arrived on the scene, but if I don’t write it nobody will
know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s a whole county of people
in Donowutt County, but they’re literally quite unknown or non-existent until I
write about ‘em.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe that’s what the Commissioner
meant when he relayed the Count’s words of ‘if I don’t write it, it didn’t
happen. Maybe the nickname folks gave me, Mister Author, is more fitting than I
thought.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sue gave a little squeak, smiled, and as she turned back to
her desk, said, “Hmm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cool.” </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Her response implied I gave a satisfactory answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I’m not sure that it should be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, I know of so much stuff that’s
happened here, but nobody else does until I write it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like I create the very existence of so
much in Donowutt County…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, stop
it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You always thought philosophy was a
silly undertaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe this job is
lots more important than I originally thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>OK, I gotta get off this train of thought.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A gentle knock on the door, and a head squeezed through. He
stepped in followed by a girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They both
looked in their teens, and they just stood there smiling at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What can I do for you two?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The boy said, “You don’t recognize us, do you?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The girl smiled as if I was to get a flash of
revelation that two long lost friends found me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I almost feel bad about this, but I really can’t place you.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The girl sighed and gave a light stomp. “I’m Ruby, from The
Relics.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The boy broke right in, “And I’m Rick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re the historians over at the museum in
Thistle Dew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Relics is the name of
our home school co-op, ‘cuz we all meet in the museum.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You wrote about us in Redtail’s story.” said Ruby. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh! Oh!” she gasped as she looked around the
office. She giggled, “He didn’t recognize us because this is a different story
and we’re new characters here!”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rick argued, “It’s all part of Donowutt County, so we’re not
really new to Mr.A.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He should’ve… Never
mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, we’d love to help you out
with your new Recorder of Events job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve
been writing a bunch on Thistle Dew with lots of spinoffs to other parts of the
county.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ruby put her head down and grinned while she whispered, “Wilder.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rick gave her a gentle elbow nudge.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I told them to have a seat, and they could very likely help
me in my job, or at least in trying to develop what it should be.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ruby said, “We heard you got the job as Recorder of Events
for the county, and we thought that was pretty cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We wanted to visit and see if we could help”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She shifted a bit in her chair, “So you’re
writing about the whole county now, instead of just Redtail and her life in
Wilder?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rick softly growled, “Thistle Dew.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ruby blew a little raspberry at him.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I better tell you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thistle Dew and Wilder are the same town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the 1820s when places were all registering
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fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“So, Historians, what do you know about that fire incident at the
courthouse in the 1860s?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked at
Ruby, “And yes, I’ve pretty much been writing about the County since finding it
through Redtail.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rick toned down the kid in him and got more business-like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ruby did likewise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rick began, “Many towns in Donowutt County
have fun stories behind their names.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About
all that really remained after the fire <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Ruby broke in, “Not really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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history. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was, in fact, a Higgins who
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</p><p class="MsoNormal">Rick said, “It was mid July in 1863 that William Quantrill
and his men came through Donowutt County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By then, the county was already used to not being on maps, but Quantrill
didn’t like that idea.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ruby snorted lightly, “Judge Noyugo calls them Billy
Quantrill and his Merry Men.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I added, “Yeah, I could see him doing that.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rick continued, “Quantrill and his men were giving the
people a hard time about being northern sympathizers, because they couldn’t
explain why we weren’t on their map.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d
have loved it if they could get us back into the world, but we’re kinda used to
it now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We actually enjoy our
seclusion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, they pushed people
around and many got hurt as they tried to fight answers out of us that they
wanted to hear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They wanted us to
confess so they could burn and loot and slaughter as they wished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They probably would have anyway, had it not
been for the formation of The Posse.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ruby said, “See, Higginsburg isn’t such a boring name!”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah, yeah,” Rick continued, “Max Higgins, grandson of the
guy who suggested the site for Higginsburg’s permanent relocation, is the guy
who formed The Posse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He rounded up over
a hundred guys from Higginsburg, Big River, Thistle Dew…” Rick glanced at
Ruby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She only smiled. “and
Midtown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were on the march into
Higginsburg when the Quantrill Raiders set the courthouse on fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wow, those bullies weren’t expecting the
reception they got.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Four or five of them
were killed and they never did spot The Posse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They left quick, and as they were regrouping to come back, The Posse
fell on them again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Max Higgins and
several others broke from The Posse to come back and put down the fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was dry, July, so the courthouse went
pretty fast, but they managed to save a big chunk of the school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was the wall which had the library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There wasn’t enough left of the courthouse to
rebuild or even salvage, but they rebuilt the school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the school moved to a bigger building,
the old school became the public library in memory of Max Higgins saving that
wall.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The Civil War,” I pondered aloud, “must’ve been a rough
time for everybody.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ruby said, “I don’t know about for Donowutt County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Except for the Quantrill thing, we pretty
much had no clue what was going on, other than news we got from the outside.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She glanced at Rick. “And I guess I gotta
admit, Wilder’s official name is probably Thistle Dew, since the Post Office
has that name.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I said to Ruby, “You seemed so nervous most of the time
while interviewing Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You sure
seem to have lightened up since then.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rick said, “See?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He remembers
us now!”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“This isn’t really an interview,” said Ruby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No pressure, and besides, my mom’s not with us
either.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I think you guys would be quite helpful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know quite where I’m going with this
job yet, but whenever you’re in town drop on by and we’ll see what ya got.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sue said, “Or come by the paper office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can probably put you to work folding the
papers or coloring the black and white pictures.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ruby’s mouth dropped. “Really? Like you have to fold all the
papers?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rick laughed. “You’re kidding, right?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sue smiled and said, “Oh no, the papers are really
mechanically folded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a neat process
to watch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You want to do that some time?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I smiled and shook my finger at Sue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ruby gave Rick a glare, and he laughed
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked back to Sue and said, “I
think that would be interesting!”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I glanced at the clock. “I think I better be headed out for
the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got a 6:00 appointment
tonight and I’d like to be ready for that, whatever that may entail.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rick and Ruby got up and the three of us departed
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I almost think Sue lives
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s there in the morning, and I
don’t ever see her leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got
outdoors and Ruby turned and waved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
wanted to make a stop at Fabric Fashion and Fun Craft store on their way back
to Thistle Dew –or Wilder.</p><br />Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16953582155385508486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652144083113344298.post-59537786167235347762020-10-12T14:56:00.005-07:002021-02-11T12:48:52.835-08:00Chapter 34<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal">(earlier story: <a href="http://ognyen.blogspot.com/2018/12/chap-28.html">http://ognyen.blogspot.com/2018/12/chap-28.html</a> )<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">***Chapter 34***</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Redtail opened her eyes and stretched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She smiled, thinking about her lack of
scheduled plans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the random
thoughts struck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing planned except
three afternoons a week at the hardware store, and today is Thursday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her hardware days were Monday, Wednesday and
Friday. Redtail hoped she’d get a special order tomorrow at work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Special orders were for the T.D.Fera plant
just outside of town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s where Lena
works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail was excited about her
first day at work tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’d heard
about those orders on the few other times she’d informally covered for Big Al
when he had to go on errands. Going to work tomorrow gave Redtail the feeling
she was settling in to life in her new environment.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Redtail looked forward to the Monday, Wednesday, Friday,
walks and rides to town and learning where all the good forage was
located.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She liked the idea of regular
forage, library and hardware days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
thought, “I think I’ll go for a groceries walk and to turn in my library books
to see how long a leisurely walk to town takes.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Redtail took care of her morning necessities and rounded up
her library books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked at her
dried meat and decided to take a few slabs of fish with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fish would be supplemented by forage on
the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail packed her forage bag,
tire iron, pocket knife, books and food and set off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She even poked a note under George’s
windshield wiper. “Grandpa, I’m headed into town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should be back mid to late afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She reached down and gave Mr. Ziffel a head scratching and began her
trip.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Halfway up the driveway, Redtail noticed Mr. Ziffel trotting
along side her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m going all the way
in to town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may be a long walk and I
don’t have a planned ride back.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mr. Ziffel stopped for a bit and sat down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He scratched himself behind the ear with a
hind leg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave Redtail a smile and
let his tongue flop out the side of his mouth. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“So we’re good then?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mr. Ziffel thumped his tail on the ground a couple times and
rolled over to give himself a back massage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail laughed and continued up the drive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tall plants by the driveway got her wondering
how many different kinds of wild lettuce there might be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knew of prickly lettuce, and knew these tall
ones were with the latucas, as well.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Directly across the road from the drive grew a small patch
of blackberries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail wondered who
owned the property, so she could ask to forage some.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She headed west on ZZ, walking on the edge of
the road so she could slip off should any vehicular traffic approach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was still early enough in the day that the
chicory flowers looked like a light blue fog along the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail slipped off and pulled a couple dozen
plants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She shook most of the dirt off
the roots and folded the plants into her bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The road turned north and near a trickle of a creek, she found
smartweed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Smartweed is one of the
knotweeds or polygonums.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail wasn’t
certain of its ID until she nibbled a bit to see if it made her tongue smart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was, indeed, smartweed!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The red sumac berries started to turn brown and it hadn’t
rained hard lately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail stepped off
the road and pinched some berries between her fingertips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She tasted her fingers and smiled as the
tartness caused her face to pucker up some.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She broke off four berry clusters, thinking, “These oughtta make for
some refreshing drink!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail stepped
back up to the road and continued her trek, thinking, “I should keep walking
and not stopping so often for forage.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Oh, OK, I’ll stop for some of those.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail stepped off the road again to break odd
some young milkweed pods. “I don’t know who said milkweeds are toxic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shoots are edible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The flowers are edible and these young pods
are edible, too!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail heard a car
approaching and looked up quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
car started to slow and came to a stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail recognized Kitty driving and waved, as Kitty rolled down the
window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Good morning, Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Would you like a ride in to town?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I would, but I’m sorta walking for time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See, I start my new job tomorrow and need an
idea of how much time to allow, but thank you!”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Where do you work now?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Redtail said, “Big Al’s got me at the hardware, Monday,
Wednesday and Friday afternoons.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kitty said, “That should be fun!”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s mostly to allow Al time for errands in to Higginsburg
and other stuff as needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think he
might’ve felt sorry for me, too.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail laughed.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kitty said, “Well, you walk safely.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kitty waved and rolled up her window and drove off.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Redtail waved, and swatted the air as a couple Japanese
beetles dove at her. “I think I’ll spring for a two liter bottle of soda when I
get ready to leave town today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel
like I’m wasting good food by not taking advantage of those beetles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s just so many of them!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She thought about the little plastic coffee
creamer jars at the Bumpy Log and how they’d make convenient collection
jars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The little flip top spout would
make for easy access to add insects while minimizing escapes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About a hundred yards farther down the road,
Redtail found a plastic water bottle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I’ll use this for a collection jar until something better comes along!”
While she was catching the nearby cricket, she found a cap for the bottle –not
perfect, but it fit tightly enough to prevent escape.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The engine revved and gravel scritched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail didn’t see it, but she smiled,
knowing she was getting close to town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
deer fly pestered her a bit, then Redtail heard a low buzzing quickly getting
louder and louder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She swatted at the
deerfly again, and the low buzz peaked and faded off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She saw the robber fly land on a nearby weed
to eat its freshly caught deerfly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I like you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A fat clumsy differential grasshopper caught Redtail’s attention and she
pounced on it, adding it to her collection jar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Little Al accompanied a lady out to her car at the station and they
popped the hood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another car turned into
Thistle Dew’s town square.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
closed her eyes, took a deep breath and joyfully exhaled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I like home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think this is home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sure
feels homey!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Not many blooming dandelions, but the town square was
covered with mowed clover and violet foliage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She went up to a tree and snapped off some of the taller violet leaves,
and went into the hardware store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Jingle creak, jingle.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
caught the door before is slapped shut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Big Al bid Redtail greetings and glanced at the
calendar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“OK, this is a social
visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not Friday yet.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“No, I thought I should see how much time to allow to get
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t have any problem at all
–even if I oversleep.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I wonder what time you left?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s barely after 9:00.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Redtail cocked an eyebrow. “Hmm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just what time I DID leave?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hate to get a clock to know for sure,
because I think I might try to push the limits then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Al, if I was to get into town a bit early on
work days, could I leave collected forage in the fridge when I got here?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You can leave stuff in the fridge even if it’s NOT a work
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The store can be a base for you whenever
you’re in town.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Thank you so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
won’t today, because I’m headed right back after I stop by the library.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Creak, jingle, slap, jingle,” went the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A round guy in maybe his mid-40s came in
looking apprehensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Can I place an
order for special manufacture here?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Big Al called Redtail over, and said, “Yes, this is the
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it can be described in words,
it can probably be made at T.D.Fera Manufacturing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail, you wanna watch a special order?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eagerly, Redtail set her things down and took a place behind
the counter, but not crowding Al. “I’ve been hoping to see one before I started
working here, or at least real soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is great!”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The man twisted his face a bit and said with a touch of
hesitation, “I want to keep a lawn in Higginsburg in pristine visual
condition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s at the bank on the
corner of 13 and Main.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems spray
doesn’t keep the weeds down quite like I want it, so I want a tool to cut
flower heads without having to stoop over.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Al cocked his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I know where your bank is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
kind of flowers are you wanting to cut?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Mostly dandelions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Others aren’t coming to mind right now.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Redtail said, “Sounds like it’d be a handy tool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I might even want one.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The man looked at Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“You a grounds keeper?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Oh no, but I’m a forager, and dandelion flowers are mighty
tasty fare.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He smiled, and went back to describing his tool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m imagining a sort of deeply toothed comb
with a little basket in the back, on a long handle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The teeth would glide through the grass, but
catch on those thicker dandelion heads and snip them off and they’d fall into
the basket.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Redtail smiled. “I can almost see it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I picture it about 6-8” wide with comb-teeth
about an inch and a half long and gaps of about an eighth of an inch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And on the back would be a basket-like attachment
like one of those long-handled dustpans.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The man gave a little laugh and asked, “Have you seen one of
those?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That sounds just like what I’m
after!”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Al stepped aside and motioned Redtail to step in to do the
paperwork.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The form is self-explanatory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hard part is writing a details but
concise description.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Can I draw a picture or can we attach something the
customer brings?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Al said, “Yeah, anything to make it easy for the plant to
decipher.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“OK, so, name, address, phone or e-mail or preferred contact
method, description.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we take any
money now or is it on delivery?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“T.D.Fera looks over the request and makes an estimate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The customer is notified and makes a 50% down
payment, with the rest due on delivery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Their prices really aren’t bad at all for special order manufacturing.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Redtail smiled at the customer and turned to Al. “The form
seems complete, so how do we submit the order?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“When the order’s done, we just leave the paperwork in the
‘plant basket’ on the desk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Lena
doesn’t pick it up by the next morning, I’ll call it in or work something
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s one of the things your being
here will help me take care of.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Redtail said, “That sounds easier to do than to explain.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah, we try to be informal but still effective and
timely.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Redtail asked, “How long does an order usually take to
fill?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Al looked at their customer. “I tell the customers usually
around a week, but usually, it’s quicker.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The customer said, “I was about to ask that.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Redtail said, “I’m glad I popped in when I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good to get some practical training.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The customer said, “I’m glad you did, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I liked hearing the process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So if I don’t hear from you in a week, I
should start pestering you.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Al laughed. “I guess so, but I hope it only takes a couple
days. We’ll let ya know.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The customer sighed and looked satisfied. “Well, I’ll look
around some here, then take off and wait for the order.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Redtail said, “I’d better head off to the library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Got stuff to return and others to look up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Al, I won’t bill you for my time for this
advanced training.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Al laughed. “I was going to charge YOU for the unscheduled
training session.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Redtail just shook her head and called back, “See you
tomorrow!”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Creak, jingle, slap.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Redtail passed in front of the bait and tackle store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She smiled and waved to Gus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few steps later, she paused to let a skink
take cover in the boardwalk in front of the library.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Linda-Jean looked up from her desk when the library door
jingled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gave Redtail a vocal
welcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail put her returns on the
circulation desk and requested Internet access.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Got some research to do?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Yes, it hit me that I really need to know what stuff
attracts those biting insects and other bloodsuckers,” said Redtail, “well,
besides nights, full moons, young pretty virgins and that kind of stuff.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Linda-Jean laughed and said, “If you find you’re wanting to
look up vampire stories, we seem to have a glut of those lately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take your pick on the computers.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Redtail took the one closest to the circulation desk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a couple minutes, she announced she’d
figured out how to avoid the biters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“All we seem to have to do is quit breathing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems all the little invertebrate critters
who hunt their blood prey eagerly sense carbon dioxide!”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“That sounds simple enough.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah, I’d seen a mosquito on a toad, and a tick on a
turtle, but really had no clue how they found their stuff,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Stuff like ticks and chiggers just wait for
what happens to come by, but the flying biters and fleas even, all seem to like
CO2 most.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems like deer flies and gnats like dark
colors in addition to CO2, but horseflies like bright shiny stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I don’t know what it is about them, but
stable flies, also known as barn or biting house flies, seem to have a thing
for ankles.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Are stable flies those nasty little ones that seem to love
folks working at a barbecue grill?” </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Redtail smiled, “I think that’s right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And fleas are almost scary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
can wait in their pupae until they sense body heat and vibrations enough to
convince them there’s food nearby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Adults can go for a couple months before they have to have food, and use
body heat, vibrations, and, of course, CO2 to find us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mosquitoes seem to be triggered by CO2, then
hunt for motion if you’re not easy to find.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But it seems CO2 is the main attractor for all these nasty little blood
hunters.”</span><p><br /></p>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16953582155385508486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652144083113344298.post-3992357982596242092019-09-15T15:17:00.004-07:002019-09-20T19:41:04.181-07:00Donowutt County Vignettes 1<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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Donowutt County is located between Kansas City and Columbia,
Missouri, and between the Missouri River and Missouri’s recreational lakes
area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nobody is exactly sure where.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Donowutt County is a geographically elusive
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>won’t find it on any maps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The county is thought to have gotten lost or
misplaced shortly before Missouri attained statehood in 1821.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I touched on this in book one of this
hopefully on-going series, so I’ll spare you the details here.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Normally a county is a geographic subdivision of a state,
formed to ease administration of activities and resources.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Due to Donowutt County’s hidden nature (some
outsiders even go so far as to suggest it is fictional), unique systems of government
and law enforcement developed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Residents
elect three county commissioners: a western commissioner who is over the flat
farm country; the 13 corridor commissioner (aka central commissioner), who is
over the two biggest towns and highway 13 with its adjacent land; and the
eastern commissioner who is over the eastern hill country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These three commissioners, who serve
overlapping three year terms, select one of themselves or they can reappoint
the incumbent to serve as count or countess, who is the chief administrative
officer of the county.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If one of the
three commissioners is selected, a special election is held to fill his or her
vacant office.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The commissionership (to include the count/ess) appoints a
senior judge who serves a 10 year term.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The judge appoints two associate judges, subject to commissioner
approval.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judges appoint city police
chiefs who, in turn run their offices according to their rules.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Possibly unique to Donowutt County is The Posse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Posse is a volunteer citizen watch
program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Members are recommended by the local
police force to the senior judge who then approaches the candidate to assess
their qualifications and desire for the position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a lifetime post and duties are taken
seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Posse has power, in turn,
to remove commissioners and count/ess if it is determined their conduct is
unethical for the smooth operation of the county.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Removal of a Posse member requires a
unanimous vote of the commissionership and a two thirds majority vote of The
Posse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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The Posse serves as the eyes, ears, and if need be,
additional force for the Donowutt County Law Enforcement (DCLE).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Posse, however, is an independent,
self-funded organization very similar to a military force.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>would call them a militia which helps the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>police.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They’ve got a lot of power, but Donowutt County is far from a police
county.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The residents have grown used to the quirks of their
isolation and have come to enjoy it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some of these quirks could be called downright mysterious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those geographical and historical oddities
may have a bit to do with how the county got lost in the first place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s said some folks in the county even work
to insure it stays hidden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that’s
not the point of this writing, so here we go.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Other than government are some county-wide organizations and
clubs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have the What? Where? 4-H
club, a county garden club, Donowutt County Community College, and County
Scouts, to name a few.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boy Scouts won’t
recognize us because with all their map and compass skills, they can’t find
Donowutt County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know if the
Girl Scouts have ever tried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Department of Conservation has an office in Big River and maintains Perry’s
Bend Conservation Area to the west of Higginsburg and wrapping south and
southeast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trials Library System
supports four branches throughout the county and Max Savings Grocery store
chain has four stores: one in Midtown, two in Higginsburg and one in Big
River.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Donowutt County has four high
schools: one in Midtown; one in Big River: one in Higginsburg; Rural Hills High
School in the east central part of the county.</div>
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<br /></div>
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All the incorporated towns have at least one church, and
some have multiple drinking establishments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rainy Island, where Higginsburg started in the early 1800s, houses only
Rainy Island Prison and several pre-colonial buildings attached to the old
manor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It used to be “town”, but no
longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nowhere, which is pronounced,
now-here, was a lead mining town, or was planned to be such, but it’s nothing
more than a crossroads with a name these days.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Except for some patchy hills around Midtown and some in the
north near the river, the western part of the county is quite flat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hills of the eastern part of the county
rise abruptly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a rocky and heavily
forested area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The east and west are
separated by low wetlands in the south and Derche creek which runs north, and
into the river at Big River.</div>
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<br /></div>
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You can see, except for the oddish government and
off-the-map thing, Donowutt County is a fairly ordinary rural Missouri
county.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>History and geography are
important building blocks of a community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What really makes a place come alive, however, are its people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suppose since I’m telling you this story, I
should introduce myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After hanging
around with the locals for a while, they figured out I was writing a book about
one of their favorite residents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
book was my first on Donowutt County and I met so many interesting people I
felt a need to write more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The locals,
of Wilder, mostly, started calling me “that author” or “the author.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wilder’s police dispatcher, Sarah, shortened
that to “Mr. A.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I am Mr. A. or the
author, and it’s my privilege and joy to tell you of my findings in this
wonderful, but elusive place, Donowutt County.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back in 2015, I think, I met a girl who took a summer
vacation trip and ended up in Donowutt County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How I ended up there, too, I don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wasn’t stalking her or anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Somehow, word got out I was writing about the mystery girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Information in Donowutt County travels fast
if it needs to –or wants to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before I
even knew of their existence, The Posse probably told the police, who told a
judge who told a commissioner…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway,
one day while I visited the Donowutt County Courthouse (nice building ripe with
stories), one of the commissioners approached me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He shook my hand vigorously. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought it a pretty hearty handshake for how
tiny he appeared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said, with a voice
of great authority, “Congratulations, Mr. A.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The count, himself, said I was to deliver this Certificate of
Appointment to you, personally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d
have done so himself, but he is away to attend his grandson’s Kindergarten
Christmas program.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took the paper and
looked at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the top, within a
wonderfully-decorated border, was written in two lines,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Donowutt County, Missouri, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Certificate of Appointment”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The body read, in a medieval looking hand-written font,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Unto Witnesses Attending and to Future Readers: Be it
known, Mr. Author, henceforth known in Donowutt County as Mr. A., is hereby
appointed to the lifetime position of Donowutt County, Missouri, Recorder of
Events, whose duties and responsibilities shall be in accordance with rules
established by the Office of Recorder of Events for Donowutt County.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then it looked like a fancy official seal at the bottom with
four signed signature lines: Count, Western Commissioner, Central Commissioner
and Eastern Commissioner.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I looked up and the commissioner who handed me the notice
firmly slapped me on the shoulder, saying, “Welcome aboard!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The count said, “If Mr. A. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>doesn’t write it down, it didn’t happen!” as
he handed me the form.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I glanced back at the certificate and back up, and he was
gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned around to look, and it
was just me in the hallway with a few people carrying on their county
business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave a little laugh as I
looked back at the paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shook my
head and as I turned again, I saw an old brown door with wooden sign which read
in faded greenish white paint, “Recorder of Events” on the top line and in
smaller letters, “Mr. A.” on the second. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked side to side, checked the old worn
round brown metal handle to find the door unlocked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stepped in.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I got up this morning, I had no idea I’d be standing in
an office designated as mine before lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The room was big for a single office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There were two oak desks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oak
file cabinets lined the long wall behind the desks, a short wall and the wall
with the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of the furnishings
looked new, had this been right after World War I.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The whole room was 15x30 feet, by about 10 feet tall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ceiling was covered with patterned brass
tiles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From it hung three hooded single
bulb incandescent light fixtures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
floor was also tiled, but in yellowish ivory colored, probably asbestos
tiles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The years and years of wax
probably had all those hazards well-sealed up.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Each desk had a lamp and at either end of the office was a
tall floor lamp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Behind each desk was a
tall dusty window, each equipped with a long set of Venetian blinds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think this will be a fun office to explore.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I hung my coat on the rack that was
behind the open door and decided to snoop.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was really a step back in time except for the computer on
a makeshift desk under the window behind the far office desk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went over to check it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A note hung on the monitor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It said, “Printer in supplies closet with microfilm
reader.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I took the note off the
monitor, it clicked against the screen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A key was taped to the back of the note.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I guessed it was to the supplies closet, but where was that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll figure it out in time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The chairs behind the desks were varnished oak, just like
the desks and file cabinets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The chairs
swiveled, rolled and tilted, but not so much they’d throw the user out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The desks looked to be about three by six
feet with three drawers on each side with the standard wide narrow drawer top
and center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both desks seemed well
stocked for pre-digital reporters.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I got up and started looking in the file cabinets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They seemed to be full of stories, old census
records, historical data, and two of the cabinets were full of microfilm copies
of the Donowutt County Record, the county paper, going back to 1823 when it
first came out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I jumped when there was
a knock at the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It opened and a little
old blue-haired lady poked her head in and asked if I was the one looking for a
new assistant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told her I hadn’t
requested one but how did she get that impression in the first place?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She said, “Well, I knew you were new here, and Recorder of
Events could be a big job for just one person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve been working here in the courthouse for several years at the paper
presses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also write the
obituaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d like more writing
assignments, if you can understand that.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She went on a bit, “and I don’t have my own office or desk
and I’d been using this one here by the door for several years since it’s been
vacant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll keep you well stocked in
office supplies and writing ideas, if you like.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Office supplies,” I said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Where might I find the supplies closet?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“So you found your key, then?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I taped it there to your, that is, if you
want to use that desk as yours, your computer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The closet is one door to the left of the, or, your office door.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I guess for now, you can call it “the” office or “our”
office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having someone who knows their
way around will be a help,” I said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> "</span>I’ve
got no clue about hiring practices here, but, until I do, feel free to use your
desk and assist as you like.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She gave a little delighted hop, and asked, “Do you want to
see the supplies closet?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Why sure, I think I should know where my printer is at,
since I prefer to do my proofreading on hard-copy, rather than digitally.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She smiled and said, “I’m with you on that one!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her behavior, mannerisms and voice tried to say she was
quite a bit younger than she looked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
think she’ll make a decent enough assistant.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She turned as she walked out the door and said, “By the way,
I’m Sue.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How Frank and Lena Met</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Frank left the station on a call to catch Esther’s dog
–again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lena offered Redtail a ride home
after Frank’s shift, but the last little delay held him up a few minutes
longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So Redtail and Lena hung out
with Sarah, the dispatcher, until Frank got back.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail asked, “Lena, how did you and Frank meet?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“How I
got to the place I met Frank started when I was a little girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was an only child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of folks conclude I must, therefore, be
spoiled rotten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know if I was or
not, but like Popeye says, “I yam what I yam.””</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah leaned back and said, “Well, I ain’t smelt no
spoilage.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena smiled and Redtail laughed, “Me neither.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena continued, “Well good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I guess if the smell’s there, I’m hiding it OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, I was always a daddy’s girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom was cool too, and I never minded doing
kitchen, laundry and other housework, but I went with Daddy for
entertainment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d build stuff in his
shop and he’d always take me hunting and fishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know if we did it all that often, but
they’re strong, fond memories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daddy was
killed in Desert Storm when I was about the age most girls get interested in
messing around with boys’ affections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
when Mom started talking birds and the bees, she made certain to throw in how I
wasn’t to use boys as an attempt to replace Daddy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boys I met didn’t want to build stuff in
the shop, and the one I did get to go fishing with me was more interested in my
bait than with catching any lunch.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I guess
I’d always been sort of a loner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never
felt like wiggling my bait at boys or even flashing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think I was an introvert or anything
labeled like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t feel like
doing girly-girly stuff and never felt called to flirt with the boys –or
girls.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She paused for a drink.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah finished sorting police mail and commented, “That’s
not so weird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always thought Boy
Scouts did cooler stuff than Girl Scouts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>OK, I guess I did wiggle bait from time to time –never shared it, but I
let guys know it was there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course,
I’d act shocked and appalled if one of those boy fish yanked on the
bobber.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too scared to fish really hard,
but still…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail and Lena laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena continued, “Yeah, I hung out with the boys, but I
always felt like one of them instead of wanting one for a pet.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All three laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“In high school, I worked lawn maintenance
and snow removal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After I graduated, I
enlisted in the army.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess wherever I
went, I was the minority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned that
guys look and they LOOK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned to
handle myself in about any situation with guys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Almost always, I could say, “Don’t mess with me,” with just a look of my
own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then there was Frank.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah rolled her eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail said, “Go on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go on.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena smiled, “This is taking longer than I thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, a couple months after I got out of
the army, Judge Noyugo approached me about being part of The Posse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I almost felt teary-eyed when he asked and I
said, “yes,” right away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never did
tell him I used to play Posse in the woods catching bad guys.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I think you’re in understanding company,” said
Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I mean here, your childhood
doesn’t sound weird at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then again,
I’m a girl who lives in the woods, almost totally off the land, and we’re
hanging out at the police station with Sarah, who also hangs out with Grandpa
George.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah said, “Well shoot, Lena, you’re a natural fit with us.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena smiled, “I guess so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t think I’d mentioned playing Posse to anyone else.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, softly, “That’s cool.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena said, “It was about my third Donowutt County Law
Enforcement meeting that I noticed this guy across and at the other end of the
table, looking at me –not LOOKING, but looking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I might’ve let down my guy-guard a bit because I think I might’ve
smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He looked away and convinced me
he was only scanning his surroundings like any police should do.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Aww,” said Sarah, “That’s almost sad.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena said, “Well, I’m almost embarrassed to admit it, but I
looked for him at the next meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
spotted him, felt content, then, pretended to not notice him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Real smart, huh?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She smiled and shook her head.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah said, “Hindsight isn’t always better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really don’t know what I’d’ve done.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail broke the short silence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Then what?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Sorry,” said Lena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I got to thinking about the story instead of telling it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, about two weeks later, at the
Independence Day bash out at Derche Park in Higginsburg, I was helping the kids
at an archery booth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frank must’ve been
on duty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was in uniform and strolled
past my booth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried not to be too
obviously smiling as we exchanged glances to acknowledge each other’s
presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t talk that day
either.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena scowled at herself and continued. “At the next DCLE
meeting, I took my usual seat and Frank took his.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We acknowledged each other with a short
glance, and then I made eye contact with Rob, who was LOOKING at me.” Lena
laughed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I wish I could remember that
next glance I gave him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it said,
“Down boy! Back off!” and “Git!” quite effectively, since he’s always seemed
nervous around me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frank saw my
glance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sat up and scanned the table
to see who it was directed at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frank and
Rob made eye contact, too, and Frank seemed to tell him something with his
look, as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frank and I connected
again and he sat back looking pleased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
smiled and we started paying attention to the meeting that was beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From time to time, I could feel Frank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know how, but we eye-contacted again
a few times and I smiled and mouthed, “What!?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He mouthed back, “Break time.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
think that was the longest meeting we’d ever had, but the clock wouldn’t
confirm it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The judge finished his
business, then the Posse Commander got up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He called me forward, introduced me to the law enforcement folks who
hadn’t already met me and formally requested I accept the position as
Reconnaissance Squad Leader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My head was
swimming, and then it was break time.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“As eager as I was to finally talk to Frank,” said Lena, “I
played it cool and took my time meandering back to the cold drinks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There we were –face to face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We weren’t in each other’s space, but I kept
saying to myself, “What do I say? What do I say?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frank broke that thought train with, “You’re
real pretty.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started to give a
suspicious look and asked, “Come again?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He said, “No, no. Not like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I mean, your pretty ain’t superficial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It runs clear through you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re
not just eye-candy pretty, but you’re the real thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think you have a hidden ugly side.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I think I must’ve turned red,” said Lena, “’cuz I felt all
warm and tingly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, I said, “Well,
I don’t think you know me all that good then.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He said, “I think I do, and if not, I want to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d been reading you the past few months like
a wonderful book, and I can’t put you down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wanna go squirrel huntin’ Saturday?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That clinched it!” Lena laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We been best buddies ever since.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail asked, “Well…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Didja get any?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah and Lena looked at Redtail wide-eyed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail looked puzzled and gasped, “Squirrels!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Squirrels!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They all laughed and Lena said, “Wow, I was wondering just
how much detail you wanted in the story.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just about then the door opened and in walked Frank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lena jumped up and threw a big hug on him and
the others smiled warmly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Frank asked, “What’d I do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>‘Cuz I think I wanna do it again.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<![endif]-->Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16953582155385508486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652144083113344298.post-74245478011458387782018-12-14T18:22:00.006-08:002021-02-11T12:42:54.621-08:00Chap 28<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">(earlier story: <a href="http://ognyen.blogspot.com/2018/03/rt-mac-story-chaps-26-current.html">http://ognyen.blogspot.com/2018/03/rt-mac-story-chaps-26-current.html</a> )<br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal">Chapter 28</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail approached the church grounds and scanned for
edibles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A young grasshopper hopped
sluggishly in the damp grass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, her
mind began wandering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Lots of pineapple
weed and peppergrass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bet the
grasshoppers get pretty thick here later on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The plants look lush and green.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
doubt it’s been sprayed –at least not this year yet.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail got to the front door, to find it still locked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She set her things down on the concrete pad
next to the building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The overcast sky
precluded Redtail’s need to find shade for her stuff.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail straightened back up, stretched and scanned the
church grounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mostly gravel parking
lot and driveways with the rest mowed to the tree line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wasn’t sure how far the church property
extended, so she decided to browse the obvious for potential foraging.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail explored about 20 minutes, and sat down by the front
door to do some munching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she sat
back and closed her eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not long
after, Redtail heard some crunching on the gravel and she opened her eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pastor Tix was walking over from the
parsonage across the parking lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail rustled into more wakefulness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Hi Redtail,” said Pastor Tix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, no need to get up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You here early for some music and crafts?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I guess so.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She got
up and brushed off a bit, then continued. “I’ve got a couple questions you
might be able to help me with.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’ll see what I can do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let me get unlocked here and we can go on in.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail laughed a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Oh, it’s not a sit-down deep theological issue at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I was here Sunday, the kids all seemed
excited about eating wild, so I thought I should take them on an edibles walk.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Eating natural is a pretty hot topic these days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that’d be fun and timely.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“My questions were: Are the parking lot and mowed area the
extent of the church grounds? And how often does the place get sprayed?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pastor Tix said, “Those woods are ours, as is the meadow out
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know we haven’t sprayed this
year yet, but we probably should be doing so fairly soon.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I was also thinking I could do that wild edibles walk here
on the church grounds, if that’d be OK,” said Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I don’t know that we’d have all that much to eat right here
on the grounds.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, you’d be surprised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There’s almost as much edible as there is grass out here.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Maybe that weed spraying is due quicker than I thought.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, please don’t,” said Redtail. “Just in the lawn itself
are a dozen or so edible species of plants and practically nobody’d notice them
if it stays mowed.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I guess there’s no rush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nobody’s ever fussed about the weeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I’m not gonna get to it today anyway. I gotta get stuff ready for
tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You want to bring your things
in?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Thank you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll do that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where’ll tonight’s
festivities take place?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We’ll be in the Fellowship Hall in the basement, this
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You going to do more edibles
hunting?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’ll be around an hour before
most of the people get started,” said Pastor Tix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ll leave the basement door unlocked for
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And feel free to come and go as you
like.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail foraged behind the church, nibbling from time to
time on things she thought clean enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A car pulled into the front lot and stopped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail heard snippets of familial bickering
between car doors closing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Mo-ommmmm!
She’s…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Just let it go…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“…but sheee…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail smiled to herself and peeked around the corner to spot Lydia and
who she guessed to be her older sister and her mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail decided to intervene.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, hi, Lydia!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
thought I heard voices out here.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lydia smiled and got instantly happy as she ran over to
Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That’s my mom, and my
sister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad’s got his music night
tonight and we’re gonna…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lydia stopped
like she was just about to let out a big secret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Me and Lucy, my sister, are gonna do other
stuff.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“OK, sounds like a secret mission,” said Redtail, as she
walked toward Lucy and Mom for introductions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I’ll be sure not to tell anyone.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lydia smiled big, but Redtail could see she really wanted to spill what
she knew.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mom and Lucy walked toward Redtail and Lydia, and they all
walked toward the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom and Lucy
carried black trash bags full of what looked to be donated clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail said, “I can take one of those if you
like.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lydia rushed in and relieved her
sister of one of her bags before she could hand it to Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You’re weird,” Lucy said to Lydia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lydia stuck out her tongue at Lucy, and Mom gave her ‘the
look’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lydia straightened up quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom said they had bags of clothes for the
community clothes closet in Higginsburg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail made a mental guess at Lydia’s being about 7 years old and Lucy
being around 12, but she didn’t guess out loud.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lydia said, “This’s my dad’s church.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Is not,” said Lucy with a condescending smile.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail gave both a look. And Mom drew in her breath to
speak, but Lydia shot back, “Is so.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucy said, “Is not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s God’s church and Daddy’s just the pastor.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Amy snapped, “Girls, just stop it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve been at each other all day!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mom extended her hand to Redtail and said, “Hi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m Amy, and these two wonderful” (she
clenched her teeth and looked at Lucy and Lydia) “loving” (and then the
‘Mom-look’) “Well-behaved young ladies are my daughters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yes, Herman is their dad and my husband.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well, I’m glad to meet you guys,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I met Pastor Tix Sunday, and Lydia last
week.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They arrived at the door and Redtail reached for the
handle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lydia slipped past, grabbed and
held the door open with a proud smile, dropping her bag of clothes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Why thank you,” said Redtail and she walked in.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Amy walked in saying, “Thank you,” and a bit more quietly,
“and try to be more careful.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucy walked in Lydia’s open door and muttered, “Klutz,” and
made instant eye contact with Mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She then
added, “Thaannnnnk you, Lydia.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lydia curled her nose and snorted, “You’re WELLLLcome.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Inside the church, Amy poked her head into the pastor’s
office and then accompanied Redtail to the basement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lucy and Lydia stowed the clothes bags in an
unused classroom and soon joined Mom and Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lucy plopped down in a metal chair and laid
her head on the table with a harrumphing sigh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lydia scampered off to the kitchen and grabbed some toy cars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pastor Tix brought in a box full of snack
food from the car and set it on one of the tables.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail asked, “Oh, is this a potluck, too?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pastor Tix said, “It’s informal finger foods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t let not having a contribution keep you
from fellowshipping.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “I’ve got an idea for something I can get real
quick.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucy lifted her head from the table and looked interested.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail continued, “May I use the sink to rinse some
foraging?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Treat the place and people here like home and family,” said
Amy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Go right ahead with the sink.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucy asked, “Are you going outside and, like, just pick
stuff?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Only the good stuff,” replied Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucy sat up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Can I
help?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Sure,” said Redtail, “That’d be fun and faster.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lydia ran into the Fellowship Hall from the kitchen eagerly
offering, “Me too!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Me too!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Mo-ommmm!” fussed Lucy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“She’ll be just fine,” said Amy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I bet you’ll hardly notice her.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lucy
sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lydia hopped up and down
happily.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course, Mom was right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Only a minute or so after Redtail explained finding dandelion flowers
when they’re closed, clover, henbit and dead nettle flowers, Lydia was off on
her own chasing grasshopper nymphs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucy asked, while picking dandelion flower buds, “So how
come there’s hardly any yellow dandelions?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well,” began Redtail, “most people don’t think of it like
this, but plants really do have feelings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t think they feel pain or emotions like we do, but they certainly
know hot and cold, dry or wet and even stuff like hard and soft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some even respond quickly to touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dandelions know the bees aren’t out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They know the weather’s damp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They even know it’s evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t want to waste energy being pretty
when there’s nobody to be pretty for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
them, their pretty is functional, not aesthetic.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucy and Redtail collected almost three cups of dandelion
buds with just a few open flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
gathered a couple hands full of violet leaves, flowers and pods, some
pennycress (sometimes called peppergrass), curly dock and dead nettle and wild
onion greens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail planned to save
the onion bulbs but decided to add them to the salad, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She stopped at a fat thistle rosette and
pulled out her new pocket knife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lucy
gave a small squeak and a smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I have
that knife at home.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail looked at Lucy, raising an eyebrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lucy corrected herself, “Well, one just like
it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They both laughed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail reached down and cut off half a dozen leaves near
the base, and put them on top of the forage sack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lucy said, “Eww!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are you going to do with those?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m going to trim off the prickles and we’re going to eat
the thick part.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lydia, in the meantime, squished three grasshoppers and a
cricket and captured a new ‘pet’ cutworm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They all got back inside and Lucy found a big colander while Redtail
started processing their salad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
said, “It looks like you’ve done this before.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucy smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We have
a garden.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lydia gave a gasp and muffled shriek and ran outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time Amy got out to see what the
problem could be, Lydia was squatted over a big black ant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was blocking its route with her finger,
every way it tried to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amy learned it
was now a non-issue that Lydia’s worm got lost.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By the time the salad got all cleaned up and shook and
patted dry, there was enough to almost fill a large mixing bowl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Not too bad for not quite a half hour’s
work,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Thank you so much
for your help, Lucy and—“ </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail glanced around for Lydia, and Lucy rolled her eyes
and sighed, “Lydia probably got distracted by a butterfly or something.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Amy returned, saying, “Or something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She found an ant, but was upset that she’d
lost her worm.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amy smiled and shook her
head. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucy clearly took pride in helping Redtail as she picked up
the salad bowl and the little bowl of thistle spears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail took the onion bowl and headed to the
groaning board (or food table).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The door
to the parking lot opened and Lydia erupted with chatter, ran to the door, and
escorted Chloe back outside to play with bugs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chloe’s sister, Kimmy, walked in, craning her neck this way
and that until she spotted Lucy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
walked brisky and happily up to Lucy and bounced to a stiff stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lucy eye-gestured to Redtail and Kimmy
spotted her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lucy made introductions
“Redtail, this is Kimmy, my bestest friend and Kimmy, this is Redtail,” she
paused, “ my newest friend.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They shook hands and Kimmy said, “Pleased to meet you,
Redtail.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail returned the greeting
and Kimmy added, “That’s Kimmy with a Y.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “I’ll try to remember that.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kimmy said, “Yep, C-H-Y-M-M-E-I-G-H, Kimmy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gave a self-satisfied smile and Redtail
wasn’t quite sure how to respond.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucy looked back and forth between the two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sighed, “Nah-ahhhh, Kimmy.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well, it could be spelled like that,” said Kimmy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“CH like Chemistry, Y like in Lydia, MM like
in, well, Kimmy and EIGH like in the name, Leigh.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucy said, “That’s just dumb.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I think it sounds kinda fun,” said Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The door opened again and in came Kitty with a sack of
goodies for the groaning board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, hi,
Redtail, and Amy, and Lucy.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Suddenly a blast of music shot through the basement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pastor Tix shouted, “Whoa!” and quickly
turned it down.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, slightly too loudly at first, but toning down
with the music, “Wow, loud but cool music.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With an embarrassed laugh, Herman said, “Sort of my theme
song.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like it, and,” he smiled, “I
pick the music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ephesians 5:19 and 20
says God wants us singing to him, so I think it should be singing we’re excited
about as well.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’ve heard that song before,” said Redtail. “That’s…
that’s…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Larry Norman,” said Herman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I think the song serves to show the devil, in fact, does NOT have all
the good music.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Amy and Kitty sat down with bags of craft materials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They both pulled out projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lucy and Kimmy gauged movements on what
Redtail was up to.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kitty said, “Redtail, you mentioned this morning that you
brought a craft for tonight.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Yes I did, strange as it may look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’ve got an excuse in that I’m a bit
different.” She proudly pulled some flattened catfood bags out of her
pack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“These are going to be weather-resistant
supplies bags, and these will be firewood sheets for carrying more than mere
armloads of firewood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’ll just be
narrow sheets with handles on each end.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kimmy, who sat down across from Redtail, asked, “Where do
you get your material for your crafts?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, I got all these bags out at the Supply Depot behind
Grandpa George’s place,” said Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lydia asked, “What’s a Supply Deeple?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucy and Kimmy sighed and Lydia gave an exasperated,
“What?!?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kimmy knowingly and carefully pronounced and spelled,
“Dee-poe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>D-E-P-O-T.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chloe giggled, saying, “That’s dee-pot.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucy sneered, “Nah-ahhh, it’s French.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“OK,” broke in Redtail with a sigh and laugh, “The Supply
Depot is where I get lots of my supplies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s a place out at Grandpa George’s where people put stuff they don’t
want anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re not supposed to do
it, but they do anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What they can’t
use anymore is often stuff I can use quite nicely.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oooo! Oooo!” grunted Lydia as she jumped up and ran around
the table to whisper to Lucy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucy’s eyes got wide and she glanced at Amy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amy nodded and the girls got up and dragged
Kimmy and Chloe upstairs with them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Amy smiled and explained, “They got some sort of secret
project going on.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The girls got upstairs and opened up the clothes bags.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I thought we were gonna get caught when we
saw Redtail when we got here tonight,” said Lucy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kimmy asked, “D’ya think she knows?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Nah,” said Lucy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“She doesn’t suspect a thing.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lydia piped up, “She’s pretty smart, you know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She might know.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kimmy said, “Well, even if she does, we’ll pretend she
doesn’t so it’ll be a surprise anyway.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucy gave Kimmy a confused look and a head shake, “Like,
what-ever.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chloe said, “Mommy and Aunt Kathryn picked out a bunch of
their clothes for Redtail.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kimmy said, “Mom wasn’t sure if we were gonna come tonight,
so she gave our bag to your mom.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucy laughed, “I thought three bags was a lot for just my
mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we give them to her, let’s
call it ‘craft material’ so she won’t think we feel sorry for her or like she’s
a charity case –well, she is, but…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
better quit now.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The girls sorted clothes, taking a bit of time to play with
some and snip at one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile
in the basement, the music played on.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ted and Jane came in with Kevin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kevin was a little disgusted he had to come
at all, until he spotted Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ted
brought a music-skeptic friend of his from work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They picked places to sit close to Pastor
Tix.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ted made introductions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Mark, this is Pastor Tix or Brother Herman or Herman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pastor Tix, this is Mark from work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s one who seems to hear only that
butterflies and rainbows easy-listening Christian music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought I’d bring him out to hear some of
the good stuff.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mark said, “So far, I’m liking what I’m hearing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail asked, “Who is that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He sounds so familiar.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That’s Bob Dylan,” said Pastor Tix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“With your wild eating, it’s sort of
interesting that the first task God gave man was to identify stuff.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Yeah, I wish I knew my proper ID, but until
then, I’m gonna take joy in being Redtail.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Speaking of ID and wild food,” said Pastor Tix, “did you
have a particular time you wanted to do an edibles walk?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I could come out and show wild edibles just about any time,
but a few weeks out might make it easier for people to schedule attendance,“
said Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Let’s make it the third Wednesday in July then,” suggested
Pastor Tix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That should allow planning
time.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Sounds like a plan then.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Audio Adrenaline came up on the play list and Mark smiled
and nodded his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pastor Tix said,
“There’s lots of music out there for our demographic if you hunt for it, but it
feels like the Christian Music Industry targets the soccer and stay-at-home
moms and female office workers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
almost impossible to find real rock music with a clean Christian message on the
radio.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kevin leaned over to Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Can I come to that wild edibles thing in
July, too?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Why sure you can!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bring Mike and Jerry, too.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“THUMP!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TH-Thump,
BUMP BUMP…!” went the stairway.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Amy spoke softly but firmly at the 4 girls who emerged
giggling from the stairs, “WHAT was THAT!?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Your dad weighs as much as all four of you put together and doesn’t even
make a quarter of the noise you do in the halls and stairs!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walk softly.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The girls looked caught, but not really remorseful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t the first time adults got after
them for stomping and noise –probably wouldn’t be the last, either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They got over it pretty quick and the noise level
went back up a bit as they swooped in on the snack table.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Amy stopped her needle-felting and Kitty stopped her quilt
block to watch Redtail sew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kevin and
Kimmy were already watching and the other kids were playing across the
room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail felt their eyes and
silence and looked up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She glanced back
and forth between Amy and Kitty.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Amy smiled and asked, “Do you make all your tools and
equipment, too?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail paused to look at her needle and thread and
smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I guess I do, at least on this
project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The needle is a big honey
locust thorn and the thread, if you can call it that, is unwoven from a cat food
bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s really pretty tough
stuff.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She shook out the sheet of about
one by three feet with a handle sewn on one end and held it up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“When I get the handle sewn on the other end,
I’m going to employ this and another one to help me carry fire wood.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lydia suddenly broke away from her play to run over to
Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had an anxious but
unworried look on her face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kimmy gave a
look saying, ‘You’re invading my space’ as Lydia squeezed in to stand by
Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Looks like you’ve got something on your
mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What might that be?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With a rare, almost-shy tone in her voice, Lydia asked, “How
come your name is Redtail?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Ly-deee-aaaaaaa,” scolded Lucy as she neared the table to
see what was going on, “That’s personal!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lydia crossed her arms and gave an exasperated “Welllllll?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Amy groaned, “Oh girls, just quit!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By now, the little fuss had gotten everyone’s attention,
followed by a couple seconds of quietness where Tourniquet sang of God, asking,
“...I wonder if He laughs?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mark glanced at the speakers and answered softly, “Probably
lots of times.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Oh, that’s really OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t bring up my name unless people ask.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gave Lydia’s head a little pat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Sometimes you gotta ask to satisfy your
curiosity.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well,” began Redtail, “Tom, an old guy I met early in my
remembered life, called me ‘Redtail MacSumpneruther, the Scotsman,’ after I
told him what little I knew of my story.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mark gave a muffled snort and said quietly, “Scot maybe, but
you shore ain’t no man.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kitty and Amy gave Mark the look and Mark grinned sheepishly
and dropped his head in his hands.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Herman smiled and said, “You know, you’re right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But… well…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well good,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I’m glad to hear there’s no argument there.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chloe broke out of her usually quiet box and said, “Well, I
think Redtail’s pretty.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kevin whispered, “Me too.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mark put his head on the table and laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I actually said that out loud, didn’t I?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Soooo,” continued Redtail, “Tom got what I told him a
little jumbled up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think he had
Alzheimer’s or something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured the
name was good enough ‘til I remembered what my parents named me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grandpa George gave it some thought and
shortened it to RT Scot, and that one’s even official and on a library card.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lydia giggled, “And on the Museum guest list!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The door opened and in walked George and Sarah.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ted said, “Well, speak of the d..” and got cut short.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You’ll do nothing of the sort,” barked Jane. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George said, “Sounds like some heated discussion was goin’
on in here.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Oh, I think we’re all just funnin’.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pastor Tix said to George and Sarah, “Hey, help yourselves
to some munchies!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got plenty.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We got here pretty late,” said George, “so we didn’t pack
anything.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Herman said, “Suit yourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The offer’s still good.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Yeah, eat!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lucy and I even brought salad.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah said, “Well now, that one’s got me curious.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She took a look at the snack table and then
to the wall clock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“There’s still quite
a bit for only 15 minutes left on the schedule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I better check out that salad.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucy smiled and accompanied Sarah to the groaning board, but
she had cookies on her mind, rather than salad.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah said, “I recognize most of these salad fixings, but
not this one.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucy looked at what Sarah pointed to and proudly said,
“That’s thistle leaf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s sorta like
wild celery.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah sat down by George, who’d planted himself by Pastor
Tix, the D-J, and across the table from Ted and Mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George looked at Sarah’s salad bowl and
chuckled, “An Oreo salad?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No!” snarled Sarah, “I got stuff for both of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they’re not Oreos.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George leaned back and looked at Redtail, who sat on the
other side of Sarah, but somewhat buried in kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Redtail, your salad looks almost like the
one we got for our program.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail smiled and said, “I think it’s pretty much the same
except this doesn’t have curly dock.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We poked around a bit in the woods for ya before we headed
out,” said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We wanted to make
sure you weren’t out back somewhere when we headed in to see that you had a
ride home.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “I got to ride into town this morning with
Chloe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got to meet her mom, Kitty and
several other new friends.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kimmy and Lucy looked at George and smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amy waved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pastor Tix interrupted the activity. “Looks like this is the
last song on the playlist.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Amy got up and started closing snack packages and putting
lids on containers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the kids
jumped up for last hoarding of junk food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lucy didn’t refill, and Lydia had to be a little self-controlled with
Mom standing right at the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kitty hopped
up and started bussing tables, packing and stacking bowls, plates and other
trash so they took the least amount of space in the trash can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George and Sarah stepped back with Mark, as
regulars and Redtail rearranged the basement to its pre-fellowship state.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah commented, “Looks like you’ve been doing this for a
long time, Redtail.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I got here before it was all set up for the Music and
Crafts night,” said Redtail, “so I knew what it looked like to begin with.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mark mumbled to George, “I didn’t want to throw my wrench of
helpfulness into this seemingly well-oiled machine.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Me neither,” said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He looked at Redtail and said, “Sarah made me clean out the cab of the
truck today, so we got plenty of room for all three of us to ride home.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“MADE you!?” said Sarah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I did as much physical stuff as you did.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You sure did a heap o’ pointing and sighing,” said George.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah gave George a whop on the head.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Ow!” muttered and smiled George as he shielded his head
from another attack.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kimmy giggled.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pastor Tix said, “You sort of asked for that love pat.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah said to Redtail, “I think you better sit between us on
the way home to make us behave.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail packed up her gear and got her leftover forage from
the ‘fridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lucy got another small bowl
of greens and bagged up the rest and handed it to Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Thank you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you
want to take more before I run off with the leftovers?” asked Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I think I’m gonna pick some tomorrow,” Lucy said with a
smile.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail reminded her, “Only eat the stuff you know about,
right?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George asked Redtail, “About ready to head out?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can get your stuff for you.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Thank you,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Sometimes it’s good to have extra hands.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They bid farewells and loaded up in the truck.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chapter 29</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail woke to a soft, high-pitched whining noise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It got louder and louder until she slapped
herself on the ear and sat up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
looked at her hand and thought, “Great! Mosquitoes,” and she absent-mindedly licked
her hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You’re not takin’ any part of
me away.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She paused and thought, “I
suppose I oughtn’t eat the little bloodsuckers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There’s no tellin’ where they might’ve been for a previous snack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That goes for the whole edible vampire clan:
mosquitoes, other biting flies, ticks, fleas, bedbugs, lice and the other
little bloodsuckers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I’ve got my
next library research topic!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do
mosquitoes find food?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What attracts
them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What repels them?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail stepped outside the tent, startling an opossum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Good morning.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The animal stopped, turned and looked at
Redtail as if asking if her greeting was directed at him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail smiled and thought, “Redtail Scot,
Possum Whisperer –I can think of more appealing-sounding titles than that.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said to the possum, “Yeah, you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gotta be more careful with my cooking and
eating.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the possum waddled off, she
said apologetically, “It’s not like I don’t want to share, but I like to know
when I’m gonna have company.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
swatted at another mosquito near her face.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail wondered, a bit, what she’d do for this unscheduled
Thursday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She slapped a mosquito and
swatted at another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“One thing I gotta
do,” she thought, “is get moving so any potential aromatic or CO2 vampire
attractant dissipates faster.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her
Thursday plan appeared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A new foraging
ground awaited, so she packed up her forage bag, knife, a lunch and water and
set out for the conservation area at the back of George’s place.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The most productive foraging spots, overall, are forest
edges and recently broken ground, which is to say, broken within the last
couple years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The parking lot on the
other side of the wide spot in the creek would at least have the edges along
the lot and the access road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The morning
sun began poking through holes in the light clouds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail stretched, took a deep breath and
smiled as she approached her old campsite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Her feet squished on the soft ground, confirming the good choice in
moving the camp uphill.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Down to the creekside and downstream to the berry patch
showed a big up-coming harvest of blackberries if Redtail could beat the
critters to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her mind wandered to
competition with the animals and other fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I gotta keep my eyes open for May apples, and later on, for paw paws
and persimmons.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail arrived at the spot at the creek where Sarah had
hopped across a few days earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail gave a sigh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The water
level rose about six inches since then, making rock-hopping impossible –well,
without getting wet, anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She weighed
her alternatives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She could wade across
with her shoes on, and squish soggy-footed the rest of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She could take her shoes off and wade across
and put them back on when her feet dried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She could also put off her exploration for a few days when the water
level went back down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail didn’t
have the tools and didn’t want to take the time to build a bridge or cut a
sapling stout enough to vault the creek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She smiled as she pondered another option.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m a big girl now, so I probably shouldn’t
sit down and pout.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail glanced
around and found a fallen tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
spotted a place and sat down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, she
didn’t pout, but took off her shoes and put them in the forage bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She carefully went to the creek and crossed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the other side, a large rock stuck up out of the forest
floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail figured it to be a fine
place to reassemble her feet for exploring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She approached the rock and started to sit down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She froze in mid-action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gasped and her heart raced when she saw
what she was about to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
breathed a sigh of relief as the reality of her situation sunk in.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A little embarrassed, Redtail said, “Well hello there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d never met a hog-nosed snake before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought you were a copperhead at
first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d never met one of those,
either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shouldn’t you be on a
south-FACING bank, rather than on a south bank?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The snake answered, “I’m hunting, not sunning.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least Redtail imagined the snake saying
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The snake slowly slithered off and
under the leaves. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail cautiously sat down and waved her feet around in the
air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She stood up on the rock and gave a
couple light, flat-footed stomps to shake off excess water and debris from her
feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sitting back down, she looked
around and listened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a few minutes
of watching, listening, rubbing <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and
airing, Redtail decided her feet were ready for reassembly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She put herself back together and headed out
to check the May apple patch she spotted while her feet dried. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail found about 20 fruits, which is a nice find in one
patch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were far from ripe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She remembered the entire plant, except the
ripe fruit, is poisonous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now she
wondered if picked May apples would ripen like lots of other fruits do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail figured if she didn’t get them as she
found them, the deer and squirrels would beat her to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Erring to the side of safety, she let them
be.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail continued her trip to the spot where the creek
widened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Wow!” she thought, “A little
water sure changed this place!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looks
more like a marsh or lake that can’t quite make up its mind.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A short distance farther, Redtail stopped
walking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ahead was more woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To her right, she could still see the new
marsh through the trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hmm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much farther would preclude the parking
area’s being convenient for Sarah to have met us Sunday.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She decided to walk just a little more before
changing course.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
About fifty yards farther, she came across a small path too
clear to just be a game trail or erosion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail decided to head south, because to the north, downhill, was the
marsh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before she got tired of walking
uphill, her path abruptly widened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well
no wonder I couldn’t see the lot from below,” thought Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The parking area looked more like a mini
campground with half a dozen or so sites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The canopy of trees was barely broken by the little roads connecting the
parking spots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked around and
found very little broken ground on which to forage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Maybe I’ll find broken ground up the road a
bit.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail spotted a post with a little wooden box on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She checked it out to find maps of the
conservation area with rules for use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“This will be quite handy, and it’s even got space to map out Grandpa
George’s place!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked at the map
as she walked up the winding rocky access road.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail came to a small rocky clearing at the roadside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The clearing was ringed with blackberry
bushes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It won’t be long and I can come
back for lots of berries –depending on how many other folks and critters have
that same thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I might have to fight
Lena for them, too.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail laughed as
she thought about Lena foraging the same patch.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Past a curve in the narrow drive, Redtail’s path teed into a
gravel road wide enough for careful two-way vehicular traffic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, decisions,” thought Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Map! I’ve got a map!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail sat down and opened up the map.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She oriented the map to align with the roads
she was on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To her left was the county
road and to her right were two more parking areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The far lot looked to be inaccessible during
high water, and this just might be what the conservation folks considered high
water.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail decided she’d explore the other lots and the water
downstream some other day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She headed
left, or east, for the county road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
passed a box turtle, a sunning rat snake, another box turtle, but no flora that
caught her eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rabbit held very
very still as Redtail neared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
smiled and said, “It doesn’t matter how motionless you are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You won’t turn invisible.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that, the rabbit bolted for cover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After about another ten minutes walking,
Redtail found herself at the county road.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As Redtail approached her old crayfish hole, she
smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Here’s where my new life
started to feel settled,” she thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Water’s a bit too roiled for decent crayfishing, but, I don’t have a
license anyway.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail heard the sound
of an approaching car so she stepped off the road, into the corner of George’s place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She glanced at the car and noticed it was law
enforcement, so she waved as she started into the woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The car pulled over and the siren gave a
quick “whirr.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail stopped, turned
and headed back to the road.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Frank rolled down the window and called out, “Hey, Redtail,
you want a ride somewhere or are you just out grocery shopping?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail stepped up to the road’s edge and looked
around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yeah, I guess I am grocery
shopping, but thanks for the ride offer.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“When you tapped the
siren, I had the thought to drop my stuff and sprint off into the woods just to
see your reaction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course if I’d done
that, I couldn’t have seen your reaction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I wasn’t totally sure who it was, either.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Frank rubbed his chin thoughtfully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“There’s that, and seein’ I knew who you
were, I’m not sure what I’d’ve done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s probably best that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
law enforcement types shouldn’t be predictable.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I actually enjoy and need shopping days,” said Redtail with
a smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I wonder if there’s a
shoppers’ anonymous for my affliction?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Frank laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Not
that I know of, but I better be heading out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now you shop responsibly, OK?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“And you drive carefully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>May your day be as uneventful as you want it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Frank nodded, “And happy shopping to you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He looked over his shoulder and gave a little
wave as he departed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail went back to the road and continued north.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost to ZZ, she spotted a fair sized patch
of day lilies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While she gathered a
handful of buds and flowers, Redtail pondered the differences between day
lilies and Asiatic lilies and the conflicting information on alleged or real
toxicity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Day lilies are edible and Asiatics aren’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Asiatics are toxic to cats, and seldom from well-known
sources do we hear they’re safe for human consumption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are a few people who get nasty stomach
upset if they eat too many day lilies too fast before they get used to
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But where’s the line between
enough and too many?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so many people
confuse them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day lilies have long smooth stems topped with flowers and
buds and the leaves are in long thick grass-like blades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Asiatic lilies are on top of stems that have
leaves poking out of them their whole lengths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some of the flowers could be said to be similar, but that’s it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t eat the Asiatics.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail dug about half a dozen day lily tubers
and proceeded to the next grocery department.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Heading west on ZZ, Redtail spotted a patch of curly dock
and sighed in disappointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knew
it was getting to be summer, but Redtail liked spring greens best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These greens were getting a little old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She smiled and wondered what spring edibles
she could think of: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Chickweed, henbit,
dead nettle, yellow rocket, pennycress, morel mushrooms, peppergrass,
shepherd’s purse, dandelions, curly dock, thistle, stinging nettle, green
brier, day lily, young lamb’s quarter, violets, clover, plantain, mallow, elm
and maple seeds, redbud flowers, bedstraw, day flower, dryad’s saddle, chicken
of the woods, wood ear, garlic mustard, garlic and onion, May apple,
knotweed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d heard sumac and milkweed
shoots are edible, but never tried them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I should compile a big list of seasonal edibles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That could be fun, and George could even use
it for his programs.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail wondered about multiflora rose leaves and flowers.
“I guess I’ve got something else to look up at the library,” she thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like she often did, Redtail wondered about many
things as she walked and foraged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So so
much wild forage can be used for tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
wish I had more time and facilities for tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I suppose one could get good nutrients in tea, but they’re so, well,
watered down.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Why am I not afraid or worried about myself?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess it’s because what-if games are a
waste of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if I’m an illegal
alien and they deport me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess, then,
I’d find out where I live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’d have
to learn a new language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe I’m from
Canada?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nah, my voice has southern US
inflections.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What if I’m in really big trouble and there’s this huge
nation-wide hunt going on?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably
not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sarah and Frank are almost family
and they’d have heard something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
again, I DID get stopped by the police within the last hour.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail laughed to herself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I seem to be healthy enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mental health even seems to be OK, except the
lost memories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, if I was a
psycho, I’d think I was OK anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmm.”
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail wiped her arm across her forehead and puffed her
shirt in and out a few times to circulate some air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s sticky after the rain and now with the sun evaporating it back up
into the air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It feels like more storms
are fuelling up,” she thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She took
a couple long open-mouth breaths, picked up her stuff and moved along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As she neared George’s driveway, she realized the distant
drone of a small engine was coming from home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then she spotted George on a mower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail turned and started down the drive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George and Redtail made eye contact and
exchanged waves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail made a mental
note to learn the mowing procedure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After all, if she lived there, it was only right for her to participate
with chores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She smiled as she thought
about mowing and yard work as practical exploration for edibles, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the church had a mower, maybe she could
keep that mowed, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back at camp,
Redtail spread her forage out: some to dry and some to eat soon.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meanwhile, at the hardware store, “Creak, slap jingle” went
the door and in walked Lorenzo from the salvage yard with an armful of stuff.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chapter 30</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Big Al looked up from his inventory paperwork.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Good afternoon, Renzo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What kind o’ project you got going on there?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Renzo looked at the stuff he brought in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Nah, this ain’t MY project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That girl you had in here the other day,
Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She come around much?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I think she’ll be around from time to time, but she’s on a
mighty casual schedule,” said Al.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I got three ranges to scrap,” said Renzo, “but they had
good racks and one had a nice broiler pan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The way Redtail described her home, I thought she could put these to
good use.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Al said, “Oh yeah, we can get those to her easy, whether she
comes in or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George or Sarah could
handle that efficiently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gotta figure
out how to get Redtail on the payroll.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She’s covered for me a couple times and accepted very little for it, but
it’s sure helped me out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think she
still needs a fair bit of practical stuff if she’s going to stay living out in
the woods.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Renzo said, “She talked about making smoking and drying
racks to put by a fire and I figured these’d at least be a start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kicked around the idea of giving her a
range for heat, but thought it’d be more unsightly than the old truck or car
hood she had in mind.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Al said, “She could tie four of those racks together as a stable
stand and still have two to use as grills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think she’s pretty creative.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Renzo laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I
don’t usually go out of my way to deliver free stuff to folks but something
about Redtail makes me happy to help her out.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“She does seem to leave a wake of smiles behind her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gotta introduce Judy to her pretty soon,
said Al, “I don’t need her getting suspicious of me talking so nice about this
new girl at work.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Renzo said, “I’m glad I’m single so I don’t have to worry
about those politics.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Al said, “I hear tell she’s already told a guy she’s not
available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess she wants to do her
new Redtail thing right, on the chance her memory does come back and she finds
herself married or otherwise committed.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“She’s a fun one,” said Renzo.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Al said, “I figure the community oughtta appreciate her and
her quirks while she’s here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who
knows?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She might disappear one day as
quick as she came.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Anybody know where she’s from?” asked Renzo.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I guess Law Enforcement’s working on it, sort of a side
project since she hasn’t broke any laws they know of,” said Al.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We’re all hoping they don’t come up with
anything so she’ll stay, but for Redtail’s sake, they’re gonna keep on.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well,” said Renzo, “I better get going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still got those stoves to unload in the ‘burg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good to know the other stuff will find its
way to Redtail.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just then, Lena walked in from the back of the store.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Al said, “Ha! Caught ya sneakin’ up on us!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yeah” said Lena, “I snuck in the back and left your
T.D.Fera order on your desk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m gonna
check on a couple blackberry patches on the way home to see how much longer
they got.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Al asked, “Out at Perry’s Bend?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yep, I got a few spots that’re easy to check.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Care to make another delivery on your way?” asked Al.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Renzo left some stuff for Redtail.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That’d be fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frank
said he caught her out foraging this morning,” said Lena. “I wouldn’t mind
seeing what all she got.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, I’ll do
it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“See,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Renzo?” said
Al.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Easy delivery service.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Renzo smiled as he departed, saying, “Thank you Al and
Lena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looks like the grills are in good
hands.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena said, “I drive right by George’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Redtail’s not around, I’ll just lean ‘em
against her tree so she won’t miss ‘em.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The three exchanged waves and Lena departed with Renzo, but she
went out the back with grills and pan tucked under her arm.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena pulled into George’s driveway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She parked as close to Redtail’s camp as she
could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George finished mowing and was
inside and Redtail was in her tent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lena
got out of her car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The thick humid air
trapped the smell of the fresh cut grass, and a few hints of garlic and common
ragweed, bush honeysuckle and elder flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lena thought, on picking out those four aromas, now interesting the air must
be to a dog.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail stopped spreading leaves and flowers from her forage
on sheets of cardboard and popped her head up and listened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, there it was again: a soft “Helloooo,
you home, Redtail?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail smiled and
got up.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Good afternoon, Lena,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I thought I heard someone pull in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why so quiet?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I didn’t want to disturb a stalking in progress or even a
nap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got some stuff here for you that
Renzo left at the hardware store.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I
know what I’ll do with most of it already,” said Redtail, “if it didn’t come
with special instructions.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh yeah!” exclaimed Lena, “Renzo did ask that I get them to
YOU.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a slight pause, Redtail smiled and raised an eyebrow.
