THE GHOST OF DR. JON FU

     JON FOUND ALL THE ANSWERS TO ALL HIS QUESTIONS IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES, AS HE MANAGED TO SEE THE BEST… COME FROM THE WORST… IN MOST SITUATIONS. HIS DECISION TO RETURN TO COLLEGE AFTER PASSING THIRTY YEARS OF RANCHING BECAME HIS SLOW-MOVING DREAM THAT GREW STRONGER, AS HE GREW OLDER… BEING APPARENTLY, MORE SO WISER… THAN HIS FEAR OF THE FUTURE! HE STRUMMED HIS GUITAR… THE NATIVE TEXAN WAY … EXPECTING EVERYONE IN TEXAS TO PREPARE FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE! OR INHERIT WHATEVER COMES NOONDAY…

    AND TO MAKE THIS LAST CALL FOR LOVE READ MORE LIKE A ROMANCE NOVEL… MARGARETTA, THE STAR OF THIS STORY~~~

WAS, AND IS NOW… A SUCCESSFUL ACTRESS, SINGER, PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, WHO DISCOVERED A NEW LIFE IN A NEW DIRECTION! SHE HAD FOUND HERSELF IN WHAT SHE CALLED A ‘DEAD SPOT‘. AND SHE QUICKLY MADE THE MOVE OUTSIDE OF IT. SHE WANTED FREEDOM FROM THE WORLD… AND THE COURAGE TO ESCAPE HER PAST.

    SADLY, WHEN THEY DANCED, THEY DANCED BACKWARDS IN TIME… RETURNING TO THE TEARFULL MEMORY OF TWO YOUNG LOVERS CAUGHT-UP IN THE FINAL TEST OF LIFE… A LIFE GIVEN UNTO GOD BY DEATH.  AND THIS FORTUNATELY,  FOR ALL YOUNG LOVERS EVERYWHERE! SO LET THIS BE A WARNING UNTO YOU ALL WHO OPEN UP THE GATE HERE… ONLY BRAVE ONES READ ON!  SO READ ON BRAVE ONE!  …COME WASH YOUR FACE IN THIS WATER! AND MAYBE YOU WILL FEEL ALIVE! COME FOLLOW ME ON THIS JOURNEY IN YOUR HEART WITH YOUR TRUE WILL TO SURVIVE!

SCRIPT ONE MARGA 

HOLLYWOOD CALIFORNIA

    “THERE COMES A TIME IN EVERYONES LIFE WHEN YOU MUST STOP DEPENDING ON OTHERS TO MAKE YOUR HAPPINESS, AND YOU MUST LEARN TO CREATE YOUR OWN. I HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED MEETING ALL TYPES OF PEOPLE, AND ONCE I AM ENROLLED IN COLLEGE, I WILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING ON MY OWN… ALL BY MYSELF, WITHOUT BEING ACCUSED OF VAINGAINED GLORY! I JUST NEED A NEW ADVENTURE…  A NEW CHALLENGE! TO COMPLETE THAT PART OF MY LIFE, THAT I NEGLECTED TO DO, AS A CHILD. I CAN BE OF COLLEGE AGE AGAIN!  I’M NOT TOO OLD…  AM I CLARA? OR AM I JUST BORED… OR WHAT?”

    “O FOR CHRIST’S SAKES MARGARETTA! A LOT OF PEOPLE GO BACK TO COLLEGE! YOU’RE NOT TOO OLD. AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO SELL ME YOUR PLAN! I’M YOUR BIG SISTER. REMEMBER? I’M IN THE SAME BOAT! GO BACK TO SCHOOL! GO ON! BEFORE OUR BOAT BEGINS TO SINK! WHATEVER THE CASE… GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER! I’VE GOT MY OWN PLANS AND PROBLEMS TO DEAL WITH. HOW MANY YEARS WILL IT TAKE YOU TO GET A DEGREE? AND WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU GOING TO STUDY? ARE YOU GOING TO BE A FAMOUS WITCH-DOCTOR OR SOMETHING?”

    “O DON’T BE SILLY, CLARA.  I WANT TO BE AN ARCHAEOLOGIST.

AND I WANT TO STUDY BONES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS! THAT IS… IF I CAN PASS THE ENTRANCE EXAM? CLARA, YOU KNOW YOURSELF HOW MUCH I LOVE LOOKING FOR OLD ANTIQUES AND OLD RELICS! REMEMBER THAT BIG ARROWWHEAD I FOUND LAST SUMMER IN OKLAHOMA? AFTER I FOUND IT, MY HEART FELT DIFFERENT… KNOWING THAT IT WAS PROBABLY HUNDREDS OF YEARS OLD!  I WANT TO FIND SOME MORE!  IS THAT CRAZY OF WHAT?”

    WITHOUT WAITING FOR A REPLY, MARGA TURNED TO THE MIRROR ON CLARA’S OFFICE DOOR, “BUT FIRST, I’M GOING TO LOSE ABOUT 20 POUNDS OFF THIS GORGEOUS, LITTLE ROUND BODY. AND THEN I’M GOING SHOPPING FOR A WHOLE NEW WARDRODE OF YOUNGER LOOKING CLOTHES. CLARABELLA, CAN YOU ARRANGE FOR MY FITNESS TRAINER TO CALL ME TOMMORROW? I’VE GOT ABOUT SIX WEEKS TO GET READY TO PASS THAT TEST. OH! AND I ALMOST FORGOT… LAST NIGHT ON-LINE, I HIRED A PROFESSIONAL TUTOR TO COME HELP ME PREPARE FOR THAT EXAM. SHE WILL BE HERE NEXT MONDAY. CLARA, CAN YOU HAVE SOMEONE PICK HER UP AT THE AIRPORT?  SHE’S FROM TEXAS! ASK JUDI. MAYBE SHE CAN STAY IN HER ROOM FOR A FEW WEEKS? AND CLARA… CALL THE BANK! I’LL NEED A HOUSE IN AUSTIN, AND A NEW CAR.  I WANT A BRAND NEW SNOWWHITE CONVERTIBLE WITH ALL THE EXTRAS! FANCY WHEELS! DARK TINTED GLASS! AND A MARS-SYSTEM RADIO!

    “STOP IT! MARGA…THAT’S ENOUGH! I ‘VE GOT ENOUGH TO DO!  I’M NOT YOUR SLAVE!”

    “OH CLARA, I’M SORRY!  YOU KNOW HOW I GET WHEN I GET EXCITED ABOUT SOMETHING!  I LOVE TO MOVE FAST! AND MAKE FAST DECISIONS!”

    MARGARETTA ARCHED HER BODY UPWARD AS FAR, AS HUMANALLY POSSIBLE AS THE FINAL STRETCH TIGHTENED HER MUSCLES IN A TIGHT KNOT. SHE WAS SCREAMING NOW ON THE INSIDE… HER LUNGS GASPING FOR AIR!  OVER AND OVER AGAIN, SHE PUSHED HARD… LIKE A WOMAN! AS SUDDENLY, THE MUSIC STOPPED. HER FITNESS INSTRUCTOR SHOUTED OUT OVER THE LOUDSPEAKERS. 

    “MARGARETTA, GET ON THE SCALE!” THE SOUND OF A HARD VOICE IN THE GYM WAS ALWAYS A WELCOMED SIGN OF RELIEF. THE LAST DAY IN THE GYM WAS ALWAYS THE HARDEST. MARGA TOOK THE BIG STEP FORWARD HOLDING HER BREATH. SHE OPENED HER EYES, AND LIFTED HER HEAD… 122 POUNDS, AND HOLDING!          

    “THAT’S IT MARGARETTA! YOU’VE ON IT!” SHOUTED HER INSTRUCTOR! MARGARETTA LOOKED INTO THE BODY LENGTH MIRROR, AND THEN SHE TOOK ANOTHER DEEP BREATH. FINALLY, THE PAIN HAS PAID OFF… BEING RELIEVED TO SEE HER FIGURE IN BETTER SHAPE NOW, THAN WHEN SHE WAS IN HIGHSCHOOL. SHE GRABBED FOR A TOWEL AND HEADED STRAIGHT FOR THE DOOR WHEN SHE HEARD HER INSTRUCTOR’S FAMOUS LAST WORDS… 

    ”REMEMBER MARGARETTA,  A GOOD TIGHT BODY IS ALL THAT A WOMAN NEEDS IN A WORLD FULL OF MEN!” MARGA WALKED OUT THE BACKDOOR QUIETLY. “BOY! IF HE ONLY KNEW…”

     LATER BACK AT THE OFFICE, CLARABELLA SHOUTED…

    ”HAS ANYONE SEEN MARGARETTA THIS MORNING? SHE’S LATE FOR A SIGNATURE. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE SHE IS?” THE HUM OF HUMAN VOICES SILENCED AS THE THOUGHT SWIRLED ABOUT FROM ONE SIDE OF THE OFFICE TO THE OTHER, WHERE A DOZEN, OR SO WORKERS STOPPED AT WHAT THEY WERE DOING TO LOOK AROUND QUESTIONABLY AT EACHOTHER… BUT NO ONE SEEMED TO ANSWER. CLARABELLA GAZED THRU THE MAZE OF HUMAN BODIES AND OUT INTO THE HALL, AS IF WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN. 

    “WHERE IS MARGA?” SHE MUMBLED IN THOUGHT. SHE SHOULD KNOW BY NOW… HOW MUCH  WORK IT IS BEING THE OFFICE MANAGER TO A CELEBRITY. ESPECIALLY, WHEN NO HELP AT ALL WAS COMING FROM SISTER NUMBER TWO… YOUNG JUDIPANNELLA, WHO ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE  OFF SOMEWHERE… ONLY GOD KNOWS WHERE…? STRUMMING ON HER GUITAR, BEATING ON HER DRUMS, AND DANCING AROUND LIKE A WILDCHILD FROM ANOTHER PLANET!  NO ONE COULD EXPECT ANY HELP FROM JUDI. JUDI NEEDS REHAB! ALONG WITH THAT BAND OF HERS FROM MARS! CLARA DEPRESSED. “WHY ME LORD? WHY DO I ALWAYS HAVE TO BE THE ONE IN CHARGE? I’LL BE GLAD WHEN MARGA IS HAPPY AND OFF TO COLLEGE. AND THEN MAYBE,  I’LL GET SOME REST.” 

    AS QUICKLY AS IT BEGAN,  CLARA’S DAYDREAM WAS OVER. DOWN THE HALL A DOOR SLAMS. AND IN WALKS MARGARETTTA.

    “MARGARETTA, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?” MARGA STOOD STRUGGLING IN THE DOORWAY, PUSHING HERSELF THRU THE DOOR, CARRYING TWO LARGE WHITE BOXES, BENDING ON BOTH ENDS. SHE WAS TRYING TO WALK AND TALK WHILE CHEWING ON AN ENVELOPE HELD BETWEEN HER TEETH. SHE SPIT IT OUT…“HELP YA’LL! AS THEY SAY IN TEXAS! I GOT SOME LOVE! COME AND GIT IT!” MARGA LANDEDTHE TWO WHITE BOXES ON CLARA’S DESK. AND SHOUTED… 

    “CONGRADULATIONS ARE NOW IN ORDER! I HAVE PASSED THE TEST! I AM NOW A TEXAS COED!”  IT’S PARTY TIME! AND WE’VE GOT COOKIES SHAPED LIKE TEXAS! RED, WHITE AND BLUE! WITH GREEN CUPCAKES! AND CHOCOLATE COW-PATTIES! AND WILL SOMBODY PLEASE HOLD THE DOOR OPEN!”

    TWO GIRLS IN WHITE COWBOY HATS AND RED COWBOY BOOTS ENTERED THE OFFICE PUSHING ONE  CART FULL OF PIZZAS! AND THE OTHER FULL OF LONESTAR BEER! ALMOST INSTANTLY, A BIG CHEER! TURNED INTO A LOUD ROAR… WITH A STAMPEDE OF OFFICE WORKERS RACING TOWARD CLARA’S DESK!

    “NO MARGA… NOT THERE!” CLARABELLA MADE A QUICK DASH TO HER DESK TO SAVE HER PAPERS! BUT IT WAS TOO LATE!  OFFICE WORKERS JAMMED THE OFFICE DOORWAY LIKE A HERD OF BUFFALO GOING OVER THE CLIFF! AND EACHOTHER! CLARABELLA TRIED TO PUSH HER WAY THRU… BUT FAILED!  INSTINCTLY, SHE GRABBEDTHE BIG MAILBOY BY HIS SHIRT COLLAR! WHO WAS GOING DOWN STUFFING COOKIES IN HIS MOUTH! SHE MOUNTED-UP… LIKE A RODEO COWBOY! AND HOLLERED!

    “GIDDY UP! YEE!HIGH! YIPEE!” THEN SHE SPURRED HIM! A FEW TIMES! WHEN HE WOKE-UP! HE STARTED BUCKIN’ AND SPINNIN’ AND KICKIN’ LIKE A WILDHORSE BRONC! EVERYBODY WAS LAUGHING AND MOVING BACK! AND FOR A FEW SECONDS, CLARABELLA TWISTED AND TURNED LIKE A RODEO STAR! UNTIL…SHE BUCKED OFF!  LANDING ON HER FEET!  PLANTING BOTH HANDS ON HER DESK ‘SECRETARY STYLE’… LIKE A BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL!  BUTT-SLAMMING THE BIG MAILBOY BACK AGAINST THE WALL! KICKING AT HIM WITH ONE FOOT! AND THEN THE OTHER!  SHE WAS IN GREAT SHAPE! SHE COULDN’T STOP! IT TURNED HER ON! THEN HE SQUEALED! AND FOUGHT HER OFF WITH HIS HOOVES! SLAPPING AT HER! AND PAWING AT THE GROUND! SHE BUTT-SLAMMED HIM AGAIN! BACK AGAINST THE WALL AGAIN! DOWN TO THE FLOOR HE WENT! EXAUSTED! AND  OUT OF BREATH!

    WHEN CLARABELLA STEPPED-UP ON HIS CHEST TO SLAMM HOME ‘THE VICTORY!’ HIS EYES SORTA BUGGED OUT! AND HIS FACE TURNED A BRIGHT RED! A LOT REDDER THAN CLARA’S PANTIES! EVERYONE THOUGHT HE WAS CHOKING ON COOKIES! 

    ”OH, SO THAT’S WHAT YOU WANTED TO SEE!” CLARA TEASED. EVERYONE STARTED LAUGHING! THE MAILBOY GOT EMBARRASSED! AND STARTED CRAWLING AWAY AS FAST AS HE COULD ON HIS ALL FOURS…  HEADING TOWARD THE MEN’S ROOM SHOUTING…

    “PLEASE DON’T FIRE ME! PLEASE DON’T FIRE ME! I’M BLIND! I’M BLIND!  SOMEBODY HELP ME! ALL I SEE IS RED!” HE RAMMED HIS HEAD INTO THE RESTROOM DOOR SEVERAL TIMES… AND THEN HE DISAPPEARED… INTO A STALL.

JON SCRIPT ONE

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, AUSTIN

    “WELL HERE I AM LORD!” JON STOOD STILL FOR A MOMENT.  ALMOST THINKING OUTLOUD… MAYBE I COULD BE WRONG, ABOUT ALL THIS GOING BACK TO COLLEGE STUFF.  I SHOULD BE HOME RIGHT NOW… BURNING CACTUS, AND WORKING ON THAT OLD FENCE, INSTEAD OF HEADIN’ UP THIS WAY… DREAMIN’ABOUT HOW LOVELY MY GRAUDUATION DAY WILL BE…

    “YEAH! , IT’S FOR SURE LORD!  I’M THE OLDEST STUDENT ON CAMPUS. GOODNESS GRACIOUS! THE GIRLS HERE SURE DO LOOK GOOD! THEY LOOK OLD ENOUGH TO DANCE ALRIGHT! BUT THEIR MEN FRIENDS LOOK SO YOUNG. NOW THAT’S WHAT I’VE GOT TO REMEMBER… TO SEE MYSELF AS THEY SEE ME, AND NOT THE WAY I FEEL… EVEN THOUGH, I FEEL BRAND NEW! AND READY TO ROCK! I SHOULD BE HEADIN’ FOR THE RANCH RIGHT NOW! INSTEAD OF PICKING UP ON ALL THESE BAD VIBES…

    “HEY YOU! CAN YOU HEAR ME? THIS IS THE DEVIL TALKIN’. AND I’M TALKIN’ TO YOU! YOU’RE TOO OLD! TO GO TO COLLEGE! GO GET YOUR MONEY BACK! AND QUIT WAISTING MY TIME! YOU NEED A HAIR TRANSPLANT AND A LITTLE STRETCH HERE, AND THERE… I REPEAT! GO GET YOUR MONEY BACK!

     “JON! HOLD UP FOR A MINUTE.” JON STOPPED DEAD-STILL IN HIS TRACKS… AS IF HE HAD HEARD A GHOST!  “JON… CAN YOU HEAR ME?”

HIS STRONGER, MORE INNERVOICE SOUNDED LOUDER…

    “JON, YOU’RE GOOD ENOUGH! GOD KNOWS YOU! AND YOU ARE SOMEBODY IN LUCKENBACK! SO JUST TRY TO ACT NORMAL LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE…”

    “OR ELSE WHAT?” INSTINCTLY, HE DID A TURN AROUND TO SEE IF ANYONE WAS PICKING UP ON HIS WAVE LINKS. “GOOD LORD! WILL YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THAT?” JON FOUND HIMSELF TALKING OUT LOUD…  AS TWO ORIENTIAL BUNNY TYPES STROLLED BY, LOOKING A BIT SHY, BUT SMILING BACK! HE RAN A DOUBLE CHECK… AND FELL HEADFIRST INTO SOME HARD LOOKING CHARACTER THAT LOOKED LIKE HE NEEDED A GOOD SHAVE! AND A LONG BATH.   

    ”HEY BUDDY!”  SHOUTED THE MAN. “WATCH WHERE YOU’RE GOING!” JON HELD OUT HIS HAND TO HELP… BUT INSTEAD WAS HANDED A PAPER ANNOUNCEMENT.

    “SORRY MISTER” WAS ALL HE COULD SAY. HE MOVED OUT  OF THE WAY TO READ THE PAPER… WAKE UP! ‘COWBOYS LIVE LONGER! FREE BEER FOR ALL STUDENTS WITH AN I.D. CARD! FOLLOW THE ARROWS>>>>

    “HEY MISTER!” SOMEONE SAID BEHIND HIM. “ARE YOU LOST?” JON LOOKED AROUND… AND THEN DOWN, WHEN HE REALIZED IT WAS A MAN IN A WHEELCHAIR SPEAKING UP TO HIM. THE MAN SAID AGAIN… 

    “DO YOU NEED SOME HELP?”

    ”WHY-YES, I GUESS SO.” JON ANSWERED. “WHERE ARE WE?”

    “WE ‘RE  ON ‘THE DRAG’… MAN!”

    “WHERE?” JON QUESTIONED? THE MAN REPLIED.

    “OH! I GIT IT! YOU MUST BE LOOKIN’ FOR ‘THE COWBOY PALACE’!  I’M GOING THERE MYSELF! RIGHT NOW! YOU CAN FOLLOW ME! THEY’VE GOT THE BIGGEST HAMBURGERS IN TOWN! AND THE COLDEST BEER IN TEXAS! ARE YOU READY TO GO TO LUNCH?”

    “WHY-YEAH, I GUESS SO! I‘M JUST TRYING TO FIND MY WAY AROUND CAMPUS TODAY. JUST SCOUTIN‘ IT OUT.”

    “WELL, ‘THE PALACE’ IS DOWN-THERE AT THE TOP OF THAT RISE.” THE MAN POINTED TO A SLOW-UP-LIFTING HILL LOOMING DOWN THE STREET.  INSTINCTLY, JON FELT THIS MAN  NEEDS SOME HELP… 

WITH HIS WHEELCHAIR…  ”WHY SURE! LET’S GO! I’M HUNGRY!  I JUST HOPE MY TRUCK DOESNT GET TOWED OFF DURING THE NOON HOUR.”

    “WHERE IS IT PARKED?” THE MAN ASKED. JON POINTED.

    “IT’S PARKED OVER THERE BY THE OLD MAIN BUILDING.”

    “DON’T WORRY…THE CAMPUS COPS ARE GREAT! THEY WON’T TOW IT OFF!” THE YOUNG MAN APPEARED TO BE IN HIS MID-THIRTIES. HE HAD A PERFECT SMILE.  AND WAS WELL-DRESSED. HE MANUVERED HIS WHEELCHAIR AROUND TO STEER HIMSELF FORWARD. JON ATTEMPTED TO HELP. BUT THE MAN POLITELY REPLIED…

    “THANK‘S! BUT I CAN HANDLE IT.” THE MAN PUSHED HIS WHEELCHAIR FORWARD THROUGH THE FLOW OF THE CROWD.  JON NOTICED…MOST OF THE STUDENTS WERE COURTEOUS, AND POLITE.  GIVING THE WHEELCHAIR PLENTY OF ROOM TO PASS… BUT AS THEY NEARED THE TOP OF THE RISE, THE MAN TURNED TO JON, AND SAID…   

    “I GUESS I SHOULD TAKE YOU UP ON THAT FREE PUSH! MY ARMS ARE ABOUT TO GIVE OUT! I’VE GOT TO TAKE A BREATHER.” JON SMILED. AND ANSWERED.  

    “WHY OF COURSE! HERE, LET ME ASSIST YOU!” JON PUSHED HIS WHEELCHAIR FORWARD. ”HEY, YOU’RE PRETTY HEAVY! WERE YOU A FOOTBALL PLAYER OR SOMETHING?”

    “MY NAME IS JERRY. AND YES, I PLAYED FOOTBALL FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL. AND I GUESS I AM A LOT HEAVIER NOW THAN I SHOULD BE. BUT I’M GOING TO BLAME MY NEW GIRLFRIEND. SHE LOVES TO COOK! AND SHE LOVES TO MAKE LOVE! BUT NOT NECESSARILY IN THAT ORDER!” HE CHUCKLED.  “I’M TRYING TO STAY IN GOOD SHAPE, BUT IT’S HARD TO SAY ‘NO’ TO GOOD LOOKIN’ WOMEN! AND GOOD FOOD! HE LOOKED TO THE SIDE AT JON… “O PARDON ME! ARE YOU FROM TEXAS?”

    “WHY-YES, I’M FROM ‘BIGBALLS’ NORTHWEST OF LUCKENBACH.” 

