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BY DEATH…

    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 AGAIN, AFTER PASSING THIRTY YEARS OF RANCHING… BECAME HIS SELF-POSSESSED, SLOW-MOVING DREAM THAT GREW STRONGER, AS HE GREW OLDER… HIMSELF 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 LOOK INSIDE YOUR HEART  ON THIS JOURNEY… AND HOPEFULLY!, YOU WILL FIND YOUR 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 CONVINCE ME OF ANYTHING! I’M YOUR BIG SISTER. REMEMBER? I’M IN THE SAME BOAT AS YOU ARE…SO GO ON, GO BACK TO SCHOOL! BEFORE YOUR BOAT BEGINS TO SINK! WHATEVER THE CASE, GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER! I’VE GOT MY OWN 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, AND EVERYTHING. 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, AND SAID, “BUT FIRST, I’M GOING TO LOSE ABOUT THIRTY 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! I ALMOST FORGOT! THERE’S ONE OTHER THING… LAST NIGHT, ON-LINE, I HIRED A PROFESSIONAL TUTOR FROM TEXAS TO COME HELP ME PREPARE. SHE WILL BE HERE AT 9AM. NEXT MONDAY. CLARA, CAN YOU HAVE SOMEONE PICK HER UP AT THE AIRPORT? ASK JUDI. MAYBE SHE CAN STAY IN HER ROOM FOR A FEW WEEKS? AND CLARA… CALL THE BANK! I’LL NEED A RENT HOUSE IN AUSTIN, AND A NEW CAR.  I WANT A BRAND NEW SNOWWHITE MUSTANG 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 GOING TO BE 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, AND TIED HER SYSTEM IN A TIGHT KNOT. SHE WAS SCREAMING NOW ON THE INSIDE… BREATHING HARD, HER LUNGS GASPING FOR AIR… OVER, AND OVER AGAIN, SHE PUSHED HARD… LIKE A WOMAN… AS SUDDENLY, THE MUSIC STOPPED. HER FITNESS INSTRUCTOR CRIED 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. SHE HELD HER BREATH. SHE LIFTED HER HEAD, AND OPENED HER EYES TO SEE THE BIG RED NUMBERS…135 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 QUIETLY THINKING…“BOY! IF HE ONLY KNEW…”

     LATER BACK AT THE OFFICE, CLARABELLA SHOUTED OUT…

    ”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 LEANED ON THE DOOR FACING, AND STARING OUT INTO THE HALL… THRU THE MAZE OF HUMAN BODIES, AS IF WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN… 

    “WHERE IS MARGA?” SHE MUMBLED IN THOUGHT… BY NOW, SHE SHOULD KNOW 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, AND BEATING ON HER DRUMS… 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 HAPPILY 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 FOR A MOMENT, PUSHING HERSELF THRU THE DOOR CARRYING TWO LARGE WHITE BOXES BENDING ON BOTH ENDS. SHE WAS TRYING TO WALK AND TALK AT THE SAME TIME, WHILE CHEWING ON AN ENVELOPE HELD BETWEEN HER TEETH. SHE SPIT IT OUT…“HELP YA’LL! I GOT SOME LOVE! COME AND GIT IT!” MARGA LANDED THE TWO WHITE BOXES ON CLARA’S DESK. 

    “CONGRADULATIONS ARE NOW IN ORDER! I AM NOW A TEXAS COED! IT‘S PARTY TIME! SOMEBODY HOLD THE FRONT DOOR OPEN!” TWO GIRLS IN WHITE COWBOY HATS ENTERED THE MAIN OFFICE PUSHING TWO CARTS. ONE WAS FULL OF LONESTAR BEER!  MARGA SHOUTED

    “LOOK WE’VE GOT RED, WHITE AND BLUE COOKIES SHAPED LIKE TEXAS! WITH GREEN CUPCAKES AND CHOCOLATE COW-PATTIES!  AND PIZZA’S!

    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 WERE GOING THRU THE DOOR LIKE A HERD OF BUFFALO GOING OVER THE CLIFFS! CLARA TRIED TO PUSH HER WAY THRU… BUT FAILED! MADLY! SHE CLIMBED UP  ON THE BIG MAILBOY WHO WAS GOING DOWN STUFFING COOKIES IN HIS MOUTH! SHE GRABBED HIM BY HIS SHIRT COLLAR AND MOUNTED HIM LIKE A COWBOY! HE GRUNTED! AND STARTED BUCKIN’ AND SPINNIN’ LIKE A WILD BRONC! AND FOR A FEW SECONDS, CLARA TWISTED AND TURNED LIKE A RODEO STAR! UNTIL SHE BUCKED OFF… LANDING ON HER FEET LIKE A PROFESSIONAL, PLANTING BOTH HANDS ON HER DESK ‘SECRETARY STYLE’ AND ‘BUTT-SLAMMING’ THE BIG MAILBOY BACK AGAINST THE WAL L… KICKING AT HIM WITH ONE FOOT! AND THEN THE OTHER! SHE WAS IN GREAT SHAPE! IT TURNED HER ON! SHE COULDN’T STOP!  WHEN HE REARED-UP HIS HEAD AND PAWED THE AIR WITH HIS HOOVES… SHE BUTT-SLAMMED HIM AGAIN! THIS TIME HE SQUEALED! AND HE WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR EXAUSTED! CLARABELLA STEPPED-UP ON HIS CHEST WITH ONE FOOT TO ‘SLAMM’ HOME THE VICTORY! AND THAT’S WHEN 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. THE CROWD STARTED CHEERING AND BURST OUT LAUGHING! AND HE 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’M 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!  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’ HOME FOR THE RANCH RIGHT NOW, INSTEAD OF PICKING UP ON ALL THESE BAD VIBES…

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

     “HOLD UP A MINUTE JON.” 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…

    “FORGET ABOUT THE DAMN MONEY! YOU’RE GOOD ENOUGH! GOD KNOWS YOU…YOU’RE GOOD ENOUGH! AND YOU ARE SOMEBODY IN LUCKENBACK! THIS COULD BE YOUR LAST CHANCE TO MAKE IT RIGHT… SO JUST TRY TO ACT NORMAL LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE!”

    “OR ELSE WHAT?” INSTINCTLY, JON 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 SMILING A BIT TOO BIG! AS TWO ORIENTIAL BUNNY TYPES STROLLED BY LOOKING A BIT SHY, BUT SMILING BACK! HE TOOK A DOUBLE CHECK! AND HE 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 WAS HANDED A PAPER ANNOUNCEMENT.

    “SORRY MISTER” WAS ALL HE COULD SAY. HE MOVED TO THE BACK OF THE SIDEWALK TO READ THE ANNOUNCEMENT “FREE BEER FOR ALL STUDENTS WITH AN I.D. CARD! COWBOYS LIVE LONGER! 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 HERE ON ‘THE DRAG!” THE MAN SAID.  JON QUESTIONED? 

    “WHERE? I GUESS I’M LOOKING FOR THIS PLACE.”

    “OH I SEE! YOU’RE LOOKIN’ FOR ‘THE COWBOY PALACE’! THEY’VE GOT THE BIGGEST HAMBURGERS IN TOWN. AND THE COLDEST BEER IN TEXAS! I‘M GOING THERE MYSELF RIGHT NOW. ARE YOU READY TO GO TO LUNCH?”

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

    “WELL, ‘THE PALACE’ IS DOWN-THERE AT THE TOP OF THAT RISE.” THE MAN POINTED TO A LONG-SLOW-UP-LIFTING HILL LOOMING DOWN THE STREET.  INSTINCTLY, JON FELT THIS MAN NEEDS HELP. HE MIGHT NEED A LITTLE PUSH GETTING THERE HIMSELF. SO HE REPLIED.

    ”WHY SURE! LET’S GO! I’M HUNGRY!  I JUST HOPE MY TRUCK DOES’NT GET TOWED OFF DURING THE NOON HOUR.”

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

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

    “OH, IT’LL BE SAFE! 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 TO STEER HIMSELF FORWARD. JON ATTEMPTED TO HELP. BUT THE MAN POLITELY REPLIED…

    “THANK‘S! BUT I CAN HANDLE IT, MYSELF.” JON FOLLOWED ALONG BEHIND HIM AS THE MAN PUSHED HIS WHEELCHAIR THROUGH THE FLOW OF THE CROWD. JON NOTICED MOST OF THE STUDENTS WERE COURTEOUS, AND POLITE, AND THEY GAVE THE WHEELCHAIR PLENTY OF ROOM TO PASS. BUT UP NEAR 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! AND I’VE GOT TO TAKE A BREATHER.” HE SMILED. AND JON 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!  MY DESIRES SEEM TO GET THE BEST OF ME!” HE LOOKED TO THE SIDE AT JON… “O’ PARDON ME… ARE YOU FROM TEXAS?”

    “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 A PSYSIC OR SOMETHING. HEY!, MAYBE, I AM TOO! LET ME GUESS… THAT COWBOY HAT TELLS ME YOU LIVE ON A BIG RANCH  SOMEWHERE… SOMEWHERE NEAR 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 GOVERNOR OF TEXAS OWNS THIS ‘BEER JOINT’ AND THE BULLSHIT STICKS LIKE GLUE IN HERE… GETS PURTY DEEP!  RUMORS… HAVE IT, IF YOU FLUSH-TWICE… YOUR VOTE WILL REACH THE WHITEHOUSE! GOVERNOR PERRY INHERITED IT FROM  GOVERNOR ANN. AND THEN GOVERNOR BUSH PASSED IT ON TO GOVERNOR GREG. GREG… WHAT’S HIS NAME?”  IN QUESTION,  JON REACHED TO PUSH THE BIG SWINGIN’ GREEN DOORS OPEN. AND JERRY WHEELED HIMSELF ON IN. THE  BARTENDER LOOKED UP FROM A TABLE     

    “WELL LOOKEE HERE, EVERYBODY! THAT ROCKER IN THE ROLLING MACHINE HAS COME BACK!!! PEOPLE! GIVE HIM SOME ROOM! HE NEEDS SPACE! LOTS OF SPACE! LOOK AT ALL THAT SPACE BETWEEN HIS EARS?” SEVERAL LOCALS AT THE BAR TURNED, AND SMILED IN THEIR DIRECTION. JERRY NODDED, AND SORTA SMILED BACK. HE WAS LOOKING A BIT EMBARRASSED WHEN HE SAID  ”JON, LET’S GO BACK-THERE… OVER-THERE, BACK-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. A FEW COEDS WERE MINGLING AROUND DRINKING BEER… CHATTERING AMONGST THEMSELVES…

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

    “JERRY, THIS BEERJOINT HAS BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE…IT’S REALLY AN ‘OLD BONE!’  DO YOU THINK THEY MIGHT HAVE SOME VINTAGE BEER? OUT-BACK SOMEWHERE? LAST YEAR, I FOUND A CASE OF FORTY-YEAR OLD ‘BILLY BEER’ AT A DANCE HALL IN LONDON TEXAS. VERY COLLECTABLE!”

    “I GUESS THIS MEANS YOU DRINK OLD BEER!” JERRY TURNED AND HOLLERED AT THE BARTENDER…“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!”  

   “JERRY, ONCE UPON A TIME, I BET THIS WAS A FUN PLACE TO PIC’ A GIT-TAR! THE STAGE IS IN THE PERFECT CENTER OF THE ROOM. I‘M PICKIN‘ UP ON SOME GOOD VIBES…”   

   “YEE-HA! 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 ACTIN’ SORTA FRIENDLY! AND LOOKIN‘ GOOD!” 

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

     ABOUT AN HOUR LATER… AT A TABLE FULL OF EMPTY BEER BOTTLES… JERRY SIGNALED TO THE BARTENDER, AND THE BARTENDER CAME OVER AND WITHOUT QUESTION, WHEELED JERRY TOWARD THE MEN’S ROOM.  IN PASSING, JERRY MADE A GRAB FOR ONE OF THE COED’S AT A NEARBY TABLE. HE WAS TRYING TO GET A HUG WHEN THE BARTENDER PULLED HIM BACK. JON CONSIDERED… WHEN HE GETS BACK, I’M GOING TO ASK HIM HOW HIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED. SURELY HE MUST HEAR THE SAME QUESTION ASKED OFTEN BY EVERYONE WHO FEELS  CONCERN. 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  HOMEMADE WINE!”

