When loyalty was severely tested.

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The three main rascals of Fisher Hill in Carthage in the forty's were Tommy Moss, Sonny Apple and Lewis Butler. These three played, ran, fought and otherwise associated with each other daily. Other male members of the neighborhood were allowed to associate with this unholy trio on occasion, but Tommy, Sonny and Lewis could always be counted on to be at the center of an occurrence of most any kind.

It was either Tommy or Sonny who owned a BB Gun. Lewis was never allowed to have one! His mother always gave the standard answer for not allowing him to have it:, "NO. You'll shoot your eye out!" (The movie, "A Christmas Story" just about says it all on this point.)

At the top of Fisher Hill, Fisher Avenue dead-ends at what was once a circular drive for the Antebellum home at the top of the hill. Fisher Avenue is lined with old Sugar Maple trees that stand 10 feet from the curb on each side, but they are so large that their limbs intertwine above the street. It becomes a fiery, golden tunnel in the fall. In fact Fisher Avenue and Main Street in Carthage in the fall are often spectacular.

On this particular occasion the Trio was seated at the end of the Moss sidewalk, taking pot-shots with the BB gun. Little if anything escaped their attention: the telephone pole, the nearest maple tree, a wandering dog, or a bird perched high above on a power line. It was late in the summer afternoon and the sun had just about set. In the half-light before dark the lightning bugs were beginning to appear and the katydids had begun their songs, when Chicken Mc Clanahan came driving up Fisher and made a turn on-to Cullum away from the seated Trio.

Author’s note: Almost everyone in Carthage in the first half of the century had a nickname. There was Booger Mc Cormick, Slicker Snake Huffines, Rubber Dick Huffines, Hog Liver Key - the Huffines family had all the best nick names, and a hundred others.

Tommy was seated between Sonny and Lewis and at that moment, and Tommy was in possession of the BB Gun. Chicken made the turn away from the group. Tommy raised the gun and glanced a BB off the rear window of Chicken's car. Tommy dropped the BB Gun in front of all three of us and said, "DON'T TELL HIM WHO DID IT!"

Chicken was mad! Livid is probably a more appropriate word. He jumped out of the car and shouted, "WHICH ONE OF YOU BOYS SHOT MY CAR?"


Now this is the point where loyalty was severely tested! Sonny, Tommy and Lewis were not very mature, probably nine and ten years old respectively, but they were smart enough to know that this episode could rapidly turn into a period of substantial and sustained pain if not handled with proper aplomb and decorum.

The Trio knew that Chicken had a temper and it was possible that he had had a "drink". (It is true that you can't trust most men who won't take a drink, but it is also true that you'd better look out for some people when they do take one! Chicken was a member of both categories.)

At the split second, in the blink of an eye, and as quick a hick-up, Sonny pointed right and Lewis pointed left: Tommy was caught between points! The Trio received an appropriate, and well-deserved, tongue-lashing from Chicken which was all quickly forgotten except for the part about their parents would be told if they ever did such a thing again.

The Trio's loyalty had been tested and overcome by expediency!

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