Hollywood Page 4

  What was presented as straight forward in our text books was seldom straight forward after reading additional accounts. If I read ten accounts of an event there were fifteen different interpretations.

  I was finding that ‘Why’ something happened varied more than ‘What’ happened. Even what happened seemed to be more an average of the witnesses rather than concrete fact.

  I reread the Columbus Dispatch story with this in mind. They described the photograph of me coming out of the stairwell as focused resolve on saving the child. I remember very clearly I was feeling relief that I hadn’t stumbled coming down the stairs.

  When I walked into the house after school the first words out of Mum.

  “I’m glad you’re here, George Weaver will be here shortly for an interview.”

  “Actually I will like that. There is an issue I need to clear up.”

  Mum inquired about it. When I told her she laughed.

  “You actually think people will listen to your version of events? The picture says it all. You are a brave lad saving that young girl. Anything else will be viewed as false modesty.”

  When Mr. Weaver showed up the conversation and interview went exactly as she predicted. He heard me out and then shook his head.

  “Rick, live with it, you did a heroic deed. We need our heroes.”

  That ended my quest for truth in reporting. Like beauty it appeared to be in the eye of the beholder.

  As the interview ended Mary came in and said, “¿Cómo estás hermano.”

  “Estoy bien hermana pequeña,” I replied absently.

  Mr. Weaver asked, “Does your whole family speak Spanish?”

  “Just the kids are formally studying,” Mum told him.

  This led into a discussion of why, where we were learning, who our teacher was and all the other details. He told us that could be an interesting piece of local interest. He would stop over and speak to Mrs. Hernandez. When he learned she was Cuban you could see the wheels turn. Mr. Weaver was seeing himself as Our Man in Havana!

  For dinner Mum made several pizza pies. This was a new addition to our meal list. It was good but the anchovies were too salty. Maybe she could skip them next time. Unfortunately Dad liked them, so I think the best we would get is one pie with and one without.

  After dinner Mum got serious about the invitation list for my Eagle ceremony. We listed all the members of my scout troop, family, friends, higher level scouters and local politicians. It was also traditional to send an invitation to the President of the United States.

  Of course he would never attend but you would get a nice form letter. This also went for the Governor of Ohio and all the other political offices; county, state, and federal that we cared to include. The more local the office the more likely they would attend.

  The only additional to our list that wasn’t normal was an announcement and invitation to my godmother, now Elizabeth II Queen of England. Of course she wouldn’t be there, but we hoped for a nice letter for my scrapbook. I remembered the Thank You note I had received from the President. When I checked the address on it, it was different from the one given by the Scouts. We would use the one on the Thank You note.

  We included all the politicians that served us, Governor, Federal and State Senators and Representatives. Also the Mayor of Bellefontaine, he might actually show up! As we were in the middle of this discussion the phone rang.

  It was our Scout Council Executive. He asked for me, he had several questions to establish it was really me in the newspaper story of the fire.

  When I confirmed this he told me, “It really jumped out that you told them you knew to check the door for heat before opening and crediting your scout training. We are going to put you in for a second Scout Life Saving Award.”

  “The one for using your scouting skills in the car wreck is the Meritorious Action Award. The new one is the Honor Medal with Crossed Palms. It is for saving a life at great risk of your own. I actually got a call from the National Office telling me to put you in for this.

  When I told them your Eagle Court was coming up I was ordered to do it on an expedited basis. Obviously someone at Scout National Headquarters has seen the photo and read the story,” he ended.

  When I related this to my parents Dad laughed and said, “This is really good publicity for the Scouts they will want to make the most out of it.”

  Well that put me in my place. It was not all about me. Actually that made me okay with the whole thing.

  At bedtime I started reading about Oscar, Peewee, Mother Thing, and Wormface. It was kind of juvenile but fun.

  Tuesday started out like any other day. The weather was half way decent. It hadn’t rained or snowed for a couple of days and the sun had been out so it was drying off. The temperature was in the mid-forties so it was like a pre-spring day. After exercising, I was able to get out and run. I could tell how out of shape I was getting.

  School went well. A few kids started calling me fireman but it wasn’t a big deal. I guess I was starting to get used to being the center of attention. I knew I was just another guy and nothing special. If they needed their heroes so be it.

  I knew a few kids over in Wapakoneta from scout functions. They had met a local guy that was a real hero. He was a Korean War combat pilot and was now a test pilot out at Edwards Air Force base. They told me that from talking to him, that Neil Armstrong was the calmest most understated guy they had ever met.

  He acted just like a regular guy. I think a guy like that will be my model. He let his actions talk for him. No need to brag or be treated special. As if I would ever do anything as cool as be a test pilot. Thinking of that reminded me that next year I could start working on my pilot’s license.

  At lunch Tom Wilson told us he had heard from a friend in the office that there would be a school assembly on Friday. Tracy asked him why he had a friend in the office. He told her he spent so much time there that he talked to all of the staff. Not my way to make friends. I wondered if he would get to know them in the booking center at the Police Station.

