Taking Texas By Storm
by: E Walk
(© 2009 by the Author)
 

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Chapter 38

The Real Texas

When I arrived at the house, I was met by Allie, “Dad, we’re ready to roll.  We need to show Grandpa Darryl, Uncle Tom and Dieter the real Texas, and not this big city.  Go get comfortable.  I’ve already packed your suitcase.”

I waved to everyone as I walked through the house, “I’ll be talking to you when we hit the road.  The master has decreed that I need to get my butt in gear.”

As we were going out of the city, I turned to Dr. Roberts. “What did Doctor Cochran have to say?”

Doctor Roberts grinned. “Ed, she was extremely pleased.  I only need to wear the patch for today.  She didn’t want the eye exposed to the elements.  When I had it off, today, it was amazing how much better I could see.”

“That’s great.  Is she going to be doing surgery on the other eye as well?”

“Yes, we’ll be back for the second surgery when The Great Brahim Safi makes his opera debut in Houston.”

Uncle Tom was looking around, “Allie, you were right.  This part of Texas is different from the area around  Houston.  It even smells different.”

Allie giggled, “Just wait, Uncle Tom, you haven’t seen anything.  Bra, we’re just about to the Gonzales exit.  When we get there, drive into town.  We’ll have dinner there.  Granddad was telling me about a place that sounds like it would be fun to eat at.   It’s called A Taste of Texas.”

We found a parking space in the small parking lot.  The building was an old house that had been added onto.  Brahim commented, “This is something like you might see in Algeria.  Allie, are you sure you want to eat here?”

Allie shrugged his shoulders, “Granddad said it would be an experience we wouldn’t forget.  He thought our visitors might get a charge out of the restaurant.”

When we went into the restaurant, Allie went to the young woman at an old time cash register, “Good evening, miss, we’d like a table for six, please.”

The young woman yelled, “There are some foreigners here.  They actually called me miss and said please.  I guess they can’t read English, or else they’re blind and can‘t see the sign that says find your own seat.  Where would you like me to seat them?”

An older lady approached us, “Howdy partners, if you will follow me we have six seats together.  I hope you don’t mind sharing the table with two other parties.”

After we were seated, the young woman came to us with pencil and a pad, “Would you guys be having the buffet or would you like to see a menu.”

Allie shook his head, “Granddad suggested that we have the Tex-Mex plates with a hamburger with the works.”

The girl put her hands to her sides and moaned, “What is it with you foreigners?  You want to make it so I’ll be up all night doing dishes.  While you’re going through the buffet line, what can I get you to drink?”

She looked at Dieter and smiled a big smile.  “What would you like to drink and how would you like your hamburger?”

Dieter nodded, “If you have any non-carbonated drinks or juice, I'd like that.  As for the hamburger, I’ll have whatever the house special is.”

The young woman frowned, “You talk funny.  Where are you from?”

“I live in Connecticut.  I’m visiting Allie and his family.”

The young woman called out, “Everyone hide you’re valuables.  We have a Yankee in our midst.  Are the rest of you from Connecticut, too?”

Allie answered, “No, Grandpa Darryl and Uncle Tom are visiting from Illinois.”

“Everyone hide your money, we have some of those corrupt people from Illinois in our midst.”

Grandpa Darryl laughed, “Young lady, we have our share of corrupt politicians, but we don’t have many more than you Texans.  The big difference is we let the world know what’s happening, while you people in Texas hide the corruption under the carpets.”

The young woman looked at Allie, “Your diction and the way you speak are almost to too perfect.  You really must be a foreigner.”

Allie grinned, “As a matter of fact, my brother and I are from Algeria.”

The young woman looked skeptical, “Algeria is in Africa.  You said your Granddad recommended the Tex-Mex special and the hamburger.  I don’t remember anyone from Algeria ever eating here.  I’ll have to check with my parents.”

The young woman went to Bra, “How is it that you know all these people?”

Bra got a glint in his eye, “Well, for starters Allie is my brother and I, like him, was born in Algeria.”

The young woman looked befuddled, “I assumed that the other gentleman was his brother.  Are they father and son?  They certainly look as if they are related.”

 

I answered, “Not legally, and before you ask.  I’m more or less a local boy.  I was bred and born approximately sixty miles north of here.  We are on our way to visit my parents.  It was my father who recommended to Allie that we have dinner here.”

All of a sudden, I realized that the rest of diners were listening to the conversation.  An older gentleman came to where we were seated, “Young man, you look familiar.  What is your name and what do you do for a living?”

Allie answered before I could, “His name is Edward Waller and he is the President of Shell Oil, in Houston.”

The older man laughed, “No wonder you looked so familiar.  I hope you’re not planning to get shot again anytime soon.  If you’re on your way to your parents' home, I take it that Liz and Big Al are your parents.”

