by Ron Foster
“Farley, Fong wants to go to the bait store with you next time you go and I must say Miss Feng and I have more than our share of reservations about that as you can understand. Thing is as you know Feng has a birthday coming up and he wants to see if there is anything there that he can trade for as a present for her. I told him I doubted there would be anything suitable in there and that it was very dangerous for him to be going off of this place but he kind of has his heart set on it.” Charlie said giving Farley a new quandary to think about.
“Hoo Boy, you’re a regular fountain of good news today. You know Miss Feng is going to have ten fits about sending her nephew off with me. I will look around the bait store and if they got anything at all suitable I will get it and bring it back for you all. Did you tell him that you’re already giving her that food we traded for? You know the yummy cans of sweet and sour pork along with some of those MRE pound cakes? Maybe you can tell him it’s from both of you all.” Farley said not wanting to incur Miss Feng’s ire and not really happy about dragging Fong along with him down to the bait store, either.
“You and Jeremy have talked about trading so much that he wants in on the action, kind of like a right of passage or something. Just like when you gave him a knife to carry and Miss Feng had to go along with it and say he was grown up enough to have it and times have changed. I, unfortunately, see his point a little and take his side: we need to teach them boys to trade and for that matter drive and a host of other things that they need to know to grow up quickly so what do you say, Farley?” Charlie asked.
“I say it’s too soon but you got me on that birthday argument, maybe I got something or perhaps Becky does that would suit the bill?” Farley offered.
“Well, that might work and I appreciate the idea but I think it’s the adventure he looks forward to as much as giving her a gift.” Charlie stated.
“Damn, I like the boy and ordinarily wouldn’t mind a bit taking him anywhere he wanted to go, in fact I would be honored to but you know these roads can be dangerous and that bait shop isn’t the friendliest place in the world. Besides, I can’t imagine what he might even be able to find there and might just get disappointed and take the risk for nothing.” Farley objected.
“I know. But like I said before he is bound and determined to do it. I overheard him talking to Jeremy about it and they were running down what inventory he could remember trying to come up with ideas.” Charlie said.
“You mean I got to take both them boys on a shopping trip?” Farley said incredulously.
“That’s what I am asking you to do. I would go along with you all but I need to stick around here and keep Feng calmed down and Becky said she would help.” Charlie declared.
“This sucks! So you have already talked to Becky about it? Hell fire, I am surprised she went along with it. I am even more surprised she is not insisting to go along. I will take them then, but I still say it’s a very much ill advised thing to be doing. Birthdays, Christmas, holidays in general are now pretty much just another day and changed forever.” Farley declared.
“Ah thank you so much, Farley, I will square it with Miss Feng but you know she will be mad at us both for a little while. I am going to tell her the boys need to know the trails and roads in and out of here so she doesn’t get too suspicious about what we’re up to. I also think it would be good for them boys to have met a few of the locals around here.” Charlie concluded.
“Well, I guess we will go tell the boys and then I am going to have a little talk with Becky about not bringing it up to me when you two were first considering it. I don’t think it’s too cool to just drop that bit of news on me all the sudden without giving me a longer amount of time to consider or talk it over amongst ourselves. You keep Miss Feng from giving me too many fits you hear, Charlie? She can over do it sometimes you know.” Farley said, feeling like he had been backed into a corner.
“I will handle her for you and I hope you will please be patient with everyone.” Charlie said
“There’s the dock; I wonder where the boys are at.” Farley said as they parked the truck and got out to look for them.
Farley called the boys names out and was rewarded with a holler back that they were busy with something further on down the shore and him and Charlie started wandering their way.
“What are you guys working on?” Charlie asked
“We are resetting and re-baiting the Yo-Yo reels. We only caught one bluegill today off the dock and we cut him up for bait to try to catch some catfish along the shoreline this evening. ”Jeremy said indicating the automatic fishing reels he was setting up.
“Hey Farley, does the bait store have any of these for trade?” Fong asked raising the bobber on the rig he was setting up to insure the bait would remain on the bottom.
“What kind of knot is that you got on that hook? See, if I pull on it hard, it will come loose. One more time now, this is the easiest and best fishing knot I know of.” Farley said, demonstrating.
“About those Yo-Yo reels, I didn’t notice any but I will ask next time I am in. You can make you an automatic fishing rod with a snare trigger though it’s just not as easy to find a place to rig it because nature doesn’t always cooperate and provide you a sapling where you want. Don’t matter though; you can set them just like putting fishing rods out. You got some string or paracord in your pockets like I told you to always carry around?” Farley asked.
Bits of string and odd things should always be in boy’s pockets and Farley enjoyed their occasional challenges to him to come up with a new use or survival trick with various items like a marble, safety pin, steel washer or whatever else had managed to find it’s way into their pockets.
