THE OLD COWBOY Part Twenty
(continued)

"O.K. Grandpa, I promised mom I'd be back by five o'clock. She said dad was taking us to the soda shop tonight."

"Grandboy, you go and have some fun. Ev'ry cowboy needs to relax, an' spend some time with their family."

I mounted ol' Tanner number two, took a momentary look back to see Grandpa pull that three X beaver cowboy hat down over his eyes as he leaned back in that rocker. I didn't want to leave, but I could Grandpa was gettin' tired.

I rode off like I was on my way to 'Welsh-Better-Falls', where the eye could see some of the best scenery in the world. I was thinking, 'to bad Grandpa can't come along,' but knowing him as I do, I'm sure he understands.

I rode right into the garage. Dad had the door open and was checking the oil in the old 'Chevy'.

"Son, go tell your mom we're ready."

"O.K. pa."

Boy, we drove downtown, all the stores! Hardware, department, and 'J.C. Pennys', I never saw so many people in one place. Some of them going in and out, some just walking around, and some standing in long lines. Dad says this war has everything upside down. I am so glad dad has a good job.

We pulled into a parking place near the front of the drugstore and piled out one at a time. Inside there were red seats, chairs, and booths everywhere I looked. Lots of folks just like us came down to have a soda or an ice-cream, or a malt, or a shake! 'They'll make 'em any way you want 'em', it said on their menu.

Dad had a triple dip ice-cream cone. Mom had a banana split with crushed nuts on top. I had a chocolate shake and some of moms banana split.

After the drugstore where mom got some pills she needed, we went on down to "Pennys" to buy me some school cloths. Dad says, 'because of the war and gas rationing, we can't just 'go for a drive'.

Tomorrow morning came when mom...