by Mel Hindberg
Chapter 1
“Luke, wake up, there’s hardly any breakfast left!” I woke up to my mother yelling from down in the kitchen, and looked at the clock. Its 6:30, I slept in! As I jolted out of bed I heard my father, talking about how the depression is really affecting the business down at the store, and my little sister Jane complaining about how she had a headache. I buttoned my stained light blue shirt that was covered in a few grass stains from working. While I was fixing my belt in to my belt-loops of my pants, I was thinking on how nice it would be to go to college.
“Luke! Get down here right now! Your oatmeal is getting cold!” shouted my father in his gravelly voice, getting ready to open the store.
“On my way!” bolting down the stairs. Once I got to the table there were only a few spoonfuls of oatmeal left.
“That’s what you get for sleepin’, in ha, ha!” said Jed while he was going upstairs. I ignored what he said to me a scooped up whatever was left of the ice cold oatmeal and shoveled it into my mouth. It tasted awful! But my mother would be terrified if I were to mention something like that to her, I kept my mouth shut trying to keep it in my mouth. It tasted like someone were to mix the taste of a skunk with everything in the oatmeal.
Everyone had left the house by the time I finished my oatmeal. Well other than my mother and I because of work, school, or they just wanted to get away. I bet that Eric had gone to the store with daddy, Janice probably went out to play outside with Mary, and I don’t even want to know where Jed and Phil went to.
“Mama, do you think it would be a good idea for me to go to college?” I asked my mother.
“Well Luke I don’t really know if we can afford to send you to college, I mean the only colleges that I know of in Montana are clearly on the other side of the state. I’m sorry.” She snapped back at me, sounding annoyed.
“Yeah but mama I can go over to North Dakota it isn’t that far away, we live so close to North Dakota. We live outside of Glasgow, Montana we aren’t that far away from North Dakota.”
“Luke! Get away from me!!And go to the store to help your father, and stop gettin’ your hopes up about going to college it isn’t going to happen! Now leave!”
Chapter 2
While walking to the store to help my dad on the dusty dirt road that branches from the house, to the neighbors, to the store, something startled me “Howdy stranger!” echoed from behind me, I whipped around to see who it was.
“George! Long times no see, how’ve you been!” I yelled back to him.
“Oh, bout the same. How’s my favorite Miller child, Luke doing?”
“Oh same old stuff you know, working at the store, helping daddy, working on my school work so I can go to college.”
“You want to go to college? I didn’t know that one about the boy who did want to go to school in 3rd grade because it was ‘A waste of time ha, wow!”
“Yeah but I’ve grown out of that.”
“Ok...well you better be on your way don’t want you to get into trouble or anything. Was nice to talk to you.”
After George left I realized the fact that I never wanted to go to school before, and that I was going to be later for work than I would have been. With that thought in mind I started running all I was worth. Only a couple hundred yards from the store I could tell that daddy was going to be mad.
Walking through the door of the store I felt the air get tense, and there he was, my dad was staring me down. His deep blue eyes turned a fiery red. The happy go-lucky face that I grew up with turned into an “I’m going to kill you” face. My legs started to shake furiously. In my squeaky voice, “I, I met up with George and, umm well, we sort of talked for a little bit. Please don’t be mad daddy.” I said quietly. His blinked his eyes nodded and turned around to stock the shelves with cans of corn, and beans.
In his deep southern voice he whipped at me, “Get to work! Now, and I don’t want to hear a word out of you unless a customer walks in!” I started going to work stocking shelves, taking inventory. During the whole process I was thinking why did I talk to George? Why didn’t I just keep walking and get to work on time so I wouldn’t get in trouble? I know better to have a social life before work. We need all the extra help we can get at the store but we can’t afford to pay help.
The bell to the store chimed, and Scotty, one of my old friends from school poked his head in the door. In his baritone voice he asked me “Where’s the gas boy when I need him?”
“Right on it Scotty, just let me finish this row of corn.” I said back to him. Walking out the door I saw Scotty fidgeting waiting for me to get to the gas pump, looking impatient he was pointing at the pump. “Scotty, hold your horse, I can only walk so fast.” I told him. Once I got to the pump I told him, “you know, you can pump your own gas you’re family to us and I know you know how to do it.”
“Luke, I made you come out here because I need to tell you something, something really important, come closer.” He told me. “So, I know how you want to go to college but, I have an offering for you”
Yes, I’m listening.” I told him.
“Ok so, you know how we have a family ranch away from town?” he began, “Our ranch hand got a job over in Idaho and we need someone to help with the cattle, and such.”
“So, if I’m getting what you are trying to say is that you want me to work on your ranch?” I asked him.
“Yes that is exactly what I’m trying to say. If you come work on our ranch we’ll give you room and board, food and everything else you need you just sort of need the approval from your parents.” He told me sounding excitingly.
“Well,” I began, “I will have to see if my parents would let me, but I don’t know if I can. You know how my father’s health is and they need all the help they can get at the store, even though I have three other brothers and two sisters I’m not sure if I can leave them hanging like that.”
