Chapter 6

I spent a soothing afternoon and evening communing with the spirits of Foreign Wars, the ghosts of heroes and cowards, poltroons and thieves, draftees and volunteers ... Americans. Us ... me. Sitting at the controls I contemplated being a good enough pilot to train others but missing that spark that wanted to go ... over there.

I mounted the Norden and its stabilizer and imagined sighting a German town, a target, and wondered what those on the ground thought the moment I pressed the release ... what I felt as I pressed it.

A search through the boxes found a Navy Bendix Navy Bubble Type Q 15 sextant, an Army A-1oA Ansco Sextant, and a Fairchild A-10A sextant ... all complete with operational instruction. The three main navigational aids. The Kansans had the mounting post and navigator table, and the little plastic bubble to see out of.

“O Fuck ... I’m lost.” That would be interesting.

“Hey Joe ... fly higher so I can get a fix.”

In a hangar corner was a training Cocker Wheeler mount in its own steel tube stand. There is enough room for head and shoulders between a pair of .30 cal Brownings. I imagined leading a FW 190 and blazing away at it. I am given to understand that the Bendix turret has more room.

I imagined myself as ground crew disassembling the turret to make room for navigator training.

Completion of the various schools meant eventual transfer to overseas. I pictured myself on a fast troop transport in the middle of U Boat territory.

Now that I’m a nervous wreck ... it was time to go home. Home ... not Hairy’s house ... MINE ... He wasn’t around when the deeds were made out ... it’s in MY name. So are the additional acres. Even more ... I reimbursed him for every penny he’s spent on my behalf. It’s MINE ... Muhahahaha. Mine, I tell you.

“I wonder how the fence is coming.”

<It’s done.>

“That was quick.”

<Open the mystery box!!>

“You don’t know?”

<Nope ... didn’t peek either.>

The top of the box said CAUTION. CANVAS. CUT CAREFULLY.

Hmmm. I hunted up a box cutter.

A kitchen anything and everything drawer can be a treasure trove or a disaster. It depends on how long the drawer has had to gather denizens. The contents of my drawer were bought at an eastern Sheridan county farm auction from a kitchen that had been gathering occupants for at least a century. The hard sorting was done by others.

I came by that length of service honestly, that century. An 1877 twenty cent piece caught in the crack between bottom and side was the date I used to decide the date of the drawer.

I cut the sealing tape with a dull cutter.

“Dear Karen.

Should you ever decide to sell at rendezvous the things you make, Please use this Baker Primitive Style Lean-to for your blanket displays.
Should you decide to leave the tipi at home, we have included a privacy drop inside the awning.
Supply your poles.
Dick and Katie.”

I hauled the box out by the lodges and fumbled for the instructions.

Poles required
2-8’ front
2-4’ back
4-12’ side, cross front&back
See instructions for ties. Rope included

“Lay out the lean-to. Help is appreciated but not required.
Using the canvas as a size guide, mark poles to fit.
Tie according to illustrations.
Erect tied frame, anchor with supplied stakes and rope.
Using attached tapes, tie the front of the lean-to to the cross piece.
Tie back to rear frame. Pull canvas tight. Stake rear ropes, two directions.
Tie side tapes to front poles.
Extend Awning. Tie to anchor pins.
Option. Support awning with seven foot poles and tie to support stakes.