The Journey to Florida

  “Well boys, it’s time for me to head home,” Sally says. “Willey, you keep me up dated about your Journey, and when you find the fountain of youth, be sure to send me a bottle.”

  “You can sure count on that, Miss Sally.” Willey comes up to Sally, and whispers into her ear. “Thank ya, me and Bob been getting bored of hanging around.”

  “Sally, whispers back, “you’re sure welcome.” She then turns and leaves the boys alone.

  When Sally is out of ear shot, Jack says, “that Sally sure is a looker, and she be smart too, with writing all them books.”

  “Now back the train up, there Jack. Miss Sally done got herself a good man, and he got himself a real job.” Willey said.

  “All I’s saying is, he’s a lucky man. All they money she got’s to making from them books. She got to be a gazillion air.”

  “She weren’t dressed like no gazillion air to me,” Bob said.

  “She don’t want to go showing off.” Willey added.

  “Alright, boys, if’n we’s gonna  find this fountain of youth, we got to be making some plans.” Jack said.

  “What kinda plans?” Willey asked.

  “It be a long way to Florida. We got’s to have a map, and then load the truck up with things for the trip. Willey, you got that there portable computer you done bought?” Jack ask.

  “Yeah, it got itself maps in it.”

  “Well you be looking for anything it tell you about the fountain, and this here Ponce fella. Bob and me will get to packing what we’s gonna need. We be heading South in the morning.”

                                                                   ****

  The boys get up early, 10 am, and load the truck.

  “What you find out?” Jack asked Willey.

  “We got’s to head down South to they Golf Coast. Then we heads West. Hey! We’s going to New Orleans.”

  “For sure?” Bob asked.

  “Yep!”

  “Ain’t they still flooded?” Jack asked.

  “No! I done read, they done pumped all that water out.” Willey said.

  “They ain’t no big hurricanes, be heading there, be there?” Bob asked.

  “Ain’t no hurricanes in winter dummy.” Jack said.

  “I knew that.” Bob said.

  “The truck be  loaded with plenty of beer, we’s off.” Jack said.

  “First stop be Shreveport.” Willey says.

  “Shreveport!? They got them gambling places there,” Bob says, excited.

  “We ain’t gonna do no gambling!” Jack says.

  “Why not?” Willey asks.

  “On account of you pulling that gray hair out my head. My momma done told me, ‘you pull one gray hair out, and they be a hundred replace it.” Jack said.

  The others look at him for understanding.

  “I been looking in the mirror, and them gray hairs be threatening  to take over my head. It be making my joints stiffen up. Fella’s I be growing old right here in front of ya.”

  “Ya don’t look no older to me.” Willey says.

  “That only be on the outside. I might be a goner afore we even find that there fountain.”

  No one says a word, all the way to Shreveport.

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