Durango to Silverton Train Robbery

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Pumpkin Pie - Song re-write

American Pie

Re-written by Jeff Dillavou

As Pumpkin Pie

A long long time ago
I can still remember how
That Thanksgiving used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those Turkey dance
And maybe I would be happy for a while
But October made me shiver
With Meal I would deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn't take one more step
I can't remember if I cried
When I read about the turkey’s bride
But something touched me deep inside
**The day the Turkey died**
So

[Chorus]
Bye, bye Pumpkin Pie
Walk to the Wine box but the Box was dry
So all was that was left to eat was Pumpkin pie
Singin' this'll be the day that Turkey dies
This'll be the day that Turkey dies

Did you write the Cook book of love
And do you have faith Oven above
If the Recipe tells you so?
Now do you believe in those plain dinner rolls?
Can Thanksgiving save your mortal soul?
And can you teach me how to cook real slow?

Well, I know that you love to bake
But we are having Pie and not cake
You spilled the mash potatoes shoes
Man, did that gives you the blues
I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck
With a Beat up old Street Taco truck
But I knew I was out of luck
The day the Turkey died
I started singin'

[Chorus]

Now, for ten years we've cooked on our own
And Still making soup out of the turkey bones
But, that's not how it used to be
When I was in fast food and fry the taters
But I quit and said I won’t see ya later
And White Chefs coat was made for  me
Oh and while the Turkey was looking down
The Bopped him on the crown
The Dining room was adjourned
But the Bird was cooked and returned
And while we melted almond bark
The kitchen lights went out in a lark
But we keep cooking in the dark
The day the Turkey died
We were singin'

[Chorus]

Helter skelter in the kitchen swelter
I went to the stockroom which was a fallout shelter
The cans on the top shelf started falling fast
I slipped and fell on my ass
Threw the green beans like a forward pass
I used my carving knife with such class
Now the kitchen air was like sweet perfume
Rollingstones where on my I- tunes
I saw the pot boiling with a glance
Oh, but we still got the chance
Cause Potatoes were all peeled
The cooks just refused to yield
A Thanksgiving dinner was revealed
The day the Turkey died?
We started singin'

[Chorus]

Oh, and there we were all in one place
A small Kitchen will no space
With no time left to start again
So come on Jack be nimble, Jack be quick
Jack just go light the candle candlesticks
Stove is the cook’s only friend
And as I added some more sage
I looked at the recipe book’s page
No turkey born in Hell
Could break that cook’s spell
And we keep cooking into the night
Gave the turkey it’s sacrificial rite
I Just  started cooking with delight
The day the Turkey died
He was singin'

[Chorus]

I met a girl cooked without a clue
I told her –food she cook tasted like glue
But she just smiled and turned away
I went down to the whole food store
Where I'd saw some veggie’s years before
But the man there said there was none today
In the Pantry the cook sat and dreamed
He thought about pumpkin pie with Ice cream
But not a word was spoken
The deep freezer was broken
And Thanksgiving meal I love the most-
the really big dinner I love to host-
Rest of the Turkeys caught a train for the coast
The day the Turkey died
And they were singing

[Chorus:Repeat x2

The Denver Hit - Short Story

The Denver Hit

By Jeff Dillavou

I had spent the day traveling by air, which always made coming back home a pleasure. By the time I arrived at home, I was totally beat.  Just as I passed the edge of the porch, I could see what would be a start of a long nightmare. There, in the flower planter below me was my Uncle Joey.   He was doubled over.   His body was folded up like a broken book and the smell in the air made me want to vomit. I went to his side but I could see he was dead, saliva mixed with blood was running from his mouth. I jumped back and placed my weapon at ready, as I scanned the area for movement.  Nothing, not a human in sight. I headed in the home. “Oh my god, they got everyone.”  The whole family was dead, lying about the ground. Everyone must have been there, as well as some friends from the family.  I recognized a pair of twins from the Chicago area. They were supposed to be two of the biggest bad asses and meanest guys east of the Mississippi.

The Garbbrino twins had a list of hits that were second to none. They were best known for the time they had a hit on this guy who had swatted out a couple of the family members in KC. The guy went running every day. The idiot made the prep work easy. He would dress in a white Nike tank top, dark blue with thin black trim running shorts and bright red running shoes. As I remember it, the Garbbrinos laughed as they looked over the hit. “How easy is it to hit a guy who goes into the park every morning, so early no one else is around and dressed as a frickin flag”.

