Moonshine, Coal, and Hope

by Richard Allen Evans

  Bob nodded in acknowledgement as Josh looked on with a grin. This would not be the first farm boy he punished. It was an unspoken test for Stump to put an inexperienced play against Josh just to see how much a player could take physically.

  “Now when I blow this whistle I want you fire out of your stance — like so — and hit Josh as hard as you can,” Stump said.

  Bob looked up at Josh and then back to Stump.

  “What if he wants to hit me back?” Bob asked.

  Stump chuckled.

  “I’m sure he will, but the trick is for you to be faster and hit him first. Now get down,” Stump said as he placed the whistle in his mouth.

  Josh smiled as he got ready to welcome the new guy properly. He saw the glint in Stump’s eyes as the coach nodded for him to put Bob on the ground.

  Stump blew the whistle and Bob charged at Josh like man possessed. Josh fired out toward Bob and it was too late.

  Bob shot a stiff right cross to the chin that knocked Josh cold. As the big man tumbled to the ground, Stump looked at him in amazement.

  “What the hell was that?” He asked.

  “You said hit him before he hit me and I did,” Bob said.

  Stump smiled sheepishly.

  “I guess I did at that. Looks like we have more work to do,” he said. “First things first, help me get Josh back on his feet.”

  ***

  Adam and Marlene were thrilled when John asked for their daughter’s hand in marriage. The couple wed on Sept. 6, 1921 and moved into a small house on Sizemore Street in Crystal Springs. The house belonged to Cat and he allowed the newlyweds to stay there rent-free.

  With an empty house, the Church’s asked Bob to stay in their house. He could continue to work on the farm and play football while he went to school.

  One football season turned into another and year followed year.

  Though he wasn’t wild about the sport — it wasn’t baseball after all — John followed it because of Bob. He even became the unofficial team doctor. Along the way, he became close friends with his fellow veteran, Stump.

  Following the next to the last game of the season, a 12-3 win over the Knoxville Military Institute, John walked into Stump’s office.

  “Season’s almost over,” he said.

  Stump pulled a half-pint bottle from his desk drawer and poured a healthy amount in a cup. He held the bottle up as an offer to John who shook his head.

  “Don’t touch it anymore. Rachel don’t approve of it,” John said.

  Stump shrugged and grinned.

  “I hope you don’t mind if I partake, because I love to partake,” he said as he raised the cup.

  “No, not at all,” John said as he looked around the tiny office. It was actually a former closet someone had moved a desk and couple of chairs into.

  “You know, that brother of yours has talent — a real aptitude for football. He’s probably be our best lineman. It’s a pity he can’t get paid to play football,” Stump said.

  “That’s just foolish talk. Baseball’s the only sport that pays and football will never, ever be that popular,” John said.

  “That may well be but Bob plays guard as well as anyone I’ve ever seen. I appreciate everything you’ve done for the team this year,” Stump said as he took another sip. “And if we beat Commonwealth State we’ve got an excellent chance of getting invited to the Rose Bowl.”

  “Well I didn’t do much, set a couple of broken bones and stitched a few boys up,” John said.

  Stump shook his head.

  “You might think I’m crazy but I think the day will come when all college teams will have doctor right on the sideline just in case somebody gets hurt,” Stump said.

  “I don’t think it’ll last. Football is just another college fad. Mark my words, in a few years people won’t even care about it or that Rose Bowl you’re talkin’ about,” John said.

  “Well until they stop caring, I want to keep coaching. I enjoy the game and the college pays me pretty well to teach too,” Stump said.

  “As long as Bob gets through college it don’t make no difference to me if he plays checkers as long as he graduates,” John said.

  ***

  “Mr. Capone sends his regards,” said a short, stocky man with a flat nose. He handed a briefcase to Hill.

  “Tell him the folks at Elkins Dairy appreciate his business. He’s always welcome in Kentucky — and not just Newport either,” Hill said.

  The stocky man smiled.

  “You people are real friendly down here. I gotta say, your dairy products are top notch too,” he said with a thick New York accent. It reminded Hill of some of the guys he served with in France.

