Sit'n in a rock'n chair and rock'n, is hard work, I want ya to know. But, it's always the best seat in the joint, if'n your bones be sore.
Sol ain't down yet, so can't go into Sally's Saloon for a pint or two; maybe three or four...hell, five or six of cold, golden suds to dull the bone aches.
Lotsa desert rats frequent Sally's Saloon most of the day and all the night. Me? I don't touch the demon booze till Sol winks out. Just ain't the same drink'n and mak'n a fool of yourself when Sol still shines.
Few hours till sundown. I sits and rocks in my rocker next to the village fire pit and watch the antics of Whiz Bangers and other assorted ilk, while enjoy'n a doobie.
Ol' Sally has a saloon pootie. Poor little thing was born with its right legs shorter than the left ones. Sally named it Circles, 'cause when it was grow'n up, that be the only direction that pootie could perambulate.
Chuy fixed that cat up real good. Him be'n an artist and all, fashioned special rubber booties to put on Circle's short legs. Now it staggers the straight and narrow.
That pootie reminds me. I once had a dog that stuttered. Beagle dog. It would stand in the yard and bark, "Buh, buh, buh, bow-wow." Coyote gots him from behind dur'n a "Buh" one night. Was a nice dog. Named him, "Babel," just to annoy the Padre.
Uh, oh, here comes Doreen mak'n her way to the fire pit. Now what?
"Hey, She of Two Spirits, I saw you and have a really important question to ask, 'cause I just don't know what to do about it," she rambled.
"About what?" I replied.
"Jimmy," she said. "Can't keep him from wearing his sisters dresses. I'm at my wits end. I finally broke down and bought him a couple of dresses to get his sister's to stop whinning. What should I do?" she cried.
"Don't be daft, Doreen. Get him the right accessories and Mary Jane's that fit. No sense him get'n hammer-toed," I offered.
"You don't understand, She of Two Spirits. Jimmy shouldn't be wearing dresses. He's a boy," she said.
"Uh, huh," I replied. "Poor excuse to kill self-expression and personal worth of self. Haven't I spoken to the village about how gender ain't black and white but has many shades of gray, too?" I said.
"Yes, ma'm," replied Doreen.
"Then stop the nonsense, Doreen. Work with Jimmy. See how far he wants to go within hisself. Probably just a phase he be pass'n through. If it ain't, it's your responsibility to show your love by accept'n his passage unto life as he wants to travel it. His life, not yours. You understand my words?" I asked.
"Yes'sum," replied Doreen.
"OK, then. Tell Jimmy I want to see him Monday morn'n. I'm go'n to Silver City and he might as well travel along. I saw a beautiful hooded wool coat with fur trim and match'n mittens in Abigail's store. I'll get him some Mary Jane's at Bensons. Probably needs his ears pierced too. School starts soon. He needs to be ready for Winter."
Doreen smiled when I winked at her and she took off as fast as she arrived say'n "Thank you," as she faded behind the barber shop.
Just as I was nodd'n off I was jerked awake by Miles run'n toward me yell'n at the top of his lungs.
"She of Two Spirits! She of Two Spirits! Sally needs your help in the Saloon right now!" He bellowed out of breath.
"What's all this hub-bub, Miles?" I said.
"Oh, it be bad. Real bad. Hank and Silbert gots into it and Hank shoved a Que ball into Silberts mouth. Can't get it out and Silbert's a flop'n around like a fish on the pool table. You'll come?" He asked.
"A Que-ball?" I asked
"Yes ma'm. The white ball on the billard table," he wheezed.
"Silbert breath'n through his nose?" I asked.
"Yep. But, everybody is worried he'll swallow the damn thing," he said.
"Well, reach down and hand me my walk'n stick. No need a worry'n about his swallow'n the Que-ball," I said. "At least I don't think so."
Off we went to Sally's Saloon. It is a fortress of a bar. Sally's great, great, great, great grand pappy built it. Stone walls six feet thick with 20 inch vigas. One whole wall is noth'n but fireplace with stone benches in front of it. Keeps the tush warm on Winter nights.
As I entered the saloon there was a crowd gathered around one of the pool tables and everybody was blabber'n at once. I slammed the tip of my walk'n stick onto the floor, causing a loud sounding "Crack." People went silent, turned and started to open a path for me.
Just as Miles had told me. Silbert was on his back with his arms and legs flail'n around. A sort of, "Murrga, burga" sound was com'n from his throat. I looked down into his face. His eyes were plead'n for help.