“OK?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena shrugged and said, “That was my only instruction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was it special?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail shook her head, “Well, ya, I guess that was special,
and it won’t affect my idea.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena handed Redtail the grills and pan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail gave Lena another raised
eyebrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lena said, “Well, I tried to be
funny and it usually doesn’t work real good, but sometimes it does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess this time it was a usually.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lena laughed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Aaaannnyway,” said Redtail happily, “I’ve got a project
going right now that I can use those grills for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did Renzo say how much he wanted for these?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No, it sounded like it was just something he thought he
wanted to give to you.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That’s cool.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail ran into her tent and after a few snipping noises, she emerged
with several pieces of wire and began wiring the grill pieces together.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail fastened four grills together into a two-by-two
sheet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She lifted the sheet and folded
it in two, like a standing book cover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She wired the two remaining grill pieces flatwise in the uprights, just
like Al thought she’d do, and carefully brought the rack to her fire site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She stirred the ash a bit and discovered a
bit of smoke, so she piled kindling on the spot until the fire re-ignited.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena said, “It’s cool watching you work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me know if I can do anything.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m not fully certain what I’m doing, so I don’t really
know what to say,” said Redtail as she went to the tent and brought out the
forage she’d been spreading on the cardboard. “The rack should make quick work
of drying stuff, providing the wind stays down.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail took the leaves and flowers off the cardboard and
started placing them on the grills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lena
joined in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lena asked, “What is all this
stuff?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Mostly day lily flowers, then red clover and a few hibiscus
–rose of Sharon and flower-of-an-hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Good tender greens are getting a little harder to come by as summer sets
in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still got a little curly dock,
amaranth, lamb’s quarter and to add a little bitter flavor, I’m going to throw
in some dandelion and chicory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s
still violets, plantain and even some good chickweed around the house, but I
didn’t forage much there today.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena pointed to some little spear-like pieces. “And what are
these?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, that’s thistle leaf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m eating that raw after a rinse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wanna help me clean up some more thistle?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s painfully fun!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Sure, I’ll help ya,” said Lena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She pointed at some ragweed plants and said,
“I wish those were good for more than just fuel for sneezing and watery eyes.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Actually, they are,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She got up and pulled a fat 7 footer and
pointed to a swollen spot in the stem. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I think this is pretty cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A little work, but fun.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail got a small container and a
knife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She smacked off the dirt from the
root ball, and cut the root off the plant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Gently, she started to split the stem from the bottom near the swollen
spot to reveal a trail that had been eaten up the core of the stem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ha!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There we go. See the worm in there?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They make great fish bait and people-snacks.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gave a little laugh and dropped it into
the container.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena jumped, and exclaimed, “Aw, shoot!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time’s gettin’ away from me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gotta check on some blackberry patches out
at Perry’s Bend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Care to come along?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Sure,” answered Redtail, “I got nothing else going on
today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These leaves and flowers should
be nice and crispy when we get back.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She looked at the fire and then scooted the whole rack back a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I hope that’ll work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m ready.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Off they went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Slightly down the road, Redtail perked up and craned her neck as they
drove by a patch of lavender flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Now how did I miss those?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
walked right past them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should at
least have smelled them.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That wild bergamot can sure be pretty showy –AND
aromatic!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know where some bigger
patches are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wanna hit some?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Thanks, but I don’t particularly like
horsemint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just thought it weird I
missed it earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At a glance, that
stuff can even look like bush crown vetch.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena laughed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail asked, “Have you heard weather predictions?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This humidity sure feels like a fuel build-up
for something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh! Daisies!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena laughed again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“That’s sure an odd way to cuss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
no, I’d not heard any weather, either.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail snorted, “No, I wasn’t cussing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just hit me that I hadn’t seen any
daisies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder if I missed ‘em or if
they just don’t grow around here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those
flowers and leaves sure make some nice nibbles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Does Wilder do anything for the 4<sup>th</sup>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That should be coming up soon, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is still June?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yeah, the 4<sup>th</sup>’s just over a week off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can hear fireworks popping more and more
often these days.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I thought so, but, it’s still pretty quiet around here.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena turned into the conservation area that Redtail foraged
earlier in the day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “I wonder if we’re both eyeing the same
blackberry patches?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in here this
morning, but didn’t pick any.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I
don’t think it’ll be very long.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They rolled past one patch, then another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lena said, “I see what you mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I’d give ‘em a good week before
they’re ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw what I needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You got anything you want to look at?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I think I’m good,” replied Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a short, but noticed silence, Lena asked, “Do you ever
worry about not knowing your past?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Not so much worry, but I wonder about things from time to
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope the other me isn’t getting
way behind on important stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel
sometimes I should be trying to find out who thinks I’m gone, but in which
direction and how far do I go with that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I even considered professional help, but I sure don’t want to
institutionalize myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides, who’d
they send the bill to?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not a danger
to anyone, am I?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena smiled, “Not in this person, and I’m guessing you were
a pretty decent sort in your previous one, too.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Thank you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, I
don’t think worry would make anything easier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If anything comes up where someone’s looking for me, I’m sure our law
enforcement folks will let me know.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal">
Chapter 31</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<p class="MsoNormal">Redtail thought, “Getting ready to tell my story in front of
people shouldn’t be any more stressful than prep for a lecture, except Bardic
Night’s less formal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now why does
lecture prep pop into my head?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">George stepped out of the house, stretched, and started to
head down toward Redtail’s camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He got
about halfway there, and they made eye contact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He gave a wave and Redtail returned it with a “Good morning!”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Good morning!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
headed into town and thought I’d see if you needed anything.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Redtail said, “Nothing I can think of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I’m alright, but thank you.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I’ll be back in ample time for tonight’s festivities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You ready?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I feel like I shouldn’t be nervous, but I am.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Oh, not to worry!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Besides, it’ll be tomorrow before we know it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, you have a wonderful day!”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Redtail waved as George departed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I should be easy to find when you get back,
unless my memory returns and I gotta skip town fast.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">George swished that last comment away with a hand and a
smile, and they parted ways for the day.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Redtail determined she should spend her day fishing, hunting
and snaring and maybe she could get a bunch dried on the fire before departure time.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After about half an hour at the pond, Redtail had two decent
bass and three sunfish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She cleaned the
fish and started her drying fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
put the fish on the grills and headed out to the woods and spent about an hour
and a half snaring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the time it took
her to get three wood rats, she also got a squirrel with her bow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After cleaning them all, she got everything
on grills for slow cooking and drying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She sat on a log, leaned back on a tree and smiled with her eyes
closed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she got more thoughtful as
she daydreamed about what was to come that evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail Knew she only had to tell her story,
buty she also wanted it to be entertaining or at least interesting so the Three
Maidens could benefit from it.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Redtail heard the crunching gravel in the driveway with
George’s approaching truck.and woke with a start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She panicked a bit, thinking she may have
overslept, but the length of the shadows assured her she was still OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gave a relieved sigh.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By the time George got to Redtail’s camp, she was up and
tending her morning’s catch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George
said, “That’s smelling mighty good.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You want a a chunk?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s pretty dry, but not real hard yet.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Sounds good, but I better save some room for pub-grub.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You remember Bardic Night tonight,
right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hey, that rhymed pretty good”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah, that was an impressive string of rhymes,” said
Redtail, “and I’m far from having forgot about tonight’s spotlight.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, I’m gonna head inside and get washed up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be back for ya in a couple hours,” said
George.</p>
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“I’ll be ready,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The food drying’s just about done and so I
can be ready pretty quick.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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The rest of the afternoon flew by and soon, George and
Redtail were sitting at the Three Maidens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Krystin introduced Redtail to the smallish crowd of around thirty people
who’d come for Bardic Night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I see a
few new faces tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess word of
our guest speaker tonight got out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
I first heard of the wild girl who lived in the woods near us, I didn’t expect,
well, I certainly didn’t expect to meet her face-to-face, and in the Three
Maidens, but I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And she came back to
tell us of her experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want
everyone to give a warm Three Maidens welcome to Redtail!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Krystin swept out her hand to Redtail as
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Redtail got up and gave an almost embarrassed giggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Thank you Krystin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You make me sound important or something.”</div>
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Redtail began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I
thought about making up a real exciting story about being lost in the woods in
my infancy and being adopted and raised by a family of wild millipedes, but
figured I’d better stick to what I know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Really, all I remember starts only a couple weeks ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I woke up one morning beside a road with only
my bag and took off walking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt a
little disoriented, but other than that, thought everything was wonderful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Around dusk, I found some big concrete
culverts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were clean and dry, so I
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“Woke up the next morning almost face-to-face with a big,
curious red tailed hawk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I jumped and he
flew away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started walking again and
wound up at some state park or something that looked government run, I
guess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s where I met Tom, the guy
who named me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a funny old guy who
walked with a cane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sat on a log,
talking out loud to myself, wondering where and who I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tom overheard and offered to help me
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him the story of my morning,
then said I might have something in my bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then I muttered about having left that old plaid bag in the pipes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Old Tom said he’d heard all he needed to
figure out my dilemma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
matter-of-factly stated I was Redtail MacSumpneruther, the Scotsman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see how he got the name, and maybe he
thought I’d said plaid bagpipes, but, I never thought I came across as a man.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A guy called out, “Tom’s cane was white with a red tip,
right?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another voice said, “Prettiest dude I ever seen.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Thank you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thank you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s
reassuring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, later that day, I
found George’s place and even fixed me up a dinner of crawdads and
earthworms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mmmmm, Yum!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She laughed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I guess the next night I let my smoke drift too much and
made too much noise, because the following morning I met George checking out
what he smelled and heard down in his woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I didn’t know it was his… No, it really didn’t dawn on me I might be
trespassing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After George was convinced
I meant no harm or burden, he gave me permission to stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon George introduced me to new
friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found rides into town and
neighboring villages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’ve decided
to try to live in the woods and as much off the land as I can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t care to get too rooted, in case my
memory does come back.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I guess that about brings me up to tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of making things up, I’ll try to
answer some questions.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A man near the stage asked the first question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I think I got your story, but I see three
kinds of homelessness: There’s the truly destitute and fallen on hard
times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s the informed decision to
choose that lifestyle to cut ties from all dependency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then there’s the irresponsible ‘Nobody’s
gonna tell me what to do’ druggie and criminal group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where do you see yourself?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George cut in, “Now hold on there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That almost sounded accusatory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll have you know…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And Redtail cut George off with a raised hand and said,
“That’s OK, I got this.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She took a deep
breath and let it out slowly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“In the first place, I’m not
really homeless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got a street
address.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s really no more homeless
than if you camped out in your grandparents’ back yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, I can’t run home to Mommy if I get
scared, ‘cuz I really don’t know where I’d run to.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George gave Redtail a puzzled look.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail grinned and sighed at George, saying, “Yeah, I know
I could run to you, but I still don’t know my parents.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked back at the original questioner
and continued. “About your three categories, I guess I’d have to pick somewhere
between the first two –but I guess I WAS trespassing until Grandpa George gave
me permission to stay.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The questioner asked, “How are you a combination of the
first two?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I started with nothing,” Redtail began, “so I guess I was
destitute, but I never felt needy and just accepted I’d have to forage and find
shelter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I didn’t choose this
lifestyle –that I know of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t do
drugs and I’d rather hang out with the local constabulary than get all drama’d
up in illegalities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I’m not a druggie
criminal or pouty teen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My situation is
beyond my control, so it’s sort of category one, but I’ve never felt lacking
and I’m contentedly providing for myself where charity doesn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’m not begging for or asking for charity
at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want to burden anyone
and nobody owes me a livelihood.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a short silence, another hand shot up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She asked, “You seem in unusually good
spirits for someone dumped in rural Missouri with nothing but health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How is that?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Lots of people might write this off as
coincidence, but I’ve had many such events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It all began in rural Missouri.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s lots safer than if I’d been dumped in New York City or inner
Chicago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Weather was nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed water and there was a drinking
fountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got hungry and there was
ample forage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got tired and there were
sleeping sites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even felt dirty and
there was a secluded clear spot in the creek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My and Grandpa George’s paths even crossed in time for shelter before
the rains started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sunday, I even found
a church home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People can sneer and
ridicule, but I firmly believe God is looking out for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since God’s watching over me, I’ve got
nothing to worry about.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail paused a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She caught a couple eye rolls, two people clapped, one gave a thumbs
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She didn’t feel at all like she’d be
attacked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She cleared her throat and
said, “Betcha weren’t expecting a sermon tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least I kept it under twenty minutes.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The clappers and thumbs up and a few others smiled, showing
her commentary wasn’t falling flat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
continued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That all doesn’t mean I’ve
never wondered about my past. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d really
like to know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just that worry won’t
fix anything.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another hand went up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“So, like, how come you still know how to camp and stuff?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail gave an eager gasp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She smiled and leaned forward like a high school girl ready to share some
juicy gossip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I know!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And reading and writing and speech, too!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The girl who asked the question said, “Yeah, like that,
too.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail leaned back, smiled knowingly, and said after a
slight pause, “I don’t have a clue.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
after another little pause, said, “No, really, our brains and how they work are
so so cool!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve only read a few
articles on-line at the library on memory loss and how certain bits can be
blocked from recollection by your body or your brain without your consent, at
all!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now there’s something for you
worry-warts to drama over.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She leaned
forward and gave a wide-eyed intense look around the group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And it could happen to any one of you!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail sat back up and said, “But I ain’t
gonna worry about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s happened to
me and it’s really really rare and the worry’s still not worth it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail got all intent again, “But is it really that
rare?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you ever walked into a room
and forgotten why you went in there?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She sat back up and smiled.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George smiled and shook his head. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail looked at George and said, “You’re
right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This has been lots easier than I
thought.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked back at the room
and said, “I almost worried about what I’d say here tonight.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail made eye contact with one of the
Three Maidens and asked, “Y’all ready to put someone else in the hotseat?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kayla said, “We didn’t have anyone else scheduled tonight,
so you’re stuck there ‘til you’re relieved or we close.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She threw her hands in the air and said,
“Sorry” and headed back into the kitchen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George grinned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail looked at the kitchen door in disbelief and started to
laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kayla poked her head back out and
said, “Unless, of course, you’re done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then step down whenever you’re ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Kayla smiled and popped back into the kitchen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“OK,” said Redtail and she looked back to the crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Any more questions?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A white-aproned guy cleaning tables asked, “What do you
think of Donowutt County?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail answered, “Oh wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I love it here!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George leaned over and told Redtail, “That’s Carl, Krystal’s
husband.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Alliteration throughout?” asked Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No, Carl with a “C”,” said George.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Carl gave a little laugh.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail continued, “Hi, Carl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got to hear snippets about you and the pub
the other day.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Carl gave a thumbs-up and continued wiping down the table.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Everything I’ve heard about Donowutt County
–its history, seclusion, the people, is all so interesting and fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been to Wilder, Midtown, Higginsburg and
Nowhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I live near Wilder and heard of
Rainy Island, Big River and Baldspot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And don’t take this as a putdown in the least, but, I keep thinking
somebody will ask me if I’d been to Mayberry or Pixley or Hooterville yet.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One lady sprayed her drink on the guy she was with and he
jumped and laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several others laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One gave an emphatic “YESSS!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also got a few puzzled looks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No, I mean everybody’s so friendly and helpful and
everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like this whole thing
is just one big fun story.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The guy whose table Carl had been prepping raised his hand. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail squinted and pointed in
acknowledgement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He asked, “Have you got
a phone yet?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail smiled, “I thought that was you, Billy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, I don’t, but when I do get a phone, I’ll
hunt you down and give you that number.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a short lull in the questions, one last hand went
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She asked, “Speaking of sharing
phone numbers, how DO you deal with romantic interests?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “With all my foraging, hunting, cooking and
other chores, I don’t have the time for romantic stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, really, I lost my memory and I don’t want
my behavior now, to jeopardize anything I might’ve had back then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really want to stay loyal to Mr.
What-If.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a pause, then
Redtail said, “I think I’m about ready to get out of the hotseat, but this is a
pub, so it’s social.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I’m still here
and you have questions for me, ask them!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail returned to George’s table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sarah arrived shortly after Redtail took the
stage, so she caught just about all of what people had to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When one of the “Ks” took a break, she would
park at George and Sarah’s table, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail barely caught her breath and Kayla sat down at seat five of six.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George gave Redtail a look of concern and said, “Shake if
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll be OK, just shake it off.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah whacked him with a menu, “Oh, stop it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was great!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kayla shook her head at George as he nursed the menu wound,
and said to Redtail, “See, that wasn’t bad at all.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div> <br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Chapter 32</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Thump!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail’s
eyes parted drowsily.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Thump!” Again, and this time Redtail heard voices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She jumped up, kicking her oven grills, but
she caught them before any of her morning’s fish dumped into the fire.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I must’ve dozed off,” she thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She brushed off and headed up toward the
house to welcome her day’s guest, Ruby, and maybe her mom.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail called out as she scurried up to the end of the
driveway, “Good…” and paused, “well, latish by now, morning, Ruby!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m guessing this is your mom.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yeah, this is my mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She insisted she had to come, too,” said Ruby.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m Alexis, or Lexi,” said Ruby’s mom as she extended a
hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I just thought it’d be cool to
see how you lived, too,” and she looked at Ruby, “rather than wait for the
book.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Mo-ommmmm,” said Ruby with a smile.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby asked, “May I start asking questions, Redtail?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I guess so,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“That was a question, right?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ruby,
not quite expecting such informality, was a bit taken aback.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi said, “Just go with it Ruby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think this will be fun, maybe not so
businesslike as you’d read an interview should be, but still fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’ll also be quite informative.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby sighed, “I know.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said quickly, “What was your next question, so we
can get back on track?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi said, “Ruby, take note to always be ready for the
unexpected.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby reluctantly said, “An interviewer’s supposed to take
control of the interview.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “That’s probably for a reluctant
interviewee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got no reason to be
defensive or guarded, so we can just have fun.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi looked at Ruby, then to Redtail, and back at Ruby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She smiled and stepped back.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby shook her head and gave a little shiver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“OK, I’ll start over.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked at her notepad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Redtail, how did you start your morning, in
as much detail as you feel like sharing?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Besides the obligatory wake-up…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How much detail?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“As much as you want?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“OK, after wake-up was potty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That might actually be interesting to readers
who don’t know my lifestyle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found a
secluded spot, or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">my</i> secluded spot,
and scraped a hole in the ground with my shovel head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pottied and covered it back up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And aside from my little campsite, I try to
be as invisible as possible.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Let’s head down to my campsite –or the place I call home,”
said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She motioned them to
follow her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They walked slowly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Step high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That way you’ll get less dew on your feet.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail then continued as the group
high-stepped through the grass.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“After potty, I think to myself, what are my plans today?
–and what do I feel like eating today and tomorrow?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t store up much food because I don’t
have any electricity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d say ‘no power’
but the sun and fire can be pretty powerful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I dry lots of stuff.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby asked, while checking off another intended question,
“What kind of stuff do you usually eat?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I eat lots of our local plants and small game animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even some I eat, I’m not certain they’re
legal, but I still do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m pretty
sure they are,” said Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby asked, “How do you know if they’re legal or not?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Oh that’s in the Wildlife Code book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I picked one up at WalMart the other day when
George and I went to Midtown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it’s in
season, it’s fair game –except for trout, deer, turkey, and waterfowl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They take special licensing, and I’d have a
hard time convincing lots of people I really exist.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby asked, “You mentioned some questionables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What might those be?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Well, they sell rat and mouse traps all over
the place, so it must not be illegal to kill them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I haven’t seen anything, however, stating it
is legal.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby said, “Oh yeah, that’s right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can eat rats and mice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a thought that takes some getting used
to.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Alexis laughed at Ruby’s surprise at rats and mice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she looked interested to hear Redtail’s
answer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Redtail said, “Sure you can eat rats and mice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re meat, just like squirrel or rabbit,
and they’re not hard to catch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wanna try
it?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby curled her nose and said, “Eww!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think so!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Alexis said, “C’mon Ms. Open-Minded Reporter!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it’d at least be fun to hear how it’s
done.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail smiled.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby said, “Yeah, well, it’s just…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She drew in a deep breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Let’s do it!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gave a weak laugh.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That’s the spirit,” said Alexis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked at Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’d never known Ruby to be squeamish.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Mo-ommmm,” sighed Ruby.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “It’s definitely not everyday mainstream food,
but it’s cool you’re at least giving it a shot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s a short trip to the brush pile where I get the rats, and we need to
pack a little equipment.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The three arrived at Redtail’s campsite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ruby said, “Cool! Is this where you live?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Yes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Talk about luxurious accommodations!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi and Ruby didn’t know how to respond, so they just
looked around and smiled politely.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail ducked into the tent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Y’all feel free to come in or just snoop
around a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll try to think out loud
as I gather up what we’ll need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
know how much you want to be in on, Ruby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And, of course, feel free to interrupt if you have any questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You, too, Lexi.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail stepped out of the tent just as Ruby stiffened up
and pointed toward the corner of the tent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail looked at the ground and gave a laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, he’s OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s almost a pet, but I haven’t given it a name yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rat snakes are really quite common and now
that you’ve seen him, you probably won’t startle one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OK, for my packing:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>killing and cleaning tools and a bag to carry
them in.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi asked, “Is your snake tame?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, can I pick it up?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “I’ve never tried it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes they’re docile and sometimes they’ll
bite pretty quick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And people who call
all non-venomous snakes ‘harmless’ had never been bitten by them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bite feels like a bunch of tiny paper cuts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can burn or sting, but don’t be scared
of snakes.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi asked, “Do you mind if I try it?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Mo-ommmm!” said Ruby.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “You say that quite a bit.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well”, said Ruby, “sometimes she’s, well, weird.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Cool,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I like weird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, and Lexi, go
for it, but don’t make your movements look threatening and be ready to react to
a strike.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi pursued the snake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail continued with Ruby. “My killing tool is what I call a cubit
stick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s really a lightweight club,
but it can also be used as a throwing weapon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My cleaning tools are this pocket knife, courtesy of Big Al, and a
side-cutting pliers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fishpole is for
the actual snaring.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Alexis, who had the snake coiled around her arm, took
interest at “snaring.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, in response to the snake, “Oh good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s not a meanie.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi said, “Do you set a bunch of snares like a trapline,
then come back and check on them later?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Naaah, my rat snaring is more interactive,” said Redtail.
“It’s almost like bobber fishing.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi walked over to Ruby, who stepped back at the snake’s
proximity. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “The process is really quite simple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Set the bait. Set the snare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wait patiently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yank the pole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Run up and kill the rat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clean it quick.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Redtail packed the supplies in her bag.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi looked at Ruby, then to Redtail and back to Ruby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So, if you’re not going to ask, I will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Redtail, what do you use for bait?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby seemed a bit embarrassed at her oversight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yeah.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “I’m sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I should’ve said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I make a paste
from berries and fat and if I can find ‘em, leftovers from a McDonald’s bag or
bread or seeds from old plants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s
probably lots better bait, but this works for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, hey!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll bet dried fish would work great!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby, starting to get more spontaneous, asked, “Why fish?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Fish,” said Redtail, “even dried rock hard, can be quite
aromatic.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She jumped up from her bag
and ducked back into the tent, emerging with a sealed food container.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She approached Ruby and said, “Smell
this!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail popped the corner of the lid and Ruby jumped back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Eww!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s terrible!” said Ruby.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “And that’s not even spoiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wanna try some?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail cut off a piece and put in her mouth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby said, “No thank you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The shocked tones disappeared from her voice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi said, “I wouldn’t mind trying some.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t smell any worse than lutefisk.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail asked, “What’s lutefisk?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby said, “It’s some gross fish stuff Daddy’s family in
North Dakota serves around Christmas time.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It sounds like it’d make good rat bait, too,” said Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That’s about all it’d be ‘good’ for,” added Lexi.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail asked, “Is lutefisk like dried fish?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi said, “It’s dried fish reconstituted with lye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes on a gel-like consistency when
that’s done, so it’s really weird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
some sort of Scandinavian tradition.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “I like different ethnic foods.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby said, “Lutefisk’s gross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s get back to rats.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She paused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Eww!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That sounded so weird!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“The catching is really quite simple, but maybe hard to
explain,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The trapper
sits really low behind a log about 15 feet from the bait.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail got Ruby and Lexi to stand about six feet apart, and
she slowly walked around them as she continued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“The baiting area is in a fairly dense brush pile in a little eroded
gully.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail stopped and reversed the
direction of her circling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ruby and her
mom smiled apprehensively.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“There’s not much breeze today and I needed to consider
positioning.” Redtail stopped and looked at the two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby asked with a light laugh, “What are you doing?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail answered, “Oh, I thought it smelled like one of you
used some more scented soap or shampoo or something, and I think Lexi’s the
culprit!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail smiled.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi said, “Oh wow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
didn’t think about that.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Not a problem,” said Redtail. “I bet you weren’t planning
to snare rats today, either.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi laughed and Ruby was still not quite sure how to handle
the situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail said, “I was
going to let one of you catch the rat while I did the messy and time-crucial
part of killing and cleaning –unless you’d like to try the catch, Ruby.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby said, “Not really, but I’d like to see it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail went on, “And Lexi, you’re just too good-smelling to
be close to the trapping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’ll all
still work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll explain the whole thing
before we head down there, so we can be nearly silent when we get there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lexi can watch from downwind and Ruby, you
can watch it all from up close if you want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I hope it’s a successful snaring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes I miss, but not often.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby asked, “Do you catch lots of rats?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Not really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve tried about half a dozen times and missed once.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi said, “Maybe I could find a dead animal to roll in to
mask my smell. I think it’d be fun to try the actual hunt.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Mo-…!” Ruby caught herself. “mm,” she said quietly with a
smile.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail continued, “When we get there, we’ll smear some bait
on a spot I use and fasten a loop of fishing line at the little chamber’s
opening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we let out some line and
hide in our spots where we can watch the bait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll reel up the slack in the line and then we wait and watch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If nothing happens in 15 minutes or so, we’ll
go fishing.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi said, “Now fishing, I know.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “When we’re hiding, We gotta keep our movement
and noise to a minimum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A rat will
slowly walk out of the brush and cautiously up the log to the bait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’ll stop occasionally and sniff for your
mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it starts getting comfortable
eating the bait… I’ll… YANK…” Ruby and her mom jumped. “…the fishpole!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rat will come flying past us and I’ll try
to steer it into smacking down on the ground to stun it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll run out and hit it with the cubit stick
to kill it and immediately start cleaning it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>From YANK to cleaning happens lots faster than it takes for me to
describe it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Lexi asked, “Why do you have to clean it so fast?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That cubit stick can damage prey pretty bad,” said Redtail.
“If I don’t clean it quickly, it’ll bruise or digestive organs could’ve
ruptured to taint the meat, or at least I think so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s why I try to be quick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think we’re about ready to head out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you think so, too?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyone gotta potty first?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I think we’re good,” said Lexi as she looked at Ruby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ruby nodded and off they went.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“A lot of my food gathering is experimental,” said Redtail
quietly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I considered getting some rat
traps from Big Al, but kept getting this feeling that I might be killing the
rats but not getting to them in time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
hate the thought of useless killing.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As they walked down the rocky trail to the snaring site,
Lexi broke the near silence as she gave a little snort and smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I was thinking about useless killing and my
mind happened onto trophy hunting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw
a little cardboard shield with a dried rat head wired to it, hanging on your
tent wall.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail laughed and added, “or a little catfish from the
pond, but I wonder how a taxidermist does the whiskers.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Down the path a bit more and Redtail hushed up her voice and
nearly whispered, “Here’s about where we’ll need to split up.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The girls stopped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail looked around, rubbing her chin as
she thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“OK, Lexi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll put you over there on the rock by that
fat old oak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adjust yourself so you can
watch us, but try to stay concealed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll give a thumbs up when we’re all set up, and then the suspense can
begin.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Lexi sat on the rock and with a look, asked Redtail, “This
one?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail returned a nod.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lexi smiled and gave a thumbs up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ruby and Redtail continued down to the brush pile about 20
yards farther.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail unslung her bag
and pulled out the bait packet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bait
was a chunky and greasy wad, wrapped in a piece of WalMart bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail began to smear the bait inside a
small chamber built of sticks and nails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The chamber was walled on 3 of the 4 sides with the top and fourth side
open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole box was about 3 by 3
inches and out on the protruding end of the log.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail said, “This little room is open on one side in order
to steer the rat into the snare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
it’s good to see the chamber clean because that means they’ve been coming out
to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope they’re not spooked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got three this morning.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail startled at a soft buzzing sound, but calmed quick
when Ruby looked caught and answered a text on her phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She started to groan, “Oh Moo…” and caught
herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The text said, “Could you please move so I can see, too?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail whispered, “When I heard that buzz, I first thought
we’d disturbed a bumble bee or even a snake.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ruby smiled but kept quiet as she took a couple pictures of
the bait chamber while Redtail applied the bait and set the noose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She side-stepped a bit so her mom could
watch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lexi packed a small set of
binoculars in her purse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ruby then
asked, “Sorry, but can I take pictures for the story?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t even think of pictures until Mom
texted me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail said, “You go right ahead and get what you need, how
you need it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ruby replied with an eager, “Oh, thank you!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail pulled the cubit stick from her bag and made sure
her knife was in her pocket, then she slung her bag to her shoulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She slowly backed up with the fishpole,
carefully letting out line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
signaled Ruby to sit behind a small brush pile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail carefully laid the fishpole across the brush and reeled up the
slack, then carefully let it back out a bit until it just touched the ground in
a gentle loop. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She, too, crouched down
behind the brush. “This shouldn’t take real long,” Redtail whispered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">They waited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
watched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lexi watched, too, often
through her binoculars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed a long
time had passed, but after slightly less than 5 minutes, a rat started out of
the brush and up the log.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It moved in
short jerky movements, pausing quite frequently to sniff the air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rat stopped at the bait chamber and sat
upright on its haunches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It preened
itself, licking its paws and rubbing its face like it was getting washed up for
dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail slowly picked up the
fishpole and tightened herself like a trap spring as though she, too, was
getting ready for dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
whispered, I’ll pull when he gets in up to his shoulder.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ruby watched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rat
took two steps toward the chamber, and sniffed around casually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looked up and around, then poked its head
into the chamber.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail tensed again
and shifted a bit on her feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ruby
smiled at the thought of how Redtail reminded her of a cat about to pounce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next few seconds shifted into slow motion
for Redtail, but were more like a blur to Ruby and her mom.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The rat stepped both front feet into the chamber and Redtail
pulled back hard on the fishpole, looking overhead in expectation of the rat flying
past, but it didn’t happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She hadn’t
felt the proper tension on the line and groaned in disappointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail remembered she hadn’t popped the
button back out on the reel after she let down the loop in the line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail jumped up and gave another
exasperated shrug and groan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ruby jumped
up too, and tapped Redtail on the shoulder, pointing to the trap log.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail looked again and squeaked in relief
as she realized the rat was still tangled and struggling in a very active ball,
hanging about a foot below the log.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Yes,” exclaimed Redtail!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Maybe we can still save this!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“This” being dinner, and not the rat,” as she scrambled to the log with
her cubit stick.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Two lightning-fast blows from the cubit stick: first
stunning and knocking the rat to the ground and the second blow to the head,
killing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two cubit stick blows
and Redtail’s knife coming out of her pocket all happened in one smooth,
seemingly seamless movement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
called Lexi out of hiding and apologized to the two of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The whole actual killing through cleaning seems so gruesome and
animal-like, but it’s gotta be done without hesitation or the meat can spoil
pretty quick.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ruby said, “That’s OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s not so gross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad takes me
rabbit hunting.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Lexi said, “Oh wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That rat’s almost cute, like a gray hamster.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Yeah,” said Redtail, “wood rats look lots different from
Norway rats, which most people think of when they think ‘rats’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wood rat faces aren’t so pointy and
beady-eyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their ears are rounder and a
little smaller and their tails are barely a third as long as a Norway rat’s.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“My animal use isn’t quite as efficient as it maybe could
be,” said Redtail, “but I try to use a lot. Meat and bait, mostly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m saving bones from bigger animals like
raccoons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m pretty sure I can make
some cool tools and weapons with them.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She saved all the guts of the rat and held up the head of the rat with
the skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Not quite sure what to do
with this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe the dry the skin and
use it to make some light rawhide cordage?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Lexi said, “I could see it securing arrow or spear heads.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ruby looked at her mom like she was seeing some unknown cave
girl side being uncovered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Lexi said, “I used to read a lot about native crafts. I just
haven’t had lots of time to play with it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail pulled more WalMart bag from her shoulder pack and
tore it into pieces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wrapped the
meat and skin in one piece and the innards in another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She then packed everything back into the pack.
“I’ll put this on the grill by the fire and then we’ll catch a few fish.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Lexi said, “You sound so confident.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“I don’t always get what I’m after,” said Redtail, “and if I
don’t, I’ve got dried stuff to fall back on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll let you try some of that, too.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Too?” asked Ruby.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail said, “Oh sure, I assumed you’d join me for a late
lunch.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Heading up to the camp, Redtail continued talking on things
she thought might be of interest to Ruby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Except that I’d already been fishing this morning, you’re seeing a
pretty routine day for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get
food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fix food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about future food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Water, food, shelter and then comes comfort and fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been so blessed to have George let me
use his place and even his tent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
have to worry about anything because he’s made a standing offer of his tap water
and even his house and barn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll still
try to be pretty much self-supporting out here, but, it’s reassuring that if it
all falls through, it’s not the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yep, God’s got His eye on this little sparrow.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">While Redtail spread the rat on the grill, Ruby asked some
more questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You can’t remember your
past, but why haven’t you more aggressively pursued finding answers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That sounded almost too prying, but it’s only
curiosity.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“No, that’s alright,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s a very valid question, and one I’ve
pondered, myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know our local
police and even posse are alert to leads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t have a clue where I’d start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I guess I’m a little apprehensive of how authorities would treat
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d just rather wait patiently for
my answers rather then get institutionalized or drugged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not hiding from anyone or anything that I
know of.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ruby asked, “How do you get money for stuff you need?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like, or do you actually find everything you
need?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“I really can’t dwell on it,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The situation hasn’t arisen, so until it
gets to be a problem, well, I’m trusting God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’ll all be OK.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Wow,” said Ruby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Your contentment is so cool.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail asked, “What other people have you written about?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Ruby brightened up: “I’ve written on Robert M. Higgins, his son, R. Maxwell
Higgins, or Robert, Jr., his son, Max, and Judge Hugo Noyugo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d really like to research Warden William
Husgow out at Rainy Island Prison, but he’s sort of elusive for interviewing
and not much is written about him.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby continued with the questions, asking all the usual
ones, and she included a physical description.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She knew readers wouldn’t be able to see Redtail was tallish at five
foot eight inches and very fit-looking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She had long straight black hair tied back in a low ponytail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail’s eyes were about as dark as her
hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail didn’t know her ethnicity,
so they guessed at Amerasian or maybe Hispanic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ruby closed up her notebook and paused.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m not going to write this down, but, like, I’m
curious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re so, well, pretty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you have lots of guys after you?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail smiled.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby said, “I mean, to see you and talk to you, it’s
surprising you live alone in the woods.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Well thank you. I don’t get out much, and
when I do, it’s usually with someone or I’m on a specific mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got one guy who openly flirts with me when
our paths cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I and a bunch of other
people know he wants my phone number when I get one, but there’s been no male
callers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know what I have in my
old life and don’t want to jeopardize any good things I might have with hasty
decisions now.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Cool,” said Ruby.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi added, “I like that.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“And feel free to include that in your paper, if you like,”
said Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby opened her notebook again and said, “I just might.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby did come up with a thought provoking speculative
question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ruby began, “I know you don’t
really remember, but, what do you think your hobbies or interests might have
been before now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or what do you think
you’d like to be interested in?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, I like that question,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I do know a few things in that area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I like church and the library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the history of this area is
fascinating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I like research and
I know I like history in general.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby said softly, “Me too.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail continued, “I’m pretty certain I have a background
working with kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t expecting to
see y’all in the Museum, but as soon as I saw The Relics, I wanted to get
involved with what they were up to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
at church Wednesday and Sunday, the children seemed to gravitate toward
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You and Rick are more like young adults than
children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh boy, there’s another
interest area: words!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do we still
use an archaic plural of child?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi cut in, “I think language is fun, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m the English teacher and consultant for
The Relics.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail continued, “Yeah, I mean there’s so much cool stuff
to learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess I could say I have an
insatiable curiosity and want to be an enabler in that area for others.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby said, “It sounds like you were a teacher.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, as she packed up fishing gear, “I’ve wondered
that from time to time.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail moved her fish to the top grill and suggested they
head to the pond to catch a few more fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Sometimes I wish I could catch a mess of fish and stock up, but I’m
limited on food storage and preservation.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail continued, “I feel like God designed us for regular nibbling and
foraging, rather than two or three sit-down meals a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hunt food constantly, but it’s never felt
stressfully urgent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always feel like I
have plenty to share, too.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Up at the pond, Redtail caught a small bass and a
sunfish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ruby also got a bass and a
sunfish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lexi caught a big sunfish as
she was reeling up after her last cast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the way back to camp, Redtail gathered up a WalMart bag full of curly
dock, lamb’s quarter, dandelion and flower-of-an-hour greens and lots of nearby
flower-of-an-hour and dandelion flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She also pulled about a dozen Queen Anne’s lace roots with their greens,
explaining the difference between it and poison hemlock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail spotted Lexi looking up what she’d
been telling them on her smart phone and smiled as Lexi looked up feeling
caught.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A little embarrassed and with a hint of defensiveness, Lexi
started to say, “Oh, I was just…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail interrupted and said, “No, that’s great to
double-check what you hear about wild edibles, specially the potentially deadly
ones.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She added, “and I forgot how
accessible the Internet is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we still
gotta be careful there, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It often
gives wrong info.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby said, “Forgetting about the Internet raises an
interesting question, at least for me.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi quickly added, “So probably for your readers, too.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Well, I’m ready to give an answer.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“How come, I mean, why,” began Ruby, “do you remember so
much about camping and wild edibles and survival stuff, but don’t remember who
you are or where you’re from?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail let out a big breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Wow, I’ve wondered about that one a
lot!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do I still know how to speak
English, too?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Memory loss is weird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your brain can pick and choose what it wants
to remember and what it wants to block out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I hope the blockage isn’t anything scary or illegal, but I really don’t
know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I let all that bother me, I
could slip into a really nasty depression.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They arrived back at camp and Redtail put the greens on to
boil and squatted down to begin cleaning the fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Got another blade?” asked Lexi.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Sure,” said Redtail, handing Lexi her blade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ll grab another one from my box.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ruby, you want one, too?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby said, “I’d like to, but I don’t think I should risk
getting fish goop on my notebook.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi looked at Ruby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ruby said, “No, really, Mom!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
wanna keep on writing.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I
know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just didn’t want to miss a
chance to give you a hard time.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby sighed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail explained, “My fish cleaning goes pretty quick: no
scaling, no skinning, unless I’ll be drying it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These’ll be for lunch.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby asked, “Do you enjoy cooking over a campfire?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “It should seem odd, but it seems
natural.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still vaguely remember doing
culinary things in a full kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Grandpa George says I can use his, but I think that’ll be more for
emergencies.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi said, “Well it sure smells good.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Maybe that’s the hickory wood I found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think it’s the simmering greens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got an old memory, but I’m not sure
where it’s from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, I know paper
birch bark smoke smells great!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shortly
thereafter, she turned the fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This
looks like it will be ready in just a bit.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby looked at the fish and asked how Redtail knew done from
not done. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“When it flakes apart and looks all white and not
translucent like… like… Oh, here!” said Redtail as she poked about with her
knife.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby said, “Oh yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I see that.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi asked Redtail why she cooked her fish right on the
grill and not in a pan.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail looked at the grill in puzzlement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t really know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe less to wash?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faster heating?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I grill them with skins on to help hold the
meat together better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I peel that off
when I eat it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail hopped up and
ducked into her tent, emerging with a handful of eating utensils and some
bowls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ve only got a couple forks,
but I made a bunch of chopsticks.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi looked at the chopsticks and said, “I think I can still
do this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s been a while.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby said, “It’ll be fun.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The three sat on logs and scooped chunks of fish off the
communal platter and into their bowls. Redtail’s serving fork for the greens
looked like a tiny wood rake, made from a stick with the end split and
splayed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With this, she scooped dollops
of greens into the bowls.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Sorry for the lack of salt,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But I do have peppergrass or penny
cress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those seeds are even starting to
come in season.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“This is good anyway,” said Ruby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lexi nodded in agreement.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They chatted away and finished lunch. “I thought the rat
would taste weird or something, but it didn’t at all,” said Ruby.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi said, “I thought it was quite pleasant.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It’s in there between squirrel and rabbit, I think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good stuff, but overlooked,” said Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby asked again if she could walk around and take
pictures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Redtail said she was free
as she wanted to be.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi said to Redtail, “I don’t know what all you’ve heard,
but there’s already rumors of the wild girl or cave girl living out by Perry’s
Bend.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “We’d be neighbors then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sounds like someone I’d like to
meet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could swap stories.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail and Lexi both laughed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby turned back to Redtail and asked, “What would you say
is the hardest part of your lifestyle?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail sighed, “Oh, I don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably the not knowing what’s happening in
my old environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that’s all it
is: not knowing.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby smiled and nodded, “And that’s beyond your control, so
you don’t let that bother you.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All three laughed, and Redtail said, “Yep, you got it!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby concluded she had all she needed for now and they all
agreed their paths would cross again, offering opportunity to fill in the gaps
if there were any.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail walked up to
the car with Ruby and Lexi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George was walking toward the group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Howdy y’all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Got back from town and I saw a new car in the drive so I figured I’d
check it out.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail introduced everybody.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George said, “I thought I’d seen you around
town from time to time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glad to finally
meet you.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi said, “Yeah, I knew who you were, but never really met
you.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George laughed, “Now I won’t just be that creepy old guy who
waves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got a name now, and so do
y’all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, I try not to be
creepy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d heard some of the kids in
town think I’m scary.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby looked back and forth between the three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail smiled and said, “Nah, you weren’t
even creepy when you crept up on me that first day we met in the woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d have approached cautiously, too, to some
weird squatter on my land.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi smiled at Ruby and raised an eyebrow.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby asked, “Can I interview you, too, sometime to get your
thoughts and feelings on a new, well, granddaughter?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Why sure,” said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I’m usually pretty flexible on time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I try to stay busy, but I’m my own boss now.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby giggled a bit and caught herself. “I’ll get back with
you to set up a date.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George said, “Looks like I might need to prepare a story
about our story, Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I might have
ta take notes tonight at the Three Maidens.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “You do that, and Ruby, I think you’ll know
how to find us when you get more questions.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lexi loaded their stuff up in the car as the others
small-talked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Now, for tonight,” wondered Redtail, “How do I prepare for
that?” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">
Chapter 33</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next few weeks went like the previous ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hot and muggy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail foraged and visited Wilder from time
to time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Donowutt County only got rain
twice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No injuries with the 4<sup>th</sup>
of July festivities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Big Al and Redtail came to a reluctant wage agreement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wanted to pay her more, but she said it
was her pleasure, and if she had to take anything, it shouldn’t be more than
minimum wage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail got to pick her
own days and hours, which started to settle on a few afternoon hours, Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Sunday
rolled around again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The preacher finished his sermon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The closing hymn and prayer wrapped things up
for the Sunday morning worship service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pastor Tix adjourned for the morning and the children accosted Redtail
on their way out. The kids at church were getting excited about the up-coming
wild edibles walk and wanted Redtail to start now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On their way home, Redtail thought out loud to George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“To do a program: I’ve got my site and the
event is scheduled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s going to be a
walk, and I’ve scouted the place out a bit, so I know where various plants and
even critters are, to talk about them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don’t have any books on the topic, but I’ll be recommending and checking some out
from the library.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Sounds like a good start, so far,” said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You’ll be just fine.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I think there’s even some plants I don’t know, so will be
trying to research while I’m there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
want to show the first question should be, ‘What is this?’ rather than, ‘Can I
eat this?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’ll be taking them along
the tree line and making sure they know poison ivy.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George said, “I think that should get the kids interested in
what’s around them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just their knowing
the outdoors is more than ‘that green place with no roof’ is a great start.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “The walk starts at 6:30.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could I get a ride to the library at 4:30? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s no trouble with my leaving early to walk,
but I’ll know how much time I’ll have to pre-forage if I got a ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t start my hardware schedule ‘til next
week, so I won’t already be there.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’ll get ya there and even haul stuff if you want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll drop you off and run into Higginsburg to
pick up a bit, and I’ll be back at quittin’ time,” said George.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, you can stay for the program, if you like.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I thought about that,’ said George, “but I do enough
programs here and about that I didn’t want folks tempted to ask me the questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is your program.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave Redtail a reassuring smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It rained Monday and threatened to do so on Tuesday and
those two days dragged on for Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She did her regular foraging, but was nervous at her lack of extra
storage, so she waited until Wednesday morning to collect for the samples
buffet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wednesday morning finally came
around for Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sun shined and
it got hot and muggy like a mid-July day in Missouri is apt to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, she could forage without holding
back, so she eagerly hit the trail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Concentrating on edibles Redtail knew she could find on the
church grounds later, she collected plantain, thistles, pennycress, pineapple
weed, henbit, chickweed and, of course, dandelion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She filled her burlap collection bag and took
them to the barn to rinse in the sink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>George was away on some errands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Despite regular invitations and encouragement, Redtail still didn’t want
to use George’s house without an express invitation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail tried to think of truly hazardous plants the kids
might encounter, but aside from the latex in dandelion stems and pokey thistle
thorns, she was fairly sure they were in for safe foraging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She hadn’t gotten out to the edge of the
woods on the church grounds, so she planned to stay alert for poison ivy and
wild parsnip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail considered poison
hemlock, too, but thought she’d have noticed any stands of that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She finished up her forage rinse and shook
off excess moisture before she put it in a washed burlap sack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She liked to keep a forage sack and a clean
sack.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail guessed the time to be a bit after lunchtime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If I have to start being places at certain
times, I should probably get me a watch or clock,” she thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I wonder what time it really is?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right about then the gravel started crunching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George was back from his mission.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail headed up to the house with her forage bags and
knocked lightly on the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George
called out, “Redtail, is that you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Door’s open.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Grandpa George –Oh, here’s the time on your stove.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We still have a couple hours before you want to leave,
right?” asked George.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s only
1:45 and I don’t feel like I need to leave ‘til around 4:15.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George walked into the kitchen drying his hands with a
rag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Helpin’ a friend get his outboard
motor runnin’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Got a little dirty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we got it running, so it was a good
morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How ‘bout you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ready for this evening?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I think so, but I also keep thinking I’m forgetting
something.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George reassured Redtail, “Yep, that’s the last step in
prepping for a program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re ready for
this.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He laughed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail asked incredulously, “What? You always forget
something?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George laughed again, “No, but I often think I have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But even when I actually do, it still works
out.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I stuck with foraging really common stuff I knew we could
find at church, and washed it in the barn so we won’t need to clean the forage
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also plan to start at the
library and get three or four books to have on hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other than those books, I’m all packed right
here.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail patted her burlap sacks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh maaan, I wish I packed that light!” said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But that’s a thing about getting’
older.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You accumulate stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should try packing light a time or two
–just to see if I can still do it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I got a couple hours before departure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel like I need to do something more.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George suggested, “Just sit back in one of the living room
chairs and close your eyes and see if you think of anything else you need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you happen to doze off, I’ll wake ya.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail pondered the idea and got up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I just think I might take you up on
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just hope I don’t get too
comfortable.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the living room, the light was dim and filtered through
yellowed translucent pull-down window shades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The couch was on the far side under a window and two soft chairs faced
it on either side of the kitchen doorway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>George offered a chair and Redtail slowly cushed down into it, letting
out a long breath while she closed her eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I feel like I should be foraging or something, but I don’t want to get
started in another project only to have to quit to head out for tonight’s
festivities.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She smiled and took
another long breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I guess if I take
a nap, it was meant to be.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Almost two hours later, George quietly asked Redtail if she
was about ready to head into town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
smiled and took another longish breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I guess I was supposed to take a nap in preparation for the program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George and Redtail pulled up to the front of the
library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail thanked George for the
ride and George said he’d be to the church by about 7:00.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They bid farewells and Redtail headed into
the library.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Hello, Redtail,” said Linda-Jean. “Did you get off at the
hardware early?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No,” said Redtail, “that doesn’t start ‘til next week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m here for a few example books for
foraging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got that program at
church tonight, and thought I’d throw in a plug for the library.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well thank you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
can use the publicity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be cool
to have more kids into books.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m looking for a couple good field guides to, like,
wildflowers or common garden weeds and maybe a good wild edibles book or two.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linda-Jean pointed out that those could be found in several
areas: wildflowers, survival or even foods and cooking.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a bit of hunting, Redtail settled on a Missouri
Department of Conservation, “Wildflowers of Missouri,” Golden’s “Guide to Field
Identification: Wildflowers of North America,” Sam Thayer’s “The Forager’s
Harvest,” John Kallas’ “Edible Wild Plants: Wild Foods from Dirt to Plate” and “Foraged
Flavor” by Tama Matsuoka Wong and Eddy Leroux.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail milked her time and stretched it to the full 5:00
closing of the library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Linda-Jean said,
as she locked up the library, “I’ll see you at your program this evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll have Louie with me, too.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well,” said Redtail, “I think we’re going to have fun
tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least I think I will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, in between now and then, I plan to
scout the church grounds so I know my way around the edibles.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You’ll be quite knowledgeable after an hour of quiet
walking.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yeah, I got to thinking I might’ve given myself a bit too
much time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it’s better than being
late,” said Redtail with a smile.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linda-Jean said, “Enjoy your tour, and we’ll see you later.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail arrived at the church, which is only a hundred or so
yards from the library, and set her forage bags and books by the front
door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gave the doors a light tug to
verify they were still locked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail took
a deep breath, let it out and smiled while she scanned the grounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked at the field and headed out to
explore more closely that unmowed area.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The field or pasture had become a sort of community grazing
area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quite often, horses or goats or
even young cattle would be staked out there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The plants never got much more than knee high and when they did, someone
would cut and bale it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plan seemed
to work out quite nicely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kids could
have their 4-H larger animals, neighbors could have horses, and the church
didn’t have to keep the whole place mowed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail walked through the red clover, yarrow, Queen Anne’s lace and
past occasional yellow and white sweet clover and wild parsnip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the edge of the woods and near a drainage
ditch, she found a small patch of older poison hemlock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She made a note to ask about later eradication.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also found her poison ivy, so that danger
portion of her walk would happen like she wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail explored a bit along the woods edge
and headed back to the building, adding hop clover, tickseed trefoil, hedge
parsley and several other plants to her list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail started back for the church and Pastor Tix headed
there from the parsonage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They exchanged
waves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail arrived at the door just
as Pastor Tix got it unlocked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ll
get the rest of the place opened up for you in just a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’ll be back in a couple hours after you
start to lock up.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Just the basement door would be fine, and if you trust me,
I can lock up to save you a trip.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I tell ya what.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you don’t see me by the time you’re finished, go ahead and lock up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’ll all work out.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He turned around and told Redtail, “The Allen
wrench that engages the door lock is in that drawer, but be sure you got all
your stuff before you let it all lock up behind you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He smiled as pointed to the drawer in the
brochure table by the door.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yeah, it’ll all work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thank you so much for letting me do this!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think the kids will love it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I know Lucy and Lydia have been talking quite a bit about
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess they know all about locking
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can guide ya through checking
all the doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They know the
routine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll see ya later.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As Pastor Tix departed, his daughters, Lucy and Lydia ran
laughing from the parsonage to the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail opened the door and welcomed the girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lydia collapsed dramatically on the floor and
Lucy rolled her eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lydia got up and
half-crawled to the drinking fountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After a long noisy drink, Lydia slumped down in the pew in the hallway
and sighed loudly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Maybe it’s too hot and sticky out there for you to take a
walk this evening,” suggested Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It is pretty hot out there, and a long grueling walk across
that parking lot.” Redtail glanced at Lucy and smiled. “Lydia needs to regain
all the strength she can before we strike out on our adventure.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail pulled a sign, which read, “Wild Edibles Walk Starts
from Basement out back” from her pack and taped it to the window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well, I think we’re ready to head to the
basement. Lydia, can you make it when you’ve recovered?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucy rolled her eyes, but laughed, too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail and Lucy headed off to the basement, and Lydia
caught up before they got to the stairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She didn’t want to miss out on any Redtail surprises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the bottom of the stairs, Redtail caught
some movement through the window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
hurried off to the door to get it unlocked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Three car doors thumped shut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Kimmy and her sister Chloe ran in the doors, and their mother, Kitty
walked in after a few seconds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another
car pulled in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kevin and his dad got out
and two more cars headed down the drive to the basement parking lot.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail confessed, “I don’t have any time-keeping device
with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How close are we to starting
time?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kitty looked at her phone and said, “I’ve got 6:28”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Let’s head outside and I’ll get us started when I get my
thoughts straight.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pastor Tix met the group as Redtail and the indoor bunch
stepped out onto the concrete pad at the basement door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the other two groups neared the pad,
Redtail said, “Wow, this is a wonderful turn-out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do y’all have smart phones?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know Kitty does.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kevin’s dad, Ted, held his up and Redtail continued,
“Good!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re quite a nice resource for
plant identification these days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still,
I like hard-copy books like these.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
pulled the books from her bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t
have a lot of books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These came from the
library. With the phones, I might have you Googling stuff.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I don’t use Google,” came a voice from the group.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Whatever search engine you like, or whatever apps are your
favorites are great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just use “Google”
like a verb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess one point I want to
stress is that your first question should be, “What is it?” and not, “Can I eat
this?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your phrasing should never be, “I
just ate this: What is it?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lydia dropped her field guide and fell to the ground,
pouncing on a cricket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She picked up her
field guide and in the other hand, absent-mindedly studied her catch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lucy fussed at her like a good big sister
usually does.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail asked, “Whatcha got there?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lydia snapped back to the group’s world and said, “I caught
a cricket!” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Do you plan to eat it?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An “Ewww” rippled through many of the group, while others
seemed eager for the answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lydia
looked shocked and turned her back to Redtail to shield her catch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s a pet!” said Lydia.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucy and Kimmy rolled their eyes and sighed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “That’s OK, but insects really are a good
source of protein and lots of other nutrients.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One little boy piped up, “Spiders crawl into your mouth at
night.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail laughed, “I guess they could, but it’s nothing to
lie awake worrying about.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two bicycles scratched and slid to a halt in the
gravel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jerry and Mike looked a little
embarrassed at their loud entrance, so they quietly joined Kevin and his
dad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad gave the boys a faint scowl,
then a smile.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kevin raised his hand and Redtail acknowledged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I know I eat lots of bugs by accident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve even swallowed bugs before I knew what
was happening while I rode my bike.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yeah, most insects, or bugs, like I like to call them,”
said Redtail, “are edible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there’s a
few that are hazardous to eat.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A little girl said, eagerly, “Like hornets!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mike said, “And some don’t taste good, either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ladybugs are nasty.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “That’s funny because many of our heavily
defended plants and insects are really very edible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think ladybugs are edible, but I’m
not really sure why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stinkbugs live up
to their name, but they’re very pleasantly tasty, when you’re expecting
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, and here’s another tasty, well
defended plant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyone know what this
one is?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She squatted to the ground,
pointed at a thistle rosette, and looked up at the group.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The kids crowded around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Dandelion!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Wild Lettuce?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Wild rose!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Thistle!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Grass cactus!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Parents and Redtail smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail said, “These leaves do resemble dandelion and wild lettuce. And they’ve
got sharp prickles like roses and cacti.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is a thistle, and the leaves are a fun snack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The stems and roots are even edible and the
flower feels like gum when you chew it –without being sticky and gummy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She cut off three long leaves with her pocket
knife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Gotta be careful though, because
the little thorns can sting when they poke you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A good thing is they’re not real brittle like other thornies that break
off in your skin a bunch.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail shook
her hand as she dropped the leaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Even
when you expect it, they can still poke you!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail picked a leaf back up and held it tip-down by the
thick central vein and showed the thorns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The kids “oooh’d” and “ahhh’d”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Several reached in to sample the prickle with their tender
fingertips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She pulled out her pocket
knife again and asked some of the closer kids to back up a little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail opened the knife and said, “Your
knife should always be really really sharp.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She neatly and smoothly trimmed the thorny edges off the leaf, leaving
the long tapered central vein.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What you
have now is what I like to call wild celery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At least it’s got a similar crunch.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She wiped the vein spear off in her shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The flavor is milder than celery.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She popped the spear in her mouth and
convinced the group of the crunchiness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With a hint of shock, Redtail exclaimed, “Oh, you should
always wash your forage before eating it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was almost a totally bad example there, but at least I wiped it off
first.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pastor Tix suggested, “Maybe you could tell us of the
numerous ways foraged food could get contaminated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, when you pick a leaf, it can look so
clean.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’ll try that,” said Redtail, “but don’t let that scare you
off eating all together.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She stood up
and looked around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“There’s a good
example.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail pointed to the church
wall between the siding and ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“What do you see there?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids
looked and murmured with puzzlement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“OK, would you lick the side of the building?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Giggles and moans erupted, “Eww!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yuck!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“No!” “That’s gross!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What’s so bad about that?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It’s dirty!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail began to go into detail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What happens when it rains?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“The rain soaks into the ground for the plants!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well, lots of it does, but look at all this dirt on the
wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rain also splashes dirt on
stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can rinse things, but it’s not
always food-clean. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now go a couple
steps farther.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What sorts of things are
also in dirt?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A neighbor dog, wanting to get in on the action, came
trotting up to the group, happily wagging its tail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stopped on the way to water a fence
post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The parents caught the
significance and a couple kids did, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Ewww!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gross!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lydia said, “Oh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
poop out here, too!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “And then there’s the tiny things like slugs
leaving their slime trails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re
known to carry diseases sometimes. Lydia knows about lots of the little
critters running around here all the time.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the boys pointed to the bird on the overhead line,
“And there’s bird poop, too!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“After all this hazard-talk, I just might limit my trail nibbling on
this walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, it’s always a good
idea to wash your food before you eat it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Washed and raw is OK, but cooking even takes it farther for being
clean.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sighed and scanned the
grounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So, what do you see when you
look out there?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail swept her hand
to the field and woods.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Trees and grass”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Green”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Lots of plants”
“Bugs”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Bees” “Birds”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“A frog”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well good!” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“’Outside’ is lots more than just that green place with no roof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That big sheet of mowed green is lots more
than just grass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s just stand and
count how many different kinds of plants we see by our feet.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The kids began counting and it started to sound like a
scramble to find the most different species.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even the parents looked and appreciated the diversity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some kids dropped to the ground and began
crawling around to find more.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Just from here, I see white, hop and red
clovers, two kinds of plantain, dandelions, pineapple weed, speedwell,
chickweed, henbit, dead nettle, thistle –oh, at least three kinds of
those.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, and in the corner there’s
dayflower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can see yarrow and Queen
Anne’s lace in the field, and I’m really no good with my grasses, but there’s a
bunch of different kinds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s
differential, Carolina and red-legged grasshoppers and field and house crickets
honey, bumble and other bees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmm, they
should be getting to bed by now. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s
walk around and talk about some of these plants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I specially want to show you a couple down by
the woods, so lets go out there, fairly quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walk careful in the field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want any of you tripping over a rock
or dirt clod.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As they approached the woods, with Redtail in the lead, she
held up a halting hand as the pointed back and forth with her other hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Carefully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Don’t get into this stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who
knows what this is?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chloe asked quietly, “Is that poison ivy?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yes it is, Chloe,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“How did you know that?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chloe smiled, but shyly shrugged.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail smiled back and explained the way she recognizes
poison ivy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Usually, poison ivy grows
in groups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They seem to like
friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look carefully at the
stems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s almost like they grow up
looking for companionship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They grow one
way, then gently lean over the other direction to find other friends, then the
other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They almost remind me of snakes,
very gently slithering upward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you
recognize the stem shape, they’ll be easy to identify when they’ve lost their
leaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now look at the leaves.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jerry’s hand shot up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yes, Jerry?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Leaflets three, let it be!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And also, berries white, poisonous sight.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Those are what I learned as a child,” said Redtail, “and
they’re OK to identify what’s NOT poison ivy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I say ‘what’s not’ poison ivy because if your plant has five or seven or
more leaflets, or if the leaves are singular on the stem, it’s not poison
ivy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, if the berries are red or
blue, it’s not poison ivy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you know
what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you left everything alone that
had three leaflets, you couldn’t eat strawberries or raspberries or clover or
peas and beans and lots more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, you
should learn more specifics about the leaves.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mike said, “My cousin says he’s immune to poison ivy.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail alerted on that comment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He might be resistant now, but that
resistance is said to wear down with repeated exposures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Grandpa George never got poison ivy until
he was in his mid-40s, and he said he’d played in the woods all his life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His grandma’s friend bragged about being
immune and she smeared a bunch on her face and arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was the time her body decided to quit
fighting it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her arms got all red,
blistered and puffy and her eyes even swelled shut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So whether you’ve had it or not, always take
poison ivy’s presence seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now
about the berries white thing, I don’t know of any white berries around here
that are edible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m pretty sure dogwood
berries aren’t among the edibles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poison
ivy berries aren’t always what most of us would call ‘white.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re more a yellowish or greenish
white.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I like my gooseberries dark
and ripe, but most people pick them when they’re green and tart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there’s white mulberry scattered here and
there, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t want to go
avoiding them because of their color.” </div>
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“My dad says poison ivy has hairy vines,” said one of the
kids.</div>
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“When they’re climbing up the side of a tree, they can have
fairly hairy stems, but not always.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Not
always” is about the only rule about poison ivy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’ll grow in a wet bottomland or on a high
dry hilltop, or in the middle of a field or deep in a forest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re small wiry twiggy things like these
here, or free standing shrubs like… ah…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That one in by that fallen
tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Free standing or clinging like a
vine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think the shallow, rather than
deep roots help it spread faster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
three leaflets are usually pointy tipped and glossy green in the summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The middle leaflet has a distinctly longer
stem than the side leaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The side
leaves often have this mitten-shaped lobe, but like these, over here, that’s not
always.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some people will tell you they
have reddish stems, but lots of other plants do, too, and poison ivy doesn’t
always have them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re really rather
attractive plants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they’re quite
variable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the spring, the unfolding
young leaves can be a beautiful almost oily-looking maroon color, and in the
fall, lots of times the leaves turn a brilliant red.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Birds even love the berries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I certainly don’t like handling poison ivy,
but it’s a really cool plant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before
this walk is over, I’d like each of you to at least have recognized one poison
ivy plant without it being pointed out.”<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ted said, “I’d heard some people claim to have built an
immunity to poison ivy through eating the young leaves in spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you know anything about that?”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yeah, some people swear by it, but others who say they’ve
done that erupt with a mega-reaction, probably initiated internally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that’s a dangerous practice, ‘specially
with a plant as adamant about being left alone as poison ivy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when I say poison ivy, I mean poison oak
and poison sumac, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t have
poison sumac around here at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s
usually limited to around the Great Lakes and east of the Mississippi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poison oak is usually farther west than
Missouri. I say "usually". I've never run into it around here. ”</div>
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<br /></div>
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“My grandpa has a big poison sumac patch on his hillside!”
said a voice in the group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You usually have to throw something like waders on to find
poison sumac.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It grows in low, wet deep
swampland and not on a hillside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Watch
that ‘poison sumac’ patch for berries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll bet on a hillside, even in poison sumac’s range, the berries will
be red or reddish brown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have lots of
smooth, winged, fragrant and even some staghorn sumac here in Missouri.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The group walked along the tree line and kids pointed out
lots and lots of poison ivy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were
getting pretty good at spotting it, and even competitive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Be careful to keep away while you’re
pointing out the poison ivy,” reminded Redtail.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“OK, here we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is some vicious, nasty stuff here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Poison ivy is bad enough, but this stuff can kill you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s big enough not to easily confuse it with
an edible, but there might be some evidence to confuse this poison hemlock with
wild carrot or Queen Anne’s lace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
are lots of differences between poison hemlock and the look-alikes, but if
you’re not 100% sure, don’t mess with trying to forage the look-alikes.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail explained the differences as they
moved closer to the church and more familiar lawn plants.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail swatted at the air and caught the Japanese beetle
that dive-bombed her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked at the
beetle in her hand and proudly announced, “These guys are everywhere this time of
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re invasive, destructive and
edible!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She put it in a small plastic
jar she had I her forage bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lydia called out with shrill excitement! “I found one,
too!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s prettyyyyy!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ted said, “We always called those orange ones that gather in
the windowsills in winter, Japanese beetles.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Those would be Asian ladybugs or ladybird beetles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot of our ladybugs, and especially those
that swarm in houses in cooler weather, are introduced as natural pest
control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not so natural when they
have to be imported,” smiled Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Another insect that likes to congregate in houses for cold-weather
shelter is the boxelder bug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re
edible, and quite mouth friendly, but maybe even a little too light on
texture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After they’re dried, there’s not
much to them.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail stopped the group near a small patch of yarrow
that’d been eaten off quite near the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Has anyone seen those great big moths with the really feathery
antennae?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We get luna moths here sometimes,” said Kevin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucy said, “I saw a cecropia moth a couple years ago.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail continued, “At least some of you, then, can relate
to this when I say ‘yarrow leaves look like long green moth antennae.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or they might look like a really tiny
fern.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She plucked up a leaf, crushed it
in her fingers and squashed it around a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then she plopped it into Lydia’s hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I think they smell really good, too.” And she plucked up a couple more
leaves and passed them around.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh cool, it does look like a antenna.” “That smells good!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ew yuck, that stinks.” “I think it looks
like a feather.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yarrow’s a handy plant to know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides its smelling good, it makes an insect
repellant to rub it on you, and you can make tea from it,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It can also make an emergency anesthetic it
you get a toothache when you’re out hiking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Roll up a bunch of mashed leaves and tuck a pinch between your cheek and
gum by the hurty tooth and it can sometimes make the area numb.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Part way back to the church, Lucy let out a little yelp,
then giggled, spitting a slimy green wad out of her mouth. “That yarrow made my
mouth feel funny.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“See
what I mean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can kinda deaden the
feeling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On our way back to the kitchen,
let’s try to pick a few things to wash and eat.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Several dropped to their knees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even some adults picked edibles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail snapped upright and with eagerness in
her tone, said, “Oh good!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s a
patch of day lilies around the propane tank at the parsonage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole plant is edible, but I’ve heard you
shouldn’t eat a whole bunch the first few times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The young shoots in the spring are mild
textured and have a nice texture, and the flowers and buds have a slightly
peppery flavor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think the older stems
like now would be a bit fibrous, and I’ve not yet tried the tubers, or roots.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The group turned toward the church again and started down
the hill to the basement entrance in the back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail pointed to the fence line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“There’s another really good plant to know: elderberry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those berries aren’t quite ready, b t when they
are, they’re one of the best cold and flu fighters around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The berries have to be cooked, but after
that, they can be made into jelly or wine or even frozen into ice cubes to use
in drinks later on –sort of an immune system boost when you need it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linda-Jean excitedly exclaimed, “Wow, we’ve got a big patch
of that behind our place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’l be
fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How long before they’re ripe?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “I’d start watching them in a week or so.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The group approached the basement door and Redtail pointed
to the neighbor’s yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That is rose of
Sharon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s one of our invasive plants,
but the flowers, seeds and leaves are edible.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linda-Jean gasped and stopped her son. “No Louie!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t just pull everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leave the grass.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That reminds me,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Grass is also edible for humans, if it’s
processed correctly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ted asked, “OK, how do you process grass for human
consumption?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well,” said Redtail, “first you let a rabbit or cow eat the
grass, then you eat the rabbit or cow.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She called out, “Everyone who picked some stuff to eat, c’mon over here
and we’ll head on in and get it washed for eating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest of us can come in, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The food bearers to the kitchen and the rest
can go to tables, or hang out with us and watch us wash stuff.”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The group sighed with relief as they all stepped in to the
cool basement of the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several sat
down,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but most crowded into the small
kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail began to open cabinet
doors in the kitchen, then looked around, “Lucy do you know where a big
colander is?”</div>
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<br /></div>
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Lucy eagerly sprang to assistance and found two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail spread a path to the sink and Lucy
set the colanders in each of the two sinks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Lucy, do you know if there’s some paper plates or something to sort the
goodies into for sampling?”</div>
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<br /></div>
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“Oh yeah, they’re right here.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lydia beat Lucy to the cabinet just outside
the kitchen and pulled out about a dozen plates and handed them to Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Kevin, Riff and Raff,” called out Redtail, “as they get the
greens washed, can you guys sort them by species into these plates?”</div>
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<br /></div>
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Mike eagerly volunteered, “Yeah, we can do that!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “And put the ones that you don’t recognize on
this plate, OK?”</div>
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<br /></div>
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Jerry and Kevin both gave thumbs-up as the three started
sorting out the rinsed forage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
meantime, Redtail went out to the fellowship hall to make sure enough tables
and chairs were set up for the wild buffet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In just a few minutes, about a dozen plates of different wild edibles
edged two eight-foot tables along the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail sat down in one of the metal folding chairs and put her head
back and closed her eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She smiled and
sat back up. “Oh, no no no! That felt too good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I brought some extra forage in case we didn’t find a lot, but we ended
up with a pretty decent haul. Who’s ready to try some wild edibles?</div>
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<br /></div>
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The room erupted with eager takers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kevin and Mike sighed and Mike asked, “No
road kill?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Not this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
figured I’d better save that for you hunters.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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Kevin, Mike and Jerry smiled satisfied smiles and looked
back to the foraged greens.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Redtail explained some of the samples she brought and the
kids hadn’t collected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She brought
blackberries, thistle leaves and stalks, wild mustard seeds and pineapple weed
flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The group snacked on those, and
dandelion and clover flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also picked
some plantain, old chickweed, Queen Anne’s lace roots, and dead nettle.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The group discussed how domestic garden plants are
descendents of the wild plants, and how wild flavors and textures are
different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George cautiously poked his
head in the door and stepped in when he saw the group eating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knew that signaled the instruction was
just about over.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail greeted George, then said, “Before we call any
eating event over, we have to clean up and put our stuff away. I’ll take care
of that, but I figured I’d better mention it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucy said, “I’ll help get everything all cleaned up.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Why thank you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’d be great!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lydia jumped up, “Me too!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Me too!” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most everyone joined in with the cleaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some continued munching and the chatter stayed
mostly on wild edibles and camping and outdoorsy stuff.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ted asked, “Will you be doing anything like this in the near
future?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail answered, “I think I could do that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much of our wild edibles are seasonal, and a
walk could be different every time.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal">(story continues here: <a href="http://ognyen.blogspot.com/2020/10/chapter-35.html">http://ognyen.blogspot.com/2020/10/chapter-35.html</a> )<br /></div>
</div>
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<![endif]-->Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16953582155385508486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652144083113344298.post-34392331547278170632018-03-09T18:56:00.002-08:002021-02-11T11:38:41.713-08:00RT Mac Story Chap's 26-27<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chapter 26</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Stories sure spread fast around here.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena asked Redtail, “Remember how nervous AJ got when I
mentioned my Posse Connection?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“OK,” answered Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Word gets around fast in our legal system, and AJ knew it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Judge heads Donowutt County Law
Enforcement meetings and Frank had to mention your questions and tell what he
knew of your story.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Judge Noyugo said, “With old George adopting you, we didn’t
feel right calling you ‘homeless’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
until you misbehave, young lady, we figure you’re in good hands.” And he
grinned and shook his finger at Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You know about the adoption, too?” asked Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What don’t you know about me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bet I could learn quite a bit from you.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“The George connection’s easy,” said Lena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He talked to Frank and they had dinner with
you, and even Sarah’s DCLE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what
we usually call our law enforcement system.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Wow, for friend connections in high places,
sounds like I ran into the right circle of people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could’ve found AJ’s people first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s cool how He set that up.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked up and said softly, “Thank You!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Sure, some stuff hides from DCLE,” said the Judge, “but not
much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George doesn’t hide much from his
girlfriend –oops!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judge Noyugo gave a surprised
look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Is George here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that’s supposed to be a secret from
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everybody in Donowutt County knows
they’re an item except for George and Sarah.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even Hank laughed at that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Yep, we know about George and Sarah, but it seems I’m one of the few
who hadn’t heard about Redtail.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena told the Judge, “Redtail wants to know all she can
about Donowutt County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She seems to love
history.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said softly, “Loves history…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>loves history…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It feels like that should ring a memory bell
for me, but not quite.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Judge said, “Looks like I picked the right Tuesday night
hangout this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I usually come out
here on Tuesday, but I’ve been known to drop in on The Three Maidens from time
to time.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail laughed, “I know them!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And another DCLE connection through Kayla.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Judge said, “Donowutt County history is a passion of
mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I wasn’t a judge, I could see
myself as a history professor at the college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Where do you want to start?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena said, “I told her how Nowhere got its name, and how EZ
came to own it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Being a Judge and head of the DCLE, You must
know the stories behind Rainy Island Prison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I saw that castle from the road yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was beautiful.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Now there’s a tale to tell,” began the Judge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I can’t tell you ALL I know about the
prison, of course, or I’d have to throw you in one of the cells.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, there’s some mystery locked up
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m guessing you know about its
getting built in the 1500s and the French taking it in the late 1600s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You probably heard how it was the original
settlement until they were driven to what’s now Higginsburg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you haven’t heard all that, well, that’s a
fairly lengthy story.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hank shook his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Judge Noyugo continued, “I’ll start by filling in some details on the
settlers’ move from the Castle grounds to where Higginsburg was finally
established.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the very early 1800s, Robert
M. Higgins warned and warned of the danger of high water to living at Shaking
Head Castle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was its early
name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They finally got that spring of
heavy rains and it washed out the land bridge to the settlers’ fields.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He spearheaded the move to the higher side of
Derche Creek and the people decided to name the town Higginsburg in his
honor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Around the time of that move,
it’s said the same guy who named Nowhere gave Wilder its name.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “I heard how Thistle Dew happened, but not
Wilder.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hank said, “I better be heading out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d hate to be leaving after dark with no
headlights on the tractor, specially with the Judge right here.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He smiled, wiped down his spot at the table
and started for the door.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Judge Noyugo said, “Now you get those lights fixed so you
can hear the whole story some time.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yeah,” said Hank, “I think that’d be fun again.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he departed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Judge waited for the rumble of the tractor to subside
before he continued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I think Hank would
make a fine Posse candidate, but, I’d hate to have it infringe on his farming
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, on with the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You remember, the guy who named Nowhere was all upset and
named it while muttering at his family in frustration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same crew that christened Nowhere went
through what became Wilder a few days later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mr. Grumbler, who named Nowhere, was just about fed up with the
pioneering thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably a city
boy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, he headed back east after this
next stop on their trip.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The group of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>--let’s
see--<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>four families and six wagons
stopped because of a fallen tree that blocked the trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The men were taking a breather after clearing
the trail since there was a nice spring to water the animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dog started barking and then they heard
something crashing through the woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
got louder and louder –the crashing AND the dog.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A huge majestic buck leaped over one of their freshly moved
logs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From what they say, that leap was
the stuff of legend, book-covers and wall tapestries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was beautiful to the extreme.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It ended in chaos.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The bear which was chasing the buck tripped over the log the
deer leaped and broke its neck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The buck
stumbled on landing and ran antlers-first, right into Mr. Grumbler’s horse,
killing it almost instantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The horse
fell over on the deer, crushing its ribcage for another fairly fast kill.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mr. Grumbler threw his hands up and yelled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Water for the animals, LOTS of fresh meat,
flat enough for building, I ain’t goin’ no further!” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They could have picked from a bunch of neat-sounding place
names: Bear Fall, Punctured Horse, Flat Buck, Deer Spring, but they used Mr.
