The following is a “tale” from the memoirs of Earl Trousdale titled “Tall Tales” from the Old Timer. Earl spent his entire life in Carlin and was the mayor. We will be sharing with you some of his stories. Enjoy! All spelling and grammatical anomalies are the product of the author and he requested they not be changed.
Grandfather’s ranch, being close to town was a fascinating place for all the kids in town. My living there gave them all an excuse to come to the ranch. Most times these excursions of the kids were uneventful, but, once in a while something would happen to make it memorable.
Once, Rusty Archibald, a very good friend of mine, (we were the same age) came down to spend the day. Everything went fine until Rusty asked to ride behind Johnny Walker to round up the milk cows. This was great sport for town kids – to me – no. At any rate when Johnny and Rusty returned with the cows, they had to open the gate to let the cows through. About the time Johnny bent out of the saddle to open the gate, Balzar, the bull, took offense and charged the horse. Rusty, who was just sitting loosely behind Johnny was jarred so hard that he slid over the horse’s rump onto Balazar’s neck. Well, let me tell you, on that day an Olympic Vaulter was created! Rusty jumped off that bull’s neck – reached up for the top board of that six foot fence and vaulted over. This was quite a feat considering that Rusty was only about four feet tall at the time.
It was spring. That glorious time when everyone wants to just sit in the sun or lie down and bask in the sun’s warmth. School was in session and I was having trouble concentrating. It was easier to daydream. I asked to go to the restroom – request granted. I goofed around, stalling, hating the thought of going back. Just then, in walked Rusty, who was of the same frame of mind.
NOW AT THIS POINT I MUST ASK A PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTION: WHAT MAKES BOYS DO THE THINGS THEY DO?
Rusty and I walked out of the restroom into the auditorium, spotted the ladder up to the projection room. We climbed that ladder, crossed the room to a window looking over the roof of the school. Yep – we did it! We climbed through the window onto the roof and into that warm spring sunshine.
It was wonderful! Then we decided to “get a tan”, so we took off our clothes, except our shorts, and lay on that nice warm roof in that golden sunshine. Heaven, right here on earth. I think we both went to sleep.
In the meantime, our teacher was going crazy trying to figure out where we were. Then some nosy citizens, who had watched us undressing, reported two naked boys on the roof. Mrs. Brown, the principal, who I might add, was in her sixties, climbed that ladder and spoke through the window, “You boys get dressed and report to my office”!
The sound of her voice nearly scared us to death. We jumped up and ran, but then we quickly got dressed and reported to her office. I still cannot believe that that old woman climbed that ladder. Needless to say we spent several days after school for punishment. Detention! What a bore.
The first couple of detentions after school were dull and boring but then we wised up. Every day we reported and every day Mrs. Brown would say to us, “I have an errand to run, don’t you boys walk out this door because I will be right back”. Well, her little model “A” Ford wasn’t around the corner before Rusty and I were out the window! We did not disobey her! We did not go out the door.
So each night of detention, we would get the same lecture and each night we were out the window and off to some devilment, if we could find it. Before long school was out for the summer and we were free – free I say but we all had jobs of one kind or another and so kept out of trouble – well, mostly we did.
When school started that fall staying out of trouble was again a factor to contend with. Because we had a reputation for trouble. Everything that went wrong in town – grab that Rusty and Earl – whatever it was, it was probably them.
One fine evening after the fall term of school had started, Rusty, Eugene, and I met and were just hanging out like kids do, when one of us – I don’t know which – threw a rock at an “arc” light. That’s all the motivation it took. We darkened the north side of town. We broke every “arc” light we could find. What fun!
WHO CAN EXPLAIN THE WORKINGS OF A BOY’S MIND? EACH AND EVERY ONE HAS BEEN TAUGHT WHAT IS GOOD AND WHAT IS BAD – BUT –
The next day, to make matters worse, we played hookey! I guess that was the straw that broke the camel’s back – we had a sundown curfew placed upon us a threat of reform school if we did not comply! All three of us behaved very well, but on Christmas Eve, I was asked to a party at Tom Bielar’s. It was only about three blocks from the ranch and so I felt safe to break my curfew. This would have worked out fine, but dummie me, I decided to go to Midnight Mass with Tom and Eugene. Now who would bother some little boys going to Midnight Mass? We stepped into the Overland to warmup a little and there was Skip Thornton, town marshall, who grabbed Eugene and I. Tom got away but Eugene and I spent Christmas Eve in jail. Mr. Thornton would not build a fire and to keep from freezing, we had to crawl into some dirty old blankets that were on the floor. We cried ourselves to sleep.