The boy with the ice-eyes is in class today. From across the room I catch him in the corral of bright colored balls.
He is so kind. We play a game. Putting the same colored balls in a basket. Red. Green. Blue. He calls Yellow, "Low." His favorite color is blue. He is two. He fits my need for order.
Been falling in love with my students lately. Spending all my days thinking of what to do with them and then throwing it all out the window and just listening to their stories. It has yet to come to anyone's attention how terribly under qualified I am to teach writing. I don't believe my employers know what I do.
This is my third year working at the Nature of Words and only now am I settling into it. It is because of the students.
Tristan, pixie-cut wandere who invented her own compass that points only to the heart when she is lost. She could probably point out the North star but follows the direction of Orion - spinning round and round, finding the stories most kids her age never find. This evening on the sidewalk she pulled a cigarette out of her mouth and hid it, slight of hand, while saying goodbye. Walking away with Erica who looks like Scarlet Johanson and starts her drawings with the eyes. Puppy haired Canon who confessed tonight they call him "Guac-Boy" at the Mexican restaurant he does dishes at and is sixteen years old. In the blanket fort, Canon played a spoken-word bit on the tinny iphone speaker, "We all have different abilities, thought processes, experiences and genes. So why is a class full of individuals tested by the same means?" Then we dismantled the blanket fort.
Jeremiah was helping me with blankets and bags when we all parted ways.
"Tristan hid her cigarette from me," I mused to him, "she doesn't want me to know she smokes."
"I smoke cigarettes. And I smoke pot. I'm a closet nothing."
Jeremiah is going back to Marshall High School, the alternative school. We applauded him earlier when he made that announcement.
Maybe I am qualified to work with these students. No degree, but a chest full of old notebooks since Middle school. I don't know if the students know what a scared kid I am. How I feel just like them. Judged and
Once at a weekend intensive in Sisters at Caldera I cowered back with my student assistant, Marlee, the germaphob graphic novelist. Admitted if I was a student I would hide in the back with my notebook rather than teach the class. Just a scared kid teaching other kids that are much louder and braver.
The first time I met Tristan I was terrified of her. It was years ago and I watched her put a then, fifteen-year-old Canon in a stunned silence. I told her to write something on my hand and she wrote "For those who favor fire," from the Robert Frost poem. She told me she might not stay. Might run out of the room crying and I told her to do what she needed to do. But she stayed through the entire class.
Last week we both accidentally brought each other presents. Mine, an old Pollyannas band t-shirt and hers, a tiny terrarium in a jar with a christmas light.
"We won't let exam results decided our fate."
Take time loving me
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Med
She had just had her heart broken and was moping and you told her to smile.
And I told her, "don't you dare."
And I pulled you off to the side and told you, "don't you ever tell someone to fake it."
What do they say? It takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile.
It takes no muscles to make no facial expression at all.
Lying burns more calories than telling the truth. I made this up.
Smiling causes happiness. So it goes.
Cussing reduces physical pain. So it goes.
Don't fake it.
Pills like baby teeth
I break them apart
I am weaning.
There is something more than happiness that needs to be discovered in this life.
"Sometimes people need to walk a dark path," Ryan tells me.
Another night
I can't do it
I tell Ryan
and he drops his bike, leans it against the truck
Walks towards me
and puts his hands on my shoulders
tells me
"Do what you want
I love will love you no matter what
I don't see you as a person on medication
Don't do anything you're not ready for"
So I'm breaking my pills in half.
Half of 20mg
Half of 10mg
5 mg a day.
I used to go without. Gave myself a month here or there.
Last winter, my eye twitched. My brain felt like it was floating in the sea.
And I had just forgotten to take them
And I slept in
My routine was distrupted.
I did it all wrong.
I start splitting my pills in half after Ryan and slept that night in the daisy field.
Last summer, Mom asked me if I still thought about suicide.
When I had told her I was on medication she rolled her eyes. Disappointed. I didn't bother to tell my Dad because I knew it would be worse. I told my brother and sister over a fire a few months in.
My brother told me, "How can I judge to for taking medication when I have no idea what it's like to be you."
I told Mom, " I didn't think about suicide."
She told me she read an article about depression and that kids that stayed up really late when they were young tended towards suicidal thinking when they were older.
"Remember when you would stay up late working on your projects?"
Way past when everyone else had gone to sleep.
I poisoned myself.
Dave and I called it our "human pills." He had submitted an article to my compilation zine, Fighting With Demons, about being on medication and for years growing up in a fundamentalist church.
"I grew up believing that my anxiety and sadness were deficiencies in faith."
The patient is a 22-year-old female, 9-week into her pregnant. She does not want the doctor to turn the monitor to show her the ultra-sound. A volunteer has offered to be nearby during the termination procedure. When the procedure is over patient cries so the volunteer believes she is not a monster. Patient does not believe monsters should have children.
The patient is a 24-year-old female. She remembers feeling different when she was 5-years-old and stayed in from recess. She has chronic thoughts of suicide but has never acted on them. Patient is wracked by guilt over an abortion she went through years ago that she never told anyone. She doesn't know how to explain this to others. Patient works compulsively. When projects are complete patient does not feel a sense of accomplishment. Patient lacks empathy and when issues arise in relationships she abandons them. She feels if she is not beautiful and happy she will not be loved. Patient feels great anxiety when thinking about travel and while traveling.
Patient does not like herself. Patient feels guilty for being sad.
Patient is 25-years-old and coming off medication. She has the support of a friend who gives her space to talk about what she is going through. As the medication leaves her system, she stops being able to explain what she was going through. Patient resents her friend for not being able to fix her. Patient feels guilt for not being able to be ok. With a feelings of worthlessness and guilt, suicidal thoughts return.
Patient is 27-year-old female who has been on medication for more that three years. She feels the spectrum of emotions that she imagines other people feel. Patient expresses anger, sadness and happiness. Patient works compulsively. Patient feels accomplished when completing a project. She does not have chronic thoughts of suicide.
Patient is a 27-year-old female who is taking herself off from medication. She is scared. The guilt she has felt for being on medication is exacerbated by the lack of medication in her system. She is beginning to feel raw, like the buffer between her and the harshness of the world is flaking off.
She is afraid she will not be able to connect to others soon. She is afraid she will not want to be around children. She is afraid of having chronic thoughts of suicide. She is afraid she won't like herself anymore. Patient is starting to believe she is ugly and no one likes her.
And I told her, "don't you dare."
And I pulled you off to the side and told you, "don't you ever tell someone to fake it."
What do they say? It takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile.
It takes no muscles to make no facial expression at all.
Lying burns more calories than telling the truth. I made this up.
Smiling causes happiness. So it goes.
Cussing reduces physical pain. So it goes.
Don't fake it.
Pills like baby teeth
I break them apart
I am weaning.
There is something more than happiness that needs to be discovered in this life.
"Sometimes people need to walk a dark path," Ryan tells me.
Another night
I can't do it
I tell Ryan
and he drops his bike, leans it against the truck
Walks towards me
and puts his hands on my shoulders
tells me
"Do what you want
I love will love you no matter what
I don't see you as a person on medication
Don't do anything you're not ready for"
So I'm breaking my pills in half.
Half of 20mg
Half of 10mg
5 mg a day.
I used to go without. Gave myself a month here or there.
Last winter, my eye twitched. My brain felt like it was floating in the sea.
And I had just forgotten to take them
And I slept in
My routine was distrupted.
I did it all wrong.
I start splitting my pills in half after Ryan and slept that night in the daisy field.
Last summer, Mom asked me if I still thought about suicide.
When I had told her I was on medication she rolled her eyes. Disappointed. I didn't bother to tell my Dad because I knew it would be worse. I told my brother and sister over a fire a few months in.
My brother told me, "How can I judge to for taking medication when I have no idea what it's like to be you."
I told Mom, " I didn't think about suicide."
She told me she read an article about depression and that kids that stayed up really late when they were young tended towards suicidal thinking when they were older.
"Remember when you would stay up late working on your projects?"
Way past when everyone else had gone to sleep.
I poisoned myself.
Dave and I called it our "human pills." He had submitted an article to my compilation zine, Fighting With Demons, about being on medication and for years growing up in a fundamentalist church.
"I grew up believing that my anxiety and sadness were deficiencies in faith."
The patient is a 22-year-old female, 9-week into her pregnant. She does not want the doctor to turn the monitor to show her the ultra-sound. A volunteer has offered to be nearby during the termination procedure. When the procedure is over patient cries so the volunteer believes she is not a monster. Patient does not believe monsters should have children.
The patient is a 24-year-old female. She remembers feeling different when she was 5-years-old and stayed in from recess. She has chronic thoughts of suicide but has never acted on them. Patient is wracked by guilt over an abortion she went through years ago that she never told anyone. She doesn't know how to explain this to others. Patient works compulsively. When projects are complete patient does not feel a sense of accomplishment. Patient lacks empathy and when issues arise in relationships she abandons them. She feels if she is not beautiful and happy she will not be loved. Patient feels great anxiety when thinking about travel and while traveling.
Patient does not like herself. Patient feels guilty for being sad.
Patient is 25-years-old and coming off medication. She has the support of a friend who gives her space to talk about what she is going through. As the medication leaves her system, she stops being able to explain what she was going through. Patient resents her friend for not being able to fix her. Patient feels guilt for not being able to be ok. With a feelings of worthlessness and guilt, suicidal thoughts return.
Patient is 27-year-old female who has been on medication for more that three years. She feels the spectrum of emotions that she imagines other people feel. Patient expresses anger, sadness and happiness. Patient works compulsively. Patient feels accomplished when completing a project. She does not have chronic thoughts of suicide.
Patient is a 27-year-old female who is taking herself off from medication. She is scared. The guilt she has felt for being on medication is exacerbated by the lack of medication in her system. She is beginning to feel raw, like the buffer between her and the harshness of the world is flaking off.
She is afraid she will not be able to connect to others soon. She is afraid she will not want to be around children. She is afraid of having chronic thoughts of suicide. She is afraid she won't like herself anymore. Patient is starting to believe she is ugly and no one likes her.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Jill
It is midnight, under the covers, and I'm thinking of Jill. My eyes are wide open but all I can see is black. I'm also thinking about what if wou
Hanna visits us in spirit. She checks in and sees what we are up to.
Hanna visits us in spirit. She checks in and sees what we are up to.
mosquito
Hanna would let a fly crawl in her mouth. it stireed up the n. Around you I feel my stomach full of wasps.
I am one of ever moving compulsions. Between one thing and the next. Be grateful if you were the last to speak to me, for it is your will I am bearing. If you were not I might have gone astray.
All big and small things are the same. A heartbreak. A mosquito bite.
I am one of ever moving compulsions. Between one thing and the next. Be grateful if you were the last to speak to me, for it is your will I am bearing. If you were not I might have gone astray.
All big and small things are the same. A heartbreak. A mosquito bite.
Francis Ha
Poets. Stop prefacing your work with how bullshit you are. Your human self betrays your art.
I went to an electronic show weeks ago and danced my ass off. Eating otter pops and hanging off a chain-link fence like a prisoner or a lazy stripper. The djs felt the need to explain the songs and for 30 thousand people they would cut the beat to lay down an explanation. they would cut the beat to tell us to put our hands in the air. They kept cutting in on their own work, wrecking the rhythm of the music and halting the vibe of the crowd.
My advice, artists. STOP. You can't speak for your art. A child is life yearning for itself.
Hanna's picture: too much control can destroy a work
Nothing is so intoxicating that you can stay drunk forever
Rien es
I'm not sure when it stopped being about happiness and comfort. When being liked was less of the priority when compared with living authenticly.
Ohio
I moved into the Ohio Boy house to become lost. Rinnah said I would be like Wendy but that was not my intention. I wanted to be caught up in the gust that was blowing everyone around.
Steinbeck
Steinbeck's boat keeps sinking and they keep bringing it up. They say they are going to divide up the boat; bring parts to Salinas and put parts in a hotel somewhere near ...
They're holding on to much. It would be better to point at a body of water and say, "that is where Steinbeck's boat lies," and leave it at that. Then we can all come to it without needing to pay money for the museum or the hotel room.
VOnnegut wanted his body thrown in the ocean. They put it in a box and did a big ceremony and
The only one who almost got away with dying the right way was Gran Parsons. But ... got too drunk and didn't being enough gasoline into the desert to get the job done and They took away the body to be buried proper.
Mom and Dad are in the front seat telling me about church. The sermon was about Jesus giving his body and metaphorically using his death as a way to nourish the people. Giving his body to the people to eat. Man can not live on bread alone. And they are saying how beautiful it is, this sacrifice and I too, started to feel how beautiful it was for someone to offer themselves like that.
There are a package of chicken hearts in the food pantry at my work and I don't know whether to put them in a food box or bury them in the yard.
Hearts are something special.
Lying on my stomach in yoga class my ear and chest to the floor I hear the suck suck suck of my heart pulling in blood. The floor has created a perfect audio conduit for my ear and my heart. There's the tape I found in the free box at work that is sounds from the womb. It is made to play next to babies when they are sleeping to comfort them with sounds from the womb. The sounds of my heart beating into the floor sounds like this
They're holding on to much. It would be better to point at a body of water and say, "that is where Steinbeck's boat lies," and leave it at that. Then we can all come to it without needing to pay money for the museum or the hotel room.
VOnnegut wanted his body thrown in the ocean. They put it in a box and did a big ceremony and
The only one who almost got away with dying the right way was Gran Parsons. But ... got too drunk and didn't being enough gasoline into the desert to get the job done and They took away the body to be buried proper.
Mom and Dad are in the front seat telling me about church. The sermon was about Jesus giving his body and metaphorically using his death as a way to nourish the people. Giving his body to the people to eat. Man can not live on bread alone. And they are saying how beautiful it is, this sacrifice and I too, started to feel how beautiful it was for someone to offer themselves like that.
There are a package of chicken hearts in the food pantry at my work and I don't know whether to put them in a food box or bury them in the yard.
Hearts are something special.
Lying on my stomach in yoga class my ear and chest to the floor I hear the suck suck suck of my heart pulling in blood. The floor has created a perfect audio conduit for my ear and my heart. There's the tape I found in the free box at work that is sounds from the womb. It is made to play next to babies when they are sleeping to comfort them with sounds from the womb. The sounds of my heart beating into the floor sounds like this
Monday, August 5, 2013
...
There is sugar in everything. I spit a mouthful of cranberries into my hand as I read the ingrediants.
In fucking everything.
The balsamic dressing and all the sauces and the gluten free cereal and all the things.
Kaycee is so excited. She asked me to make a wish and I wished for a place Ryan and I could both live. The universe is vibrating! She said. We can feel it. We are so excited. All our wishes are coming true. It's ok.
In fucking everything.
The balsamic dressing and all the sauces and the gluten free cereal and all the things.
Kaycee is so excited. She asked me to make a wish and I wished for a place Ryan and I could both live. The universe is vibrating! She said. We can feel it. We are so excited. All our wishes are coming true. It's ok.
More here coffee
There are mornings I wake up and ask you, how long has it been?
5 months, you told me last.
I have not been good at counting and remembering names. Worse than ever. Counting days or cups for the milk. A fantastic woman was in my kitchen and I could not remember her name. She was a doula and worke with children and had just finished a counceling program and I couldn't remember her name.
I told Jen, I love you so much. You are such a good friend to me, but one day, I will forget your name and it will embarrass me and make me feel so scared that you will feel our story means nothing to me, but you must know, it is not that. It is that I cannot remember names. I will always remember you.
When Eugene left France I said I would miss him and he told me I would forget him and I didn't say otherwise but I have never forgot him and still remember fondly him telling me stories of sleeping with prosituites all around the world as we sat by the fountain either very late in the night or very early in the morning. Prosituites in Europe have no heart. They charge by the hour and are constnatly looking at the clock. Prostuites in SOuth America can be bought by the day and are warm and affectionate like friends.
5 months, you told me last.
I have not been good at counting and remembering names. Worse than ever. Counting days or cups for the milk. A fantastic woman was in my kitchen and I could not remember her name. She was a doula and worke with children and had just finished a counceling program and I couldn't remember her name.
I told Jen, I love you so much. You are such a good friend to me, but one day, I will forget your name and it will embarrass me and make me feel so scared that you will feel our story means nothing to me, but you must know, it is not that. It is that I cannot remember names. I will always remember you.
When Eugene left France I said I would miss him and he told me I would forget him and I didn't say otherwise but I have never forgot him and still remember fondly him telling me stories of sleeping with prosituites all around the world as we sat by the fountain either very late in the night or very early in the morning. Prosituites in Europe have no heart. They charge by the hour and are constnatly looking at the clock. Prostuites in SOuth America can be bought by the day and are warm and affectionate like friends.