Grumbler’s suggestion.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One night they were all sitting around the fire eating bear
–again-- and someone asked between bites, “So, is this Wild West everything you
thought it’d be?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mr. Grumbler shook his head and stared into the fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s wilder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is just wilder. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s all
it is, wilder, wilder, wilder…” and his voice trailed off into silence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They watched the fire burn and crackle peacefully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shadows quietly danced all over among the
trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was peaceful, anyway, ‘til the
limb way up above broke and the hornet nest landed in the fire.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mr. Grumbler was last heard muttering over and over, “…had
eNOUGH of this…” and “…going back home…” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two days later, Mr. Grumbler and his family were gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nobody’d heard from them since.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His name didn’t even get passed on with the
story, only those two place-names he gave.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It wasn’t many years later the county got lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of people say Donowutt County got lost
through sloppy surveys and lost paperwork, but I think there’s more mystery to
it than that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, I KNOW there’s more,
but I’ll let the Folds and Recording Theory stand as the ‘official’ story.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail gave him a questioning look.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well, I can tell you, and I’ll call it theory because it’s
even weirder than the Folds and Recording Theory, that the loss of the county
has some significant similarities to the mystery of Rainy Island, some of the
libraries, T.D. Fera and a few other places.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena flinched a bit and said, “Maybe we’ll wait on
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail, what do you tell George,
‘Let’s talk about the bunny?’”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail looked at the Judge and at Lena.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Judge Noyugo said, “Yeah, it’s a whole other story
anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suffice it to say, Donowutt
County is at least evasive in being discovered, and for now, I’ll tell you the
Folds and Recording Theory.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back when the surveys were being made for statehood, some of
the surveyors got creative and submitted their surveys by way of that new
photographic technology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They sent in
photographs of the actual papers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When all
was said and done, some of the lines didn’t align quite the way they should
have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is thought the original was
folded such that Donowutt County was hidden in the fold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the final map was constructed from the
photos, they fudged some lines to make a passable map.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If those original surveys are recovered, we
might be able to prove we are a real and functioning county.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, I don’t know if I want to see us
become official because there’s some real benefits of being more self-governing
than most geographic units.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve gotten
used to the isolation and sort of enjoy it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our government is fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We started with one county commissioner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His term was for four years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
think it was the second time around they saw the county was actually three parts
–the western farm country, eastern hill country, and the swampier middle part
which divided the two, but also had the two bigger towns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we decided three commissioners would best
represent the county.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The commissioners
elected one of the three to be the head commissioner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The commissioners gradually became eastern
and western commissioners and the middle became the Hiway 13 Corridor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The region from which the head commissioner
was elected held a special election for his or her replacement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The head county commissioner became known as
the count or countess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve had fun
with that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m answerable to the count, who is answerable to the Posse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The membership of the Posse is approved on an
individual basis by the county judge, whose term is 12 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m in my second term and we don’t have term
limits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sounds odd, but it’s worked
since we realized we weren’t going to get much support from either state or
federal governments.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Posse and Law Enforcement are big in maintaining order
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might almost sound like a
police state, but it isn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know
how much Lena might have told you about The Posse, but its membership is very
carefully picked.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena said, “I told her a little about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It came up when AJ, a kid who was in here a
little bit ago,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>hinted at character
assaults on George and Redtail.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Judge Noyugo raised his eyebrows and said, “Oh really?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yeah,” continued Lena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“He implied George and Redtail were more than just grandpa and
granddaughter and I told him to wipe that thought out of his head because I
knew different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He smugly asked why my
opinion counted for anything.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I just mentioned you’d be coming in later and he could ask
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I mentioned you’d known me
longer than the ten years I’d been on The Posse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He suddenly remembered he had another
appointment and all the nasty attitude disappeared from his demeanor.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That’s putting it mildly,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He looked scared and almost like he’d wet
himself.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The girls laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judge
Noyugo smiled and shook his head.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Redtail hadn’t heard at all about The Posse, so I told her
a little about it,” said Lena.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Judge asked, “Did you get into any Posse history?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No, I figured you’re the accomplished historian and a far
better story-teller than I am,” said Lena.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well, OK,” laughed the Judge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The Posse started as a county militia during
the Civil War.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“This is so cool,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This whole place just oozes with
history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love it!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Do you plan to be here a while?” asked Judge Noyugo.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena looked at Redtail who gave a look saying that had to be
up to Lena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lena asked, “What cha got in
mind?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, that Civil War era got me thinking this could be a long
story,” said the Judge.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’d love it,” said Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena smiled and said, “Well, then, let’s go for it!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Not long after the resettling and founding of Higginsburg,
Robert M. Higgins’ son, Max, since he didn’t like being called Junior, started
the first school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He liked start-up
projects, so he started a farmers’ market that soon blossomed into four markets
which grew into our Max Savings Grocery chain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That was a long time before the War.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>OK, back on track.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you
familiar with William Quantrill and his Civil War activities?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Didn’t he do some big massacre in Lawrence,
Kansas?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Judge Noyugo said, “Yes ma’am, same guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few weeks earlier, Billy Quantrill and his
Merry Men came through Donowutt County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He got a bit puzzled that Higginsburg didn’t show up on his map.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He concluded it was part of a Northern
plot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He thought if it didn’t appear on
his map, it wasn’t supposed to be there, and he ought to erase it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So he began by burning down the courthouse.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maxwell Higgins, son of R. Maxwell Higgins Jr., rounded up a
bunch of locals and they ran Billy and his Merry Men out of town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The courthouse was lost –along with all the
county records, and most of the school next door. Maxwell Higgins, who ran the
school after his dad, was able to save most of the wall on which the library
books were shelved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The farmers’ market co-op funded the building of a new
school and the rebuilding of the old school which eventually became the Maxwell
Higgins Memorial Library, with the stipulation that the library always remain
independent of any other library or library system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The co-op, which became the grocery chain,
still provides funding for the library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Max Savings Grocery Stores is struggling and the library is feeling the
money crunch.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some of their board members and much of the local community
feel they’d be better served by becoming part of the Trials Library System,
but, Max Savings has to let go first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Their board feels tradition-bound to hang on to the library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got off track again.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That’s quite alright,” said Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Judge Noyugo cleared his throat and Lena topped off his water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He took a big drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So,” he continued, “Robert M. Higgins
started Higginsburg, and his son, R. Maxwell Higgins Jr. founded the school and
the farmers’ markets which became our local grocery chain, and Max Higgins, R.
Maxwell’s son, ran the school that got burnt by Quantrill and started the first
militia which became The Posse.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Donowutt County was already used to doing things on its own
and now all the county records were destroyed, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They figured asking for outside help was
futile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Times were unnerving during the
War.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The locals knew they needed
protection, so that core militia organized and started recruiting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They grew into what we now call The Posse.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Right about then the door opened and EZ came in, spun a
chair around, sat on it backward and rested his arms and head on the back of
the chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What part of the story are
we at?” he asked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail smiled and said, “Billy Q and his Merry Men just
rode through Higginsburg.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked at
the Judge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Max Higgins Memorial Library
isn’t part of Trials Libraries?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Nope, until Max Savings lets go, the library’s hands are
tied,” said the Judge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Trials Library
System is fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might have noticed
the different sort of name for a public library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Trials” is based on the early Donowutt County
Circuit Court system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We judges used to
travel from town to town, but didn’t want to lug a bunch of books with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The judges had a lock box at each of the
stops along the circuit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second and
fourth Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday each month, we’d run the circuit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our main library was at the Max Higgins
library until the courthouse got rebuilt.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The circuit ran from Higginsburg to Thistle Dew to Baldspot
to Big River to Midtown and back to Higginsburg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thistle Dew and Baldspot were on Monday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d overnight at Big River and hold court
there Tuesday, then head off to Midtown to overnight and hold court there
Wednesday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d try to finish there in
time to get back to Higginsburg by Wednesday dusk, but sometimes we’d run
overtime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thursday wasn’t scheduled on
circuit week and Friday, we’d do paperwork.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In 1925, we dropped the fourth week circuit because roads
and transportation improved so more cases could be heard in Higginsburg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By 1935, enough people had cars we gave
two-years’ notice and in 1937, the circuits ended all together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But about the libraries: the townsfolk
started sharing books at the circuit sites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes the judges would even transport a few books from one Trials
Library to another as a favor to people at those locations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That library system stayed after the circuit
court went away.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Those circuit libraries were run by volunteers until 1950
when the library won a tax levy and was formally organized into the Trials
Library System.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trials shares a lot of
its books with Max Higgins, but I don’t know if Higgins is at liberty to
reciprocate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the Higgins librarians
have been heard to strongly imply, if not outrightly say they wish they were
part of Trials.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It feels as though I’ve been doing all the talking
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you got anything?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judge Noyugo paused and took a big drink.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena said, “Redtail and I have been looking forward to your
stories and I told her how you have to listen all week and this is your
opportunity to talk.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
EZ said, “I just like to see people enjoying the place.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “There’s so much neat history around
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does Baldspot have a fun story for
its name?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, Higginsburg and Big
River seem so obvious and Midtown seems plain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Baldspot sounds like an oddball.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
EZ laughed, turned his chair around and leaned back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judge Noyugo said, “EZ knows this one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You want to tell it?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
EZ said, “Oh, no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like Lena said, this is your chance to talk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always like hearing your stories.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“OK,” the Judge paused and said, “Last chance.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The judge paused again and EZ gave a go-ahead
hand gesture.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail eagerly shifted around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lena got up and refilled the snack bowls.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You know,” began the Judge, “bald doesn’t necessarily mean
hairless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told you the story of the
circuit courts pretty much in first person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’d say <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">we</i>, in reference to
the judges in general.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I was to tell
you I heard many of those circuit cases, hopefully, you could say you caught me
in a bald-faced lie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope I don’t look
old enough to have been a judge back in the mid-1930s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lie was missing any pretense of
truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bald eagle is missing color on
its head and tail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bald man or woman
is missing hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bald means missing
something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully, my stories don’t
come across as bald narratives, or missing emotion or just generally lacking.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back before the Civil War, during our first attempt at state
recognition. As a county, someone noticed a blank in the name spot on the
incorporation paperwork for that little town north of here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That happened at a county meeting, so there
were a couple pillars of the community in attendance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One said, “Looks like a bald spot on that
thar form.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other said, “Yep, it
shore do.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They both laughed and said,
“Baldspot it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were never in any
kind of disagreement or agreement over a name, anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s likely gonna be the only Baldspot,
Missouri.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the bald spot on the form
got filled in and the name stuck.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Donowutt County had Big River and Higginsburg and several
tiny towns with that western farming community somewhere in between for
size.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since they were the middle-sized
town, that’s what they call themselves, Midtown.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Nothing exciting there,” said EZ. “Move along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Move along.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That about sums up the place names and the library
stories,” said the Judge.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “About sums up?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where did Donowutt come from?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Judge Noyugo smiled. “You know, we really donowutt the
source of that name is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some suspect it
might be an obscure indigenous word, but it’s a fitting name.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena laughed, “I don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You ever see that Far Side cartoon where the Lone Ranger finally looks
up ‘kemosabe’ in the Indian English dictionary?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Redtail’s not a name I hear every day,” said the
Judge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Have you got a story behind
that?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena said, “You better brush up on that for the Three
Maidens Bardic Circle, Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all
know you’ll be asked.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It probably won’t be the last time I’ll be asked, either,”
said Redtail. “I’ll give it a shot.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
EZ jumped up and said, “Oh, hold on a sec’ before you
start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m gonna get refills on drinks
and snacks.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“OK,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll try to gather up some thoughts.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
EZ and Lena took pitchers back to the kitchen, returning
with full pitchers and fresh packages of snacks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail laughed, “I don’t think the story will be that long
or exciting.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They sat down and nestled into their listening and snacking
positions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail took a deep breath and let it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Long ago, as far back as I can remember, which is only a couple weeks,
I woke up in the woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was sitting on
the ground by a country road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt
better or at least as good as I’d ever felt before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt alive and joyful.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That day, I walked and I walked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wandered through woods and fields, up and
down roads with not a care –not even about a destination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a couple candy bars in my bag and I
snacked on wild greens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just wandered
and wandered that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On toward dusk, I
found a stack of concrete culverts and figured I’d shelter there for the night.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next morning, I heard strange sounds from the end of the
pipe near my feet, so I opened my eyes and looked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know if that old hawk flew in closer
to see if it could eat my feet without tangling with something bigger or what,
but it was sitting on the top of the pipe looking in, upside down at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I jumped when I saw it and it flew away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I scooted out of the pipe and saw the hawk perched
on a nearby telephone pole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It flew away
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a big red tailed hawk.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Except for the bump on my head, from jumping after I saw the
hawk, I felt just as wonderful as the day before, so I set off again to explore
my new world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I walked and walked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s no way I could have retraced my
route, but I figure I left my bag back there in those pipes I overnighted in.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I didn’t know who or where I was and told Tom the
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tom is an acronym for The Old Man
I met at a park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He took pieces of the
story and reassembled them in his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I really think some old-age mental affliction had gotten the best of
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He put the pipes together with the
bag about which I mentioned was plaid, and concluded I was a Scotsman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, he had plaid and bagpipes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He threw the redtail in and proclaimed me
“Redtail MacSumpneruther, the Scotsman.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Grandpa George refined the story a bit until what really happened comes
back.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For now, I’m RT Scot and I’m visiting my Grandpa George
Peterson for the summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I may stay
longer, but that’s the plan for now.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Judge Noyugo said, “You could probably have fun with a
Q&A after you told your story.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, with a smile, “While I told that part of my
story, it hit me how the RT Scot part came to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My fictitious parents had their hearts set on
naming me after Great Grandpa Arthur, who, of course, is also fictitious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It never crossed their minds I might be born
a girl.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They wrestled with names and fell on simple initials,
RT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They could be read Artie or
Art.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, the RT is George’s idea,
but that’s a back-story which could work.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Judge Noyugo mentioned he’d done a little research on
missing girls who might match Redtail’s description, but, so far, had come up
empty. “Like you said, until your real, or past, life resurfaces it sounds like
you’ve got a fair start on rebuilding an identity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll look into how we can make that ID real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That could be handy should you want employment
or any official sorts of services or documentation.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said proudly, “I DO have a library card.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They all chatted for another hour or so and Lena gave
Redtail a disappointed sigh and said, “I gotta work tomorrow so I need to be
heading home.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “I packed light, so I’m ready too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was great to meet you, EZ and Judge
Noyugo.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chapter 27</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wednesday morning was overcast but drier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George and Redtail’s paths crossed
early.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George shared coffee and cinnamon
rolls with Redtail before he headed off for the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail went back to the woods after grooming
the yard of dandelion blossoms and violet leaves and flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the woods, Redtail got a squirrel pretty
quickly with her bow, which was all the motivation she needed to start a fire.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I like this kind of independence,” she thought, “but
there’s things I don’t like quite as much as other things.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail set the water on the fire to boil up
some earthworms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She roasted the
squirrel on a steel rod.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t know
how well worms keep,” thought Redtail, “so I better eat them in one
sitting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Squirrel dries OK, and I can
snack on it throughout the day.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not certain what to expect from the day, and unsure how to
prepare for the evening’s Music and Craft Fellowship, Redtail decided to walk
to town and forage along the way.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail knew a few hotspots for different plant species, as
she’d made the trip before: twice for part of the way.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail stopped at the curly dock patch she and George
foraged the other day, and later at her garlic patch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She checked on a road-killed squirrel and
raccoon, both of which weren’t fresh enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The next raccoon was fresh, but too mangled to be worth the bother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A car approached from behind, so she stepped
off the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It slowed down and she
stepped off farther and looked back.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As the car neared slowly, the window rolled down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hi,” said the woman in the car as Chloe
waved from the back seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Chloe says
you’re Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you want a ride
somewhere?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Um…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure,” said
Redtail. “Thank you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m headed to
Wilder.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She could see Chloe bouncing
excitedly in the back seat.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chloe’s mom pushed open the door from the inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail put her bag on the floor and got
in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hi, Chloe,” said Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chloe giggled and smiled.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail and Chloe’s mom shook hands and Chloe’s mom said,
“I’m Kitty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chloe had a dentist
appointment, so we missed you when you dropped in at the museum last week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids seem quite eager for you to visit
again.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’d planned to drop by the museum and library today,” said
Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chloe gave a little squeal of delight from the back seat.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Are visitors much of a disruption to lessons?” Redtail
asked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kitty replied, “Oh, no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Museum operation is part of their schooling, too. One of our students
has been collecting data for her <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Unique
People of Wilder</i> project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think
she was talking about wanting to interview you.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That sounds like fun,” said Redtail, “though I think my
life is really quite normal –for me, that is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, yeah, I guess it’s comparatively different from others.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kitty asked, “What made you want to live in the woods?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Weird as it sounds,” said Redtail, “I just woke up one
morning and there I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s really all
I remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know there’s gotta be
more, but, I have no memory of it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Wow,” said Kitty, and she stared ahead trying to grasp
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a second or two of silence,
she continued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I bet that’s scary.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Sometimes I feel like I should be scared or worried,” said
Redtail, “But, it’s like God’s got all this under control.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That’s neat,” said Kitty, and she looked at Chloe in the
rearview mirror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chloe smiled and said, “Can Redtail come home with us for
dinner?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail turned around and said, “Oh, I’m sorry, but I was
going to go to the Music and Craft Fellowship at church this evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’d love to some time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you cook?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chloe stuck out her lip, but then smiled and told Redtail,
“I like to fix macaroni and cheese and ramen!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Now that sounds tasty!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kitty suddenly straightened up and swerved to miss the big
jacked up black pick-up coming at her on the centerline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hey! Stay on your own side of the
line!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She caught herself and put on an
air of false arrogance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh,” she wiped
her arm across her forehead and sighed like a ‘30s movie-starlet swoon, “why
can’t eeeverybody drive exaaaactly like meee?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Myyyy driving absolutely can’t be pecked.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gave a sigh and a little smile.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail furrowed her eyebrows at Kitty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Can’t be pecked?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chloe rolled her eyes and her mom smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Sure,” said Kitty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Impeccable!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m the Relics’ science teacher, not English.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail shook her head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“OK, I suppose that works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
actually kinda like it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kitty said, “Now that’s scary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, it looks like we’ve about arrived.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kitty took the second right, north of City Hall, down the
alley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “I haven’t seen this side of the buildings.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kitty said, “Even though this isn’t an event day, I still
like to park in back to help keep the atmosphere of the square.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah’s saloon and museum framed on three sides, a
bay-shaped parking lot with six generously sized parking spots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kitty pulled in to one of the four open spots
and they got out of the car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chloe
eagerly offered to help Redtail in with her bags.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Not so fast, Chloe,” said Kitty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Let Redtail decide where she wants to go
first.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Museum’s just fine first,” said Redtail, “but I should
probably rearrange my forage for better drying.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She set her bag down, pulled things out and
spread the curly dock and garlic near the outside of the burlap sack so it
could breathe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She tightly rolled the
craft items she planned to work on later and poked them in the bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail gently stuffed the remaining things
around the roll.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chloe asked, “You eat weeds?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Oh, we can’t eat just any weeds, but if you
know what’s safe, there’s a lot to eat out there, just growing free.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kitty said, “That is so neat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d love to learn more about all that.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “I think I’ve already decided to set up a wild
edibles walk for the church –for Wilder Baptist at the corner of town,
anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are there other churches here?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kitty said, “None here in Thistle Dew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think our next closest church is in
Higginsburg.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail looked at Chloe who was almost pressing in on
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She still looked quite eager to
help, so Redtail asked, “You ready?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chloe gave a little excited jump and held out her hands,
looking up at Redtail, beaming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
handed the bag to Chloe who then started to the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked back to make sure she stayed close
to Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “You’re not real talkative this morning.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chloe just smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Kitty said, “I think she’s star struck.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail whispered back, “Star struck?!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kitty said, “Word’s going around about that woman who lives
out in the woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lydia and Chloe so
proudly tell people you’re their friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think they’re even plotting something, but I’ll let that be their
surprise.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail laughed quietly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Kids are so much fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I know
about that cave woman.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kitty said, “That’s almost what some stories sound like.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kitty, Chloe and Redtail got to the front room at the end of
the hall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was still 15 minutes before
start time so everyone who was there, was informally chatting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One girl, probably in her early teens, caught
Redtail’s attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She approached
Redtail with an air of business-like confidence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Hi, Redtail,” said the girl. “I’m Ruby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m working on a museum project called, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Unique People of Wilder</i>, and I’d love to
do a story on you and your lifestyle if I could.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They shook hands and Redtail said, “Miss Ruby, I would be
honored.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby said, “I started working on questions, but they’re not
finished yet.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We could arrange for an interview maybe this weekend or
next week,” said Redtail, “if that’d work.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That would be wonderful,” said Ruby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I was also, like, wondering if I could maybe
get some pictures of where you live?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail jerked hard when Lydia slammed into her hip with a
big hug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well hi, Lydia!” said Redtail
as she patted Lydia’s back.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chloe said, “Lydia!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lydia!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail rode in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">OUR</i> car!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby harrumphed at the little girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We… were… talking?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OK?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She gave the girls a ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do-you-mind?</i>’
look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were oblivious and clung to
Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail just smiled and continued with Ruby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t see why you couldn’t get some
pictures to go with your story.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby said, with a happy sigh, “Oh that would be so awesome!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail laughed, “Maybe ‘awesome’ is a little strong.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby’s business-like dignity was gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, cool-cool-cool!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gotta ask Mom if she’ll give me a ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would Saturday be OK?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could have a bunch of interview questions
by then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is gonna be so awesome.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her voice trailed off as she skipped back to
her spot at the table.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail smiled and thought, “Yeah, Saturday should be
OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About what time? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you know where I live?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She laughed and went over to the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ruby, does your mom know where George
Peterson lives?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby looked slightly startled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yeah.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ruby slapped her hand over her mouth and mumbled, “Ohmigosh!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She got a pen out and asked, “What time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, oh, and Saturday, is that OK?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Saturday morning would be great, and we could forage for
our lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could your mom come too?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could have it real woodsy style.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m usually up pretty early, but I don’t have
a clock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be going to the Three
Maidens Saturday night, so I might need a little late afternoon prep time.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’ve never eaten wild stuff,” said Ruby, “but it would sure
contribute authenticity to the writing.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She smiled and headed for her table and her voice trailed off. “Oh, this
is going to be so fun.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said to Kitty, “I think I’m going to look around
some, like this is a museum and not a classroom.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh absolutely,” said Kitty. “Treat Rick like the curator
and probably Ruby as his assistant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
both know their way around here pretty good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rick’s not so much the boss as the senior of The Relics.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Well, I’m now acquainted with both of
them.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail looked around and headed toward a dimly-lit corner,
in which was a microfilm reader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
was a big wooden wall organizer beside it, assumed to be stocked with
microfilm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ruby noted her interest and
scurried over to assist.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby asked, “Have you ever looked at old newspapers in a
microfilm viewer?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s really neat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have most of the papers in hardcopy,
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re all Higginsburg and
Donowutt County papers, because Wilder never made one except for our annual
Walk on the Wilder Side paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s an
1800s style paper.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“These film readers feel familiar, but, I can’t quite place
how,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I might try to get
in here some rainy day for a long browse.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She looked around a short while longer and asked, “Ruby, do you Relics
have favorite areas of local history you could talk on?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I know me and Rick do.” A flash of embarrassment crossed
Ruby’s face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I mean, Rick and I.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I
knew what you meant.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I mean, we’re supposed to write like we talk, so I’m trying
to learn to speak proper<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>--ly,” said Ruby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And I know more of us have pet history topics,
too, but Rick and I are the main history Relics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m into local pre-history and Wilder
restoration, and Rick’s into pre-industrial statehood.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ruby gave an excited hop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, I think the Relics could do a great
local history program for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A public speaking, English history
project!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gotta talk to Mom about
this.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “That sounds like it would be a wonderful
program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Might even try doing it for
Walk on the Wilder Side, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looks
like your classes have started, so I think I should be running off to the
library.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That’s OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
museum’s part of my school, too,” said Ruby.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well I’ll be back soon, unless, of course, something
drastic happens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll see you Saturday,”
said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We’ll have fun.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As Redtail departed, she caught some movement in the window
out of the corner of her eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lydia and
Chloe were waving goodbye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
smiled and waved back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The little girls
jumped, giggled and went back to their seats, satisfied all was well in their
world.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail walked down the boardwalk feeling quite cozy in
Wilder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She dropped in on Big Al for a
few minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He talked her into covering
for him at lunchtime, so Redtail got to put her forage and squirrel in his
refrigerator.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At Wilder Tackle, Redtail picked up a spool of heavy
monofilament fishing line for her snares.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She pondered her money situation and thought, “I’m going to have to
watch all this wild spending!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
Redtail departed the tackle store, Linda-Jean was opening the library.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Good morning, Linda-Jean,” said Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Good morning, Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You’re in town early for someone without transportation.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yeah, I was going to forage on the way in, but Chloe’s mom,
Kitty, stopped and gave me a ride in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Chloe looked so happy in the back seat, I couldn’t say no.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linda-Jean laughed. “Kids are fun.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I know,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“And I hate to disappoint one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hopefully, I can find some forage on the church grounds before tonight’s
thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also wanted to stop by here to
see what all the Thistle Dew library has on survival, wild edibles and even
edible bugs.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linda-Jean said, “I don’t know about the bug thing, but,
it’d still be neat to learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s see
what we can get.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “So much of what we see in books on wild
edibles is only plants and mushrooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There’s so much more than just that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There’s all the fish and game and even the bugs and roadkill.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linda-Jean made a face at Redtail, twisted in questioning
disgust.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail continued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Yeah, even roadkill, if you can get it before the bacteria does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cloudy eyes, rigor mortis, odd aroma are all
signs of spoilage, but there’s a lot of non-stinky, clear-eyed, floppy meat
that goes to waste all the time when it could be feeding people.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linda-Jean gave a shudder, saying, “I don’t know about
roadkill, but I’d try bugs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How did you
ever get into wild edibles in the first place?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Or that’s probably silly to ask that”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I really don’t know, but the whole how to practice it thing
is one of the bits of memory I luckily retained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should be looking up memory loss, too.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail and Linda-Jean hunted wild edibles, anthropology and
insect books until Redtail noted the time which passed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gotta git!”
exclaimed Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told Al I’d be
there at 11:30 to cover for him ‘til he got back.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linda-Jean said, “You’ll be just fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You got 10 minutes and he’s only across the
square.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But good catch on the time!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “I know it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I could so easily get lost in a bunch of good books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll go ahead and check these out for you and
keep an eye open for that Lesnik book on anthropology and edible insects.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail packed up her books and told Linda-Jean she’d be
back after her grueling shift at the hardware store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail slung her cat food bag backpack over
her shoulder and headed out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
About a minute later, Big Al greeted her at the
hardware.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Thank you, Redtail!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I’ll be gone about an hour; two would
be a fair stretch, I’m thinking.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “I should be OK for as long as you need.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m expecting some packages in the mail,” said Al, “and
going to see if my wife needs anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She’s not feeling real good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We’re hoping it’s just this weather system.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I hope your wife feels better soon.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail continued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yeah, me, too, “said Al. “It’s so unlike her to be dragging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember those special orders we talked about
the other day?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, if Lena drops in,
she can usually handle those.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Does she work here, too?” asked Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No, but most special orders go through T.D.Fera,” said Al,
“and she works out there in their logistics department.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well, I think I should be able to handle things while
you’re gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got your cell number
in case I have questions.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m sure the fort’s in good hands,” said Al.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I better get going if I plan to get back at
a decent hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you, again.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They bid farewells.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The door went “creak, snap, jingle.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And quietness settled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
scanned the store from the register and spotted some intriguing catalogs in the
trash can under the counter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She pulled
out a knife and sword catalog full of edged pretties at surprisingly low
prices.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail thought, “There’s gotta be a reason this stuff is so
cheap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it’s because it’s so cheap.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She smiled as she flipped through the pages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail jumped and brushed her hand quickly across her
head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A shiny bronze and metallic green
beetle slightly larger than a pea dropped from her head and onto the open
catalog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, you are a beautiful little
beetle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’d make wonderful jewelry if
you weren’t a bug.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Creak, slap, jingle,” went the door.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Whoa, you’ve lost weight, Al!” exclaimed the mayor.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail put on her low voice. “Diet and exercise.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well, I better pass on that,” said Larry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I think my wife would have words with me if
I started looking like you.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Speaking of diet, maybe you could answer a
question for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you know if Wilder’s
square is sprayed with any pesticides or herbicides?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Larry smiled and said, “I think I do.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He held the smile until Redtail broke a few
seconds of silence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Please tell?” said Redtail with a frustrated smile. “You
sound like George.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Larry laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“OK,
we don’t poison stuff here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Control’s
mainly done by mowing, and the pace is slow enough around here the rest is done
by hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t even think the townies
spray their own lawns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I don’t
sell much bulk stuff at my store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t
know about Al’s sales </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
of stuff-icides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sure, we sell the occasional small scale weapons like cans of wasp and
hornet or flying insect spray.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail held up a Japanese beetle trap and asked, “Do you
know if these are toxic?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Larry said, “I don’t carry them at my store, but I’m pretty
sure you gotta kill the beetles yourself or let them die of suffocation or heat
exposure amongst the other captives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
think the bait is just an aromatic thing and the beetles’ lust and clumsiness
takes over as they hit the vanes.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yeah,” said Redtail, “those pheromones probably get ‘em so
twitterpated they don’t think straight and consider possible consequences like
far too many people.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“There’s a topic with lots of branches,” said Larry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I better get what I came in for.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Both gave a laugh and Larry said he’d come in for gate
hinges, nuts and bolts for his big Jack-in- the-box.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He walked right to what he needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Larry knew the hardware store almost as good
as Al did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail checked him out and
told him to let her know when he needed a Guinea pig to try out the box.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Probably a week or so before it’s done,” said Larry as he waved
and departed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Creak, jingle slap!” went the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The store again went quiet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the next half hour or so, Redtail
wandered around the store, studying the inventory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Creak, jingle,” went the door, but without
the slap as Ruby gently closed the door behind her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Hi, Ruby,” said Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, hi,” said Ruby, slightly startled at expecting Big Al’s
voice, but getting Redtail’s.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m minding the shop while Al’s doing some errands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can I help you find something?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well, ya, maybe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe I could start your interview early?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Cuz, like, my visit here has to do with that
topic.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Why sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe you
could also answer a question that came to mind while I was at the library,”
said Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I can try,” said Ruby and she smiled, “Even saying ‘I don’t
know’ is an answer, I guess, so, yeah.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail started, “I know home schooling is a bit different
from public school, but, don’t you guys usually take the same time off?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yeah, you caught us the other day on one of our last
regular sessions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re sorta in Summer
school now, catching up and doing extra credit stuff .”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“OK, I thought it was kinda late for the school year.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby said, “Well, my reason for being here is to look around
and see what stuff might be handy to have, living in the woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you recommend?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “This place has been a fun hang-out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve actually browsed around and made me a
sort of wish list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This might be an
excellent time for both of us to make a camping list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t give much thought to anything ‘til I
started getting thirsty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Water’s first,
then it’s either food and how to start a fire or shelter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A magnifying glass or lighter, or even a
flint and steel can get fires started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
pocket knife, with more than just a blade on it and a hatchet is good.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby said, “That could all pack up fairly tightly.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“There’s times I wish I also had a folding pruning saw, but
I feel like that’s a luxury,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“A pan to cook in is great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
frying pan is OK, but it’s hard to boil water in it and cooking oil is kinda
hard to find in the woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can fry,
if you need to, in a deeper sauce pan or Dutch oven, but boiling’s lots easier
in a deeper pan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A tarp is nice, too,
for shelter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think an 8 by 10 or 10 by
12 foot tarp would be a good size along with a roll of parachute cord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you can build your own shelter if you
want, out of stuff you find from place to place.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“This is so cool!” said Ruby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We’ve got a woods behind our house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should try this!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said with wide eyes, “There’s a big difference
between packing for a camping trip and starting with nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got mostly found stuff, but the past
week, Grandpa George has loaned me quite a bit of neat, more civilized things.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well, like, what sort of different stuff would you take for
basic camping?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then what other,
well, weirder stuff would you recommend for more extended living?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You sure you want to hear about my weird stuff?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Ah, yeah,” smiled Ruby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“That would make the story really interesting.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“OK, here goes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll
start a little on the odd side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really
want mouse and rat traps.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
paused to let it sink in a few seconds.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby said, “Eww.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s… that’s… kinda gross.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Should I lighten up some?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No, it’s sorta weird, but it’s cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you, like, use rats and mice for fish
bait?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail smiled and looked at Ruby with a ‘you-figure-it-out’
look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ruby’s eyes got big and Redtail
said, “Yeah, I sometimes use them for bait.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“But, you sometimes… eat them… too?” asked Ruby.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Usually, actually,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ve gotten fairly good at snaring them with
monofilament fishing line, but I think trapping would be even easier.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Do you… just… eat them, or…?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail laughed, “They get cleaned and cooked just like a
little squirrel or rabbit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have
a refrigerator, so I can’t stock up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
dry a little for short term storage: fish, mammals, but the bugs, I eat pretty
quick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, weapons is another thing that’s
a little more than basic camping stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I use cubit sticks, bow and arrow, and I’d like to start using a
slingshot and learn to use an atlatl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
count fishing gear as normal stuff.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail continued, “OK, “normal stuff” is probably like what
you can almost always find in WalMart’s camping gear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably not any real emergency or specialty
stuff except maybe like a first aid kit.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby said, “You started without really packing anything,
didn’t you?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I still don’t have a pocket knife, but yeah, I started from
scratch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Basic needs were water, then
food, and usually, conditions demand shelter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Add a canteen or water jug to your basics list and you should be fairly
well set to camp in most campgrounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
first canteen was a two-liter bottle I found in a trash can and I started my
first cooking fire with some reading glasses lenses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cooked in a pan I found in a trash pile.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail went on, “Oh, let’s see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first night, I slept outside leaning against
a tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second night I took shelter
in a big concrete pipe and the third night I stayed under a sheet of plywood
propped on a 55 gallon drum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dragged
that plywood through the woods and kept using it until Grandpa George loaned me
his tent and we set it up on higher ground a few days ago.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The back door buzzer sounded, cutting Redtail off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I better see what that was,” said Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Big Al walked in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
and Redtail nearly collided.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I bet I
fixed that buzzer since you were here last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t think you got to hear it when me and Lena came in the other
day.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It sounded like a door buzzer, but I thought I’d better
check it out,” said Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well hi, Ruby!” said Al.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Are you finding everything you need?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I came in looking for ideas ‘cuz I’m working on a story
about Miss Redtail, so, yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I actually
got more than what I came in for.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“A story on Redtail?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “She’s documenting weird people of Wilder.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby gave a little exasperated stomp, sigh and laugh, “Not
‘weird!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unique people.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Al said, “I can see that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We’re all weird, so that’s not all that unique.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “But we’re all unique, so that makes us the
same.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby smiled and shook her head, saying, “OK, but I’m still
calling it ‘Unique People.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh no!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to go to the Bait Store to look at camping
stuff and get back to the Museum before Mom’s ready to go!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She waved and headed to the door.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “We’ll talk lots more Saturday.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruby turned and said, “Ya! That’s gonna be so cool!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Creak. Slap! Jingle.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“So, Redtail, have you picked out the pocket knife you
want?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “I hadn’t been giving them any thoughts of
desire without some purchasing power behind the thoughts.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well, you’ve been working for me,” said Al, “so I owe you
at least something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m already trying
to figure out how to get you on the payroll.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>C’mon, I’ve heard you saying you need a decent pocket knife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pick one out, and here, take a flint and
steel set too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re not all that
hampered by moisture and lack of butane.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
“Well,” said Redtail, “OK, but I wanna be friends and not just an employee with
flexible hours.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Al asked, “What’ve you got on tap for the rest of your day?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While examining a basic jackknife, Redtail said, “Hang out
at the library for a couple hours and head over to the church for music and
crafts.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Creak, slap, jingle!” went the door as a damp, dirty man
who also appeared in an ill temper briskly stepped in.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Big Al gave a sympathetic, “Ooo, looks like you got a
plumbing job today.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Al caught himself,
“Oh, sorry. Pardon my language.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail looked puzzled and the customer laughed, “Yeah that
old place I bought has a wild mix of sweated, compression joints and even PCV
plumb’ --er, sorry, pipes.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Al gave the customer a stern look.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The customer said, “Oops, I did it, didn’t I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean PVC.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail still looked at Al and the customer and Al said,
“Oh, “plumbing” can be a dirty word at times.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail, now enlightened, said, “Well, I better be heading
out then and let y’all finish up with your nautical discussion.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now Al looked confused and the customer said, “Sailor talk.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, OK, I get it,” said Al.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Don’t forget that knife!” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail selected a very basic, inexpensive pocket
knife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She picked one with a blade, hole
punch, can opener and bottle-opener/common screwdriver with a black plastic
handle.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Al said, “You can take a fancier one!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Nah, I only need utility and portability, but thank you,
and thanks for this knife and fire-starter kit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think I’m headed to the library to soak up some new outdoor lore or
knowledge.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And she headed for the door.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Al called, “What!?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
could you be insufficient in such wisdom?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Creak, tap, jingle.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She caught
the door before it did a full slam.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail breathed deep and smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t know what went on in my other life,
but this is quite nice ‘til my memory comes back,” she thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This is so awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have nothing to my name and even that was
made up, but I still have everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve got a place to stay, food to eat, people looking out for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m so wonderfully cared for!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank You Lord!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail stepped into the library again and was met with
Linda-Jean’s cheerful, “Welcome back!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail asked, “Is everyone around here so friendly and
helpful?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OK, maybe not so much A.J., but
I don’t think he wants friends and I think might’ve scared Dave, but besides
them.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linda-Jean said, “You should see us in GOOD moods!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, really, I think your demeanor helps bring
out the best in people.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well, I really don’t have anything to be mad or worry
about, except, maybe, I want to expand my plant ID knowledge so my wild pantry
can grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that’s not something to
get upset about.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Lots of people would be torn up and scared over being put
in your situation.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail gave a thoughtful look and said, “I’m in the
situation, like it or not, so I’ve got choices whether to be angry or worried
or positive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just think positive is a
whole lot easier than the others.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linda-Jean smiled, “But worry could be so dramatic.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That’s exactly my point,” laughed Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I could get all worked up over where my next
meal was going to come from or simply have fun finding it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Ah, finding food!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While you were gone, I rounded up a bunch of stuff on wild edibles,
camping and survival for you to paw through.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linda-Jean handed Redtail a pile of books and magazines, and
glanced out the window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail gave
Linda-Jean a questioning look.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, I’m just wondering where Lars and his crew have been
the past few days,” said Linda-Jean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“They’re some older guys who hang out on the hardware porch most
mornings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably just the weather
keeping them away –I hope.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I s’pose that’s why Big Al keeps the bench and chairs out
front,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I wish more towns
were like this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like early ‘60s
family TV.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail looked at
Linda-Jean’s stack of books and pulled one out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I really need to get better with my grasses and sedges.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What, for like grazing?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No,” laughed Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Most grass is too fibrous for us to digest, but most of the seeds are
edible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, most of those are too
much of a pain to process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess we
really can digest the grass if it’s processed correctly.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail gathered up the books and headed to a
table.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linda-Jean followed Redtail to the table and asked, “Do you
know how to process grass for effective human digestion?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Why sure: second-hand vegetarianism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cow eats the grass and you eat the cow.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“OK, I gotcha.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
some Library Journals to look through and order forms to fill out to send on to
the next branch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lemme know if you need
anything.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail spent the next couple hours browsing the books
Linda-Jean found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also got on a
computer for some additional research.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Around 4:45, Linda-Jean reluctantly mentioned to Redtail that 5:00 was
closing time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I hate to kick you out to kill an hour and a half before
Music and Craft Night, but, I have to take Louie to T-ball.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We gotta do what we gotta do,” Redtail said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Who’s Louie?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That’s my little boy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He’s 5.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I think little kids are so much fun.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linda-Jean said, “They can be a handful at times.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yeah,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And she packed her things and picked out two books to check out: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Birds in Missouri</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Missouri Reptiles</i>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Louie just loves turtles and snakes.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “I know lots of my reptiles and amphibians but
like Grandpa George says, about poison hemlock, ‘I want to know how to describe
the differences between three-toed and ornate box turtles, red shouldered and
broad winged hawks, and juvenile black rat snakes and yellow bellied racers
besides just saying, ‘cuz I know.’ Oh, I got my card somewhere –Here it
is!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail handed her library card to
Linda-Jean.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I already got you taken care of.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linda-Jean and Redtail small-talked as Linda-Jean shut down
the library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both had belongings tucked
under their arms and in bags and stepped out onto the boardwalk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They exchanged waves and Redtail said, “Until
next our path cross, may you be well-blessed!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And have fun with Louie at T-ball!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linda-Jean called back, “We always do!”</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal">(story continues here: <a href="http://ognyen.blogspot.com/2018/12/chap-28.html">http://ognyen.blogspot.com/2018/12/chap-28.html</a> )<br /></div>
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<![endif]-->Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16953582155385508486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652144083113344298.post-41162864644063621892018-01-01T16:22:00.004-08:002021-02-11T11:40:17.872-08:00RT Mac Story Chap's 21-25<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]-->(earlier story: <a href="http://ognyen.blogspot.com/2017/08/rt-mac-story-chaps-16-date.html">http://ognyen.blogspot.com/2017/08/rt-mac-story-chaps-16-date.html</a> )<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 21</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail startled to
wakefulness at the cackling of a pileated woodpecker very near her tent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She did her best to interpret what it might
have said and gave a reply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And good
morning to you, too!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She got up and set to
getting a fire going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sky was still
quite overcast and the air smelled heavy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was going to be a lighter sort of fire, rather than flint or
lens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail turned over a piece of
sheet metal under which she kept a stash of kindling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the woodpecker startled Redtail, she
startled a meadow mouse who’d taken shelter in her kindling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail laughed and growled at herself at the
same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m turning into Little
Bunny Foo Foo.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But she now had more for
breakfast.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail skinned the
mouse and set aside the lungs and digestive tract for fishbait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She got her fire started and felt secure
enough with it she took the mouse innards and fishpole and ran up to the
pond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One cast and in less than two
minutes at pondside, she had a nice fat bluegill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She headed back to camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time she arrived, the fire had burnt
itself down to a friendly cookfire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
cleaned the fish and even kept the egg sacks for breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She smiled to herself as she thought, “Fish
eggs aren’t that bad, except they’re kind of hard to turn without breaking the
yolks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I guess I don’t need to worry
about that since I’m roasting breakfast on a stick.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With breakfast
finished, Redtail continued her food hunt with only a minor adjustment in her
routine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She collected with the intent
of sharing with others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s always
eager to share, but, today, she kept a special eye out for particularly
appealing stuff.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail’s target
plants were thistle, green brier, dandelion flowers, violets, chickweed and
other mild-flavored or texturally friendly plants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also included a clear plastic jar in her
burlap sack for those live critter examples she was also alert for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She watched for snails, worms, special
caterpillars, crickets, roaches and other favorite snack critters.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mr. Ziffel came to
assist in the forage and Redtail was reminded of the importance of thorough
rinsing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Mr. Z, you stick to rinsing
those near the trees and I’ll take care of these, myself,” said Redtail.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After not long,
George joined Redtail in the broke ground patch.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Good
morning!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stockin’ up?”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail replied, “Actually,
I’m collecting more with today’s program in mind.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Well
thank you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully, we’ll have plenty
of leftovers for you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George and Redtail
foraged through lunch, but they didn’t miss out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They snacked along the way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail asked, “Do
you have favorite references for your edibles studies?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I pretty much love
browsing them all,” said George, “but three in particular, popped into mind and
more are trickling in.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A moment or two
passed and Redtail asked, “Are you going to keep me in suspense, or tell me
what they are?”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George put on a face
of innocent ignorance, but it wasn’t very convincing. “Oh, sure, you wanted to
know, that, too?”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail smiled,
rolled her eyes and gave an exasperated sigh. “Oh yes, please.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do tell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Do tell.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George let a smile
crack his innocent look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Sorry ‘bout
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like playing with words.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail lowered and
toughened her voice. “Yer just lucky Ah wuz in a good mood!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George gave a shiver.
“That’s almost beyond imagination –you, not in a good mood.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “Yeah,
kinda scary, huh?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“OK, there’s a real
early book I got around the time I started sharing the harvest,” said
George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I think it’s still a good
starter book: Bradford Angier’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Field
Guide to Edible Wild Plants</i>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
there’s the out-of-print <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wild Edibles of
Missouri</i> by Jan Phillips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then when
you get familiar with plant ID, Francois Couplan’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Encyclopedia of Edible Plants of North America: Nature’s Green
Feast</i> is excellent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s almost
all-inclusive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the title implies,
it’s not a field guide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It assumes the
reader has a good plant ID background to begin with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my favorite reviews I saw on it was a
negative review.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It said it was ‘too
encyclopedic.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I rolled my eyes when I
read that and thought, ‘Read the title, ya dope.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then there’s the others that trickled
in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sam Thayers’ books are good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like his ‘beware of other authors who
simply regurgitate what others have written’ attitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Wildman” Steve Brill’s got a fun style and
the drawings in his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Identifying and
Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants: in Wild (and Not So Wild) Places</i>
are excellent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s more, but these
are my stand-outs.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail asked, “I
wonder if the library’s got all those?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “They
probably have some of ‘em.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they don’t
have the Phillips book, you can always get on a computer and get the PDF
version free from the Missouri Department of Conservation’s website.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hey, if they’ve got any, we gotta check ‘em
out so they don’t send ‘em to recycling.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Is the library on
the way to Midtown?” asked Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We
could check out the books and have them for display.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “That’s
not a bad idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The meeting’s at the
Midtown library and it’s also part of the Trials Library System.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “Trials
is an odd name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s certainly been no
trial for me to use the library.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George almost
interrupted, “Oh! If you’re going to The Bumpy Log with Lena tomorrow, you
might see if our County Judge, Noyugo is there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He loves to talk about county history, specially where trials and the
courts are involved.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They almost got back
to the house when it started raining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Both quickly put on their rain gear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>George started laughing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
gave him a challenging look as she asked, “What!?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“No no no!” said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s not ridicule. It’s admiration for your
creativity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is there anything you don’t
make out of cat food bags?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “Well,
the bath towels and rags didn’t turn out so good…” and her attempt at keeping
her straight face fell apart.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “I don’t
think we’d be so good as a poker team.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yeah,” said Redtail,
“the thought of socks and underwear from cat food bags sort of choked me up and
I figured I’d better not go there.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “So, we
didn’t see any bunnies out here, did we?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wow, you even got pockets with flaps!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail proudly stuck
her thumbs in her flaps and spun around, saying, “Pretty impressive.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she almost slipped in the mud.
“Actually, they’re not that exciting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They’re just flapped slits so I can access other pockets.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I still think it’s
pretty impressive,” said George, “but, rain gear or not, we better get
inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll probably even want to back
the truck in for loading.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Into the house and onto the kitchen table they flopped their
forage bags.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George said, “I think I’ll make four piles for greens and in
the butter tub we can put the onions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By
the way, feel free to hold back what you need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You can also take all the leftovers if you want.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“I think I’m stocked up OK for the wet weather,” said Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George said, “And I planned on stopping on the way for
sandwiches, so we shouldn’t need to ‘officially’ eat before we go.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail asked, “Same place we had lunch the other day?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“I thought we’d drop by the Three Maidens Pub just this side
of Higginsburg,” said George.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail said, “That sounds pricy, but interesting.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“The prices are really pretty decent,” said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The food’s great and they don’t scrimp on
serving sizes, either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The twins used to
live here in Wilder until they opened the pub.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>OK, a thistle pile, a curly dock pile, dandelion and pungents pile and a
mild stuff pile.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail asked, “You want the peppergrass and other mustards
in the pungent pile?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“You got it figured out,” said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Then we’ll take ‘em downstairs and rinse ‘em
in the big sink.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail said, “You said ‘Three Maidens’ but only mentioned
twins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know my math ain’t all that…”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George broke in, “The third’s their cousin from
Baldspot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re a couple months apart
in age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of people think they’re
triplets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can sometimes tell ‘em
apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Krystal, Krystin and Kayla.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any of ‘em will answer to “K”, and Kayla’s
slightly shorter than the twins.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As they wrapped up the sorting, George spotted Redtail’s
bottle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Whatcha got in the bottle?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail smiled and proudly held up the container. “I got
some mobile munchies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mostly bug worms
with a few crickets.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“What do mean, ‘bug worms’,” asked George.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“They’re not earthworms, but a mix of beetle grubs and moth
caterpillars,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I got
cutworms, a couple wireworms, June-buggy grubs, geometer moth caterpillars or
inchworms, and I think that’s it, besides the crickets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t get a lot, but enough to show ‘em if
you want.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She handed George the bottle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Wow, these are some fat cutworms,” said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I wonder what I’ve been feeding them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, we’ll show these guys off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s adults today, so we won’t have kids demanding
we eat ‘em.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“I’ll eat ‘em,” said Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Yeah,” said George, “but I don’t want to show eating
uncooked.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He set the bottle down on the
table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They finished sorting and each
picked up two bags of greens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George also
grabbed the onion tub.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They headed to
the basement.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail fussed, “Ow! These thistles are trying to escape
through the sides of the bag!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George said, “I’ll have to find a handling stick for ‘em.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In the basement, the only light was what came through the
back door and down the white-painted staircase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>George pulled the string for the light over the laundry sinks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he pulled another and a set of
eight-foot fluorescents lit up a broad expanse of laminate countertop.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail exclaimed, “Wow, what a beautiful food processing
center!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, and I love that huge
colander in the sink!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George said, “I made the colander to fit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stainless mesh don’t come real cheap, but I
didn’t want galvanized or aluminum for the chemical leaching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think we’ll put about six inches of water
in the first sink and stir and thrash around the greens in there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we’ll scoop ‘em out and put ‘em in the
colander for a good spray rinse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’ll
drain while we stir and thrash the next batch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We’ll shake and re-rinse the ones in the colander a couple times before
packing them.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Thistle and pungents last?” asked Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Reusing rinse water probably won’t affect
flavor as much as if it was cooking water.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George said, “We’ll do the thistle last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s got a mild flavor, but I’d hate to get
stray stickers in anything else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll
show how to process thistle on-site.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">They washed, rinsed, sorted and cut into finger-food
lengths, all but the thistle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then they
put their processed goodies into bread bags.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“I’m thinkin’ we’re ready to load up,” said George.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">They packed up the bags and bowl and headed upstairs to the
kitchen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George said, “Here comes sort of a hard part of program prep
and closure: loading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Set-up can be
awkward, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the part where
lots of people like to help, and I’m thinkin’ you’re a helper, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been doing this alone long enough it’s
almost a science.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t claim it all
looks neat or flows smoothly.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail said, “I’ll just watch and help as requested.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“That’s the thing,” said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I got it so mechanical it’s hard for me to
direct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll just think out loud as I go
through all the motions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You just sit
back and watch as you like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll catch
on pretty quick to what I’m doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t
get me wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love help and the
company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just not easy for me to
give directions.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Well, I’ll try to be a good student,” said Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George began to think out loud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“My program pack usually consists of four
plastic tubs: the props tub, book tub, serving equipment, and miscellaneous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then it all stacks on the dolly: heaviest on
the bottom, of course.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George’s programs, at least the ones with wild edibles
concentration, are pretty typical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Arrive at the site and check in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Find the set-up location and begin set-up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tables are often provided, but George can
also provide for himself as needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Table cloths from the service box go first, then the serving gear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then comes the books, then the props to
arrange as the location allows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Food
comes out last, but he likes to keep that wrapped ‘til it’s close to start
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George is usually introduced, then
gives a short bio, followed by frequently asked questions with answers, then a
brief intro to wild edibles and why people should check into them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George then opens up for questions fielded by
the group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then comes the hectic part
with serving the samples and addressing questions as people are tasting the
goodies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the part he has often
enlisted the aid of what he calls, “Lovely Assistant.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The program slows down, and then when pack-up
time seems right, he packs up the gear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Books get packed first, then props.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The food gets packed next to last, and the
used serving gear goes into the miscellaneous box, as do table-cloths if they
got spilled on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George loves doing these
programs, still, after teardown and back in the truck, the drive home seems so
peaceful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s almost like finishing a
long bout of mowing and shutting off the mower and taking a couple nice long,
deep breaths. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Today’s packing would be a little different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was raining, and George didn’t have the
camper on his truck.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George backed the truck into the garage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He already had the tubs in the bed, but he
laid a long tarp on the floor fairly close to the front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He put two chests on the edge of the tarp and
set the other two snugly against the front pair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George folded the tarp over all and tucked
the edges under the cases on the three remaining sides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wrapped a set of straps around the cases
like a big belt, then laid the dolly across the top of the pile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George criss-cross strapped the pile down to
the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That oughtta keep things
secure and dryish,” said George as he clapped the dust off his hands.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail asked, “Weren’t we going to pack the food into the
miscellaneous bin?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George stopped dusting off and looked at the stack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yeah, I guess we were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll pretend I intended all along to put that
in the cab with us.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail smiled, “So, we all ready to go except for the
food?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Thinking it was too early to leave yet, George said, “Looks
like it, but we’re about…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, we can
head out now and browse library books on the way.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So they finished loading and off they went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Their first stop was the library in Wilder.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“I’m going to check out what I donated and turn them in at
Midtown,” said George.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail asked, “Should I get some field guides?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Yeah, and grab a garden pest book, too, if I don’t get one
first.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Linda-Jean popped out of the restroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, good!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You’ll save me a stamp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail,
your card came in on today’s run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now
you’re official.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You guys act like
you’re on a mission.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail said, “We’re getting books for a wild edibles
program in Midtown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’ll be my first
time past Wilder.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George had four books in hand and glanced at Redtail’s
books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ll grab a pest book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re gonna try to sell people on the library
while we tell ‘em about all the neat stuff to eat out there.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Linda-Jean asked, “What time is your program?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George said, “It’s at 7:00, but we got this stop, dinner at
Three Maidens, then a browse of Midtown library’s books for display at the
program.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“If those books are for display, don’t bother with the
check-out,” said Linda-Jean.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail said, “We don’t want to see them deleted from Trials”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Yeah, that policy’s usually OK,” said Linda-Jean, “but they
apply it to all the circulating books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes, I think non-fiction should have a longer time –well, except
for all those fad diet books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s your card, Redtail.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George and Redtail got their books checked out and headed on
their way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every now and then, George
had to take the wipers to ‘low’, but most of the time the drizzle only necessitated
an occasional manual-on of the wipers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail said, “I almost asked why you didn’t just put the
wipers on intermittent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What year is
this truck?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George said, “It’s a ’58.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No AC, but it’s got floor vents and these nice little wing windows.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He flipped the latch and pushed open the
little window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I miss those floor vents
and wings in the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>newer vehicles. Of
course, in vehicles this old, 80,000 miles is a ripe old age, too.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Yeah, it seems you can go almost that between oil changes
these days with the synthetic oils,” said Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George gave her a glance and squint. “OK, maybe a slight
exaggeration,” she added.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">They rode a bit farther and Redtail commented, “This is some
pretty rocky hilly country, isn’t it? Not much industry or income-property I’ve
noticed.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George said, “The east and southeast third of the county is
scenic that way but the western part has got lots of wonderful flat
farmland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was an old lead mine
fairly close to where we’re at, and sheep and goats do pretty nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think you’ll like the Three Maidens if you
like critters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’ve got a real retro
UK feel to their place.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail almost interrupted, “Oh wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s beautiful, what is it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“That’s Rainy Island Prison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some old Spanish noble is said to have built it as a castle way back in
the 1500s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The swamp around the place
used to attract folks who wanted to dump metal, old cars, appliances and
stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It almost always sunk to just out
of sight, so it’s almost impossible to cross if you’re not on the one road that
connects it to our highlands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I’d
hate to try to cross with all that sharp rusty stuff to impale myself on.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George gave a shiver and shook his head.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“It sure is a pretty place,” said Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George said, “You oughtta see it on a clear, gently breezy evening
at sunset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s in silhouette and the
water’s all sparkly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looks pretty
cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, there’s some weird stories
floating around about that place.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“An old castle turned prison on an island in a swamp sort of
asks for stories,” Redtail said with a smile.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Chapter 22</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“There’s lots of stories about Rainy Island Prison and the
manor house,” said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But I should
tell you about the Three Maidens –the pub, not the girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can get just about any kind of sandwich
you want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They bake all their own bread
and buns and you get a choice of stuffed potato skins, potato wedges, hash
browns or salad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The servings are pretty
hefty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you don’t want a sandwich,
they’ve got a wonderful potato and salad bar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They call it a pub, but they don’t serve alcohol except on Fridays and
during their Highland Games week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Otherwise, they’ve got a great selection of near beers and sparking
juices along with the usual lineup of sodas.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">After about a mile, the road ducked back in to some fairly
thick trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail said, “Ooo, we’re
in the forest now!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">They got to the S-curve and there was the sign: Three
Maidens Sandwich Shop and Pub 500 Feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The sign was red with white-edged black letters in the perfect sort of
font you’d imagine for a Highland-themed cozy pub.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>500 feet farther was a wide red-bricked
driveway with another sign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This sign
was in a heavy stone frame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The red
background had a high gloss polish and the white-edged black lettering had as
flat a finish as could be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sign was
very clear to read, “Three Maidens Sandwich Shop and Pub”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As they pulled into the drive, Redtail
noticed what appeared at first to be a green border around the sign was an
intricate tangle of gold-edged green vines and leaves, punctuated with tiny red
berries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She craned her neck as they
drove by.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“That is a MOST-beautiful sign!” Redtail said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Believe it or not,” said George, “it got vandalized a few
years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was fun when they went
to court.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first, the kids only felt
bad because they got caught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But those
three sweet little maidens and the judge were way meaner to the three young vandal
boys than I was with Dave at the restaurant when he got caught nearly dumping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The three girls know they’re pretty and they
used it on those boys in court.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One of the boys was 15 years old and the other two were
16.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One had just gotten his license and
they were all spreading their wings of independence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All those little boy hormones trying to act
what they thought was tough or manly.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>George paused and laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh
boy, I wish I’d’ve seen it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those three
girls didn’t say a thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They poured all
they had into looking sad and hurt –those big eyes and long wavy red hair and
they figured out how to look on the verge of crying.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Those boys didn’t stand a chance as Judge Noyugo explained
all the work the girls had put into that sign and how the boys ruined it with a
few seconds of thoughtless meanness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two
boys were in tears and the other was fighting his so hard everyone thought he
was going to pass out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Anyway, they had to wash off the egg and re-paint or repair
any staining or damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They ended up
having fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two started a sign-painting
business and the third is pursuing a commercial art degree.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“That’s sad and funny
all at the same time,” said Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yeah, the judge set
it up with the girls beforehand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knew
the boys were sorry they got caught, but those boys were devastated when they
realized they’d hurt the feelings of those poor sweet pretty girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m glad we’re here now, so I can quit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m almost starting to feel bad for ‘em
too.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George added, “You’ll probably get
to meet the judge tomorrow at The Bumpy Log.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George parked, shut
off the truck, and they exited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lot
was quite big for an off-the-beaten-path business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George opened one side of a big wooden double
gate, which, with the four-foot-high stone wall, separated the parking lot from
a step back in time and geography.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A couple chickens
clucked peacefully as they cleared the path for George and Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sheep were bleating behind the stone pub
building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One little lamb bounded out
from around the corner as if to say “hi” to Redtail and George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It gave a little ‘baa’ and bounced back
behind to the others.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail asked, “Are
you sure about this place?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, it
looks like it’s got to be very expensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s a really cool place, but, wow!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The girls were pretty
well off when they got the place and friends and family helped a lot, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even hauled a couple trailer loads of rock
up here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think even two of the girls
married into some money,” explained George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“They don’t pass a lot of their overhead on to customers, and their
atmosphere almost guarantees return trips.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They stepped
inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh wow, it smells wonderful in
here!” said Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Out from the kitchen
came one of the three maidens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hi
George!” she said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I see you’re
accompanied today, and it’s not Sarah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Oh my gosh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You must be the
Scotsman that couldn’t be!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked
back to the kitchen and yelled, “Kayla, Redtail’s HERE!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A pan clattered to
the floor as a near-clone to the first maiden ran out of the kitchen with an
excited smile.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kayla said, “Welcome,
welcome, welcome!” as she vigorously shook Redtail’s hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gave Redtail a hug, then a quick apology.
