Runaway Loy

One time when Loy was maybe four or five something he can no longer recall happened that made him want to run away. He told Mom he was going to run away and being a typical mother she asked why, when and where to. Being Loy's first attempt at running away he didn't know to keep his mouth shut about these facts. So he tells her he's mad, going to runaway now and he's running to the water tower to live.

"The water tower? You going that far away? I'll never see you again Loy if you go that far far away." Loy was sort of saddened when he heard he would never again see his Mom. But he was mad and still going to run away.

"Are you going to go now Loy? If you do you won't ever see Bud again. You won't ever see Sis or Jane again either Loy. If you wait until after your nap they will be home from school then you can see them once more before you run away." Loy was not going to be delayed on this wondrous journey. "No Mom I'm going now."

"Well Ok Loy. It's a very long way to the water tower. You will probably get hungry on your trip. What are you going to eat? Snakes? Rabbits? Crickets?" The idea of needing real food had not occurred to Loy until now. "I'll take some cookies Mom. I ain't eatin' no snakes or rabbits or crickets. Yuck! Can I take a bullonly sandwich too Mom?" Loy asked. "Sure" Mom said. "Let me make a real good Bologna sandwich for you Loy. You better take some Potato Chips, some cookies, a jug of water too. Oh yes. You will need some clean clothes, extra socks and underwear. Your hat to keep the sun off your head. Better take... Loy you go get the suitcase out of the hall closet and I will help you pack for your trip. Okay?"

Well now, this was more like it. Mom was going to help Loy get ready to run away. This was going to be a great run away trip. Loy struggled but managed to get the suitcase from the hall closet. His mom packed it up real neat and full of all his clothes including an extra pair of shoes and his winter boots In case it rains. Toys to play with at night by the campfire. "We can tie some firewood to the side of the suit case after we close it Loy." Wow, Mom thinks of everything, he thought.

So after everything was packed, his food in a grocery box with flaps closed and tied shut, Loy was ready to hit the runaway trail.

"Give me a kiss goodbye Loy and then you better start off. Be getting dark before you know it." Mom said. So Loy climbed on a kitchen chair and gave Mom a hug and kiss. "Thanks for helping me Mom." Then Loy gave her an extra hug, jumped from the chair, grabbed the suitcase handle, and the string on the box and started pulling his gear toward the door. Mom was so nice about him running away. She was even holding the screen door open for him.

"Bye Loy, remember to write when you learn how. Have a good trip and watch out for strangers." Mom said. Then she turned and went back into the house.

Loy started pulling on the suitcase and box. They were really heavy with all his stuff in there. He turned and looked at the water tower standing far away on top of that big hill. Then started dragging but was not making it very far before having to rest. Then being a smart lad he left the box on the ground and pulled the suitcase about ten yards. Then he went back for his grocery box. It was lighter than the suitcase so he drug it beyond the suitcase. Now he was making some headway. First the suitcase, rest, then the box, rest, then the suitcase. Whew! Loy was getting tired. Time for a sandwich and drink of water. Darn!! He can't get the string untied. Then he remembered seeing Bud cut string with a rock one time. Loy started looking for a rock but the grass was too tall and too thick. Oh well there are rocks at the water tower. Loy continued on his journey and was three quarters of the way up the hill to the water tower when he saw Bud get off his bike, home from school. He waved at Bud but was invisible to him in the tall grass.

"Everett Lee, Loy has run away from home and I need you to get him before we have supper." Mom said to Bud. Mom never called him Bud. "He ran away?" Bud shouted. "Just calm down Everett Lee. If you yell too loud he will hear you. I can see him out this window. He's only part way up the hill toward the water tower but I don't want you to get him yet. I want him to learn the error of his decision before we bring him home." "Okay Mom. Whatever you say." Bud said.

Loy saw Sis and Jane get home from school also, but they failed see him on the hillside. Loy was very tired now and getting quite hungry. Maybe he should drag the box all the way to the water tower to get a rock and leave the suitcase here. Then he could eat a sandwich rest and come back for his suitcase. Boy, those must be big sandwiches in that box. It is real heavy. Loy plopped his behind in the tall grass to rest some more.

"He has not moved for half an hour now Everett Lee. Dinner is nearly ready so you better go see if he needs help running away or if he would rather come home for a hamburger." "Okay Mom"

Loy was leaning on his grocery box when he saw Bud coming up the hill. He jumped to his feet and started waving at his big brother. Bud made the trip up the hill real fast with those long legs of his. "Hi Loy. Where you going? Need some help?" "Yes Bud. I'm a running away but got tired. I'm hungry too, but I can't find a rock to cut the string like you do so I can eat a sandwich." Loy replied. Bud said, "Well Loy, if you come home with me Mom will fix you a good hamburger to eat cause she wants you to come home. What do you say about a nice hot hamburger?" Well that sounded just great to Loy. Hamburger was his favorite food in the whole world. "Yes Bud I want to go home now." Loy happily responded. He hopped to his feet as Bud grabbed up the suitcase and box in one hand. Then Loy's big brother reached down with his free hand and took hold of one of Loy's hands. Together they started down the hill away from the water tower. Loy was glad to be going home again. He had decided being a runaway was too hard taking all that stuff along. There would be no more running away for Loy.

INTRODUCTION | COWBOY LOY | BIKEMAN LOY

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