The boys returned home to change into their work clothes, and Pa gave them a lift back to the farm in the wagon to retrieve their horses. While Richard and Pa worked on the house with the crew of twenty-five men today, things sure looked good as the boys all looked back at their new home. The boys returned to New Downing with a sigh, remembering the summer days that had gone by.
Some of the tents in Downing Villa had been torn down one by one as people headed this way towards Cracken or back to their homes. It made them feel sorry for them watching them go. Yet knowing they'll be back next year for the annual Farms Picnic, which will be held here on the farm now. They waved back and yelled. "See y'all next year."
They tied the horses to the hitching post before entering the paper and post office. "Hello, boys, you're early," Mr. Grams said, still printing the paper and rubbing his chin. "Tell you what I'll do, boys. You can help me inside for a while and help me get this paper out, and I'll help you sell papers today. I'll even pay you an extra two dollars bonus each today. What do you say?"
The boys' eyes lit up like Christmas lights just thinking about it. "Yes, sir," the boys said. Mr. Grams puts them all to work, giving them all aprons to wear. Robert feeds the paper at the printing press, cranks the wheel, and smashes the pedal on the floor. Frank and Mark unloaded the paper to dry off the press, set it on clips on a wire, and then folded it when it was dry. Peter stacked the papers in a pile and tied them with a string while EJ and Will counted, swept the place clean, and helped at the counter. Mr. Grams set the type on the printing plates for the pages and oiled and inked the machine.
Within an hour or so, they had the place clean, the newspaper ready, and two dollars in their pocket as promised, with time to spare, looking at the clock. So Mr. Grams sent them all over to Mr. Rivers while he set up the papers on the corners, seeing the horses were not ready yet. "Hello, Mr. Rivers, can we give you a hand?" The boys said, seeing the line of people at the counter, watching him wipe the sweat off his face and nodding.
"You bet," he replied, looking at the line of people nearly filling the small room. "Looks like I'm going need all you boys for a while, if that's ok," they all nodded and looked at the crowd as he smiled. Places Robert, EJ, and Frank at the counter. "I need you boys to take their packages and letters, weigh them on the scale, then place a stamp on them and set them in this basket behind you. If they have a question, I'll be behind you sorting the packages and letters and doing the telegrams," Mr. Rivers replied while getting them started.
Mr. Rivers sets the other three boys to their task. "Peter, Will, and Mark, I need your help loading the horses for the mail delivery. It makes it easy to place a number on the horse since there are three routes, and sometimes four, like today, looks like four due to all the people added to our little town." The boys loaded the four horses with the packages and letters while EJ, Frank, and Robert helped the customers. Mr. Rivers took the packages and letters the boys put into the basket and sorted them to where they went. Any local ones he would add to the horses with several where to go.
Soon, the lobby was cleared, and the horses were packed and ready; he paid each boy a bonus of three dollars for helping out today. "Now then, boys, let's get down to business," he said, looking at the clock and smiling at the boys. "Today I need Robert, Will, Mark, and Frank," handing them each a route and map with an address on it, and again to make it fun, slapping a five-dollar bill on the counter. "The first one done and back through the door gets it."
The boys take off like hurricanes to their horses. They fly down the road in a different direction with a package or letter tucked under their arms or in their hands. Mr. Rivers watches them go. Mr. Rivers leans forward with a smile to the other boys left behind. "You'll all get a chance," he said, putting his hand on their shoulder. He walks them over to Mr. Grams' newspaper office with smiles and five dollars in their pockets.
"Alright, boys," taking off his apron and rolling up his sleeves, he put on his newspaper hat. "I have your corners ready, as you can see. As I said earlier before, I'll help you today. To make it fun," Mr. Grams pulled out of his pocket a five-dollar bill, "the first one out of newspapers gets it." He points to the stacks at the corners, putting the five-dollar bill back into his pocket for safekeeping. Laughing, watching them go out the door towards their corners, reading their headlines, then yelling at the top of their lungs. "Cracken moving to New Downing," or "Tents falling in Downing Villa," or "Ghouls and ghost being evicted."