"Well," I said. "Some damn mess ya gots yourself into this time, Silbert. Told you that big mouth and Republican pea brain of yours would gets you in trouble."
Silbert continued to flop around.
"Listen up, Silbert. If'n you don't stop flop'n around and be still, I can't help you," I stated.
Sally tapped me on the shoulder and said, "How you gonna get that Que ball out of his bazoo, She of Two Spirits?" She asked.
"Well, quite honestly we could chaulk up a que stick, pull his pants down, bend him over and approach the situation from that direction. But I think I may have a better solution," I offered.
I sent Sally to find one of her thin curved knit'n needles while I fiddled around in my haversak look'n for my throw'n sling. Found it just as Sally was com'n with the knit'n needle.
"Men," I said, "hold that rascal down hard so he don't flop around." Then I attached my leather sling shot to the end of the knit'n needle and worked it behind the Que ball and out the other side. The sling pocket cradled the ball from behind. Then, grab'n both ends of the sling, I yanked.
That Que ball flew outta Silbert's bazoo like a bank shot. Silbert was a gasp'n and swaller'n like mad.
"Your jaw be sore for a bit," I said to Silbert. "Now, somebody tell me what all this is about?" I demanded.
Sally spoke up and said, "Everybody was talk'n about little Jimmy wear'n dresses and how that be OK with us and the rest of the villagers. Then, ol' Silbert started say'n Jimmy was a fruit cake and all sorts of other bad names. That's when Hank shoved the Que ball into Silbert's mouth to shut the bastard up."
"That right?" I said to a bunch of head nodd'n.
"Silbert, you twit," I said, "get outta here afore I close that mouth of yours permanent-like and tell everybody about your high heel collection. I seen you pranc'n around in 'em at the quarry when you thought you be alone. Now, get!"
Silbert slunk away. His face redder than a beet. Be quite awhile afore he graces the village again.
Sally and I went over to the far end of the bar away from everybody so we's could talk, catch'n fragments of conversation as we walked..."If'n he wants to be called Anna, let 'em. My girls like Jimmy...His momma done good for him. He be polite, smart and helpful...We should pay attention to our own kids 'cause they accept Jimmy just the way he is...Yep, he's real sensitive and a real pleasure to have over for a visit with my kids..."
Well, it sounded like the village had made a decision. Jimmy could wear dresses and be safe from ridicule by them. Inside, I said to myself, "Good people in Whiz Bang."
Sally told me that Jimmy wanted to be called Anna, 'cause it was short for Annabelle. His favorite name accord'n to the school marm. She said Jimmy didn't have trouble from any of the other kids in school. He was accepted and included in everything. School marm did real good with those kids, she did.
Asking if I wanted another brew and it be'n a really stupid question, I nodded and she walked down the back of the bar to draw us a couple of new pints. At that moment the doors flew open, hit'n the walls with a bang.
It was Gus. The most feared, strongest and giant of a man even known in Whiz Bang. He amble up to the bar and Sally drew him a pitcher of her homemade brew. He emptied it in seconds, then turned around and leaned against the bar, his eyes taking in the entire room.
"Listen up people," he bellowed. "I ain't gonna say this twice. Little Jimmy is my friend. Only eight year-old I've ever known who could melt my heart. He's gentle, kind, polite and more intelligent than any of you igits here. Anybody objects to him show'n his soft side, they deal with me. Understand?"
Total silence and everyone nodded their agreement. Gus then took out a stinker of a cigar and consumed it by chew'n and swaller'n it. He grabbed another pitcher of beer Sally poured him and downed it.
As he left he turned at the door and said, "You remember my words, now!" and left as fast as he blew in.
"Color Gus green and he could sell a lot of green beans for that can'n company," I said to Sally.
Sally sat down beside me and laid eight one-hundred dollar bills on the bar. She said, "Seems to me that Jimmy could use a new wardrobe, since school be start'n soon. His ninth birthday is next Saturday. I saw a pretty yellow party dress at Abigail's that would look good for it, don't ya think?"
"Why, Sally," I said, "you be a real sweetie. I told his ma I was tak'n him to Abilgail's Monday morn'n. I'll make sure Jimmy, I mean Anna, will have everything she needs for the school year. Leave it to me. By the way, can you pierce ears?"
"That, I can do. Another pint?" she asked.
"Do I look plowed yet?" I answered.
"Nope." She said.
Guess there be a lesson here someplace. Oh, yeah...
Sometimes, Ya Gots to Jimmy Open the Door a Life a Little, to Really Live It.