  I mentioned that and from there the conversation went downhill as we all imagined the trouble Tom could get into. After having him appear before a war crimes tribunal for putting soap suds and green dye in the United Nations water fountains we came to a stop. Tom acted like he was wounded by the comments.

  At least I think that is why he held his hand over his heart as he fell off his chair. Of course that brought Mr. Hurley over to check us out. I was getting to see that man too often.

  After receiving a warning to settle down Tom brought up a serious subject. Cheryl would be leaving soon. This assembly would be the last chance for this gang to steal Mr. Watkins desk. That quieted things down nicely. I think we were all afraid to chicken out.

  The next thing you know we were solidifying our plans for the great heist. The two Tom’s would make certain that two of the windows would open, one for the desk the other for the two in the room to come out. We all laughed that if we got caught at least they couldn’t make Cheryl stay for all the detention.

  Chapter 9

  As we were finishing up lunch a student from the office tracked me down. Was I busted already? It was a guidance counselor, Mrs. Hawkins. She had been contacted by Warner Brother’s studio, at least the people who handled their tutoring program. They had been corresponding for several months.

  What she had to say surprised the heck out of me.

  “They are very excited that you are going to be with them. We sent them samples of your work. They are always under pressure to show that they really teach child actors. I think they see you as a show piece. Since you will be having one on one tutoring there will be no problem with them keeping you abreast of all your assignments and actually being able to finish up your school year on the set.”

  “The tutoring group claims if they had you for a year they could complete your high school diploma. I thought they were bragging then they sent me the course syllabus and their tutor’s credentials. If y
ou worked at it, it could be done. However, that is if you spent a year. We will be happy if they can keep you up with your class.

  Having you ready for the end of the year would be a nice bonus for you but I’m afraid that it would make the rest of the year boring. The State of Ohio still requires you to spend so many days in the class room,” Mrs. Hawkins continued.

  “What if I tested out of the ninth grade while I was out there?” I asked.

  “That would be different. You would have a certificate from the State of California which the State of Ohio would recognize.”

  That is when I realized I had better slow down. This is one of those situations I had time to think, so I should use it. The building wasn’t on fire.

  When I arrived home after school Dad was waiting for me.

  “Rick, I took your civil war Colt to the gun shop. They examined it and test fired it with a reduced load. It was fine but you are never to use a full load of powder, no more than three quarters of a load. Old steel can have impurities and steel will stress crack with age. The cracks could be internal so you would never know until the thing blew up in your hand.”

  “Dad, it sounds like I should only use it to complete the uniform and never load it.”

  “I would be most happy with that.”

  “I can’t foresee any reason that I would ever need it loaded.”

  Later in life I would learn that you could seldom predict when you would need a weapon, and when you did you needed it right there, right now, and ready to use.

  Mrs. Hernandez showed up and we talked about the latest news stories from Cuba. Castro’s, 26th of July Movement had overthrown Batista at the first of the year. Stories were now coming out of the aftermath. We were careful not to scare Mary but it was ugly. The U.S media was surprised that Castro was letting it be known that he was a communist all along. I don’t know where they were getting their information. We had known it for months.

  After dinner I talked to my parents about my visit with the guidance counselor. After discussion we all agreed that I should go with the flow, take as much advantage of the opportunity as I could. In the worst case I would return home current with my classwork. Best case I would’ve passed a test in California finishing my freshman year.

  During dinner Mum and Dad informed us that they had hired a person to staff the office during the day. June Conroy would start tomorrow. She was in her early thirties, married with two children. She and her husband were new to the area from Columbus. He had just got a job as a supervisor out at DAB. Her previous work experience was as an office manager for a small real estate firm handling rental properties. She probably knew more about it than any of us.

  Her hours would be 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:00 a.m. till noon on Saturday. This allowed her to see her children off to school and be home when they returned. Mum had insisted her rate of pay be the same as a man’s. Dad would also keep the office open 5:00 p.m. till 7:00 p.m. on Fridays for people who had to work.

  I finished up my story that night. We had gone from travel within the solar system to interstellar and finally intergalactic. I had to look up the half-life of radium to know how long humans had to grow up. It looked like twenty five thousand years or so. We would either have grown up or blown up by then.

  The middle of the week arrived and we now started reviewing for semester exams. For me this was more than boring. I could have taken the tests that day. To have to listen to a review was mind numbing. I didn’t even pretend in any of my classes.

  I was two to three weeks ahead on everything. After this week I would be almost six weeks ahead. That would mean I would’ve completed almost all the material I would miss while in Hollywood. I could do nothing out there and come back even with all my classes.

  I hadn’t any intention of that. I had decided to push it while I was out there and at least complete the school year. If the opportunity was presented I would take the California final exams.

