Boys Being Men
By T. Delaplain
Dear Momma,
I’ll send home my pay when we gets to town again. Mighty hard for Dad to keep food on the table when he’s got his head in a bottle and his fists up.
The Army camp ain’t bad and the chow is good. I spend half my time green breaking and the other half picking wounded soldiers outta the dirt. I save the dead broke mounts for the guys who’ll listen but I can always find a nasty green broke mare for the others. I reckon it ain’t Christian but it makes for some great stories.
Love,
E
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Photo credit to Nathan Sowers
My Dad was 14 years old when he left school to work. He kept his family of 12 fed with meager pay as a Calvery horse whisperer. A green broke horse means that they’ll accept a saddle, on a good day. Dead broke means, the horse accepts a saddle and in general is bomb proof. Many a story came out of those days of working for the Army. An arrogant city slicker rarely got the best of a smart ass Montana boy.
Saddle up and write a 100 word tale at Friday Fictioneers.
Tracey Delaplain, MD 
The less~than~articulate speech makes it more believable. The fact that it’s from real experience adds quite a lot to it too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great voice, Tracey
LikeLiked by 1 person
Authentic I hope for a 14 year old ranch hand in the 1930’s. Thanks Neil
LikeLike
Beautiful–and funny. Thank you for the translation. And it’s good to see you back. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, I never wander too far but it’s nice to be back with my Fictioneers. I like to keep you all up to date on your Western US vernacular.
LikeLike
LOL. Serves them right. You got it right about Montana boys.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I inherited that Montana sass with a little Nevada Wild Wild West flare. Ha ha
LikeLike
Intriguing little snippet Tracey, well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Iain
LikeLike
I really appreciate your explanatory notes at the end–helped clarify this wonderful story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just can’t stick to 100 words. Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this very original take, Tracey! The voice is fabulous.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Dale. My parents often fell back on this type of speech when they went home to Montana. My cousins will often write this way on Facebook. Nevadans actually have Californian accents, in general.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLike
Love this Tracey! Love that voice, love the colloquialisms, the MC’s views on the army and on the men who irritate him. One of my favourites this week
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ironically, my father was drafted in WWII into the Army at age 26 and served in the European theater as a heavy equipment operator. He lived an interesting life. I was born when he was 42.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It certainly sounds like an interesting life!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A great tale made all the more interesting by your footnote. Nice one.
Click to read my FriFic tale
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Keith. I love to re-tell my Dad’s stories. I think he might have approved, despite my embellishments. The Irish are big on embellishment. Ha
LikeLiked by 1 person
Enjoyed this and thanks for the background.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad, thank you for riding by.
LikeLike
Dear Tracey,
How happy I am that this photo lured you back to the FFFold. There’s a whole back story in the first two lines. Thank you for the explanation or I’d still be scratching my head. The voice sets the stage. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. Some western vernacular just isn’t common knowledge. I like to keep y’all informed. Thanks for indulging my extra words.
LikeLike
A well told story with sprinkles of your families truth.
I enjoyed both the explanations and where you took the prompt, Tracey.
Welcome back from the wedding festivities …
Isadora 😎
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Isadora. As you know, there’s nothing better than seeing your child find the perfect mate. It was a lovely wedding.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You all looked stunning. She’s a beautiful bride. I’m sure they’ll have a wonderful life together … which as you say … is all we really want for our children.
Blessings to all 🙏🏻 Cheers 🍷
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the voice in this story, Tracey and also the fascinating “horse” vernacular, e.g. dead broke and green broke.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You never know when these phrases might come in handy. Ha ha Thanks for riding by.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tracey, I can guarantee those phrases will get used – I loved them. So simple and vivid.
LikeLike
interesting story. i find it credible enough. well done.
LikeLike
I love your stories from your dad’s colourful life!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike
“Mighty hard for Dad to keep food on the table when he’s got his head in a bottle and his fists up.” What a great sentence! You tell us so much about the youth and his family background with those few words. Nice story, and I like that you’ve told it in letter form.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike
I tried to comment on your FF post but your site wouldn’t allow me to comment. I’m using an iPad so I think your theme is not mobile compatible. That can be a problem obviously. It also loads slowly and the pages jump around when I try to comment. A different theme might be better. It could be my device but I’m not having trouble on anyone else’s blog.
LikeLike
Thanks for the tip-off Tracey. I’ll have to investigate!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great local color. You captured a time and place and difficult situation in a down to earth voice. The vernacular helped us see the trials of his work and his family’s plight. A plain spken voice gets the job done in 100 words!
Enjoyed hearing from a “snowbird. “. We get plenty here in FL!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your thoughtful comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I also meant to say nice play in the title on the phrase “Boys will be boys”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent piece, Tracey. I love those old stories. My great grandfather passes a few to my dad about his time in the Civil War. Lice was a huge problem. At night the soldiers would remove their clothing and hold them in the smoke above a fire. The dropping lice popped like popcorn. However, I’m sure it was only temporary relieve from the infestation they all suffered.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ugh, lice. Thanks for stopping by my homestead.
LikeLike
Love the voice in this and thanks for the author’s note. It helped me appreciate the story even more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Dawn. I needs to keep y’all informed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A really brilliant voice. Such an interesting piece.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very convincing voice, and thanks for the translation of the mounts. Plenty of scope for settling a score there, I think.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, nothing like a spooky mare to put someone in their place.
LikeLike
I love the voice you used and the letter form. Nicely done! I also enjoyed the explanation “green broke” and “dead broke.” Thank you for sharing a bit of your family history. Your dad’s to be admired in supporting his large family at such a young age. =)
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was really about survival for his family and I know they were grateful. He never once complained about it, at least to me. I think he was glad to get away from the beatings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sorry to hear that after working so hard for his family he had to endure abuse. And he never complained about it to you. A strong person indeed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the voice too.. I needed the background, but what heroism to sacrifice yourself like that… our stories had some resemblance in that way…. though mine was pure fiction.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You and I are often on the same page with a photo. It’s strange actually. Thank you for stopping by.
Tracey
LikeLike
Love the story, and especially the personal one. My Dad was 12 when his father was killed. He took over the role and raised his siblings and tended the tobacco farm. Later, he became a semi-driver, and drove the Canada run until he stroked out behind the wheel one snowy November day. I’m told I have his fierce determination.
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing your stories with me. I have known tragedy as well but I give you the best of my family because I can. My father saved me from the hard life. I am eternally grateful. And I can be fierce. I see that in you too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Tracey. Sorry so long in replying. It’s been hectic here, and had to replace my computer twice in one week. Check out my write this week and scroll down to our new family addition. 🙂 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautifully written and thanks for the explanation i would have no idea otherwise!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The voice in this piece sounds so authentic. Thanks for the explanatory notes!
LikeLiked by 1 person