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HAGGARD PARK
By,
LOREN MOORE & KATHY BAKER
LOREN WRITES:
KATHY STOOD BEFORE THE MIRROR PUTTING HER FACE ON. SHE HAD HER FIRST CUP OF
COFFEE SETTING ON THE BATHROOM COUNTER UNDER THE MIRROR. AS SHE FINISHED
HER MAKEUP JOB, SHE TOOK A SIP OF COFFEE AND LOOKED BACK IN THE MIRROR.
IT??™S GETTING HARDER TO COVER UP THE WRINKLES EVERY YEAR, SHE THOUGHT.
KATHY PICKED UP HER EMPTY COFFEE CUP AND WALKED INTO THE KITCHEN. SHE WAS
READY FOR ANOTHER CUP OF COFFEE AND A BITE OF BREAKFAST; JERRY HAD LEFT FOR
CHICAGO EARLIER THAT MORNING WHILE SHE WAS STILL IN BED. SHE TOOK HER BOX
OF FRUIT LOOPS DOWN OFF THE TOP OF THE REFRIGERATOR WHERE SHE KEPT THEM
HIDDEN FROM JERRY, AND POURED A BOWL FULL. THEN SHE GOT THE MILK AND POURED
SOME ON THE FRUIT LOOPS. BEFORE SHE SAT DOWN SHE GOT ANOTHER CUP OF COFFEE.
KATHY??™S TELEPHONE RANG. I??™M NOT UP TO TALKING TO ANY ONE THIS EARLY IN THE
MORNING, SHE THOUGHT, SO SHE LET IT RING. IT RANG TWELVE TIMES BEFORE IT
STOPPED. AFTER SHE HAD EATEN HER FRUIT LOOPS AND DRANK THE COFFEE, SHE PUT
THE BOWL AND CUP INTO THE KITCHEN SINK, AND WALKED BACK UPSTAIRS TO GET
DRESSED.
AS
SHE ENTERED HER BEDROOM, HER PHONE STARTED RINGING AGAIN. SHE STILL DIDN??™T
HAVE ANY INTENTION OF ANSWERING IT, BUT AFTER THE FIFTEENTH RING SHE
SNATCHED THE PHONE UP AND SAID, ???DON??™T YOU HAVE ANY MANNERS? WHO IS THIS
ANYWAY????
???GOOD MORNING TO YOU TOO, KATHY,??? SAID LOREN. ???DO YOU WANT TO GO TO THE
CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION AT HAGGARD PARK TODAY? I??™LL PICK YOU UP IN AND
HOUR.??? AND, HE HUNG UP BEFORE KATHY COULD ANSWER HIM.
KATHY HAD BUILT UP A GOOD HEAD OF STEAM. SHE WANTED TO TELL LOREN WHAT HE
COULD DO WITH HIS CINCO DE MAYO PHONE CALL - WITHOUT GIVING HER A CHANCE TO
ANSWER HIM. SHE SAT DOWN ON THE BED AND DIALED LOREN??™S NUMBER. AFTER THE
PHONE RANG TWENTY TIMES WITH OUT GETTING AN ANSWER, SHE FIGURED LOREN HAD
ALREADY LEFT FOR PLANO. BY THIS TIME SHE HAD COOLED OFF SOME, AND THOUGHT
IT MIGHT BE FUN TO GO TO THE PARK FOR THE CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION.
LOREN WAS ON HIS WAY TO KATHY??™S HOUSE AND WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO SPENDING
THE DAY WITH HER. HE KNEW THIS WAS JERRY??™S WEEK TO BE IN CHICAGO SO THEY
SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE A DAY TOGETHER. JERRY HAD FORBADE KATHY TO HAVE
ANYTHING TO DO WITH LOREN SO MANY TIMES, IT REALLY HURT HIS FEELINGS.
KATHY OPENED HER CLOSET AND WONDERED WHAT SHE WOULD WEAR. SHE KNEW WHAT
LOREN WOULD WEAR. HE WOULD HAVE ON A PAIR OF WRANGLER BLUE JEANS, A RED
FLANNEL SHIRT, AND HIS COWBOY BOOTS. THAT??™S ALL HE EVER WORE. SHE WONDERED
HOW MANY WRANGLER BLUE JEANS AND RED FLANNEL SHIRTS HE OWNED.