Monday, July 15, 2013
Offerings of Grace and Mischief
We are blowing about like magnificent seeds,
falling apart and drifting away maddengly in huffle puff gusts
It is not a path we are walking
It is a current
and we are flying on the bristles
our arms and legs
watermelon and almond butter
we are stripped away and we take flight
It's so funny
They are going to celebrate Banned book week by
writing controversial short stories
or something like that
I am going to write a story
about a young boy and his grandfather in a functioning monogamous relationship
without a hint of irony. It's going to be so fucking banned.
Let's play a game called
Find the Tooth
Racoons hold onto shiny objects
even at their peril
even to sacrifice their freedom
What is my shiny object?
Pills like baby teeth
I break them apart
I am weaning.
I can't do it
I tell Ryan
and he drops his bike, leans it against the truck
Walks towards me
and puts his hands on my shoulders
tells me
"Do what you want
I love will love you no matter what
I don't see you as a person on medication
Don't do anything you're not ready for"
So I'm breaking my pills in half.
Half of 20mg
Half of 10mg
5 mg a day.
I used to go without. Give myself a month.
Last winter, my eye twitched
and I swooned in headaches that felt like heat waves.
And I had just forogotten to take them
And I slept in
My routine was distrupted.
I did it all wrong.
we fall to save ourselves
we climb to save ourselves
we are always looking to be saved
Salvation
I start splitting my pills in half after Ryan and slept that night in the daisy field.
After we woke up in the hotsprings
After we woke up on the truck
After breakfast
After I dropped him in the forest by the creek
I collected mountain flowers
in a rusty tin can I found in a firepit
I find a dead pigeon by the side of the road and pick it up for Alicia Renner to pluck
The pigeons mate was nearby in mourning when I scooped it up
and I felt terrible as I drove away
I left Ryan in the woods and starting splitting my pills in half
I pick up a hitchhiker.
She's headed to the desert.
Born in Pheonix she was needing desert medicine. Living in Eugene she packed nothing, took the bus as far as she could to Rainbow and I picked her up next to the gas station.
There's another of us that's trying to be saved.
She's hanging out with a scuzzball who's doing heroin
Too frequently.
We are worried she is doing heroin.
Everyone is concerned.
But no one knows that facts
so we can't really do anything about it.
She just got out of a relatioship.
A long one, like 3 years.
The old one, the ex, is trying to save her
but he can't get close anymore
and he is confused
and worried
and feels powerless
and he is becoming beautiful
in a way no one ever saw coming.
And she is becoming sick.
And we want to save her
but
no one knows the facts
so we can't really do anything about it,
Kryon and I are talking about angels and demons
The boy who stabbed himself at the chest at the open mic at Strictly Organic was a friend of his
Kyrin explained he had been doing a lot of these hallucineginic drugs that had been coming through town
His friend would wake up from black outs having done ...
Demons we say
are the things that possess us
Take over out body
we let them in
even if it's a small acceptance we accept the invitation and they take seed
they come inside us
Angels
we agree
are the ones who do not come inside us
they watch
from a distance
they do not manipulate
they are observors
they cry
they do not judge
they walk with us along our path
later that night kyron calls Matt a hipster faggot. He calls Ryan a hipster faggot. He tells Rio she has no friends. He tells Matt Ozrelic a hipster faggot.
Kyron has demons.
I marveled at our connection by the fire
Tyler tries to punch Kyron in the head three times to knock him out so they can leave. Kyron won't leave. He is still calling eeryone hipster faggots.
The other Tylerblocks the punches. Demons abound
I didn't know I needed to be saved until I was.
Oh Lord please don't let me be misunderstoof
Mixtape to this?
I once was lost and now I was found
on the recorders
Micah
Rinnah
I won't stick around the people who ask too many questions.
Ryan was explaining to Nico why he had to go. Telling Nico he was going to see me and that he wanted to see me because he loved me. Ryan says something can't really make sense if you can't explain it to a child.
Angels
Facepicking (illustration?) Jack Black cigarette light Sasquatch
Shaman teacher
KDZ9WH2
falling apart and drifting away maddengly in huffle puff gusts
It is not a path we are walking
It is a current
and we are flying on the bristles
our arms and legs
watermelon and almond butter
we are stripped away and we take flight
It's so funny
They are going to celebrate Banned book week by
writing controversial short stories
or something like that
I am going to write a story
about a young boy and his grandfather in a functioning monogamous relationship
without a hint of irony. It's going to be so fucking banned.
Let's play a game called
Find the Tooth
Racoons hold onto shiny objects
even at their peril
even to sacrifice their freedom
What is my shiny object?
Pills like baby teeth
I break them apart
I am weaning.
I can't do it
I tell Ryan
and he drops his bike, leans it against the truck
Walks towards me
and puts his hands on my shoulders
tells me
"Do what you want
I love will love you no matter what
I don't see you as a person on medication
Don't do anything you're not ready for"
So I'm breaking my pills in half.
Half of 20mg
Half of 10mg
5 mg a day.
I used to go without. Give myself a month.
Last winter, my eye twitched
and I swooned in headaches that felt like heat waves.
And I had just forogotten to take them
And I slept in
My routine was distrupted.
I did it all wrong.
we fall to save ourselves
we climb to save ourselves
we are always looking to be saved
Salvation
I start splitting my pills in half after Ryan and slept that night in the daisy field.
After we woke up in the hotsprings
After we woke up on the truck
After breakfast
After I dropped him in the forest by the creek
I collected mountain flowers
in a rusty tin can I found in a firepit
I find a dead pigeon by the side of the road and pick it up for Alicia Renner to pluck
The pigeons mate was nearby in mourning when I scooped it up
and I felt terrible as I drove away
I left Ryan in the woods and starting splitting my pills in half
I pick up a hitchhiker.
She's headed to the desert.
Born in Pheonix she was needing desert medicine. Living in Eugene she packed nothing, took the bus as far as she could to Rainbow and I picked her up next to the gas station.
There's another of us that's trying to be saved.
She's hanging out with a scuzzball who's doing heroin
Too frequently.
We are worried she is doing heroin.
Everyone is concerned.
But no one knows that facts
so we can't really do anything about it.
She just got out of a relatioship.
A long one, like 3 years.
The old one, the ex, is trying to save her
but he can't get close anymore
and he is confused
and worried
and feels powerless
and he is becoming beautiful
in a way no one ever saw coming.
And she is becoming sick.
And we want to save her
but
no one knows the facts
so we can't really do anything about it,
Kryon and I are talking about angels and demons
The boy who stabbed himself at the chest at the open mic at Strictly Organic was a friend of his
Kyrin explained he had been doing a lot of these hallucineginic drugs that had been coming through town
His friend would wake up from black outs having done ...
Demons we say
are the things that possess us
Take over out body
we let them in
even if it's a small acceptance we accept the invitation and they take seed
they come inside us
Angels
we agree
are the ones who do not come inside us
they watch
from a distance
they do not manipulate
they are observors
they cry
they do not judge
they walk with us along our path
later that night kyron calls Matt a hipster faggot. He calls Ryan a hipster faggot. He tells Rio she has no friends. He tells Matt Ozrelic a hipster faggot.
Kyron has demons.
I marveled at our connection by the fire
Tyler tries to punch Kyron in the head three times to knock him out so they can leave. Kyron won't leave. He is still calling eeryone hipster faggots.
The other Tylerblocks the punches. Demons abound
I didn't know I needed to be saved until I was.
Oh Lord please don't let me be misunderstoof
Mixtape to this?
I once was lost and now I was found
on the recorders
Micah
Rinnah
I won't stick around the people who ask too many questions.
Ryan was explaining to Nico why he had to go. Telling Nico he was going to see me and that he wanted to see me because he loved me. Ryan says something can't really make sense if you can't explain it to a child.
Angels
Facepicking (illustration?) Jack Black cigarette light Sasquatch
Shaman teacher
KDZ9WH2
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Protest Mixtape
Derek Jensen was in the woods, Kasey tells me, he was staying some days out there.
This what wasn't in the documentary, a seperate tale. Maybe they cut it out. Occupied Cascadia. They were asking Jensen about his experience as an acitivst. Talking about the land in the Nortwest. Loving the land, loving the trees and the forest and the plans to protect it.
"Embrace me in your arms, as if for the last time." -Stephen Harrod Buhner
The woods were keeping their distance from him and Derek felt like a stranger. Days went by, sleeping under the boughs where he felt like an outsider, like he didn't belong.
On the third day a man came and began tagging trees to be considered for removal. Logging.
Derek flared up and yelled at him. Told him to get the fuck out. Made him stop marking the trees. Made himself big as a douglas fir and the man left. Then Derek felt the shift and the trees welcomed him. He suddenly felt at home. He had earned his keep in the forest. In the world. In the universe.
They say the trees in Port Angeles swallowed the machines that were cutting them down. The earth opened up and feasted on metal bits. They left that place and it's crazy trees.
There have been fights lost. Few fights won.
This what wasn't in the documentary, a seperate tale. Maybe they cut it out. Occupied Cascadia. They were asking Jensen about his experience as an acitivst. Talking about the land in the Nortwest. Loving the land, loving the trees and the forest and the plans to protect it.
"Embrace me in your arms, as if for the last time." -Stephen Harrod Buhner
The woods were keeping their distance from him and Derek felt like a stranger. Days went by, sleeping under the boughs where he felt like an outsider, like he didn't belong.
On the third day a man came and began tagging trees to be considered for removal. Logging.
Derek flared up and yelled at him. Told him to get the fuck out. Made him stop marking the trees. Made himself big as a douglas fir and the man left. Then Derek felt the shift and the trees welcomed him. He suddenly felt at home. He had earned his keep in the forest. In the world. In the universe.
They say the trees in Port Angeles swallowed the machines that were cutting them down. The earth opened up and feasted on metal bits. They left that place and it's crazy trees.
There have been fights lost. Few fights won.
If They Come in the Night
Marge Piercy
Marge Piercy
Long ago on a night of danger and vigil
a friend said, why are you happy?
He explained (we lay together
on a cold hard floor) what prison
meant because he had done
time, and I talked of the death
of friends. Why are you happy
then, he asked, close to
angry.
a friend said, why are you happy?
He explained (we lay together
on a cold hard floor) what prison
meant because he had done
time, and I talked of the death
of friends. Why are you happy
then, he asked, close to
angry.
I said, I like my life. If I
have to give it back, if they
take it from me, let me
not feel I wasted any, let me
not feel I forgot to love anyone
I meant to love, that I forgot
to give what I held in my hands,
that I forgot to do some little
piece of the work that wanted
to come through.
have to give it back, if they
take it from me, let me
not feel I wasted any, let me
not feel I forgot to love anyone
I meant to love, that I forgot
to give what I held in my hands,
that I forgot to do some little
piece of the work that wanted
to come through.
Sun and moonshine, starshine,
the muted light off the waters
of the bay at night, the white
light of the fog stealing in,
the first spears of morning
touching a face
I love. We all lose
everything. We lose
ourselves. We are lost.
the muted light off the waters
of the bay at night, the white
light of the fog stealing in,
the first spears of morning
touching a face
I love. We all lose
everything. We lose
ourselves. We are lost.
Only what we manage to do
lasts, what love sculpts from us;
but what I count, my rubies, my
children, are those moments
wide open when I know clearly
who I am, who you are, what we
do, a marigold, an oakleaf, a meteor,
with all my senses hungry and filled
at once like a pitcher with light.
lasts, what love sculpts from us;
but what I count, my rubies, my
children, are those moments
wide open when I know clearly
who I am, who you are, what we
do, a marigold, an oakleaf, a meteor,
with all my senses hungry and filled
at once like a pitcher with light.
Kevin is on a drunk rant again, but this time it's different.
On Friday's folks stand in front of the bank, on the busy intersection heading into downtown on Wall and Greenwood. They've been here since I've been in High School. Since 2003 when the war in Iraq started. I was involved then, making my mom drive me to peace walks. Lighting candles. Music being played. Redemption song. It was a small movement and has remained small, flaring up on occasion. There are usually the same folks, older. The diligent ones. The mainstays. The bedrocks.
Kevin walked by them the other day and he told them what they were doing was useless. Protesting was useless. Standing there, wasting their time, he grumbles to me.
I'm listening incredulously. It's hard to find the words to say.
Of course. They are small. They are the small axe. They hold their signs, "PEACE" "NO WAR"
Simple things
Make your voice loud.
Do you remember the riots in Gothenburg
in the summer of two thousand and one
Boy, we sure had fun
I held your hand so proud
it was shaking from what I learned was doubt
in the warm summer sun
And I saw my face on a screen
they filmed us from a helicopter
The most frightened face I've seen
red in the face like a lobster
Do you remember the riots in Gothenburg
in the summer of two thousand and one
Boy, we sure had fun
Down the avenue
the black black crew
were throwing rocks at the cops stand
everyhing stopped
They started a bonfire
a couple of days prior
I wanted to do that too
burn down the avenue
And I saw my face on a screen
they filmed us from a helicopter
The most frightened face I've seen
red in the face like a lobster
And your hands slipped out of mine
I couldn't see no love in your eye
and I knew what I had to do
burn the avenue
And I'm not a political fighter
and I don't even have a cigarette lighter
But I wanna see that fire
I just wanna see that fire
I just wanted to see that fire
Burn down the avenue
Do you remember the riots in Gothenburg
in the summer of two thousand and one
Boy, we sure had fun
in the summer of two thousand and one
Boy, we sure had fun
I held your hand so proud
it was shaking from what I learned was doubt
in the warm summer sun
And I saw my face on a screen
they filmed us from a helicopter
The most frightened face I've seen
red in the face like a lobster
Do you remember the riots in Gothenburg
in the summer of two thousand and one
Boy, we sure had fun
Down the avenue
the black black crew
were throwing rocks at the cops stand
everyhing stopped
They started a bonfire
a couple of days prior
I wanted to do that too
burn down the avenue
And I saw my face on a screen
they filmed us from a helicopter
The most frightened face I've seen
red in the face like a lobster
And your hands slipped out of mine
I couldn't see no love in your eye
and I knew what I had to do
burn the avenue
And I'm not a political fighter
and I don't even have a cigarette lighter
But I wanna see that fire
I just wanna see that fire
I just wanted to see that fire
Burn down the avenue
Do you remember the riots in Gothenburg
in the summer of two thousand and one
Boy, we sure had fun
There was this rant a boy posted on his facebook about the apathy of his peers, this generation, our generation. "Who are your friends?" I asked. Who did young man surround himself with? Everyday my friends were coming out of the closet, organizing events, writing radical zines and cookbooks, growing gardens, going into the woods and learning the old ways and passing them on to each others children.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
pom
Jake took me to the nettle patch today.
My coat hold only one button, the one at the top
My coat flapped open
like cape
as we rode our bikes along the river
as fast as we could
I can't tell you where the nettle is
I can tell you where the wolf berries are
in the alley near my house
There should be enough again
this summer
for you and me
if the bees are busy
and the neighbors don't prune them away
But the nettle is for Jake to share.
Riding,
I tell Jake I figured something out
Gazing at Rinnah last night
I got shy and looked away
and remembered
when it was
that when you kiss someone
you stop looking away
you feel like you're inside that person
and they are inside of you
The pact.
Jake tells me I have women medicine
and that I use my powers to help others
He says the nettle is male and female and mate every year
He says the root of the nettle feels masculine
He says the warriors would consume the nettle to strengthen their blood
We look around the brush.
There is a styrofoam container
some crushed Olympia cans
a bottle of Old German
which I put in my backpack
Jake finds the nettle
and we clear away a place in the thicket
to crouch down.
The nettle is going crazy in the valley
Not here
So much.
The tulips are blooming in the valley
The daffodils in my yard would bloom
on the week of my birthday
First week of March
I tell him every year I wish the winter
to be so treacherous
and miserable
I hope everything breaks and I cry everyday
Because when the summer comes it feels like ecstasy
It is why I bear the loneliness
And hold onto it sometimes
Jake says, when you touch the nettle it stings
and leaves welts
He says the Chinese use nettle in medicine
They lash the backs of elders with arthritis
and it relieves their joints
We touch the nettle to acupuncture points on our wrists
Within seconds the skin flares up
and stings
Maybe it's to make us stronger
Maybe it's to remind ourselves that pain is healing.
He picks a nettle for himself
He is going to use it in the sushi tonight for the family
He picks a nettle for me
He says I can make it into a tea
My coat hold only one button, the one at the top
My coat flapped open
like cape
as we rode our bikes along the river
as fast as we could
I can't tell you where the nettle is
I can tell you where the wolf berries are
in the alley near my house
There should be enough again
this summer
for you and me
if the bees are busy
and the neighbors don't prune them away
But the nettle is for Jake to share.
