May 6, 2024 • 20 mins
On this episode of Our American Stories, Cecil Wax grew up in a different age. Listen to his and his brother's journey into town which will transport you back to a simpler time.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
And we're back with our American stories. And we've heard
from Marilyn Jensen before when she told the story of
her father's harrowing supply run during the Battle of the Bulge.
Today she brings us a story from an earlier time
in his life, during a simpler time in our past.
Here's Maryland.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
It was a hot August day, probably about nineteen twenty three.
The Henry and Nora Wax family lived on a small farm,
maybe three or four miles from the southwest Iowa town
of Climax. Since that time, cars are affordable to everyone.
Country stores and nearby services like blacksmiths are no longer needed.
(01:00):
So the village of Climax, true to its name, reached
an apex of activity, breathed a sigh of resignation, and
quietly dozed off. Climax is now known only by the
sign in front of its abandoned church, the Memories of
(01:21):
a century ago. By sleeping under blankets of Iowa corn
and soybeans on a sleepy August morning, the three Wax boys,
Art thirteen or eight and Cecil six stumbled into the kitchen.
Lucky little sister Lucille at four, got to sleep until breakfast.
(01:43):
Mom was stoking the fire in the cook stove. The
boys rubbed their eyes and stared ahead. Dad crossed his
right ankle over his left knee and laced up his
leather work boots. The leg of his blue overalls bunched up,
revealing an ugly white scar on his Shin pointed to
it and yawned, Is.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
That where the rattlesnake bit your dad?
Speaker 2 (02:07):
He knew the answer, but he liked this story, and besides,
it would delay the chores a bit. Yep, Dad replied,
straightening the leg. I wasn't much older than Art. The
feller struck me while I was hanging.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
It nearly killed me.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
There aren't many timber rattlers in Iowa, not like out west,
but one found my leg. Now hurry up and get
out to the barn. Daylight's wasting. The chickens, cattle, pigs,
and horses were fed. The pump creaked, and the water
splashed into the pans, and finally it was The families
(02:44):
turned to devour their breakfast. After the table was cleared,
Nora and the three younger kids began their short trek
to the garden. They paused long enough to wave to Dad.
And Art as they rode into the hayfield. Henry was
driving the horse and Art was steadying the pitchforks, keeping
them from bouncing off the haywagon. They disappeared over the
(03:07):
hill where yesterday's cutting of alfalfa blanketed the field in
fluffy green rose. Nora and the children harvested onions, beets, cucumbers,
and dill.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
The vegetables were washed clean in.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Cold water from the well by the front door. Ori,
the oldest boy at the moment, lugged the pail full
of green and deep red freshness into the kitchen. Seesinori
were in charge of watching little Lucille, as well as
washing the breakfast dishes, sweeping the kitchen floor, and.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Setting the table for dinner.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Mom worked at the cookstove, preparing the victuals as she
called them, for the men in the field, and getting
the vegetables ready to cook ready to can.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Today was pickling day. She was canning pickled beets, including.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Hard boiled eggs in the jars, and also guarding a
crock full of dill pickles. In no time, two dozen
eggs began to bubble in the pot on the back burner.
Next she sliced the cucumbers into her crock. Norah smiled
at how smoothly things were going. That smile faded when
(04:17):
she retrieved her empty vinegar jug from the bottom shelf
of the pantry. She had forgotten that last weeks wilted
lettuce salad.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
Drank the final drop.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
There was no question that someone would have to go
to the Climax General.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Store today and fetch more vinegar.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
At noon, the family ate and chattered around the big
oak table. Norah shared her dilemma with Henry.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
She was out of vinegar.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Now that the eggs were boiled, the canning process for
the beats must be completed. The kicks were all sliced
and needed to pickle for several days in a crock
full of vinegar and salt brine. The processing had to
begin today. Timing mattered. Henry faced the same problem. If
it rained while the hay was laying in the field,
it would ruin the whole cutting. The rest of the
(05:07):
alf alpha crop must be put into the barn this afternoon.
