Buddies (17 page)

The sheriff tipped his hat to Mama and said it was a pleasure; then he turned and walked away.

Joey Frank wanted to tear open the envelope to look at all the money, but Mama said, “No! There’s a time and place for all things, and out in the open field is surely no place to disclose that much money. Someone could happen up, like the neighboring farmers have a habit of doing, to compare our cotton crop to theirs. The Widow Simson could drop by unexpectedly, see the money, and start asking a dozen questions. The news about the reward money is going to spread soon enough as it is, and what people don’t know at the present is fine with me. Someone with a criminal mind could learn that we have the money, come in and rob, and maybe harm us in the meantime. We must use our heads, Joey Frank, and not take foolish chances.”

Mama took the envelope from Joey Frank and put it into her apron pocket. “It’s the only sensible thing to do,” she said, taking a safety pin from the bib of her apron and fastening the pocket together to secure the money, while she finished the work in the field.

After supper, that night, after the dishes were cleared away and put in their place, Mama asked Joey Frank and Gloria to join her at the table for a discussion. She explained that she wanted the three of them to talk about how the reward money should be used.

Mama turned the oil lamp up a bit that she had put into the center of the table, and then she took her seat with Joey Frank and Gloria.

She said, “Fairness should be the first thing we deal with in this matter, so we won’t be keeping all the money. I want to make it clear, Ernie will get half, because he is just as deserving as you are Joey Frank, since he knew the truth about Banker Tolbert’s death.” Mama continued, “Although Ernie did not go forward and tell the truth to the sheriff, it’s no excuse for him not get half of the reward.”

Joey Frank didn’t argue with Mama, as he smiled and said, “I wuz just about to say the same thang Mama”

Mama Said, “Since that is settled, I would like to suggest the first and most important thing the money be used for, I want you to have a new pair of shoes, Joey Frank. You’ve gone without long enough. I suggest they be bought before anything else.”

Mama asked, “Joey Frank, how do you think some of the money should be used?” His first thought was the four hundred and twenty-six dollars he had taken from Miss Rene, but he wouldn’t dare mention that for sure. He had every intention of paying her back, but not just yet. If he thought for a minute that she needed it, then he would speak up now and spoil all this joy the family had never experienced before.

Joey Frank put the thought of the rich widow out of his mind and suggested they buy a new wagon, since the one they had was so old and worn. He told Mama a new wagon would be nice when traveling to church and for special occasions like going to visit Uncle Nelson and his family.

There were many people who had a spare wagon for doing such things that they kept clean and in the dry. Unfortunately, the Coopers could never get far enough ahead to afford a spare. Gloria’s life of sickness and bad crops had made it financially impossible for them.

As Joey Frank was speaking on the subject of them buying a new wagon, a pretty picture appeared in his mind. He could see the morning sun shining against a newly painted red wagon as the old horse slowly pulled it along the winding road straddling the green grasses and wildflowers that had survived the busy road. He could see Mama and Gloria so proudly dressed in their best clothes sitting high on the smooth seat with a smile on their faces.

Joey Frank could see himself sitting beside his family, gripping the reins, and steering the horse down the winding road to church on Sunday morning. The new brown leather shoes he could see himself wearing looked good with his best pair of breeches. The strings were free of knots, and they were laced all the way to the top. The beautiful picture faded from his mind when Mama asked Gloria what she would like to buy.

The only thing she suggested was a new satchel she could carry with her when she went to stay overnight with the Widow Simson. She said she had heard some of the girls at school say they had satchels, and if it wasn’t asking too much, then she would like to have one too.

Mama smiled at Joey Frank and Gloria saying the wagon Joey Frank had suggested, was exactly what she was going to suggest also. She praised them for being sensible, not extravagant and she saw no reason why they shouldn’t get the things they needed and wanted.

Mama said that most of their twenty-five hundred dollars would be left-over and it should last a long time. She said she would put it away and use it as needed, emphasizing it was never to be mentioned outside the family.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN
 

Saturday morning Joey Frank got out of bed earlier than usual. It wasn’t long before the old rooster Nelson had awakened to let out his first strong crow for the new day. Joey Frank was so excited, he could hardly wait for daybreak, so that he could get started on his way to Ernie’s.