People would come everywhere to buy papers from the two boys, Especially EJ today, for some strange reason. Maybe it was luck because he was out of papers within a few minutes before he could open his mouth. He was standing over at Peter, helping him sell his, then Mr. Grams stacked papers; he wiped them all out today. Giving him the award of five dollars, he kindly gave it to Peter with a smile, telling Mr. Grams. "He needs it more than I do, sir," and smiled. "All I wanted was a friend," he puts his arm around him and heads for home.
* * * *
Faster and faster down the old dirt road around the old corner and over the hill, Mark and Will were neck and neck as they rode down the road back towards town. Each has a package or letter tucked under their arms. Will, calculated that if he turns left around the next bend around old Mr. Summit's farm. Down through the field, he should reach his destination, Mr. Harrison's house, and return. Mark was heading towards Old Watkins Farm with his letter in hand as he rode down the gullies, up the hills, and crossed the creek, riding up the field and around the corner. Making tracks in the wheat fields as a shortcut, he heads towards the farm. He knocked on the door and tipped his hat. "This is for you, ma'am," with a smile, handing her the letter.
"Thanks," she said and smiled at the boy as he got back on his horse. She headed back to watch him go. She yelled to him. "What's ya name, boy?"
"Mark," he said as he waved. "YAH! YAH!" In the air, heading down the road back to town. Mr. Grams and Mr. Rivers, in front of the post office, sat on the stools, looking out for the boys, wondering who was going to be first as they watched the road, sitting on pins and needles every time they saw a horse or heard a noise, nearly jumping right off their seats. Robert and Frank were nose to nose as they quickly rode down the road, laughing. Seeing Mark and Will coming into town, racing as fast as they can towards the post office, they decide to play a little joke right at the edge of town.
They climbed off their horse and sat on the hill, waiting till they got closer, pulling a five-dollar bill out of his pocket that Frank had won yesterday. Show it back and forth, turning it over and in the air, talking about nothing in particular as they both stop, join them, and sit with them on the grass for a minute. Thinking they had already lost. Robert whispers in Will's ear, "Let Mark win," he gives him a wink as they hurry back on their horses.
Mr. Grams and Mr. River waited for them in the distance, Mr. Rivers asked. "What in tarnation are they doing' down there?" Shaking his head as they watched them all get back on their horses.
"Picking the winner, I imagine," Mr. Grams said, slapping his knee, watching them. "Oh, look, here they come."
The boys are neck and neck, first Robert in the lead, then Will, nose to nose. They were sliding back; now it's Mark and Frank; they're gaining speed. Look, Robert, and Will are catching up from behind. They are nose to nose again as they both hang on to the very edge of the stool. Mark is in the lead again, and now he's nosed to nose with Will as they stop at the hitching post.
Will pretends he's got his legs stuck, hand wrapped, and foot strapped to the hitching post, reties, shaking his head. Watching Mark go inside the door, and the other boys follow right behind him through the door. Will and Robert wink at Mr. Rivers and Mr. Grams before going inside. Mr. Grams looked at Mr. Rivers, laughed, slapped his knees, then rolled his eyes and returned to his paper office with a smile, whispering. "Friends are always more important than money," he said, remembering his youth.
Mr. Rivers sighed and rolled his eyes. He handed the money to Mark and watched his buddies congratulate him for a job well done and pat him on the back with their arms around him. They all got back on their horses, headed for the stables, put them away, and headed home for chores and to start dinner.
According to the schedule, it's Frank's turn tonight. They were planning five extra guests tonight and seem for the rest of the week as well. They all nod their heads. A change of menu might be best. Roast turkey with giblets and gravy with mashers with a hint of onion, cream peas, carrots, cornbread stuffing with cranberry and raisins served with a soft buttered dinner roll. For dessert, something simple, Mrs. Whitmore's razzle-dazzle blueberry pie. As Pa always puts it, this should be a snap as the boys laughed, patting Frank on the back.
They entered the cottage and found Lizzy tending to the little ones, Sam, and Ted. They looked around the cottage, wondering and worrying where their friends and their brothers were. "Lizzy, where's EJ and Peter?" Robert asked as they watched Sam and Ted play with their toys and Lizzy do some needlepoint.