“My husband told me about you, and I reallyreallyreally wanted to meet you!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pictures of all the
men Redtail recently met flashed through her mind as she tried to figure out
who Kayla’s husband might be.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The third maiden
walked in the front door with a basket of eggs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She squealed, “Uncle George!” as she set down the eggs and ran up to
throw a big hug on him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“This is Krystin,”
said George, “which makes maiden number one, Krystal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still can’t tell y’all apart without a
hint.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kayla said, “Oh,
we’ve been used to that all our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail, the reason I got all excited to finally meet you is it sounds
like you’ve got a really cool story about yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband only heard snippets from a guy he
works with.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “That’d
be Frank.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “OK,
I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out who your husband might be.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “I feel
really bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re in a hurry and gotta
place a to-go order and head on out pretty…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kayla reached over
and put her finger on George’s lips to continue what she started saying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George looked surprised and Redtail laughed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kayla said, “We
absolutely love stories here and have a weekly Bard’s Night on Saturdays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think you’ve got a tale people’d like to
hear.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She smiled at George and removed
her finger.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’m not much of a
story-teller and my memories don’t go back all that far,” said Redtail, “but I
love to hear stories and…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George, could
you bring me back out here Saturday?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Yeah,
we can do that.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Krystin jumped and
giggled, “Oh good!” She threw in an almost, embarrassed-sounding, “Sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve just missed Uncle George.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Krystal said, “I
guess, since I’m on waitress duty, I’ll take your orders.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George groaned again,
“Argh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really wish we could stay
longer, but I got a program to do in Midtown for their Garden Club.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh cool,” said
Krystin, “Billy’s in that club now.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
looked at Redtail and said, “He does the plantings around our signs.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George asked, “Is he
the commercial art student?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kayla said, “Yeah,
he’s trying to plant pictures that change with the seasons.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail asked, “Is he
one of the three boys who…”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Krystal started to laugh,
“Yes, did Uncle George tell you that story?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was a fun one to be part of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The judge read those kids’ attitudes perfectly and came up with a great
plot to help ‘em learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We even made new
friends out of everyone involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to
shorten the visit, but do y’all know what you want to order?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “I’ll
just duplicate what Grandpa George orders.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Krystin chirped, “Oh
wow, we’re family, too!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And she threw a
hug on Redtail like one with which she greeted George.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George smiled and
ordered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I guess we’ll each have a BLT
on toasted pumpernickel, with wedges.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He added, “Oh, and melt a slice of cheese over the bacon if you could,
please.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Krystal said, “Will
do, and I’ll get a menu to send home with our new cousin so she’s not always
stuck with Uncle George’s toasted pumpernickel BLT with melted cheese.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Krystin picked up her
egg basket and said, “It’s wonderful seeing you again, Uncle George, and to
meet Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gotta get these eggs
washed and refrigerated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope to see
ya Saturday!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “We’ll
sure give it a good shot!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Krystin gave
a little skip and she waved as she disappeared into the kitchen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kayla said, “I want
Redtail to see Storytime’s not at all scary.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George looked at
Redtail and said, “I’ve even been here as the teller a few times.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Krystal came out of
the kitchen with the sandwiches in a brown paper grocery sack and handed it to
George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That’ll be family price for
you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Well, I’m much
obliged girls,” said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I tell you
what, you use this to help maintain that nice sign and driveway then.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
stuffed a wad of bills in the tip jar.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sorry,” said Krystal, “Do you want drinks
with the sandwiches?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “We’ve
got water in the truck.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He looked at
Redtail, “Did you want something different?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She waved her hand
and smiled, “Nah, I’m fine.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George and Redtail
reluctantly departed the Three Maidens and headed out to finish their journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George stopped at WalMart for gas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail asked, “Have
I got time to run in and grab a few things and meet you back out here?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I guess so,” said
George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The truck’s fairly low on gas,
so it’ll take a while.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“OK, I’ll be right
back.” Redtail ran off across the parking lot.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Several minutes
later, Redtail was crossing the lot back to George and the truck which was
running and ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail hopped in.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“It seems weird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew right where stuff was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pop! Pop! Pop! And I was outta there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must have WalMart in my past,” said
Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Hmm,” pondered
George. “That doesn’t narrow down your past geography much.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail laughed and
took another bite of her sandwich.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This
pumpernickel is good!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, Krystal and
Krystin called you ‘Uncle George.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did
you find them in your woods, too?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George chuckled,
“No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That story’s sorta sad, but it was
great for me and Mae Mae.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Krystal and
Krystin were about nine years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their
parents dropped them off the Saturday morning after Thanksgiving, and we were
going to entertain them –babysit, actually, and Dad and Mom would pick them up
from church Sunday morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think they
went to Kansas City for some shopping and a movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They ended up getting in a wreck and we kept
the girls ‘til after New Year’s while their parents recuperated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the short tale without the gory
details.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Krystal would jump on every
chance she could to help Mae Mae in the kitchen, otherwise, she’d read anything
she could find in the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Krystin loved
the kitchen and was a reader, too, but almost like an affectionate kitten, she
seemed to watch for every time I sat down, and she’d hop up into my lap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d both read something or she’d read to me
or I’d read to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t tell the
girls apart on sight at first but Krystin usually gives it away with a hug or
snuggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re fun kids.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They left WalMart and
headed west to Midtown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sun tried to
poke through the clouds occasionally and was still fairly high in the sky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George put down his visor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail closed her eyes and slid down in the
seat with her knees up on the dash.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail sleepily
asked, “Do they ever have trouble with guys misinterpreting the friendliness at
Three Maidens?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George began, “Did
you notice the photos on the wall?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those
tough-lookin’ critters are the girls’ husbands.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“But ‘Three Maidens’ sounds
like three single girls.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“They named the place
when they bought it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The husbands came
later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Krystal’s husband once saw a guy
give Kayla a pat on her rear. He went over to the guy’s table and sat down all
friendly-like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said, with a cool tone,
‘See that series of pictures on the wall?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He pointed to the massive guy in a kilt, carrying what looked like a
telephone pole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The photos showed the
carry, the toss and an impressive distance before it landed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said, ‘That’s me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m also married to one of the girls
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sure hope I don’t see you
touching ‘my’ wife inappropriately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Probably best not to touch her at all.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The guy saw two of the girls at the same time, then the third through
the kitchen window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he looked
confused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Krystal’s husband added, “And
I ain’t tellin’ which one.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He got up
and gave the guy a pat on the shoulder that probably felt like getting’ smacked
by a flour sack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess Kayla later saw
him studying the pictures on the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There were the kaber toss photos, and some fancy axe and knife-throwing
competition shots of Krystin’s husband, and some formal photos of Kayla’s
husband in uniform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guy stayed very
self-controlled and civil after that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Krystal’s and Krystin’s husbands work the farm here, and Kayla’s husband
is with the Donowutt County Sheriff Department.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail smiled and
said, “Sounds like things are in pretty good hands at the Pub.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">About ten miles out,
Midtown came into view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Midtown’s
population is only about 1500, but it’s got the county’s big
agriculture-related store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Midtown also
has the county’s Garden Club.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 23</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Just into Midtown and
past the farm store, George pulled the truck into the library parking lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rain stopped almost an hour ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They left the boxes in the back of the truck
and went in to get more display books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>George asked the librarian if he could get into the meeting room to set
up for the program.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George and Redtail
found a few more books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They adjourned
to the meeting room, pulled some tables together and brought the gear into the
library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail watched as George began
the set-up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Table cloths come
first,” said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I do enough
outdoor programs I sometimes absent-mindedly weight the table ends with stuff
first to keep the cloths from blowing in the wind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ain’t no wind in here, so I didn’t need to
put those books all over the place.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
gave a laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Which cloths I use depends
on the audience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really doesn’t
matter what cloths I use for an adult program like this, but I like to use the
prints for kids’ programs.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail jumped in and
helped spread out the cloths George put out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The books and bookends went out, then the props, spread out to take
about half the space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the rest was
displayed the samples buffet, covered to await the program attendees.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George gave a
relieved slow breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Here’s that quiet
peaceful time between ready and showtime.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A woman poked her
head in the door and asked if the Garden Club was meeting there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George said, “That’s what we’re here
for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this the room you usually use?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The woman stopped in
the doorway and said, “I really couldn’t tell you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is my first meeting and I didn’t want to
be late.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail glanced at
the wall clock and saw it was 6:40.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Are we usually this early, Grandpa George?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh, usually between
40 and 10 minutes early.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it’s any
closer, I feel rushed and I don’t care for that,” answered George.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The new member set
her things down at a table and approached George and Redtail’s set-up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Mind if I snoop a little,” she asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail looked at
George, who said, eagerly, “Oh sure, go ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Feel free to ask questions, too, if you like.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The woman looked at
the display and asked, “Is this on pest control?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail answered,
with a smile, “I guess that’s one way to look at it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George glanced at the
window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“OK, everybody, behave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boss is comin’.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mary-Ellen, the
Garden Club president, was in her mid 70s, but still made her way around the
garden areas of Donowutt County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over
the years, some settling had occurred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Despite her roundness and age, she bubbled with energy.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George got the door
for Mary-Ellen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He bowed and said,
“Greetings Madame President.”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As she walked in the
door, Mary-Ellen gave a quick curtsy and cheerfully answered George’s greeting,
“Professor Peterson.”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mary-Ellen said to
George, with a competitive edge to her voice, “That’s the fourth time in a row
you beat me to my own club meeting.” </span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Meanwhile, Redtail
and Elaine, the new member, exchanged introductions.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said to
Mary-Ellen, “We even tried to give you a chance today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stopped at the Thistle Dew Library, the
Three Maidens in Higginsburg and even at WalMart on the way here.”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Well then, you must
just drive too fast,” said Mary-Ellen.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail jumped to
George’s defense, “Oh no!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t
knowingly exceed the speed limits.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
laughed, “George often finds himself thrust into leadership positions on the
road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We get quite a few
followers.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Redtail gave George a
puzzled look, “Professor!?”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George laughed, “Professor
is a title conferred on me by Mary-Ellen a couple years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m pretty sure she’s the only one who uses
it.”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“And although I am
the Garden Club President,” said Mary-Ellen, “the Professor is the only one who
calls me ‘Madame President’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I noticed
y’all had been saying ‘we’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who are
these young ladies you brought with you today, George?”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Well,
Redtail here is my granddaughter, and this is the first time I’d seen…”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail answered,
“And this is Elaine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s here for her
first Garden Club meeting.”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elaine said, “Yeah, I
think I want to be a new member.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not
with them –not that I think they’re unworthy of my fellowship, but I came
alone.”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As they discussed all
that important stuff, more people came into the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mary-Ellen deemed it a fit and proper time to
give the meeting a formal start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
rapped the butt end of the garden trowel on the bottom of a flower pot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That might sound silly, but that was the
official Garden Club Presidential Gavel Set.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The pot has been replaced twice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mary-Ellen introduced George as an expert on organic pest control.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George began, “My
topic for Garden Clubs is really wild edibles, since most of your garden pests
and weeds are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A big drawback in using
harvest as pest control is you probably don’t want to wait ‘til your pest
critter gets to a food-worthy size.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
can inflict lots of crop damage by then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Plants are lots easier as they’re usually still harvestable small, and
are often more tender.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George told the group
about proper ID of wild edibles and stressed it again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told about lamb’s quarter, Queen Anne’s
lace, cutworms, Japanese beetles, stink bugs, purslane, flower-of-an-hour, June
beetle grubs, squash bugs, cabbage and corn ear worms and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, he stressed proper ID.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then came the questions and answers.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many answers were of
the standard sort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘No, I don’t eat like
this all the time.’ ‘Yes, they’re real bugs.’ ‘Unlike for plants and mushrooms,
there really aren’t any decent field guides on edible invertebrates.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘For plants and mushrooms, shake off the dirt
and rinse well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cook or eat raw as
needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I say ‘as needed’ because some things
must be cooked to neutralize the toxins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Kill insects by freezing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boil at
least 3 minutes or otherwise cook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
like to boil for five, then marinate overnight and dehydrate to a crispy
crunch.’</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The youngest of the
men raised his hand and George called on him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“This question is really for your granddaughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you do the wild edibles thing, too?”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George gestured to
Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She stood up and said, “Yes,”
and waited for an expected silence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
got her silence and her “please go on” looks and she smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Actually, I live in the woods: a little more
seriously than just camping, so yeah, wild edibles is a regular thing for me.”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George added, “I was
barely able to coax her indoors to help prepare the samples buffet we brought
you.”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The young man said,
“Cool!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got one more question for
Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you single?” He smiled and
sat down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The club gave scowls and
laughs.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail answered, “Oh
absolutely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s only one of
me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She played the startled silence for
a second or two and then pretended to realize what he actually meant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, you don’t mean as opposed to
plural.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You meant single as opposed to
spoken for.”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George put his head
in his hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The club had head-shakes,
eye rolls and laughs.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail continued,
“You know,” and she looked at George and puzzled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That’s the first time I recall having to
consider that question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really don’t
know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, like with wild edibles, I
better err to the side of caution and act betrothed or married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the way, are you Billy?”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Billy gave a startled
smile and said, “Now I’ve got lots of off-topic questions for you that’ll have
to wait ‘til later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yeah, I’m Billy,
but…” and he smiled thoughtfully and quit talking. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mary-Ellen asked a
question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“With so much out there at our
fingertips to eat, why did we ever get into agriculture?”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Long long ago,”
began George, “people learned about seeds and planting and domesticating
animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Staying put is easier than
moving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thag learned how to make pots
and Grogina learned how to spin goat hair and plant fibers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grog learned how to make carrots out of Queen
Anne’s lace and Thagette grew thicker seed heads on her grass and turned it
into barley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They settled together and
begat little Thags, Grogs, Inas and Ettes and shared what they specialized in,
and our first cities were born.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George
heard a sigh from one of the club members and laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Speeding things up, we learned bulk
agriculture and bred out stuff we didn’t want and specialized in other
non-agriculture stuff and we forgot how to forage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wild edibles aren’t quite as easy to gather
and process as domesticated human-altered stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flavors and textures might take some
re-adjustment of our now-discriminating culinary tastes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wanna try some?”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">First up to the table
were Elaine and Billy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elaine knew where
she was headed, based on her pre-program browsing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Billy wanted to find out how Redtail knew who
he was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon a crowd of most of the
members had gathered at the table into a mass of inquisitiveness.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh wow! These are
good!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I never thought I’d eat a bug on
purpose.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Wild greens are packed with
vitamin A.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Do you catch all these
yourself?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Eww, it’s looking at
me!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Insects are supposed to be really
nutritious.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Lamb’s quarter is related
to quinoa.”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George answered most
of the questions while he and Redtail served the samples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail answered a few questions but talked
mostly with Billy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He got the story how
she knew who he was, without having to re-live the ordeal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail complimented him on his gardening,
and answered his other question: “No, I don’t even HAVE a phone.”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The crowd around the
edibles table began to break up, so Mary Ellen called the business portion of
the meeting to order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The business
discussion faded into soft white noise as George and Redtail leisurely packed
up and headed out.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On the way home,
Redtail broke the wonderfully peaceful post-program silence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She didn’t break it beyond repair and it
healed itself pretty quick when she finished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I like Billy.”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George asked, “You
plan on seeing him regularly?”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh no, not that,”
said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He’s barely out of high
school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides, I’ve gotta act married,
at least until I know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s just a nice
kid.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“He sure wasn’t
subtle,” said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You made a pretty
big impression on him.”</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They both laughed and
the silence resumed.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 24</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail awoke Tuesday
morning to a gentle rain: almost a mist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Wow,” she thought, “it feels later than my usual wake-up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then again, I did stay up pretty late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tonight’s probably going to be another late
one.”</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail peeked
outside, gave a little groan, then put on her rain gear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She went outside and picked up a 5-gallon
bucket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She headed up to the house, ran
a couple inches of water into the bucket and wandered out to the lawn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She thought, “This is really cheating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to build me a water collection and
purification system.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She squatted down
and picked a couple hands full of dandelion flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though they weren’t open in the rain,
they were quite easy to find.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
dropped them into the bucket.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mr Ziffel was
fascinated at the way Redtail waddled about on her haunches, but not enough
that he came out from under the porch and into the drizzle to join the fun.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George was already up
and gone someplace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail went back to
the tent with her bucket of dandelions sloshing about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They oughtta be rinsed enough by the time I
get home.”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She arrived at her
camp and was a bit frustrated at how wet her shoes felt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I need some rain boots and an extra pair of
shoes.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She determined to wander around
a bit more since her shoes were already wet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail put the dandelions in her burlap sack to drain and air while she
poked about under the leaf litter for food ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She didn’t want to eat her dried fish unless
she had to, but she also didn’t like the idea of starting a fire for cooking.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It didn’t take long
for Redtail to see the rain had driven lots of worms out of the ground and into
the leaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I wish I liked worms more,
but here goes anyway.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She filled her
bucket about a quarter full of leaves after she shook them off and shredded them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She then commenced to worm-collecting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail smiled, “If I don’t eat these myself,
I can at least use them for fish bait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll let these guys purge in the leaves overnight and maybe shoot for a
fire tomorrow.”</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail returned to
her tent and took off her shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
spread them open and hung them on the ends of some of her clothes rods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Late morning, but uncomfortably damp outside,
so Redtail reclined on her mattress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She’d propped the head end up on her supplies to make sort of a day
lounger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She closed her eyes, dozed
lightly and thought about what her day had in store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About an hour later, something gave Redtail’s
foot an odd tickle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She dreamily opened
her eyes and looked toward the tickle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Instinct startled her and made her foot recoil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the sudden movement she gave a sigh of
relief and an eye roll.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh you,” she
said with a smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I guess you can
prowl around here for mice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want
any in my food stash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if you find
any outside, we gotta share, OK?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
black rat snake flicked its tongue and slowly went on with the hunt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail got a small slab
of dry fish, mouse meat and the bag of dandelion flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She nibbled and relaxed until she settled on
what to do next.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail didn’t think
George came across as a gardener, but wondered if Mae Mae was, and if there
might be a remaining volunteer herb bed as evidence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail hadn’t noticed much that looked
cultivated on the south or west sides of the house, other than a small patch of
lily of the valley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She set her goal for
the east and north of the house.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Between the east side
of the house and the drive, didn’t offer much diversity in plant life, though
the other side of the driveway was fairly heavily foliated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The north or road-side of the house was
really the front, but it was seldom used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail didn’t focus today on edibles, but on aromatics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was going out tonight, and to a social
club.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail didn’t think she had any
personal odor problem, but she thought she ought to use good smellies anyway.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail had to go
slowly, since her feet weren’t used to being out of shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she reached the front of the house, she
spotted some mints.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She didn’t bruise
the leaves to find out what kind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
made a mental note of them and went on to other things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She spotted some cooking herbs, but left
those alone, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I gotta explore this
more, but a different day.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly her
eyes lit up and she scampered across the driveway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yes!” she said, as she yanked up one of
several foot-tall common ragweeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Most
people don’t give these credit, but, they’ve got such a fresh smell when
bruised.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She rolled a bit of leaf
briskly between her fingers, sniffed the mangled leaf and smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This will work quite nicely!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail headed down
the driveway to her camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She hopped a
few times due to rocks and shifted her route a couple feet onto the grass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her feet needed more breaking in, but not
breaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She took a few more steps and
gave a short, delighted squeal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This’ll
be even better than the ragweed!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
pulled about half a dozen pineapple weeds and gave them a sniff.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail reached her
site and stashed her forage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She grabbed
the new under clothes, rag and towel she picked up at Walmart, the drying shoes
and the new clothes George got her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
rolled them all up neatly and shoved them into a catfood bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With bag in hand, she carefully barefooted it
back up to the barn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She went in and
quickly noticed how dusty the floor was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She took all her things into the milkhouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With her rag, she wiped a spot on the counter
by the sink and emptied the catfood bag there.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail grabbed her
shoes and she scurried off for a broom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The dust on the floor sucked up the moisture from Redtail’s feet
quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She left tracks to the sink but
not all the way back out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out in the
darker, but bigger part of the barn, Redtail found a broom and spotted a
tiller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She hung her shoes on the ends
of the tiller handle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She figured there
was more dry air in the barn than in her tent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe stuff would dry faster there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail snooped around until she found a couple longish pieces of
electrical conduit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She found places
near the tiller to poke the ends so she could hang her damp and wet stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She swept a path back to the milkhouse.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail gave a
satisfied smile and walked to the window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The window let in lots of light, but was too dusty to see through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wiped a tiny peephole through the dust
and watched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only sign of life she
saw was Mr. Ziffel strolling toward the barn.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The rain stopped for
a while and Mr. Ziffel somehow sensed he was needed on guard duty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he got to the barn, he laid down by the
door and watched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail smiled and
began what she’d come to the barn for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I should have checked this first,” she thought as she turned on the
water at the sink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sputtered some air
out of the line, and soon ran clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Good! Running water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder if
there’s hot?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She turned on the hot and
it gurgled a bit, ran clear, and the little on-demand heater began making
noise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon the water heated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It started getting cooler, so she slowed the
flow so the heater could keep up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
filled one of the deep milkhouse sinks to about half full of almost hot
water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While it was filling, she looked
in the nearby cabinet and got out a dusty bottle of antibacterial hand
soap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She turned off the water and
studied the surroundings through the peephole again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing except Mr. Ziffel on guard.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail quickly
undressed down to her underwear and washed her hair using the antibacterial
soap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gave it as hot a rinse as the
heater could muster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a squeeze dry
and towel wrap, she thought it felt quite good, especially for using hand
soap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With her hair all wrapped up, she
gave her arms and legs a wash with the rag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She wrung out the rag tightly several times and used it to dry her
limbs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail watched again
through the peephole and ran back to the sink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She hurriedly stripped down and finished the sponge bath, except for her
feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She unwrapped her hair, dried off
quickly with the towel and slipped into the clean underwear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail walked around some on her swept areas
to more thoroughly dry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She then slipped
into her clean slacks and shirt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She drained the sink,
refilled it and hand-washed her laundry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail wiped off the wooden chair in the milkhouse and did her feet as
her last act of washing for the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
sat down and propped her feet up on the sink until they dried.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A few minutes passed
and Redtail twitched back to wakefulness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She took a deep breath and thought, “I sure hope I can stay awake
tonight at the Bumpy Log.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She got up
and hung her laundry on the ends of the conduits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shoes were just about dry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She packed them into her bag and headed back
to camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Ziffel saw his guard duty
shift was over and got up to let the door swing open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail gave him a vigorous rub and praised
him for the excellent sentry job he did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mr.Ziffel wagged his tail and ambled back under the porch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail, now back in
her tent, stuffed the shoes with dry rags and hung them back on the clothes
rack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She nibbled more dandelion flowers
and dried meat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail reclined again
on her bed and picked up her Bible for a read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She smiled as she thought, “This laundry-drying is hard work.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Galatians 3, where
Paul reminded his audience we’re redeemed by faith, Redtail heard Mr. Ziffel
announce a guest’s arrival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She marked
her page and stepped outside to investigate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She got a bit closer to the house and spotted a familiar car and soon
spotted Lena trying to figure out which direction to look first for Redtail’s
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail made it lots easier by
calling out to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hi, and
welcome!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What time is it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’m early,” said
Lena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The water got shut off at the
plant, and they let us all go before quitting time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got the dishwasher loaded and started and
laundry sorted, brownies baked, and a batch of rice krispy bars made for
tonight, and didn’t figure there was a whole lot else to do before the Log, so
I headed out here early.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wanna get the
place set up for the others, or did you have more plans?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“They’ll let us in
this early?” asked Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena answered, “If
we’re there first, we get to do the letting in.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail asked, “Is
there a stove or microwave I could use there?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“There’s a full
kitchen,” said Lena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The only rules are
to be safe and clean up.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Great!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can I run up to the pond and catch a couple
fish?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Sure, and if you
have a knife for me I can even clean while you fish.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “OK,
we’re gonna eat tonight!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail handed
Lena an old steak knife blade –no handle, just blade and full tang.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, it was sharp enough for shaving.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena accepted the
blade and commented, “Ooooo!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You got a
nice edge on this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you do the
sharpening?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yeah, I got some
files, a broken stone and some ceramic cups.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena asked, “Ceramic
cups?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “I use
them to finish the edge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bottoms are
as good as any ceramic sharpener.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena asked, “You got
a special way you clean your fish?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I just gut ‘em and
cut off the heads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I eat the eggs, too,
if there are any.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They arrived at the
pond and Redtail casted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lena asked,
“Did something happen to your shoes?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail laughed,
“Yeah, they got wet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they should be
dry enough for tonight pretty quick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>THAT was pretty quick, too!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail reeled in a nice pan-sized fourteen inch bass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She unhooked it and gave the thrashing fish
to Lena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lena took it by the lower jaw
as Redtail slid her bait back down the line and re-secured it to the hook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She casted again and Lena dispatched the fish
and began cleaning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “It
looks like you’ve done this before.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh yes, I love
fishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m surprised at how easily
this knife works, even without a handle.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail asked, “About
ready for another one?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She hoisted a
fat bluegill out of the water.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena wiped the body
cavity of the bass out with a handful of grass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Bring it on!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail picked up the
bass innards and pinched off the stomach and about an inch of intestine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She started to put it on the hook and asked,
“Do you want any fish?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve easily got
enough now for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want too
much, but I want to have plenty.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena said, “I got no
problem cleaning more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fish would taste
good.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“As hungry as these
guys seem, it shouldn’t take long to get enough for good sharing.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As she finished her
sentence, the fishpole was almost yanked out of her hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail concentrated more on this fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was putting up quite a fierce fight in
comparison to the 14 incher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
said, “If this guy’s fight is any indication of his size, we oughtta have plenty
to share tonight!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After the fight,
Redtail said, “OK, so it’s not huge by tournament standards, but still, an 18
incher isn’t too bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll get some
nice chunks tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I’m done
fishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Want me to take the knife?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena said, “Oh
no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said I’d clean ‘em.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail smiled and
gathered up everything but the last bass and the knife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lena finished cleaning the fish and wiping
out the body cavity and they headed back to the camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail led them to the water spigot on the
side of the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Let’s give ‘em a
good clean rinse.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail and Lena
arrived at the campsite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail dried
off her feet and put on the shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh
good!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re almost totally dry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They only feel a little cool.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She stuffed her pockets with pineapple weed, grabbed
her umbrella and they headed to Lena’s car.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena pulled out of
the driveway and headed east on ZZ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I
sure hope the judge comes tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
doesn’t hear cases on Wednesdays so he often stays late here on Tuesday night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ooo!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That stuff you put in your pockets smells good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “It’s
pineapple weed, but some people call it stinking chamomile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve heard from several that the Judge is an
interesting guy to listen to.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena said, “Yeah,
he’s the authority on local history and an eager story-teller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He says he listens all day and that’s why he
likes to tell stories at night.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After almost two
miles of nearly straight, gently-rolling road, ZZ turned into hilly twisty ups
and downs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This eastern part of the
road is where bikers and kids sometimes like to play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might even catch an old man from time to
time testing out his sports car on this end of the road.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lena drove responsibly, but also with
confidence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“There’s a fair
number of wrecks out here,” said Lena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Mostly single vehicle and kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Frank spends quite a bit of time on ZZ.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The road leveled out
and straightened slightly as they approached a hilltop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail gave a short quiet giggle as she saw
the hand-painted place name sign, black on white, which said, ‘Nowhere’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ZZ had stop signs and County Road E did
not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To their left, on the northwest
corner was EZ’s Treasure Shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Across E
and to the right, on the southeast corner was a low wide building with a sign
over the door which read, ‘The Bumpy Log Social Club.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said,
“Another place name comes to mind, ‘Why Here?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll bet there’s fun stories behind these names.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena began as she
pulled across E and into the Bumpy Log’s parking lot, “I kind of like the
stories behind Now Here and EZ’s places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span>Technically, The Bumpy Log’s not a managed club.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The owner really only provides the facility
and most of the furniture and conveniences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We regulars know where stuff is and how to fix drinks and food if it’s
not already available.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They stopped the car and got out and Lena said she’d run
across the road to get the key and be right back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail looked around and smiled at the
place’s seeming charm.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena returned and started back into the story as she
unlocked the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Imagine in your own
home a huge living-dining room with a big kitchen and restrooms attached.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the first things you’ll notice on
entering, besides being asked if you know the secret password, is the
décor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It features lots of rough cut,
gnarly, burly, knotty woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s where
The Bumpy Log gets its name.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chapter 25</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena stepped into The Bumpy Log first, then swung around barring
the entrance for Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said, “I
gotta ask if you know the secret password.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s sort of a formality.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said incredulously, “I don’t know the password!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is my first time here.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena laughed, “Good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That means it’s still secret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
just want to make sure it stays secret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>C’mon
in.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Do you know the password?” asked Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m not sure anyone does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I sure don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe EZ might,”
said Lena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s been a secret for as
long as I can remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now I’ll
tell ya of the origin of The Bumpy Log Social Club.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s sort of a fun story.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The story goes something like this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ever since Desert Storm, Ezekiel Dossett had
shied away from people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He could have
been called a recluse, yet he loved friends and family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was in a rough spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He loved to talk to new people, but he was
anything but a social butterfly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
probably know the type.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might even
be that type, but you don’t strike me as such.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ten or so years ago, EZ, as Ezekiel’s friends called him,
was out cruising the yard sales for treasures for his flea market booth in
Warrensburg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d dreamed of one day
owning his own second hand store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>EZ
drove up to the intersection of two roads he’d never before traveled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He spotted beat up, weathered, barely
readable “For Sale” signs on opposite corners of the intersection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his imagination, he saw the rainbow ending
right over that junction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He even
thought he heard harp music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>EZ knew
these places were meant for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
junction already had his name on it: County Road E and County Road ZZ –E-Zs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
EZ got the places for about the price of a new car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both needed paint, so EZ just had ‘em
re-sided in vinyl instead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The place
that became The Bumpy Log had to be re-roofed after replacing a few boards.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It turned out EZ got more from the deal than he
expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He thought he was buying just
the two corner lots, but they happened to be part of a 160 acre farmstead
within which laid his intersection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
owned all four corners and down the road a bit all four directions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ezekiel set to work clearing brush to make his new buildings
more visible and in doing so, uncovered old signs at three of the four
approaches which read, “Nowhere.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh great!” he thought, “I bought business property, but in
the middle of Nowhere.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So he set out to
discover that story.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Long ago, while the settlers were still picking out plots of
land, a largish family came through the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One of the dads finally got fed up with the kids’ fussing, “Are we there
yet?” He stopped the wagons and yelled, red-faced and spitting out the very
deliberate words, “NO!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WE ARE NEVER
THERE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WE WILL NEVER BE THERE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WE ARE ALWAYS HERE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WE WILL ALWAYS BE HERE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NOW, HERE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>NOW, HERE!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Dad muttered
loudly as he yanked a top sideboard off a wagon and scrawled a sign saying,
“NOWHERE” and drove it into the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The kids and the rest of the people stared in silence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dog wasn’t even sure how to respond.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course, we know original records to places in Donowutt
County got lost in Quantrill’s courthouse fire, so we really don’t know how
true all this is.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The woman who previously owned EZ’s new property died and
willed it to her nephew in Kansas City.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He found ownership irritating so he jumped on the $30,000 Ezekiel
offered in jest, rather than keep “those two run-down buildings in the middle
of nowhere” insured, mowed and taxes paid.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was a burden off the nephew and a dream come true for
Ezekiel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The store boasted a wide roofed
porch on both road-facing sides and an old general store inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was even a small apartment
upstairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>EZ moved in there from Holden,
after a couple years’ work on the junction of E and ZZ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two places became EZ’s Treasure Shop and
The Bumpy Log Social Club.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Here’s the kitchen,” said Lena, “and make yourself at
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Snoop around, and let’s get that
fish cooked.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail asked, “You got the key from the Treasure Shop?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How’s that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Do you, like, work here nights?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena said, “No, whichever of us locals gets here first can
open up, if EZ knows us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He keeps the
key there, for just a little bit more security than leaving the place
unlocked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I better run the key back
–unless you’d like to, and introduce yourself to EZ. ”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “I’ll let you, so I don’t surprise him too
much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And is EZ related to Ted at
church?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“EZ’s Ted’s brother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Also, if you want,” said Lena, “While I’m gone, could you set bags of
chips and jars of nuts out on about half the tables?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll let the guests open them as needed.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That sounds great, and I’ll watch the cooking fish,” said
Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena took the key back to the Treasure Shop and returned in
a couple minutes with EZ in tow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
EZ spoke first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Howdy Redtail!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And welcome to
Nowhere, The Bumpy Log and to Donowutt County.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail had just put the fish in the oven, so she grabbed a
rag, wiped her hands and extended one for a handshake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Thank you for the warm welcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re not so shy as I was expecting.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
EZ laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, no,
I wouldn’t call myself shy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like people,
but I also like staying busy with stuff, so I don’t really come across as a
gregarious beer-commercial partier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
sometimes get wrapped up in what I’m doing and seen as shy.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena flopped her arm over EZ’s shoulders and said, “Yeah,
EZ’s got his moments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all love him.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I better head on back to the Shop,” said EZ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ll be back after I close up.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
EZ departed and Lena took out her phone to check the
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s only 4:30, so it’ll still be
a while before anyone else shows up.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena started cutting the bars she brought and the door
opened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail and Lena exchanged
surprised glances as a young man who looked to be in his late teens came
in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was wearing black new-looking,
but dirty clothes, a grungy black backpack and he reeked of after shave.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail looked at Lena and said, “I’ll get this.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She walked over to the Log’s third guest and
asked, “Excuse me, sir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you know the
secret password?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He gave Redtail a scowl and asked, “Whaddo I need a password
for?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He started to walk in farther and Redtail matter-of-factly
stepped in his path and sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That’s
not what I asked.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I don’t know no stupid password.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this place open yet?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“OK, that’s better.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail turned to Lena and said, “He’s cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The password’s still secret.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You’re weird.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
walked to a couch along a wall and flopped his backpack on it, claiming his
territory.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail found a stack of whipped topping and margarine bowls
in a cabinet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Do we put these out?” she
asked Lena.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena was starting to put on coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She answered, “Yeah, but check ‘em for
clean.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The scented guy walked around nervously checking things
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He spotted the plates of Lena’s
bars and asked, “How much?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena swished her hand and said, “Go ahead.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He took a bowl, and two each of the bars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He slowly looked around and made eye contact
with Redtail again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She asked, “Want
some fish when it comes out of the oven?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He glanced around with a sneer, asking in body-language,
“You talkin’ to me?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then said aloud,
“Does it cost anything?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail sat down at a table, shook her head and said,
“That’s the second time I asked you a question and you replied without
answering.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She pulled out the chair
next to her and patted the seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boy
looked even more nervous but he cautiously sat down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail saw a pretty thick wall of
defensiveness on him, but she was determined not to let that deter her from
being social.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“This your first time here?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Uh… Yeah.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Mine too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems
to me you’re trying to project an aloof, don’t-mess-with-me image, so I’ll
apologize in advance if my attitudes clash with yours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To answer your question, Yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fish cost something.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He fidgeted a little and Redtail continued. “It cost me time
collecting bait and catching the fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It cost Lena, over there, time cleaning them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’ll cost me a little more time re-honing
and cleaning the knife, and it cost the time, gas and clean-up to cook and
serve it here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That answers your question,
but probably not what you were asking.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By now, Lena had sat down in the background to watch.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail continued, and still sounded quite cheerful, without
tones of lecture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I just thought since
I had plenty, that I’d like to share it with you and Lena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your only cost would be to say, ‘Yes please,’
or ‘No thank you.’”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was a couple seconds of silence. Then the boy softly
said, “Yes please?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail happily chirped, “Oh good!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it’s probably just about ready.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She hopped up and skipped to the kitchen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail brought the baking pan, paper plates and plastic forks
and put them all on the table where she and Mr. Aftershave had their short
discussion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I usually cook these with skins and bones, so I don’t lose
any meat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Baking in a real oven is even
better, ‘cuz none falls in the fire.” said Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena sat down next to Mr. Aftershave and Redtail sat on his
other side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail said, “By the way,
I’m Redtail.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena added, “And I’m Lena,” as she extended a hand to Mr.
Aftershave.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, after a slight pause, “And you are?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mr. Aftershave shook hands with Lena and said, softly, “My
friends call me AJ.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena said, “Cool, Redtail!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He didn’t give us an option.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Looks like we’re friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AJ it
is.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail started, “Lord, we’re often quick to count our
hardships and too slow to see how wonderfully You provide for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank You for being You and for sending Your
son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you also for your wonderful
provision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it’s only in Jesus’ name
I can talk to You, Amen.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail looked up and Lena was smiling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AJ looked puzzled, then asked, with an almost
superior sneer, “If God’s supposed to love us so much and provide for us, how
come there’s so much starvation in the world?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He followed with a look that said, ‘Ha! There’s a stumper for your
religious crap.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena raised an eyebrow at Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, but He does!” replied Redtail with a smile. “And He
provides most-abundantly. We’ve just forgotten how to look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh! Do you want a salad with your fish?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail waited a moment and said, “Well, I’m
good to go without.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She cut the big bass down the along the fins, lifting the
slab of meat with fins, backbone and tail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Half of the ribcage came out with her slab and she lifted the ribs out
of the remaining slab and set them aside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail pointed to the half on her plate, saying, “Also be careful of
this little strip of bones running down the thick part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used to cut that strip out when I’d filet
my fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wow, how did I know that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bits and pieces of my past are slowly, but
surely trickling back.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena said, as she sliced open the other bass, “I wondered
about that.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
AJ asked, “What? Like you got amnesia or something?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Probably something,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“My memory only goes back a few weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So really, I’ve been living out in the woods
for as long as I can remember.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail tried to summarize in her mind what she did know
about herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘I think I come from
sandy pinier country, and my voice sounds more southern than lots of the locals
–maybe from Mississippi?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got a
Christian background, and a background that gave me lots of wild edibles and
camping experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m a social person
and seem to love interacting with kids.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail noticed AJ and Lena staring at her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was trying to think of what I actually know about myself.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
AJ asked, “You live in the woods?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you a drifter, too?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I live on Grandpa George’s place,” said Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, so you’re living with family,” concluded AJ.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Not really,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“He informally adopted me as his granddaughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He made up an ID for me, in case nothing else
comes up and he gave me permission to stay at his place as long as I need to.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
AJ scanned Redtail up and down quick and gave a cynical
smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yeah, I’ll bet so.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He followed the comment with a short sneering
laugh.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail pretended to be oblivious to his implication, but
Lena jumped to their defense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Wipe that
thought outta your head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve known
George for many years and Redtail for almost, well, as long as she can
remember.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
AJ interrupted, “Right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like what gives your
opinion any clout?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena asked, “How long have you been in Donowutt County?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
AJ sneered, “A whole lot longer than Redtail.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena said, “George’s best lady friend is a county police
dispatcher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband is on law
enforcement, and I, have been on the sheriff’s Posse for over 10 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll even ask Judge Noyugo if he trusts my
opinions when he comes in, let’s see,” she looked at the wall clock, “in about
45 minutes.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
AJ just about choked on his bite of fish, and with an almost
scolded puppy attitude, softly said, “OK, I believe ya.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll probably be gone before the judge gets
here anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gotta be someplace.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail looked at Lena and Lena smiled back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also noticed AJ’s plate was almost
clean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail shrugged and asked him,
“Want some more? Some people like the sunfish better.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He said, quietly, “Nah. No thank you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m good.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He finished, glanced back and forth and said, “Thank you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was good, but I gotta be movin’
on.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He still tried to sound
in-control-casual, but he’d lost most of his composure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a bit more urgency in his movements, he
headed to the couch, threw his pack on his arm and said softly over his
shoulder, “Be cool.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He slipped quietly
out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail shook her head and said to Lena, “Wow, something you
said got him all discombobulated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
didn’t flinch about Sarah or Frank, but something you said about you and the
Posse put him on edge.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Donowutt County’s whole organization is kinda odd, with us
being lost, but, our law enforcement community, and it really is a community,
is truly unique,” began Lena. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“But ‘Posse’ sounds so wild west,” said Redtail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yeah, but what comes to mind when you think, ‘posse’?”
asked Lena.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, I suppose Black Bart just shot Jeb in cold blood and
rode outta town laughing maniacally with Jeb’s girlfriend tied up and
screaming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fine upstanding townsfolk
amass a makeshift army to bring Bart to justice: The Posse.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That’s a fair start, but imagine the makeshift army of
do-gooders with today’s technology, and organized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Posse isn’t just town by town, but one
big county-wide disciplined unit who knows it’s always on standby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Posse communicates with smart phones,
Internet, HAM radio, landlines and all the county’s law enforcement knows they
can be relied on for dedicated help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s sort of what the Posse is here in Donowutt County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The drifter/panhandler/opportunist element
hears about us pretty quickly.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Wow, that sounds almost like a
government-sanctioned militia –an armed volunteer fire department.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We’re not so much volunteers as we get volunteered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sheriff and police departments do the
inviting and recruiting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The presiding
judge approves or disapproves the recommendations and approvals can accept or
decline, knowing it’s an important obligation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>AJ’s been here long enough to know he didn’t want his behavior to get on
Posse radar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knew he’d be watched
wherever he went.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena continued, “Our job is to serve and protect, like our
law enforcement, but a cool thing is sheriff, police and judicial aren’t in our
chain of command so we don’t get coerced into politics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Donowutt County Law Enforcement only serves
as part of Posse communications.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of
course, most of our missions do originate from their offices.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “But it seems odd you invoked the Posse over
AJ’s smarminess.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena smiled, “Aren’t reputations worthy of protection?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just doin’ my job.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The gravel crunched in the parking lot and both girls looked
at the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two guys and a girl, all in their mid-30s walked in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One guy said, “Hey Lena, the password’s still
secret.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All three filed into the
kitchen with big drinking mugs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena told Redtail, “They’re after the special spigot: ice-cold
spring water after a day of tree-trimming and mulching.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The bigger of the two guys came out telling Lena and
Redtail, “Jo was quite the basket case today.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jo was just behind him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She took off her bandana and shook her hair loose. “I love it when we
get the cherry picker and I get to work from the basket.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The three sat at the table next to Lena’s and
Redtail’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They breathed with long,
leisurely breaths and sipped their cold water.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “I gotta try that water spigot!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it’s half as good as they make it look, I
could almost move my camp, but I like George’s place.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena and Redtail got up and Lena showed Redtail to the
fountain of liquid joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail filled a
glass with the spring water and took a big sip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She said, “This is good stuff and will likely be my drink of choice when
I’m here, but, I probably won’t move my camp..”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail went back to the lounge and approached the table of
the Lumberjacks, as she wanted to think of Jo and her entourage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the guys eye-contacted Redtail with a
“May I help you?” look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “This is my first evening at the Bumpy Log and
seein’s it’s a Social Club, I hope I’m not outta line trying to be social.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m Redtail, and,” looking to Jo, “I caught
that you’re Jo.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The smaller of the two men stood up and pulled out a chair
for Redtail, saying, “I’m Bob and this is, well, also Bob.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Welcome to our table.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail smiled and said, “Hello Bob, Also Bob and Jo.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jo said, “I hope you don’t mind dirt and wood chips.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, not me,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I live in it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also Bob said, “I heard about some girl who just showed up
in the woods out near Thistle Dew on the Peterson place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is that you?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bob gave Also Bob a quick look, thinking that was a rather
bold first question for someone.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jo gave surprised glances between all three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lena, who was putting out napkins, laughed
quietly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Word gets around fast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, I think that’d be me in George
Peterson’s woods.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also Bob’s mouth dropped, “I didn’t…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wow, what are the odds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t think you looked near… near…
what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hermitty?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Homelessy? enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, that’s not…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just better quit.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Embarrassed, Also Bob put his head down on
the table while the rest laughed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail startled Also Bob a bit with a pat on the back,
saying, “There, there, that’s OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don’t think I’ve been at this long enough to know what I’m supposed to look
like either.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jo asked, with obvious interest, “I heard she… I mean, you
lost your memory.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bob said, “You’ve already become legendary.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “My memory only goes back a couple weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t remember who I was, or where I’m from
or what my day-to-day activities were, but I do remember a few things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can talk, fish, hunt and trap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can forage wild edibles safely, or at least
I hope so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I don’t remember if I
learned that through family or 4-H or Girl Scouts or even if I’m self-taught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t seem to have any ‘I wonder if I can
eat this?’ thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just seem to
know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also know I love Jesus and was a
regular church-goer, but I couldn’t say what church.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bob muttered, “Oh jeez..” but was cut short by a glare from
Jo.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, don’t worry, Bob,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I won’t rub your face in the evidence.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also Bob said, “Yeah, Bob’s got some doubts about the whole
God-thing.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I was just saying, before we walked in here,” said Bob, “It
seems everywhere I turn lately, I run into this Jesus thing.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He shook his head and smiled.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena said, from the kitchen, “Maybe He’s trying to get your
attention.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The rumble outside got louder and louder and the gravel in
the lot made lots of grinding crunchy noise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The rumble stopped.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail glanced around, “That sounded like a tank.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena said, “Probably a big tractor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes farmers and tree service folks drop
by for a cold drink and a breather before heading home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s pretty quiet here, but Nowhere is one of
the few area crossroads.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The door opened and a figure nearly blocked all the light
from entering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lena called to the man as
he squinted his eyes and smacked his DeKalb cap on his leg, “Secret password?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I don’t know no secret password,” called the man, “’sides,
if I told you, it wouldn’t be secret no more.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He poked his cap visor behind him in his belt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I heard through the grapevine a guy could
get a cold glass of water here.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Grapevine, eh? snorted Also Bob.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He looked at Redtail and said, “Don’t mind
Hank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He talks to plants all the time
–Farmer, ya know.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jo said, “Don’t be too critical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve heard you mutter at brush quite a few times.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena, who’d since gone back to the kitchen, returned with
two pitchers of spring water and two plastic drinking glasses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said, “Myfinkeye moshiddown fo wyo.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She set one pitcher at the Lumberjack Table
and the other at her original place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
took the glass out of her mouth and repeated as she poured both glasses with
water, “I think I’m gonna sit down for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here ya go, Hank.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She handed him
the hand-carried glass and he joined her at her table.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Summing up the next almost-hour, Redtail and the Lumberjacks
talked of tree trimming and primitive hunting while Hank and Lena talked about
Frank and joy-riders on ZZ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail then
got a tour of Hank’s tractor and the Lumberjacks headed home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Hank and Redtail got back from the tour,
Lena was wiping down the Lumberjack table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail joined Lena and Hank’s table and they small-talked another half
hour or so.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The door opened and a guy to rival Hank’s size stepped in
and bellowed with an imposing, authoritative bass voice, “Has the password
remained secret?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail bellowed back, as best she could, “I don’t know who
you are, but if we knew the password and it was supposed to be secret, then
that wouldn’t be it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The man stood silent a second or two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he asked, “To whom might this new voice
to The Bumpy Log Social Club belong?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The new Bumpy Log patron seemed to carry an air of nobility,
so Redtail stood up and said, “RT Scot at your service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if you should also feel so inclined, know
that my friends call me Redtail.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The man took her hand gently and said, “Redtail it shall
be.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He released her hand and
laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I answer to quite a bit:
Judge, Hugh, Hugo, Judge Noyugo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most
people around here call me Judge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmm,
Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rumor precedes you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your name came up at a meeting last week.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal">(story continues here: <a href="http://ognyen.blogspot.com/2018/03/rt-mac-story-chaps-26-current.html">http://ognyen.blogspot.com/2018/03/rt-mac-story-chaps-26-current.html</a> )<br /></div>
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<![endif]-->Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16953582155385508486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652144083113344298.post-91508021702925024772017-11-17T16:36:00.001-08:002017-11-23T16:54:54.587-08:00Tales From the Bumpy Log Social Club<!--[if !mso]>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
What is the Bumpy Log Social Club?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A very different sort of place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Technically, it’s not a managed club.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The owner really only provides the facility
and most of the furniture and conveniences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The regulars know where stuff is and how to fix drinks and food if it’s
not already available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine in your
own home a huge living-dining room with a big kitchen and restrooms
attached.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the first things you’ll
notice on entering, besides being asked if you know the secret password, is the
décor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It features lots of rough cut,
gnarly, burly, knotty woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s where
The Bumpy Log gets its name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The origin
of The Bumpy Log Social Club is sort of a fun story.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ever since Desert Storm, Ezekiel Dossett had shied away from
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He became almost a recluse, yet
he loved friends and family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was in a
rough spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He loved to talk to new
people, but he was anything but a social butterfly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You probably know the type.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might even be that type.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ten or so years ago, EZ, as Ezekiel’s friends called him,
was out cruising the yard sales for treasures for his flea market booth in
Warrensburg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d dreamed of one day
owning his own second hand store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>EZ
drove up to the intersection of two roads he’d never before traveled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He spotted beat up, weathered, barely
readable “For Sale” signs on opposite corners of the intersection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his imagination, he saw the rainbow ending
right over that junction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He even
thought he heard harp music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ezekiel
knew these places were meant for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The junction already had his name on it: County Road E and County Road
ZZ –E-Z’s.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
EZ got the places for about the price of a new car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both needed paint, but got vinyl siding
instead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The place that became The Bumpy
Log had to be re-roofed after replacing a few boards.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It turned out EZ got more from the deal than he
expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He thought he was buying just
the two corner lots, but they happened to be part of a 160 acre farmstead
within which lied his intersection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
owned all four corners and down the road a bit all four directions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ezekiel set to work clearing brush to make his new buildings
more visible and in doing so, uncovered old signs at three of the four
approaches which read, “Nowhere.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh great!” he thought, “I bought business property, but in
the middle of Nowhere.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So he set out to
discover that story.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Long ago, while the settlers were still picking out plots of
land, a largish family came through the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dad finally got fed up with the kids’ fussing, “Are we there yet?” He
stopped the wagons and yelled, red-faced and spitting out the very deliberate
words, “NO!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WE ARE NEVER THERE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WE WILL NEVER BE THERE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WE ARE ALWAYS HERE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WE WILL ALWAYS BE HERE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NOW HERE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>NOW HERE!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Dad muttered
loudly as he yanked a top sideboard off a wagon and scrawled a sign saying,
“NOWHERE” and drove it into the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The kids and the rest of the people stared in silence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dog wasn’t even sure how to respond.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course, we know original records to places in Donowutt
County got lost in Quantrill’s courthouse fire, so we really don’t know how
true all this is.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The woman who previously owned EZ’s new property died and
willed it to her nephew in Kansas City.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He found ownership irritating so he jumped on the $50,000 Ezekiel
offered in jest, rather than keep “those two run-down buildings in the middle
of nowhere” insured, mowed and taxes paid.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was a burden off the nephew and a dream come true for
Ezekiel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The store boasted a wide roofed
porch on both road-facing sides and an old general store inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was even a small apartment
upstairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>EZ moved in there from Holden,
MO, after a couple years’ work on the junction of E and ZZ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two places became EZ’s Treasure Shop and
The Bumpy Log Social Club.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You’ll find all kinds of people at The Bumpy Log.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll find passing hikers and homeless,
County Judge and Sheriff, business owners and preachers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s even been said Mr. A, or the author,
pops in from time to time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Donowutt County Judge Noyugo likes to spend a good deal of
time at The Bumpy Log, and is usually quite eager to explain how things
are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll let him explain some
background on the county, itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Greetings, I’m County Judge, Noyugo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. A tried to explain all this to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know and undertstand what he said, but I’m
having a hard time making it all work out in my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He makes it sound like we’re real, but not
really, but sorta, but only when…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Argh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe I don’t need to know how it all works,
but just that it does.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway, here’s his story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s weird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back in prehistoric
times for Donowutt County, sort of outside our plane of existence, Redtail
MacSumpneruther, the Scotsman was born because a red tailed hawk died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t sound like it makes lots of sense,
but bear with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time and events can be
somewhat screwy here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. A’s got this
life outside our plane and he was out driving and spotted a roadkilled raptor
of some sort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr A’s got a special
liking for birds of prey, so he felt a need to know what it was, because it
looked different from the norm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So he
hunted, researched, asked, but didn’t feel good calling it a red tailed
hawk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His reluctance stemmed from his
belief the bird was too small, too pale in color and the fact that the bird was
too frozen for him to spread the wings properly, which made them look too
pointed to be a red tail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a while, he gave in to the evidence and likelihood of
variances from the norm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. A settled
on his bird being a juvenile, small, pale red tailed hawk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He pondered how some folks often take a
couple features and jump to making an ID like he just did to resist making an
ID.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. A likes to teach folks about
wild edibles and knows the importance of proper identification.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He thought of a prop for his programs: a doll
he’d call a Scotsman, even though it obviously wasn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When people would deny it’s a Scotsman, he’d
say, “Well, there’s a plaid skirt and a bagpipe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What more do you want?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scotsman!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He named his Scotsman after the roadkill and Redtail MacSumpneruther was
born.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I touched on our convoluted time reckoning earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. A hadn’t begun authoring on our Donowutt
County plane of existence yet, so, technically, Redtail is even older than Mr.
A.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Mr. A [I’ll still call him that,
even though he hadn’t yet become “A” or author.] pondered his program prop, he
wondered how such a character would actually exist, and the backstory came into
existence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What all that boils down to is we’re story characters and
not real, yet, here we are at The Bumpy Log Social Club and I’m telling you the
story about how we’re not real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make
sense of that!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh, here’s something to make you think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably all of us can relate to this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know how when you walk into a room you
sometimes forget what you’re going there for?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s because we’re all characters in a book and that’s where the author
is backspacing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hey, Redtail, you’re the oldest person here, at least in our
self-aware plane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why don’t you give a
stab at explaining.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“OK,” said Redtail, “but I think you or Mayor Douglas or
somebody more official should be explaining stuff.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“If it weren’t for you, none of us would exist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re pretty important here, if not the most
important of all of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give yourself
some credit,” said the Judge.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’ll give it a shot,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We sort of live in three planes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plane One is the ‘real’ us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s where our lives unfold for you readers
(It’d be cool if it’s plural readers).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Plane Two is a place Mr. A likes to use where he hashes out ideas
through us, I think, just for fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
kind of like where we can look at ourselves from the outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wouldn’t it be cool if y’all could really do
that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Might even be scary to see how
others see you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You might think Plane Two is weird, but Plane Three is the
strange one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s really all fake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I, for instance, I mean the real me, am NOT a
Purple Top Made-to-Move Barbie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those
things you see in an illustration, are only fabric and plastic and stuff,
manipulated into something that visually resembles what’s real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The real us are in Plane One and sometimes in
Plane Two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plane Three is only an
attempt to visually explain Planes One or Two.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So we’re not like actors playing parts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m still Redtail, whether I’m only dancing
prettily in your head (Ain’t it cool how I can do that?) in Plane One or
talking to you about it in Plane Two or even simultaneously in Planes One and
Two while you’re looking at a representation of me from Plane Three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That photographic representation made from
action figures is as much me as if a kid from church was to draw a picture of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The drawing might even be closer, since we
really do our living in your heads.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Was that OK, Mr. A?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mr. A said, “Potentially confusing, but pretty much what I’d
have said.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Judge Noyugo rolled his eyes and put his head on the
table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He lifted it and with a grin and
a head-shake, said, “’Pretty much!?’ More like exactly what you’d have
said.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
***<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>***<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>***<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>***</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Out at The Bumpy Log</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“The Bumpy Log Social Club is located in Nowhere –in the
middle, actually, which, in the tradition of some Missouri place-name
pronunciation, like Versailles and Nevada, is “Now-here”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just about anyone involved with Donowutt
County might be found here from time to time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even the author, known to the locals as Mr. A., frequents the place,”
explained Donowutt County Judge, H. Noyugo.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Judge Noyugo continued, “This is a rather important event in
my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The earlier introductory
narration marks the first time I’m documented in this monumental Donowutt
County project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll remember Mr. A.
made me call the project “monumental”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He might be elevating his recreational endeavor above reality.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, c’mon, Judge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m just havin’ fun,” said Mr. A.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Actually, I came here to think.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The judge put his head in his hands and sighed, “Mr. A’s
topic, though potentially offensive to many readers, is not meant to offend nor
antagonize anyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please, either bear
with it or ignore it.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mr. A broke in, “Let’s just get on with this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You guys are getting a break today from story
lines and county histories but I didn’t feel like ignoring you altogether.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s why I dropped by The Bumpy Log.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m pondering societal messages like bumper
stickers, slogans and such that preach tolerance, political correctness,
humanist and secular messages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘COEXIST;
My God is Too Big For Just One Religion; Do What You Will, Harm No One; the
Darwin Fish; A loving God wouldn’t…; If God Created all Things, then He Created
Evil; You Can’t Know God; Science and Christianity are Mutually Exclusive; The
Bible’s Full of Contradictions; The Bible’s Just a Book of Myths; If It Can’t
be Proved Scientifically, It’s Not Real; Your Religion is Faith-Based and Mine
or Lack, Thereof, is Based on Experience.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>--and that’s just for starters.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Judge said, “I’m one of the thought that without a
creator God, the creator of a moral standard that transcends mankind, we would
necessarily have to live in and accept without question, pure anarchy, not to
mention, I’d be out of a job.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A guy sitting in the dim corner spoke up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You know, Hugh’s right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there’s no creator, we’re all accidents of
the Universe with no value.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who’s anyone
to say someone else should abide by anyone else’s morality?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hey, what’s right for me might not be right
for you, and what’s right for you might not be right for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I don’t like you, I should then be able to
remove you from my discomfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
all, to say otherwise is to impose your valueless morality on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What makes any law created by worthless
accidents of the Universe binding on any other worthless accident of the
Universe –no matter how many worthless accidents agree?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’d just be adhering to ‘might makes right,’
or ‘survival of the bully.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And by the
way, like Judge Hugh, I too, am making my first entry into this ‘Monumental
undertaking’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m Darrell Cord, police
chief for Thistle Dew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve already
met my patrolman, Frank and dispatcher, Sarah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yeah, I gotta agree, there has to be a moral standard that transcends
mere humanity, or by reason of relative Atheism, no law can be binding on
anyone.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*****</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A Discussion on Plane Three Issues</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“OK, folks, this’ll be different,” began George. “I don’t
really know how we’re gonna do this except to just get started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So how many ethnic or manufacturer groups
have we got here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know Frank and I,
and some others, have G.I.Joe background and Redtail and Linda-Jean used to be
Made-to-Move Barbies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course,
Linda-Jean had a head-swap.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A character-unassigned (CU) girl spoke up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We were Chinese immigrants from AliExpress.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A CUguy said, “Yeah, heads sold separately.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Frank chuckled, “And there’s those guys in the back.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, stop it, Frank,” said Lena, his wife.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yeah, Frank, we’re just a generic crowd to be assembled as
needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t help how we look.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the crowd of ping pong ball heads erupted
with laughter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The long-nosed dog even laughed, saying, “Don’t I know
it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not really a dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just play one in Donowutt County
illustrations.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George continued, “We’ve even got former Disney princesses.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chloe’s mom said, “Yep, Disney princess one day, and sweet
little Chloe’s mom the next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I got
to be a home school mom in the Relics’ co-op, so really, I got a whole bunch of
kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a whole lot more exciting
than living in a palace looking pretty waiting for the ball –over and over and
over…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George said, “Anyway, the reason we’re all here is to get
some advice from the Other World.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the younger CUgirls asked, “You mean, like a séance?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail spoke up. “No, not a séance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are real people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. A wouldn’t allow that, anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These Otherworlders are Mr.A’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>little sister and niece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’ve got years of experience with our
kind.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rick said, “I’m sure lots of us have questions about our new
identities and lives.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linda-Jean broke in, “Would you mind elaborating on that?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rick looked puzzled and asked, “What? Like explain old and
new identities and stuff?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Sure,” said Linda-Jean, “Because some of us here and even
readers might not get it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“OK,” began Rick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I
hope I don’t put anyone to sleep, but there’s going to be some philosophy
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when Mr. A bought us, we ceased
to…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What!?” interrupted the Scotsman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We’re bought and owned like slaves?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah tried to explain, “You’re probably the oldest of all
of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You came before the whole
Donowutt County back-story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re what
inspired Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your job is simply to
wear a plaid skirt, carry a bagpipe and look un-manly while being called a
Scotsman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s probably closest to a
manufacturer doll…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gus broke in, “Action figure.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, OK,” whined Lena, “manufacturer action figure as any of
us get.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Barbie’s obsessed with
fashion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>G.I.Joe fights Cobra.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Disney princesses sing and go to the ball,
and you, Redtail MacSumpneruther, are the Scotsman who obviously isn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manufacturer dolls… er, action figures pretty
much serve one very shallow purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
you’ve at least got a back-story that helped create all of us!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rick took over. “So when Mr. A acquired us, our manufacturer
role was over and we began new lives as his story characters –or at least the Plane
Three visible manifestations of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
ceased to be Ken and became Rick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Honestly, I find Rick to be lots more interesting.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Scotsman said, “So really, all I am is for visual effect
and Redtail is my stunt double?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail cut in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“OK,
it’s more complicated, yet at the same time, simpler than that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We Redtails are one. I’m you and you’re
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You just don’t have to change
clothes to be me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might be older
than I am, but I’ve been in more stories and been allowed more time to ponder
questions like that.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Scotsman pondered, “So I’m…” and with a whisk of the
pen/font/what-have-you, Mr. A convinced the Scotsman and assured Redtail they
were perfectly content with their lives –not without questions, but content.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena asked George, “So, questions –since I’m the Area
Patriots Recon Leader, and we’re about to enter some new territory, can I
assume the moderator role for a bit?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George said, “Shouldn’t you ask your commander something
like that?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yeah,” said Lena, “but Mr. A hasn’t felt a need to give me
one yet.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Larry, Thistle Dew’s mayor, said, “Quit givin’ her a hard
time, George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just let her get on with
it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena gave George a harrumphing so-there-then look and a
head-shake<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>–good-naturedly, of course, because
Mr. A likes it that way.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dave asked with a sneer, “Who’s this Mr. A that keeps
popping up?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do we hafta do things
his way?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like,
his-way-or-no-way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he don’t like it,
we can’t do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blah blah blah.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena broke off Davy’s rant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Mr. A is our author.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sarah
started calling the author “Mr. A” a few writings ago and it sorta stuck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without Mr. A, we can do nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without him, we just vanish into a void-like
nothingness.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pastor Tix shook his head and laughed, “No, I’m not laughing
at you guys, nor at Mr. A, but I’m starting to see so many theological
parallels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is often referred to as
‘the Author’…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mr. A broke in adamantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I’m not God!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pastor Tix rolled his eyes and said with animation, “Oh
yeah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, I couldn’t even have thought that
had you not willed it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He laughed,
“Calvinism versus Arminianis…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena interrupted, “Back on track here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That could be quite an interesting sermon
topic, but not here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, to Mr. A’s
sister and niece, are you game to answer us a few questions --aside from
confirming Mr. A is, in fact, NOT God?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dave sat slumped in his chair muttering about black holes of
non-existence and how he’s really just a lifeless glob of plastic without Mr.
A.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail gave an exasperated look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Drop it already, OK?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instantly, all agreed to get back on track –even Mr.A.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“So,” restarted Lena with a sigh, “what do you want to be
called?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until we hear otherwise, we’ll
be calling you Sister and Niece.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linda-Jean said, “Since I heard we might get to talk to some
consultants, I and several occasional library patrons have been working up some
important questions.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena leaned in and gave a serious look, “Questions which
have weighed heavily on the minds of humankind since…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OK, our kind anyway, since, I guess, the
beginning of our consciousness.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A CUgirl asked, “How come so many of us walk on tippy-toes
all the time, yet aren’t up nights walking off cramps?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another answered quickly, “You ditz, we’re plastic, that’s
why.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The younger CU girl asked, “Where do I find kids my
age?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I can look for Skipper and
Midge, but how ‘bout boys?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah said, “I think I come across as lots younger than I
am, but I really want to look my age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>George got to have his molded hair filed some and painted and got some
facial hair glued on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do I make my
hair grayer?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can I gently brush bleach
through it without ruining it?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lydia and Chloe said, “We’re 6 or 7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shouldn’t we be a little taller?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Both giggled and Chloe whispered, “We said that at the same
time,” and they both giggled again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail spoke up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I’d really like to see Kevin, Jerry and Mike figures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like those kids.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena said, “Sarah mentioned hair-color.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How ‘bout getting it to behave the way it
should?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides wrapping our heads in
plastic when we go to sleep, what can we do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Does hair spray work on us?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A CU guy said, “How can I get my body color to more closely
match my head?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s bad enough having a
longish neck, but this body’s pale enough to have been in a cave or even grave
for years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like the body’s range of
motion but the color feels weird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
heads that are in this body color looked like little boy heads with girl
make-up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least these heads look like
men, even with the long necks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. A
filed and cut off as much length as he dared.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena reviewed out loud, “Let’s see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Age groups, skin color, hair color and
styling,” she glanced at CU girl and smiled, “cramps.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Lena turned more attention to Sister and
Niece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Clothes and accessories, to
include furniture, vehicles and specially cooking, camping and institutional
stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bunch of folding metal chairs
would be great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Logs, stumps, benches
and pews are OK, chairs are nice from time to time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And about clothes, we can get decent enough
T-shirts and sweat pants from T.D.Fera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s OK, but there’s more to life than that kind of casual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yes, we know about all that glitzy
formal/party/beach/hedonistic-self-centered-lifestyle stuff Barbies and
princesses all seem to come with.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah said, “I’ve got a Curvy Barbie body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’d think I could find ‘normal’ clothes
that weren’t always baggy, but no!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By
the time this gets photographed and in print, we law enforcement types might be
in black shirts and blue slacks, but we’re sure not at the time of this draft.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George said, “I’m not much of a wardrobe consultant, but I
think most of us guys are fine with T-shirts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My T and G.I.Joe camo pants do me just fine most of the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They still feel kinda funny at church, so
options would be nice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(One of the CU girls became assigned during this writing,
when Mr. A used the word ‘glitzy”)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Glitra, who owns Glitra’s House of Fashion, Fabric and Fun, craft store
in Higginsburg said, “I know we stock lots of felt and old T-shirt material and
even a decent amount of plaid flannel.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chloe’s mom said, “I’d never heard of Glitra’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where in Higginsburg is it?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Glitra said, “It’s so new we don’t even know its exact
location yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve only been in
operation for a couple paragraphs now.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chloe’s mom and Glitra continued their chat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They both smiled and waved as the sound of
their conversation faded into soft background noise.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena said, “Wow, that was cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know my moderator power included
that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sister and Niece, do you know any
pattern sources for clothes, backpacks, tents or any 1/6 scale accessory
patterns or inexpensive accessories can be found?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I work at T.D.Fera and know the conversion
formula is fairly easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a character’s
6 feet tall, it’s 6x2 and the Our World figure should be 12 inches tall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So a 9’ ceiling becomes 18” for Our
World.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, we can build most of what
we need at T.D.Fera, but ready-made patterns, kits or even actual stuff could
make life easier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And clothes that fit,
between lounge-around-the-house sweats and formal wear would be great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know Redtail would love a nice plaid shirt,
jeans and tennis shoes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Yeah, and then I could get back into that
Scottish theme.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Scotsman said, “That Scottish theme –I seem to have
misplaced my original bagpipe, and Mr A took me to a program but couldn’t set
me out because I couldn’t find it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well,
he made me another one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll shut up now.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gave an insincere apologetic look --with
a hint of self-satisfied mischief hidden in her eyes.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
**************************</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Slave Trade</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Taxonomy can be quite important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was actually the first task God assigned
to Adam –Name the animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Naming
things and finding out what things are called is fun but can also be
confusing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have three major kingdoms
of living things: plants, animals and imagination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of us have heard about the plant and animal
kingdoms but that’s not why we’re here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The imagination kingdom is slightly different from plants and animals
–ha! Slightly!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Imagination is a real thing, but, it’s not independent of a
thinker –or is it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not everything that’s
real is alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagination comprises
thoughts and ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know what these
things are. “Things are.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An idea is a
thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thoughts “are”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An idea “is”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To-be verbs are naturally connected to thoughts and ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they are to be, are they be-ings?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know that answer, but they are
real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll also propose they are alive.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can send a thought to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For the next few ideas, plant some mysterious background music in your
head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d suggest something like the
Twilight Zone theme song, but I might run into trademark or royalties
issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where do ideas come from?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some say, “from out of the blue.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider this: Maybe thoughts float around
like mold spores and are absorbed through the skin or inhaled, eaten or
drunk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some things that are really
inarguable are thoughts can be planted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They grow and they often give birth to other thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some thoughts, through their vectors or
carriers can be said to struggle for life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thoughts are real and they’re alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s the vector which is of concern for the purpose of this writing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
OK, ideas that are real, can be planted, grow, reproduce,
struggle for life and their vectors or visible representations of those
thoughts…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does that relate to the
slave trade?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the characters who lives in Donowutt County, during a
time of reflection, pondered how her vector and the physical representations of
many of her co-characters were bought and sold and owned, told what they can
and can’t do and so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She equated it
to slavery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s sort of right in that
they can’t do anything I (the author) don’t want them to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re also pretty much restricted in what
they do, and what I allow them to do.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I bought them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I own
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slavery?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, they’re just globs of plastic –or are
they?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, yes, of course they
are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They, one day, may be helping me
illustrate the Redtail and rest of Donowutt County stories, but until that
time, the county populace is being built and readied for their work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How these vectors are released into the slave
trade is not always as I ultimately envision them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the characters realize it really is all
about what I want (insert smiling emoticon).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On taxonomy, I think I fairly well recognize the Mattel
family and Bratz and Monster High genera, but beyond that, if they’re not in
their factory boxes, I don’t know them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think most of the heads and bodies within a manufacturer family are
interchangeable, but will a Mattel head work on a Hasbro body?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have other bodies for which I’d like to
find heads, but not knowing their species sort of hampers my questioning.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a couple favorite slave traders –or you might know
then as thrift shops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just last week, I
got 6 figures for parts, but I can’t tell you what they all are, because I
don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One is an 11” Barbie and
another is one of a much smaller scale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I got two Bratz dolls (one lacking feet), and two or unidentified
species.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’ve got skinny bodies with
jointed knees with big over-size manga-looking heads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One I got earlier will become a character,
Anna Mae.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
*** *** *** ***</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="textexposedshow">Lena finally got to bring
Redtail out to the Bumpy Log. Redtail inquired about the local libraries, and
Judge Hugo Noyugo, volunteered the information, since he and the legal
profession had a library connection.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span class="textexposedshow">Higginsburg is named after R. “Max” Maxwell
Higgins, who suggested the folks staying at the Rainy Island castle move to
higher ground to the east after the land bridge washed out during high water in
the very early 1800s. His son, Mark, started a school in the settlement, out of
which was born the later-named, Mark Higgins Memorial Library. It’s said half
of the school burnt when William Quantrill and His Merry Men burned down the
courthouse next door, destroying all the county records. Only the book-shelf
wall of the school survived, due to Mark’s diligence in putting out the school
fire. The school was lost, and Mark is said to have died due to
smoke-inhalation complications. There was some speculation that it might not
have been the school fire smoke, as Mark was a fairly big local farmer,
supplying the rope industry with hemp.</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">The Trials Library system originally was a series
of legal book stashes for use by the circuit judges and lawyers, so they
wouldn’t have to tote ‘em around with ‘em. Roads got better, and carrying what
they needed got easier, so the stashes for trial use weren’t needed anymore.
The people, however, liked the idea of local libraries linked for the common
good and these trial libraries grew into our public library system.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16953582155385508486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652144083113344298.post-26024176856776398472017-08-09T20:19:00.002-07:002021-02-11T11:42:05.013-08:00RT Mac Story Chap's 16-20<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]-->(earlier story: <a href="http://ognyen.blogspot.com/2017/08/rt-mac-story-chaps-11-15.html">http://ognyen.blogspot.com/2017/08/rt-mac-story-chaps-11-15.html</a> )<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 16</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail asked Lena,
“So how did you come to be part of the Wilder community?”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I was just drawing in my breath to ask you
the same question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was born and raised
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Went to school in Higginsburg and
did 6 years in the Army.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess Wilder
spoiled me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love the quiet and the
friendliness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still get my share of
excitement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How ‘bout you?”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh wow,” began
Redtail, “Beyond a week or so ago, it’s all a blur.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I’ve remembered of my past is my
puzzlement this morning after noticing a lack of pines and sandy soil here, and
that I seem to have a little background in survival skills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My real memory begins with walking in the
woods with not a care in the World.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
just feel refreshed, but can’t remember from what.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a few nights, I settled on a site near
a creek in what I thought was a secluded area, then George caught me, welcomed
me, adopted me, and I was hooked.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“It must be confusing
not knowing who you are or where you’re from,” said Lena.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Not really. I’m me,
and I hardly ever have to get my own attention, so any name’ll do ‘til the
official one comes back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And my only
concerns in life are food, shelter, and Sunday, I get to go to church
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m probably more content now
than I’ve ever been.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They both looked at
the windshield and almost in unison said, “Here it comes,” as the first few
raindrops tapped the window.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail continued,
“Someone’s probably wondering where I am and what I’m up to, but my worrying
about it won’t do any good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figure
about all I can do is wait for my memory to come back, or say, ‘Hey! That’s me
on that milk carton.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail snorted a
little laugh.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena smiled and
asked, “What’s that laugh?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “I
pictured myself initiating the search for my past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d probably cause a stir or even trouble if
I was to walk up to people asking, “Do you miss me?””</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena gave a little
chuckle and said, “I supposed that could be a little awkward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you plan to do with yourself in the
rain tomorrow?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh, I dunno.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After church, probably find a leaf to curl up
in to hide from the rain like the other critters do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m pretty well stocked for a few days,” said
Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena asked, “How you getting
to church?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“George is taking me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You actually got him to do that?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail told her, “He
offered and didn’t flinch in the slightest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, he gave me a new Bible yesterday.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena said, “Frank and
I have been after him for years to come back to church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He always seemed to have something come up or
lose track of what day it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Funny: he
never missed one of his survival presentations.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gave a sigh and laugh.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail seemed to
take quick interest at the roadside, so Lena asked, “Did you see something?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Actually, no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was surprised at how quickly the buzzards
finished the snack I left for them,” answered Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The boys and I ate most of the rest of that
woodchuck.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh, that was the
roadkill they were so excited about,” said Lena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Frank and I enjoyed about a month’s worth of
roadkilled venison, but I always tell Frank, ‘fresh venison doesn’t count as
roadkill.’”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail asked, “So,
what brings you out to Perry’s Bend?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena said, “Most
Conservation Areas allow foraging –above ground, no digging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m trying for some raspberries and to see if
any dew berries or blackberries are close to ready.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail gave a little
laugh, “I just pictured Grandpa George quizzing me on the differences between
those berries.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena said, “Why don’t
we humor him and quiz ourselves?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “Yeah, OK,
raspberries and dewberries have round stems and blackberry has a grooved stem
–at least the wild ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re next.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena smiled,
“Raspberries are ripe around Memorial Day and Blackberries start around the 4<sup>th</sup>
of July or later with dewberries in between.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>OK, you go.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail continued,
“Raspberries and blackberries are on upright or arched canes and dewberries are
low, sprawling ground-huggers. Your turn.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena said, “Ripe raspberries
come off the plant like thimbles or stocking caps or little cups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, the berry core is left on the plant,
while dewberries and blackberries come off core and all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Is there more?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They both rode
quietly for a few seconds and Redtail blurted out, “Oh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Raspberry and dewberry have three leaflets
and blackberry often has five.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena added, “They’re
all spelled different, too.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Both smiled and
rolled their eyes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena said, “I gotta
get you out to the Bumpy Log some night to meet more of the gang.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think you’d like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George is even a semi-regular out there.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What’s the bumpy
log?” asked Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“It’s our social
club,” explained Lena. “It’s out in Nowhere –right in the middle,
actually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why it’s pronounced Now-Here
is kind of a fun story, but it’s right in line with Missouri’s Ne-VAY-da
(Nevada) and Ver-SAILS (Versailles).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
can tell you the place name tale when you visit –sort of dangling a carrot for
you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Sounds like a tasty
carrot, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love the lore behind this
area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The museum in town is gonna be a
hang-out for me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena said, “Oh
no!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You gotta come out to the club to
get the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just wouldn’t be same
getting it from the museum.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Well,” said Redtail,
“I’ll try to be patient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
communication network isn’t real effective, so it might not be easy to schedule
stuff.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I know where you
live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll work out something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shoot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It looks like we’re here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
game for berry picking?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “I’d
love to, and actually need to, but I gotta get other stuff arranged before it
rains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can I get a literal rain-check?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena said, “Sounds
good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll hunt you down soon.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Thank you so much
for the ride,” said Redtail. “Ah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There’s another raindrop now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Excellent timing!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail hopped out of
Lena’s car, grabbed her stuff and they exchanged waves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail headed out to her new camp and Lena
departed for Perry’s Bend.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 17<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George hadn’t
returned from his Big River program, so Redtail had the quiet place to herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She went to the new wet-weather site and
stood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She folded her arms and tried to
arrange her thoughts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail smiled as she
imagined a T-ball coach yelling, “Line up!” to a bunch of four to six year old
kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The coach gives an exasperated
laugh and rounds the kids up one-by-one.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“OK, you stand right
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is an important job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re the line-leader.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One little girl looks
up from her mound of dirt she’d been playing with and whined, “I wanted to be
line-leader!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Here, you stand
right here and be Assistant Line-Leader.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The coach caught
another and said, “Now you stand here –Come back!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I know it’s a bug, but you have to be
number three.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On to another
player.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“OK, you stand--<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wait a second, you’re not on our team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yours is over at the next field, see, right
over…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t finish and the player
was scampering off to the other field.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail smiled and
thought, “Line ‘em up one by one.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I think the food situation
is OK for a few days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Church tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I better get my new clothes hung up to
de-wrinkle.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She stepped into the
tent and into a side room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She stood as
straight as she could without touching her head to the ceiling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her head was slightly bent over looking as
though her neck muscles gave out, so she decided to make her closet tripod
about shoulder height.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She stepped back
outside and found three straight eye-height sticks and two more that didn’t
need to be quite so straight.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail fastened the
three straight pieces together about six inches from the top and gently spread
the sticks about three feet apart at the base to form a tripod.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She cut the other two sticks about in half
and fastened three of them as crossbars on the tripod legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fourth, she laid across the crossbars as
her closet-rod.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She found her
clothes, shook them straight and hung the shirt by the collar on a tripod
crossbar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She draped the pants over the
longest of the brace extensions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
gave her closet a look, then went outside to find more straight sticks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She returned with a straight 18-incher of about
1 ½ inch diameter and a curved one about 16 inches and almost an inch in
diameter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With her machete and a file, she
smoothed both sticks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She smoothly
rounded the ends of the curved stick after cutting it to around 14 inches.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail wrapped a
piece of insulated copper wire around the middle of the curved piece of wood,
leaving about a foot of wire free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
thought, “Now that’s a fine shirt hanger.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She wrapped both ends of the straight stick for the pants hanger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Now to apply the clothes.” She hung them on
her tripod.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“OK, clothes are all ready
for tomorrow.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then, a distraction
happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gravel started crunching
in the driveway, which indicated someone’s arrival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail walked toward the house far enough to
see it was George who pulled in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
gave a wave and headed back to her thoughts organizing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wasn’t being unsociable and hoped George
didn’t think she was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a light
drizzle in the air, so she needed to stay close to her site.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George pulled a big
custom-built big-wheeled dolly from the back of the truck and loaded it with
three plastic tubs from his program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
took those to the kitchen, grabbed two umbrellas from the coat rack behind the
door stepped back outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George
squinted at the drizzle, popped an umbrella open and headed to Redtail’s
camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Ziffel stood up, stretched,
twitched a couple times at the drizzle droplets, turned around, shook off and
crawled back under the porch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George arrived at
Redtail’s camp to find her with a catfood bag poncho draped over shoulders,
covering her firewood stack with another tarp.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Redtail,” called
George, “I brought you an umbrella.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thought it might come in handy from time to time.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Why thank you,
Grandpa, that will come in handy tomorrow.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“How ya set up for
dinner?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “I got
plenty for tonight and a couple more days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I hope the rain lets me out by then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You want some dinner?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh, I’ve been
snacking all day at that wild edibles program.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“That sounds like
fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What age group did you have?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “They
were probably eight to twelve year olds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They’re a fun bunch for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wouldn’t care to have to deal with ‘em day in and day out, or to be
responsible for their behavior.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail asked, “You
mentioned ‘Scouts’ the other day –were they Boy or Girl Scouts?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Actually neither.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of
America don’t recognize Donowutt County, so we created our own
alternative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Donowutt County Scouts
have both boys and girls in the same troop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They keep ‘em apart for campouts and often segregate into small groups,
but the troop meetings include all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
lots more traditional than what the Boy and Girl Scouts have become these days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I s’pose outsiders might call it ‘culturally
irrelevant, but we like it that way.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I know,” said
Redtail. “I loved the atmosphere I found today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I went to town and even got to run Big Al’s store while he ran to
Higginsburg on some errands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I met some
of the boys in town and Renzo and Lena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lena brought me back here on her way to Perry’s Bend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a fun day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even got tires and tubes for the bike, AND a
woodchuck.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Sounds like you had
a fun day, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You ran the store?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, of course, as ‘Grandpa’, I’ve also gotta
ask, ‘What boys?’”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh they were just
little guys --Kevin, Jerry and Mike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Al
calls ‘em ‘Kevin…’”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And George joined in
with a smile as they both finished the sentence, “…Riff and Raff.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yeah,” said Redtail,
“They seem like good kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We really hit
it off –my lifestyle and their love for things outdoorsy and wild.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “I had
one memorable little guy today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think
he might’ve had some behavioral issues, since it seemed he had an adult
assigned specifically to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all
got into the room and seated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was in
the back, waving his arm like he wanted to say something even before we started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His adult kept putting his arm down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other kids pretty much ignored him,
though he did draw a couple dirty looks and eye-rolls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poor little guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During my presentation, he kept bouncing
around like he had to go to the bathroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Every now and then his hand would shoot up and his adult put it down
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I finally finished and asked,
“Are there any questions?” Mr. Fidgit shot his hand back up again as his adult
responded like she’d always done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took
the risk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked right at the kid and
said, “I think you’ve been wanting to say something for a while.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He smiled real big and the other kids gave a
quiet sigh and groan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He excitedly said,
“My… my… my dog… my dog, he fleeched a skwoozle.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least that’s what it sounded like he
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were almost two seconds of
dead silence as he smiled at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave
him a serious look and said, “You know, I’ve heard that happens,” and gave him
a yup-you’re-right nod.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He just looked
so pleased and the other kids looked at me in disbelief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The little guy who spoke seemed to calm right
down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It felt pretty good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I got a few of the standard questions
followed by the silence that says I’m to ask if anyone wants to try eating any
of the bugs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The excitement erupts from
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kids are fun.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “Kids
say some weird stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it’d be
fun to see one of your programs some time.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“There’s lots of
times I can use help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll see if you’re
game for the next one.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I don’t have lots on
my schedule, so I think I’d be able to make it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The only thing on my schedule now is church tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m looking forward to that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It feels like I’m getting a vital missing
puzzle piece.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’m sort of looking
forward to going back, myself,” said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Well, I better be heading back to the house. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Morning happens pretty close to right after
night, and it looks like night’s a-comin’.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 18</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail woke the next
morning and got dressed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She ate a dry
sunfish and a handful of raspberries and gooseberries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She listened to an occasional tap of water
droplets on the tent roof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She scanned
about the floor for puddles and found none.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I guess that duct tape over the hole in the roof held,” she thought out
loud.”Whether the rain’s falling off the branches or from the sky, I better
take the umbrella.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, she took it and
the Bible and stepped outside, smiled, stretched and headed up to the house.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mr. Ziffel met her
halfway across the clearing between the house and her camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail gave him a head-skritching and with a
laugh, “It’s funny to be happy you smell like wet dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m glad your perfume wore off.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Ziffel wagged his tail and walked with
her up to the house.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The back door was
open and Redtail heard sounds of activity inside, so she announced her presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Good morning George, er, Grandpa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll get used to that someday.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“C’mon in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Want some eggs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Five or six is just as easy as two.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh, I had fish and
some berr…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple eggs sounds great!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail stepped into the kitchen and pulled
out a chair, sitting down at the table.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George anticipated
her breakfast acceptance and already had two places set.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail asked, “Does
the church sing traditional hymns or do they have a band and sing contemporary
Christian radio hits?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Well, I know they
use a hymnal, but I don’t know how traditional they are, ‘cuz lots o’ times
nobody knows the songs, but they still try to make a joyful noise.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Is the preacher a
hellfire and brimstone preacher or a warm fuzzy feel-good preacher?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Nope,” answered
George, “but he can touch on both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’ll
step on toes and he preaches the Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At least if pastor Tix is still there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s been a while for me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Lena sounded
surprised when I told her you were bringing me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George laughed, “I’ll
bet she asked how you got me talked into it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“She sounded pleased
or even relieved when I said you volunteered to take me and even got me a Bible.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yeah, she and Frank
been workin’ on me for a while to come back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I still went regular for a few months after Mae Mae died, but then I
started slackin’ off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even used that
excuse about communin’ with God in the outdoors instead of set times Sundays
and Wednesdays.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail lit up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Cool!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They got Wednesday stuff too?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Wednesdays aren’t
usually real exciting, but they can still be fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First Wednesday we got a fellowship dinner…
Hey, I think I’m gonna slip right back in!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I said “We” …anyway, second Wednesday, is the business meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Third Wednesdays are women’s meeting and the
deacons’ meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fourth Wednesday is
music and craft fellowship and when we have a fifth Wednesday, it’s family
movie night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I heard a couple months
back, we even started a Sunday night Bible study.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What do you have for
youth?” asked Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“That was quite a
weak spot when I was going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re such a
small church and mighty top-heavy in the age-department.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got so few youth we don’t have much other
than Sunday school.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’m not sure why,
but I got a feeling I’ve got a strong youth concern in my past, ‘cuz my mind
instantly jumped into ‘we-gotta-figure-out-how-to-keep-‘em-interested-in-Jesus’
mode,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You seemed to fit right in with The Relics
–that’s what we call the homeschoolers, ‘cuz they’re based in the museum, and
you sure hit it off with the hardware boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yeah, you might be onto something.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Maybe I should wait
to be invited, rather than to come across as too pushy with the youth,” said
Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Oh, I
don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe someone steppin’ up is
what the kids need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aww, shoot!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just fixed yer eggs the same way I like
mine without askin’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whites are done,
and the yolks are still soft.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “Sounds
good to me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George brought the
pan and scooped<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail’s eggs to her
plate, and plopped a couple on his, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Right about then, the toast popped up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Want your toast
buttered?” asked George. “Notice, I asked first this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got a dairy background, so stuff,
particularly bread, usually gets butter.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh, why not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m having breakfast at Grandpa’s, so I’ll
have breakfast like Grandpa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides,
I’m not even sure how I like my breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fish and berries could work, but I’m pretty sure there’s better.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “We got
enough time we won’t have to rush breakfast, but we should probably get there
early enough to get good parking.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail gave a
questioning look. “I thought you said it was a tiny church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lot didn’t look like parking would be a
problem.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I didn’t mean for the truck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to make sure I could park myself in
the back row on an end.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail tried to put
on her best pouty-face and Precious Moments eyes. “But… Does that mean I’m
going to have to sit alone?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*sniff*
*sniff*”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George smiled and
said, “Oh good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw what you tried,
and I recognized it as a pout, but you ain’t all that good at faking it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s good to see you lack experience in that
department.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He rolled his eyes. “OK,
you pick where we sit.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they both
smiled.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George and Redtail
finished their breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George got up
and cleared the table, saying, “I’m gonna rinse all these before we leave and
wash ‘em when we get back.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail asked, “Can I
help?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Nah, I’ve pretty
much got a system over the years.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail challenged
and smiled. “So, you’re used to cooking for two?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“OK,” said George
jovially. “Not so much the past few years, but me and Mae Mae shared the
kitchen pretty much equally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sarah comes over fairly often so
maybe I do stay in that culinary-practice-for-two thing.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George looked about
done, so Redtail got up, gathered her umbrella and Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George grabbed a beat up looking old brown
Bible and they headed out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mr. Ziffel crawled
out from under the porch and looked at George and Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave a short ‘woof’ and wagged his tail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said happily,
“You have a good morning, too!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mr. Ziffel wagged his
tail a few more times and crawled back under the porch as though he knew this
wasn’t his trip into town.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the truck and on
the way, Redtail started humming a bluesy version of “What a Friend we Have in
Jesus.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George joined in on the second
verse with vocal guitar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They threw in
as much energy as they could and Redtail even belted out lyrics from time to
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They finished the song and took
some exhausted breaths.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “I
didn’t know you knew Ashley Cleveland.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Well I
didn’t figure you to be old enough to like her music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hey, pop that glove box open.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail opened the
box and found three Ashley Cleveland CDs, a Newworldson, Tal and Acacia and two
Miss Angie CDs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I hadn’t heard of
Miss Angie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s she sound like?”