After much discussion, Mom and Dad decided that Ory and
Cecil would ride the new horse Rocky, to the Climax
General's Store and by vinegar.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
Storing up the winter.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Supply of food for the family was almost as important
as storing up the hay for the livestock. They set
the plane in motion. Dad and Art went back to
the hay field. Mom went to war with the wash
rag on the bare feet and ankles of her two
little gardeners. Hearing mom's warning about sunburn, the boys grabbed
their straw hats and ran out the front door. Mom
(05:43):
called them back and handed ay some coins from her
egg money and the sugar bowl on the buffet. Ori
gratefully buttoned the treasure into his pocket of his bib overalls.
Cecil was allowed to carry the empty gallon jug. All
Mom's instructions were repeated. Ride carefully, don't overheat the horse,
hold on tightly to the jug, be polite to the storekeeper,
(06:07):
and come straight home. At last, the boys ran to
the barnyard. Rocky met them at the fence. Dad had
bought him at a sail bar in just a few
weeks before. Since relocating to the Wax farm, Rocky had
almost become the boy's pet. He was friendly and let
them ride bareback around the farmyard. In no time, Rocky
(06:29):
was bridled and the two excited shoppers were on their way.
Being older, Ori rode in front and held the bridle.
The vinegar jug rested on Rocky's back, clasped tightly by
Ory's legs.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Cecil sat behind.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
He had to grab Ory's waist only once or twice.
When Rocky sped up going down along hill, Ori was
ready to pull back on the reins, but the horse
since the boy's discomfort and slowed before Ori even needed
to direct him.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
The ride was going perfectly.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
They imagined they were nights setting off on a shopping crusade.
At the corner, even Missus Perkins's laundry seemed to be
waving like banners in the breeze. Celebrating their first campaign,
they turned north and continued toward climax. The boys laughed
about how dust puffed up around Rocky's hoofs with every step.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
The adventurers waved. When they passed by.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Dad and Art in the hayfield, Dad shook his red
bandana in their direction and then wiped his face and
stuffed it back in his overall pocket. Art gave them
a quick nod before taking a swing of water from
the mason jar insulated in the hay they noticed the
buzzing bees taking sweet nectar from the pink wild roses
growing in the ditches. They stopped to watch an orange
(07:49):
butterfly fluttering next to.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
A milkweed plant.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
They giggled when a big green grasshopper jumped off a
sunflower and nearly landed on Cecil's shoulder. Occasionally, one of
them inhaled the fluff from the purple thistle plants, giving
birth to floating seeds. As they rode, they rehearsed the
speech to the storekeeper. After several tries, they decided to
(08:16):
keep the transaction brief. Hello, sir, we would like to
buy some vinegar. Would you fill our jug?
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Please?
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Thank you very much. They practiced taking turns with the sentences.
Soon they came to the Methodist church. Or he said,
haw to Rocky, just like Dad when he drove the
plow horse.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
They turned left.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
And you've been listening to Marilyn Jensen tell the story
of her father in his youth in Climax, Iowa, and
that southwest Iowa and not a town anymore. I'm merely
a sign in front of an abandoned church. And this
is the story of an adventure as a young man
with his siblings to go to the Clox General's Store
person vinegar. When we come back, what happens next? Here
(09:05):
on our American stories, And we're back with our American
(09:40):
stories in the second half of Marilyn Jensen's father's story,
he'esel Wax. When we last left off, Diesel's family was
in the middle of a crisis. It was crunch time.
His father and brother were harvesting before the rain started
and ruined the crop, and his mother had already boiled
the pickles and eggs for pickling, but they ran an
out of vinegar. We joined Cecil, six years old and
(10:03):
his older brother Orie, eight years old, as they'd just
ridden into town on the family horse, Rocky. Here's Marylyn.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
In minutes, the small building with a false front greeted them.
Its sign proclaimed that their journey was over. Here was
the Climax General Store. Two men were rocking on the
porch with a checkerboard resting on a nail keg between them.
One was smoking a pipe, the other had a graying beard.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Both men looked up with interest.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Suddenly, raw reality kidnapped the little knights, stealing their courage.
We've never gone to a store without mom, or Dad,
we've never purchased anything.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
We can't let mom down.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Two scared little boys slowly slid from the security of
Rocky's back his reins over the railing near the watering
trough in front of the store, and Rocky kept an eye.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
On them while he drank.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
After a few moments hesitation, Ori walked slowly toward the porch,
carrying the empty jug. Cecil followed about half a length
of his barefoot behind. The men on the porch scrutinized
the two small boys with interest as they climbed up the.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
Three wooden steps. Ori stood still, shyly studying the floorboards.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
After a few seconds, the bearded man spoke gruffly, well, boy,
what do you want?