JERRY LAUGHED. “WELL, THAT PROVES IT! MY GIRLFRIEND SAID I WAS GOING TO MEET SOMEONE FROM A STRANGE PLACE TODAY! SHE THINKS SHE’S PSYSIC OR SOMETHING. HEY! MAYBE I AM TOO! LET ME GUESS! THAT COWBOY HAT TELLS ME YOU LIVE ON A BIG RANCH  SOMEWHERE… SOMEWHERE SOUTH OF DALLAS! AND I BET YOU CAN EVEN PIC’ A GIT-TAR! AND SING!”  BUT BEFORE JON COULD ANSWER… JERRY REPLIED.

   HEY COWBOY! HAVE YOU GOT YOUR BOOTS ON?” JON LOOKED DOWN AT HIS BOOTS. THE BULLSHIT IN HERE GIT’S PRUTY DEEP!  IT STICKS LIKE GLUE IN THIS PLACE! RUMORS HAVE IT… IF YOU FLUSH TWICE, YOUR VOTE WILL REACH THE WHITEHOUSE!”

    JERRY  REACHED FORWARD TO PUSH THE SWINGING GREEN DOORS OPEN. JON WHEELED HIM IN. THE BARTENDER IMMEDIATELY LOOKED UP FROM A TABLE, AND SAID  “WELL LOOKEE HERE, EVERYBODY! THAT ROCKER IN THE ROLLING MACHINE HAS COME BACK! PEOPLE, GIVE HIM SOME ROOM! HE NEEDS SPACE! LOT’S OF SPACE! LOOK AT ALL THAT SPACE BETWEEN HIS EARS!” SEVERAL LOCALS AT THE BAR TURNED TO LOOK AT THE BARTENDER… SMILING IN THEIR DIRECTION! JERRY NODDED, AND SORTA SMILED BACK. BUT WAS LOOKING A BIT EMBARRASSED, WHEN HE SAID 

    ”JON, LET’S GO OVER-THERE… BACK-THERE, BEHIND THE STAGE… BEHIND THE PIANO.” JON FELT THE STARES AND SMILES FOLLOWING THEM TO SEVERAL TABLES OVERLOOKING AN OUTDOOR BEER GARDEN.

    THE RESTUARANT LOOKED THE TYPICAL COLLEGE HANGOUT WITH THE NEON BEER SIGNS HANGING ABOVE THE SMALL ROUND TABLES WITH THE SQUARE CHAIRS. SEVERAL GROUPS OF STUDENTS WERE DRINKING BEER AND MINGLING AROUND… CHATTERING AMONGST THEMSELVES.

     “JON, WHAT KIND OF BEER DO YOU DRINK?”

    “JERRY, THIS BEERJOINT IS REALLY AN ‘OLD BONE‘! DO YOU THINK THEY MIGHT HAVE SOME VINTAGE BEER? LAST YEAR, I GOT LUCKY AT A DANCE HALL IN LONDON TEXAS. I FOUND A FORTY-YEAR OLD CASE OF ‘BILLY BEER’. VERY COLLECTABLE!”

    “I GUESS THAT MEANS YOU DRINK OLD BEER!” JERRY TURNED AND HOLLERED…“JOHNNY, DO YOU HAVE ANY ANTIQUE BEER?”

     “ANTIQUE BEER?” THE BARTENDER THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT. AND THEN HE HOLLERED BACK…“JERRY, THERE’S TWO CASES OF ANTIQUE LONESTARS OUT BACK IN THE LOCK-UP. THE LABELS ARE STILL GOOD.” JON SMILED. AND GAVE JERRY THE NOD. 

    “JOHNNY, SEND US OVER A FEW SAMPLES! MY FRIEND HAS MONEY!”  

   “JOHN SMILED. AND SAID…  JERRY, I’M PICKIN’ UP ON SOME GOOD VIBES IN HERE! I BET ONCE UPON A TIME…THAT STAGE BUILT IN THE CENTER OF THIS BEERJOINT, WAS A FUNPLACE TO PIC’A GUITAR! ”   

   “YEE-HIGH! I KNEW IT!” JERRY SAID.“GO GET THAT GIT-TAR! IF YOU CAN PIC‘… WE’LL BE ‘STARS’ IN HERE! AND WE’VE GOT PLENTY OF TIME TO DO US A LITTLE FISHIN‘ BEFORE DARK!  I’M TELLING YA… THOSE GIRLS OVER-THERE ARE LOOKIN’ GOOD! AND ACTIN’ SORTA FRIENDLY!” 

    “JERRY, I CAN MAKE MORE NOISE ON A GUITAR THAN A NORMAL MAN CAN DREAM…” 

     AN HOUR LATER… AT A TABLE FULL OF EMPTY BEER BOTTLES, JERRY SIGNALED TO THE BARTENDER. HE CAME OVER AND WHEELED JERRY TOWARD THE MEN’S ROOM.  IN PASSING, JERRY MADE A QUICK GRAB FOR ONE OF THE COED’S AT A  NEARBY TABLE. HE WAS TRYING TO GET HIMSELF A HUG… WHEN THE BARTENDER PULLED HIM BACK. JON CONSIDERED. WHEN HE GETS BACK, I’M GOING TO ASK HIM HOW HIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED. I’M SURE HE MUST HEAR THIS QUESTION OFTEN, FROM THOSE WHO SEEMED CONCERNED. JERRY RETURNED BY HIMSELF. AND WHEN JON RETURNED, HE FOUND TWO MORE LONESTARS SITTING ON THE TABLE.

    “JERRY, I’M NOT MUCH OF A BEER DRINKER. I PREFER TO DRINK HOMEMADE WINE!”

    “WELL, YOU COULD HAVE FOOLED ME!” JERRY LIFTED UP HIS BEER BOTTLE AND SHOUTED…

    “GIRLS! I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT A TOAST! HERE’S TO ALL THE WINEO’S FROM ‘BIGBALLS!” HE HELD HIS BOTTLE UP, AND TOOK A QUICK SIP!  IT FOAMED AND SPEWED! JERRY LOOKED AS IF HE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO! HE WIGGLED AROUND A BIT! SPRAYING EVERYTHING… AND EVERYBODY! THE GIRLS STARTED ROARING WITH LAUGHTER! FINALLY, HE PUT THE BOTTLE BETWEEN HIS LEGS WITH HIS HANDS ON IT, TILL IT RAN OUT OF GAS. IT LOOKED AS IF HE HAD WET HIS KHAKI PANTS. HE WAS WIPING HIS FACE WITH A NAPKIN…WHEN HE SAID

    “BOY! THAT WAS AN EXPLODIN’ ONE! I MUST BE GITTIN’ DRUNK! THIS SMILE WONT GO AWAY! AND MY FACE IS STARTING TO HURT!  WE BETTER GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE…”

    “JERRY,  ORDER US SOMETHING.I‘M HUNGRY.” JERRY TURNED, AND HOLLERED.

    ”JOHNNY, SEND US TWO DOUBLES! AND TWO MORE SURPRISES… AND BRING A MOP!”

    “WHAT’S THE SURPRISES, JERRY?”

    “WHAT ELSE? HE LAUGHED.  BUT TWO MORE EXPLODIN’LONESTARS!”

DURING NORMAL CONVERSATION DURING LUNCH, JON ASKED.

    “HOW DID IT HAPPEN?”

    “JON, MY ACCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL. I WAS SWINGING LIKE A MONKEY ON A TARZAN SWING AT A PARK ON SPRING CREEK, WHERE MY FRIENDS AND I WENT SWIMMING EVERYDAY. IT WAS A SUPER-HOT AFTERNOON AND MY BUDDIES WERE CHEERING ME ON BECAUSE A FEW GIRLS WERE WATCHING. I CLIMBED TO THE HIGHEST LIMB ON THE TREE WHERE ALL THE SHOW-OFFS CLIMBED, AND I DID A PERFECT DOUBLE BACK FLIP, AND DOVE HEAD-FIRST INTO THE WATER. BUT WHEN I DIDN’T COME UP, I HEARD THE GIRLS SCREAMING! WITH MY BUDDIES JUMPING IN TO SAVE ME! MY HEAD AND SHOULDERS WERE STUCK IN THE MUD! I HAD MUD IN MY MOUTH, MUD IN MY EYES, AND MUD IN MY EARS! MY BUTT WAS THE ONLY THING THAT WAS’NT MUD-PACKED!” HE LAUGHED.

    “THE ONLY THING THAT FELT DIFFERENT TO ME AT THE TIME WAS  THIS BURNING SENSATION I HAD IN MY BACK. AND I COULDN’T HOLD MY HEAD UP. MY NECK WAS BROKEN.  I THANK GOD EVERYDAY FOR MY LIFE!  AND FOR MY FRIENDS! THEY HELPED ME GET THROUGH A LOT OF PAIN SINCE THEN. NOW I ONLY WISH… I COULD TELL EVERYBODY IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD ABOUT THE DANGERS OF DIVING!

     SINCE MY ACCIDENT, I’VE MET TWO MORE SOULS WHO LANDED IN WHEELCHAIRS, JUST LIKE ME… BECAUSE OF SIMILAR, FOOLISH STUNTS. EVERY YEAR, ‘WE THREE AMIGOS’ GET TOGETHER TO GIVE ‘SMART TALKS.’ AT ALL THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND JUNIOR HIGHS. IT’S GOOD THERAPY FOR US. AND THE SCHOOL BOARD PAYS US LIKE ROCK STARS! SO WE GO AROUND WARNING STUDENTS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF DIVING. WE THREE AMIGOS POSITIVELY THINK, WE ARE SAVING A LOT OF PEOPLE,  BUT EVEN NOW… IT FEELS LIKE IT JUST HAPPENED YESTERDAY.  I CAN STILL SEE THE SORROW IN MY DAD’S FACE.” JON REALIZING NOW… REAL TEARS WERE BEING FORMED IN JERRY’S EYES.

    “JERRY, I’M SORRY. I SHOULDN’T HAVE BROUGHT IT UP.”     

    “OH, I’LL BE ALLRIGHT IN A MINUTE. IT MUST BE THE HOT BOOZE, SOMETIMES I GET A LITTLE SENSITIVE. JERRY FORCED A SMILE BACK ON AS AN ATTRACTIVE YOUNG WOMAN CAME TO THE TABLE AND STARTED HUGGING JERRY, THE WAY TEXAS GIRLS DO…

    “JERRY, DO YOU REMEMBER ME?” JERRY MUMBLED SOMETHING… HIS HAIR WAS ALL MESSED UP! AND HIS EYEGLASSES WERE HANGING ON SIDEWAYS…

    “WHY OF COURSE! YOU’RE CARRIE FROM LAST WEEKEND! HOW‘S YOUR MOMMA?” SHE SMILED. AND PUCKERED UP FOR A LITTLE kiss.  

    “CARRIE, THIS IS JON! HE’S A NEW STUDENT HERE AT U.T.  I’M JUST SHOWING HIM AROUND A LITTLE BIT.”  SHE SMILED.

    “ARE YOU REALLY A NEW STUDENT?”

    “YES, I’M BRAND NEW! AND READY TO ROCK!” 

    “WELL, LET’S DANCE! GIVE ME SOME MONEY FOR THAT JUKEBOX  OVERTHERE! I’M READY TO DANCE!” JERRY PASSED A GLANCE  OVER AT JON. AND JON HUNKERED DOWN…

    ”CARRIE,  I’M SURE IT WOULD BE A PLEASURE! BUT I GOT TO GO HOME!” CARRIE THRU HER HANDS-UP, AND LOOKED OVER AT THE GIRL’S TABLE… “YEE-HA! I KNEW IT! HE’S CHICKEN! THE GIRLS STARTED LAUGHING! AND ‘CLANGING’ THEIR BEER BOTTLES ON THE TABLE! ALL OF THEM ‘CLUCKIN’ LIKE  CHICKENS. JON GOT EMBARRASSED. HIS FACE TURNED RED! AND HE STARTED RETREATING AS FAST AS HE COULD. CARRIE GIGGLED.        

    “WAIT-UP COWBOY! WHAT’S YOUR BIG HURRY? I WON‘T BITE! I‘M JUST PECKIN‘ AROUND A LITTLE BIT!” JERRY SMILED.

    “JON, CALL ME ON FRIDAY, AND I’LL INTRODUCE YOU TO CARRIE’S MOM!  SHE SINGS THE BLUES HERE ON WEEKENDS! COME CHECK HER OUT! SHE’S HOT! HERE’S MY NUMBER!” JERRY HELD OUT HIS CARD AND CARRIE GRABBED IT… PULLING JON IN-CLOSER, WHISPERING IN HIS EAR…“HEY COWBOY, WHY DON’T COME BACK SATURDAY NIGHT AND I’LL DANCE YOU DIZZY! AND MY MOMMA WILL SING YOU A LOVE SONG YOU’LL NEVER FORGET!”

    “DAMN! …YA’LL SOUND LIKE FUN! THAT‘S FOR SURE! I’LL BE BACK!” 

    “PROMISES-PROMISES!” SHE SAID. 

    “JERRY, I’LL CALL YOU FRIDAY! CARRIE LET GO OF HIS ARM AND OUT THE SWINGING GREEN DOORS HE FLEW! PACKING HIS TWO CASES OF BEER… KIND- DA-SLOW WALKING DOWN THE HILL TOWARD HIS OLD BLUE TRUCK. HE LOWERED THE TAILGATE . AND SLID THE TWO CASES OF BEER UP NEXT TO THE CAB. HE QUESTIONED… “DID YOU MISS ME BLUE?” THE OLD TRUCK SAID SOMETHING, WHEN HE RAISED THE TAILGATE… SOMETHING SOUNDING, LIKE A RUSTY SQUEAK~~~

     BEFORE HE KNEW IT… HE WAS BACK HOME LOOKING INTO THE BATHROOM MIRROR… HE HAD A  BIG SMILE ON HIS FACE THAT SEEMED TO SAY OUTLOUD… FINALLY SOME NEW FRIENDS IN TOWN TO PARTY WITH!  “HEY! I’M NOT ‘CHICKEN’… AM I LORD?”

    EARLY THE NEXT MORNING HE AWOKE TO HEAR FAMILIAR SOUNDS OF CAR TIRES ROLLING DOWN THE HILL ON CRUSHED LIMESTONE ROCKS. HE LOOKED OUT THE BEDROOM WINDOW. “WELL HERE COMES ROSA. I WONDER WHAT SHE WANTS?” THE OLD GREEN CHEVY WITH THE HOLE IN THE MUFFLER SLOWLY RUMBLED DOWN THE HILL TO THE BACK OF THE HOUSE. ROSA GAVE A LITTLE TOOT ON THE CAR HORN THAT SOUNDED LIKE THE LOW MOAN OF A CAR BATTERY ABOUT TO GO DEAD. JON LEANED OUT THE BACK DOOR AND MOTIONED FOR ROSA TO COME ON IN.

    ROSA’S SON JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR! AND RAN FOR THE HOUSE! GRABBING THE SCREENDOOR HANDLE, TRYING TO GET IN… JON PULLED BACK ON THE DOOR SPRING, TRYING TO KEEP HIM OUT!  IT WAS A FUN TUG! FOR AWHILE UNTIL THE TWIN GIRLS JOINED IN! THE CHILDREN WERE ALL EXCITED ABOUT FINDING A BABY TURKEY. JON COULD SEE THE LITTLE TURKEY’S HEAD STICKING OUT OF THE BOY’S SHIRT.

    “LET THE BABY TURKEY GO!“ ROSA SCOULDED! THIS TIME THE TWIN GIRLS WERE HOLDING BACK ON THE DOOR SPRING! TRYING TO KEEP THEIR MAMA OUT! A SERIOUS ‘TUG  A WAR’ STARTED. THE GIRLS WERE WINNING! AND LAUGHING!

    “LET GO!” ROSA DEMANDED! BUT STILL… NO RESPONSE.

    “DE’JALO IR!” ROSA REPEATED IN HARD-DRAWN SPAINISH… BAMMNN! THE TWINS LET GO! AND THEY RAN!  BAMN! THE DOOR SLAMMED AGAIN!

    “MISTER JON! MISTER JON!” THE GIRLS SHOUTED. “LET’S GO TO TOWN! LET’S GO TO TOWN!”

     “NOW HOLD ON YOU TWO! SLOW DOWN! ONE VOICE AT A TIME! ROSA, WHAT’S GOING ON?” ROSA WAS A COLORFULL WOMAN IN HER LATE THIRTIES. SHE HAD A PLEASANT SMILE AND A GENTLE WAY ABOUT HER THAT MADE YOU FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE. 

    “I’M SORRY TO WAKE YOU THIS MORNING MISTER JON, BUT I NEED SOME MONEY TO BUY A FEW THINGS IN TOWN. THE CHILDREN NEED SCHOOL SUPPLIES. AND SOME THINGS FOR THEIR LUNCHES.”

    “ROSA, WHY DON’T YOU ARRANGE FOR THE CHILDREN TO EAT AT THE SCHOOL CAFETERIA? IT WOULD BE A LOT EASIER FOR YOU. AND A LOT CHEAPER FOR ME. THE GAS TO GET TO TOWN IN THAT OLD CAR COSTS MORE THAN THE LUNCHES FOR THE CHILDREN. HOW MANY TRIPS TO TOWN DID YOU MAKE THIS WEEK?”

    “MISTER JON,” ROSA SAID STERNLY, ”YOU KNOW YOURSELF AT THE START OF SCHOOL, MANY THINGS NEED TO BE DONE. AND I HAVE TO BUY MANY THINGS!!”

    “OKAY! OKAY!“ JON SAID, RETREATING A BIT. “HERE’S FIFTY DOLLARS. IS THAT ENOUGH?” ROSA SMILED.  AND THEN HE  REACHED INTO HIS POCKET AND PULLED-OUT ANOTHER FIFTY. 

    “ROSA, WILL YOU STOP BY RED’S PARTY STORE AND PICK ME UP A BOTTLE OF ‘DISTANT THUNDER’ 100 PROOF-DARK AND STORMY? CAN YOU REMEMBER THAT? TODAY IS SATURDAY ISN’T IT?”        

    “SI’ MISTER JON. WHERE IS THE PARTY?”

    “THERE IS NO PARTY. I’M JUST GOING INTO AUSTIN AROUND SUNDOWN TO VISIT SOME NEW FRIENDS FROM SCHOOL” 

      “IS SHE PRETTY?” ROSA ASKED… AS SHE WAVED HER BODY BACK AND FORTH WITH A QUESTIONABLE SMILE.

    “ROSA, NEVER YOU MIND. JUST REMEMBER… ‘DISTANT THUNDER’ 100 PROOF… DARK AND STORMY.”

    “WILL YOU BE HUNGRY THIS EVENING, MISTER JON?”

    “I DON’T THINK SO, ROSA. TONIGHT, I’M GOING TO DRINK MY SUPPER.”

AS THE OLD GREEN CHEVY RUMBLED SLOWLY BACK UP THE HILL, JON LOOKED UP TO SEE THE CHILDREN WERE STILL-WAVING ‘GOOD-BYE’ FROM THE TOP OF THE HILL. SO HE WAVED THE LAST GOOD-BYE. AND THEN HE TURNED TOWARD THE BARN TO CHECK ON HIS OLD HUNTIN’ DOG… WHEN THE BARN DOOR SWUNG OPEN, THE OLD RED IRISH SETTER WITH THE GRAY WHISKERS, SLOWLY LOOKED UP… BUT BARELY WAGGED HIS TAIL.  HIS RIGHT FRONT RIGHT LEG WAS SWOLLEN TWICE THE NORMAL SIZE. AND IT WAS VERY PAINFULL TO THE TOUCH. JON PATTED THE OLD DOG ON HIS HEAD, AND SPOKE SOFTLY. “HOW’S YOUR POINTIN’ LEG? BUD-DUD? DID A RATTLESNAKE BITE YOU?” THE OLD DOG SEEMED TO KNOW WHAT JON WAS SAYING AS HE TURNED TO CHEW AND LICK ON HIS WOUNDS. MOST RANCHERS WOULD HAVE SHOT THE OLD DOG BEFORE HIS MISERY CAME, BUT JON REFUSED TO SHOOT ANYTHING ON THE RANCH THAT DIDN’T CAUSE TROUBLE. BUT SADDENED BY THE DOG’S MISERY, HE RETURNED INTO THE HOUSE TO CALL THE VETERNARIAN IN TOWN.

    “HELLO CAROL, THIS IS JON. I’M CALLING ABOUT ‘BIG RED‘. LAST WEEK, I HEARD HIM YELP WHEN HE JUMPED OFF THE TAILGATE OF MY TRUCK. I THINK HE COULD HAVE TWISTED HIS LEG AT THE KNEE. HE’S IN A LOT OF PAIN! IT LOOKS LIKE A RATTLESNAKE BIT HIM. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO PUT HIM TO SLEEP?”

    “JON, IT WILL COST SIXTY-FIVE DOLLARS.”

   “THAT MUCH?”

   “JON, DO YOU WANT ME TO STOP BY THIS AFTERNOON? ON MY WAY HOME? AND HAVE A LOOK AT ‘BIG RED‘? I’LL BE COMING THAT WAY AROUND 6 O’CLOCK. THE VISIT WILL BE FREE… IF ROSA IS COOKING!”

    “CAROL, THAT WOULD BE PERFECT! I’LL TELL ROSA TO COOK YOU  SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR SUPPER!”

    IT WAS SIX O’CLOCK. THE SUN WAS GOING DOWN. EVERYONE WAS AT THE BARN WATCHING CAROL GIVE BIG RED A ‘GET-WELL SHOT‘. “WILL HE LIVE MISTER JON?” ASKED LITTLE DIAZ.” JON LOOKED OVER AT CAROL AND HESITATED TO SPEAK. THE ASTONISHED TWINS LOOKED OVER SADLY AT EACHOTHER. ONE OF THE GIRLS ASKED “WILL HE LIVE MISTER JON?” JON PATTED HER HEAD SOFTLY, WHILE THE OTHER TWIN HELD TIGHTLY TO JON’S ARM.

    “I DON’T KNOW SWEETY. WHY DON’T YOU TWO GIRLS RUN UP TO HOUSE AND GET THAT JUG OF MILK OUT OF THE REFRIGERATOR. MAYBE BIG RED WILL DRINK SOME OF IT. AND HE WILL FEEL A LOT BETTER!” OFF THEY RAN IN A BIG HURRY. JON TURNED TO LITTLE DIAZ…“DIAZ, WILL YOU TAKE CARE OF BIG RED FOR ME? WHILE I’M IN SCHOOL? WILL YOU FEED HIM REAL GOOD? EVERYDAY?” LITTLE DIAZ LOOKED UP AND QUESTIONED WITH HIS HANDS, “HOW MUCH?” HE BARTERED.

    “HOW ‘BOUT A DOLLAR A DAY?”  THE LITTLE BOY GRABBED AND SHOOK JON’S HAND VERY QUICKLY!

