Promises Not Kept

by Neville G. Martin

She was a good looking young lady and with a little makeup you could say she was beautiful. She played soccer, on a boys soccer team. She fished and hunted, loved life and played in the school band. There were girl scout outings and camping trips, In a way she was a tough young lady, perhaps she was a tomboy.

In Searcy Jr. High she tried out for cheerleader and settled to play trumpet in the band. Her mother had played trombone, first chair in her school band. Her father was not inclined to play musical things, except a couple of songs on the harmonica. They were both very proud of her.

Spring band competition came along and it included a trip to Little Rock in the band bus. After the competition, after the awards, there was the dark bus ride home. Boys and girls, happy, teasing, and daring in the back of the bus.

She accepted the challenge, she tasted some whisky, then they all partook of some. Some just sipped, some just tasted, and some a little more. A pint didn't go very far among those in the back of the bus.

Monday morning rumors, the Principal wanted to know. Nobody was talking. The Principal wanted to know, only the truth. Promises were made, we only want to know who was involved. Promises were made, nothing is going to happen. Promises were made, nothing will happen. So she told him , what he didn't know.

But, something did happen, promises were broken, she was removed from the school band and received a two week suspension from school just before semester finals. Some, including the boy that brought the pint, transferred to other schools. Others were connected, very connected; it pays to be related to members of the school board.

After it was all said and done, she was asked by her father, "What did you learn from this experience?" Without hesitation she replied, "I will never tell the truth again".

She is married now. She has her college degree and two daughters to raise. She is protective, very protective. A teacher or principle will rue the day that one of her daughters are not treated in an honest way.

One day when she is a Grandmother she will tell her grandchildren about her band trip and they will say, "Grandma you didn't do that did you?"

The Rat

by Neville G. Martin

This is a short story about my Grandfather Elzie B. Gregory and the time that a rather large rat ran up his pant leg.

It seems he was quietly sitting in his favorite chair, in his living room listening to the radio when the event occurred.

Grandpa didn't get excited, yell, jump, or cuss as you would expect.

He simply lite up his pipe and began to blow smoke down the inside of his bib overalls.

Grandpa puffed on the pipe and blew smoke for what seemed an hour before the rat had all of the smoke he could stand. I believe it was Prince Albert pipe tobacco.

The rat began backing down Grandpa's leg until he was below the knee, then it turned around and scurried away out through the bottom of the pant leg.

After the rat was long gone is when Grandpa began to yell, jump, dance, and cuss.