Speaker 3 (11:41):
Speak up?
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Orie was flustered. Their lovely speech disappeared from his memory.
He simply thrust the jug forward and stammered, oooh winnaker.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
The men grinned and winked at each other.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Beard spoke speak English boy, woo Winnaker never heard of it.
Frustrated Ory repeated, bennitger Pipe joined in the fun. Benniger
ain't got nothing like that here. The men's eyes twinkled
as they poked each other in the ribs. They were
(12:17):
enjoying this teasing. These two kids broke the monotony of
the afternoon's flies, wadding and checker jumping. Beard stifled a
laugh and grabbed the jug. Let me smell her.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
Maybe I can figure out what these baby boys want.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
He pulled out the cork and sniffed the jug, exhaled
its pungent vinegar breath. He stroked his beard and mocked
confusion and replied, Nope, nothing like that here.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
The boys were almost in tears.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Cecil tried to speak too, but his six year old
voice couldn't be heard over the chuckles of the two bullys.
Pipe continued the teasing routine questioningly, but Benegar cur Vinny
Kerr Pipe sniffed the jug too and shrugged. He pretended
(13:06):
to be confused and concerned. Finally, he thrust the empty
jug to Ori and said, I think you'd better take
your jug and go on homeboy, come back when you
learned to talk good like us.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
The boys looked at each other in panic.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Their wide, teary eyes screamed what should we do? We
can't go home with an empty jug. Screech cried the
spring on the screen door. As the door flung back
against the door's siding with a bang, The storekeeper stepped
heavily onto the porch. His angry face showed that he
(13:42):
understood the situation. He grabbed the jug, gave Or an
understanding pat on the shoulder, and invited.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
The boys into the store.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
Beard and Pipe sank back into their rockers and stared
at the checkers.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Get yourselves a dipper of water while I fill up
your jug.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Boys, They drank gratefully from the water pail while mister
storekeeper lifted the keg of vinegar to the counter and
turned the tap. All three witnessed the brownish yellow vinegar
running into its new home. Ori traded the coins for
the heavy jug and gave mister storekeeper a nod of appreciation.
(14:19):
They headed toward the door without a word. Wait, boys,
you forgot something? Oh no, now what? The kind man
handed each of them a stick of candy. They found
their manners long enough to grin and say thanks sir.
They hurried out the door past the now innocent looking bullys.
(14:42):
Ori untied Rocky and was on his back in an instant.
Cees hefted up the jug once it was firmly clamped
by his brother's overalled legs. He jumped up behind Ori
and the trip to the security of home began. They
heard angry voices from the poor or as they turned
the corner at the church and faced the long road back.
(15:05):
They glanced toward the store. Beard and Pipe were walking
up the road in the opposite direction, as if nothing
had happened.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
For a long time.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
They regained their dignity by quietly sucking on candy. Finally
they began talking about anything but the nightmare at the store.
Rocky became their focus. They were happy that Dad bought
him at the sail barn last month. Between slurps, they
decided that Rocky was a great horse.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
He was big, but he was gentle. He seemed to
love them, and he works hard. He's smart. It's like
he knows he belongs to us.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Now cease to ask why did Dad name him Rocky? Well,
he used to live in Colorado and that's where the
Rocky Mountains are, explained the older and wiser Lorrie. They
could just make out the top of Dad's straw hat
bobbing along on the other side of the hill.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Their adventure was almost over.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
The two brave Knights were completing their quest and returning
in triumph.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
With no warning, Rocky halted.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
The boys lunged forward so fast that or almost dropped
the precious jug.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
They waited. They tried commanding Rocky like Dad todt him,
giddy up.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Rocky nothing. He actually backed up a few steps. They
shook the bridle. Rocky snorted, his ears twitched backwards, he
refused to budge, his nostrils flared, and he started pawing
the ground. It seemed their perfect horse suddenly had broken down.
