Jawbreakers, Bubble Gum and Stick Candy

Jawbreakers, Bubble Gum and Stick Candy

  By Bobby A. Troutt

  Copyright 2013 Bobby A. Troutt

  Table of Contents

  Bridge Over Mossey Creek

  The Early Bird and the Late Worm

  The Lighthouse Legend of Hemlock Back

  Between a Rock and a Hard Place

  The Parable of the Plum and Pear Trees

  (Based on a True Story)

  Rufus and the Willow Creek Church

  George and the Princess

  Popcorn the Scarecrow

  Giblet Gravy and Fried Goosle

  A Christmas with no Gifts

  Who Took the Jingle Out of the Bell?

  What Happened to the Jolly Holly, Jingle Jingle

  And Ho, Ho, Ho in Christmas?

  The Wrapping May Have Been Cheap but the Gift Was Precious

  *****

  Jawbreakers, Bubble Gum and Stick Candy

  Bridge Over Mossey Creek

  Mossey Creek was a small community that sat nestled in the valley of Dry Rock. It was an island separated from the mainland by Mossey Creek which flowed around it. That’s how the town got its name. It was a lively little town with all its shops and friendly people. The island was connected to the mainland by a swinging bridge built years ago when Robert Lee was a small boy. The swinging bridge was the only way to and from the island; it was the highlight of the town. The island and the creek were decorated with beautiful flowers, vines and Spanish moss that dangled from the trees and blew in the wind.

  Robert Lee was a tall, lanky man with long, wavy black hair. His bushy eyebrows rose above his wire rimmed glasses when he smiled. He always tipped his hat to the ladies as they passed. Good day, ladies, he would always say. The women would just smile and giggle as they continued on their way.

  When he was a boy, he dreamed he would grow up to be the bridge keeper. And, he did. He was known as the best bridge keeper around. Robert Lee loved Mossey Creek and all the people who lived there. However, he loved the old swinging bridge the most. It was his friend, his job and his life.

  In its day, the swinging bridge was the highlight of the town. People from all around would travel back and forth over it to Mossey Creek to shop at the wonderful stores. In the summertime, children would jump off the bridge into the creek below to swim. To others, it was a great place to fish from.

  Yes, Robert Lee was a proud bridge keeper. He put his heart in to his work. He saw that the bridge was in tiptop shape. His main priority was to get people back and forth across the bridge safely. He worked hard to keep the bridge in “A-1” condition. He replaced boards when they cracked and broke. He made sure the cables and ropes were always in the best shape. He greeted everyone who traveled across the bridge with a warm smile and pleasant hello. Everyone loved Robert Lee as much as they looked forward to crossing the old swinging bridge.

  One day, Mayor O’Brian and the town council gathered to discuss the old swinging bridge. They wanted to tear it down and build a new bridge made of concrete.

  “It will be wider, stronger and more up-to-date,” stated Mayor O’Brian as he addressed the council.

  Mayor O’Brian was a short, chubby man with deep-set eyes that bugged out every time he stooped over. His jolly round face lit up each time he giggled.

  “I agree with the mayor,” shouted one of the council members as the others continued discussing the matter.

  “Let’s do it!” another member yelled.

  “Hear, hear,” cried Mayor O’Brian. “Let’s vote on it. All in favor of the new bridge say aye!”

  “Aye!” yelled all the members.

  “Opposed,” said Mayor O’Brian.

  All was quiet. The town council voted unanimously to build the new bridge. They believed it would improve the town and bring in more people to their businesses. It wasn’t long until the news spread across Mossey Creek that the mayor and the town council voted to tear the old swinging bridge down to make way for the new bridge. The people of Mossey Creek had mixed emotions. There were some for it and others against it. When Robert Lee and a few others heard the news, they tried to talk the mayor and the council out of tearing the old swinging bridge down. They talked and talked, pleaded and begged them to spare the old swinging bridge. Robert Lee told them the new concrete bridge would be wider, stronger and more up-to-date but the old swinging bridge was a part of the town and it had helped make the town what it was.