Redtail asked eagerly. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “She’s
got a really neat sound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her late ‘90s
stuff is kind of power-pop with lots of electronic enhancements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The musical energy level runs all over the
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her later music has a different
sort of polish to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can tell it’s
music from an older artist, but that’s not saying her early stuff is the least
bit amateurish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess the newer music
is more artistic rather than lively pop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She’s a Missouri girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ha!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boy my mind wanders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s from Springfield, and so’s a forager
friend of mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wanna do some foraging
after church, weather permitting?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got
a program tomorrow.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “I
gotta get a better food storage system, but yeah, that sounds like fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
should get some salt and try to make some kimchi!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could we play some Miss Angie on the way?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Sure, hand me that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Triumphantine</i> album.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George popped the CD
in the player and the music began.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail exclaimed,
“Oh wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love it already!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s got an ethereal feel to it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Lots of
others are much livelier.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “Oh,
this is neat stuff!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“It gets even ‘Neater
Cooler’,” replied George with a smile.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What?” puzzled
Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Sorry, humor
attempt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look at the case.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail scanned the
case, “OK, “Neater Cooler” is quite literal –a song title.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As they pulled into
the parking lot, George glanced at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“We’re plenty early.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to
let the song play out before shutting off the truck.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “Oh
good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many albums does she have?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Only three that I know
of, but now I want to double-check.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail commented
about the song, “I’m glad Jesus got me when I was young.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “You’re
a ways from being old, but yeah, it can be rough to make a change as you get
older and older.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The song ended and George
shut off the truck before track two started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He said, “Well, it looks like this is it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said with a
tone similar to what George used when Redtail went to town, “No need to be
scared, Grandpa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be right with
you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 19</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They both laughed as
they got out of the truck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
glanced at George as he closed the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She then closed hers, too, without locking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George said, “I don’t usually bother locking
here in Wilder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe I’m too trusting.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They both walked into
the church.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pastor Herman Ulysses
Tix gave them a welcome by giving George a hard time right from the start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hi George!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My, how, you’ve grown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why, when
I last saw you, you were just a little guy…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And he reached out as though he was going to give George’s cheek a
pinch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Ya ya ya,”
interrupted George with a smile and a handshake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George looked at Redtail and said, “See?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s been a while.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pastor Tix asked,
“And who is this young lady?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“This is RT or
Redtail Scot, my granddaughter.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pastor Tix raised an
eyebrow.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Adopted
granddaughter,” clarified George.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Well, I suppose
there’s a story in there somewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re
glad to have you join us, Redtail,” said Pastor Tix.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Why thank you,” said
Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m hoping it’ll be lots more
often in the future.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George asked, “So,
Brother Herman, where do we find our classroom?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pastor Tix smiled and
said, “Well, the urge to ask, ‘Where did you leave it?’ is precluded by my not
really knowing if it’s changed since you were last here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We actually grew a bit and split the adult
class, but finances and teacher volunteer quantity kind of necessitated a
reunion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not so sure your class is
in the same room.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pastor Tix reached in
to a classroom to turn on the lights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Here’s
where the adults meet now.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail and
George walked in and picked out some chairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Y’all make yourselves at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We’re Family here.” And Pastor Tix wandered off to take care of some
more Sunday morning opening chores.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail took a
Student Guide off the stack in the middle of the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Looks like this is the one we’re in,” she
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You want one?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“That’s OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll glance at yours if I need to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s our Scripture today?” asked George.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail gave George
the passage and another couple walked in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The teacher said, “Good morning George! And welcome back!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The woman with him gave the teacher a quick
kiss and started to turn, but, gave Redtail and George a double-take.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh wow!” she
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You must be Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re Kevin’s parents, Ted and Jane
Dossett.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kevin has NOT been able to stop
talking about you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You sure made quite
an impression on him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ever since we
moved here a couple years ago, Kevin’s been moping around all grumpy, but last
night he was excited and happy like his best friend just moved back into town.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said,
“Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sure hope I didn’t overstep my
bounds with the info I gave him.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jane said, “Oh, I
don’t think he held back in telling us anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We heard about woodchucks, camping, and even
how laziness leads to invention.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail laughed and
said, “I think he got it about covered.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jane said, “Well,
we’re glad to have you in the neighborhood.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ted added, “And
welcome to our church home, too!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see
you found the books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Feel free to take
one with you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “I
don’t have a real good controlled environment so I’ll just get the Scripture
and read up on it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ted smiled and said,
“I like hearing of people who enjoy preparing for class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope you guys get back in the habit of
fellowshipping with us.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Yeah,
I’m sorta seein’ that as a good thing.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the meantime
several others walked in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were
waves, smiles and “Hey George is back!” and the class began.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The lesson summarized
on the lines of: if people know you’re a Christian, they’ll be watching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re a Christian, they should know it,
therefore, if you’re called to that higher Christian standard, what other
people think IS important.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Sunday school
superintendent walked around ringing the 5 minute warning bell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ted closed and released the class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many introductions
and reintroductions took place in the hall outside the sanctuary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fellowshipping slowly broke up as people
started going in to sit down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George
looked more and more uncomfortable the farther up the aisle Redtail walked, or
at least he felt like he did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
Redtail, the whole walk took only about four seconds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George’s mind slipped into slow motion as he
walked up the seemingly endless aisle –the sort art classes like to use to
teach vanishing points.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George and Redtail
sat down at about the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This
isn’t too bad, is it –third row from the front?” whispered Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Oh, I
guess it’s OK,” wiping the sweat from the palms of his hands on his pants legs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “I just
had a flash of my mom and dad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still no
names or locations, but they realized they always sat in the same place every
Sunday –almost a ‘my-pew’ thing, so we started moving around each week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got to meet lots more Family that way.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pastor Tix’s parents,
who were visiting, took the second from the front row on the left end and
another couple and friend took the right end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The worship leader got up and headed to the pulpit and Redtail felt a
bump on her left and heard whispers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
looked and found Lydia from the Relics and another little girl beaming with
grins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A tap on her shoulder revealed
Kevin in the spot right behind her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail greeted them with smiles and whispers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lydia whispered
loudly, “This is Chloe, my friend.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail smiled and
shook her hand and glanced around to make eye contact with Jane and another
woman she assumed was either Lydia’s or Chloe’s mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both gave questioning looks and seemed to
mouth, “Is that OK?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail smiled,
nodded and gave a thumbs-up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She leaned
over to George and whispered, “We gotta behave ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have accountability partners.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lydia giggled and
caught herself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The worship leader
began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a traditional worship:
hymns from the hymnal, piano accompaniment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Of course, there were lyrics projected on the wall, too, in case you
preferred it that way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail sang and got
the kids to sing, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She passed a note
to Kevin and whispered to Lydia and Chloe, “If you can hear the person next to
you singing, sing louder.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids got
it and they all made a joyful noise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>George sort of mumbled the songs, but still, he could be heard.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After hymns and
prayers was Children’s Time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lydia and
Chloe eagerly ran up to the front with the rest of the kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kevin felt awkwardly old for “Children’s”
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t, however, feel too
awkward for a shorter run, up one row to sit down by Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lydia gave him a glare from the front, and
Redtail gave a shushing hand-gesture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lydia
calmed somewhat and George made room for the returning girls between him and
Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lydia’s mom put her
head in her hands but the third-rowers didn’t catch it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lydia did and quickly adjusted her attitude
–at least outwardly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Providentially, the
children’s message was patience in the face of adversity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The girls came back and Redtail motioned them
to sit on her other side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lydia sat by
Redtail and Chloe paused and looked at the scary old man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George gave her a warm smile and she smiled
back and plopped herself down between Lydia and George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked up at George and gave him another
smile.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pastor Tix stepped up
to the podium and began his sermon:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
There’s this block of huge
beautiful homes up near Big River –on close to 200 acres.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the developer bought the place, it was
called “Tick Holler” ‘cuz it was thick with those little blood suckers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That developer knew he couldn’t sell houses
in Tick Holler, so he renamed the place, “Deer Run” ‘cuz it sounded so much
prettier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Changing what it was called,
didn’t change the truth at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway,
big city folks now buy their 2-5 acre plots, strip ‘em of the plants that made
the place pretty and replace ‘em with those astro-turf like sheets of green
called lawns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They panic if they see a
splash of color and run out with their sprays and chem-warfare suits to crush
that dandelion or violet before it contaminates their pristine wilderness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They “Ooooh” and “Awwwww” when a deer is
spotted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They “Ewwww!” and “Augh!” when
they spot a tick and run back out with their chem gear.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
Changing names to suit our wants is
nothing new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of calling it
“Little Strip of Dirt Between the Glacier and Icebergs”, the Viking explorers
called it “Greenland” to entice settlers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Viking people got cautious quick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Explorers started talking about another new discovery and travelers
responded with: “Oh ya, sure. ‘Vinland’ yu betcha!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like dis is Greenland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m movin’ back ta Iceland or da
Orkneys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Didja hear, Olaf actually got
two turnips, --ya, two I tell ya--<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ta
grow on one o’ doze rocky islands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
regular Eden dere, don’t cha know.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
Let’s put a spin on things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Change what we don’t like so we can get our
own way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole political
correctness, blur the facts thing started lots farther back than the Vikings in
Greenland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Surely God didn’t say you’d
really die if you ate that fruit.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He got into the meat
of the sermon, chewed on that for a while and closed, without getting
political.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
We’re not supposed to be gods or to
make any other idols, but if you’re called to be part of God’s Family, you’re
called to look to Jesus as the ultimate example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is loving and forgiving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s a healer and a servant, and He’s
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One thing He’s not, is politically
correct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He calls sin for what it is
–sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And He tells us, “Stop it!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
[Pastor Tix looked at George and
Redtail]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aside from George’s guest, or
are you her guest?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know none of us are
licensed anesthesiologists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Political
correctness is too dangerous to be messing with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can too easily numb us to sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God flooded the Earth already, due to rampant
sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, I know, He promised never to
do it again –with a flood!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve got an
example of what can happen if we let ourselves be numbed in Ezekiel 9: 4-6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Write that down and look it up and ponder the
meaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God may not flood the Earth
again, but if God does this in Ezekiel, I pray we resist the numbing of
political correctness and other societal anesthetics and we see sin and call it
for what it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May the Holy Spirit
convict us and make sin so unpleasant to us we flee it always and receive that
mark</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
God gave us choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He doesn’t force faith and following.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wants us to decide for ourselves.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The congregation sang
a hymn and took up the offering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
dropped a ten in the plate and George felt obligated so he put in what cash he
had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then came announcements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail leaned across
Lydia and Chloe to quietly tell George, “I might try that music and craft
fellowship Wednesday.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pastor Tix gave a
closing prayer and dismissed the congregation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As George slowly turned around, he gave a quick estimate of 60ish people
in attendance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “So
many more people here to meet!” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many scurried out and
quite a few stayed back for fellowship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s one of the first times George was not among the scurriers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He found it lots easier than he thought it’d
be.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Frank and Lena walked
toward George and Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids
started crowding around Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“It’s good to see you
here,” said Lena. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We tried to get to
Sunday school, but Esther’s dog got away again and we rounded her up before we
headed in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you guys make it in
time?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yep, we ran the
whole gamut,” said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Redtail’s
even talking about comin’ back Wednesday for the Music and Crafts thing.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Frank said, “What’s
Redtail up to?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s got quite the crowd
gathered.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail looked up,
waved at Rick who was leaving, and then turned to Frank and Lena, saying, “Oh
hi, you guys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looks like I might be
taking the youth on a nature walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll
have to schedule it some time soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sounds like rumor of my chosen lifestyle has gotten out.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Hey, congratulations!
Your first program!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he shook her
hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You wanna go with me tomorrow for
my Midtown Garden Club program?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
supposed to be raining and this’ll be an indoor program.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena said, “Sounds
like a set-up, Redtail.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “Still,
I’d like to see one of Grandpa’s programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sure, I’ll do it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena asked, “And the
Bumpy Log Tuesday evening?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Frank said, “Looks
like your social calendar’s filling up fast, Redtail.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “But it
all fits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it’s due to start
clearing up Thursday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Monday Midtown,
Tuesday Bumpy Log, Wednesday Music and Crafts, Thursday, foraging and hunting.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail glanced toward the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hi, Sarah!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah glanced around
with a look of concern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She spotted
George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, hi, Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw George’s truck out in the lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything’s OK, right?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Everything’s
great!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this your church, too?” asked
Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah said with a
slight smirk, “Oh, I guess, when I don’t go, this is the one I don’t go to.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George finally saw
Sarah and asked, “Everything alright, Sarah?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yeah, I saw your
truck in the lot and dropped in to find out the same thing,” Sarah said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“We’re gonna be doing
some foraging in a bit,” said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Wanna come along?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably also be
a good time to finally show Redtail where all the boundaries of the place are.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail asked, “Is
that pond by the road yours, too?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
one with the little island in it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yep,” said George,
“and it’s also got some nice bass and catfish in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We oughtta be heading out, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe get that foraging done before it rains
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah said, “I just
might drop by on y’all a little later.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 20</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On their way home,
George said, “I think old Brother Herman was kinda preachin’ to the choir
today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re a pretty morally
conservative and non-PC bunch around here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “I
noticed that and I love it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, my
hair and eyes are quite a bit darker than most of the people around here, but
not once have I encountered someone stumbling over their words or being
patronizing in order to not offend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
nobody seemed offended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just like
being people and there’s nothing wrong with looking different from everybody
else.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “I’m
feeling like getting all philosophical on race and ethnicity now, but that can
wait for another time.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“OK, let’s talk about
the bunny,” said Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The bunny?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“That’s something
someone used to say when she wanted to change the subject.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“OK, bunnies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you been to the other side of the house
–around that old fence line between the house and the pond?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s almost always rabbits out there,”
offered George.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After a little pause,
Redtail asked, “I’ve not yet been on the other side of the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What all are we going to do tomorrow for the
program?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “The
Midtown Garden Club is mostly women in their fifties to eighties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s a few guys in their forties and four
or five women in their thirties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most
express an almost giddy delighted shock when they hear stuff like lamb’s
quarter and purslane are edible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
couple are receptive to hearing about edible insects, but I don’t know if
they’re ready to try real survival foods like mystery roadkill or rinsed shoe
leather.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail smiled and
added, “So they probably don’t want to know how to check eyes and reject a
roadkill if they’re cloudy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
decomposition science is cool!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George pulled the
truck into the driveway, stopping by the mailbox. “I checked yesterday but it
might’ve been too early.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail unclicked and
hopped out, saying, “I’ll get it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
got back to the truck, “Nope, still nothing,” and she hopped in the truck,
clicking her seatbelt for the little stretch of driveway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Habit,” she said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Not a bad one,
either,” finished George.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George stopped the
truck and asked, “Meet back here in about half an hour?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll bring some peanut butter and jelly
sandwiches –Dairy-Country style.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What’s Dairy-Country
style?” asked Redtail. “I guess I’ll find out at lunchtime.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And off she went to
her tent as George went to the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What he and Mr. Ziffel discussed on the way between the truck and house
is between them.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As Redtail changed
her clothes, she wondered, “Is it dipped in milk?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, the bread would fall apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unless, of course, it was toasted first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe he already toasted them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll bet the bread is buttered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, that’d be weird.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George mapped out
their forage route in his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“North,
past the pond, then west along ZZ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>South
along the west fence to the creek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>East
along the creek to Redtail’s first camp and back through the woods home.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail got back to
the truck and was intercepted by Mr. Ziffel and delayed for petting until
George came out a few minutes later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
had on a backpack and other stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
carried a small burlap sack which he handed to Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“A foraging bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can keep it if you like.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “Oh
thank you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bag that breathes is lots
better than my plastic sacks.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Yeah,
stuff might get dried out, but wallowing in its own sweat encourages premature
spoilage.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George asked, “What
cha got there?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“A piece of rebar I
bent into a digging tool.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Want a tire
iron?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m pretty sure I got more than
this one,” George said as he patted a canvas bag that looked like a long belt
holster.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“That’d be nice, and
it wouldn’t bend like this rebar can,” said Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “I think
I know right where one is.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He set his
stuff down and trotted to the garage and pulled one out from the corner near
the open door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George got back to the
truck and handed the iron to Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said,
“This’ll be nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sharp, stiff, I can
hardly wait to try it out.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “I
thought I’d use today to show you the western boundary of the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>South’s easy, being the creek and north and
east are roads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also got some cool
features of the place you might like.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’m all for
exploring, and it’s fun with a guide,” said Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Well,
let’s get exploring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can nibble along
the way or we could eat sandwiches now.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Whichever the guide
says,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Shouldn’t we at
the very least rinse our food before we eat it, if we can’t cook it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George gave Redtail a
narrow-eyed look. “I know you just pluck and eat lots of the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why the sudden desire to wash the food?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “It’s
still a good idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess I’m trying to
get into teaching or program mode.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George confessed, “I
guess at my programs I present all the edibles and lessons with all the safety
rules firmly attached.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They headed northwest
past the house and to the old fencerow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A rabbit, just like George mentioned earlier, tried to look scared by
hopping lazily three or four hops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
had to look a little frightened since Mr. Ziffel was with George and Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Yep,
he’d be easy to get if you needed to.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I could almost kick
it,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“These blackberries
have a bit to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hard, green, I’ll
check on ‘em in a week.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Past the fencerow
they walked into a patch of ground George worked up last winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just a little more than an acre of
rough ground between the fencerow and the pond.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Here in this patch
of ground, we oughtta get a bunch of good stuff,” said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Rain or shine, I think I’ll come back here
in the morning for some fresh greens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
think there’s ample lamb’s quarter and curly dock for us, the critters and the
Garden Club.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will get some onions
now.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I think I’ll get
some greens now, to eat later,” said Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Northwest they
walked, to the pond.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh wow, this is nice!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is the boat useable?” asked Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Last
time I used it, it was water-tight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s been a couple years.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“You said there’s
bass and catfish in here,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Do you mind if I tried for a few and checked the boat’s sea-worthiness?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“You don’t have to
ask to use Grandpa’s stuff,” smiled George.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “I
guess it’s habit –and a courtesy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail gasped, “Oh!” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She pounced on the
ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail stood up triumphantly
and tossed her grasshopper into the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A fish hit the hopper quickly and forcefully enough both jumped.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “We
gotta feed these fish better!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I guess so!” said
George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“At least that one was mighty
hungry.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail asked, “Have
you tried cattail?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s a pretty
good-sized patch there.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “You
know, I’ve always been meaning to try it, but something’s always come up to
distract me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know the roots are edible
and the pollen can be used as flour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those young seed heads can even be used to make a pulled pork substitute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the shoots are supposed to be good”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “Maybe
we should plan a deliberate cattail thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Might even try arrowhead root at the same time.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Maybe we’ll do that when this batch of rain
gets past,” said George.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As they neared the
road, Redtail got excited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ohh!
Thistles!” she exclaimed as she drew a knife and set her stuff down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail squatted to the ground and began to
carefully cut off leaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She held up
each leaf and sliced off the thorny edges, leaving the central vein.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “I’d not
met anyone who knew about thistle edibility. I’ve tried ‘em, and they’re pretty
good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just frequently forget about
‘em.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail smiled and
handed him some trimmed leaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They are
really good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like the roots and tender
stem parts, too.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She pulled out the
tire iron and started to work some roots loose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“The flowers even make for a gum-like trail chew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t turn to gum at all, but it feels
like it in your mouth.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Thistle leaves, at
least, don’t have that odd wild texture that takes getting used to,” said
George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m gonna cut me a bunch, too,
to sweet pickle for tomorrow.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
George took a squat by<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>some thistles and
began trimming, too.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “I was
pleasantly surprised the first time I tried thistle.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They cut more
thistles and headed west down the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail said, “I wish chicory grew more on the other side of the ditch
like it does right here by the road edge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have no idea how much the plants are affected by run-off.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yeah, the run-off’s
not likely to crawl back up the ditch on the other side,” said George.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “Here
comes a bunch of curly dock.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “There’s
a bunch on the other side of the road, too.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yeah, but it’s
growing in amongst all that poison hemlock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Would that be safe to eat?” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I mean, the hemlock dies off every year and
it decomposes into the soil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dock
sucks all that stuff back up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not
gonna harvest from that patch.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “I’ve
never heard cautions against foraging in a poison hemlock patch, but it makes
sense not to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really gotta pull it
from around the barn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That stuff makes
good George-repellant.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Both crossed the
ditch to forage the dock on the ‘good-side’ of the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They continued west to a gravel farming
access to an overgrown field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George
said, “Looks like you get your wish about the chicory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s a bunch at the edge of this driveway.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “Wow,
there’s lots of it, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t like to
forage a place unless my target munchie is very plentiful.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George asked, “So
whatcha gonna do with it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Roast the roots for
coffee and make a drink from the leaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll eat the leaves after I boil ‘em.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I only do the leaves before the plant spikes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not really sure why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess I think younger’s just gonna be less
bitter,” replied Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While digging chicory
and pondering coffee, Redtail continued, “Ya know, there’s times I think I miss
the comfort of indoors, but I don’t have real memories to re-live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I get are those that’d-be-cool sorts of
memories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like right now, I got this
picture of sitting back in a big soft chair in a cozy dimly-lit room with a cup
of coffee in my hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I take a sip of
coffee and a long deep breath, closing my eyes and smiling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have no clue where that place may be or
even if it exists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s weird.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She began humming and continued digging.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Well, when the mood
hits ya back by the house, c’mon in and make the picture more real,” offered
George.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “Yeah,
sometimes I wonder where I’ve been and what I did, but, I can’t let not knowing
get me down.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George added, “I’ve
done some wondering about you, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only
known you for about a week, but I like ya a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re fun, inquisitive, surprising, and,
well, a granddaughter and I think that’s just great –er, grand.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “I’m
kinda likin’ this me, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like you,
the woods, all the new people I’ve met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t want it to end, but I’m thinking I can’t go on with this
semi-homeless state forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope I
don’t find out I’m in more trouble than just having lost my old identity.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I like how you said,
‘old’ identity,” said George.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail laughed,
“Well, yeah, I’ve got an identity now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m RT Scot –full-time camper and granddaughter to a pretty dern nice
grandpa.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Why thank you,” said
George. “What say we break into those sandwiches.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“That sounds good,”
said Redtail. “I’ve been wondering what Dairy Country peanut butter and jelly
might be.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh, ho ho ho!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prepare yourself for a culinary delight to
surpass all,” said George as he pulled the sandwiches from the paper bag.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail started to
look in her sandwich and George startled her with a “No! Don’t peek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s cheating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just bite into it and savor the flavor and
texture.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He closed his eyes and with
emotion, continued, “Involve your whole being with the experience.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail laughed while
closing her eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She bit off a corner
of her Dairy Country PBJ and began to chew. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Mmmm! This is smooth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost dessert-like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s good!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I still like the real kind, too.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Real kind!?”
harrumphed George with a smile. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail smiled and
kept on being one with her culinary experience.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Being
brought up around dairy, that’s what I got –buttered bread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your ‘real’ kind are almost too dry for me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They finished their
sandwiches while discussing the subtleties of peanut butter on bread.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With lunch completed,
they continued their walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ZZ turned
north and our foragers turned south and into the woods.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Here’s the west end
of my, or our, place,” said George. “It’s peaceful having Perry’s Bend to my
west and south.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get an occasional
hunter stray onto the place, but not very often.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “You’d
think a fence would tip ‘em off they’re crossing a line of some sort.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “You’d
think so, but that whole better-to-ask-forgiveness-than-permission runs way too
rampant these days.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “Well,
I gotta apologize.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sure wasn’t myself
when I settled on your place without asking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m still not sure what “myself” really is.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “I think
your case was lots different from a trespassing hunter or dumper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not real sure how it’s different, but it
is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, you got permission now, so
it’s all cool.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “Trespassing
never crossed my mind when I found that site by the creek. Wow.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She stared as she walked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“One big difference
is trespassing hunters and all the others, for that matter, instantly act
caught in the wrong and start making excuses,” explained George. “You were
happy to have a visitor, and I saw pure innocence to any wrong-doing.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Well, I’m really
really thankful you didn’t run me off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I love it, the way you’re helping me and just accepted me –despite
my weirdness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yeah, I know I can
come across as pretty weird,” said Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The woods on my side
of the fence gets a little thicker than on the Perry side,” said George. “It’s
sure pretty and dark, but not much forage at all.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “Woods
edges are cool, like this fence line was open way more recently than your
woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your woods has almost no
underbrush!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That canopy is thick!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Not much in a mature
forest other than nuts in the fall, stink bugs under the leaf litter in the
winter, a few spring plants and scattered mushrooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, it’s pretty,” said George, “but ya
can’t eat pretty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I may cut down a few
trees and let in some light.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “Where
underbrush is sparse, it seems so is the wildlife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of squirrels in an oak hickory woods,
but not much else except what’s just passing through.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After a bit, they
reached the creek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the wider,
deeper part Redtail already knew from her fishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I know there’s lots of stuff here,” said
Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Hey kids!” came a
shout from the Perry’s Bend side of the creek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I thought I could catch you here.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George smiled and in
about a minute, sounds of crunching leaves led their eyes to Sarah’s approach
from the other side of the creek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I
didn’t know which way you’d be coming from, but I figured a perimeter forage
would bring you past here sooner or later,” said Sarah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She glanced around at the creek above the
pool and hopped across on some dry rocks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail asked, “How
did you get out here?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah said, “There’s
a parking lot not too far up that trail on the other side of the pool here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I guess I’d never
stumbled across that trail,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“But I’ve only fished the pool a couple times.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “This
just hit me, until we can figure out how to get you licensed, you probably
shouldn’t be fishing anywhere but the pond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The landowner hunting/fishing permission only pertains within the
property, and the creek and pool aren’t within.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “That
won’t throw a big wrench in my life at all, since that pond looks pretty
good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I’ll be able to control
myself at the creek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crawdads may still be tasty from time to
time.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“So, George,” said Sarah,
“Do you ever bring ‘real’ meat to your programs, or is it only bugs and little
invertebrates?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George laughed, “Real
meat!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Real peanut butter and jelly!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He laughed again, “Yes, I started out
actually cooking on-site, but that ended up being too time and attention
consuming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dried bugs are so easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even as easy as salads or fresh greens are,
dried is still way easier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used to
include frog legs, raccoon, ‘possum, rabbit, turtle and other meatier critters,
but convenience drove me to the dry side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I still bring jerky from time to time.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “I
don’t know what kind of life I led, but it seems so natural that food’s just
food, no matter if it’s green or blue or black or red or gray…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OK, maybe gray’s sometimes iffy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “The difference
between ‘real’ and ‘weird’ food usually boils down to unexpected or new flavors
and textures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like Queen Anne’s lace,
when it’s real young, has very carroty…”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah comments under
her breath, “Carroty?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail smugly smiled
and whispered “Well, I know what he means, so it’s a real word.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah whispered,
“Yeah, me too, but it just sounded…”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George interrupted
the interruptions, “You two ‘bout done?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The two snapped to
attention looking like kids caught chattering in class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sarah even said softly, “Yes teacher.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George chuckled and
continued, “Queen Anne’s lace, when it’s really young, tastes, smells and even
feels in the mouth, very much like our domestic carrots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re named Queen Anne’s lace for the
flower, but also wild carrot for the root.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He caught an eye-roll and smile out of Sarah, but finished anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Y’all probably heard this already, but I’ve
even heard if you let carrots go wild three or four generations, they’ll revert
back to Queen Anne’s lace.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah added, “They’re
non-native invasives, too.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “I
didn’t even know you knew that phrase.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “We’re
not as ignorant as lots of outdoorsmen might think.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George stumbled over
his words, “I nev… Oh…”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah rescued George
from his tongue, “I probably heard it from you a long time ago.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail broke the
short silence that followed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Textures
and the unexpected?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “I got
to inflict my Queen Anne’s lace lecture on Redtail a couple days back, but
anyway,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>most Queen Anne’s lace is too
woody and fibrous to chew, while some isn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you simply like the flavor, you can still fix the roots in stews and
stuff and take ‘em out before you eat.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yeah, like with bay
leaves,” said Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Like bay leaves?”
asked Sarah.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George and Redtail
gave Sarah a look, and she continued, “Yeah, you mean you take out bay leaves
before eating?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">And George got distracted, “Ah, here we go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Smilax or greenbrier!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Sarah said, “Sounds like baby formula.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“But it’s not,” replied George.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Oh, this stu.. Ouch!” winced Sarah.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Redtail giggled, “That’s it, but don’t eat the thorny
parts.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George said, “Look for the soft growing tips like here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Sarah said, “Oh, I found some. Ouch!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George, can I borrow your clippers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel like such a wimp ‘cuz this tiny,
barely visible little thorn tip has rendered my thumb nearly useless.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George pulled his keys from his pocket and handed them to
Sarah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She pulled a key from the clipper
jaws and started digging at her thumb with the clipper.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George said, “I think I got a tweezers in my pack.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“It’s caught early enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not too deep, anyway,” said Sarah as she continued her surgery with the
clippers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George stopped his foraging as he watched Sarah with
concern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail smiled and George
caught it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What cha thinking?” asked
George.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail said, “Oh, you two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You’re more than just friendly acquaintances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t need no matchmaker, ‘cuz it’s
already made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Y’all just need
convincing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And to top it off, I got the
strong urge to call you ‘Grandma Sarah’, like I call George, ‘Grandpa’.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Sarah smirked, “Ha! Gotcha, you nasty little bugger!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked at her thumb and continued, “Man,
that was a lot of sting for no blood.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She stuck her thumb in her mouth and bit it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ah, there’s a little,” she said with a smile
handing George’s keys back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It now
feels more worthwhile going through that removal.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George asked, “Should I kiss it and make it all better?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“No!” said Sarah.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George grabbed her hand and kissed the wound anyway as Sarah
yanked her hand back. “Ow, you poked it with a mustache hair!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she softly leaned a shoulder into George
as if saying, “But that’s OK.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail laughed, “You two!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George and Sarah stepped apart with an almost visible
reluctance and a discernible twinkle in their eyes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George said, “So let that be a lesson to ya.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be careful around thorny plants.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail added, “Or you might get poked by a mustache hair.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">George said, “By the way, Sarah, hearing ‘Grandpa George’
feels pretty good.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Sarah asked, “How’d you know I was thinkin’ that?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Redtail said with a smile as she skipped several paces
ahead, “More evidence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Match made.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George and Sarah
looked at each other and smiled again as they all continued on their walk.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail called out,
“Here’s my raspberry patch!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s a
few left, and Oh, cool! There’s even a few blackberries that might be
ready!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Must be just enough sunnier here
than up in the tree line by the house that they’re a little more mature here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “There’s
usually not much overlap in the seasons if ya find any at all.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “Be
careful of thorns!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Everybody smiled as
they picked the few ripe berries that were left or ready.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail asked,
“Grandpa George?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yes, grand
daughter?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail giggled a
bit, “Are there any watch or clock-makers in the area?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Why’s that?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Well, ‘cuz I’m
finding parts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I already found two
ticks.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah smiled and
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George asked,
“Crawling or dug in?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “Still
crawling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I killed ‘em.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah said, “Oh
great, now ya got me feeling all crawly.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George jumped and
grabbed a spot under his sock, ”Oh great, this one’s in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good, I got him!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whoever said, ‘Don’t sweat the small stuff.’ hasn’t
spent much time in the woods.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah added, “or with
greenbrier.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail threw in, “or
with a mosquito sharing tent space.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Yeah,
them little vampires are probably gonna get nasty after the rain fills some of
their hatcheries.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “It’s
getting’ darker faster than I think it should.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rain’s probably getting pretty close.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“We oughtta be hurrying
a bit,” said George. “Sarah, how you gettin’ back to your car?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah said, “I
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slapped George on the back of his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“You old poop!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George laughed and
Redtail said sternly, “Now you be home at a decent hour, young man!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Hey,
I’m the grandpa here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, on
spotting her old campsite, “I don’t think I miss this place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like being closer to people –specially
y’all.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a slight pause, she said,
“When am I supposed to be ready for tomorrow’s program?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sort of on a flexible six-time clock
–first thing in the morning, mid-morning, lunch, afternoon, evening and night.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah said, “Oh, so
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Probably
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The overhead leaves
starting hissing and soon the canopy was penetrated by the rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our foragers muttered and covered up as best
they could and put a significant spring in their steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They arrived at Redtail’s new camp and
Redtail invited George and Sarah into the tent to shake off and organize their
stuff.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Nice
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “Yeah!
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah bumped into
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“Oh, feel free to spill into the bedroom or changing room.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George stepped into
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plastic tubs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where’d they come from?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “I
thought you left them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were here
the first morning I was using this camp.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah suggested,
“Someone must’ve heard you needed some dry storage space and decided to play
early Santa or late birthday.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail looked up and
said, loudly, “Whoever you are, thank you!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George and Sarah got
reorganized and headed out to the truck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As they ran, Sarah said, “I sure hope you left the doors unlocked.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail called out,
“See you tomorrow!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(story continues here: <a href="http://ognyen.blogspot.com/2018/01/rt-mac-story-chaps-21-current.html">http://ognyen.blogspot.com/2018/01/rt-mac-story-chaps-21-current.html</a> )<br /></span></div>
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<![endif]-->Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16953582155385508486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652144083113344298.post-51520608103061356182017-08-09T20:17:00.003-07:002021-02-11T11:43:08.810-08:00RT Mac Story Chap's 11-15<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 11</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rick began the story
of Wilder’s restoration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s really a
civic pride project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The town was almost
dead in the late 1960s, but a library employee from another branch spotted a
painting in the library’s attic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
a bustling 1800s town, but the guy thought he knew the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He finally matched up the buildings in the
painting to some old foundations here in town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We saw what our town used to be and thought we could bring that back.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah said, “When we
decided to go for restoration is when my husband and I bought this place and
the lot next door that‘s now Sarah’s Place.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rick continued, “It
was really weird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nobody fought the idea
and everyone agreed Thistle Dew/Wilder needed the facelift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All that was on the square at the time was
the Hardware, Post Office, Tackle Company, Bank and Library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one, and the dry goods store buildings
were there, too, but abandoned and in bad repair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Hardware almost closed a couple times and
the bank was close to moving out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
library’s been pretty persistent in staying alive and our newfound love for
history and old buildings has given it some new life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, local construction got the
hardware and bank to reconsider their plans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I really like this kind of stuff!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “And it
shows!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re good at it, too.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rick said, “When I
finish high school, I’m going to get an architectural history degree and get a
job with the DNR to work on their historic sites.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lydia, the confident
little girl, said, “I get to dance in a long dress when Uncle Cyrus plays his
fiddle!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Most of Wilder’s pretty excited about what
we’re doin’ here,” added George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I can see why,” said
Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Can we see the rest of
town?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I definitely want to come back and
spend more time here.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sarah had to get
back to work, so Redtail and George continued the tour.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Next door to Wilder
Museum was Thistle Dew Hardware.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
front of the hardware store was a long bench and wooden rocking chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail wrinkled her nose at the spittoon
between the two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “It’s
more a trash can and ash tray than a spittoon, though it can get nasty from
time to time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m just glad I don’t have
to mess with it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They stepped into the
store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail asked, “Do
all the places have wooden floors like this?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Nah,
Gus’ and Rita’s places have more industrial floors, and the bank’s pretty<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>modern on the inside.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Hey George,” called
the large man emerging from behind a shelf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Hey Big Al!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meet Redtail, my
granddaughter,” replied George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Al bowed and said,
“How do you do, Ma’am, and welcome to Thistle Dew.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He looked at George and smirked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, almost
under his breath, “Wilder.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George and
Al laughed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Big Al explained,
“George is one of those ‘Snooties’ who think they KNOW Thistle Dew is REALLY
Wilder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re the Realists, who can read
the writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve seen the official papers.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George broke in, “No
no no!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re the Realists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know Wilder is MEANT to be Wilder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are actually the Wrongs.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Both Al and George
laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Big Al said, “We
don’t really fight, but like to play things up for… Hey, George, didja tell ‘er
about the Spring bash and Walk on the Wilder Side?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh yeah,” said
George, “she’s heard.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Anyway,” Al
continued, “We like to have fun with our two names.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said to Al,
“We probably oughtta be running off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
need to show Redtail the rest of town, get some lunch and head home to show her
around our own place.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “Good
to meet you, Big Al.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Next is the Post
Office, which is pretty much the same as any Post Office on the inside,”
explained George as they continued to Gus’ place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We’ll get to the Post Office some time soon.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gus’ Wilder Bait and
Tackle was a big building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It spanned
nearly the whole width of the square.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Gus stocked mainly fishing gear, including his own line of handmade
wooden plugs, flies and spinners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
also stocked a few firearms and some basic archery, trapping and camping
gear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail browsed the
camping goodies and said, “I don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This new stuff seems almost too flashy when I think about my gear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I’m pretty well set.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “As long
as I’m here, I’m gonna get some flashy new fishing line.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail smiled and
asked, “Can I keep the old line, too?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
can still use it for traps and stuff.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">About then, Gus
walked in the front door, “Finding everything you need?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Yeah,
just showing my granddaughter, Redtail, around town and picking up some new
line.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gus said, “I saw you
from the General Store while I was getting some snacks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was hopin’ I’d get back before y’all gave
up and left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Welcome to Wilder,
Redtail.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George got a fat
spool of his favorite 10 pound monofilament and they headed for the Thistle Dew
Library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gus said, “Now don’t
you make yerself a stranger ‘round here.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail called back,
“I got a feeling I might be making myself more a pest.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail and George
stepped off the boardwalk and George pointed out the bank, tucked just off the
corner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail acknowledged
the bank, but looked farther down the road and asked, “Oh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What church is that?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “That’s
the Wilder Independent Baptist Church: one of the first establishments in
town.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Can we go Sunday?”
Redtail asked with eager anticipation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Sure we
can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s been a few Sundays since my
last visit, but I think I remember how it’s done.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“We don’t have to
really do anything,” said Redtail, “All the hard stuff’s already been
done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh thank you, Grandpa George!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George and Redtail
stepped up on the boardwalk again onto the last leg of the square before
arriving back at the Jail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They stepped
into the next building, ringing the bell which hung from the inside door
handle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Linda-Jean, the
librarian, looked up from a computer screen and cheerfully bid George
greetings, “And who accompanies you today, George?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“This is Redtail, my
granddaughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’ll be staying with me
at least part of the Summer.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Linda-Jean stood up
and extended a handshake to Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
they shook hands, Linda-Jean said, “Welcome to our humble library.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “Thank
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think your library looks quite
nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could you point me to
non-fiction?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Linda-Jean answered,
“Why sure, it’s right over there along that wall.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail headed for
the 220s and looked…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and looked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Puzzled a bit, then walked back to the
circulation desk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Where do you keep
your Bibles?” Redtail asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I don’t think we
have any,” said Linda-Jean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“That’s kinda
odd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t it still the number one
best-seller in the World?” asked Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yeah, but it’s not
library policy to keep media if it doesn’t circulate,” explained
Linda-Jean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George looked up from
his paper and asked, “You mean, if I donate some books like those campcraft
books a couple years ago and nobody checks ‘em out, they might evaporate out of
the system?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Linda-Jean said,
“Yep, that’s what could happen.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Well I
better get to checkin’ more stuff out, quick!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Linda-Jean said, “I
think the case with Bibles is if someone wants one, they usually own a
copy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s get Redtail set up with a
card so she can help keep books circulated.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Gettin’ Redtail a
card might be trouble,” said George, “See, she ain’t got any ID, and we ain’t
found no birth records yet.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Linda-Jean laughed,
“Well, shoot, George, if she’s stayin’ at your place and you’ll vouch for her,
that oughtta be good enough.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail smiled and
gave George an asking look with her eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Let’s go for it,” said George.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “We’re
going to church Sunday, so I’ll still need a Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Pooh Bear would say, ‘Think… think…
think…’.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Linda-Jean said, “If
you’re goin’ to church here in town, one of the Sunday School teachers has a
bunch of hand-out Bibles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s my
church, too.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “If I
don’t find an extra one at home, sounds like you’ll still be set up.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George and Redtail headed
toward the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail smiled and
waved as George said, “You have a wonderful day, Linda-Jean!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the way, how’d you know Redtail was
staying at my place?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Linda-Jean said,
“Everybody in town knows that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
oughtta have your card back in a few days, Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, really, I just came from City Hall, and
Sarah said y’all might be dropping by.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As they got out to
the boardwalk, Redtail said “That was cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think I’ve always liked libraries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What’s next?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Next, we have the
General Store, run by either Mayor Douglas or The Honorable Lawrence Douglas or
Larry, depending on what he’s wearing,” said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He’s quirky fun.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They entered the
store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Near the door, attached to a
cardboard box about four by four by four feet, hung a big sign which read, “If
You Need Assistance, Crank Handle.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George snorted,
“What’s he up to now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OK, I’ll bite.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George walked up to the box and started to
wind the crank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s playing ‘Pop Goes the Weasel’,” he said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stopping just short of the “Pop!”, he asked
Redtail, “You wanna finish?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Smiling and shaking
her head, she said, “No, I think this is a job you should finish.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George looked at the
box and slowly cranked the handle for the “Pop!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all expected it, but they all still
jumped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail jumped and gave a little
squeak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George jumped as he quickly
cranked out “goes the weasel.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Larry
jumped up as the lid of the box sprung open, with a cheerful, “Good
morning!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How may I help you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whew!” Larry sighed, “for a second there, I
didn’t think you were going to let me out.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“You been sittin’ in
there since Gus left?” asked George. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Wha… Gus was
here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, I saw you as you stepped out
of the library,” said Larry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I built
the musical part for the box and thought I’d try it out before making it more
durable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It should be fun at Walk on the
Wilder Side.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“So, you must be
Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m Larry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Welcome to Wilder.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “We were
making the rounds, and we got two more stops before we head out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want to see if Rita’s in, then get some
lunch.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail asked, “Do
you happen to have sewing kits? And a notebook, and a pen?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Ya know, Redtail, I
think we’ve got all that –maybe not a sewing ‘kit’ but needle and thread,” said
Larry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail rounded up
the items on her mental shopping list and even got change back from her
ten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As they departed the
Wilder General Store, Larry said, “Y’all need to drop by and try out the fancy,
painted, wood version of the jack-in-the-box when I get it done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have fun in Wilder now.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George and Redtail
stepped out on the boardwalk again and headed to their last stop on the
tour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Larry and Rita maintained the
little patch of mowed grass between their places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It featured a couple picnic tables and some
patches of flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, as they
neared Rita’s Catering, “It’s lookin’ mighty dark in there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s probably off on some luncheon run or
something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They got those for someone
all the time at the junior college in Higginsburg.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George knocked on the door anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I guess everyone else is having lunch now, so we might as well head
over to the old Thistle Dew Food ‘n’ Fuel for ours,” George said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Rita’s place used to be the old feed store
–sort of still is, but it prepares people feed now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, Rita caters, but we’re gonna go to the
sit-down feed store.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On their way to the
Food ‘n’ Fuel, they poked their heads in at City Hall to let Sarah know they
were getting some lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah said, “I’ll
join you if I can get away, but if not, I’ll catch ya later.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As they headed out
again, George checked on Mr. Ziffel who was curled up asleep in the back of the
truck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So they scurried across the road.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 12</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George squinted as
his eyes adjusted to the dim light in the Thistle Dew Food ‘n’ Fuel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail shut her eyes tight, covered her ears
and even winced as if in pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George asked, “You
OK?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“They’re always
fighting and yelling,” Redtail said with a near whimper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Election year
stuff,” said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He caught the
waitress’ attention and asked, “Can that be turned down some –at least ‘til
they quit fighting?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The waitress smiled,
rolled her eyes and said, “Gladly!” as she pointed the remote at the TV hanging
in the corner and muted it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Let’s take the table
under the TV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That way, the sound’ll be
directed over us instead of at us,” suggested George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Sounds like a plan,”
agreed Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George started the
table-talk, “What do you think of Wilder –aside from the TV?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I love it all! --specially
Sarah’s place, the Museum and the library, even if it doesn’t have Bibles,”
said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She went on, “I want to
learn all I can about old Wilder and the 1800s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll bet things were a lot more peaceful before all the electro-gadgetry
took over.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Just then, two cell
phones went off a couple tables from theirs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yeah,” agreed
George, “electrical communications and media sure have turned up the intensity
of ‘civilized’ life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I gotta admit,
I do like my Internet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can communicate
on my time, with the volume usually off, and can be selective on who gets to
fuss at me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I think it’s the
loudness and anger that gets me most,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“By the way, I looked
up the weather this morning, and it’s looking like rain tomorrow night and for
a few days after.” said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail got a look of
concern over the weather report, “Hmm, my camp’s on some low, fairly flat
ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I oughtta build a wet-weather
camp, too.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“If you don’t want to
stay up at the house, or even in the barn, I’ve got enough wood on hand to
build a decent weather-proof mini-house,” offered George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That site you’ve got picked out is nice,
weather permitting, but it gets pretty soggy in wet weather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s even flooded a couple times,” said
George.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George and Redtail,
expecting maybe Sarah, looked at the door as it admitted more lunchers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were a young couple, barely out of high
school, if that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail smiled and gave
a little finger-wiggle of a wave at the boy, who quickly turned bright red and
pretended not to notice as he steered his girlfriend to the other side of the
service area.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail looked at
George and eagerly explained, “That’s the guy I almost met at the Supply
Depot!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George almost snorted
his coffee out his nose and chuckled, “I wondered how you knew him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s Al’s son, Dave –‘LITTLE’ Al’s
son.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail continued,
“He left Supply before I could even say ‘Hi!’”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “He knew
he’d be caught if he didn’t get out quick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll have to drop in on Little Al just to be seen by Dave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That oughtta put some fear of dumping without
permission into him.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George smiled and
shook his head as he continued eating.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The door opened again
and in walked Sarah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah saw the kids
first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hello Dave,” she said, and gave
a nod of greetings to his girlfriend.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dave spilled his
drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George started to laugh, but
caught himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sarah looked over at
George and said, “That’s not funny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
spilled his drink all over himself and in front of his new girlfriend.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dave’s girlfriend
looked at Dave and whispered, “NEW girlfriend?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t think I’m hungry.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah looked at the
couple, and at George and back at Dave and his girlfriend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No, I didn’t mean Dave is a womanizer or
anything…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The couple got up,
paid for their drinks and were leaving as George said, “I don’t guess I’ll need
to talk to Al at all.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To top it all off, Al
was walking in from the garage and asked, loudly enough to be overheard by the
departing Dave, “Talk to me about what, George?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out Dave and his girlfriend rushed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Al asked, “Wow, who
was that leaving in such a rush?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George pushed his
plate aside and put his head on the table, laughing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sat up and said to Al, “Now don’t give
Dave a hard time after I tell you what just happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think he’s had a rough enough day
already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really wonder what was going
through his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nah, just give him
‘The Look’ a couple times and don’t say anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let him sweat.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Sweat?” asked Al.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George began, in a
poor, but recognizable “Twilight Zone” narration tone: “Imagine, if you will, a
young man and his date enter an early lunchtime restaurant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His attention is immediately drawn to the
woman who nearly caught him in the act of illegal dumping, when she waved and
greeted him, confirming the recognition question. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows she is seated with the distinguished
landowner of his planned dump site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
go to their table and pretend to sit down not noticing, when the police
dispatcher arrives and makes it known, she, too, knows him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shock causes him to spill his drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She then takes a seat with the witness to the
near-crime and the distinguished landowner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The couple attempt a get-away, but not before hearing the distinguished
landowner and the young man’s father saying they needed to talk.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George laughed and
continued, “I can almost feel him sweating the crime, while trying to explain
away Sarah’s “new girlfriend” comment to his date, and why they had to leave
before ordering lunch.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George laughed again,
and Redtail said, “Poor kid.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah pouted, “Yeah,
and I even unwittingly added to the heat.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Al said, with a
smile, “I oughtta ask, this evening, So, Dave, I had lunch with George, Sarah
and… and… “<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George added, “Oh,
this is Redtail, my granddaughter.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Al continued, “So,
Dave, how bout you tell me about your day, --just to see what info he volunteers.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George just about
choked, “Al, you oughtta play “Alice’s Restaurant” for mood music so Dave can
hear it before you ask him about his day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That illegal dumping theme might get him sweating before you say
anything.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Sooooooooo,” began Sarah
with a sing-songy tone, “Redtail, what have you got planned for the rest of
your day?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Al said, “I’d hate to
be in Dave’s shoes right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was a
fun story, but who’s the ‘distinguished landowner’ you kept mentioning?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah added, “Yeah that
was a puzzler to me, too.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Rhetorical
questions,” chuckled George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail answered
Sarah’s question, “George said rain’s in the forecast, so I’ll probably be
spending most of the afternoon building a wet-weather camp, and moving.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I almost forgot,” said George, “I got a tent
you can use, so you don’t have to rush in moving your site.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah gave George an
almost dirty look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George defended
himself, “THAT’S IF she doesn’t want to stay in the house or other
shelter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not abandoning her to the
elements.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah squinted at
George, “I had to make sure.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Al said, “It’s
getting’ late enough you might run out of time to set up a campsite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, I’d wait ‘til drier weather for
camping.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “I
think I’m going to try to camp out all summer long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like it outdoors, and want to see how long
I can go –except for those times Grandpa takes me out to Civilization.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail took her last bite, and said to
George, “I’m ready when you are.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George
stood up and out they went, bidding their proper farewells.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Outside, Redtail asked, “That special was good!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was it?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Ya know, I’m really
not sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a burger, but I didn’t
notice what the special was.” They got to the truck and Mr. Ziffel stood up and
stretched and started wagging his tail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He got head pats and body skritches from both his people.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Into the truck and
buckled up, Redtail said, “I think I’m in a happier mood now, than last time I
snapped a seatbelt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like Wilder!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yep,” George said,
“Wilder’s a pretty decent place –decent people, too.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On their way home, Redtail alerted on a yard
sale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She craned her neck as they
passed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George asked, “See something you
liked?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh, they had a
bicycle, but it looked pretty small.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
thought one might be handy for running into town if you were gone or busy or
something,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “There’s
two or three in the barn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They might
need a little work to get ‘em operational, but they were in good shape when
they moved in there.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“That sounds like a
project for after I get my campsite moved and round up some more food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That tasty lunch took some of the urgency off
the food thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you again!” said
Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The crew arrived home
around 1:00.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still a good chunk of the day
left for woodcrafting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail and
George got out of the truck and Mr Ziffel stiffly walked down his plank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He shook it off when he arrived on the ground
and began wagging his tail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something
told him it was going to be a fun afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “I’m
gonna go get that tent and the bikes out of the barn and dusted off.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I better head to the
woods and find a new site,” said Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 13</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Less than a hundred
feet into the woods, Redtail found a nice spot for a site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It featured a gentle incline so water wouldn’t
stand, and was high enough she was convinced there’d be no flooding and little,
if any, runoff from higher ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
little brush needed trimming so she headed back to the barn for advice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail passed the barn just as George
stepped out with the tent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh good,” said
Redtail, “I think I found a nice site, but there’s some brush, a redbud tree
and a little hackberry sort of in the way.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Let’s
go for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll bring the chainsaw and
axe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Got the tent, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gotta tell ya though, I loaned it to the
church youth group a few years back and it came home with an eight inch gash in
the floor and a pencil-sized hole in the ceiling in the right hand room.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail exclaimed,
“Right hand room!?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How big is that
thing?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“It’s 9’x22’, if I
remember right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three rooms.” answered
George.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By the time they cleared
the campsite, Redtail had gotten pretty good with the axe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aside from getting thorned a few times by
Autumn olive and multiflora rose, George and Redtail cleared a fine site
without injury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail got a fair stack
of firewood in the process as well as a brushpile to bring in some future
game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Ziffel made regular rounds and
insured everything ran smoothly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George got on his
hands and knees and began shuffling around like he’d lost a pair of glasses and
was blind without them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail started
to wonder, then figured out what he was looking for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George caught her
puzzled look at about the same time and said, “Just when you think you’ve got
all the little stubs and staubs or whatever you call ‘em cleared out, you’ll
find one just past bedtime when you’re almost asleep unless ya check really
really good.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ve got a pretty good mattress, but yeah, I
found one with my knee the other night,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George, now the
puzzled one, questioned, “Supply had a mattress?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail proudly
announced, “No, I made one!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Well, ya got me
curious.” said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I cut open eight
catfood bags and sewed them together with that fishing line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I stuffed the casing with dry leaves and
grass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s about twin size, and it
insulates nicely from the ground,” explained Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I even made a top blanket from more bags and
some of that thin sheety foam plastic packing stuff.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I better head on
down and start bringing stuff up hill –and think about dinner, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have much dried stuff in stock,” said
Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George asked, “Want
some help with that, or should I start setting up the tent?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “I’ve
only got a few trips and they’re not heavy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I can even set up the tent if you’ve got other stuff to do.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’ll get the tent
set up and then get out of your hair for the day,” said George.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“One more thing,
Grandpa George: which direction do our nastiest winds come from?” inquired
Redtail. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “We get
our strongest winds mostly from the south and southwest, but stormwise, they’re
mostly from the northwest.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail rounded up
her first load, which was mattress, blanket and non-weatherproof items from her
camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As she loaded up, she got an
idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail grabbed a saw blade from
her tool stash and also took that up on her first load.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Up at the wet-weather
site, Redtail stacked the brush she and George had removed to the south and
southwest of the tent, to buffer the wind of potential storms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As she stacked the brush, she looked for the
perfect stick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail wanted to try her
hand at using a cubit stick for hunting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The stick she found had
a slight curve to it, but would have to do until the better perfect stick
appeared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her cubit stick (cubit being
the length of elbow to fingertips of the measurer) was hackberry, and about 1
¼” thick. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hackberry’s a bit rough, but
it’s a nice tough wood for a cubit stick, or very simple throwing stick for
hunting and sport.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Back down at the
original site, Redtail rounded up the rest of her tools and more valuable items
from the camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The leaves rustled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She thought she hadn’t had much practice with
the cubit stick, but she may as well practice on a real target.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She stopped packing and spotted her
quarry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a squirrel rummaging for
a snack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was about 50 feet away –a
nice range for throwing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail slowly
side-stepped a sapling which could have blocked her shot as she drew her arm and
stick back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In one smooth fast motion, her
shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand whipped and released the stick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The action was all quick, but her thoughts
went into slow motion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Arrghh!” she
thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I let go too late.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The stick took a trajectory slightly to the
left of her target, but the target, too, decided flight was in its best
interest, so the squirrel took off to the left, as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Quick, grab something to finish it off
before it regains its senses and runs, should it be hit.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail started to run toward the squirrel,
bending down to grab her steel rod.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
spinning blur of the stick, in the meantime, hit the squirrel squarely in the
head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The squirrel spun in the leaves
and started kicking as Redtail fell on it with a couple quick whacks of the
rod.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She got the squirrel with the first
throw of her cubit stick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail wasn’t
smug and proud of her shot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knew her
aim was off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, she had her dinner.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail cleaned the
squirrel before anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blunt objects
as weapons can leave nasty bruising unless the meat’s taken care of fast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A little shoulder and neck damage, but the
bulk of the squirrel was going to roast up nicely at her new site.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Back to the new
wet-weather site, with squirrel, tools and valuables, Redtail began to settle
in. First things first. Redtail sat down and made a mental note of
what she still needed, well, almost.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I'm going to
want a place to sit, but, I do have a squirrel that won't wait for me.
Fire pit comes first," thought Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail took out her
shovel blade and started digging the fire pit, and she thought while she dug.
"Ha! Killing two birds with one stone. That'd be nice. A
little extra meat. If it don't rain too hard, the dirt I'm piling will
make a nice sitting spot. Killing birds with stones --I wonder how hard a
sling is to make and use? No, not a sling SHOT, but a sling. Two
completely different weapons. Atlatl might be easier. Hmm.
Spear? I wonder it there's flint or chert in this ground. I suppose
I could teach myself flint-knapping. The first one to make an arrowhead
did. Augh! More worms! I better get that coffee can
closer. How can I stockpile meat better? What's the difference
between McSumpneruther and MacSumpneruther besides the "a"? Why
on Earth do Scotsmen play bagpipes? Maybe the Scotswomen just have better
musical taste. Why do I continue to think of the old man who identified
me as "the old man" or "that old man?" I'm gonna give
him an acronym for a name. Henceforth, The Old Man is Tom. I wonder
how much work one of Grandpa's bikes will take?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As Redtail dug, her
mind wandered all over the place. "Don't get lost now. Ya
hear?" she thought with a smile.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fire pit dug.
Fuel pile stacked and lit. Redtail sat down on her dirt mound and gave a
sigh of accomplishment. Suddenly, her satisfied demeanor changed.
She squinted. Her nose curled. Her mouth wrinkled up. She
wondered, "Eww! Yuck! Did I dig into some putrefying ox
carcass or what?" She started to stand up, retched slightly, and
then noticed Mr. Ziffel had come back on scene.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail laughed and
gagged as she scrambled to her feet, looking something like a panicked spider
on a slick hardwood floor. Mr. Ziffel, of course, thought she'd come up
with a new petting game and tried harder to get his head under her hand.
Redtail made it to upright. Her hands and arms flapped like butterfly
wings as she hopped and ran backward. Mr. Ziffel was having such a good
time with Redtail's new game he started barking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The frenzy of
activity subsided and Redtail laughed, still keeping her distance from Mr.
Ziffel. "Oh my gosh! *WHAT* did you find to roll in? You
must be the proudest dog in the World!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While the fire burnt
down to cooking quality, Redtail covered her wood pile with the tarp and
wondered how she might make an all-weather fire pit. Meanwhile, Mr.
Ziffel found something to poke his nose at near the base of a nearby
tree. Redtail still kept an eye on him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail found a fair
amount of wire. Her Cool Stuff collection eagerly welcomed the
hand-coiled 10 and 12 gauge copper wire, partial roll of 17 gauge galvanized
electric fence wire and a roll of softer but heavier stuff she called stove
pipe wire. Redtail thought she'd heard of some kind of illness over
copper in a diet, but also of the joy of cooking on copper pans. She
practiced erring to the side of caution, so she didn't pick copper for her
cooking wire. She knew not to use galvanized pails for cooking because
the chemicals from the galvanizing process leach into the food. She ruled
out the fence wire. Redtail couldn't think of cautions with plain steel
wire, so she rubbed the excess rust off a length of stovepipe wire and used
that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail stuffed the
body cavity of her squirrel with wild onions, carrots and parsnip. With
her 'cooking wire' she bound it all together and secured it to an old T-post
she found in the woods. She suspended her dinner over the fire and sat
back to think. She had lots of time for that, living in the woods, pretty
much alone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail looked at Mr.
