Per my moms request........... I heard a story the other day. I heard it from a man, who heard it from a man, and he oughta know. Me and a fella were standing out by the tractor talking about farming stuff. Up drives one of his workers, who was almost a full day late, and starts to tell him a story about why he was late. The boss took the worker aside and they talked for about 30 minutes. I piddled with the disc and acted like I knew what was going on with the tractor and waited. The boss and the worker finished their talk and the worker ran back to his truck and the boss walked back over to where I was. “Why is he in such a hurry?” I asked. ‘Oh, he is going to finish a job before it gets too dark,’ was the reply. The boss, now just my friend, began to tell me what the worker had said……… I have been working for this company for over 20 years. Ever since the first day I have driven the same route, day after day, month after month, year after year. There is a place just outside of town where I noticed two men sitting in chairs on the top of a high hill overlooking the highway. I could see both of the men on most days, sitting there watching the traffic. I would wave and one of the men would always wave back. On bad weather days, there would usually be one man on that hill, and he would never wave. Never. For the past few weeks I have seen only one man on that hill. Today I drove by that spot on the road and there wasnt anyone in those chairs, but I could see someone lying on the ground by one of the chairs. I turned in the driveway and headed around a long winding red dirt road that lead up to a house. The house looked in ill repair and the grass looked like it hasnt been mowed in a long time. I got out of my truck and walked past the house and over to the chairs. What I had seen from the road below wasnt a man at all, it was a mannequin dressed in a costume. The mannequin had fallen or was placed beside the chair. His hat was on the ground 10 feet away. I hadnt noticed from the road, but there were really 3 chairs. Each chair had two little flags, one planted on each side, standing in the breeze. I noticed that there was a small area off to my left that had a wrought iron fence surrounding it. I walked over and it was overgrown with weeds and vines. Strange. I headed back to the truck and off I drove. Down the road a couple of miles I stopped in at the country store. As I made my way in the front door I could see the store owner standing behind his cash register. “Can you tell me about the chairs on the hill just up the road?”” Sure,” was his reply. This is what he said………. Back in 1968 a boy who lived in that house went to Vietnam. He never came back. His parents lived in that house for many years. It was nice back in the day, but they let it go. The mother died soon after, some say of a broken heart, and the dad went a little off, if you know what I mean. He would sit out there on the top of the hill. He had a chair; he put a dummy in the second, and the third he left empty. People around here called the dummy Sam, they called the father worse. It is a shame really. The dad died a few weeks ago. Now the place is really going to go. I jumped back in my truck and headed back to that house. I turned into the drive on two wheels and made a cloud of red as I drove up that road. I pulled to a stop and got out, I don’t think I closed my door, and made a straight line to the chairs. I picked up Sam, or should I say UNCLE SAM, and placed him on his chair. I picked up the hat and placed it squarely on his head. I straightened up the flags, American and MIA, and stood them at attention, as straight up as I possibly could. I went over to the little area with the wrought iron fence and opened the gate and walked inside. I almost tripped over something amongst the weeds. There on the ground was a marker, and I could see Vietnam. No headstone, just a marker. I cleared away the brush and just stood and looked. I had tears in my eyes as I walked back over to the chairs. I sat in the first chair. Below me were cars and trucks speeding past. I saw one driver wave. I waved back. Then another passed, and another, and many more. I sat there for almost 2 hours, watching the cars, wondering what that father had been thinking. Waiting. The third chair was never filled. I just got back from over there. Sorry I am late. I asked my friend what he told his worker. He said, “Go back and finish the job.” My friend told me he couldnt help me with my farming stuff. He got in his truck and drove out the driveway. He said something about cleaning up a place that needed cleaning. Remember, this Veteran’s Day, that there were many men and women who gave more than we could ever repay. Many of these brave soldiers have parents and relatives who are still waiting for their safe return. Then and now, waiting. Be sure to thank our veterans and thank those who wait. I heard it from a man, who heard it from a man, who oughta know
Posted on: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 04:03:08 +0000
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