    “SI! MISTER JON! SI! MUCHAS GRACIOUS! I NEED A GOOD JOB!“ 

    “WELL, I HOPE BIG RED MAKES IT TO HUNT ANOTHER HUNTING SEASON. HE’S A REAL  CHAMPION! AND A GREAT COW DOG!”

    “CAROL, LETS WALK UP TO THE HOUSE. THE CHILDREN WILL TAKE CARE OF ‘BIG RED‘.”  JON WAS ADMIRING CAROL AS SHE WALKED. SHE WAS A NATURAL BEAUTY IN BLUE JEANS. INSTINCTLY SHE TURNED AND SAID  “JON, I’M HUNGRY! AND I’M READY TO COLLECT MY FEE!”

    “WHY, OF COURSE, CAROL! WHY DON’T YOU TAKE THE CHILDREN AND HEAD FOR ROSA’S KITCHEN! AND I’LL BE UP THERE IN A MINUTE! I’VE GOT TO TAKE A QUICK SHOWER.”

     THE GATEHOUSE WAS A THREE BEDROOM, STONE HOUSE  WITH A DRIVE-THRU-BREEZEWAY. THE BREEZEWAY WAS BUILT SO JON COULD ENTER THE RANCH MORE SAFELY FROM THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS ROSA’S JOB TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS PLENTY OF FOOD IN THE KITCHEN. WHILE HER HUSBAND’S JOB WAS TO HELP WITH THE RANCH WORK AND GARDENING. UNTIMELY HOWEVER, ROSA’S HUSBAND WAS IMPRISONED IN MEXICO FOR WRONG DOING. BUT AFTER CONSIDERING THE NEEDS OF ROSA’S FAMILY, JON AGREED TO CONTINUE TO DO THE RANCH WORK BY HIMSELF, UNTIL HER HUSBAND COULD RETURN. HE BELIEVED EVERYTHING WOULD TURN OUT FOR THE BETTER… LATER,  IF IT BE GOD’S WILL.

     WHEN ROSA FIRST ARRIVED AT THE RANCH, SHE IMAGINED HERSELF AS LIVING IN A MANSION. THIS PLEASED JON. THE OLD RANCHOUSE DOWN AT THE CREEK WHERE HE LIVED WAS FAR-LESS ATTRACTIVE, BUT HE PREFERRED LIVING FARTHER AWAY FROM ALL THE NOISE OF THE HIGHWAY.

    CAROL COMPLIMENTED. “ROSA, IF ONLY MY COOKING TASTED THIS GOOD! HOW ON EARTH DO YOU DO IT?”

    “SHE’S RIGHT, ROSA! I’M BLESSED TO HAVE SUCH A GOOD COOK!”

    “MUCHAS GRACIAS! MISTER JON. BUT I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO DRINK YOUR SUPPER THIS EVENING?” ROSA GLANCED UP AT THE BOTTLE OF SCOTCH SITTING ON TOP OF THE REFRIGERATOR.

    “ROSA, I’M NOT DEAD YET! WHAT TIME IS IT ANYWAY?”

    “BIG DATE-JON?’ ASKED CAROL. “NO, NOT EXACTLY, I’M JUST MEETING UP WITH SOME NEW FRIENDS FROM SCHOOL.”  CAROL RESPONDED. “WELL I BETTER GET GOING MYSELF! MY SHEEP ARE WAITING FOR ME.” POLITELY, CAROL EXCUSED HERSELF FROM THE TABLE. AND KISSED THE CHILDREN GOOD-BYE. ”ROSA, WILL YOU GIVE ME SOME COOKING LESSONS THIS SUMMER?”

    “SI’, SENORA… COME BACK SOON! AND I WILL TEACH YOU THE SECRETS OF MY MOTHER!”

    “OH JON! YOU’VE GOT IT MADE!”   

    “CALL ME LATER ABOUT ‘BIG RED‘!” AND OUT THE DOOR SHE WENT.

    “MISTER JON.” ROSA ADMIRED. “SHE IS SO POLITE!” 

    “WHY-YES, SHE IS… ROSA! SHE’S THE BEST NEIGHBOR A RANCHER COULD EVER HAVE. ROSA, I’VE GOT TO GO!  WILL YOU FIX ME UP A LITTLE SNACK FOR LATER? I MIGHT NEED TO EAT SOMETHING WHEN I GET HOME!”

    “WHY OF COURSE, MISTER JON. REMEMBER TO LOOK ON THE STOVE…

    VAYA CON DIOS!”  JON DROVE HIS TRUCK THRU THE BREEZEWAY OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE ROAR OF THE ENGINE GOING THRU THE GEARS COULD BE HEARD FOR A LONG TIME. UNTIL FAINTLY, THE OLD TRUCK PASSED THROUGH THE TWIN MOUNTAINS. ROSA LISTENED FOR A WHILE… HER THOUGHTS BECAME THOUGHTS OF HER HUSBAND. FROM HER KITCHEN WINDOW SHE PRAYED…AS THE SUN WENT DOWN ON THE HORIZON… AND THE CHILDREN PLAYED AND WATCHED TV.

    JERRY’S APARTMENT WAS RIGHT OFF THE MAIN FREEWAY. AND ONLY A SHORT DISTANCE FROM CAMPUS. THE GARDENS WERE COLORFULL AND WELL-KEPT.  AND THE SIDEWALKS WERE SUPER-WIDE FOR WHEELCHAIRS. JON RANG THE DOORBELL. JERRY OPENED THE DOOR WITH A CHEERFULL “QUE PASO! COME ON IN!” JON REPLIED.

    “ BOY! EVERYTHING SURE IS GREEN AROUND TOWN THIS YEAR!”

    “YES, WE’VE HAD PLENTY OF RAIN. COME CHECK THIS OUT! DO YOU SEE THAT SMALL HILL OVER THERE BY THE WATER? THAT’S AN OLD INDIAN CAMPGROUND! JERRY PUSHED THE BUTTON ON HIS REMOTE, AND A SLIDING GLASS DOOR OPENED-UP LEADING OUTSIDE TO A LARGE PRIVACY DECK. DURING THE SUMMER THAT HUMP OF GREEN GRASS TURNS INTO A CHICK MAGNET!  THE GIRLS ALL GO NATIVE OVERTHERE. THAT’S WHEN I HANG THIS SIGN OVER THE RAIL! AND SET UP MY TELESCOPIC CAMERA, AND PRESTO! I BECOME A PROFFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER! THAT’S ONE WHO  GETS PAID! YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED AT ALL THE FUN MONEY I MAKE ON WEEKENDS! BUT AMONGST OTHER THINGS, I DO ‘GHOST SIGHTINGS!’ I PHOTOGRAPH AND DOCUMENT THE PARANORMAL.” JON CHUCKLED.

    “I KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING STRANGE ABOUT YOU!”  ON EVERY WALL IN JERRY’S APARTMENT, THERE WAS PHOTOGRAPHS OF TOPLESS WOMEN. THE DOORBELL RANG. AND JERRY CLICKED HIS REMOTE. THE FRONT DOOR OPENED. AND A YOUNG WOMAN IN A WHEELCHAIR CAME IN. SHE WAS VERY SMALL AND VERY ATTRACTIVE.

    “JON, THIS IS MY DEAREST-NEAREST NEIGHBOR! MY FAVORITE GIRL!  MY TINA! MY ONE AND ONLY! MY LOVEEEE MACHINE!” JERRY PRESSED…

    “KNOCK IT OFF JERRY!” SHE MOVED TOWARD JON AND EXTENDED HER HAND.

    “THIS MUST BE JON. THE MAN FROM ‘BIGBALLS!’” SHE LAUGHED AND SMILED AND LOOKED INQUISITIVELY INTO HIS EYES. “I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO MEET A MAN FROM ‘BIGBALLS’ !” SHE GAZED AND GIGGLED. JERRY MADE A QUICK GRAB FOR HER.

     “COME ‘MERE, SUGAR TIT!” SHE PULLED HER HAND BACK. “JERRY, DON’T CALL ME THAT! I DON’T LIKE THAT!”

    “AW COMEMERE.. SWEETY PIE! COME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER…”

    “STOP IT! JERRY!  I’M WARNING YOU!”

    “OHHHPUMPKIN HEAD…I JUST WANT TO SQUEEZZEE YOU A LITTLE!”

    “GET BACK YOU BASTARD!”

    “NOW TINA DEAR, DON’T GET YOURSELF UPSET!  I’M MIXING YOU  A TEQUILA SUNRISE! YOUR FAVORITE!”    

    “NOW THAT SOUNDS BETTER…”  SHE MOVED-IN CLOSER.  AND TOOK A QUICK SWING AT JERRYxxx. WITH AN ELECTRICAL CORD. HE DUCKED! THEN SHE REACHED OVER THE LOW COUNTER TOP TO INSERT THE ELECTRICAL CORD OF HER WHEELCHAIR INTO THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET AS JERRY FIRED-UP THE BLENDER! THE NOISE WAS TERRIFYING! THEN ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE! TINA WAS SCREAMING! AND SHAKING! APPARENTLY BEING ELECTROCUTED!

    “PULL THE PLUG! JERRY! PULL THE PLUG!” JERRY TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO GRAB THE CORD! BUT FAILED! JON JUMPED OVER THE BAR AND PULLED OUT THE CORD! AS JERRY YANKED THE CORD FROM THE BLENDER! THEN THINGS GOT REAL QUIET. TINA LOOKED OVER AT JERRY… AND THEY ‘GOOGLE-EYED’ EACHOTHER BACK AND FORTH A FEW TIMES… AND THEN THEY LOOKED OVER AT JON.

    “ JON, DID WE SCARE YOU? WE’VE BEEN PRACTICING ALL WEEK! IT’S FOR OUR DRAMA CLASS! IT’S PART OF OUR WHEELCHAIR ACT.

      JON??? O’JON? … HELLO?” AT THAT STRANGE MOMENT, JON STOOD MOTIONLESS. HE COULDN’T SPEAK. NOW REALIZING… HE WAS IN FOR A WILD TIME! HE STUDDERED.

     “WHATT’S THAT? TINA?” 

    “JON, I’VE GOT A BIG SURPRISE FOR YOU! MY SISTER, JOAN, IS NEXT DOOR, AND I WANT HER TO COME OVER AND MEET YOU! SHE LOCKS HERSELF IN HER ROOM ALL DAY. AND SHE NEVER GOES OUT. HOW ABOUT IT? CAN I INVITE HER OVER?” JON’S VOICE WAS STILL SHAKING,   

WHEN HE ANSWERED ”WHY SURR-RE TINA, IT WOULD BE A PLEASURE TO MEET YOUR SISTER!” WHEN JOAN WALKED IN,  JON WENT NUMB! SHE WAS A HOT TEN! AND AFTER SEVERAL DRINKS, HE STARTED MAKING MOVES LIKE A CAT… THE DOORBELL RANG. AND A PUBLIC CHAUFFEUR CAME TO THE DOOR PROCLAIMING A COURTESY VAN. ‘COURTESY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS!’ 

    “IT’S A ‘FREE RIDE!” JERRY SHOUTED! “THE GOVERNOR MADE IT OFFICAL FOR THE DISABLE! COME ON! LET’S GO!  AIN‘T TEXAS GREAT!”

    IRONICALLY, ‘THE AMAZING TOMCATS’ WERE PERFORMING  ON STAGE AT ‘THE CAT HOUSE’ ON SIXTH STREET… THE ALL-GIRL BAND WAS AS ROCKABILLY AS ARKANSAS! THEY PURR-ED AND SLURRED, AND STRUTTED AROUND IN THEIR SEXY COSTUMES! BANGING ON THEIR ELECTRIC GUITARS! AND SHOWING OFF THEIR TOMCAT ATTITUDES! THREE SNOOPY DOG BACK UP SINGERS WERE HOWLING! AND SINGING, WAGGING THEIR TAILS! TO GET LAUGHS! THE ‘TOP-CAT’ IN THE ALL-GIRL BAND WAS A BIG BLONDE WITH A RED GUITAR! SHE HAD A STRIP OF YELLOW FUR ALL THE WAY DOWN THE SWAY IN HER BACK TO HER FAMOUS ROUND BOTTOM!

    “I LIKE THAT TAIL!” JERRY SHOUTED! “GREAT ADVERTISEMENT! FOR THE BAND!” AND JON AGREED!

    TINA AND JERRY DID SOME AMAZING MOVES OUT ON THE DANCE FLOOR! AND JOAN WASN’T A BIT SHY. SHE MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT HOW MUCH FUN SHE WAS HAVING! AND HOW HAPPY SHE WAS SEEING HER SISTER SO FULL OF LIFE! IT WAS POSITIVELY ONE OF THOSE RARE AND PERFECT EVENINGS ENJOYED BY ALL.

    IT WAS GROUND BREAKING DAYLIGHT BACK AT THE RANCH WHEN JON SPOTTED THE COCONUT PIE ON THE STOVE IN ROSA’S KITCHEN. THE BREEZEWAY DOORS OPENED AND CLOSED, AS FAINTLY, HE HEARD ROSA’S FAMILIAR VOICE… “SLEEP GOOD. MISTER JON.”

    FOR JON, THE FIRST FEW MONTHS IN COLLEGE SEEMED TO BE THE MOST DEMANDING! AND THE MOST CONFUSING!  THE NOW REALIZATION OF BEING FULLY-UNPREPARED HAD JUST DAWNED…  NEW SETS OF IDEAS PRESENTED NEW SETS OF PROBLEMS LIKE SEARCHING FOR THE CARD CATALOGS IN THE LIBRARY THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED BY LONG ROWS OF LITTLE COMPUTERS  OF WHICH HE KNEW VERY LITTLE ABOUT. HE SPENT HIS DAYLIGHT CLASSES ABSORBING HEADBANGING LECTURES. AND HE ATTENDED COMPUTER CLASSES AT NIGHT. HE READ BOOK AFTER BOOK… PREPARING TIME CONSUMING PAPERS, TRYING TO CREATE LOGIC FROM BENEATH TONS OF INFORMATION.

    DESPERATION TOOK IT’S TOLL. THE CAMPUS POLICE KNEW HIM WELL. HE BECAME ‘THE LOST COWBOY’ IN THE PARKING LOT LOOKING FOR HIS LOST TRUCK. HIS FACE SHOWED UP ON THE CAMERAS EVERYWHERE!

     THE MAIN GAME ON CAMPUS WAS CALLED ‘PARKING  LOT CHICKEN’. SURVEILLANCE VIDEOS OF STUDENTS FIGHTING OVER PARKING SPACES WERE APPEARING DAYLY ON THE INTERNET. THE CAMPUS COPS MANAGED TO SLOW MOST OF THE STUDENTS DOWN SOMEWHAT… BUT NORMALLY, THEY NAVIGATED THE PARKING LOTS IN THEIR OWN WAYS.

     JON WAS HIT WITH ‘THE MID-SEMESTER BLUES’ WHEN ‘OLD BLUE’ BECAME FAMOUS FOR PUSHING SEVERAL ‘KILLER CARS’ OFF HIS SPACE… INTO THE BEND ZONE! UNFORTUNATELY, HE PAID THE HIGH PRICE OF WINNING AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER WHEN HE GOT THE OFICIAL LETTER WITH THE BIG TRAFFIC FINE! “ALL TRAFFIC FEES AND ALL ACCIDENT VIOLATIONS MUST BE PAID-UP-IN -FULL BEFORE RECIEVING FINAL SEMESTER CREDITS.” 

    AT FIRST, JON FAILED SOMEWHAT SOCIALLY…  BUT LATER, HE BECAME A BIT MORE TOLERENT,  AND A BIT MORE OPEN TO CONVERSATION, AS HE FOUND A FEW OTHER, OLDER CLASSMATES WANDERING AROUND CAMPUS. NATURALLY, HE GREW TIRED OF ANSWERING THE SAME OLD QUESTIONS ASKED BY HIS CLASSMATES AND PROFFESSORS…“WHY ARE YOU TAKING THIS CLASS?  WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING? HOW OLD ARE YOU? ARE YOU ON PAROLE?” A RESTLESS GLOW APPEARED ON HIS FACE THAT SEMESTER AS HE ROUTINELY FILED INTO HIS CLASSES.

    THAT FALL FADED INTO THE CHRISTMAS SEASON WITH SANTA CLAUS LEAVING GIFTS UNDER THE  CHRISTMAS TREE FOR ROSA, CAROL, AND THE CHILDREN. AFTER THE HOLIDAYS, ROSA WENT TO MEXICO TO VISIT HER HUSBAND IN PRISON… WHILE HER MOTHER, MOTHER MARIA, CAME TO COOK AND CARE FOR THE CHILDREN.

     SOMEWHERE ALONG THE ROAD TOWARD HIGHER LEARNING, JON HAD LOST SIGHT OF HIS DREAM FOR A WHILE… ONLY REMEMBERING, HE HAD SOME JOB TO DO RECOVERING SOME LOST TREASURE HIDDEN DEEPLY IN HIS MIND. HIS DAYDREAMS OFTEN TURNED LIKE THE PAGES OF THAT FIRST BOOK HE READ, BACK IN THE FIFTH GRADE. HE COULD NEVER RECALL THE TITLE OF THAT BOOK, BUT HE COULD ALWAYS REMEMBER THE EXCITEMENT HE SHARED WITH THE YOUNG BOY IN THE STORY WHO FISHED ALL THE WAY TO THE SOURCE OF A SMALL STREAM, TO FIND THE WATER CAME OUT FROM A SMALL CRACK IN THE HILLSIDE HIDDEN BEHIND A BIG ROCK! THE BOY MANAGED TO SQUEEZE HIMSELF INTO THE CRACK TO DISCOVER A BIG CAVE! HE RAN HOME! AND RETURNED WITH HIS KEROSENE LANTERN TO GET THE BIGGEST SCARE OF HIS LIFE!

    INSIDE THE CAVE, ALONGSIDE THE STREAM  OF WATER WAS A HUGE SET OF DINOSAURS TRACKS! THAT LED HIM DEEPER INTO THE DARKNESS OF THE CAVE UNTIL… SOMETHING STOPPED HIM ‘DEAD-STILL’ IN HIS OWN TRACKS. SOMETHING WAS ‘SHIMMERING’ IN THE WATER! HE WADED IN FOR A CLOSER LOOK… AND SLOWLY, HE REACHED DOWN TO PICK UP A CRYSTAL CLEAR ARROWHEAD FLASHING! AND SHINING! LIKE A BRIGHT DIAMOND IN THE WATER!  

    SOMEHOW THE THOUGHTS OF THAT BOOK STILL KEPT JON SPELLBOUND AND FASCINATED!  WHAT WAS THE MYSTERY BEHIND THE STORY? AND WHY DID THAT BOOK SEEM TO FIT HIS PATTERN OF LIFESTYLE SO PERFECTLY? EVERYBODY IN TEXAS KNOWS DINOSAUR TRACKS ARE COMMONLY FOUND EMBEDDED ALONG THE LIMESTONE STREAMBEDS IN THE HILLCOUNTRY. AND IT’S VERY COMMON TO FIND ARROWHEADS WASHED UP IN PLOWED FIELDS ALONG THESE STREAMS. MOST RANCHERS WOULD NORMALLY STOP THEIR WORK, AND PICK THEM UP. AND PUT THEM AWAY IN OLD CIGAR BOXES. AND IN OLD GLASS JARS, PRIZING THEIR ARROWHEADS LIKE LOST TREASURES FOUND! HUNDREDS OF ARROWHEADS HAD WASHED UP IN THE PLOWED FIELDS ON JON’S RANCH. HIS GRANDFATHER HAD PICTURE FRAMES FULL OF THEM. BUT STILL… JON WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING MORE. HE KNEW IN HIS HEART SOMETHING MUCH, MORE DEVINE AND MUCH MORE EXCITING! WAS WAITING FOR HIM TO PROCLAIM! AND SOMETHING MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD AND SILVER WAS WAITING IN STORE FOR HIM TO DISCOVER! HIS DECISION TO RETURN TO COLLEGE AGAIN AFTER PASSING THIRTY YEARS OF RANCHING…WAS JUST A TOUCHDOWN! IN A WORLD FILLED WITH TREASURE!

SCRIPT TWO MARGA:

CHRISTMAS EVE…HOLLYWOOD CALIFORNIA

    “WELL NOW MARGARETTA, HOW DID YOUR FIRST SEMESTER OF COLLEGE GO? DID YOU MAKE THE GRADE?” SMIRKED JUDIPANELLA AS SHE SAT CROSSLEGGED ON THE FLOOR BENEATH THE CHRISTMAS TREE, DRINKING EGGNOG IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THE CHRISTMAS PRESENTS. 

    “JUDI, DON’T YOU SPILL ANY OF THAT STICKY STUFF ON MY GIFTS!” MARGA SCOULDED.   

    “LOOK CLARA, SHE’S TALKING MEAN TO ME AGAIN!”

    “MARGA, LAY OFF THE ROUGH STUFF. YOU SEEM SO UPTIGHT. IS EVERYTHING OKAY AT SCHOOL?”

     “WELL, NOT EXACTLY SISTER! THAT HOUSE YOU RENTED FOR ME IN AUSTIN SMELLS TERRIBLE! AND I DON’T FEEL SAFE THERE! IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE IS ALWAYS WATCHING ME. EVERYTIME THE NEIGHBORS SEE ME… THEY RUN AND HIDE! AND SHUT THE DOORS IN MY FACE! I’VE TRIED TO MEET THEM, BUT THEY WON’T TALK. AND LAST WEEK, I  SAW SOMEONE PEEKING IN MY WINDOW!”

    “OH THAT SOUNDS EXCITING!” REMARKED JUDIPANELLA.

    “SHUT UP JUDI! HERE MARGA, DRINK THIS. WHAT ELSE HAPPENED? DID YOU CALL 911?”

    “NO-NOT YET! BUT I’M READY TO!  LAST WEEK, I DID MANAGE TO TALK TO AN OLD MAN ACROSS THE STREET. HE SAID A CRAZY OLD INDIAN WOMAN LIVED ALONE IN THAT HOUSE ALONE FOR FIFTY YEARS. HE SAID SHE ‘SMOKED’ A MILLION CIGARETTES! AND DRANK A BOTTLE OF WHISKEY A DAY.  AND WHEN SHE GOT DRUNK, SHE’D BANG ON HER PIANO! AND BEAT ON HER DRUM… AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND NIGHT!

     HE SAID… SHE COUGHED HERSELF TO DEATH IN HER SLEEP SEVEN YEARS AGO IN THE BEDROOM NEXT TO MINE! AND WHEN THEY FOUND HER, THEY FOUND HER CATS IN THE HOUSE WITH HER. THE CATS HAD  CHEWED OFF HER TONGUE! AND HER FINGERS!  HE SAID SHE WORE A LOT OF RINGS, AND HER RINGS WERE MISSING!