Riding,
I tell Jake I figured something out
Gazing at Rinnah last night
I got shy and looked away
and remembered
when it was
that when you kiss someone
you stop looking away
you feel like you're inside that person
and they are inside of you
The pact.
Jake tells me I have women medicine
and that I use my powers to help others
He says the nettle is male and female and mate every year
He says the root of the nettle feels masculine
He says the warriors would consume the nettle to strengthen their blood
We look around the brush.
There is a styrofoam container
some crushed Olympia cans
a bottle of Old German
which I put in my backpack
Jake finds the nettle
and we clear away a place in the thicket
to crouch down.
The nettle is going crazy in the valley
Not here
So much.
The tulips are blooming in the valley
The daffodils in my yard would bloom
on the week of my birthday
First week of March
I tell him every year I wish the winter
to be so treacherous
and miserable
I hope everything breaks and I cry everyday
Because when the summer comes it feels like ecstasy
It is why I bear the loneliness
And hold onto it sometimes
Jake says, when you touch the nettle it stings
and leaves welts
He says the Chinese use nettle in medicine
They lash the backs of elders with arthritis
and it relieves their joints
We touch the nettle to acupuncture points on our wrists
Within seconds the skin flares up
and stings
Maybe it's to make us stronger
Maybe it's to remind ourselves that pain is healing.
He picks a nettle for himself
He is going to use it in the sushi tonight for the family
He picks a nettle for me
He says I can make it into a tea
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Bike crash comic
Bike, car
bike crash on something "wipe-out"
Car pulls over
"Hey!"
Right when you fell I was listening to .... and it said, "wipe out"
No way bra!
Way!
Hahahahah
Want a ride to the hospital?
Yeah, that'd be great!
Look at that fucking bone..
bike crash on something "wipe-out"
Car pulls over
"Hey!"
Right when you fell I was listening to .... and it said, "wipe out"
No way bra!
Way!
Hahahahah
Want a ride to the hospital?
Yeah, that'd be great!
Look at that fucking bone..
Sunday, March 10, 2013
CSA
22135 Erickson Road, out East
CSA program through MountainStar
2013 CSA Season
June 5th through September 25th + November 17th = 18 weeks
The first day of pick up will be Tuesday, June at the farm or Wednesday, June 6th at our arranged drop point(s), and every Wednesday thereafter. The last pick up day for summer will be September 26th. There will be one last pick up day on Wednesday, November 17th, with some fall goodies such as potatoes, onions, garlic, winter squash and cooking pumpkins just in time for the holidays. If the farm has produce available before June 6, we will send out an email with what is available and how you can purchase the produce. The same will happen in October until our season is done.
Weekly pick
Split as a group with staff
Costco prices for vegetables - research more
Strawberries : 19.96
Pepper: $18
Mango: $18
Watermelon: $13.50
feed 4-6 people week $40
$720 season
The CSA would take care of two days of vegetable consumption.
Majority of the products will be fresh greens
Fruit?
eggs
spinach
kale
chicken
lettuce
romaine
tomatoes
squash
cabbage
beets
Dishes that can include a variety of vegetables
Dumplings
Quiches
Pasta sauces (sauteed dishes that are over pasta)
Stir-fry
I often use the frozen "mixed vegetables" in a variety of ways.
Children will be having fresh salads
Acting by April 1st will give a 5% discount
Questions needing addressed
What is the USDA feel about compensating for CSA?
Will there be enough food?
Is it worth the price?
Is it comparable to Costco?
Will it be annoying to have similar vegetables every time?
Also, using Tim & Jen's garden. Is it childcare nutrition approved? How to create a relationship with local growers...
Friday, March 8, 2013
joel2
Joel asked me out of the blue how periods work.
Joel is famous for asking girls or just internally assuming when they are emotional that they are on their periods. He's not being rude, he really doesn't understand ladies when they have emotions.
Joel is famous for asking girls or just internally assuming when they are emotional that they are on their periods. He's not being rude, he really doesn't understand ladies when they have emotions.
on the phone with hanna
I was waiting all night for you to call.
Developing a relationship with my grandma after she's dead. Because there's no such thing.
Perl dream interpretation
ship slippery slide loses feet loses shipness becomes hot metal against cold ice and it sits this very tip of athe peak of the moutain its been standing for some time conteplating taking its herbs and drinking irs contemplating what not to miss then it slowly goes over this little peak on the cold cold ice with lightening flashed no one sees the ligth sines and it strrams throighout the whole city, the city shits down and the city shts down for 22 hours shts down shuts does, does not move, does nto speak eerytjing is frozen except for this moement that is haooening over this peak and this thing is coing for you. this thing is coming for you. this thing is coming for something that is alive. everything is frozen the thing that it foing towards is virating towards that thing then they link
they together and that whens life starts again
James says there are a lot of constellation in Pisces and to not be so hard on myself.
you are like interpreting a dream
we are mirrors of each other both representing the sscred shrine
she took sdvatage of a migrating flock of birds
visits people in the night
Developing a relationship with my grandma after she's dead. Because there's no such thing.
Perl dream interpretation
ship slippery slide loses feet loses shipness becomes hot metal against cold ice and it sits this very tip of athe peak of the moutain its been standing for some time conteplating taking its herbs and drinking irs contemplating what not to miss then it slowly goes over this little peak on the cold cold ice with lightening flashed no one sees the ligth sines and it strrams throighout the whole city, the city shits down and the city shts down for 22 hours shts down shuts does, does not move, does nto speak eerytjing is frozen except for this moement that is haooening over this peak and this thing is coing for you. this thing is coming for you. this thing is coming for something that is alive. everything is frozen the thing that it foing towards is virating towards that thing then they link
they together and that whens life starts again
James says there are a lot of constellation in Pisces and to not be so hard on myself.
you are like interpreting a dream
we are mirrors of each other both representing the sscred shrine
she took sdvatage of a migrating flock of birds
visits people in the night
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Spaces
Ever since I was very young I've been in love with spaces.
Finding a birds nest puts me in wonder for long moments. Staring upward and getting into the mind of the birds.
In the blackberry bushes we used dad s rose clippers to hollow out spaces in the thorny vines, borrowing until the walls and ceilings were an impenetrable fortress of spikes and orb weaving spider webs.
Gary and I made a space under the stairs when I was sixteen. Moving suitcases and Mom's nostalgia boxes, behind coats and snow clothes we pulled in blankets and Christmas lights. A single electrical cord betrayed our secret until Gary burrowed a hole in the wall to the garage where we could hide without detection. We pulled in a tiny television and bought a cheap DVD player and I watched The Royal Tenebaums and Amelie, buring a thick fog of incense. Gary used the space to hide with friends.
I used to sleep in the closet. Dad shamed me but I did it anyway. I loved the spaces. The nooks. I once kissed a pretty girl and on my runs would find places under the boughs of thick trees and among Oregon grape I could take her and we could kiss more.
(image here)
Tree fort coffee table photo books interrupt my contribution to friendly banter.
Finding a birds nest puts me in wonder for long moments. Staring upward and getting into the mind of the birds.
In the blackberry bushes we used dad s rose clippers to hollow out spaces in the thorny vines, borrowing until the walls and ceilings were an impenetrable fortress of spikes and orb weaving spider webs.
Gary and I made a space under the stairs when I was sixteen. Moving suitcases and Mom's nostalgia boxes, behind coats and snow clothes we pulled in blankets and Christmas lights. A single electrical cord betrayed our secret until Gary burrowed a hole in the wall to the garage where we could hide without detection. We pulled in a tiny television and bought a cheap DVD player and I watched The Royal Tenebaums and Amelie, buring a thick fog of incense. Gary used the space to hide with friends.
I used to sleep in the closet. Dad shamed me but I did it anyway. I loved the spaces. The nooks. I once kissed a pretty girl and on my runs would find places under the boughs of thick trees and among Oregon grape I could take her and we could kiss more.
(image here)
Tree fort coffee table photo books interrupt my contribution to friendly banter.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
With God
There is a language we can speak where we are not fighting. When we speak unambiguously and determined. Speak clearly and from our own truth.
"We are all little gods," Lana says as we are driving home.
Erica and I are frustrated with Mom and Dad for bringing up Jesus in ordinary conversation.
"I am so devastated by Lance Armstrong lying for so long.."
"Because he didn't have Jesus in his heart." Mom says.
We're in the desert. Looking over the gorge. Dad wants to talk about money. Mom tells me I should petition Jesus. I tell them I don't want to talk about money. Then I remember.
There was time, ten years old, I would go to church by myself. I would read the bible to my parents to try to get them to go. There was a time the priest lectured on why we should dress nice when we come to church.
I fantasized about going up to the pew, to the front, by the alter, and shouting,
"God doesn't care what I wear. God doesn't care how I look. God loves me the way that I am!"
I'm channeling Patti Smith now. "Who was ever hurt by how I dressed? I'm not hurting anyone!"
In my fantasy two old men stand up and pull my off the steps, (where women aren't allowed to stand anyway, papal doctrine decrees they stand on the lowest step) and I am shouting,
"Look at them God! They are taking me away! They are taking me out of your house!"
I'm telling this story to Mom and Dad.
I tell them, what God wants us to do is be as authentic to our true selves as possible. Because we are made by God we are divine creatues. God loves us how we are.
"God loves me when I dumpster dive. God loves me when I wear dirty clothes. God loves me when I yell at people for telling lies."
Dad asks me if I pray. I told him I prayed yesterday. I caught Humphrey in my hands and held him until he stopped vibrating with fear. His breathing slowed and I opened my hands and he stayed. We watched each other, studied one another for a long time thinking our thoughts with no words.
We were alive and breathing and it was amazing to witness one another.
Dad told me I should start my prayers with, "Dear Heavenly Father," and I told him, "I don't pray like that."
My God doesn't love in heaven. There is no heaven. When we die we die. What is God is the vibration within us. The pure most authentic parts of ourselves. It is the smiling Buddha and the mischievous Hanna. God is in my paint brush and
The conversation ends when you are telling me I'm wrong. Why are you telling me I'm wrong? I will not tell you you are wrong, even if my experience disagrees with you. There are moments we spend alone, when are in our heads, when we are connecting to the divine, how can I say this is not real to you? How can you tell me my moments are wrong?
My fight is not your fight but we are both fighting.
"We are all little gods," Lana says as we are driving home.
Erica and I are frustrated with Mom and Dad for bringing up Jesus in ordinary conversation.
"I am so devastated by Lance Armstrong lying for so long.."
"Because he didn't have Jesus in his heart." Mom says.
We're in the desert. Looking over the gorge. Dad wants to talk about money. Mom tells me I should petition Jesus. I tell them I don't want to talk about money. Then I remember.
There was time, ten years old, I would go to church by myself. I would read the bible to my parents to try to get them to go. There was a time the priest lectured on why we should dress nice when we come to church.
I fantasized about going up to the pew, to the front, by the alter, and shouting,
"God doesn't care what I wear. God doesn't care how I look. God loves me the way that I am!"
I'm channeling Patti Smith now. "Who was ever hurt by how I dressed? I'm not hurting anyone!"
In my fantasy two old men stand up and pull my off the steps, (where women aren't allowed to stand anyway, papal doctrine decrees they stand on the lowest step) and I am shouting,
"Look at them God! They are taking me away! They are taking me out of your house!"
I'm telling this story to Mom and Dad.
I tell them, what God wants us to do is be as authentic to our true selves as possible. Because we are made by God we are divine creatues. God loves us how we are.
"God loves me when I dumpster dive. God loves me when I wear dirty clothes. God loves me when I yell at people for telling lies."
Dad asks me if I pray. I told him I prayed yesterday. I caught Humphrey in my hands and held him until he stopped vibrating with fear. His breathing slowed and I opened my hands and he stayed. We watched each other, studied one another for a long time thinking our thoughts with no words.
We were alive and breathing and it was amazing to witness one another.
Dad told me I should start my prayers with, "Dear Heavenly Father," and I told him, "I don't pray like that."
My God doesn't love in heaven. There is no heaven. When we die we die. What is God is the vibration within us. The pure most authentic parts of ourselves. It is the smiling Buddha and the mischievous Hanna. God is in my paint brush and
The conversation ends when you are telling me I'm wrong. Why are you telling me I'm wrong? I will not tell you you are wrong, even if my experience disagrees with you. There are moments we spend alone, when are in our heads, when we are connecting to the divine, how can I say this is not real to you? How can you tell me my moments are wrong?
My fight is not your fight but we are both fighting.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Travel to New Life
The coming of the carrier pigeon
Pearl Harbor Smith, a midwife married to a blacksmith, sat in her old creaky hardwood rocking chair sewing away with her newly spun ball of yarn. She lives in small town in Georgia with her husband.
It was a warm still day, the sun was out and the birds were chirping. The house was quiet except for a one after another creak from the rocking chair. Pearl's head popped up. She looked to her side, towards the window and bang! once again, the window rattled. Pearls eyes looked towards the window and there stood a little pigeon with a note wrapped around its foot. She opened the window and grabbed the note. Watching as the carrier pigeon flew off; she shut the window and looked down at the note.
It was a message from a pregnant woman needs a midwife’s help.
The next day, Pearl made arrangements with William, a humble African American slave, to come and help along the trip. They got some horses and a wagon and embarked on their trip.
Preparing the wagons
Pearl and William rolled up to the store in their new wagon with the horses. Mary Margaret, the merchant, ran out and greeted Pearl. They had grown up together and were the closest of friends. Pearl sat down with Mary Margaret while William gathered the supplies they needed in the store. Pearl explained all about the carrier pigeon and her quest to deliver the quadruplets.
This scared Mary Margaret.
"What if you are attacked by those evil Indians!" she exclaimed. Pearl reassured her, promising that William would take care of her.
William came out with a huge load and tripped on a stair. Supplies flew everywhere and Mary Margaret ran to help him. Picking up the bags of rice and beans, Mary Margaret's hands met with William's.
She looked deep into his eyes, knowing his heart was good. Her heart rate sped up as she read his expression; it was the same as hers. Mary Margaret's hand drew back as she remembered her husband. She took the food she had in her arms and brought them to the wagon.
Pearl had seen it all and she knew that Mary Margaret did not love her husband. It had been an arranged marriage. But Mary Margaret was not unhappy. She loved her baby girl very much, just not as much as her husband. Mary Margaret had felt something when she looked into William's eyes.
Sadly, she and William were not meant to be. Mary Margaret belonged to her husband and would stay loyal to him.
Hugging Pearl and wiping away the tears building up in her eyes, Mary Margaret said her good-byes. She turned and looked once more time at William before going back into the store to her husband and baby.
Pearls and William hopped back into their wagon with all the supplies they needed for the long journey. As they reached the outskirts of town, William glanced over to an old shack.
"Mrs. Smith?" William said, shyly.
"Yes," she replied.
"Can I stop and see my mother one last time. She is sick and I don't know if she will be alive by the time we get back."
There was a long pause and finally Pearl said, "Yes, but make it quick."
William pulled over and ran to the creaky wooden home.
"Mother!" he exclaimed.
"William!" she replied.
"My dear Mother, I have come to say goodbye for a short time. I am traveling to Kansas with my master’s wife so she can deliver a baby. I promise to bring someone to heal you. I promise it will happen, if it's the last thing I do."
William was now holding her hands; he kissed her on the cheek and stood up. When he got to the door, William looked back and went to Pearl.
Soon, they headed on the trail to Kansas.
William's nightmare
They have been traveling down the road for a few days now and they and their horses are in desperate need of some rest. They knew there was a town a few miles ahead but it was getting dark and they wouldn't make it before nightfall. They found a nice open area with lots of grass growing tall and a small water stream nearby. They set up for the night.
They had long fallen asleep when William woke up screaming. He ran and ran and ran. He ran so fast that Pearl had no time to react. William had had a nightmare. His dream was a recurring dream. One he had had every once in awhile but this one was different. It lasted longer than any other and was way more intense than ever. His normal dream was this, he was floating out to sea with no sight of land in any direction and the water was never rough, it was entirely flat, like a solid sheet of glass. It made him feel alone and away from everyone.
But not this one.
This one he could see land and the water was incredibly rough unlike ever before. The water was holding him back, far back from the land that he seeks.
The meeting of Josh, the plantation owner and the discovery of gold
Josh Smith was the owner of a huge plantation. He woke up every day and had the same routine. One sunny blue-bird day, Josh woke up and saw a couple at his front door. He hurried down and opened the door.
"Why, hello there," said Josh.
"We come from Georgia trying to get to Arkansas and have no place to sleep. We've been on horses for over 6 hours," said the female in the couple.
Josh replied with an excited, "of course! There's a guest house a hundred yards North, right there," pointing his finger.
The couple said thank-you.