  After careful consideration of what Robert Lee said, Mayor O’Brian and the town council decided to keep the old swinging bridge. They decided to build the new concrete bridge down the creek from the old swinging bridge. The town worked hard to build the concrete bridge. Everyone pitched in to help except Robert Lee. He watched from afar and patiently waited for its completion. After several weeks, the bridge was complete. The day the new bridge opened, Mayor O’Brian christened it and gave a dedication speech. The concrete bridge became the talk of the town. Robert Lee and the old swinging bridge was only a memory.

  Robert Lee was no quitter. He continued to take care of the old swinging bridge even though not too many people crossed it anymore. In the summer the children jumped off the concrete bridge instead of the old swinging bridge and people also came to fish from it. As time passed, fewer and fewer people used the old swinging bridge. Eventually, no one came at all. If Robert Lee knew anything it was bridges. He saw that the concrete bridge was poorly built and very unsafe. He warned the mayor and the townspeople about the bridge; it was dangerous. The mayor and the townspeople laughed at him and called him a sore loser. They told him the concrete bridge was solid as a rock.

  Years rolled by and the time came for Robert Lee to retire. There wasn’t much need of a bridge keeper anymore. He often thought of the glory days of the old swinging bridge and his fond memories as the bridge keeper. As time passed, the old swinging bridge sat idle across Mossey Creek. It was covered with rust and Spanish moss; it rotted away.

  All was peaceful in the little town of Mossey Creek. Everyone was happy, business was good and the town was booming. Suddenly, one night without warning, a mighty storm hit Mossey Creek and crippled the whole island. It was awful. The storm brought in driving rain, roaring thunder and dancing lightning bolts. The wind ripped through the town and destroyed nearly everything in its path. The storm had caught everyone off guard. Everyone was running around screaming and crying as they tried to find a way to get to the mainland. Everyone in town pressed toward the concrete bridge. The angry wind and driving rain blew hard against the concrete bridge and caused it to be washed away right before their eyes.

  “What are we going to do?” screamed one of the townspeople. “How will we get across to the mainland?”

  “I don’t know,” cried another. “If we don’t do something, we are going to be washed away.”

  Boom blasted the thunder as lightning streaked across the sky. The townspeople huddled together as the mighty winds blew.

  “Stay close together,” one cried. “We need to huddle together in a circle.”

  “How are we going to get across the flooded creek?” questioned another.

  “What about the old swinging bridge?” someone asked.

  “It hasn’t been used in years,” cried Mayor O’Brian. “I don’t know if it’s safe.”

  “Let’s try the old swinging bridge,” Robert Lee said as he ran up. “I believe it’s strong enough to get us across.”

  “Are you sure?” questioned Mayor O’Brian.

  “I still believe in it,” cried Robert Lee.

  As the angry winds blew and the heavy rain continued to beat down, th
e water rose higher and higher.

  “The island is almost flooded!” someone yelled.

  “We’ll have to give the old swinging bridge a try!” yelled Mayor O’Brian. “We don’t have any other choice.”

  “Let’s go,” cried Robert Lee. “Follow me. Stay as close together as you can and hold hands.”

  The townspeople fought their way through the storm and struggled against the winds to get to the old swinging bridge. Finally, they reached it.

  “Let me go first,” instructed Robert Lee, “so I can see if it is safe enough to cross!”

  He stepped onto the bridge and started walking across. The wind and rain blew hard against him and drove him back. Suddenly, one of his feet fell through one of the old rotten boards. He held on tight as the bridge swung with the wind. He finally pulled himself up and continued to struggle across to the other side. Once he reached the other side safely, he turned around and went back for the others.

  “I believe it is sturdy enough for us to cross,” Robert Lee shouted. “Everyone, please be careful and watch your step. Hold on to the cable and walk slowly.”

  “Hurry!” screamed the mayor. “The water is rising fast.”

  One by one, the townspeople stepped onto the swinging bridge. As the people crossed, the storm raged on. The old swinging bridge popped, cracked and snapped. It swung to the left and then to the right as the raging winds blew.

  “Move with the swing!” shouted Robert Lee. “Move with the swing!”

  The townspeople held on for life and rode the mighty storm out. Finally, the storm passed; everything quieted down.

  “Listen,” whispered Robert Lee. “I believe the storm is over.”

  “I believe you are right, Robert Lee,” replied Mayor O’Brian. “We are all safe; we made it through the storm thanks to you, Robert Lee, and the old swinging bridge.”