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Tales
How do you handle a crazy jackass? Eddie knows. If you asked Eddie, he'd tell you pigs can fly and show you where to find real mammoth bones. Take his word for it when he tells you always to bet on the bear. These are things he learned while dreaming of becoming a cowboy in West Texas during the Depression. Through Eddie, the hero of "Tales of a Texas Boy," we find that growing up is less about maturity and more about roping your dreams. Hold on tight. It's a bumpy ride. Story Synopses:
Dad Boles and Sophie: Eddie enjoys the carnival like any boy would, but he likes to hang around old Dad Boles and Sophie the bear even more. Eddie sees how some folks can be downright mean, but he also learns to always bet on the bear.
Rattlesnakes and Jackrabbits: After growing disgusted by others' cruelty, Eddie and his Pa quit hunting rattlesnakes and jackrabbits only to find themselves rescuing a cottontail rabbit from a bullsnake. Published in StoryStation.
The Auction: Livestock auctions are an exciting experience for a youngster, especially when the livestock is unruly. Pa and Eddie find a jackass to add to their farm's stock, but a sad boy hates to see his friend sold. Eddie learns that real life doesn't always have happy endings.
Out of the Chicken Coop: Chickens are not supposed to come into the house, but one hen doesn't like following the rules. Eddie does his best to get the cheeky hen out of the house, but the hen outsmarts him and makes a mess of the kitchen.
Pa’s Story: Eddie's Pa talks about working as a veterinarian under the command of General Blackjack Pershing in World War I. Pa describes the horrors of war, but from the view of a man whose job is to take care of the horses, not the soldiers.
The Corn Patch Incident: When Ma sends Eddie and Sister to gather corn for the barn-raising barbecue, they run into trouble with a skunk. The kids try to palm off the stinking corn, but Ma doesn't let them get away with it. Published in Writers Post Journal.
Moonlight Ride: Neighbors look out for one another. When Eddie's parents think an old lady might need some help, they send Eddie on a moonlight ride to check on her. Eddie finds the old lady dead on her kitchen floor. Sad the old woman died alone, Eddie hopes he doesn't face the same fate.
The Bone Hunters: Eddie and his sister decide collecting old cow bones a good way to earn some extra cash. They meet another bone hunter, but it happens to be Ridge Whiteman, the man who discovered Clovis Man, the earliest human to inhabit North America. Ridge is happy to show the kids his discovery: mammoth bones with embedded arrowheads. Published in Long Story Short.
Frank Norfleet - Detective: Oil drilling was the new, big business of the time. As with any new enterprise, the grifters and con men moved in to take advantage of people. The con men had gypped Frank Norfleet and he had brought the grifters to justice. When another con man cheats Pa, he goes to his old friend for help because he knows Frank can track them down.
The Cattle Drive: Unusual circumstances provide Eddie an opportunity to live his dream of being a cowboy in a time when cattle drives were making way for the railroads. A man invites Eddie to help him drive a herd of bulls to the rail yards in Clovis, New Mexico. Eddie has to return home alone, but that doesn't bother him in the least, because he got to be a cowboy at least once. Published in Writers Post Journal.
One Fine Dog: Dogs are not just pets out on the farms of West Texas. They're hardworking members of the family. Sometimes, a dog can go beyond the call of duty, which is exactly what Pete does when an eagle attacks his flock. Pete rescues a lamb in a way that surprises Pa, but not the dog's owner. Published in Writers Post Journal.
Mr. Young's Arkansas Cedar Float: Despite all the work to be done on a farm, Eddie gets some time off to go fishing. Finding himself lacking a float, he borrows one from Mr. Young. He gets to keep the float, but passes it on to a man who shows him kindness, although they don't speak the same language. Published in Writers Post Journal.
Beau the Jack: Bucephalus, the mammoth jack purchased at the auction, is almost more than Pa and Eddie can handle. Beau's bad attitude almost gets himself killed. Only Pa's quick thinking saves the jackass from strangling.
No Angel: Eddie is bored and like bored boys everywhere thinks up a way to get into trouble. This time, he decides he can use the shotgun to get the blackbirds off Ma's clothesline. It doesn't work out as expected and Ma takes him to the woodshed.
The Luck Brothers: When a man dies and leaves his farm to his twin sons, the boys completely disagree on what to do with it. One of them wants to sell, but the other wants to keep farming. When a girl gets involved, the young men start to get physical. Pa has to intervene and Eddie sees another side of Pa--a man who can take care of business.
Ma's Story: Ma tells her own story of losing a child and how it affected her ability to give her other children the love and attention they deserve.
Cage McNatt's Prize Sow: Cage McNatt is proud of his prize pig and is none too happy when the Luck Brothers enter their own sow in the competition at the County Fair. He tries to pignap the Luck's sow, but bungles the job when Sophie, Dad Boles's bear, tries to intervene in the theft. The sow ends up on the Ferris wheel, which leads Dad to the conclusion that he's finally seen a pig fly.
Crossin' the Creek: When it does rain in West Texas, it's usually a gully-washer. Eddie and his sister ride to school on horseback, but a rain-swollen creek gets in the way. They have to get to school, but Peaches the pony is not too eager to cross the creek.
The Thief: Eddie and Pa go to Amarillo to buy supplies. On the way home, they camp out in a glade occupied by refugees from the dust storms of Oklahoma. The poverty of the people touches Pa's heart, even when one of them tries to steal from him.
Chance Encounter: When Eddie's football team goes to the state championships, they're excited but not too optimistic about their chances. Along the way, the team stops for lunch and has a chance encounter with a famous movie star, none other than Mae West.