  During lunch, the two Tom’s, we started calling them the, Terrible Toms, let us know they had checked out the windows in Mr. Watkins room and even oiled one with a squeak. I don’t know where this will end up, but we most certainly would create a school legend. This was one I didn’t want any credit for.

  The rest of the afternoon flew by. They reviewed and I worked. Miss Bales asked me after my last class how far along I was. When I told her I was now four weeks ahead she shook her head.

  “I know some schools in the east have what they call advanced placement classes. If you pass, some colleges will give you credit. Those would be perfect for you.”

  I took the time to explain to her about the tutoring situation with the studio. She told me I should push it as hard as I could. Her biggest concern would be that I got bored with school. That could be a big problem for everyone.

  I should work at my own pace and get on with life. When she started teaching in the late 1930’s it was in a one room school house in West Virginia. Since all the students were together they could push as fast as they wanted.

  She told me a surprising number of, so called normal students completed a year’s work, in half a school year if they were interested. The rules about graduation weren’t as strict in those days. If they could pass their final exams there wasn’t a lot of concern about their grade progression. So she was confident if I wanted to push it that I could complete the ninth grade out in California. That sounded good to me.

  When I went home we did the Spanish thing. It didn’t seem like lessons anymore. We held a conversation, it just all happened to be in Spanish. Somewhere along the line I realized that I was spending more time with my brothers and sister than most guys my age. I mean an hour a day with a four year old sister!

  Chapter 10

  After dinner I cleaned up and put on my scout uniform. Tonight I was going to Springfield for the camporee planning meeting. Mr. Harris was punctual. On the way down he wanted to talk about the fire. He wanted the details. How much smoke was coming out the window when I first spotted the fire? How hot was the door, did I have the palm of my whole hand flat or just touch with my fingers?

  I finally asked him why he wanted such fine detail. It turned out he is a volunteer fireman with the West Liberty fire department. He had never been in a multi-story office building fire and wondered how close his training was to the reality. After I found that out the trip was smooth as we talked our way to Springfield.

  When we walked into the conference room everyone stood and applauded me! I didn’t know what to do, so I kind of waved and headed to the coffee pot. When in doubt hide behind a cup of coffee!

  The Council Scout Executive and Council Commissioner both made a point of shaking my hand and telling me that I was a fine representative of the movement.

  I just thought I looked like a Christmas tree. The Council Commissioner had patches above his left shirt pocket. I had never paid attention to them before. There were four rows of three. They all looked like knots in different colors. Some of them even had several little metal badges with the Boy Scout or Cub Scout emblem on them.

  He also had a leather necklace with four wooden beads on it. It was cool. I would have to see about getting one of those. Those with his red Philmont jacket and Smokey Bear hat with the first class emblem made him as bright as any Christmas tree.

  The meeting was brought to order. Mr. Tolson was there and gave an update on the civil war re-enactors. It was going to be a full blown encampment for them. They would have a full battery of four cannon present.

  There were enough confederate re-enactors coming that they could do a mock skirmish. There would be enough black powder experts present that every boy in camp would have an opportunity to fire a muzzleloader at least once.

  It was mentioned that I would be the go between the Scouts and the re-enactors. As Colonel Tolson put it, “Lieutenant Jackson will be our runner. While carrying out duties for the 6th Ohio Volunteers he will be in the correct uniform.”

  One of the conc
erns presented was obtaining a high ranking state or national figure to open the camporee. The Governor, one of our two Senators and several of the more prominent Representatives were all mentioned. I had a private thought but didn’t mention it.

  The rest of the meeting was on the logistics of having thousands of youths and adults together for an event. The planning included emergency services for broken bones. It was a given with a group this large that there would be broken bones, maybe a snake bite or two.

  Food poisoning was always a possibility with Boy Scouts. This meant a first aid station clearly marked and transportation for any serious cases.

  There would be a fire brigade for the inevitable camp fire that got out of control. We needed to have a site map to find units and personnel at need. There would have to be guides to lead each troop to its assigned spot. When it was time to leave, each camp would have to be checked out to ensure it was clean and everything removed including Scouts.

  The Commissioner staff of Unit, District and Council Commissioners would aid the permanent camp staff as our ‘police’ force. We would also have local sheriff’s deputies on hand for any real problems.

  Water, sanitation, and traffic control were concerns. Lost and found would be a major operation and would include lost Scouts. If someone’s car wouldn’t start an arrangement was made with a local service station.

  Inevitably another person would set up their tent on an ant hill; See notes on the first aid station. Religious services needed to be arranged for both Saturday and Sunday.

  Multiple shooting ranges had to be developed as the current range wasn’t large enough. The Ohio National Guard had agreed to bring in heavy equipment to put backstops in place and remove them later. This would count as their monthly weekend duty. All we had to do was allocate them space to set up their equipment and camp. They would be responsible for their own security. As if a bunch of Boy Scouts would want to climb over bulldozers and excavators!