THE
GREEN OAK BOYS
with
Lessons For Living Happy
And Free
CHAPTERS
(1) Summer brings new
adventures
(2) The Journey begins
(3) How crazy can it get
(4) Two weeks of fame
(5) Are we ready for this
(6) Understanding why
CHAPTER-! 1
SUMMER BRINGS NEW ADVENTURES
Praise the Lord! spring and summer had finally arrived, and thank God it had!!, for The Green Oak Boys were wound up like a ten day clock, shaking, and ready to go off. They had waited patiently through winter, watching their parents pull each other’s hair out, while they picked an endless song into oblivion.
It seemed they'd wasted there time away, that is, wait-en on spring to return, ah but heck, I guess It's every young person’s dream. Besides, Jay and Lyn ward had way to much time on their hands, enough time it seemed, to plan for every day of the new year. Well anyhow, that was then, and this is now, and as the story goes, it was back to fishing and swimming, hunt-en and camping, and last but not least, going to church.
These were all the good things that made life worth living, things that help one to, LIVE LIFE TO ITS FULLNESS. WE often thought back on the summer before, and all it's wonderful adventures, along with all the lessons lived and learned. You know, it's so easy now to
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comprehend, of how all those different lessons in growing, made life easier to figure out and understand.
You see, without understanding, one becomes likened to, a horse with no rider, steered only by the wind, not knowing anything about himself, nor, his surroundings, an easy prey to mischief, !! Anyhow, it was a grand new year, and we all had a whole new outlook on life, with all of us now determined more than ever, to get the most out of every
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day the LORD would give us.
As I remember, it was early one gorgeous Saturday morning, when the Gang all arrived for the New Year’s first, Meeting Of The Minds. There so much to cover from what I can remember, that I had Wilco, to help me remember everything the boys wanted to do for the summer.
My head had begun to spin, as one would yell out one thing, while another would disagree, giving his own bird’s eye view of what should be done. Finally, I shouted SHUT-UP! and told urn all, that there'd be plenty of time for each of their ideals, if they would just be PATIENT.
All eight of us, Lyn-ward, Wilco, Harley. Gabe. Arthur, Minnie-j, Junior, and of course myself, Jay, ( in case you've forgotten) had been shut up for too long, and brother, things were beginning to surface. There had been nightmares, fights, cussing, lying, stealing, you name it, and
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Chapter-1 SUMMER BRINGS NEW ADVENTURES
Friend it happened. Looking back, we could all truly admit, it was off of our own making, for there wasn't any chains around our waist or ankles, matter of fact. THE ONLY thing chained, was (OUR OWN) will and mind. You know, I'd heard it said before, that there was always something for someone to do, and that the only thing stopping them, was SELF, and no other.
Now, getting back to the meeting, everything was finally settled, and everyone had finally agreed to what the first adventure of the year would be, which believe it or not was, to build a tree house. So after searching all over creation for the right tree, we finally found it, standing right above the creek banks, with a perfect view of the railroad.
Yes, friend we were blessed, and after being saved, we knew
beyond the shadow of a doubt, that we never journeyed alone anymore.
Thanks be to GOD, but we were still, far from perfect. Yea,
there were still a few kinks and knots that had to be untied and straightened, but never the less, we worked on um as they would surface, which mom said was often. Dad explained mom how we were just typical boys, and that boys would be boys, doing his best to explain to her the importance of growing and learning.
Boy did we work on that tree house, hauling old lumber and tools, climbing and pulling, screaming and yelling, but I must confess, it wasn't without help from above that it was built! The old oak tree was big, with big strong limbs, making it easy to build on, and build upon we did. Son, we constructed a mansion, high upon those limbs, heck, we even put a window and a door in, and christened it, THE BUZZARD PERCH.
There we were to spend countless hours talking, planning, and over looking the train tracks. We had it made in the shade, no trouble, no one to bother us at all, that is, until Minnie-j glanced out the window. I remember him a Jumping up and down, yelling for us to come and look, as we all watched in dismay, this hobo jump from the train, and commence to roll down a small slope.