Ziffel as he wandered off toward the house. "I'm glad I didn’t get
too far off in the wilderness. I'd probably have a trusty dog, but have
to think stuff like how much better live food keeps." She said
aloud, but not so loud Mr. Ziffel might think she was calling him, "Don't
worry Mr. Ziffel. You're not dinner." She laughed, "Maybe
breakfast or lunch, no, stop that!" She smiled and shook her head
and turned the squirrel over to roast the other side. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail finished her
dinner and did the dishes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She realized
she had a little while more of daylight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She got up and hopped a few times to work off a near-cramp in her
leg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hmm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I oughtta eat more Queen Anne’s lace greens
for the potassium and, of course, drink more,” she thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She headed up to the barn to see if George
found a bike, and for some general snooping.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail got up to the
mowed grass and into the graveled driveway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>George’s truck was gone, so she figured he went into town for
something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She stepped into the barn
through the people door, as opposed to the cattle or equipment doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The door opened into a short hallway with a
door capping off the left and right ends of the hall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To the left was the milk processing room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of which remained of the equipment was
the deep double stainless steel sink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On
the opposite end of the hall was the milking area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The milking area used to house about 40
Holsteins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail found the
bicycle quite quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George had pulled
the bike from its storage location and set it out in the middle of the floor in
the milking area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail guessed it was
for her, but didn’t want to get too excited about it until she asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She snooped around a bit and found a whisk
broom and began to dust off the bike.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Whisk, whisk,
whisk.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-pause-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Whisk, whisk, whisk.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-pause-
“Whisk, whisk, whisk, whisk, whisk.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>-get up- -move away-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-let the
dust settle-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-repeat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After about a dozen or so rounds of whisking,
Redtail figured the bike to be ride-worthy, pending a functional
check-out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The daylight got to be a
little dim for Redtail to continue playing with the bicycle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She determined all the bike needed were tubes
and tires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About then, the gravel
started crunching in the driveway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>George’s truck came into view as Redtail stepped out of the barn.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail stomped her
feet a couple times, leaving a little cloud of dust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She brushed herself off and waved at
George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She realized she was waving the
whisk broom, and ran back into the barn to put it back where she found it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She scurried back outside and met George
about halfway between the truck and barn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>George asked, “Didja find the bike I got out?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t take time to get it all prettied up
for you because a sudden need in Higginsburg popped up.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yes, I found the
bike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s why I was so dusty when I came
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been working on it,” said
Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Tomorrow’s
Saturday,” said George, “and I’ll be gone to Big River most the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get to teach one of their scout troops
about survival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You oughtta try that
some time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re sure getting the
practical experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, I had to
pick up some napkins and paper plates for the program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Picked you up a Bible, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re still game for Sunday morning, right?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh, thank you again
and again –the trip to town, lunch, tent, and now a Bible!” said Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Thank
YOU!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s fun having someone to share
stuff with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We never did have kids, but
if you’re a taste of it, me and Mae Mae missed out on a lot!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh!” said Redtail,
“and yes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m game for Sunday
morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll have to build me a sundial
for time approximation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m pretty much
up when it gets light, so I’ll be ready.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“9:30 and 10:45 for
Sunday school and worship,” said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Wanna try both?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Absolutely!” said
Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Do you have a refrigerator
with magnets for hanging stuff in case I get to do some crafts in Sunday School?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked at George for an awkward second of
silence and she laughed, adding, “just kidding.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George shook his head
and laughed and said, “You’re just different enough I’m not quite sure when you
are and when you’re not.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They exchanged smiles
and Redtail said, “I better be getting’ to bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve got a fun day lined up for tomorrow, too.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 14</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail woke up and
laid there listening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She loved the
racket the barred owls made at daybreak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I wonder what I can kick up for breakfast,” she thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She smiled and kicked a wad of damp
leaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Redtail flicked the stuck
leaf from her foot she spotted critter movement.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail pounced on
the leaves, slapping here and there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
picked up three little morsels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gave
two an immobilizing thorax pinch and from the third, picked some tiny dirt and
leaf particles from the sticky ruptured spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roaches are tender little
buggers,” she thought as she went to get a baby food jar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she returned to the exposed spot, she
picked half a dozen earthworms and put them in the coffee can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She reserved the jar for cleaner stuff that
really didn’t need rinsing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail grunted in
frustration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I suppose I gotta get the
fire going instead of being side-tracked into a micro-hunting trip.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She poked around the old fire bed and found
enough glowing red to get a ball of mouse-starter lit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail stacked on some kindling and then
heavier fuel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Time to let this burn
down to a cook fire.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She watched the
smoke rise straight up in the still, thick, damp-smelling air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She thought, as she looked at the gray sky,
“Yep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looks and even smells like
rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like this feel.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail closed her eyes, smiled and breathed
deeply.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh frustrations!”
exclaimed Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Rain!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That means forage time might be limited or
even canceled over the next couple days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I better run down to the creek now instead of later.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a purposeful pace, Redtail headed to an
almost pond-sized widening in the creek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was farther downstream from the Laundry Room by a few minutes, but
the fish tended to be bigger.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After only 20 minutes
of fishing, Redtail had four nice sunfish and a bass of about 13 inches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She thought she’d better quit, rather than
risk part of catch going bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
figured the bass would be too chunky to store well, so she happily gave in to a
substantial breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She baked the
sunfish on a small rack in a big pan, trying to keep the heat high enough to
bake and dry the fish, but low enough not to scorch it</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Almost finished with
her breakfast bass, Redtail spotted her roaches in the cook water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Better git ‘em while they’re still hot,” she
thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She took a fork and scooped
them out of the water and popped them into her mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She bit down gently, “Pop! Pop! Squish.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“All simmered to perfection,” she
thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I wonder why people are so
squeamish about eating roaches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re
about the most mouth-friendly of any of the ento-cuisine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These little woods roaches are about the best
of all of them.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail insured all
was safe with her campsite and thought, “If I’m going to get back before the
rain comes too hard, I better get going now.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She grabbed a cat food bag and set out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She stopped by the barn to write down the tire size for the bike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She picked about a gallon’s worth of
dandelion flowers before she began her walk into town.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail hadn’t gotten
many steps out ZZ toward Thistle Dew before she noticed a pond that looked to
be about 4 acres with about a half-acre island connected to the shore by a
bridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wondered if it might be
George’s pond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She hadn’t seen the pond
on their way to town the other morning because it was partially obscured behind
the trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bigger reason was likely
because she had been pouting about that trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Today was different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
liked Thistle Dew and Wilder and was eager to return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail aimed to acquire tires and tubes for
her bicycle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She packed her money, her
specifications for tire size and a forage bag so she’d not waste all that
walking time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail spotted a patch of
wild parsnip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She realized one thing she
hadn’t brought was a digging tool.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As she walked, she
thought, “If this had been after the rain and it was this cloudy, I might’ve
tried to pull some of that parsnip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
the ground’s too dry and I don’t wanna risk bruising up the foliage and getting
that juice on me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail strolled on. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The road curved to
the north.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Conservation Area was to
her left and fields and patchy woods to her right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was now well beyond George’s place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just past the curve, Redtail spotted a
drainage ditch between two fields.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Concrete rubble had been dumped on either side for erosion control or
maybe just disposal convenience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Protruding from several concrete slabs were pieces of rebar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail didn’t just see concrete junk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She saw digging tools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like Excalibur, they were waiting for the
worthy recipient to come along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She set
her bag down just off the road and carefully hopped down the bank to the slabs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail picked a bar about
3’ long and started working it back and forth until it snapped off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gave it a spinning toss toward her bag
and started working on a two-footer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Being a little shorter, it was slightly stiffer to get it rocking back
and forth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She finally got it broke off
and absent-mindedly touched the freshly broke end as she surveyed her
surroundings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ouch!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s hot!” she gasped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should’ve expected that.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back up the bank she staggered on the
concrete chunks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some were solidly
planted and some wobbled vigorously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
almost lost her balance a couple times, but didn’t quite fall or otherwise
injure herself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Up ahead a fence came
to a corner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The old log posts were
sturdily braced with heavy steel pipes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A heavy steel pipe was just what Redtail was looking for, but she found
no exposed ends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail smiled as she
saw, down the fence about 50 feet, a small tree with a tightly angled fork
about four feet off the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ha!”
she thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Thistle Dew for a rebar
bender since I don’t see good steel pipes.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail was proud of her new-found practical use for some local
grammar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She went up to the tree and
used it to hold an end of the rebar so she could bend it into a handle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she was finished, Redtail owned two new
digging tools, looking somewhat like a tire iron and an awkwardly long
one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She put the short digger in her bag
and casually swung the long one like a cane as she walked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail’s journey
gave her about ¾ of a mile of wooded, hilly road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she heard a car, she stepped off the
road in an attempt to remove herself as a hazard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The woodchuck didn’t think himself a hazard,
so he stayed put, snooping about the rubble near the edge of the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The car popped up over the hill and the
woodchuck turned the wrong direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The car swerved a bit, but not quite enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The situation ended up being bad news for the
woodchuck and good news for Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
driver probably shook it off and continued to his destination, not giving it
much more thought.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail looked at the
pile of fresh meat and considered her lack of anticipation of such a
situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She might not have been
prepared, but she was resourceful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I
guess litterbugs aren’t all bad,” Redtail said as she picked up a flat pint
bottle and a plastic bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She put the
bottle in the bag and tapped it a couple times on her rebar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bottle broke and she checked it for
suitable cutting edges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail got a
nice break of about 45 degrees across a narrow end of the bottom of the
bottle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No sharp tips or weak, thin
spots that might leave glass bits in the meat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail stepped back
up to the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked and
listened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She heard no sign of
approaching vehicles, so she scurried up to the woodchuck, glanced it over,
grabbed it by the tail, and scurried into the trees a bit, so she could clean
it without upsetting any passing traffic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail laughed as she thought about what she just did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ll bet that looked really animal-like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel like I should crouch over it and
growl.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that’s just what she did,
though she didn’t overdo it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She curled
back her lips to expose her teeth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Grrrrr!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grrr!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She thought, “That didn’t sound too frightening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ‘Grrr’ like a girrrl.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And she gave herself an approving chuckle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The woodchuck’s head
and shoulders were in pretty rough shape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sparing the gruesome details, the skin cut and pulled easily off the
body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The soft belly cut easily for
entrails removal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail made a cut
around the body like a belt, right under the ribcage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She grasped the slippery wad in both
hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Front end in her right hand and
hind quarters in her left, she firmly jabbed her thumbs into the back where the
cuts met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She bent the body sharply back
and forth and side to side until the two sections were only attached by tendons
and spinal cord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She put on her
determined look and wondered, with a smile, “OK, now do I stick my tongue out
to the left or right for this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s do this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Righty-tighty, leftie-loosie.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She twisted the two parts ‘til they broke
free of one another.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail put the hind
quarters in a plastic shopping bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
entrails and front, she shoved into another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She packed up the broken bottle and wrapped it in an old nearby paper
bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She rounded everything up and
headed out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had lots of time for that, recently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“For as big as they are, a woodchuck doesn’t
have much meat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mostly guts –a big
digestion machine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not as bad as a
‘possum, but still…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll probably
process a ‘chuck if I run across one again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A snapping turtle’s got lots of meat, but it’s a pain to clean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d still do it again anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like vultures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope they like this part of the ‘chuck I’m
not going to eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve read a
woodchuck’s like a squirrel on steroids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They’re sure not as buff as a squirrel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Squirrels are like a big hard muscle attached to teeth, claws and a
tail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About the only thing I can think
of that’s buffer is a pike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re just
teeth and muscle with orneriness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
weren’t many pines in that woods, and the soil’s hardly sandy at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why’d that thought about pines and sand pop
into my head?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The road left the
woods for mostly-open land for the rest of the trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About a hundred yards into the open, Redtail
unloaded the buzzard food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well,” she
laughed, “after all my work getting that accessible, they’d better appreciate
it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About then, a car full of kids
drove past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She thought she saw three in
the back window waving and smiling happily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She gave a big wave back.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She reached the spot
she thought she’d seen garlic on her previous trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was starting to put on the distinctive
curly flower heads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She cut a
bouquet-sized handful of heads and another handful of greens and continued on
her way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Soon Thistle Dew and
Wilder came into view, as did another patch of wild parsnip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time, Redtail had digging tools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She dug enough for two meals and very
carefully cut the greens off the roots, placing the parsnips in another bag</span>
and continued to her destination. Redtail turned off County Road ZZ and
into the Wilder side of town. She smiled as she looked across the mowed
green square. “Hardware Store, here I come!”<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 15</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was only fiveish
miles from home to Wilder, but Redtail put on close to twice that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost 2:00, so she felt slightly
rushed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She made a bee-line for the
hardware store, crossing the square diagonally, not even stopping for the
abundant dandelions on the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In she
walked with the screendoor jingling the bell behind her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Good mor… er,
afternoon, Redtail,” said Big Al, coming out from the back room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This day has flown by for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can I help you find something?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Hi Big Al.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m really hoping to find bike tubes and
tires to these specifications,” said Redtail as she handed him the note.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The tubes, I got, but,
are you in a hurry?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a flash, Redtail
thought, “I need to get back before it rains. I’ve probably got enough to eat
without cooking, but I should save that in case the rain makes fires more
difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gotta get this woodchuck
cooked or dried before it spoils.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
then said, out loud, “Not really,” with discernible anxiety in her expression.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“You sure?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because I’ve got an idea that could help us
both out.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I guess I sort of
lied,” admitted Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I think I need
to get to George’s place before it rains.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Let me tell you my
plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to get in to Higginsburg
before some stores close, but I really don’t want to shut down here for the
rest of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You ever worked a
register?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’ve never worked a
register, but I’m good with advanced calculators and decent enough with computers.”
said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Not sure how I know that,
but, I am.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’d be happy to take
you back home, and I’m sure Sarah would, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’d grab what I need in town and pick up your bike tires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could show you real fast, how to do the
register and run credit cards since you already know number pads,” said Al.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’d love to help you
out, but I’ve got something in the bag that really needs to be cooked before it
goes bad,” said Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Big Al said, “No
problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got a fridge and freezer and
even a hotplate, pans and a microwave in back.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Sounds almost like
you planned this,” said Redtail, “except you didn’t know I was coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, I’ll do it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I figure if George
trusts you out at his place, I can trust you here, too,” said Al.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He began his lesson on register operations.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In about 20 minutes,
Redtail got her register training and a grand tour of the store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was ready for just about anything except
a special order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If any such requests
were made, she was to write down all the order info she could gather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail and Big Al shook hands and Al headed
out to Higginsburg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The screendoor
slapped shut and the bell jingled.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail began her
self-guided tour of the quiet store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh
wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I thought my Cool Stuff pile
was cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gotta make me a shopping
list!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She began writing: parachute
cord, tarps, screen for crawdad traps, pocket knife, hatchet, rat and mouse
traps, slingshot, gloves, potato fork…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After almost an hour of writing and wishing, the silence was broke by the
“jingle, creak, smack, jingle!” of the screendoor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The boy jumped
slightly at the sight of Redtail. He looked to be about 10 or 12 years
old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hesitatingly, he asked, “Is Mr. Al
here?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“No, he had to run to
Higginsburg for a while,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then she puffed herself up as big as she could, rising up on the balls
of her feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She stuck her elbows out
slightly and said, in a very poor manly voice, “But you can pretend I’m Big
Al.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can I help you, sir?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The boy looked
blankly at Redtail, then gave an obligatory faint smile.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“OK, maybe not an Al
substitute,” said Redtail as she let out her puff and dropped back to her
feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He left me here to mind the shop
while he’s gone.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She extended her hand
and said, “I’m Redtail.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The boy, not feeling
a lot of option, shook hands and said, “I’m Kevin.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Glad to meet you,
Kevin,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I still might be
able to help you find what you’re looking for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve been studying what all we’ve got in here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Uh, well, sometimes,
like, Mr. Al, well, he sometimes saves junk and lets me have some,” said Kevin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail wasn’t sure
if Kevin was hiding something or embarrassed or shy or a combination of the
three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, she spotted a slingshot
pouch peeking out from under Kevin’s T-shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail said, “Well darn it, Big Al didn’t tell me about his junk stash,
but maybe you can help me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kevin gave a
cautious anticipating look.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’m a small game
hunter,” began Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You might say I
make my living at it, or at least it’s a big part-time job.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kevin looked interested as Redtail went
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I use traps, cubit sticks, and
archery, mostly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I almost got a deer
with a sharp pointy stick, but that’s big game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some of my small game even comes pre-killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you recommend a slingshot or tell me what
I should look for in a good slingshot?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The ice was
broke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail hit on a pet topic for
Kevin and Kevin felt good about Redtail’s finding him worthy to ask.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“They’re not real
complicated,” started Kevin as he nervously pressed his arm against his side to
better hide his weapon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “Oh,
that’s cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw your slingshot and
that’s why I asked.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kevin was a bit
confused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He felt caught red-handed, yet
eager to talk primitive hunting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking
down at the floor, he continued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“There’s
two kinds I use, but I’m not sure what I like best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s the tubular rubber kind and the
normal rubber band kind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like ‘em
both, but I think I use the forked-stick regular rubber band kind the most.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh, I am sorry!”
interrupted Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I thought of
something I really really have to get done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I need to cook a woodchuck.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kevin, now with
excitement in his tone, asked, “Cool! Can I watch?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I don’t see why
not,” replied Redtail, “and you can keep telling me about slingshots.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail went to the
back room and got the chuck and some garlic out of the fridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She washed up the hind quarters and back real
good and mashed up the garlic and rubbed it all over the meat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Wh… Where’s the rest
of it?” asked Kevin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Probably being eaten
by vultures as we speak,” said Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh cool!” replied
Kevin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “I saw
it get hit by the car, so it was a nice fresh kill.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kevin beamed,
“Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Real roadkill!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Jingle” went the
screendoor again as two more boys about Kevin’s age came in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kevin motioned them to come quickly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Redtail’s cooking
woodchuck: real roadkill!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And she’s a
girl!” said Kevin with a you’re-not-gonna-believe-this tone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The boys glanced at
each other, at Redtail, the microwave and back at Redtail.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail checked the
meat for doneness and overheard a whispered, “She’s awesome!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She rubbed on some more garlic and said, “I
think three more minutes and we can have some lunch –OK, late lunch.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of the boys
looked a little nervous, but Kevin and the other almost in unison said, “Can we
try some?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail asked, “Have
one of you got a knife, or should I gnaw you off some chunks?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She thought, “I think I’m trying to impress
these little guys, but it’s fun.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail gave a big smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The less-than-eager
boy held out a pocket knife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
said, “Oh, this’ll work great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You wanna
try some?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He shook his head
quickly and stepped back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kevin and the
others stepped forward eagerly, trying to look around Redtail and at the
microwave that was counting down, “…4…3…2…1…DING!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They laughed and even gave a couple jumps.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She took the sizzling
chuck out of the oven and set it on the small table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kevin said, “This is Jerry and Mike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mike had the jackknife.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said,
“Welcome to my circle of friends, Jerry and Mike!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They gave honored-looking smiles.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Let’s take this out
to the porch to eat it,” suggested Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The boys just about tripped over themselves scrambling for the door, as
Redtail brought the paper plate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail sat on the
bench and Kevin and Jerry plopped down right beside her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mike dragged the rocking chair over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail gave a short prayer over the food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Lord, we often overlook how abundantly You
provide for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank You for this meal,
and please bless it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kevin and Jerry
looked eagerly at Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said, “Go
ahead.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They both grabbed chunks of
meat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail took a whole thigh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was hungry, and knew what to expect.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jerry broke the
chewy-noise with, “This is good!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
gotta hunt some woodchuck, Kev!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mike reached in for a
piece, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He smelled it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He put it in his mouth and began
chewing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His eyes got big and he looked
at Kevin and Jerry, saying, “Yeah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
gotta get some woodchuck!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As they munched, an
old pickup pulled into town and parked in front of the hardware store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out got a lanky man with a big beat-up cowboy
hat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Howdy ma’am –boys.” And he
strolled into the store.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Excuse me,” Redtail
told the boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I got a customer!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She went into the
store and said, “Hi, I’m Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Big Al
had to run some errands, so he left me here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Can I help you find something?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’m Renzo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got the salvage yard east of town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m looking for some barb wire to remind
folks where the property line is.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Renzo
smiled.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail walked right
back to the fence wire, saying, “We only got this one size.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hope it’ll suit you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it’s in, YES!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remembered it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About 1300 feet rolls.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Renzo said, “I think
this’ll do just fine.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail smiled again at
his ‘Thistle Dew’ and asked, “Got all the fasteners and tighteners and other
stuff you’ll need?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Awwww, don’t cha
like me?” asked Renzo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You don’t want
me comin’ back because I forgot something?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh, but I do like
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s why I’m trying to take care
of you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Renzo smiled, tipped
his hat and said, “That’s much appreciated, ma’am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m pretty well set up with the other
goodies.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh good, ‘cuz I
don’t remember what those bent nail staple thingies are called and it wouldn’t
sound professional for me to call ‘em that.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Renzo paid for his
merchandise and they both stepped outside –Renzo to his truck and Redtail back
to the boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Redtail got distracted
by Renzo’s Cool Stuff in the back of his truck.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Salvage yard!” said
Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’d love to go shopping there
some day.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Renzo stuck his head
out the window and asked, “What kind of stuff are you looking for?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Like a 40s or early
50s car or truck hood and a bunch of cooking grills,” Redtail said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What I’m thinkin’ of is to stand the hood up
and hang the grills inside as a smoker and food dryer for my cook fire.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I could definitely
get you set up in that area,” said Renzo.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The boys gathered
around Redtail by Renzo’s truck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
were eating up this hunting/camping talk.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Renzo asked, “Do you
have a welder?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could make all kinds
of gadgets with what I got in the yard.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I don’t even have
running water unless you count the creek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I DO have a lighter.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
smiled at that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Renzo gave a look of
disbelief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Prepper, eh?” he asked or
almost stated.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Nah, I just like it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Renzo shook his head
and said, “Well, keep in touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can
probably set you up with just about any of the materials you’ll need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll probably even have some spare barbed
wire soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gotta head out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good meeting you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They exchanged waves
as he pulled out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jerry asked,
“Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You live in the woods?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail looked at the
boys and said, “Oh, we all live in the woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some of us just have more stuff in between.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“That is so cool,”
said Kevin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail continued,
“Yeah, pretty much everything we do is wild, wrapped in different layers of
insulation and processing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A word to
summarize advances in civilization is ‘laziness’.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boys were paying attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, it helped that a real girl was
talking to them instead of scolding them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She went on, “Imagine digging a hole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You start scratching the ground with your fingers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You find a flat rock to move more dirt faster
and less painfully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was a tool to
make life easier, or less work. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s
being lazy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s avoiding work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that kind of laziness isn’t always a bad
thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, how often does anyone say
about a necessary chore, ‘Oh, this is too easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How can I make it harder?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of
course, there’s the exercise and sport people who like to increase the
challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We made lots of stuff to put
between us and the woods, in order to make things easier and more comfortable.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boys seemed to be getting what she was
saying.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail told the boys
about how without all the spare time laziness had spawned, we wouldn’t have
time for sports and entertainment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Moving a round object from one end of a field to the other, while people
tried to stop you would never have become a marketable skill were it not for
laziness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet we pay people to move
balls so we can watch them do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail got interrupted by the back door buzzer in the store.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail went into the
store with Kevin, Jerry and Mike close behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Big Al arrived from town with a tallish blonde woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail and the boys reminded Al of a mama
duck being followed by her ducklings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
said, with a laugh, “I see you met Kevin and Riff and Raff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m never sure who’s who.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boys smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, I forgot to tell you about the ‘stuff’
Kevin might’ve asked about,” said Al as he got a coffee can from behind the
counter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kevin excitedly told
Big Al about what happened while he was gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Al said to Redtail, “It looks like you made some new friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got a feeling you do that pretty much
wherever you go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the way, this lady with
me is Lena, Frank’s wife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ran into her
in the ‘burg and she’s headed to Perry’s Bend, that Conservation Area behind
your grandpa’s place, and figured you could snag a ride with her.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena extended her
hand, saying, “Welcome to Wilder, or Thistle Dew, if you must.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So you’re Redtail, the new mystery woman my
husband talks about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glad to finally
meet you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail smiled, shook
hands and said, “Glad to meet you, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Frank’s told me so much about you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lena gave a quick suspicious look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Actually, I just made that up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We only met the one time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I
didn’t ask a whole lot of questions.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena sighed, smiled
and shook her head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That was cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You got me on the defensive, wondering just
how much time Frank’s been spending ‘investigating’ and disarmed me all at the
same time.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lena looked at Al and said,
“Yep, you’re right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail just added
another friend.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Almost jumping, Al
said, “Oh! Redtail, before I forget, lemme grab your tires and tubes.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail asked, “How
much…” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Al broke her off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They’re yours!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you so much for allowing me to get into
town during business hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you
don’t really have time to argue price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rain’s getting’ close and you gotta get moving.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail took the
tires and tubes and threw a surprise quick hug on Big Al.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Thank you thank you thank you!” said
Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I hope you don’t regret the
gift, because I plan to use the bike to come into town lots more often!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Well,” said Al, “I
can’t see anything regrettable about that.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena said, “I hate to
cut the chat short, but I’m a little tight on time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, Redtail, if you want a ride, we gots ta
git.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Al said, “Or I can
give or find you a ride later.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“’Now makes the most
convenient sense to me,” said Redtail. “Let me grab my forage bag and the
leftovers.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena said, “I’m sort
of looking forward to having you a captive audience for a bit.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “I
guess we better be headed out then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thank you all so much.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lena and Redtail left
through the back office door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jerry said
softly, “Redtail’s cool!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kevin asked Big Al,
“When do you think Redtail will come back?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The other boys paid quick attention.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Al said, “Oh, I don’t
know a lot about her, but she said she’d be around more often, so I’d be
willing to bet we’ll see her every few days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m guessing she’s good at keeping her word.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(story continues here: <a href="http://ognyen.blogspot.com/2017/08/rt-mac-story-chaps-16-date.html">http://ognyen.blogspot.com/2017/08/rt-mac-story-chaps-16-date.html</a> )<br /></span></div>
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<![endif]-->Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16953582155385508486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652144083113344298.post-69196184945343787522017-08-09T20:15:00.003-07:002021-02-11T11:44:17.248-08:00RT Mac Story Chap's 6-10<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]-->(earlier story: <a href="http://ognyen.blogspot.com/2017/08/rt-mac-story-through-chapter-5.html">http://ognyen.blogspot.com/2017/08/rt-mac-story-through-chapter-5.html</a> )<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chapter 6</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next morning George headed to town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He pulled into the police station and stood
outside for a while, wondering if he was doing the right thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he walked in.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The dispatcher gave him a big smile and said, “Hey
George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looks like you got something on
your mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can we help you?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George replied, “Well, yeah, Sarah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got some questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You got any missing persons reports outstanding?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frank, one of the two patrolmen visually
eased himself into the conversation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah said, after looking at the computer a bit, “No, none I
can spot right now, but I can check around with some of the other towns
nearby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do you ask?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George cleared his throat, “I found a girl in my
woods.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frank dropped his notebook, and
Sarah gasped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No no no no!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She ain’t dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I heard some noise the other night and went
to check it out yesterday morning to discover her camped in the woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talked, and she even shared tea with
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I brought her some fish last night
and asked if I could bring dinner again tonight.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah narrowed her eyes at George and asked, “How old is
this girl?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George grinned and said, “If there was any idea of hanky-panky,
I’d not have brought it up with you in the room!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s probably in her mid 20s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She could be my grand daughter, if I’d’ve had
any kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, I like her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the way, she said I could bring a guest to
dinner tonight, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seemed even eager
to meet more people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either of you
game?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Frank said, “Unless Sarah wants to go, I’ll go with
you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah said, “Yeah, I can check things out later if I feel
like I need to,” as she smiled and narrowed her eyes again at George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Ya might want to come in civvies, Frank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d hate to scare her off to someplace she
might be less safe.” said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I don't wanna get out to her camp
much after 5:30, so I don't disrupt her bedtime schedule either." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Frank replied,
"I'll try to be to your place about quarter to 5, if that's
OK." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Sounds
great," said George.</span> “If you don’t find a missing persons match,
might I need to file something like a found person report?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is there any such animal?”<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George got home and
chopped some potatoes, onions, carrots and celery into a pot, and started to
bring it to a boil. He added black pepper, a little salt and two pressed
cloves of garlic. When it came to a boil, he threw in a cup of barley and
chunked turkey breast, thigh and drumstick. It all came to a boil again and he
turned it down to a simmer. Not wanting to dirty up Redtail's stuff, and
maybe even more, that he had no idea how or if she washed her eating ware,
George packed all the stuff they'd need for dinner.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The stew was off the
boil, and packed up when Frank arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>George packed another backpack and took the thermos of coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frank took the bucket which had the bowl of
stew, and they headed out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George tried to let
Frank know sort of what to expect of Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“She’s a screwy girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
know if she’s got amnesia or something or just trying to hide her
identity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think she made up her
name.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Frank wondered out
loud “Suppose she’s on the run from the Law?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I mean, it feels weird I hadn’t heard of her.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George concluded,
“Nah, she’s too nice a kid for that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
might be runnin’ from something, but I don’t think she’s in trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s also pretty smart –comes up with some
neat camping ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think she might
even have some practical survival experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She could use a little help, but not a whole lot.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail’s camp came
within sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George called out to
Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She answered pretty quick, and
stood up from the fire she’d just gotten going by her new method.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I found some neat stuff over at Supply,”
Redtail said eagerly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It looks like
some sort of antique lighter, like the ones you have to put lighter fluid
in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sparked after I played with the
wheel for a while, then I got it to catch on my fat-soaked mouse nests!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was almost as easy as the lighter you gave
me, but I’m saving that for emergencies.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George looked and
said, “I remember those Zippos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also
remember the chemical burns on the leg when they got a little over-filled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail, this here’s Frank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s a friend of mine from town.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They exchanged
greetings and Redtail said, “If you’re a friend of George, you must be a good
guy.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Frank asked, “Are you
just out on a camping trip, or are you lost?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail replied,
matter-of-factly, “It must be a camping trip, because I’m not lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lost means you know you should be someplace
else, and I don’t think I know where I’m supposed to be, other than here.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Frank puzzled a bit, then
asked, “How long have you been in the area?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail smiled and
said, “Oh, I’ve been in this area as long as I can remember.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Frank gave a choked
snort, looked at George and held back a frustrated smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George said, “Yeah, Redtail seems to remember
back only about a week, and not a whole lot more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, besides the lighter whatcha been up to
today?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“It was so fun at the
Supply Depot!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was lots of new
stuff there,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George grumbled,
thinking, “Shoot! Another dumper.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Frank gave George a
quick look, thinking the same thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
broke George’s frustration and asked, “So, did you find any useable items?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I got a few
things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found the lighter, and a bunch
of wire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even got a pair of torn
jeans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can pull thread from the seam
edge and use it for sewing if I need to. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made a needle, too, from a piece of the
wire.” said Redtail. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I also built a
box for that neat cooking stuff you gave me last night.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George looked around,
not seeing Redtail’s new construction, and then it came into sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You got that stuff hid nice!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nobody’s going to find your camp without really hunting.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He smiled and added, “Are you sure you’re not
hiding from someone?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail gave her
first negative-looking expression and replied with a pleasant, but disappointed
tone, “No!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think the woods are so
beautiful I don’t want to spoil the look with my home!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The smile came back as she asked, “You think
I did a good job being tactical?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got
the box and even the tarp set up right over there,” pointing to a
newish-looking brush pile.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George handed Redtail
the stew as he went to her hidden tarp and box.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail asked, “Do you want me to put this on the fire?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Only if it’s not hot
enough,” George replied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I better quit
bringing you stuff or it’ll be harder and harder to keep your site nice.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “You’ve
done so much for me already!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Well, I got at least
one more thing for you, and I think you’ll be pretty well set up.” said
George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both Frank and Redtail looked at
him, waiting for him to finish the thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“You almost got that deer yesterday –out of season, I’ll add, but so you
can get other stuff that might be in season, I want to bring you a bow and some
arrows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Squirrel’s almost never out of
season.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While George finished his
thought, Frank took the liberty of getting the dinnerware out of the backpack
and Redtail put the stew on the fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>George looked over Redtail’s handiwork.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George came back to
dinner and sat down by the fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well,
Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless of where you came
from, you got some nice background in living out in the wild.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You just seem so comfortable with it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail replied, “As
far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing more enjoyable than basking in and
admiring God’s handiwork!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
handed him a cardboard soup bowl full of stew and a plastic spoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all ate, small-talked and watched the
fire.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Frank noted it was
starting to get late, and suggested he oughtta be heading home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George said to Redtail, “Yeah, I better be
lettin’ you get to bed and head back, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll take the dinner trash back up to the house.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“G’nite George!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good meetin’ you, Frank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have a safe trip through the woods,” Redtail
said as they started up to the house.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On the way back to
the house, Frank and George discussed the evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Until she does something illegal or fits a
missing persons report, there’s really nothing we can do but protect and
serve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You gave her permission to stay
on your place, so she isn’t trespassing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Her only possessions seem to be stuff you’ve given her or stuff you said
she could have from (he coughed) Supply,” Frank said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George asked, “You
think we oughtta make up some sort of found person report?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“We could start an
unofficial file on her,” Frank said, “to at least create some sort of
identity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really couldn’t be a police
report, so you could keep it at your place.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“That gives me a
bunch to think about tonight, Frank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll let you know how it turns out.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 7</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“George!” Redtail
exclaimed the next morning, “You got all kinds of poison hemlock growing by
your barn!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George was startled by
Redtail as he stepped out on his back steps to feed the dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He rubbed his eyes and squinted at Redtail.
“Well, maybe not ALL kinds,” she said, “but one, at least, and a lot of
it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George smiled and sat
down on his step.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You know, you’re
right about that, but I gotta ask you a question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do you know it’s poison hemlock and not
just wild carrot or Queen Anne’s lace?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail pondered the
question and asked in a tone making it more a statement than a question, “Isn’t
wild carrot and Queen Anne’s lace the same thing?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Shoot,” said George,
“I thought I’d gitcha on that one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Want
some coffee?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Sure sounds good,”
said Redtail as she knelt down by the dog and started petting him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dog looked up, wagged its tail and went
back to eating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What kind of dog have
you got here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s nice.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George looked out the
back door and said, “Oh, Mr. Ziffel is a blue heeler/border collie mix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s an oldtimer –almost got as much gray
hair as I’ve got.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do you want your
coffee?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail looked around
and picked up the dogfood can saying, “We can just rinse this out…” George got
that at-a-loss-for-words look and Redtail continued, “…I AM just kidding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Black’s fine.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George gave a chuckle
as he shook his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He extended an
invite, “You can c’mon inside if you like.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Nah, I think I’ll
stay outdoors as much as I can, but thank you,” she said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I just need you to
know,” said George, “my place is always open for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m even gonna show you where a key’s kept,
in case the door’s locked.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George returned with
2 big mugs of aromatic black coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
unfolded a couple lawnchairs he had leaning against the house and took a
seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail took a deep
breath of the aroma, then a heavily carbureted slurp off the top of the
cup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Mmmm, this is gonna be good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll let it cool a bit.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What can you tell me
about that hemlock question?” asked George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Well, I’m not real
sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just know one from the other,”
answered Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George began, “I
teach survival skills, and wild edibles is a huge part of survival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About hemlock, I also used to just know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured I needed a better answer than “Cuz
I know,” so I looked into it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The leaves
look very similar but hemlock leaves are slightly more geometric –prettier,
really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poison hemlock stems are smooth
with purplish flecks to being almost purple-black with the markings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they’re hollow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wild carrot or Queen Anne’s lace stems are
fuzzy with a pithy center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The flower
shapes are different, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if you
bruise the root, and it doesn’t smell like carrot, don’t eat it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s lots of look-alikes out there and I’m
still trying to get past the “cuz I just know” stage with lots of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(shaking his finger in the air)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Proper ID!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Proper ID!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That brings up another
topic I think we need to discuss.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail looked around
as if she was trying to remember something and said, “I just checked my
schedule and it looks pretty clear.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They both smiled.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Frank and I were
talking last night, and we figured you needed to be identified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone, somewhere, has got to be missing
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you never figure out who you
used to be, we thought you at least needed to have a new beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s what I came up with last night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Feel free to break in if something feels out
of line or if you want to add anything.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, with a
little laugh, “OK, this sounds like fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Might even be informative.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Let me start by
telling you a little history about our town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe it’s just legend, but anyway, if yours gets wrote down, by the
eyewitnesses, it won’t be just <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Legend
of Redtail</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “It
does have a nice ring to it, but real’s better than just legend.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George began the
tale, “Back in the earlyish 1800s one Spring, the townspeople had finished all
the requirements for getting Wilder, MO, officially documented.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They finally packed up all the paperwork and
headed to the county courthouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Somehow, on the way, the paperwork got loose and blew into old Derche
creek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the guys muttered under
his breath, “Arivederci, paperwork.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ever since then that little creek has frequently been referred to as the
river, or A River Derche.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OK, sorry,
back on track.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, most of the
townsfolk were there, so they continued to the courthouse and got there almost
at closing time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They burst in on the
county clerk and in a clamor got new paperwork all signed and handed to the
clerk, and he asked, “What’s the name of the town?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mayor was quite distracted and didn’t
hear the clerk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He assured himself all
was well and said to himself, but aloud, “This’ll do.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The clerk thought he was answering him,
saying, “Thistle Dew”, and repeated, “Thistle Dew” and the mayor answered,
thinking he was saying the paperwork looked good, and said, “Good!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And the paperwork for Wilder, MO was submitted as Thistle Dew, MO.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s why the sign at city limits and the
mail reads “Thistle Dew” while lots of the buildings in town say “Wilder.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know how true that is, but that’s the
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With that kind of local
misidentification history, I wanted to get you documented.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Made up or not, at least you can fall back on
something. Seems you’re in just the right place for folks to understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Since I’m talking
“right place”, here’s your address.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“114
County Road ZZ, Thistle Dew, MO.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And since the townsfolk will start
to ask, “Who’s that girl sharing an address with old George Peterson?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hereby adopt you as my granddaughter, if
you’ll have me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail smiled and
said, “This reality is sounding good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Tell me more, Grandpa.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George chuckled
saying, “Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That does sound good.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Frank and I figured
a way to keep “Redtail” but “MacSumpneruther” sounds too made up to be
realistic on official forms,” suggested George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail cut in quick,
saying, “That was really only ‘til something better came along anyway.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George breathed a
sigh of relief but hesitatingly asked, “The Scots<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">man</i> thing really isn’t…” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail interrupted
again, “Oh, I know I’m not a man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s
just what the detective at the park called me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George let out
another sigh of relief and leaned back in his lawn chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Good!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We figured the Scottish part was still credible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know some folks whose real names are just
initials, and with the Scottish thing, I came up with “RT Scot.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figure it’s easy and fairly
legitimate-sounding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you like
“Redtail” that still fits quite nicely with RT.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail replied,
“Yep, sounds OK so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m George
Peterson’s granddaughter, RT Scot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
living out at his place for the Summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Who knows, it might even be longer.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Wow,
this is going so much easier than I thought.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">RT replied, “Like I
said, or at least thought, the whole identity thing was until something better
came along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve no memories on which to
base a comment like, “Oh no!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re wrong.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now it’s getting documented, and it’s
official!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is so cool.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George asked, “How
old are you, anyway?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>RT smiled and
raised her eyebrows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George grinned,
“So, you’re not sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came up with an
idea for that, too, just in case.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“So when’s my
birthday?” asked Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“We crossed paths a
few days ago, and it was a few days before that the old guy at the park named
you Redtail, so I set that as your birthday: May 25.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think you’re 30, and I think you’re
older than 20.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You wanna be 23 or
25?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh,” Redtail hummed,
“I sorta like my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll pick 23 so
there’s more left of it, so I guess that makes it May 25, twenty-three years
ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If this is my address, can I still
live in the woods?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really like it out
there.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“You,” George said,
“have permission to live anywhere on the place you want to.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh, thank you,
Grandpa George!” said Redtail as she ran off into the woods smiling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’m gonna have to
show her what’s the place and what’s not the place soon,” thought George.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 8</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail barely made
it to the woods and she stopped quick and ran back to the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I almost forgot what I came up here for,”
she panted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Grandpa George,” she
smiled, “Do you have about a hundred feet of fishing line I could have, and
could you drop by this evening for some stew?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t know if it’ll be vegetarian or meaty mammal stew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Depends on the fishing line.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Sounds
intriguing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, to both
questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might need some dusting,
but I’ve got an old Zebco 33 on a rod out in the barn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can have it, and I’ll even put some new
line on it as soon as I get some in town.”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They walked into the
barn, and Redtail said, “I feel almost blind in here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My eyes are so used to being outdoors.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I was expecting it,
so I squinted a bit first,” said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They walked down a short hall and turned right, and George picked the
fishpole off its nail on the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
also grabbed a lightweight bow and a handful of arrows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George handed both to Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She said, “I’ll keep
these in really nice shape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank
you!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a short pause, she smiled
and added, “Grandpa.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail squinted
again as they got back outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “You’ll
get used to the eye thing.” </span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said she had
lots of work to do before dinner, so she’d better head off to the woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Dinner should be ready late in the
afternoon, if all works out well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
I’ll try to make enough for company,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “I’ll be
there.”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They parted ways for
the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail got back to her site
with the fishpole and bow and went straight to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She baited a spot on a brushpile and placed a
snare made from fishing line and waited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It didn’t take long and the aroma of her bait reached the wood rat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rat popped up from the pile, sniffed
around a bit and cautiously approached the bait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It stepped close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sniffed a bit more, then settled in on the
meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Redtail thought it was
positioned just right, she yanked the fishpole hard, and the snare tightened
around the neck and one leg of the rat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She swung it hard enough that when it smacked down against the ground,
it was stunned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>RT rushed in and whacked
it dead with a stick.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail picked up the
rat and cleaned it fast, so the bruising wouldn’t have time to set in, or burst
organs could contaminate the meat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
set the trap again, after hanging the rat on a wire along with several
almost-dry mouse bodies from yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She felt like she was starting to understand why shrikes impaled their
game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Up near the barn, Redtail managed
to dig up half a dozen decent-sized wild parsnips and about 30 little wild
carrots, as many wild onions and a handful of chickweed and dead nettle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She still looked, but didn’t find any wild
garlic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail worked ‘til a bit after
lunch time and figured she had enough fixings for a decent meal of stew for three,
and maybe even four.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George called city
hall to see if he could catch Frank and let him know of the morning chat with
Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No,” Sarah said, “Frank’s on a
fender-bender out on the highway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sounds
like you got a lulu of a screwball with Redtail.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Careful, Sarah,
that’s my granddaughter you’re talkin’ about there,” answered George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah, sounding
surprised, said, “Well George, would that be your son’s or your daughter’s
child?” </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George interrupted
Sarah with, “ADOPTED granddaughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
agreed on it this morning and this should make you happy: you’re the first to
know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ready to meet her tonight at
dinner?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah suggested,
“Might be short notice for that, unless you’re fixing the dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That, in itself, might give me pause to
think.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George laughed,
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail’s fixing the
dinner and she already said she’s fixin’ extra in case of guests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll probably be surprised.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Meanwhile, at
Redtail’s camp, she busily dry-scrubbed the dirt off her root vegetables,
rinsed all the fixings and cut them into the stew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She soaked the dried meat and stripped it
from the bone as best she could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Into
the pot went the meat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This’ll have a
couple hours to simmer to nice and tender!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I should run back up to the house to see if I can find any peppergrass
for extra flavor,” Redtail thought.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George took a trip
not just to town, but he drove the old truck all the way in to the Higginsburg
Walmart where he knew he’d find an enticing variety of soda and chips to
supplement whatever Redtail was preparing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On his way back to Food, George stopped and looked into a mysterious
part of the store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To him, it was almost
like the dark, forbidding forest of fantasy movies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wondered, “I don’t think that girl’s even
got a change of clothes.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He detoured from Food
and stepped into Women’s Clothing for the first time in the years since his
wife passed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The memories did not come
flooding back, because when he and his wife went shopping, he usually went to Hardware,
Automotive or Sporting Goods while she did the fabricky stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The few times he did venture into that
Otherworld, were usually spent averting his eyes from the frilly colorful
undergarments and looking only for specifics like “black, knee-high socks”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His daze was broke by
the sales girl when she asked, “Can I help you find something?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Ah,
yeah, I hope so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to find some
working-in-the-woods clothes for my granddaughter, but I have no clue where to
start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not even sure of her size.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The clerk said, “Well,
you might be in the right department.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How old is your granddaughter?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George smiled, “That,
I know!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s 23 –had a birthday just
late last month.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The girl took George
to women’s jeans and khakis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He looked
blankly, again, not knowing where to start when three late-teen girls went
giggling past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George said, “She’s a
little taller than her, but built more like the girl on the left, but rounder
–not skinny, or fat, but, well, pretty.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The clerk made suggestions and he picked a pair of olive slacks and two
brown and green plaid cotton shirts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The clerk suggested,
“Louie’s Farm and Home carries a bigger selection of women’s work and outdoor
clothes.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On his way to Food,
George almost closed his eyes while grabbing as medium a 3-pack of undies as he
could, and then a mediumish 3-pack of cotton socks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George thought, “I’m really gonna have to
have her come in to pick out anything else.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Food, George
looked at the vast array of cola products –at least four different brands and a
multitude of flavors in each.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George
thought, “No store brand tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re
goin’ for the good stuff,” as he took a two-liter bottle each of Diet Coke, a
regular Coke, a Mountain Dew and a Diet 7-Up off the shelf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh man, I should’ve gotten a cart,” he
thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did an about face and
scanned left and right and up and down ‘til he found his purple Doritos and the
Nacho Cheese Doritos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This is so much
easier than Women’s Clothing,” he said out loud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guy shopping with a passing woman grinned
and laughed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Back home, George
packed up his dinner bag as Sarah was pulling in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wondered what the mystery mammal might be,
but for some reason, neglected to hint to Sarah what she might be getting
into.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it was because of his
harrowing shopping experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
headed off to Redtail’s camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George
started to regale Sarah on his adventure at Walmart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She pretty much rolled her eyes and laughed
at him, saying she’d barely try to pick something out for another woman,
herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As they neared the camp, it
actually smelled like something was cooking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail spotted them
before they saw her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said, “I think
I’m getting better at hearing differences in the woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I actually heard you from quite a way off,
not that you were being loud or anything.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Redtail,” George
said, “I’d like you to meet one of my really-good friends, Sarah.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Glad to meet
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So far, I’m seeing any friend of
George’s is a friend of mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is she
like a girlfriend?” Redtail asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah said, “Oh
no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re just good friends. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think lots of people think we’re an item,
but I like to think we’re best friends …or?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sarah looked at George with a twinkle in her eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “I
don’t mind, at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m George’s
granddaughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you guys
hungry?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said he was,
and handed Redtail the soda, and the package, giftwrapped in a paper bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George said, “Happy birthday, a bit
late.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a soft, delighted squeal,
Redtail looked at the package and back at George, who said, “Go ahead, open
it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really really needed this!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you!” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wanted to try it all on right then, but
reluctantly set it down in her ‘house’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She returned to the
stew pot and took out bowls, cups and utensils.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I hope y’all are hungry,” she said, “I think there’s lots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The day lilies didn’t thicken it quite as
much as I’d have liked, but they add a faint peppery bite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got some minced peppergrass greens for
more seasoning, if you like.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She handed
the loaded bowls to Sarah and George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>George set his down and poured drinks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“This is pretty
good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you call it?” asked Sarah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George looked up hesitatingly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I call it ‘rodent
stew’,” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“How did you make
it?” asked Sarah, assuming it was squirrel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail began, as
Sarah and George each seemed to run into a little bone, “I got the mice while I
was getting fire-starter…” Sarah froze in mid-chew. “ …and the rats, I snared
this morning.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sarah set her bowl down
and examined the little bone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
said, “I tried to get all the bones, but some didn’t want to break loose from
the dried meat before I put it in the stew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think it turned out pretty good.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George kept eating,
but Sarah said she’d had a pretty big lunch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “This is
some pretty tasty stuff here,” as he finished his bowl and picked up
Sarah’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He asked, with a hidden smirk,
“Do you mind if I finish yours?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sarah
gave a glare, but with a slight smile behind it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah knew about
George’s culinary experimentation, so very little truly shocked her. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, sure, go ahead George.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She refilled her drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sarah asked Redtail, “So what do you see
yourself doing in the near future?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “I
don’t really know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d sort of like to
find out more about myself, but in the meantime, I’m really enjoying life like
I feel I’ve never done before.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah suggested,
“George, you oughtta bring her into town and show her around a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe something’ll jog her memory.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “I think
that’d really be fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you think
of the idea, Redtail?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Something about
‘going to town’ makes me nervous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
not a big town, is it?” asked Redtail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 9</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Up 'til now, Redtail
always showed a friendly, joyful disposition. This morning, however, she
was nervous. She tried to hide it, but Redtail was obviously not
herself. She got to George's door, knocked once and slowly pushed it open
and peeked in. "Good morning, Grandpa George," she said with a
bit of tenseness. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George looked from
the sink, thinking she actually looked frightened and said, "Good
morning. You OK?"<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail sat down at
the kitchen table. "I don't know. There's something about a
city I find unnerving, but I'm not sure what it is." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Wilder's not at all a city like most
folks think. It's barely even a town. Ya know, it's more a
mall-like museum than anything. It's really one of the more peaceful
places you'll find," said George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail gave George a skeptical smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He said, "Oh, you'll be just fine. If it'll make you feel better,
I plan to be around the whole time." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With a bit of
reassuredness in her voice, Redtail slowly said, "Oh, OK."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
George was finishing up some dishes and prepping some fresh-picked lamb's
quarter for storage. "You want some coffee," he asked? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Oh, prob'ly not
this morning," Redtail said as she got up and helped herself to a glass.
"Maybe just some water." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dishes were finished,
so George washed up the soaking greens. He stripped the coarser stems and
rinsed the tender stuff in a colander. He offered Redtail some before he
bagged it. She smiled and took a handful. "</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I like lamb's
quarter," she said, "It's good raw, steamed, baked in bread and even
makes a good quiche." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Sounds like
you'd have fun in a full kitchen," said George. Redtail smiled.
George continued, "Looks like this is it. Let's muster up that
courage and head out."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
Out the back door, Mr. Ziffel met George and Redtail for some head-pats.
When he saw they were headed to the truck, he put a healthy spring in his step
and a vigorous wag in his tail. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Oh, OK.
You can come too, old boy," George said as he dropped the tailgate.
Mr. Ziffel put his front paws on the tailgate and watched as George pulled two
weathered 2 by 6s fastened together with 1 by 2 slats from the bed. He
dropped one end to the ground and Mr. Ziffel ran up the ramp and into the
bed. "He can't jump up there like he used to, but he still loves
those force-fed aromas and airborne tastes from the ride," George said as
he closed the tailgate. "He's eager to go, so it can't be all that
bad," he added. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Oh, I know
it'll be OK,” moped Redtail as she dragged her feet to the passenger door of
the truck.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
Both doors opened at about the same time, and the breeze took a puff of dust out
and into George's face. With a bit of a cough, George said, "I
really gotta get this thing cleaned out." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I don't
know," said Redtail, "the dust sort of gives a peaceful, calm,
soft-focus, almost surreal feel to everything." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, "I
gotta remember that, if I ever need an excuse not to clean
it." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail scooted some
dusty junk-mail and a spool of fence wire to the middle of the seat and climbed
in. Mr. Ziffel eagerly paced back and forth behind the cab. Redtail
poked around the seat a while and finally fished the seatbelt end back to
accessibility. "Click click" went both seatbelts. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The truck started and
rumbled to life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“My wife, Mae-Mae, was
a bit peodorized when I brought this old truck home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a friendly bone of contention between
us for those few years before she passed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was on her deathbed and laughed as she choked out, “OK, I give
in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The truck WAS a good buy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s sure gonna outlast me.””<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George swallowed the lump in his own throat
and continued, “Yep, it’s probably gonna outlast me, too.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, “It
sounds like she would’ve been fun to meet.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Considering what all
she put up with, she must’ve been the most patient thing on Earth,” George said
with a smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sighed again, “Life’s
been good to me so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dang!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I got Joe Walsh stuck in my head.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George started singing, “My old green pick-up
can do 65.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got a license, and I still
drive.” Redtail rolled her eyes, grinned, and with mock-disgust in her voice,
said, “Gray-um-pa!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 10</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">During the short almost
five mile trip to town, Redtail loosened up a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They small-talked and Redtail studied the
plants along the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She thought she
even spotted a garlic patch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George
pulled into City Hall, let out a deep breath and asked Redtail, “Well, you ready
for this?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She hesitated, looked
around and said, “This isn’t very big.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“This is the ordinary
side of town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The special stuff is yet
to come,” George said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Across the road
from City Hall was a gas station, café and garage business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the biggest road-frontage business in
town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One car was being refueled and
three parked in front of the café.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>George said, “I’ll buy us lunch over there a little later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What say we drop in here and say ‘Hi’ to
Sarah?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail smiled and they walked
in.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah looked up from
her paperwork. "Well, Hi, you two! Seems like it's been at
least overnight since I've seen y'all. Welcome to Thistle Dew,
Redtail." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Thank ya
ma'am," Redtail giggled. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah asked,
"George, has she seen the Wilder side of things yet?" </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Nope, not yet, but it's a-comin',"
replied George. Redtail gave an expression of hesitation again.
George said, "Oh, it's not ‘wilder’ like more-intense, but ‘Wilder’ as
opposed to ‘Thistle Dew.’ I think you'll like it. Let's walk
through here and out the back door."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George stepped
through the back door of City Hall and held the door for Redtail. Sarah
was close behind. She wanted to see Redtail's reaction. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"This... is...
so... cool! It's like stepping out of a time machine into a Wild West
town," gasped Redtail. She stomped a couple times on the wood back
porch of City Hall and admired the tin awning that overhung the whole porch.
As she turned around, she spotted the "Wilder Jail" sign on City
Hall. "Wow! This is wonderful! It's so 1800s, well, except for
the truck dropping off mail at the Post Office and the car parked in front of
the library."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George and Sarah
smiled like grandparents with little excited grandkids on Christmas
morning. "The whole town's pretty proud of the restoration
work. Higginsburg's got a weekend called "Dog Days", but we got
a weekend in the Spring as a farewell-to-Spring and a week with a grand finale
weekend of festivities in the Summer, where we block off the roads from
anything but period 1800s traffic --and sightseers on foot, called, ‘Walk on
the Wilder Side.’," explained George.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George continued with
a hand-gesture, "Boardwalks and almost-period store-fronts all around the
town square, bands and shows on the square stage, whittlers on rocking
chairs... Sarah, did we have the gunfight last year? Oh Redtail, you
missed some of that by a couple weeks. Farewell to Spring was a couple
weekends before Memorial Day."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I want to look
at all of it! Where should I start? Oh, I feel like it's my first
trip to a big playground my friends had been telling me about!" said
Redtail. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said,
"Let's try clockwise, starting at Sarah's Place." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail looked at
Sarah with smiling disbelief. Sarah said, "Yep, it's mine, and so's
the next building."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sarah unlocked
the door to their first stop. She went in first and turned on lights from
behind the bar. The electric chandelier and wall-sconces lit up to make a
realistic look of gas light. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail said, "A
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah laughed and
said, "When we're open for business, the hardest stuff we serve is ginger
ale. This place was originally a clothing and hat shop. My husband
bought the bar and saloon fixin’s off Gus in the mid-'70s. Nineteen '70s,
that is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gus has the big place straight
across the square from the jail. He needed the space when his fishing
tackle business started to take off. His great-grand dad built and ran
the original saloon. Gus was happy to see the stuff stay in
town." </span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George added,
"Sarah and I run the saloon now, during Farewell to Spring weekend and
Saturdays and Sunday afternoons in late July through August and for the two
weekends and in-between week of Walk on the Wilder Side right before school
starts in Higginsburg. If you're still around, you might join the fun
with us. We got a full kitchen to keep Wilder Edibles
flowin'." </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah mentioned,
"We also let people use this place for meetings and stuff, so it stays
fairly clean through use." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"This is so
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah began, “The
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we also like to share it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all like to
look for neat stories and when we find ‘em, we put ‘em in the museum to always
keep ‘em alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George said, “Why
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official.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Three sets of feet,
clomp, clomp clomping on the boardwalk made their way to the museum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sarah told Redtail, “Go ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Open the door.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fifteen kids looked
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</span>With a smile, he eagerly spoke, “Welcome!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re The Relics, because we’re based here at
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Redtail looked at the
kids and the boy who stood up, then at George and Sarah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This isn’t quite what one would expect of a
museum,” she said cheerfully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George smiled and
said, “Yeah, home-schoolers can be a little different, but we love ‘em!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rick, tell my granddaughter here about our
town’s restoration project.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of the littler
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first!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Henceforth, it is
official, announced Redtail with a smile and ceremonial tone as she signed the
guest register for her first time: RT “Redtail” Scot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m documented!” exclaimed Redtail, “and in
the museum of Wilder, Missouri!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George told the kids,
“Redtail’s got an interesting story we’ll need to document in here some day.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(story continues here: <a href="http://ognyen.blogspot.com/2017/08/rt-mac-story-chaps-11-15.html">http://ognyen.blogspot.com/2017/08/rt-mac-story-chaps-11-15.html</a> )<br /></span></div>
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<![endif]-->Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16953582155385508486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652144083113344298.post-15338999536338365742017-08-09T20:13:00.002-07:002021-03-25T12:00:59.069-07:00RT Mac Story through Chapter 5<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Introduction</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Out on a drive, have you ever wondered, “Where does that road
go?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s down there just might
surprise you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Around the time Missouri
attained statehood, a whole county in the west central part of the state went
missing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Donowutt County is thought to
be somewhere between Kansas City and Columbia, and between the Missouri River
and Stockton Lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What brought this
whole situation of the missing county to light is the tale of a young woman who
lost it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, she didn’t lose the
county.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Circumstances in her life led
her to take a summer trip to ‘get away from it all’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the way, she lost it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She snapped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She lost her sense of reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
her effort to get away from what caused the snap, she got herself into Donowutt
County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So really, this girl, through
getting lost, found the missing county for you readers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Native legend (Osage? We’re not certain.) has it that long
ago, The Spanish Nut came to what is now Donowutt County and built his Great
Rock Lodge, really a castle, on the Great Rock which forms most of Rainy Island
on Horseshoe Lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He finished his great
lodge and as he planted a flag bearing his arms on the high tower, he was
struck by lightning and killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
entourage went home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a ring of
truth to it, as in the 1540s, Coronado’s nephew, Steve, wanted to make a name
for himself and took a fair-sized expedition farther east.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was in opposition to warnings that the
Englishman said, “It’s cold out there,” and not “There’s gold out there.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Osage found the rock to be about worthless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They couldn’t dig in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They couldn’t drive a stake into it and there
was no game or even soil up there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
knew the view was nice, but also going up there to admire that view was a
complete waste of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So they called
Steve “The Spanish Nut” rather than “King Steve the First,” which Steve
preferred.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Natives soon called the castle “Shaking Head Rock” since
that is what they did as they passed the place and thought of all the wasted
effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That effort went wasted until
the late 1600s when French explorers under Francois Derche stumbled across the
castle.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The French quickly realized the castle walls and towers
formed an excellent base from which to launch their characteristic taunts at the
indigenous peoples or far more often at turtles, swamp birds and mosquitoes,
which were frequently mistaken for swamp birds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They lost interest in exploring the land and became possessive of the
castle, wanting it to remain their secret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The castle remained undocumented until now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The French explored the castle to find a
basement (probably called “dungeon”) full of research tools designed to extract
information from human subjects or to convince them of the error of their
ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tools are said to be typical
of those employed by many early Spanish military “missionaries”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Literacy seems to have become a preferred
proselytizing tool in more recent years.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The French and Indian Wars broke out and the French
abandoned the castle to fight those evil English.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The English were still bitter over that
incident with French Vikings in 1066 and the French were still bitter over the
English being bitter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It remains a
bitter affair.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not much else is recorded until the 1800s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The early 1800s witnessed an explosion in
settlement –actually, more of a pop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
settlers settled (which is what settlers did) on Shaking Head Rock, but farmed
farther east, and out of the usual flood plain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One year, after extra heavy rains, Derche Creek ate the land bridge to
Shaking Head Rock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people moved away
from the castle and closer to their fields.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Higginsburg was born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shaking
Head Rock also became known as Rainy Island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Subsequent settlement and growth followed fairly ordinary paths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing noteworthy really happened except the
getting lost thing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How Donowutt County really got lost will probably never be
known.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it was, the county would be
recovered, but it doesn’t look like that will ever happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Missouri became the 24th state in 1821.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many counties were recognized as official
counties around then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The confusion
occurring from the activity in processing and creating names and surveys and
paperwork and such very likely contributed to Donowutt County’s loss.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Obscured” is probably a better word than “lost.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Donowutt County’s incorporated cities have
Post Offices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Department of
Conservation has an office in Big River.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>4-H recognizes Donowutt County, but the Boy and Girl Scouts do not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>County government and legal systems are
almost never recognized outside the county.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>City police departments are interconnected to outside the county, but
the court system almost never goes higher than Donowutt County.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A verdict from a Donowutt County court is usually final.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Higher appeals are most often met with “From
Donowutt County?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What kind of joke is
this?” and they get denied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So if you
visit Donowutt County, behave yourselves, because a stay at Rainy Island Prison
is no fun at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That, however, is
quite another story.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Time went on and the Donowutt County populace adapted to its
rather unique obscurity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They found many
benefits to the isolation and they got accustomed to the irritations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Donowutt County lived in its near-forgotten
state until our afore-mentioned young lady stumbled across our mystery county. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is her story.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chapter 1</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She sighed as she slumped against the building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She just finished the last bit of
out-processing for her second-to-last term at the university.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One more term, and she felt she had enough to
strike out and pursue her dream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
groaned as she spotted a group of students down the sidewalk a few buildings
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were engaged in a
synchronized yelling exercise with fists waving in the air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A head yeller perched on a platform facing
the mob yelling some more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She groaned
again and trudged off to her car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I
hate election year politics!” she thought.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Politicians reminded her of a bunch of grade-school
playground brats: throwing mud, sticks and stones at each other; name-calling;
insults and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Why do people have to
be one extreme or the other and then argue and fight about it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All my friends think I’m on ‘the other side’
just because I won’t rabidly adhere to theirs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m fed up with the hostility!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Politics was nasty and she’d taken an extra heavy course load
this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She worked hard, getting
excellent grades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was tired and not
her usual joyful self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She pondered her
schooling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’d completed a bachelor’s
degree by the time she finished her tour in the Army.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two years later, she had a Master’s and now
she was almost done with a supplementary course of study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She thought with a smile about the Spring
break vacations with all that student loan money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knew she wouldn’t miss not having
participated in all that, and was glad not to have that debt hanging over
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She thought, “Well, THIS summer,
I’m going to take a vacation!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m tired
enough to need one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Completely drop off
the grid and relax.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so she filled
her parents in on the plan: a bus trip from Augusta to Seattle, and then she went
off to put it into action.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Little did she know, this was to be the most oddly-memorable
summer of her life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Along the way, she was still bombarded at every bus stop --every
media source –this candidate this, that one that, another one, another thing, another,
another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part way into the trip, she
thought, “I can’t take it anymore!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
taking this trip to get away from all that, but I can’t!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She got off the bus at a stop and stretched
her legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She grabbed her head and walked until she
couldn’t hear any media, and she sat down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She cried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She cried a little
longer and stood up, looked around, wimpered and just walked off toward
darkness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She walked and
walked. If a road looked darker, that's where she headed. She
finally stopped. Except for the nearby night creatures and gentle breeze
rippling the leaves, silence reigned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sounds
of what called itself "civilization" were distant enough it was
almost impossible to discern their sources. She looked around in the near
silence and smiled for the first time in what felt like months. Then the
distant patches of light on the horizon reminded her of the loud peopley
white-noisy places where the loudest and angriest thought they were most
important or most right. She stepped off the road a bit, sat down, and
sobbed herself to sleep. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The next morning --or
was it still morning? --it didn't really matter. She felt like a new
person after the roadside sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
a nice day for walking and that's just what our traveler did. Through the
woods and across an overgrown stubble field, eat a couple hands full of chickweed
and dead nettle. She walked through a tiny town, not even noticing what
it was called. It had a little park with a drinking fountain, so she
stopped for a drink. She ate one of the candy bars she had in her
bag. She took a longer look at the bag and wondered, "I thought I
had more stuff than this?" She had a suitcase packed for the trip,
but forgot it back somewhere. "Oh well, it doesn't matter.
It's hard to miss something when you don't know what it is." She
smiled as she thought, “I’ve gone through the woods, but not over the river, so
I’m probably not headed to Grandmother's House. There's another
woods. I'll go through that."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And she walked and walked all day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was almost dark when she came to a clearing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That pile of concrete pipes should allow
ample shelter for the night,” she thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The pipes were almost 3 feet in diameter and she could see out the other
end. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She crawled into one and fell
asleep.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When she awoke, the sun shined brightly, and she heard an
odd scratching sound at the pipe’s opening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She opened her eyes wider to see a big hawk’s head, upside down, peering
into the pipe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She jumped, smacking her
head on the pipe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out she scooted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She straightened up and as she stretched, she
saw the hawk fly away off a nearby power pole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Stupid redtail,” she muttered as she scrunched her eyes shut and
squeezed her head in her hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Good,
no bleeding.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking around, she saw
nothing to help her get her bearings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The pile of pipes, however, was at the edge of a graveled area which
connected to a driveway leading to a gravel road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She started walking again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Up one road and down another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She turned one way and walked and turned
another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hours passed and she arrived at
a small parking lot with a couple cars and restroom facilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The structure was heavily painted in brown,
and the signs featured routered letters filled in with yellow paint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This must be a park of some sort, but where
–why don’t I know where I am?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she
sat down on a short bit of fence, with a wide-eyed stare and said aloud, “Where
am I? is a good question, but who am I? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is pretty important, too.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She jumped when a crackly old voice broke the
near-silence of the outdoor air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Maybe I can help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let’s examine the evidence,” the old man said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She took a look at the old guy and thought, “At least he’s
someone to talk to.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She guessed him to
be close to 80.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wispy hair on a nearly
bald head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He walked slow and with a
cane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He looked at her and said, “Ya might wanna speak up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t hear so good, and I’m nearly blind,
too.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She began, “Well, I… Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I hardly remember a thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
spent the night in a drainage pipe and woke up to a big red tailed hawk staring
me in the face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh wait!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got a wallet in my bag!” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The old guy said, “Wouldn’t do me no good anyhow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t see good enough to read.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She glanced around and sighed, “I must’ve left my plaid bag
in that pipe I slept in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s no way
I could find my way back there.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Confidently, the old guy said, “I think I might just have
enough to go on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plaid, bagpipe, well,
shoot!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yer a Scotsman!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yer Redtail Mac…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mac… Mac somethin’ or other, --a Scotsman, anyway.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another voice broke in as a woman with two kids emerged on
the parking lot from a trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Grandpa!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leave her alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, we’re sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did he try to solve a crime for you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He often thinks he’s an investigator of some
sort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wanders off when we turn our
heads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>C’mon Grandpa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s get in the car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, I hope he didn’t bother you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail answered, “Oh, no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He’s actually been most-helpful.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The family got into their car and Mom rolled down the window
saying, “Enjoy your day, and the wonderful weather.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The car started and they backed out. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well,” she thought, “until I hear otherwise, I guess I’m
Redtail MacSumpneruther, the Scotsman.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail smiled and waved as the family drove off.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chapter 2</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Alone again, except for one car in the parking lot, Redtail
took advantage of the restroom and drinking fountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wished she could take the fountain with
her as she continued her quest for whatever it was she was looking for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail spotted a 2-liter bottle in the trash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s still got its cap!” She unscrewed it with a slight hiss and she
smelled the contents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh good, this
isn’t someone’s spit bottle,” she thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Redtail almost skipped the few steps back to the drinking fountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a thorough rinse, she filled the bottle
and capped it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she set off.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some way down the road and a couple hours of twists and
turns brought her to something which caught her eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rusty ‘stuff’ and muted weathered colors said
she might find some survival goodies off the road and a bit into the
woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“An old dumping spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s sure to have some stuff I can fashion
into tools,” she thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After poking
around the junk pile for some time, she sat on a tipped over rusty 55 gallon
drum and thought, “Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s a lot of
cool stuff.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Different people have different ideas about “cool stuff,”
and at least for now, Redtail was about as different as they come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her pile of “cool stuff” she collected from
the junk heap consisted of a 5/16” steel rod about 2 ½ feet long with a
flattened drilled end like it had served as a brace of some sort, a plastic
Folgers’ coffee can with lid, 4 spiral notebooks with stuck-together, slightly
moldy pages, a garden shovel blade, a 2 quart saucepan with no handle, a 20
pound catfood bag full of empty 20 pound catfood bags, and a metal toolbox,
crushed on one side and stuck shut.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail laid the box on its hinge and took the nearby,
football-sized rock in both hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
squatted by the box, with a knee on both ends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She raised the rock over her head and slammed it down on the latch side,
breaking the rusted seal on the box.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
toolbox was broke, but still not cooperating with the opening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail took her ‘new’ steel rod and poked it
into the box.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After some twisting and
prying, the box opened far enough for Redtail to be able to shake out the
contents.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail flipped the toolbox hinge-side up and began
shaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon she had a pile of rust
dust, old nails, a ball-peen hammer, prybar, straight utility knife blades,
reciprocating saw blades, a slipjoint pliers, a common pliers, an assortment of
very well-used screwdrivers and fist full of metal files.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail proudly stood up near her pile of
cool stuff and another item in the junk pile cried out, “Look at me!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right under where the toolbox had been stuck,
appeared to be a very-thin piece of drilled barstock, about an inch and a
quarter wide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail took hold of the
rusty bit of metal and gave it a tug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She pulled it from the pile and it gave a hard-steel ring as if a nice
sword was being unsheathed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What she
discovered was a machete blade, and in not too bad shape, either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The handle had fallen off, but that would be
easily repaired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What a find!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All this wonderful stuff, but no home.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail brought the machete to the cool stuff pile and gave
the toolbox a toss, like a basketball, into the trash heap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A tight wad of something fell out as the box
hit the heap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She went over to what
she’d missed and picked up the dusty wallet and counted out $72.34.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sat down, sighed and smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her stomach growled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Priorities had reared its ugly head.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh! Oh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I crossed a
little creek down the road a little way back!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wonder if there’s anything in it,” thought Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ll bring the steel rod for a spear and the
notebooks for line.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She chuckled to
herself, thinking, “It’s lined paper, after all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bait!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There’s worms under some of these boards.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She rounded up a handful of worms, put them
in the coffee can and off she went.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail peered over the rail to a clear, nearly-still pool
of water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Water striders zipped across
the surface, while at one edge of the pool a big herd of whirligig beetles
meandered back and forth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pool
seemed to be about 3 feet deep at its deepest, and Redtail didn’t spot any fish
except some tiny minnows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two concrete
culverts took what little of the stream that flowed, from one side of the road
to the other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only one culvert
trickled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail wondered if she might
have any luck with crayfish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She pulled
the wire from a notebook and straightened it as best she could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She threaded a worm onto one end and bent the
wire to secure it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She laid down on her
belly in the dry culvert and worked the wire like a stiff dropline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily, the crayfish seemed hungrier than
she was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She jiggled the worm by the
edge of a rock and a crayfish would rush out and grab it with its pinchers and
hug it to its mouth, usually refusing to let go as she gently lifted it out of
the water and snatched it to put it in the coffee can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In about an hour, she had 20 crawdads and
used only three of her worms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sat up
and looked in the can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wondered how
she was going to cook these.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail packed
up and headed back to the junkyard, thinking about her options the whole
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sun was still high, but well into
the afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She grinned and broke
into a trot to her treasure trove.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She set her dinner down and quickly went to a plastic
wastepaper basket bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She pawed past
the spent Kleenex and snack wrappers and triumphantly held up a broke pair of
glasses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked at them, wiped them
off and figured she might just have herself a fire-starter –weather permitting.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kindling was easy, as she’d moved quite a few mouse nests
while exploring the junk pile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She got
the sunbeam focused as best she could on the mouse fuzz and began to wonder if
the lens would be strong enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
popped the second lens out and put both together to try again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She just about gave up when a tiny hopeful
plume of smoke appeared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She held the
lenses steady until more and more smoke formed and finally, a tiny flame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gently blew on the flame and it got big
enough she set the lenses down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slowly,
she fed the flames bigger and bigger sticks until she knew it would stay lit
until she could gather more fuel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
the help of the machete, she got a cooking-worthy fire going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t take her long to realize she’d need
a better handle than an old shirt sleeve wrap, if she was to use the machete
much at all.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail balanced the pan between some rocks near the fire
and poured in creek water from the coffee can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It took a while, but before dusk, the water came to a boil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One by one, she dropped the crawdads into the
water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They flipped their tails a couple
times then tipped sideways as they turned red.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Figuring for dinner, more is better, she tossed the remaining earthworms
into the water as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She even found a
few tiny wild onions, which didn’t amount to much added substance, but she
dropped them in, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail thought
she’d let it cook a while, since everything was dirty to start with –pan,
water, worms…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She took the slipjoint pliers and lifted the pan from the
fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While it cooled, she collected
more fuel to make sure the fire stayed burning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With the fire re-built, she tested the pan to see if it was cool enough
to dig out the food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She tapped the side
with the back of her hand, and it didn’t feel too hot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she touched the side with the palm of
her hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail stuck a finger into
the hottish water and drew out a bright red crayfish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She peeled the shell off the tail, and
extracted the ‘vein’ (actually the intestine) and ate the ball of meat –and the
strip of meat off the top of the vein.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
the pinchers were big enough she broke them open, too, and ate the meat from
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail smiled, thinking of her
first camp food being seafood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
wondered about all the ‘stuff’ inside the head portion of the crayfish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’d heard it, or at least parts were
edible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But with a frustrated sigh, she
thought, “Shoot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not really sure, so
I better deprive myself of trying.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
kept cracking shells and eating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
pinchers were tough enough she had to use a pliers to gently squeeze to get
them cracked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hesitatingly, Redtail looked at the remaining
worms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She ate the onions, which were
nicely sweet and flavorful by themselves.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail poked her fingers around the pan to get a couple
worms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She squeezed her eyes shut and
popped the worms into her mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hmm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sort of earthy, but then again, they ARE
earthworms.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chew “…yuck, gritty, but
that calamari texture’s got potential!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
chewed gently, and tried as best she could, to separate the grit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a fair amount of spitting, but
Redtail finished her meal and even drank the water, or most of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She drank slowly to avoid the sediment. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wanted to save the clean liter of water in
the soda bottle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’d better find somewhere to sleep.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail got up from dinner and took a few steps and stumbled
on something in the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She reached
down and unearthed a block of steel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was heavy and about 5 or 6 inches square and nearly an inch thick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had no clue what she might use it for,
but thought it’d be cool enough to include with her cool stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Around and around the heap she walked, and
off to one side and under a mass of dirt and leaves, she found a sheet of
half-inch plywood with the corners rotted off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She wondered, “I don’t know why I gotta sleep ‘under’ something, but it
just feels better, even though it doesn’t look like rain at all tonight.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She slid the 55 gallon drum farther out of
the heap and propped one side of the plywood on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the leaves, she made herself a bed for
the night.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As she stirred the ashes and dug the fire out, she pondered
hygiene, clean utensils and other food-ware, and wondered about starting fires
without sunlight, or in wetter conditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then she rebuilt the fire, using a couple glowing embers to get it
restarted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She cleared all the potential
accidental fuel and went back down to the creek to refill the pan and coffee
can with water.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She stoked the fire back up and hoped she’d have enough
spark left by morning to get more water boiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And she crawled into bed and fell asleep.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chapter 3</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“WHAP! Tinkle tinkle tinkle!” went something out on the
road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail woke with a start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She listened for a bit and smiled, thinking
at least she didn’t bump her head or get greeted by a big hawk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what was that noise?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She kicked the plywood sheet off, and caught
it with her foot, as it tried to close back over her and gave it another harder
kick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Standing up and giving a big
stretch, she thought, “Eww!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
clothes are getting grodie!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She walked
out to the road to where the noise came from, and spotted a tiedown strap that
must’ve snapped off a passing truck or car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She picked it up, thinking, “More cool stuff.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She really wanted to look at that creek some
more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Maybe there’s a place with real
fish.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She rolled up the strap and
wandered back down to the creek.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Upstream or down?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll try down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe I can find a
deeper hole than here by the bridge.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Into the woods and along the creek she went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’d gotten far enough downstream a passing
car was barely heard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A short while
later, she came across a bend in the stream with beautiful rocky, deep, clear
water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Four feet’s not that deep, but a
pleasant change from the riffles of earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She climbed to the high side of the bank and found a spot to lie down to
study the pool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s some pan-size
fish in this creek!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She stood back up
and looked around and listened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing
but nature, and the road is quite a way away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think I just might come back here to do some laundry and get a bath. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she spotted ripe raspberries!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a wonderful, relaxing day in store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gathered a bunch of raspberries and
headed back to camp.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Still enough spark to get a fire going for cooking, so she
loaded on more fuel and put the pot on to boil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While the pot boiled, she remembered for the boiling to do any good,
she’d have to find more storage containers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She dug around more in the heap and found a couple baby food jars, three
quart canning jars, and more lids than she needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She took the steel rod and used it to drop
the jars into the boiling water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
water cooled, and she poured it into the jars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She sort of felt guilty pouring any out for lack of containers, but she
did a little after drinking more than she felt comfortable with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She saved her drinking fountain water in case
she felt a need for a clean rinse, should she ingest something nasty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail took a quart bottle with her as she
headed back to the pool she found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
took a step and a truck slowly turned toward her junk heap.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail got excited as she thought of human interaction, and
she started toward the truck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They made
eye contact, and the driver gave a panicked look and slammed on his
brakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He threw the truck in reverse
and stomped the gas to back out of the overgrown access road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
called for him to stop, but when he hit the blacktop, tires squealed and the
truck sped out of sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wondered why
he left in such a hurry, and then thought, “Maybe he wasn’t supposed to be
there, and thought he was caught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
guess I’ll head off to the pool then.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the pool, she stopped and sat for a while, listening and
watching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only Redtail and Nature out there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She silently went down to the water’s edge
and slipped off her shirt and began a thorough rinse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wrung it out and hung it on a nearby
branch. She stopped and listened again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She took off her pants
and did the same thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she noticed
how the gentle current cleared the water between washings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well now, that’s cool,” she thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she sat down in the water for a
soak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was on the cool side at first,
but she quickly got used to the temp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She slid into the water ‘til she was up to just about her chin and
waited and listened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still just the
woodsy silence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She felt some odd
tingles, then an occasional pinch sensation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She jumped and looked, to realize it was a whole school of little
sunfish nibbling ‘stuff’ off her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
settled back into the soak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She almost
dozed off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thinking she was getting too
comfortable in the water, she gave herself a rub-down and scooted to clearer
water for a rinse.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She stepped from the water and hand-squeegeed herself nearly
dry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her clothes were still
uncomfortably damp, so she cautiously did some exploring to air-dry after
turning the clothes right side out and re-hanging them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She ate some more raspberries and found an
embankment that offered a place at which she could make a new camp. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She went back to her hanging clothes to find
they’d dried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Getting re-dressed in the
sun-dried and warmed clothes, she felt refreshed, and planned to rebuild her
camp at the embankment. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail figured there might be enough useable paper in the
notebooks to make herself a map.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
arrived back at the junk pile and began packing the catfood bags.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Four bags would be rough to carry in one
trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she remembered the tiedown
strap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She tied two bags together at one
end of the strap, but figured all four bags would be a bit heavy, so she tied only
the third to the other end of the strap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She slid her head under the strap and stood up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That would work quite nicely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She carried her load to her new site, with
only one car driving by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They gave her
some odd looks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The girl in the car even
sneered, or so Redtail thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She went
back for the fourth bag, but spotted another item she thought would go good
with her cool stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a big chunk
of some sort of ceramic pot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knew
that piece of smooth unglazed bottom would make an excellent sharpening
stone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was still room for it in
the bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As she started to carry the
last bag off, she looked at the sheet of plywood and gave a sigh.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With all four bags at the embankment, she smiled and then
grumbled, trudging back to the junk heap to try to get the sheet of plywood to
help her in shelter-building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She tipped
the sheet on its side and tried to lift the whole thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She tried to drag it flat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This just wasn’t going to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She tipped it back on its side and dragged
it, while it scuffed its corner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
made it back to the embankment and saw the little trench it left in the ground
where it scraped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She walked back to the
junk pile for what she hoped would be her last time that day, while trying to
cover up the line she carved through the woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She got back to the pile and grabbed several longer boards to help in
her shelter-building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back to the
embankment she trudged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was getting
a little tired by now, but the day was still young.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail sat down and dug out the best-looking of the
notebooks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About half of it was useable,
even though the lines had faded off through moisture damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She flexed the notebook back and forth a few
times and most of the pages separated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
she realized she had nothing to write with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Another sigh, knowing there’d be another trip back to the junk pile to
hunt down a pen or pencil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
figured the shelter was more important, so she set about trying to figure how
it should be built.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She had nails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
had crude cutting tools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had a
hammer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had very limited lumber, but
a woods full of trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail picked
out two tall thin trees about 5 inches in diameter at the base.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wrapped the machete handle with a catfood
bag and began chopping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After she got
the trees down, Redtail massaged her shoulder with her un-worn arm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She felt the workout, but was happy to have
gotten them down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She set the narrow
tips on the embankment and got the plywood rolled end-over-end onto the
saplings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wondered why trees aren’t
called saps if young ones are saplings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
slid the plywood up to the tops of the trees and felt stuck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does she keep it from simply sliding back
down the trees?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she gave up and let
it slide back, while she got the nails and the hammer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She got back under the sheet and slid it back
in place, held it with her hip, placed a nail in her mouth, one in her left
hand and the hammer in her right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
placed the nail where she wanted it and hit her thumb on her first swing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She winced, but was lucky she wasn’t
experienced enough with a hammer to have had full power behind the swing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She took the second nail from her mouth and
tapped it into place with a bunch of little taps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hesitatingly, she released pressure from her
hip, and the board held.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She grabbed
another nail and braced the board while she tapped the next one in place.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail was convinced she had an OK shelter for the night,
and decided to make that map of her surroundings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She grabbed a handful of raspberries and
headed back to the junk heap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By now,
she hated multiflora rose and the way it grabbed everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The heap almost felt like home, and she knew
her way around it pretty well, but she had to dig into places she hadn’t been
before. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She poked her steel rod into
holes and pried stuff as she could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
poke gave her a hollow sound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
pried and dug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She soon realized it was
a plastic tub.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She pried and pulled,
then broke the side of the tub out and reached inside to see what might lurk
within.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wonderfully, it seemed like it
was full of office supplies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stapler,
ruler, Post-It notes, but no pens or pencils.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A coloring book came out, then a set of safety-scissors. But it wasn’t
empty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She reached in again and found a
make-up kit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And again to get a box of
used crayons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was enough for Redtail
to complete her mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She headed back
to the embankment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On her way, she picked any greens she thought looked
dandelion-like, since she’d read there are no toxic dandelion look-alikes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She got some dandelion, and lots of
chicory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sat down when she got back and
took a short nap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sun was high when
she awoke, so she figured it was a good time to start a fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fire was going, and she went down to the
creek for a pan of water to boil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Water
on the fire, she sat back down to begin her map.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She only had a few points to draw out, but it
would be a start in trying to figure out her world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She drew out what she called: Home, The Berry
Patch, The Laundry Room, The Crayfish Hole, and The Supply Depot, which is what
she decided to call the junk heap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The sun was starting to get low, and Redtail gathered more
firewood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She took out her slab of
metal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She got the hammer and her steel
rod.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She thought she ought to make
herself a fish spear, and began to hammer the tip flat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Tink Tink Tink Tink’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tip got flatter and flatter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Tink Tink Tink Tink’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She took out a file and started tuning the
tip more finely.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meanwhile…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Into
Redtail’s woods, farther than she’d explored, at another encampment, George
listened and puzzled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Dang! I smelled
smoke yesterday, and now, I got me a woodpecker sounding like a blacksmith out
in my woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s getting on ta dark, so
I’ll see what I can find out in the morning.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George retired from the mainstream workforce recently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He and his wife spent much of their adult
lives preparing for a minimalist lifestyle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Almost complete self-sufficiency had been the goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George’s wife passed away several years back
and they had no children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just
George on their 200 acre place that backed up to the huge conservation
area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George still had power, water and
a retirement check.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also made a
little money on the side through donations as he taught survival classes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d been striving toward this nearly reclusive
lifestyle long enough stories had begun to circulate among the local youth
about the scary old backwoodsman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the tales, old George was about as
friendly and helpful a guy as you’d ever meet.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Tink Tink Tink…’ again came from the woods.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chapter 4</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George heard a rustle in the leaves and a grunt as Redtail
slipped on a slick spot on the bank between the pool or Laundry Room and her
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George dropped to the ground and
winced, but didn’t let out a grunt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
knees weren’t what they used to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
watched and a couple seconds later, spotted movement and soon saw Redtail come
up from the creek with her morning forage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All kinds of thoughts started running through George’s head:
“What’s she up to?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is she alone?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s quite a make-shifty site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She doesn’t appear to be armed or ready to
fight.” A pang of concern ran through his head. “She seems so fragile to be out
here all by herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What</i> is she up to?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He watched quietly as Redtail held the lenses
together and started her fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail put the pan of water on the fire and placed two
hands full of greens in to simmer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
grasped a utility knife blade with a pliers and slit open the bellies of the
three little sunfish she caught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
gutted them and slid them onto the metal rod and propped it over the fire with
rocks and sticks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The greens were
finally done and she hoped the fish were, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She pliered the pan off the fire and jerked her hand back when she
touched the rod holding the fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That
was dumb!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Might even leave a mark,” she
thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slowly, so as not to startle
Redtail, George got up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His knees poked
him and this time he grunted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail
looked his way.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They both paused when they made eye contact and George broke
the awkward silence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hello, young
lady.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, with no surprise in her voice, “Hi, have you
been there long?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I heard some noises last night and thought I should come
down here and check up on you this morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve been here a little while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s quite a fire-starting system ya got there,” George said as he
approached her camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m just happy it’s been sunny this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know what I’d do if it was cloudy,”
replied Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That was nice of you
to come down and check up on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank
you,” she continued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George paused to catch his thoughts and said, “Yeah…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tell you what.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t smoke and I got another lighter back
at the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You want this one?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She gave the lighter a wide-eyed look and with a knot in her
throat, said, “Oh, thank you so much!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And she reached to accept the gift.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Would you like some tea?” Redtail asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Ah… sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What kind
is it?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Mostly dandelion and chicory, I think.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well,” George said, “at least it’ll be interesting.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail smiled with delight as she got the
two babyfood jars for tea cups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
scooped one into the pan and handed it to George, warning that it might be
hot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He accepted it and waited for her
to scoop her ‘cup’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sipped the pale
yellow-green liquid and thought, “Yep, it’s dandelion and chicory.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George said, “You got a nice place here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You lost or something?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail replied, “Oh no!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is home.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She jumped up and
went into the ‘house,’ under the sheet of plywood, and returned proudly with
her map.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Nope, I’m not lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here’s Home, where we are, the creek, the Laundry Room, the Crawdad Hole
and the Supply Depot.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George raised an eyebrow at the Laundry Room hoping she
wasn’t soaping up the creek, but gave a chuckle at the Supply Depot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said, with a smile, “Your Supply Depot,
years ago, used to be my garbage dump.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail put her hand to her mouth in worry and slowly asked,
“You mean,” as she looked around the site, “All this stuff is yours?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George chuckled and said, “Oh, it can all be yours if you
like.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Even the money?” she asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“The money!?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
remember it, so, yeah, even the money,” George said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George finished his tea and complimented her
on her cartography skills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stood up,
stretched, and said, “Well, I gotta head out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I got me some fish calling my name today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you need anything at all, my camp is that
way, over a couple hills –pretty much straight north, according to your
map.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was nice to meet you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the way, my name’s George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, I’m Redtail MacSumpneruther or maybe it’s Scot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s kinda fuzzy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, I’m told I’m a Scotsman.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George looked at her, smiled and gave a little head shake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He started back to the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had a few out-loud chuckles over the
conversation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That’s one screwy little
girl, but I like her already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’ll be
a fun neighbor.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail peeled her fish out of their skins and scooped the
greens from the pan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She, too, thought
about the conversation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s gonna be
nice to have someone to talk to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like
George.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked at the lighter,
hugged it and smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a tear in her
eye, she looked skyward and said quite out-loud, “Life is wonderful!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George stopped and wondered, “Did I hear what I thought I
heard?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He smiled, too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chapter 5</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While old George was out fishing, he thought about just how
he was gonna handle this whole Redtail situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She needs more supplies, clean water and
better ways to cook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I might even let her have one of the tents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George caught some decent bass and as he
cleaned them, thought, “I bet Redtail’d like a fill of dinner, rather than just
a few bites.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of throwing the
fish in the freezer when he got home, he baked two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He rounded up a set of camping plates, a
couple extra pans (with handles), some flatware, and some plastic pails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stuck that and a 10x12 tarp with rope in a
duffel bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wrapped the baked fish in
some foil, then in some towels and put them in a bucket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George got a couple gallon water jugs full of
clean tapwater, hooked ‘em on his finger and took the whole load out to the
woods and down to Redtail’s camp.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Redtail”, he called softly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He didn’t want to be too loud incase she was stalking something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He walked around a little, calling her name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Soon, from off in the woods a bit, Redtail called back, “Hi
George.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her face was all smeared up with dirt, so George asked,
“What happened to you?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Redtail said she’d been deer hunting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She explained she’d been standing very still
and quiet by a tree, waiting for a deer to wander by, and she’d lunge out with
her sharp stick and get it that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>George started to smile then he spotted the hair tufts on the tip of the
stick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said, “I guess I didn’t lunge
hard enough.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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George said, “It looks like you almost got one!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know, deer season ain’t open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gittin’ one could be pretty risky.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He asked if she was hungry, and she assured
him, indeed she was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Redtail proudly told George of her new fire-starting
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and one of its hind legs was still good, so she ate that for lunch, but she got
all the fat she could salvage from the animal and soaked a bunch of mouse nests
in it after she heated it in the pan, to use as future fire-starter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very pleased, she smiled and waited for some
approval.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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George nodded, and said, “Now that’s some creative
thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While you were out doing all
that, I got some fish, and brought you some stuff I thought you might be able
to use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He pulled the fish from the
bucket and unwrapped it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was eager
for dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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As they ate, George mentioned the water he’d brought, and
told her some other stuff was in the duffel bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He planned to leave it all there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he asked, “Have you been living down
here very long?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Redtail said, “No, I only moved in the day before
yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before that, I lived at the
Supply Depot, and before that, at the Pipes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s sort of a blur before that.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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“Redtail MacSumpneruther is a different sort of name.”