After some confused moments, they repeated the giddy ups again,
(16:47):
followed by more backing up and ear twitching. They decided
to try getting off and leading the disobedient horse home,
but just then he started moving. But now Rocky chose
the stepping cautiously. He went down into the ditch and
plodded precariously through the weeds for about thirty yards, at
(17:09):
times squeezing close to the barbed wire fence. Then he
climbed back up to the road and continued the journey
as if nothing had happened. The boys shook their heads
in confusion, but were happy to allow Rocky to trot
down the final hill.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
And head toward the feedbunk.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Excitedly, they presented the jug of vinegar to Mock. Then
they went about caring for Rocky and doing their evening chores.
Soon Dad and Art arrived with the last load of hay.
Dad headed straight toward Ore and Cecil. What were you
two doing riding in the ditch with Rocky? He could
(17:51):
have broken a leg on that slope. I thought I
could trust you with our animals. The explanation cascaded from
both defensive mouths. Rocky stopped really fast, He snorted and
pawed the ground.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
He backed up. He took us into the ditchon.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Along the fence. He wouldn't do what we told him.
Rocky did it all by himself. Dad listened without a word,
considered the details, and stalked to the house. He hiked
back to the spot where he had witnessed his son's
afternoon struggle. The blast from his rifle killed the big
coiled rattlesnake that was still resting in the weeds close
(18:29):
to the road. After supper, two tired adventurers were cleaned
up and tucked safely into their beds. As they said
their nightly prayers, they added a special blessing, and please
bless our new horse Rocky. Thank you for sending him
from Colorado to protect us and to be our guardian
(18:49):
angel horse. On that afternoon in the nineteen twenties, my
uncle Ori stammered from nervousness and fear. Over sixty years
years later, he suffered a series of debilitating strokes which
left him partially paralyzed and forced him to struggle with
a true speech impairment. Uncle Lory's frustration to be understood
(19:13):
was real. My cousin Russell reports that one of Or's
last decipherable sentences as he was dying was It's just
like Win, Kurt. The bite of a poisonous snake can
be quick and deadly, the memory of the poison inflicted
(19:36):
by a bully can remain for a lifetime.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
And a terrific piece of production by Robbie and a
terrific piece of writing by Marilyn Jensen, a listener and
a contributor, and a beautiful story about youthful adventures, bullying
and resilience. Marilyn Jensen's father's story cecil on our American
Stories
And we're back with our American stories. And we've heard
from Marilyn Jensen before when she told the story of
her father's harrowing supply run during the Battle of the Bulge.
Today she brings us a story from an earlier time
in his life, during a simpler time in our past.
Here's Maryland.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
It was a hot August day, probably about nineteen twenty three.
The Henry and Nora Wax family lived on a small farm,
maybe three or four miles from the southwest Iowa town
of Climax. Since that time, cars are affordable to everyone.
Country stores and nearby services like blacksmiths are no longer needed.
(01:00):
So the village of Climax, true to its name, reached
an apex of activity, breathed a sigh of resignation, and
quietly dozed off. Climax is now known only by the
sign in front of its abandoned church, the Memories of
(01:21):
a century ago. By sleeping under blankets of Iowa corn
and soybeans on a sleepy August morning, the three Wax boys,
Art thirteen or eight and Cecil six stumbled into the kitchen.
Lucky little sister Lucille at four, got to sleep until breakfast.
(01:43):
Mom was stoking the fire in the cook stove. The
boys rubbed their eyes and stared ahead. Dad crossed his
right ankle over his left knee and laced up his
leather work boots. The leg of his blue overalls bunched up,
revealing an ugly white scar on his Shin pointed to
it and yawned, Is.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
That where the rattlesnake bit your dad?
Speaker 2 (02:07):
He knew the answer, but he liked this story, and besides,
it would delay the chores a bit. Yep, Dad replied,
straightening the leg. I wasn't much older than Art. The
feller struck me while I was hanging.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
It nearly killed me.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
There aren't many timber rattlers in Iowa, not like out west,
but one found my leg. Now hurry up and get
out to the barn. Daylight's wasting. The chickens, cattle, pigs,
and horses were fed. The pump creaked, and the water
splashed into the pans, and finally it was The families
(02:44):
turned to devour their breakfast. After the table was cleared,
Nora and the three younger kids began their short trek
to the garden. They paused long enough to wave to Dad.
