Chapter 2: Getting In The Groove
I'd been on the farm about two weeks when it started to come naturally to me. All the classroom work was nothing compared to feeling it first-hand, and back, and shoulders, and legs... I was so tired and sore that first week I thought I would die, and I was used to hard work in football and weight training! I'll never forget my second day there when John showed me how to run the tractor and baler. Then, when he felt I had a handle on it, he had me climb on the wagon and off we went to parts unknown. We arrived at the field, and any illusions I had of actually running the tractor were quickly erased! I learned that day how to stack bales, and more importantly, how NOT to stack bales! But I caught on quick and soon John spotted a white 4x4 crossing where we had been. Maggie was making a dinner run. We had still warm roasting ears, mashed potatoes, and cold fried chicken. She handed us each a glass, and produced a, God knows how, full pitcher of lemonade.
We ate and drank our fill, while Maggie informed John that Billy would be getting home a few days earlier than anticipated. I still had yet to hear anymore of this 'Billy', and my curiosity was piqued. All too soon it was time to go back to work. We finished the field as the sun was sinking, and I was never so thankful. When we got back to the farm, I learned how to toss bales into a loft. I thought to myself, much more learning and I'm gonna sleep for a month! That finished, we fed the animals by flashlight and went to wash up for supper. That night with a full belly, I laid in bed and dreamed of the poor hapless college kid that would someday be coming to work on my farm. That's why Mr. James said not to thank him! The next two weeks passed much in the same fashion, with the only variation being the work done, the hours stayed the same. I grew stronger, I gained endurance, but most importantly, I learned.
After I had been there two weeks John called me up to the main house on a Saturday afternoon, we quit at dinner on the weekends, perplexed I hurried up the porch. As I entered the kitchen wondering what I had done wrong, John stood from his seat and came towards me. I could see his right fist was balled, bracing myself for impact I stood stock-still as he closed the last two feet. He thrust his hand out showing my widened eyes three $100 bills. While I stuttered something about a dirty joke he just laughed and told me that this was the left over money from my wages to do with as I pleased. Unbelieving, I timidly reached for the cash, when he didn't withdraw his hand I accepted the money. I thanked he and Maggie for the generous pay, they replied that we'd done more in two weeks than John could've in a month on his own. I placed the bills in my wallet and headed to town with a list in mind. I went to the Wal-Store (every town has one now, right?) and got a few yards of the two prettiest fabrics they had, two good pair of supple leather work gloves, a couple of farm living magazines, and a 12-pack of Dr. Salt soda for my apartment.
I put a tank of gas in my truck and headed to the bank to deposit the remainder. When I got back I took the magazines and other items to my "home" to divvy up. The fabric I folded neatly and placed in a paper bag I had cut down to function as wrapping paper, then taped it closed. The work gloves got a similar treatment. The remaining gloves and others were for me. I carried the gifts I had made to the house, entering as quietly as possible for a 300 pound man, I laid them on the table and left. Not yet supper time, I walked back to the barn and decided to enjoy a cold soda and check out my reading material. I hadn't even gotten five pages in when I heard a knock on my door. Since Maggie never came in here I hollered for John to come on in. The door opened and the first thing I see is a slightly curly blonde head peek around the edge of the door. I immediately stood up and headed for the door.
"Maggie! I'm so sorry! I thought it was John. Do you need help with something?"