"Your Pa took them down to Downing Villa for a while to help with the move to Cracken and to help tear down the tents. He told me to tell you boys to change your clothes and meet them down there. I know you are planning to fix dinner, but sometimes things happen. So we ladies have this one, dear; save your dinner for tomorrow, Frank. Now hurry, they're waiting for you, and add eight to your menu."
"Yes, ma'am." the boys quickly changed their clothes and headed out the door.
"Boys, tell your Pa's dinner will be at 7 p.m. sharp to give you plenty of time for your baths. I need you home by 5:30; after all, it is a school night," she said.
"Yes, ma'am."
Once again, the boys headed back to the stables to get a wagon, heading towards the open road heading for Downing Villa. "Wholly cow!" looking at all the missing tents, dotting the area the further they go in. They see men taking them down, rolling them up, and stacking them in the corners. Another group picks them up and loads them on wagons, then hauling them off to New Downing. A third group is loading people and belongings and heading towards Cracken.
EJ and Peter waved to them from a distance along the row of tents marked with red ribbons that were being taken down. They waved back and headed towards them. "Watcha doen'?" the four boys asked.
"What's it look like?" Peter said as Peter and EJ wiped the sweat off their brows. "Tearing down tents, clearing the field, that's all."
Pa Downing sticks his head out from one of the tents. "Well, boys, it's about time, so are you going to stand there all day like a potted plant or help us?" He said tying on a red ribbon on the front of the tent. After telling Pa what Aunt Lizzy had said, the boys helped take down the marked tents. "They said to tell you that we need to be home by 5:30," rolling their eyes. "She says dinner will be ready at 7:00," and left him standing there.
The boys returned to join EJ and Peter, taking down tents, putting them in the corners with the rest, and then moving on to the next one. By the time 4:45 came, they had cleared half the field that day. Not bad for a couple of hours of work. Pa knew it was best never to upset a woman. When she said 5:30, she meant 5:30 at the latest, or there'd be a war on his hands. Looking toward the west, where his wife and daughters are, he missed them and hoped they were having a good time. Pa stops the boys from working right at 5:00, judging by his timepiece, which his Pa gave him for Christmas one year, about Robert's age—a little pocket watch on a gold-silver chain like the ones train engineers wear on trains.
Pa pulled up the wagon, loaded everyone in it, head for Cracken to get Mr. Whitmore. After all, she said all of them, including him as well. He was easy to spot in the crowd of people, that's for sure if you know what I mean. Today, he was all decked out in his bright green Kitenge, which made you squint your eyes when the sun hit it just right. Robert asked Frank, "Doesn't he get cold wearing that in the fall and winter stooping over?"
Frank said, "Nah, he's wearing a cotton Kitenge, and thermals shorts that Ma made him for winter."
Wayne and the boys wave and yell to him over the crowd. Mr. Whitmore sees them come right over to the wagon at once. Wayne quickly explains the situation, looking at his clock. "Oh, I see," as he looked at the boys and the crowd of people milling around in Cracken. "Then I better come," thinking of the possibility of upsetting the women folk any further. Nods to Doc Hatfield, Mary, and his captains of this group climb into the wagon.
Pa took the reins, told them all to hang on tight as he flicked his wrist and started to yell, "YAH!" The horses jump hard, racing down the road towards New Downing as Pa yells, "YAH! YAH!" The boys squealing with delight, except for Mr. Whitmore. He thought Mr. Downing had lost his mind, looking at the ground as the wagon flew across the gully and down the other side.
Hanging on to his seat was tough to be sure of as he felt the slight tickle deep inside, down his back and middle. His mind was thinking, oh my! He hangs onto his seat as his face goes white, looking down at the wagon, watching as a wheel comes off the ground when they turn. "Yah! Yah!" Pa made another turn, then a right, pulling in front of the cottage right at 5:25.
Pa and the gang rush into the house, wiping the sweat right off their faces with the back of their sleeves. "Well, it's about time," she said as she nodded, pointing to the clock, then laughed at the expression on their faces. "Now then, dinner will be ready at 7:00, boys; as promised, there are clean towels in the bathroom, wood that needs to be chopped, and a table that needs to be set." Then, taking a whiff at Pa and Doc Whitmore. "Oh, my," rolling her eyes as if to faint away. "That includes you two skunks. You are not sitting at my table, sir smelling like that; I suggest you two go first," she said, pointing down the hall. "Today, boys."