    “WELL, YOU COULD HAVE FOOLED ME!” JERRY LIFTED UP HIS BEER BOTTLE AND GLANCED OVER AT THE NEAR-BY TABLE FULL OF COEDS.

    “GIRLS!” HE SHOUTED…“I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT A TOAST! HERE’S TO ALL THE WINEO’S FROM ‘BIGBALLS!’” HE HELD UP HIS BEER BOTTLE AND TOOK A QUICK SIP! …OF HOT BEER… IT FOAMED! AND SPEWED ALL OVER THE PLACE! JERRY LOOKED AS IF HE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO! HE WAS WIGGLING AROUND SPRAYING EVERYTHING AND EVERYBODY! THE GIRLS STARTED ROARING WITH LAUGHTER! FINALLY, HE PUT THE BEER BETWEEN HIS LEGS TILL IT RAN OUT OF GAS. IT LOOKED LIKE HE WET HIS KHAKI PANTS. HE WAS GIGGLING AT HIMSELF, WIPING HIS FACE WITH A NAPKIN… “BOY! THAT WAS AN EXPLODIN’ ONE! I MUST BE GITTIN’ DRUNK! MY FACE IS STARTING TO HURT! AND THIS SMILE WON’T GO AWAY! WE BETTER GET SOMETHING TO EAT,  AND GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE… BEFORE THE COPS COME!”

    “JERRY,  ORDER US SOMETHING.” JERRY TURNED, AND HOLLERED… ”JOHNNY, SEND US TWO DOUBLES, TWO ORDERS, AND TWO SURPRISES… WITH A MOP!”

    “WHAT’S THE SURPRISES, JERRY?”

    “WHY… IT’S, TWO MORE EXPLODIN’LONESTARS! WHAT ELSE?”

IN NORMAL CONVERSATION DURING LUNCH, JON ASKED…

    “HOW DID IT HAPPEN?” JERRY RESPONDED. “JON, MY ACCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL. I WAS SWINGING LIKE A MONKEY ON A TARZAN SWING OVERLOOKING A 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 UP 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, THE GIRLS STARTED SCREAMING! AND MY BUDDIES JUMPED IN TO SAVE ME! MY HEAD WAS 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 EVERDAY 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 WORLD ABOUT THE DANGERS OF DIVING!

     SINCE MY ACCIDENT, I’VE MET TWO MORE PEOPLE 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 JUNIOR HIGHS AND HIGH SCHOOLS. 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. I THINK WE SAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE,  BUT EVEN NOW, TEN YEARS SINCE MY ACCIDENT… 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. 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 FROM BENEATH THE BEAR HUG. SHE LET HIM GO. HIS HAIR WAS ALL MESSED UP! AND HIS EYEGLASSES WERE HANGING ON HIS EARS… SIDEWAYS.

    “OF COURSE! I REMEMBER YOU! 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 SHOWING HIM AROUND A LITTLE BIT.”  SHE SMILED AND ASKED

    “ARE YOU REALLY A NEW STUDENT?”

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

    “WELL, LET’S DANCE? 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‘VE GOT TO GO.” CARRIE LOOKED OVER AT THE TABLE FULL OF COEDS…

    “YEE-HA! I KNEW IT! HE’S CHICKEN!” SHE STARTED ‘CLUCKIN! AND THEN THE OTHER GIRLS STARTED POINTIN’ AND  CLANGING THEIR BEER BOTTLES ON THE TABLE! JON GOT EMBARRASSED. HIS FACE TURNED A BRIGHT RED! IMMEDIATELY HE STARTED RETREATING AS FAST AS HE COULD. CARRIE GIGGLED.        

    “WHAT’S YOUR BIG HURRY COWBOY? I WON‘T BITE! I‘M JUST PECKING AROUND A LITTLE BIT!” JERRY SMILED, AND SAID “JON, CALL ME TOMMORROW. AND I’LL INTRODUCE YOU TO CARRIE’S MOM. SHE SINGS ‘THE BLUES’ HERE ON SATURDAY NITES! COME CHECK HER OUT! SHE’S HOT! HERE’S MY NUMBER!” JERRY PULLED OUT HIS CARD AND CARRIE GRABBED IT… PULLING JON IN-CLOSER, WHISPERING IN HIS EAR…

     “WHY DON’T YOU COME BACK SATURDAY NIGHT COWBOY, 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! I’LL BE BACK! FOR SURE!” 

    “PROMISES-PROMISES!” SHE SAID.

    “JERRY, I’LL CALL YOU!“ JON GOT UP FROM THE TABLE AND FLAPPED A ‘CHICKEN WAVE’ AT THE COEDS. TWO OF THEMM SHOT HIM THE BIRD! HE DUCKED JUST IN TIME… AS HE FLEW-OUT THE SWINGING GREEN DOORS PACKING HIS TWO CASES OF BEER… KIN-DA-SLOW-WALKIN’ DOWN THE HILL LIKE A CHICKEN… TOWARD HIS OLD BLUE TRUCK. HE LOWERED THE TAILGATE AND SLID THE TWO CASES OF BEER UP NEXT TO THE CAB. JON QUESTIONED…

    “DID YOU MISS ME…BLUE?” HE RAISED THE TAILGATE OF THE OLD TRUCK, IT SAID SOMETHING… SOUNDING LIKE A RUSTY SQUEAK~~~ AND BEFORE HE REMEMBERED IT… HE WAS BACK HOME AT THE RANCH LOOKING AT THAT HAPPY FACE IN THE BATHROOM MIRROR THAT SEEMED TO SAY OUTLOUD “HEY! YOU’RE CHICKEN! I’M NOT CHICKEN? AM I LORD?”

    EARLY THE NEXT MORNING, HE AWOKE TO HEAR THE FAMILIAR SOUNDS OF CAR TIRES ROLLING DOWN THE HILL ON CRUSHED LIMESTONE ROCKS. HE STUMBLED OUT OF BED AND 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 ROSA TO COME ON IN.

    ROSA’S SON JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND RAN FOR THE SCREEN DOOR, GRABBING THE DOOR HANDLE. JON HELD BACK ON THE DOOR SPRING TRYING TO KEEP HIM OUT. IT WAS A FUN TUG FOR A MOMENT, UNTIL THE TWIN GIRLS JOINED IN! THE CHILDREN WERE EXCITED ABOUT FINDING A BABY TURKEY. JON COULD SEE THE LITTLE TURKEY’S HEAD STICKING OUT OF THE BOY’S SHIRT. ROSA GOT OUT OF THE CAR  SCOULDING THE CHILDREN! “LET THE BABY TURKEY GO!“ THE GIRLS GRABBED AND HELD BACK THE DOOR SPRING…TRYING TO KEEP THEIR MOMMA OUT! A SERIOUS PULL AND TUG STARTED…

    “LET GO! RIGHT NOW!” ROSA DEMANDED. THE GIRLS REFUSED. IN-HARD-DRAWN SPAINISH… SHE REPEATED HERSELF… BAMMNN! THE TWINS LET THE DOORSPRING GO! 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 A MINUTE, 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… MISTER JON, BUT I NEED SOME MONEY THIS MORNING 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 A LOT OF THINGS!!”

    “OKAY! OKAY!“ JON SAID, RETREATING A BIT. “HERE’S FIFTY DOLLARS. IS THAT ENOUGH?” ROSA SMILED AND NODDED HER HEAD.  HE  REACHED INTO HIS POCKET AGAIN 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 ROAD. JON LOOKED UP TO SEE THE CHILDREN WERE STILL-WAVING ‘GOOD-BYE‘ AT THE TOP OF THE HILL… SO HE WAVED THE LAST GOOD-BYE. AND THEN HE TURNED TOWARD THE BARN TO CHECK ON HIS BIRDDOG. WHEN THE BARN DOOR SWUNG OPEN, THE OLD RED IRISH SETTER WITH THE GREY WHISKERS SLOWLY LOOKED UP FROM HIS BED… AND BARELY WAGGED HIS TAIL. HIS 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 GIT YOU?” THE OLD DOG SEEMED TO KNOW WHAT JON WAS SAYING. HE TURNED HIS HEAD 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, JON RETURNED INTO THE HOUSE TO CALL THE VETERNARIAN IN TOWN…

    “HELLO CAROL, THIS IS JON. I’M CALLING ABOUT ‘BIG RED‘. LAST WEEK, HE JUMPED OFF THE TAILGATE OF MY TRUCK, AND I HEARD HIM YELP! I THINK HE MAY HAVE TWISTED HIS LEG AT THE KNEE. HE IS IN REAL 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 QUESTIONED.

   “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 ABOUT 6 O’CLOCK. THE VISIT WILL BE FREE… IF ROSA IS COOKING!”

    “CAROL, THAT WOULD BE PERFECT! I’LL TELL ROSA TO COOK YOU  UP 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?” LITTLE DIAZ ASKED. JON LOOKED OVER AT CAROL, AND HESITATED TO SPEAK. THE TWINS LOOKED MORNFULL AT EACHOTHER. ONE OF THE GIRLS ASKED…“WILL HE LIVE MISTER JON?” JON PATTED HER ON THE HEAD SOFTLY, WHILE THE OTHER 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 HURRY. AND 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 JON WITH HIS HANDS, “HOW MUCH?” HE BARTERED.

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

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

    “WELL, I HOPE BIG RED MAKES IT TO 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 AHEAD. 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! I’LL BE UP THERE IN A MINUTE! I‘VE GOT TO TAKE A QUICK SHOWER.”

    THE GATEHOUSE WAS A THREE BEDROOM, TWO BATH, STONE HOUSE  WITH A DRIVE-THRU-BREEZEWAY. JON HAD THE HOUSE BUILT SO HE COULD PRIVATELY ENTER THE RANCH SECRETLY FROM THE HIGHWAY.  IT WAS ROSA’S JOB TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS PLENTY OF FOOD ON HAND 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. AND AFTER CONSIDERING THE NEEDS OF ROSA’S FAMILY, JON AGREED TO CONTINUE TO DO THE RANCH WORK BY HIMSELF UNTIL HER HUSBAND COULD RETURN. IN HIS HEART, HE BELIEVED EVERYTHING WOULD TURN OUT FOR BETTER… 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!”

    “O’ THANK YOU MISTER JON. BUT I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO DRINK YOUR SUPPER THIS EVENING?” ROSA GLANCED UP AT THE BOTTLE OF WHISKEY SITTING ON TOP OF THE REFRIGERATOR.

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

    “BIG DATE-JON?’ CAROL ASKED. “NO, NOT EXACTLY, I’M  GOING INTO AUSTIN TO VISIT SOME NEW FRIENDS FROM SCHOOL.” CAROL RESPONDED “WELL, I’ BETTER GET GOING, MYSELF! I’VE GOT TO GO FEED MY SHEEP.” 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‘!”

    “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? THOSE ENCHILADAS WERE DELICIOUS! 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 OUT THRU THE BREEZEWAY AND ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE ROAR OF THE ENGINE GOING THRU THE GEARS COULD BE HEARD FOR A LONG TIME…UNTIL FAINTLY, IT PASSED THROUGH THE TWIN MOUNTAINS. ROSA LISTENED FOR AWHILE AS SHE GAZED OUT THE KITCHEN WINDOW. HER THOUGHTS WERE OF HER HUSBAND… AS THE CHILDREN PLAYED AND WATCHED TV.

    JERRY’S PLACE WAS AN APARTMENT SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR THE PHYSCIALLY CHALLENGED. IT WAS AN EASY FIND, RIGHT OFF THE MAIN FREEWAY, ONLY A SHORT DISTANCE FROM CAMPUS. THE GARDENS WERE NEATLY TRIMMED AND COLORFULL. AND THE SIDEWALKS WERE WELL-ADJUSTED-WIDE FOR WHEELCHAIRS. JON RANG THE DOORBELL. JERRY OPENED THE DOOR WITH A CHEERFULL “QUE PASO! COME ON IN!”

    “JERRY, THINGS IN TOWN ARE REALLY GREEN THIS YEAR!”

