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March 18, 2006
hayseed
The troop train pulled out of Kansas City at 8 o’clock on a warm July morning in 1944. By 10 o’clock, rolling fields of knee high corn and black and white cows were all he could see for miles around. It reminded him of the family farm back home in Gentry County. His old man said he would miss milking cows, slopping hogs, plowing fields, spreading manure and stacking hay but he doubted it.
Woodson settled into a bench in the back of the Pullman car, put his feet up on the opposite bench, and slipped his hat down over his eyes. Listening to the clickety clack of the big steel wheels of the train, he was drifting in and out of sleep.
Suddenly he felt a knee on his.
"Move it hayseed."
Woodson looked up at a mountain with huge ears and green teeth in a grimy Marine uniform. He swung his legs down and the big man sat across from him.
"You in the Army Air Force eh. I guess they like 'em kind of puny so they can get 'em in those flying coffins. You look kind of young. Does your momma know where you are? Want a chew? It'll put hair on your chest." The big man said as he held out a plug of tobacco.
Woodson did not answer. He looked around the car for another empty seat and spotted one four rows down. He stood up and started to walk when Green Teeth slipped a foot in his way - sending Woodson head over heels in to the aisle. The car erupted in laughter. Woodson picked himself up.
What could he do? Green Teeth was twice his size, he told himself. He had been bullied by much bigger boys in school before and like always he said nothing and tried to ignore the humiliation. But a voice in the back of his head told him that some how he had to take a stand for once. Stand up for himself like a man. He quickly walked out of the car and stood outside on the rear deck.
When the troop train arrived in St Louis, more men in military uniforms were waiting to board for the long trip east where ships were waiting to take them to the Europe. It was a chance for the passengers to stretch their legs.
Woodson walked in to the dark catacombs of the train station. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dim light. On the far side of the center lobby next to the stairs that led down to the lower mezzanine, he could make out the figure of a big guy in uniform arguing with a dark skinned woman. It was Green Teeth. He moved closer trying to figure what was happening.
“By god – I gave you ten dollars you little beggar and I intend to get my money’s worth,” Green Teeth said as he grabbed the woman by the hair.
With out thinking, Woodson bolted directly in Green Teeth’s direction. He lowered his head and shoulders and sent the full force of his momentum into the side of Green Teeth’s hip, sending the big man down the stairway. He wound up sprawled at the bottom holding his head. In less than a minute he was on feet. He raced to the top of the steps but Woodson and the dark skinned woman were gone. It all happened so fast that Green Teeth did not know whom it was that got in his way.
Post Script: Many years later, this same hayseed would teach his inept nephew how to use a screwdriver. Remember, he would say, righty tighty - lefty loosey. He was the original handy man.
Posted by roadapples at March 18, 2006 09:16 AM
Well, he is MY hero!
Posted by: kenju at March 18, 2006 12:15 PM
You captured the memory like painting a picture. I enjoyed the post. Thanks for stopping buy and yes, you did make me smile, even if it was a bit corny.
Posted by: Tabor at March 19, 2006 05:52 AM
I am back to say thanks for the very nice compliment you paid me for today's post. I re-read yours and I agree with Tabor. You did paint a picture with this one.
Thanks again for the visit; I am honored. It is days like this that I wish my old English professor at college was still alive so I could share this with him. I do think he would have approved.
Posted by: kenju at March 19, 2006 10:46 AM