Pa and Doc give her a painful look and shock, and in return, she gives them each a swift kick down the hall. Robert and Richard put the wagon away for the night while Mark and Will chopped wood for the fire, leaving the rest of the boys to set the table and chairs for dinner. As they waited for Pa and Mr. Whitmore to finish with their baths, you could hear Mr. Whitmore singing down the hall when he was in the tub.
"Once, a groundhog was sitting on a log; he was chewing his log until he fell off. Along came his wife, who said, Honey, what are you doing down there? He replies, "Bathing, come and join me; the water's fine down here."
Pa and the boys crack up, looking down the hall, thinking of the poor groundhog with a wife and groundhog wearing a Kitenge doing the backstroke in the pond somewhere. The boys finished setting the table When Mr. Whitmore came down the hall smelling like a rose. Wearing a bright yellow Kitenge, if we didn't know him, you would think he was a sunflower with his black beads around his neck.
After they were all done with their baths with minutes to spare and Lizzy satisfied with a smile, four farm boys and three boys, EJ dressed in his blue cotton Kitenge, and Frank and Mark in their green ones, what colors they were at the table. It would have made a rainbow look pale.
A knock at the door and the rest of their guests arrived, bringing in the remainder of the food. Grandma came in with her hobo's casserole, which has everything like hamburgers, peas, carrots, potatoes, three kinds of cheeses, and whatever else you can find of leftovers. Mary had two pies, strawberry, and other peaches, Granny had a chocolate cake, and Lizzy made the ham and the rolls with fresh garden salad and string beans. MMMM, it looks good all on the table. The boys were feasting tonight, that's for sure.
Tonight, Pa gave the toast, welcomed everyone to their humble cottage, and thanked them for preparing such a fine meal. They had some light conversation and then put the children to bed. They thanked them for coming and went to bed themselves, After all, it was a school night, and Pa didn't want them to get used to staying up too late. Soon, they all would return to the farm and do their chores before school.
As Wayne fed Mr. Rooster next door, he realized how much he missed him and appreciated his crowing as an alarm clock. He thought that having fresh eggs would be nice and wondered if he could keep chickens back here as well. Wayne looked behind the house to estimate the space and created six chicken pens close together that could include Mr. Rooster. He also thought of a way to transport them from the farm safely. He chuckled to himself as he thought of Renee and Doc Whitmore and decided that a third rooster would be a good addition. Wayne created a special plan called "Plan Chicken" and went to bed with a smile and a song in his heart, thinking about "chick a dee, chick a do" and imagining what they could accomplish together.
Pa makes the rounds alone tonight, missing his wife and his daughters. He tiptoes into the boys' room. They are all snoring like bears in a bear cave. Wait a minute. That's just Mr. Whitmore with his boy Mark.
Pa starts with his two little ones, Sam, and Ted, tucking them firmly into bed. He misses Danny; it's not the same when he's not here with them playing around the farm. Whispering to each. "Goodnight, my little sons, and to Danny, even if you are not here."
Pa moved on to the next set of bunk beds—EJ on the bottom and Will on top. "What a surprise this one has been, and it all started with a pair of sheets and a note. Oh, how we all love him so."
Bending down, whispering in his ear. "Thanks for coming into our lives and soon to be my son. He will be my son, even though he is already, no matter what," he said, looking down at his face. "Goodnight, my son," tucking him into bed, checking his temperature just to make sure, and brushing his hair out of his face. Standing up, sees Will. "Will, my dear son, thank you for being a good brother and best friend when the need is so great. Goodnight, my son."
Next was Richard in the next bunk, sharing it with Frank on the bottom with Richard. He smiles, watching him sleep for a moment, placing his hand back inside and tucking him in. They have come close to a father's bond as he smiles. "Yes, I think his dad would have been proud of him. Goodnight to all my children. Oh, how I love each one of you." Pa heads back to this room and climbs into bed next to Robert, sleeping, whispering to him. "Goodnight, and thank you, Robert, for being there for Will and EJ when they need you the most," and then falling fast asleep.