    “BEST YEAR SO FAR JON. WE’VE HAD PLENTY OF RAIN. DO YOU SEE THAT BIG HUMP OF GREEN GRASS 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. THAT ‘HUMP OF GREEN’ IS A CHICK MAGNET. THE GIRLS ALL GO NATIVE OVER THERE! ON THE WEEKENDS HERE AT BARTON SPRINGS, I’M A PROFESSIOAL PHOTOGRAPHER. ALL I GOT TO DO IS HANG MY SIGN OVER THE RAIL! AND PRESTO! I‘M IN BUSINESS! YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED AT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY I MAKE DURING THE SUMMER. AMONGST OTHER THINGS, I DO GHOST SIGHTINGS!”

    “I KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING STRANGE ABOUT YOU!”  JON CHUCKLED. JON NOTICED ON EVERY WALL IN JERRY’S APARTMENT THERE WERE 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 LOVE MACHINE!” JERRY PRESSED…

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

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

     “COME ‘MERE, SUGAR TIT!”

    “JERRY, DON’T CALL ME THAT!” SHE PULLED HER HAND BACK. I DON’T LIKE THAT!”

    “AW COME HERE.. SWEETY PIE! … JUST 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 DEAR, DON’T GET YOURSELF UPSET!  I’M MIXING A TEQUILA SUNRISE! YOUR FAVORITE!”    

    “NOW THAT SOUNDS BETTER, SWEETY.” SHE MOVED-IN CLOSER  AND TOOK A SWING AT JERRY… BUT HE DODGED! SHE REACHEDABOVE THE COUNTER TO INSERT THE ELECTRICAL CORD OF HER WHEELCHAIR INTO THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET—— SHA-ZAMN! THE BLENDER FIRED-UP! AND ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE! TINA STARTED SHAKING AND SCREAMING!  APPARENTLY BEING ELECTROCUTED! THE NOISE WAS TERRIFING!

    “PULL THE PLUG! JERRY! PULL THE PLUG!” JERRY TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO GRAB THE ELECTRICAL CORD! BUT FAILED! JON JUMPED OVER THE BAR AND PULLED THE CORD… AS JERRY YANKED THE CORD FROM THE BLENDER! THEN THINGS GOT REAL QUIET… THEY BOTH ‘GOGGLE EYED’ EACHOTHER 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???” AT THAT STRANGE MOMENT, JON COULDN’T ANSWER.  

    “O’JON? … HELLO?” SHE WAVED HER HANDS  BACK AND FORTH A FEW TIMES… JON STOOD MOTIONLESS. REALIZING NOW HE WAS IN FOR A WILD TIME! HE STUDDERED.

     “WHATT’S THAT? TINA?” 

    “I’VE GOT A BIG SURPRISE FOR YOU! MY SISTER, JOAN, IS NEXT DOOR, AND I WANT HER TO COME OVER TO 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 WAS SPEECHLESS! AND HE WENT TOTALLY NUMB… HER SISTER WAS A PERFECT TEN! IT TOOK HIM SEVERAL DRINKS TO LOOSEN HIM UP A BIT, AND THEN HE STARTED MAKING HIS 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! COME ON! LET’S GO!  AIN‘T TEXAS GREAT!”

    IRONICALLY, AT ‘THE CAT HOUSE’ ON SIXTH STREET… ‘THE AMAZING TOMCATS’ WERE PERFORMING ON STAGE.THE ALL-GIRL BAND WAS AS ROCKABILLY AS ARKANSAS! THEY PURR-ED AND SLURRED, AND STRUTTED AROUND IN THEIR SEXY COSTUMES, STRUMMING THEIR GUITARS, SHOWING OFF THEIR TOMCAT ATTITUDES. THREE SINGERS IN SNOOPY DOG OUTFITS WERE HOWLING! AND 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 BACK OF HER NECK TO THE SWAY IN HER FAMOUS ROUND BOTTOM!

    “I LIKE THAT TAIL!” JERRY SHOUTED! “PERFECT ADVERTISMENT FOR THE BAND!” 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 EVERYONE AND ALL.

IT WAS BREAKING DAYLIGHT BACK AT THE RANCH, WHEN JON SPOTTED THE CARRYOUT TRAY OF FOOD ON THE STOVE. THE BREEZEWAY DOORS OPENED AND CLOSED… AS JON FAINTLY 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. FIRST OFF… LIKE SEARCHING THE LIBRARY FOR THE CARD CATALOGS. THE CARD CATALOGS HAD BEEN REPLACED BY LONG ROWS OF LITTLE COMPUTERS OF WHICH HE KNEW VERY LITTLE ABOUT.

     HE SPENT HOURS 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’ SUFFERING FROM MEMORY LOSS IN THE PARKING LOT… WHERE HE LEARNED THE MAIN GAME ON CAMPUS BECAME ‘PARKING LOT CHICKEN’. VIDEO’S OF STUDENTS FIGHTING OVER PARKING SPACES BEGAN APPEARING WEEKLY ON THE INTERNET WITH PHOTOS AND WRITE-UPS IN THE CAMPUS NEWSPAPERS. THE CAMPUS COPS KEPT  REMINDING THE STUDENTS TO SLOW DOWN, BUT NORMALLY, THEY NAVIGATED THE PARKING LOTS IN THEIR OWN WAYS…

    RIGHTFULL FROM THE BEGINNING, JON’S OLD TRUCK BECAME FAMOUS FOR PUSHING SEVERAL ‘KILLER CARS’ OFF THE RUNWAY! UNFORTUNATELY, AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER, HE PAID ‘THE HIGH PRICE OF WINNING’… “ALL TRAFFIC FINES AND 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 ROAMING AROUND CAMPUS. NATURALLY, HE GREW TIRED OF ANSWERING THE SAME OLD QUESTIONS ASKED BY HIS CLASSMATES AND COLLEGE PROFESSORS. “HOW OLD ARE YOU? WHY ARE YOU TAKING THIS CLASS? WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING? ARE YOU ON PAROLE?”

     A RESTLESS GLOW APPEARED ON JON’S FACE THAT SECOND SEMESTER AS HE FILED ROUTINELY INTO HIS CLASSES. THAT FALL FADED INTO THE CHRISTMAS SEASON, AS SANTA CLAUS LEFT GIFTS UNDER THE  CHRISTMAS TREE. AFTERWORDS, 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 IN THAT FIRST BOOK HE READ BACK IN THE FIFTH GRADE. HE COULD NEVER RECALL THE TITLE, BUT HE COULD ALWAYS REMEMBER THE EXCITEMENT HE SHARED WITH THE YOUNG BOY IN THE STORY WHO FISHED ALL THE WAY TO THE BEGINNING OF A SMALL STREAM. THE WATER CAME FROM A SMALL CRACK IN THE HILLSIDE HIDDEN BEHIND A BIG ROCK. THE YOUNG BOY MANAGED TO SQUEEZE HIMSELF BEHIND THE ROCK TO DISCOVER A BIG CAVE! HE RAN HOME AND RETURNED WITH HIS FLASHLIGHT TO GET THE BIGGEST SCARE OF HIS LIFE!

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

    SOMEHOW THE THOUGHTS OF THAT BOOK STILL KEPT HIM FASCINATED AND SPELLBOUND. 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 WAS VERY COMMON TO FIND ARROWHEADS WASHED UP IN PLOWED FIELDS. MOST RANCHERS WOULD 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 THE RANCH, AND HIS GRANDFATHER HAD PICTURE FRAMES FULL OF THEM. ARROWHEADS WERE ALWAYS FUN TO FIND… BUT DEEP-DOWN IN HIS HEART, JON KNEW SOMETHING MUCH MORE EXCITING, AND SOMETHING MUCH MORE DEVINE WAS WAITING IN-STORE FOR HIM TO DISCOVER! AND SOMETHING MUCH MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD AND SILVER WAS WAITING FOR HIM TO PROCLAIM! 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 THAT STICKY STUFF ONANY OF MY GIFTS!” SCOULDED MARGA.   

    “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! THE HOUSE IS AS OLD, AND I DON’T FEEL SAFE. IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE IS ALWAYS WATCHING ME. THE NEIGHBORS RUN AND HIDE EVERYTIME THEY SEE ME.  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!” CLARA RESPONDED. “HERE MARGA, DRINK THIS. WHAT ELSE HAPPENED? DID YOU CALL 911?”

    “NO-NOT YET! BUT I’M FIXIN’ TO! I DID MANAGE TO TALK TO ONE OLD MAN WHO LIVES ACROSS THE STREET. HE SAID A CRAZY OLD INDIAN WOMAN LIVED ALONE IN THAT HOUSE FOR FIFTY YEARS. HE SAID SHE DRANK A BOTTLE OF WHISKEY A DAY AND CHAIN-SMOKED A MILLION CIGARETTES. AND WHEN SHE GOT DRUNK… SHE’D BANG ON HER PIANO, AND BEAT ON HER DRUM AT ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT! SHE COUGHED HERSELF TO DEATH IN HER SLEEP SEVEN YEARS AGO IN THE BEDROOM NEXT TO MINE! THEY FOUND OVER TWENTY CATS IN THE HOUSE WITH HER. THE CATS HAD CHEWED OFF HER TONGUE, HER LIPS, AND HER EARS! HE SAID SHE WORE A LOT OF RINGS, AND HER FINGERS WERE MISSING!  AND SOMETIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, I HEAR COUGHS! AND BUMPING NOISES! AND SCRATCHING! AND CHEWING! AND I SEE CATS OUTSIDE RUNNING EVERYWHERE! SOMEBODY TOLD THE NEIGHBORS…  I WAS THAT CRAZY OLD LADY’S SISTER!

    “YES, AND WHAT ELSE MARGA?”

    “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 CAT FIGHTS TONIGHT! I CAN’T HANDLE ANY MORE STRESS. ESPECIALLY, 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!” SCOULDED JUDI.  “YOU HEARD YOUR ‘UNCLE JOHN‘ ‘TOO MUCH BOOZE YOU LOSE!’ IS HE GOING TO SHOW UP FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR?”

     “I DON’T KNOW SISTER DEAR. IN HIS LAST LETTER, YOUR UNCLE JOHN WAS DIGGING A HOLE SOMEWHERE IN TEXAS, SOMEHERE NEAR DALLAS… HIDING FROM ‘PLANET X.’ ”

     “WELL I’M GLAD HE MADE IT THRU Y2K AND NINE ONE-ONE!

     “OH! AND BY THE WAY, EVERYBODY EXPECTS US TO SHOW UP AT THE BEACH HOUSE TOMORROW FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER. JUDI, THAT MEANS YOU TOO! WE’RE THE ONLY GIRLS IN THE FAMILY WITH NO CHILDREN. SO THAT’S WHY WE’RE HOME ALONE, ONCE-AGAIN, ON CHRISTMAS EVE…  WHAT’S WRONG WITH US? ARE WE CURSED? DOES GOD LOVE US?” 

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

    “I GUESS, WHENEVER YOU TWO GET 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 BOYFRIEND!”

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

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

    “WHAT FOR?” JUDI ANSWERED. “IT’S NINETY DEGREES OUTSIDE! AND BESIDES, IT MIGHT MELT THE CHOCOLATE 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 BOUGHT YOU A NEW TOM-TOM!”

    “A NEW TOM-TOM?”

    “YES! IT’S A REAL INDIAN DRUM! I FOUND IT DURING A CLASS TRIP TO ‘THE ‘LUCKY EAGLE’  CASINO IN EAGLEPASS TEXAS. THIS INDIAN WOMAN WHO WORKED THERE TOLD ME SHE HAD A FEW ARROWHEADS AND THIS OLD DRUM AT HER HOUSE ACROSS THE BORDER IN MEXICO. FOR A WHILE, I WAS WINNING BIG-TIME SO I OFFERED HER MY WINNINGS! SHE SAID THAT DRUM BELONGED TO HER THIRD-DEAD HUSBAND’S GREAT-GREAT-GREAT GRANDFATHER.

    “HOW MANY GREATS? JUDI ASKED. 

    “THREE GREATS!”  MARGA SAID.

    “WAS HE A BIG CHIEF?

