from Ron Whiteheads BEAVER DAM ROCKING CHAIR MARATHON, 4th edition recently released by Californias Cook Creative, cookcreativeworks: Jasper Joyce When they turned off main street onto the winding lane that led to the tent his Dad turned the Chevys lights off and said dont say anything. He called himself Bone Boy and his brother Muscle Boy. His brother was a miniature of his Dad who, instead of Edwin, could have been called Hercules. His Dad was tall and solid as rock. He believed in physical discipline so when he told his boys to do something they did it. The light was bright inside the tent. The door was open wide to let in air. The night was hot and Bone imagined that it was hotter inside. Most of the people inside had walked. There were only a few cars outside the tent. They pulled up close. It was a moonless, starless night so they werent seen as they parked. His Fathers Father, Jasper, Pappy, was standing at the microphone on the podium. His Dad turned the car off. Jasper was preaching: but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; They shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Jasper was a coal miner, a farmer, and a Holy Roller preacher. He was built like a hinged stone. The inner lights reflecting off the green canvased tent cast a green glow about him, or was he casting the glow? If not casting he was certainly digging, digging for something hidden, pausing, deep in this green cavern, to proclaim: Was I wrong? does this path Not lead to the light? But the light blinds my eyes If I seek it in the mountains. No, I must go down into the dark. Eternal peace lies there. Heavy hammer, break me the way To the heart-chamber of what lies hidden there. Jaspers voice was getting louder. He was beginning to shout. Something Bone didnt understand was happening. He got a bitter taste in his mouth as he watched his Grandfather lose control. Jasper was shouting louder and louder and becoming animated like Bone had never seen him. He imagined the bitter iron taste to be the water Jasper told Bone he drank that seeped from the walls deep in the mines. A wailing moaning sound came from a little woman near the back of the crowded tent. Before her moan ended another began and then another and another echoing through the tent escaping out to Bone and Muscle and their Dad, through them, out into the dark night. In the midst of the wailing a man shouted and then another and another until all the men were shouting. All the women wailing. And now a childs voice sang out in the chaos. Now more children. A chorus. Everyone stands, some on chairs. Now a guitar joins in. Now two. Now three. Three guitars. People begin to move, to shift and sway. Now Bone hears a piano. Now a tambourine. The wailing shouting singing playing grows louder and louder stirring the night. The swaying turns to swooping. Dogs bark, then howl. Lights in Centertown flash on. Windows and doors open and heads peek out. Visions of The Second Coming dance in Bones head. He stares fixedly into the tent nearly hypnotized. An old mans swooping has turned into hopping. Another swooper becomes a hopper, then another. Women and children start hopping too. Bone doesnt understand the shouting. What words are these? Strange, unfamiliar. He doesnt recognize any of them. A young woman falls down and starts rolling in the dirt jabbering strange words. Others fall and roll. Everyone is swooping and hopping and rolling, shouting and wailing and singing unknown sounds and words woven with the reckless music. A dark figure appears from the back of the tent carrying a large black box. The figure approaches Jasper who is hopping and shouting on the podium. Jasper reaches into the black box and pulls out a rattlesnake oh Pappy and he kisses the snake on its mouth. Oh my Pappy Bone screams inside himself. Swaying and swooping and hopping and rolling and shouting and wailing and singing. Louder and louder and wilder and wilder. The dark figure weaves the black box to men and women who take snakes: rattlers, copperheads, water mocassins from the box and perform the Jasper-snake kiss. Bone sees a man who looks like he swallowed his tongue. He is the tongueswallower. He makes no sound. He is rigid, white as a ghost, foaming at the mouth. Bones Dad starts the car and without turning on the lights drives away. Ron Whitehead Copyright (c) 2013 Ron Whitehead
Posted on: Fri, 25 Apr 2014 13:06:06 +0000
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