Just Common

What ta Talk About

Hi, folks, nice ya back. Don't rightfully know, what's ta talk about. Thought about that time, me an Norm helped a feller from breakin that Law, me an Norm found ta be stupid ta say the least. Ya know that one on not knowin the pass. Yep that idiocy I find repulsive as all gets out.

Think maybe ya tired a that one, maybe that time this huge snake. Down the wetlands kept me blocked, folks know how I feel about snakes an heights, why they put that fear, that unreasonable fear in me. Well ya faces say no, what's ta talk about. Hell I know, yeah that time I saw that oddity over near Missisip. Naw tired a that also.

Oh, this a work, but ya might be bored by it. Well let's try it. Might like it hell might not, so gets settled folks ifin ya ready? Well lets begin then.

Folks, been ridin near three days, no town or Inn fer those days. Rained like mad, drops as big as my thumb!
Was wet pass wet, my fingers had wrinkles over wrinkles. Same with my soaked boots, my feet looked twice as wrinkled. My clothes are stuck ta me an heavy my feels like I am carrin ten maybe twenty pounds more weight. Me an that horse a mine, just done need a dry place ta sleep. Good hot cup coffee, with shot a corn licker in it, maybe two shots.

Maybe warm folks, still gots the chill a bein wet. Rain just slight mist now, still not likin it one bit. Just beat an ready ta be dry folks is all. Damn road is a puddle a water an pure mud, slippery sticks ta yar boots an clothes. Feet sink near two inches, then it's like pullin weight up out that mess. Squish then squash as the horse moves along through that slop. Ain't even seen a farm in three days. Lan sakes Virginia in the Spring!

Northern Virginia up near York way, slippery hills an mountain sides. Road ain't really much more than a path or trail folks. Ya asks where is I headed? Hell folks just on patrol is all. No place special just roamin is all.

Times like this folks, ya get ta thinkin, why do I do this? Ya know, am I glutton fer punishment, then regrets start ta set in. That self doubt an such. Then ya know, ya think about yar Ma, maybe the place ya were happy or found beautiful. That girl, that caught yar eye. Ya know folks just that bla type feelin. Wonders folks they never cease. Why right when I felt like all was just gloom!

Why I see a small cabin folks, tucked up near a hill. Could be part that hill. Can see smoke off the chimney! Lan sakes! A place dry folks! Yep, then ya gets that wow feelin! Dry warm place ta sit, maybe a good cup a coffee an some hot food! Now this is where the real story begins.

                              Cabin in a Hill

Whens I gets close, I shout Hello in the Cabin! Ranger Common Howard! Ya gots spare chair! I hear, we make one Ranger! Then I see this fella big smile on his face. He say as he pointed, stable just ta my right. Get yar bag an get some dry clothes, got coffee just finished up brewin!

Folks I nod an say, might nice of ya. I gets my bag folks that weatherproof one, made from seal hide. Help keep stuff dry. Bottle corn licker, an my ration bag. Folks had me two big handful. Ya know ain't right ta share a mans coffee an not have some food an such in return. Besides this place looks like a family just tryin ta make it.

Why take they food an coffee, with out somethin in return. A Ranger or one travelin should never do that. Why hell even the well off, shouldn't be taken advantage of. That's my thinkin, could be wrong. That fella he came out an helped with the load. He tell best grab that Sharp may need oiled down. I grabbed it up, say might pleased fer the dry place fer a spell.

Folks his wife had me a towel ta dry off an blanket ta cover me till I was warm. She say get warm by the fire, then put dry clothes, best way ta fight the fever from gettin ya. Then she gave me a coffee. Folks they had a toddler cute girl. One those great smiles, cute laugh. Children folks, love those kids I do.

Feller say, I am Bert this is my wife Nella an my girl Darla. Our house is yars. Ya can stay the night, be dry an comfortable. We don't have much, but we can feed ya. I say no need in the food. Have plenty that canvas bag has food in it. Think we gots two meals in it. An I won't argue that point. Now Bert pour us some that bottle I gots.

Nella gave me a biscuit with bacon grease on it. She say sorry milk cow died, we got no butter. Folks that biscuit was good. I say guess ya best get another cow. Soon as ya can. Bert say we a make out, Ranger. Folks think I struck a nerve. I say, I did not mean anythin by it. Bert just nodded asks, so what is goin on the rest of the Lands?

We don't get much news up here. Folks I just tell thum about the places I been. Few other thins. Then that dumb bear an that dumb me. Yep folks that meeting a two bullheaded fools.

                                   Two Dumb Fools

I look at Bert then Nella, push on Darla's nose and laugh. I say, me an a fool bear, tangled once, but that ain't the full story. Ya see me an Norm Parson, my mentor an good friend. We was outs on patrol northwestern part a Carolina, out that ways they is a small outpost.

Caroline Army they use it, ta watch the Wasteland. Don't know why, think the fear that mighty Army of Ohio. Ya see Folks, that blame Army. Well, theys never been beat. Last most heard, the Ohio's have the largest permanent Army of all the Lands. Carolina need not watch fer thum, Ohio has never attacked another Land, theys only defend themselves. Sam White Hell, on track Common.

Well, this outpost had a nice shower house. Lan sakes felt good, ta get that trail an road grime off myself. Now I ain't certain, but I thinks Norm knew abouts what might happen. That Norm didn't even help, his good friend Common. Sorry gettin aheads of myself.

Well, folks I steps out that shower house, towel wrapped around me, fer that short walk ta the changin room. I felt this almighty hit, back my legs! About the knees, my I flipped over backwards! Hit the ground with a breath takin thud! Folks, I had the need fer air! I gasped a few times! I fought ta get up! Rollin an crawlin like a scared fool!

Again! I was run over, by what I don't know! Then I sees it! Full growed Black Bear! It ain't more three foot away!
Folks, it stood on hits hind legs! Tall folks, my heart raced like a horse scared out it wits! Folks, my name is Common, an sometimes I do have common sense! I had two choices, stand an fight this vicious critter or run like hell! Folks a I chose ta run, like hell!

Well, folks the run idea did not work! Me an that Bear! Why we a tussled like, two bare-knuckle fighters! That blame bear slapped me hard! Folks I fell like an anvil with another thud! My body shook, gaspin fer air! Like a mad man. I felt that critters breath on my face! Hot huffing, grunts! His paws had me pinned ta the ground!

Folks, I thought I am a goner! Ma, an Tam flashed inta my mind! This was befer Maggie an Beth, folks! I heard Jocco! Release Jocco! Folks that bear stepped away took himself a sit! Folks, that fool bear! Why, was mascot a that Company a men that outpost! That fool bear an my fool self. Well, we tussled more while we took a break.

Of course that fool bear won every time. Norm never stops bringin that up, why he did on his death bed. Norm my good friend, buried at sea. Maybe that story later. I spent two days at that cabin, sharin my food. Left thum some salt pork an some canned beef. Enough coffee fer couple days. Folks, they was good souls. Left thum one Jefferson an five Lincoln. Put towards a milk cow.

Folks I am a firm believer in helpin whens I can, one day I may just need a helpin hand. Well sorry ifin I bored ya ta death. Rangerin ain't all gun fights an fear folks, sometimes it's just life like yars. Till next time ifin they is one.