  “Maybe we’ll head up your way one of these days — deliver a load ourselves,” he said.

  The man grinned. His smile showed chipped and broken teeth.

  “I think Mr. Capone might like that. He enjoys entertaining associates,” the man said as he climbed up into the cab of the truck.

  “Be careful and I’ll see you next week,” Hill said.

  The man nodded.

  “Next week,” he said as he started the truck and led the convoy of ten trucks back out the main highway.

  Hill took the briefcase back to the car. It had been three years since Ed started dealing with Al Capone. Business was booming and getting stronger.

  ***

  “Down! Set! Hut!” Barked sophomore quarterback Jimmy Dale Woods. He took the snap from center and wheeled to his right with the football tucked away high and tight. Bob led the way from his spot at right guard. He rounded the corner with Jimmy Dale on his outside hip.

  A Commonwealth State linebacker stepped in front of Bob, his hands were in front of his chest — ready to take on the coming block. Bob headed toward the chest of the linebacker at the last second he lunged up toward the face of the defender. He almost laughed when he saw the look of surprise and fear on the face of the CSU player.

  Both forearms crashed into the face of the linebacker as blood squirted from his nose and he tumbled backward. Jimmy Dale squeezed through the opening and ran nine yards for the game—tying touchdown. Joshua Gildan kicked extra point and Southern Kentucky took the 7-6 lead with exactly three minutes left in the game with a trip to the Rose Bowl on the line.

  The Lancers didn’t get much time to celebrate as CSU lined up to take the kick-off. Archie Clark, the left end, also handled kicking duties. Early in the third quarter he sprained his left ankle and it hampered his speed he continued on. Before he took the field, Stump pulled him aside as Bob stood and listened.

  “Kick it high Archie. Give our boys time to get down there. Don’t worry about kicking it too deep. Your ankle is hurt and you can’t put into the end zone,” he said as Archie nodded and ran onto the field.

  Bob watched as Archie hobbled forward. As he planted his left foot his ankle gave way. The kick went forward in a slow line drive. A CSU up man grabbed the ball out of the air and started forward. The Lancers’ coverage team swarmed him on the CSU 44-yard line.

  “Dammit!” Stump howled as Archie limped badly back to the sideline.

  Stump called the defense together.

  “We’re less than three minutes away from going to the Rose Bowl. Stop them. Hit them harder than you’ve ever hit anything. Bob, you slide down to end and take Archie’s place. Garrett, you take Bob’s place at tackle. Remember boys, stop number 47 — he’s the key,” Stump said as the defense took the field.

  Bob looked into the backfield and watched number 47, a quarterback named Donahue. At the snap Donahue took the ball and ran to the left — away from Bob. He crashed through the line and was brought down six yards downfield by an ankle tackle from linebacker Jack Rockwell.

  “He’s gettin’ too far downfield! Bob, you and Joe crash down and pinch off the inside,” Jack said.

  “We can’t let him get outside,” Bob said.

  “If they run a reverse we’re screwed,” said Joe Davis, the other end.

&nb
sp; “I’m the captain and I say crash down!” Jack said. At the snap, Bob and Joe crashed and sealed the inside. Donahue wheeled and tossed the ball back to a halfback who bounced to the outside and streaked downfield. Safety Connor Carroll pushed him out at the 20—yard line.

  As the defense huddled again Jack stepped in.

  “Same thing. Ends crash,” he said.

  “We can’t do it again. He’ll kill us off tackle,” Joe said.

  “If you can’t do what you’re told, get out of the game!” Jack said angrily.

  Bob shook his head in disgust.

  “Joe’s right and you know it Jack,” he said.

  “Same thing goes for you. Get out of the game if you don’t like it!” Jack snarled.

  The CSU offense came to the line of scrimmage. Donahue called out the signals and the ball was snapped. Bob and Joe crashed down. Donahue wheeled and faked a toss left and ran off tackle to the right. He was tackled on the two—yard line by several defenders as precious seconds ticked off the clock. Less than two minutes remained in the game.

  Jack stepped into the defensive huddle.