And Art as they rode into the hayfield. Henry was
driving the horse and Art was steadying the pitchforks, keeping
them from bouncing off the haywagon. They disappeared over the
(03:07):
hill where yesterday's cutting of alfalfa blanketed the field in
fluffy green rose. Nora and the children harvested onions, beets, cucumbers,
and dill.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
The vegetables were washed clean in.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Cold water from the well by the front door. Ori,
the oldest boy at the moment, lugged the pail full
of green and deep red freshness into the kitchen. Seesinori
were in charge of watching little Lucille, as well as
washing the breakfast dishes, sweeping the kitchen floor, and.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Setting the table for dinner.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Mom worked at the cookstove, preparing the victuals as she
called them, for the men in the field, and getting
the vegetables ready to cook ready to can.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Today was pickling day. She was canning pickled beets, including.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Hard boiled eggs in the jars, and also guarding a
crock full of dill pickles. In no time, two dozen
eggs began to bubble in the pot on the back burner.
Next she sliced the cucumbers into her crock. Norah smiled
at how smoothly things were going. That smile faded when
(04:17):
she retrieved her empty vinegar jug from the bottom shelf
of the pantry. She had forgotten that last weeks wilted
lettuce salad.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
Drank the final drop.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
There was no question that someone would have to go
to the Climax General.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Store today and fetch more vinegar.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
At noon, the family ate and chattered around the big
oak table. Norah shared her dilemma with Henry.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
She was out of vinegar.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Now that the eggs were boiled, the canning process for
the beats must be completed. The kicks were all sliced
and needed to pickle for several days in a crock
full of vinegar and salt brine. The processing had to
begin today. Timing mattered. Henry faced the same problem. If
it rained while the hay was laying in the field,
it would ruin the whole cutting. The rest of the
(05:07):
alf alpha crop must be put into the barn this afternoon.
After much discussion, Mom and Dad decided that Ory and
Cecil would ride the new horse Rocky, to the Climax
General's Store and by vinegar.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
Storing up the winter.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Supply of food for the family was almost as important
as storing up the hay for the livestock. They set
the plane in motion. Dad and Art went back to
the hay field. Mom went to war with the wash
rag on the bare feet and ankles of her two
little gardeners. Hearing mom's warning about sunburn, the boys grabbed
their straw hats and ran out the front door. Mom
(05:43):
called them back and handed ay some coins from her
egg money and the sugar bowl on the buffet. Ori
gratefully buttoned the treasure into his pocket of his bib overalls.
Cecil was allowed to carry the empty gallon jug. All
Mom's instructions were repeated. Ride carefully, don't overheat the horse,
hold on tightly to the jug, be polite to the storekeeper,
(06:07):
and come straight home. At last, the boys ran to
the barnyard. Rocky met them at the fence. Dad had
bought him at a sail bar in just a few
weeks before. Since relocating to the Wax farm, Rocky had
almost become the boy's pet. He was friendly and let
them ride bareback around the farmyard. In no time, Rocky
(06:29):
was bridled and the two excited shoppers were on their way.
Being older, Ori rode in front and held the bridle.
The vinegar jug rested on Rocky's back, clasped tightly by
Ory's legs.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Cecil sat behind.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
He had to grab Ory's waist only once or twice.
When Rocky sped up going down along hill, Ori was
ready to pull back on the reins, but the horse
since the boy's discomfort and slowed before Ori even needed
to direct him.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
The ride was going perfectly.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
They imagined they were nights setting off on a shopping crusade.
At the corner, even Missus Perkins's laundry seemed to be
waving like banners in the breeze. Celebrating their first campaign,
they turned north and continued toward climax. The boys laughed
about how dust puffed up around Rocky's hoofs with every step.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
The adventurers waved. When they passed by.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Dad and Art in the hayfield, Dad shook his red
bandana in their direction and then wiped his face and
stuffed it back in his overall pocket. Art gave them
a quick nod before taking a swing of water from
the mason jar insulated in the hay they noticed the
buzzing bees taking sweet nectar from the pink wild roses
growing in the ditches. They stopped to watch an orange
(07:49):
butterfly fluttering next to.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
A milkweed plant.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
They giggled when a big green grasshopper jumped off a
sunflower and nearly landed on Cecil's shoulder. Occasionally, one of
them inhaled the fluff from the purple thistle plants, giving
birth to floating seeds. As they rode, they rehearsed the
speech to the storekeeper. After several tries, they decided to
(08:16):
keep the transaction brief. Hello, sir, we would like to
buy some vinegar. Would you fill our jug?
