The Book of Common

Common

Like I said, on the front I am Common.
For reasons unknown to me momma named
me that. Didn't ask momma, she is long gone now.
Couldn't ask even if I wanted. Well I am a Ranger
not a bad job, not the best job. Dealing out the
Law can be bothersome to say the least.

Can say I've traveled these Thirteen Lands. Seen
a lot more than most. Been places wish I didn't and
some I didn't want to leave.

Well this is my story, good or bad it's what happened. Now I didn't write these things down
as they a happened. Might forget a name or two,
of places and people. Hell read a bit just to relax.

I will start from the beginning, Momma met my
Pa ifin he was my Pa, at a dance he was recoverin
from a wound and the sickness that sat in later.
He stopped in to see her every so often. He would
hang around try and get to know me. He wasn't
real friendly nor mean. Just well being a Ranger
now, think he just wasn't used to being cooped
up.

Around people all the time. About my tenth year
ya it was my tenth. He came and got me, we played around with gun made of iron, hell the hammer and trigger worked just no moving chamber.
Practice thing twice as heavy as a real one.
For a couple months then he said boy we a heading
out. Say your good byes or bye your leaves.

We are headed to Ranger Post D Virginia way.
Next day we left, me on an old white horse saddle
about shot, my travlin bag with just a few things.
Pa went through tossed out most of it. He said I needed only what I was wearin get all new in a day or two. I got to keep my two books one on math the other well it was lets say private stuff.

Oh before I forgets my Sir Name is Howard,
My Pa's   name is Chester Howard Virginia way.

Well like was saying he didn't talk much, but on the way. He did tell me this. Boy you are a lucky
one. I had to study learn on the move. They have
a school now last six months. You'll learn the Law
you'll get book with basic law in it. He tapped his larger saddle bag. Not much good but it helps some. You will learn a lot in a short time.

School every day just like a Ranger works.
I'll be teaching gun trainin and map and compass
basics till we ride after six months then real world
Experience will come in. You'll ride with me maybe a year or close to two.

Ifin you cut it, I turn you over to another to finish
out your trainin. If not you ride home boy, not a Ranger no gun no badge or shield. Just a person
to find a job. Far as I am concerned a no body.

Well that hit kinda hard, nothing a no body.
Damn what kind of shit is that. I nodded ok sir,
I'll do my best I promise. He said just do it boy!
Set your a mind to it, it can be done.

We gets to Post D like old man said got two pair new boots six shirts grey with blue trim around the collar and double breast button up. Might
pretty I thought. Grey pants with blue cuffs at the
bottom. My a real pistol, holster and belt a saber.

The lady looked at me said good luck boy. You'll
get the rest after training, when head out on your
ride son. I said yesum thank you mam.

Well next day I was put in class, this skinny old guy
must of been near sixty. Never seen some one that
old. Well he talked with this damn awful squeaky
high pitched voice. Carried a stick big around as my thumb. His first real words, I am Ranger Frank
You address me as sir or Cap.

I will instruct you in basic Law and punishment.
First most Law penalties are death or discretionary decisions. Now the ones we will talk
of first, murder rape theft of a horse or farm animals death. The way of enforcing this is shooting, hanging ,dragging by horse or drowning.

Well some reason the drowning one disturbed me.
I mumbled I thought low enough no one hear me.
Damn might harsh drownin a person. Mercy that
stick smacked my desk it made a crack my ears hurt.

Then that sona buck smacked me the back of the head. I about went out, saw stars white dots flashing about. When I got my senses back he was glaring at me almost eye to eye.

Now I about smacked that fool teacher, Ifin I
had my saber or pistol he be a dead man.
He asked what did you say?

Well being Common and not much sense, I said
Damn harsh way to kill a man. Drownin him.

That stick smacked the desk again, yes Harsh way
to kill a man! Harsher the better, the next man may not try it! Glaring at me again, they tie weights on ya boy. Enough to pull you down.

You might be able to come back up once or twice.
After that you sink, punishment full filled.

If you do it with the village or town watching
it has a great effect. In that squeaky ass voice.
My I hated that class, fool teacher I thought hated
me. I questioned very thing he said, After about
a month I decided I'll make it as a Ranger.
Things need changing, I want to fix it.

Finally the last month maybe more, got into
our discretion decision making. That was my
way I told myself, I'll make that work for me.
Changing as I teach a new Ranger. Finally
after nightly pistol and saber practice class.

The day came, Cap said I finished highest in the
class. I was damn proud of that. He said don't let
it go to your head now. Still got to finish your rides. Ranger in training. Ranger in trainin my
that sounded good, Ranger Common Howard.

Has a fine ring to it I'd say. Well me and pa headed
out my first real ride, gosh what a day carryin
two thirty sixes my saber. Eleven year old, Ranger
in trainin that little black badge to signify that.

I asked where we headed? He said west boy,
Find us away to Black Mountain Carolina way.
We will just mosey all long that way a spell.

                         My first taste of the
                                     LAW

We came up to a place I'll call dry creek, named
close to that or dry river maybe fork. Well I do
at times have common sense like my name.
Couldn't see a dry any thing. I didn't ask you know
common sense. This man was accused of steeling
a chicken and eating it.

I'm a thinking want a Ranger to settle this, just
make the man work it off. Had not a clue what pa
was thinking. Well pa said well folks the Law says
if you have proof. I got shoot or hang him maybe
drag him by horse till dead. Doesn't matter death
is the punishment. I am thinkin that is a discretionary decision. What you doin pa.

Well they all got kinda quiet, pa says you have proof right. Listen Ranger they said we don't have
any real proof it was ate. Pa kinda shrugged Well
come on boy. We aren't needed here.

After a spell I asked would you killed him over
a chicken. Pa laughed na made him work it off.
Chicken ain't worth the shell. Son you'll find
most these people don't want to see harm come
to a town member. Once you tell them what may
happen. Things change some on most occasions.

Man probably ran into hard times, used it to
feed his family. Can't condemn a man for that.
Least ways over a damn chicken.

I got a lot respect for my Pa now, more than before. Even if ain't my real pa still my Pa.
Well that is it For now. I'll have to think some on the next read.