  “Ends contain. The linebackers will close off the run,” he said.

  Two plays later Donahue crossed the goal line to give CSU a 12—7 lead with less than a minute left in the game. The Lancers were shut down and CSU got the invitation to the Rose Bowl.

  The SKU locker room was hushed and somber after the game. Stump was dejected. Bob noticed Jack sharing a small smile with Archie.

  Stump walked into the locker room. He too was taking the loss hard and the look on his face displayed his feelings as he climbed up onto a bench.

  “It didn’t go the way wanted today. I know you’re hurting right now because I’m hurting too. But I want all of you to keep your heads up. We almost made it to the Rose Bowl — a lot of colleges would love to have been in this position. Seniors, I’ll miss you guys. We’ve went through a lot together and I’ve watched you grow up,” Stump said.

  “The rest of you, we’ll get back to work. We’ll get there next year — and we’ll take care of business,” he said.

  After he climbed down, the head coach went to each senior, shook his hand, and had a word or two with him. Bob watched him talk to Jack and Archie. They didn’t seem especially disappointed and something caught his eye — something that bothered him quite a bit.

  When Stump got to Bob, he looked like a man on the verge of tears.

  “I thought we had them. I really thought we had the game won,” he said.

  “Me too,” Bob said as he looked over at Jack and Archie who were talking and laughing.

  “Notice anything odd?” He asked as he nodded in their direction.

  “Looks like two guys glad to see the season over,” Stump said.

  “Look again. Why ain’t Archie limpin’ anymore?” Bob asked.

  The coach looked stunned.

  “He’s not, is he?” Stump asked.

  “And maybe it’s me but they’re the only two people in this locker room smilin’ right now. It just don’t seem right,” Bob said.

  “No, it doesn’t. Listen, don’t say anything right now. Let’s just watch and wait. I gotta tell you Bob, I’ve got a real bad feeling about this,” Stump said.

  “So do I,” Bob answered.

  Lee celebrated. He made out pretty well. The bet he placed on Commonwealth State netted him five thousand dollars – not to mention the five hundred he won from Joe.

  It was also a cheap way to earn the money. A quiet payoff of a hundred dollars each to a couple of key players guaranteed his win.

  “Not a bad deal,” he said to himself as he counted out his winnings.

  Jack and Archie frequented a brothel in Crystal Springs that Lee favored. After overhearing they played football at SKU he set his plan in motion. He approached them one night when they were ready to leave. Both were eager to take his money, especially when he dangled possible post-graduate jobs with the Milner family.

  Now that he had his money Lee had to make a decision about adding two college boys to his family’s staff. In the two weeks since the game, he managed to avoid their calls and visits to the offices of Milner Coal. He locked his money inside a safe in his office.

  Lee shook his head. He hated having an office. He preferred being muscle in the field. He was not the office type. Maybe one of the college boys could fill his slot in the office, freeing him up to do what he wanted to spread his family’s influence. Lee missed his status as a special deputy for the Evans County Sheriff’s Department.

  ***

  Jack and Archie sat upright and stiff on straight-backed wooden chairs inside the team locker room on the campus of SKU. They were not alone as Stump, the seniors, and university president Floyd Arnold stood in front of them.

  Stump looked at them.

  “How much?” He asked.

  “How much what?” Jack asked as he and Archie tried to look as innocently as possible.

  “You know damn well what. How much did you two get paid to throw the Commonwealth State game?” He raged.

  Jack smirked but a little color drained from Archie’s face.

  “What? That’s ridiculous,” Jack said.

  Archie sat quietly.

  “No, it’s not. We know you did it,” Bob said.

  Jack made to stand up but Frank Rodinsky, a huge tackle from Easton, Pennsylvania stepped forward with clinched fists.

  Jack remained seated as Archie looked to the floor.

  “You can’t prove anything,” Jack said dismissively.

  “How much Archie?” Stump asked more calmly.

  “Don’t say a word,” Jack said.

  “Shut up Jack! One more word from you and I’ll turn the boys loose,” Stump said pointing to the nine angry seniors. “Tell me Archie.”