He was so glad Mama had wanted Ernie to get half of the reward money. He was bursting to tell him the great news.

As he was putting wood into the cook stove, a happy thought ran through his mind—Mr. Brown might put some of the money away, if he could spare it, for Ernie’s blacksmith shop that he so much wanted to have someday. If that should happen, Ernie would be filled with joy and would know for certain that his dream was really going to come true.

Joey Frank controlled the damper on the cook stove so that it wouldn’t overheat. He took a milk pail from the cabinet and went outside to do his chores.

As he was passing by the tree that Nelson roosted in alone, because the other chickens had turned against him, Joey Frank heard him stir among the leaves. In a moment he let out his strong crow and awakened all his feathered family that joined him in welcoming another break-of-day.

Joey Frank gave Josey Bell a gentle pat on her side as he squatted down to milk her. He spoke to her kindly telling her to please stay away from the wild onions when she begin her day of grazing out in the pasture. He called her his Big Pet and apologized to her about calling her bad names in the past, because she had eaten wild onions that caused the milk to smell and taste terrible.

As he walked back toward the house with the pail of milk, he called out to Nelson up in his tree to come on down that he would be back in a short while with some leftover bread crumbs for him. He told the rooster he wouldn’t mention it to the others just yet. He could get his craw full and be gone by the time they came down from their roost, wanting to jump on him.

“Oh, what a wonderful day it’s goin’ to be.” Joey Frank was thinking as he entered the kitchen that smelled of fresh bread that Mama was cooking.

Mama and Gloria would be going to Ruby Creek today to buy all the things they had talked about. They wouldn’t buy the new wagon today because they would purchase it when Joey Frank was with them, so he could help pick out the best choice.

On this great day, Mama would go to the little town and pay for all the things she wanted, without the worry of overspending, or fear there wouldn’t be any money left for her family’s future emergencies.

Ernie Brown would soon be able to get all the chewing tobacco he wanted. He would never have to go to the trouble of sticking his hand with thorns, and lying about being stung by hornets.

He could sit on the river bank and spit far out into the water, then picture in his mind a blacksmith shop that looked more promising now than ever before.

Joey Frank felt this day was going to be the most joyous day the Browns and Coopers had ever experienced. He was going to leave the house early, go by the church cemetery to visit Pa’s grave and tell him all the good news before he went to Ernie’s.

As Joey Frank listened to Nelson crow outside, he thought of the feast he and his family would have after Mama and Gloria returned from Ruby Creek today. Mama was going to pick up a sack of shelled corn at the feed store for the chickens. They hadn’t been fed corn since Pa’s death. They had to strive to find their own food, or wait to be given bread leftover from family meals.

Mama filled Ernie’s lunch pail with fresh bread that she had just taken out of the oven and blueberry jam. Joey Frank was going to return the lunch pail along with Ernie’s old brogans, since he had the mate to his old shoes back. It wouldn’t be long now, he could wear his own wonderful new shoes.

He put Pa’s shoes away into the closet for safekeeping, never to be worn again. In the future they would remain there, and would only be taken out when he wanted to be close to Pa, because he missed him so very much. When Joey Frank got that sentimental feeling, would be the only time that those shoes would leave the closet. After he had finished holding and talking to them, the loneliness he suffered would subside somewhat. He would put the shoes away until that dejected feeling came over him again.

Mama gave Joey Frank, Ernie’s twenty-five hundred dollars that she had tied up in one of her handkerchiefs. He put the roll of money down in the front pocket of his breeches, and Mama fastened it with a safety pin to keep it from slipping out on his way to deliver it. She cautioned him not to attempt to undo the pocket until he had reached the Browns’ home.

Joey Frank got his fishing pole from the kitchen corner and the burlap sack with Ernie’s shoes inside. Mama gave him the lunch pail of food and his can of bait. He excitedly left the house to spend the day on the riverbank with Ernie.

As he begin his journey down the road in the cool gray dawn, he could see some stars that had not yet lost their brightness, indicating this was going to be a clear day. It looked promising for the sunshine that Ernie’s pale body so desperately needed. Joey Frank believed the exercising walk to the river on this beautiful day of fishing with his buddy was exactly what they both needed. Ernie had gotten away from all this, so it would be a good start for a recovery from the awful condition that he suffered.

