Going West

CHAPTER ONE

The forty-nine Chrysler turned due west onto Route Sixty-Six. The early morning sun was rising from the east. It reflected brilliantly in the rear view mirror, bouncing bright patches of sun light off the empty back seat. Two young men sat in the front seat with the warm sun shining directly on their backs.

The young man in the passenger seat was Floyd Samuel Metter. Floyd was better known to his friends as ‘Stick’. His long, thin legs were slightly cramped and his tanned right arm was resting on the open window. A cool breeze was blowing through his dark brown hair. He wore a tight fitting plain white t-shirt and a new pair of blue jeans.

Stick was seventeen years old but would turn eighteen in ten days. He was six foot four inches tall with broad shoulders. His hands were exceptionally large. By the time he was thirteen he could hold a basketball in one hand. Today he wore size eleven shoes and was perceived by most who met him as being older. He naturally possessed good posture, usually standing straight and tall. This day Stick sported a fresh crew cut. His usual cocky smile was plastered on his sun tanned handsome face. His clear, dark brown eyes stared obstinately ahead. Not a muscle moved in his lean body. A pack of camel’s rested snuggly under the left sleeve of his t-shirt.

The driver of the Chrysler was a sturdy young man with wavy dark brown hair. He sat slightly forward in the seat leaning toward the steering wheel. His waist line was slim. His shoulders were exceptionally broad. His chest thick and his arms were firm and muscular with oversized triceps and biceps. His legs were short, disproportionately short for his long waist and strong upper torso. His right foot barely touched the accelerator. He leaned slightly forward when applying pressure to the brakes. Marley Champ also sported a crew cut, wore a new pair of blue jeans and a tight fitting pure white t-shirt. Unlike Stick who was thin and tall, Marley was average height, muscular and powerfully built. He had turned nineteen years old a month earlier but appeared significantly older than his passenger.

Marley had not been challenged about his age in the last three years. He obtained his driver’s license on his sixteen birthday, but had never been confronted about his age when entering a bar or pool hall. He rarely drank alcohol, but when he ordered a beer he was not asked to show a license. When Stick was with Marley he could order all the beer he could pay for. It had been that way since Stick was fifteen and Marley sixteen. Stick loved beer, drank too much and often started an argument or fight that Marley had to finish.

At the moment Marley’s left arm rested on the open window soaking up the morning sun. All through Marley and Stick were dressed similarly, the pack of cigarettes were missing from Marley’s t-shirt. Marley did not smoke. He hated cigarettes and did not allow Stick to smoke cigarettes in his car.

They were both very tanned from exposure to the sun and the dry Oklahoma spring air. A cool wind blew though the bright green Chrysler Marley was driving. The wind would soon be hot and dry as the sun moved south and then west. The dark green Chrysler glimmered under a fresh coat of wax. They would journey west to Albuquerque and then northwest before reaching Seattle, their final destination. Stick and Marley had a plan. It was a simple plan. It would test their friendship to the limit and change it forever. The plan was to travel to the largest city the greatest distance from Penham City High School and still be in the United States. Before they reached Seattle they would have one of the greatest adventures of their life. They were best friends and had graduated from High School three days previously. The month was May. The year was nineteen fifty-six.

They were graduates of the proud Class of fifty-six. It was the largest class ever graduated from Penham City High School. It was not only the largest class ever graduated but the best class ever graduated. That claim had not been proven to the satisfaction of other graduated PCH classes. That didn’t matter to Stick or Marley; they knew the class of fifty-six was the best ever. Just knowing was enough for them. Sometimes knowing you are the best is really all that matters. Their collective worth was less than three hundred dollars. Their determination to reach Seattle was boundless.

They had been best friends since the sixth grade. That year they played on Mrs. Levin’s sixth grade boys’ basketball team. There were four sixth grade classes at Penham that year. Each class had a boys’ basketball team. Stick and Marley were both starters for team. As it turned out, it was the first and only basketball team on which Marley was a consistent starter.

