The Grandfather Stories

THE GRANDFATHER STORIES Adventures of Don, Dick, Jack, and Bill by Don Scott Introduction In the late 1940's after World War II, Oklahoma was experiencing a prosperous time with the oil boom in the central section of the state. Oil wells were being drilled in Seminole County on a regular basis, and the county seat, Wewoka, was especially booming. Land owners were receiving monthly royalty checks, and local businesses were reaping increased profits. Although whites and coloreds lived in harmony, segregation was still an accepted way of life. Gypsy caravans of cars, pulling house trailers, were traveling through and spending nights camped beside highways where space permitted. Into this potpourri of humanity, homeless men, given the name hobos, walked the highways, and rode in box cars of freight trains when possible. This is the true story of two sets of brothers who lived in the rural area around Wewoka, and how they were swept up into this chaotic period of Oklahoma history. While wandering around the Oklahoma hills, they unexpectedly confront many of the afore mentioned people. The adventures of the brothers take on a Tom Sawyer-Huck Finn look as they also experience rural and small town Oklahoma.Dedication Lindsey, my oldest granddaughter, when she was young wanted bedtime stories. I started reading books that were appropriate for her age, but this became boring after some time. So, I decided to tell stories from my younger days. She enjoyed them and soon the stories were a regular part of her bedtime preparation. Occasionally, she would ask me to repeat a story, which I was happy to do. “Papa, tell me about the time ole Blackie got snakebitten,” she would sometimes say. Ashley, my youngest granddaughter, when she was old enough to understand the stories, was also a part of the bedtime routine.Table of Contents The Boys................................................1 Blackie is Snakebit.....................................5 Blackie Scares the Boys.................................7 Watermelons............................................11 Peaches and Apples.....................................14 Sipe's Pond............................................18 Fishing, Frog Gigging, and Camping.....................19 Cottonmouth Water Moccasins............................28 Swimming with Snakes...................................32 Campsites..............................................35 Weeping Willow Campground..............................39 Sipe's Property Sells..................................46 Extra Money............................................50 Possum Hunting.........................................55 Crows..................................................57 Lead Treasure..........................................60 Blueberries............................................62 Soda Truck Overturns...................................64 Skunk Mountain.........................................66 Planting Strawberries..................................69 Catching Chickens for Mr. Austin.......................71 Swimming...............................................75 Spring Swimming........................................83 Rubber Gun Battles.....................................87 Halloween..............................................91 Hobos and Hobo Jungle.................................102 New Kid in Town.......................................113 Snow Sledding.........................................124 Owls..................................................131 Gypsies...............................................135 Epilogue..............................................139 Glossary..............................................141 Teacher's Guide: Preschool-Third Grade.................................149 Fourth Grade-Eighth Grade.............................150