As Cavin, Don and Rebecca and I drove on down to Ashland, I remembered before we left on the trip that I had seen another one of those cool interior trucks, with Joan. The fake barbed wire at the bottom, brown leather seats, and the saddle bag backseat pouches. It's great. We talked to the funny guys, as the car easily sped over the dirt roads, and then rode into Ashland. I pointed out to Rebecca places where we had memories, playing with a girl who later literally dragged me in the police station to talk to her father, even though my parents had told me not to go. When I said this to her and resisted and held onto posts to get away, she said. "Oh well I lie to m' folks all 'he time!" She was a real country girl. I also remembered a parade and carnival that happened in Lineville, and I pretended to have a country accent to blend in with the crowd, and not be asked where I was from. And it worked pretty well. I can fake a country accent pretty good, don't cha know. I mean I reckon I am from the south, perhaps. But anyway I saw the High Points building, a brick building with a sign and windows showing the rooms. We actually parked a little ways away, at the only available parking spot, in front on the same building of a dojo center. We walked as we talked a little. Then we entered.
I saw a few tables in front, a cart with books on it, and a counter area enclosed into a kitchen, with a counter going both ways. In a hallway was some tables with old people there. I was amazed at how small the place was, and with only one cart of books, I was flabbergasted they dare call themselves a bookstore. It was cool to see how many people Don knew, he is known everywhere. "Hey Rick how's the family been going?" Shook hands and converses. "Hello Marie, is your cold getting better?" Kisses and converses. He really was a people person. But I was sad the bookstore was so little. I went to the left and saw a room with booths and tables, and a small shelf by the window with a dictionary and stuff like that. I then turned slightly around as Rebecca said there was much, much more. Whoa! I saw large tall shelves absolutely filled with books, no blank spots at all. There were even boxes holding more. There was a table in the front of the room, with a couch close by. Everything was divided into sections, for instance, Alabama history, nonfiction, history of a general sort, classics, and children things in the back. I looked on with a fixed interest. The Classics was the first place I looked, of course.
And I was surprised to find that I only knew a couple, out of the many that there was in the back.
A girl with brown hair and glasses came in with a hard back book and sat down on the purple sofa. She had a purse with her. I said hello to her. I asked where any other classics were, and that they had a thriving business it seemed. She informed me she didn't work there, and I felt ashamed, and explained why I thought she WAS an employee. As I looked in the back at the Children's, Rebecca came in and said that we had to order. I went back out at the counter and a man with glasses and suspenders gave us orders. I got a cup of chili, Rebecca grilled cheese, Don and Cavin split a grilled cheese and each got bowls of chili. Then I went back as we waited. There were two people, who owned the place, dressed in rich elaborate clothes, like silver beads and grey cotton. Not to mention rings. Dad had told me on the ride over that they were very wealthy, and that they took a lot vacations and breaks from the business, and collected books. That guy in suspenders, he owned the place, Johnny was his name. And books and the restaurant, is his game. It rhymed! I do that all the time, any time. Oh it's fine. Did you know the French fought the German at the battle of the Rhine? Man, this blog is surely, surely mine.
Anyway, I went back in the book part after they ordered, and saw that the girl I had talked to was reading The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes, a book that I had gotten at Mrs. Nelson's antique shop. I said I had read it as I scanned with Rebecca the history section. There was one about Charles Lindbergh, and some about WWII and the Civil War books, old ones that were large and dusty. I talked to the girl a little, and when I said that I had read a few, she said that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had stopped making the SH books, and people wanted to do it back so they asked him to write some more. I had asked her before if Dr. Watson was the narrator of that one (he's the one for every other one) and she said, "Well, in the other book he kills him off..." I stood thunderstruck. What I thought she had said was that Watson had killed Holmes, and I was so mad she had told me. I then found out she was talking about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, because she said, "well anyway he killed him off, but then people wanted him to continue the series." After that I connected the dots. As I continued to look and find stuff, I found the Epic of Gilgamesh, a Babylon story of Noah's Ark and a few others. It's cool to know other cultures acknowledge a grand flood, and that it's not just story, it's fact.
