Too Much Sun (a coming of age classic) by Olds Lee

Author:Olds, Lee [Olds, Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Not So Noble Books
Published: 2013-12-12T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

That night Jim and I took a whole bunch of rags and crap and we tied them around this huge cross that we nailed together, and made kind of a scarecrow out of it. We put old shoes on its feet and a hat on its head, then we took it and set it up in front of the bunkhouse. Everyone asked what the hell we’re doing, but we won’t tell them. Then we poured kerosene all over the scarecrow and set fire to it. It’s an effigy of Willie that we’re burning for his departure, sort of a tribute. It really blazed like hell though, and I started playing taps on the trumpet. Everybody came out of the bunkhouse to see what’s happening, and some guys thought it was funny because the flames are around twenty feet high, but old George this foreman got a hose and put it out before it burned to the ground. He’s another God-damned company redhot. Jim wanted to bury the ashes but we didn’t.

Thursday night I went into town to see Mary, but I couldn’t get a ride and I had to hike part of the way. I didn’t find her at home though, and this got me mad as hell because she might be out with some other guy. Maybe Shorty; I haven’t seen him around camp lately, the God-damned little sneak. If he wasn’t so good-looking he wouldn’t have anything because he’s so short. I didn’t get back to camp until about one in the morning and was I tired.

I probably could have gotten a ride from somebody out here if Jim and I were on better terms with them, but I’m glad I walked all the way. I don’t know if I’m so hot for Mary anymore, because she might be two-timing me.

Don’t think things aren’t dull working without Willie, either. His prank is the talk of the whole camp though, and actually we’re gradually getting on better terms out here because guys ask us what happened on account of the fact that we knew Willie so well. That’s really ironical. The funniest thing happened last night too; somebody stole the bearskin that was hanging in the store room, and it wasn’t us either. I can’t imagine who it was though, because who would want an old bearskin bad enough to steal it, and besides, we do most of the stealing out here. I guess that’s life though. The greatest thing to come out of this whole incident though is that to Swen and all the workers under him it was Willie’s fault for what happened, but to the bosses over Swen and to me and Jim it’s Swen’s fault for ever letting a guy like Willie change the dam in the first place, but Swen’s been here so long I don’t think they’ll fire him. He’ll probably decay with the place. I didn’t get fired either, because Swen probably thinks I’ll behave without Willie around to stir me up, but that’s a mistake.

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