“Talk it out with your parents, and see if you can. You were my first choice because I know how hard you work and I know I can depend on you.” He said while getting his wallet from his truck pulling out $5.00 for me as I was finishing pumping gas into his beat up black truck. “See you later Luke, talk it out with your parents. And thanks for the gas.”
“See you Scotty, I will, and you’re welcome.” I told him while he was starting up his truck and driving away.
On my way into the door of the store my father asked me, “Son, why did it take you so long to fill up the gas in his truck?”
“Oh, he hasn’t talked to me in a while and so was wondering how the family was doing and how the business was doing.”I told him, I didn’t want to mention the job offering to him yet, I’m just too afraid to tell him. What if he would let me or if I tell him about it will it dig me an even deeper hole than the one I’m already in with him?
Chapter 3
Mama was cooking chicken and dumplings for dinner when I walked in the door. The sweet aroma of freshly cooked chicken swarmed from the kitchen to the front door across the house. My jaw dropped from the sight of Janice carrying the chicken to the dining table and setting it down in the center of the table. “Supper’s ready!!” Mama yelled. Everyone in the house bolted to the bathroom and the kitchen to wash up. Daddy sat at the head of the table like usual I sat next to him and Mama sat across from me. Janice and Mary sat side by side; Jed and Tom were fighting to sit beside me, before we said grace. “Luke will you say grace?” she asked.
Dear lord, thank you for the blessing of this amazing dinner.” I began, “Please bless the United States of America to rid of this depression, and for daddy’s health to get better. Amen.”
“Thanks Luke, let’s eat!” daddy shouted. Everyone was asking Mama for the platter of chicken, daddy was trying to get everyone
to quiet down while passing a bowl of peas to me. Mary and Janice were fighting over the last drumstick of the chicken, their favorite piece.
“Mama, daddy,” sudden silence at the table, “can I talk to the both of you after dinner?” I asked quietly.
“Sure Luke as soon as everyone’s done with dinner we can talk.” Mama said, looking puzzled. Janice coughed, trying to break the silence. Mama and daddy were looking funny because I never ask them questions while we’re eating dinner. The sound of silverware clashing with plates and bowls echoed throughout the house. The family finished dinner right around the same time.
Following mama and daddy to their room beside the bottom of the stairs were Janice, Tom, Mary, Jed, and I. “Jed, Mary, Tom, and Janice go do something else I have to talk to mama and daddy in private.” I shouted, and locked my parent’s door. Walking into the room mama was sitting on the bed and daddy was standing next to her. Mama gestured me to sit on the bed next to her and took the hint.
“Luke what’s wrong,” asked mama, “you don’t usually want to talk to us in private unless something’s really troubling you?”
“Mama, daddy, you remember Scotty right?” they both nodded, “well, um his family offered me a job, with room and board. I don’t know how much pay it is, but he offered me it when I was pumping his gas earlier today, and said to let him know if I can do it as soon as possible. They really need the help because their old ranch hand got a job working on the rail road. So um can I possibly go and work at their ranch? ” I asked confidently.
“Well Luke the thing is is that if you work there then that means we’ll have to find someone else to work at the store.” Daddy said.
Chapter 4
“Daddy Jed isn’t doing anything around here he been wandering around town trying to find a job to keep him busy, so you hire him down at the store. He has better skills in math than me and you know it. He also needs the job experience to get him further in life. He’s only a year younger than me and you made me work when I was 15 so it’ll be good for him, I was Scotty’s first choice of all of us and his family really wants me to work at their ranch. I can bring Clay with me; I figure I can bring him to help him with the cattle.”
Clay is my Blue Heeler that I’ve had for 3 years now; he has been my best friend from day one. “Luke, I know that you can do it I just don’t want you to leave the store to help out there.” Daddy said.
“Ok daddy at the store I haven’t been making much money but at the ranch, I bet I could be making at least 15 cents an hour, at the store I could never be able to do that.”
“Well, Wade,” mama started talking to daddy, “he does have a point there, and if he wants to go to college he is going to have to pay for it. It’ll be good for him to have this experience and get the money. He would never be able to do this if he kept working at the store or any other place in this town; this is the chance of a lifetime. What do you think Wade?’’ Daddy nodded to her in approval to what she was saying.
“Ok,” you could hear in his voice he was trying his best not to say no, “ok Luke you can go.” He turned away facing the mirror, he had a proud look on his face, with a tear running down the side of his cheek. I have never seen my dad act like this before. He was always the tough guy I’ve only seen him cry once, that was when grandpa died. He was tearing himself apart because he didn’t get say ‘goodbye, I love you’ before he did die.
“Son, I think it’s time for you to leave, your father needs sometime to himself.” Mama whispered to me. Walking out of their bedroom door I felt so selfish for not going to be able to be there for my dad when he needs me the most at the store, I knew it wasn’t right. But then again, this is the chance of a lifetime and I can’t mess that up, I can be making money to pay for my education. I can also put some money off for the family.