Josh said, "If you want any dinner meet back here at 5."
Josh went back to his routine, working on the farm all day long.
William and Pearl were in their room unpacking and getting ready for dinner. They saw Josh working in the fields. Pearl went into the bedroom and saw a piece of paper poking out a dresser. She went up to it and opened the drawer. The drawer flew out and hit the floor. The drawer had put a huge gash in the floor.
"William," yelled Pearl.
William rushed over and when he got in the room she had a wowing look on his face.
"Gold."
William and Pearl found gold. They ripped out more of floor and got as much as they could and packed it up. They argued how to steal the gold.
Nearing 5:00, the food was almost ready. A nice home cooked meal for the family and their guest. The guests were acting odd that night. They said they couldn't stay the night in their home. The Smith family couldn't understand what was wrong.
After dinner, the guests said thank-you and hurried to leave. As soon as they got out of the door they ran to their horses and left. Josh ran outside and knew exactly what happened.
"The gold," said Josh. The guests had stolen the gold from the land.
Meeting the Musician
There was a farmer named Mitch Miller. He was a very wealthy man. As Mitch Miller was sitting on his porch playing his banjo watching his farm for animals trying to eat his crops, a carriage came by and needed some food for their trip. All they had was gold which was the only way of getting his crops. He was an African American man who stopped by for the trip from Georgia to Kansas.
"A lady is giving birth," the man said.
"Well, I could spare a few crops," said Mitch.
"Thank you."
"Where in Georgia did you find gold?" said Mitch.
"I found it in the woods."
"Fine, I'll believe you. And also, what time are you leaving?" said Mitch.
"Tomorrow, at dawn."
"Can I get your name?"
"William."
He was off.
As the day went by the plantation owner came by and asked if he saw any people come by.
"Yes, there was a man named William who needed food for his trip," said Mitch.
"Well, if you see them again, come get me," said Josh Lee.
Meeting Jena May and taking the train
Jena May is sitting on the old willow stump by the stream as she sits and waits for her train to Tennessee to visit her ill grandmother. As she is waiting, she spots a cloud of dust in the distance. As it comes closer she stands up to examine what it is. When the two figures come closer, she sees that it is a young lady with curly hair and a buff man riding beside her. By the look of the man’s worn hands she expects he is a slave.
"Hello," Jena says as they stop in front of her.
The young lady jumps off her horse and begins to ask what time the next train to Arkansas comes.
Jena says that it comes in ten minutes.
"Then we are just in time," the lady says.
"May I ask where it is you're headed to?" Jena says with a friendly look on her face.
"My name is Pearl and this is my escort William. We are going to help a lady deliver quadruplets, because I am a midwife," exclaimed Pearl.
"Well, I would love to help you catch your train then," said Jena.
"The next train comes anytime now, so let's get ready.”
When Pearl reaches into her pocket she feels nothing but the soft cloth of her velvet dress rubbing against her fingertips.
"The tickets, where are the tickets?" asks Pearl.
When William looks up he sees the horses munching on something. When he looks closer he sees part of the chewed up ticket lying under the ground under the horse. Before any of them make a reaction they hear a loud train whistle blow and they see the large engine stop beside them.
Then they hear the engineer shout, "All aboard!"
"Follow me," shouts William, they all jog to the end of the train. They hear the engines loud roar. William jumps in one of the cargo cars and escorts the two ladies and the two horses. When they feel the train move they all know they are in for an adventure.
The oddest character yet, Bobby-John Travis the barber.
Pearl and William have just left the train and decide to stop into town to have a nice haircut. They walk into town and decide to stop at Bobby-John Travis' barber shop to meet the oddest character yet.
"Pearl, please don't make me get one of them haircuts! Please!"
"No, William, you got to get a haircut, whether you like it or not."
"Fine..."
As they walk in, Pearl trips and knocks over William.
The barber, Bobby-John Travis, sees and starts laughing hysterically.
He laughs so hard he gets a heart-attack because of his diabetes.
Then, Bobby-John heals in a time of 15 minutes and says he will give them a haircut.
Pearl gets a mullet and William is shaved bald.
While they are getting their cuts, Bobby-John starts to talk about his life.
When he was about 15 his parents died and he was forced to take up his dad's business. Then, when he was 20 he was diagnosed with diabetes. Then, he met a lonely wife who divorced him after five years because every time she would fall he would laugh.
So now, he is alone, probably forever, but he still dreams of being a cowboy.
Staying with the Butcher
They came to butchers shop hungry and tired. They were both about to faint when Ruby Mac, the butcher, quickly escorted them to one of her spare back rooms. After an hour or so William came out and asked Ruby if he could go take a bath. Ruby automatically pointed to the washroom and then the pot of boiling water she was going to use for beef stew. Ruby quickly looked away after.
Ruby quickly ran for her cabinet and grabbed fresh clothes and soap (that she made). Later, Pearl got up to the smell of steak, potatoes and some hot tea that was whistling at the top of its lungs. Pearl saw William and Ruby already eating and she noticed William had changed into new clothes and shaved. When Pearl came out of the room, everything was silent. William and Ruby stopped and looked at Pearl (it was quiet for about five minutes).
Then Ruby told her that there was hot water in the pot.
The next morning, Ruby gave William and Pearl a big ten pound bag of beef jerky. When they were pulling out on their horses and all of a sudden Ruby ran out and gave William a big kiss on the mouth!
Ruby blushed so hard and said her last goodbyes and ran inside, to wait for her love William to come back for her.
Skull Head Mountains
After leaving the baker, Pearl and William return to the road. But neither Pearl nor William noticed that the weather is getting worse and the road is climbing into the deep dark Skull Head Mountains.
These were dangerous and extreme mountains.
Usually only mountain men lived in these mountains. The two travelers were talking too much and did not know that there was a storm coming. As the big red sun sunk behind the Skull Head Mountains it became bitterly cold. William and Pearl decided to stop riding for the night which was a bad idea. They stopped quickly and built a little shelter. This is where they would spend the night. It was a cold and long night.
The next morning William woke up to the sound of a growling bear. They both let out a scream.
At the same time, a man wearing a buffalo robe came on his horse and jumped off and shot the bear.
"This is a good bear," the man said. He wore a buffalo robe and leather leggings. As he walked back to his horse to grab his bowie knife, William asked who this strange man was.
"The name is Black, Forester Black."
The man had a deep voice and talked very slowly. The man was tall and ripped.
"Do you live up here?" asked William.
The man nodded his head. He was too busy skinning the bear to speak. The two travelers started packing up. The man was done skinning the bear.
As he walked back to this horse, which was a very tall mustang, he saddled, turned and said, "Go home," almost as if he were angry at them.
"NO," replied William.
The man turned the horse around so fast William could not speak.
"I said go home."
"Why?" replied William.
The man just started laughing, "I have seen your type pilgrim, you don't belong in these mountains.
Go home!" said the mountain man one last time.
"Well, we are not!"Said William.
Forester Black leaned off his horse and got real close to William and said in a whisper, "I see you got a lady here with you."
"Yes," replied William.
"Well, I don't want to see you two die up in these here mountains. One, because I don't want any lives lost and two, I don't want to dig graves in this hard ground."
The mountain man turned his horse around and started walking off.
"Wait!" screamed William.
The man turned and just stared.
"Will you guide us through these mountains?" asked William.
"At a price," said the Black.
"How about two Colt revolvers?" asked William.
Forester Black's eyes lit up.
"We might just have a trade there, pilgrim."
As the group moved on, the Skull Head Mountains got scarier and harder. The trail was thin and hard to go over.
As they were walking the wind started blowing. The snow came.
“We better hurry," said the Mountain Man. They went and built a small shelter. Luckily they made it through the night. The storm blew over. They made it ok.
Finally, they made it out of the mountains.
"Too many people and not enough quietness."
As they watched the man go over the horizon, they realized he was right. They would have not made it without him.
Meeting Rosaleen
Rosaleen looked down the cold snowy path. In the distance she saw some figures. The figures were walking closer. The figures finally got close enough that Rosaleen could tell it was people on horseback. Rosaleen and the strangers were face to face. The strangers introduced themselves as Pearl and William. Pearl and William's faces were bright red. They were freezing. They had just come from Skull Head Mountains. They have just been in a huge snow storm. They explained why they were on the trail. Pearl didn't look very well. Rosaleen quickly took them up to her cabin. When they opened the door a little girl ran over and jumped into Rosaleen's hands. She was about the age of five.
"This is my daughter," said Rosaleen.
"My husband probably just went to bed," she added.
Rosaleen put her daughter to bed and came back into the living room.
"Sit down," she said.
Pearl and William were very quiet. Rosaleen made some food and hot tea for Pearl and William. When she handed them the food she noticed that Pearl had a little sketch pad.
"What's that?" Rosaleen asked.
She picked up the sketch pad. They were amazing drawings!
"Did you draw these?" she asked.
Pearl nodded her head saying, "yes."
As the night went on, William and Pearl got more friendly and talkative.
They asked what Rosaleen was doing outside in the cold.
"I'm a logger. I was cutting down wood for my fire," she explained.
They then sat and watched the fire crackle.
Rosaleen made two beds for them to sleep. By now they were looking very much better. Soon the house rose with darkness. You could only hear the fire crackling. Pearl watched the fire for awhile and soon dozed off.
Rosaleen woke up bright and early. The smell of pancakes and syrup filled the air. The sun crept through the windows and filled the house with light. William woke up, ready to help. Rosaleen set up breakfast. She soon walked outside and started to cut fire wood. William was pleased to help. They loaded it up into their carriage. They went back inside and now Rosaleen's husband was at work and her daughter was at school. Pearl awoke to the sounds of William and Rosaleen laughing. They all sat at the table and enjoyed their breakfast.
After breakfast, Pearl took a walk around the area. She found a gorgeous flower and drew it. It was the only flower around. She walked back inside and thanked Rosaleen for the wood. They need to be heading off soon.
Rosaleen gave them food and water for their trip. She wished them good look on their journey.
Pearl and William went off to their next adventure.
Gun Fight
Knock, knock, knock as someone beats on the door the sheriff, Billy-Bob gets out of his chair and starts walking to the door. It was his good buddy Josh Smith, the plantation owner.
"Josh, what are you doing?"
'Billy, there has been a terrible thing that happened on the plantation."
Billy could tell by the scared look on his face it wasn't good.
"What is it, Josh?"
"I was looking around the plantation and all..all..all the gold, it was gone. I saw these people run run right into the forest heading into town."
"And wait, Josh, what did they look like?"
"Well... well, they be wearin'.. well the girl was wearing a beautiful dress, musta been very expensive and that man musta been her slave or somethin'. He was black. Hey wait, I just seen..."
Meeting the baker
Mary-Ann sat on the dusty steps of her bakery. A warm gust of wind swept through the town, whistling in her ears and hair while the creaky boards moved underneath her reminding her of the terrible state her bakery was in. She sighed, rebraided her long straight black hair, wiped the dust from her tanned skin and started up the steps to bake more pastries and attempt to sell day-old pies. Mary always kept the inside of her bakery very clean, she never had too many people in her bakery; the occasional tourist or wandering local.
Today a very odd couple came into her bakery.
A very beautiful young woman with long curly sand-brown hair stumbled in with a shy looking man who looked to be her husband.
They seemed in urgent need of whatever they were looking for, so Mary-Ann scurried back grabbed some mugs, a pot of coffee and a few random day old pasties and breads.
She rushed around the kitchen scrounging for food for the strange couple and heard the low murmur of their voices, deep in conversation by the sound of it. Thinking better of just barging in, Mary stood behind the door listening carefully with hot coffee and crunchy pastries. These people were a lot different than the usual customers. They quietly finished their meal, tipped heavily and walked out whispering. Something strange was going on.
One of Mary's usuals came in, Sheriff Billy-Bob. Mary-Ann was a bit surprised to see him this late in the day. He usually came in the morning for a hot cup of black coffee, fresh bear-claws or doughnuts. He sat down, not saying a single word and just stared at the swinging doors stirring in the breeze. Mary-Ann thought about bringing him his usual, but he didn't seem in the mood. It looked as if he was meeting someone, Mary-Ann thought, "something is different about him today.
After ten minutes or so she could tell he was getting a little hungry so she set his cup of the table and pushed half his bear claw towards him. He was silent for a long time.
Coming into Town whereupon greater anxiety is falling upon them and they seek to avoid trouble with the law.
The Saloon
William and Pearl walked into the saloon. They walked up to the saloon owner, Jonny Smith. They asked him if he knew any one that was going West, the kind of person who would go without anyone knowing. They didn't want the sheriff to find them. Jonny said he knew of someone who smuggles people around. He showed William to the guy's table.
They told the man their problem and he agreed to take them one hundred miles for a small fee. They took a small slice of gold off of what they had. He agreed happily. William thanked Jonny for his help, loaded up his wagon and set off.
As the sheriff and the plantation owner walked into the saloon it gets quiet. They slowly walk up to the bar with all eyes on them. They ask the saloon owner, Jonny Smith, if he has seen William.
Jonny said that he caught them doing some illegal things with this man. Jonny showed them the picture and offered to help. The man they were looking for had a scraggily gray beard, raggedy clothes and an old wrinkly face. First Jonny looked throughout the saloon but had no luck.
No one has seen him or heard where he has been.
They went in the town and questioned a couple of people, but still nothing.
Then, this sketchy character walked up to them and said he might know something but it would cost something. Jonny stepped up and said he would let him have free drinks for one night and a date with a lovely lady.
The man willingly agreed.
He told the, that there is an underground gambling bunker to the left of the movie house and that they would find him there.
They went to the bunker and went into it. There were about five men and one of them was the man they were looking for. One of the five men saw the sheriff and fired. He missed. Jonny pulled out and killed two of the men. The plantation owner killed two more while the sheriff was capturing the man. They asked the man but he wouldn't talk. So the plantation owner started taking one dollar at a time and burned it with a match. That man loves his money. It only took ten burnt bills to get him to talk. He told them that he took them a hundred miles West to a town called Motor. The sheriff took some money and left. They thanked Jonny for his help, went to their houses and left.
Intermediate chapter
The sheriff and Jonny spotted William and Pearl in the street as they left the bunker with the confiscated money. The pair was hastily packing their horses.
“There they are, sheriff!” Jonny hissed.
The sheriff placed his hand near his Remington, titled his hat back and shouted, “not so fast!”
Pearl and William spun around and saw Jonny and Sheriff Billy-Bob. In a flash they were in their saddles, kicking them into a fervor.
“They’re getting away!” Jonny hollered, lifting his rifle to his shoulder.
Billy-Bob shot first as William and Pearl retreated. Jonny let off a few and heard a sharp cry as a cloud of dust buried the retreat.
“Get the horses!” Billy-Bob ordered, holstering his gun.
In moments they were off, following the trail of dust.
Getting away
As they ran, the huge sheriff was right on their heels. They ran to the bushes and hid. They were trying to help their wounds when a Native American came and asked if they needed help. The Native American was a small skinny man. The Native was very dark colored and spoke very little English so it was difficult to speak to him. He put medicine on their wounds and wrapped them up. The sheriff was really slow so they were out of sight within minutes. Then they headed to the Mississippi river.
The delivery of the babies along the Mississippi
Pearl finally reached the river and couldn't decide on how she wanted to get across. She went on for about ten minutes until she found a decent boat to climb into. She was about on the river when she heard a voice calling from behind.
"PEARL!" the young woman's voice screamed, "WAIT!"
Pearl stopped and looked back to see a young woman - about 18 - running towards her with a red wagon and a woman in it. Pearl slowly unpacked her stuff and patiently waited for the woman and the wagon to get to her.
"Wow, I'm so glad you're here," the 18-year-old said, panting.
"Hi! I'm Rose and this is my boss and I believe you were going to deliver her quadruplets?"
"Nice to meet you Rose! I'm Pearl and I need you to get this pregnant woman out of the wagon," Pearl said.
Rose helped Pearl and then said, "Um, so do you need any more help?"
"Are you kidding me?!" Pearl yelled, "I've been doing this for seven years. I helped my mom when I was little and you think I need help delivering kids?! You're crazy!"
"Good, 'cause I hate blood," Rose said and ran away screaming.
By the time Rose was back, two cute little baby boys and two cute little baby girls lay asleep in the dirt, both dressed in the most adorable clothes that Pearl had bought at the merchant's before she left town. They swarm and they squall but no one comes to their comfort until Rose starts to load them up in the little wagon.
'What, are you crazy? You can't just leave little helpless babies in the dirt! They could get a parasite or something worse! Obviously you don't know a thing about child care!" Rose proclaimed angrily.
"Well, at least I dressed them and dirt is healthy. Calm -," Pearl said.