That was not true of football or track and field. Marley excelled in both sports. Stick kicked extra points and fields goals during the football season. He played very little of what Marley defined as ‘real’ football. Stick never participated in Track or Field events but was a consistent starter for both the junior and senior high school basketball teams. Throughout his basketball career he was always one of the team’s leading scorers. Stick was All City his junior year in high school. He repeated as All City his senior year and was chosen by the coaches as first team All-Conference.

Marley started an occasional game in Junior High School and most of the games during his sophomore and junior years for the junior varsity basketball team. He started only one high school varsity basketball game. It was his senior year and the first game after the Christmas break. That lone start was the most painful and humiliating memory of Marley’s high school athletic career.

The head football and basketball coach for PCHS was Doc Grieves. Marley had always excelled in football. However Marley was a consistent bench warmer on the varsity team during the three years he played varsity Basketball. During Marley’s sophomore year of basketball Doc had given Marley the nickname Hog Balls.

Doc never referred to Marley by his nickname during the football season. He was simply Champ. However Doc always called Marley by his nick name during basketball season, not only during practices but also during both home and away games. This was a source of embarrassment for Marley especially at home games. He once went to Doc in private and requested he stop referring to him by his nickname especially during home games. Doc never said a word to Marley concerning his request but just smiled. He never changed his practice of using Marley’s nickname during the basketball season.

None of Marley’s team mates knew the origin of the name or why Doc Grieves gave it to Marley. Jim Crall put forth a theory one day that it was because Marley’s dad raised hogs. No one actually understood the connection but it did become the accepted explanation concerning the derivation of Marley’s nick name. Marley had the distinction of being the only player that Coach Grieves ever gave a nickname. A distinction Marley took no pride it.

Whatever the explanation for his nickname, Marley hated it. Doc Grieves was also the American History teacher. During Marley’s sophomore year he was in Doc Grieves fifth period class. Teacher Grieves rarely spoke to Marley during history class. On those occasions when he called on Marley in class or greeted him in the cafeteria or hallways he always called him by his first name. Teacher Grieves never called him by his nickname or his last name during the first five periods of school.

Marley was grateful Doc didn’t use his nickname in the classroom. Coach Grieves never called him by his nickname during the football season. Not during football practice time, not in the locker room or during a game. Doc always referred to Marley during the football season as Champ. No first name, no nickname, simple Champ. Marley thought it was because he excelled in football, while in basketball he was primarily a bench warmer. The exception being the junior varsity basketball team which coach Grieves did not coach. The JV coach just called him Marley.

Marley did not know how Doc kept the different ways he addressed him straight in his mind when the environment changed. However Doc was very consistent between football and basketball throughout the years he was Marley’s High School coach.

Prior to becoming a history teacher and the head football and basket coach at PCH Doc Grieves was Marley and Stick’s Junior High School Principal. When he was the Junior High School principal all the students referred to him as Mr. Grieves. Marley never knew why he was called Doc Grieves when he moved to the High School coaching position. The players all referred to him as coach or said nothing to him during practice or games. Usually the players asked no questions and said nothing to coach Grieves. Unless you were one of his few favorites, asking him a question usually brought the ‘Wrath of Hell’ down on your head like a sledgehammer hitting you between your eyes. The two assistant coaches, Vandermine and Krill were no more helpful. No player desired to be belittled in front of their team mates. Silence prevailed during practice except grunting and painful moaning. During games and in the locker room there were only a few favored players with the courage to speak out or ask an occasional question.

To Marley Doc Grieves was simply ‘Ass Hole. He never thought of him by any other name, no matter the season, no matter the sitting. When Marley had to speak directly to ‘Doc’ Grieves, which was not often, he called him coach regardless of the location: class room, hallway, and football field or basketball court. Outside of practices, the locker room and games Doc Grieves was called by most players by many names. Doc or Coach Grieves were by far the most complimentary. They were the only names a player would dare to repeat to his parents or a girlfriend.

