All Aboard! Romance on Route 66

by Waggoner, Robert C.

  “I hope so tall man, because one of these days you will not be able to make the bathroom and I will not clean your mess up!”

  Slim laughed and his eyes lit up knowing he passed this one by, but not without giving a little to the cause. “Come on then, I’m hungry after so many trips to the head. I promise to only have a regular breakfast this morning.”

  “Let’s go. I will pack our things after breakfast,” as they walked out the door only to meet Bill looking like death warmed over.

  He said, “I’m sorry for the way I acted last night and hope you will accept my apology.”

  Slim replied, “No harm done and today is a new day for all of us. Come with us and have some breakfast if your stomach can take the grease.” With the word grease and food, Bill turned around and ran to his room holding his mouth. Slim and Lilly both laughed and made their way to the same restaurant as last night.

  They sat down without a mishap by Slim as he adjusted his tall body and fitted his legs around the table legs and out the other side. Once settled in Lilly navigated his legs and sat down to enjoy an early morning breakfast. Walking over she noticed a fresh breeze blowing and it was rather cool for a Kansas wind on an August day. Lots of traffic as farmers rose early to catch the proverbial worm. Lilly noticed people waving and tooting their horns at each other as another day in the life of a sod buster began to unfold. Lilly felt warm and comfortable with this small town and hoped she and Slim could find a nice friendly town similar to this one to live in. She began to think of a bookstore where she could begin her writing career without the hassle of customers coming and going so much. A place to hide away and concentrate on her new career; and home grown small town stories with real life characters is what she had in mind.

  Slim was looking at the menu hard sipping on his coffee when the waitress came to the table to take their orders. Slim told her he would have a small breakfast steak and eggs over easy with dry toast. Lilly almost dropped her menu when she heard him order. Quickly she regained her composure and ordered the same thing as he did. The waitress asked them what they would like to drink and both ordered a tall glass of milk. The heavy duty waitress waddled away and Slim sat there smiling at Lilly. She was speechless and then in came Bill sneaking in looking like a small boy who just fell into a mud puddle with his school clothes on and had to tell his mother why his clothes were full of dirt and water. Slim waved at him and asked him to join them for breakfast. Bill meekly sat down like his chair was made of glass and said, “I only want coffee and toast. I’m afraid to eat anything else and God knows how I will ride the bus today without getting sick.”

  Lilly looked at him with pity and said, “Maybe some tomato juice along with your toast will stay down.”

  “Good idea and once again please forgive an old know it all of the way I acted last night.”

  “Forget it Bill,” said Slim, “We all have moments we would like to forget. I remember one time I lost my temper at a man who was only trying to help me put on snow chains in the Sierra Mountains. He had them on backwards and I told him how stupid he was and when I said it, I knew I should have eaten my words. Now I think first before I speak and as hard as it is sometimes, I hold to that rule.”

  Breakfast came and Lilly’s mouth fell open like a newborn chick in a nest with a mother holding a fat night crawler in her beak. The breakfast steak was bigger than her head and piled high with hash browns two inches thick. Resting on top was three giant double yoke eggs waiting for Slim to mix with the spuds. Slim rubbed his hands together and started mixing eggs and next pouring ketchup over the top. Lilly looked her plate with a small steak and only a handful of hash browns; Lilly decided to keep her mouth shut and let him enjoy his eating passion. The steak was delicious and Lilly enjoyed the warm atmosphere and the smells of breakfast permeating the air. I don’t know what it is, she thought, that coffee and bacon cooking are one the nicest smells to wake up to on any morning. Lilly looked around and saw most of the other passengers enjoying their breakfast. Thinking back on the trip, every day was filled with some kind of event whether good or bad, it always never failed to pique her interest. I wonder what today will bring, she mused to herself.