"Calm down?! I am like the mother of these children. That lazy person lying on the ground there puts me in charge of her seven kids for three dollars an hour and I just try so hard..." Rose said bursting out in tears.
"Well, you know, at least they didn't bite the dust," Pearl said cracking up and Rose just gave her a glare.
"OK, sorry, not funny."
"No, it wasn't," Rose said and pulled the wagon with the four babies and the woman back up the hill.
"Gees, tough crowd," Pearl mumbled to herself as she pack up and left.
Heading back home & meeting the doctor
As you know, William's mother is ill and dying.
Dr. Annalynn Hill met up with William one day in a market to discuss her state. As soon as Dr. Hill heard how bad she was, she rushed to their home to try and treat her. William's mother, Angela, was sitting in her bed with a wet cloth on her head. Dr. Hill ran over and quickly checked her temperature. It was 108°F. Angela was very sick with influenza. Dr. Hill had dealt with this illness many times before, good thing too, because many doctors can't treat it. But Dr. Hill got out her medicine and a glass of water and helped Angela take her pills. After two hours Angela was already feeling better but to get her back to her original state she had to take these pills every day. And these pills were spendy.
Good thing William stole that gold from that plantation.
Once William went to pay Annalynn Hill saw the gold in the cupboard and put it all together.
"You thief!" she yelled.
William didn't know what to say.
He was shocked she even knew about the stolen gold.
"That's Josh's gold," the doctor said.
"What? How do you know about that?" asked William.
"Josh is my brother and we have been searching for that gold for weeks!" answered the doctor.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I only took it because I need money to pay for a cure for my dear mother!" apologized William.
"Wait, what? You stole it and were going to pay me with my family's gold?!" yelled Annalynn Hill.
"Yes, I'm sorry; I didn't know what to do. I'm sorry!"
"Okay, I'll make you a deal! If you return the gold, you're off the hook."
To be continued…
Pearl Harbor Smith, a midwife married to a blacksmith, sat in her old creaky hardwood rocking chair sewing away with her newly spun ball of yarn. She lives in small town in Georgia with her husband.
It was a warm still day, the sun was out and the birds were chirping. The house was quiet except for a one after another creak from the rocking chair. Pearl's head popped up. She looked to her side, towards the window and bang! once again, the window rattled. Pearls eyes looked towards the window and there stood a little pigeon with a note wrapped around its foot. She opened the window and grabbed the note. Watching as the carrier pigeon flew off; she shut the window and looked down at the note.
It was a message from a pregnant woman needs a midwife’s help.
The next day, Pearl made arrangements with William, a humble African American slave, to come and help along the trip. They got some horses and a wagon and embarked on their trip.
Preparing the wagons
Pearl and William rolled up to the store in their new wagon with the horses. Mary Margaret, the merchant, ran out and greeted Pearl. They had grown up together and were the closest of friends. Pearl sat down with Mary Margaret while William gathered the supplies they needed in the store. Pearl explained all about the carrier pigeon and her quest to deliver the quadruplets.
This scared Mary Margaret.
"What if you are attacked by those evil Indians!" she exclaimed. Pearl reassured her, promising that William would take care of her.
William came out with a huge load and tripped on a stair. Supplies flew everywhere and Mary Margaret ran to help him. Picking up the bags of rice and beans, Mary Margaret's hands met with William's.
She looked deep into his eyes, knowing his heart was good. Her heart rate sped up as she read his expression; it was the same as hers. Mary Margaret's hand drew back as she remembered her husband. She took the food she had in her arms and brought them to the wagon.
Pearl had seen it all and she knew that Mary Margaret did not love her husband. It had been an arranged marriage. But Mary Margaret was not unhappy. She loved her baby girl very much, just not as much as her husband. Mary Margaret had felt something when she looked into William's eyes.
Sadly, she and William were not meant to be. Mary Margaret belonged to her husband and would stay loyal to him.
Hugging Pearl and wiping away the tears building up in her eyes, Mary Margaret said her good-byes. She turned and looked once more time at William before going back into the store to her husband and baby.
Pearls and William hopped back into their wagon with all the supplies they needed for the long journey. As they reached the outskirts of town, William glanced over to an old shack.
"Mrs. Smith?" William said, shyly.
"Yes," she replied.
"Can I stop and see my mother one last time. She is sick and I don't know if she will be alive by the time we get back."
There was a long pause and finally Pearl said, "Yes, but make it quick."
William pulled over and ran to the creaky wooden home.
"Mother!" he exclaimed.
"William!" she replied.
"My dear Mother, I have come to say goodbye for a short time. I am traveling to Kansas with my master’s wife so she can deliver a baby. I promise to bring someone to heal you. I promise it will happen, if it's the last thing I do."
William was now holding her hands; he kissed her on the cheek and stood up. When he got to the door, William looked back and went to Pearl.
Soon, they headed on the trail to Kansas.
William's nightmare
They have been traveling down the road for a few days now and they and their horses are in desperate need of some rest. They knew there was a town a few miles ahead but it was getting dark and they wouldn't make it before nightfall. They found a nice open area with lots of grass growing tall and a small water stream nearby. They set up for the night.
They had long fallen asleep when William woke up screaming. He ran and ran and ran. He ran so fast that Pearl had no time to react. William had had a nightmare. His dream was a recurring dream. One he had had every once in awhile but this one was different. It lasted longer than any other and was way more intense than ever. His normal dream was this, he was floating out to sea with no sight of land in any direction and the water was never rough, it was entirely flat, like a solid sheet of glass. It made him feel alone and away from everyone.
But not this one.
This one he could see land and the water was incredibly rough unlike ever before. The water was holding him back, far back from the land that he seeks.
The meeting of Josh, the plantation owner and the discovery of gold
Josh Smith was the owner of a huge plantation. He woke up every day and had the same routine. One sunny blue-bird day, Josh woke up and saw a couple at his front door. He hurried down and opened the door.
"Why, hello there," said Josh.
"We come from Georgia trying to get to Arkansas and have no place to sleep. We've been on horses for over 6 hours," said the female in the couple.
Josh replied with an excited, "of course! There's a guest house a hundred yards North, right there," pointing his finger.
The couple said thank-you.
Josh said, "If you want any dinner meet back here at 5."
Josh went back to his routine, working on the farm all day long.
William and Pearl were in their room unpacking and getting ready for dinner. They saw Josh working in the fields. Pearl went into the bedroom and saw a piece of paper poking out a dresser. She went up to it and opened the drawer. The drawer flew out and hit the floor. The drawer had put a huge gash in the floor.
"William," yelled Pearl.
William rushed over and when he got in the room she had a wowing look on his face.
"Gold."
William and Pearl found gold. They ripped out more of floor and got as much as they could and packed it up. They argued how to steal the gold.
Nearing 5:00, the food was almost ready. A nice home cooked meal for the family and their guest. The guests were acting odd that night. They said they couldn't stay the night in their home. The Smith family couldn't understand what was wrong.
After dinner, the guests said thank-you and hurried to leave. As soon as they got out of the door they ran to their horses and left. Josh ran outside and knew exactly what happened.
"The gold," said Josh. The guests had stolen the gold from the land.
Meeting the Musician
There was a farmer named Mitch Miller. He was a very wealthy man. As Mitch Miller was sitting on his porch playing his banjo watching his farm for animals trying to eat his crops, a carriage came by and needed some food for their trip. All they had was gold which was the only way of getting his crops. He was an African American man who stopped by for the trip from Georgia to Kansas.
"A lady is giving birth," the man said.
"Well, I could spare a few crops," said Mitch.
"Thank you."
"Where in Georgia did you find gold?" said Mitch.
"I found it in the woods."
"Fine, I'll believe you. And also, what time are you leaving?" said Mitch.
"Tomorrow, at dawn."
"Can I get your name?"
"William."
He was off.
As the day went by the plantation owner came by and asked if he saw any people come by.
"Yes, there was a man named William who needed food for his trip," said Mitch.
"Well, if you see them again, come get me," said Josh Lee.
Meeting Jena May and taking the train
Jena May is sitting on the old willow stump by the stream as she sits and waits for her train to Tennessee to visit her ill grandmother. As she is waiting, she spots a cloud of dust in the distance. As it comes closer she stands up to examine what it is. When the two figures come closer, she sees that it is a young lady with curly hair and a buff man riding beside her. By the look of the man’s worn hands she expects he is a slave.
"Hello," Jena says as they stop in front of her.
The young lady jumps off her horse and begins to ask what time the next train to Arkansas comes.
Jena says that it comes in ten minutes.
"Then we are just in time," the lady says.
"May I ask where it is you're headed to?" Jena says with a friendly look on her face.
"My name is Pearl and this is my escort William. We are going to help a lady deliver quadruplets, because I am a midwife," exclaimed Pearl.
"Well, I would love to help you catch your train then," said Jena.
"The next train comes anytime now, so let's get ready.”
When Pearl reaches into her pocket she feels nothing but the soft cloth of her velvet dress rubbing against her fingertips.
"The tickets, where are the tickets?" asks Pearl.
When William looks up he sees the horses munching on something. When he looks closer he sees part of the chewed up ticket lying under the ground under the horse. Before any of them make a reaction they hear a loud train whistle blow and they see the large engine stop beside them.
Then they hear the engineer shout, "All aboard!"
"Follow me," shouts William, they all jog to the end of the train. They hear the engines loud roar. William jumps in one of the cargo cars and escorts the two ladies and the two horses. When they feel the train move they all know they are in for an adventure.
The oddest character yet, Bobby-John Travis the barber.
Pearl and William have just left the train and decide to stop into town to have a nice haircut. They walk into town and decide to stop at Bobby-John Travis' barber shop to meet the oddest character yet.
"Pearl, please don't make me get one of them haircuts! Please!"
"No, William, you got to get a haircut, whether you like it or not."
"Fine..."
As they walk in, Pearl trips and knocks over William.
The barber, Bobby-John Travis, sees and starts laughing hysterically.
He laughs so hard he gets a heart-attack because of his diabetes.
Then, Bobby-John heals in a time of 15 minutes and says he will give them a haircut.
Pearl gets a mullet and William is shaved bald.
While they are getting their cuts, Bobby-John starts to talk about his life.
When he was about 15 his parents died and he was forced to take up his dad's business. Then, when he was 20 he was diagnosed with diabetes. Then, he met a lonely wife who divorced him after five years because every time she would fall he would laugh.
So now, he is alone, probably forever, but he still dreams of being a cowboy.
Staying with the Butcher
They came to butchers shop hungry and tired. They were both about to faint when Ruby Mac, the butcher, quickly escorted them to one of her spare back rooms. After an hour or so William came out and asked Ruby if he could go take a bath. Ruby automatically pointed to the washroom and then the pot of boiling water she was going to use for beef stew. Ruby quickly looked away after.
Ruby quickly ran for her cabinet and grabbed fresh clothes and soap (that she made). Later, Pearl got up to the smell of steak, potatoes and some hot tea that was whistling at the top of its lungs. Pearl saw William and Ruby already eating and she noticed William had changed into new clothes and shaved. When Pearl came out of the room, everything was silent. William and Ruby stopped and looked at Pearl (it was quiet for about five minutes).
Then Ruby told her that there was hot water in the pot.
The next morning, Ruby gave William and Pearl a big ten pound bag of beef jerky. When they were pulling out on their horses and all of a sudden Ruby ran out and gave William a big kiss on the mouth!
Ruby blushed so hard and said her last goodbyes and ran inside, to wait for her love William to come back for her.
Skull Head Mountains
After leaving the baker, Pearl and William return to the road. But neither Pearl nor William noticed that the weather is getting worse and the road is climbing into the deep dark Skull Head Mountains.
These were dangerous and extreme mountains.
Usually only mountain men lived in these mountains. The two travelers were talking too much and did not know that there was a storm coming. As the big red sun sunk behind the Skull Head Mountains it became bitterly cold. William and Pearl decided to stop riding for the night which was a bad idea. They stopped quickly and built a little shelter. This is where they would spend the night. It was a cold and long night.
The next morning William woke up to the sound of a growling bear. They both let out a scream.
At the same time, a man wearing a buffalo robe came on his horse and jumped off and shot the bear.
"This is a good bear," the man said. He wore a buffalo robe and leather leggings. As he walked back to his horse to grab his bowie knife, William asked who this strange man was.
"The name is Black, Forester Black."
The man had a deep voice and talked very slowly. The man was tall and ripped.
"Do you live up here?" asked William.
The man nodded his head. He was too busy skinning the bear to speak. The two travelers started packing up. The man was done skinning the bear.
As he walked back to this horse, which was a very tall mustang, he saddled, turned and said, "Go home," almost as if he were angry at them.
"NO," replied William.
The man turned the horse around so fast William could not speak.
"I said go home."
"Why?" replied William.
The man just started laughing, "I have seen your type pilgrim, you don't belong in these mountains.
Go home!" said the mountain man one last time.
"Well, we are not!"Said William.
Forester Black leaned off his horse and got real close to William and said in a whisper, "I see you got a lady here with you."
"Yes," replied William.
"Well, I don't want to see you two die up in these here mountains. One, because I don't want any lives lost and two, I don't want to dig graves in this hard ground."
The mountain man turned his horse around and started walking off.
"Wait!" screamed William.
The man turned and just stared.
"Will you guide us through these mountains?" asked William.
"At a price," said the Black.
"How about two Colt revolvers?" asked William.
Forester Black's eyes lit up.
"We might just have a trade there, pilgrim."
As the group moved on, the Skull Head Mountains got scarier and harder. The trail was thin and hard to go over.
As they were walking the wind started blowing. The snow came.
“We better hurry," said the Mountain Man. They went and built a small shelter. Luckily they made it through the night. The storm blew over. They made it ok.
Finally, they made it out of the mountains.
"Too many people and not enough quietness."
As they watched the man go over the horizon, they realized he was right. They would have not made it without him.
Meeting Rosaleen
Rosaleen looked down the cold snowy path. In the distance she saw some figures. The figures were walking closer. The figures finally got close enough that Rosaleen could tell it was people on horseback. Rosaleen and the strangers were face to face. The strangers introduced themselves as Pearl and William. Pearl and William's faces were bright red. They were freezing. They had just come from Skull Head Mountains. They have just been in a huge snow storm. They explained why they were on the trail. Pearl didn't look very well. Rosaleen quickly took them up to her cabin. When they opened the door a little girl ran over and jumped into Rosaleen's hands. She was about the age of five.
"This is my daughter," said Rosaleen.
"My husband probably just went to bed," she added.
Rosaleen put her daughter to bed and came back into the living room.
"Sit down," she said.
Pearl and William were very quiet. Rosaleen made some food and hot tea for Pearl and William. When she handed them the food she noticed that Pearl had a little sketch pad.
"What's that?" Rosaleen asked.
She picked up the sketch pad. They were amazing drawings!
"Did you draw these?" she asked.
Pearl nodded her head saying, "yes."
As the night went on, William and Pearl got more friendly and talkative.
They asked what Rosaleen was doing outside in the cold.
"I'm a logger. I was cutting down wood for my fire," she explained.
They then sat and watched the fire crackle.
Rosaleen made two beds for them to sleep. By now they were looking very much better. Soon the house rose with darkness. You could only hear the fire crackling. Pearl watched the fire for awhile and soon dozed off.
Rosaleen woke up bright and early. The smell of pancakes and syrup filled the air. The sun crept through the windows and filled the house with light. William woke up, ready to help. Rosaleen set up breakfast. She soon walked outside and started to cut fire wood. William was pleased to help. They loaded it up into their carriage. They went back inside and now Rosaleen's husband was at work and her daughter was at school. Pearl awoke to the sounds of William and Rosaleen laughing. They all sat at the table and enjoyed their breakfast.
After breakfast, Pearl took a walk around the area. She found a gorgeous flower and drew it. It was the only flower around. She walked back inside and thanked Rosaleen for the wood. They need to be heading off soon.
Rosaleen gave them food and water for their trip. She wished them good look on their journey.
Pearl and William went off to their next adventure.
Gun Fight
Knock, knock, knock as someone beats on the door the sheriff, Billy-Bob gets out of his chair and starts walking to the door. It was his good buddy Josh Smith, the plantation owner.
"Josh, what are you doing?"
'Billy, there has been a terrible thing that happened on the plantation."
Billy could tell by the scared look on his face it wasn't good.
"What is it, Josh?"
"I was looking around the plantation and all..all..all the gold, it was gone. I saw these people run run right into the forest heading into town."
"And wait, Josh, what did they look like?"
"Well... well, they be wearin'.. well the girl was wearing a beautiful dress, musta been very expensive and that man musta been her slave or somethin'. He was black. Hey wait, I just seen..."