The Morning of this hit, the twins sat down outside and enjoyed what was left of a couple energy drinks.  Sammy looked at the can and chuckled “RockStar… why yes.. yes we are!” They were feeling jazzed up and a little wired when they went to the park. They had followed the Jogger for a couple of days.   They usually would do this for a week or more, but this numb skull was as predictable as a sunrise and sunset. He did the same thing, at the same time, everyday; day in, day out, same outfit, same park, same trail, and same resting times.  Watching this guy was like watching a movie set in a loop, repeatedly.  The twins took their time getting to the Bridge where the jogger would cross every day at the same point in time. - They had plenty of time to sit on the rocks in the morning sunlight as it broke the horizon. They squirmed on the rock a little as the energy drink had still hyped them up just enough so neither of them could sit still. “It’s time” one twin said as they nodded to each other. Just below the bridge, they waited... then the first step of the running shoe hit the green wood plank on the bridge.  Before the second full stride, Sammy popped up from the side and drove his weapon into the jogger’s hand.  The jogger started to feel the pain but didn’t really know what had happened as it occurred so fast.  It was a shock of pain that sent him reeling backwards. With this, Jim Garrrino aimed the point at his eye and went straight into him. The wound in his eye caused him to scream in agony and spin back ward.  Before the two could even strike again, the jogger fell sideways off the bridge crashing into the rocky muddy creek below. They smiled as they heard the crack of the jogger’s skull crash against the rock. Blood trickled from his eye, nose and mouth in to the clear water of the creek.  Clean and fast.  They might not even figure out what caused him to go over the bridge… suicide maybe… they laughed.

Now these two lay there along with everyone else in the family. My first thought is to take inventory.  I did a quick body count.  They got 27members of the family; 8 visitors including the twins.  There were 4 I did not recognize but they died here just the same. What was so messed up was that it did not look like any of them died a fast death.  They suffered a lot. The kind of suffering you would feel if your limbs were removed while you are still alive. I saw this happen to a buddy of mine about a year before.  It took a long time for him to die.  They finally burned him alive which I think he was glad to see happen as it took away the pain. It was different, but you could tell no one died fast!   I thought about seeing if there was anyone left alive, but I quickly realized that if my travel plans hadn’t changed, I was supposed to be here while the assassins were here.  Staying around to see if they would return and finish me off was not my idea of a good time. I crossed myself and got my ass out of there.

I flew south, figuring it would be safe to hide out in Texas. The Family had friends in Plano and they would take me in until I could figure out what to do next. Besides, hanging out by a pool and enjoying a margarita sounds pretty good after all the bodies I had seen. I need the time to disappear and plan.

The Hernandez Family had heard the news and upon my arrival rushed me in to hear about what I had seen. We shared all the proper greetings. The information they had was not far off from what little I knew.  Nor did I know who was responsible.   They promised to send the word out. They would hold good to this promise.

It was Tuesday and the half full Margarita glass was inviting as I sipped from the edge, avoiding the salt. The heat in Texas was a bitch. 104 degrees in the shade. The Hernandez Family was big in Texas; family members came and went, with Frankie sending them out on “errands”. It was good to be associated with the Hernandez family. They were big enough that I felt safe and could truly relax. Frankie was big; I mean he was large. He would eat and drink constantly, as the drones would stop by. Frankie was well respected for dealing fairly.  Don’t screw with the family and they pretty much would leave you alone. Do them a favor here and there and they would take you in and protect you even if you belonged to another family. I was just that, a friend of the family.

About a year before, two of his members were up in Denver and needed a safe house. I had this abandon house out in Brighton which was out in an old farm field, in the middle of nowhere.  It was not the best of places to hold up in, but safe it was. Frankie remembers that.

