Their only agreement was that after they were fed and rested that they would move on.Their only agreement was that after they were fed and rested that they would move on. I did not want squatters around Amboy. One day, clanking, bucking, and smoke pouring from its exhaust, an old battered truck pulled into the station. It was another Okie family. Chairs, mattress springs, tubs, and whatever, loaded in or tied down about the truck. The tired family poured out, headed for, and drank from the water hose used for filling car radiators.. The family was a foursome. The father, the mother, and their two sons. The boys were grubby. They both needed haircuts. The father approach, his head hanging, a beat man. "Scuse me, mister!.. Anyway I could do some work around here to feed my starving family. I can do anything with my hands. My wife is a good cook. My boys are handy too." "I've got a few days chores here", I replied. "Could probably use your wife in the kitchen and make use of the boys. Now, I want you to pull your truck over behind that end cabin. The door's open. All of you shower up then come over to the cafe for a spaghetti dinner. I'll add a couple of cots to the room so when you're done eating, you can all go back and rest." I received a grateful amazed look from everyone. The tired troop arrived at the cafe, clean, but wearing their dirty clothes as they had nothing else. They ate rapidly. I saw that each plate was refilled as soon as it emptied until their hunger craving had passed.. I gave each a large serving of apple pie to top things off, along with plenty of coffee. Finishing, the wife burst into tears with gratitude, the father thanked me profoundly and both boys shook my hand. "Go and get a good rest," I said. "I'll talk to you when you are more refreshed." My relationship with this family went well. The father was a good craftsman finishing each project with concern and care. I had him install a few more booths in the cafe and re-shingle the roof. His older son, Jed, helped and seemed happy doing the macho chores with his dad. I was getting a feeling about Duffy, the younger cute one. Duffy would prefer washing dishes in the cafe or cleaning the empty motel rooms rather than do heavy physical work. |