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Please?
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Thank you very much. They practiced taking turns with the sentences.
Soon they came to the Methodist church. Or he said,
haw to Rocky, just like Dad when he drove the
plow horse.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
They turned left.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
And you've been listening to Marilyn Jensen tell the story
of her father in his youth in Climax, Iowa, and
that southwest Iowa and not a town anymore. I'm merely
a sign in front of an abandoned church. And this
is the story of an adventure as a young man
with his siblings to go to the Clox General's Store
person vinegar. When we come back, what happens next? Here
(09:05):
on our American stories, And we're back with our American
(09:40):
stories in the second half of Marilyn Jensen's father's story,
he'esel Wax. When we last left off, Diesel's family was
in the middle of a crisis. It was crunch time.
His father and brother were harvesting before the rain started
and ruined the crop, and his mother had already boiled
the pickles and eggs for pickling, but they ran an
out of vinegar. We joined Cecil, six years old and
(10:03):
his older brother Orie, eight years old, as they'd just
ridden into town on the family horse, Rocky. Here's Marylyn.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
In minutes, the small building with a false front greeted them.
Its sign proclaimed that their journey was over. Here was
the Climax General Store. Two men were rocking on the
porch with a checkerboard resting on a nail keg between them.
One was smoking a pipe, the other had a graying beard.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Both men looked up with interest.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Suddenly, raw reality kidnapped the little knights, stealing their courage.
We've never gone to a store without mom, or Dad,
we've never purchased anything.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
We can't let mom down.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Two scared little boys slowly slid from the security of
Rocky's back his reins over the railing near the watering
trough in front of the store, and Rocky kept an eye.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
On them while he drank.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
After a few moments hesitation, Ori walked slowly toward the porch,
carrying the empty jug. Cecil followed about half a length
of his barefoot behind. The men on the porch scrutinized
the two small boys with interest as they climbed up the.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
Three wooden steps. Ori stood still, shyly studying the floorboards.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
After a few seconds, the bearded man spoke gruffly, well, boy,
what do you want?
Speaker 3 (11:41):
Speak up?
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Orie was flustered. Their lovely speech disappeared from his memory.
He simply thrust the jug forward and stammered, oooh winnaker.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
The men grinned and winked at each other.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Beard spoke speak English boy, woo Winnaker never heard of it.
Frustrated Ory repeated, bennitger Pipe joined in the fun. Benniger
ain't got nothing like that here. The men's eyes twinkled
as they poked each other in the ribs. They were
(12:17):
enjoying this teasing. These two kids broke the monotony of
the afternoon's flies, wadding and checker jumping. Beard stifled a
laugh and grabbed the jug. Let me smell her.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
Maybe I can figure out what these baby boys want.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
He pulled out the cork and sniffed the jug, exhaled
its pungent vinegar breath. He stroked his beard and mocked
confusion and replied, Nope, nothing like that here.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
The boys were almost in tears.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Cecil tried to speak too, but his six year old
voice couldn't be heard over the chuckles of the two bullys.
Pipe continued the teasing routine questioningly, but Benegar cur Vinny
Kerr Pipe sniffed the jug too and shrugged. He pretended
(13:06):
to be confused and concerned. Finally, he thrust the empty
jug to Ori and said, I think you'd better take
your jug and go on homeboy, come back when you
learned to talk good like us.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
The boys looked at each other in panic.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Their wide, teary eyes screamed what should we do? We
can't go home with an empty jug. Screech cried the
spring on the screen door. As the door flung back
against the door's siding with a bang, The storekeeper stepped
heavily onto the porch. His angry face showed that he
(13:42):
understood the situation. He grabbed the jug, gave Or an
understanding pat on the shoulder, and invited.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
The boys into the store.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
Beard and Pipe sank back into their rockers and stared
at the checkers.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Get yourselves a dipper of water while I fill up
your jug.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Boys, They drank gratefully from the water pail while mister
storekeeper lifted the keg of vinegar to the counter and
turned the tap. All three witnessed the brownish yellow vinegar
running into its new home. Ori traded the coins for
the heavy jug and gave mister storekeeper a nod of appreciation.