That afternoon in the hottest part of the day, Frankie came out to the pool where I was sitting on the edge of the water. He had that serious look on his face of “let me talk … I will let you listen”.   He plopped down next to me and said, “Denver’s not controlled now. There is no major family there.  Your family is gone and you are the only survivor. “I nodded. “ I would like you to take Denver under your wing, rebuild a family and become associates with us here in Texas.”” I know that this is a lot to ask.  We will find out who hit your family, but I will need you there to control the area.  Partner with us and we gain the strength to make a real difference.”” Even the Chicago and Indiana Families will not be as big as us and will avoid ever thinking about moving into our areas.” I nodded again. If you accept this, we will want you back in Denver soon.  We should know who hit your family by Friday and I would like you to fly back on Saturday. I will send 12 of my members to assist you in setting up, planning and executing the hit.”  I thought for a moment.  The idea of my having my own family and having my own area of control made me feel warm inside. I went over to the margarita glass and took a long sip. “Yes – and thank you.  I am forever in your debt.” The tequila made me feel even warmer…. Or maybe it was my ego.

On Friday I appeared back on the patio. Frankie approached me quickly. “We have the person who hit your family. Joseph Bachman.  – Take care of business. “

On Sunday, the twelve guys and I started to plan the hit. While the smallest of the gang, Nuchie, watched him, we made our preparations... We would hit at his home; revenge would be sweet and slow. We would make sure his pain was long and the end would not be quick. If possible, we would take him out on his deck. Every day, not at the same time, but every day, he would go out to the deck and have a smoke. He would sit there, or water his plants on the deck, but he was pretty well blind to everything else around him.

One by one we moved onto the property from the south, until all 12 of us were underneath the deck. We left Nochie in the house next door, watching, to signal us when it was time or if there was a need to back down.

Joseph walked out on to his deck.  We felt the vibrations on the boards as we clung on to them upside down. Nochie did his dance from the house next door to signal us to go. We flew out, swarming from under the desk in groups of two or three.  The first two flew around the edge and headed straight for him, but the buzzing caught his ear and he quickly grabbed a fly swatter and smashed the two across the deck and into the house wall. The next three or four flew out towards his face but again, the flyswatter smashed them as well. All four lay there on their backs with the stingers still waving upwards as a possible last sting could occur.  The rest of us flew to the far side of the deck, figuring he was too busy stamping out the others with his tennis shoe to see us coming.   Just as we make the corner of the deck, I saw the thing that took out the family… Wasp Spray. The dreaded word, “Raid” …filled all of my eyes in a million little red cans.   Before the rest of us could react… the stream of Poisson shot from the canister and hit us all with at least enough mist to make us fall to the deck floor. I thought about the large hive I had planned to build for the Denver Family possibly under this very deck, and how sweet I thought that would be. I coughed a little. I folded over in pain, just as I viewed the family laying there like this a week before.  Then I saw the sole of his shoe from above coming down right towards me – I raised my stinger in one last defiant stabling motion as his foot came down, “shiii –“ and ……

The End

Nice Sunset - Short Story

Nice Sunset

By Jeff Dillavou

I dove into the ditch right behind the high school just as the cop car turned the corner. We all hung out behind the school just off the “school property” which normally in the summer was a cool place. Sometimes someone would spot us. We would run and hide in the big ditch, other times if they approached us we took off for the woods. Once in the woods, they would never find us. It was not like we did anyone harm. We were not inside the school grounds, and we would just hang out and goof around. We would enjoy some damn good grass and lay in the sun.

There were about six of us who hung out together. Heather, Julie, (both them were beautiful girls but they also knew they were so they… can we say, had a little attitude), Max (who was small for his age but did not put up anyone’s crap, and was smart), Joel (he was a year younger and would do anything we all did just so he could hang with us), Susan (she was exceptionally tall, she even towered over me by 2 or 3 inches, sweet and smart), and then there was me, my name is Eric. I am not the most popular, or the best looking, or the smartest, but I like to have fun. I was always looking for a good time whether

it was just hanging out, joking around, playing games, or just being in the woods enjoying everything around me. The girls seemed to like me even the ones not in our “gang,” but overall I got along with everyone. Everyone that is, except David. Dave was about one and half sizes bigger than me, and thought it was fun to just pick on anyone he wanted to. It was like they were simply placed there for his enjoyment. Just a bully, I avoided him when I could, which was most of the time.

It was late June when I was walking along the road on the north side of town. Highway 34 was busy as tourists scrambled into town for the season. There were campers, hikers, beer drinkers, and most of all the hated out-of-state drivers that knew nothing of how to drive in the mountains. They looked at the locals like we were something they had never seen before. I usually avoided the highways, but for some stupid reason, I was walking along 34. Soon I was at the Estes Park Mountain Shop. I loved hanging out around their place. People there were nice and never gave me any hassle.