   “CLARA, REMEMBER THAT EXPRESSION? DID THE CATS GET YOUR TONGUE?“ JUDI QUESTIONED? “MAYBE HER RINGS ARE IN THE LITTER BOX!  LOOK  IN THE FLOWER BEDS!”

    “SHUT UP! JUDI! WHAT ELSE MARGA?”

    “SOMETIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, I HEAR COUGHS! AND BUMPING NOISES! AND SCRATCHING! AND CHEWING! AND I SEE CATS OUTSIDE! RUNNING EVERYWHERE! THE NEIGHBORS TOLD THE OLD MAN THAT I WAS THAT CRAZY OLD LADY’S SISTER!”

    “CLARA, WOULD YOU STAY IN A HOUSE LIKE THAT?”

    “I WOULD!” SHOUTED JUDI! “I BET THE GHOST OF THAT OLD LADY IS TRAPPED BETWEEN THE DOORS! AND HER CATS ARE HUNGRY! MAYBE YOU SHOULD TRY FEEDING THEM MARGA! MAYBE YOU COULD MAKE FRIENDS!”

    “SHUT UP JUDI!” SHOUTED CLARA!

    “OH PLEASE…” MARGA DEPRESSED. “NO CATFIGHTS TONIGHT! I CAN’T HANDLE ANY MORE STRESS! NOT ON CHRISTMAS EVE! I’VE GOT TO GET SOME REAL SLEEP IN MY OWN BED. CLARA, WHAT’S IN THIS DRINK?”

    “DON’T ASK MARGA… JUST DRINK IT! IT’S CALLED A ‘CHILLER KILLER.’”

    “A WHAT?”

     “ONE OF THESE DAYS ALL THAT BOOZE IS GOING TO KNOCK YOU BOTH OUT! YOU HEARD ‘UNCLE JOHN… ‘IF YOU DRINK TOO MUCH BOOZE-YOU LOSE…’ IS HE GOING TO SHOW UP FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR?”

     “I DON’T THINK SO SISTER DEAR. IN HIS LAST LETTER, YOUR UNCLE JOHN WAS HIDING FROM PLANET X~~~ IN A CAVE… SOMEWHERE IN TEXAS, SOMEWHERE NEAR DALLAS. ”

     “WELL I’M GLAD HE MADE IT THRU Y2K AND NINE ONE-ONE! EVERYBODY EXPECTS US TO BE AT THE BEACH HOUSE TOMORROW JUDI… FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER. THAT MEANS YOU TOO! WE ARE THE ONLY GIRLS IN THE FAMILY WITH NO CHILDREN. SO THAT’S WHY WE’RE HERE HOME ALONE ON CHRISTMAS EVE… ONCE AGAIN. WHAT’S WRONG WITH US? DOES GOD LOVE US? ARE WE CURSED? OR SOMETHING?” 

     “SHUT UP CLARA!” MARGA SCOULDED. “YOU’RE TOO OLD TO HAVE BABIES ANYWAY! DO WE ALWAYS HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THIS? AT CHRISTMAS? EVERYYEAR…? WHEN DO WE OPEN THE GIFTS?”

    “I GUESS, WHENEVER YOU TWO ARE READY.” CLARA ANSWERED.

    “DON’T YOU THINK WE SHOULD SING ‘HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS’ OR SOMETHING? MOTHER WOULD BE SO PROUD OF US!”

    “JUDI, HOW WOULD YOU KNOW? MOTHER DIED AT YOUR BIRTH! DON’T YOU REMEMBER?” JUDI LOOKED UP AND PRAYED…“LORD, WHY DO I HAVE TO BE A TRIANGLE IN A WORLD FULL OF SQUARES? I SWEAR… JUST AS SOON AS I OPEN MY GIFTS… I’M GOING OUT DANCING WITH MY NEW BOYFRIEND!”

    “WHICH ONE? THE ONE WITH THE EAR-RING IN HIS NOSE?”

     “LAY OFF THE ROUGH STUFF MARGA! JUDI, WHY DON’T YOU TRY TO BE A PERFECT CIRCLE? INSTEAD OF A TRIANGLE. AND THEN MAYBE YOU WOULDN’T BE SQUARE LIKE MARGA! ARE YOU TWO READY TO LIGHT THE FIRE IN THE FIREPLACE?”

    “WHAT FOR?” JUDI ANSWERED. “IT’S NINETY DEGREES OUTSIDE!  BESIDES, IT MIGHT MELT THE CUPCAKES I BAKED FOR MARGA.”

    “JUDI, WHY DO YOU ALWAYS MANAGE TO SPOIL MY SURPRISES EVERY CHRISTMAS? IS IT THAT HARD FOR YOU TO KEEP A SECRET? YOU ALWAYS BLURT IT OUT! SO I MIGHT AS WELL TELL YOU… I GOT YOU A NEW TOM-TOM!”

    “A NEW TOM-TOM?”

    “YEAH! IT’S A REAL INDIAN DRUM! I BOUGHT IT FROM A YOUNG INDIAN WOMAN WHO WORKED AT ’THE LUCKY EAGLE’ GAMBLING CASINO IN TEXAS. SHE TOLD ME SHE HAD A FEW ARROWHEADS… THAT HER GRANDMOTHER HAD GIVEN HER, AND THIS OLD DRUM AT HER HOUSE IN MEXICO ACROSS THE BORDER. I WAS WINNING ‘BIG-TIME’ AT THE SLOTS FOR A WHILE! SO I OFFERED HER MY WINNINGS! SHE SAID THAT DRUM BELONGED TO HER GRANDMOTHERS THIRD-DEAD HUSBAND. A GREAT-GREAT-GREAT GRANDFATHER.

    “HOW MANY GREATS? JUDI ASKED. 

    “THREE GREATS!”  MARGA SAID.

    “WAS HE A BIG CHIEF?

    “JUDI, I DON’T KNOW. ALL I KNOW IS… HE BEAT THIS DRUM ON ‘THE TRAIL OF TEARS.’ HERE READ THIS LETTER WRITTEN BACK IN 1861 BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR.. THE STORY GOES… THE CHIEF MARCHED TO HIS DEATH….ON ‘THE TRAIL OF TEARS’ AND HIS LAST LIVING GRANDAUGHTER PICKED UP THIS DRUM AND BEAT IT ALL THE WAY TO  OKLAHOMA! CRYING HER EYES OUT! THIS IS HER PICTURE IN 1873. THIS DRUM WAS USED TO CALL UP THE ‘WHITE SPIRIT’ IN THE OLD DAYS…”

    “OH MARGA, COULD THIS BE FOR REAL? BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! …LET’S CALL THE CHIEF!” BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

    “MARGA! I GUESS YOU KNOW WE ARE IN FOR IT NOW! …JUDieeEE! GO CALL YOU’RE BOYFIEND!”  BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! 

    NORMALLY, THAT’S THE WAY CHRISTMAS EVE WENT IN HOLLYWOOD. AND CHRISTMAS DINNER AT THE BEACH HOUSE WAS MUCH THE SAME… ADDING THE CHILDREN SINGING, AND DANCING WITH UNCLE JOHN… LOW-RIDING ON HIS ELECTRIC GUITAR>>>>>

    MARGA PULLED INTO THE STUDENT PARKING LOT ON THE EDGE OF CAMPUS. AND ANGLED HER CAR INTO AN EMPTY SPACE. SHE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND SAT STILL FOR A MOMENT. AS A GROUP OF COEDS PASSED. THEY LOOKED SO YOUNG AND CONFIDENT. AND SO HAPPY! MOST WOMEN HER AGE HAD GRAND CHILDREN GOING TO COLLEGE, WITH GREAT GRANDCHILDREN IN THE MAKING. YET, HERE SHE IS… STILL SITTING ALONE IN HER CAR.

    ”NO ONE SAID THIS WAS GOING TO BE EASY!” MARGA GATHERED UP HER LAPTOP AND HER SCHOOL BOOKS. AND WITH A BURST OF COURAGE SHE STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR AS THE WIND PUSHED HER SIDEWAYS… SLAMMING THE CAR DOOR SHUT… LOCKING IT AUTOMATICALLY.

    “DAMN!” SHE MUMBLED.“I’M  GLAD I HAD MY KEYS!” SHE TOSSED HER HAIR BACK, SHOOK HER HEAD, AND TURNED TO WALK TOWARD THE WIND. THE THOUGHTS OF LIVING ALONE IN THAT SMELLY OLD HOUSE CONTINUED TO DEPRESS HER.

    “MAYBE, I SHOULD BE LOOKING OUTSIDE THE CITY FOR A HOUSE. YES, THAT’S IT! THAT’S THE SOLUTION!” MARGA FELT HER SPIRIT RISING TO A NEW HIGH…

    “MAYBE I COULD RENT OR BUY A HOUSE SOMEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY, THEN MAYBE JUDI AND CLARA WOULD COME MOVE IN WITH ME! JUDI COULD HAVE A HORSE. AND CLARA COULD GROW A GARDEN.

    “WHAT GOOD IS MONEY ANYWAY? IF YOU DON’T SPEND IT? AND ACCORDING TO UNCLE JOHN…THERE IS NO HONOR IN TAKING MONEY TO THE GRAVE.” HER THOUGHTS OVERCOMING HER AS SHE WALKED UNNOTICEABLY STRAIGHT INTO THE MIDDLE OF AN ONGOING DEMONSTRATION.

    “WHAT’S GOING ON?” SHE MUST HAVE SPOKEN OUTLOUD BECAUSE A STUDENT IN PASSING ANSWERED…

    “WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN LADY? PEOPLE EVERYWHERE ARE GETTING READY TO STRIKE! HAVEN’T YOU HEARD?” EMBARRASSED, MARGA WAS RELIEVED THE LOUD STUDENT MOVED ON. HOWEVER, NOT FOR ONE MOMENT HAD SHE EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT ANYONE ELSE’S PROBLEMS… BUT HER OWN.

    SEVERAL COEDS WERE STRUGGLING IN THE WIND… HOLDING ONTO THEIR SIGNS ”STUDENTS UNITED AGAINST RAPE!” “95 % PERCENT OF ALL GANG RAPES ARE REPORTED ON FRAT GROUNDS!”   

     FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HER LIFE, MARGA REALIZED SHE WAS TOTALLY ALONE… WITHOUT HER SISTERS, IN A GREAT, BIG WORLD FULL OF INDIFFERENCE. A TOUCH OF FEAR OVERCAME HER AS SHE HURRIED THROUGH THE CROWD.

    “FIRST DAY?” QUESTIONED A STRANGER IN PASSING.

    “WHY-YES!” RESPONDED MARGA… AS A BURST OF WIND BLEW HER HAIR ACROSS HER FACE, COVERING HER EYES.

    “I KNOW THE FEELING.” THE MAN SAID. MARGA TURNED TO WALK TOWARD THE ANTROPOLOGY BUILDING WHERE THE COLLISION WAS SUDDEN. SHE FAILED TO NOTICE THE MAN WAS FOLLOWING BEHIND HER TOWARD THE DOOR WHERE THE WIND PUSHED HER OFF BALANCE AGAINST THE STAIRWAY RAILING… WHERE THE MAN DROPPED HIS BOOKS… AND CAUGHT MARGA WITH ONE HAND. AND CAUGHT THE DOOR WITH HIS OTHER. HIS COWBOY HAT WENT FLYING…

    “OH! I’M SO SORRY!” MARGA GASPED. “THE WIND IS SO STRONG TODAY!“ FOR A MOMENT, SHE FELT COMFORTABLE UNDER HIS ARM. SHE REACHED TO HELP HIM PICK UP HIS BOOKS.

    “OH-I’M SO SORRY!”

    “THAT’S OKAY SUGAR… TODAY! THE WIND MUST BE IN MY FAVOR! HE SMILED.“ARE YOU AN ANTROPOLOGY STUDENT?”

    “WHY-YES. I GUESS I AM!” SHE ANSWERED.

    “WELL, I N THAT CASE, WE’LL BE SEEING EACHOTHER OFTEN. MY NAME IS JONFU.”

    “JOHN WHO?” SHE ASKED.

      SLOWLY HE SAID “JON…FU.”

    “OH REALLY? IS THAT YOUR REAL NAME? OR… ARE YOU JUST TEASING ME?” INSTINCTLY… HE HELD UP HIS RIGHT HAND.“HONEST INJUN! THAT’S MY REAL NAME! MY GRANDMOTHER NAMED ME AFTER HER GRANDMOTHER’S GREAT GRANDFATHER. A CHINAMAN FROM INDIA… WHO WAS ‘SHANGHIED’ OFF OF A WHALESHIP BACK IN THE 1800’S AND FORCED TO WORK AS A SLAVE DURING THE BUILDING OF THE ‘TRANSCONTINENAL RAILROAD’,  YOU KNOW… THE ONE CONNECTING THE EAST TO THE WEST…  ARE YOU FOLLOWING ME?”

    “THAT’S QUIET A STORY! MISTER FU. YES, I REMEMBER STUDYING SOMETHING ABOUT THAT. WHERE ARE YOU SITTING MISTER FU?” JON TOOK OFF HIS HAT AND LOOKED AROUND.   

    “WELL IN CASE THERE’S A FIRE… OR A STAMPEDE! LET’S GET IN THE MIDDLE!“ HE SMILED. AND SHE SMILED AS THEY WALKED ALONGSIDE LONG ROWS OF GLASS CASES FILLED WITH ARTIFACTS.

    “OH LOOK!” MARGA EXCLAIMED! “ARROWHEADS! I FOUND ONE LAST SUMMER IN OKLAHOMA!”

    “IN THIS CLASS, WE’RE GOING TO STUDY ALL ABOUT ARROWHEADS! AND OUR NATÏVE AMERICAN ANCESTORS. DIDN’T YOU KNOW?”

    “NO, I KNOW NOTHING AT ALL!” 

    “WELL, THIS IS THE CLASS I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR. I’M READY TO GO DIGGING. I HEARD THRU THE GRAPEVINE LAST SEMESTER, THAT THE UNIVERSITY HAS ACQUIRED SEVERAL NEW LAND GRANTS FULL OF ARTIFACTS. HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THAT?”

    “NO! I HAVEN’T HEARD A THING. BUT TELL ME MORE!” WITHOUT WAITING FOR AN ANSWER…

    “LOOK, WHY DON’T WE BE LAB PARTNERS? I DON’T KNOW ANYONE ELSE.”

    “HEY! THAT SOUNDS GOOD! YOU LOOK LIKE A PERSON WHO COULD SPOT AN ARROWHEAD A MILE OFF!”

    “DONE DEAL!” SHE SAID.

    JON FELT VERY COMFORTABLE SITTING NEXT TO THIS WOMAN. AND AFTER REALIZING HER CONVERSATION WAS ON HIS LEVEL, HE WANTED TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK TO SEE WHY HIS HEART WAS BEATING SO BOLDLY.  WITH A CONSTANT RINGING IN HIS EARS…  HE WANTED TO ASK HER… COULD SHE HEAR BELLS? BUT HE WAS TOO SHY TO SPEAK. 

    UNTIMELY, HE GOT CAUGHT CHECKING OUT HER LEGS… SHE GLANCED A SMILE BACK AT HIM, SO HE TRIED NOT TO LOOK AGAIN… THEN HE SPOTTED HER GOLD ANKLE CHAIN FULL OF TINY SILVER BELLS… THAT WERE RINGING SOFTLY, WHEN SHE SHOOK HER FOOT LIKE THE TAIL OF A RATTLESNAKE… GETTING HOT!

    ALL DURING CLASS, HE WAS THINKING OF WHAT TO SAY TO HER NEXT, WHEN SHE TURNED AND SAID. ”MISTER FU, LET’S GO GET US A COKE! IT IS TOO HOT IN HERE. WERE YOU HOT? I’M THIRSTY!” 

      WITHOUT ANSWERING, JON SAID  “I KNOW JUST THE PLACE!” AS SHE REACHED FOR HER BOOKS! HE GOT A GOOD LOOK! SHE HAD THE BODY OF A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL! SHE MUST BE IN HER LATE FORTIES OR EARLY FIFTIES.

    “MISTER FU, I’M OLD ENOUGH! HOW OLD ARE YOU?” STARTLED AT THE COMMENT,  HE SAID

     “HOW DID YOU KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING?” SHE LOOKED INTO HIS EYES AND SMILED. “NOW, JUST WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?”

    WITHOUT RESPONDING, JON SAILED OFF ACROSS THE AUDITORIUM WITH MARGA BUMPNG BOOKS, AND ELBOWS WEAVING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE GROUPS OF STUDENTS WHERE THE DEMONSTRATION WAS HEATING UP. JON WAS SOMEWHAT RELIEVED TO SEE HIS FRIEND, JERRY, MOVING THRU THE CROWD TOWARD HIM… HE WAS FEELING THAT HE MIGHT NEED A LITTLE HELP WITH THE CONVERSATION. JERRY CAME RIGHT OVER.

    “ARE YOU TWO GETTING ‘MIXED UP’ IN ALL THIS?”

    “O NO, NOT ME!” MARGA RESPONDED. “WE’RE JUST HERE TO GET US A COKE!” JON SMILED AND INTRODUCED MARGA TO JERRY. JERRY POINTED AND SUGGESTED… “LET’S MAKE A MOVE OVER TO THE QUIETER SIDE. “LOOK, THERE’S A TABLE!” MARGA SET HER BOOKS DOWN ON THE TABLE WITH A SIGH OF RELIEF.…

    “JERRY, DO THEY SELL BACKPACS IN HERE?”

    “YES, MARGA. LOOK OVER THERE BEHIND THE CARDS AND STUFF.”

    “BOYS, GUARD MY GEAR! I‘LL BE RIGHT BACK.” … INTO THE CROWD, SHE TURNED TO LOOK AT JERRY.

    “OVER HERE?” SHE ASKED IN QUESTION? JERRY MOTIONED HER TO GO FARTHER TOWARDS THE BACK. JERRY TURNED TO JON.     

    “MAN! SHE’S GOT THE CURVES!!”

    “THAT’S MY NEW LAP PARTNER! ” JON SMILED…  AND JERRY CHUCKLED.

     “JERRY, WHAT’S ALL THIS PROTEST ACTION ABOUT?”

    “JON, TODAY AT NOON… THERE’S GOING TO BE A TELEVISED PRESS CONFERENCE IN FRONT OF THE OLD MAIN BUILDING. EVERYBODY IS FIRED UP! I HAVEN’T SEEN THIS MUCH PARTICIPATION IN YEARS!”

     “WHAT’S IT FOR? JERRY.” JERRY BEGAN TO ANSWER, BUT WAS CUT SHORT… “LOOK, HERE COMES MARGA!” MARGA MADE HER WAY BACK TO THE TABLE, AND REACHED INTO HER SHOPPING FOR THREE COKES, AND A BRIGHT ORANGE AND WHITE BACPACK SPORTING THE TEXAS LONGHORN INSIGNIA. SHE PUT IT ON.    

    “WELL BOYS, HOW DO I LOOK?” SHE SAID WITH A SCHOOL GIRL GIGGLE AND THE TURN OF A FASHION MODEL.

    “DO I FIT IN?”

    “YOU FIT IN PERFECTLY!” JON ANSWERED.

    “HERE, LET ME ASSIST YOU!“ JON BEGAN LOADING HER BOOKS AND LAPTOP INTO HER BACPACK. HE WAS ADJUSTING HER SHOULDER STRAPS,WHEN HE FELT HOW WARM SHE WAS UP FRONT. AND WHEN SHE FELT THE HEAT… SHE GOT RED IN THE FACE,  AND MOVED HER SHOULDERS AROUND AND GIGGLED… ”NOW I KNOW HOW A GIRL SCOUT FEELS! LORD HELP ME OUT OF THIS!”

    “WHY OF COURSE, MY DEAR!” JON LIFTED THE BACPAC UP-OFF HER SHOULDERS. AND MARGA SAT DOWN.

    “BOYS, WHAT I NEED IS A STRONG DRINK!” JERRY SMILED. 

    “LOOK YA‘LL! HERE COMES A TV CAMERA!  IT’S CHANNEL 3-LIVE FROM BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION.  I WONDER WHAT THE AGGIES ARE DOING HERE? WAVE EVERYBODY! REMEMBER THE ALAMO!” MARGA DUCKED AND TURNED HER HEAD, AND LOOKED OVER AT JON… AND SMILED. FOR A MOMENT, THEIR EYES BECAME FIXED ON EACHOTHER. SHE MUST BE CAMERA SHY, JON THOUGHT. BUT HE NEVER SAID A WORD.

    “JERRY, WHAT’S THIS DEMONSTRATION FOR?”

    “MARGA, IT’S TO STOP ‘HAZING’ AND FRATERNITY VIOLENCE!”

    “HAZING?” MARGA ASKED?

    “YES, YOU KNOW, LITTLE GAMES AND PRANKS PLAYED ON INCOMING STUDENTS, TO CHECK THEIR PERSONALITIES OUT… BEFORE INVITING THEM IN TO SHARE OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING.”

    “DOES HAZING HAPPEN TO STUDENTS LIKE ME?”

    “I DON’T THINK SO MARGA. HAZING STARTED A LONG TIME AGO WHEN A STUDENT WAS TOLD TO WEAR WET PAJAMAS AND CRAWL THRU TWO BEDSPRINGS WIRED WITH ELECTRICITY. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO JUST SHOCK HIM A LITTLE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, HE WAS ELECTROCUTED!

     AT THAT TIME, NO- ONE WAS HELD RESPONSIBLE. HOWEVER, THE UNIVERSITY DID GET THE FRATERNITY TO PROMISE TO ELIMINATE ALL FORMS OF HORSEPLAY. BUT STILL, HAZING CONTINUED. STUDENTS HAD TO PARTICIPATE IN GAMES LIKE  THE ‘BARN DANCE,’ WHERE THEY HAD TO CRAWL AROUND ON THE FLOOR IN THEIR UNDERWEAR WHILE UPPER CLASSMEN SHOT RAW LIMA BEANS AT THEIR BOTTOMS WITH SLING SHOTS!  SOME STUDENTS WERE ’TAKEN OUT OF TOWN ON RIDES’  BLINDFOLDED! AND TIED UP NAKED TO TREES!”

    “O MY!” MARGA SMILED.

    “NOW THIS IS A FUNNY ONE! LAST YEAR, ONE FRATERNITY HERE AT U.T. HOSTED A MIXER WITH A SORORITY. THE WOMEN AT THE EVENT BECAME DISGUSTED AT THE FRATERNITY’S SMART-ASSED ATTITUDE, SO THEY LEFT THE PARTY EARLY. THE NEXT DAY, THE FRATERNITY SENT  OVER A LARGE BOX OF DONUTS TO THE SORORITY AS AWAY OF APOLOGIZING… COMPLETE WITH A CONDOLENCE CARD. A FEW HOURS LATER, THEY SENT OVER  PHOTO’S OF THOSE DONUTS WITH THEIR PECKERS STICKING THRU THE HOLES! I LAUGH OUTLOUD! EVERY TIME I THINK ABOUT IT!”