Marley’s senior year Doc Grieves was very impressed by Marley’s defensive skills during the last basketball game preceding the Christmas break. In the first half of the game the opposing teams’ star player scored twenty-two points on Penhams’ guard Rick Smarten. In the first minute of the second half he scored two more field goals and a free throw after being fouled by Smarten. It was Rick’s fourth foul so Doc Grieves grabbed Marley by the collar of his warm up jacket and screamed ‘Hog Balls!’ get in there for Smarten."

After entering the game Marley held the ‘Hot Shot’ to five points for the remained of the game, only fouling him once. The Hot Shot made two short field goals and converted one of his two attempts at the free throw line. Hot Shot was six inches taller than Marley. Both of his field goals were from offensive rebounds. Marley denied him the ball most of the time. After the game Doc came into the locker room, took one look at Marley and said, You’re starting the next game Hog Balls. He made no other comment nor did he speak to any other player. Rick would spend some unfamiliar time warming the bench.

After Doc announced Marley would be starting the next game Rick Smarten who was standing next to Marley simply said, You played a good game Marley.

The next game was scheduled for early January. Marley made up his mind at that very moment to put in some extra training time during the Christmas break shooting hoops and working on conditioning. For conditioning he ran up and down the bleachers in the gym. Marley later realized running the bleachers for conditioning was a huge mistake. Following the Christmas break he developed very painful shin splints two days before the game.

The first game after the break was on Tuesday January 5th. It was a game destined to linger in Marley’s memory forever. It would always be remembered as the greatest failure of his high school athletic career. Marley’s legs ached almost unbearably that day. He did not want to lose his chance to be a starter. Marley knew there would not be a second chance. That proved to be true.

Ass Hole assigned Marley to their leading scorer. He just happened to be a six foot two inch forward with very long arms. In a good pair of tennis shoes and by stretching the truth a little Marley was five feet eight inches. Marley was unable to deny the taller player the ball because the painful shin splits took away his advantage of quickness. The taller players’ height advantage combined with Marley’s compromised quickness allowed ‘Tall guys’ team mates to throw the ball over Marley’s head. In the first quarter of the game their Hot Shot took Marley deep under the basket nine straight times. Seven of the nine times he scored a field goal.

The other two times Marley fouled him and he scored two free throws in four attempts. At that point Ass Hole ended Marley’s career as a starter sending Smarten in to resume his normal position. To make the situation worse Ass Hole assigned Jim Crall, a six foot forward, to defend their star player while assigning Rick Smartin to a five foot nine inch guard. Rick never relinquished his position again. However Smartens’ defensive skills did improve significantly following his short stint as a bench warmer. Marley reluctantly accepted the credit.

Take a good look at the old school. The next time you see it, that school will be the Junior High School Stick said. The Class of ‘56 would be the last Class to graduate from the old high school. Ground had been broken a year earlier for a new Penham City High School. The class of ‘57’ would be the first class to start and finish their senior year in the new high school.

They were nearing the intersection at 39th and MacArthur. In that area of Oklahoma City, 39th street was also United States Highway Sixty Six. Highway Sixty Six begins in Chicago and ends in California. Stick had never been further west than Enid, Oklahoma. Marley and Stick had both been as far east as Tulsa. During the early forties Marley’s family migrated to California where his parents worked as migrant farm workers. They were known to the California locals as Okies. They returned in 1947 at which time Marley entered the 4th grade at Penham City grade school. Two years later Marley and Stick became the best of friends.

Stick having never been west of Enid was not officially an Okie. He had not been through the California migration and returned home to Oklahoma. However, Marley and Stick were ‘blood’ brothers. That gave Stick some bragging rights.

Marley glanced briefly to the right to get one last look at Penham City High School. There were many memories left behind for Marley and Stick in the hallways, classrooms and gymnasium of Penham High. Also there were memories of the football and track fields. The best memory of all for Marley was fresh in his mind. It was his graduation held at the Football Stadium only two days previously. It was the one he would cherish until he departed this life.

As far back as his parents remembered on either side of the parental ancestry no one had completed a high school education. Regardless of the sacrifices his mother had to make she was determined to see Marley be the first to graduate high school from her side of the family. Marley was very grateful she was in the grandstands the night he walked across the stage, accepted his diploma and proudly shook Mr. Mayfelt’s hand. Regrettably Marley’s father was not there. Marley’s father celebrated the occasion at a bar two miles from the football field grandstands.

