Wow I had survived 8th grade and made it to high school. I still wasn't Mr popular, but as long as I kept a low profile I wasn't harassed as much. A lot of the "in-crowd/Bullie" Boys had bought matching brown jackets and called themselves the "Brown Jacket Gang' They liked to push the smaller weaker kids around. Most of them just to fit in and not be pushed around. But for the most part they did not harass me too bad. Some of them were actually friendly when they weren't a group. Also I had a few pretty good friends. I was somewhat of a geek, I worked the Cafeteria to pay for my lunches. And tried to stay pretty much to my self. I often wondered what I would be like if I hadn't left my hometown. But Mom had had her way and I had to live the life I was given.
There were actually only a handful of bad guys so to speak, and the rest were just school mates. I always had plenty of people to talk to, and hang with if I wanted to. I took Vo-Ag and joined the FFA. Was great to be a part of a group. and I wore my jacket proudly. In Vo-Ag and the FFA, even the bullies were less apt to act up during an activity. I remember helping with the FFA Float for the Homecoming Parade, got initiated during that one, made the Freshmen chew a big wad of tobacco and then slapped us on the back to try to make us swallow some. I did swallow some and man it tore up my stomach. Perhaps another reason I avoided Tobacco all my life. This was not something that was aimed at me personally ALL Freshmen present were made to do it. I guess we passed this test. Nowadays it would be considered Harassment or Hazing and all hell would break loose. It was neither, it was a pert of gaining your manhood. Growing up. A ritual of becoming you, and a part of the group. I enjoyed the FFA and took an active role in being a part of something good.
I also attended all the Football games and most of the basketball games. Rode the "Rooters bus" to the away games. In the fall summer and spring I would work on the ranch. Doing whatever chore Lloyd could find for me. Hoeing around the small newly planted trees, Helping put out "Props" when the trees started getting heavy with fruit, stacking the props after the harvest, and grading the fruit as it was picked. This gave me money to go places and buy me some new school clothes in the fall.
When there was nothing to do on the ranch I would walk to a nearby ranch and pick black berries.
Phyllis and Betty would come down quite often and bring my niece and nephew. I got to babysit quite often when they would go to town. one week-end Phyllis and Charles had come to visit, and brought his younger brother Leslie with them. Leslie was a bit younger than I and we usually got along pretty good. Well this weekend we got to fighting and Phyllis threatened to spank us if we didn't quit. Well I told her her that is she touched me I would have her arrested for assault on a minor. MAN that was the wrong thing to say. She took after me and I ran up the ladder to the top of the Garage, pulling the ladder up after me. she started throwing things, mainly pop bottles, and I spent the afternoon on top of that garage dodging pop bottles. She never did make contact, but when Dad got home he did. He wore out my butt and I decided I would not be smart arsed with Phyllis again like that. Today if anybody heard this story they would yell Child Abuse, but I never considered it anything but a good ol fashioned butt whippen, and I had it coming. My Dad NEVER Spanked us kids unless we really deserved it. Mom was a lot quicker to grab a switch or paddle over little things. And her spanking were more severe.
I remember one time in the pink house, Pat and I had went to the market, and Pat had stolen a pack of Kraft Caramels, a whole nickel pack. Well she wasn't going to share so I told on her, even told Mom where she had hid them. She lied and told mom I had stolen them and that's why I knew where they were. We both stuck to our stories, and mom took turns whippen us, this went on for over an hour. Finally Phyllis & Betty grabbed me and said "James go ahead and say you did it,!" I said but I didn't they Said "Yeah but if you say you did it she will just whip you a little more and it will be over". So I took the wrap. She finished and told me I had to take the candy back and apologize and pay for it. I was scared. Phyllis & Betty said they would go to make sure I did it. I said "Thanks a Lot!" But they had a plan, we walked into the market, over to the candy rack, and I acted like I picked up the Caramels, I put the open end in my hand, walked up and gave the clerk my nickel. That was it, they told Mom I had confessed and she was happy. Pat went to her grave never admitting she had stolen that candy!!!
Another time (in Ballico) she was hooking up the gas heater for the winter, and Pat and I were arguing. Well pat started chasing me through the house and as she ran past Mom Mom grabbed her and whipped he with the cloth Covered heater hose, left big whelps on her butt and legs. I do not remember Dad ever leaving marks once the red went away.
I also remember we were doing a project for the FFA, stacking brush for a local farmer, Well some one managed to get hold of a gallon of Red Mountain Wine. We were drinking it and stacking brush, I got pretty lit, and a friend took ,me home, I went to my room to hid from Dad, he never figured out why I was "sick".
Freshman Year passed and It was time for summer again.
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