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JOHNNY REB IN 'SHADOW' Part 1
Character by Tim Frady Story by Wayne Clayton
Johnny flew down low over the woodland as he looked for a spot to set down. Slipping in between the branches of the trees he finally planted his feet once more onto the soil of his native land. He stood for a moment and breathed in the cool air caught in the shadows of the forest.
Away from the world he changed into his civilian clothes. Which he had carried along with his few possessions in his old army kitbag. He wasn't sure walking around in his 'fighting' uniform would be wise in peace time, especially out here in the backwoods of East Tennessee.
He began to walk through the forest towards where he had seen Highway 35 cut through the green carpet of trees, and it wasn't long before he emerged by the roadside and felt the heat once more on the back of his neck.
The road stretched out before him empty of all signs of life, but this suited him fine he was in no hurry. Up ahead he spotted an old billboard set a little from the road. He chuckled to himself as he saw what was advertised on its weathered beaten face. There looking down on him was 'Johnny Reb' star of movie theatres and radio shows selling war bonds. But it was not his face smiling broadly but that of an actor, 'Max Milton'. He had never met the guy but as far as America was concerned he was the face of Johnny Reb. That was just fine with Johnny, the fewer people who knew who he was the better.
Through the haze rising off the road he spied an old Ford pick up truck coming up behind him. Johnny stuck out his thumb and sure enough the truck shuddered to a holt beside him.
From inside a craggy face appeared, his mouth framed by a short corn pipe which filled the cab with fragrant white smoke.
"Where you heading Friend?" he spoke slow and steady as if not wanting the sentence to end.
Johnny smiled feeling more at home with each syllable.
"I'm on my way to Shadow, If your heading that way I'd be mighty grateful"
"Good Folk in Shadow" he rolled as he pushed open the passenger door.
Once seated inside the man cranked up the engine once more and off they set.
"So what business you got in Shadow?"
Johnny wasn't sure himself yet but he anwsered anyway.
"Just Family"
"Good Folk in Shadow" he said nodding in agreement with himself.
Johnny smiled again and began to look at his surroundings as they bumped alone the highway.
On the dash board amid the dust and dead flies stood a small wooden cross held in place by a thin copper wire. God Saves emblazened across it in white paint. As if he needed reminding that Johnny was in Gods own Country now. He looked out the window and let his mind drift back to the time when his life was so very different, when it was a whole different world.
A time when he was young, truely young, playing in the fields of cotton and corn which stretched out forever it seemed back then. The nights when he'd sneak out to the workers shacks and listen to the cotton pickers tell their stories of clever rabbits outwitting mean old foxes. Of course if his Father caught him they'd be hell to pay...though it wasn't till much later he knew why he wasn't allowed to hear those stories.
The bump of the truck brought Johnny back into the moment and looking out he saw they had reached the crossroads which signalled the end of the line.
Johnny grabbed his kit bag and tipped his head to his travelling companion.
"Much appreciated Sir"
The man nodded his head and ground the gears once more before driving off. As Johnny watch him go he was sure he heard him say "Yep ..Good Folk in Shadow"
With that he turned back towards the dusty yellow road which lead into the heart of the small town he called home and everyone else called Shadow, Tennessee.
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