Moments later they passed the Junior High School which was adjacent to the High School. The grade school was located next to the Junior High. Both the grade school and the junior high school play grounds adjoined each other and held many special memories for Marley. Those days passed so quickly. As they drove by the Junior High playground Marley could see the rusty old basketball goals.

His mind raced back to the day he kicked Billie Landis’s butt. Billie was a playground bully. He was two years older than Marley. Billie who was in the ninth grade at that time found more than his match one day when Marley was in the seventh grade.

They were playing a three-on-three basketball game on one of the dirt courts located near the bus stop while waiting for their bus to arrive. Billie was not only a playground bully he was the bully of the bus they rode to school and back on a daily basis. Billie was also Marley’s neighborhood nemeses. Located in the northern outskirts of Oklahoma City the neighborhood was sparsely populated. Billie lived next door to the Beavers who lived five open city blocks from the Champs nearest neighbors. He lived across the street from the McCone family. Horest McCone was the toughest kid in the neighborhood but he was not a bully. Billie never messed with Horest. Horest never seemed to mind if Billie beat up on the younger kids in the neighborhood.

On the day of the event Marley was going into the basket wide open for a shot when Billie hit him from behind. The blow sent Marley face first into the ground behind the goal. When Marley got up spitting blood and dirt from his mouth someone shouted bus five is here. Bus five was the bus Marley and Billie rode. Marley grabbed his jacket a light wind breaker and his books and ran for the bus with blood dripping from his lower lip. There was dirt in his eyes and hair but he did not want to miss the bus. It was a three mile walk home and Marley had chores waiting when he arrived home. If he didn’t get those chores done he would have to deal with his father who was a little more formidable than Billie Landis.

On the bus Marley managed to stop the lip from bleeding by applying pressure with his thumb and index finger. He thought about all the times Billie had pushed him around. The more he thought about it the angrier Marley became. Marley made a decision. This would be the last day Billie would push Marley around. Marley and Billie got off the bus at the same stop. Marley devised a plan. The bullying would stop today.

Marley removed his belt from his pants. He fastened the loop to the left and right of his zipper together with a strong piece of twine he removed from his pants pocket. He wrapped his belt around three large books he was taking home for school work. After looping the belt around the books there was a one and a half foot length of strong belt remaining. Marley looped four inches of that around his wrist and held the remainder in his strong right hand.

Billie usually sat in the back of the bus. Today he was in his usual spot. Marley’s plan called for Marley to get off the bus ahead of Billie. As the bus came close to their stop Marley moved to the front of the bus then exited the bus well ahead of Billie. When Billie stepped off the bus Marley was standing very near the bus door. When the bus driver closed the bus doors Marley quickly threw his wind breaker over Billie’s head. Almost simultaneously he hit him hard in the head with the three books secured to his belt. Billie was stunned. As the bus pulled away Billie staggered a few steps, stumbled into the bar ditch beside the road but did not fall.

Marley jumped into the ditch and jerked the jacket from Billie’s head. Then he tackled Billie and drove his body hard into the ground knocking the wind out of him. Marley jumped on top of Billie and delivered blow, after bow, after bow to his head and face with his hard fists. First the right hand, then the left. Marley repeated the cycle over and over until Billie’s face was a purple mess.

Marley jammed his right knee into Billie’s belly again knocking the wind form him. After pounding Billie’s face with several more punishing blows he climbed off of him. It all happened so fast Billie only had time to wrap his arms around his head to deflect some of the blows. Billie never delivered a single punch while lying on his back with his arms wrapped around his head.

His nose was quickly bloodied and he started screaming and crying frantically. Blood run into Billie’s mouth as he spit blood to keep from choking. After a dozen more hard punches Marley was out of breath. Billie was no longer screaming and hardly moving. Marley got off Billie and kicked him hard in his side. He rammed his knee several more times into Billie’s gut. The wind came out of him again and again until he just made little uuffs and deep moans. Marley knelled and delivered a tremendous punch to Billie gut. Billie farted and expelled a deep groan while clucking his abdomen.