WHEN
LOREN PULLED UP IN KATHY??™S DRIVE WAY, HE HONKED HIS HORN, AND KATHY CAME OUT
OF THE HOUSE AND GOT IN LOREN??™S PICKUP. SHE HAD ON A BRIGHT RED PANTS SUIT
AND A WHITE BLOUSE. ???HI KATHY, YOU LOOK FETCHING THIS MORNING. NOW TELL ME
HOW TO FIND THIS HAGGARD PARK.
KATHY WRITES:
???I??™ll fetch you! Just look at you in jeans and I??™m in this stupid
pantsuit. How was I supposed to know what to wear to one of these
shindigs? Do you realize I only wear ???real clothes??™ a few times a year?
Just look at me! Besides looking stupid, I??™m not comfortable.???
???Whoa! Did someone get up on the wrong side of the bed, or what???? Loren
had a twinkle in his eye.
???Everything is fine with my bed. In fact, my morning was fine, until you
started calling and that darned phone rang over and over and over. My
nerves are shot!???
Loren was glaring at her by now. She had hopped in his truck, started
complaining, and hadn??™t even bothered to say, ???Hello.??? He thought about
turning around and going straight back home.
He
gave her a look that could kill. ???We need to start over again before I pull
away from the curb. Now, you sweet thing! What would it take to make you
happy so we can get on with having some fun????
???Jeans!???
???What????
???Jeans! Can??™t you hear me ??“ I said jeans!??? Kathy shouted at him. She
jumped out of the truck and went back to the house.
Soon
she returned with a smile on her face. She had on her jeans, a nice shirt,
and white Keds.
???Hey, Loren. Let??™s stop at Starbucks before we go to the festival. A good
jolt of caffeine ought to start the day off with a bang,??? Kathy suggested
with a huge smile.
Loren was stunned. Who was this woman anyway? She sure wasn??™t the same one
in the red pantsuit.
On
their way to Starbucks they passed by what??™s left of the old Haggard
Homestead. It??™s always refreshing to see livestock smack dab in the middle
of the city. Loren slowed down and they gazed at the cattle, sheep, and
horses. There were several colts frolicking, jumping, and chasing each
other.
???Here, here, turn here, Starbucks is up the street about two blocks,???
ordered Kathy.
LOREN WRITES:
WHEN
LOREN AND KATHY GOT TO STARBUCKS, KATHY ORDERED SOME KIND OF FANCY CUP OF
COFFEE. IT WAS IN A CUP LARGE ENOUGH TO HOLD TWO REGULAR CUPS OF COFFEE.
THERE WAS A BIG GOB OF SOMETHING THAT LOOKED LIKE WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP OF
THE COFFEE, AND THERE WAS A SPRINKLING OF SMALL PIECES OF CHOCOLATE ON TOP
OF THE WHIPPED CREAM. AFTER TAKING ONE LOOK AT THIS MONSTROSITY, LOREN
DECIDED HE WOULD JUST HAVE A GLASS OF WATER.
WHEN
KATHY FINISHED HER CUP OF ???COFFEE,??? THEY DROVE OVER TO THE PARKING LOT AT
HAGGARD PARK. AS THEY WALKED INTO THE PARK KATHY WAS HIGH AS A KITE ON HER
???COFFEE??? FIX. AS THEY ENTERED THE GATE, THEY SAW TWO ROWS OF BOOTHS ABOUT
50 YARDS APART. DOWN AT THE END OF THE BOOTHS WAS A BIG STAGE. THE WHOLE
LAYOUT MADE A HUGH ???U.???
LOREN TOOK KATHY??™S ELBOW AND STEERED HER TO THE BOOTHS ON THE RIGHT SIDE.
THE FIRST BOOTH HAD A BUNCH OF TURQUOISE JEWELRY IN GLASS CASES. KATHY WAS
OOHING AND AWWING AT ALL THE BOBBLES IN THE CASES. LOREN WAS OOHING AND
EEEING AT THE PRICE TAGS.
