The two men went outside and climbed into the truck. Jim suggested his vehicle this time sighting that Tom’s truck would need a few days before that smell would be gone. Tom happily agreed.
The two set off the down the gravel road, north about a mile or so and then made a left onto a small two track grass path. Jim came to the top of a hill, spun the truck around backing it up to face back the way they came and then put the truck in park.
“We should be able to see the spot from here. I turned around so we can sit on the tailgate. You could use the fresh air.” Jim said smiling, getting out of the truck and closing the door before the old man could reply. Tom got out shaking his head.
The two of them sat up on the tail gate and Jim offered Tom a drink.
“Water is fine.” Tom said.
“That’s good, because water is all I got. Here.” Jim said, reaching into the cooler and handing the old man a bottle.
They gazed out across the horizon and Tom could see the pothole Jim had in mind about 300 yards out. It was nothing special as far as prairie potholes go but it was secluded and it appeared to already have a few ducks sitting on the water.
“Looks like there are a couple down there.”
Jim nodded, “Yep, but that’s just the locals. Earlier, while you were hosing off that stench, I got a call from a buddy of mine up north of us and he says that new birds were up high and heading our way. That’s what I was hoping to see this evening.” As he finished he pointed up to the sky.
Tom looked up to see a flock of ducks, high up, flying in “V” formation just over head. They were just specks up there but the old man knew that it was a good sign.
“Jim, I thought it was poor form and kind of frowned upon to shoot a roost area like this.”
“It is! Nothing makes me more upset than to see some yuppie, out-of-towner shoot a roost pond. It ruins the whole area. But that is not what we have here. This is a loafing pond, a lazy man’s dream hunting scenario. In the morning, we will wait for the roosting birds to leave out to feed and then ease in there to set-up. Temps should drop pretty good tonight into tomorrow so the birds will be hungry. After they get nice and fat from the picked corn and bean fields, they will make there way back here to sit around and malaise in the mid-day sun. That’s when we will get them.”
Tom nodded and really liked the idea. It was a much different approach from what he was use to.
“Look right there.”, Jim said.
Tom looked out over the water just in time to see 20 or so big mallards set their wings and glide down into the slough. Right behind them he could see a ball of tiny, green wing teal buzzing over the top of the spot, picking up and circling around, carrying on in their typical indecisive fashion. They made another bank around the edge of the water, picking back up again, then setting up to make the final landing at the far end of the pond, all seeming to land right on top of each other. The old man’s mouth began to water. To him, there was nothing better than a fully plucked, fat northern teal pan roasted in a hot iron skillet.
“So Tom, I’ve been meaning to ask you, how long do you plan to stay up this way? Surely you’ve got some family back home that would be missing you?”
“No family really. My two girls are grown up, each of them married and moved away. I guess I haven’t really set a date to go home. I have been having too much fun up here to even think about leaving yet.”
“Yea, what about your wife. I see you’ve got a wedding band there. She’s got to have a say in how long you are away?”
Tom looked down at his left hand and spun the gold band on his hand. He had forgotten it was there. After 30 years it had become just as much a part of him as the finger it hung on. He sighed, “Nope, no wife. She passed away a while back.”
Jim started to apologize, realizing he had brought up a sensitive topic, but Tom cut him off, “Don’t worry about it. I should’ve mentioned it earlier but didn’t know how to fit it in. She’s kind of the reason I’m here. The house just isn’t the same anymore without her and I can cook a meal for one just as good on my tail gate as I can on the stove at home. I guess that’s another reason I’m in no hurry to get back home.”
Jim sat quiet for a moment, then shifted a little before he spoke up, “Well, in that case, you should come help me at the fall festival on Friday. The town puts on a big gathering every year for the week of Halloween. And, of course, Dottie got me involved year’s back so it’s become tradition that we hook up the tractor up to a trailer loaded down with hay. We drive down main street, throwing out candy to people and waving, typical stuff. That sound like something you would be interested in?”
“Yea Jim, I could do that. I don’t have to dress up, do I?” Tom looked over at Jim.
“You will once I tell Dottie that you are coming! Especially if you want to eat anymore meals at her table. And, besides, I’m not going to be the only schmuck out there in a scarecrow costume. Don’t dare try to back out now, you owe me, remember?” Jim pointed his nose over at Tom and made a special gesture of sniffing the air.
Tom smiled, “Fine, I’ll go along with it. But I’m on to you old man, don’t think I won’t wise up to all these tricks.”
Jim’s back straightened, “Who are you calling old!?”, and he smiled.
The two men turned back to the pond just in time to see another flock of mallards set their wings and ease down into the water, fluttering feet above looking for a place to sit in the duck laden pot hole.
The old man smiled, “Tomorrow is gonna be a great day.”
The Fall Experience 