  Slim finished up and sat back gulping down his milk. Then he picked up his coffee and looked with loving eyes at Lilly. Lilly blushed a little knowing he was thinking about last night in the shower. They were starting to get the hang of making love and last night were more than an act, it was love. Slim broke her thoughts and said, “Today we head up through Missouri and you will love the scenery. I know a little spot for lunch that has outside tables and in the shade. It’s a lovely little town and there are some shops to browse through. We are not in a hurry and now that we are past the desert, the landscape changes into rolling hills and a high plateau with small farms along the way. Quite nice; I think you will like it.”

  Lilly was all ears and pictured some nice new country to look at. Matter of fact she was a little tired of the drab desert country, but enjoyed the wide open spaces. She said, “I liked the open country, but I wouldn’t want to live there. I like trees and a small farm would be nice to live on. What do you think Slim?”

  “Now you’re talking my language Lilly. I want to take you through Tennessee where I think you will fall in love with the area. I must go now and ready the bags for takeoff.” He managed to get up without spilling anything and he smiled down at her from a long ways away. He left her some money to pay the bill and, of course, rang the bells above the door leaving with his head.

  Bill, after Slim had left saying, “Thanks for not chastising me for acting like a common drunk. I rarely make a fool of myself, but stress over my marriage is driving me crazy.”

  Lilly said, “Bill, I think you still love your wife. If that is true, then why not invite her to meet you in Chicago and both of you tour around in your new car. Maybe you can bring back what you once had. It would seem to me, although I have no experience, mind you, that it is too easy to run away and not face the music of trying to make it work. Divorce is not a pleasant thing and if there is a chance, maybe you should give it one more try. Be frank with her and tell her what you think and listen to her too. Maybe something is bothering her that you don’t know about and that is why she drinks so much.”

  “Lilly, you are right. I will call her right now and see what happens. Excuse me please while I go find a phone.” Lilly smiled to herself and couldn’t wait to hear what he had to say later on. Well, old girl, time to see what the tall man is doing and get ready for another day’s adventure.

  Hugh and wife were leaving at the same time so Lilly walked with them back to the motel. Small talk about the weather and the new land they would see today had them in high spirits. Hugh said, “You know Lilly, ever since I was a kid sweeping my father’s store, I wanted to travel and see America. I used to watch in the summer time when cars parked outside on the street looking at their license plates. One time I saw a plate that said New York and from what I knew of New York City that it was very big. I waited around to see who got into the car as I believed it would be a big man with his rich wife. I was sorely disappointed when a small man and his wife with two kids got in a drove off. My heart sunk thinking about New York. To this day, I have no desire to see the Big Apple. I now want to see Chicago and the Sears and Roebuck building.”

  By now they were at the motel and Lilly saying to Hugh, “If you have time I would like to hear more of your stories when you were growing up. I love to hear about what the kids were thinking back then. Times were hard with the war and all.”

  Hugh said, “Sure can do. We would love to sit with you and talk about our lives. That is what makes America great: people with different pasts and from different countries who came here to make a new life like my grandparents, so we will see you later on the bus.”

  After taking care of their bags, Lilly waited by the bus for all to board. The day was warm, but not hot. The wind from the north brought with it the fresh smells of life holding fast
to the land ready to soak up the sun. From somewhere she heard the sounds of pigs probably going to market somewhere. She noticed most of the trucks were gone headed west and a trickle of truck traffic was headed east. Lilly noticed a truck full of watermelons and she thought that would make a nice dessert in the afternoon. A cold watermelon is just the ticket, she thought for lunch in the shade today where Slim had said they would stop for lunch.

  Lilly decided to sit downstairs with Rick and Diane. Diane still had a little morning sickness, but was in good spirits. Rick always had a smile on his face and when he looked at Diane, love oozed out of his eyes like tears from onions being diced. Lilly noticed he had a habit of licking his lips. She wondered if he always had the affliction or just since he met Diane. Lilly smiled inwardly and watched the road and the pretty scenery. She noticed the going was a little slow as they were going slightly uphill. The landscape changed quickly from grasslands to rolling hills brown with the drought of summer. Passing creeks broke the color with rows of meandering popular trees and wild flowers resting at their feet. Beautiful she thought. She liked the slow going as Slim was talking to himself as they were following a line of trucks going slow up to the plateau. She said to Slim, “Relax and enjoy the ride. What’s the hurry? We have our whole lives ahead of us and no one here is in a hurry to get to Chicago. Find a nice spot to pull over and let’s take a rest alongside a creek or river for awhile. All of us would enjoy some green for a change after the long ride across no man’s land.”