AS
THEY WALKED ON DOWN THE LINE OF BOOTHS THEY CAME TO ONE SELLING MEXICAN
CANDY. ???OH LOREN, BUY ME SOME CANDY.??? LOREN THOUGHT, NOW THAT??™S ALL KATHY
NEEDS. ALL THAT CANDY IS MADE FROM SUGAR, IF SHE EATS A LOT OF THAT SUGAR
CANDY AND GETS A SUGAR HIGH TO GO WITH HER CAFFEINE HIGH, SHE??™LL BE FLOATING
TWO FEET OFF THE GROUND.
KATHY WOULDN??™T STOP BADGERING LOREN UNTIL HE GAVE IN AND BOUGHT TWO PECAN
PRALINES. KATHY PEELED THE SARAN WRAP OFF HERS AND ATE THE WHOLE THING.
LOREN ATE HALF OF HIS AND PUT THE OTHER HALF IN HIS SHIRT POCKET. KATHY RAN
AHEAD TO THE NEXT BOOTH AND IT WAS SELLING SOMBREROS.
???LOREN, WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE A SOMBRERO IF WE ARE AT A MEXICAN FESTIVAL.???
KATHY PICKED OUT A BRIGHT RED ONE AND PUT IT ON. SHE TWIRLED AROUND, AND
HER RED SOMBRERO SPUN AROUND ON HER HEAD. LOREN HAD TO GRAB HER TO KEEP HER
FROM FALLING. SHE WAS GIGGLING LIKE SOME TEN YEAR OLD. LOREN WONDERED HOW
LONG IT WAS GOING TO TAKE THIS CAFFEINE/SUGAR RUSH TO WEAR OFF.
JUST
THEN A MARIACHI BAND CAME STROLLING DOWN THE MID-WAY PLAYING LOUD MEXICAN
MUSIC. THE BAND WAS FOLLOWED BY FOUR TEENAGE MEXICAN GIRLS WEARING LONG
COLORFUL DRESSES, AND FOUR TEENAGE MEXICAN BOYS DRESSED ALL IN BLACK. THE
BOYS HAD ON BLACK POINTY-TOED HIGH HEEL BOOTS WITH SILVER TOE CAPS. THEY
WERE ALL HOLDING HANDS, LAUGHING, AND SINGING AS THEY FOLLOWED THE BAND TO
THE BACK OF THE STAGE.
KATHY AND LOREN CAME TO THE NEXT BOOTH AND IT WAS A FOOD BOOTH. THEY WERE
SELLING TAMALES AND OTHER MEXICAN FOOD. LOREN THOUGHT IF HE COULD GET KATHY
TO EAT SOMETHING, THE FOOD MIGHT HELP OFFSET SOME OF THE HIGH SHE WAS ON, SO
HE ORDERED TWELVE TAMALES. THE LADY PUT THE TAMALES IN A PAPER SACK AND
HANDED THEM TO LOREN.
KATHY AND LOREN EACH REACHED INTO THE PAPER SACK AND TOOK OUT ONE OF THE
TAMALES, UNWRAPPED THE CORN SHUCK AND ATE THE TAMALE. BOY WAS IT GOOD! SO
THEY STOOD THERE AND ATE ALL OF THEM. THEY WERE A LITTLE HOT, NOT WITH FIRE
BUT WITH PEPPER JUICE. IN FACT, THE LONGER THEY STOOD THERE, THE HOTTER
THEIR MOUTHS GOT.
LOREN LOOKED OVER AT THE NEXT BOOTH AND THEY WERE SELLING MEXICAN BEER.
LOREN BOUGHT TWO BOTTLES OF BEER AND THEY CHUCKED THEM DOWN. THAT HELPED
THE BURNING BUT IT DIDN??™T STOP IT ALL TOGETHER. SO, HE BOUGHT TWO MORE
BOTTLES OF BEER AND THEY DRANK THEM.
WELL, THE BEER SURE DIDN??™T HELP KATHY??™S CAFFEINE/SUGAR AND NOW BEER HIGH.
SHE WAS BOUNCING AROUND LIKE A BALL IN A PIN BALL MACHINE. LOREN WAS HAVING
TO HOLD ON TO HER ARM, JUST TO KEEP HER UP RIGHT.