    “OH-JERRY…THAT’S TERRIBLE!” 

    “I AGREE MARGA! BUT THERE’S MORE.”

    “PLEASE NO MORE JERRY.”

    “JON, I’LL CUT IT SHORT! THE UNIVERSITY BEGAN TO REALIZE  ‘HAZING’ HAD BECOME A VICIOUS CRIME CYCLE OF WHICH THEY HAD TO BREAK.

    ‘YOU GET HAZED SO YOU WANT TO HAZE.’ SO TODAY, THIS DEMONSTRATION IS BEING HELD TO REMIND EVERYONE ON CAMPUS OF THE LAWS NOW PROTECTING INITIATE STUDENTS. DID YA’LL SEE ALL THOSE BLUE POSTERS STAPLED ON THE TELEPHONE POLES?. I PUT THEM UP MYSELF!”

    “JERRY, YOU’RE REALLY UP ON IT, AREN’T YOU?”

    “YES MARGA, I’M AGAINST FRATERNITIES CREATING A CLIMATE OF FEAR ON CAMPUS. BESIDES, I ENJOY GETTING INVOLVED. AND SO DOES MY POLITICAL GIRLFRIEND! AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE SHOULD SEE TINA AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE PUTTING A CHARGE ON HER BATTERY!”

    JON EXPLAINED. “JERRY’S GIRL HAS AN ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR. SHE LIKES HER ‘HOT WHEELS’ READY TO GO!”

    “YES MARGA, I LOVE THAT GIRL! SHE’S A RIOT! I LAUGH AT HER CONSTANTLY! WHY DON’T YOU TWO COME OVER FOR SUPPER, SOMETIME? TINA CAN COOK!”

    “JERRY, I WOULD LOVE TO MEET HER! YOU TWO ARE THE FIRST  FRIENDS I’VE MADE SINCE I’VE BEEN IN TEXAS.” JERRY ASKED. 

   “WHERE ARE YOU FROM, MARGA? YOU LOOK VERY FAMILIAR.”

    “I’M FROM HOLLYWOOOOdd…CALIFORNIA” SHE STAMMERED… “BUT I WAS BORN IN NEW YORK.”

    “OH, I’M  SO SORRY TO HEAR THAT…” JERRY SMILED. 

    “LISTEN YOU TWO. I’VE GOT TO GO FIND TINA! SHE’S DOWNUNDER THIS CROWD SOMEWHERE. WILL YA’LL BE AROUND LATER?” JON LOOKED AT MARGA. AND THEY BOTH LOOKED OVER AT JERRY PREPARING TO LEAVE.

     “I DON’T THINK SO, JERRY. BUT MAYBE WE’LL SEE YOU TONIGHT ON TV!” JON SMILED.

    “LOOK FOR MY GREEN FLAG WITH THE ‘PEACE’ SIGN!”

JERRY DISAPPEARED INTO THE NOW-CROWD REACHING TO BE ABOUT A THOUSAND OR SO STUDENTS. JON TURNED TO MARGA.

    “THIS PLACE IS GETTING TOO CROWDED. ARE YOU HUNGRY?”

    “YES JON, I’M STARVED! DO YOU WANT TO COME OVER TO MY HOUSE FOR LUNCH?”

    “DO YOU LIVE CLOSE BY?”

    “YES, I LIVE ONLY A FEW BLOCKS AWAY. MY NEXT CLASS IS AT TWO O’CLOCK WITH A PROFESSOR WARMAN. BY CHANCE? DO YOU HAVE THE SAME CLASS?”

    “I SURE DO! I HEAR DOCTOR WARMAN IS THE SHOWBIZ TYPE! A CHAMPION BULLSHITTER FROM TEXAS! ”

    “WELL LETS GO EAT SOME LUNCH, AND THEN WE’LL CHECK HIM OUT. MAYBE HE CAN TEACH US SOMETHING!” JON FOLLOWED MARGA OUT TO HER CAR.“JON, I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE THINKING…”

    “WHAT’S THAT MARGA?”

    “YOU’RE WONDERING, WHY ARE WE DRIVING INTO ALL THIS NOON HOUR TRAFFIC? INSTEAD, OF JUST WALKING TO MY HOUSE..?”

    “MARGA! YOU GUESSED IT AGAIN!”

    “JON, I’M NEW IN TOWN. AND WALKING HOME ALONE SCARES ME.”  

    “MARGA, IF YOU KEEP YOUR MIND ON GOD… GOD WILL KEEP HIS MIND ON YOU! AND YOU WILL HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR!”

    “JON, DO YOU HAVE FAITH LIKE THAT?”

    “YES, MARGA, I BELIEVE STRONGLY IN GOD. WHEN YOU LIVE ON A RANCH, YOU LEARN QUICKLY TO PRAY.” A BRIGHT GLOW ILLUMINATED MARGA… “YOU LIVE ON A RANCH?”

    “YES, I LIVE ON MY GRANDFATHER’S PLACE. IT’S ABOUT 65 MILES WEST OF HERE. I LEAVE THE HOUSE AT SIX OCLOCK EVERY MORNING JUST TO GET HERE ON TIME. MAYBE I’LL STOP BY SOME MORNING AND WALK WITH YOU TO SCHOOL. AND THEN MAYBE YOU’LL FEEL MORE AT EASE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.”  MARGA DROVE HER CAR UP THE DRIVEWAY. AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION.    

    “WELL, HERE WE ARE! MY HAUNTED HOUSE ON ELM STREET. OH, I FORGOT TO TELL YOU. MY TWO SISTERS THINK THERE’S A GHOST LIVING IN THE HOUSE!”

   “MAN, IT SURE LOOKS GHOSTY-LIKE ALLRIGHT!! THIS HOUSE IS HUGE! DO YOU LIVE HERE ALONE?”

    “YES! AND I HATE IT! IT SMELLS AS OLD AS IT LOOKS!  YOU’LL SEE WHAT I MEAN.” MARGA UNLOCKED THE BIG BEVELED GLASS DOOR.

    “MARGA, THIS ROOM JUMPS RIGHT OUT AT YOU FROM THE DARK SIDE OF THE TWENTIES! IT IS KINDA SPOOKY-LOOKIN‘.”

    “JON, IT DOESN’T BELONG TO ME. MY SISTER LEASED IT FROM A PRIVATE OWNER WITH THE OPTION TO BUY IT. I’VE THOUGHT ABOUT BUYING IT. BUT IT WOULD COST A FORTUNE TO RE-DECORATE. AND I DON’T HAVE THE TIME. NOT NOW… WITH SCHOOL AND ALL.”

    “MARGA, I KNOW EXACTLY HOW YOU FEEL. BY THE TIME I’VE GOT ONE SIDE OF THE RANCH LOOKING GOOD, THE OTHER SIDE STARTS TO FALL APART. IT NEVER ENDS. IT’S A LOT OF WORK AND IT TAKES A LOT OF MONEY. I’D RATHER BE DOING SOMETHING ELSE LIKE… LOOKING FOR TREASURE AND BONES!”

    “ME TOO!” MARGA SAID. “DO YOU WANT TO SEE MY NEW METAL DETECTOR? IT WAS A CHRISTMAS PRESENT FROM MY SISTER. I’M LOOKING FOR GOLD COINS! AND DIAMOND RINGS!”

    “GIRL, YOU’RE DREAMIN’. AND I’M GETTING HUNGRY! DOES THIS MONSTER-HOUSE HAVE A KITCHEN?”

    “FOLLOW ME, AND I’LL MICROWAVE. JON WILL YOU GET ME THOSE GLASSES OVER THERE ABOVE THE TABLE? DO YOU DRINK MILK?”  

WHEN THE GLASSES TINGLED… JON HEARD HIS GRANDMOTHERS VOICE REAPEATING THIS PRAYERFULL VERSE…

    “SON, DRINK YOUR MILK WITH PLEASURE, AND SEEK YOUR MATE AS  HIDDEN TREASURE! HAPPY IS THE MAN WHO FINDS HER, AND GAINS HER WISDOM, FOR HER PROCEEDS ARE BETTER THAN THE PROFITS OF FINE GOLD AND SILVER.!”

    “GOLD??? JON? WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? I FEEL… SOMETHING! 

    JON…? DID YOU SAY SOMETHING?

    “MARGA, I LOVE MILK!”FROM THEN ON…WAS IT JON FOLLOWING MARGA HOME FOR LUNCH EVERY DAY? OR WAS IT MARGA SPENDING HER WEEKENDS OUT AT THE RANCH LOOKING FOR ARROWHEADS? THEY WERE CONSTANTLY TOGETHER.

    ON THEIR VERY FIRST UNIVERSITY DIG, MARGA AND JON FOUND MORE EVIDENCE OF CULTURE THAN DID ANYONE ELSE. EVERYONE WORKING AT THE DIG SITE THAT SUMMER REPORTED THE INTENSE EXCITEMENT OF HAVING THESE TWO STUDENTS MOVING AROUND LOOKING FOR ARTIFACTS AND BONES… WHICH-EVER CAME UP FIRST!

THEY BECAME LAND MAGNETS LEADING THEMSELVES, AND EVERYONE ELSE AT THE UNIVERSITY TO POSITIVE LOCATIONS LOADED FULL OF ARTIFACTS. EVERYBODY WAS TOTALLY AMAZED WHEN THEY DISCOVERED A SMALL BURIAL GROUND BURIED ON A HILLSIDE BLUFF OVER LOOKING THE BRAZOS RIVER. MARGARETTA ACTED AS IF SHE HAD JUST RECEIVED HER FIRST KISS, WHEN SHE REALIZED HOW MUCH FUN JON COULD BE IN AN INTERESTING SITUATION. AND SO DID EVERY OTHER ARCHEOLOGIST AT THE EXCAVATION SITE. SOME LAUGHING, SOME CURSING, BUT ALL BECOMING ACCUSTOMED TO JON’S ‘HAIR-RAISING’ INDIAN CALLS!  AND MARGA’S ONGOING ‘HOOT-OWL’ SHRIEKS OF EXCITEMENT!

     DURING THAT HOT SUMMER AROUND THE CAMPFIRES, JON WOULD STRUM ON HIS GUITAR, AND MARGA WOULD SING AND DANCE! AS THEY ACTED UPON THEIR EMOTIONS AND THEIR FEELINGS OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO THE TWO YOUNG LOVERS WHO WERE LAYING SIDE BY SIDE, HOLDING HAND IN HAND, AS IF HOLDING ON… CLINGING TO EACHOTHER IN THE GRAVE. THE ONSITE PROFESSORS WERE AMAZED AT THE MYSTERIOUS BURIAL THAT YEILDED THE BODY OF A SPAINISH MISSIONARY PRIEST BURIED HOLDING HIS BOOK OF SCRIPTURES  SEALED IN A BUFFALO SKIN POUCH… THAT RE-PROVED ITSELF TO BE AN ACCURATE RECORD OF LIFE, AS IT MUST HAVE HAPPENED… UNFORTUNATELY, TO THE YOUNG LOVERS ON THEIR WEDDING DAY. THEIR BODIES LAY BENEATH SEVERAL FLAT SLABS OF WHITE LIMESTONE ROCK BORDERED ALONG THE EDGES WITH SMALLER RIVER ROCKS. THE PROFESSORS BELIEVED THE DESIGNERS OF THE GRAVE WERE MOST LIKELY PLANNING ON COMING BACK TO RECLAIM THE BODIES AT A LATER DATE. MANY MISPLACED INDIAN TRIBES IN TEXAS WOULD OFTEN RETURN DURING THE WINTER MONTHS TO MOVE THE BONES OF THEIR LOVED ONES TO THEIR FINAL RESTING PLACES.

    EVERYONE REPORTED HOW STRANGE THE WEATHER ACTED ON ‘THE BLUFF’ THAT SUMMER AT THE DIGSITE… WITH ALL THE DANCING WHIRLWINDS SUCKING THEIR TENTS UP! AND BLOWING THEM AWAY LIKE BALLOONS! NOT ONCE, BUT SEVERAL TIMES THIS HAPPENED WITH SOME OF THE SMALLER TENTS TWISTING AND TURNING’AND LANDING  IN THE PLOWED FIELDS MILES ACROSS THE RIVER. THE STUDENTS WERE ALL UNHARMED. BUT FOR SOME, EVERYTHING WAS LOST!

    THIS PATTERN OF EVENTS DROVE EVERYONE INVOLVED DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO THEIR STUDIES. EVEN CLARABELLA BECAME INTERESTED, AS SHE MOVED HER PRODUCTION STAFF TO THE DIGSITES TO VIDEO TAPE SEVERAL ONGOING LECTURES TAKING PLACE AT THE EXCAVATIONS.

    FINALLY, JUDI AND CLARA COULD STAY AWAY NO LONGER. THEY MOVED INTO THE HAUNTED HOUSE ON ELM STREET WITH MARGA. AND WHEN THE NEIGHBORS STARTED SELLING, THE GIRLS STARTED BUYING. THEY PURCHASED THE TWO HOUSES NEXT DOOR, AND THE HOUSE DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET. THE SMALL HOUSE ON THE RIGHT WAS DEMOLISHED. AND A BIG SWIMMING POOL WAS ADDED. JUDIPANNELLA MOVED INTO THE HOUSE ON THE LEFT. AND THEN HER BAND SORTA MOVED IN ALSO.

    AN CHINESE IMMIGRANT FAMILY WAS HIRED TO LANDSCAPE AND CARETAKE THE PROPERTY. THEY LIVED IN THE OLD MAN’S HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET. AND BEFORE LONG… MARGA’S NEIGHBORHOOD WAS SECURED.

    IT WAS DURING THIS TIME IN AUSTIN, WHILE WATCHING THE VIDEO FILMS MADE AT THE BURIAL SITE, THAT JUDI, AND HER BAND MEMBERS FIRST NOTICED THE ALARMING CHANGE IN MARGA’S PERSONALITY. MARGA BECAME CAPTIVATING TO WATCH AS SHE DANCED AROUND THE CAMPFIRES… HER EYES GLOWING A DEEP RED… CHANGING HER MOOD-SWINGS, AND SHIFTING HER SHADOW… TURNING LIKE THE SPIRIT OF A GHOST CHASING AFTER GOD!

    “HOW DID SHE COME UP WITH ALL THAT STUFF?” JUDI REMARKED.   

    “DID SHE GET THAT FROM ME?”

    NATURALLY, MARGA’S MOVEMENTS DEPENDED ON JON AS HE GENERATED A WALL OF SOUND ON HIS GUITAR… CHARGING MARGA  MOMENTS OF CREATIVITY! WITH MOST OF THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES, BECOMING HOT-WIRED! AND HIGH STRUNG! JUST LIKE MARGA! ‘HOOPING AND HOLLERING‘ AND DANCING AROUND LIKE CRAZED INDIANS… THUMPING’AT A WAR PARTY!

     JUDI’S BANDFRIENDS WERE TOTALLY INAWE. WAS MARGA BEING POSSESSED? OR WAS SHE JUST FINALLY LETTING GO OF HER STUFFED SHIRT ATTITUDE? WHEN CONFRONTED, SHE WOULD JUST LAUGH! AND REMARK…

    “OH! DON’T BE SILLY, SISTER DEAR! I’M HAVING THE GREATEST TIME OF MY LIFE! AREN’T GIRLS SUPPOSED TO HAVE FUN?”

    IN HOLLYWOOD, EVERYONE THAT KNEW THESE GIRLS PERSONALLY KNEW THEY WERE DEFINITELY SPENDING A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY GATHERING ALL THE SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE THEY COULD FIND. POSITIVELY! AT THE POINT OF OBSESSION! THEY FILMED AND DOCUMENTED EVERY NEW FORTUNE TELLER, EVERY NEW SPIRIT MEDIUM, EVERY NEW PSYCHIC THAT CAME TO TOWN, INCLUDING THE MYSTIC SEERERS, THE CARD READERS, AND THE BONE THROWERS. THEY COMBINED THEIR KNOWLEDGE TO EXPAND THEIR BRAINS UNTIL… THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT UNDONE FOR THEIR FRESH MINDS TO ESCAPE TO. IT BECAME ROUTINE ON SUNDAY MORNING’S TO SEE JUDI COOKING BREAKFAST WHILE MARGA WOULD BE READING ALOUD ANY NEW PERSONAL ADVERTISEMENTS FOUND ON THE WEB. WITH CLARABELLA RESPONDING TO WHATEVER THE SITUATIONS CALLED FOR.  ALL THREE GIRLS BECAME EASY MARKS FOR THESE TYPES TO PROSPER.

    ABOVE IT ALL, MARGA ENJOYED STUDYING HER BIBLE. SHE WATCHED ATTENTIVELY AS THE NEW AGE MOVEMENT FORMED THEIR FOUNDATIONS, AND MARKETED THEIR BELIEFS THROUGH-OUT THE WORLD.

    CLARABELLA ENJOYED TOURING THE FAMOUS TEMPLES AND TOMBS WITH ANCIENT PAINTINGS ON THE  WALLS. OVER-TIME, SHE BECAME SOMEWHAT OF AN AUTHORITY.

    AS FOR JUDI, SHE WAS A ‘DOWN-TO-EARTH’ SHOWGIRL. SHE PREFERRED HANGING OUT WITH MUSICIANS AND MYSTICS WHO USUALLY TOLD HER WHAT SHE WANTED TO HEAR. HER FAVORITE SEERS WERE OF THE BACKWOODS TYPE, WHO OFTEN FASHIONED EVIDENCE OF INVOLVEMENT FROM DARKENED SOURCES. JUDI OFTEN SUSPECTED FOWL PLAY AS SHE FOUND OUT MOST OF THE MYSTICS COMPARED EACHOTHERS PERSONAL NOTES ON HER IN THOUGHTS OF KEEPING HER COMING BACK FOR MORE, USUALLY DEMANDING MORE MONEY FOR DEEPER CONCENTRATIONS. 

     WITH ALL THIS INFORMATION IN MIND… JONFU CAME ALONG, AND MARAGARETTA CONFIRMED HER DEEP BELIEF IN GOD. SHE DIDN’T FALL IN LOVE WITH THAT RANCHER. SHE GREW IN LOVE! MARGA’S HOLLYWOOD FRIENDS KNEW ALL ALONG THAT POOR COWBOY FROM TEXAS NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO GET AWAY. LITTLE DID THEY UNDERSTAND WHY JON MADE NO ATTEMPT TO FLEE! EVEN MARGA HERSELF REALIZING EARLY ON THAT HER LOVE FOR JON WAS FUELED BY HIS DEEP DESIRE TO UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH. SHE BELIEVED THAT LOVE WOULD CONQUER OVER ALL THINGS… BOTH SEEN, AND UNSEEN IN THIS WORLD, AND NOT WITH A RETURN TO AN OLD MEDIEVAL SORT OF CHRISTIANITY, OR TO A NEW UNIVERSAL RELIGION, BUT INTO A RENEWED FAITH IN GOD!

    JON AND MARGA GRADUATED WITH HONORS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. JUDI‘S BAND PERFORMED THE GRANDEST GRADUATION PARTY EVER KNOWN TO EXIST ON CAMPUS!  ACCORDING TO JUDI…‘THE JUDI DOODY REVIEW’ WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE SEASON!

    AFTER GRADUATION, MARGARETTA FOLLOWED JON TO NEW MEXICO TO JOIN UP WITH SEVERAL OTHER ARCHAEOLOGISTS WHO WERE WORKING AT THE WHITE MOUNTAIN APACHE EXCAVATIONS. 

    AND DURING THIS TIME, CLARABELLA HIRED A REMODELING COMPANY TO CREATE A NEW IMAGE FOR THE BIG HOUSE IN AUSTIN.

    ONE BRIGHT MORNING CLARABELLA WAS  RUNNING FOR THE UPSTAIRS BATHROOM, WHEN SHE SLIPPED ON A LOOSE PIECE OF CARDBOARD  COVERING THE CARPET ON THE FRONT DOOR STAIRWAY. SHE CAME SLIDING DOWN THE STAIRWAY IN HER UNDERWEAR … LANDING ON TOP OF MR. CHARLES, THE BUILDING CONTRACTOR DOING THE RENOVATIONS. SHE RODE HIM BACK DOWN! ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS … ‘TEXAS STYLE’ LANDING ‘SPREAD EAGLE’ ON TOP OF HIM IN FRONT OF HIS ASTONISHED CREW OF WORKERS! EMBARRASSED BEYOND BELIEF, MR. CHARLES SCOOPED CLARABELLA UP! AND RUSHED HER BACK UPSTAIRS! WHERE AFTERWORDS, THERE SEEMED TO BE A HOT-FIRE BURNING… TURNING UP THE TEMPERTURE EVERYWHERE IN THE HOUSE! THE OTHER TWO SISTERS NEVER-EVER DREAMED CLARABELLA WOULD START UP ANOTHER MARRIAGE AFFAIR. BUT APPARENTLY, IT ALL HAPPENED UPSTAIRS IN THE GHOST ROOM…  WHERE THE CHINESE FAMILY ACROSS THE STREET ALMOST SAW IT ALL…

    THREE WEEKS LATER, THEY WERE MARRIED. JON AND MARGA HAD AN AMAZNG TIME AT THE WEDDING RECEPTION. INSTANTLY! THEY LIKED RAY! HE HELPED CLARA FILM WHATEVER SHE COULD IN-BETWEEN ROMANTIC ENCOUNTERS.

    DURING THAT SAME SUMMER… JON’S NEPHEW’S MOVED TO THE BUNKHOUSE AT THE RANCH TO HELP PAPADIAZ WITH THE RANCHWORK AND GARDENING. WHILE ‘HOMESTEADING‘, THEY ORGANIZED ‘THE SONS OF THUNDER‘  A BIG-TIME MOTORCYCLE GROUP RIDING THE DANCEHALL CIRCUITS IN TEXAS! LOOKING FOR A LITTLE FUN! IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES.

   ONE SUMMER EVENING AROUND SUNDOWN, MARGA GOT THE SCARE OF HER LIFE! JON HAD LEFT EARLIER THAT MORNING TO TAKE RAY AND CLARA INTO TOWN FOR SUPPLIES, LEAVING MARGARETTA, IN CHARGE OF A VOLUNTEER GROUP OF SUMMER SCHOOL STUDENTS. JON WAS LATE IN RETURNING. AND WHEN MARGA HEARD THE TERRIFING ROAR OF HUNDREDS OF LOUD MOTORCYCLES HEADING UP  HER WAY— SHE PANICED!   “STUDENTS! ARM YOURSELVES!  THE’RE COMING!  SHE SCREAMED! THE’RE COMING! ARM YOURSELVES” STUDENTS RAN FOR COVER LIKE SCARED RABBITS! JUMPING INTO THE EXCAVATION HOLES  ARMED WITH SHOVELS AND RAKES! MARGA JUMPIN’ IN HOLDING TWO HAMMERS LIKE TOMAHAWKS! PSYCHED UP! READY TO FIGHT!