  That brought a chuckle from Slim and he said, “Good idea and I know just the spot to take a break in next to the Osage River.”

  Thirty minutes later Slim pulled the bus over on a large pull out next to the river. A few picnic tables sat under a big granddaddy white oak tree next to the river. A few cars sat around and most of the people were next to the river soaking their feet. Some of the kids were swimming and to Lilly it looked inviting and she wished she could swim with them. Then it dawned on her she couldn’t swim! How stupid of me she thought. I never learned how to swim. Climbing down following Rick and Diane Lilly noticed some squirrels scampering about the tables and running up and down the oak tree. Slim turned off the bus and a silence descended on the pleasant area. Kid sounds and the other passengers were voices she recognized, but a screeching sound came from high above her. She strained her eyes to the washed out blue of the sky and saw an eagle circling above the river. Immediately she thought of Pokey and the old Indian. About a hundred yard downstream an old snag rose like a beacon for travelers and a haven for woodpeckers stood with its bare arms outstretched waiting for birds of prey to take a rest. Lilly was shading her eyes looking up when Slim came to her side and asked what she was looking at. She said, “Look Slim an eagle is coming down to that old tree and I wonder if it is what that old Indian said about an eagle looking out for us?”

  Slim said rather solemnly, “Eagles for the Indians were powerful spirits and I for one would never discount what an old Indian said.” The eagle landed on the outstretched limb and stared at them. It appeared the eagle was looking directly at Lilly and Slim. Maybe the eagle was trying to tell them something. Suddenly the eagle took off and headed north and both of them watched it till only a speck in the sky was left. They both turned and walked to the shade of the big oak tree where most of the passengers were sitting or walking around. Lilly sat down with the girls and Carol was talking to them quietly. Lilly got in on the last of the conversation and heard Carol saying how much Carl had changed in the last day or two. Sue asked Carol, “What do you think made him change?

  “I’m not sure, but it’s been many years since we made love and last night was wonderful.” All giggled including Frieda and Lilly gave her a hug.

  “Carol,” Lilly whispered, “do you think it will continue to be like a new life for you and Carl?”

  “Boy I hope so. He said we would go on to New York and do the town! Can you imagine that? He told me we would fly to New York and have a second honeymoon. I’m so excited and when he told me I almost wet my pants!” That last comment brought on a round of laughter making the men who were standing around smoking, talking men talk, turn their heads and look at them wondering what was so funny. Slim noticed no traffic was coming down the hill. Only a few cars had passed by going north, but nothing headed south and west. Curious he thought. He called for all aboard as his stomach was growling and the thought of a lunch under a big oak tree and a homemade berry shake perked his walk back to the bus. Starting the bus he waited and then did a head count before leaving. Pulling out onto the highway there was still no traffic against him. Something must be wrong, he thought. Maybe an accident or maybe a car hit a deer or cow. He couldn’t say what, but he knew something wasn’t right. A cold shiver ran down his spine knowing somewhere up ahead something was blocking traffic. It was summer and people were still on school vacation like the ones back next to the river. Odd that not even a truck came down the road. Slim slowed down and on each stretch of the road, sped up a little. Lilly was upstairs and Rick and Diane were taking a nap. A real sense of foreboding gripped his mind and then he knew an accident could only be the reason for no traffic. Slim knew this road like the back of his hand. About a mile up the road a sharp turn or two before the road broke out into a straight stretch was a place where more than one accident had occurred. Usually it was a car trying to pass a slow truck and met an oncoming vehicle going too fast after the long straight before the uphill curves. Slim hunched over the wheel and then he saw at the end of the long straight, a backup of cars and trucks stopped in the road. He slowed down and made ready to stop behind the same truck he had been following before. Slim picked up the mike and said, “Ladies and gentlemen we have an accident ahead of us blocking the road. Please stay in the bus and I will go see what is the problem up ahead; for your safety, stay on the bus until I return.”

