(musin’s and confusin’s of my Daddy’s Midwest childhood)
Seems we Goodwells, when we got us someplace to go we get ourselves there lickity split. An’ so it was here an’ now.
Daddy an’ me, we fair sailed from the auction barn, Daddy behind the wheel o’ the International an’ me holdin’ on fer dear life! I’ll swan we pitched ourselves into ever’ pothole an’ tore ourselves up ever’ unseen projectile upendin’ itself underneath our tires. Sand an’ soil an’ cowpies, petrified and otherwise, spat clean up to where our windows would have been had they been rolled up.
Which they wudn’t.
The engine underneath the hood came close to singin’, it was so happy to be up an’ at ’em and gettin’ some deserved facilitatin’ and acceleratin’! Hummin’ and gunnin’, it was hittin’ on all cylinders an’ happy to be doin’ it.
I always did love that pickup truck.
Fore an’ aft an’ ever’where inbetweenwise.
Glancin’ over to Daddy, his face was all angles and determination, eyes like bullets, jaw set like ce-ment. He wudn’t goin’ to let stand what that black horse and rider did to that veternarian. He wudn’t goin’ to let stand whatever part Judge Huger had in stealin’ him away from them that was givin’ aid.
I always did love my Daddy when he got intent and resolute.
Outwardwise an’ inwardwise an’ ever’where inbetweenwise.
Folks was hollerin’ and wavin’ their hats our way, wudn’t sure jest why at the time, an’ it didn’t seem right to grin so I didn’t. Vet feller may not make it after all. But deep in my heart, I was proud as punch my Daddy had in him some gumption to do somethin’.
Somethin’.
He’d know what to do. This was my Daddy we was talkin’ about.
Whateverwise that somethin’ was….
But, Law! We wasn’t headin’ back home to sort out us a plan or to think through the next thing we should be a’doin’!
Law! We was barrelin’ clean the other di-rection, swingin’ way wide left ‘stead o’ right back to the farm! Our unswervin’ singleminded International pickup was haulin’ our backsides quick as a lic k, doubletimin’ the tracks o’ Judge Huger’s shiny black Cadillac! An’ Daddy, he was leanin’ hisself forward, feet workin’ that clutch and that transmission whinin’ and wailin’ fer all it was worth!
Law! If I didn’t sweep off my own sweat-stained straw hat an’ wave it myself!
Law! We was goin’ to have us a “Come to Jesus meetin'” with the ol’ Judge!
Law! The world was ’bout to change!
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Belles and Whistles 