  “A hundred each,” Archie said softly.

  Stump’s expression did not change. He was already indignant.

  “I see the price has gone up from thirty pieces of silver,” he said.

  “It was too much to pass up. Plus —,” Archie said as Jack fumed.

  “Enough Archie. What are you gonna do Stump? Kick us off of the team?” Jack asked.

  “Last warning Jack. Plus what Archie?” Stump asked.

  “We were promised jobs by the Milner family,” Archie said.

  “You know we can’t kick you off the team now but you two are expelled from SKU. Get your things and leave campus. You have one hour,” Floyd said.

  “If you’re smart, you’ll keep your mouths shut about what happened. The official story will be you two got caught cheating on an exam,” Stump said.

  “Let me guess. If we don’t keep quiet you’ll go to the cops,” Jack scoffed.

  “No, I’ll join you in talking. I’ll tell everybody I know as loud as I can. Somewhere along the way the gamblers will pick up on it — the gamblers that lost a shitload of money on that game. They won’t be as generous as we are,” Stump said.

  The sneer left Jack’s face. Archie looked even more scared.

  “One hour,” Floyd repeated.

  The players stepped aside as they stood to leave. Both looked down as they walked past their now former teammates.

  ***

  “Ol’ Kennedy didn’t lie. It’s been three years since I started puttin’ money in the stock market and take a look. We’re makin’ more money now than we ever have — and it’s legit,” Ed said as he showed Elmer the bank deposit slips.

  Elmer just whistled when he saw the numbers.

  “Just how much money is that Ed?” He asked.

  “That’s five million dollars. But we’re gonna put even more money into the stock market. Joe bought a movie studio out in California. I’m gonna invest in that,” Ed said.

  “How about the dairy business?” Elmer asked.

  “It’s makin’ almost as much as we are in sellin’ shine to the fellers up north. I think it’s high time we bought some land and build a new house,” Ed said.

&n
bsp; “No, I’m happy in this shack. I got a bed and a good outhouse. Ain’t got no tele—phone and don’t want one. Nobody bothers me. I like it here. If you want a new house, build you one,” Elmer said.

  Ed noticed Mae outside and a woman following her to the barn.

  “Who’s that with Mae?” He asked.

  “Don’t know,” Elmer said.

  Ed stepped out on the porch and looked at Hill.

  “Who’s that?” He asked.

  “That’s my cousin Lucy. Her an’ my Aunt Sarah just moved back here from Whitley County,” Hill said.

  Ed looked at her as she stood talking to Mae. She was tall and slim with long, raven dark hair with eyes to match. Lucy had high cheekbones, tan skin, and a beautiful face.

  “I was kinda hopin’ she could get a job,” Hill said.

  “She’s got it,” Ed said quickly. “Put her to work helpin’ Mae with the dairy business. Give her five dollars a week.”

  “Five dollars a week?” Hill asked in disbelief.

  “You heard me. We’re — what is Al calls it? A first class operation and we pay like it,” Ed said.

  “You’re the boss,” Hill said.

  “Tell me about her,” Ed said.

  “Not much to tell. Her daddy was full-blooded Cherokee name of Joe Sequoyah. Got killed in France early in the war. Real nice feller too. He was a miner. They lived in a camp near Jellico. Aunt Sarah was able to hang on in the camp by takin’ in washin’ and mendin’ clothes. After the influenza outbreak there was plenty of houses open in the camp but when the mine went back to full shifts they kicked them out,” Hill said.

  “How old is she?” Ed asked.

  “Just turned eighteen,” Hill answered.

  Ed nodded and was silent for a few seconds as he watched the new girl.

  “That property up at Freeman Holler, is it still for sale?” Ed asked.

  “Far as I know,” Hill said.

  “Let’s go see Ancil Freeman. I’m buyin’ that place and I’m gonna build me a house that will make this county sit up and take notice,” Ed said.

  “Don’t wanna get too much notice. Clyde got elected sheriff and he’s promised to come after you. And you remember what Lee James Milner told you,” Hill said.

  “I remember,” Ed said.

  ***