    AS THE ROARING NOISE OF THE MOTORCYCLES CAME TO A HALT.  IT GOT REAL QUIET. MARGA HELD HER BREATH FOR A LONG TIME. HER KNEES WERE SHAKING! HER TEETH WERE CHATTERING! HER HEART WAS PUMPING HOT! THEN SHE HEARD IT! IT SOUNDED ALMOST BIRD-LIKE… IT WAS JON’S FAMILIAR INDIAN CALL, MINGLED WITH STRANGE VOICES! AND LAUGHTER! SHE THREW OFF THE TARP AND CAME OUT,  TALKING LOUD! AND CRAZY!  LIKE A COMANCHE WOMAN! SHAKING HER TOMAHAWKS IN THE AIR! SHE WAS RED-FACED AND HOSTILE! AND LOOKING FOR JON! THE STUDENTS ALL WATCHED WIDE-EYED AND ASTONISHED.

    “WHAT’S GOING ON? SHE HOLLERED! WHAT ARE BIKERS DOING HERE?” SHE DIDN’T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT A BIG-SURPRISE BIKE RIDE! SHE MADE IT PLAIN! SHE DIDN’T LIKE SURPRISES! SHE STOMPED AWAY  ALL HOSTILE ACTIN’… KICKIN’ UP DIRT! HEADING FOR THE RV! SHE SLAMMED THE DOOR! AND LOCKED IT! WHEN THE BIKERS STARTED SINGING… ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU‘  MARGA TURNED POSITIVELY PALE! SHE LOOKED UP AT THE CALENDAR ON THE RV WALL. APRIL THE 26^th.

     “OH NO!” SHE SAID. TEARS FILLED HER EYES. SHE HAD COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN IT WAS HER BIRTHDAY. STRANGELY ENOUGH! SHE KICKED THE RV DOOR  OPEN! AND CAME OUT FIGHTING MAD! LOOKING FOR JON! SHE FOUND HIM ALRIGHT! SWINGING HER FISTSxxx AT HIM LIKE A PRIZE FIGHTER! TAKING PROFESSIONAL SWINGS AT JON! WHO DUCKED AND DODGED, HOLDING ONTO HIS GUITAR, TRYING TO STAY OUT  OF HER WAY… “JON I HATE SECRETS! I HATE SURPRISES!” SHE SCREAMED! GRABBING THE STRAP ON HIS GUITAR AND SWINGING HIM AROUND LIKE A RAGDOLL… STIRRING UP A CLOUD OF DUST!  EVERYBODY GATHERED AROUND THEM AND STARTED LAUGHING! JON WAS LOOKING PURTY ‘WUPPED‘ WHEN CLARABELLA BROUGHT OUT THE BIRTHDAY CAKE! THE CAKE WAS ON FIRE! 

    “QUICK MARGA! BLOW’EM OUT! BLOW ‘EM OUT! THERE’S TOO MANY CANDLES! THE CAKE IS MELTING! HURRY MARGA!”  SHE TOOK A DEEP BREATH! AND BLEW OUT THE CANDLES ~~~ AND BOOM! THE CRACK OF A LIGHTNING STRIKE! WITH A BURST OF THUNDER! COMING FROM A DARK CLOUD MOVING OVER THE PLATEAU! AND WITHIN MINUTES! THE DARK CLOUD TURNED  INTO A BRIGHT ORANGE AND AMBER COLORED CLOUD! AND FORMING A SILVER LINING ALONG THE EDGES! SUDDENLY! WITHOUT THUNDER… GOLDEN THUNDERBOLTS STARTED SHOOTING OUT OF THE CLOUD! SOME SHOOTING TO THE LEFT! SOME SHOOTING TO THE RIGHT! SOME SHOOTING OVER YOUR HEAD! SOME FLYING IN PAIRS! WITH HISSING SOUNDS FOLLOWING~~~ LIKE ARROWS IN PASSING!  EACH THUNDERBOLT CREATING A ‘CHICK-CHICK-CHICK’ STATIC SOUND! INSTANTLY! AS THE THUNDERBOLTS SHOT OUT OF THE CLOUD! WITH ALL OF THEM FALLING IN A CURVE- LIKE FASHION… LIKE ARROWS, ONLY  LASTING FOR A FEW SECONDS IN FLIGHT!  AND QUIETLY DISAPPEARING ~~~ BEFORE THEY COULD HIT THE GROUND! THE LIGHT SHOW LASTED FOR A STRONG TEN MINUTES! JON WAS  SPELLBOUND! HE KEPT RIGHT-ON STRUMMING HIS GUITAR! NEVER MISSING A BEAT! THE EXICITED STUDENTS FILMED THEMSELVES DANCING BENEATH THE CLOUD WITH THE ‘SONS OF THUNDER’ AS THE CLOUD QUIETLY MOVED ON TOP OF THEM! MARGA WAS DEFINITELY FRIGHTENED! BUT SHE HESITATED TO STOP THE PARTY! EVERYONE WAS HAVING FUN! SHE STOOD IN PRAYER WATCHING OVER JON!

    “WHAT ON EARTH COULD HE BE THINKING?”

     SUDDENLY!!! A BOOM! SO LOUD! YOUR BODY WENT NUMB!! A BURST OF THUNDER! SO POWERFULL!  IT TOOK YOUR BREATH AWAY! IT FELT LIKE THE FLOOR OF THE EARTH HAD FALLEN OFF FROM BENEATH YOUR DANCING FEET! LEAVING YOUR BODY SUSPENDED HELPLESSLY IN MID-AIR! THE STATIC ELECTRICTY SEEMED TO PICK YOU UP! AND THEN DROP YOU DOWN! WITH YOUR HAIR STANDING STRAIGHT UP! ALL HEADS  NODDING! AND BOWING! IN UNISON, AT EACH VOLLEY OF THUNDER! WHILE VIBRATING YOU AROUND LIKE A CHILD’S PLAYTOY ON A BIG DRUM! …WITH ANOTHER BIG BURST OF THUNDER! JON HIT THE GROUND HARD! THE NECK OF HIS GUITAR BROKE OFF IN HIS HANDS! MARGA WENT DOWN WITH HIM ON HER HANDS AND KNEES BEING VIBRATED AROUND UNDER STRANGE CONTROL! THE NATIVE AMERICANS CALLED IT ‘THE DANCE OF THUNDER!’ IT LASTED BEYOND MEASURE…  

   AT SOME POINT, EVERYONE STARTED REGAINING CONTROL OF THEMSELVES! RUNNING FOR COVER! DIVING INTO THE EXCAVATION HOLES! COVERING THEMSELVES BENEATH THE PLASTIC TARPS TUGGING AT THEM IN THE WIND! THEN CAME THE RAIN! WITH MORE LIGHTING! THE CAMPSITE GENERATOR BLEW UP! THROWING GASOLINE EVERYWHERE! SETTING FIRE TO A TENT FULL OF ARTIFACTS! AND CATCHING SEVERAL MOTORCYCLES ON FIRE! STUDENTS WERE  SCREAMING! AND RUNNING! JAM PACKIN’ THE MOTORBUS, HOLDING THEIR HANDS TO THEIR EARS! ONLY SCREAMING LOUDER! WHEN THE SKELETON REMAINS OF HUNDREDS OF WHITE MOUNTAIN APACHES STARTED WASHING UP TO THE SURFACE AROUND THEM… THEIR TEETH SHINING! AND THEIR BONES GLOWING LIFE-LIKE! IN THE BRIGHT FLASHES OF LIGHT! LIKE SCENES FROM A HORROR MOVIE! THEN CAME THE MUD SLIDE DOWN THE SIDE OF THE PLATEAU~~~ TAKING EVERYBODY AND EVERYTHING! FOR A LONG MUDDY RIDE DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE DRAW~~~ WHERE MOST OF THE CARS AND MOTORCYCLES WENT OVER TWO-FOOT WAVES OF MUD! SOME ‘BIKERS’ WERE STILL-SITTING UPRIGHT ON THEIR BIKES, STILL TRYING TO GET AWAY!  WITH THEIR MOTORS RACING! AND THE MUD FLYING!

    AT DAYLIGHT! THE STORM WAS OVER! JON’S SMILE WAS HARDENED INTO A HALF-ASSED DAZE. HE WAS RELIEVED TO SEE THAT NO-ONE WAS SERIOUSLY HURT. AND EVERYONE WAS ACCOUNTED FOR. AND AFTER A LONG-AWAITED SUNRISE THAT MORNING, THE BEAT-UP BUT WILD-EYED BIKERS! CUT SHORT THEIR SURPRISE BIRTHDAY RIDE! AS THEY RETREATED BACK TO CIVILIZATION IN PIECES! WITH MOST OF THEM PUSHING THEIR MUDDY MOTORCYCLES OUT OF THE MUDDY VALLEY TOWARD THE MUDDY MAIN ROAD… WITH THEIR WOMEN LOOKING RATHER SHOCKING IN THEIR MUDDY-MOTORCYCLE ATTIRE! THAT NIGHT THE SPIRIT OF ‘THE SONS OF THUNDER‘ WAS A BIT DAMPENED! AND A BIT WUPPED BY GOD! DEFINITELY, EVERYONE WAS ‘ALL SHOOK UP!’ IT WAS A ‘COMING-OUT PARTY’ EVERYONE REMEMBERED FOR A LONG TIME… A LIFETIME!

THE DAILY NEWSPAPER

    THE MARRIAGE OF MARGARETTA ALBERGETTEE TO JONFU TUYU WAS SOLEMNIZED ON FRIDAY  DECEMBER 21 2012 DURING AT A BEAUTIFUL SUNDOWN CEREMONY IN ISRAEL. WHERE AFTERWARDS THEY SPENT SEVERAL DAYS TOURING THE HOLY LAND BEFORE RETURNING TO THEIR HOME IN AUSTIN TEXAS. BOTH ADMITTING ISRAEL LOOKED LIKE TEXAS!

    MEANWHILE BACK AT THE RANCH, THE YEARS PASSED QUIETLY… LITTLE DIAZ GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL EARNING HIMSELF AN HONORABLE MENTION IN AGRICULTURE. FOR HIS GRAUATION PRESENT, JON BOUGHT HIM A BRIGHT YELLOW ‘48 FORD PICKUP TRUCK WITH A HOT ROD CHEVY ENGINE… TO RUN HIM BACK AND FORTH TO TEXAS A&M COLLEGE OF MEDICINE. IT WAS THE BIGGEST SURPRISE OF HIS LIFE!

     PAPA DIAZ WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON, JUST IN TIME, TO ATTEND HIS SON’S GRADUATION CEREMONY. IT WAS A TEARFULL EVENT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. THANKFULLY, DIAZ SENIOR RETURNED TO LIVE AT THE GATEHOUSE WITH HIS ROSA AND HIS TWIN GIRLS, WHO BECAME CHEERLEADERS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

    AND TO SPEAK OF POOR-OLD BIG RED, IT’S SO SAD TO REPORT… BIG RED DIED IN HIS SLEEP AND WAS BURIED OUT-BACK BEHIND THE BARN IN HIS CARDBOARD BOX WHEN LITTLE DIAZ WAS STILL SO VERY SMALL. AND IN BIG RED’S VERY LAST HOUR, EVERYONE WATCHED AS LITTLE DIAZ COVERED UP BIG RED WITH HIS BLUE BLANKET, CRYING HIS EYES OUT AS HE FILLED BIG RED’S BOWL FULL OF MILK FOR THE LAST TIME. HE KNELT BESIDE THE GRAVE TO PRAY. IT WAS THE ‘MEXICAN WAY’. JON AND MARGA BOTH REALIZING AT THAT MOMENT “HOW FAST TIME SLIPS AWAY. AND HOW SHORT LIFE REALLY IS…” ON A BIG FLAT ROCK, JON PAINTED THE WORDS ‘MY DOG, BIG RED’ OLD BUD-DUD S.P.C.A.

    “MARGARETTA, I’M GOING TO EXTEND MY EDUCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY THIS SUMMER. SOMETHING STILL FEELS MISSING. I DON’T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS, BUT I CAN FEEL IT. BESIDES, I NEED MY P.H.D. IN ARCHAEOLOGY TO BECOME A ‘DOCTOR JONFU’. NOW HOW DOES THAT SOUND?”

    “A WHO?” MARGA ASKED. THEY BOTH LOOKED AT EACHOTHER AND SMILED.

    “MARGA, WHY DON’T YOU STAY HOME THIS SUMMER, AND RELAX. YOU COULD WATCH OVER THE FRUIT TREES HERE AT THE RANCH, WHILE I CHECK INTO SUMMER SCHOOL!”

     MARGA LOOKED AS IF SHE HAD JUST LOOKED DOWN MAIN STREET HEAVEN. “MY DEAR JON, THAT SOUNDS PERFECT! AND IF YOU’RE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, I’M GOING TO FINISH WRITING MY ROMANCE NOVEL.”

     “WHY OF COURSE, MY DEAR, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE… I WANT YOU TO LEARN TO SPEAK SPANISH. AND I WANT YOU TO TAKE HELICOPTER FLYING LESSONS.”

    “WHAAAT? NOW WAIT A MINUTE JON, I CAN DO THE SPANISH. BUT THE FLYING LESSONS?  THAT’S A NO-GO!  IN A HELICOPTER? NO-WAY!”

    “MARGA, YOU’LL LEARN FAST! AND THEN YOU CAN TEACH ME! IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE FUN! WE’LL LEARN QUICK. I’M SURE OF IT! JUST THINK ABOUT IT MARGA. NO MORE LONG WALKS! OR BUMPY JEEP RIDES! IN THE AIR… WE’LL BE AS SAFE, AS SAFE CAN BE, BUT IF WE DO FALL… WE’LL BE HOLDING ONTO EACHOTHER LIKE TWO EAGLES IN A FREE FALL… UNTIL GOD LOOKS DOWN! AND SCOOPS US UP! like two angels going to heavEN!!”

    “STOP IT! JON. don’t even talk like that. A SERIOUS LOOK OVERCAME MARGA. I’M NOT READY TO GO! AND NEITHER ARE YOU!

    “MARGA, HAVE NO FEAR, WHEN WE GET OLD, I’LL LOOK LIKE SANTA CLAUS! AND YOU’LL LOOK LIKE MRS SANTA CLAUS! AND WE’LL BE AS HAPPY AS TWO BRAND NEW BABY DUCKS JUMPING INTO THE WATER FOR THE FIRST TIME! ‘QUACK!‘ QUACK!! MARGA… LET ME HEAR YOU QUACK! are you in tune MARGA? ‘QUACK!’ ‘QUACK!”

    “STOP IT! JON. YOU’RE SUCH A DREAMER.”

    “SAY WHAT, DEAR?”

    GRACIOUSLY SPEAKING, MARGA COULD OFTEN see UNSEEN FORCES MOVING THRU JON, WITH THOSE FORCES LEADING HIM TO PARTS AND PIECES OF A ‘LIFESIZE PUZZLE’ WITH EACH  PIECE RIGHTLY REPROVing SOME TRUTH IN GOD. THERE WAS NO STOPPING HIM. HIS SENCE OF DIRECTION WAS FULLY DEVELOPED IN HIS OWN MIND. HE COULD FEEL THE CALL AS HE TRIED TO EXPLAIN IT… EITHER PUSHING HIM, OR PULLING HIM TOWARD INTERESTING VIBRATIONS. MARGA OFTEN COMPLAINED ABOUT HOW HARD IT WAS KEEPING UP WITH JON! SO  PAPADIAZ WENT TO MEXICO AND BOUGHT MARGA A SMALL RIDING DONKEY.  IT SEEMED UNNATURAL, BUT THE LITTLE DONKEY FOLLOWED JON WHEREVER HE WENT! ONLY STOPPING TO DRINK BEER AND EAT PEANUT BUTTER AND CRACKERS! IT WAS FUNNY WATCHING MARGA RIDE INTO THE MORNING SUN…  SITTING ON TOP OF HER DONKEY, SWINGING HER TWO METAL DETECTORS… ONE IN EACH HAND, WITH HER FEET ALMOST DRAGGING THE GROUND.

     THAT SUMMER, MARGA DESIGNED A NEW GAME CHANGING PLAN! TO LINK THE ‘GROUND SEARCH’ TO THE UNIVERSITY BY LOADing A COLLECTION OF COMPUTERIZED ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT ONTO HER  DONKEY! MARGA MOUNTED a GO-PRO CAMERA ON HER HAT AND SHE OFTEN SHARED IT WITH THE DONKEY.  THE CAMERA RECORDED EVERYTHING FROM A DONKEY’S POINT OF VIEW. AND NOW IT WAS MORE FUN! FOLLOWING JON! WHO ONLY SLOWED DOWN LONG ENOUGH TO DIG… WHERE HIS VIBES’ OR HER SIGNALS… SAID ‘DIG!’

    ONE DAY MARGA SAID THE DONKEY SPOKE TO HER. JON ASKED  

    “WHAT DID SHE SAY MARGA?” SHE SAID  “ LET’S GO HOME!”  SHE SAID IT TWICE! AND AFTER SHE SAID IT, SHE LOOKED AROUND AT ME AND SHE ‘HEE-HONKED’! IT felt LIKE SHE WAS LAUGHING AT ME!”

     “MARGA… do you need a drink? ARE YOU GETTING TOO HOT? HOW ‘BOUT A ROOTBEER?”

    “JON, YOU DON’T BELIEVE ME?’ “

    “MARGA, I THINK MAYBE WE SHOULD FOLLOW HER LEAD AND HEAD FOR THE HOUSE. MARGA, WHY DON’T YOU RENAME HER ‘honky’ the TALKING donkey!”

    FROM THE RANCHHOUSE OUT BEHIND THE BARN TO THE SOUTH, THERE WAS A SMALL DUCK POND, WHERE MARGARETTA BEGAN HER FLYING CAREER. JON WAISTED NO TIME HIRING AN EXPERIENCED FLYING INSTRUCTOR TO TEACH MARGA HOW TO FLY! THE INSTRUCTOR was A RETIRED U.S. ARMY AVIATOR, A FORMER RED CROSS NURSE, AND TO TOP IT OFF! SHE WAS Hispanic! THIS CONVINCED JON… MARGA WAS DESTINED TO FLY!

    THE HELICOPTER WAS A SMALL TWO-SEATER EQUIPPED WITH SAFETY AIR BAGS, AND AN UNBREAKABLE BUBBLE FRONT, WITH TWO LARGE RUBBER PONTOONS MOUNTED ON TWO SPRING-LIKE LEGS. AT A DISTANCE, THE HELICOPTER LOOKED LIKE A GIANT BUG BUZZING THE RANCH! MARGA EVEN Looked ‘BUG-LIKE’ HERSELF IN HER BLACK CRASH HELMENT AND HER NEON GREEN AND YELLOW FLIGHT SUIT!

    FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AT THE RANCH, THE HELICOPTER JUMPED AROUND FROM FIELD TO FIELD LIKE A GIANT GRASSHOPPER! ROCKING BACK AND FORTH, AND shifting sideways… STIRRIN’ UP DUST CLOUDS LIKE TORNADOS! THEN BUZZING OFF! …LIKE A giant MOSQUITO!

    GRADUALLY AFTER A THOUSAND OR TWO HOPS AROUND THE RANCH, SHE DISCOVERED IT WAS EASIER AND A LOT cleaner TO LAND THE HELICOPTER ON THE DUCK POND. THE DUCKS didn’t mind! IN FACT, they ENJOYED RESTING ON THE BIG RUBBER PONTOONS PRUNING THEIR FEATHERS, AND TAKING THEIR NAPS. MARGA NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE DUCKS UNTIL ONE BRIGHT MORNING, SHE SLIPPED ON SOME DUCK-DOO… AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN IN THE DUCK POND! ~~~WHEN SHE CAME UP, SHE WAS SPITTING OUT GREEN WEEDS! AND DUCK FEATHERS! AND CUSSIN’ A BLUE STREAK~~   

    “OH DAMNN, O’ HELL!” YOU DON’T SAY.”

    NEAR THE END OF SUMMER, MARGA WAS FLYING THE HELICOPTER BACK AND FORTH INTO TOWN… LANDING ON TOWN LAKE.  And FROM THERE SHE WOULD JOG TO THE GROCERY STORE WITH ROSA.

    WHEN THE DUCKS WOULD HEAR MARGA RETURNING, THEY WOULD FLY OFF IN A HURRY! ~~~FLYING CIRCLES AROUND THE POND TO GET OUT OF MARGA’S WAY. IT WAS AMUSING TO SEE THE DUCKS ZOOMING IN FOR A LANDING! JUST AS SOON AS MARGA TURNED OFF THE ENGINE! THE DUCKS LOVED THE ‘CHOPPER‘. IT BECAME THEIR BIG-BROTHER! THEY WERE SAFE ON THE PONTOONS, FOR AS LONG AS MARGA AND HER BROOM WAS OUT OF SIGHT!

    JON WAS WELL PLEASED WITH MARGA THAT SUMMER. HIS LOVE FOR HER NEVER STOPPED GROWING. ON MONDAYS, SHE FLEW HIM INTO austin TO ATTEND SCHOOL. AND THEN SHE PICKED HIM UP ON FRIDAYS. ‘THE MOTHER DUCK’ BECAME THE FASTEST AND THE SAFEST WAY TO TRAVEL FOR THESE TWO REAL LIFE TREASURE HUNTERS!

     HER INSTRUCTIONS WERE: IF THE DUCK SO MUCHED AS COUGHED… SHE WAS TO SIT IT DOWN IMMEDIATELY! AND CALL FOR HELP! THE MECHANICS WOULD COME RESCUE THE SICK DUCK, AND TO TAKE MARGA HOME.