    “I DON’T KNOW JUDI. HE BEAT THE DRUM AS HE MARCHED TO HIS DEATH ON ‘THE TRAIL OF TEARS.’IN 1861. HERE, READ THIS… THIS IS AUTHENIC HANDWRITTEN LETTER. THE STORY GOES HER THIRD, DEAD HUSBAND’S GREAT-GREAT GRANDAUGHTER PICKED UP THIS DRUM AND BEAT IT ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF ‘THE TRAIL OF TEARS’ 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, IS THIS FOR REAL? BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! …LET’S CALL UP THE CHIEF!” BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

    “MARGA! I GUESS YOU KNOW WE ARE IN FOR A REAL TREAT… JuuDEEE!” SHOUTED CLARA!  BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!“…JUDieeEE! GO CALL YOU’RE BOYFIEND! RIGHT NOW!!!”  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 DANCING AND SINGING 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. SHE WATCHED QUIETLY AS A GROUP OF COEDS PASSED. THEY LOOKED SO YOUNG AND HAPPY. AND SO CONFIDENT. MOST OF THE WOMEN HER AGE HAD GRAND-CHILDREN GOING TO COLLEGE, WITH GREAT-GRAND CHILDREN IN THE MAKING. YET, HERE SHE WAS SITTING ALONE IN HER CAR,

    ”NO ONE SAID THIS WAS GOING TO BE EASY!” WITH A SUDDEN BOLT OF COURAGE. MARGA GATHERED UP HER BOOKS, HER LAPTOP, AND STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR… A BIG GUST OF WIND PUSHED HER BACK AGAINST THE CAR DOOR SIDEWAYS, SLAMMING THE CAR DOOR SHUT… LOCKING IT AUTOMATICALLY.

    “DAMN!” SHE MUMBLED.“I’M  GLAD I HAD MY KEYS!” MARGA SHOOK HER HEAD, TOSSED HER HAIR BACK, 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 FOR A HOUSE SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.” MARGA FELT HER SPIRIT RISING TO A NEW HIGH…“YES!” THAT’S THE SOLUTION! IF I COULD BUY OR LEASE 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!” MARGA LOOKED UP, AS SHE PUSHED AGAINST THE WIND…WALKING 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! WE’RE MARCHING AGAINST FRATERNITY VIOLENCE! HAVEN’T YOU HEARD?” EMBARRASSED, MARGA WAS RELIEVED THE LOUD STUDENT MOVED ON. HOWEVER, NOT FOR ONE MOMENT HAD SHE 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… A BURST OF WIND BLEW HER HAIR ACROSS HER FACE, COVERING HER EYES.

    “I KNOW THE FEELING.” THE MAN SAID. MARGA SMILED AND TURNED TO WALK TOWARD THE ANTROPOLOGY BUILDING WHERE THE COLLISION WAS SUDDEN. SHE HAD FAILED TO NOTICE THE MAN WAS WALKING CLOSELY BEHIND HER TOWARD THE DOOR WHERE THE WIND PUSHED HER OFF BALANCE AGAINST THE STAIRWAY RAILING. THE MAN DROPPED HIS BOOKS AND CAUGHT MARGA WITH ONE HAND. AND HE 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 THE MOMENT, SHE FELT COMFORTABLE UNDER HIS ARM. SHE REACHED DOWN 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. IT WAS MY GRANDMOTHER’S IDEA TO NAME ME AFTER HER GREAT-GREAT GRANDFATHER… A ‘SHANGHIED’ CHINAMAN WHO WAS KIDNAPPED IN THE 1800’S OFF OF A WHALESHIP, AND FORCED TO WORK AS A SLAVE ON THE TRANSCONTINENAL RAILROAD. ARE YOU FOLLOWING ME? THAT‘S THE RAILROAD THAT CONNECTED THE EAST TO THE WEST…”

    “YES, I REMEMBER STUDYING SOMETHING ABOUT THAT. YOUR LIFE SOUNDS INTERESTING MISTER FU. WHERE ARE YOU SITTING?” JON TOOK OFF HIS HAT AND LOOKED AROUND. “THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE IN A STAMPEDE IS IN THE BACK OF THE HERD!” 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. LAST SEMESTER, I HEARD THRU THE GRAPEVINE 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 THE TYPE OF 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. HE KEPT HEARING BELLS RINGING. 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. BUTT… HE LOOKED AGAIN, AND HE SPOTTED A GOLD ANKLE CHAIN WITH TINY LITTLE  BELLS… THAT WERE RINGING SOFTLY, WHEN SHE SHOOK HER FOOT LIKE THE TAIL OF A RATTLESNAKE.

    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’S TOO HOT IN HERE. AND I’M THIRSTY! WERE YOU HOT?” 

      WITHOUT ANSWERING, “I KNOW JUST THE PLACE!” WHEN SHE REACHED FOR HER BOOKS… HE GOT A GOOD LOOK… SHE HAD THE BODY OF A TWENTY YEAR OLD GIRL! SHE MUST BE SOMEWHERE 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 FOLLOWING, BUMPNG BOOKS, AND BUMPING ELBOWS, AS THEY WEAVED THEIR WAY THROUGH THE GROUPS OF STUDENTS JAMMING THE WALKWAYS…WHERE THE DEMONSTRATION WAS HEATING UP. JON WAS SOMEWHAT RELIEVED TO SEE HIS FRIEND JERRY MOVING THRU THE CROWD KNOWING THAT HE MIGHT NEED A LITTLE HELP WITH CONVERSATION. JERRY CAME RIGHT OVER. “ARE YOU TWO GETTING MIXED UP IN ALL THIS?”

    “O NO, NOT ME!” MARGA ANSWERED. “WE’RE HERE TO GET US A COKE!” JON SMILED, AND INTRODUCED MARGA TO JERRY. JERRY SUGGESTED…”LOOK, THERE’S A TABLE!” THEY TOOK A QUICK MOVE  OVER TO THE QUIETER SIDE. 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!” SHE WENT OFF INTO THE CROWD…, AND THEN, SHE TURNED AROUND TO LOOK AT JERRY.

    “OVER HERE?” SHE ASKED IN QUESTION? JERRY NODDED. AND MOTIONED HER TO GO FARTHER BACK. JERRY ‘S SMILE TURNED TO JON.     

    “MAN! SHE’S BUILT RIGHT! SHE’S GOT THE CURVES!!”

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

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

    “TODAY AT NOON, JON… 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 MOVED BACK AND FORTH THROUGH THE CROWD AND BACK TO THE TABLE. SHE REACHED INTO HER SHOPPING BAG AND PULLED OUT THREE COKES, AND A BRIGHT ORANGE AND WHITE BACPAC MARKED WITH THE FAMED 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 HELP YOU!“ JON STARTED LOADING HER BOOKS INTO HER BACPAC. HE WAS ADJUSTING HER SHOULDER STRAPS WHEN HE FELT HOW WARM SHE WAS UP-FRONT. AND WHEN SHE FELT THE SAME FEELINGS COMING ON. SHE GOT RED IN THE FACE.  

    “NOW I KNOW HOW A GIRL SCOUT FEELS!” SHE MOVED HER SHOULDERS AROUND A BIT, AND GIGGLED. “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. SHE LOOKED OVER AT JON AND SMILED. AND FOR A MOMENT, THEIR EYES BECAME FIXED ON EACHOTHER. JON THOUGHT…SHE MUST BE CAMERA SHY… BUT HE NEVER SAID A WORD.

     MARGA ASKED “JERRY, WHAT’S THIS DEMONSTRATION FOR?”

    “MARGA, A STUDENT WAS KILLED HERE AT U.T. DURING A HAZING INCIDENT.”

    “HAZING?” MARGA ASKED.

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

    “DOES HAZING HAPPEN TO STUDENTS… LIKE ME?” MARGA ASKED.

    “I DON’T THINK SO MARGA. ALL THIS ACTION STARTED A LONG TIME AGO WHEN A STUDENT WAS TOLD TO WEAR WET PAJAMAS AND CRAWL THRU TWO BEDSPRINGS THAT WERE WIRED WITH ELECTRICITY. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO JUST SHOCK HIM A LITTLE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, HE WAS ELECTROCUTED. AT THAT TIME, NO- ONE WAS EVER HELD RESPONSIBLE. HOWEVER THE UNIVERSITY DID GET THE FRATERNITY TO PROMISE TO ELIMINATE ALL HORSEPLAY. BUT STILL, HAZING CONTINUED. STUDENTS HAD TO PARTICIPATE IN GAMES LIKE  THE ‘BARN DANCE,’ WHERE THEY HAD TO CRAWL AROUND IN THEIR UNDERWEAR WHILE UPPER CLASSMEN SHOT RAW LIMA BEANS AT THEIR BOTTOMS… WITH BLOWGUNS AND SLINGSHOTS! SOME STUDENTS WERE BLINDFOLDED AND TAKEN OUT OF TOWN ON ‘RIDES’ AND THEN TIED UP NAKED TO TREES.”

    “O MY!” MARGA SMILED.

    “LAST YEAR, THIS HAPPENED… A FRATERNITY 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 PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DONUTS… WITH THEIR PECKERS STICKING THRU THE HOLES! I LAUGH OUTLOUD EVERY TIME I THINK ABOUT IT!”

    “OH-JERRY…THAT’S TERRIBLE!” 

    “BUT WAIT MARGA, 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.’ DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENCE TO YOU? MONKEY SEE-MONKEY DO. SO TODAY, THIS DEMONSTRATION IS BEING HELD TO REMIND EVERYONE ON CAMPUS OF THE LAWS NOW PROTECTING INITIATE STUDENTS. DID YA’LL SEE ALL THE BLUE POSTERS NAILED ON THE TELEPHONE POLES. I STAPLED 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. MY NEW GIRLFRIEND DOES TOO! OUR CAMPUS LIFE IS A LOT OF FUN FOR US RIGHT NOW. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE SHOULD BE SEEING TINA AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE… PUTTING A CHARGE ON HER BATTERY!”

    JON EXPLAINED. “JERRY’S GIRL IS IN A 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? THAT GIRL CAN COOK!”

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

   “WHERE ARE YOU FROM, MARGA?” JERRY ASKED. “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 UNDER THIS CROWD SOMEWHERE. WILL YA’LL BE AROUND LATER?” JON LOOKED OVER AT MARGA. AND THEY BOTH LOOKED 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 AND SAID

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

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

    “DO YOU LIVE CLOSE BY?” HE ASKED.

    “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?”

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

    “WELL JON, 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 SOUTHWEST OF HERE. I LEAVE THE HOUSE EVERY MORNING AT SIX O’CLOCK, JUST TO GET HERE ON TIME. BUT IT’S WORTH IT! 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 JUST AS OLD AS IT LOOKS!  YOU’LL SEE WHAT I MEAN.” MARGA OPENED 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. AND IT’S A LOT OF WORK. AND IT TAKES A LOT OF MONEY TO KEEP IT GOING. 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?”  

THE GLASSES TINGLED… AND JON HEARD HIS GRANDMOTHERS VOICE…

    “SON, DRINK YOUR MILK, AND SEEK YOUR MATE LIKE A HIDDEN TREASURE. HAPPY IS THE MAN WHO FINDS HER! AND GAINS HER WISDOM! FOR HER PROCEEDS ARE BETTER THAN THE PROFITS OF 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. BEGINNING WITH THEIR VERY FIRST DIG. MARGA AND JON FOUND MORE EVIDENCE OF CULTURE THAN DID ANYONE ELSE. EVERYONE AT THE DIG SITE THAT SUMMER REPORTED THEY COULD FEEL THE EXCITEMENT AND THE ANTICIPATION OF HAVING THESE TWO STUDENTS MOVING AROUND… LOOKING FOR ARTIFACTS OR BONES… WHICH-EVER CAME UP FIRST. THEY BECAME LIKE 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 CONTAINING THE REMAINS OF TWO NATIVE AMERICANS 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 CALL!  AND MARGA’S ONGOING HOOT-OWL SHRIEKS OF EXCITEMENT!

    THE TWO STUDENTS GREW EVEN MORE-CLOSER TOGETHER… AROUND THE CAMPFIRES THAT HOT SUMMER. MARGA WOULD SING AND DANCE! AND JON WOULD STRUM ON HIS GUITAR. TOGETHER, THEY SPONTEANOUSLY 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 ALSO YEILDED THE BODY OF A PRIEST WITH HIS HANDWRITTEN BOOK OF SCRIPTURES… THAT RE-PROVED ITSELF TO BE AN ACCURATE RECORD OF LIFE, AS IT MUST HAVE HAPPENED… UNFORTUNATELY, TO THE TWO YOUNG LOVERS ON THEIR WEDDING DAY. 