Meeting the baker
Mary-Ann sat on the dusty steps of her bakery. A warm gust of wind swept through the town, whistling in her ears and hair while the creaky boards moved underneath her reminding her of the terrible state her bakery was in. She sighed, rebraided her long straight black hair, wiped the dust from her tanned skin and started up the steps to bake more pastries and attempt to sell day-old pies. Mary always kept the inside of her bakery very clean, she never had too many people in her bakery; the occasional tourist or wandering local.
Today a very odd couple came into her bakery.
A very beautiful young woman with long curly sand-brown hair stumbled in with a shy looking man who looked to be her husband.
They seemed in urgent need of whatever they were looking for, so Mary-Ann scurried back grabbed some mugs, a pot of coffee and a few random day old pasties and breads.
She rushed around the kitchen scrounging for food for the strange couple and heard the low murmur of their voices, deep in conversation by the sound of it. Thinking better of just barging in, Mary stood behind the door listening carefully with hot coffee and crunchy pastries. These people were a lot different than the usual customers. They quietly finished their meal, tipped heavily and walked out whispering. Something strange was going on.
One of Mary's usuals came in, Sheriff Billy-Bob. Mary-Ann was a bit surprised to see him this late in the day. He usually came in the morning for a hot cup of black coffee, fresh bear-claws or doughnuts. He sat down, not saying a single word and just stared at the swinging doors stirring in the breeze. Mary-Ann thought about bringing him his usual, but he didn't seem in the mood. It looked as if he was meeting someone, Mary-Ann thought, "something is different about him today.
After ten minutes or so she could tell he was getting a little hungry so she set his cup of the table and pushed half his bear claw towards him. He was silent for a long time.
Coming into Town whereupon greater anxiety is falling upon them and they seek to avoid trouble with the law.
The Saloon
William and Pearl walked into the saloon. They walked up to the saloon owner, Jonny Smith. They asked him if he knew any one that was going West, the kind of person who would go without anyone knowing. They didn't want the sheriff to find them. Jonny said he knew of someone who smuggles people around. He showed William to the guy's table.
They told the man their problem and he agreed to take them one hundred miles for a small fee. They took a small slice of gold off of what they had. He agreed happily. William thanked Jonny for his help, loaded up his wagon and set off.
As the sheriff and the plantation owner walked into the saloon it gets quiet. They slowly walk up to the bar with all eyes on them. They ask the saloon owner, Jonny Smith, if he has seen William.
Jonny said that he caught them doing some illegal things with this man. Jonny showed them the picture and offered to help. The man they were looking for had a scraggily gray beard, raggedy clothes and an old wrinkly face. First Jonny looked throughout the saloon but had no luck.
No one has seen him or heard where he has been.
They went in the town and questioned a couple of people, but still nothing.
Then, this sketchy character walked up to them and said he might know something but it would cost something. Jonny stepped up and said he would let him have free drinks for one night and a date with a lovely lady.
The man willingly agreed.
He told the, that there is an underground gambling bunker to the left of the movie house and that they would find him there.
They went to the bunker and went into it. There were about five men and one of them was the man they were looking for. One of the five men saw the sheriff and fired. He missed. Jonny pulled out and killed two of the men. The plantation owner killed two more while the sheriff was capturing the man. They asked the man but he wouldn't talk. So the plantation owner started taking one dollar at a time and burned it with a match. That man loves his money. It only took ten burnt bills to get him to talk. He told them that he took them a hundred miles West to a town called Motor. The sheriff took some money and left. They thanked Jonny for his help, went to their houses and left.
Intermediate chapter
The sheriff and Jonny spotted William and Pearl in the street as they left the bunker with the confiscated money. The pair was hastily packing their horses.
“There they are, sheriff!” Jonny hissed.
The sheriff placed his hand near his Remington, titled his hat back and shouted, “not so fast!”
Pearl and William spun around and saw Jonny and Sheriff Billy-Bob. In a flash they were in their saddles, kicking them into a fervor.
“They’re getting away!” Jonny hollered, lifting his rifle to his shoulder.
Billy-Bob shot first as William and Pearl retreated. Jonny let off a few and heard a sharp cry as a cloud of dust buried the retreat.
“Get the horses!” Billy-Bob ordered, holstering his gun.
In moments they were off, following the trail of dust.
Getting away
As they ran, the huge sheriff was right on their heels. They ran to the bushes and hid. They were trying to help their wounds when a Native American came and asked if they needed help. The Native American was a small skinny man. The Native was very dark colored and spoke very little English so it was difficult to speak to him. He put medicine on their wounds and wrapped them up. The sheriff was really slow so they were out of sight within minutes. Then they headed to the Mississippi river.
The delivery of the babies along the Mississippi
Pearl finally reached the river and couldn't decide on how she wanted to get across. She went on for about ten minutes until she found a decent boat to climb into. She was about on the river when she heard a voice calling from behind.
"PEARL!" the young woman's voice screamed, "WAIT!"
Pearl stopped and looked back to see a young woman - about 18 - running towards her with a red wagon and a woman in it. Pearl slowly unpacked her stuff and patiently waited for the woman and the wagon to get to her.
"Wow, I'm so glad you're here," the 18-year-old said, panting.
"Hi! I'm Rose and this is my boss and I believe you were going to deliver her quadruplets?"
"Nice to meet you Rose! I'm Pearl and I need you to get this pregnant woman out of the wagon," Pearl said.
Rose helped Pearl and then said, "Um, so do you need any more help?"
"Are you kidding me?!" Pearl yelled, "I've been doing this for seven years. I helped my mom when I was little and you think I need help delivering kids?! You're crazy!"
"Good, 'cause I hate blood," Rose said and ran away screaming.
By the time Rose was back, two cute little baby boys and two cute little baby girls lay asleep in the dirt, both dressed in the most adorable clothes that Pearl had bought at the merchant's before she left town. They swarm and they squall but no one comes to their comfort until Rose starts to load them up in the little wagon.
'What, are you crazy? You can't just leave little helpless babies in the dirt! They could get a parasite or something worse! Obviously you don't know a thing about child care!" Rose proclaimed angrily.
"Well, at least I dressed them and dirt is healthy. Calm -," Pearl said.
"Calm down?! I am like the mother of these children. That lazy person lying on the ground there puts me in charge of her seven kids for three dollars an hour and I just try so hard..." Rose said bursting out in tears.
"Well, you know, at least they didn't bite the dust," Pearl said cracking up and Rose just gave her a glare.
"OK, sorry, not funny."
"No, it wasn't," Rose said and pulled the wagon with the four babies and the woman back up the hill.
"Gees, tough crowd," Pearl mumbled to herself as she pack up and left.
Heading back home & meeting the doctor
As you know, William's mother is ill and dying.
Dr. Annalynn Hill met up with William one day in a market to discuss her state. As soon as Dr. Hill heard how bad she was, she rushed to their home to try and treat her. William's mother, Angela, was sitting in her bed with a wet cloth on her head. Dr. Hill ran over and quickly checked her temperature. It was 108°F. Angela was very sick with influenza. Dr. Hill had dealt with this illness many times before, good thing too, because many doctors can't treat it. But Dr. Hill got out her medicine and a glass of water and helped Angela take her pills. After two hours Angela was already feeling better but to get her back to her original state she had to take these pills every day. And these pills were spendy.
Good thing William stole that gold from that plantation.
Once William went to pay Annalynn Hill saw the gold in the cupboard and put it all together.
"You thief!" she yelled.
William didn't know what to say.
He was shocked she even knew about the stolen gold.
"That's Josh's gold," the doctor said.
"What? How do you know about that?" asked William.
"Josh is my brother and we have been searching for that gold for weeks!" answered the doctor.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I only took it because I need money to pay for a cure for my dear mother!" apologized William.
"Wait, what? You stole it and were going to pay me with my family's gold?!" yelled Annalynn Hill.
"Yes, I'm sorry; I didn't know what to do. I'm sorry!"
"Okay, I'll make you a deal! If you return the gold, you're off the hook."
To be continued…
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Western
The coming of the carrier pigeon
Pearl Harbor Smith, a midwife married to a blacksmith sat in her old creaky hardwood rocking chair sewing away with her newly spun ball of yarn. She lives in small town in Georgia with her husband. It was a warm still day, the sun was out and the birds were chirping. The house was quiet except for a one after another creak from the rocking chair. Pearl's head popped up. She looked to her side, towards the widow and bang once again the window rattled. Pearls eyes looked towards the window and there stood a little pigeon with a note wrapped around its foot. She opened the window and grabbed the note. Watching as the carrier pigeon flew off, she shut the window and looked down at the note.
It was a message from a pregnant woman needs a midwifes help.
The next day, Pearl made arrangements with William, a humble African American slave, to come and help along the trip. They got some horses and a wagon and embarked on their trip.
Preparing the wagons
Pearl and William rolled up to the store in their new wagon with the horses. Mary Margaret, the merchant, ran out and greeted Pearl. They had grown up together and were the closest of friends. Pearl sat down with Mary Margaret while William gathered the supplies they needed in the store. Pearl explain all about the carrier pigeon and her quest to deliver the quadruplets. This scared Mary Margaret.
"What if you are attacked by those evil Indians!" she exclaimed. Pearl reassured her, promising that William would take care of her.
William came out with a huge load and tripped on a stair. Supplies flew everywhere and Mary Margaret ran to help him. Picking up the bags of rice and beans Mary Margaret's hands met with William's. She looked deep into his eyes, knowing his heart was good. Her heart rate sped up as she read his expression, it was the same as hers. Mary Margaret's hand drew back as she remembered her husband. She took the food she had in her arms and brought them to the wagon.
Pearl had seen it all and she knew that Mary Margaret did not love her husband. It had been an arranged marriage but Mary Margaret was not unhappy. She loved her baby girl very much, just not as much as her husband. Mary Margaret had felt something when she looked into William's eyes. Sadly, she and William were not meant to be. Mary Margaret belonged to her husband and would stay loyal to him.
Hugging Pearl and wiping away the tears building up in her eyes, Mary Margaret said her good-byes. She turned and looked once more time at William before going back into the store to her husband and baby.
Pearls and William hopped back into their wagon with all the supplies they needed for the long journey. As they reached the outskirts of town, William glanced over to an old shack.
"Mrs. Smith?" William said, shyly.
"Yes," she replied.
"Can I stop and see my mother one last time. She is sick and I don't know if she will be alive by the time we get back."
There was a long pause and finally Pearl said, "Yes, but make it quick."
William pulled over and ran to the creaky wooden home.
"Mother!" he exclaimed.
"William!" she replied.
"My dear Mother, I have come to say goodbye for a short time. I am traveling to Kansas with my masters wife so she can deliver a baby. I promise to bring someone to heal you. I promise it will happen, if it's the last think I do."
William was now holding her hands, He kissed her on the cheek and stood up. When he got to the door, William looked back and went to Pearl. Soon, they headed on the trail to Kansas.
William's nightmare
They have been traveling down the road for a few days now and they are their horses are in desperate need of some rest. They knew there was a town a few miles ahead but it as getting dark and they wouldn't make it before nightfall. They found a nice open area with lots of grass growing tall and a small water stream nearby. They set up for the night.
They had long fallen asleep when William woke up screaming. He ran and ran and ran. He ran so fast that Pearl had no time to react. William had had a nightmare. His dream was a recurring dream. One he had had every once in awhile but this one was different. It lasted longer than any other and was way more intense than ever. His normal dream was this, he was floating out to sea with no sight of land in any direction and the water was never rough, like it was entirely flat, like a solid sheet of glass. It made him feel alone and away from everyone. But not this one. This one he cold see land and water was incredibly rough unlike ever before. The water was holding him back, far back from the land that he seeks.
The meeting of Josh, the plantation owner and the discovery of gold
Josh Smith was the owner of a huge plantation. He woke up everyday and had the same routine every day. One sunny blue-bird day, Josh woke up and saw a couple at his front door. He hurried down and opened the door.
"Why, hello there," said Josh .
"We come from Georgia trying to get to Arkansas and have no place to sleep. We've been on horses for over 6 hours," said the female in the couple.
Josh replied with with an excited, "of course! There's a guest house a hundred yards North, right there," pointing his finger.
The couple said thank-you.
Josh said, "If you want any dinner meet back here at 5."
Josh went back to his routine, working on the farm all day long.
William and Pearl were in their room unpacking and getting ready for dinner. They saw Josh working in the fields. Pearl went into the bedroom and saw a piece of paper poking out a dresser. She went up to it and opened the drawer. The drawer flew out and hit the floor. The drawer had put a huge gash in the floor.
"William," yelled Pearl.
William rushed over and when he got in the room he had a wowing look on his face.
"Gold."
William and Pearl found gold. They ripped out more of floor and got as much as they could and packed it up. They argued how to steal the gold.
Nearing 5:00, the food was almost ready. A nice home cooked meal for the family and their guest. The guests were acting odd that night. They said they couldn't stay the night in their home. The Smith family couldn't understand what was wrong.
After dinner, the guests said thank-you and hurried to leave. As soon as they got out of the door they ran to their horses and left. Josh ran outside and knew exactly what happened.
"The gold," said Josh. The guests had stolen the gold from the land.
Meeting the Musician
There was a farmer named Mitch Miller. He was a very wealthy man. As Mitch Miller was sitting on his porch playing his banjo watching his farm for animals trying to eat his crops, a carriage came by and needed some food for their trip. All they had was gold which was the only was of getting his crops. He was an African American man who stopped by for the trip from Georgia to Kansas.
"A lady is giving birth," the man said.
"Well, I could spare a few crops," said Mitch.
"Thank you."
"Where in Georgia did you find gold?" said Mitch.
"I found it in the woods."
"Fine, I'll believe you. And also, what time are we leaving?" said Mitch.
"Tomorrow at dawn."
"Can I get your name?"
"William."
He was off.
As the day went by the plantation owner came by and asked if he saw any people come by.
"Yes, there was a man named William who needed food for his trip," said Mitch.
"Well, if you see them again, come get me," said Josh Lee.
Meeting Jena May and taking the train
Jena May is sitting on the old willow stump by the stream as she sits and waits for her train to Tennessee to visit her ill grandmother. As she is waiting, she spots a cloud of dust in the distance. As it comes closer she stands up to examine what it is. When the two figures come closer, she sees that it is a young lady with curly hair and a buff man riding beside her. By the look of the mans worn hands she expects he is a slave.
"Hello," Jena says as they stop in front of her.
The young lady jumps off her horse and begins to ask what time the next train to Arkansas comes.
Jena says that it comes in ten minutes.
"Then we are just in time,"the lady says.
"May I ask where it is you're headed to?" Jena says with a friendly look on her face.
"My name is Pearl and this is my escort William. We are going to help a lady deliver quadruplets, because I am a midwife living in Georgia," exclaimed Pearl.
"Well, I would love to help you catch your train then," said Jena.
"The next train comes anytime now, so let's get ready," exclaims jena.
When Pearl reaches into her pocket she feels nothing but the soft cloth of her velvet dress rubbing against her fingertips.
"The tickets, where are the tickets?" asks Pearl.
When William looks up he sees the horses munching on something. When he looks closer he sees part of the chewed up ticket lying under the ground under the horse. Before any of them make a reaction they hear a loud train whistle blow and they see the large engine stop beside them.
Then they hear the engineer shout, "All aboard!"
"Follow me," shouts William, they all job to the end of the train. They hear the engines loud roar. William jumps in one of the cargo cars and escorts the two ladies and the two horses. When they feel the train move they all know they are in for an adventure.
The oddest character yet, Bobby-John Travis the barber.
Pearl and William have just left the train and decide to stop into town to have a nice haircut. They walk into town and decide to stop at Bobby-John Travis' barber shop to meet the oddest character yet.
"Pearl, please don't make me get one of them haircuts! Please!"
"No, William, you got to get a haircut. Whether you like it or not."
"Fine.."
As they walk in, Pearl trips and knocks over William.
The barber, Bobby-John Travis, sees and starts laughing hysterically.
He laughs so hard he get a heart-attack because of his diabetes.
Then, Bobby-John heals in a time of 15 minutes and says he will give them a haircut.
Pearl gets a mullet and William is shaved bald.
While they are getting their cuts, Bobby-John starts to talk about his life.
When he was about 15 his parents died and he was forced to take up his dad's business. Then, when he was 20 he was diagnosed with diabetes. Then, he met a lonely wife who divorced him after five years because every time she would fall he would laugh.
So now, he is alone, probably forever, but he still dreams of being a cowboy.
Staying with the Butcher
They came to butchers shop hungry and tired. Their names were Pearl Harbor Smith and William Buffy. He was a tall buff man. They were both about to faint when Ruby Mac, the butcher, quickly escorted them to one of her spare back rooms. After an hour or so William cam out and asked Ruby he could go take a bath. Ruby automatically pointed to the washroom and then the pot of boiling water she was going to use for beef stew. Ruby quickly looked away after.