    ONE FRIDAY AFTERNOON DURING ‘SPRINGBREAK‘,’ MARGA FLEW JON OUT TO SEE A 3500 ACRE RANCH PROPERTY THAT WAS ‘FOR SALE’ IN THE HILL COUNTRY. IT WAS A QUIET, PEACEFULL PLACE FILLED WITH WILDGAME AND HUGE NATIVE PECAN TREES. MARGA LANDED THE HELICOPTER IN A SMALL CLEARING IN-BETWEEN TWO HIGH-ROCK CLIFFS ALONGSIDE A STREAM OF WATER. IT WAS A HOT AFTERNOON, SO THE FIRST THING MARGA WANTED TO DO WAS TO GO SWIMMING. THEY WERE BOTH DRYING OUT IN THE SUN ON A BIG FLAT ROCK, WHEN MARGA NOTICED A CRACK IN THE BLUFF ABOUT 65 FEET UP FROM THE WATERS EDGE. DRESSED ONLY IN HER TEE SHIRT AND TENNY SHOES, SHE INVESTIGATED AS JON WAS WATCHING FROM BELOW. THE SMALL CRACK WAS PARTLY HIDDEN WITH bush and PLANT DEBRI. MARGA CLIMBED HER WAY UP TO LOOK INTO THE CRACK. AND THEN SHE HOLLERED BACK DOWN…   

    “JON, IT’S BIGGER THAN IT LOOKS!” AND FOR A WHILE SHE DISAPPEARED FROM  VIEW. WHEN JON CALLED, SHE CLIMBED DOWN COMPLAINING OF A CHILLY-FEELING OVERCOMING HER IN THE CRACK. JON WAS LISTENING FROM BELOW, BUT he BECAME INTERESTED IN A OVERHANGING ROCK LEDGE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CREEK.

    “MARGA COME OVER HERE QUICK! I’VE FOUND SOMETHING!” MARGA SNEEZED HER WAY BACK ACROSS THE CREEK TO SEE JON POINTING STRAIGHT UP…”LOOK, MARGA! A FADED RED HANDPRINT!”

    “IT’S APACHE ALRIGHT!” MARGA SNEEZED. AND PULLED UP HER JEANS. SHE HAD SEEN ENOUGH ROCK PAINTINGS ON CAVE WALLS DURING HER TRAVELS WITH CLARA TO KNOW THAT THIS PRINT WAS AUTHENIC!

    “IT’S FOR SURE SOMEBODY STOOD UP TALL TO MAKE HIS MARK. HOW DID HE REACH UP THAT HIGH?“

    “MAYBE HE WAS STANDING ON HIS HORSE!” MARGA ADDED.

    “DAMN GIRL! YOU’RE QUICK!  I BET HIS NAME WAS…‘CHIEF STANDING ON HIS HORSE‘?” MARGA SNEEZED AGAIN.

    JON RUSHED TO THE HELICOPTER AND RETURNED WITH HIS DOWSING RODS AND HIS ELECTROSCOPE SENSOR. MARGA HAD ALREADY FOUND A FEW BROKEN PIECES OF POTTERY AND A PERFECT ARROWHEAD IN THE FIELD ACROSS FROM THE CLIFF. AND BEFORE THE SUN WENT DOWN, SHE LOCATED AN OLD COOKING MOUND THAT HAD METAL READINGS BURIED IN IT. SHE BECAME QUITE EXCITED, AND HER TREMBLING BECAME MORE EVIDIENT ON THE WALK BACK TO THE HELICOPTER.

    “MARGA, ARE YOU OKAY? YOU SEEM SORTA SHAKEY…”

    “JON, I GUESS, I’M OKAY. BUT I DO FEEL FEVERISH. MAYBE IT’S JUST THE HOT SUN AND THE COLD WATER.”

    MARGA WAS SICK ALRIGHT. SHE COULD BARELY LAND THE HELICOPTER ON THE POND. THE NOSEDIVE LANDING SCARED JON. ON IMPACT! SHE FAINTED LIFELESS! JON SCOOPED HER UP IN HIS ARMS AND RAN WITH  HER INTO THE HOUSE. HE LAID HER ON THE BED. AND THE PHONE RANG. IT WAS CLARA, INQUIRING ABOUT MARGA.

    “CLARA, CAN YOU COME OVER HERE-QUICK? MARGA IS REAL SICK! AND SHE NEVER GETS SICK! SOMETHING IS BAD WRONG!”

    “JON, I’LL BE THERE AS SOON AS I CAN! RAY IS NOT HOME YET. AND NEITHER IS JUDI. JUST KEEP HER WARM.”

    “CLARA, SHOULD I TAKE HER TO THE HOSPITAL?”

    “JON, WAIT ‘TIL I GET THERE! I’M ON MY WAY!”

    WAITING ON CLARA SEEMED FOREVER. MARGA WAS RUNNING HOT WITH FEVER, AND HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING! BY THE TIME CLARA ARRIVED, THE EMS VEHICLE WAS FOLLOWING PAPADIAZ WHO WAS RUNNING-WILDLY AHEAD TO OPEN UP THE EMERGENCY GATE LEADING STRAIGHT-out TO THE HIGHWAY. 

    AT THE HOSPITAL MARGA WAS UNCONSICIOUS. JON WAS IN SHOCK. AND CLARABELLA WAS HOLDING ONTO JON’S ARM, TRYING TO COMFORT HIM WITH WORDS AND TALES OF TIMES BEFORE…WHEN MARGA AS A CHILD WOULD OFTEN SCREAM HERSELF AWAKE DURING BAD DREAMS OF TROUBLED SLEEP. CLARA SAID MARGA ALWAYS DREAMED THE SAME DREAM 0VER, AND OVER AGAIN, ABOUT A GOLD COIN SPINNING AROUND HER HEAD… SPINNING FASTER, AND FASTER, UNTIL THE ROAR OF A LOCOMOTIVE TRAIN WOULD BECOME LOUDER AND LOUDER… UNTIL SHE WOULD WAKE UP SCREAMING “THE TRAIN IS COMING! THE TRAIN IS COMING!” UNTIL JUDI AND I COULD STAND IT NO LONGER. SOMETIMES SHE WOULD CRY HERSELF back to sleep HOLDING A PILLOW TO HER EARS TO KEEP THE DEAFNING SOUNDS OF A STEAM LOCOMOTIVE OUT!” JON AND CLARA, THEY PRAYED.

     ”JON, MARGA WILL BE ALRIGHT. I JUST KNOW IT. YOU’LL SEE…”

    THE NEXT MORNING, JON WAS OPENING UP THE OUTSIDE WINDOW… SO MARGA COULD HEAR THE BIRDS SINGING IN THE TREES NEXT TO THE BUILDING.

    “MARGA, ARE YOU FEELING OKAY? ARE YOU FEELING Good ENOUGH TO GO HOME? IT’S BEEN AN EMOTIONAL NIGHT FOR ME. DO YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING?”

    “NO-JON…WHAT HAPPENED? I‘M HUNGRY.” MARGA STARTED TO GET OUT OF BED.

    “NOW WAIT A MINUTE YOU TWO!” CLARA SAID. “THE DOCTOR WILL BE HERE IN A MINUTE!”

    “CLARA, WHAT HAPPENED?” JUDI ASKED. “DID MARGA JUST HAVE ANOTHER BAD DREAM?”

    “SHE HAD A HIGH FEVER.” A DOCTOR ENTERED THE ROOM AND RAN EVERYONE OUT WHILE HE CHECKED THE ROUTINE CHARTS.

    “SHE’S FREE TO GO. EVERYTHING SEEMS NORMAL, JUST AS SOON AS SHE PAYS MY FEE. SET UP AN OTHER APPOINTMENT MARGA. AND GET SOME REST!” 

    STRAIGHT-UP 12 O’CLOCK NOON, BACK AT THE GATE HOUSE, EVERYone WAS AT THE DINNER TABLE EATING FRIED CHICKEN, WITH MASHED POTATOES AND GRAVY… THANKING GOD, FOR MARGA’S SAFE RETURN. MARGA WAS HUNGRY! AND SO WAS JON! IT MUST HAVE BEEN ROSA’S DEVINE COOKING!

    A FEW SHORT WEEKS LATER, MARGA WANTED TO RETURN TO THE CLIFF TO INVESTIGATE FARTHER. SHE KEPT INSISTING SHE PACK A PICNIC LUNCH, AND THEY SHOULD GAS UP THE HELICOPTER. FINALLY, JON AGREED. AND THEY LOADED UP THEIR GEAR.

    MARGA LANDED THE HELICOPTER IN THE SAME SPOT. IMMEDIATELY, SHE WALKED TO WHERE SHE COULD SEE THE CRACK IN THE BLUFF.    

    “JON, SOMETHING ‘BIG TIME’ IS BURIED IN THERE! I CAN FEEL IT!”  SHE HEADED UP TOWARD THE CRACK.

   “WAIT A MINUTE, MARGA.  IT’S PROBABLY A HOME FOR A BOBCAT!” JON LOADED HIS HANDGUN WITH BULLETS AND STRAPPED ON HIS BATTERY PAC. HE WAS ADJUSTING HIS HEADLIGHT on HIS HAT WHEN HE CAUGHT UP WITH MARGA WHO WAS ALREADY PEERING INTO THE CRACK…“LET ME GO FIRST.” HE SAID. HE TURNED ON HIS HEADLIGHT AND STOOPED DOWN TO DUCKWALK INTO THE NARROW CRACK WITH MARGA CLOSELY FOLLOWING… DUCK-WADDLEING BEHIND.

     A SHORT DISTANCE INTO THE DARKNESS, JON STOPPED. AND MARGA BUMPED HIM IN THE REAR..“WHAT’S WRONG, JON? DO YOU SEE SOMETHING?” JON SHINED HIS LIGHT DOWN INTO A SMALL HOLE THAT WAS FULL OF GLARING RED EYES AND DISTURBING GROWLS…

    “LOOKS LIKE A DEN OF RINGTAIL CATS!”

    MARGA’S HAIR STOOD STRAIGHT UP ON THE BACK OF HER NECK! AND SHE FELT A SHIFT OF COLD AIR MIXED WITH THE SMELL OF BAT-URINE. SHE COUGHED. AND THEN SHE COUGHED AGAIN.

    “MARGA, LETS GET OUT OF HERE! THIS IS PROBABLY WHAT MADE YOU SICK THE LAST TIME! DO YOU FEEL SICK?” SHE DIDN’T ANSWER. THE CRACK WAS TOO NARROW TO STAND UP TO TURN AROUND… SO THEY HAD TO BACK-OUT,  BUTT-FIRST IN A BACKWARDS-BUTT-CRAWL. THIS WASN’T JON’S FIRST TIME TO BACK OUT OF A HOLE. HE HAD BEEN IN ENOUGH CAVES IN CENTRAL TEXAS TO KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, AND WHAT TO BEWARE OF.

    “MARGA, WE’LL NEED OUR HOODED SWEATSHIRTS AND OUR BANDANNAS OUT OF THE LUGGAGE DEPARTMENT. MARGA TIED a BANDANNA ACROSS HER FACE AND PULLED THE HOODIE OVER HER HEAD. SHE PULLED THE DRAWSTRING DOWN-TIGHT. JON DID THE SAME. THEY PUT ON GLOVES,  ADJUSTED THEIR HEADLIGHTS, AND CRAWLED BACK INTO THE CRACK. AFTER WADDLEING PAST THE RINGTAILS, THE CRACK TOOK SEVERAL TURNS AND THEN DOWN, DEEPER TO WHERE THE AIR WAS COLDER! AND THE SMELL OF BATS WAS STRONGER.

    “MARGA DO YOU WANT TO GO ON? THIS ONE IS BAD-STINKY! ARE YOU SICK OF ALL THIS AMMONIA SMELL?”

    “JON, I CAN MAKE IT, KEEP GOING!” THOUSANDS OF FRIGHTENED BATS AVOIDED JON’S HEADLIGHT AND WATERED ON MARGA. FINALLY, THE BATS FLEW UP HIGHER! AND THE NARROW CRACK OPENED UP INTO A LARGE ROOM FULL OF HOLES LEADING SEVERAL WAYS…

    IN THIS AREA OF TEXAS, EVERYONE KNOWS THESE CAVES WERE COMMONLY CALLED HONEYCOMBS. TUNNELS MADE BY WATER AND EROSION FLOWING THROUGH  LIMESTONE ROCK. THIS CAVE SEEMED THE USUAL… EXCEPT FOR MARGA’S EIRY FEELING OF PARTICIPATION.

    “JON, WHERE DO WE START?”   

    “MARGA SEEING THIS STREAM OF WATER HERE, REMINDS ME OF A BOOK I READ AS A CHILD. LOOK! THE WATER COMES OUT FROM BEHIND THIS BIG ROCK! LET’S SEE IF WE CAN MOVE IT?”

    “JON, DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!”

    “LOOK MARGA, THERE’S A CRACK IN THE WALl! THE WATER IS COMING OUT FROM BACK THERE! MAYBE WE CAN DIG AROUND AND UNDER IT!”

    “STOP IT JON! THAT’S BAT CRAP IN THE WATER. DON’T TOUCH IT!”

    “MARGA, TAKE SOME PICTURES.”

    “JON, I CAN’T FIND THE CAMERA. I FEEL FAINT! LET’S GET OUT OF HERE!” JON FOUND THE CAMERA AND STARTED TAKING PICTURES.

    “JON, LET’S GO GET RAY AND CLARA! WE’LL NEED SOME HELP!” MARGA SOUNDING MORE SHAKEN IN SPEECH…

    “WELL, IF YOU INSIST DEAR. ARE YOU OKAY? I’VE GOT ENOUGH PICTURES.”

    “IT’S TOO DAMN COLD DOWN HERE! LET’S GO!” MARGA LED THE WAY BACK THRU THE HONEYCOMBS MAKING THE LEFT TURNS UNTIL SHE STOPPED AND TURNED TO LOOK AT JON… FACE TO FACE…

    “JON, I FEEL MORE AT EASE NOW. BUT FOR SOME STRANGE REASON, SOMETHING BACK THERE WAS SCARING ME!” JON LOOKED UP.  

    “MARGA,  I THINK WE HAVE JUST MADE A WRONG TURN. JON TURNED OFF HIS HEADLIGHT TO LOOK AROUND FOR LIGHT!” 

    MARGA RESPONDED. “I SEE LIGHT! BACK THERE!” JON TURNED AROUND TO SEE A DIM RAY OF LIGHT SHINING THRU THE CAVE CEILING.

     “MARGA, IT’S EASY TO GET LOST IN HERE. WE WERE GOING THE WRONG WAY!” THEY BACKTRACKED A SHORT DISTANCE.

     “YES-SIREE! I BET CLARA AND MISTER CHARLES WOULD LOVE TO EXPLORE THIS CAVE! IN FACT, THIS CAVE COULD BE A LOT OF FUN FOR EVERYBODY! MARGA, LET’S BUY THIS PLACE! “WHAT IS LIFE ANYWAY? BUT CONSTANT THOUGHTS AND MEMORIES OF THE MIND.” LET’S MAKE SOME MEMORIES! WE COULD HAVE A BIG PICNIC! AND INVITE EVERYBODY IN TOWN TO COME OUT!” JON RAMBLED ON IN CONVERSATION, IN THOUGHTS OF KEEPING MARGA’S MIND PREOCCUPIED… IN FEARING, THAT SHE MIGHT GET SICK AGAIN.   

    “MARGA? ARE YOU HEARING ME BACK THERE? WE COULD INVITE THE BOY SCOUTS TO COME BEAT ON THEIR DRUMS! AND MAYBE THE GIRL SCOUTS WOULD COME SING! AND dance! AND CLARABELLA COULD FILM THE WHOLE SHOW! JUST LIKE IT WAS A BIG INDIAN CAMP! I CAN SEE IT ALL NOW!”

    “WAIT A MINUTE JON… STOP IT!” JON STOPPED. MARGA’S HEAD BUMPED HIM IN THE REAR. “JON, I THINK WE SHOULD KEEP THIS PLACE AS OUR SECRET. FOR AT LEAST,  A LITTLE WHILE LONGER. I’M DEAD SERIOUS! THIS PLACE MAKES THE HAIR STAND UP ON THE BACK OF MY NECK! I BELIEVE SOMETHING BIG TIME IS BURIED IN HERE! I CAN FEEL IT! IN MY BONES! WE DON’T HAVE TO RUSH THINGS… DO WE?” 

    “WE BETTER RUSH THINGS TO THE BANK! I’VE ALREADY COME UP WITH A NAME. LET’S CALL THIS PLACE ‘THE BIG INDIAN CAMP.‘”

    THEY MADE IT BACK-OUT-THRU-THE-CRACK TO THE FRESH AIR ON THE OUTSIDE. AND BACK TO THE HELICOPTER.

    “HURRY UP dear! AND GET THIS COLD-DUCK MOVIN’. WE’LL COME BACK LATER, AFTER WE MAKE SOME PLANS! SOME BIG PLANS!”

    MARGA TOOK OFF FLYING THE HELICOPTER AT AN ANGLE LIKE A WAR-TIME FIGHTER PILOT! AIMING STRAIGHT TOWARD THE RANCH… Scattering A BIG FLOCK OF wild turkey’s ROOSTING IN THE TREES! 

    “WELL-THERE GOES SUPPER!” JON REMARKED.

    SIX WEEKS LATER, THE RANCH WAS BOUGHT, sold, SIGNED AND PURCHASED. MARGA WAS ADMITTING HER DISGUST OVER THE PUBLICITY OF THE SALE. SHE WAS READING THE HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OUTLOUD TO JON DURING BREAKFAST. BUT SHE STOPPED TO LISTEN TO THE FAMILIAR SOUNDS COMING DOWN THE HILL. 

    “SOMEONE’S COMING JON.”

    “IT MUST BE PAPADIAZ. HE’S TAKING SOME CALVES INTO TOWN THIS this morning TO THE SALE. TODAY IS FRIDAY? ISN’T IT?”

    “YES DEAR.” THE TRUCK PULLED UP. AND STOPPED AT THE BACK OF THE HOUSE. JON WENT TO THE BACK DOOR AND MOTIONED for PAPADIAZ TO COME ON IN.

    “MISTER JON, HAVE YOU READ THE NEWSPAPER THIS MORNING?”

    “WHY-YES DIAZ, … SORTA. COME IN. AND HAVE A CUP OF COFEE!”

    “MISTER JON, TWO YOUNG WOMEN ARE UP AT THE GATEHOUSE. THEY WANT TO KNOW IF THEY CAN TAKE SOME PICTURES OF THE SECRET CAVE THIS MORNING. WHAT SHOULD I TELL THEM?” MARGA RESPONDED 

    “WELL, NOTHING SURPRISES ME NOW!” 

    “DIAZ,  I’LL BE UP THERE IN ABOUT 30 MINUTES! IS ROSA COOKING?”

    “SI, MISTER JON. THEY LOOKED VERY HUNGRY!” PAPADIAZ SPED OFF IN HIS TRUCK CLIMBING THE HILL OUT OF THE VALLEY. MARGA ASKED.

    “WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TELL THEM, JON?”

    “I GUESS I’M GOING TO TELL THEM TO GET READY FOR A BIG PICNIC! IF IT’S OKAY WITH YOU?”

    “WELL-THERE GOES OUR ‘SKINNY-DIPPIN’ SPOT! THE ONLY ONE I EVER HAD!” MARGA FROWNED.

    “DEAR, AREN’T GIRLS SUPPOSED TO HAVE FUN?”

    JON DISCOVERED THE GIRLS HAD GOTTEN WIND OF THE cave FROM THE UNIVERSITY. SO HE GAVE THEM PERMISSION TO PHOTOGRAPH THE ENTRANCE… BUT ONLY, IF THEY AGREED TO BE BLINDFOLDED DURING THE HELICOPTER RIDE TO-AND-FROM THE SECRET LOCATION. JON LAUGHED AT HIMSELF, AS HE CONSIDERED THE MYSTERY.

    CLARABELLA ARRIVED TO FILM THE GIRLS BEING BLINDFOLDED AND ESCORTED TO THE HELICOPTER. TWO DAYS LATER, THE SECRET CAVE MADE THE LOCAL NEWS. EVERYBODY AT THE RANCH LAUGHED A LOT OF LAUGHS WATCHING THEMSELVES ON TV! SO FAR, THE MYSTERY OF ‘THE BIG INDIAN’ WAS FUN!           

    MARGA’S BIRTHDAY WAS ON THE TWENTY-SIXTH OF APRIL. AND JON’S BIRTHDAY WAS ON APRIL THE FIFTH, SO THE DECISION WAS MADE TO HAVE ‘THE BIG PICNIC’ DURING THE THREE-DAY EASTER WEEKEND!

    ALMOST IMMEDIATELY PREPARATIONS FOR THE PARTY BEGAN. A TEAM OF WILDLIFE SPECIALISTS WERE HIRED TO REmove THE BATS TO ANOTHER LOCATION BY USING two large vacuum trucks. WORK CREWS EQUIPPED WITH BULLDOZERS, TRACTORS, DUMP TRUCKS AND TRAILERS REMOVED SEVERAL TONS OF LOOSE ROCKS, AND BAT DEBRI FROM THE CRACK. THE ROAD FROM THE HIGHWAY TO THE CAVE WAS MADE WIDER TO GET TO THE BIG FIELD NEXT TO THE BLUFF. A ELECTRIC POWER LINE WAS BURIED UNDERGROUND AND A DEEP WATER WELL WAS DRILLED TO ACCOMMODATE THE PUBLIC’S FACILITIES. MARGA FOUND A LOT OF ARROWHEADS DURING ALL THE DIGGING..  EVERYBODY WAS PICKING THEM UP! A BIG STAGE WAS BUILT UP front NEAR THE CAVE ENTRANCE. AND FOOD BOOTHS WERE SET UP WITH PICNIC TABLES and chairs.    

     JON AND MARGA WERE BOTH AMAZED AT THE QUICK TRANSFORMATION OF THE PROPERTY. THE CRACK ENTRANCE TOOK ON THE SHAPE OF A LIGHTNING THUNDERBOLT, SHAPED LIKE THE THUNDERBOLTS THEY HAD WITNESSED SHOOTING FROM THE CLOUD IN NEW MEXICO. AND NOW, THE STREAM OF WATER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CRACK FLOWED STRONGER FROM THE CAVE, AS NATURAL.

    DURING THE LAST TWO WEEKS INTO THE PREPARATIONS, MARGA STARTED GETTING COLD FEET, DOUBTING HER FEELINGS, BEING CONCERNED THE PUBLIC MIGHT BE SLIGHTLY DISAPPOINTED IF THERE WAS NOTHING BUT BAT-CRAP IN THE CAVE. BUT JON RE-AFFIRMED MARGA… “HAVE faith DEAR! FOLLOW your SPIRIT! KEEP IN TOUCH!” … And WE’ll SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT! BUT Don’t YOU THINK WE SHOULD BE GETTING OURSELVES MENTALLY READY TO GIVE-UP THIS PLACE? I guess you know your secret ‘SKINNY-DIPPIN’ SPOT’ is FAST becoming a beautiful park.”    