THE
LAST BOOTH BEFORE THE STAGE WAS SELLING CORN ON THE COB. THE COB PIECES
WERE 4 INCHES LONG, AND HAD A ROUND STICK STUCK IN THE END OF EACH COB. THE
CORN WAS A GOLDEN COLOR, AND WAS FLOATING IN A BIG POT OF HOT WATER. LOREN
HELD UP TWO FINGERS AND THE LADY FISHED TWO OF THE COBS OUT OF THE WATER.
THEN SHE LAID THEM IN A SHALLOW PAN, WITH WHAT LOOKED LIKE MELTED BUTTER,
AND ROLLED THEM ALONG UNTIL THE BUTTER COVERED ALL OF THE CORN. SHE WRAPPED
THE HANDLE IN A PAPER TOWEL AND HANDED IT TO KATHY. THEN SHE HANDED ONE TO
LOREN.
THEY
STARTED TO CROSS OVER TO THE LINE OF BOOTHS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
MID-WAY, BUT AS THEY GOT IN FRONT OF THE STAGE, THAT MARIACHI BAND JUMPED UP
ON THE STAGE AND STARTED PLAYING. THEN THE TEENAGE SENORITAS AND CABALLEROS
CLIMBED UP ON THE STAGE AND STARTED DANCING. THE GIRLS HAD CLAPPERS IN
THEIR FINGERS, AND THEY HELD THEIR ARMS OVER THEIR HEADS AS THEY TWIRLED
AROUND. THEIR DRESSES SWIRLED OUT IN BRIGHT COLORED CIRCLES. THE BOYS PUT
THEIR ARMS BEHIND THEIR BACKS AND PRANCED AROUND THEIR GIRL, WITH THE HEALS
OF THEIR BOOTS POUNDING ON THE BOARDS OF THE STAGE. THEY REMINDED LOREN OF
BANTAM ROOSTERS.
THE
BAND PLAYED AND THE DANCERS DANCED FOR 15 MINUTES. WHEN THE DANCE WAS OVER,
ALL EIGHT OF THE DANCERS JOINED HANDS AND TOOK A BOW. THE CROWD WENT WILD.
EVERY ONE WAS CLAPPING, WHISTLING OR SHOUTING. WHEN THE KIDS RAN OFF THE
BACK OF THE STAGE THINGS QUIETED DOWN. THAT IS, EVERYTHING BUT THIS ONE
LOUD WHISTLE. LOREN LOOKED OVER AT KATHY AND SHE HAD HER THUMB AND
FOREFINGER IN HER MOUTH, AND SHE WAS WHISTLING LIKE A TEA KETTLE ON A HOT
FIRE.
HE
REACHED OVER AND JERKED HER HAND AWAY FROM HER MOUTH AND TOLD HER IT WAS
OVER. IT WAS TIME TO GO VISIT THE OTHER BOOTHS. KATHY WAS NOW ON A
CAFFEINE/SUGAR/BEER HIGH, AND HE THOUGHT MAYBE HE SHOULD JUST TAKE HER HOME
BEFORE ANY THING ELSE HAPPENED. LOREN REACHED FOR HER ARM TO LEAD HER BACK
TO THE PICKUP, BUT HE WAS TOO SLOW
KATHY TOOK OFF TOWARD THE BOOTH WHERE LOREN HAD BEEN HEADED. BUT, INSTEAD
OF STOPPING AT THE BOOTH, SHE RAN DOWN THE SIDE OF IT TO A SPLIT RAIL
FENCE. THIS FENCE SEPARATED HAGGARD PARK FROM THE OLD HAGGARD FARM. HE
TROTTED ALONG AFTER KATHY. WHEN HE GOT TO THE FENCE, KATHY WAS STANDING
LOOKING OUT INTO THE PASTURE AT THE HORSES AND COWS.
THEY
BOTH STOPPED AT THE FENCE AND WERE WATCHING THE COLTS CHASING EACH OTHER.
