Dishes, Part 2
Still, not to be one to give in easily, Jr continued finding suckers and winning bets against everyone who thought they could out throw him.
If you’ve yet to read the beginning of this story… Well that was the link.
Jr spent the next few days traveling all about the county searching for folk who might be unaware of his five consecutive county rock throwing championships. It came as a surprise to him that most of the people he came across didn’t recognize him for what he was. “Oh well,” Jr mumbled to himself, “Paw did tell me chasin’ fame won’t never make me no fortune.”
This made finding willing opponents even easier than he ever thought possible and Jr won every rock throwing bet he placed. The problem was that most of the bets were only for pocket change as few of the people he came across had any cash money on their persons. One day, after winning several contests against unassuming opponents Jr stopped in the Wackemburger to get something to eat, the cost of which consumed nearly everything Jr had won that day. Still, not to be one to give in easily, Jr continued finding suckers and winning bets against everyone who thought they could out throw him.
Even young children were considered chumps as far as Jr was concerned, and while many of them had nothing more than a few nickles and dimes on them, Jr was happy to take it all leaving them to go home crying. Sometimes he even beat them out of their toys knowing he could sell the toys to other children. Jr had indeed become a modern day capitalist intent on taking everything he could get.
Jr had been on his rock throwing rampage for nearly two weeks when one day he came upon the Johnson boy, a man he figured to be the boy’s father, and a young man about his age, “Howdy Tader,” Jr laughed, “ya comin’ to try me again?”
“It’s Doug,” the boy growled, “Doug.”
“So you’re the one what’s ‘spose to be so good at throwin’ rocks,” the man said. “How ‘bout you see if you can out throw my older boy here?”
“How much?” Jr asked, chomping at the bit.
“How ‘bout we start at five dollars just like before?” the man asked.
“Name yer target,” Jr laughed.
“How ‘bout that oak tree over yonder?” the man said pointing to a tall oak in the distance.
“No problem,” Jr laughed as he threw a rock straight to the center of the tree trunk hitting it with a crack. “Your turn,” Jr laughed.
Of course, what Jr didn’t know was the young man he was throwing against was the five time consecutive winner of the state rock throwing contest Heck, Jr didn’t know there was a state rock throwing contest. Nor did he know a ringer had been brought in to teach Jr a few lessons. The young man picked up a rock with his right hand, gave it a good throw, and missed by only inches.”
“Wanna try it again,” Jr laughed as he reached out his hand for the five dollar bill the man was holding.
“Sure,” the man answered, “why not.”
The contest went on throw after through until Jr had won ninety dollars, five dollars at a time. His confidence was the highest it had ever been in his life, and despite the fact that his many throws had caused his arm to get just a little bit sore he asked, “Had enough?”
“How ‘bout we do one more throw,” the man said while pointing out a target. “I’ll bet one thousand dollars you can’t hit that skinny birch tree off in the distance there. What say?”
Jr had never seen a thousand dollars in his entire life, and seeing this as his chance to score really big he jumped at the chance shouting, “You’re on!” as he made his best throw only to see his rock miss the tree by only inches before disappearing in the brush. “He’s got to hit it to beat me.” Jr said.
“Fair ‘nuff,” the man agreed as Jr’s opponent reached to pick up a rock with his left hand and ready his left arm for the throw. “Oh,” the man laughed, “Did you know Ray here is left handed?”
Jr’s heart sank he watched Ray pitch a perfect throw hitting the birch tree square in the center, the loud crack of a winning rock against wood, a sound he would never forget. “How ‘bout that?” the man laughed. “Looks like it’s time for you to pay up. Hand over the money boy.”
“But I ain’t got no thousand dollars,” Jr mumbled looking down at the ground.
“How much you got? the man asked.
Jr could see the man appeared to be very perturbed as he pulled all his winnings from his pocket and started counting. “Ninety dollars cash, and nine dollars and forty one cents change.” Jr answered.
“Give me the cash and keep the change,” the man said. He appeared to be very unhappy. “You got two days to pay me the rest or I call the sheriff, you hear?”
“Yes Sir,” Jr said. “Two days.”
Jr hardly spoke a word at dinner that night knowing there was no way he could get nine hundred dollars in just two days. Why he hardly even touched his supper. “What’s wrong with you,” Earnest asked. “Why you look like you done fell in the outhouse or somethin’?”
“I lost a bet,” Jr replied softly knowing that neither Earnest nor Mable approved of his gambling.
“How much?” Mable asked.
“A thousand dollars,” Jr answered, “But I already paid ninety.”
“A thousand dollars,” Earnest shouted in earnest. “Where you goin’ to get a thousand dollars?”
“Now just calm down,” Mable said as she reached to take Earnest’s hand. “You go wait in your room while your paw and I figure this out.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” Jr mumbled as he got up from the table, walked to his room, and gently closed the door.
It seemed like hours before Mable and Earnest came to Jr’s room. “Jr,” Mable explained. The widder Dowiddle says she can only afford to pay you ten dollars a month to wash her dishes, and help her with chores. Your paw and I decided we could pay Mr Johnson iffin you work for her and pay us back all your earnin’s ‘til it’s paid off. Are you willing to do that?”
Jr couldn’t begin to think how long it would take to pay off the loan at only ten dollars a month, but even though he figured it might take the rest of his life he agreed. “I can do that,” Jr softly answered.
“Fine,” Mable said as she and Earnest walked out of the room. “You start in the morning.” As she closed the door behind her she turned and whispered to Earnest, “I think the Johnsons are going to be fine neighbors.”
“I think so too,” Earnest snickered.