(14:19):
They headed toward the door without a word. Wait, boys,
you forgot something? Oh no, now what? The kind man
handed each of them a stick of candy. They found
their manners long enough to grin and say thanks sir.
They hurried out the door past the now innocent looking bullys.
(14:42):
Ori untied Rocky and was on his back in an instant.
Cees hefted up the jug once it was firmly clamped
by his brother's overalled legs. He jumped up behind Ori
and the trip to the security of home began. They
heard angry voices from the poor or as they turned
the corner at the church and faced the long road back.
(15:05):
They glanced toward the store. Beard and Pipe were walking
up the road in the opposite direction, as if nothing
had happened.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
For a long time.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
They regained their dignity by quietly sucking on candy. Finally
they began talking about anything but the nightmare at the store.
Rocky became their focus. They were happy that Dad bought
him at the sail barn last month. Between slurps, they
decided that Rocky was a great horse.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
He was big, but he was gentle. He seemed to
love them, and he works hard. He's smart. It's like
he knows he belongs to us.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Now cease to ask why did Dad name him Rocky? Well,
he used to live in Colorado and that's where the
Rocky Mountains are, explained the older and wiser Lorrie. They
could just make out the top of Dad's straw hat
bobbing along on the other side of the hill.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Their adventure was almost over.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
The two brave Knights were completing their quest and returning
in triumph.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
With no warning, Rocky halted.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
The boys lunged forward so fast that or almost dropped
the precious jug.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
They waited. They tried commanding Rocky like Dad todt him,
giddy up.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Rocky nothing. He actually backed up a few steps. They
shook the bridle. Rocky snorted, his ears twitched backwards, he
refused to budge, his nostrils flared, and he started pawing
the ground. It seemed their perfect horse suddenly had broken down.
After some confused moments, they repeated the giddy ups again,
(16:47):
followed by more backing up and ear twitching. They decided
to try getting off and leading the disobedient horse home,
but just then he started moving. But now Rocky chose
the stepping cautiously. He went down into the ditch and
plodded precariously through the weeds for about thirty yards, at
(17:09):
times squeezing close to the barbed wire fence. Then he
climbed back up to the road and continued the journey
as if nothing had happened. The boys shook their heads
in confusion, but were happy to allow Rocky to trot
down the final hill.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
And head toward the feedbunk.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Excitedly, they presented the jug of vinegar to Mock. Then
they went about caring for Rocky and doing their evening chores.
Soon Dad and Art arrived with the last load of hay.
Dad headed straight toward Ore and Cecil. What were you
two doing riding in the ditch with Rocky? He could
(17:51):
have broken a leg on that slope. I thought I
could trust you with our animals. The explanation cascaded from
both defensive mouths. Rocky stopped really fast, He snorted and
pawed the ground.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
He backed up. He took us into the ditchon.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Along the fence. He wouldn't do what we told him.
Rocky did it all by himself. Dad listened without a word,
considered the details, and stalked to the house. He hiked
back to the spot where he had witnessed his son's
afternoon struggle. The blast from his rifle killed the big
coiled rattlesnake that was still resting in the weeds close
(18:29):
to the road. After supper, two tired adventurers were cleaned
up and tucked safely into their beds. As they said
their nightly prayers, they added a special blessing, and please
bless our new horse Rocky. Thank you for sending him
from Colorado to protect us and to be our guardian
(18:49):
angel horse. On that afternoon in the nineteen twenties, my
uncle Ori stammered from nervousness and fear. Over sixty years
years later, he suffered a series of debilitating strokes which
left him partially paralyzed and forced him to struggle with
a true speech impairment. Uncle Lory's frustration to be understood
(19:13):
was real. My cousin Russell reports that one of Or's
last decipherable sentences as he was dying was It's just
like Win, Kurt. The bite of a poisonous snake can
be quick and deadly, the memory of the poison inflicted
(19:36):
by a bully can remain for a lifetime.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
And a terrific piece of production by Robbie and a
terrific piece of writing by Marilyn Jensen, a listener and
a contributor, and a beautiful story about youthful adventures, bullying
and resilience. Marilyn Jensen's father's story cecil on our American
Stories
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