The older lady came to the table, “Gentlemen, I suggest you go through the buffet line, now. We just replenished the main items, so get it while it’s hot.”

As Allie was getting his food, two boys about his age asked him to join them.  Dieter was commandeered by the hostess and some of her acquaintances.  We were joined by the man who recognized me, along with his wife.  Dinner turned out to be a very fun event because the visitors were learning all sorts of things about Texas.

I paid the bill and left a sizeable tip for the staff.  When we were underway, Dr. Roberts commented, “That was a wonderful way to get to know the local people.  Did you two young guns enjoy your dinner.”

Both Allie and Dieter acknowledge that they had a good time.  When we arrived the Double Zero Ranch, it was almost nine thirty.  Dad commented, “I take it you stopped for dinner at the Taste of Texas. I hope you enjoyed it.”

Allie hugged Dad and Mother, “We had a blast.  Granddad and Grandmother, I’d like to introduce Dr. Darryl Roberts and Uncle Tom.  He’s a Dr. too, but it’s easier to call him Uncle Tom.  Dieter and I’ll get the suitcases.”

After the guys had put the bags in the appropriate rooms, they came and sat where we were talking.  Allie asked,  “What’s on the agenda for tomorrow, after choir practice?”

Mother answered, “We thought we would have a quick lunch and then get Dieter properly outfitted.  Big Al wants to show the two doctors and Dieter around the spread before we go to a hoedown at the Tumbling T.”

I asked, “Why are the Knight’s having a big bash?”

Mother grinned, “They’re celebrating their twenty fifth wedding anniversary.”

I looked at Dieter, Grandpa Darryl and Uncle Tommy.  “You certainly are going to get a taste of rural Texas life, this trip.”

Dad continued, “Of course, Liz and the three guys will be trapped in church until noon on Sunday.  We thought we'd have a light lunch since we’ve invited some friends for a steak fry Sunday afternoon, about four.  We’ll eat about four since Dr. Roberts has an appointment with Doctor Cochran, first thing Monday morning.  We understand that Dieter is going to be leaving on Monday morning as well.”

When Brahim and I got up on Saturday, the coffee was made and there was a note,

There’s coffee cake and an egg casserole in the oven. 

Granddad, Dieter and I are checking out the spread.

Grandpa Darryl and Uncle Tom came into the kitchen and I fixed their breakfast.  We were just about finished when Mother came in the back door.  “Sorry, I was gone so long.  I had to run to the store to get a few things for Sunday, Ed, could you boil about fifteen potatoes, so we can make potato salad for Sunday?  Could you guys unload the car for me?  I need to get ready to go to the church.  Darryl, is your eye working?”

“Liz, you have no idea what it’s like to actually see things as they are after seeing gray outlines for so long.”

Brahim and I were getting Mother’s purchases out of the car when Dad, Allie and Dieter appeared and started helping us.  I was beginning to wonder who all was invited to the steak fry.  I figured that I wouldn’t pry, since I really didn’t know Mother and Dad’s friends any more.

After Mother had departed with Brahim, Dieter and Allie.  Dad commandeered me, “Ed, you need to help me get ready for the shindig tomorrow.  We need to put up the cover and set up two long tables.  After church, tomorrow, we need to bring some chairs home, from the church.”

“Dad, how many people are going to be at the shindig tomorrow?  Is it a special day that I’m forgetting.”

“Ed, I’m not sure who your mother invited.  Your Mother and I don’t entertain very often, but when we do, your Mother goes wild.  We need to make sure that the grills are set and that we have lots of charcoal.”

Uncle Tom had been watching the potatoes for me.  He and Grandpa Darryl wanted to help, but Dad said that it wasn’t a good idea, since Darryl had just had eye surgery.

Dad and I had gone into the house and I started to pull the makings for sandwiches out of the refrigerator.  I sliced some tomatoes and washed some lettuce and pulled out the mustard and mayonnaise and the bread, when Mother and the guys arrived.

I had decided to use paper plates and it’s a good thing I did.  Dad was raring to get going.  Dieter, Allie and Brahim took care of the cleanup and Dad decreed, “We’ll take Allie and Dieter with us and the four of you can follow us to The Outpost.”

A salesman was following Dad around as he was directing what he wanted Dieter to have.  He was throwing in some additional things for Allie, in the cart as well.

Mother came to where the rest of us were standing, “Big Al is in seventh heaven.   He really liked Dieter when we met him earlier in the week, and Allie can do no wrong, according to Big Al.”

Dad left the two young guys doing something and came to where Grandpa Darryl and Uncle Tom were watching in amazement, “Okay, you two, get with it.  You can’t go a hoedown without wearing a western shirt.  Do I need to pick one out for you or would you like to do it for yourselves.?  Brahim, do you have everything you need?”

