The Rubber Biskit Road Show Presents "Never Say Never: An Epic Journey – Volume One, Part Ten – The Kindness Of Strangers"

The Rubber Biskit Road Show Presents "Never Say Never: An Epic Journey – Volume One, Part Ten – The Kindness Of Strangers"

In the poignant tenth part of "Never Say Never: An Epic Journey – Volume One," The GYPSY reflects on the aftermath of the memorial service and the wake for the father he never knew. On this cold March day in 1979, he pieces together the fragments of knowledge gleaned from a family he's never known and the stories his mother, Shirley, shared with him. As he contemplates these revelations, The GYPSY grapples with the profound implications they hold for his own life.

Simultaneously, the narrative takes a poignant leap back to 1959, where Shirley endeavors to forge a new life for herself and her son in the aftermath of the horrifying murder committed by Lee Roy. As Shirley adjusts to her changed reality, news of a tragic accident in prison arrives, permanently removing Lee Roy from her life. The consequences of this event deepen Shirley's despair, setting the stage for a further exploration of her tumultuous journey.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a rebroadcast of a podcast episode from 11/22/2021. I stopped podcasting to help my wife through her battle with stage 4 breast cancer. My wife recovered and I am now ready to start podcasting once more. Over the next couple of months, I will be reposting my past podcasts and will start new episodes in January 2024. 

“Like a Rubber Biskit, I have spent my life bouncing from here to there and back to here again.”  -The GYPSY-

"NEVER SAY NEVER: AN EPIC JOURNEY - VOLUME ONE" is now available on Amazon in Kindle, Paperback and Hardcover Book form. CLICK HERE!

I'm The GYPSY and You're Not and This Is The Rubber Biskit Road Show Presented By Artist Alley Studio Featuring The Artisan, Handcrafted and Branded Creations of The GYPSY and Mad Hatter. Visit Us At www.ArtistAlleyStudio.com

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Transcript

CHAPTER TEN: THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS

I had finally escaped the endless questions of my unknown relatives and I was now standing in the crisp air of the March afternoon. 

 I enjoyed my cigarette as I watched my Uncle Cecil in his tight gray suit zoom up and down the hard packed dirt road on a small go cart. The bright crimson of the little go cart was in stark contrast to the greyness of the day. 

 The questions had been reasonable and not too prying. They were the type of questions that people who have a distant connection to another would naturally ask. The simplest but hardest question of all had come from my Uncle Wesley. 

 “How is your mother?” he queried. 

 In the pause that took place before I answered I saw the realization cross Wesley’s face. He knew that I knew the secret of his long ago sin. I politely told him that she was fine, and I answered all the other questions that the casket party asked of me. As the questions dwindled down, I started asking a few questions of my own. The answers to those questions still haunt me to this day. 

 I learned that afternoon that my biological father had lapsed into a coma when his new Doctor had prescribed the wrong dosage of his blood pressure medication. I learned that he had divorced Wilma years earlier and that he had married a younger woman. Lee Roy had bought a duplex and had separated from the younger woman a few months before he lapsed into his coma. 

 I found out that the reason why my siblings had not shown up for the funeral was because they were too busy descending just like hungry vultures on Lee Roy’s worldly possessions and property. I was told that Lee Roy had been on the outs with his children for years, yet they were even now trying to profit from his death by filing a malpractice suit against the Doctor and the hospital. 

 Apparently Lee Roy hadn’t even been cold an hour when his estranged wife took the duplex and had her attorney start the probate proceedings on the rest of his property. 

 Up until this date I had always wanted to meet my brothers and sisters, now that desire was gone. Within the past few minutes, the greed of my siblings had overrode any desire I had ever experienced to know them. 

 I watched for several minutes as various family members took their turn on the go cart. What an odd funeral dirge the sycophancy of the two cycle lawn mower engine that powered the go cart made in the chill air. 

 It’s time for you to go, isn’t it?” 

 Lori had moved up by my side and stood watching the go cart antics with me. 

 Yep, it’s that time,” I said. “I hate to break up their fun, but I need to get back to my bike.” 

 Lori suggested that I go around and make my goodbyes. She said that she would borrow Cecil’s car and give me a lift back to Cecil’s house so I could get my bike. 

 I thought that was a good plan as I did not want to be an inconvenience to anyone. I walked around and promised everyone that I would keep in touch. 

hate to admit it, but it is a promise I never kept but then again, they have never kept their promise of contact either.) 

 Uncle Cecil,” I began, “Look, I would like to get a stone for Lee, uh, my father.” 

 Cecil looked at me and shook his head. 

 We can take care of it,” he said. 

 No, this is something I need to do for myself.” 

 Cecil just looked at me waiting for me to continue. 

 He gave me life, let me give him this.” I insisted. 

