»
Archives
»
Open Poetry #38
»
One Eyed Jack
| Open Poetry #38 |
|
One Eyed Jack |
|
|
StevenS Senior Member
since 2005-09-21
Posts 945L. A. (Lower Alabama) 
|
One Eyed Jack He walked into that honkey tonk and he bellied up to the bar. He ordered him a double Jack and started pickin his old guitar. He picked a few old country tunes like ones you hear in smokey bars and run down saloons. Where the smell of blood is often stronger than the smell of whiskey. He could pick that thing pretty good to have such big old hands as hard as wood. Anybody with half a brain could see them was fighting hands. It was hard to tell just how old he was I'm usually a pretty good judge. But to tell the truth I had me on a pretty good buzz. He had a crumpled straw hat pulled down low with a big black patch over his left eye hole. His hair was long and his beard was scruffy and his one good eye was bloodshot and puffy. I was guessing Texas is where you could find his roots. Judging from his cowboy hat and his cowboy boots. Not to mention the bumper sticker on his old guitar that read, "You ain't nothing son, if you ain't a Lone Star" Well he wasn't exactly taking requests and when them Johnson boys walked in I knew there would be a bloody mess. The first thing Elmer Johnson said was so mean I though it would surely get him dead. But I guess One Eyed Jack just wasn't in the mood yet. The Johnson boys all started cluckin at him like a chicken. But One Eyed Jack just smiled and kept right on apickin. I tell you... it was getting mighty hot in that honkey tonk! Now Elmer Johnson was big and lean but not to smart if you know what I mean. But Elmer was considered the smart one of the whole Patty Poo Hill Johnson clan. Elmer made one more request I'm sure by now you must have guessed. He asked One Eyed Jack to shut his big mouth he didn't like Texas music down here in the south. Then he offered to escort Jack out of the place and I think I heard something about rearranging his face. Well Billy Bob Johnson and Junior to knowed the drill and knowed just what to do. While Elmer was running his mouth Billy Bob circled north and Junior... he circled south. The first thing you know One Eyed Jack was surrounded by the whole Patty Poo hill constabalatory. The law in overall's! Now them Johnson boys was mighty proud cause their bar fighting strategy always drew a big crowd. They called it, "The Patty Poo Crush." The Patty Poo Crush had worked quite well in the recent past and had broken some bones of the driftin trash. Of which I was it's most honored and humble last. Yeah, I was still all black and blue and looking for a missing tooth or two in the red sawdust that was spread across that stinking barroom floor. I had looked hungrily upon Sweet Mary Lou and Elmer Johnson said that just wouldn't do. So the Patty Poo law had introduced me to the Patty Poo Crush. I know I'm rambling but now you can guess whose side I was on. I ain't usually the one to cast the first stone but I mighta accidently dropped a barstool on Junior Johnson's big old head. After that things happened pretty quick me and One Eyed Jack had got the first lick. Which only left about 600 pounds of mad Johnson still on their feet. I was just about ready for some serious prayin but I opened my eyes and there was TWO Johnson's layin. Billy Bob was stretched out right along side his brother Junior and they was both taking a sweet little nap. Then I heard a blood curdling scream and by the time Elmer hit the door he had a full head of steam. He had left Billy Bob and Junior to one eyed mercy! Who woulda thunk it? I was trying to take in all that had just transpired when Junior's brain was starting to get rewired. His eyes started fluttering like Betty Sue Taylor's did when she... liked you. Junior raised himself up on a big meaty elbow he looked at me and my blood ran cold. Then he said to nobody inparticular Thumbody hit me! Junior's Lantern jaw didn't line up quite as good as it used to do. But I favored the adjustment I had give him with that oak barstool. And I though he must like it to cause he was acting like he wanted another one. I drew back and was fixing to oblige him but One Eyed Jack held up his hand for a spell like a crossing guard on the road to hell. While he peered at me one eyed from beneath his straw hat brim. That's when I noticed what was in his hand it would send a chill up the spine of any man. It was a big old razor sharp knife dripping blood! About the time I seen it I guess Junior did too judging by the deep breath that he drew. One Eyed Jack made a quick step and Junior let out a helpless yelp. Junior looked at that knife in awe and I know he wanted to call the law. About that time he realized that he was! So he started calling on Jesus Christ we all thought he was fixing to get sliced and diced. I watched this scene from outside my mind it was like a moment frozen in time. I was as helpless as Junior I couldn't move a cotton pickin muscle not even my mouth. There's always a first time for everything folks! One Eyed Jack surprised me once again when he knelt down beside Junior with a big Toothy grin. He wiped his blade on Junior's fly and asked him if he was ready to die OR would he rather give up his little friend. Junior didn't care to much for the thought of dying I could tell by the way that he was crying. But I think he liked the idea of living alone even less! I'm truly glad to say we all survived that day pretty much intact. But I still get the shivers sometimes when I'm lookin back. Cause a barroom brawl don't always have such a happy ending. One Eyed Jack gathered up his guitar and put it in his gunny sack. Then he dissapeared into the sunset somewhere down by the railroad track. And I ain't seen him since. There's a new church up on Patty poo Hill where a lot of people go to learn The Good Lord's will. Since that day hell seems a whole lot warmer Just ask Billy Bob, Junior, and his little friend all sitting up front in the amen corner. And I'm telling you... that one eyed preacher Johnson can deliver a firey sermon! Me? I bought that old bar where the Johnson boys got saved. I fixed her up a little got the parking lot paved. People come to The One Eyed Jack from miles around just to hear the story. And if a drifter comes drifting through we all treat him kindly and do what we can do. And we all keep an eye on that railroad track in case a certian drifter comes drifting back. Cause I really don't think One Eyed Jack came from the state of Texas! [This message has been edited by StevenS (06-30-2006 12:55 AM).] |
||
| © Copyright 2006 Steven E. Stone - All Rights Reserved | |||
|
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
An epic! if there ever was one! Great job, Steve! |
||
|
Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
I agree with Karilea! A masterpiece Steven!!! This is a perfect read to pop into my library. Hugs~Nancy  Don't bring me down now, |
||
|
Klassy Lassy Member Elite
since 2005-06-28
Posts 2187Oregon |
Steven, I love your stories! (the story teller, too! ) I think my brother may have met up with this fella at least once!  Klassy |
||
|
StevenS Senior Member
since 2005-09-21
Posts 945L. A. (Lower Alabama) |
Thank You Sunshine, it was a lot of fun writing this one. :-) Thank You Nancy, hope you got plenty of room in your library. :-) Thank You Klassy, I enjoy telling my stories, I'm glad you enjoy reading em! :-) |
||
Ratleader
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass |
What a storyteller you are! AND you remind me that I ought to get the happy back into my stuff.... ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº> ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº> |
||
|
The Lady Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634The Southwest |
"I couldn't move a cotton pickin muscle not even my mouth. There's always a first time for everything folks!" Oh Steve, It's wonderful! More! |
||
|
StevenS Senior Member
since 2005-09-21
Posts 945L. A. (Lower Alabama) |
Thank You Ratleader, I don't remember who sung it but "May the bluebird of happines fly up your nose, May he love and caress you with his toes." :-) Thank You Lady, I'm smiling big, real big at your reply. :-) Ratleader, it came to me last night after I went to bed. I think that was the "Bird of Paradise" But LOL I hope the though counts for something. :-) [This message has been edited by StevenS (06-30-2006 07:03 AM).] |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