    THEIR BODIES WERE BURIED BENEATH SEVERAL FLAT SLABS OF WHITE LIMESTONE ROCK, AND BORDERED ALONG THE EDGES WITH LARGER 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 ON ‘THE BLUFF’ THAT SUMMMER REPORTED HOW STRANGE THE WEATHER ACTED… WITH ALL THE DUST, AND THE DANCING WHIRLWINDS SUCKING THEIR TENTS UP, AND BLOWING THEM AWAY! WITH SOME OF THE SMALLER TENTS FLYING A MILE HIGH ABOVE ‘THE BLUFF’ TURNING AND TWISTING, AND LANDING IN THE PLOWED FIELDS ACROSS THE RIVER.  THE STUDENTS WERE ALL UNHARMED. BUT FOR SOME, EVERYTHING WAS LOST.

    THIS PATTERN OF EVENTS DROVE EVERYONE INVOLVED 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 WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE 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. A CHINESE IMMIGRANT FAMILY WAS HIRED TO CARETAKE THE PROPERTY WITH THE ADJACENT LAWNS AND GARDENS. THEY LIVED IN THE OLD MAN’S WHITE HOUSE DIRECTLY 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 WITH HER EYES GLOWING A DEEP-RED FROM THE CAMPFIRE LIGHT. SHE BECAME VERY STRANGE AND DOMINANT ACTING, AS SHE GAZED STRAIGHTLY INTO THE CAMERAS… MOVING ABOUT,  CHANGING HER MOOD-SWINGS, AND SHIFTING HER SHADOW, TO TURN 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 STRUMMED ON HIS GUITAR, GENERATING A WALL OF SOUND, CHARGING MARGA WITH MORE PERSONAL MOMENTS OF CREATIVITY. MARGA ENJOYED HER MOMENTS OF FREEDOM AS SHE SPREAD ABROAD HER DRAMATIC SIDE OF HER PERSONALITY… WITH MOST OF THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES, BECOMING HOT-WIRED AND HIGH STRUNG! JUST LIKE MARGA! DANCING AROUND THE CAMPFIRE… ‘HOOPIN’ AND HOLLERIN’ LIKE CRAZED INDIANS! THUMPIN’ AT A WAR PARTY!

     JUDI AND HER BANDFRIENDS WERE TOTALLY INAWE THINKING…  MAYBE IT WAS JUST MARGA FINALLY LETTING GO OF HER STUFFED SHIRT ATTITUDE. BUT COULD IT BE SOMETHING MORE? COULD SHE BE POSSESSED?” WHEN CONFRONTED, MARGA 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, COULD SEE THEY WERE DEFINITELY SPENDING A LOT OF TIME, AND MONEY GATHERING SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE. POSITIVELY, AT THE POINT OF OBSESSION. THEY 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, AND FILMED THEIR KNOWLEDGE TO EXPAND THEIR BRAINS,  UNTIL, THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT UNDONE FOR THEIR FRESH MINDS TO ESCAPE TO…

     IT BECAME ROUTINE EVERY SUNDAY MORNING… TO SEE JUDI COOKING BREAKFAST AS MARGA WOULD READ ALOUD ANY NEW PERSONAL ADVERTISEMENTS FOUND IN THE NEWSPAPERS AND ON THE WEB. IN RESPONSE, CLARABELLA WOULD E-MAIL MESSAGES AND SEND TEXT 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 MOVEMENTS MARKETED THEIR BELIEFS, AND FORMED THEIR FOUNDATIONS THROUGH-OUT THE WORLD…

    CLARABELLA WAS FASCINATED WITH ANCIENT ARTWORKS AND HISTORICAL BUILDINGS. SHE LOVED TO TOUR THE FAMOUS TEMPLES, THE EGYPTIAN TOMBS, AND THE ANCIENT PAINTINGS ON CAVE WALLS. OVER-TIME, SHE BECAME SOMEWHAT OF AN AUTHORITY.

    JUDI BECAME A DOWN-TO-EARTH SHOWGIRL. ROCK MUSIC TO HER WAS A MYSTIC ART FORM. 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 THEIR EVIDENCE OF INVOLVEMENT FROM DARKENED SOURCES. JUDI OFTEN SUSPECTED THEIR FOWL PLAY AS SHE FOUND OUT MOST OF THE MYSTICS WERE COMPARING THEIR PERSONAL NOTES ON HER, IN THOUGHTS OF KEEPING HER COMING BACK FOR MORE… USUALLY DEMANDING MORE MONEY, FOR DEEPER CONCENTRATIONS. 

    CLARABELLA FILMED THE ACTION. JUDIPANNELLA RECORDED THE MUSIC, AND MARGARETTA INTERVIEWED THE SUBJECTS. THEY BECAME STUDENTS OF THE LAUNGUAGES OF GOD… AND THE NATURAL HERMETIC LAWS OF ASTROTHEOLOGY, ALL THE WHILE… LOOKING FOR ANSWERS TO THEIR SOUGHT OUT QUESTIONS. WHILE-SOME EXPERIENCES PROVED TO BE EDUCATIONAL AND NOTEWORTHY? OTHERS, BECAME DISGUSTING WASTES OF TIME! …WITH MOST OF THE EPISODES USUALLY ENDING UP BEING FUNNY! SOMETIMES, WITH ALL THREE SISTERS IN THE SAME BOAT… SINKING.

     MARGARETTA, WITH ALL THIS INFORMATION IN MIND… JONFU CAME ALONG, AND SHE REPROVED HER DEEP BELIEFS 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 HE MADE NO ATTEMPT TO FLEE. EVEN MARGA HERSELF REALIZING EARLY ON, HER LOVE FOR JON WAS FUELED BY HER 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… THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE.

    BOTH MARGA AND JON GRADUATED WITH HONORS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. AND JUDIPANNELLA PERFORMED AT THE GRANDEST GRADUATION PARTY EVER KNOWN TO EXIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. IT WAS CALLED ‘THE JUDI DOODY REVIEW!’ AND ACCORDING TO JUDI, IT WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE SEASON!

    AFTER GRADUATION, MARGARETTA FOLLOWED JON OUT-INTO THE MOUNTAINS IN NEW MEXICO TO ASSIST SEVERAL OTHER  ARCHAEOLOGISTS WHO WERE WORKING AT THE WHITE MOUNTAIN APACHE EXCAVATIONS.  

    DURING THIS TIME, CLARABELLA HIRED A REMODELING COMPANY TO CREATE A NEW IMAGE FOR THE BIG HOUSE IN AUSTIN. THIS IS WHERE SHE FOUND HER FIFTH HUSBAND STANDING ON THE STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN. HE WAS THE BUILDING CONTRACTOR ON THE JOB DOING THE HOUSE RENOVATIONS. AND ACCORDING TO MR. CHARLES, HE WAS AT THE RIGHT PLACE, AT THE RIGHT TIME, TO SAVE CLARA… WHEN SHE SLIPPED ON A LOOSE PIECE OF CARDBOARD COVERING THE NEW CARPET ON THE FRONT DOOR STAIRWAY.  THAT MORNING, CLARABELLA CAME SLIDING DOWN THE STAIRWAY IN HER UNDERWEAR, LANDING ON TOP OF MR. CHARLES, WHO WAS HALF-WAY UP THE STAIRS. SHE RODE HIM ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE BOTTOM…  SITTING ON TOP OF HIM ‘TEXAS STYLE,’ IN FRONT OF HIS ASTONISHED CREW OF WORKERS. EMBARRASSED BEYOND BELIEF, MR. CHARLES SCOOPED CLARA 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 IMMIGRANT FAMILY ACROSS THE STREET ALMOST SAW IT ALLL… THREE WEEKS LATER, THEY WERE MARRIED. MARGA AND JON HAD AN AMAZNG TIME AT THE WEDDING RECEPTION. INSTANTLY THEY LIKED RAY! HE HELPED CLARABELLA FILM WHATEVER SHE COULD IN-BETWEEN ROMANTIC ENCOUNTERS.

    MEANWHILE BACK AT THE RANCH IN TEXAS, JON’S NEPHEW’S MOVED- IN TO HELP PAPADIAZ WITH THE RANCHWORK. WHILE HOMESTEADING, THEY ORGANIZED ‘THE SONS OF THUNDER‘  A BIG-TIME MOTORCYCLE GROUP RIDING THE SATURDAY NITE DANCEHALL CIRCUITS IN TEXAS.

    ONE SUMMER EVENING AROUND SUNDOWN AT A REMOTE LOCATION IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS, MARGA GOT THE SCARE OF HER LIFE! JON HAD TAKEN THE MOTORBUS INTO TOWN EARLIER THAT MORNING TO TAKE RAY AND CLARA TO THE AIRPORT 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 HER WAY— SHE SCREAMED!  “ARM YOURSELVES! THE’RE COMING! THERE COMING!!” STUDENTS EVERYWHERE RAN FOR COVER! MOST OF THEM JUMPING INTO THE EXCAVATION HOLES LIKE SCARED RABBITS…  WITH ROCK PICS, SHOVELS, AND KNIVES! MARGA JUMPED IN HOLDING TWO HAMMERS LIKE TOMAHAWKS! SHE WAS GOING TO FIGHT!

    WHEN THE ROARING NOISE OF MOTORCYCLES FINALLY CAME TO A HALT… IT GOT REAL QUIET. MARGA HELD HER BREATH FOR A LONG TIME… HER KNEES WERE SHAKING, HER TEETH WERE CHATTERING. SHE WAS SWEATING HOT! AND BREATHING HARD! AND 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 PLASTIC TARP AND CAME OUT OF THE HOLE SHAKING HER TOMAHAWKS LIKE A WILD WOMAN! SHE WAS RED-FACED AND HOSTILE! AND LOOKING FOR JON!

    “HEY! WHAT’S GOING ON? SHE SCREAMED! WHAT ARE BIKERS DOING HERE?” SHE HOLLERED…SHAKING HER HAMMERS AT EVERYBODY! SHE DIDN’T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE BIG SURPRISE RIDE TO NEW MEXICO. SHE MADE IT PLAIN… SHE DIDN’T LIKE SURPRISES! SHE RAN FOR HER RV AND SLAMMED THE DOOR. AND SHE LOCKED HERSELF IN. 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. WHEN SHE KICKED THE DOOR OPEN, SHE CAME OUT FIGHTIN‘, SWINGING HER FISTSxxx 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 GRABBED THE STRAP ON HIS GUITAR AND SWUNG HIM AROUND LIKE A RAGDOLL! JON WENT DOWN IN A CLOUD OF DUST! HE HELD HIS GUITAR UP TRYING TO PROTECT HIS FACE… THEN SHE KICKED HIM IN THE STOMACH! SHE KICKED HIM HARD! EVERYONE STARTED LAUGHING! HE LOOKED  WUPPED… THE FIGHT STOPPED WHEN CLARA BROUGHT OUT THE BIRTHDAY CAKE! THE CAKE WAS ON FIRE! 

    “QUICK MARGA! BLOW THEM OUT! BLOW ‘EM OUT! THERE’S TOO MANY CANDLES!” EVERYBODY WAS ENJOYING ‘THE DRAMA’ WHEN SHE BLEW THE CANDLES OUT ~~~ INSTANTLY! THERE WAS A LIGHTNING STRIKE! WITH A LOUD BURST OF THUNDER! AND THE WEATHER CHANGED… WITH A DARK GRAY  CLOUD OVERSHADOWING THE ADJACENT MOUNTAINS, BUT QUICKLY, AS IT MOVED IN CLOSER… THE CLOUD TURNED FROM A DARK GRAY INTO A BRIGHT AMBER COLORED CLOUD WITH A SILVER-LINING BECOMING STATIONARY OVER THE DIG-SITE EAST OF THEM. SUDDENLY! WITHOUT WARNING, GOLDEN THUNDERBOLTS STARTED SHOOTING OUT OF THE CLOUD~~~ LIKE ARROWS~~~ IN PAIRS OF TWO! AND ONE AFTER ANOTHER! SOME OF THEM SHOOTING TO THE LEFT! SOME SHOOTING TO THE RIGHT! SOME OF THEM FLYING LOW OVER YOUR HEAD! ALL OF THEM SOUNDING A THREE-PART… ‘CHICK-CHICK-CHICK” STATIC SOUND AS THEY BURST OUT OF THE CLOUD! AND AFTER A FEW VISIBLE SECONDS IN FLIGHT… THEY WOULD FALL IN A CURVE-LIKE FASHION IN-PASSING, SOUNDING LIKE ARROWS WITH HISSING SOUNDS~~~ ONLY LASTING FOR A FEW SECONDS~~~ BEFORE THEY WOULD ALL JUST QUIETLY DISAPPEAR~~~ BEFORE THEY COULD HIT THE GROUND! THE SHOW LASTED FOR A GOOD FIFTEEN MINUTES! THE EXCITED JON WAS DEFINITELY HAVING FUN! HE KEPT RIGHT ON STRUMMING HIS GUITAR WHILE WATCHING ALL THE ACTION!. HE NEVER MISSED A BEAT! THE STUDENTS WOULD TURN TO FILM THE CLOUD! AND THEN THEY WOULD TURN TO FILM THEMSELVES DANCING WITH ‘THE SONS OF THUNDER!’  THE BIKER’S ONLY GOT LOUDER AS THE CLOUD MOVED IN CLOSER… RIGHT UP ON TOP OF THEM! MARGA BECAME VERY FRIGHTENED! SHE STOOD IN PRAYER WATCHING OVER JON.“WHAT ON EARTH COULD HE BE THINKING?” SHE HESITATED TO STOP THE PARTY. HE WAS HAVING FUN!