 Cecil nodded his head, “Ok, it’s yours.” 

 I shook his hand and continued my goodbyes, Aunt Lula, Aunt Joeyann, and Cousin Gene and so on. I shook the hand of my cousin Ted and told him how jealous I was that he was an engineer on the Burlington Northern Railway. He promised that we would party the next time he had a layover in St. Joseph. I said goodbye to everyone except my Uncle Wesley. He made no move towards me, and I likewise made no move towards him. 

 As we moved down the road we rode in silence. The sky was slowly getting darker as the miles quickly sped by. It was not necessary for us to talk as Lori took me to my bike, we were both lost in our own musings and neither one of us wanted to intrude upon the others thoughts 

*** 

The D.A. had originally wanted a First Degree Murder conviction for Lee Roy. But based on preliminary testimony and statements made by witnesses at the coroner’s inquest the First Degree charge had been reduced to a second degree manslaughter charge. Without exception everyone the DA had interviewed testified that Leroy Jones had ceaselessly provoked Lee Roy George until he had just snapped. The Judge sentenced Lee Roy to 20 years without the possibility of parole. The Judge had made his decision based on the threat made by Lee Roy just a few days before the final incident. 

 Lee Roy had told Shirley to take their son and go home to her mother. Shirley had argued with Lee Roy but to no avail. Lee Roy had been insistent, and Shirley knew deep down that he was right. She knew that even though she loved Lee Roy more than life itself that she was not strong enough to wait for him 20 years while her life wasted away. 

Shirley was not able to reconcile herself to the thought of having to face her mother. She took her savings and moved herself and little Jimmy to Kansas City, Missouri. They moved into an apartment just off of Broadway. Shirley enrolled in a local trade’s school where she learned to run a PBX switchboard and obtained a position as an operator for a large law firm. 

 She also got a part time job making costume jewellery at a company around the corner from their apartment. It had been six months since Lee had been sentenced and Shirley was slowly rebuilding her life. There was not a day that went by that Shirley did not think about or miss Lee Roy. Yet the pain of her loss lessened with each passing day as she dealt with the reality of her life. 

***

 Shirley had been teaching Jimmy how to cross the street with the light when he had been run down by a hit and run driver. His small body had been thrown through the air to bounce off of a light pole and come to rest by the feet of a doctor who at that very moment had been coming out of the Memorial Auditorium. 

 Shirley’s miracle baby had survived despite multiple concussions, a shattered knee cap and an accidental overdose of penicillin by a careless nurse. 

Jimmy had recovered quickly and the only long term damage was a severe allergy to penicillin and sulpha drugs and a possible weak left knee. 

 Jimmy had been in the hospital for 6 weeks and it was time for him to go home. Shirley had been getting ready to leave to go check Jimmy out of the hospital when the phone rang. 

 Cecil George had been as gentle as possible giving Shirley the details of Lee Roy’s accident without going into vivid graphic detail. Shirley had told Cecil to quit trying to protect her sensibilities. 

 “My God Cecil,” she had exclaimed, “I sat through Lee’s trial where they described again and again that nigger’s decapitation. So cut the bull shit Cecil and just tell me what is going on.” 

 Now Shirley regretted her false bravado when she had first talked to Cecil. Shirley had placed the receiver back in its cradle. She was in a state of shock, her mind blank and her soul empty. She would forever regret that she now knew the vivid graphic details of Lee Roy’s accident. Everything had stopped making sense and nothing would ever make sense for her again. 

***

We sat in the warmth of the car watching the darkness encroach upon this chill March Day. 

You can crash at my place tonight and head back tomorrow,” Lori said. 

 “Thanks,” I said,” But I need to get back to St. Joe tonight.” 

 I did not know why I had declined her offer to spend the night. I seriously doubt if Ronda would barely notice if I didn’t make it home until the next day. 

 “Are you sure?” She persisted, “I know a great place to eat in town, maybe catch a movie?” 

 I reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. 

 “Maybe some other time, OK?!” 

 Lori reached for me, gave me a hug, a peck on the cheek and said, “Rain check.” 

 I gave her a hug, a peck on the cheek and said, “You betcha.” 

 Lori instructed me to keep in touch and I assured her I would. I watched the tail lights disappear down the road as I zipped up my leather jacket and put on my gloves. Straddling the bike, I tickled the carburettor. I kicked the bike through twice, turned on the key and kicked it over. The motorcycle roared to life, and I tickled the throttle keeping it running. While the bike warmed up, I lit a cigarette and contemplated my decision to return to St. Joe tonight. 

 It was already getting colder, and I would have much rather spent a pleasant evening with Lori than navigating the cold dark miles along “Nightmare Alley.” What the hell was I thinking? Letting out a sigh I flicked my cigarette butt towards the ditch and eased the bike down the road. I made a left onto K-4 and accelerated into the night 

*** 

Shirley had worked hard to make a life for Jimmy even marrying to give Jimmy the Father, she wanted him to have. 