Ruby quickly ran for her cabinet and grabbed fresh clothes and soap (that she made). Lateer, Pearl got up to the smell of steak, potatoes and some hot tea that was whistling at the top of its lungs. Pearl saw William and Ruby already eating and she noticed William had changed into new clothes and shaved. When Pearl came out of the room, everything was silent. William and Ruby stopped and looked at Pearl (it was quiet for about five minutes). Then Ruby told her that there was hot water in the pot.
The next morning, Ruby gave William and Pearl a big ten pound bag of beef jerky. When they were pulling out on their horses and all of a sudden Ruby ran out and gave William a big kiss on the mouth!
Ruby blushed so hard and said her last goodbyes and ran inside, to wait for her love William to come back for her.
Skull Head Mountains
After leaving the baker, Pearl and William return to the road. But neither Pearl or William noticed that the weather is getting worse and the road is climbing into the deep dark Skull Head Mountains.These were dangerous and extreme mountains. Usually only mountain men lived in these mountains. The two travelers were talking too much and did not know that there was a storm coming. As the big red sun sunk behind the Skull Head Head Mountains, it became bitterly cold. William and Pearl decided to stop riding for the night which was a bad idea. They stopped quickly and built a little shelter. This is where they would spend the night. I was a cold and long night. The next morning William woke up to the sound of a growling ... bear.
They both let out a scream. At the same time, a man wearing a buffalo robe came on his horse and jumped off and shot the bear.
"This is a good bear,"the man said. He wore a buffalo robe and leather leggings. As he walked back to his horse to grab his bowie knife, William asked who this strange man was.
"The name is Black, Forester Black." The man had a deep voice and talked very slowly. The man was tall and ripped.
"Do you live up here?" asked William.
The man nodded his head. He was too busy skinning the bear to speak. The two travelers started packing up. The man was done skinning the bear.
As he walked back to this horse, which was very tall mustang, he saddled, turned and said, "Go home," almost as if he were angry at them.
"NO," replied William.
The man turned the horse around so fast William could not speak.
"I said go home."
"Why?" replied William.
The man just started laughing, "I have seen your type pilgrim, you don't belong in these mountains. Go home!" said the mountain man one last time.
"Well, we are not!"said William.
Forester Black leaned off his horse and got real close to William and said in a whisper, "I see you got a lady here with you."
"Yes," replied William.
"Well, I don't want to see you two die up in these here mountains. One, because I don't want any lives lost and two, I don't want to dig graves in this hard ground."
The mountain man turned his horse around and started walking off.
"Wait!" screamed William.
The man turned and just stared.
"Will you guide us through these mountains?" asked William.
"At a price," said the Black.
"How about two Colt revolvers?" asked William.
Forester Black's eyes lit up.
"We might just have a trade their, pilgrim."
As the group moved on, the Skull Head Mountains got scarier and harder. The trail was thin and hard to go over.
As they were walking the wind started blowing. The snow came.
'We better hurry," said the Mountain Man. They went and built a small shelter. Luckily they made it through the night. The storm blew over. They made it ok.
Finally, they made it out of the mountains.
"Too many people and not enough quietness."
As they watched the man go over the horizon, they realized he was right. They would have not made it without him.
Meeting Rosaleen
The Saloon
William and Pearl walked into the saloon. They walked up to the saloon owner, Jonny Smith. They asked him if he knew any one that was going West. The kind of person who would go without anyone knowing. They didn't want the sheriff to find them. Jonny said, he knew of someone who smuggles people around. He showed William to the guy's table.
They told the man their problem and he agreed to take them one hundred miles for a small fee. They took a small slice of gold off of what they had He agreed happily. William thanked Jonny for his help, loaded up his wagon and set off.
As the sheriff and the plantation owner walk into the saloon it gets quiet. They slowly walk up to the bar with all eyes on them. They ask the saloon owner, Jonny Smith, if he has seen William.
Jonny said that he caught them doing some illegal things with this man. Jonny showed them the picture and offered to help. The man they were looking for had a scraggily gray beard, raggedy clothes and an old wrinkly face. First Jonny looked throughout the saloon but had no luck.
No one has seen him or heard where he has been.
They went in the town and questioned a couple of people, but still nothing.
Then, this sketchy character walked up to them and said he might know something but it would cost something. Jonny stepped up and said he would let him have free drinks for one night and a date with a lovely lady.
The man willingly agreed.
He told the, that there is an underground gambling bunker to the left of the movie house and that they would find him there.
They went to the bunker and went into it. There were about five men and one of them was the man they were looking for. One of the five men saw the sheriff and fired. He missed. Jonny pulled out and killed two of the men. The plantation owner killed two more while the sheriff was capturing the man. They asked the man but he wouldn't talk. So the plantation owner started taking one dollar at a time and burned it with a match. That man loves his money. It only took ten burnt bills to get him to talk. He told them that he took them a hundred miles West to a town called Motor. The sheriff took some money and left. They thanked Jonny for his help, went to their houses and left.
Meeting the baker
Gun Fight
Knock, knock, knock as someone beats on the door the sheriff, Billy-Bob gets out of his chair and starts walking to the door. It was his good buddy Josh Smith, the plantation owner.
"Josh, what are you doing?"
'Billy, there has been a terrible thing that happened on the plantation."
Billy could tell by the scared look on his face it wasn't good.
"What is it, Josh?"
"I was looking around the plantation and all..all..all the gold, it was gone. I saw these people run run right into the forest heading into town."
"And wait, Josh, what did they look like?"
"Well... well, they be wearin'.. well the girl was wearing a beautiful dress, musta been very expensive and that man musta been her slave or somethin'. He was black. Hey wait, I just seen..."
Getting away
As they ran, the huge sheriff was right on their heels. They ran to the bushes and hid. They were trying to help their wounds when a Native American came and asked if they needed help. The Native American was a short, thin man part of a regional tribe. The Native was very dark colored and spoke very little English so it was difficult to speak to him. He put medicine on their wounds and wrapped them up. The sheriff was really slow so they were out of sight within minutes. Then they headed to the Mississippi river.
The delivery of the babies along the Mississippi
Pearl finally reached the river and couldn't decide on how she wanted to get across. She went on for about ten minutes until she found a decent boat to climb into. She was about on the river when she heard a voice calling from behind.
"PEARL!" the young woman's voice screamed, "WAIT!"
Pearl stopped and looked back to see a young woman - about 18 - running towards her with a red wagon and a woman in it. Pearl slowly unpacked her stuff and patiently waited for the woman and the wagon to get to her.
"Wow, I'm so glad you're here," the 18-year-old said, panting.
"Hi! I'm Rose and this is my boss and I believe you were going to deliver her quadruplets?"
"Nice to meet you Rose! I'm Pearl and I need you to get this pregnant woman out of the wagon," Pearl said.
Rose helped Pearl and then said, "Um, so do you need anymore help?"
"Are you kidding me?!" Pearl yelled, "I've been doing this for seven years. I helped my mom when I was little and you think I need help delivering kids?! You're crazy!"
"Good, 'cause I hate blood," Rose said and ran away screaming.
By the time Rose was back, two cute little baby boys and two cute little baby girls lay asleep in the dirt both dressed in the most adorable clothes that Pearl bought at the merchant's before she left town. They swarm and they squall but no one comes to their comfort until Rose starts to load them up in the little wagon.
'What, are you crazy? You can't just leave little helpless babies in the dirt! They could get a parasite or something worse! Obviously you don't know a thing about child care!" Rose proclaimed angrily.
"Well, at least I dressed them and dirt is healthy. Calm -," Pearl said.
"Calm down?! I am like the mother of these children. That lazy person laying on the ground there puts me in charge of her seven kids for three dollars an hour and I just try so hard..." Rose said bursting out in tears.
"Well, you know at least they didn't bite the dust," Pearl said cracking up and Rose just gave her a glare.
"OK, sorry, not funny."
"No, it wasn't," Rose said and pulled the wagon with the four babies and the woman back up the hill.
"Gees, tough crowd," Pearl mumbled to herself as she pack up and left.
Meeting the doctor
As you know, William's mother is ill and dying. Dr. Hill met up with William one day in a market to discuss her state. As soon as Dr. Hill heard how bad she was, she rushed to their home to try and treat her. William's mother, Angela, was sitting in her bed with a wet cloth on her head. Dr. Hill ran over and quickly checked her temperature. It was 108°F. Angela was very sick with influenza. Dr. Hill had dealt with this illness many times before, good thing too, because many doctors can't treat it. But Dr. Hill got out her medicine and a glass of water and helped Angela take her pills. After two hours Angela was already feeling better but to get her back to her original state she had to take these pills everyday. And these pills were spendy. Good thing William stole that gold from that plantation. Once William went to pay she saw the gold in the cupboard and put it all together.
"You thief!" she yelled.
William didn't know what to say.
He was shocked she even knew about the stolen gold.
"That's Josh's gold," the doctor said.
"What? How do you know about that?" asked William.
"Josh is my brother and we have been searching for that gold for weeks!" answered the doctor.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I only took it because I need money to pay for a cure for my dear mother!" apologized William.
"Wait, what? You stole the and were going to pay me with my family's gold?!" yelled Annalynn Hill.
"Yes, I'm sorry, I didn't know what to do. I'm sorry!"
"Okay, I'll make you a deal! If you return the gold, you're off the hook."
Pearl Harbor Smith, a midwife married to a blacksmith sat in her old creaky hardwood rocking chair sewing away with her newly spun ball of yarn. She lives in small town in Georgia with her husband. It was a warm still day, the sun was out and the birds were chirping. The house was quiet except for a one after another creak from the rocking chair. Pearl's head popped up. She looked to her side, towards the widow and bang once again the window rattled. Pearls eyes looked towards the window and there stood a little pigeon with a note wrapped around its foot. She opened the window and grabbed the note. Watching as the carrier pigeon flew off, she shut the window and looked down at the note.
It was a message from a pregnant woman needs a midwifes help.
The next day, Pearl made arrangements with William, a humble African American slave, to come and help along the trip. They got some horses and a wagon and embarked on their trip.
Preparing the wagons
Pearl and William rolled up to the store in their new wagon with the horses. Mary Margaret, the merchant, ran out and greeted Pearl. They had grown up together and were the closest of friends. Pearl sat down with Mary Margaret while William gathered the supplies they needed in the store. Pearl explain all about the carrier pigeon and her quest to deliver the quadruplets. This scared Mary Margaret.
"What if you are attacked by those evil Indians!" she exclaimed. Pearl reassured her, promising that William would take care of her.
William came out with a huge load and tripped on a stair. Supplies flew everywhere and Mary Margaret ran to help him. Picking up the bags of rice and beans Mary Margaret's hands met with William's. She looked deep into his eyes, knowing his heart was good. Her heart rate sped up as she read his expression, it was the same as hers. Mary Margaret's hand drew back as she remembered her husband. She took the food she had in her arms and brought them to the wagon.
Pearl had seen it all and she knew that Mary Margaret did not love her husband. It had been an arranged marriage but Mary Margaret was not unhappy. She loved her baby girl very much, just not as much as her husband. Mary Margaret had felt something when she looked into William's eyes. Sadly, she and William were not meant to be. Mary Margaret belonged to her husband and would stay loyal to him.
Hugging Pearl and wiping away the tears building up in her eyes, Mary Margaret said her good-byes. She turned and looked once more time at William before going back into the store to her husband and baby.
Pearls and William hopped back into their wagon with all the supplies they needed for the long journey. As they reached the outskirts of town, William glanced over to an old shack.
"Mrs. Smith?" William said, shyly.
"Yes," she replied.
"Can I stop and see my mother one last time. She is sick and I don't know if she will be alive by the time we get back."
There was a long pause and finally Pearl said, "Yes, but make it quick."
William pulled over and ran to the creaky wooden home.
"Mother!" he exclaimed.
"William!" she replied.
"My dear Mother, I have come to say goodbye for a short time. I am traveling to Kansas with my masters wife so she can deliver a baby. I promise to bring someone to heal you. I promise it will happen, if it's the last think I do."
William was now holding her hands, He kissed her on the cheek and stood up. When he got to the door, William looked back and went to Pearl. Soon, they headed on the trail to Kansas.
William's nightmare
They have been traveling down the road for a few days now and they are their horses are in desperate need of some rest. They knew there was a town a few miles ahead but it as getting dark and they wouldn't make it before nightfall. They found a nice open area with lots of grass growing tall and a small water stream nearby. They set up for the night.
They had long fallen asleep when William woke up screaming. He ran and ran and ran. He ran so fast that Pearl had no time to react. William had had a nightmare. His dream was a recurring dream. One he had had every once in awhile but this one was different. It lasted longer than any other and was way more intense than ever. His normal dream was this, he was floating out to sea with no sight of land in any direction and the water was never rough, like it was entirely flat, like a solid sheet of glass. It made him feel alone and away from everyone. But not this one. This one he cold see land and water was incredibly rough unlike ever before. The water was holding him back, far back from the land that he seeks.
The meeting of Josh, the plantation owner and the discovery of gold
Josh Smith was the owner of a huge plantation. He woke up everyday and had the same routine every day. One sunny blue-bird day, Josh woke up and saw a couple at his front door. He hurried down and opened the door.
"Why, hello there," said Josh .
"We come from Georgia trying to get to Arkansas and have no place to sleep. We've been on horses for over 6 hours," said the female in the couple.
Josh replied with with an excited, "of course! There's a guest house a hundred yards North, right there," pointing his finger.
The couple said thank-you.
Josh said, "If you want any dinner meet back here at 5."
Josh went back to his routine, working on the farm all day long.
William and Pearl were in their room unpacking and getting ready for dinner. They saw Josh working in the fields. Pearl went into the bedroom and saw a piece of paper poking out a dresser. She went up to it and opened the drawer. The drawer flew out and hit the floor. The drawer had put a huge gash in the floor.
"William," yelled Pearl.
William rushed over and when he got in the room he had a wowing look on his face.
"Gold."
William and Pearl found gold. They ripped out more of floor and got as much as they could and packed it up. They argued how to steal the gold.
Nearing 5:00, the food was almost ready. A nice home cooked meal for the family and their guest. The guests were acting odd that night. They said they couldn't stay the night in their home. The Smith family couldn't understand what was wrong.
After dinner, the guests said thank-you and hurried to leave. As soon as they got out of the door they ran to their horses and left. Josh ran outside and knew exactly what happened.
"The gold," said Josh. The guests had stolen the gold from the land.
Meeting the Musician
There was a farmer named Mitch Miller. He was a very wealthy man. As Mitch Miller was sitting on his porch playing his banjo watching his farm for animals trying to eat his crops, a carriage came by and needed some food for their trip. All they had was gold which was the only was of getting his crops. He was an African American man who stopped by for the trip from Georgia to Kansas.
"A lady is giving birth," the man said.
"Well, I could spare a few crops," said Mitch.
"Thank you."
"Where in Georgia did you find gold?" said Mitch.
"I found it in the woods."
"Fine, I'll believe you. And also, what time are we leaving?" said Mitch.
"Tomorrow at dawn."
"Can I get your name?"
"William."
He was off.
As the day went by the plantation owner came by and asked if he saw any people come by.
"Yes, there was a man named William who needed food for his trip," said Mitch.
"Well, if you see them again, come get me," said Josh Lee.
Meeting Jena May and taking the train
Jena May is sitting on the old willow stump by the stream as she sits and waits for her train to Tennessee to visit her ill grandmother. As she is waiting, she spots a cloud of dust in the distance. As it comes closer she stands up to examine what it is. When the two figures come closer, she sees that it is a young lady with curly hair and a buff man riding beside her. By the look of the mans worn hands she expects he is a slave.
"Hello," Jena says as they stop in front of her.
The young lady jumps off her horse and begins to ask what time the next train to Arkansas comes.
Jena says that it comes in ten minutes.
"Then we are just in time,"the lady says.
"May I ask where it is you're headed to?" Jena says with a friendly look on her face.
"My name is Pearl and this is my escort William. We are going to help a lady deliver quadruplets, because I am a midwife living in Georgia," exclaimed Pearl.
"Well, I would love to help you catch your train then," said Jena.
"The next train comes anytime now, so let's get ready," exclaims jena.
When Pearl reaches into her pocket she feels nothing but the soft cloth of her velvet dress rubbing against her fingertips.
"The tickets, where are the tickets?" asks Pearl.
When William looks up he sees the horses munching on something. When he looks closer he sees part of the chewed up ticket lying under the ground under the horse. Before any of them make a reaction they hear a loud train whistle blow and they see the large engine stop beside them.
Then they hear the engineer shout, "All aboard!"