     SUDDENLY!!! A BOOM! SO LOUD! YOUR BODY WENT NUMB!! A BURST OF THUNDER SO POWERFULL! THAT IT TOOK YOUR BREATH AWAY!  IT SHOOK YOU TO THE CORE! IT VIBRATED YOU! IT KNOCKED YOU DOWN! IT BENT YOU OVER! IT FELT LIKE THE FLOOR OF THE EARTH HAD FALLEN OFF FROM BENEATH YOUR FEET! LEAVING YOUR DANGLING BODY HELPLESSLY SUSPENDED IN MID-AIR! EVERYBODY WAS LIFTED! AND DROPPED! LIKE ELECTRIC PLAYTOYS AS TREMENDOUS SURGES OF STATIC ELECTRICITY FORMED AT GROUND ZERO GRAVITY! EVERYBODY’S HAIR WAS STANDING STRAIGHT UP! SUDDENLY! JON HIT THE GROUND HARD! THE NECK OF HIS GUITAR BROKE OFF! MARGA WENT DOWN ON HER KNEES BEING VIBRATED AROUND  UNDER STRANGE CONTROL! ALL HEADS WERE NODDING IN UNISON AT EACH VOLLEY OF THUNDER… SOUNDING LIKE A BIG DRUM!!! NO ONE WAS ABLE TO STAND!  IT LASTED BEYOND MEASURE… ‘THE DANCE OF THUNDER!’

    AT SOME POINT, THE STUDENTS STARTED REGAINING CONTROL OF THEMSELVES. THEY STARTED RUNNING FOR THEIR CARS, AND THE RV’S! STUNNED BIKERS DOVE UNDER TABLES AND INTO THE EXCAVATION HOLES ON TOP OF EACH OTHER… LIKE ARMY MEN! COVERING THEMSELVES UP! HOLDING ON TO THE PLASTIC TARPS… TUGGING AT THEM IN THE WIND! AND RAIN! THEN THE CAMPSITE GENERATOR BLEW UP… THROWING GASOLINE EVERYWHERE! SETTING FIRE TO A TENT FULL OF ARTIFACTS, AND CATCHING SEVERAL MOTORCYCLES ‘ON FIRE’! 

    IT LASTED UNTIL DAYLIGHT… WITH MOST OF THE GIRLS CRYING AND SCREAMING EVERYTIME LIGHTNING WOULD STRIKE! THEY WERE SCREAMING A LOT LOUDER… WHEN THEY SAW THE SKELETON REMAINS OF HUNDREDS OF WHITE MOUNTAIN APACHES BEING WASHED UP TO THE SURFACE ON THE PLATEAU WITH THEIR BONES SHINING! AND THEIR TEETH GLOWING LIFELIKE IN THE FLASHES OF LIGHTNING! LIKE SCENES FROM A HORROR MOVIE!

    SOME OF THE FEARLESS STUDENTS HELD THEIR CAMERAS UP! …HISTORICALLY FILMING EVERYTHING! BUT AS THE THUNDER GOT LOUDER! EVERYONE WAS HOLDING ONTO THEIR EARS! …WHEN THE EARTH SHOOK LOOSE… CAUSING A MUD SLIDE TO COME DOWN THE SIDE OF THE PLATEAU! TAKING THE STUDENTS, THE CARS, THE RV’S, THE MOTORBUS, AND THE WHITE MOUNTAIN APACHES……. ALL FOR A LONG MUDDY RIDE… DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE DRAW INTO THE VALLEY BELOW……. WHERE MOST OF THE CARS, AND THE MOTORCYCLES LANDED, AFTER THEY WENT OVER THE TWO-FOOT WAVES OF MUD…..… LIKE SURFBOARDS! SOME OF THE BIKERS WERE RIDING THE WAVE, SITTING UPRIGHT ON THEIR BIKES, TRYING TO GET AWAY! …WITH THEIR MOTORS RACING! AND THE MUD FLYING!

    AT DAYLIGHT,THE STORM WAS OVER. AND JON’S SMILE WAS HARDENED INTO A HALF-ASSED DAZE. HE WAS RELIEVED TO SEE THAT  NO-ONE WAS SERIOUSLY HURT. AND AFTER A LONG-AWAITED SUNRISE THAT MORNING,THE BEAT-UP BUT WIDE-EYED BIKERS CUT SHORT THEIR SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY 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 MORNING, JON MADE A PROMISE TO GOD… NEVER-AGAIN WAS HE GOING TO UPSET MARGA! THAT NIGHT THE SPIRIT OF ‘THE SONS OF THUNDER‘ WAS A BIT DAMPENED! AND A BIT WUPPED BY GOD! EVERYONE WAS DEFINITELY ALL SHOOK UP! IT WAS A ‘COMING-OUT PARTY’ THAT EVERYONE REMEMBERED FOR A LONG TIME… A LIFE TIME!

THE DAILY NEWSPAPER

    THE MARRIAGE OF MARGARETTA ALBERGETTEE TO JONFU TUYU WAS SOLEMNIZED SUNDAY AT A BEAUTIFUL SUNDOWN CEREMONY IN ISRAEL WHERE THE TWO NEWLYWEDS WERE BAPTISED AS ONE IN THE JORDAN RIVER. AFTERWARDS THEY SPENT SEVERAL DAYS TOURING THE HOLY LAND BEFORE RETURNING TO THEIR HOME IN AUSTIN TEXAS.

    MEANWHILE BACK AT THE RANCH, THE YEARS PASSED QUIETLY. LITTLE DIAZ GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL WITH AN HONORABLE MENTION IN AGRICULTURE. JON BOUGHT HIM A BRIGHT YELLOW 1955 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.’ IT EVEN MADE MISTER JON CRY… 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 TO ME! AND IF YOU’RE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, I’M GOING TO SIT IN THE SHADE ALL SUMMER AND WRITE A 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 EASY. AND A LOT OF FUN! WE’LL LEARN QUICK. I’M SURE OF IT! JUST THINK ABOUT IT MARGA. NO MORE BUMPY RIDES OR LONG WALKS. WE’LL BE AS SAFE AS SAFE CAN BE… BUT IF WE DO CRASH… WE’LL BE coming down HOLDING ONTO EACHOTHER LIKE TWO EAGLES IN A FREE-FALL… like two angels going to heaven… UNTIL GOD… REACHES DOWN… AND SCOOPS US UP!”

    “STOP IT! JON. don’t dream that up… don’t even talk like that. YOU’RE SUCH A DREAMER! I’M NOT READY TO GO.” A SERIOUS LOOK OVERCAME MARGA.

    “HAVE NO FEAR MY DEAR! WE‘LL BE STANDING IN LINE AT THE GROCERY STORE when we get old… I’LL LOOK LIKE SANTA CLAUS! AND YOU’LL LOOK LIKE MRS SANTA CLAUS! WE’LL BE AS HAPPY AS TWO BRAND NEW BABY DUCKS JUMPING INTO THE WATER FOR THE FIRST TIME! MARGA are you in tune? LET ME HEAR YOU ‘QUACK’! MARGA, ‘QUACK! ’ ‘QUACK!’ ‘QUACK!”

    “STOP IT! JON. HOW DO YOU come up with STUFF UP LIKE THAT?”

    “SAY WHAT, DEAR?”

    CONSCIOUSLY SPEAKING, MARGA COULD feel and see UNSEEN FORCES WORKING ON JON. THESE FORCES LEAD HIM TO PARTS AND PIECES OF A ‘LIFESIZE PUZZLE’ with EACH  PIECE, RIGHTLY REPROVing SOME TRUTH IN GOD. THERE WAS NO STOPPING HIM. HIS MYSTERY SENCE OF DIRECTION WAS BEING FULLY DEVELOPED IN HIS OWN MIND… EITHER PUSHING HIM, OR PULLING HIM TOWARD INTERESTING VIBRATIONS. HE COULD FEEL THE CALL AS HE TRIED TO EXPLAIN IT. MARGA FOLLOWED along IN-DIRECTLY BEHIND HIM, SWINGING HER TWO METAL DETECTORs, ONE IN EACH HAND. IT WAS HARD FOR HER TO KEEP UP WITH JON WHO MOVED TOO FAST. WHEN PAPADIAZ HEARD about THIS… HE WENT TO MEXICO AND BOUGHT MARGA A SMALL RIDING DONKEY. THE FUNNY PART WAS WATCHING MARGA RIDE OFF INTO THE MORNING SUN burst… SITTING ON HER DONKEY SWINGING HER TWO METAL DETECTORS, WITH HER FEET ALMOST TOUCHING THE GROUND.

     THAT SUMMER gave birth to MARGA’S MAIN game PLAN TO LINK THE GROUND SEARCH TO THE UNIVERSITY using A COLLECTION OF COMPUTERIZED ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT THAT SHE packED ONTO HER DONKEY. now it became a lot more fun! marga often shared her hat with the donkey. It had a GO-PRO CAMERA MOUNTED ON it. THE CAMERA RECORDED EVERYTHING FROM A DONKEY’S POINT OF VIEW. NOW SHE COULD KEEP UP THE PACE 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 of water? ARE YOU GETTING TOO HOT? HOW ‘BOUT A BEER?”

    “JON, YOU DON’T BELIEVE ME?’ “

    “WELL MARGA, I THINK WE SHOULD FOLLOW HER LEAD… LET’S HEAD FOR THE HOUSE! MARGA, I THINK YOU SHOULD NAME the donkey… ‘honky’ the TALKING donkey!”

    Out behind the barn…FROM THE RANCHHOUSE TO THE SOUTH, THERE WAS A SMALL DUCK POND. THIS IS the spot WHERE MARGARETTA BEGAN HER FLYING CAREER. JON HIRED A FLYING INSTRUCTOR WHO WAS also A REGISTERED RED CROSS NURSE TO TEACH MARGA HOW TO FLY! 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. IT HAD A UNBREAKABLE BUBBLE FRONT WITH TWO LARGE RUBBER PONTOONS MOUNTED ON TWO SPRING-LIKE LEGS. THE HELICOPTER SOUNDED AND LOOKED LIKE A GIANT INSECT BUZZING AROUND. And at a distance… EVEN MARGA LOOKed BUG-LIKE, IN HER black crash helment and FLIGHT SUIT…

    FOR SEVERAL DAYS AT THE RANCH, THE HELICOPTER JUMPED AROUND FROM FIELD TO FIELD… JUMPING FROM HERE TO THERE… LIKE A GIANT GRASSHOPPER. BOUNCING UP! AND BOUNCING DOWN… 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 GOT THE HANG OF IT. Then SHE DISCOVERED IT WAS A LOT cleaner TO LAND THE HELICOPTER ON THE DUCK POND. THE DUCKS didn’t mind they ENJOYED RESTING ON THE CHOPPER’S BIG RUBBER PONTOONS, MARGA NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE DUCKS UNTIL ONE BRIGHT MORNING SHE SLIPPED ON SOME DUCK-DOO, AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN IN THE duckPOND! She was baptized WHEN SHE CAME UP… SHE HAD DUCK FEATHERS IN HER HAIR, AND WAS CUSSIN’ A BLUESTREAK~~~ lookin’ green SPITTIN’ OUT GREEN-WEEDS!

