Adventures of Pudge

WYOMING SUMMER: PART II

Pudge had been in Caleb now for two weeks and was beginning to find his way around town. Jim Parker, the owner of

the hardware store, found an old bicycle in his garage that had belonged to his son and told Pudge it was his to use while he

was in Caleb.

Also, Pudge had made friends with a boy who lived three houses away. Cliff was thirteen, and tall for his age, but he and

Pudge hit it off well from the start. Cliff also had a bike so together they wandered all over town. In this way, Pudge was able

to meet other boys and girls his age.

Twice weekly Cliff played baseball at the park and invited Pudge to attend the next game. The boys were all older and

bigger than Pudge but when they saw how interested he was in baseball told him he could substitute next time they needed

one. Pudge attended each game for the next two weeks and finally, one Tuesday afternoon, was told that their regular right

fielder wouldn’t be there and they needed Pudge to substitute.

Pudge eagerly accepted and was soon out on the field throwing a ball around with the rest of the team. Two dozen or so

parents and other interested townspeople were there to cheer on their favorite team. Although his team lost, Pudge played

well and was told to be at the next game as the team would like him to play with them again. Pudge was pleased and could

hardly wait to tell Mother and Dad.

Another special treat that Cliff introduced Pudge to was “The Old Swimmin’ Hole.” About two miles out of town was an

old stone quarry that had filled with water from an underground spring. It was barely deep enough to dive into and so small

that it could only accommodate about a dozen swimmers at a time. It was a special treat on a hot day. Pudge and Cliff

made frequent trips to this favorite spot.

Cliff also liked to fish but had never tried fly fishing. Pudge promised to take Cliff along on the next fishing trip he and his

family made. He hoped it would be soon; Pudge hadn’t fished since that first evening that they arrived in Caleb.

Other than baseball and swimming there were not many activities to keep Pudge busy. He helped his mother around the

house when needed, especially sweeping the large porches that surrounded the house. That was a job that needed doing

regularly, as the constant wind blowing through town stirred up the loose sand and blew it onto the porches and into the

house. Pudge didn’t mind that, it gave him something to do. It reminded him of the snow plows back home that always

refilled his driveway as soon as he shoveled it out. The wind seemed to do the same thing with the sand on the porch.