Bubba Jones

Click here for more information on this book
Click here for Author's Web Site

It was 1969, and the war in Southeast Asia was at its peak.

Bubba Jones knew little about the war. It did not directly affect

him that such a terrible thing happened in such a faraway land.

He, like everyone, had known some boys that had left as boys,

but had returned as broken spirited, empty men. According to

the news, the Americans were killing the enemy at the rate of ten

to one. Still, this did not seem to comfort the young widows or

the mothers and sweethearts left behind.

Bubba, too, was in a war, a war that you did not have to go

away to fight. He had grown up fighting prejudice and

ignorance and when you are not like everybody else, you are an

outcast. Bubba was the enemy in his own country. Each day, he

got up and fought a private battle. He faced his enemy every

day. He faced it like a true solider. The enemy Bubba faced wore

no uniform and carried no weapon.

He caught the man in the flannel shirt out of the corner of his

eye pointing at his watch. Bubba reached down and adjusted the

throttle on the front-end loader to where the engine dropped

from a roar to a purr. He could see Sams mouth moving but

could not hear the words. Must be quitting time. It was twelve

oclock Saturday and Sam took his index finger and raked it

across his throat. Bubba smiled and killed the engine on the

tractor.

As he climbed off, Sam walked up to him. You got ten hours

of overtime already, Bubba. Id give you some more, but things

are slowing down a little and those idiots in the front office are

checking everyones time.

Bubba smiled. No prob, Mr. Sam, I appreciate you giving me

what you have. We can use the extra money with Christmas

being right around the corner and all.

Sam looked at Bubba. How many kids you got now, Bubba,

with that new baby?

I got four, Mr. Sam, wont be no more though. Ole Doc

Gingham went ahead and fixed my Mary Jane after the last

baby.

Well, four is a lot for that trailer yall live in, Bubba. I have a

three-bedroom house and it doesnt seem big enough for my

two.

• Download Chapter: Adobe Acrobat Version
• Read Sample Chapter