Long before Bernie came to this point in his miserable life, he had known life would end as it had begun, in misery. Born during the storm of 1827 in the little western town of Loma, the earth seemed to give up its birthright. The wind storms lasted for almost an entire year, ending in the devastation of crops and good earth scattered to the four winds. Bernie was the only member of the Cahoots family to survive and had uncle Luke and this wife Calico not taken him into their home, he surely would have died.
Bernie entered another world, some 700 miles distant from Loma, when they moved shortly after the storm to begin a new life. Aunt Calico read to young Bernie during his schooling years, although he never had any formal training, he was taught well and even now he would love to read. But the run in with a mountain lion when he was a scant fourteen years old, left he with only one good eye and it was failing at age 97.
The only material objects left by Uncle Luke and Aunt Calico was his precious books, memories, and a few wood and stone carvings. Drifting from job to job during his life and throwing good money after bad money on "spirit water" had left him almost pennies less. Although he almost cried, thinking that something would be sold for his care, there was no alternative.
Johnnie quietly put down the letter, packed bags and prepared for the journey from Tabby to Azure. His father would have a decent burial, other than potters field. They quietly removed his father's coffin from potters field and the new cemetery seemed peaceful, especially with the tombstone which read, "A Wanderer, a father and a friend, Born July 18, 1827, died August 6, 1924."
"What are you going to do with all of the junk your father left you," asked Arthur?
Johnnie replied, "Very well may be junk but some body's junk may be another's treasure. Let's put all of it up for an auction next week."
Arthur, Johnnie's lawyer, had been pressing for a settlement of claims against the bakery for months before the business was taken over by creditors. But both men knew that very little money would be raised at the auction.
He sat quietly looking out of the window into the canyon below. Life had passed so quickly, yet he still remembered his father. But mothers are but a blur when a boy's momma dies when he is 10 years old. Be damned. He thought. About the same time Luke and Calico left dad. Golly gee whizzes!
Then just like every evening
about sundown, Johnnie picked up the accordion and began to play and sing. He thought, "damn it," the old violin really was old. Never would have thought dad would have Stradivarius. Perhaps later on
there may be a need to sell the rest of what he left me, but not now.
Guess the shock was just too much for ole Arthur. Wish he was here today. This old boy would not have too much trouble getting dads songs published. "Hey Scooter, do you think Roy and Dale will like our new arrangements?"
Copyright:1986-2008