"Follow me," shouts William, they all job to the end of the train. They hear the engines loud roar. William jumps in one of the cargo cars and escorts the two ladies and the two horses. When they feel the train move they all know they are in for an adventure.
The oddest character yet, Bobby-John Travis the barber.
Pearl and William have just left the train and decide to stop into town to have a nice haircut. They walk into town and decide to stop at Bobby-John Travis' barber shop to meet the oddest character yet.
"Pearl, please don't make me get one of them haircuts! Please!"
"No, William, you got to get a haircut. Whether you like it or not."
"Fine.."
As they walk in, Pearl trips and knocks over William.
The barber, Bobby-John Travis, sees and starts laughing hysterically.
He laughs so hard he get a heart-attack because of his diabetes.
Then, Bobby-John heals in a time of 15 minutes and says he will give them a haircut.
Pearl gets a mullet and William is shaved bald.
While they are getting their cuts, Bobby-John starts to talk about his life.
When he was about 15 his parents died and he was forced to take up his dad's business. Then, when he was 20 he was diagnosed with diabetes. Then, he met a lonely wife who divorced him after five years because every time she would fall he would laugh.
So now, he is alone, probably forever, but he still dreams of being a cowboy.
Staying with the Butcher
They came to butchers shop hungry and tired. Their names were Pearl Harbor Smith and William Buffy. He was a tall buff man. They were both about to faint when Ruby Mac, the butcher, quickly escorted them to one of her spare back rooms. After an hour or so William cam out and asked Ruby he could go take a bath. Ruby automatically pointed to the washroom and then the pot of boiling water she was going to use for beef stew. Ruby quickly looked away after.
Ruby quickly ran for her cabinet and grabbed fresh clothes and soap (that she made). Lateer, Pearl got up to the smell of steak, potatoes and some hot tea that was whistling at the top of its lungs. Pearl saw William and Ruby already eating and she noticed William had changed into new clothes and shaved. When Pearl came out of the room, everything was silent. William and Ruby stopped and looked at Pearl (it was quiet for about five minutes). Then Ruby told her that there was hot water in the pot.
The next morning, Ruby gave William and Pearl a big ten pound bag of beef jerky. When they were pulling out on their horses and all of a sudden Ruby ran out and gave William a big kiss on the mouth!
Ruby blushed so hard and said her last goodbyes and ran inside, to wait for her love William to come back for her.
Skull Head Mountains
After leaving the baker, Pearl and William return to the road. But neither Pearl or William noticed that the weather is getting worse and the road is climbing into the deep dark Skull Head Mountains.These were dangerous and extreme mountains. Usually only mountain men lived in these mountains. The two travelers were talking too much and did not know that there was a storm coming. As the big red sun sunk behind the Skull Head Head Mountains, it became bitterly cold. William and Pearl decided to stop riding for the night which was a bad idea. They stopped quickly and built a little shelter. This is where they would spend the night. I was a cold and long night. The next morning William woke up to the sound of a growling ... bear.
They both let out a scream. At the same time, a man wearing a buffalo robe came on his horse and jumped off and shot the bear.
"This is a good bear,"the man said. He wore a buffalo robe and leather leggings. As he walked back to his horse to grab his bowie knife, William asked who this strange man was.
"The name is Black, Forester Black." The man had a deep voice and talked very slowly. The man was tall and ripped.
"Do you live up here?" asked William.
The man nodded his head. He was too busy skinning the bear to speak. The two travelers started packing up. The man was done skinning the bear.
As he walked back to this horse, which was very tall mustang, he saddled, turned and said, "Go home," almost as if he were angry at them.
"NO," replied William.
The man turned the horse around so fast William could not speak.
"I said go home."
"Why?" replied William.
The man just started laughing, "I have seen your type pilgrim, you don't belong in these mountains. Go home!" said the mountain man one last time.
"Well, we are not!"said William.
Forester Black leaned off his horse and got real close to William and said in a whisper, "I see you got a lady here with you."
"Yes," replied William.
"Well, I don't want to see you two die up in these here mountains. One, because I don't want any lives lost and two, I don't want to dig graves in this hard ground."
The mountain man turned his horse around and started walking off.
"Wait!" screamed William.
The man turned and just stared.
"Will you guide us through these mountains?" asked William.
"At a price," said the Black.
"How about two Colt revolvers?" asked William.
Forester Black's eyes lit up.
"We might just have a trade their, pilgrim."
As the group moved on, the Skull Head Mountains got scarier and harder. The trail was thin and hard to go over.
As they were walking the wind started blowing. The snow came.
'We better hurry," said the Mountain Man. They went and built a small shelter. Luckily they made it through the night. The storm blew over. They made it ok.
Finally, they made it out of the mountains.
"Too many people and not enough quietness."
As they watched the man go over the horizon, they realized he was right. They would have not made it without him.
Meeting Rosaleen
Rosaleen looked down the cold snowy path. In the distance she saw some figures. The figures were walking closer. The figures finally got close enough that Rosaleen could tell it was people on horseback. Rosaleen and the strangers were face to face. The strangers introduced themselves as Pearl and William. Pearl and William's faces were bright red. They were freezing. They had just come from Skull Head Mountains. They have just been in a huge snow storm. They explained why they were on the trail. Pearl didn't look very well. Rosaleen quickly took them up to her cabin. When they opened the door a little girl ran over and jumped into Rosaleen's hands. She was about the age of five.
"This is my daughter," said Rosaleen.
"My husband probably just went to bed," she added.
Rosaleen put her daughter to bed and came back into the living room.
"Sit down," she said.
Pearl and William were very quiet. Rosaleen made some food and hot tea for Pearl and William. When she handed them the food she noticed that Pearl had a little sketch pad.
"What's that?" Rosaleen asked.
She picked up the sketch pad. They were amazing drawings!
"Did you draw these?" she asked.
Pearl nodded her head saying, "yes."
As the night went on, William and Pearl got more friendly and talkative.
They asked what Rosaleen was doing outside in the cold.
"I'm a logger. I was cutting down wood for my fire," she explained.
They then sat and watched the fire crackle.
Rosaleen made two beds for them to sleep. By now they were looking very much better. Soon the house rose with darkness. You could only hear the fire crackling. Pearl watched the fire for awhile and soon dozed off.
Rosaleen woke up bright and early. The smell of pancakes and syrup filled the air. The sun creeped through the windows and filled the house with light. William woke up, ready to help. Rosaleen set up breakfast. So soon walked outside and started to cut fire wood. William was pleased to help. They loaded it up into their carriage. They went back inside and now Rosaleen's husband was at work and her daughter was at school. Pearl awoke to the sounds of William and Rosaleen laughing. They all sat at the table and and enjoyed their breakfast.
After breakfast, Pearl took a walk around the area. She found a gorgeous flower and drew it. It was the only flower around. She walked back inside and thanked Rosaleen for the wood. They need to be heading off soon.
Rosaleen gave them food and water for their trip. She wished them good look on their journey.
Pearl and William went off to their next adventure.
"This is my daughter," said Rosaleen.
"My husband probably just went to bed," she added.
Rosaleen put her daughter to bed and came back into the living room.
"Sit down," she said.
Pearl and William were very quiet. Rosaleen made some food and hot tea for Pearl and William. When she handed them the food she noticed that Pearl had a little sketch pad.
"What's that?" Rosaleen asked.
She picked up the sketch pad. They were amazing drawings!
"Did you draw these?" she asked.
Pearl nodded her head saying, "yes."
As the night went on, William and Pearl got more friendly and talkative.
They asked what Rosaleen was doing outside in the cold.
"I'm a logger. I was cutting down wood for my fire," she explained.
They then sat and watched the fire crackle.
Rosaleen made two beds for them to sleep. By now they were looking very much better. Soon the house rose with darkness. You could only hear the fire crackling. Pearl watched the fire for awhile and soon dozed off.
Rosaleen woke up bright and early. The smell of pancakes and syrup filled the air. The sun creeped through the windows and filled the house with light. William woke up, ready to help. Rosaleen set up breakfast. So soon walked outside and started to cut fire wood. William was pleased to help. They loaded it up into their carriage. They went back inside and now Rosaleen's husband was at work and her daughter was at school. Pearl awoke to the sounds of William and Rosaleen laughing. They all sat at the table and and enjoyed their breakfast.
After breakfast, Pearl took a walk around the area. She found a gorgeous flower and drew it. It was the only flower around. She walked back inside and thanked Rosaleen for the wood. They need to be heading off soon.
Rosaleen gave them food and water for their trip. She wished them good look on their journey.
Pearl and William went off to their next adventure.
William and Pearl walked into the saloon. They walked up to the saloon owner, Jonny Smith. They asked him if he knew any one that was going West. The kind of person who would go without anyone knowing. They didn't want the sheriff to find them. Jonny said, he knew of someone who smuggles people around. He showed William to the guy's table.
They told the man their problem and he agreed to take them one hundred miles for a small fee. They took a small slice of gold off of what they had He agreed happily. William thanked Jonny for his help, loaded up his wagon and set off.
As the sheriff and the plantation owner walk into the saloon it gets quiet. They slowly walk up to the bar with all eyes on them. They ask the saloon owner, Jonny Smith, if he has seen William.
Jonny said that he caught them doing some illegal things with this man. Jonny showed them the picture and offered to help. The man they were looking for had a scraggily gray beard, raggedy clothes and an old wrinkly face. First Jonny looked throughout the saloon but had no luck.
No one has seen him or heard where he has been.
They went in the town and questioned a couple of people, but still nothing.
Then, this sketchy character walked up to them and said he might know something but it would cost something. Jonny stepped up and said he would let him have free drinks for one night and a date with a lovely lady.
The man willingly agreed.
He told the, that there is an underground gambling bunker to the left of the movie house and that they would find him there.
They went to the bunker and went into it. There were about five men and one of them was the man they were looking for. One of the five men saw the sheriff and fired. He missed. Jonny pulled out and killed two of the men. The plantation owner killed two more while the sheriff was capturing the man. They asked the man but he wouldn't talk. So the plantation owner started taking one dollar at a time and burned it with a match. That man loves his money. It only took ten burnt bills to get him to talk. He told them that he took them a hundred miles West to a town called Motor. The sheriff took some money and left. They thanked Jonny for his help, went to their houses and left.
Meeting the baker
Mary-Ann sat on the dusty steps of her bakery. A warm gust of wind swept through the town, whistling in her ears and hair while the creaky boards moved underneath her reminding her of the terrible state her bakery was in. She sighed, rebraided her long straight black hair, wiped the dust from her tanned skin and started up the steps to bake more pastries and attempt to sell day-old pies. Mary always kept the inside of her bakery very clean, she never had too many people in her bakery; the occasional tourist or wandering local.
Today a very odd couple came into her bakery.
A very beautiful young woman with long curly sand-brown hair stumbled in with a shy looking man who looked to be her husband.
They seemed in urgent need of whatever they were looking for, so Mary-Ann scurried back grabbed some mugs, a pot of coffee and a few random day old pasties and breads.
She rushed around the kitchen scrounging for food for the strange couple and heard the low murmur of their voices, deep in conversation by the sound of it. Thinking better of just barging in, Mary stood behind the door listening carefully with hot coffee and crunchy pastries. These people were a lot different than the usual customers. They quietly finished their meal, tipped heavily and walked out whispering. Something strange was going on.
One of Mary's usuals came in, Sheriff Billy-Bob. Mary-Ann was a bit surprised to see him this late in the day. He usually came in in the morning for a hot cup of black coffee, fresh bear-claws or doughnuts. He sat down, not saying a single word and just stared at the swinging doors stirring in the breeze. Mary-Ann thought about bringing him his usual, but he didn't seem in the mood. It looked as if he was meeting someone, Mary-Ann thought, "something is different about him today.
After ten minutes or so she could tell he was getting a little hungry so she set his cup of the table and pushed half his bear claw towards him. He was silent for a long time.
One of Mary's usuals came in, Sheriff Billy-Bob. Mary-Ann was a bit surprised to see him this late in the day. He usually came in in the morning for a hot cup of black coffee, fresh bear-claws or doughnuts. He sat down, not saying a single word and just stared at the swinging doors stirring in the breeze. Mary-Ann thought about bringing him his usual, but he didn't seem in the mood. It looked as if he was meeting someone, Mary-Ann thought, "something is different about him today.
After ten minutes or so she could tell he was getting a little hungry so she set his cup of the table and pushed half his bear claw towards him. He was silent for a long time.
Gun Fight
Knock, knock, knock as someone beats on the door the sheriff, Billy-Bob gets out of his chair and starts walking to the door. It was his good buddy Josh Smith, the plantation owner.
"Josh, what are you doing?"
'Billy, there has been a terrible thing that happened on the plantation."
Billy could tell by the scared look on his face it wasn't good.
"What is it, Josh?"
"I was looking around the plantation and all..all..all the gold, it was gone. I saw these people run run right into the forest heading into town."
"And wait, Josh, what did they look like?"
"Well... well, they be wearin'.. well the girl was wearing a beautiful dress, musta been very expensive and that man musta been her slave or somethin'. He was black. Hey wait, I just seen..."
Getting away
As they ran, the huge sheriff was right on their heels. They ran to the bushes and hid. They were trying to help their wounds when a Native American came and asked if they needed help. The Native American was a short, thin man part of a regional tribe. The Native was very dark colored and spoke very little English so it was difficult to speak to him. He put medicine on their wounds and wrapped them up. The sheriff was really slow so they were out of sight within minutes. Then they headed to the Mississippi river.
The delivery of the babies along the Mississippi
Pearl finally reached the river and couldn't decide on how she wanted to get across. She went on for about ten minutes until she found a decent boat to climb into. She was about on the river when she heard a voice calling from behind.
"PEARL!" the young woman's voice screamed, "WAIT!"
Pearl stopped and looked back to see a young woman - about 18 - running towards her with a red wagon and a woman in it. Pearl slowly unpacked her stuff and patiently waited for the woman and the wagon to get to her.
"Wow, I'm so glad you're here," the 18-year-old said, panting.
"Hi! I'm Rose and this is my boss and I believe you were going to deliver her quadruplets?"
"Nice to meet you Rose! I'm Pearl and I need you to get this pregnant woman out of the wagon," Pearl said.
Rose helped Pearl and then said, "Um, so do you need anymore help?"
"Are you kidding me?!" Pearl yelled, "I've been doing this for seven years. I helped my mom when I was little and you think I need help delivering kids?! You're crazy!"
"Good, 'cause I hate blood," Rose said and ran away screaming.
By the time Rose was back, two cute little baby boys and two cute little baby girls lay asleep in the dirt both dressed in the most adorable clothes that Pearl bought at the merchant's before she left town. They swarm and they squall but no one comes to their comfort until Rose starts to load them up in the little wagon.
'What, are you crazy? You can't just leave little helpless babies in the dirt! They could get a parasite or something worse! Obviously you don't know a thing about child care!" Rose proclaimed angrily.
"Well, at least I dressed them and dirt is healthy. Calm -," Pearl said.
"Calm down?! I am like the mother of these children. That lazy person laying on the ground there puts me in charge of her seven kids for three dollars an hour and I just try so hard..." Rose said bursting out in tears.
"Well, you know at least they didn't bite the dust," Pearl said cracking up and Rose just gave her a glare.
"OK, sorry, not funny."
"No, it wasn't," Rose said and pulled the wagon with the four babies and the woman back up the hill.
"Gees, tough crowd," Pearl mumbled to herself as she pack up and left.
Meeting the doctor
As you know, William's mother is ill and dying. Dr. Hill met up with William one day in a market to discuss her state. As soon as Dr. Hill heard how bad she was, she rushed to their home to try and treat her. William's mother, Angela, was sitting in her bed with a wet cloth on her head. Dr. Hill ran over and quickly checked her temperature. It was 108°F. Angela was very sick with influenza. Dr. Hill had dealt with this illness many times before, good thing too, because many doctors can't treat it. But Dr. Hill got out her medicine and a glass of water and helped Angela take her pills. After two hours Angela was already feeling better but to get her back to her original state she had to take these pills everyday. And these pills were spendy. Good thing William stole that gold from that plantation. Once William went to pay she saw the gold in the cupboard and put it all together.
"You thief!" she yelled.
William didn't know what to say.
He was shocked she even knew about the stolen gold.
"That's Josh's gold," the doctor said.
"What? How do you know about that?" asked William.
"Josh is my brother and we have been searching for that gold for weeks!" answered the doctor.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I only took it because I need money to pay for a cure for my dear mother!" apologized William.
"Wait, what? You stole the and were going to pay me with my family's gold?!" yelled Annalynn Hill.
"Yes, I'm sorry, I didn't know what to do. I'm sorry!"
"Okay, I'll make you a deal! If you return the gold, you're off the hook."
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