The day was beautiful and the sun was
shining brightly with no clouds in the sky. I meandered on down the road as I
was done with most of my chores and had time to kill. I kicked a rock and as it
hip hopped around I ran up to boot it down the road again. I’d already walked
up to the neighbor lady’s house, she kept frozen treats in the freezer to give
to me when I brought the mail to her. Her driveway was long and she had trouble
making it to the box.
Suddenly a beat up old pick up roared past
me. I watched as it came to a screeching halt in front of me. It stopped so
fast it was scary. Then it just sat there, like it was waiting. The truck was
faded blue with spots of grayish bondo on the sides.
I slowly walked up to the vehicle as it
sat there beckoning me. The passenger door opened as I got closer. Should I
walk up to it? Probably not. Yet I went there anyway. I was curious.
I looked inside the truck when I got next
to the door. A little old man sat inside and he stared at me. He had gray hair
and a long beard. His eyes were dark and he looked annoyed.
“Hurry up, I don’t have all day.” He said
and then turned to look forward.
“I’m not looking for a ride Mister.”
“Are you getting in or not?”
It seemed rude not to accept so I got in.
“Thank you sir.”
“Don’t call me that. Just shut the door and
put your seat belt on.” He snapped at me and put the old beast in gear and
continued on down the road.
“Where are ye headed to?” He asked after a
silent minute.
“Home.”
My answer seemed to piss him off.
“That ain’t tellin’ me much.” He glared at
me with fire in his eyes.
“Sorry. I live at the end of this road on
the right.”
“Do you know why you’re here?” It didn’t
really sound like a question.
I hesitated and then said, “Because I was
walking on the road?”
“What’s your name boy?” He looked at me
like I was an idiot.
“Jonas, sir.”
“Well Jonas you have a lot to learn.
You’re lucky I feel like teaching today.”
“Yes sir, thank you.” I wasn’t sure how I
was supposed to answer.
“When I was a boy there weren’t these iron
horses on the roads.”
“I ‘spose not sir.” I assumed he was
talking about cars. “Thanks for the ride.”
“Shut the door boy. It’s time for me to
go.” He peered at me with his fiery
black eyes and gave me a little nod.
He was scary and I wondered why he
stopped to pick me up since I wasn’t hitch-hiking. I watched as the truck went
on down the road and then I walked up the driveway to my house. I could see my
mother watching from the window. She wasn’t going to like me taking a ride from
a stranger. She really wouldn’t like it when I told her I didn’t have a choice
really.
“Who was that you got a ride home with?”
“I dunno.” I avoided her eyes and went out
to the barn to do my chores.
“It’s dangerous to ride with strangers!” I
could hear her yelling at me as I quickly scurried out to feed the horses and
goats.
We only had one old horse that had been my
father’s when he was younger and a younger one that a neighbor gave us for me
to ride. I ride her several times a week, usually down to the neighbor lady’s
house I bring the mail to. She gives my horse apples when I eat the ice cream
treats. She is very nice. I like to go there when my parents are fighting. I
think she knows but she never asks me about what goes on at home.
I felt lucky that night because at the
dinner table mom didn’t tell dad about my getting a ride home with a stranger.
If it had been one of our neighbor’s it wouldn’t have been an issue at all.
When I woke up the next morning, after I
ate breakfast, I went out to the barn to feed the animals. While my horse was
eating I brushed her. Then I saddled her and rode her out in the pasture for a
while and then headed to the neighbor’s house to bring her the mail. It came
early on Saturday. I asked the mailman once why it was so early on Saturday.
“I get to go home and don’t have to go back
to work until Monday,” he smiled at me when he said that and waved and went on
to finish delivering letters.
When I got to Mrs. Johnson’s house I
noticed the blue truck that had picked me up the day before was in her
driveway. I wasn’t sure if I should go up to the house. That man was pretty
scary. I decided to be brave and walked up to the door with the mail and
knocked.
“Good morning Jonas. Tie your pony up and
come in for a treat. I have a visitor I would like you to meet.” She smiled broadly and walked away leaving
the door open. I tied Trixie up to a post on the porch. I took off her bridle
and tied her up by her halter so she could eat the grass while I went in the
house. I wasn’t sure how long I would be in there.
As I walked in the old man gave me a long
hard stare. I could tell he remembered me and I sure knew who he was.
“So this is the young man who has been
helping you out. Nice to meet you son, my name is Daniel. Mary has been telling
me good things about you.” He smiled and held out his hand.
I knew this was the same man I met the day
before but he was acting so different. I shook his hand and sat down at the
table where Mrs. Webster had put a plate with a piece of pie or me on it. I
warily ate the treat while Daniel and Mary watched me.
“Daniel would like to hear you play the
piano. I told him about the lessons I have been giving you and he thinks you
have some real talent.”
Mrs. Johnson taught how to play the piano
and how to sing several songs to go along with the music. “You have an angelic
voice young man. Some day you will be famous.” I really enjoyed her admiration.
I didn’t get anything like that at home.
I was hesitant to play in front of the man
who had shown only disdain for me the day before but I really did love to
perform and this was an opportunity and I took it. After I was done both of
them were raving about my performance.
“Young man, that was excellent. How would
you like to go to work for me?” His black eyes piercingly stared into my soul.
“Thank you sir, but I still have to finish
school.” I lowered my head and avoided looking in his fiery eyes.
“You’ll be sorry! I could make you famous!”
Daniel railed at me all the while trying to scare me.
“I’m sorry but I would rather be good than
famous. If I am good I will get famous.” I answered and ran out of the house. I
quickly untied Trixie and put her bridle back on. I rode her as fast as she
could go back home. I said nothing to my parents about what happened.
Monday when I was in English Literature
class my teacher told us she had a special treat for us.
“Today we have the author of a tale of a
deal he says he made with the devil. His name is Daniel Webster.”