That day I headed north up the valley. No further than a half mile up the road… there was David. “Damn it”, I thought. I was just about to turn around and head away up the field when Dave saw me. I knew I could not run away, he most likely would catch me and he had his boys with him. Those guys feared him so much that they became his cronies just to avoid his harassment. Then they became just as mean as Dave. I took a deep breath, sighed, and walked forward straight up the road. Just as I passed his gang hanging out at the edge of the road, I nodded and not looking at anyone said “afternoon.” Just as I thought I made it by, three of his boys ran in front of me and from behind I heard, “Eric, where do you think you’re going buck-a-roo?” Crap, almost made it. “I am headed up the road, just for a walk Dave, and you, what are you guys up to? I haven’t seen you around much!” Dave snorted back “This is my valley boy… and you are trespassing…” before he could finish I shot back, “What are you talking about Dave, you know we all hang out up here to

avoid the out-of-towners.” “Well not anymore, and if you’re smart you’ll turn that white ass of yours around and head back to town. Tell your little buddies they are not to come up here anymore” Dave said as he pushed his chest out as if I was supposed to be impressed. But I did not want trouble. “Hey Dave, relax man, I am out of here... not a problem man.” Dave shot back with a little humph and “I thought so … you know I was going to kick your ass… so I would get back down the hill before I do.” Asshole, I thought as I turned and walked back towards the highway. Someday, yep, someday he and I are going to butt heads, and win or lose, I will not allow him to push me around. But today was not that day.

Later that evening, I met up with Heather and Julie. They were just laying in the field watching the sun set over

Longs Peak . The park had cleared out of visitors and tourists. I plopped myself down between them. “Hey you know Dave is starting to burn me up.” I started to tell the story of my run-in with David, when Max, Joel and Susan

enter the park from the west... I stood up and waved them over. They joined us in the tall grass and I started

my story from earlier that day. Max jumped up and said, “We should kick his ass, he’s not that tough.” As he stood there in his fight stance, I wanted to laugh a little as he was so much smaller than Dave who would kill him

in about three seconds into a fight. Max had the guts but not the size or strength to win. Joel joined in with, “Yes, I could help.” He said it in his little voice attempting to make sure we all knew he was there with us in mind and thought. Just as Heather and Julie started in with “yes you should,” Susan cut the conversation off. “What fight Max, get hurt for the “right” to go up a valley road we only use to escape the crowds? Someone could get killed, we all know Dave is not the smartest, but remember he has four or five guys with him. Yes, none of them are really into their cause like Dave is. They will do whatever he says even if it means they could get in trouble or worse, as long as Dave leaves them alone. So Eric was right to just walk away. I think I would, wouldn’t you?” Joel and all of the girls sat back down. Max looked at me, hung his head, and sat down as I did. “Nice sunset, huh?” Each of them acknowledged the setting sun.

We avoided Dave that June and July. In August, Joel ran into him up near the park one day but all of the old folks were there discussing the upcoming fall plans so Dave did not even see him. Dave was too busy strutting around talking crap to Sam. Sam was one of the leaders in our community and Joel could see Sam roll his eyes as he spoke to the other elders. Dave was trying hard to impress them. Joel stayed his distance but could see the older men were becoming aggravated with Dave’s bragging and acting tough. Finally Sam said, “Excuse me gentlemen,” turning to David, “we are busy trying to plan our fall. As you know, we must have our plan in place and all you do is talk. That is what it is -- just talk. We are not impressed, and we do not have time to waste on your stories right now.” Sam looked down at Dave with a firm strong look of disapproval, and for one moment, Joel thought Dave was going to start something with Sam. Joel thought, man that would have been great to see. Joel remembered how one summer a stranger from out of town had wandered into the neighborhood and was hitting on Joel’s mother being really forward and disrespectful. From out of nowhere, Sam came out and knocked him six feet to the ground. Before the guy even knew what had hit him, Sam kicked him so hard blood ran from his forehead. Sam could have finished him off, killed him right there, but Sam was not only strong but smart! “Get out of here, and if I ever see you or hear of you in Estes Park again, I will not be so kind -- you’ll be dead.” The stranger hobbled upwards and took off. Joel liked Sam. Everyone respected him. And to see him smash Dave would have been a sight of great pleasure.