Then I saw a book I didn't know anything about, as Rebecca came back and forth and I talked to her and the girl. At this point I knew her to be Catherine. That book, was To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. I had seen and heard of the book before, just didn't know it's plot. She said she read it around my age and that it was a great book, just had some inappropriate parts. It was about a young girl in an Alabama town, and her father is a lawyer for an African- American who is accused of... doing something I'm not gonna say. I decided to try those two out, but there was one problem. Together the books were 8 dollars. And I only had in dollar bills in my wallet 4 dollars, with two twenties. But I wanted those twenties to remain twenties, not to ruin them as I got them for my birthday in August, and that I had no room in my wallet for that much money, if you understand what I'm trying to say. So, as To Kill was only 5 dollars, and Gilgamesh another 3, I chose To Kill. And it was a good choice, as Catherine said that you read Gilgamesh in school. Rebecca said the food was there, and I came over. Cavin decided that we pay for the book after we ate, and so we ate a good chili and grilled cheese. Well, I don't really know if the grilled cheese was good as I didn't try it, but the chili sure was. A little sweet though.
After the meal (which we talked and shared stories over), Cavin volunteered to pay for the book, on top of the meal. I said no, it was my book, my money, I could pay for it, as long as he payed for one dollar.(I had four dollars and it was five). When I was getting the last few bits of my chili eaten Cavin took the book, illusive as he is, and went to the counter. NO! I screamed inside my head, as I got up, took my jacket and went up with the money. I pleaded with him that I would pay for the four dollars, him the one dollars. "Now, listen hear," he said. "There's something about money your father told me, he said..." I interrupted. I said that I WAS GOING TO PAY FOR IT and put the money down and left it right there. It was a smart move, the guy took the money at the moment, and as I sat back down I watched my opponent, waiting for his next move. And he got the book and gave it to me, and we all went out. I had won, and I thanked him for paying for the one dollar. But what was also on my mind was, what had my father told him? When we were back at the dealership, and Dad returned outside with the Sheriff, Irving, and a few other people, looking at a car, I put up the strength to ask him. But I ended up not doing so, he was busy.
In the meantime though, I showed Rebecca the changes made since her last arrival, and took delight in rubbing in I had been so many other times. I showed her the upper loft over the repair shop, and she liked that a lot. The customer waiting room, the cabinet room, and some restrooms I also showed off. We looked over the area in the loft. And made noises over Pete, Jeff Harrison, and others. So much fun. Later in the front with all the salespeople, I asked around who had read the book as Rebecca showed Jerry Thurman a Natural Disasters book. I love showing him nonfiction books. He enjoys looking at them a lot. Joan and Jason continued to look for the book, and found online that the store we got it at, My Story House Toys, was going out of business. They couldn't get a bird from there. But they did get some on eBay. It was funny to watch Joan saying, "I want that one, I want that one!" a million times over again Hilarious. As I went around asking who had read the book, Tim said he read it when he was a kid, and when I asked him the setting, plot, characters, everything, he said... "I'm not telling you anything about it. Read the book."
We were talking at about two when Dad said it was time to leave. What? I said in my head! It was only 2 o'clock! But Dad explained to me that by the time we got home it would be three to three thirty, and that Dean had to go to a boat show. Also, we were gonna see Ma Poc and Pop at dinner, and we had to get ready. It was a sad farewell, but not like last time's where I cried aloud. I knew I would have fun, that I would see the Dealership again, and that the second leg would be probably even better than the first. I said goodbye to the dealership employees, that I would see them soon and to keep in touch. It'll be the last time I'll see them for a LOONG time. I said goodbye to the funny and book-loving Jerry, the young fun to talk to Kristin who shares a special day with me, August 6th (my birthday and the day she graduated), and hugged Joan and Tammy, bless their souls, goodbye. Jason the funniest guy in Lineville and Andrew the blogger parted ways, as Tim said goodbye too. Don gave me the Internet page of his radio station, and he told me the Bible was the most important thing I brought. I said see you later to Jeff Diggs and the service people, as well as Bruce. Cavin was the final goodbye. See you later guys. I'll miss you, a lot. Goodbye for now. Sell some cars for me, will ya.