Wanting to run down and see if he was alright, we decided to stay calm, and watch to see if the man would get up. Well, after a few minutes, we were all beginning to worry, seeing that the he wasn't
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CHAPTER-1 SUMMER BRINGS NEW ADVENTURES
Moving at all. We were just about to head down and check on him, when all of a sudden, there was movement. Look yawl yells Harley, he's getting up, and he's picking up that sack he threw out the train also.!!! Watching intently, we studied the man closely, watching him as he looked all around, then begin walking like he was trying to sneak up on someone. WE could see that he wore a worn out old cowboy hat, and that he was as skinny as a rail, walking along slowly, with that DON'T CARE ATTATUDE about himself.
Who in the world do you think that is, asked Gabe, I don't know
Says Lyn ward, but something don't look right about him. Well what-a you say we go and introduce ourselves says Wilco, yea, good ideal I told Um, let’s go, maybe there’s something we can help him out with.
So it’s down the tree we go, running toward the tracks as fast as we could, hoping to find-out something worth talking about. As we neared the man, we slowed down to a walk, and then yelled, hey mister; can we help you with anything? The man stopped dead in his tracks, then slowly turned around, and stared at us like we weren't even there.
We were all just standing and looking at one another, when suddenly the man asked, who are you boys, and what do you want. Oh my goodness, there was that awful smell again (oh no, it wasn't me j. But there I stood, as the gang all looked at me, (as usual) as I begin to painfully croak out these kind and pitiful words of affection, sir, can we be of some assistance.? The man suddenly drop's his bag, and begins to walk right up to us, not batting a eye, as he gets right up in our face.
Listen carefully now boys, I don't want your help, or anybody else's help, so y'all just go on about your business, and leave me the heck alone. But being scared senseless, ( as usual again ) Harley blares out and says, but sir, if your here for just a few days, you can use our tree house (The Buzzards Perch) to stay in, it's as comfortable as any place you'll find. Great jumping jelly beans, did I just hear what I thought I just heard,? Oh you bet your last bottom dollar I did!
OH YES MY FRIEND, poor Ole Harley uttered the most painful, breath taking words, ever to be spoken by a fellow club member, words which caused us all to cringe and stare at him in total disgust. It was
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CH AFTER-1 SUMMER BRINGS NEW ADVENTURES
Awful the way we all turned on him, and with our eyes, cut him open, with a look that would of scared the devil himself. But suddenly, something far worst happened, WE ALL ANSWERED WITH A LIE I saying, sure mister, you can use our tree house, we don't mind*
The man then backed up two steps, stuck out his hand, and with a smile said, thank you boys, you won't regret it. Now with all that over with, Lyn-ward suddenly becomes brave, and asked, hey mister, you reckon you could tell us who you are, and what you’re doing round here,
Now listen boys, if you ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies, for there are some things I’d have to_lie_about, and would rather not. Well you haven't done anything wrong have you, asked Wilco, as the man quickly changes the subject and says, y'all come on, let’s go check out that tree house. So off we go, listening as he talked the whole way, not knowing nor understanding most of what he talked about,
As we weighed and measured everything he told us, including his name, which was Badger, we had to stop him again and ask, why Badger,? Looking off into the distance he answered slowly, I guess its cause I like digging around, then looking at all of us stern and hard, we knew it was time to shut our mouths and keep quiet.
When arriving at the tree house, we all stopped and admired our work, as Badger looking up, smiled and said contently, oh yea, this will be perfect. Then grabbing the sack, he threw it over his shoulder, and headed up. As he reached the top, he opened the door and went in, and we all came in after him, each grabbing a chair and sitting down.
There was total silence for a minute or two, as fear begin to grip each one of us, as the tension among us became more than we could bare. It was then, at that very moment that I hammered down on the wood and shouted, this meeting has come to order!