We avoided the northern valley that summer, not because we feared David, but the girls liked the stream and the cool water. On the hot summer days of late August, Joel, Max and I would get into our pushing wars. Basically pushing wars was a game where we would attempt to push the other until the other surrendered or end up flipped back and when we play our little game in the river everyone laughed as the other ended up very wet. Max would put on a great fight. One day he and I started out as we always did, pushing and turning trying to throw the other off balance. This day Max had a new move. Just as I pushed down trying to force him down, he suddenly stopped resisting and stepped aside. Then just as I slipped by him, he shoved his head into my side knocking the wind out of me. With a little shove, I went over sideways into the river. Joel and the girls along the river bed cried out in laugher. As I shook myself off, Max took a bow to his cheering audience. Max had the heart and soul of a great fighter and was always a great challenge for me. But if he won in the past, it was merely because I let him win. Today he won fair and square, hands down. “Where the heck did you learn that move?” I said as I slowly waded to the shore. “Last week we were eating dinner with Sam, and I asked him how he learned to fight.” He said, “Fighting is for fools, winning is for winners.” Max went on to tell us about how Sam explained that everyone fights, but to avoid the fight sometimes means winning a fight. He showed us how Sam told him to move away from the fight then move back in when it was time to win. Max demonstrated on Joel a couple of times, and poor little Joel became his willing victim. Max made sure not to hurt Joel and apologized every time Joel was knocked to the ground. Joel would smile and say, “Thanks Max that is a cool trick or move.” I watched and understood with Max’s obvious movements now, what he was taught by Sam. Max then stomped over to me and said,”Come on big boy, want me to take you down again?” “Sure,” I responded as I stepped back into a fight stance. Joel cheered me on, the girls joined in encouraging one of us, then the other. Max took a step forward frustrated with my simply circling him. Just as he tried to stop, I turned to my side and kicked him as he passed me with his lurch. Max flew back into the water. “Oh my God, I did not mean to do that so hard man. I am so sorry. Are you ok? Man I am so sorry….” As he shook his head in semi disbelieve that he was knocked so far, he said “I am OK, really, ouch, ouch, yeah I am ok. Hey … I think ... you might have it down… I think... no I am sure, my ribs are telling me you got it.” I felt bad about Max, really bad. He was OK, but I still felt bad about actually hurting my friend. At the same time it was like I was enlightened. Something deep inside me felt powerful. I looked at my buddies. We all had grown stronger, quicker, and closer. We all walked back to the shore. “Nice sunset” Julie said and each of us repeated “nice sunset” except Max who just gutted, “Yep.”

Late September brought a different beauty to Estes Park. It was not that the amount of visitors slowed down any. They all heard of the fall colors and so the town was full as ever. We had grown a lot over the summer.

We became closer friends and our trust and camaraderie grew stronger. We often would join the old guys in their discussions, and they allowed us to sit with them. We respected those guys, without them we would not have the tight community we did. Most had aged well, a few started looking weak and old but Sam even with his age provided good leadership.

Everyone liked Sam with the exception of Dave. David never really got over the fact that he was called down publicly by Sam, and I think it shamed Dave so much that he detested the fact that he had to back down. I am sure his boys only built his hatred by trying to give him support. I had heard to Dave talking down Sam from others, it never bothered Sam or at least he never showed it.

On Sunday nights everyone would meet in the park. Max and Joel was usually there early and saved Julie, Heather, Susan and I a spot up front. This Sunday’s meeting was about the Fall Games in the Park. Each year everyone would go the park. Then all the guys would start the games – Max and I were old enough to play this year. After playing our games near the river, we were ready to play with the big boys. We did not know if we could win, but we had played hard. With the knowledge Sam had passed on to us, we felt pretty confident that one of us could take it all. The game date was set for the end of October. It could really go on for a couple of days depending on the players. Max turned to me and said, “I bet this year you and I are the two last ones to fight… and I am going to kick your ass…” We were standing only a few feet away from Sam in front of the group. Sam cleared his voice and stared down at Max. Max quickly said, “Sorry sir, I just got excited and ..” Sam cut him off and continued to speak to the crowd as if Max never interrupted at all.