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

     Near THE END OF THat SUMMER, MARGA WAS FLYING THE HELICOPTER INTO TOWN TO DO HER GROCERY SHOPPING. SHE WOULD LAND ON TOWN LAKE AND TIE UP TO THE PIER. And FROM THERE SHE WOULD JOG TO THE STORE WITH ROSA. WHEN THE DUCKS HEARD THE HELICOPTER COMING BACk… THEY WOULD FLY UP-OFF THE POND QUACKING IN A HURRY! ~~~FLYING CIRCLES AROUND THE RANCH 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 THE ENGINE OFF! THE DUCKS LOVED THE ‘CHOPPER‘. IT BECAME THEIR BIG-BROTHER! ON THE PONTOONS, THEY WERE SAFE… FOR AS LONG AS MARGA AND HER BROOM WAS OUT OF SIGHT!

    FOR A SURPRISE, JON HIRED AN PROFESSIONAL ARTIST TO CUSTOM PAINT HER HELICOPTER ‘PEARL WHITE,’ WITH TWO GOLD RACING STRIPES ZOOMIN’DOWN THE SIDES TO LOOK LIKE WINGS. It LOOKED LIKE A BIG WHITE DUCK WITH ORANGE FEET! instead of looking like a bug…jon got a lot of smiles at the bumper STICKER ON THE BUBBLE WINDSHIELD THAT READ “I LIKE DUCKS!”

    He WAS WELL PLEASED WITH MARGA THAT SUMMER. HIS LOVE FOR HER NEVER STOPPED GROWING. marga was a walking, talking goldmine! ON MONDAYS, SHE FLEW HIM INTO austin TO ATTEND SCHOOL.  AND SHE PICKED HIM UP ON FRIDAYS, TO TAKE HIM BACK TO THE RANCH. ‘THE MOTHER DUCK’ BECAME THE FASTEST AND THE SAFEST WAY FOR THESE TWO REAL-LIFE TREASURE huntERS to travel! HER INSTRUCTIONS WERE: IF THE DUCK SO MUCHED AS COUGHED… SHE WAS TO SIT IT DOWN IMMEDIATELY! NO MATTER WHEREVER! AND CALL FOR HELP! THIS HAPPENED several times WITH MECHANICS FLYING OUT QUICKLY TO 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. THE PROPERTY WAS REMOTELY LOCATED ABOUT 70MILES WEST OF THEIR LUCKENBACK RANCH. MARGA LANDED HER 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 AN UNUSUAL CRACK IN THE BLUFF, ABOUT 65 FEET UP FROM THE WATERS EDGE. DRESSED ONLY IN HER TEE SHIRT AND TENNY SHOES, SHE INVESTIGATED. JON WAS WATCHING FROM BELOW. HE COULD SEE THE SMALL CRACK WAS PARTLY HIDDEN WITH bush and PLANT DEBRI. MARGA CLIMBED HER WAY UP TO THE TOP 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 BACK 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 ROCKWALL 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 A HIGH STATEMENT.” JON SAID. “HOW DID HE REACH UP THAT HIGH?“

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

    “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 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…”

    “I GUESS, I’M OKAY. Jon, 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, COME OVER HERE-QUICK? MARGA IS REAL SICK! AND SHE NEVER GETS SICK! SOMETHING IS BAD WRONG! CAN YOU COME OVER HERE QUICK?”

    “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 COLD AND RUNNING HOT WITH FEVER. SHE SAID HER SKIN WAS BURNING… AND SHE WAS HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING… BY THE TIME CLARA ARRIVED AT THE RANCH, 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 WOULD ALWAYS DREAM THE SAME DREAM ABOUT A GOLD COIN SPINNING AROUND HER HEAD spinnING FASTER, AND FASTER, UNTIL SHE COULD HEAR THE ROAR OF A LOCOMOTIVE train GETTING CLOSER AND THEN… SHE WOULD WAKE UP SCREAMING “THE TRAIN IS COMING! THE TRAIN IS COMING!” OVER AND OVER AGAIN… UNTIL JUDI AND I COULD STAND IT NO LONGER. SOMETIMES SHE WOULD CRY HERSELF back to sleep HOLDING HER PILLOW TO HER EARS TO KEEP OUT THE DEAFENING SOUNDs OF A ROARING LOCOMOTIVE. JON AND CLARA, THEY PRAYED. CLARA SPOKE SOFTLY. ”JON, MARGA WILL BE ALRIGHT. I JUST KNOW IT. YOU’LL SEE…”

    THE NEXT MORNING, JUDI AND RAY SHOWED UP TO SEE MARGA SITTING UP IN BED WONDERING HOW SHE GOT TO THE HOSPITAL. JON WAS OPENING UP THE OUTSIDE WINDOWS… SO MARGA COULD HEAR THE BIRDS SINGING IN THE TREES NEXT TO THE BUILDING. JON ASKED

    “MARGA, ARE YOU FEELING OKAY? Good ENOUGH TO TRAVEL? 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.” CLARA ANSWERED. A DOCTOR ENTERED THE ROOM AND RAN EVERYONE OUT WHILE HE CHECKED THE ROUTINE CHARTS.

    “SHE’S FREE TO GO. EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE  NORMAL, JUST AS SOON AS SHE PAYS MY FEE… SET UP AN APPOINTMENT AT THE FRONT DESK MARGA. FOR A BLOOD SCREENING. AND GET SOME REST!” 

    NEAR-STRAIGHT-UP 12 O’CLOCK NOON, EVERYone WAS SITTING AT THE DINNEr TABLE EATING FRIED CHICKEN WITH MASHED POTATOES, AND GRAVY. AND THANKING GOD FOR MARGA’S SAFE RETURN. MARGA WAS DEFINITELY 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 THE GEAR, AND EQUIPMENT.

    MARGA LANDED THE HELICOPTER IN THE SAME SPOT. AND 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! IN MY BONES!” SHE HEADED UP TOWARD THE CRACK.

   “WAIT A MINUTE, MARGA.  IT’S PROBABLY A HOME FOR A DEN OF BOBCATS!” JON LOADED UP HIS 22 HANDGUN WITH BULLETS AND HE STRAPPED ON HIS BATTERY PAC. HE WAS ADJUSTING HIS HEADLIGHT on HIS HAT WHEN HE CAUGHT UP WITH MARGA. SHE WAS ALREADY PEERING INTO THE CRACK…“LET ME GO FIRST.” HE SAID. HE TURNED HIS HEADLIGHT ON 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! SHE FELT A SHIFT OF COLD AIR MIXED WITH THE SMELL OF BAT-URINE. SHE COUGHED. AND THEN SHE COUGHED AGAIN. JON TURNED TO MARGA AND SAID “MARGA, LETS GET OUT OF HERE! THIS IS PROBABLY WHAT MADE YOU SICK THE LAST TIME. LET’S REGROUP! 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 FAST-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 CAME BACK IN A HURRY… SHE TIED a BANDANNA ACROSS HER FACE  AND PULLED HER HOODIE DOWN OVER HER HEAD. SHE PULLED THE DRAWSTRING UP TIGHT. JON DID THE SAME. THEY PUT ON GLOVES, AND ADJUSTED THEIR HEADLIGHTS AND CRAWLED BACK INTO THE CRACK. AFTER WADDLEING PAST THE RINGTAILS, THE CRACK TOOK SEVERAL 45 DEGREE 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 TIRED OF ALL THIS AMMONIA SMELL?”

    “JON, I CAN MAKE IT, GO FORWARD. LET’S KEEP GOING!” THOUSANDS OF FRIGHTENED BATS AVOIDED JON’S HEADLIGHT AND WATERED ON MARGA. FINALLY, THE BATS FLEW UP HIGHER, AS THE NARROW CRACK OPENED UP INTO A LARGE ROOM WITH SEVERAL PASSAGEWAYS…

    THIS CAVE RESEMBLED MANY OF THE CAVES, JON HAD EXPLORED AS A TEEN. HE KNEW IN THIS AREA OF TEXAS, THESE CAVES WERE ROCKFORMATIONS COMMONLY CALLED HONEYCOMBS. THE HOLES IN THE ROCK MADE BY WATER AND EROSION FLOWING THROUGH THE CRACKS. THIS CAVE SEEMED THE USUAL, EXCEPT FOR MARGA’S EIRY FEELING OF PARTICIPATION.

   “JON, WHERE DO WE START?” BOTH OF THEM LOOKING DOWN AT A SMALL STREAM OF WATER FLOWING ACROSS THEIR PATH…   

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

    “JON, THAT ROCK IS TOO BIG! 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 FEEL FAINT. I CAN’T FIND MY CAMERA. LET’S GET OUT OF HERE! I’M GETTING SCARED! JON NOSED AROUND LOOKING FOR THE CAMERA. HE FOUND IT. And HE STARTED TAKING PICTURES.

    “YES, I KNOW DEAR, BUT…”

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

    “WELL, IF YOU INSIST, DEAR. BUT, IT WAS JUST GETTING INTERESTING. LET’S GO! I’VE GOT ENOUGH PICTURES. WE’LL GIVE IT UP FOR NOW. ARE YOU OKAY?”

    “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 AROUND AND LOOKED 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, AND SAID  

    “MARGA,  I THINK WE HAVE JUST MADE A WRONG TURN.” HE TURNED OFF HIS HEADLIGHT. MARGA DID THE SAME. THEY LOOKED AROUND IN THE DARKNESS… LOOKING FOR A RAY OF LIGHT SHINING THRU SOMEWHERE INTHE CAVE CEILING. MARGA HELD TIGHTLY TO JON’S SWEATSHIRT.

    “I SEE LIGHT! BACK THERE!” JON TURNED COMPLETELY AROUND TO SEE A DIM RAY OF LIGHT.

     “MARGA, WE WERE GOING THE WRONG WAY. IT’S EASY TO GET TURNED AROUND IN HERE… IN ALL THESE HOLES.” AND 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! THEN WE COULD HAVE A BIG PICNIC AND COOK OUT! AND WE COULD INVITE EVERYBODY FROM TOWN TO COME OUT! WHAT IS LIFE ANYWAY? BUT CONSTANT THOUGHTS AND MEMORIES OF THE MIND’” 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 OUT, AND THEY COULD BEAT ON THEIR DRUMS! AND MAYBE THE GIRL SCOUTS COULD COME OUT TO dance and SING! 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 OUR SECRET. AT LEAST, FOR A LITTLE WHILE. I’M DEAD SERIOUS! I THINK 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.‘”

    THEY MADE THEIR WAY 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 PILOT! …AIMING THE CHOPPER STRAIGHT TOWARDs THE RANCH… Scattering wild turkey’s everywhere!

    “WELL-THERE’GOES DINNER!” 

    SIX WEEKS LATER, THE RANCH WAS BOUGHT, sold, AND PURCHASED. MARGA WAS ADMITTING HER DISGUST OVER THE PUBLICITY OF THE SALE. SHE WAS READING THE HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OUTLOUD TO JON, DURING BREAKFAST… 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 TO THE LIVESTOCK SALE this morning. TODAY IS FRIDAY? ISN’T IT?”

    “YES DEAR.” THE TRUCK PULLED UP AND STOPPED IN 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. WHAT SHOULD I TELL THEM?”  

    “WELL, NOTHING SURPRISES ME NOW!” MARGA COMPLAINED.

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

    “SI, MISTER JON. THEY LOOKED HUNGRY! PAPADIAZ SPED OFF IN HIS TRUCK CLIMBING UP 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 THAT’S ALRIGHT 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 SECRET cave FROM THE UNIVERSITY. SO HE GAVE THEM PERMISSION TO PHOTOGRAPH THE ENTRANCE TO THE CAVE. 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 GOT 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 COOK OUT’ DURING THE THREE-DAY EASTER WEEKEND!