“Yep, Dad, we almost exclusively packed our western clothes.  I guess I should say that Allie packed our western clothes for us.”

When we arrived at the house, Dad looked at his watch, “Little Al, let’s take Dieter, Darryl and Tom around the ranch while Ed and Brahim get the new purchases ready to wear, tonight.”

I watched as the five people started out on their journey around the ranch. We had the new clothes ready to wear when the explorers returned. 

When they came into the house, Grandpa Darryl was commenting, “Big Al, I grew up on a farm, but it was nothing like this.  I guess you never need to worry about where your next meal is coming from.  You can always butcher one of your Brangus beef and live for months.”

Mother answered, “We could, but it’s much easier to sell the beef cows and buy our meat at the butcher’s.”

After we had our showers, we made ready to leave for the hoedown.  Mother went to get a card and had us all sign it.  I asked, “Shouldn’t we be taking a gift or something?”

Mother shook head no, “The Knights specifically requested that there be no gifts.  Instead they asked that anyone who felt so inclined to do  so, donate to the church's fund to help the needy.  We’ll put our contributions in, tomorrow.”

When we arrived at the Tumbling T, it looked like the parking lot at a baseball or football game.  The hoedown was being held in the barn and there were straw bales all over the place where people could sit.  At five o’clock, Spencer stood, “Ladies and gentlemen, we have a pig that has been spit roasted for two days, and four turkeys that have been smoked.  So enjoy the food.  The music group will be playing mood music while we enjoy our food.”

We had no more than arrived than the two youngest Knight boys lassoed Allie and Dieter and we lost them.  There was a group of young people about Allie’s age and a group of teenagers.  I leaned to Dad, “Who are all those teenagers that have Dieter surrounded.  I recognize Spencer’s sons and daughter, but I don’t know them all.”

As we were eating, Darryl laughed, “I’ve been to a few barn parties when I was younger, but they were never like this.  These people went all out.”

When everyone was finished eating, the young people, including Allie and Dieter were walking around collecting the disposals in recyclable bags.  I thought to myself, ‘What a great idea.’

Mr. Knight went to the podium, “The rest of the evening, we will have a square and round dance caller.  No one is excused from dancing.  Have a good time.”

The band started to play and the caller spoke, “For those of you who have never done this before, this is the perfect song to start with.  It’s called The Texas Two Step.  Everyone line up.”

I pulled Bra up and Dad had Grandpa Darryl and Mother had Uncle Tom.  When the music started, the only person who was semi lost was Bra.  Grandpa Darryl and Uncle Tommy must have done the dance earlier in their lives.  

When we went back to sit down, Grandpa Darryl laughed, “We used to go to a lot of square dances when we were younger.  That was back in the days when it was actually fashionable to square dance.”

By the end of the evening, all of our group, including Allie and Dieter, were having a ball square dancing.  There was never a shortage of ladies looking to dance.  Mother finally stopped the fun, “Guys, we really need to go, since four of us have to be at the church early.  The rest of these people will be able sleep in until the second service if they go to church at all.” 

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:  Honor your Partner. Honor your corner.  Do si do (pronounced Doe See Doe) and alaman left. Swing your partner and promenade.  I remember square dancing. It was a lot of fun.  We used to have a whole bunch of square dance records.  I really enjoyed the music. 

If you check out Youtube, for square dance music, you can find quite a bit.

Allie and Bram must be a bit overwhelmed by the square dancing.  I doubt that either of them had ever done anything of the sort, before.

It was nice to go through a chapter or two without anyone we love getting shot at.

Partly personal:

Thank you, Henry, for your kind words, and I am sure that E Walk appreciates your messages, too.  I honestly can't begin to tell those of you who have written either Me or E Walk, just how much it means to us to hear from you.  We are actually inspired to write all the more, when we get positive responses to chapters.

About my eye operation, I was given some kind of tranquilizer before they started the procedure, and I was flying pretty high.  The anesthesiologist told me later that I never shut up during the whole time I was under.  I felt no pain what so ever.

A lot of my favourite people were there with me, to give me moral support, and I really appreciated it. 

I understand that most of the time, they don't require you to wear a patch any more. I had a bandage over the eye that had been operated on, each time, for about five hours, until the numbing substance wore off.  That was done so that my eye wouldn't dry out, because I literally couldn't close my eye. They had completely immobilized my eye muscles, to stop the eye from moving during the operation.  Remember that I have nystagmus, which is rapid movement of the eye, in my case, side to side. There is a different kind that moves in a circle.  For the doctor to successfully perform the operation on me, she had to immobilize whichever eye she was working on. For a normal Cataract patient, it is not necessary to do  so much pre op work.  It is a safe and successful procedure.

Basically, Henry, You don't need to worry about it at all.  I know things will look a lot better once it is finished.

Okay, I am ready for the next chapter!

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 08/13/10