After the gang all headed off towards the school, the girls were giggling at Max and me talking about winning the games. One of the parts of the annual ritual was that the winner got to be wooed by all the ladies. Heather informed us she would be the first one to get to kiss the winner this year. Julie then said, “No she was the prettiest and she would get to kiss the winner first.” The two went back and forth about who was prettiest and who would have the right to kiss the winner. Then Susan stepped out in front of both of the girls and said, “Stop it you two, you are both pretty and neither of you is going to win this fight going on and on like this… And besides, you are both pretty… Pretty lame and I am most beautiful and I shall be the first to kiss the winner this year. Both Julie and Heather’s

mouths dropped open. They stared at each other, then back at Susan… then Susan laughed and took off across the field with both Heather and Julie in hot pursuit. We laughed at them chasing Susan; they all looked appealing to me in the sun. Joel yelled out, “Hey, no fighting – that’s for the men at the games -- or are you both just a couple of boys!” They all turned short, and headed towards Joel at full run. Joel turned and started to head for the river with the three girls in hot pursuit. Max turned to me saying, “Boy the way this looks with three ladies chasing Joel, you’d think he had just won the games and had all the women wanting him.” I shoved my shoulder into Max, nudging him and we ran after the others.

The Saturday before the games, not one of could sleep. Knowing we needed our strength for the fight, we finally dozed off late. All of a sudden, Joel stood up and yelled out, “It is morning... we are going to miss the games...” We all jumped up and ran towards the park. Sam was at the front. Everyone from the whole valley was there, with many from the hills we rarely saw, and many I never met. Each of the men walked in front of Sam who either approved of them to compete or not. Each male strutted out with their chest pushed out, their head held high trying to look like the biggest bad ass in the crowd. Many of the older males stood near Sam and whispered between them often stepping up to Sam and telling him their thought of each potential candidate. Sam would nod each time. Since we arrived late, we ended up at the end of the line.

Marcus was one of the elders who approached Sam with each of the group’s thoughts about the guys as they presented themselves to Sam. Sam trusted the words and the thoughts of other wise men. Most of the strong were allowed to participate in the sparring. A few of the males were too small, too young or too old or weak or ill to fight.

Time seemed to stand still as I waited to have my approval. Max and I had started talking about the fight and how we were going to spar when we heard Dave yelling, “Shut up old man, your option is nothing… I am the strongest and deserve the right to fight... If you would stop listening to these dying old f…” Sam stopped him in his words, “First, there is no right to fight, and I only as the leader will choose who shall play and who shall not. Secondly, those men you speak so harshly of are here next to me as they have played the games and won many of these years. They have earned the right to stand here. But you, son, are not only disrespectful of this but maybe strong in your shoulders and legs but weak in the mind. But since you think you’re so strapping, you

can spar with me.” Marcus, thank you for your good guidance, but I feel I must allow this young one to learn something… from me. Marcus nodded yes but with a small shaking in his head still showing his disapproval.

Max and I finally got to the front, Sam gave his approving nod to each of us, and as soon as we were out of Sam's eyesight we gave an approval “YES” and butted each other. “Good luck,” Max said, “I know I got in and I would love to win, but Eric, you’re my friend and I know you’re stronger and wiser than I. I know we may have to fight but you are good.” I turned to Max and said, “Come on, each of us have a chance…besides either way we will always be friends and next year Joel will be old enough to fight us in the games. He’ll probably kick both of our white asses.”

We laughed and out of the corner of my eye I spied Sam looking at us. As he turned his head back to the crowd, I saw a small smile.

We then heard Sam announce, “Let the Games begin, as we have played them in our valley for over a hundred years. Let the sparring begin.” The clashing of bodies echoed up the canyons, howls from the crowd cheered on each male as they put everything they had into the battle. Bit by bit the play narrowed. I was told by Marcus that I was up. I ran on to the field, my eyes wet with energy. My opponent was big, really big. He had traveled down from the hills to play in the games and I had never seen him before. We ran towards each other. Running into him felt like I hit a truck. I did not back down but held my ground, pushing back hard. He was taller than me, so he pushed down hard. Then I took one quick step back, his eyes showed a look of surprise like what are you doing? As he pushed forward and I stepped back, his head dropped just enough to give me the chance to push him to the ground. His chin hit the dirt and grass. I could hear Julie, Heather and Susan going crazy as he rose and bowed to me. I thanked him for being an excellent fighter and competitor. He nodded to me as if to say, “And you, we may have a chance to do this again someday, sir.” Oh my, sir, sir… this guy called me sir. Wow.  Max was in the middle of his sparring when my head came back to earth. He was fighting one of David’s boys.

