*Author's note: Union is a fictitious town not too far south of Tulsa, Oklahoma; a town where football is king. All of the characters in this story speak with a soft, southern accent except for the boys, Bo and Chad, who are full-on southern. :-)
*****
"Son, Union Electric is right proud to have you on our team," his new boss said as the room burst into applause.
"Anyone from this town knows football is king around here, and that means everyone in this town knows who Dalton Burke is. Am I right?" he called out to the audience.
There was another round of applause and some very loud hootin' and hollerin' for the young man who'd led Union to a state championship in A-level football the year before.
"Now Dalton isn't just a great athlete. He's also now a certified electrician, and we are happy as hell to have him on board!"
After some more applause, the company owner, Bart Clemons, said, "Come on up and say a few words, son!"
Dalton's mother, Samatha Burke, was in the front row and already hooping and hollering as her son stood up and accepted the microphone.
The owner slapped him on the shoulder and nodded, Dalton's cue that he had the floor.
Dalton looked at the fifty or so people in the room and felt like he was standing in front of thousands. His mouth suddenly went dry while his palms began to sweat. He ran his hand through his trademark long, unkempt hair then tried to speak.
There was a croaking sound that caused a few laughs before he found his voice.
"Hey, there," he finally said in his soft, southern drawl. "I uh, I'd like to thank all a y'all for comin' out."
"We didn't have no choice!" an electrician four years older than Dalton who'd been his mentor for the last three years said.
It took a few seconds for the laughter to die down so Dalton could try again.
He looked at the man who'd played linebacker four years before him and said, "I knew there was a reason you weren't already down at Mickey's hoistin' a few."
The crowd roared and there were a few 'oohs' at the young buck's boldly calling out the more experienced hand.
"Anyway, I just wanted to start by thankin' my momma. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be where I am today."
The same former player called out, "You wouldn't be anywhere if it wasn't for your momma!"
Samantha, who worked at Mickeys, turned around and said, "Good luck gettin' a beer delivered to your table tonight!" causing another roar of laughter.
Union was a small of town of about 2,700 people, and most of them had lived there all their lives. Everybody really did pretty much know everyone else, but that didn't keep the good citizens of Union from doing the kinds of things people everywhere did—both good and bad. It just meant that everyone knew what they were doing and with whom.
Union could have easily been the focus of the song Harper Valley, PTA sung by Jeannie C. Riley back in 1968. All one needed to do was change the names and there was someone to fit the profile whether it was the guy (or gal) who drank too much or the secretary who was sleeping with her married boss or some other equally scandalous going-on.
Sadly, Samatha and Dalton knew the town drunk all too well because he was her ex-husband and Dalton's father, Raymond Burke. He owned the only name car dealership in town, and was still holding onto it in spite of his out-of-control drinking, but neither Samatha or his son wanted anything to do with him. And he'd screwed his secretary, to boot. And that was just the only affair Samatha knew about for sure, as every now and then a secret managed to stay secret even in Union.
Dalton, however, was her pride and joy. He'd always been a calm, kind, easy-going, pleasant child, and he'd done quite well in school; well enough to go to college, but college cost money and money was something his family didn't have. It had had money before Dalton's father blew everything all to hell by choosing whiskey and affairs over his family. They weren't destitute or even poor, but without the athletic scholarship that never came, the University of Oklahoma was a little more than a dream on a cruise ship that had long since sailed.
Dalton was a natural athlete and had lettered in three sports every year since he started high school. He'd been scouted by OU as well as Oklahoma State, but being the best at the A-level didn't mean he could play at the college level.
He was a good-looking kid, too, and by far the best-looking boy in town. Then again, he lived in a small town, so it wasn't like he could move to New York or LA and find work as a male model. But because of his looks, his athletic ability, and the way he treated other folks, Dalton was also his class's homecoming king and voted both 'cutest boy' and 'most likely to succeed'.
At 16, the earliest age allowed, Dalton had followed up on his love of all things 'gadget' and secured an apprenticeship with Union Electric. By the time he finished high school, he was on the verge of earning his apprentice-level certification working after school and on weekends and still playing sports and earning mostly A's and B's.
Now, just five months later, and having recently turned 19, he'd worked non-stop to complete the requirement in terms of hours needed and passed the state examination the week before. The results had just come out that morning, so the company put together a little celebration for a town hero that evening.
Dalton thanked the owner for giving him a shot three years earlier then thanked his fellow former player who'd been razzing him for being such a good mentor.
"That means the beer's on you tonight, Dalton!" the man called out.
"Not until he turns 21!" Samatha called back, causing another round of loud laughter.
Dalton stood there sheepishly letting his mother answer for him, not because he needed her to, but because in small town Oklahoma, and all over the South, men of all ages revered their mothers whom they called 'momma'—and their coaches.
Dalton then thanked his high school coaches, as well, before saying, "I reckon that's enough," then handed the mic back to his boss.
There was one last round of cheers and jeers before the boss let everyone go after thanking them for coming out to support 'one of Union's finest'.
Within minutes, the crowd was down to a small handful of people, and Dalton was getting ready to excuse himself when someone tapped him on the arm and nodded toward the door.
Just one look at his father who'd stumbled in made his blood boil. Raymond Burke of Burke Motors, had just walked in late and started looking around hollering, "Who the hell changed the time on this thing?" as people passed him by either shaking their heads or avoiding even looking at him.
"Momma? Come on. It's time to get out of here," Dalton told his mother who was talking with her son's new boss.
Bart was recently single, and there weren't a lot of men of a certain age in Union, so it was only natural she'd want to at least thank him for all he'd done for her son. It didn't hurt that his momma had worn her nicest dress, and that she was still a pretty good looking woman at 42.
"You want me to say something?" Bart asked Samantha when he saw her turn and look.
"No, I got this," she said with a sigh.
She strode over to her ex-husband and there was a short-but-fierce exchange of words followed by his disgusted hand waving just before he walked out—or more aptly—stumbled out.
She walked back over to where she was and proudly announced, "Problem solved."
Dalton had always admired his momma. He'd admired his father, too, until his drinking and behavior had gotten so out of hand that Dalton no longer even respected him. Yes, he was still his father and he'd always love him, but he most definitely did not look up to him and hadn't for at least the last couple of years.