That marriage had ended in disaster when she discovered, the hard way, that you can’t reform a drunk who does not want to be reformed. The only good thing that Shirley took away from the marriage was a daughter. 

 Shirley had always made it a point to make sure that the children knew as much about her past as she could tell them, and she could recall. She made an extra effort to tell Jimmy everything about her relationship with his father. 

 The hardest thing she had ever told him was that he was illegitimate. She had been so afraid of what Jimmy’s reaction would be that she had asked her minister to tell him. Jimmy took it all in stride and had not seemed bothered by that fact. 

 Yes, she had told Jimmy everything about his father except for one thing that she had kept a secret. On a late spring evening in 1969 that secret was about to be revealed. 

 It‘s funny how things seem to break down when you have extra money you want to save and so it was in this case. Shirley had just got back a sizable income tax refund of $300.00 and had wanted to open a savings account. However, the mischievous spirits that interfere with the best laid plans of mice and men were not going to allow that to happen. 

 The old GE box television had finally displayed it‘s last image, the picture tube had blown, and it was going to cost too much to replace it. Shirley felt a small tinge of remorse as the television repairman hauled it off. It was one of the last things she had left that Lee Roy had bought for her. She had many pleasant memories of nights spent in his arms bathed in the glow of its bluish light. Shirley resigned herself to the fact that a savings account was not in her future and decided to go television shopping. 

 Shirley had decided to get the best television she could afford no matter the cost. She returned home with an ultramodern thirteen inch Zenith colour television. She also splurged on a new directional UHF antenna so that they could pick up the new station out of Kansas City. The new UHF station showed reruns of classic television shows and lots of classic movies. If there was one thing that Shirley loved it was classic movies, especially classic westerns and if those westerns starred John Wayne all the better. 

 Shirley handed Jimmy a bowl of popcorn, scooping some of it out into a smaller bowl which she sat down in front of her seven year old daughter, Patty. Jimmy busied himself munching on the salty, buttery kernels waiting for the movie to start. 

 Patty played with her dolls making up her own movie not caring about the one that was getting ready to start on the new television set. A Nestea commercial was showing on the set, a man was falling backward into a pool proving the refreshing flavour of the instant powder. 

 “Jimmy, do you want a glass of tea before I sit down?” Shirley asked. Jimmy nodded his head, “Yes Mom,” came his reply. 

 Shirley asked the same question of Patty who shook her head no. A couple of minutes later Shirley returned from the kitchen, two glasses of iced tea in her hands. She handed one to Jimmy and sat down in her easy chair. She had just got comfortable when the opening credits of the movie started on the television. The dramatic, patriotic beat of the western music filled the room as the television screen filled with the movie’s title, “McClintock” starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. 

 Jimmy stretched out on the couch. “I like this movie mom,” Jimmy said. 

 “I know, so do I now be quiet, it’s starting.” 

 Shirley placed her finger to her lips to show that Jimmy should hush. The image of the Duke filled the screen and they settled in for an evening’s entertainment. The only thing that Shirley hated about watching movies on television was the number of commercials that they showed. Sometimes she would think, If I hear, “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing” one more time I am going to puke up the whole thing! Oh well, Shirley reasoned, it’s a great time to use the john and grab a drink. 

 The movie was about half way through when another commercial interrupted the action. 

 “The scene that’s getting ready to happen after the commercial,” Shirley told Jimmy, “Is my favorite in the movie.” 

 He turned to look at his mom, “Is it the mud fight?” Jimmy excitedly asked. 

 “Yes, it is,” she laughed. “They were all drunk the day they filmed it, and it took all day to do it.” 

 Shirley let out another laugh. She liked giving Jimmy little pieces of trivia about different things. He had a mind like a steel trap and seemed to absorb everything she told him. 

 “Yeah, I remember,” he said, “I think it’s funny that Maureen O’Hara actually stabbed John Wayne in the butt with that hat pin.” Jimmy giggled. 

 “Shush now,” Shirley said, “it’s coming back on.” 

 The image of the Duke filled the screen again. He was jabbing a rifle butt into the stomach of another man who was standing at the edge of a mud pit. “One of these days mister,” John Wayne said through gritted teeth, “someone’s gonna hit ya. But I won’t hit ya, I won’t hit ya,” The Duke slammed the rifle back into the other man’s hands and made to turn away, “The hell I won’t!” The Duke spun around with a sledge hammer fist laying square into the jaw of the other man. The man sailed through the air and went sliding down into the mud pit and the free for all was on. It was at this moment that the phone in Shirley’s bedroom began to ring. Shirley shoved herself up and out of the easy chair. 

