Post by tt on Dec 14, 2006 18:50:18 GMT -5
Tom and I were in the same grade in High School. I always kind of envied him for his Mountain Man life style of sorts. Back 30 some years ago Tom and his brothers ran a trap line along the Little Sioux river here in Cherokee.
I always had a hankering for the outdoors, and loved hunting, and and trapping. Only thing is I wasn't any good at it, and I didn't like all the hard work that went along with trapping.
I had some large #4 jaw type traps, that I wasn't using, so I made a deal with Tom that I would give him the Traps in exchange for 2 Prime Beaver Pelts. Tom took the traps, and I never saw the Beaver Pelts.
I'm not angry about the situation. I learned a lesson from that encounter. And it added color to Tom's character. Something like the Dukes of Hazard, and the good ol'boys.
..............................................................
The other memory I have is when I was a senior in high school, and Tom worked overnights in the National Foods Grocery Store, where Hy-Vee's Drug Store is located today.
Tom's job was to wash and wax the floors of the store. I asked Tom where I could buy a case of beer, as I was still under aged.
Tom said he'd sell one to me for $12.00, but he'd first have to steal one from the store, when he was mopping floors after hours.
But Tom wanted me to pay for the beer in advance.
Remembering how he got the better of me with the Traps and Pelts, I told him I would pay him for the beer when he handed the beer to me.
The plan was that he would put the stolen case of beer in the dumpster behind the store that night. Then in the morning Tom and I would go pick up the beer together, and then I would pay him for it.
In the meantime I had to come up with $12.00 that I didn't have.
I had just bought a new pair of jeans from JC Penny's, so I took them back and had the $12.00 I was in need of.
In the morning I was to pick Tom up and then go for the beer.
Instead I went and retrieved the beer first from the dumpster. And hid it in the trunk of my car. Then I went and got Tom.
Tom got up into the dumpster but couldn't find the case of beer, that I had already stolen from him.
When he came up empty handed, he still wanted his $12.00. I told him I wasn't going to pay him for a case of beer he wasn't able to deliver. He wasn't happy but he didn't fuss much about it, either.
Who was he going to go and complain too. The Cops? The Store Manager?
So all in all these memories don't shine a favorable memory on either Tom or me. Each of us trying to hoodwink the other.
But you have to hand it to Tom! He learned well from his Dad who ran the local junk store.
I still can't believe he expected me to pay for a case of beer he couldn't deliver. I guess it doesn't hurt to ask though, does it Tom!
Besides I considered us to be even, after he stole my Traps from me.
Like I said these are not stories to disparage Tom's name or character, it's just memories of a by gone era. Another time, another life!
Live on Tom! Live on in your next life!
I always had a hankering for the outdoors, and loved hunting, and and trapping. Only thing is I wasn't any good at it, and I didn't like all the hard work that went along with trapping.
I had some large #4 jaw type traps, that I wasn't using, so I made a deal with Tom that I would give him the Traps in exchange for 2 Prime Beaver Pelts. Tom took the traps, and I never saw the Beaver Pelts.
I'm not angry about the situation. I learned a lesson from that encounter. And it added color to Tom's character. Something like the Dukes of Hazard, and the good ol'boys.
..............................................................
The other memory I have is when I was a senior in high school, and Tom worked overnights in the National Foods Grocery Store, where Hy-Vee's Drug Store is located today.
Tom's job was to wash and wax the floors of the store. I asked Tom where I could buy a case of beer, as I was still under aged.
Tom said he'd sell one to me for $12.00, but he'd first have to steal one from the store, when he was mopping floors after hours.
But Tom wanted me to pay for the beer in advance.
Remembering how he got the better of me with the Traps and Pelts, I told him I would pay him for the beer when he handed the beer to me.
The plan was that he would put the stolen case of beer in the dumpster behind the store that night. Then in the morning Tom and I would go pick up the beer together, and then I would pay him for it.
In the meantime I had to come up with $12.00 that I didn't have.
I had just bought a new pair of jeans from JC Penny's, so I took them back and had the $12.00 I was in need of.
In the morning I was to pick Tom up and then go for the beer.
Instead I went and retrieved the beer first from the dumpster. And hid it in the trunk of my car. Then I went and got Tom.
Tom got up into the dumpster but couldn't find the case of beer, that I had already stolen from him.
When he came up empty handed, he still wanted his $12.00. I told him I wasn't going to pay him for a case of beer he wasn't able to deliver. He wasn't happy but he didn't fuss much about it, either.
Who was he going to go and complain too. The Cops? The Store Manager?
So all in all these memories don't shine a favorable memory on either Tom or me. Each of us trying to hoodwink the other.
But you have to hand it to Tom! He learned well from his Dad who ran the local junk store.
I still can't believe he expected me to pay for a case of beer he couldn't deliver. I guess it doesn't hurt to ask though, does it Tom!
Besides I considered us to be even, after he stole my Traps from me.
Like I said these are not stories to disparage Tom's name or character, it's just memories of a by gone era. Another time, another life!
Live on Tom! Live on in your next life!
"TT"