BEFORE LOREN KNEW WHAT KATHY WAS DOING, SHE HAD CLIMBED THE FENCE, JUMPED
DOWN ON THE INSIDE, AND WAS RUNNING TOWARD THE COLTS. SHE SHOUTED BACK OVER
HER SHOULDER THAT SHE WAS GOING TO PLAY WITH THE COLTS. ALL LOREN COULD SEE
WAS THOSE WHITE KED SHOES, AND THAT RED SOMBRERO RUNNING ACROSS THE GREEN
GRASS OF THE PASTURE.
THEN
ALL OF A SUDDEN KATHY WAS HOPPING AROUND ON ONE WHITE SHOE, AND SHAKING ONE
LIGHT GREEN SHOE IN THE AIR; SHE HAD STEPPED IN A FRESH COW PADDY. AS SHE
HOPPED ON ONE FOOT HER RED SOMBRERO BOUNCED UP AND DOWN ON HER HEAD. THAT??™S
WHEN LOREN HEARD THE LOUD BELLOW, AND SAW A BIG BULL CHARGING DOWN ON KATHY.
???RUN
KATHY, RUN!
KATHY WRITES:
As
soon as Loren yelled ???run??? Kathy knew it wasn??™t thunder that she had heard.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw a huge blur heading toward her. In a
split second she had a flashback of her childhood, and being chased by a
bull. How could this be happening again? She was younger and faster then,
so had lived to tell the story. Would she live to tell this one, she
wondered?
Kathy headed for the nearest tree. While she ran she had visions of her
tombstone:
CAUSE OF DEATH:
AN OLD HAGGARD BULL!
Luckily, it was a sturdy old pear tree with some low branches. Kathy
scampered up with the speed of a squirrel, wrapped herself around a couple
of limbs, and then the tree took its first ???HIT??? from the bull. Bark flew
in all directions, pears crashed to the ground, and Kathy bit a chunk out of
her lip!
The
bull backed off, shook his head a few times as he snorted, pawed at the
earth, and started circling the tree.
Kathy had a moment to catch her breath, and realized she still had the red
sombrero on her head. She must have held on to it as she raced across the
pasture. Then she glanced back at the fence and spotted Loren. He was
racing back and forth yelling and snorting like a bull. He??™d even taken off
his red flannel shirt and was waving it in the air, as he tried to gain the
bull??™s attention.
???WHAM!??? The bull hit the tree again.
Kathy could hear Loren shouting from the fence, ???Here bull, here bull.???
With all the sugar, caffeine, and beer in her system, she found herself
laughing hysterically.
???BAM!??? ???Snort, snort!??? This was one cranky old Longhorn bull, and it
didn??™t appear he planned to give up and walk away.
Feeling pretty safe in the tree, Kathy decided she had to wear him down one
way or another. She started plucking hard, unripe pears and pelting him
right in the head. Whoa! He was getting rip roaring mad, and now he was
bucking like he had a rider on his back at a rodeo.
She
kept bombarding the bull with the pears, and every little bit, she??™d wave
her sombrero as she yelled, ???Yee, haw!??? Even a cranky old bull is bound to
get tired, or just give up at some point.
The
next pear she fired at him stuck right on the tip of his horn. Great shot,
she thought, and laughed again as she pointed. She sure hoped Loren could
see it from where he was.
The
next chance she had, she looked for Loren again. This time he was in the
middle of a crowd of spectators. She also saw what appeared to be a
satellite truck from one of the local TV stations.
???Oh
no,??? she said aloud. ???If this mess airs on TV, I??™m a sunk skunk! Jerry is
bound to find out and this time he??™ll kill Loren for sure.???
She
kept pounding the bull with pears, as she began climbing higher. She had
pretty much used all the ones within reach. Her mind was racing as she
tried to think of other options. There was a pond about 50 yards away, but
she didn??™t know how deep it was. If it was shallow, she was a goner, as the
bull would wade right out to her. But, if she made it to the pond, then it
was only 25 yards further to the fence and safety! Once the old bull
started getting tired, maybe she??™d give it a try. She couldn??™t spend the
rest of her life living like a partridge in a pear tree.
???BAM, BAM, BAM!??? The tree shook like a twig in a windstorm.