Marley hissed Don’t ever mess with me again or I’ll give you more of the same, much more! Retrieving his jacket and books with the belt wrapped around them he walked away. Never looking back secure in the knowledge it was over between him and Billie. And it was.

Billie never said a cross word to Marley again or even attempted to lay a hand on him. Later in high school he avoided Marley as much as possible especially on the football field. The bully closed up shop that day. The bullying for Billie had ended. On the football field Billie played hard but never played dirty or attempted to bully any players. Billie had changed for the better. By his senior year in high school he became a complete team player while maximizing his own personal talent. Billie led the team in yards rushing his senior year and was one of the leading tacklers on the defense.

Marley returned his attention to his driving while Stick sat comfortably relaxing in the passenger seat. The schools were behind them now. They were headed toward Bethany on highway sixty six. Bethany is a small town adjacent to and within the suburbs of Oklahoma City. There were a few homes scattered throughout a half mile square area. There was a gas station, a dozen small stores, a Safeway and a large TG&Y all located on Main Street. The fire and police stations were located a block west of Main Street near the large TG&Y. The Nazarene College was near the center of Bethany. Five blocks to the east was City Hall. Located near the western edge of Main Street was the Nazarene Book Store. As they entered Bethany the first store was the Safeway located on the left and a block later they were passing the College located on the right side of Main Street.

CHAPTER TWO

The clock on the wall in the kitchen read five minutes to five. The morning dawn was several miles to the east of the Ozarks. From his comfortable gunny sack on the front porch the old black dog lifted his head and looked around. It had rained most of the night.

Remnants of the thunder clouds lingered in the changing light as they slowly drifted south over the mountains to the east. In the kitchen a women stoked the wood stove. It was time to prepare breakfast. It would be the last breakfast in the Trotter kitchen until they returned in late August. For the past five years the Trotters had traveled to Washington, State in late May for the annual cherry harvest and festival held in early June. After the cherry picking harvest was over, they would journey to the central valley in California. In the golden state, they joined other migrant workers. They picked fruit and harvested vegetables before returning to Huntsville, Arkansas located in the heart of the Ozark Mountains.

Twenty minutes after Sara Trotter stoked the old wood stove back to life, the smell of coffee permeated the kitchen and drifted into the bed room. Hooch Trotter never could stay in bed with the aroma of fresh coffee in the air. He threw back the light blank and reached for the overhauls he left lying on a nearby chair before going to bed the night before. Hooch’s given name was Harrell. Sometime before he was two years old his grandfather started calling him Hooch. The name stuck. He had been called Hooch by his family and friend during his youth and all of his adult life.

Hooch was a large framed man with thick bones and tightly toned muscles. His hair was dark brown with shades of gray but his eyes remained a bright blue in his slightly oversized head. He was in his early sixties but remained agile with unusual quickness for a man his age. Within two minutes of leaving the bed he walked into the kitchen.

Is Coffee ready Ma? He asked.

Isn’t it always ready when you get up? Sara Trotter asked. She was a small framed woman in her late fifties with streaks of gray in her coal black hair. Her frame appeared fragile but she possessed an abundance of strength. She placed a steaming cup of black coffee on the table and said Breakfast will be ready in fifteen minutes. Better get those kids up.

Hooch left the kitchen to wake the children. Rebecca Trotter was a twelve year old. She was small for her age with a full head of blazing red hair and a face full of freckles. There was usually a slight smile on her lips just waiting to blossom into a full grown smile. Her light blue eyes twinkled from the moments she rose in the morning until sleep captured them each night. Her body was short for her age but sturdy. Happiness reflected from Rebecca’s face and warmth radiated from her enter being.

Jacob was a nine year old boy. The skin on his face was unusually smooth even for a child of nine. He was tall for his age, only an inch shorter than his sister. His bone structure was sturdy. Jacob’s body had not filled out to match his oversized feet. His head was large for a boy of nine, his hair the color of aged straw and his eyes were the color of a clear mountain spring.