    “JON, YOU’RE JUMPING THE GUN! I DON’T WANT TO GIVE THIS PLACE UP! YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR HEART AWAY  IF YOU COULD! BUT I’M NOT SO SURE I WOULD. I LOVE THIS SPOT! I WANT TO BUILD US A HOUSE HERE SOMEDAY. JON, DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE BOTH AGREED…  THIS RANCH WAS TO BE FOR OUR EYES ONLY?  REMEMBER THAT PROMISE WE MADE TO EACHOTHER that first day?”

    “YES, DARLING…I REMEMBER.”

    MARGA LANDED THE HELICOPTER ON THE HILL OVERLOOKING THE DUSTY VALLEY. BIG TRUCKS AND BULLDOZERS WERE ROARING UP AND DOWN THE ROADS. AND PEOPLE WERE PARADING AROUND EVERYWHERE DOING THEIR VARIOUS JOBS. JACK HAMMERS WERE POUNDING. AND SHOVELS WERE BANGING. AND SHOUTING VOICES WERE ECHOING BACK AND FORTH. NO LONGER COULD YOU HEAR THE SWEET SOUNDS OF THE INNOCENT BIRDS SINGING IN THE CLIFFS ABOVE THE DRIPPING SPRINGS OF WATER… WHERE THE WHITETAIL DEER SNEEKED THEIR DRINKS IN UNAWARES.

     A SWEET SADNESS OVERCAME JON AND MARGA THAT LAST WEEKEND BEFORE THE PARTY. THEY HAD DISTURBED ONE OF GOD’S FEW REMAINING QUIET PLACES. SILENTLY, THEY PRAYED UPON THE HILL OVERLOOKING THE BLUFF. AND FOR A MOMENT, THEIR QUIET WORLD RE-APPEARED IN THEIR MINDS ABOVE ALL THE BUSY MACHINES IN PROGRESS.

     “WELL MARGA, SHOULD WE PREPARE OURSELVES FOR THE BIG GIVEAWAY?” 

     “JON, I’LL GIVE YOU MY ANSWER ON THE DAY OF THE Picnic. RIGHT AFTER WE CHECK OUT THE CAVE. WE COULD BE WRONG. MAYBE THERE’S NOTHING BUT BAT-CRAP IN THOSE HOLES.” 

    “ARE YOU BECOMING DOUBTFUL MY DEAR?”

    jon woke marga up with a kiss, and a pulL… and then a long tug… “WAKE UP SWEET GIRL!“ MARGA WOULDN’T BUDGE. JON OPENED THE WINDOW BESIDE HER BED. WILD TURKEY GOBBLES FILLED THE AIR IN THE HAYFIELD NEXT TO THE HOUSE. IT SOUNDED LIKE A BIRDHUNTERS DREAM OF HEAVEN! SHE GRUMBLED, AND ROLLED OVER COVERING HER HEAD WITH HER PILLOW. JON MOVED ON INTO THE KITCHEN to see ROSA DRiVING UP IN HER BRAND NEW JEEP WAGONEER. SHE LOOKED AS RADIANT AS THE SUN IN HER BRIGHT ORANGE BANDANNA AND HER WHITE JUNGLE JIM HAT!

    “ARE YOU TWO INDIAN SCOUTS READY TO GO?” ROSA ASKED. 

    “THIS WILL BE MY FIRST TIME IN A SCARY CAVE FULL OF BATS!”

    “COME ON IN, ROSA. AND HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE. MISS HIGH AND MIGHTY IS NEEDING SOME MORAL SUPPORT THIS MORNING.”

    “I HEARD THAT! JON…” GROWLED MARGA. ROSA, WILL YOU CALL MY SISTERS FOR ME?”

    “WHY OF COURSE, SENORA! I WILL CALL CLARA FIRST.” ROSA WENT INTO THE BACK BEDROOM TO MAKE THE PHONE CALL IN PRIVATE. SHE RETURNED SHORTLY TO REPORT THAT JUDI WAS ALREADY AT THE PICNIC WITH HER BANDFRIENDS. AND CLARA WAS ON THE PHONE IN HER CAR.

    “WHAT’S WRONG MARGA?” WHEN MARGA HEARD CLARA’S VOICE… SHE STARTED CRYING UNCONTROLABLY…  “O CLARA…I’M NOT THAT OLD… AM I?” RIGHT AWAY ROSA WANTED TO COMFORT MARGA, BUT JON motionED ROSA TO COME ON INTO THE KITCHEN AND RELAX… KNOWING NOTHING COULD COME BETWEEN MARGA AND HER SISTERS. THIRTY MINUTES LATER… MARGA WAS DRESSED AND SMILING! AND THE THREE EXPLORERS WERE HOOVERING ABOVE THE RANCH IN THE HELICOPTER… WAVING GOOD-BY TO PAPADIAZ  ON THE GROUND.

    AT THE PICNIC ON STAGE…  ‘THE BIG INDIAN CAMP’ WAS JAM-PACKED! JUDI’S BAND FRIENDS WERE SINGING “HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!”  THERE WAS A LINE OF CARS COMING DOWN THE HILLSIDE AS FAR AS THE EYES COULD SEE. BARBEQUE PITS WERE SMOKING. TENTS, CAMPERS, AND R.V.‘S. WERE EVERYWHERE. HAPPY PEOPLE WERE walking the roads AND CROWDING AROUND THE FOOD BOOTHS. EVERYONE SEEMED TO HAVE THEIR smart phones, CAMERAS, and FLASHLIGHTS!

    when jon walked up on stage! THE CROWD ROARED! HE GRABBED HIS GUITAR SINGING “THE SONS OF THUNDER! THAT’S WHO WE ARE!” MARGA CAME OUT DANCING LIKE A FRIGHTENED SQUAW ON HER WEDDING DAY! SHE STRUTTED the stage DRESSED IN WHITE FEATHERS, white LEATHER, AND TURQUOISE BEADS! The BOY SCOUTS WERE HAMMERing ON THEIR DRUMS! AND MOVING MARGA AROUND in slow motion… FORCING HER TO JUMP-UP! AND JUMP- IN! AND SIT ON THE NEST MADE OF STICKS AND STRAW… THAT KEPT FALLING APART! THE EGG!  WAS A BIG PLASTIC EGG! AND IT  WAS SLIPPERY! IT WAS TOO BIG AND She kept slipping ofF! EVERYONE WAS LAUGHING! BUT SHE WAS TREMBLING! IT WAS A FUN SHOW! AT LAST! SHE SETTLED DOWN ON THE EGG! AND FLASHED HER TAIL… FEATHERS! AT THE CROWD! AND JON DID THE HONORS…

DEAR GRACIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER!

    THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE!

AND thE BLESSINGS UPON THIS TABLE.

THANK YOU GOD FOR THIS DAY TO PRAY

TO BE HAPPY! AND TO ENJOY THE FULLNESS OF LIFE.

FOR THIS WE ARE ETERNALLY grateFULL!”

    AFTER THE AMEN’S! judi’s band got loud! EVERYONE WAS clapping their hands!  stomping their feet! AND SINGING the old songs! ‘deep in the heart of texas’! AND ‘THE EYES OF TEXAS ARE UPON YOU’! AND ‘GOD BLESS TEXAS’

     AFTER DINNER, JON EXPLAINED TO THE GUESTS OF NOT KNOWING WHAT THE CONTENTS OF THE CAVE MAY REVEAL, IF ANYTHING. HE EXPLAINED FURTHER AFTER EXCAVATING THE ENTRANCE TO THE CAVE, HOW THE OPENING TO THE CAVE ITSELF HAD AMAZINGLY TAKEN ON THE APPEARANCE OF A GIANT LIGHTNING THUNDERBOLT! SIXTY-FIVE FEET BELOW THE ORIGINAL OPENING WHERE MARGA FIRST ENTERED THE CRACK alone IN HER TEE SHIRT AND TENNYSHOES! HE   continued to say IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE THE CRACK BEING RESTORED AS NATURAL AT GROUND LEVEL WITH THE STREAM FLOWING STRONGER! AND CLEANER! HE EXPLAINED TO EVERYONE THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO FOLLOW HIS EVERY MOVE BY SMART PHONE AND WATCHING THE BIG SCREEN TV-SETUP ON STAGE. WITH the internet, EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE the TOUR WITH HIM just AS SOON AS MARGA GIVES ‘THE ALL-CLEAR SIGNAL.‘ JON LOOKED OVER AT CLARA…  SHE POINTED TOWARD THE SCOUTS! AND THE DRUMS BEGAN BEATING! LIKE A BIG HEART! THEN CLARA LOOKED OVER at marga! AND Marga, LIFTED HER HANDS HIGH IN THE AIR! the girl scouts started SHAKING THEIR FEATHERS! AND Ringing their bells! AND SOON THE MOOD WAS SET! JON GOT UP FROM THE TABLE. HIS EVERY STEP MARKED BY DRUMBEATS! AND HANDCLAPS! EVERYONE WAS LAUGHING! AND HAVING FUN! Especially jon!

    THE CAMERA TEAM FOLLOWED JON WADING THRU THE WATER, GOING THRU THE TURNS, HEADING-STRAIGHT TOWARD THE BIG ROCK HIDING THE CRACK IN THE WALL. IT TOOK SIX MEN FORTY-FIVE MINUTES TO SLIDE THE BIG ROCK OUT OF THE WAY. SEVERAL PIECES OF HYDRAULIC EQIPMENT HAD TO BE PACKED IN.

    EVERYBODY WAS PEERING INTO THE CRACK As JON WADED-IN.  SHORTLY HE STOPPED. THE CAMERAS AND LIGHTS FOCUSED ON HIM. HE WAS POINTING TO A RED HANDPRINT, WITH SEVERAL MORE drawings on the side walls, MARKING several DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. THIS BEGAN TO FRIGHTEN MARGA! HER FEARS INTENSIFIED THE CROWD. THE CAMERAS FOLLOWED JON LEAVING THE STREAM OF WATER  ENTERING ALONE into a dry passageway.

    IT SEEMED he was there FOREVER. WHEN HE CAME OUT,  HE WAS  HOLDING HIS HEART! AND STAGGERING! STRAIGHT PAST THE CAMERA CREW WITHOUT SAYING A Word… almost running to the stage outside… straight towArd marga! HE WAS AS PALE A GHOST! EVERYONE SENSED SOMETHING HAD GONE WRONG! CLARAbella THOUGHT TO STOP THE FILMING, BUT NO-ONE MADE THE ATTEMPT TO MOVE. JON DEManded.

     “MARGA! ON YOUR KNEES!” THE TWO DROPPED TO THEIR KNEES IN PRAYER!. HE OPENED HIS VEST JACKET AND HELD up A LARGE GOLD Cross! shining GOLD IN THE SUNLIGHT! THE WIRELESS MICS PICKED UP THEIR VERY WORDS…“YOU WERE RIGHT MARGA! SOMETHING ‘big-time IS IN THEre!’” MARGA CRYEd “WHAT IS IT JON?

    “HAVE MERCY ON US DEAR LORD!” THEIR WEEPING SPREAD THRU THE CROWD LIKE A FOREST FIRE! AS ALMOST EVERYONE WAS BROUGHT TO TEARS! FOR SOME IT WAS A god-like experience!

    INSIDE THE CAVE HIDDEN IN THE MOST EXTRAVAGANT BURIAL CHAMBER EVER DISCOVERED IN TEXAS! A TREASURE WHICH ONLY DREAMS COULD REVEAL! WITHOUT EXPLAINING ANY FARTHER, THE CAMERAS FOLLOWED JON AND MARGA BACK INTO THE CAVE WITH A LONG LINE OF ONLOOKERS TO WITNESS THE DISCOVERY OF SIXTY-FOUR NATIVE AMERICANS WHOSE BODIES WERE LINING THE PAINTED WALLS IN THE CRACK.

    THE PARTY ON THE OUTSIDE TOOK AN AMAZING CO-OPERATIVE ALL FOR ONE SPIRIT, AS THE CAMERAS REVEALED ALMOST EVERY  MUMMIFIED BODY POSSESSED SOME PRICELESS ARTIFACT! ECHOES OF EXCITEMENT COULD BE HEARD! ALL OVER THE VALLEY! THE CAMERAS FOLLOWED JON’s LEAD TO A HIGHER PLATEAU ON THE EASTSIDE WALL, WHERE ON TOP OF A FLAT ROCK THAT LOOKED LIKE A BIG stone TABLE! lay THE BODY OF ‘A GREAT SPIRIT’ BOUND AND TIGHTLY Wrapped in SEVERAL WHITE buffalo hideS! BENEATH THE STONE TABLE WAS A LARGE WOODEN CHEST! FULL OF OLD MAPS, AND TREATY DOCUMENTS…  EXPOSING THE WORLD TO THE LIFELINE OF THE CHIEF. AND THE DESIRES OF HIS HEART TO BE EXPRESSED IN THE AFTERlife! AS WAS DOCUMENTED. BESIDE THE CHEST WAS A WOODEN bullet box full of gold COINs! MARGA COULD HEAR THE ROAR! OF THE CROWD! ON THE OUTSIDE! WHEN THE LIGHTS AND CAMERAS FOCUSED ON THE GOLD! ON THE WEST SIDE WALL THERE WAS GOLD BARS STACKED SIX FEET HIGH! SOME DATING EARLY SPAINISH. OTHERS datING THE CIVIL WAR ERA… BOTH UNION AND CONFEDERATE.

     IN A CASKET CARVED FROM A HOLLOWED SWEETGUM TREE WAS THE BODY OF A U.S. ARMY BUFFALO SOLDIER IN FULL UNIFORM. A LEATHER FOLDER CONTAINING FIVE UNOPENED LETTERS LAY UPON HIM. AS WAS DISCOVERED LATER BY THE LAB. THESE LETTERS WERE STAINED WITH BLOOD. MARGA FASHIONED… “HE MUST HAVE BEEN MAILING THOSE LETTERS BACK HOME WHEN THE INDIANS GOT HIM!” .

     THE HOLES IN THE WALLS OF THE CAVE LOOKED LIKE STORAGE SHELVES! FILLED WITH COPPER BARS. AND BARS OF LEAD. THERE WAS SWORDS, ARMOR, AND CHINESE HANDGUNS! THERE WAS GUNPOWDER. AND PILES OF CANNON BALLS. THERE WAS seven PAIRS OF U.S.CALVARY BOOTS FILLED WITH  BUFFALO BULLETS, METEROITES, AND TURQUOISE.

    THERE WAS decorated POTTERY DATING BACK TO PRE-COLUMBIAN TIMES; IN LARGER JARS WERE THE DRIED REMAINS OF INFANT CHILDREN THAT HAD BEEN WRAPPED IN DEERSKINS AND DECORATED WITH SYMBOLS AND SIGNS. SOME CHILDREN WERE ENTOMBED WITH SMALL PETS AND TOYS. SEVERAL DEERSKINS WERE DECORATED MAPS TO SHOW WHERE OTHER BURIALS WERE HIDDEN. IN LESSER JARS, THERE WAS buttons, BONES, AND TEETH. With EACH BUTTON IMPLYING SOME MYSTERY OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO THE ORIGINAL OWNERS.

    A U.S. MILITARY WAGON WITH RIFLES AND AMMUNITION WAS COVERED BENEATH BUFFALO HIDES. AND AFTER CONSIDERING THE SIZE OF THE WAGON, IT WAS BELIEVED THAT THE WAGON WAS DISMANTLED ON THE OUTSIDe. AND THEn RECONSTRUCTED ON THE INSIDE. But Jon suspicionED there must BE another entrance to the cave.

    LATER THE LAB DISCOVERED THROUGH DNA TESTS, THAT THE MUMMIFIED BODIES OF THE DECEASED WERE ALL LAID TO REST IN GENEOLOGICAL ORDER… WITH FAMILIES BEING GROUPED TOGETHER. MOST OF THE WOMEN WERE WRAPPED IN GRASSMATTING, SOME STILL-HOLDING ONTO THEIR SMALL CHILDREN.

     THE MOST AMAZING PART OF THis DISCOVERY WAS IN THE LOWER RECESS OF THE CAVE WHERE THE SKELETON OF A GIANT HUMAN BEING WITH DOUBLE ROWS OF TEETH WAS ENCASED IN an adobe brick wall WITH THE BODY OF A SMALL ASIAN MAN…WHO SEEMED ALMOST RECONIZABLE! AROUND HIS NECK WAS A GOLD CHAIN ATTACHED TO A GREEN JADE BUDDA. AND ABOVE HIM DRIVEN INTO THE ROCK WALL WAS A RAILROAD SPIKE THAT HAD A WHALE-OIL LANTERN HANGING ON IT.  AND BESIDE HIM ON THE FLOOR …LAY a harpoon spear from a whaleship. Marga fashioned. “HE MUST HAVE BOXED HIMSELF IN WITH THOSE GIANT BONES! BEFORE HE RAN OUT OF AIR!”

    JON openly praised god! THIS WAS THE WILL OF HIS LIFE! HE HAD UNEARTHED HIMSELF! GOD HAD RETURNED HIM TO INHERIT THE BODY OF HIS ANCESTORIAL GRANDFATHER! As was proven by dna. JON WAS A CHANGED MAN. NO LONGER WAS HE THE UNKNOWN RANCHHAND FROM TEXAS! MARGA WAS BEQUIETED… BOTH BECOMING VERY HUMBLED BY THE EXPERIENCE.            

    GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS OF WHAT TO DO WITH THE DISCOVERY HAD ALREADY BEEN PLANNED, AND FORESEEN BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LONE BUFFALO…  A whitemountain APACHE NAMED JOHNNY WHITEAGLE… ORIGINS FROM THE PONCAWA TRIBE ENTOMBED WITH  HIS kickapoo APACHE WIFE and her family. THE TREASURE WAS INTENDED TO SAVE A GREAT NATION IN TIMES OF TROUBLE.

    JON MADE SURE THE PUBLIC, AND THE WORLD, UNDERSTOOD THE COMPLEXITY OF THE DISCOVERY, AND THE ENORMUS BURDEN OF WORK IT INVOLVED… CONSIDERING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DESIRES OF THE DECEASED TO BE AT PEACE WITH GOD.

    INSTANTLY, THE WORLD WAS CHANGED FOR A MOMENT! EVERYONE LAY CLAIMS TO THE TREASURE! SEVERAL TRIBES OF NATIVE AMERICANS CLAIMED ANCESTORIAL RIGHTS TO THE CONTENTS OF THE CAVE BUT FORTUNATELY, FOR THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS, THE CONTENTS OF THE CAVE BELONGED TO jon and MARGARETTA ALL RIGHTS GRANTED BY CLEAR TITTLE TO THE PROPERTY. THEY MADE SURE THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS KNEW THAT THEY OWNED THE CONTENTS OF THE CAVE. AND WITH MARGA’S GALLIANT PERMISSION, THE TREASURE AND THE LAND WAS ALL DONATED TO THE STATE OF TEXAS! THE CAVE WAS TO BE RESEALED AFTER IT WAS RE-CONSTRUCTED INTO ‘THE MUSEUM OF THE LIVING‘. THIS ONSITE MUSEUM WAS TO BE BUILT WHERE THE PUBLIC COULD WALK THROUGH THE MOUNTAIN HILLSIDE IN STEEL AND GLASS TUNNELS, MARVELING AT THE REMAINING ARTIFACTS. THE BODIES OF THE DECEASED WERE TO BE REBURIED INTACT, IN UNDISTURBED ORDER, AFTER THE RELEASE OF THE ARCHEOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS.

    SEVERAL MONTHS LATER AT THE RANCH, MARGA BEGAN HAVING A RE-OCCURRING DREAM. SHE SCREAMED OF A BLACKFACED NATIVE AMERICAN WOMAN DANCING AROUND HER BED, SHAKING A WHITE GOURD RATTLE VIOLENTLY OVER HER… COMMANDING HER TO TAKE THE BONES OF THE TWO LOVERS FOUND ALONGSIDE THE BRAZOS RIVER TO THE CAVE! AND PLACE THEM AT THE CHIEF’S FEET. THERE SHE WAS TO SING THIS SONG OF WHICH THE WORDS AND THE MELODY WAS STRANGELY TAUGHT TO HER IN HER TRANSFIXED STATE OF MIND. JON TOOK THE FRIGHTENING DREAM AS SERIOUS. AND IMMEDIATELY, MADE THE ARRANGEMENTS TO DO THE WILL OF THE DREAM. SEVERAL TRIBES OF NATIVE AMERICANS ATTENDED THE CEREMONY, AND PEACE WAS ADDED TO THEIR MINDS.

     THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND THE STATE OF TEXAS  HONORED THESE TWO STATE ARCHAEOLOGISTS MANY TIMES. AS FOR NOW, THE WORLD LOVED JON AND MARGA. AND WITH CLARABELLA’S FILMS, AND JUDIPANNELLA’S BAND, THEY ALL BECAME QUITE A COLORFULL AND ENTERTAINING GROUP OF AMERICANS!

    JON AND MARGA’S LIFE REMAINED QUIET AT THE RANCH FOR SEVERAL YEARS UNTIL, THEY SURPRISED EVERYBODY WHEN THEY BECAME THE PARENTS OF TWO CHILDREN BY VITRO SELF-EGG FERTILIZATION IN SURROGANCY. IN OTHER WORDS, WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM THEIR FRIENDS! JON CALLED THE BOY CHILD, JON JR. AND MARGA CALLED THE GIRL CHILD, LITTLE LARUE.

     IN THEIR VISIONS OF THE FUTURE, THEY COULD SEE LITTLE EAGLES BY THE DOZENS DEPARTING ON SPACE SHIPS, BEING FULLY LOADED WITH EGGS AND SWIMMERS, BEING AS SEEDS FOR REPLANTING… TO POPULATE SEVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL WORLDS IN THE HEAVENS WHERE DWELLETH RIGHTEOUSNESS!

    AS FOR CLARABELLA, SHE ALSO RECEIVED A CHILD BY SELF-EGG FERTILIZATION IN SURROGACY. SHE NAMED THE BOY CHILD, RAY JUNIOR, AFTER HER PERFECT FIFTH HUSBAND.

    “AND WHAT OF JUDIPANNELLA?”  WELL, IT TOOK ‘JUDI DOODY’ TEN YEARS TO GUADUATE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. SHE BECAME PREGNANT TWICE. BOTH TIMES GIVING NATURAL CHILD BIRTH TO TWO LITTLE DRUM BEATERS! LITTLE EVA! AND MISS VICKY! FINALLY, SHE SURPRISED EVERYBODY! WHEN SHE MARRIED THEIR FATHER, AN ELVIS IMPERSONATOR!

NATURALLY, GOD WAS SMILING ON TEXAS!

WHAT A PECULIAR PEOPLE WHO LIVED THERE!

SO LET IT BE TRUE!

THE MAKE-BELIEVE STORY OF DOCTOR JONFU!

STORIES OF NO END

WHERE LOVE REBUILDS EVERYONES LIFE

DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS…