Dizzie Rides Again

[Whittaker]

  I was going through some old files on my computer and came across this little story I posted to our previous site many years ago. Thought I'd repost for the new people.

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Dizzie

Chapter I

It was my junior year at Upper, which made my ma proud cause I was the first to go past sixth grade.
We had an 8pm home game with Carey, a town I'd never been to on account of Pa saying it was a strange place, full of witches and catholics.
After school I rushed through my chores. Then me and my sister Dizzie went out to the pasture and castrated some buck sheep. You see, it was my turn to bring the after-game meal.
I took a bath in the creek, pulled off the leeches and got dressed. Dizzie held our mule while I loaded my stuff. I had my leather helmet, my homemade cleats, my chewin tobacco, my rifle and a jug of cider. There weren't room for the buck nuts so I tied them to Peter's tail. Peter is the name Dizzie gave our mule.
Nowadays, when I see those spoilt high school kids driving those pickup trucks with the nuts hanging from the trailer hitch, I laugh cause I mighta been the first with those sheep balls tied to Peter's tail.
Anyway, as I rode Peter to Upper, I had plenty of time to think cause it was a long ride. I thought about what those Carey boys might look like, you know, like how big they would be and what color. And I wondered if their cheerleaders were pretty and if any of them would forget their knickers like the girls from Willard sometimes did...at least that's what Big Bill said...and he oughta know cause he's our captain and almost 23 years old.
All of a sudden something smacked me up side the head. At first I thought Pa musta hit me for thinkin about girls butts that might be witches' butts, but then I remembered that Pa wasn't there. Then I got smacked again on the other side of the face. It was that damn mule swishin his tail. And that sack of sheep nuts was swingin and hittin me right upside the ears. I couldn't get Peter to stop swishin his tail and I musta got hit fifty times on the way to the game. God how I hated that mule.
But Dizzie loved him.
Dizzie rode Peter all the time. My sister's real name is Ella but we started calling her Dizzie because she would ride that mule and she would get a dreamy smile on her face and a dizzy look in her eyes. I never understood it because that mule was rough to ride. He bounced and jolted and it was impossible to get comfortable on his bony back. But whenever Dizzie wasn't around the house you could find her with that stupid mule. If she wasn't riding Peter she was rubbing him down, singing softly to him the whole time.

Anyway, I've gone on too long and haven't even told you folks about the football game.
But let me tell you young fellers. You got it easy. I see you in your fancy cars with the soft seats and air conditioning. I see you eatin yogert and listening to that Eminem freak. I see you prancin around on that fake grass all padded up like an astronaut.
I sit up in the top row with my binoculars and I see you wearing those girly gloves so you can catch the football. I see you drinkin that Gator juice while somebody puts ice on your boo-boos.
And I think...you never rode no Peter and had nuts slapping you upside the head!
That's dedication!

[sportsjock]

What an excellent story and thanks for sharing it again. Yes I remember it from NOSF site, worth the time to read it again...lol

[fbfan]

I now understand why it is accepted in Upper that football players are going to miss some practices during the week of the county fair.  

[Whittaker]

Dec 10, 2019 16:22:43 GMT -5 fbfan said:

I now understand why it is accepted in Upper that football players are going to miss some practices during the week of the county fair.  

Funny you should mention the County Fair. It figures prominently in the first draft of a future chapter.

[Buckeye2b]

I missed this one on NOSF. I open to more chapters... write on... LOL!

[Whittaker]

DIZZIE
Chapter II
My Fair Lady

    It was the first game of the year and it was against Carey. It was my first high school football game because I was injured my sophomore year. Ma and Pa were coming and they were bringing Dizzie. As we sat in the locker room, which was really the school bus garage, I began to get a little nervous. I was starting at defensive end and I didn’t want to screw it up.
    Our captains led us out of the garage at a walk. As we neared the field the band began to play and our captains began to run as they broke through the paper between the cheerleaders. As I glided through the hoop my heart leapt at the scene. The football field was brightly lit by the huge pole lights. On the edge of that light were grandstands full of people on both sides. Our side was on its feet cheering. The other side stared at us as if we were from another planet. Beyond this scene was total darkness. This scene, this event, was all that mattered. It was the most important thing in my world. It was beautiful and thrilling and felt perfect. I ran to the pile my teammates were making and we formed a mass of celebration and throbbing teenage aggression. It was surreal joy. I had to look to be sure my feet were touching the ground.
    We kicked off and after a short return I ran onto the field with the defense. I took my position on the line, ready for anything. The Carey offense walked to the line and the quarterback followed, looking us over. All my senses were operating at peak levels and I could hear the crowd quiet down. The quarterback squatted behind and barked a signal. Like a flash I was in the backfield!
    The whistle blew and I stopped. The ref was looking at me! Oh No! I had jumped offsides! The offensive linemen were not even down in their 3-point stance yet and I had jumped offsides! I walked back across the line of scrimmage wishing I was invisible. I didn’t look to the coaches or to my teammates. I just hung my head and walked back to my side.
    The rest of the game was a blur. I was so mad at myself that I focused on nothing but hitting people. We won easily and I showered and went home, sure I would be a laughingstock among everyone I knew.

    Early Saturday morning we had to run and watch the game film. Coach turned on the projector and there I was, in the backfield and getting penalized. A couple of the guys snickered but the coaches said nothing. After the film coach reminded us that next week was Fair Week and we had better stay out of trouble.
Back home Ma and Pa told me how proud they were of how I played and even DIzzie smiled and said I didn’t look as stupid as normal when I was wearing my uniform, but I knew they were either clueless or feeling sorry for me so I sulked and went to my room.
    Later Dizzie came to my room and asked me why I was sulking. I told her I made a fool of myself on the field.
    She said, “That’s not true.”
    I said, “What do you know dummy?”
    Dizzie looked at me hard for a few seconds then said, “I may not be the best sister, but I think you are a pretty cool guy, and I’m not the only one.”

    I fell asleep late that morning and when I woke up, a copy of The Daily Chief Union was on the bed. The front page had a picture of me making a tackle. The caption spoke of how our defense shut-out the Blue Devils and named me as the player making the tackle in the picture. As I read the story I thought maybe things weren’t so bad.
Monday at school two girls made a point of smiling at me in the halls. One was a friend of Dizzie, a 10th grader and the other was a cheerleader in my grade! At practice that afternoon I was still assigned to the starting team!
By Tuesday afternoon my embarrassing penalty was ancient history. My friends were telling me that certain girls liked me. I was getting notes and sweet looks. My friends were teasing me about being a football star/chick magnet. It was crazy but I was loving every minute of it. On top of all that it was Fair Week, the one week of the year when us slow-talkin’ country boys could sine in the spotlight. We were comfortable around barns and animals, commanding respect as we manhandled the horses and steers, our work-boots and flannel shirts somehow attractive, at least for a week.
    This year I had a steer being judged at the fair and Dizzie had a pen of ducks. Pa always had strict rules for Fair Week. He would see to the animals in the morning because he worked 2nd shift at the windshield factory when he wasn’t farming. Dizzie and I were to go to the fair right after school, or in my case after practice. We had to tend to the animals by cleaning their pens and feeding them. After we would eat supper at the fair. We each got $5 per day. What we didn’t spend on food we could spend on games or rides. It was a pretty sweet deal because hamburgers were only a quarter at the place near the steer barn. Ma would pick us up at 8:30pm so we could get home and get some sleep on the school nights. On the weekends Dad and I stayed the night at the fair in the pickup truck, Ma & Dizzie spent all Saturday afternoon at the fair and we ate supper with them in the dining hall. Then Ma and Dizzie went home.

cont.

[Whittaker]

    On Thursday before school Pa called the family together and said Ma and him were going to Ashland on Saturday morning to visit Ma’s family and maybe buy some dairy goats at the Amish Auctions. He said they would be home Sunday afternoon. He looked at me and said I was to tend the animals at the fair and sleep in the truck Saturday night. Dizzie was to stay with aunt Clara Saturday night. I was thrilled. I tried to hide my excitement and tell Pa that I would make sure the animals were tended to but before I could finish my sentence Dizzie rose to her feet looking like she was going to explode.
    “Pa” she said, “I have to show my ducks Saturday at 7pm. And after I show them I have to take them back to their pens and protect them from the Gibson twins who will pester them until they leave at 8pm. You know aunt Clara can’t drive after dark! And there’s a dance…”
    “Dance!” Pa shouted, “You’re only 15! Your Ma and me will be out of town…”
    Ma reached her arm over and placed her hand on top of Pa’s. He turned to her and she smiled at him and gave him a doe-eyed look that froze him in place. Dizzie took advantage of the lull by telling Pa how she had better grades than me and was better at doing her chores and that she was almost 16 and only 11 months younger than me.
    But I don’t think Pa heard a word. He was listening to Ma, hearing words that weren’t being spoken, the anguish on his face telling me that Dizzie had already won.
    Pa slowly turned his eyes to the table, and just as slowly, raised his hand as if he was being sworn in on the witness stand. We all knew what that meant and there was immediate silence. Maybe a minute passed and we all watched his deeply tanned face. Pa started softly, still looking at the table…
    ”Junior”(he called me Junior to let me know he wasn’t foolin’.) “After Ella shows her rabbits, you will help her return them to the pen. You will stay with her until its time for the dance. You will walk her to the dance. You will stay at the dance until Ella is ready to go.” (Pa’s voice started to rise but he didn’t speak faster. If anything he slows the cadence) “You will walk her to the truck and you will stay with her until daylight”. (Now loud and very slow, his eyes raising to look into mine), “DO YOU UNDERSTAND?”
    I said I did.
    Ma stood and that was the signal that the meeting was over. Dizzie rose with a somber face and walked quickly to her room. Looking at the back of her head, I was sure there was now a smile on her face. And as Ma stood there rubbing Pa’s neck, the thought first crossed my mind that us men think we rule the world only because women want us to think that.