Once they both affirmed they had some cordage and their pocket knives, Farley set about teaching them how to make an automatic fishing pole or fish snare, as Fong liked to call them.
“Now that is really neat, Farley, how about something if you lost your fishing hook and needed to make something?” Jeremy asked.
Farley thought about it for a minute and chose to tell them one of his more unusual ways to accomplish the task with a soda can pop top.
8
A Trading We Will Go
“Charlie I really wish that those women would quit with the ‘be careful, look out for the boys’ etc. reminders. They started up on bugging me and asking for reassurances last night and they haven’t let up on me yet this morning. Where are Fong and Jeremy anyway? I told them we were leaving here right at 8:30.” Farley said looking for the boys.
“That’s my fault they are not here on time, I guess. They were here waiting long before you got back from checking gates but I sent them after some stuff I thought they needed to bring along with them. They had their “short term survival gear” with them that you have had them putting together but Miss Feng and I have been listening to you talking about preparing for the unexpected and we made them go back and get some longer term get home stuff like a real blanket, a change of clothes and a tarp. Those boys don’t have any rain gear though so they are going to have to make do with some industrial strength garbage bags I got and a couple of those disposable shower caps we put in the guest rooms.” Charlie said looking to Farley for approval.
“Good thinking, Charlie! I have a couple extra of those 99 cent ponchos somewhere in my junk I can provide them with but they are in various kits in the van. I don’t know how I overlooked getting them better prepared in case we broke down or had ourselves some kind of a problem on the road. It would take us a few days to get back here if we had to walk it all the way so I am very remiss in not telling them to pack for a camping trip. I just got too much to remember sometimes, I suppose. I told them both no sandals and grab their sneakers, wear long pants, dark colored shirts, gave them each a MRE entrée and a dessert. I also told them not to be snacking on them etc., but danged if I didn’t forget the basic rain and sleep gear. I feel like sometimes I am a cross between a glorified scout master and a military survival instructor trying to force
feed info as quickly as I can.” Farley said mentally kicking himself that he had only barely covered to those staying back at camp what to do if they didn’t return on time. Designating rally points and approximate times it would take everyone to get to them was confusing enough but Farley had also touched on what he and the boys would do if they returned and the camp was under attack or something.
“You are doing fine, Farley, the ladies are used to running down their own lists of things for them boys or us to remember so we are both doing fine. Hey, here comes your navigator and copilot.” Charlie said observing the mad dash of a golf cart heading in their direction.
After another round of farewells and explanations, Farley finally got the van out on the road and headed in the direction of the bait store and relaxed a bit.
“Now boys, that store owner Barnett is short tempered and a shrewd trader so you be minding your P’s and Q’s when we get in there. Try not to talk too much about anything to do with about how we are getting by and definitely say nothing about where we are staying at. You see something you want to buy call me over and get my opinion on it but don’t interrupt the adults talking. I want to try to find out as much as I can so I need to engage them in conversation and Jeremy, you keep yourself and Fong away from the nudie magazines and such. Barnett will be watching you all like a hawk around them things as you well know.” Farley said envisioning the stores’ layout and Barnett’s comments on shoplifting or otherwise taboo items he had in his store.
“I already told him all about Barnett and Frazier.” Jeremy said as Fong agreed he wouldn’t stray over to the adult section.
The trio rode along just making small talk while looking at the sights and side of the road in case they were lucky enough to spot a bunch of turkeys or something and Farley slowed as they passed the Marina to observe it better.
“If you want to visit the marina, Farley, we won’t say nothing.” Jeremy said hopefully knowing that Farley was itching for a chance to do so.
“You know better than that, you little wharf rat, that’s the last thing I am ever considering doing with you two along. I am just looking to see if anyone has messed with it.” Farley said gruffly.
“Just saying.” Jeremy said quietly with a snide half grin at Fong in the backseat.
“Hey, it looks like the lounge up ahead has got some company parked in front of it!” Farley said looking down the road and seeing a motorcycle parked out front by the white trailer announcement sign on wheels sitting by the road.
Farley slowed and studied a rather large bearded man sitting on his motorcycle and appearing to be drinking a beer before he made up his mind to go ahead and pull on in the parking lot and greet the man.
“Hey Farley, you know who that is?” Jeremy began.
‘Yea, I think I do. Barnett said he was safe just to be on the lookout for him.” Farley said as he waved out the window and entered the parking lot and Farley didn’t miss that the man changed hands with his beer to make his pistol more readily accessible.
“Hey, Dump Truck! Is the bar open again?” Farley asked with a smile.
