The back seat on that old Chevy was as big as a boxcar. The miles clicked by with the wind blowing through all the retracted windows, country music on the radio and two Montana brothers feedin’ him stories that resonated clearly as tall tales. He did raise a “sure thing” when one brother claimed the bounty on an 11’ mountain cat, killed with a 22 rifle. “It was as long as a Volkswagen, bumper to bumper,” he persisted. But who could argue with a ride that would take him clear across the state to Missoula.
Passing through Butte mid aft, the car took a turn off the main road. In no time we were winding up a gravel road with a view of the big sky over the town. He overheard something from the front seat about “proving my point.” Soon we came to a stop in front of an old ranch house and one brother hustled him out the Chevy door spilling Bud cans out into the dirt driveway. Ma and Pa’s ranch they offered as we stumbled inside. Sure enough…..there hanging over the fireplace was a stuffed cat, “as long as a Volkswagen,” just like he said.
We arrived in Missoula and drove directly up the side of the mountain and parked in a wooded area. A large “M” was etched into the side of the mountain above the university. There were hundreds of folks listening to fiddle music on a makeshift stage. He chain- locked his backpack to a tree and wandered around. Evidently the university spent the annual surplus on this festival and all the beer and music were free. Sunshine, music, happy students, cold beer, and his first up front view of the Rocky Mountains. No worries.
He awoke face down on the ground to a morning sunrise. As his eyes focused he first saw a sea of plastic cups in every direction. Looking closer he noticed that aside from a lump like him here and there, no one was around. While stretching out the stiffness near the stage he looked down and found a guitar pick from one of the musicians. His stomach hollered hungry. So he unlocked his pack and started the cool refreshing walk into town. Another day on the road was ahead.
djs