The guy was about the same size and weight as Max, but it was obvious that Max had the heart to win. He had pushed him back two times, but he returned each time. The third time Max hit a rock and tripped forward, which threw him off balance. His competition easily pushed him down to the ground. Max shook his head but stood and started to thank him for a good fight. Just as Max started to speak, he turned his back on Max and walked off. I saw Marcus whispering to Sam and Sam shook his head and looked down. I walked to Max and said,”He did not really win.” But Max cut me off. “He won fair and square. He did not put the rock there and I did not see it… but thanks buddy.”

The fights went into the early evening. I sparred with a couple of others, and either my confidence or my ability had grown as I took each one down quickly. The girls were all crazy and the men that had fallen in play cheered on their buddies.

Marcus then called out that next was … Sam vs. David. Both approached the field. Sam spoke to David saying, “Son you are a strong one as I have watched you win your other fights. You must learn to use your mind and heart.” And with that, one of Dave’s boys yelled out, “Shut up old man and fight.” The disruption caused everyone to turn and look, including Sam. Just then, Dave lurched forward stabbing Sam deep in his side and knocking him to the earth. Sam’s eyes had a look of shock as Dave pulled his antler away leaving a gaping wound in Sam’s side with blood pumping out of it. Marcus started to run to Sam’s side when Dave’s bys all jumped in front of Marcus, stabbing at him. Marcus was too old and weak to defend so many. Out of nowhere, Max dove towards the gang. The first one dashed towards him rather than hitting him head on. He let the first one slide by only to find the second one rushing him now. With amazing agility Max turned and with both of his rear hooves he kicked into the head of his assailant. The other three bull elks lower their head to fight with Max just as I jumped in next to him.

The first one ran towards me and just as Max taught me and I did to him, I turned as he jumped forward towards me. This time I planted both hooves in to his neck. He flew back to the ground. He did not get up but with this I did not see Dave run forward towards me with his head down and his antlers pointed towards my chest. Just as I turned … Dave slammed into me. Max turned his head catching him in the neck. But with the speed Dave had heading for me, Max’s fatal wound did not slow him fast enough. Dave’s right antler stabbed deep into my shoulder.

I fell to the ground to see Max turn to protect me as I lay wounded on the ground. Dave’s lifeless body lay next to mine, his antlers still red with my blood. Whoever was left of David’s boys ran for the hill and the deep forest. “I am ok… I think...see how Sam is.” Max walked over to Sam whose breathing had become faint. Marcus stood over him and licked his lifelong friend’s head. Sam spoke to Marcus with what air he could breathe out. Sam’s eyes rolled back and his spirit left. The herd stood in shock. Cries of the other elk sounded though out the valley.

Marcus stood and walked in front of the herd. He said, “Today your leader has passed on. We will remember him, but he spoke to me of the future. He knows the games are important to the herd’s survival. The winner shall lead the herd into the winter and beyond. Today Sam’s last words were those of wisdom. He has proclaimed the new leader of the herd to be … Max. From now on Max shall lead us and he shall choose a new counselor as I was chosen by Sam.”

Later I passed out but woke to find Julie and Susan licking my forehead and pushing my ears pack and forth with their noses. Susan said, “Come on get up, you get a little cut and you just want to sleep. I brought you some fresh grass, the tall ones from the edge of the park we like so much.” Julie lightly kicked me in my tail. “Come on get up, there is a lot you missed in two days.” “Two days?” I said. “Yes, Max has selected his harem, and Heather joined him, along with eleven other girls.” Susan then said, “Yes and he has chosen his counselor.” I stood and shook the

dirt from my fur, looking at my shoulder and the dried blood. “Joel, did he pick Joel? Joel is great, Joel…”No silly,” Susan said hastily, “He picked you.” “Wow.” Max, the new leader of the herd and a new harem of twelve cows... “Hey what about you two... He did not pick you gu…” Susan ran over and licked my ear, Julie quickly joined her on my other side and they whispered, “No, we are still available Mr. Counselor”… “Humm... Maybe I am going to enjoy my new duties.” Susan then stopped and said, ”Well we have plenty of time for this later, Max has called all the bull elks together and he wants you there for guidance when he lays out our strategy for the winter.” We all started to walk to the field, my left hoof dragging a little. I looked up and said, “Nice sunset.” Both girls replied, “Nice sunset.”

The End

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