 “Damn it all to hell,” she said snatching her tea glass off of the end table, “sonuvabitch couldn’t call during a commercial, Hell no!” 

 She stormed into her bedroom and snatched the phone off the hook. Jimmy laughed to himself; he could hear a tone of aggravation in his mother’s voice as she answered the call. 

 “Hello?! (Pause) Yes this is her. (Pause) Oh hello Cecil, haven’t heard from you in a while, what’s…. (Pause) Yes. (Pause) What? (Pause) Oh God!” 

 Jimmy heard the sound of Shirley’s tea glass hitting the floor as she sat down hard on the edge of her bed. 

 “Oh, my dear Lord,” she exclaimed, “when?!” 

 Jimmy rushed to the bedroom door, “Mom are you alright?” He asked a note of concern in his voice. 

 Shirley placed her hand over the mouthpiece, “Yes, I’m OK,” she said as tears were starting to form in her eyes, “Go back and watch the movie.” 

 She tried to force a smile. 

 “Are you sure? Who‘s on the phone?” Jimmy demanded. 

 “It’s your Uncle Cecil now please Jimmy, go watch the movie!” Jimmy’s anxiety lessened at the mention of his uncle’s name. 

 “Oh, OK mom, tell Uncle Cecil that I said Hi.” 

 Shirley made a shooing motion with her hand, “OK I will. Now go on and close the door behind you.” 

 Jimmy left the room a little puzzled. He could not recall the last time that his mom had shut her bedroom door. But he did as he was told and closed it behind him. 

 He tried to concentrate on the movie, but he couldn’t. He kept trying to decipher the muffled conversation coming from behind the bedroom door. During a commercial he had moved over to the door and placed his ear against it trying to hear his mother’s side of the conversation. 

 “I’m going to tell mommy you’re spying,” his sister whined. 

 “Shut up you little brat,” Jimmy hissed. 

 “I’m telling you called me a brat,” she threatened. 

 Jimmy went back to the couch and sat down flipping the bird at the back of his sister’s head. 

 Mr. McClintock was chasing Mrs. McClintock down the dusty western street with the intention of spanking the obstinate woman. Jimmy had momentarily forgotten about his mother’s conversation and had become involved with the movie again. He had become especially fascinated with watching the shapely Maureen O’Hara, who played Mrs. McClintock, running in nothing more that her lace pantaloons. 

 At thirteen years old Jimmy was starting to pay more and more attention to rounded buttocks and full breasts. The bedroom door swung open, and Shirley crossed the room back to her recliner. Jimmy felt a slight twinge of embarrassment over the intensity with which he had been watching the movie when she re-entered the room. 

 “What’s up mom?” Jimmy asked. 

 Shirley sat down and stared blankly at the television. 

 “Watch the movie,” she instructed, “we’ll talk when it's over.” Jimmy started to protest but Shirley cut him off abruptly, “Watch your movie I said!”  

 She looked at her daughter, “Patricia, get ready for bed.” 

 “It’s about your father….” Shirley began. 

 Jimmy cut her off, “Ernie? Is he OK?” 

 Ernie Stewart was Patty’s father and Jimmy’s Step-Father. He was also the only father that Jimmy had ever truly known and loved. 

 “No, it’s not about Ernie,” she said, “it’s about your real father, Lee Roy.” 

 Jimmy was confused. Why all the secrets? 

 “What about him mom?” Jimmy asked. 

 He was starting to feel anxious and could not explain why. 

 “Jimmy,” Shirley was finding that this would be harder than she thought, “do you remember how I told you your father died?” 

 Jimmy nodded his head. 

 “Yeah, you said while he was serving a sentence for murder that he had an accident and a bunch of logs rolled over him and crushed him to death.” 

 Shirley swallowed hard trying to find the right words to say. She reached for her pack of Bel-Air cigarettes and lit one letting the cool menthol smoke caress her lungs. 

 “Jimmy, that’s not entirely true.” 

 A look of confusion crossed the young teenagers face. 

 “He was crushed,” she paused, “but he didn’t die. He has been in a coma, a vegetable. I guess from what your Uncle Cecil just told me about a year ago he woke up out of the comma.” 

 As she spoke, she found it easier to explain. 

 “He has been going through rehabilitation and therapy. As soon as he was able to speak, he asked about you.” 

 Shirley looked at the blank expression of her son unable to read the thoughts that were coursing through his head or the emotions tearing through his heart. 

 “Jimmy say something.” 

 He looked at her and formed his mouth around a word, “Why?” was all he asked. 

 I guess I have some explaining to do, Shirley said stubbing out her cigarette. Jimmy’s eyes bore into her, and she fought to hold back her tears, “You have to understand, I loved your father very much….”