A big yellow sun was appearing above the horizon as Joey Frank reached the little country church where the family usually attended on Sunday morning. He laid his possessions on the ground at the edge of the cemetery, and then walked down to were Pa was buried. He knelt down at the foot of the grave and spoke out loud as he told Pa all the latest news.

The first thing he told him was about the reward money and that he was on his way to give Ernie his half.

He told Pa that Gloria was well now, and please not worry about her anymore. He said how thrilled she was that she was going to get a new satchel like the ones her friends at school had.

Joey Frank told Pa about the new wagon they planned to get and how Mama’s face lit up when they talked about it. He told about the new shoes he planned to get and how he was going to wedge horseshoes inside them, as he had taught him, to give them a good stretching so they wouldn’t rub blisters on his heels.

Joey Frank told Pa about the sack of corn that Mama was getting for Nelson and the other chickens. He explained how the old rooster had grown feeble since he had departed and didn’t look like he would be around much longer. He told that Nelson had beautiful offspring to take his place when he does go.

Joey Frank apologized to Pa for not bringing him flowers. He explained that his hands were full, but he would return soon and brighten up the grave. He rose to his feet, bidding farewell as he left the cemetery.

Ernie’s Pa was just climbing into his wagon to leave for work in the field when Joey Frank arrived at his home. They exchanged leisurely, friendly greetings and talked briefly about their cotton crops. It was hard for Joey Frank not to mention to Mr. Brown about the reward money he had with him. He wanted Ernie to have the privilege of telling his father the good news. Ringeye got up wagging his tail, welcoming him as he walked upon the porch. Joey Frank stood his fishing pole by the doorway, and then he went inside the house and set down his can of bait.

Ernie was already up, sitting in the kitchen with his fishing pole across his lap waiting for his arrival.

Mrs. Brown said he’d been up since five o’clock; the earliest he had gotten out of bed since the accident. She said he had eaten a hefty breakfast and was anxious to get started to the river to spend the day. Mrs. Brown offered Joey Frank the leftover bread and gravy from their breakfast. He thanked her, saying he couldn’t eat another bite because he had just eaten a large breakfast.

Mrs. Brown got a chair from the eating table and sat it in front of Ernie. She took the burlap sack and lunch pail from Joey Frank, then ask him to please sit down and rest a while before starting to the river.

Joey Frank took his seat and said, “Ernie, when did you take them bandages off yore eyes: I guess they went an’ got mighty aggravatin’ didn’t they?”

“Yeah, but I didn’t hafta wear’m but two days.”

“I brung yore shoes back to you. There ain’t a heap of wearin’ left in’m, an’ I went an’ lost a heel off one, but they’ll do to wear to the river an’ you won’t hafta mess up yore new ones.”

“Have you got yoreself a new pair?”

“No, not yit, but Mama’s gonna git’m today.”

“Well, go on an wear mine to the river today. You don’t need to be wearin’ yore Pa’s shoes if yore wantin’ to save’m.”

“I ain’t wearin’ Pa’s shoes; I’m a-wearin’ my own. Shurff Jamison brung me the one that I went an’ lost. He brung yore lunch pail, too. Mama packed it full of bread an’ jam to carry fishin’ with us today.”

Joey Frank stood up as he unfastened the safety pin on the pocket of his beeches and reached in to take out the money. He sat back down and said, “Ernie, Shurff Jamison brung me a whole heap of re-ward money too, five thousand dollers; it wuz to the penny. Me, Mama, an’ Gloria wanted you an’ yore folks to have half of it. I got it right here with me tied up in Mama’s hankychief.”

“Joey Frank Cooper, just ‘cause I’m blind as a bat don’t mean I’m crazy too. Now what in the world would you go an’ git re-ward money for?”

Joey Frank looked over at Mrs. Brown sitting at the eating table, breaking up green beans to cook for the noon meal. He looked back at Ernie and responded, “Well, I reckin I oughta tell you an’ yore Mama where I got it an’ the reason I got it.”