Right before opening the door I saw my dad with a few tears running down his cheeks looking proud but upset. Closing the door behind me Jed and Tom were going up the stairs, looking at me, and shaking their heads. I ran outside to get away from the pain of making daddy cry. I just keep asking myself ‘what should I do now?’ I have to keep my mind off of daddy crying.
Scotty pulled up the driveway in his beat up pick up, when I was pacing back and forth on the ground. “So,” he yelled, “what did they say, can you do it?”His voice echoed outside.
“They said yes, I can do it.” I said in a stern voice.
“Ok so you’ll start immediately starting tomorrow, so pack up your bags tonight and get ready to be picked up at six o’clock sharp. You understand? Do you have any questions?” he said to me enthusiastically.
“Yes I understand, I just have one question. Can I bring Clay with me? I’m his best friend and master I don’t know what he’ll do if I’m not around, I don’t really want to leave him here.”
“Yeah you can bring him, and get some rest because I’m gonna be here at six o’clock and I’m only gonna wait for five minutes so you better be out the door by then. See you in the morning, good night.”
“Ok, night.” I told him, while he was starting to start his rust bucket of a truck and getting ready for him to drive off. I went straight to my room after that, flying up the stairs to get to my room as fast as I can. I opened my bedroom door went to my dresser and started emptying all the drawers. I took my suit case from under my bed and started packing, and thinking about what it was going to be like at the house while I was gone.
So many scenarios were going through my head at the same time. The thought of daddy’s health taking a turn for the for the worse kept popping up in the back of my mind it was a terrifying thought of making the casket for him, putting him under the ground we walk on. I was also thinking of what would the family do if I died while I was at the ranch? How would they handle it? I have to get these thoughts out of my head but I can’t help but think of ‘em.
It was getting dark and I knew that I would have to get to bed if I’m going to be ready to head off to the ranch. Putting on my night clothes I figured I would just have to deal with letting those thoughts run through my head during the night. I haven’t told and of my siblings or my parents that I’m going to be leaving the house yet. I want to let them know but, then I don’t because I don’t want to see their reactions, and make me feel guilty. I put my suit case under my bed so my brothers wouldn’t suspect anything.
Lying down in bed Clay came in and jumped up on my bed wanting me to pet him. He knew something was bugging me I could tell by the look in his eyes. It was time to get to sleep. At 5:30 I jumped up thinking that I missed Scotty, and lost my job. I put my regular pair of blue jeans and a button up shirt like usual, put my night clothes off to the side, and looked around. All my brothers were asleep; this was my time to grab everything that I wanted and leave. I took my suitcase from beneath my bed; put my night clothes in, my bible, and a picture of the family.
I closed the suitcase as gingerly as I could, called Clay over to me, picked up the suitcase and walked down the stairs as slowly as I could. Peeking my head down the stairs I could tell that I was the only one awake. I walked into the kitchen and took an egg out of the ice box, and cooked myself a scrambled egg for breakfast. Eating my scrambled egg I knew that something bad was going to happen sometime soon to the family, I don’t know whether it was going to be good or bad but I knew something was going to happen. I put my dirty dishes in the sink, picked up my bag, and walked out the door with Clay.
Chapter 5
I put my bags down on our porch and sat down in one of the rocking chairs beside the door. It didn’t hit me that I would not be coming back to the house until I looked at my watch, 15 more minutes to go and I’ll be off our property for a while. Last night was the first time I’ve seen both mama and daddy together in there room having a painful conversation with them. Hopefully this will be the last time that I see daddy in this much pain. Clay looked at me while I was in deep thought, looking puzzled. “I’ll be alright Clay, just thinking ‘bout anything and everyth
ing.”
With the thought of working everyday and getting paid for it is just amazing during the depression, there are thousands out of work across the country and I have gotten the chance of a lifetime. The sound of Scotty’s old truck snapped me back to reality, getting out of the rocking chair, and grabbing my bags I looked through the door of the house one last time, and called Clay to load up. “So, you ready to get to work or what?” Scotty questioned me.
“Of course, and are you ready for me to work with you?” I hollered back.
“Oh yeah, lets load you up and get out of here. C’mon Clay lets load you up in the back, and Luke you can put your bags in back too.”
We loaded everything up and hopped in the cab; I looked at the house one more time and smiled. “Dear lord, please protect this house and everything living in it, thank you.” I said under my breath, taking off. A few miles away from the house I knew that mama was cooking her rancid oatmeal for breakfast, and daddy would be heading off to the store. All the children would be eating and begging mama to make something else for breakfast, at least something better tasting than oatmeal.
I wonder if mama and daddy are gonna be proud of me when I give them a little money every week to help get food stuff. Or what if they are going to be mad at me because I didn’t keep for my education. Either way I’m going to give them a little money each week no matter what they say, they need it and they know it. Even if they do own a store they need the money to buy the merchandise to stock up the store and they need some of it for themselves.
Scotty had to stop at the store to gas up his truck and get 5lbs. of sugar, and some coffee for the house. “Do you need anything Luke, I’m going in?”