    As I walked into the school Thursday morning Debra McNichols asked me if I would be at the Teen Dance Saturday night at the fair. I smiled and nodded yes, because I didn’t trust my voice.
After 2nd period I went to my locker and Jill Wayne was waiting. She handed me a note, smiled and walked away quickly. Jill had never spoken to me in the 4+ years we had been classmates, although she had handed me a note once before. In tenth grade she had given me a note during study hall. It said “DORK!” That was right after me and Andy Rowling had finished our armpit farting duet.
    I unfolded the second note and read the loopy script...“I sorry about the Dork thing. Forgive me?” The note smelled of lavender and the i in forgive was dotted with a heart.

    Friday was gameday and we wore our jerseys to school. I was at my locker when Tina Sanders put her hand on my bicep. Tina was a good friend of Dizzie’s. Tina asked me if I knew where Ella(Dizzie) was. She was kinda short and as I looked down at her I couldn’t help but notice that she had missed fastening a button or two on her blouse.
    I stammered, “No I don’t,” and her face went into an instant pout with her hand still on my bicep.
    Finally she moved her hand and put her finger on my chest, saying, “If you see her you tell her I’m lookin' for her.”
    I nodded and she hurried down the hall with a dance in her step. Further down the hall I saw Dizzie looking at me and rolling her eyes.
Everyday was getting better. The girls liked me. And the guys on the team were like my brothers. We rode the bus to Marion and took care of business on the field. In the defensive huddle we laughed and punched each other’s shoulder pads, happy to be hitting people without getting in trouble. The defensive tackle on my side, a monster of a football player and also a country boy, came back to the huddle once with blood staining his teeth behind his mouthpiece. The senior captain asked him if he wanted to go to the bench.
    The monster said, “Heck no! This is too much fun!”
    His grin was hideous and hilarious. We all laughed and started another round of punching each other’s shoulder pads. Its been a bunch of years since I did battle on the field with those guys but I can say one thing for sure. I loved those guys. I would have ran through a brick wall for that team and those coaches. And Coach R. is at the top of that list.
    But if one of my thrills was football, the other was girls. As the bus neared Upper Sandusky and the guys became more quiet, my thoughts turned to the Saturday Night Dance at the fair and all it meant. It was late 70s rock & roll. It was the smell of hay and cotton candy. It was a country boy’s heaven. And fortune seemed to be falling into my lap. I won’t lie. I was expecting to dance close with more than one girl and to spend some time after the dance enjoying a special one’s charms.
Early Saturday morning Dizzie and I said bye to Ma and Pa as we stood by their car. Pa reminded me that he had friends at the fair who would let him know if I got out of line.
    Then he shook my hand and said, “Don’t forget to watch your sister.”
    When he turned away I looked at the $20 in my hand, then slipped it in my pocket. Ma stood on her tiptoes and kissed me on the cheek. Then a whisper in my ear, “I left a ten dollar bill in your jacket”.
Before the Saturday morning run and the game film I made a quick stop at the fair to feed the animals.     The coaches used the game film to point out the areas where we were doing well and the areas we needed to improve. Afterward I drove home to get Dizzie.
    On the way to the fair I gave Dizzie my rehearsed speech. I told her I would help her with the ducks and walk with her to the dance. I told her that after the dance I would walk her back to the truck. I said she had to stay there but I was going to go check on the animals and come back to the truck later. She flashed a knowing smile and told me to worry about myself and she would worry about herself. She said her boyfriend would walk her back to the truck like a gentleman after the dance.
    “Boyfriend?” I huffed. “Who?”
    “None of your business. Leave the truck keys on the left front tire so I can get in.”
    “There’s no boyfriend,” I sneered.
    Dizzie crossed her arms, “You think you’re such hot stuff. Just pick a girlfriend and leave me alone.     My guy loves me. He bought me this.” She held up her wrist to show me a bracelet I had never seen before.
    “Whatever,” I said and turned up the radio. Dream On blared through the speakers.

cont.