George said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Redtail answered, “Oh, the investigator at the park told me
that’s my name.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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George paused and said, “I’ve got stuff to do in town
tomorrow, but would you mind if I dropped by with some dinner tomorrow
night?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could I bring another friend with
me, too?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Redtail thought a short bit, and said, “I think that’d be
great.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George said he’d bring something other than fish.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal">(story continues here: <a href="http://ognyen.blogspot.com/2017/08/rt-mac-story-chaps-6-10.html">http://ognyen.blogspot.com/2017/08/rt-mac-story-chaps-6-10.html</a> )<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Those characters! “Why can’t I do this?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But if it were worded like this…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“How come there’s no romance?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But I wanted to…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No! No vampires or werewolves or popular
fiction stuff that’s glutting the market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No supernatural stuff except what’s ‘normal’ for any fictional
character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many things to fuss
about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many unresolved issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now the characters are starting to ask
questions about their very existence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
can all hash this out.” said the author.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Y’all didn’t even exist ‘til I got into pondering proper ID
of wild edibles and other wild stuff” said the author.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail piped up, “Redtail’s a weird name for a girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How come you saddled me with that one?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The author began, “Now don’t get all offended when I tell
you it all started over a dead bird.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh no, I won’t,” said Redtail, “That’s really up to you,
anyway.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I found a roadkilled red tailed hawk, but wasn’t sure about
the ID.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were a couple points on
which I wanted to resist calling it a red tail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I thought it was too small, and the wings were too pointy, and that the
overall coloration was too pale, but those were all variations of a red tail
–the wings being not as pointy as I originally thought.” explained the author.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George chimed in, “So why’d this young lady become Redtail?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yer sayin’ she’s really a dead bird?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The author continued, “I thought it would be fun to have a
prop for my wild edibles programs to help me stress proper identification of
things, I wanted something that was blatantly not what it was labeled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first thing that popped into my mind was
a Scotsman who couldn’t be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pictured a
Barbie (maybe not that brand) in a kilt with a bagpipe, and I’d call her a
Scotsman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I imagined kids saying,
‘That’s not a Scotsman!’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To which, I’d
answer, ‘But there’s a plaid skirt, a bagpipe –what more do you want?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a Scotsman.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured she needed a name, so I named her
after my reluctantly-identified Redtail, since that’s what got me on the
topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And of course, my mind likes to
wander, so it did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How might such a
character appear?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s her back-story,
other than a mere dead bird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s
where all you guys came from.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dave, Little Al’s son, said, “So you mean my dad’s really a
dead bird and my story-dad’s just imaginary?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It’s not that simple,” said the author.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah, the police dispatcher, said, “You really oughtta
shorten ‘the author’ in some way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll
bet that’s already getting irritating to type out every time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How ‘bout ‘Mr. A’ or something?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I guess that’s better than my secret agent name,” said Mr.
A. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. A continued, “Hey, you guys are
getting me off track here.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. A
explained the meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I called you
together for an odd session of brainstorming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wanted to illustrate the Redtail story, but didn’t want to take the
time of drawing it myself or trying to get just the right stuff from another
illustrator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you guys
think?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George said, “You mentioned 1/6 scale figures in something
you wrote yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>–Wait a second, I
wasn’t in that writing, so how’d I know that?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mr. A said, “Not right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let’s try a flashback here, or, well, time is sort of an odd thing when
writing.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yeah, tell me about it,“ fussed Redtail, “I, or the real
me, was only born in December of ’16, so I’m really only about three months
old, yet in the story, we’ve concluded I’m 23 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George is in his 60s, but you came up with
him after me, so really, he’s younger than I am…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Just work with me here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We’re going to turn back time a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We can do that. We’re all, well, you guys, anyway, are just imaginary,”
said Mr. A.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Wow, so here we are, back in time, trying to get a grip on
Mr. A’s wanting illustrations for the story he’s writing,” said Elder Bart
Fera, owner of Fera Manufacturing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“This is so cool!” said Linda-Jean, the town’s librarian.
She continued, “I am talking with Elder Bart Fera, who founded a company that
started over a hundred years before I was born.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Bart asked, “What company is that?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linda-Jean said, “Why, it’s the T.D.Fera Manufacturing
Company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should know that.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Bart questioned again, “T.D.Fera?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why T.D. when I’ve already got Fera
Manufacturing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s the T.D. for
anyway?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Big Al and Gus said, in near-unison, “Thistle Dew!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everybody knows that.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Al continued, “You guys make nearly everything that appears
in our illustrations, OK, except that only two illustrations have happened so
far, but for your T.D.Fera Manufacturing Company story –Wow, which preceded
this one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, you’re right, time is
screwy here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also get stuff through
Big River Mall, but it ultimately comes through T.D.Fera’s shipping department.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena spoke, for the first time in any of the stories, “C’mon
guys, us getting this straight in our minds doesn’t really matter for purposes
of our existence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides, Mr. A’s
making us all confused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s just start
creating illustrations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He mentioned a
campfire scene where one of us wanted a picture to remember the event by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know, that would be cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I’d like one –dang, he did it to me,
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess I’m the one who asked for
it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Frank, Lena’s husband, asked, “So what all would we need for
this picture to happen?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lawrence Douglas, who went by his proper name, since he was
taking charge, said, “Who all have we got here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All the main characters?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got
Redtail, George, Gus, Frank, Lena, and a couple extras, so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have a physical representation yet
and neither does Sarah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Linda-Jean
might, but the possibilities for that look way too young –no offense,
Linda-Jean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rick might have a rep, if
he’ll accept being a Ken doll.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We really
need to chart this out on paper.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Little Al, from the service station said,
“Organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess that’s why
Larry’s the mayor.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lydia, the confident little girl in the homeschool group
said, “George and Redtail will say what we need for the campfire because they like
to go camping.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George asked, “Well what’s the picture supposed to look
like?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just a dark border with our faces
lit up by a campfire?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail said, “Do we sit on logs or benches?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lydia piped up, “It’s a camp-ground, so it’s camp
benches.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Frank said, “I was gonna say logs for the same reason, but
Lydia has spoken.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all gave a
laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frank asked, “Mr. A, I know I’m
not the only patrolman/law enforcement guy in town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who’s the other one?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mr. A said, “Not right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’ll come if it’s needed for the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pretend I’m not even here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, wait, it just hit me while I was editing
this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The police chief is Darrell Cord
–don’t ask why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just know of one with
a similar name.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Can we just accept
that most of us are older than we look?” asked Sarah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Then you’d have a likeness for me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena broke in and said, “Hey, we gotta figure out a back
story about a spin-off happening in a real-life home school group nearby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or might that go better in the “Thistle Dew
Fera story”?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mr. A said, “I just looked at the TDFera Story and for now,
I’ll try to work the homeschooler thing <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The two –this one and TDFera, might be merged one day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So now, the scene will go all wavy as we slip
back in time…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now remember, I’m not
here, OK?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>***</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linda-Jean, Lena, Sarah and Big Al comprised the Portal
Safety Board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’d been discussing for
some time now, that the homeschool group had been using the Wilder Museum for a
while and might likely stumble across the town’s secret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t illegal or anything, but the folks
in-the-know just didn’t want to have to explain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too many would call it witchcraft or occult,
but it was really merely imagination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah opened the meeting, since she owned the Museum
building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s come to my attention a
home school group from the future, yeah, the future, has been dabbling in
acquiring dinosaurs for our museum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
just don’t think we can do that without way too much explanation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll get huge notice throughout the
scientific world and Thistle Dew and Wilder will cease to be what we’ve grown
to love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We really need to let the group,
or a few members, in on what’s going on before they discover it and get
themselves in trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. A’s got a
transcript of what’s happened, or about to happen, or whatever, depending on
how this meeting fits into the whole time-thing.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linda-Jean, the Thistle Dew librarian, suggested the she
make a portal that opened into a large building in which the homeschoolers
could create a museum for their own use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Why did Mr. A just narrate that instead of letting me say it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, we’ve got a portal that opens into an
unused World War II aircraft hangar in England.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That was quite cool, Mr. A.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
simply read the transcript from that other author and we all were automatically
familiarized with it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena said, “What kind of shape is that hangar?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know, the portals only work on old
structures or parts thereof –Oh, “thereof” sounds so ‘official’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only reason our Museum has any active
portal at all is because the south wall of the building is still original.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lena gasped, “If I remember right, that
hangar is in pretty good shape, but, that’d be terrible if the kids went into some
portal just to have a wall crumble behind them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We’ve gotta be sure of the condition if we were to let them use a portal
like that.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I believe an introduction is due before we get too far,”
suggested Big Al.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m Big Al, as
opposed to Little Al or Normal Al, but that was decided at a future city
planning meeting and is another story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Wow,
this time-transcendence when we’re in self-aware mode is cool –confusing, but
still cool.) I’m on the Portal Safety Board because all the orders that go to
other worlds go through me and the portal in the Thistle Dew Hardware
store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Linda-Jean’s on the board because
she’s the librarian and it’s the library through which the portals were
discovered and even created.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, she’s
got a responsibility-laden job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She can
actually make a portal IF she does it just right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She only taught one other librarian she met
in England how to make them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lena’s on
the Board because she works at T.D.Fera Manufacturing, the other-side company
through which we get lots of our stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She uses the portals daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
then there’s Sarah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She owns the Museum
building and has a huge stake in portal operations as it pertains to the
homeschool group.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah continued, “If we suspect anything resembling portal
abuse, we’ll have to take swift action to insure the portals are closed for
good, well, for anything Mr. A. doesn’t personally approve of anyway.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We really hope Mr. A. didn’t open a can of worms
prematurely by soliciting input,” said Big Al.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linda-Jean said, “There’s quite enough drama in simply
having responsibility for these portals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We don’t want any more drama to actually happen in town than would be
normal for a small town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We really want
to stay like a Hooterville, Pixley, Green Acres and Petticoat Junction place.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“So how do we approach the homeschool group?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And why does the spell-checker keep
underlining “homeschool” wanting two words or a hyphen when it looks and feels
so right as one word –and you made me say what you were thinking again, Mr. A.”
said Sarah (and Mr. A.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unbeknownst to the readers (OK, I guess it’ll soon be
beknownst) some time has passed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
black void of nothingness the characters experience as Mr. A. puts down his pen
for a while has cleared, but given them time to think and build up thoughts…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Chill y’all!” said Mr. A.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I set my pen down last night and now when I pick it back up you all
want to talk at once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of you guys
aren’t even at this meeting.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Sorry,” said Redtail and Pastor Tix in unison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Believe it or not, they wanted to mention
vampires and zombies.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Let’s regroup.” said Mr. A.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“The Portal Safety Board (PSB), which is pretty secret in itself, has to
approach the homeschoolers about keeping the portals safe and secret.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah began again, “We need to insure Thistle Dew-Wilder
stays the laid back neighborly happy place at which it began in Mr. A’s head.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’ll take notes,” said Linda-Jean.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena, the most mercenary and daring of the group, explained
her findings on the portals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“None of
the portals access any sci-fi/fantasy worlds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They only open into other places that exist in our world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There just aren’t any werewolves, vampires,
fairies or space creatures or armies of goblins or witchcrafty-occulty stuff
that plagues so many other fictional works out there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s in other worlds, which this
ain’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been in all the portals in
existence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All a portal is, is a door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They open only into places which a few
library people carefully create them to open into, and they know they don’t want
any little storytime kids to wander into real danger.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Big Al added, “The portal, itself, is important, but for its
use, it’s also important to remember our museum is only a small town 1800s retail
clothing and tailor shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re far from
some big 5-story marble-floored megalopolis behemoth or a museum like you
always see in movies.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linda-Jean said, “I think we oughtta let the readers have a
little background on portal-creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Chrissy Ellmaker made the first known portal years ago when she worked
at the Thistle Dew Library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was in
the 1800s when the library was still new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After her program, that doorway of hers got rolled up and tucked away in
the library attic and stayed there ‘til it got found in the early 1970s
–probably close to a hundred years after it was made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chrissy didn’t know what she’d made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somehow, and Mr. A hasn’t figured out how to
put it into words yet, I learned how to make the portals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I taught one other librarian how to make
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I met her in the same town the
hangar’s in. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has a portal in her
library that opens into…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never
mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t say where.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suffice it to say, she can visit Thistle
Dew/Wilder when she wants to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(OK, Mr. A,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’ll be called Kate Dickson. –you gotta get
all these place/name connections to the real world written down in your
backstory.)”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah said, “I think we need to have a simple document to
present to the very first homeschool group to use the museum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, Al, this time-transcendence thing is
neat!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rules for Portal Use, as Determined by the Portal Safety Board of
Thistle Dew, Missouri</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
[overheard:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Why
can’t we call it Wilder or Thistle Dew/Wilder?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“It’s just simpler this way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We’re registered as Thistle Dew.”]</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">1. Portals are NOT
toys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">2. Portals are local
tools for learning and for community logistics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">3. A portal is used
only on the spot for which it was designed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
[“I’ve got two that…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Never mind that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re the only
one with access to those and you know how to use ‘em.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Lena’s got a special one, too.”]</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">4. The Portal Safety
Board is the only approval authority for portal use.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">5. Unauthorized use
will be…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, it won’t be good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just imagine the repercussions with which the
author could hit us.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
[‘I don’t know if we need a whole lot more now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s see how this works.”]</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, here it comes again,” said Big Al, as the scene goes
all wavy and time changes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lena said, “Hey, that’s some cool music coming from that
radio.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I didn’t know we had a classic rock station nearby,” pondered
Linda-Jean outloud.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sarah saw a newspaper: “I think it’s 1978.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, that’s when the Wilder History Club
started at the Museum!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were eventually absorbed by a homeschool
co-op early in the 21<sup>st</sup> century.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That first club called themselves “The Relics” and the name stuck.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linda-Jean said, “Sarah, be careful you don’t meet yourself
when you go in there, because…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Don’t be silly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr.
Who always crossed his own timeline despite his warnings to others, and he came
back for a next episode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides, I’m the
only me there is,” said Sarah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ll go
into the Museum and see if Mike’s there –he was the first Relics president.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To make the story shorter, or presentable for now, the
document was delivered to the first Relics president, and passed down from
president to president, co-op leader to co-op leader and respected by all.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“So that means the meeting’s over then?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good!” said Redtail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I wanted to say there’s gonna be vampires in
chapter 13 or 14 of the RTMac Story.” She gave a little giggle. “OK, it’s gonna
rain anyway and lots of mosquitoes are gonna come out.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pastor Tix said, “There COULD be zombies in the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re mentioned in Zechariah 14:12 and
13.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sorry, I couldn’t resist.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mr. A felt he needed to add: “I don’t think this part of the
tale is over with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m having fun with
it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16953582155385508486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652144083113344298.post-10129823028173487712017-03-23T19:42:00.001-07:002017-03-23T19:42:16.696-07:00T.D.Fera Manufacturing --for RTMac Story<!--[if !mso]>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">About half a mile
east of town, and about a mile north on a gravel road, depending on whose map
you use, is the Thistle Dew Fera Manufacturing Company. It was founded
well over a week ago by the grandfather of Bart Fera, who now runs the place.
T.D.Fera manufactures just about anything the folks in Thistle Dew/Wilder might
need. It's odd, but they're extremely diverse. They're not known
for being of exceptional quality, but the people of the town know they can get
it from T.D.Fera Manufacturing.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Folks can place
orders at the Hardware store, but very few people know what happens after that,
and they don't ask questions. Linda-Jean from the Library along with
Frank's wife, Lena, seem to know how the whole system works. Of course,
Big Al, from the Hardware store, knows the workings, too. By the way,
Frank, who was mentioned back a couple sentences, is one of the law enforcement
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mystery.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The whole T.D.Fera
thing started a while back (before self-help weekends were popular) at a
self-awareness seminar at a campground, the location and name of which is now
long forgotten. This self-awareness seminar was called together by the
author, and answered by most of the main characters in the RTMac Saga, along
with a respectable number of the extras.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One of the characters got the wild idea of wanting to preserve the
memory by a painting, etching or drawing, but posing would just take too long
and the campfire would probably go out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then a photo was suggested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone agreed the photo would be faster, but becoming material, rather
than imaginary would require time and lots of supplies or props.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where would we, I mean they, get those?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re expensive --particularly since the
characters and author chose to do the materialization through 1/6 scale action
figures like Barbie, Ken, G.I.Joe, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They’d even be more difficult in other scales.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the characters of the story made known their
need for a diverse manufacturing company.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bart’s grand dad,
Elder Bart, suggested he open another manufacturing company in Thistle Dew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus was born, Thistle Dew Fera Manufacturing
Company, to distinguish it from the original, Fera Manufacturing Company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elder Bart shortened it to T.D.Fera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Why Elder Bart is named that, and not the
younger being named Bart II, is a mystery, like the company, itself.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bart added an occasional “‘n’ Grandson” to
the T.D.Fera, for ease of product naming, in case the product began with a
vowel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, we get, a Thistle Dew Fera
cookstove or Thistle Dew Fera bicycle or Thistle Dew Feran axe or Thistle Dew
Feran extra dozen people in the crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The added “n” just makes it read better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The key for a T.D.Fera product is the user or viewer knows what it
is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t have to be pretty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The characters all agreed that readers were
already using their imaginations, so the props didn’t need to be
photo-realistic, as that term is known in the physical world.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So how does the
system work?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m glad I asked that (smooth
transition, wasn’t it?).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For instance: Redtail
needs a bicycle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s all good and
well, until it comes time to illustrate it visually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Al has to get the order, and he sends it to
T.D.Fera (at night, or clandestinely, of course, since nobody sees it). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve heard sometimes Big Al gives the order to
Frank and he gives it to Lena, or Linda-Jean gets the order and gives it to
Lena or delivers it herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lena works
at T.D.Fera, and Linda-Jean knows the directions to the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lena can take an order, herself, but she’s
not often seen in town.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The actual factory
workers are physicals, or readers, like you and I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, the order is received at
T.D.Fera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It goes through Planning,
which determines whether or not it can be done, then is sent off to The Shop
which actually creates the item.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So they
get an order for a bicycle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Planning
says, sure, we’ll just make a cardboard cut-out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Shop sets to laying out the bicycle in
1/6 scale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s really easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the bicycle is 5 and a half feet long,
we’ll call that 5.5 inches, which is now in 1/12 scale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too small, so </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">we’ll multiply that by two to make the
bike 11 inches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s 1/6 scale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the shop is really good at converting by
dividing measurements by 6, they can make the scale change in one step. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that makes a 12 inch figure 6 feet tall in…
in…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘real-life’ ‘physical life’
‘tangible’ –that’s hard to find a term for that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail and George and Big Al are ‘real’ in
your mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re ‘physical’ when
visually illustrated, as well as ‘tangible’. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, we’ll just use ‘real-life’ for
convenience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An 11 inch doll would be
5’6” in real life, and an 11 inch long bike would be 5’ 6”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So a 1/6 figure should be able to ‘ride’ that
T.D.Fera bicycle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the illustration is
just the bike, scale doesn’t matter, like for George’s truck here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> [photo forthcoming] </span>It’s 1/64 scale, and the woods is actually a
Missouri Conservationist Magazine photo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But with your imagination, you know what it’s supposed to be, and
shouldn’t have real trouble with it. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The whole process is fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The customer places the order by either going
to the Thistle Dew Hardware Store, Lena, Linda-Jean or, and here’s a little
mystery, telepathically through the author.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here’s where there’s even more mystery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We all know librarians can connect us to different worlds and even
times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems one of the old Thistle
Dew Library librarians made a paper doorway for one of her children’s
programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This doorway turned out a
little more functional than anticipated, and the librarian who made it didn’t
even know it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There must have been some
magic in that rolled up door they found, ‘cuz when they placed it on the wall
it beg…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, that sounds too
familiar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, there was something
weird about it.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A few future
librarians figured out how to make these doors, and worlds got connected to
Thistle Dew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The neat thing about the
doors is they can be put up and taken down in several places around town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the places is in upstairs in the
storage room of the Thistle Dew Library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Another place is on the back wall of the Thistle Dew Hardware store
–inside or outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One librarian even
figured out how to make three doors that could be put up together for a double
or even triple door, which is handy for large orders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another place the doors work is at the T.D.Fera
shipping department.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’ve developed a
tall, two-car garage door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
several other libraries around the worlds that have these doors, but not very
many.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t, at this time, know where
those doors are.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The original door is
stored, rolled up, in a cardboard tube upstairs at the library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hardware store has another, much smaller
door –about dumbwaiter-sized, in which is stored the triple doors for larger
orders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That small door is gently folded
and in one of Big Al’s desk drawers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
been taped a few times as the corners weaken through use, but it still
works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nobody’s really sure how Lena
gets to and from work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Al or Linda-Jean
could be in on it, but we really don’t know.</span> </div>
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16953582155385508486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652144083113344298.post-62418263680832910722017-03-23T19:39:00.001-07:002021-04-28T12:57:36.758-07:00Backstory for RTMac<!--[if !mso]>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">BACKSTORY</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back in the first cold snap of December, 2016, I spied a
roadkilled hawk as I drove by at 55 (Yeah, I’m one of those irritating guys who
sets their cruise at the speed limit).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This hawk didn’t look to me to be a run-of-the-mill ordinary red tail or
kestrel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I’m not supposed to pick
up birds of prey or parts thereof without permission, so I pondered what it
might be as I drove on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At an earlier
Missouri Master Naturalist meeting, I heard how sometimes conservation agents
pick up roadkilled specimens for their taxidermists to work into educational
displays, so I asked if they’d like a call if I ran across an interesting kill
while out on my delivery route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
agent said ‘yes’ and gave me his card so I’d have it handy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There lay the crumpled raptor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was obviously larger than a sparrow hawk
but I thought it looked quite a bit smaller than a red tail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mostly white belly poked toward the road
while a wing tip underside peeked from behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The back looked to be mostly light brown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing really distinct to me --what is
it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I popped into the next library on
my route and hit the field guides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
only had a National Geographic guide, and Brad Jacobs’ “Birds in
Missouri”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t spot a good match,
but merlin and female northern harrier were suspects, but I wasn’t
convinced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I drove by Tuesday and
figured it was a Missouri Department of Conservation-worthy specimen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called my friendly neighborhood
conservation agent and described what I’d seen and he asked if I could pick it
up and keep it frozen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I picked the bird up Wednesday morning (yes, it’d stayed
frozen, so it didn’t stink up my van).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Still puzzled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The color didn’t
point to anything with which I thought I was familiar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The size was still a puzzler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wing shape looked almost
falcon-like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least harrier was ruled
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I got home, I pulled the bird
from the bag and spread it out as much as I thought I could without breaking
anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took several photos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked through my books I had at home,
before posting the photos on Facebook for advice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked in Audubon, National Geographic,
Peterson, Usborne, and Golden field guides, and in bigger Reader’s Digest, Brad
Jacobs, Doubleday Birds of America, Michael Vanner’s Encyclopedia, D&K
Smithsonian books, some specialty guides and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yes, I do have a library at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still didn’t find a match to convince me of
an ID.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Missouri Master Naturalist
(MMN) friend recommended Facebook’s Hawk ID group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked two other bird-expert friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One gave an e-mail for one of MO’s most
active professional birders and I sent her the photos, too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To shorten the tale, I was relying too much on a couple
features on which to base my ID.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of
the more experienced folks and experts told me I had a small pale juvenile red
tailed hawk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only 2 respondents said
they weren’t sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m pretty certain,
now,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>its a red tail –but still, maybe an
out of the ordinary specimen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
know if I’ll ever see it all thawed out so I can give it a ‘proper’ measuring
and spreading of the wings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The point of
all of the above is the whole ordeal really got me thinking about ID.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then a prop for my wild edibles programs popped into my head
–something that’s not what it’s ID’d to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And that first thing to pop into my head was a Scotsman who obviously
wasn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the story came on how she
got ID’s based on a couple flimsy bits of evidence…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, the Scotsman who couldn’t be, named after
the critter which started my ID dilemma, was born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Come to think of it, “THE” red tail roadkill
might’ve been born around May, ’16, too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I didn’t misidentify my hawk, because I didn’t settle on an
ID.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did, however, resist making the ID
based on a couple features which I thought precluded its being what it actually
was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nature’s cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not everything fits into one species-specific
mold.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OhV99iPnqj4x7Z7XLy4zI9RmfGXtIelMHtcDRL86xbi0W5Xp1HRNUyJOz0b3bwilP7M7hEN0K36sInFqsDr37Hxo6CJH2EX0IatqzsPSK8U4Hn3W3kbLtd_RvYMePwgD1WFfGPtiIaRI/s2048/BabyPics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1988" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OhV99iPnqj4x7Z7XLy4zI9RmfGXtIelMHtcDRL86xbi0W5Xp1HRNUyJOz0b3bwilP7M7hEN0K36sInFqsDr37Hxo6CJH2EX0IatqzsPSK8U4Hn3W3kbLtd_RvYMePwgD1WFfGPtiIaRI/s320/BabyPics.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
So why the female
main character?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First off, she’s the first thing that popped into my head
when I thought about a misidentified program prop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just how it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was suggested I should use a male
character, to eliminate any innuendo or dirty-old-man thoughts from readers’
minds. I could have done that, until I pondered how I might react to strange
people or anyone I didn’t really know on my property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll admit, it’s probably a sexist thing in
my character choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I picked a girl,
because I know boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a teen
boy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a male in his 20s and
30s…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I trust having young female renters
more than young male renters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We even
allowed some female college student house-sitters while we took a trip to
England.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used to be a young male
renter –I did stupid stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could
usually get the hatchet to stick in the wall (I did do my own repairs and
repainting), but I managed to keep a trail through the beer cans kicked clean
to the fridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve recently experienced
male college students and female college students renting the house across the
road from where I work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s done
nothing to show me I should trust young guys living on my property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guys just seem to trash a place worse
than girls.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If I was to discover a campsite on my place, I’d want and need
to know who it was and why they were there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If I didn’t like the reasons, it’d have to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s probably a guy-thing, but if I was in
George’s position and discovered a boy camped out on my place without
permission, I’d probably be more apt to have a defensive, get-outta-here,
move-along sort of attitude than a protective attitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it’s still a good choice, and there
ain’t gonna be any hanky-panky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never described
the characters’ physical appearance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(OK, I guess George did tell the clerk at Walmart that Redtail wasn’t
skinny or fat)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve not mentioned
whether they were black, white, tan, or even green.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve only got one exact age, and that was
only guessed by the characters. I chose a college student because during
breaks, they could disappear for weeks or even months without contact or
missing persons reports.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I Googled stress-induced memory loss and it’s a real
thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve also consulted some law
enforcement on what they’d do in the case of Redtail, and they said they really
couldn’t do anything, since she has permission to camp on George’s place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the library card issued without ID
wasn’t without consult.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redtail’s appearance, in my head, is based on a figure I ran
across while trying to find the “right” Barbie to act as a physical Scotsman
prop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George’s appearance, and even his
being a survival trainer, is based on a friend I ran across on Facebook, and
subsequently met and did some wild edibles programs for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The town librarian is loosely based on two of
Corder, MO’s librarians at least in name –a blend of retiring and new
librarian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jeanna, Corder’s present
(early 2017) librarian, said one day as I walked in with my delivery, “That was
our mayor…” about a patron who was just leaving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a cheerful fun-acting guy, so I asked
his name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Doug Lorenz,” Jeanna
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I smiled and told her, “I got the
name for Wilder’s mayor –Lawrence Douglas.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many of the story settings are based on actual places: The
Pipes were from my childhood –a place in Golden Valley, MN, where we kids would
sometimes take a break while we were off on our suburban hunting
excursions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The culverts where Redtail
got her crayfish are at Knob Noster State Park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Laundry Room is based partly on some deeper curves in the creek
behind my house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redtail’s campsite is
based on rock formations at Roaring River State Park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George’s home is based on several farmsteads
from my childhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The conservation area
behind George’s place is based on Baltimore Bend and Ralph and Martha Perry
Conservation areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George’s dog is
based on the blue heeler/border collie, “Arnold” who lives at the parsonage at
my church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thistle Dew, MO, is based,
quite loosely on Dover and Corder, MO and the map of Thistle Dew is based
fairly closely on Fayetteville, MO.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Names:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Redtail, I explained above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-George Peterson comes from an old friend I stumbled across
about the same day I got the portal idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The old friend’s name was George Peter M…last name.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Sarah, Frank and Lena were fairly arbitrary names.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Darrell Cord, the police chief, is named from another
police chief with a fairly similar name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The original chief is a one-l Darrel, and you’d spot the similarity in
the last name, if you knew the guy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Big Al and Gus were just big-sounding names.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought they oughtta be burly sorts.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Linda-Jean named for retiring Corder librarian, Linda, and
new branch manager, Jeanna.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Mae-Mae, George’s deceased wife, just popped into my head
and I used it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Rick, the current Relics student leader, was an arbitrary name-choice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Lydia, an outspoken confident young student of about 6 or
7, came to mind when looking at a card signed by a homeschool group which came
out to my place for a wild edibles walk.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Rita is an arbitrary name, too, but I did know a waitress
named Rita which could have subconsciously connected that name with catering.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Little Al isn’t really ‘little’ but to distinguish him from
the bigger Big Al, the town decided to call him that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Al is a stereotypical mechanic’s name,
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I picture those blue patches
embroidered with Al, Bob, Tom and other short names.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
-Chrissy Ellmaker is the creator of the first portal, and is
based on a real librarian at Knob Noster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The real librarian, made a paper doorway for a program from which the
story-portals are inspired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wouldn’t
doubt her name’s been mispronounced like I spelled it for the story.</div>
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named after the mom of an ‘adopted’ university student we had a few years back.</div>
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-Bart Fera –the “Bart” part is arbitrary, but the Fera fits
in with Thistle Dew (This’ll do) Fera (for a) Manufacturing Company.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Elder Bart for Bart’s grandfather just sounded like more
fun than calling grandson Bart, “Bart the Second”. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Pastor Herman Ulysses Tix is a wonderful name for a
pastor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked up “Tix” to make sure
it was a real surname, and was fairly surprised to find it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Herman U. Tix –hermeneutics is the word
meaning ‘how we study the Bible’. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Big River Mall is Amazon.com, of course.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Wilder comes from the overarching background of wild
edibles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve also got a website (in the
works) called wilderedibles.com.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thistle
Dew is explained in the text of the RTMac Story.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Donowutt County</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Donowutt Community College Home of the Voles</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Higginsburg Home of the Fightin’ Isopods</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Chuck, an arbitrary name that popped into mind for Sarah’s
deceased husband.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ll add more as they come to mind.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTqJZ8yRFbyhZ0Xq0CbXlDh8dBXzuWb69BiBaVRI0ti722VczI7jkOZnCDBOIUNXFrpqHGipZe1SAZ1f04ycdxyKuHwabmgfTZ71RN5q0EF29JnCkGAm8mS4ihhFPkApT692sTNViFm4d/s1600/Thistle+Dew.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTqJZ8yRFbyhZ0Xq0CbXlDh8dBXzuWb69BiBaVRI0ti722VczI7jkOZnCDBOIUNXFrpqHGipZe1SAZ1f04ycdxyKuHwabmgfTZ71RN5q0EF29JnCkGAm8mS4ihhFPkApT692sTNViFm4d/s320/Thistle+Dew.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thistle Dew town square is mostly fairly well maintained
buildings going back to the 1800s, boardwalks, hitching posts, hidden HVAC/and
other modern utilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This historic
small town is based on a painting I saw upstairs in Lexington’s library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought I recognized the town, and then I
spotted the remains of the stairs and walkway of the 1800s buildings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d sure like to find that painting again and
at least take some photos of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The old
foundations of the buildings are still visible in Dover, MO.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sarah’s place was owned by Sarah and her
husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wilder Museum is also owned by
Sarah, but she’s letting the local homeschool co-op run it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wilder Bait and Tackle is one of the two
bigger employers in town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gus’s family owned
Wilder Bait and Tackle since the 1870s, making high quality wooden plugs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rita’s Catering is the other big
employer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They each have around a dozen
employees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sources of supply for illustration purposes are T.D.Fera
Manufacturing and Big River Mall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most
of the visible illustrated characters come from Big River, though some are from
local small towns and many are from China.</div>
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16953582155385508486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652144083113344298.post-38800850439320388172014-07-22T19:22:00.000-07:002014-07-22T19:23:52.626-07:00What's the Use?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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God’s given us some pretty strange stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave us poison ivy, chiggers, mosquitoes,
poison and water hemlock and ticks to name just a few.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d like to address a couple of those gifts:
common ragweed and giant ragweed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I
say common and giant ragweed, I don’t mean goldenrod or thistles or curly dock
or nettles or…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scientific names are
quite important for proper identification of plants and animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those’ll come in a little bit.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My first discovered use for ragweed, though I had no clue
what the plant was, happened back in what is historically known as “The Good
Old Days” or the late ‘60s or early ‘70s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My friends and I wandered/explored/deliberately sought, any undeveloped
territories in our suburban Minneapolis wilderness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were predators.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My friends and I hunted and fished for a living (play is a
kid’s living).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other kids claimed their
work was to move round things from point A to point B or to hit them with
sticks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We used sticks and round or
nearly round things in our job, but in different ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We used sticks with which to make slingshots,
our suburban predator weapon of choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’d sure be easy to go off on the suburban predator tangent, but, not
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some conditions forced our prey
into shelter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We weren’t so bright and
stayed out, getting all hot and sweaty and ultimately bored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t stay bored long, as we soon became
prey to one another.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we hunted each other, we didn’t use slingshots because
we were very safety conscious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We used
spears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While out hunting one day, we
happened upon a massive forest of long, straight, stiff dead weeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t take us long to find out they were
beautifully built for throwing, once the side branches were stripped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The forest became known as “The Spear
Place”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were very creative with our
names.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That ragweed patch taught us basic missile physics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We learned about trajectories, MIRVs and
more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the longest time, I thought
the only purposes for ragweed were for spears, for muttering at for growing in
gardens and for aggravating allergies in allergy sufferers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not long ago, I finally decided to figure out
what “that” weed was that smelled so good when I mowed through it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked Dr. Google about it and I learned
what I thought was ragweed was only one of many members of the ragweed or
Ambrosia family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My spicy-green smelling
ragweed turned out to be common ragweed or Ambrosia artemisiifolia and my spear
ragweed is giant ragweed or Ambrosia trifida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As plentiful as ragweed is, I figured there had to be some sort of use
for it other than the not-really-practical ones I knew of.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Books!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve always
been a book person –even work at a library now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I learned, way back when I was a little guy, that books were packed with
all kinds of neat information about my world outdoors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Francois Couplan, in his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Encyclopedia of Edible Plants of North America</i>, says ragweed has a
semi-drying oil (astringent?) and has had edibility suggested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some species are used as flavorings, but
ragweed’s best-known use is as a hay fever instigator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Couplan also lists A. psilostachya as a third
hay fever culprit in North America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Kelly Kindscher lists edible and medicinal uses for ragweed in her Edible
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wild Plants of the Prairie</i> and Medicinal
Wild Plants of the Prairie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seeds were
found stockpiled along with other well-known cultivars, which implied it, too,
was cultivated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The seeds are edible,
and an Indian name even alludes to the loud sound that’s made when
chewing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tea made from the plant is used
as a wound/bite/dressing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I tried some bruised giant ragweed leaves on a chigger
bite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It did provide some relief, if
nothing else, the abrasiveness of the leaf scratched that itch quite nicely.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I browsed my other wild edibles books,
anthropologically-related plant books and survival stuff and found no other
references to the Ambrosia family, other than in Amy Stewart’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wicked Plants</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She lists ragweed as only a pollen/allergy source.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Allergies help keep people in work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, I’m reaching for something positive to
say about ragweed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pharmaceutical
companies have a great use for ragweed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They can make and sell medications in an attempt to relieve some of the
symptoms of that hay fever allergy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
of the librarians in the library system for which I work says one of her
neighbors cultivates ragweed for such a drug company.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I plan to explore the astringent possibility and maybe try
some tea –since A. artemisiifolia smells so good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I uncovered another use for ragweed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mentioned this article at my Facebook
group, “Wild Edibles of Missouri”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got
usual responses –that I’d already read about, but one lady mentioned as kids,
they used to split the stems to extract worms for fishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked up ragweed stem worms.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was quite pleased when I discovered a dull gray longhorn
beetle likes to live its childhood in ragweed stems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know longhorn beetle grubs to be quite
nicely edible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I cut open several
stalks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t find any decent size
worms, but found a different kind that turned out to be a lesser or common stalk
borer grub (<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Papaipema nebris)</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the larva of a LBM (little brown moth)
so common in lawns and all over the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They also like to parasitize corn stalks, lamb’s quarter, and other
highly-edible ‘weeds’,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also know LBB
(birds) like to eat LBMs, which could imply their edibility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I applied some of my informal edibility checks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The caterpillars live their lives under
cover, or under protection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s an
indication they might be good to eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Corn
earworms are highly edible, so why not stalk worms?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The adult moths are brown and like to
hide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drab and reclusive are also hints
of edibility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re not guarantees,
but it’s evidence of edibility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For everything
we believe, we either accept or reject evidence and draw conclusions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I concluded the stalk borers are edible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After rinsing, I boiled the worms for a bit
over 10 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then dehydrated
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They’re ready for an insect program I’m giving in a couple
days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried some before deciding to
serve them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crispy and slightly sweet
describes their flavor and texture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve got a new use for ragweed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My father-in-law will benefit in my pulling
ragweed, as he’s one of the allergic ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My wife will be happy because I’m pulling weeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be happy being able to add new critters
to my wild edibles programs. So, what’s the use?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think ragweed’s potential is highly
unrecognized, but I’ll exploit it in my way.</div>
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16953582155385508486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652144083113344298.post-90345103269511278152013-04-27T09:54:00.002-07:002013-04-27T09:54:39.459-07:00Bug-Collecting<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Frustration and mild nervousness plague me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s chilly and rainy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the Spring has been cooler than
usual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve hardly mowed and April nears
its end while I usually start mowing in March.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Beginning on the 10<sup>th</sup> with three more in May, I’ve got
several programs scheduled, and I had some late off-season programs last year
and already two early-season events this Spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m very low on bugs to share, and they’ve
not yet emerged in collectible quantities! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m frustrated and a bit nervous about having
enough to support the programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
figured while I ponder catching bugs, I might as well write about it, too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If the rain lets up tomorrow, I think I’ll head to the woods
and try to get some stinkbugs, crane fly larvae, earthworms and other worms
that hide under the leaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a good
method of collection before the bugs really come out for the season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A rake, collection bottle and a big cold
drink are all that’s needed for a peaceful, but potentially strenuous,
afternoon of collecting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It doesn’t take long to learn to spot little edible
invertebrates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s almost like mushroom
hunting where you look and look and finally spot one and everything slips into
focus and they’re suddenly everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Gently rake a long stroke, down to dirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Don’t rake too hard, or you’ll pile up the bugs behind you in the
leaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scan the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got photos of an earlier raking session posted
at the Facebook group, “Missouri Entomophagy”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Soon you’ll be finding lots of bugs which were taking shelter under
those leaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pick them up and put them
in your collection jar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I usually use a
coffee creamer bottle for a collection jar, as it has a convenient little flip
top to open, allowing minimal escape opportunity for prisoners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This assumes you know what kinds you’re
looking for, and have an idea what other kinds are edible and inedible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before your in-depth Spring cleaning, dig under those little
patches of leaves that collect around stuff on porches, garage doors and along
fences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They quite often harbor edible
critters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A little patch about the area
of a dinner plate can harbor way more than a little handful of earthworms,
crane fly larvae, cutworms, wood lice, roaches, click beetle larvae and
more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re not sure about
something’s edibility, collect it anyway and look it up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can always drop by a website like
Missouri Entomophagy on Facebook, and ask.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But always make sure it’s edible before you cook them with other
edibles.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This time of year, on warm building sides, bugs sometimes
gather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Box elder bugs, shield bugs and
others are easy to collect with a funnel-trap bottle made from a plastic soda
bottle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cut off the top, where it widens
out to bottle-size and invert it into the bottle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like to put a couple pieces of tape on the
edges so the top doesn’t slip inside and release all my captives while I’m in
mid-hunt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Funnel trap variations are fun
to use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I built a trap using a
battery-powered trouble-light to draw the insects to drop into a funnel around
two feet in diameter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the bottom of
that funnel, I’ve got a funnel-trap made from a 2-liter soda bottle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one’s pictured at Missouri Entomophagy,
too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I built traps for Japanese beetles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re still unused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re based on commercial traps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have yellow plastic vanes on top to
steer the beetles into funnel traps below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m hesitant to try them because they can bring Japanese beetles into an
area that didn’t originally have trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I also have all the parts I need to build a vacuum trap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got a Craftsman C3 battery-powered
vacuum (about dust-buster-size), and the hoses, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I plan to use that on woodlice and other
critters that like to hide in loose ground litter and under logs and rocks and
such.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One collection method I plan to try as soon as I find a big
ant mound is the folded tarp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lay a
small tarp near an ant mound, and create a fold in the edge of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shovel parts of the mound onto the tarp near
the fold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ants will scurry to hide
their pupae/eggs under the nearest cover –conveniently, the fold in the
tarp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’ll collect and almost
completely clean your prey for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
think the hardest part will be to pick the tarp up to pour it into your funnel
trap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope this works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes sense.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another tool is the ever-popular net.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nets from science supply stores are pretty durable,
but they’re also pricy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most
easily-found nets are butterfly nets in department store toy sections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I much prefer to make my own nets over the store-bought
ones for price, design and durability reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No, I guess it’s not really a preference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t use one of those department store
nets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two swipes and they’ve got a tear
in them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nets are fairly easy to
make.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obtain a stout handle, then stiff,
yet flexible material for the hoop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To attach
the hoop to the handle, look at some commercial nets for ideas and go from
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the net is for function and
not beauty contests (at least mine aren’t), don’t even be afraid to try stuff
like hose clamps and duct tape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have fun
with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the netting material, avoid
the sewing department.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go right to
curtains and get some sheers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
material is a whole lot tougher than the stuff often sold as insect netting and
it’s lightweight enough that it won’t damage your bugs if you’re after them for
display purposes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although it makes for
a small net, an old metal badminton or tennis racket can form the frame for a
tough net that’ll handle lots of brush-whacking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another good thing about making a net from curtain material
rather than toy-quality insect netting is you can use it in water, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your net is strong enough, or if you make
a net or two specifically designed for water-use, you can easily collect fairly
large quantities of edible aquatic bugs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a kid, I used to make double-handled scoops
with a wood frame and metal screen for catching weed and mud-born water-critters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with any collecting, be respectful of the
ecosystems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t wipe out your
population of dragonflies or damselflies, then fuss later about the mosquito
problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Night is an excellent time to gather bugs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As mentioned above, a light-baited funnel
trap is easy, but collecting off window screen and foliage is very effective as
well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cicadas climb up trees, bushes, toys,
buildings, fences and weeds to emerge from their nymph stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your timing’s right, you can get lots of
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>June beetles like to eat young
foliage at night, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I surprised
myself at how many I could catch that <i>weren't</i> on the window screens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On cooler or damp drizzly nights or later in Summer
and into the Fall, when the nights start getting consistently cooler,
grasshoppers pick almost like berries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
like a tiny LED flashlight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re
bright, and you can hold them in your mouth or mount them on a hat, leafing
your hands free for collection.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While looking at Google images of bugs the other day, I
spotted another method for collection I’d not yet tried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a neat picture of a bunch of green
June beetles (fairly large, and great for sharing!) munching on a thin slice of
watermelon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve never been all that
excited about watermelon, but my wife and her parents love it (the in-laws live
next door).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll take a couple thin slices
for bait and give them the rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
rinds should work, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I’m
going to try that when it warms up some.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, I started this article yesterday, and it’s still cool
and drizzly today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My frustration is
still here, but I guess I oughtta get to some honey-do items instead of pouting
that I can’t get bugs today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when the
time is right, enjoy your bug-catching!</div>
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16953582155385508486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652144083113344298.post-87721499210373174922013-03-28T14:32:00.001-07:002013-03-28T14:34:21.831-07:00Bible on Eating and Entomophagy<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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My commentary or "Gettin' Biblical on
Entomophagy":<br />
<br />
Why can I eat pork and bugs and shellfish, among other things?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some Christian sects believe God has ordered
us to abstain from some meats, such as pork, crab, lobster, and more. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m a Christian and eat all that stuff with a
clear conscience, and here’s why.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The whole Old Testament is a collection of documents which
point to the necessity and the coming of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is a list of laws and rules that no person is capable of following
without error (not my ‘excuse’ –keep with me).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With the New Testament came Jesus who fulfilled that law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mankind is not worthy of being in God’s
presence without Jesus covering for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The New Testament is sprinkled profusely with references to that fact
and that we are no longer bound by Old Testament ceremonial laws.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Very early (Gen 9:3), God said all animals and herbs were
for us to eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then again in the NT (Rom
14:14) He says it again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the meantime
God gave the Jews some special eating rules.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He said, “No” about swine in Lev 11:7 and Deut 14:8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t say why, except that they were
cloven hoofed and they didn’t chew their cud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He says swine “are unclean for you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Deut 14:19-21 might warn that a carcass is unclean, BUT verse 21 goes on
to say unclean doesn't necessarily mean dangerous, since some unclean is just
fine for non-Jewish visitors/strangers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Jews couldn’t eat a carcass, but they could give it or even sell it
to strangers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s law to the Jew is
clearly not binding on non-Jews in some cases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Jews were also told rabbit, or any sea creature without fins and
scales are unclean “to you”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
orders were given to the Jews.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am a
Gentile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a clear conscience, I eat
rabbit, pork, catfish, lobster, bullhead, crab, clam, and even some winged and
swarming insects.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I eat insects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I eat
lots of different kinds of insects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Bible mentions edible insects, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
tells of ones that are unclean, and ones that are OK. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lev 11:23 says winged and swarming insects are
unclean, BUT, Lev 11:22 just said jumping insects are just fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Locusts are jumping insects, and they swarm,
and they fly on wings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark 1:6 tells of
John the Baptist, the most contemporary prophet to Jesus, and his diet of
locusts and honey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bible is not a
science book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It mentions winged insects
that go on all fours and winged insects that have four feet as unclean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Insects I know go on all sixes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lev 11: 42-43 goes on to say whatever (not
“whatever insect”) goes on all fours or swarms is unclean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cattle, sheep and goats “go on all fours”, so
according to verses 42 and 43, they’re unclean, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to Lev 11: 42 and 43, almost
nothing is clean.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I won’t argue that vegetarianism isn’t good for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daniel 1:5-16 is pretty clear on that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though Daniel said he would defile
himself with the king’s rich food, we don’t know what that food was, other than
it was rich.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t say the rich
foods were an abomination to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
only says Daniel felt the food would defile himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The passage does not say other diets are an
abomination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Romans 14:14 tells about
differences in diet and how they shouldn’t be an issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Genesis 9:3 and Romans says it doesn’t matter what you eat
in God’s eyes, (Rom 14: 2, 3, 14).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
passage says religion or legalism is not what God wants, but rather that you
eat or abstain with a clear conscience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you’re good with it (foodwise), go for it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Acts 10:9-16 tells of a vision of Peter’s where while
hungry, he went into a trance and God showed him “all kinds of animals, and
reptiles and birds of the air.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God told
Peter, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Peter said he couldn’t because the stuff God was showing him was
unclean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But God gave him that vision
three times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It reads to me, that God
was stressing that any food could be clean and also that vegetarianism isn’t
necessarily what God wants, as some sects claim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course the context is God’s pointing out
to Peter that all people are acceptable to Him, but the food reference is
undeniable.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Romans 14:14,15 say there is no clean and unclean before God
except what is in one’s conscience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But,
one is not to flaunt one’s food in front of one who says they can’t eat it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, if I have a Jewish friend
over for dinner, I won’t serve him BBQ pork.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But still, there is Old Testament law which states some things are not
to be eaten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those were ceremonial laws
given to the Israelites, and are not binding on Gentiles.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Acts 15:7-21 tells of a meeting of believers where it was
determined the Gentiles were not to be saddled with Jewish law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t take verse 9 out of context.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Verses 10, 19 and 20 back up my claim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1 Corinthians 6:12,13 and Galatians 3:23-25
also say we’re no longer bound by Old Testament ceremonial laws.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Acts 15:7-21 shows that ceremonial law
was not mandated on Gentiles. The dietary laws were ceremonial and not moral
laws.<br />
<br />
Many places in the New Testament say Christians, particularly Gentile
Christians, are not bound by Jewish ceremonial law, however, moral laws are
still something we need to follow.</div>
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16953582155385508486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652144083113344298.post-75860977751826775372013-02-21T17:04:00.004-08:002013-02-23T17:39:35.645-08:00Eww!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Introduction</span></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A basic how-to needed to be written on backyard wild edibles, --insects and other oft’
overlooked critters, in particular. Too
many books calling themselves books on “wild edibles” sadly neglect those
little edible invertebrates. I wondered,
“Why don’t I write something?” Ideas bombarded me
from every direction and the starting point wasn’t making itself known. I wondered, “If someone </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">is interested in eating wild
stuff, where would they start?”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">First
is curiosity, which leads to deciding whether or not to actually eat wild weeds
and bugs on purpose. If so, the would-be
locavore (cool term for eating locally, but I didn’t make it up) acquires the wild
stuff, prepares it, eats it and ultimately should want to share their findings. With that order in mind, this writing is built.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">You’re
actually looking at this, so you’ve got some curiosity. You know it’s about eating bugs and other
wild stuff and haven’t thrown it down. You
got past the title. That “eww-factor” is
probably the most difficult hurdle in wild edibles. Some of you might, however, be reading this
because you’re being forced, maybe to write a report or something, so I’ll
give a little background on why we shouldn’t be afraid of eating some of the
stuff others might call “weird.” It’s
been done for centuries and by many cultures.
It’s nutritionally sound. Some
say it’ll even help save the planet.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">To
eat wild stuff, you first need to actually get hold of some, and finding it
isn’t always easy until you know what you’re doing. Not all wild stuff is safe to eat. Usually, it takes some effort to eat your
first wild stuff, although the occasional bug may fly right into your
mouth. Safety includes knowing what to
eat and how to prepare it.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">After
you’ve fixed wild edibles a few times, you’re bound to stumble across some you
actually like. What fun is enjoying
something without sharing it? That’s a
big part of this <span style="font-size: small;">text</span>, so you’ll also find some ways to share your new culinary
knowledge.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Getting Started</span></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Some
folks ask, “How did you ever get started eating that stuff in the first
place?” The scene goes all wavy as we
slip back to the mid 1960s in suburban Minneapolis. Grandma told me, as she pointed out some prostrate
knotweed (Polygonum aviculare, I think), “Butterflies eat that.” I figured since butterflies fly, and that’s
what they eat, I might as well give it a try.
I ate a fair amount of the stuff, and found that my leaps from the top
of my slide were getting farther and farther.
I must have been learning to fly.
Something came up and I seemed to have forgotten about my aeronautical
pursuits. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Later, and still in my
single-digit years, I thought I’d try something else. I made sure nobody was watching. With a magnifying glass, I heated the worm to
a crisp. Still, no witnesses. The earthworm turned black, so I guessed it
was cooked through. I glanced around
again and popped it in my mouth and quickly started chewing. I hadn’t yet heard about purging worms a few
days to rid their systems of dirt. It
was gritty as I chewed, but I must admit, it didn’t taste good either. I didn’t go for seconds, and earthworm is
still not a main item on my menu.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Several
years later, in my early teens, I discovered chocolate covered bugs at my local
grocery store. They never became more
than a novelty, probably because of the expense. The flavors weren’t distinct enough and I
could get pretty much the same texture from a Nestle’s Crunch or Hershey’s
Crackle. Besides, anything can taste
good if it’s smothered in chocolate. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I’d
also read about eating dandelion greens, wild fruits and nuts, and that there’s
lots more stuff out there we <i>can</i> eat,
and people actually <i>do</i> eat. I started looking at quite a few books on
wild edible plants and even tried a few, other than that early knotweed. Every now and then, I’d stumble across a
reference to someone eating bugs, but, my interest in eating them took a break
for over thirty years. Then Sonja came
into my life.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">First Experiences With Entomophagy</span></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Several
years back, Sonja came into our library with some questions. Her quiet
school-teacher manner seemed in stark contrast to her request for information
on fried grasshoppers and sources of supply.
As I considered her request, I
remembered buying chocolate-covered ants, bees, grasshoppers and caterpillars
back in the early '70s when our Golden Valley, MN, Byerly's carried them.
Byerly's doesn't carry them anymore. I checked a while back on a visit to my
parents. The teacher's request didn't shock me like it did some. It turned out
the teacher was going to serve fried grasshoppers to some of the more daring
teachers for a back-to-school function or something like that --quite possibly
in remembrance of the big Warrensburg grasshopper feast of 1875. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Several
librarians and I jumped on the project. <br />
<br />
The school teacher ended up buying two packages of hoppers and only used about
half of one. I don’t remember if we or she found her source of supply. She nonetheless remembered our eagerness to
find information and offered the leftovers to us at the library. Only one of us (guess who) was adventurous
enough to take her up on the offer. She didn't want any payment –only to get
them off her hands.<br />
<br />
The research introduced me to websites and several books, which seemed to taunt
me with, "I dare you to pursue this!" And here I am, unashamed to
admit that I eat bugs from time to time, and on purpose.<br />
<br />
Those commercially procured grasshoppers of the teacher's, though much larger
than the ones in my yard, didn't impress me with their flavor or texture. Maybe
they were fried in lard or shortening. Maybe they'd have been better with
seasoning. I finished the open pack, and about half the other pack. The
remainder ended up getting thrown out because I had no idea how long they
stayed fresh. Over the months it took to reach that point, I'd looked at
several of the books and websites we found while doing the original research.<br />
<br />
Entomophagy is not just about fried grasshoppers, exotic monster-grubs from
Papua New Guinea and chocolate-covered stuff. One source, and credit
information escapes me, explained that the author had been researching
entomophagy. On a trout-fishing trip, he ran into a huge hatch of mayflies and
wondered what the trout found so good about them. He tried one, then another,
and ended up laying his fishing equipment down and eating his fill of mayflies.
Shortly after reading that, I was mowing on my tractor and my own yard happened
to be quite thick with mayflies. I tried them too, and for quite some time,
mayflies weren't safe around me.<br />
<br />
During my early entomophagous experimentation, I discovered I like raw mayflies
and young grasshoppers. Older hoppers were a bit too strongly flavored for me.
In a recent book I read, the author pointed out something that should have been
obvious to me. Eating uncooked insects poses the same threats of disease and
parasites as eating under and uncooked meats of other types. I pondered that
thought and my raw insect-eating days were all but over. <br />
<br />
Not long after giving up raw "bugs" (entomologically incorrect, but
etymologically correct, as <i>The Eat-A-Bug
Cookbook</i>'s David George Gordon points out), I ran across a bunch of tomato
worms on my in-laws' tomato plants. <i>The Eat-A-Bug Cookbook</i> has a recipe for
Fried Green Tomato Hornworms, so I collected all I could find from those
plants. I only got about a dozen. They ranged in size from about an inch and a
half to almost four inches long. My wife humored me and didn't protest, even
though she knew what I was up to. A month or so earlier, she only smiled (and
maybe rolled her eyes) as she peeked into a frying pan to catch me dry-roasting
some grasshoppers, which ultimately found their way powdered into a
hoppin'-good hot sauce. The day after the tomato worm find, I caught several
grasshoppers, a cicada, and a couple field crickets. I finally had enough
critters to perform another culinary experiment.<br />
<br />
After killing the snack by freezing, I thawed them out while tossing them in
soy sauce. I cut up some white onion and sweet-pickled ripe red jalapenos (from
my garden) and heated up a bit of olive oil. In went the critters and they
sizzled up a storm as the water steamed out. A couple of the tomato worms
burst, so I adjusted the heat and kept on frying and stirring until the
grasshoppers turned deep red-brown and the worms turned almost yellow. Then I
stirred in the vegetables and continued until they were nicely browned.<br />
<br />
I must admit I was quite pleasantly impressed at the outcome! Aside from the
oniony, sweet and hot, salty flavors from the other ingredients, which was
really quite good, the individual critters had flavors and textures all their
own. In many books, you'll read of "nutty" and "smoky"
flavors. The tomato worms didn't have that. They were quite similar to thin
tubes of thick pea soup. The mere bulk of "stuff" in a tomato worm
may take some getting used to, but they're really not all that bad. The cicada
tasted and felt like a nut stew inside a big sunflower seed shell. I couldn't
get the shell chewed, so, like a piece of gum that'd lost its flavor, I spit
the shell out. The grasshoppers were, like most people say, sort of smoky and
nutty in flavor. I particularly liked the light and crispy texture. Finally,
the crickets were most impressive, like crispy, smoked oyster. They were great!<br />
<br />
When I get a good batch of kimchi, pickles, pepper brownies or jalapeno cookies,
I like to share them, so I had to bring a big sample of the bugs to friends.
I'd already picked out my intended victim, due to her reaction to the hoppin' good
hot sauce a couple weeks earlier. When I asked if anyone was interested in my
latest experiment, I said, "It's not the hoppin' good hot sauce that had
the powdered grasshoppers in it." She said she didn't like the idea of hot
stuff, but the grasshopper part sounded interesting. Be careful what you say. You never know when it may come back to you.<br />
<br />
Within minutes, I brought in the previous night's leftover stir-fry, having to
fight myself not to eat it all up, so I could share it. My first victim looked
nervous as she said, "I thought you'd maybe bring it in in a couple days,
not just a minute or two." She didn't want an audience for her first
entomophagous attempt, so I suggested we slip off to the break room. There was
someone else in the break room, so we had an audience, but still not a big one.
The audience was also one who tries most of my other stuff –but not this.<br />
<br />
After looking into the stir-fry, the victim said, "Ew, I don't want to try
a tomato worm!" I poked the chopsticks in and pulled out a grasshopper.
She asked, "What's THAT?" The legs and wings were gone, and it looked
similar to a long, shiny raisin. I told her it's a grasshopper and her
face went into a skeptical twist as she slowly extended her hand. I think she
might have even given a little shiver as the morsel hit her hand. She put it in
her mouth and slowly began to chew. Her eyes got big and she started to smile
and said, "Oh my gosh! That was good!" She eagerly accepted another, bigger
hopper. The response from later adventurous eaters has all been positive.<br />
<br />
On my way to make a book-delivery to one of our library branches, I stopped at
my favorite convenience store. Some of the guys who work there eagerly try my culinary
experiments. One likes them well enough I often bring him his own bottle of the
experiments. As I walked in, I asked if anyone felt adventurous. The new guy
said, "If it's anything like that kimchi I tried, I'm game!" I said,
"This stuff isn't hot at all," and for a second or two, silence fell.
The old-timer with my culinary goodies broke the silence with a hesitating,
"What's in it?" "Well, aside from soy sauce, onions, and a bit
of those pickled jalapenos, there's critters."<br />
<br />
The new guy said, "Whoa, not me! I'm skittish enough around bugs." I
said, "It's your chance to take revenge." He didn't go for it, but
Old-Timer said, "You know, I'd heard of eating insects and have been
meaning to try it some time." I said I had grasshoppers and tomato
hornworms. Old-Timer laughed and said no tomato worm for him, but he'll try a
grasshopper.<br />
<br />
Old-Timer started chewing and he put up his hand, saying, "Mmmm,
Hmmm", between chews. "It tastes like… like… I can't quite put my
finger on it… It's not bad…" Then I told the guys about the cicada and
cricket. New Guy said he'd have tried a cricket "because they're
little." Neither of them was disappointed that I'd already eaten the
cicada.<br />
<br />
Since then, I've learned to catch grasshoppers by flashlight on a cool night. It’s similar to picking berries. New Guy also
asked me to bring some grasshoppers again because he was ready to try them.<br />
<br />
The other day, I thought I’d call a bluff. Two ladies who work at one of the
libraries on my delivery route said they were interested in trying my entocuisine.
I brought in part of batch number two. This time there were no tomato worms or
cicadas, but it included peach-pit meats, which are very almond-like. One of
the ladies declined after seeing the bowl, but the other didn't back down or
even hesitate.<br />
<br />
I ate one hopper while telling about the adapted recipe, as a patron who looked
into the bowl staggered off with her hands fluttering like a butterfly,
shuddering and repeating, "Ew, ew, ew." Daring Librarian had a
cricket and the patron "Ew"ed again. Then Daring Librarian had a
grasshopper, saying, "These are really good, though I'm most partial to
crickets." Another "Ewww!" was heard in the distance. We didn't
eat it all, so I had a fair bulk of leftovers for dinner.<br />
<br />
While camping the following weekend, I was reading my Bible by lantern-light
and a big grasshopper hit me in the chest. I picked it off and gently tossed it
to the weeds. Another bounced off my head and landed in the Book. I only smiled
as it hopped off into the dark. Before this, I'd probably have absent-mindedly
squished 'em. The next day, again, while reading, a big ant crawled along the
edge of the table and I reached out, tapped it with a finger and popped it in
my mouth. I realized what I'd done, and glanced around to see if anyone saw me.
