Gary and friends,

 

 

”

Through the Glass” 

 

Last night I took the dogs out. Buie heard Wes chopping wood, he wanted to venture across the street. I knew it was Lawrence Welk night at the Schneiders so mum was the word.

 

Today after school, we walked to the “shell” of the Bowling alley café, on to the walking path and got cold .On our way home, up the street the boys were fixin to veer to the right.I uttered two words. _Wes? _Ovidia?They high tailed over the curb. I found my footing and scampered to the back door of the Schneider ‘s.

We were met by the door opening, and sweet Ovidia saying, “We were watching out the window for you.”Thor stayed by Ovidia as Buie dashed to find Wes.

 

Thor and me and the dog named Bue were treated well.The boys get those pup-r-oni treats only from Wes.And, I get dainties from Ovidia as we sip beverages, discuss autumns cold snap, the looming darkness out the west window, count the days before Christmas and Wes’ 91 birthday on 27 of December.

The phone rings, Ovidia visits her daughter, and Wes treatsmeto atale.He tells me of things his father taught him.Of, in the spring of the year, mending leather harnesses for the farm ___“horsepower” and how his father would guide his hand in making a rope and lassos. And, teaching him various skills to use on a farm.

 

I ask him, “Did your father have a rope making machine? I recall my childhood when my dad and Art using twine turned a hand machine to make rope. We discuss how to make rope, worth through the ends and how his father taught him how to weave in leather.

 

How about learning from other children?___ Wes tells me about making his first sling shot on a cold snowy day, much like today.Another Dunseith School classmate brought materials, and showed Wes how to make this new toy using a Ystick, and something new other than leather.Wes took this new toy home.

 

He and his younger brother Warren crawled into their favorite coldweather hiding place.The big wood box behind the warmkitchen range was the brothers favouritecozy place. It was there, Wes commenced to show Warren how this slingshot worked.

 

First he peeked around the base of the stove and sighted in on the wall beneath a the BIG kitchen window. He asked Warren to go out side to find little stone. Warren went outside, dug around under the snow and brought in a rock.

 

The boys crawled back into their warm hidey hole____Wes took the stone, placed it in the band and drew it back.

Whizzzzzzz_____shatTTERED—–GLASS.It went a little too__high.

 

Hearing then seeing the window, into his father’s hand, Wes’ sling shot promptly found a new place in the kitchen stove.His father drove his horses in to Dunseith and purchased a big piece of glass.

 

The lesson learned.Wes always kept his slingshot outside. And his targets were gophers not glass.

 

Giving thanks for sweet memories.

 

Vickie, November 21,2011