[Whittaker]

    I ran with Joe Scripps most of the afternoon. He talked real good and he made friends with a carny. We made a deal where for every $3 we spend the carny would make sure we won a small stuffed animal. By supper I had given three stuffed animals to cute girls on the condition that they dance a slow dance with me. Joe traded in his small prizes for one big panda. He said he had a special girl in mind. Joe was our noseguard and a good guy. Later I saw Tina Sanders carrying that panda and holding Joe’s hand. That was fine with me. Tina wasn’t even in my top three. I had a plan and by the time the dance was over I would have an after dance date.
    At 6:45pm I carried Dizzie’s ducks to the judging arena. She walked ahead of me, still mad I guess. I sat in the stands, thinking I might see Dizzie’s boyfriend in the thin crowd. But even though the crowd was thin there were a bunch of high school boys. I recognized three from my grade, two seniors and two sophomores. And while there were other girls showing ducks, most of the guys seem to be paying special attention to Dizzie. As I watched, I had to admit that she had a style and attractiveness. My friends sometimes asked me about her but I always waved them off, not wanting to think of her dating someone. Now I saw her dressed and made up perfectly, smiling and waving at the guys. Dizzie took 2nd in the judging. As I carried her ducks back, the congratulations kept coming from the group of boys walking near us.
    “Nice job Ella! Way to go Ella!. Catch you later Ella!” Her smile beamed and she tossed her hair as I followed her like a servant.
    “Well, she can have her fun,” I thought. “I’ll have my fun later tonight.”
    Once the ducks were in the cage I told her I would be back at 9pm to take her to the dance.
    “No, I have an escort to the dance,” she said, “Just go away and stop treating me like a kid.”
    I threw up my hands and walked away.

    I spent 15 minutes in the bathroom getting ready. At 9:10pm I strolled toward the arena. Dancing Queen was drifting through the night…

You can dance
You can jive
Having the time of your life
Ooh, see that girl
Watch that scene
Digging the dancing queen

    I wanted to be a little late and I wanted to focus on the slow songs. I had a plan. As I walked through the door Born To Run began…

Wendy, let me in, Iwanna be your friend
I wanna guard your dreams and visions
Just wrap your legs ‘round these velvet rims
And strap your hands ‘cross my engines

    I saw Contestant #1 standing with two other girls. She waved and smiled. I nodded. She would dance the next slow dance unless contestant #2 showed herself, I decided. As I scanned the crowd, hands covered my eyes from behind.
    “Guess who?”
    I answered correctly on the first try and including Karen’s middle name made her squeal and sqeeze herself against me at the same time. Karen was Contestant #3 and was almost a sure after dance date if needed. I had mentioned earlier that I could show her the racehorses after the dance and she had said “Okay.”
    Dave yelled my name so I excused myself and headed towards a group of my football friends near the back. As I got close I saw a guy walking quickly for the door. He was holding a girls hand and she was struggling to keep up.
    “Hey dude, what’s happening?” said Dave, our best linebacker.
    Was that Dizzie? A group of girls made their way to the floor as Elected blasted out of the speakers...

I’m your top prime cut of meat, I’m your choice
I wanna be elected
I’m your yankee in a gold Rolls Royce
I wanna be elected

    “Have you seen Dizzie?” I asked the linebacker.
    “No man,” He said, and looked at the floor.
    I knew he was lying. I made a quick look around. No Dizzie. I walked outside and saw a couple to my right walking away. They were maybe 75 yards away. I jogged after them as a girl called my name behind me. I pretended not to hear. When I got near the couple I slowed to a walk and followed them. Around the corner toward the midway we walked. They stopped to get an elephant ear as the girl turned, the light hit her face. It wasn’t Dizzie. Now what. I remembered what Pa said and I felt sick to my stomach. I had already disobeyed him. I had to find her! I ran back to the dance. Stairway to Heaven pulsed...

