Cowbob and the Teeter-Totter Gang

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Robert’s alarm was set for a firm six o’clock wake time. The face of the clock seemed to mock him as he awoke at five fifty eight a.m. He stretched and came downstairs where ma had once again fixed a whopper of a breakfast. Good ole ma! He thinks to himself. He slid his wooden seat to the table with a nasty grinding sound, a cross between nails on a chalkboard and an injured mouse. Pa clamps his teeth together involuntarily.

He picked up his silverware and shoveled the food down. Bacon, Eggs, and toast never stood a chance against an excited child. As he swallowed the last of his O.J. with a satisfying gulp, he galloped upstairs and dressed in his best outfit. He straighten the belt buckle and gave it a small flick with his fingers, as if to say...today’s the day buddy, don’t let me down. He slipped on his black leather cowboy boots and marched down the staircase. With a peck on her cheek, Ma watched him grab his backpack and head out the door.

“Whoa, what’s your hurry? You didn’t even tell Pa bye.” Ma responded

“Sorry. Bye Pa have a good day at work.”

Pa flipped the page of the newspaper, barely aware of the time.

“Thank you.”

“Gotta go! Can’t want to be late on my first day, now can I?” Robert yelled from the doorway.

Pa grinned and looked over the top of the paper; a sense of de-ja-vu overcame him.

“Didn’t I just say the same thing yesterday?”

Robert watched the children pile onto the bus. Most were completely unaware of the new kid, but some made time to whisper about him. He just glumly sat by the window and stared at the large city. He watched women sit on benches and dogs take their owners for walks. He seen the men in business suits hustle and bustle towards their offices and college students stop for an expresso before the first class of the day started. He just looked out of the window. After a long time of riding in silence, he decided that no-one was going to talk to him; he simply closed his eyes and daydreamed.

*~*~*

Cowbob awoke to the smell of bacon and eggs being cooked over the fire-pit. The bacon popped and sizzled as he watched the Yo-Yo kid add a few more extra thick slices to the pan. He sat up and slid on his boots, being careful not to drop his six-shooters of course. The brisk morning air felt wonderful, a great way for any true cowboy to rise and shine. That and a tall cup of mud.

Cowbob slowly dug around in his supplies until he bumped into his coffee cup. He dug deeper in the bag until he found the container of hot cocoa and the thermos of water. With a loud zip, he secured the remainder of his items and walked to the fire. He threw a new log into the pit and watched an orange cinder float into the sky. He poured some water from the thermos into the tea kettle and placed it on the fire-rack.

“Well, I’ll be guessin that we have more work ahead of us than we can handle.” He spoke without making eye contact with Yo-Yo. Instead, he continued to search his pants pockets until he found the sucker from the night before. A small crinkling sound broke the silence as he slid it between his lips.

Yo-Yo gave him a concerned look and passed him a breakfast plate.

“Don’t tell me a tough cowboy like you is afraid to get his hands dirty.” he mocked

“Why I’ve done my fair share of hard labor thank you! Why I’ve even been plumb up to my brows in it before.”

“Good. Because as far as I know, the horse thieves work for the Teeter-totter gang, who in turn owns all the mining companies west of the Mississippi.”