Moving and all that Trauma
I graduated and decided I wanted to cut the apron strings really badly. I got a chance to move from Cincinnati, and I took it. A small college wanted a language teacher, and I was the one. What excitement, to be on my own have my own place, make new friends, test my character in the great big world out THERE.
I was going to a spot renown in the music world from a song, "Tarkio Road". The lyrics told of a hippie band, not aware that the single red flashing light was watched day and night by the one policeman, and when they not only did not stop, but made a U turn in the middle of the road, they were immediately arrested, searched, found carrying a baggy of tea leaves(contraband some called it), and thrown into the jail for a fortnight. The judge was not available, the trial held when convenient for the sheriff, and the band members sentenced and fined a huge sum of money. The band was outraged, but hands were tied, so they did what they best knew how. They wrote a number one hit, describing what had happened to them, earned back thousand times what they had lost in Tarkio, and felt avenged.
I heard about Tarkio's fame after I moved there. The town consisted of about 600 townies, a Christian College faculty, students of about 600, and a town run police force. The faculty socialized together, worked together, and felt [can I say it?] above the corn farmers. The townies felt they owned the town, they ran the town, and we were some intruder passer-bys that stuck their noses up in the air at them[maybe we did?]. The students were in shock. Most came from cities, and felt plopped in a corn field, no theaters, no stores, no entertainment, nothing but corn and cattle for miles and miles...There was a mule barn, remodeled into a theater, where students produced musicals and the community would come from miles around to see "Carousel" or "South Pacific" which kept some of them from going stir crazy.
Soon After I moved, I got a tiny apartment, bought a small Volkswagen bug, yellow, for $2100. new off the show room floor. I made payments for 2 years until it was mine, and I recall filling it up, at about 25 cents a gallon, for $2.25. Yes I'm talking a while ago... Back to the story; I had to get a driver's license. Yes, rules change in whichever state you drive. What a pain that was! Take a new written test, a new driving test. I was young and nervous, a new car. I was quite good at shifting, but still it is tricky. The police officer in drab tan patches of color, awards of some kind on shoulders and pockets sat in the passenger seat. We went around the town. To the stop sign. I stopped. To the flashing red light. Right turn, Left turn, all fine. He says, "Your engine sounds odd." I look at all the circles and gadgets on the dashboard. They all look ok. What do I know? He says, "Pull over here." I do so, wondering what he can hear, that I cannot. "Put your foot on the clutch and rev it up." I listen carefully to the sound of the engine, as we rev it up, once, twice again and again, I notice this is getting a little strange... and then I notice he is moving in rhythm with the car.. and pleasuring himself. I Look front, and I realize very quickly, I PASSED the drivers test with flying colors!
I was going to a spot renown in the music world from a song, "Tarkio Road". The lyrics told of a hippie band, not aware that the single red flashing light was watched day and night by the one policeman, and when they not only did not stop, but made a U turn in the middle of the road, they were immediately arrested, searched, found carrying a baggy of tea leaves(contraband some called it), and thrown into the jail for a fortnight. The judge was not available, the trial held when convenient for the sheriff, and the band members sentenced and fined a huge sum of money. The band was outraged, but hands were tied, so they did what they best knew how. They wrote a number one hit, describing what had happened to them, earned back thousand times what they had lost in Tarkio, and felt avenged.
I heard about Tarkio's fame after I moved there. The town consisted of about 600 townies, a Christian College faculty, students of about 600, and a town run police force. The faculty socialized together, worked together, and felt [can I say it?] above the corn farmers. The townies felt they owned the town, they ran the town, and we were some intruder passer-bys that stuck their noses up in the air at them[maybe we did?]. The students were in shock. Most came from cities, and felt plopped in a corn field, no theaters, no stores, no entertainment, nothing but corn and cattle for miles and miles...There was a mule barn, remodeled into a theater, where students produced musicals and the community would come from miles around to see "Carousel" or "South Pacific" which kept some of them from going stir crazy.
Soon After I moved, I got a tiny apartment, bought a small Volkswagen bug, yellow, for $2100. new off the show room floor. I made payments for 2 years until it was mine, and I recall filling it up, at about 25 cents a gallon, for $2.25. Yes I'm talking a while ago... Back to the story; I had to get a driver's license. Yes, rules change in whichever state you drive. What a pain that was! Take a new written test, a new driving test. I was young and nervous, a new car. I was quite good at shifting, but still it is tricky. The police officer in drab tan patches of color, awards of some kind on shoulders and pockets sat in the passenger seat. We went around the town. To the stop sign. I stopped. To the flashing red light. Right turn, Left turn, all fine. He says, "Your engine sounds odd." I look at all the circles and gadgets on the dashboard. They all look ok. What do I know? He says, "Pull over here." I do so, wondering what he can hear, that I cannot. "Put your foot on the clutch and rev it up." I listen carefully to the sound of the engine, as we rev it up, once, twice again and again, I notice this is getting a little strange... and then I notice he is moving in rhythm with the car.. and pleasuring himself. I Look front, and I realize very quickly, I PASSED the drivers test with flying colors!
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