The Boy and his Friend had thought their indiscretion would go unanswered. They were each naïve possessing young minds that believed that youth and nerve made them the image of invincibility and immune to the ravages of reality. In short terms, stupid.
School started and the days progressed fairly normally as the calendar pushed forward through the daily edifices of education. Autumn had come and the foliage was changing. October was progressing as Halloween threatened to excite the imaginations of all believers ready to celebrate the candy gods. After school on a Friday the Boy's friend was scheduled to work a shift in a local garage pumping gas, checking oil, and adding air to tires. At $4.50 an hour he was happy enough. The Boy filled his tank and began the ride home. The bike was humming right along like a champ.
The trip home was about 12 miles and took about 15 minutes. When the Boy turned down the dirt road to the property he noticed what seemed to be a couple squad cars parked in the drive way. When he drove closer he noticed one was a Hill County Sherriff department, the other Montana Highway Patrol. 2 officers talking to the Old Man, and Dad in the front yard of the Bel Aire, no one looked pleased to see him.
The Boy parked his Sportster and walked up to the conversation. The deputy asked him his name, he answered. The Highway Patrol said, "Nice Bike. Yours?" His inner voice was telling him something was amiss.
Dad pushed his glasses down his nose and had that glare in his eyes that he gets when it's about to hit the fan. The Old Man just looked at him and stretched out his left hand. The Boy threw his keys which were snatched from the air with the speed of a pit viper. This was bad.
As The Boy, The Old Man, Dad, and the 2 Officers were all having a rather intense conversation a black Chevy pickup pulled into the drive way. The door swung open and out stepped a large man dressed in jeans, boots, and an old dusty denim shirt, the Honorable Judge Vasicka. He was not smiling when he approached. He and the officers talked alone for what seemed like a very long time. The Old Man and Dad said nothing. His Honor walked to Dad, and The Old Man and they had an equally long conversation. Then was heard him say, "We have an agreement then?" Dad and The Old Man nodded.
The Very Honorable Judge Vasicka then focused his attention on the Boy, "Young man, it seems these two Officers are convinced that you rode your motorcycle through the reverent halls of academia. You rode the halls of the high school?" The Boy had to fess up and tell the truth. The Judge continued, "Since no harm was done, other than the damage to the floors of the school this shall be your punishment. You will turn the motorcycle over to these two officers, who will place it in auction and use the proceeds to fund the repairs to the school and the rest will be donated to Rocky Boy. The rest of the punishment I leave up to these fine gentlemen." He pointed to Dad and The Old Man. The Old Man threw the keys to the Judge, and the Officers ramped the bike into the bed of the pickup.
That was the strangest court proceedings to date in Hill County. The Honorable Judge Vasicka and Dad both shared a similar tattoo. Dad's on his left forearm and the judges on his right shoulder. It was the flaming winged skull of the Montana chapter of the Hells Angels. He a judge and Dad a high school teacher.
The next morning The Old Man met the Boy at the foot of the Bel Aire stairs carrying a large greasy pump greaser and said, "Come With Me."
He walked to the garage and opened the side door. They both stepped in. The Peterbilt tractor was in the garage. "You will clean every inch of this truck, then you will find every grease fitting and grease each bearing and joint in the rig without making the need to clean it again. You will do this in the order prescribed until you can accomplish this task as I have described, understand?" The Old Man was deadly serious, and when either he or Dad got that serious it was wise to listen and follow direction.
It took the Boy 5 times and 2 days to accomplish the impossible. The Old Man made inspection while carrying a cup of coffee and smiled at the Boy without speaking. When he left the garage he was laughing an evil laugh.
The next morning Dad met the Boy at the stairs of Winston carrying a spade shovel. Dad didn't speak. He just walked to the pump house next to the trailer. Between the trailer and the pump house was a roped off area that marked a path from the trailer to the pump house. He handed the Boy the shovel, "You will dig a ditch from the trailer to the pump house 2 feet wide and 6 feet deep for a new water line." The Boy began digging.
It took him the entire day to dig the ditch. When he was done Dad came to inspect, "Not right. Fill it in. Tomorrow you will dig again." He handed the Boy the shovel and walked away. The Boy filled in the ditch.
The next morning Dad met the Boy at the foot of the stairs again with the shovel. This time he just pointed at the spot and walked away. The Boy began digging. After what seemed like forever Grandma showed up with a lunch in a bag. An old bologna sandwich and a canteen of warm water. Even she, who always stands by the Boy, was a tool of Punishment.
After he dug the ditch, Dad appeared to inspect, "This is not right, fill it in and dig it up in the morning." Then he walked away. Dinner was waiting for the Boy. On the table was an old Bologna sandwich and a canteen of water.
The next morning Dad was not at the foot of the stairs. The shovel was standing straight up where the ditch was to be dug. The Boy began digging. Again at the end of the day he was done. This day there was no lunch, there was no inspection, only the ditch. The Boy went to bed and found a note, "Take a shower."
In the morning he woke to the smell of ham and eggs. There was a big breakfast complete with coffee and juice. Dad and The Old Man were waiting at the foot of the stairs. "We will never speak of this again. Savy?"
"Yes." said the Boy, "I'm sorry."
Dad held his hand out and Boy gave him his drivers license.
Peace and Balance,
John
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