There's a sign on the wall
But she wants to be sure
'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings
In a tree by the brook
There's a songbird who sings
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiving

    I dashed into the arena. No Dizzie anywhere. I saw my linebacker dancing with a girl and I grabbed him.
    “Dude!” I said “If you’ve seen Dizzie you have to tell me. She’s my little sister.”
    He took my arm and pulled me toward the wall.
    “Doug is with her.” He said, “He’s taking her for a walk. He said she’s into it.”
    “Into what?” I moaned.
    He sighed. “I’m sorry man. She’s not in here. I’ll go with you to look for her if you want.”
    I ran out into the night. I ran to the duck barn, I ran through the parking lot. I ran up through the midway which was closing down. I slowed to a fast walk and ducked into the big farm equipment row when I saw a sheriff’s deputy heading my way. I sat at the base of a tree and waited for the deputy to go by. You Should Be Dancing drifted softly but distinctly from the arena. Behind me I heard whispering. I looked under a combine and saw two pairs of legs.
    I crept around the back of the combine and heard a girl whisper “No”.
    Another step and I could see them over the rear wheel of the giant machine. It was Dizzie and Doug, our running back and a senior.
    “C’mon” he whispered.
    “Take me back to the dance” she whispered back, friendly enough.
    “One more kiss” he whispered.
    “Just one.” she said.
    I stood there wondering what to do. Here I was, spying on Dizzie. If she saw me she would kill me. I’ve already let Pa and Ma down. And there were girls waiting for me at the dance while I cowered here, covered with sweat from running. I turned around and lowered myself to the ground and sat there. Backstreets played in the night...

Now laying here in the dark
You’re like an angel on my chest
Just another tramp of hearts
Crying tears of faithlessness

    “Okay Doug, let’s go back now please.” Dizzie pleaded.
    “Just your top Ella, That’s all.” He whispered.
    “No Doug. Stop it!” Hissed Dizzie
    A rustling. I turned and rose enough to see Doug forcing his hand up Dizzie’s shirt as she pushed down on his arm with both hands.
    “I’ll scream.” she whispered.
    “No you won’t.” he whispered back.
    I’d had enough. I jumped to my feet just as Dizzie brought her knee up into Doug’s groin. He didn’t move for a second, then he slowly went to his knees and his arms dropped. She stood frozen, facing away from me. Doug lifted his eyes and saw me.
    “I’m sorry.” he mouthed, unable to speak.
    Dizzie walked quickly away, still having not seen me. As she faded from my sight I thought I heard a whimper and I think she started to run.I walked up to Doug. He was taking shallow breaths and there were tears in his eyes.
    “You gonna be okay?” I asked.
    “I don’t know.” He said.
    “Get up.” I said.
    Slowly he got to his feet, one hand on his junk. I walked away. After a few steps I looked back over my shoulder. Doug was again sitting on the ground.

    I knew Dizzie would go back to the truck. I had forgotten to leave the keys on the tire. They were in my pocket. She was lying in the grass in the shadows under the truck. I couldn’t see her but I could hear her sobbing.
    I backed away a little further, then in a loud whisper said “Dizzie!”
    No answer. I whispered again. Still no answer. I quickly walked up to the truck and unlocked the door.
    “You forgot to leave the keys.” she said.
    “Jeeesh Dizzie, you scared me. Get up here.” I said.
    She came out on the other side and waited until I unlocked the passenger door. She crawled in and grabbed the blanket, keeping her face hidden. I slid behind the wheel.
    “I couldn’t find you at the dance.” I said.
    A few seconds later she answered. “You can go back now.”
    “Dizzie.” I said, “Pa told me not to leave you alone until dawn, and that’s what I gonna do.”
    “But the dance?”
    “I’m staying.”
    She turned and looked at me now. I could see the redness in her eyes and the tear streaks on her face. I wondered if she could see the shame in my eyes. She looked at me for a long time. Then she took off her shoes and locked the door. After I locked my door, Dizzie scooted over to me and put her head on my shoulder. She slowly took off her bracelet and dropped it on the floor. Faintly, Thunder Road drifted through the air…

You can hide ‘neath your covers
And study your pain
Make crosses from your lovers
Throw roses in the rain

    In a barely audible whisper Dizzie said, “I’m such an idiot”.
    I replied, “I might not be the best brother, but I think you’re a pretty cool girl and I’m not the only one.”
    Ella, the name I decided to call her from now on, began to cry.

[sportsjock]

Great job writing this amusing well written story!  Anxious to read the continuation!

[Whittaker]

I had a little trouble with the formatting. And the story went a way I wasn't expecting, but I just went with it.
During this trying time I hope some people find it worthwhile.

[Whittaker]

Apr 4, 2020 14:04:30 GMT -5 sportsjock said:

Great job writing this amusing well written story!  Anxious to read the continuation!

Thanks man.

[fbfan]

Great story. Brings back some good memories of the 70's for me. Especially the song lyrics and the 25 cent hamburger stand. I bet it was the same one that was at the Crawford County Fair horse barns.  Keep up the good work!