LOREN WRITES:
LOREN SAW THAT KATHY WAS ABOUT TO FALL OUT OF THE TREE. EVERY TIME THE BULL
BUTTED IT, IT SHOOK LIKE IT WAS GOING TO FALL DOWN. LOREN KNEW IF SOMETHING
HAPPENED TO KATHY, JERRY WOULD KILL HIM. HEAVEN KNOWS HE HAD THREATENED TO
ENOUGH TIMES. SO, HE CLIMBED OVER THE RAIL FENCE AND WALKED TOWARD THE
BULL.
LOREN WAS WAVING HIS RED SHIRT AND CALLING TO THE BULL, ???HEY BULL, LOOKY
HERE.??? THE BULL FINALLY LOOKED AT HIM AND SAW THE RED SHIRT WAVING IN THE
AIR. HE LEFT THE PEAR TREE AND CHARGED LOREN. INSTEAD OF RUNNING, LOREN
STOOD HIS GROUND, AND JUST BEFORE THE BULL GOT THERE; HE HELD THE RED SHIRT
OUT TO THE SIDE LIKE A MATADOR??™S CAPE.
THE
BULL CHARGED RIGHT PAST LOREN AT HIS RED SHIRT. THE BIG CROWD STANDING
BEHIND THE FENCE SHOUTED ???O??™LAY??? AND CLAPPED THEIR HANDS. THE BULL TURNED
AND CAME CHARGING BACK, AND AGAIN LOREN DANGLED HIS RED SHIRT OUT TO THE
SIDE. THE BULLED HOOKED AT THE RED SHIRT AS HE RAN BY, BUT AS BEFORE, ALL
HE GOT WAS AIR. THE CROWD WAS GOING WILD.
THE
TV CREW HAD SET UP AND WAS FILMING THE WHOLE THING. THE BULL WAS FRUSTRATED
BECAUSE HE COULDN??™T GET KATHY OUT OF THE TREE, AND COULDN??™T HIT ANYTHING BUT
AIR WHEN HE CHARGED THAT RED SHIRT; SO HE FINALLY JUST WALKED OFF.
WHEN
HE WAS GONE, KATHY CLIMBED DOWN OUT OF THE PEAR TREE, WALKED OVER TO LOREN,
AND GAVE HIM A KISS ON THE CHEEK. LOREN PUT HIS SHIRT BACK ON, THEY WALKED
OVER TO THE FENCE, AND CLIMBED OUT OF THE PASTURE. A TV REPORTER WAS THERE
TO MEET THEM. SHE HAD A MIC IN HER HAND AND HER CAMERAMAN WAS FILMING
EVERYTHING.
???THAT WAS A GREAT RESCUE. WHAT ARE YOUR NAMES???? ASKED THE REPORTER.
KATHY HAD LOST HER RED SOMBRERO, BUT SHE DUCKED HER HEAD AND SAID, ???NO
COMMENT.???
LOREN DID THE SAME THING, GRABBED KATHY??™S HAND, AND THEY RAN BACK TO THE
PARKING LOT. THEY GOT IN LOREN??™S PICKUP AND LOREN TOOK KATHY HOME. HE
STOPPED AT THE CURB IN FRONT OF HER HOUSE AND WATCHED AS KATHY WALKED TO HER
FRONT DOOR. SHE TOOK OFF HER ONE WHITE, ONE LIGHT GREEN KEDS AND WENT
INSIDE. LOREN WENT HOME.
KATHY WRITES:
After a nice shower, Kathy started thinking back on the day. It really had
been fun, but one thing was wrong. She didn??™t have one darned memento of
the day, and she couldn??™t get her mind off the beautiful red sombrero.
???Hello!??? Loren grumbled answering the phone.
???Well, you sound like an old grump if I ever heard one.???
Loren rolled his eyes, ???What is it now, Kathy? I was trying to take a nap.
I??™m exhausted from everything you put me through today.???
I
won??™t keep you, but one thing is really bothering me,??? Kathy said in a soft
sweet tone.
And, that would be??¦??¦..????
Well, Loren, could you get me another red sombrero since I lost mine? I
need a keepsake so I can always remember today,??? she pleaded.
What
Loren said is ???A WHOLE ???NOTHER STORY FOR A DIFFERENT TIME.???
Then
he hung up on her!
THE
END
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COPYRIGHT 2005 |