We drove home, and because my computer was about dead (I didn't charge it up or use it at the Dealership), I read To Kill A Mockingbird a little. The first part was really boring, about the history of the girl's family, but into the second or third chapters it got pretty good. The girl is Jean Louis Finch, but she goes by Scout. If that was my name, I would go by that too. It is an interesting style, and has a lot of southern dialect and words I didn't know. It was good though. I can't tell you any more about it though. Why don't you read the book, if you already haven't? Anyway we drove home and Dean drove in his truck home, as we went inside. Ma Poc and Pop's car was there, they had been there since 3. It gave Mom a little alone time with them. We walked in and found them in the living room, talking with the dogs on them. You know totally it's a serious conversation when the dogs are on them. I mean, you know really when one person starts to dose. If none of them are talking, it is at the end of a very standoffish argument. And if one's at the bathroom, there could be a family feud coming into place. The worst thing is if they leave early, or even give a present or gift. Better watch out then. Oh yeah. So, I knew it was really serious when they laughed and talked about old times.
They welcomed us in a great way, bursts of Hello and frequent little conversations. Dad came in later but then talked on the phone to a guy wanting to buy a car. We talked about leaving, and the day we had at the Dealership. To Ma Poc I spoke about To Kill A, and other things. Then when Dad sat down, Ma Poc and Pop showed the presents to Rebecca and Dad, as their birthdays were on the 18th and 25th, and that they wouldn't be able to give it to them at a later date, and they wanted to see them open it. Multiple reasons. Rebecca opened her bagged present, and got some barbie clothes and a pretty pink computer bag. For Dad, a little bit of a funny gift, a huge bag of pistachios. Yep, that's what he got. He loves them!
Mom thought she heard a car, or somebody in the driveway. Rebecca and I went out to see what was up, and saw the Tropaour's getting out of their cars, in two, of course. The guy Dad had talked to was Mr. Tropaour wanting to get a car. They came in as Rebecca went off and talked to/ played with Ellie and Patty, while I talked a little to Charlie in the living room. The cool thing was, Mr. Tropauor had been a fraternity brother of Andy's, and so Ma Poc and Pop kind of knew him, I guess. They talked a little before the Tropaours left. It was nice to visit with The Tropauers. Dad helped them find a new car and they were picking it up.
Even though we told them that Phish Food had high chairs and rough ones at that, they wanted to go. So we did get ready to go to dinner, all of our nice clothes on. I picked up To Kill a Mockingbird, but Mom told me I didn't need my book. It was the last time I would see Ma Poc and Pop for a while, and so, I would need to have every moment with them. I left the book. We drove in separate cars, them in their sudan and us in the suburban. We drove to Phish Food on it's small setting on the street, with it being on a corner with all the other restaurants. We parked and went in, and secured a large table, a few pushed together. We looked at the menu, and then Mom, Rebecca and Pop went to tell the lady what to order. A few people in line were still deciding, and we told them what was good. Ma Poc loved that it was a Christian restaurant, with the fish images and crosses everywhere, plus the Bibles and verses. Mom and Pop got some trout, and then Ma Poc and I got reubens. Surprisingly, we saw the Benders, who we thought we had seen the last of at church last Sunday when we sat with them. We talked a little as they decided what to order. Dad wasn't that hungry, so he got peach cobbler. Rebecca felt sick later on in the meal, little poor thing.
We waited as I asked Ma Poc about the best food she'd had, and I didn't talk to Pop as much 'cause he wasn't that close to me (on the table, not in real life). Then we got our dinner. I thought the reuben was good (although Ma Poc didn't like it) and I tried a little of Mom's trout. Over dinner we talked and talked 'til our mouths were dry, and then when filled up on water continued to talk some more. It was a good meal, but it was sad that Puck (my nickname for Rebecca) felt bad. She was also sad. We all were. The long time of not laying eyes on them and other things, plus the sheer missing of it, not to see them for a long time. As we prayed outside and shed our tears, we were reminded if you have faith in God, he'll get you through. We all cried and had an emotional farewell. Goodbye, Ma Poc and Pop, but this goodbye is only for now.
We drove off. I was sad, but happy in knowing it would be a great second half. It was not like the first time we left when I was mad, teary and in a bad mood, this time there was a lot of hope and adjustment to the life. That night we went to bed after I told Mom a little bit about the day, and we went to sleep. The next day... would be interesting.
As I write this we pass into M-I-S-S-I-P-P-I! It's 2:30! (By the time Mom edits it though it won't be,)
Andrew.
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