A Most Unusual Passage
Copyright© 2026 by J&J
Chapter 10
Elizabeth looked like she was somewhat relieved. I guess my little speech did some good.
We traveled in silence and had just passed through Platner, when Elizabeth stomped on the brakes, hard.
I looked up in time to see five or six pronghorn antelope run across the highway. When I looked over at Elizabeth, her mouth was hanging open, as she watched them move off to her left.
I chuckled,” They move pretty fast, don’t they?”
She looked at me, and asked,” What are they?”
“Pronghorn antelope,” I replied.
She turned back to watch them disappear over the hill to her left. After they were gone from sight, she started back up. “I almost didn’t see them. They came right out of nowhere!”
I thought for a moment before I answered, and then said, “It’s different driving out here from what you’re probably used to. It looks like there isn’t much out there, but there is. You need to keep glancing to the side of the road as you drive. You don’t; next thing you know, you’ll have some critter for a hood ornament.”
She chuckled, and then said,”I can believe that. We have deer crossing when you drive through the Francis Marion National Forest, but they’re more timid and don’t move so fast. I didn’t know there were still antelope here. I thought they were in zoos or in “Home on the Range.”
“Actually,” I started, “they really aren’t antelope. They are Antilocapra americana, the only member of the species Antilocapridae.”
She glanced towards me for a minute, a quizzical look on her face, and then asked, as she again turned her attention to the road,”Now, what exactly does that mean?”
I laughed. “It means that they are the only member of their species. They don’t have any near relatives at all. They are also the second fastest land animal on earth.”
Elizabeth nodded her head. “ I can believe that. I’ve never seen anything move that fast.”
By the time she finished speaking, we were starting into Akron. I gave her directions through the town to Harold Barney’s farm, just outside of town.
As we pulled into Harold’s farmyard, I could see him disking to the north of us. He must have seen us turn in, since I could see that he raised the discs and then turned toward us, just as we were getting out of the car.
“Looks like Harold is out in the field,” I said to Elizabeth, as we got out of the car.
“Where,” she asked?
I nodded my head towards the tractor coming across the field.
Harold pulled up next to the fence, shut off the tractor and made his way over to where Elizabeth and I were standing.
He put out his hand as he got close, and then said, “Morning, Marcus, you got something on your mind?”
I chuckled as I shook his hand. “You might say that. But first, let me introduce you to Elizabeth Manigault. From what Everett told me, she’s going to be my replacement as principal in Otis.”
I could see his face flush, but he recovered quickly. He turned towards Elizabeth, shook her hand, and then said, “It’s nice to meet you, Elizabeth. I must say the school board was most impressed with your credentials.”
Elizabeth worked her southern charm and answered, Thank you, Mr. Barney. It’s nice to finally talk with someone from the school board beside Mr. Miller.”
I could see that her words had hit a raw spot in Barney. He grimaced and then said, “OK, I’m taking it that this little visit is not just to make introductions.”
“No,” I answered,” it’s actually my idea. I just find this whole process of replacing me without any discussion a bit strange. I would have thought that the board would have at least had the courtesy to inform me in a more formal manner than a breakfast visit with Everett Miller. Besides that, this whole thing sure puts Ms. Manigault in a strange position, don’t you think?”
Harold nodded his head and said, Let’s go inside the house, and discuss this. It’s getting a mite hot out here, and we’ll be more comfortable.”
Harold led us inside, and we took all sat at the kitchen table. Harold’s wife had poured coffee for him and me, while Elizabeth waited for tea. When Elizabeth’s tea was in front of her, Harold spoke.
“I knew something was up with Everett, but damn if I can figure out what. He convinced the board that it would be best if he handled your retirement. Now I’m wondering if there is more to this than what I’m seeing.”
He paused for a moment, and then said, “Marcus, I do want to apologize to you for the way this was handled. But, I have to say, the board does feel like you should retire.”
I nodded my head. “Apology accepted, and I really don’t have any problem with retiring. I probably should have done it a few years ago. But, I do think you need to apologize to Elizabeth as well. This isn’t the best way to introduce a new principal into a school system.”