by C. T. Raye
I had fixed so many fences that I would dream about bob-wire. I had chopped so much wood that I was thinking about changing my name to Paul Bunyan. The last couple of months had been all about work and nothing about play and just as I had expected my head injury had been totally forgotten.
Mom would occasionally question me on how I was feeling. She would keep me refreshed with cold water and I think she was still a little worried.
I did not mind the work too much and I knew that very soon Uncle Clyde would be here. Dad had talked to him and he said he would be here in two weeks and that happened to be today.
I always liked Uncle Clyde but not only for his Jerky. He had always taken time to take me fishing, hunting, and when it came to work. He always got away from it. When I mean away, you could say he left the same county as the work.
He drove an old red Chevy truck that had a bumper sticker on the back window that read. ‘Want some Jerky?’ He said it was advertisement and helped his business. It was also like a museum inside the truck. He had things in the floorboard of his truck that was from years ago and I could spend hours just digging through the inside of his truck.
The only thing about Uncle Clyde is that he was the biggest tight wad you would ever find. He would not buy anything unless it was free, and it was a better deal if you could pay him to take it. He told me once. ‘Pup, I can pinch a penny so hard that you can hear President Lincoln Squeal.’ That was another thing. He called me pup and called Spud boy, and I never understood this, but it didn’t matter to me.
When it came to food, he would always go the ‘easy’ route. It was canned food, straight out of the can. No cooking, heating and it was not going to be put into a bowl. Metal spoons and forks were out of the question and he had used the same plastic spoon for ten years. ‘This one works fine why get another one.’ Was what he would say if you asked.
I was stretching a strand of wire on one of the fences about a hundred yards from the house and I seen his truck. The only thing different was that he was pulling a small travel trailer that was red, with big blue flowers on the side. I laughed when I seen the trailer and instantly knew what he was going to say. ‘Good deal.’
He came down the road and turned onto our drive and started blowing his horn. I looked over at Spud who was sitting a little ways off and sleeping. When he heard the horn, he sat up and shook his head. He then took off toward the house and I was right behind him.
We ran up just as Uncle Clyde pulled up in front of the house. Spud was barking and running around his truck. Dad and mom had stepped out of the house and was standing on the porch. I ran up to the truck as the door flew open and gave him a big hug.
Spud was just as excited and jumped in his lap. We really did not have the room and Spud got hung up between the steering wheel and dashboard. He just laid there wagging his tail and barking.
“Pup, it’s good to see you and the dog.” He said as he tried to remove Spud from his position.
The only thing is that Spud was not ready to be removed. Uncle Clyde tried to pick him up and move him and Spud just kept fighting him. Finally, he got him to move and Spud to this advantage crawl into his lap and lick him all over the face. He knocked his hat sideways and I could tell Uncle Clyde was getting upset.
I got out of the truck and tried to pull Spud out behind me. He was serious about staying in the truck and would not move off of Uncle Clyde’s lap.
“For Pete’s sake get off of me, I can’t even breathe with you all in my face and I don’t want you licking me on the face.” Uncle Clyde said as he kept trying to get him out of his lap. He tried just getting out but couldn’t. Lights were flashing, the horn was honking, and the windshield wipers started to swipe.
I stepped back and the next thing I saw was something small and stringy go flying out the door. It landed about twenty feet away from us and there went Spud right behind it. I then realized he had thrown a piece of jerky out the door.
Uncle Clyde then took this advantage to get out of the truck. He looked at me and said.
“I wish all my customers were like that dog. I have never had to fight someone off of me for a stick of jerky.”
We looked over at Spud who had devoured the jerky and was sniffing the ground for any pieces that he had left on the ground. Uncle Clyde then reached out and handed me a strip of jerky and I quickly ate it and it was great.
Dad had walked over and was handed a piece of jerky and before he could get it. Spud had jumped up and snatched it out of Uncle Clyde’s hand.
“Do yall feed this dog?’ He asked as he let dad get the next one for himself.
We chuckled, and dad began to tell Uncle Clyde where he could park his trailer and where the water, sewer, and electrical connections were located.
“I have another place picked out for you down on the lower fifty acres, but we will have to get the electrical down there. Water is already there for the cows.” Dad told him.
“Alrighty, sounds good to me.” Uncle Clyde said.
“Where did you get that trailer and what is with the flowers?” Dad asked.
“I found a good deal and the guy almost gave me the trailer. He even threw in a can of paint so I could do away with the flowers.” Uncle Clyde told dad as he leaned against the truck. “The only thing is I didn’t want to buy a brush and I got an old hand broom in the truck that should work.”
“Sounds like something you would run across. Although, you could not miss the thing it is so bright.” Dad said as he straightened his jeans over his boots.
“John, supper is ready.” Mom said as we stood there talking.
“Oh boy, I am looking forward to a good meal.” Uncle Clyde said as we walked towards the house.
I stopped and looked at Spud who had given up on getting any more jerky. He was lying on the porch and was dozing. I looked over at Uncle Clyde’s trailer and knew that we were in for some great times with him here.
Note from the Author
I would like to take this time to thank all that have read my previous book. I started writing the book not really knowing if I would continue with Spud. I did not know how it was all going to happen. That is when people started reviewing and asking about a second book. I then started thinking that maybe a second book could happen. The only bad thing is I could not stop on just a second book because there is too much that could be told about Spud.
Thanks again, and remember to visit my website for upcoming events, book releases, promo codes, and links to purchase the books. Please subscribe to our newsletters, so we can keep you up-to-date on what is happening.
www.ctraye.wix.com/author
C. T. Raye