Three minutes after waking the children Hooch returned to the kitchen. He sat at the table sipping coffee. Five minutes later as Hooch continued to sip his coffee Jacob took his seat at the small table were the family ate their meals.

Did you wash your face and brush your teeth Jacob? Sara asked.

Yes grandma and I washed my hands, Jacob answered

That young man was my next question? Sara replied.

I know, Jacob answered with a look on his face that said you always ask the same questions grandmother.

Good morning! Rebecca said as she entered the kitchen addressing her greeting to all present.

Good morning, Sara responded as if the greeting was specifically addressed to her.

Don’t dally this morning Becky, Hooch said. I want to be on the road no later than seven. Those Washington Cherries are getting riper by the day. They’ll soon be ready for picking.

I’ll be ready Grandpa. All my things are packed and I loaded most everything yesterday in the truck. I’ll eat my breakfast, brush my teeth, powder my nose and we’ll be on are way. Besides grandpa I never dally! Rebecca said smiling.

Whatever. Don’t you get cute with me young lady, Hooch replied picking up on the ‘powder my nose’ part. He winked as a smile spread across his large plain face.

Sara Trotter placed a large plate of scrambled eggs with finely chopped onions on the table, followed by a platter of fresh baked biscuits. Becky sat a large pitcher of milk on the table then took a seat opposite Jacob. Sara sat down at the open chair opposite Hooch. She then reached and took Jacob’s right hand in her left and Rebecca’s left hand in her right. Hooch did likewise with Jacob’s left and Rebecca’s right. With all heads bowed and eyes closed, Hooch began to pray.

Lord we ask you to bless this food and use it to strengthen our bodies. Today Lord we begin a long journey west. In the Gospel of John, chapter fourteen, versus fourteen it says, ‘If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.’ Today we ask Lord that you send the Holy Sprit to travel with us. Let the Sprit watch over us and provide help when we need it. Help will be needed often Lord. Our truck is getting old and our tires are not new. Lord, we ask for these blessings in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Amen, resounded around the table as all heads were raised.

Now let’s have a good breakfast and be on our way, Hooch said smiling and reaching for the plate of scrambled eggs and onions.

Sara reached for the platter of biscuits, took one and passed the platter to Rebecca. What time did you ask Conner to be here this morning Pa? she asked Hooch as he received the platter of biscuits from Rebecca.

Their neighbor Conner had been their son Harrell Jean’s best friend. They grew up together and attended Huntsville high school. Harrell Jean was his given name but everyone called him by his middle name. Jean died when Jacob was three years old, prior to the Trotter’s first journey west. His death was sudden. One morning he went to work. He never came home.

A freak accident at work ended his short life. He was employed as a maintenance worker in a large warehouse near Springdale. Early the morning of the accident Jean climbed a twenty foot ladder to replace a burned-out light bulb.

When he reached three steps from the top of the ladder he was using to change the bulb, he stopped. Two co-workers held the ladder stable as Jean buckled a safety belt around his waist. It was attached to a pulley that rode on a cable that extended the length of the open bay. The purpose was to catch Jean if the ladder tipped or gave way. After attaching the belt, he stepped up two more steps.

Stretching his six foot stature as much as he could, he began struggling to loosen the stubborn burned-out light bulb. Suddenly he lost his balance and fell off the ladder. Jean hung upside down for several second from the cable while the co-workers holding the ladder screamed for help. A few moments after he fell from the ladder, the safety belt buckle snap opened. Jean plummeted straight to the concrete floor below, striking the floor with this head. Death was instantaneous.

Jean had married Bettie, his high school sweetheart, a few months after graduating from Huntsville High School. After Jean’s death Bettie never recovered from his loss. She sank into depression and become extremely lethargic. Her mental and physical health failed rapidly. Hooch and Sara took Bettie and their grandchildren into their own home because it seemed the only option. The Trotter’s took Bettie to the only doctor in the county.