“No, it’s not. Guess it will never be. I guess you haven’t heard my boss got shot and killed last night. He got killed deader than hell over there at the oyster bar.” Dump Truck said taking a swig out of his beer and eyeing Farley and the two kids that he had with him in the van.
“Well news doesn’t get out much nowadays. Any idea about who shot him and why? Does anybody know yet?” Farley asked looking over at the small cooler that Dump had next to his bike and wondered if he had another beer in it he might be able to get.
Dump noted Farley’s glance but continued to talk “Naw, we don’t know why, the owners pulled in there going to get something or another and they spied him and a fellow named Spivey shot over there by the dumpsters. The gas had been all siphoned out of the car and the boy’s wallet is gone. Everyone knows Connors always had a pocketful of money walking around but what those two were doing back there behind the oyster bar no one knows. I wouldn’t have even known about it myself for a day or two unless Cramer sent that son of his Alex, by to tell me. I’m just out here kind of reminiscing and having myself a kind of a funeral wake for old times sake you might say. You want to have a beer and attend a wake?” Dump asked, studying Farley’s face.
“Don’t mind if I do! You boys stay in the van for now.” Farley said getting out and walking towards Truck’s bike.
“I’m sorry. I can’t remember your name.” Dump said, studying Farley.
“Farley Wilkes. Good to meet you over a beer but I wish it was under better circumstances.” Farley said offering his hand.
“Do I know you? You come in this bar very often?” Dump asked.
“No, you don’t know me. I have been in that bar a few times before but I don’t remember seeing you. Of course that’s been a while since I have been in. The reason I know your name and you is because Mr. Barnett down at the bait store mentioned that you were taking care of this place and we had us a laugh about your unique name. Not that there is anything wrong with your name, mind you, it’s just that I had myself a bouncer once with the same name. Me and Barnett talked about what a small world it was and who else but me could have found somebody else named “Dump Truck” and he told me to look out for a big bearded man on a motorcycle in this vicinity. That’s a fine bike you got there, by the way.” Farley said as the two did their meet and greet under these unusual circumstances and amusingly unusual names.
“I call that Harley “The Creature”. I will tell you about that fine ride later. I saw Barnett yesterday as a matter of fact, he did mention you and told me you drove a white van and had yourself a crazy wife and a boy. Those two boys can get out of the truck if they want to. I know it’s hotter than hell in there and there isn’t anybody going to eat them out here!” Dump said with a big old belly laugh.
“Come on out boys and meet a Dump Truck!” Farley said with a grin, watching the two boys anxiously getting out of the van to come join the adults but being cautious and curious about their safety meeting the bear of a man Farley was talking to.
Dump reached out and shook Jeremy’s hand making that half of the boy disappear while his other hand lightly tapped him on the opposite shoulder making the other side of the boy disappear briefly. Fong cautiously stretched and extended his own hand out to the Sasquatch towering in front of him while standing just as far away as he could so that his own shoulder could not be reached.
Dump Truck comically put his hands up in the air and waddled a bit doing his mean bear interpretation and said “Grrr!” Then he turned back with a wink to resume talking to Farley after his comedy act produced lots of friendly grins from the enchanted duo. The two boys attempted to perform for themselves a sneak attack circling around for a quick look at Truck’s bike by skirting the men talking to see it from it’s back but Dump was quick to turn and say “You can look but don’t touch!” to which both boys instantly put both their hands behind their backs and put on their best innocent looks.
“Is it all right to talk openly in front of the boys?” Dump asked, nodding his head back towards them.
“About what? You mean the conversation about Connors?” Farley asked questioningly.
“Yeah, I’m not going to get all gory or nothing, I just didn’t think you would want them to hear such stuff these days but I guess we can’t shield everyone as much as we want to.” Dump said looking at him seriously.
“Yeah, go ahead. Was that just a rare occurrence, maybe an unfortunate incident like a robbery or crime that happened or ya’ll been having other problems around here with desperate people?” Farley asked regarding the big man whose leather vest did not conceal the Glock pistol of unknown caliber Farley was surreptitiously sizing up.
“That’s a .40 cal.” Dump said after seeing Farley’s brief glance at his side.
“What’s that hog leg you’re wearing?” Dump said observing Farley’s single action Ruger.
“.357” Farley sa
id with an amused look that said they both knew it could get more than the job done.
“You any good with it? Haven’t seen too many people toting many of them old Western style pistols these days but I like old style.” Dump said.
“I used to have me one of them in .41 magnum no less, that I could walk stairs with fanning the hammer but I haven’t played with this one much. That’s a Barnett trade by the way. I was upgrading to a .380 to have something more potent for deer and such around here. Well, in particular, I wanted it for one big ass black bear I saw not too long ago which I thought might be disturbing my backyard too often.” Farley said looking off down the highway leading to the place.