  Slim walked up the middle of the road and coming down was the truck driver ahead of him. The trucker shook his head and when they met up, he said, “You don’t want to go up there. It’s a mess and I’m sure some folks are dead. It looks like a car with a bunch of kids going too fast down the hill ran head on into a truck carrying a load of watermelons. To make matters worse, behind the kid’s car was another bunch of kids and they ran into the back of the front car. An ambulance is there now along with police from Lebanon. A wrecker has been called from Springfield and I’m afraid we will be here for a couple of hours or more.” He shook his head and said, “Why kids have to show off and then look what happens. I talked to a guy who was in front and he said the first kid’s car all were dead and the one in back he couldn’t tell, but the screams and cries were heard all over the place.”

  Slim thanked him and returned to the bus. No way did he want the passengers to see this scene and he looked for a place to turn the bus around. He walked down the road and a long driveway going to someone’s farm looked like he could turn around there. He went back to the bus and told Rick to ask the cars behind to move so he could back up and turn around. Rick scampered out the door and in no time Slim had the bus turned around and headed back where they came from. He knew it would be hours before the road was cleared and now he began to think what they would do now? He picked up the mike and spoke to the passengers who were by now in heated discussions on what the problem was. Bill told them of his vast experience, [as a car salesman?] that it was a serious accident and the road was blocked. Most agreed without his input. Al was rolling his eyes and Sue was snickering to Carol. Carl was relaxing and not saying a word. Quite the contrary to his usual know it all mouth. Jasper noticed and nudged Frieda who gave a slight nod of the head to him. The Slick’s were talking to each other and so quietly nothing could be heard. Both had the feeling something awful had happened and were showing concern for the victims, if there were victims. Just then

  Slim’s voice came over the speakers telling them indeed an accident had occurred and the road was blocked and would be blocked for some time to come. He went on to say he
would try and find a road around the blockage and just then he stopped talking. Slim saw a policeman and a car sitting in the middle of the road stopping uphill traffic. He stopped the bus and got out to talk to the policeman. Lilly had by now came down to the seats by the door and waited and watched while she saw Slim’s arms waving and pointing east and then to the north. Slim shook the policeman’s hand and hurried back to the bus. For once he made it to his seat without mishap and picked up his mike and spoke again to the passengers. “Folks we will follow a detour around the accident and the policeman said there was a nice restaurant, but small in the National Forest about twenty miles from here. He said it was a lovely sight and a nice scenic drive for about two hours through the forest and hills.”

  Clapping could be heard upstairs and Lilly got excited about the nice detour and mostly forgot about the terrible accident behind them. Slim smiled and thanked the eagle for saving them the visual experience of a terrible scene that would, no doubt, put a damper on the happiness of his passengers.

  The road was paved, but narrow and the going was slow but full of things to see. An occasional farm tucked into a hillside; rolling hills with animals grazing in the hot summer sun; small pockets of oak trees shimmered in the heat with the reflection of the sun off the white bark; and in the distance the heavy forest of mixed specie loomed on the horizon as they approached the National Forest.

  Lilly was sitting on the edge of her seat taking in the landscape as each mile twisted and turned creating a new vista. Her eyes drank in the sight that few people even knew existed. She knew Missouri was the jumping off point for settlers headed west to gobble up sections of land that couldn’t compare to what she saw through the large glass windows of the bus. How could, she thought, they leave such a beautiful land for the treeless plains hundreds of miles until you hit the Rocky Mountains or south to the Sierra Mountains? I guess something free is worth having, but it would not have been for me.