The doctor either misdiagnosed her illness or just didn’t care. Either way within six months she was nearly gone. Bettie was rapidly wasting away eaten up by grief. In an effort to help her get some rest or to convince Sara Trotter he was trying to help, the doctor prescribed sleeping pills. One evening she took an over dose and did not wake up. There was nothing Sara and Hooch could do but raise Jean and Bettie’s children as if they were their own. And that is exactly what they were doing.

Shortly after the Chrysler passed the Nazarene College, Marley got a glimpse of the TG&Y store. It was the largest store on the Main Street in Bethany. Marley’s mind raced back to Christmas of his sophomore year of High School. It was December 7th, Pearl Harbor Day. Marley and Stick were cruising around the country side between Oklahoma City and Newcastle in Marley’s green ‘49 Chrysler. It was a big, big car. Marley’s had purchased the car from a classmate three months earlier.

While driving on a country road on a Saturday afternoon, Marley and Stick passed an old oak tree filled with mistletoe. Mistletoe is the official floral emblem of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Territorial Legislature Officially adopted the mistletoe as their official floral emblem on February 11th 1893. In Oklahoma and other places in this land of the free and home of the brave, mistletoe toe is a powerful symbol. If you walk under it that indicates you want to be kissed. As they passed the tree Stick yelled, Stop! Marley pulled off the road then turned to Stick with an inquisitive look on his face that demanded an explanation.

Did you see all the mistletoe in that tree? Stick inquired.

No! My job is to watch the road. I’m driving remember? Marley replied with more than a little sarcasm in his voice.

There is a fortune in that tree!

Really Stick! Is it gold, silver, precious jewels or maybe a few one hundred dollar bills?

It’s green stupid! But not green paper. It’s green mistletoe! It’s the Christmas Season or have you forgotten dummy? We can make a small fortune selling mistletoe. I am sure of it! We can peddle it all over school and even sell it house to house, just like you and your Uncle peddled horse shit last summer. What do you think? Let’s go get a car load.

Who is goin’ to climb the tree?

We both will. You’re smaller so you work the top of the tree. I’ll work the lower part. I wouldn’t want to fall on you ole buddy! Just don’t take a piss while you are up there, ok?

I can’t promise. You know I have a weak bladder. I will work the top but I’m not going to climb down just to piss. However, I will give you fair warning before I go

It was a very large and very old oak tree. Marley and Stick harvested about fifty pounds of mistletoe that afternoon. They tied it into small bunches and stored it in the hay loft of the Champ’s barn.

Much later that evening while they were cruising along the main street of Bethany Stick asked Did you see all those Christmas trees in front of the TG&Y?

Sure I saw them. Do you think I’m blind?

No four eyes. I thought you were watching the road. You are driving or have you forgotten?

Don’t call me four eyes Stick or I’ll break you damn nose. Even without these glasses I can see good enough to whip your ass any day of the week. I can do it twice on Sunday and you know it you big jack ass!

Hey ole buddy don’t be so sensitive. I’m your best friend remember?

Maybe not for long you sack of horse manure. Knock off your wise cracks; you know how I hate to be called four-eyes.

Ok, I’m sorry Marley. All the same, I do see a fortune in those Christmas trees. They really would sell well with the mistletoe we picked today. Don’t you agree?

What difference does it make if I agree? They’re not our trees.

No, but they could be, don’t you think? When the store closes they will leave them out. Probably just put a chain around them. I saw a hacksaw in your dad’s barn, let’s go get it.

You are crazy man! I’m not going to steal those trees.

You don’t have to I’ll do it. All you have to do is let me use your car and your dad’s hacksaw.

Sure I will dumb ass! Do you want to go to jail? Besides I would be an accomplice to the crime and in just as much trouble as you if you get caught.

I won’t get caught Marley. If you help me it will be faster, safer and much easier. But either way, I’ll not get caught or we’ll not get caught. Hear me out please, Stick took a breath and continued, I saw an old house today while we were cursing in the county north of Wally Post Field. I am sure it has been abandoned. I have seen it before when we’ve been out that way.