    ALMOST IMMEDIATELY PREPARATIONS FOR THE PARTY BEGAN. A TEAM OF WILDLIFE SPECIALISTS WERE HIRED TO REmove THE BATS FROM THE CAVE TO ANOTHER LOCATION BY USING two large vacuum trucks. WORK CREWS EQUIPPED WITH BULLDOZERS, TRACTORS, TRAILERS AND DUMP TRUCKS, 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. AN ELECTRIC POWER LINE WAS BURIED UNDERGROUND, AND A DEEP WATER WELL WAS DRILLED TO ACCOMMODATE THE PUBLIC‘S FACILITIES. DURING ALL THE DIGGING, MARGA FOUND A LOT OF ARROWHEADS.  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 NOW 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 THAT THE PUBLIC MIGHT BE SLIGHTLY DISAPPOINTED IF THERE WAS NOTHING BUT BAT-CRAP IN THE CAVE. BUT JON RE-AFFIRMED MARGA WITH WORDS LIKE “HAVE faith DEAR…FOLLOW your SPIRIT… And WE’ll SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT! BUT Don’t YOU THINK IT’S TIME? WE SHOULD GET 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… 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 THAT THIS RANCH WAS TO BE FOR OUR EYES ONLY? DO YOU REMEMBER THAT PROMISE WE MADE TO EACHOTHER that first day?”

    “YES, MY 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 IN THE DISTANCE. NO LONGER COULD YOU HEAR THE SWEET SOUNDS OF THE INNOCENT BIRDS SINGING IN THE HIGH CLIFFS ABOVE THE DRIPPING SPRINGS OF COLD 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 NEW JEEP WAGONEER. SHE LOOKED AS RADIANT AS THE SUN IN HER BRIGHT ORANGE BANDANNA AND HER TAN 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.”

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

    ON STAGE AT THE PICNIC… JUDI’S BAND FRIENDS WERE SINGING ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!’ AND ‘deep in the heart of texas!‘. ‘THE BIG INDIAN CAMP’ WAS JAM-PACKED! 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 PARKED EVERYWHERE IN THE BIG FIELD. HAPPY PEOPLE WERE walking up and down the roads, AND CROWDING AROUND THE FOOD BOOTHS. EVERYONE SEEMED TO HAVE THEIR CAMERAS, SMART-PHONES AND FLASHLIGHTS!

    WHEN JON WALKED UP ON THE 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 CUPPING HER WINGS DRESSED IN WHITE LEATHER, BEADS AND FEATHERS The EAGLE SCOUTS beating THEIR DRUMS and DRIVING MARGA AROUND in slow motion FORCING HER TO GET INTO THE BIG bird NEST BUILT ON STAGE. SHE was having trouble. She kept slipping off the big plastic egg! THE CROWD WAS LAUGHING, BUT SHE WAS TREMBLING! FINALLY SHE SETTLED DOWN ON THE EGG, SPREADING HER WINGS AND FLASHING HER TAILFEATHERS AT THE CROWD! JON PRAYED “DEAR GOD, Thank you for the GIFT OF LIFE! AND THE BLESSINGS UPON THIS TABLE! AND FOR THIS…WE ARE ETERNALLY grateFULL!”

    AFTER THE ‘AMENS’… THE CROWD GOT ROWDY! And judi’s band got loud! EVERYONE WAS HAVING FUN! clapping their hands! And stomping their feet! SINGING ‘deep in the heart of texas! ENDING WITH A few ‘HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU!’

     AFTER DINNER, EVERYBODY QUIETED DOWN. 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, 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 UNDERWEAR? THE CROWD STIRRED as HE continued to say… IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE THE CRACK BEING RESTORED AS NATURAL, NOW WITH THE STREAM FLOWING STRONGER AND CLEANER AT GROUND LEVEL. HE SAID EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FOLLOW HIS EVERY MOVE BY WATCHING ‘THE BIG SCREEN’ TV-SETUP ON STAGE. AND NOW WITH the internet and SMARTphones, EVERYBODY COULD TAKE A TOUR OF THE CAVE WITH HIM, just AS SOON AS MARGA GIVES ‘THE ALL-CLEAR SIGNAL.‘ JON LOOKED AT CLARA. AND CLARA looked OVER at marga. MARGA STOOD UP! SHE LIFTED HER ARMS and gave the nod! Instantly, THE EAGLE SCOUTS STarted BEATING ON THEIR DRUMS! AND THE GIRL SCOUTS STARTED SHAKING THEIR FEATHERS AND RINGING THEIR BELLS!  AND SOON THE MOOD WAS SET! JON’S EVERY STEP WAS MARKED BY DRUMBEATS! AND HANDCLAPS! EVERYONE WAS LAUGHING! AND HAVING FUN!

    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 ABOUT AN HOUR TO SLIDE THE BIG ROCK OUT OF THE WAY. SEVERAL PIECES OF HYDRAULIC EQIPMENT HAD TO BE PACKED IN.

    EVERYBODY WAS PEERING down INTO THE CRACK As JON WADED-IN.  SHORTLY HE STOPPED… THE CAMERA LIGHTS FOCUSED ON HIM. HE WAS POINTING TO A RED HANDPRINT MARKING A TURN TO THE right. He went farther POINTING TO 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 BEHINd, ENTERING into a smaller, but dryer, passageway. IT SEEMED he was in-there FOREVER. FINALLY, HE CAME OUT OF THE HOLE staggering… HOLDING HIS HEART. WALKing 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 on stage APPEARING IN PRAYER… HE OPENED HIS VEST JACKET AND HELD up A LARGE GOLD Cross shining IN THE SUN-LIGHT FOR THE CROWD TO SEE! THE WIRELESS MICROPHONES PICKED UP THEIR WORDS…“YOU WERE RIGHT MARGA! SOMETHING ‘big-time IS IN THEre!’” MARGA CRYEd “WHAT IS IT JON?” THEY WERE HUGGING EACHOTHER and WEEPING. “HAVE MERCY ON US DEAR LORD!” THEIR WEEPING SPREAD THRU THE CROWD LIKE A FOREST FIRE! AS ALMOST EVERYONE WAS BROUGHT TO TEARS! 

    INSIDE THE CAVE WAS THE MOST EXTRAVAGANT BURIAL CHAMBER EVER DISCOVERED IN TEXAS! WITHOUT EXPLAINING ANY FARTHER, THE CAMERA TEAM 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 HIDDEN 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 CAMERA TEAM FOLLOWED JON LEADING TO A PLATEAU ON THE EASTSIDE WALL WHERE ON TOP OF A LARGE FLAT ROCK THAT LOOKED LIKE A BIG TABLE… WAS THE BODY OF A GREAT CHIEF! BENEATH THE STONE TABLE WAS A WOODEN CHEST FULL OF OLD MAPS AND TREATY DOCUMENTS. THESE DOCUMENTS EXPOSED THE WORLD TO THE LIFELINE OF THE CHIEF, AND THE DESIRES OF HIS HEART TO BE EXPRESSED IN THE life THEREAFTer. BESIDE THE WOODEN CHEST WAS A bullet box full of gold COINs! WHEN THE CAMERA team FOCUSED ON THE GOLD, MARGA COULD HEAR THE ROAR OF THE CROWD ON THE OUTSIDE! THE ROAR GOT LOUDER WHEN THE CAMERAS FOCUSED ON THE BACK WALL! THERE WAS BARS OF GOLD STACKED THREE FEET HIGH! SOME DATING EARLY SPAINISH. OTHERS datING THE CIVIL WAR ERA… BOTH UNION, AND CONFEDERATE.

     ALSO up-AGAINST THE BACK WALL, WAS A CASKET CARVED FROM A HOLLOWED SWEETGUM TREE. IT CONTAINED THE BODY OF A U.S. ARMY, BUFFALO SOLDIER IN FULL UNIFORM. INSIDE WITH HIM WAS A LEATHER FOLDER CONTAINING FIVE UNOPENED LETTERS, Marga fashioned…

    “HE MUST HAVE BEEN MAILING THOSE LETTERS BACK HOME WHEN THE INDIANS GOT HIM!” THESE LETTERS WERE STAINED WITH BLOODY FINGERPRINTS! AS WAS LATER DISCOVERED BY THE LAB.

     THE SIDE WALLS OF THE CAVE LOOKED LIKE STORAGE SHELVES! THERE WAS SWORDS, SHEILDS, SPAINISH HELMENTS AND CHINESE HANDGUNS. THERE WAS BARS OF COPPER, AND BARS OF LEAD. THERE WAS BARRELS FULL OF GUNPOWDER. AND PILES OF CANNON BALLS. THERE WAS TWELVE PAIRS OF U.S.CALVARY BOOTS FILLED WITH  BUFFALO BULLETS, METEROITES, AND TURQUOISE. THERE WAS decorated POTTERY AND JARS. some DATING TO PRE-COLUMBIAN TIMES.

     IN LARGER JARS WERE THE DRIED REMAINS OF INFANT CHILDREN THAT HAD BEEN WRAPPED IN DEERSKINS AND ENTOMBED WITH SMALL PETS, AND TOYS. SEVERAL OF THESE DEERSKINS WERE decorated WITH SYMBOLS AND SIGNS TELLING THE STORY OF HOW THE CHILDREN HAD LIVED AND DIED. SOME SKINS WERE MAPS TO SHOW WHERE OTHER THINGS WERE HIDDEN. IN LESSER JARS, THERE WAS buttons, BONES, and HUMAN TEETH. EACH BUTTON IMPLYING SOME MYSTERY OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. BENEATH A PILE OF OLD BUFFALO HIDES, WAS A U.S.MILITARY WAGON HEAVILY LOADED WITH U.S. ARMY RIFLES AND AMMUNITION. 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 LAID TO REST IN GENEOLOGICAL ORDER. FAMILIES WERE GROUPED TOGETHER BY BLOOD KINSHIP. WOMEN WERE UNWRAPPED IN GRASSMATTING, HOLDING ONTO THEIR SMALL CHILDREN, WHO WERE WRAPPED IN ANIMAL SKINS. THE REMAINS OF HUMAN SCALPS WERE AMONG SOME OT THE BODIES. SOME SCALPS WERE BRAIDED and sealed with beeswax, and some WERE WRAPPED IN OILED LEATHER. MOST OF THE scalps WERE BLACK. SOME WERE GRAY. TWO WERE BLONDE. AND FOUR WERE RED.

    ACCORDING TO JON… THE MOST AMAZING PART OF THis DISCOVERY WAS IN THE LOWER PART OF THE CAVE, WHERE THE remains OF A HUMAN GIANT WAS ENCASED AND BOXED-IN an adobe brick wall WITH THE body OF SMALL asian man. HIS DRIED-up FEATURES ALMOST SEEMED RECONIZABLE! Around his neck, he had A GOLD CHAIN ATTACHED TO A GREEN JADE BUDda. ABOVE HIM DRIVEN INto THE ROCKWALL… WAS A OLD RAILROAD SPIKE THAT HAD A WHALE-OIL LANTERN HANGING ON IT… Laying beside him on the cave floor was a harpoon spear from a whaleship, and His personal tools. Marga remarked “HE MUST HAVE BOXED HIMSELF IN… BEFORE HE RAN OUT OF AIR!”

    FOR JON, he openly praised god! HE HAD UNEARTHED HIMSELF! THIS WAS THE WILL OF HIS LIFE! 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 RANCHer 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 CHIEF… A WHITE MOUNTAIN APACHE, NAMED JOHNNY WHITEAGLE. He was 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! EVERYONE LAY CLAIMS TO THE TREASURE! Besides the u.s. government… SEVERAL TRIBES OF NATIVE AMERICANS WERE CLAIMING ANCESTORIAL RIGHTS TO THE CONTENTS OF THE CAVE. BUT FORTUNATELY, FOR THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS… THE CONTENTS OF THE CAVE BELONGED SOLELY TO jon and MARGARETTA WITH ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY CLEAR TITLE TO THE PROPERTY.

    JON AND MARGA 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, AND HIDDEN SECRETS. 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. IN-BETWEEN SOBS, SHE SCREAMED OF A BLACKFACED NATIVE 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! 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, HE 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 JUDIPANNELLA?”  IT TOOK ‘JUDI DOODY’ TEN YEARS TO GUADUATE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. SHE GOT PREGNANT TWICE. BOTH TIMES GIVING NATURAL CHILD BIRTH TO TWO LITTLE DRUM BEATERS! LITTLE EVA! AND MISSS 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!

thank you lord! for this day to pray….

To be happy! and to enjoy the fullness of life!

HAPPY ARE WE WHO HAVE THEIR QUIVERS FULL!