I think I got away with it. Ants are tart!<br />
<br />
So now, as I drive around on my library delivery routes and scan the
countryside, it now hits home harder how abundantly God has provided for us. Am
I ready to throw caution to the wind and be a hunter-gatherer? No way! I like
my metal pans, freezers, refrigerators, running water, stove and oven, my car,
and other benefits of civilization. Those, too, are gifts of God.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Early Experiences with Wild Edible Plants</span></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Besides
the earlier-mentioned prostrate knotweed, which, I don’t recommend since I’d
not found any documentation on its ediblity, and it’s not all that good, some
species of knotweed are edible. I’d tried lots of other plants. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">My
early foraging didn’t strike me as being collecting wild edibles, because most
of it was with my grandmother: and besides, “everybody did it”. We went berry picking quite a bit. We’d usually pick choke cherries, red
raspberries or blackberries. It was
rare, but I did stumble across some wild strawberries, blueberries, and a
special treat, while hunting with my dad, wintergreen berries. I believe my grandmother mentioned in
passing, that lamb’s quarter was edible, but I don’t remember having eaten it
as a kid. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">On
my own, I sampled what I called onion grass, which I later learned was wild
onion greens. I heard Indians ate
acorns, so I tried some, too. I wasn’t
impressed. I found them way too
astringent --of course, now I know you’re supposed to boil them several times
to leach the acid out of them. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I
didn’t really get serious about learning until I reached my 20s.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Beware of the "Facts"</span></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">For entomophagy to reach the widest audience, I honestly
believe it needs to stay agenda-free. You’ve
probably heard how man is causing our climate to change for the worse, and that
raising beef and other mainstream meats is adding copious amounts of greenhouse
gasses to the air, and it’s eating up all the rain forests. You’ve probably heard about how we’re going
to run out of mainstream meat in just a few years. There’s also lots of data to show otherwise,
but, the media loves a crisis. After
all, normalcy doesn’t sell. It’s not
emotional or shocking. My promotion of
entomophagy is mainly for fun. And why
shouldn’t we look into all available foods?
</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Some entomophagy and vegetarianism promoters will throw out
convincing-sounding "facts" and data. Insects are almost as
high in protein, ounce for ounce, as other meats, with lots less fat while
others claim insects to be high in fats and therefore a high energy food.
You can get everything you need from only plants. A plants-only diet is lacking in some
necessary nutrients. Bugs and wild
plants are jam packed with other nutrients you could never get in mainstream
meats or non-organic farming. Entomophagy could go a long way to solve
world hunger while greening up the environment and saving all kinds of money on
resource costs compared to beef. Data can be manipulated or twisted or
presented in ways to support just about any claim or point of view. Don't blindly accept data and
"facts" without thinking for yourself. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I won't argue the claim that we in the West, eat too much
beef or that there are other sources of protein besides mainstream meats.
Much of the data, or at least the conclusions based on that data, has too many
holes in it. You can probably tell by now, I’m not an activist promoter
of entomophagy. I feel like I’m in the
minority in that respect. Don't get into
entomophagy or go on a crusade for it based on shock-data. Do it because
it's fun and could someday draw enough attention to provide a reasonable
alternative to beef or pork<span style="color: red;">. </span>If you have
enough fun with it, others will catch on, and maybe someday entomophagy will
replace the other so-called environmentally unfriendly and less healthy
mainstream meats. It just makes sense to exploit all our food
sources. Get buggy! </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">But Why Eat Bugs?</span></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A
good question to explore, other than “Why eat bugs?” is “Why NOT eat
bugs?” It’s gross. Bugs are dirty. What would the neighbors think? Look at a pig or a cow by the barn. Look at some fresh-from-the-nest eggs. Look, even at a tomato or head of lettuce as
it sits in the garden. How about caviar,
escargot, shrimp, crab…? All those can
be dirty. We wash them. We clean them. We make them edible: just like we can do with
bugs. It’s gross, and what would others
think, are just cultural excuses created out of ignorance. The reasons <i>not </i>to eat bugs are not really reasonable, when you consider why we
<i>should</i> eat bugs.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Most
of the world already eats bugs, but most of the Euro-American world
doesn’t. Many experts speculate as to
why this is, and I do, too. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It’s been thought the reason
people in industrialized societies learned to despise bugs came way earlier
than industrialization. It began when agricultural crops started replacing
hunting and gathering. Bugs began to be seen as pests, and therefore, bad. I
think bug-hate is much closer to us than that in time. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br />
<br />
<span class="uficommentbody">For many in European and North American culture, an
urban life is all they know. Limited exposure causes most to lack knowledge of
insects. Many industrialized or urbanized folks see insects as filthy, like
flies on poop or roaches around garbage. Many bugs spread disease. Ticks,
mosquitoes, chiggers, horse flies, deer flies and gnats all bite. Wasps and
bees sting. Maggots infest spoiled foods. Therefore, insects are bad and nasty.
The conclusion is based on experience, but at the same time, ignorance of the
vast numbers of non-nasties and the good aspects of many of the nasties.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="uficommentbody">Rural people are usually exposed to a much wider
array of bugs than are urban people. It might be likely that rural people could
be easier to reach with entomophagy than the urbanized, since bugs are often
more a part of rural lives. When bugs are a natural part of life, they’re
easier to deal with, and maybe to accept as a possible food source. Living with
something makes it more acceptable. I’ve not seen lice crawling on my wife or
kids, and find the thought a bit grotesque, but if I was used to it, I don’t
know. I might be able to pick and eat like I see ‘em do on documentaries.</span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Maybe we could reach urban folks
by appealing to being stylish.
Entomophagy is getting more and more popular, and several celebrities
speak about it openly. Even some upscale
restaurants feature insects on their menus.
So be cool; eat bugs!</span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I
am curious about different foods and about my surroundings. I also know many species of insects are
edible and many are actually good! Those
are the main reasons I eat bugs. They’re
also the reasons I eat purslane, rose hips, spiderwort, day lilies, and drink
sumac and goldenrod teas and roasted chicory root coffee. Those are also the reasons I try unfamiliar
items at a church pot-luck, and enjoy ethnic restaurant buffets. Curiosity has caused me to eat turtle, snake,
raccoon, ‘possum and even lutefisk: more than once! After Mommy or Daddy quits providing
everything we eat, isn’t curiosity pretty much the reason we try anything new?</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Curiosity
isn’t the only reason to eat bugs. Bugs can
be surprisingly nutritious. They’ve got
lots of protein. Unlike most mainstream
meats, bugs can also be high in calcium.
Some people say if we eat more bugs, we will reduce pollutants we put
into our environment, and make our food supplies go farther. Some researchers even think undigested fats
in our intestines adhere to insect chitin for a ride out of our systems. Vincent M. Holt, in 1885, wrote a
most-excellent book on why we should eat bugs, without resorting to lots of
technical and scientific data to publish with it. The book is simply titled <i>Why Not Eat Insects?</i> I like Holt’s approach. If you want a bunch of data, there are lots
of books out there, and hopefully, this won’t be the only book on entomophagy
you read. Curiosity, nutrition and
environment are only three reasons to eat bugs.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It
is fun to eat bugs. Entomophagy is also quite
a conversational tool, since it’s hard not to have an opinion on the
topic. Sharing your culinary creations
is enjoyable, providing you don’t easily take offense at rejection. Watching someone go from shuddering at the
thought, to trying some, while their faces melt into smiles and hearing, “Wow!
That’s good!” is quite rewarding.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
more popular entomophagy becomes, the less expensive it will be. So let’s eat bugs and fuss at our local
grocery stores until everyone carries them and even competes for price.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">What Do They Taste Like?</span></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">As
mentioned earlier, Mayflies are a pretty good choice for a first insect to eat. I won't recommend eating them raw as I did back
then. Their flavor and texture were
excellent, but, cooked is safer. Anyway,
I popped my first Mayfly in my mouth and chewed quickly, to get it over
with. It was very tender, with no hard
legs or wings or anything else to gross out a typical Western palate. The only crunchiness was akin to the softer
parts of lettuce leaves, or maybe like poppy seeds. Flavor-wise, it was rather like a cool fresh
juicy leafy vegetable. It wasn't my last
one, by any means. The Mayfly experience
made me bolder.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Later
in the summer we have lots of grasshoppers at our place. Eating them raw, I discovered the younger,
wingless grasshoppers were more tender and milder than the bigger adults. That's not the case with all species. Cone-headed, long-horned grasshoppers, katydids
and green tree crickets have recently become favorites of mine. While collecting, those will be separated
from the others as more of a delicacy.
While walking outside with my son, years ago, I pointed to some lamb's
quarter (an edible "weed") and said, "This stuff's edible and
good," while popping the top of the plant in my mouth. He gasped and asked, almost stuttering, 'D…
Dad… did you s… see that…" And I
answered, "Sure, those grasshoppers are edible, too." I was fairly pleased that the little green
grasshopper stayed on that plant-tip as I picked it and popped it in my
mouth. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Most
people who won’t try bugs can’t seem to get past their appearance. After appearance, unknowns like texture and
flavor tend to be obstacles. Bugs aren’t
like our more mainstream foods. They
have textures and flavors all their own.
Textures range from undetectable as when they’re ground into powder and
added to flour, to soft and squishy like a boiled tomato worm, to hard and fibrous
like an adult cicada or big grasshopper where you chew until you’re ready to
quit, then spit out the shell. Many people
will say bugs have a smoky or nutty flavor.
To a point, they’re right, but the flavors are really more unique than
that. It can be an acquired taste, but
it doesn’t take long to acquire it, at least for some species.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Some
of the softer-bodied, least-threatening backyard species to eat include:
conehead grasshoppers, katydids, crickets (house, field, leaf and camel),
roaches (social barriers to roaches might make them inedible to the squeamish
–as are meat-fly maggots for me at the time of this writing), mantids (too fascinating
a bug for me to eat), freshly-hatched cicadas, mayflies, dragonflies (like
mantids, I don’t like to hunt these), walking sticks, woodlice, and though not
really “soft” bodied, Japanese beetle bodies are very brittle, making them
quite easy to eat.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Harder
to eat, due to heavier exoskeletons, are most grasshoppers, June bugs, giant
waterbugs and adult cicadas. These can
be like chewing on sunflower seeds in the shell. Chew ‘til you’ve extracted the flavors and
edible parts, then spit out the shell, or prepare them in such a manner they
become brittle and shatter when chewed.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Unique
textures abound. Caterpillars and grubs
can be like sacks of thick soup. They’re
great for fear-factor events. I like to
tell contestants to bite down slowly and feel the skin tighten up and get
almost hard. Faces of on-lookers twist
into all sorts of frightened or grossed-out contortions. Then the contestant almost jumps as the skin
bursts and the juice splashes into their mouths. Usually, they ponder the experience for a few
seconds and finish up with, “That was pretty good!” Consider, also, the textures of spiders,
scorpions, slugs, snails and earthworms.
Earthworms cook up to a texture like soft rubber bands. Textures of even the harder bugs can be
changed with different heats of frying, or with dehydrating. I like dehydrated bugs, as lots of the
fibrous hard-to-chew stuff becomes quite crispy and brittle. Imagine light crepes or crispy rice cereal or
thin hard-candy coatings as textures.
Chew thoroughly, as some of the parts can be difficult to swallow if
they go down wrong.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">If
you don’t want to deal with the more-difficult-to-chew parts, remove them
before eating or cooking. Some people
recommend breaking the legs, wings and wing covers off the bugs first. Some take the heads off. I usually don’t bother. What you do is up to you.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
flavors vary between different bug species.
Some taste quite a bit like their food.
Various caterpillars and grasshoppers taste like leafy greens. Some bugs have sweetish flavors, and many
have faintly smoky or nutty flavors. I
don’t particularly like using that “smoky nutty” description, because it’s used
a lot in other books and writings on insects.
It’s like saying about other meats, “it tastes like chicken.” There’s way more to bug flavors than smoked
nuts.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Little invertebrates (bugs) I’ve
intentionally eaten include 2 kinds of roach, 4 crickets, around a dozen
grasshoppers/katydids, 5 or more scarab/June beetles, over 4 beetle larvae, 5
true bugs, darkling and click beetles, stick bugs, May flies, dragon and May
fly nymphs, tomato worms, green and gray “inch” worms, hackberry butterfly
larvae, bagworms, tent caterpillars, army and cut worms, at least 3 kinds of
cicada, dobson flies and nymphs, mousie grubs (hover fly larva), crane fly
larvae, wood lice, more than 3 kinds of plant hopper, at least 3 kinds of ants,
2 wasp larvae, at least 4 kinds of earthworm, 5 kinds of commercial canned or
frozen insects and more. So I’ve tried well over 70 kinds of bugs; I’ve got
some favorites.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br />
<br />
<span class="uficommentbody">After having tried many different kinds of bugs, my
favorites include squash and shield bugs, June beetles, crickets, big
grasshopper “drumsticks”, bagworms and Japanese beetles. Squash bugs are
naturally sweet with a faint spiciness. June beetles have a smoky flavor and
are substantial but still easy enough to chew. Japanese beetles are very
brittle and shatter when bitten, making them really easy to eat. Crickets and
bagworms are soft to chew. Crickets have a sort of shrimp-like flavor and
bagworms are planty-juicy. Grasshopper drumsticks (not dried) are a treat. Bite
the tip off the fat end of the leg and use your teeth to squeeze the meat out
of the broken end. What you end up with is a B.B to small pea-sized chunk of
meat which is very crab-like in both flavor and texture.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="uficommentbody">Some aquatic bugs taste much like the water from
which they’re taken, which can be somewhat stagnant, at times. Grubs can also
take on the flavor of the leaf-litter or dirt in which they live. I don’t
particularly care for that dirty-water or rotted-leaf flavor. I also include bamboo
caterpillars and silkworm pupae as examples that “edible” doesn’t necessarily
mean “good”.</span><br />
<br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">To
summarize this section: Bugs taste like bugs.
Bugs feel like bugs in your mouth.
I know those statements wouldn’t convince many people to try bugs. It’s really something that has to be
experienced. After you’ve chewed them up
and swallowed them, you’re likely to say, “Hmm.
That wasn’t too bad.” Or even,
“Wow, that was good!” But like books on
most topics, reading about eating bugs and actually eating them are completely
different, so don’t stop here! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquisition</span></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">You
want to eat bugs, so now you’ve got to find them. Acquisition narrows down to three ways: buy
them from a commercial supplier; raise your own; catch the locals. Since I’m an outdoorsy type, this book will
concentrate most on the third method.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
easiest way to get your bugs is to buy them.
Larger ethnic markets sometimes carry commercially canned, frozen or
dried bugs. Other places you can buy
bugs are bait and tackle stores, pet shops, bird-watching suppliers, home and
garden centers and on the Internet. Always
know the ingredients. Some pet food
insects feature ‘reptile attractant’ and I have no idea what that is. If you buy your bugs to eat, you’ll save lots
of work, but miss out on lots of fun. Commercial
insects can also be pricy. The missed
fun is like buying a TV dinner, compared to hunting or fishing, or gardening
for a meal.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Raising
bugs yourself, doesn’t need to be highly expensive or take lots of room. A bug farm doesn’t need to be labor
intensive, either. Crickets, roaches and
mealworms are easily-raised home grown critters.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A
mealworm farm starts easily. Begin with
two shallow plastic containers. With
lids is best, to keep the nerves of skittish family members at ease. Put an inch or so of bedding in the
pans. Bran of some sort is most common
for bedding material. I get mine from a
local feed store. Into the first pan,
put your mealworms, and wait.
Occasionally, give them a small slice of apple, or potato or other moist
fruit or vegetable to provide water.
They don’t need much. Watch the
pan when pupae start to form, because beetles will follow shortly. Start the second pan with beetles. When you’ve got enough beetles in pan number
two, start harvesting pan number one.
After a while, you should have a pan for harvest, and another with the
next batch growing up and getting fat.
That said, I find it easier just to buy dried mealworms from my local
wild bird food supplier.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Crickets
and roaches are almost as easy as mealworms, but require more escape proof
containers. Tightly-sealing aquariums
are good for them. They’re also a little
more dependent on water than mealworms.
Crickets and roaches use moist dirt for bedding, and might even need
places to hide. I’m not sure why they
need hiding places. Maybe they’re more
self-conscious than mealworms, or suffer from insecurity issues.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> I get most of my edible bugs by collecting
wild ones which have raised themselves.
Catching your own bugs raises the more safety questions than
commercially acquired bugs. One big
reason more developed countries enjoy better health is we pay much closer
attention to cleanliness. Cleanliness is
very important when it comes to food. If
you're going to eat bugs, which too many people think are filthy in the first
place, you're going to want to pay special attention to making sure you only
eat clean ones. Another very important
question that needs to be answered before eating is whether the species is safe
to eat. Some species, clean or not, can be
very toxic.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
most important step is to study your food, and know what species have proven to
be safe or unsafe to eat in the past. In
a true survival situation, you might not have the luxury of knowing the various
species. For wild plants, there is a
universal safety test, but I've not found anything like it for bugs. I threw a bit on bugs into the plant
test. After all, one can’t eat plants
without getting a bug from time to time.
The test is as follows: </span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Universal Edibility Test</b></span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Even before step one of the Universal
Edibility Test, I heard of another pre-step:
If there’s a bunch of dead animals lying around the stuff you’re about
to test, you should avoid it as a possible edible. And if there are insects eating that plant,
chances are, that insect probably isn’t a good choice for a snack either.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">1. Test only one part of a potential food
plant at a time. Treat different stages
of insect development as different critters.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">2. Separate the plant into its basic
components - leaves, stems, roots, buds, and flowers.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">3. Smell the food for strong or acid odors.
Remember, smell alone does not indicate something is edible or inedible.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">4. Do not eat for 8 hours before starting the
test.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">5. During the 8 hours you abstain from
eating, test for contact poisoning by placing a piece of the food you are
testing on the inside of your elbow or wrist. Usually 15 minutes is enough time
to allow for a reaction.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">6. During the test period, take nothing by
mouth except purified water and the plant part you are testing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">7. Select a small portion of a single part
and prepare it the way you plan to eat it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">8. Before placing the prepared food in your
mouth, touch a small portion (a pinch) to the outer surface of your lip to test
for burning or itching.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">9. If after 3 minutes there is no reaction on
your lip, place the food on your tongue, holding it there for 15 minutes.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">10. If there is no reaction, thoroughly chew
a pinch and hold it in your mouth for 15 minutes. Do not swallow.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">11. If no burning, itching, numbing,
stinging, or other irritation occurs during the 15 minutes, swallow the food.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">12. Wait 8 hours. If any ill effects occur
during this period, induce vomiting and drink a lot of water.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">13. If no ill effects occur, eat 0.25 cup of
the same plant part prepared the same way. Wait another 8 hours. If no ill
effects occur, the food, as prepared, is most-likely safe for eating.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">CAUTION</span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Test all parts of the plant or insect life
stage for edibility, as some plants and insects have both edible and inedible
parts or stages. Do not assume that a part that proved edible when cooked is
also edible when raw. Test the part raw to ensure edibility before eating raw.
The same part or plant may also produce varying reactions in different
individuals.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">More Safety Points</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Avoid
gathering wild edibles close to roads, especially downhill from a road as they
may be contaminated by oil runoff from cars.
Also consider herbicides and pesticides.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Some parts of a wild edible may be safe to
eat and other parts may be poisonous so be sure to treat different parts as
separate entities. While common fruits such as apple, cherry, tomato, and mango
are edible, parts of these plants are toxic.
Wasps and bees might be edible, but their venom glands contain
potentially dangerous toxins.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Don't collect wild edibles (plants or
critters) from water in which you wouldn't willingly go swimming. Boiling the
edibles may help to disinfect them.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">If you have a very sensitive digestion or
problems with allergies, you should avoid using wild edibles as food. They’re not as thoroughly researched as
mainstream foods, and some say insects should be avoided if you have seafood (crab/lobster/shrimp)
allergies.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Sometimes, but not always, toxins can be
boiled away. The arum family (araceae
–Jack-in-the-Pulpit and Green Dragon) contains high concentrations of oxalic
acid that aren’t always neutralized by boiling.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Avoid unknown plants that have a bean pod or
look like a tomato, potato, or morning glory.
Many nightshade members are toxic.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Avoid wild edibles and plant parts that smell
like almonds or root beer or have a chemical or otherwise disagreeable odor.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Avoid “edibles” that may have developed mold,
or dead critters if you don't know the cause of death.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Regarding insects, a first rule, and really
not a rule at all, as a short study will reveal, deals with an insect's
appearance. "Red, orange or yellow;
avoid that fellow. Green black or brown;
wolf it down." If an insect is drawing
attention to itself, it must be pretty confident that it's safe from predators. If an insect spends its life trying to hide
or not be seen, it might be the bug knows it's tasty. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">As thorns warn of plant danger, spines,
stingers, odor, bites and other obvious defenses warn of potential
bug-danger. If your bug is flashy or
displays warning signs, you probably shouldn't mess with it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">These are NOT absolute rules, in the same
manner "leaflets three, let it be" is not an absolute rule. If we all followed that rule, we wouldn't eat
strawberries or raspberries or lots of beans and peas. The above are first-line safety warnings for
those who might not know what they're getting into. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">For the most part, grasshoppers, katydids,
crickets, roaches, dragonflies, mantids, scarab (the June-buggy ones) beetles
and white and gold larvae of beetles are pretty safe to eat, even if you don’t
know the individual species. Even some
of the above can be unsafe if they’re unclean or diseased.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">You need to know your bug's history before
eating it. As you wouldn't pull a plant
out of a bubbling sewage lagoon and pop it into your mouth, you shouldn't pull
a bug from a dumpster or off a juicy rotting bit of road kill and expect a
tasty, safe snack. You wouldn't eat an
apple off the tree in an orchard if you knew it was covered with
pesticides. If you thought there might
be some poisons on an otherwise edible plant, you would wash it. Likewise, you shouldn't collect bugs in an
area where they or their food plants might have been poisoned. Don’t pick Japanese beetles off sprayed rose
plants. The bugs you eat should be clean.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">You might find your bugs already dead. A friend could give some to you, or you could
even find them in a store or market for sale.
You really need to know how they died and how long they've been dead,
and how they've been stored. The main
question here, is, “Do you trust the source?”
Since bugs are structurally similar to many shellfish, I like to suspect
them to be subject to quick spoilage. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">As the plant test stresses, start with tiny
quantities of an unknown insect, not a big mouthful. Work up to meal-sized portions very slowly.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">When you consider the Universal Edibility
Test, note the time it takes to test a potential wild edible. You could be days or weeks before finding
something you can safely eat. There’s no
substitute for knowing what you’re doing before being put in a survival
situation.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">On several occasions, I tried bugs for which
I’d seen no documentation on edibility.
My experience was lots more than simply knowing “people can eat
bugs.” I employed the bug safety rhyme. I knew of similar edibles. I knew the bugs’ environment. I wanted to try more critters. I’d since found documentation on some, but my
own writing is the only documentation I’d seen for others. Those experimental species for me include: squash
and box elder bugs, water boatmen, crane flies, bark boring beetle larvae and
hackberry butterfly larvae.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Once you’re certain of what kinds of bugs you
can eat, you’ll want to actually collect them.
You’re now a predator. You can
catch bugs by hand. You can trap
them. You can pick them like berries
when they’re vulnerable like when cold or on a window screen. Select your quarry and go after it! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Some of my common prey includes: grasshoppers
and crickets, ants (all stages), wasp and bee larvae and pupae, June bugs and
grubs, Japanese beetles, click beetles and their grubs, diving beetles, bark
beetle larvae, darkling beetle larvae and pupae, crane flies and their larvae, mosquitoes,
mantids, walking sticks, dragonflies, May flies, wood lice, roaches, cicadas,
hackberry butterfly larvae, tomato and tobacco horn worms, cutworms, bagworms,
shield bugs, marmorated stink bugs, giant and medium waterbugs, water boatmen,
water scorpions and more.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Spot and pounce is a simple way to get
bugs. It might be a good source of
exercise, too. Just walk around ‘til you
spot a grasshopper or cricket or other bug known to be edible, and sneak up on
it and grab. Be careful not to smash
it. Bugs might be proportionately lots
stronger than we are, but we’re way bigger. Some bugs bite or sting, so be prepared for
it. Some have prickly parts that might
startle you.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">A net offers an advanced approach to spot and
pounce. I like to make my nets out of
curtain sheer material, rather than the flimsy stuff sold as butterfly netting. An old badminton or tennis racket can make a
nice and durable frame, but it is a bit on the small side. Tools make our work easier. Traps are other tools which make the work
easier. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Almost anyone can turn on a light on a warm
Spring or Summer night and pick bugs off a window screen. Some bugs, like Japanese beetles and June
beetles can be attracted to traps. Like
I said before, you need to be sure of where the bugs came from. Trapping probably shouldn’t be done in an
urban setting, as those bugs you bring in, may have been exposed to
toxins. If there’s any chance of
contamination, bugs from traps using chemical attractants should not be
eaten. Grasshoppers can be easily
collected on cool late summer or autumn nights.
They can also be fairly easily netted on cool mornings.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Carry a collection container so you’re ready
when you get opportunities to collect.
Eventually you’ll get to the point you won’t startle easily at bugs when
most people jump. You’ll grab, instead.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Here’s a little story of one of my early experiences. Warm, humid and dark, with a little
breeze. I'd been looking, for days, for the big cicada hatch (Brood XIX
in 2011) that was supposed to be happening. I'd also been leaving lights
on and checking windows for June bugs and other critters. All total, over
the past couple weeks, I'd only gotten five or six June bugs, and seen only two
empty cicada shells and one adult. Up until this night, it had been too
cool and clear. Critters are not nearly
so apt to swarm around lights during bright moon-lit or cool nights.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Then it happened! We
didn’t get nearly the hatch of our neighbors to the south and east of us. I was quite excited to pick up to 25 emerging
cicadas per tree trunk, while our southeastern neighbors were sweeping them off
their sidewalks to keep from slipping in them.
The warmth even brought out the June beetles in pretty big numbers.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Get outside after dark, with a flashlight. Look
anywhere you can think –tree trunks, undersides of branches and leaves, fences,
flower patches, buildings, and even on the ground. You'll probably
surprise yourself at the stuff you'll find. Collect your bugs alive, and
kill them by freezing. Store them that way until you're ready to cook
them.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I go collecting with a small plastic coffee creamer
bottle. It's got a little shaker lid with a hinged-door on the opening
just the right size for most June bugs, grasshoppers, cicadas and more.
When I'm done collecting, I put the bottle in the freezer, and about 15 minutes
later, the critters are ready to sort into sandwich bags. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I found lots of June bugs on foliage, and not all on my window
screens. They seem to be rather partial to young leaves from sucker
plants that sprout from stumps. Periodical cicadas, when they’ve got a
nice hatch on, can be found on just about anything. Annual cicadas are
bigger than periodicals, hatch a week or so later, but don't hatch in such
bulk. Then there's grasshoppers late in the summer. Almost all
these critters pick quite easily. They're not nearly so skittish at night
–particularly the diurnal insects like grasshoppers. Fall insects, like
grasshoppers, pick best on cool nights when the temperatures have them slowed
down a bit. Crickets are probably easiest to acquire by trapping, or from
a bait shop, and they're mighty tasty! I'm particularly fond of those
brown camel crickets, common in many basements.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I seriously don't believe a few entomophagists can put a
dent in an insect population, unless the insect is rare to begin with. After
about a week of collecting that Spring, I'd gotten about a quarter pound of
June bugs and cicadas in the freezer –more cicadas than June bugs. I've
got a little less than that in mealworms I raised in my basement. Try
raising your own ento-treats, but if you pick wild, be respectful. Never
eradicate a population –unless, of course, you're picking pests from your
garden. And if you pick regularly, you shouldn't need to use pesticides.
Reduced pesticide use will make the green folks happy.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">So now you've got all this neat stuff you can eat. Let’s
fix some bugs!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></b></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Cooking your Bugs</span></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Pouring
live grasshoppers into your frying pan won’t work. Hopefully none of you are turning here to see
what you might have done wrong, while grasshoppers jump all over your
kitchen. Your bugs should, for most
practical purposes, be dead before cooking.
A very humane way to kill bugs is by freezing. Their systems simply slow down until they
stop. Start cooking with dead bugs. As stated earlier, make sure you know how
your bugs died.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Clean
your bugs by rinsing them well in a colander under a brisk spray of water. Although not a necessary step, pre-boiling
your insects can help keep them from spoiling.
If you boil promptly after killing, you won’t wonder in what state that
package in the freezer might be. You can
always serve as is, or re-cook. Of course,
if you’re ready to cook and serve, the boiling can be omitted after the
kill. The recipes which follow assume
the bugs have been pre-boiled, unless specifically stated otherwise. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Some
experts say rinsing and boiling aren’t necessary and that they take from an
insect’s natural flavors. Lots of those
flavors are said to be in the pheromones on their bodies, which can be rinsed
off. I still like to at least rinse my
wild edibles –plants and bugs.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Boiled Bugs</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Boiled
insects will serve well at fear factor events, or for survival purposes. Although some bug species taste OK boiled,
further cooking can enhance flavors and textures immensely! </span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Place
bugs in a saucepan and cover with water.
Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer
for 5 to 10 minutes. Boil for storage,
after you’ve killed the insects. Boiled
bugs are ready to eat or store. Boiling
is not necessary if you plan otherwise to immediately cook and serve.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Don’t
throw out that broth! You can use it for
fear factor events as “Bug Juice” or use it to make rice or barley. The broth has a subtle pleasant flavor
similar to goldenrod tea. Some of you
are asking, “similar to what!?”
Goldenrod tea is as close a similar flavor as I could come up with. Of course, if you have no clue what goldenrod
tea tastes like, I forgive you. Expand
your horizons.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> *****</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Only
a few specific recipes are given here.
This assumes, since you’re adventurous enough to eat bugs, you’re likely
adventurous and creative enough to adapt other recipes to insects: specially after
getting some basics. My first
successful, or share-worthy recipe was Sweet-Pickled Jalapeno and Onion and
Grasshopper Stir-Fry.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Before
you can fix this recipe, you need the ingredients and I’ve never seen
sweet-pickled jalapenos and onions in a grocery store. The first recipe is one that can be used for
lots of different purposes. It’s a
recipe to prepare one of the ingredients for the insect recipe. </span></span></div>
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</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sweet-Pickled Jalapeno and Onion</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Core
and seed a mess of jalapeno peppers (use rubber gloves, as the juices can soak
into your skin quite readily). Dehydrate
the cores and seeds for later grinding and powdering for other recipes. Cut the meats of the jalapenos and a big onion
(white onions are my favorite, as they tend to be stronger flavored) into one-inch
chunks. I like to generate about two
cups of each. The leftover will freeze
just fine if you want to pickle more.
Put the cut vegetables in jars that can be readily sealed (canning
jars).</span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bring
to a boil, one cup water, 1 cup white vinegar, and three quarters of a cup of
sugar (more in those proportions as needed).
Pour the boiling brew quickly over the cut vegetables until they’re just
covered. Quickly seal the jars.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Set
the jars aside at least overnight, or a couple days to let the flavors blend
well.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sweet-Pickled Jalapeno and Onion
and Grasshopper Stir-Fry</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Heat
up a small amount of oil in a large frying pan.
When hot, put in about a cup of the drained sweet-pickled jalapenos and
onions. Stir nearly constantly until the
onions turn transluscent. Add about a
cup of grasshoppers and stir the mix until you’re certain the grasshoppers are
hot and re-cooked fully. If you start
with freshly killed hoppers, cook until they turn a deep reddish brown.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">*****</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">There’s
more you can do with the pickle/stir-fry recipe. If you’ve got leftover peppers and onions,
they dehydrate into a nicely sweet and hot hard crunchy candy-like state. The leftover pickle juice can be re-boiled
and poured over boiled grasshoppers, pickling them the same way you did with the
peppers and onions. The hoppers are good
that way and they, too, can be dehydrated into a crispy candy.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Before
you crisp the hoppers, I need to tell you about the drumsticks. Properly eaten reveals them to be quite a
delicacy –at least it’s another favorite of mine. Take a drumstick and bite the tip off the
thick end. Gently bite down on the
narrow end and pull the thick end through your teeth and squeeze the meat out
as though it was a tiny tough sausage, or like a tiny tube of toothpaste from
which you’re extracting the last bits.
Grasshopper drumsticks are well worth the work, but it’s a bit
tedious. After you’ve tried the
drumsticks, then try dehydrating the rest into crispiness. I like to save the drumsticks before
candying. That brings us to candied
bugs. This has worked nicely on cicadas,
which can hatch out in vast numbers and can be very easily collected.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Candied Bugs</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Make
a very-thick sweet syrup by stirring sugar into a liquid. I make mine with freshly squeezed fruit juice
like from raspberries or I use my sweet, hot fish and rice sauce. Pour the syrup over your pre-cooked bugs and
stir gently until they’re thoroughly coated.
They can even be previously dehydrated.
Dehydrate until the syrup is no longer drippy. It will still feel sticky when done. For convenience, I leave the bugs in the
dehydrator overnight. Spread the bugs
out on a non-absorbant flexible surface like foil or wax paper. Allow to cool –refrigerator or freezer really
speeds it up. When cool, the bugs should
flex off the sheets easily.</span></span></div>
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</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Other Basics</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Fried: Use olive oil, as it’s not as bad for you as
other oils –however, be more patient, because it doesn’t do as well as other
oils at higher temperatures. Since
insects are quite delicate, stir very gently, but constantly.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Baked:
Low temps are recommended, as bugs will burn fairly quickly.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Dehydrated:
Like you would meat, since bugs really are meat. Very crispy, without burning or added oil
makes this a favorite method of mine. If
you don’t have a dehydrator, try your lowest oven setting for an hour, and then
checking for crispness from time to time –at least every 15 minutes, as your
lowest oven temp is probably quite a bit hotter than a dehydrator.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Pickled: Sweet pickled with juices from the first
recipe. Bring your juice to a boil and
pour over the bugs to cover. Serve when
cool. If you plan to store them, use a
glass canning jar and seal the lids very quickly after covering with the boiled
juice.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Crispy
Snacks: Use the recipe from any crisp rice cereal for crispy snacks,
substituting crisp bugs for a portion of the cereal. I usually go about half and half.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Chocolate-Covered: Melt chocolate in a double boiler. Stir crisp bugs into the chocolate. Remove the bugs and allow them to cool.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Spice-tossed: After frying, or baking with light oil, place
bugs in a plastic bag of your favorite seasoning and shake well. I like taco seasoning mix.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Broth
for Rice or Barley: After boiling the
bugs, use the broth/water for rice or barley.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Croutons: Put some crispy spiced and dehydrated beetles
on a salad.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Although some
people don’t consider non-insect invertebrates to be “bugs”, I’ll include some
of them here anyway. Many varieties of
slugs and snails are edible, as are earthworms. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Put earthworms in peat or cornmeal for
a few days before you boil them (20 minutes, with garlic). It helps purge
the fine gritty dirt from their systems. They have a taste sort of like
earthy fish, with a texture similar to squid.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sharing Your Creations</span></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Public
presentations are fun, and a great way to spread the word about eating insects. When the people first arrive, they see the
display and gasp, “Ewww!”, “Oh gross!” “Are those real bugs?” Some turn away. Some slap their hands over their mouths. Some respond in more neutral ways or many
times, favorably. “Yeah. I had to eat bugs in survival school.” “Do you have any of those witchiti
grubs? I saw those on the Anthropology
Network or Cuisine Channel.” “I knew a
guy who ate a grasshopper.” “Do you
catch all these yourself?” “How do you
say that? EN-tomo-faggy?” “Oh wow! Are
those, like, the June bugs on our window screens?” “I’ve heard insects are edible. I’ve just never had an opportunity.” “Are these for us to eat?” “Can I try one?”</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Don’t
work too hard to coax someone to try.
Allow the unwilling their right to refuse. Allow them their dignity and don’t ridicule
their choice not to try. Never sneak
bugs into someone’s food and giggle saying, “Ha ha ha! Guess what you just
ate!” Sometimes the reluctant will warm,
but often they’ll spit it back out or hack or even retch, making it harder to
get the mildly-bold to try. When you
force folks to try bugs, or surprise people “after” they’ve eaten them, you
give entomophagy, and yourself, a bad name.
Only encourage the willing to eat.
Obviously, they’ll be the most receptive. Those unwilling at first, often soften as
they watch willing eaters.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">To help popularize entomophagy, I
really believe we’ve got to avoid making it a political issue. Avoid suggestion
of any legislation (green or humanitarian). If anyone feels a threat, they’ll
fight it. Present entomophagy as simply a fun new food and not politics. Insects and other little invertebrates are
just other kinds of animals. They’re no dirtier, and often cleaner than those
animals we accept as food. Present edibility to Scout groups, 4-H, other youth
events like Fear Factor events. University and high school/middle school groups
like home economics, anthropology, biology, nutritional studies are good
audiences to target, as are state Departments of Conservation and Natural
Resources. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Brainstorm those publicity ideas! Find a way to attach bugs to a historical
organization like I did. My Johnson County Historical Society hosted its first
foraged feast, featuring many wild insects, in memory of the 1875 grasshopper
plague and subsequent feast. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br />
<br />
<span class="uficommentbody">There’s lots of data to refute the claims that
eating insects will save our environment and the world from hunger. Of course,
there’s data to say otherwise. Although entomophagy could maybe help in those
areas, I think our main aim should be the fun and unique taste treats which
would otherwise be missed without intentionally eating bugs. I didn’t mention
anything potentially political and my historical society was in unanimous
agreement that we’d do the bug feast.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="uficommentbody">Dispel the cultural fears and play up the
nutritional and recreational gains (it was fun one night after a church
function to have little kids and even white-haired elders catching June bugs
under the porch light for one of my up-coming programs). Possible environmental
and humanitarian benefits could be reserved for audiences where you know that
interest would be positively tapped. Most people will resist the thought of
infringing on their beef, pork and poultry. I, for one, am against anything
that would drive their prices up. We must figure out how to get insect prices
down to compete with mainstream meats. If they’re as easy to raise, and take as
few resources as is claimed, it shouldn’t be too difficult.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bibliography</span></u></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Angier,
Bradford. <i>How to Stay Alive in the Woods</i>. Macmillan Publishing Co. New York. 1956. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DeFoliart,
Gene, Florence Vaccarello Dunkel, David Gracer, Ed. <i>Food Insects Newsletter:
Chronicle of a Changing Culture</i>. Aardvark Global Publishing. Salt Lake
City. 2009.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Gordon,
David George. <i>The Eat-A-Bug Cookbook</i>. Ten Speed Press. Berkeley, CA. 1998.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Gordon,
David George. <i>The Secret World of Slugs and Snails: Life in the Very Slow
Lane</i>. Sasquatch Books. Seattle. 2010.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Herter,
George Leonard and Berthe E. <i>How to Get Out of the Rat Race and Live on $10
a Month</i>. Herter's, Inc. Waseca, MN. 1975.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Holt,
Vincent M. <i>Why Not Eat Insects?</i> Pryor Publications Whitstable and
Walsall. Whitstable, Kent, UK. 2007
reprint of 1885 publication.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Jaden,
Jenna, and the University of Maryland Cicadamaniacs. <i>Cicada-Licious</i> (2nd
ed.) University of Maryland. 2004. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">MacClancy,
Jeremy and Jeya Henry, Helen Macbeth ed's. <i>Consuming the Inedible:
Neglected Dimensions of Food Choice</i>. Berghahn Books. NY. 2009.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Manes,
Stephen. <i>Chocolate-Covered Ants</i>. Scholastic, Inc. NY. 1990</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Menzel,
Peter, and Faith D'Aluisio. <i>Man Eating Bugs: The Art and Science of Eating
Insects</i>. Ten Speed Press. Berkeley, CA. 1998.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Naylor,
Phyllis Reynolds. <i>Beetles, Lightly
Toasted</i>. Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers. NY. (1987) 1989.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Ramos-Eldorduy,
Julieta. <i>Creepy Crawly Cuisine: The Gourmet Guide to Edible Insects</i>. Park Street Press, Rochester, VT. 1998.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Rockwell,
Thomas. <i>How to Eat Fried Worms</i>.
Yearling. NY. (1973) 2006</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Rost,
Amy, compiler. <i>Survival Wisdom and
Know-How: Everything You Need to Know to Subsist in the Wilderness</i>. Black
Dog and Leventhal Publishers, Inc. NY. 2007. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Taylor,
Ronald L. and Barbara J. Carter. <i>Entertaining With Insects</i>. Salutek
Publishing Co. Yorba Linda, CA. 1996.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">U.S.
Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force. <i>Survival, Evasion and Recovery</i>.
1999.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Wild
Edible Plants</span></b></u></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Angier,
Bradford. <i>Feasting Free on Wild Edibles</i>.
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Angier,
Bradford. <i>Field Guide to Edible Wild
Plants</i>. Stackpole Books. Harrisburg,
PA. 1982.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Brill,
Steve and Evelyn Dean. <i>Identifying and Harvesting Edible and
Medicinal Plants: in Wild (and Not So Wild) Places</i>. HarperCollins Publishers. NY. 1994.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The Complete Guide
to Edible Wild Plants</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">. Department of the Army. Skyhorse Publishing. NY. 2009.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Couplan,
Francois, PhD. <i>The Encyclopedia of Edible
Plants of North America</i>. Keats Publishing, Inc. New Canaan, CT. 1998.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Forey,
Pamela, and Cecelia Fitzsimmons. <i>An
Instant Guide to Edible Plants</i>.
Gramercy Books. NY. 2001.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Phillips,
Jan. <i>Wild
Edibles of Missouri</i>. Missouri
Department of Conservation. Jefferson City, MO.
1979.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Tatum,
Billy Joe. <i>Wild Foods Field Guide and
Cookbook</i>. Workman Publishing Co. NY.
1976.</span></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Plant
and Insect Identification</span></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></u></b></span></div>
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</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Arnett,
Ross H, Jr and Richard L Jacques, Jr. <i>Simon
and Schuster’s Guide to Insects.</i>
Simon and Schuster, NY. 1981.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Brockman,
C. Frank. <i>A Field Guide to the Major Native and Introduced Species North of
Mexico: Trees of North America</i>. Golden Press. NY. 1979.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Borror,
Donald J. and Richard E. White. A <i>Field Guide to Insects: America north of
Mexico</i>. Peterson Field Guides. Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston. 1970</span></span></div>
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</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Capinera,
John L., et al. <i>Field Guide to
Grasshoppers, Katydids and Crickets of the United States</i>. Comstock Publishing Associates, Cornell
University Press. Ithaca, NY. 2004. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Cranshaw,
Whitney. <i>Garden Insects of North America</i>. Princeton University Press.
Princeton, NJ. 2004.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Denison,
Edgar. <i>Missouri Wildflowers</i>.
Missouri Department of Conservation.
Jefferson City, MO. 1978</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Heitzman,
J. Richard and Joan E. <i>Butterflies and
Moths of Missouri</i>. Missouri
Department of Conservation. Jefferson City, MO, 1987.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Niering,
William A. and Nancy C. Olmstead. <i>The
Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers</i>. Alfred A. Knopf.
NY. 1979</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Settergren,
Carl and R.E.McDermott. <i>Trees of Missouri</i>. University of
Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station.
1966.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Venning,
Frank D. <i>A Guide to Field Identification: Wildflowers of North America</i>. Golden Press.
NY. 1984.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">White,
Richard E. <i>A Field Guide to the Beetles of North America</i>. Peterson Field Guides, Houghton Mifflin
Company. Boston. 1983.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Zim, Herbert S. and Clarence Cottam. <i>Insects</i>. Golden Press. NY. 1956.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Websites</span></u></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><br /></span></span></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">June
bugs and More http://intotheborderlands.blogspot.com/2008/06/eating-brown.html</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Food
Insects Newsletter
http://www.hollowtop.com/finl_html/finl.html</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">http://www.food-insects.com/</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Grasshopper
Recipes
http://www.faculty.de.gcsu.edu/~cbader/ghprecwithinsects.html</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">How
Stuff Works "How Entomophagy Works"
http://people.howstuffworks.com/entomophagy4.htm</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Girl
Meets Bug "Eat Bugs, Save the World"
http://www.girlmeetsbug.com/</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Facebook
“groups”: "Missouri
Entomophagy" and "Wild Edibles of Missouri" are fun and active. </span></span></div>
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16953582155385508486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652144083113344298.post-45968181091054323922012-08-24T15:17:00.003-07:002013-02-23T17:41:07.366-08:00Hot and Dry Garden<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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[Below is a short article I wrote for my local newspaper. So far, the editor's not gotten back with me.] </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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A hot and dry summer keeps many of us indoors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, our gardens can become parched
and overrun with weeds and bugs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the
positive side, however, we don’t have to mow as often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lawns and gardens can become crispy in the
heat when we don’t tend them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All I harvested from my plantings were a few stunted tomatoes
and about a dozen squashes which volunteered from the mulch pile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The raccoons even thought my peaches were
ripe before I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This dry hot season
is still far from a loss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though the
garden was a domestic failure, wild edibles flourished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes minimal research to discover the
treats which may still be in that otherwise ugly garden.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although maybe an acquired taste, dandelion is one of the
heart-healthiest plants you can eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After tasting lamb’s quarter and purslane, both bursting with
wonder-nutrients, it’s easy to wonder why we don’t find these available
commercially.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lamb’s quarter has a
generic leafy green vegetable taste and texture while purslane adds a pleasant
crunch and light tartness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Curly dock
leaves are still available and they’re substantial enough you can collect a big
mess in a short time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Curly dock is much
like spinach with a bit of a tart bite added.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Other “weeds” you might easily overlook are the pods from milkweeds,
green amaranth leaves and seeds, foxtail grass seeds, redbud pods, multiflora
rose hips and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The raccoons
conveniently dropped the peach pits, from which, a very almond-like kernel can
be harvested and roasted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So even the
peaches weren’t completely destroyed.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hot and dry also seems to bring out grasshoppers which can
eat up an already hurting garden in no time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now don’t retch on that suggestion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Eating insects is where sushi was about 10 or 15 years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can already find insects at some of the more
upscale restaurants, so why not try them at home?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Johnson County (Missouri) Historical Society’s
September, 1979, issue of “The Bulletin” featured an article on the 1875
grasshopper invasion and subsequent feast, right here in Warrensburg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Entomophagy (eating bugs) is not without
precedent for us Warrensburgers.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, many of our local insect pests are edible and most are
actually good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re easy to prepare,
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Collect them in any manner you find
successful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kill them by freezing for
about 15 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rinse well in a
colander, and boil your catch for 10 to 15 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re now ready to eat, but you may want to
re-cook and season them to your own personal taste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like to marinate mine in a sweet and spicy
sauce, and dehydrate them until crispy –to match the leaves and grass outside.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our edible garden pests include grasshoppers, crickets, June
bugs, tomato worms, army and cut worms, Japanese beetles (the metallic green
ones, not the orange ladybugs), click beetles, shield bugs (stinkbugs), ants,
walkingsticks, roaches and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you’re curious about edible insects, but don’t want to catch your own, you can
buy them canned and frozen at some of the bigger ethnic groceries in the Kansas
City area.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So check it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Between
the wild edible weeds and bugs, your garden might still be pleasantly fruitful.</div>
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16953582155385508486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652144083113344298.post-72232602200716690432012-08-18T15:55:00.000-07:002012-08-18T15:55:39.883-07:00Dad's EulogyIt's been quite a while since my last post. I've got lots of reasons for not getting here, but they'll all sound like excuses. We've been moving family from place to place, and my dad moved on to his real home. My son, sister, and brother-in-law stood up and said warm words about my dad. My brother-in-law also read words from others who were not able to attend. Below is the eulogy I wrote and delivered at Dad's memorial service. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My dad, Ray
Landkamer, was born on the 11 of March, 1935, in Alexandria, Nebraska and
shortly moved to Grantsburg, Wisconsin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most of his childhood stories involve fishing, hunting or camping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He loved the outdoors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also loved basketball, as almost as many
childhood stories involved it, too.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He loved his
brothers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He admired his eldest brother,
Fred and took great pride in his service during WW II in the Merchant
Marines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of Dad’s old books feature
intricate hand-drawn maps of Pacific islands whereabouts Fred sailed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He loved his brother John’s creativity and
highly-detailed toys and other sculptures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I got to spend a fair amount of time with John, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We tied fishing flies and went trout
fishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always loved to hear the two
of them and their sense of humor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad
also proudly told of the adventurous life of Leo, from going West at an early
age, to working at Boeing, and service in the Peace Corps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve had the pleasure of meeting him and his
family on several occasions –always to hear about neat stuff.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He met my
mom in an almost ‘50s fairy-tale setting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dad, the basketball player, and my mom, a homecoming queen from another
school literally bumped into each other at a roller skating rink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They married in June, and things worked out
that I was born in 1957 and my sister came along in 1959.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I have so
many happy memories about my dad, and quite honestly, no ugly memories about
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went fishing quite a bit, from
fly fishing for crappies at our local suburban Minneapolis lake, Medicine Lake,
to trout fishing at some of his favorite childhood streams, and lots of dusk
fishing for sunfish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d always yell
our count at each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said I
usually won, but I don’t know about that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We’d
sometimes go squirrel or partridge hunting around Grantsburg, or behind my
mom’s parents’ place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d also go
hunting for wildflowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had a hedge
at their place in MN where he took care of big clumps of wild trilliums,
Jack-in-the-Pulpits and yellow lady’s slippers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I donated several other specimens to the collection –pitcher plants,
wake robin trilliums and so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I remember
one of our last walks in the woods at our place in Warrensburg, MO.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We walked quietly, and I started to hear
scratching in the leaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guessed what
it was, and signaled him to go ahead and to look to the right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he slowly crested the ridge, he got to
see his first bunch of close-up wild turkeys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was pretty happy about that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He also got to be there when I got my first deer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just a few years ago, and I wasn’t
still a “little” boy, but it was still fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He lit our brush fire as I went off to the woods to “see if I can spot a
deer”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just a few minutes later, I fired
a shot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He thought it was a misfire, and
shortly, I yelled up from the woods, “ONE!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Within a half hour of my leaving Dad to the fire, the deer was hanging
in a tree.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We did lots
more than just hang around with fishpoles or rifles in our hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad was a builder and contractor, and I got
to spend a great deal of time working alongside him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even when we were little, he’d let us hang
around while he built cabinets or even cabins and houses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of times, he’d make us bugboxes or toys
or stools or birdhouses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I might have
picked up some of my creativity from him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hopefully, I picked up some of his work ethic, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d start early and work ‘til he couldn’t see
anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He always said we were to do
the job so we never had to be called back to fix something we should have done
right the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And to do the job
so our customers wanted to have us back for other jobs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being a builder, he also taught me how to
cuss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had a few unexpected painful
accidents, at which, in a flash of no self-control, he’d yell “Horse
Biscuits!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he’d explain how he
loved to hit himself with a hammer because it felt so good when he quit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I always
loved Dad’s sense of humor –even when I was the subject.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d often tell people, “I taught him everything
I know, and still he don’t know nuthin’.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And that he had lots of free advice and it’s always worth the
price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One time while I was putting a ridge
on a roof<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and he was cleaning up some of
the scraps on the yard-side of the roof, he spied the high school bus dropping
off the kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d just graduated early
by taking summer courses for credit, so the pair of girls walking up the road
were pretty much just my age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He poked his
head over the ridge and yelled, “Hello girls!” and ducked back below the ridge
and out of sight, leaving me on the ridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A good friend commented that he wanted to assign to Dad, something Dad
frequently said about others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s one
of the good guys. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad would usually add,
“There’s not many of us left.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He always
had a fun sense of humor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A lot of
Dad’s non-work activity was with church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We volunteered several years for parking lot duty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He coached many many years of church youth
basketball –even when I wasn’t in it anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He took foreign mission trips for various building projects in Haiti and
Equador, and was also a Habitat For Humanity volunteer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My son, Nick, got to go with him on some of
that work, as well as tornado clean-up in Wisconsin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He built crafts for church fund-raisers, and
even chaperoned youth trips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was also
active at Calvary Lutheran Church of Golden Valley, Minnesota’s, outreach
committee.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our last
family outing was a trip to the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area near the
Canadian border, in Minnesota.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was
already showing strong symptoms of the disease which finally claimed him, but
we still had a good time fishing, canoeing, picking wild blueberries, taking
walks and watching bugs, fish and other wildlife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On that trip was Dad and Mom, my son and his
wife, Kristina, my wife, Becky, and I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We rented a cabin at Kawishiwi Lodge, near Ely, MN.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We played during the day, and ate fish at
night, and before bed, we read bedtime stories from Patrick McManus books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m so glad we took that trip.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another
friend of mine said of Dad, ‘He was pretty sharp!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He always knew when we were up to no
good.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was my dad and my friend, and
knew, appropriately, when to separate the two.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My dad and
mom moved to Missouri in August of 2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dad’s illness pretty much had control of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But even under that influence, he never let
down his activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He paced and walked almost
constantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was always busy doing
something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he frequently stopped at
their big window and looked out over the pond and said, “That’s beautiful!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a ripple on it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He always watched when I made repairs on the
place, and he’d marvel that I could do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’d remind him it was him who taught me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He also loved to be close to God (we worked on enough roofs to prove
that).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad always had a favorite
Scripture, the 23<sup>rd</sup> Psalm.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dad was
always active in life, and now Jesus has made him to lie down in green meadows
and by still waters, where he’s always loved to be.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We love you,
Dad.</span></div>
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16953582155385508486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652144083113344298.post-33133824039445385762011-06-17T06:12:00.000-07:002011-06-17T06:13:44.522-07:00The Gross-Out Article, or How I Got StartedThis article is slightly edited from one I posted a while back at Faithwriters.com. <br />
<br />
To get you going, check out this Scripture: Leviticus 11: 21, 22; Mark 1:6 --It's not without precedent and it's even biblical.<br />
<br />
Several years back, a distinguished-looking lady came into our library with some questions. Her formal, quiet school-teacherish (which she was) manner seemed in stark contrast to her request for information on fried grasshoppers and sources of supply. When she made her request, I remembered buying chocolate-covered ants, bees, grasshoppers and caterpillars back in the early '70s when our Golden Valley, MN Byerly's carried 'em. Byerly's doesn't carry them anymore. I checked a while back when we visited my parents. The teacher's request didn't shock me like it did some. It turned out the teacher was going to serve fried grasshoppers to some of the more daring teachers for a back-to-school function or something like that --quite possibly in remembrance of the big Warrensburg grasshopper feast from my earlier post.Several librarians and I jumped on the project. <br />
<br />
As a result of our hunt, the school teacher ended up buying two packages of hoppers (and I'm still trying to find out from where) and only used about half of one. She remembered our eagerness to find information and offered the library the leftovers. Only one of us (guess who) was adventurous enough to take her up on the offer. She didn't want any payment –only to get them off her hands.<br />
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The researching introduced me to websites and several books, which seemed to taunt me with, "I dare you to pursue this!" And here I am, unashamed, but on occasion, a little hesitant to admit, I've tried entomophagy, and am recognizing the potential in it.<br />
<br />
Those commercially procured grasshoppers of the teacher's, though much larger than the ones in my yard, didn't impress me with their flavor or texture. Maybe they were fried in lard or shortening. Maybe they'd have been better with seasoning. I finished the open pack, and about half the other pack. The remainder ended up getting thrown out because I had no idea how long they stayed fresh. Over the months it took to reach that point, I'd looked at several of the books and websites we found while doing the original research.<br />
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Entomophagy is not just about fried grasshoppers and chocolate-covered stuff. One book, and I can't remember the author or title, explained how the author had been researching entomophagy. On a trout-fishing trip, he ran into a huge hatch of mayflies and wondered what the trout found so good about 'em. He tried one, then another, and ended up laying his fishing equipment down and eating his fill of mayflies. Of course, shortly after reading that, I was mowing on my tractor and my own yard happened to be quite thick with mayflies. I tried 'em too, and for quite some time, mayflies weren't safe around me.<br />
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During my early time of entomophagy experimentation, I discovered I like raw mayflies and young grasshoppers. Older hoppers were a bit too strongly flavored for me. In a recent book I read, the author pointed out something that should have been obvious to me. Eating uncooked insects poses the same threats of disease and parasites as eating under and uncooked meats of other types. I pondered that thought and my raw insect-eating days were all but over. <br />
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One day, not long after giving up raw "bugs" (entomologically incorrect, but etymologically correct, as "Eat-A-Bug's" David George Gordon points out), I ran across a bunch of tomato worms on my in-laws' tomato plants. "The Eat-A-Bug Cookbook" has a recipe for Fried Green Tomato Hornworms, so I collected all I could find from those plants. I only got about a dozen. They ranged in size from about an inch and a half to almost four inches long. My wife humored me and didn't protest, even though she knew what I was up to. A month or so earlier, she only smiled (and maybe rolled her eyes) as she peeked into a frying pan to catch me dry-roasting some grasshoppers, which ultimately found their way powdered into a hoppin'-good hot sauce. The day after the tomato worm find, I caught several grasshoppers, a cicada, and a couple field crickets. I finally had enough critters to make another attempt at edible insects.<br />
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After killing the snack by freezing, I thawed 'em out while tossing them in soy sauce. I cut up some white onion and sweet-pickled ripe jalapenos (from my garden) and heated up a bit of olive oil. In went the critters and they sizzled up a storm as the water steamed out. A couple of the tomato worms burst, so I adjusted the heat and kept on frying and stirring until the grasshoppers turned deep red-brown and the worms turned almost yellow. Then I stirred in the vegetables and continued until they were nicely browned.<br />
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I must admit I was quite pleasantly impressed at the outcome! Aside from the oniony, sweet and hot, salty flavors from the other ingredients, which was really quite good, the individual critters had flavors and textures all their own. In many books, you'll read of "nutty" and "smoky" flavors. The tomato worms didn't have that. They were quite similar to thin tubes of thick pea soup. The mere bulk of "stuff" in a tomato worm may take some getting used to, but they're really not all that bad. The cicada tasted and felt like a nut stew inside a big sunflower seed shell. I couldn't get the shell chewed, so, like a piece of gum that'd lost its flavor, I spit the shell out. The grasshoppers were, like most people say, smoky and nutty in flavor. I particularly liked the light and crispy texture. Finally, the crickets were most impressive, like crispy, smoked oyster. They were great!<br />
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Like when I get a good batch of kimchi, pickles, pepper brownies or jalapeno cookies, I had to bring a big sample to friends to share. I'd already picked out my intended victim, due to her reaction to the hoppin'good hot sauce a couple weeks earlier. When I asked if anyone was interested in my latest experiment, I said, "It's not the hoppin' good hot sauce that had the powdered grasshoppers in it." She said she didn't like the idea of hot stuff, but the grasshopper part sounded interesting. Be careful what you say, specially if you're only trying to humor someone. You never know when it may come back to you.<br />
<br />
Within minutes, I brought in the previous night's leftover stir-fry, having to fight myself not to eat it all up, so I could share it. My first victim looked nervous as she said, "I thought you'd maybe bring it in in a couple days, not just a minute or two." She didn't want an audience for her first entomophagous attempt, so I suggested we slip off to the break room. There was someone else in the break room, so we had an audience, but still not a big one. The audience was also one who tries most of my other stuff –but not this.<br />
<br />
After looking into the stir-fry, the victim said, "Ew, I don't want to try a tomato worm!" I poked the chopsticks in and pulled out a grasshopper. She asked, "What's THAT?" The legs and wings were gone, and it looked similar to a long, shiny raisin. I told her it's a grasshopper and her face went into a skeptical twist as she slowly extended her hand. I think she might have even given a little shiver as the morsel hit her hand. She put it in her mouth and slowly began to chew. Her eyes got big and she started to smile and said, "Oh my gosh! That was good!" She eagerly accepted another, bigger hopper. The response from later adventurous eaters has all been positive.<br />
<br />
On my way to make a book-delivery to one of our library branches, I stopped at my favorite convenience store for my soda refill. Some of the guys who work there eagerly try my concoctions. One of them likes my experiments well enough that he gets his own bottle of most. As I walked in, I asked if anyone felt adventurous. The new guy said, "If it's anything like that kimchi I tried, I'm game!" I said, "This stuff isn't hot at all," and for a second or two, silence fell. The old-timer with my culinary goodies broke the silence with a hesitating, "What's in it?" "Well, aside from soy sauce, onions, and a bit of those pickled jalapenos, there's critters."<br />
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The new guy said, "Whoa, not me! I'm skittish enough around bugs." I said, "It's your chance to take revenge." He didn't go for it, but Old-Timer said, "You know, I'd heard of eating insects and have been meaning to try it some time." I said I had grasshoppers and tomato hornworms. Old-Timer laughed and said no tomato worm for him, but he'll try a grasshopper.<br />
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Old-Timer started chewing and he put up his hand, saying, "Mmmm, Hmmm", between chews. "It tastes like… like… I can't quite put my finger on it… It's not bad…" Then I told the guys about the cicada and cricket. New Guy said he'd have tried a cricket "because they're little." Neither of them was disappointed that I'd already eaten the cicada.<br />
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Since then, I'd experienced catching grasshoppers by flashlight on a cool night is quite like picking berries. New Guy also asked me to bring some grasshoppers again because he was ready to try them.<br />
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The other day, I called a bluff. Two ladies who work at one of the libraries I deliver to said they were interested in trying my entocuisine. I brought in part of batch number two. This time there were no tomato worms or cicadas, but it included peach-pit meats, which are very almond-like. One of the ladies declined after seeing the bowl, but the other didn't back down or even hesitate.<br />
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I ate one hopper while telling about the adapted recipe, as one patron who looked into the bowl staggered off with her hands fluttering like a butterfly, shuddering and repeating, "Ew, ew, ew." Daring Librarian had a cricket and the patron "Ew"ed again. Then Daring Librarian had a grasshopper, saying, "These are really good, though I'm most partial to crickets." Another "Ewww!" was heard in the distance. We didn't eat it all, so I had a fair bulk of leftovers for dinner.<br />
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While camping the following weekend, I was reading my Bible by lantern-light and a big grasshopper hit me in the chest. I picked it off and gently tossed it to the weeds. Another bounced off my head and landed in the Book. I only smiled as it hopped off into the dark. Before this, I'd probably have absent-mindedly squished 'em. The next day, again, while reading, a big ant crawled along the edge of the table and I reached out, tapped it with a finger and popped it in my mouth. I realized what I'd done, and glanced around to see if anyone saw me. I think I got away with it. Ants are tart!<br />
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So now, as I drive around on my library delivery routes and scan the countryside, it hits home all the harder how abundantly God has provided for us. Am I ready to throw caution to the wind and be a hunter-gatherer? No way! I like my metal pans, freezers, refrigerators, stove and oven, my car, and other benefits of civilization. Those, too, are gifts of God. Running water's nice, too, as is the Internet where you're likely reading this.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16953582155385508486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652144083113344298.post-19005875812501850972011-06-14T14:54:00.000-07:002011-06-14T14:54:50.602-07:00Some of My Motivation<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout v:ext="edit"> <o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Some of you might wonder why someone brought up in Western culture actually eats bugs. I'll be transferring another article on that topic soon, but the below article documented an event that took place quite near where I live over a hundred years ago, so my interest, particularly in this area, isn't without precedent! This is a story or how a guy took hardship and turned it into a fun event. Enjoy! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><blockquote><b>Who Recalls Locust Feast?</b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">From "The Bulletin" Johnson County Historical Society, Inc., Sep, 1979 (Vol. XV, No. 2)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">If you think this year's onslaught of grasshoppers has been bad, think back to what it was like in 1875 when young boys were gathering buckets of locusts for a very unusual –but true—banquet.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The subject of Warrensburg's "grasshopper feast" came up again earlier this year with a reprint of a 1909 reminiscence by "The Country Cousin" in the Warrensburg Star Journal, January 31.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The unnamed writer was a member of the city council, and he told of a dinner at the normal school that had him feel as though the 'hoppers were yet stalking through his stomach.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The fall of 1975 [sic] brought swarms of Rocky Mountain or "Indian" grasshoppers (so named because of their copper color and bright red legs) to Western Missouri.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The locusts laid eggs in the sandy, loose soil, and the following year, then hatched out in plague proportions.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">"Country Cousin" reported that they moved forward "like an avalanche," up from the bootoms [sic] around Post Oak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were so many of the 'hoppers that trains were being stalled because of wheels slipping on the rails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Warrensburg banker, A.W. Ridings, offered a reward and paid fifty cents for every bushel of grasshoppers brought to his bank at Holden and East Pine Streets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many were brought in, however, he was forced to retract the offer.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The feast?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was the idea of Charles V. Riley, the first state entomologist in Missouri and later an entomologist with the U.S. Department of agriculture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Riley claimed that the grasshoppers could be safely eaten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Accounts differ, but "Country Cousin" said that all of the teachers in the normal school attended the banquet, with the cooking being supervised by a German clerk named Weidermeyer, who was also an excellent chef.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">"First came grasshopper soup, then grasshopper pancakes served with butter and syrup; the scrambled eggs well mixed with grasshoppers; then followed pudding, spiked with the festive hopper, and finally came a pie around the edge of which the redlegged grasshoppers were set around in a circle looking outward, very artistically arranged," he recalled.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Riley's account of the banquet was included in a report to the governor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, details were in a paper he read before the American Association of the Advancement of Science.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The article raises some questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, who was "Country Cousin"?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any Ideas?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second, does anyone remember first or second-hand stories from persolns [sic] that attended the banquet or were otherwise involved?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If so, write The Bulletin in care of the Heritage Library in Warrensburg.</div></blockquote><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">I'd like to recreate an insect feast here in Warrensburg, Missouri, some time. Please, if anyone thinks it sounds like fun, and specially would like to help, let me know! We probably would have to expand on grasshoppers, as we can't really schedule another plague.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal">And I'd like to give the Johnson County Historical Society special thanks for giving me the go-ahead to re-post this article! Go to Facebook and friend them!</div>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16953582155385508486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652144083113344298.post-6639730480774967522011-06-01T14:10:00.000-07:002011-06-01T15:21:39.935-07:00It Happened on a Dark and Humid Night<div class="MsoNormal">It's a dark warm night in mid to late spring. That's prime bug collecting time. Turn on a porch light or a fairly bright light near a window in your house. It shouldn't take long for the guests to arrive. While you're waiting, take a flashlight out to trees and the garden to collect more stuff. (Ed K., if you're reading this, I plan on building a big bug trap like you've got! –If it works for me, I'll share it.)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Last night (29 May, 2011), I had my first fruitful night-hunt! It'd been a really screwy year, so far, for weather. It'd been unusually cold and rainy. I guess that's what's been keeping the bugs under cover. Last night was different! It was warm and humid, with a little breeze. I'd been looking, for days, for the big cicada hatch that was supposed to be happening. I'd also been leaving lights on and checking windows for June bugs and other critters. All total, over the past couple weeks, I'd only gotten five or six June bugs, and seen only two empty cicada shells and one adult. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">--time passes-- </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now 1 June, I gotta get this finished so I can post it in time for folks to do something about it. Get outside after dark, with a flashlight. Look just about anywhere you can think –tree trunks, undersides of branches and leaves, fences, flower patches, buildings, and even on the ground. You'll probably surprise yourself at the stuff you'll find. Collect your bugs alive, and kill them by freezing. Store them that way until you're ready to cook them.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I go collecting with a small plastic coffee creamer bottle. It's got a little shaker lid with a hinged-door on the opening just the right size for June bugs, grasshoppers, cicadas and more. When I'm done collecting, I put the bottle in the freezer, and about 15 minutes later, the critters are ready to sort into sandwich bags. At least that's the way I do it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I've found lots of June bugs on foliage, and not all on my window screens. They seem to be rather partial to young leaves from sucker plants that sprout from stumps. Cicadas are on just about anything, and we should have the annuals start their hatch in a few weeks. Annual cicadas are bigger than periodicals, but don't hatch in such bulk. Then there's grasshoppers late in the summer. Almost all these critters pick quite easily. They're not nearly so skittish at night –particularly the diurnal insects like grasshoppers. They pick best on cool nights. Crickets are probably easiest to acquire by trapping, of from a bait shop, but they're might tasty! I'm particularly fond of those brown camel crickets so common in many basements.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I seriously don't believe a few entomophagists can put a dent in an insect population, unless the insect is rare to begin with. So far, in combination, I've gotten about a quarter pound of June bugs and cicadas in the freezer –more cicadas than June bugs. I've got a little less than that in mealworms I raised in my basement. Try raising your own ento-treats, but if you pick wild, be respectful. Never eradicate a population –unless, of course, you're picking pests from your garden. And if you do pick regularly, you shouldn't need to use pesticides! Reduced pesticide use will even make the green folks happy. (and an almost off-topic note: Put earthworms in peat for a few days before you boil 'em (20 minutes, with garlic). It helps purge the fine gritty dirt from their systems. They have a taste sort of like earthy fish, with a texture similar to squid. They oughtta go over quite nicely at our fear factor program in October)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So now you've got all this neat stuff you can eat. How do you do it? I'll be happy to share my experiences with you, and below, you'll find a bibliography of some of my favorite books on wild edibles and edible critters of many sorts. They're all good enough that I've added them to my personal library –even though I work at a public library.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Bibliography</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Angier, Bradford. <i>Field Guide to Wild Edible Plants</i>. Stackpole Books. Harrisburg, PA. 1982. <br />
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Angier, Bradford. <i>How to Stay Alive in the Woods</i>. Macmillan Publishing Co. New York. 1956.<br />
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Brill, "Wildman" Steve and Evelyn Dean. <i>Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants: in Wild (and Not so Wild) Places</i>. Harper Collins Publishers. NY. 2002. <br />
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Couplan, Francois, PhD. <i>The Encyclopedia of Edible Plants of North America</i>. Keats Publishing, Inc. New Canaan, CT. 1998. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">DeFoliart, Gene, Florence Vaccarello Dunkel, David Gracer, Ed. <i>Food Insects Newsletter: Chronicle of a Changing Culture</i>. Aardvark Global Publishing. Salt Lake City. 2009.<br />
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Department of the Army. <i>The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants</i>. Skyhorse Publishing. NY. 2009. <br />
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Forey, Pamela, and Cecelia Fitzsimmons. <i>An Instant Guide to Edible Plants</i>. Grammercy Books. NY. 2001. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Gordon, David George. <i>The Eat-A-Bug Cookbook</i>. Ten Speed Press. Berkeley, CA. 1998.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Gordon, David George. <i>The Secret World of Slugs and Snails: Life in the Very Slow Lane</i>. Sasquatch Books. Seattle. 2010.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Herter, George Leonard and Berthe E. <i>How to Get Out of the Rat Race and Live on $10 a Month</i>. Herter's, Inc. Waseca, MN. 1975.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Holt, Vincent M. <i>Why Not Eat Insects?</i> Pryor Publications Whitstable and Walsall. Whitstable, Kent, UK. 2007 reprint of 1885 publication.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Jaden, Jenna, and the University of Maryland Cicadamaniacs. <i>Cicada-Licious</i> (2nd ed.) University of Maryland. 2004.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Menzel, Peter, and Faith D'Aluisio. <i>Man Eating Bugs: The Art and Science of Eating Insects</i>. Ten Speed Press. Berkeley, CA. 1998.<br />
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Phillips, Jan. <i>Wild Edibles of Missouri</i>. Missouri Department of Conservation. 1979. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Rost, Amy, compiler. <i>Survival Wisdom and Know-How: Everything You Need to Know to Subsist in the Wilderness</i>. Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers, Inc. NY. 2007. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Taylor, Ronald L. and Barbara J. Carter. <i>Entertaining With Insects</i>. Salutek Publishing Co. Yorba Linda, CA. 1996.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force. <i>Survival, Evasion and Recovery</i>. 1999.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Websites</u></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br />
</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">June bugs and More</div><div class="MsoNormal">http://intotheborderlands.blogspot.com/2008/06/eating-brown.html</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Food Insects Newsletter</div><div class="MsoNormal">http://www.hollowtop.com/finl_html/finl.html</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">http://www.food-insects.com/</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">And of course, don't forget my two Facebook groups: Missouri Entomophagy and Wild Edibles of Missouri.</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16953582155385508486noreply@blogger.com3