Brother, not only was the gang scared into shock, but so was I, as was Badger also, for he jumped up and yelled, son, don't you ever do that again! No sir, I won't Mr. Badger, answering quickly, knowing I had messed up. I was only bringing the meeting to order I told him, we have one whenever we come up here, and really, I didn't mean to scare you.
Listen boy, you’re not scaring me, nothing scares me, I've walked
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SUMMER BRINGS NEW ADVENTURES
Away from death more than once, and I never looked back. Well that there’s good and all Mr. Badger, but we've got to head on home now I told him, we'll be seeing you again tomorrow. Alright then, he answered, but y'all be sure and bring me back something to eat when you come back, cause I'm a hungrier than a bear. Alright, we'll do it we told him, then took off down the tree, and lit off like a herd of armadillos toward the house.
When getting home, we studied hard the fix we were in, praying to somehow tell Ole Badger that as long as you want was too long, we had made a mistake. So that night, It seems we went over a thousand ideals, till finally Wilco, getting tired and having enough, yells out. who was it who said he could stay away.?
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With all of us now staring at Harley, he begins to bellow like a bull being circumcised, shedding tears the size of golf balls. Trying my best not to become emotional, I save in telling the gang it was only right, to
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forget and forgive. I then explained how it could of easily had been one of us to slip, and lose control of our tongue.
Finding room in our heart to forgive him, we all told Harley we were sorry, then threatened him never to slip up again. We then said our prayers, and went to bed, hoping to wake up with Ole Badger gone. When morning came, we jumped up, got all our chores done, and then asked each other’s advice on our situation.
I'm telling you, there wasn't a one of us with a suggestion; it seemed that all we could do was just to stare at the floor, and painfully wait for one of us to speak. It soon became a hopeless venture; It was a knot that couldn't be untied, that is, till we heard Buddy our dog go to barking. As we all looked up to see who it was, we begin to smile like a donkey eating briers, for it was Uncle Cecil.
Son, let me tell you, Uncle Cecil was one of the coolest, fastest, out-smarten-est, courageous minded rascals you'd ever want-a meet. In fact, he was sort of a hero, cause he once out ran a rabbit barefooted, now tell me that’s not fast. As he killed his truck, and began to get out, I felt the blood leave my head, as I watched him pull a pair of crutches from the back of the truck.
It then took only a second, for all of us to jump up and run to greet
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CHAPTER-1 SUMMER BRINGS NEW ADVENTURES
Him, with all of us wanting to know what had happened. It was just as other times with him he just shrugged it off as a joke, saying was nothing, just a short time of inconvenience. Nothing could bring him down, and we all knew that the Lord had sent him to help us.
What you been up to lately Cecil, dad asked him. Oh not too much Herb, except that I went and broke my leg on a horse I'd bought three months ago. Well, you look like your get-en round pretty good on it, I'd say you don't have long before that cast-el come off. No, the doctor said another couple of months and that should do it.
Well that’s good, but hey look, I got to go on back to work, but why don't you stay a few days with us? You know, I just might do that
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Herb, I'd like to spend a little time with those boys, and see if there bout able to whip me now or not!
Alright, sounds good Cecil, I'll see you this evening, but before I leave, I think I'll ask the wife to make us a gumbo, what-a you say!. Son-of-a~gun, your talking my language now Herb, I think I need to put
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on a little weight anyhow,
Now folks, that’s the kind of language we were accustomed to back home, good Ole PO Folks lingo, nothing fancy, always cheep, keeps one happy, helps one sleep. (H.R, Pitre) Yea, our motto for living was, keep it simple and clean, and you'll live a long and happy life. So, while we were on the subject of living happy, let me tell you what we went and did. After dad left for work, we cornered uncle Cecil and poured our hearts out to him. We told him everything and more about Ole Badger, even stretching it to the point, to where he was a dangerous criminal, who took our tree house from us. We had cut down on oh Badger so much, that no one would have recognized him.