The Squirrel Hunt by Gary Benton
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Pa walked into the house, poured a cup of buttermilk and asked, “J.D., do you think Paul would like to do a little squirrel huntin’ about now?”
Grinning, he replied, “Ain’t nothin’ in the world Paul likes to do more than hunt squirrels, unless it’s cat fishing!”
Emptying his milk glass, pa wiped his mouth off with the back of his hand and said, “Well, get your gun and stuff. We’ll change and stop by his house on the way to the woods. I know a good spot back over by old Lady Light’s place that ain’t been hunted in years.”
“Looks like a big mess of squirrels for dinner tonight! I’ll get everything ready and meet you in the truck.”
Pa laughed as he watched his son run to his bedroom and thought, he’s a good boy and he’ll do well in life. He surely loves to hunt too and that’ll help keep ‘em in shape as he gets older.
Less than an hour later, they pulled up at Paul’s house and J.D. ran for the front door. As soon as he knocked, Paul answered, “Hey, J.D., what you doin’ over here on a Sunday?”
“Pa and I thought ya might want to go squirrel huntin’ with us.”
A big smile flashed on Paul’s face as he replied, “Let me ask my pa, but I done my chores, so I reckon he’ll let me go.”
A few minutes later Paul was back with his .410 shotgun in his hands and his hunting cap on his head. As the two boys moved for the truck, old Blue let out a few loud barks, and Paul said, “Pa said I could go, but I have to be back home by dark.”
As he opened the door, J.D. said, “Shoot, we’ll have a bushel basket of squirrel’s way before dark.”
Once in the truck, Paul looked at the floor and saw a huge rusted out section on the floorboard, and glanced at J.D.
J.D. smiled, placed his feet up on the dash and said, “The windows don’t work neither, but it’s paid for.”
Pa laughed, looked at the two boys and added, “Yep, paid for and it’ll keep us dry, unless the puddles splash up through the floor as I drive. I’ve had this old thing for nigh on twenty years and while the heater don’t work, it’s slowly rusting apart, it does start every time I turn the key.”
He placed the truck in gear, pulled onto the highway and said, “Let’s go get some squirrels. Just the thought of fried squirrel with white pepper gravy and mashed taters, along with some biscuits, makes me hungry!”
The ride down the country road, after they’d turned off the highway, was rough, since the shocks on the truck were shot too. The boys laughed at the way they bounced in the seat and at one point Paul had to grab the door to keep from hitting the roof. Finally, they pulled into the woods, cut the engine and climbed from the cab. Pa looked around and warned, “Now, you two keep your eyes open for snakes once we get into the trees.”
“Snakes?” Paul asked.
“Yep, they got copperheads out here and near the water you’ll find some cottonmouth’s too.”
“Ya scared of snakes?” J.D. asked.
“Let’s just say I don’t care much for ‘em, but I don’t have nightmares about ‘em or nothin’. As long as I can see ‘em, I’m fine.”
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