I’ve seen that house. That doesn’t mean it’s safe to store stolen trees there Stick.

We can store the trees for a week and then sell them like hot cakes. We can peddle them house to house with the mistletoe. If you and your uncle can sell horse shit and cotton burrs goin’ house to house we should be able to sell Christmas trees and mistletoe. It is Christmas time. People have to get their Mistletoe and Christmas trees someplace. When ‘55 kicks in we’ll be loaded with money. We can have a lot of fun with Miya and Maria with all that money!

Miya was Stick’s girlfriend and Maria was her cousin. They were both born in Estonia and migrated to America. Miya had come first, the year Stick and Marley had started Junior High School. Miya came with her mother, two sisters and their young brother.

Maria came two years later with her parents and an older brother. Marley believed he was in love with Miya but she had eyes only for Stick. Realizing Miya was stuck on Stick, Marley recently become interested in her cousin. However Maria had shown little or no interest in Marley. What girl would with Stick constantly at Marley’s side? Stick was easily one of the most popular and desired boys in their high school. A straw poll would have most girls voting Stick in the top three, provided popularity was the primary criteria.

Stick knew he was a ‘handsome dude’ and most of the girls were interested in him. Most of the time he treated girls like dirt and most of them came back for more. He even began to believe girls liked to be treated that way. Like dirt! The more you mistreat a girl, the more they want you! Marley who felt nothing but respect for the female gender thought it was a little sick but it seemed to ring true in many relationships. Stick craved attention and would do what was necessary to get it. It seemed like Stick thought he could have any girl he desired and was always trying to prove it.

Marley could never understand why a nice guy like himself could not get a girl but a shit head like Stick could? Marley had a lot to learn about girls; at least that was Stick’s point of view. Some girls loved shit heads. It was apparent to Marley being a shit head helped to gain most girls’ favors. That seemed a given. There seemed no way to dispute it. And then there were other girls. Those were the girls Marley wanted to like him, not the shit head lovers.

Going to jail is not worth a few quick bucks, Marley said after his thoughts had briefly wondered. Not to mention peddling those trees and mistletoe will be a lot of work, he added.

I’m not going to jail Marley. It is an easy thing to pull off. We can store the trees in that old house west of 63rd Street for a few days. Then we sell them right before Christmas. It’s very simple. Not much to worry about ole buddy. The Bethany Police station is just around the corner. It will be a challenge to steal them right under the cop’s noses. Don’t you think so Marley? They will be ridiculed by the newspaper, you’ll see.

No, I don’t think much of your plan and I don’t see! You are just plain stupid Stick. I know I’ve told you that before but this is a crazy idea.

Yaw, three or four times a day you tell me stealing is wrong ole buddy. But since when have I been caught? Just work with me ole buddy, my timid little friend and we’ll be fine.

Normally when Stick decided to steal something there was not much Marley could do to stop him. This time was no different. Marley’s knew Stick needed his car to make this happen. Marley had no intention of loaning his car to him. If Marley was to be held accountable any way, he might as well be a part of Stick’s plan. Marley made a U turn at the end of main street Bethany. He headed toward his dad’s barn. Marley’s dad had a ‘City Farm’. The farm was located in the suburbs of Oklahoma City. At that time Oklahoma City was one of the largest cities in American in terms of incorporated land mass. It terms of population it was barely on the map. Most of the land mass was sparsely populated farm land.

The Champs lived on the north side of 50th street between Meridian and Porter streets. Marley’s parents purchased two large city lots when they returned to Oklahoma City from California in late summer of 1947. They lived in a large army surplus tent for nearly two years. Marley’s dad constructed a floor for the tent using two by six planks. With help from Marley’s uncle on his father’s side, they had built a small two bed room house on the two lots two years later.

Marley’s dad leased forty acres located behind the house. Each year he planted thirty acres in cotton and ten acres in corn. He used the cotton the land produced as a cash crop. The yield from the cotton paid for the annual lease. Usually there was enough profit left from the cotton yield after paying the annual lease to buy a few young stock. He fattened the stock over the winter months on the