The Journal of Madie Beartri

Journal 42

I was sitting in my chair, feet propped up on the windowsill, looking out my window watching the day go by when I saw something frightening. Gretchen, Marty, and Cecelia were in the yard dressed in western clothing. They never leave the library. Ok, sometimes they leave but the library is their world. They read and do research. They’re smart and analytical.  It’s just weird. I know that trends come and go. I have noticed an increase in western clothes on Lafayette Blvd. The Spurs have become a big influence on the gangs that live in and around Bear Country. The Spurs are unique and different. I didn’t expect their influence to invade the sensibilities of the Library Trio.

Curiosity was killing me. I had to know what was going on in their minds. Perhaps a virus from the herd of cattle infected their brains. My friends obviously weren’t thinking properly. I grabbed the puppy sleeping on my rug. (Technically, it’s not my puppy; I just haven’t found it a new home yet.) Anyway, I followed the Library Trio to the edge of town, to the Spurs campsite. I almost had a heart attack. Music was playing, and people were dancing. People were Square Dancing. This just isn’t normal. People in Bear Country don’t square dance. They listen to heavy metal, rock, and rap music.

I walked around, mostly in a daze. Gretchen, Marty, and Cecilia joined a group of dancers. It wasn’t long before several other members of my gang began to dance.  The virus was obviously spreading, and it was taking over my gang.

That’s when it happened. Joshua tapped me on the shoulder and asked me to dance. I stared at him for a moment. I tried to tell him that I don’t square dance, but he wouldn’t let me say no.  Before I knew what was happening, we were Square Dancing.

Joshua invited me back tomorrow.

Journal 41

It’s been a lazy day. Bear Country is quiet. It is probably because people are still hanging out at the Spurs campsite. I was going to go myself but decided to catch up on some missing sleep. I found an abandoned puppy today when I took out the garbage. She is so scrawny. I didn’t see her mom anywhere. I am thinking that she has probably been gone a while because the puppy is nothing but skin and bones. At first, I was just going to leave her there next to the garbage. I really wasn’t in the mood to take on another responsibility. She tried to follow me as I walked away. She has the most pitiful eyes. I tried to shoo her away, but she wasn’t listening. She just kept following me. I went back into the school and that scrawny little puppy started to cry.

There is almost nothing worse than a crying puppy. I opened the back door and in she walked. In my stern voice, I said, “You can’t stay here.”  She wagged that little pitiful tail and looked at me with those pitiful eyes. It was sad. I picked her up into my arms. She smelled awful. It was bad. I couldn’t send her out in public to find a new home smelling that way, so I gave her a bath and a meal.  It would have been rude of me to send her on her way without a full stomach. She looked as if she had eaten in a while. After her tummy was full, she fell asleep on the rug next to my bed. As soon as she is awake, I am going to find her a good home.

Journal 40

Joshua and his gang were wonderful hosts. The dinner was excellent. I am so glad I am not a vegetarian because that steak I ate was heaven. I don’t even feel guilty about the cow that once was. Maybe a little guilty but not enough to want to save the next cow that might end up on my plate. The evening outdoors was also excellent. It was a perfect evening. The stars seemed so bright. Brighter than usual and the weather was gorgeous. People surrounded the campfires in groups of around twenty.

The Spurs have some very interesting stories to tell. Some of them were very funny. I like these people; they are polite, and they make me laugh. They do talk a little funny, but you get used to it. I am really hoping they stay around a while and it’s not because I find Joshua cute and that he doesn’t have a girlfriend. (For a brief moment, I thought he had a girlfriend, but it turned out to be his sister.) I actually don’t think I have a chance. I can always hope.

I want the Spurs to hang around because they add something different to this community and they have a large supply of beef. I am not sure how long they plan to stay or if they might decide to homestead here. Homestead is a funny word. The Spurs say many funny words. I find the way they talk appealing. I am not sure why. The night lasted into the early morning hours. Most people fell asleep where they were sitting. A few of them couldn’t have walked home if they wanted to.  The Spurs have a large supply of alcohol on hand. Joshua said it was for special occasions and last night was a special occasion.

 

 

Journal 39

Everyone seems to be fascinated with our new guests. Sheriff Pete, Casey, and Tony have been spending a lot of time out at the Spurs campsite. Apparently, they are learning to rope and ride. They look like they have been eating a lot of dirt. With the exception of having several new bruises they all claim to be having a good time.  Joshua stopped by to see me earlier. He wanted to thank me for my kindness, and he invited me to dinner. I will not be the only one attending. The Spurs invited several people. Joshua said we would eat well. I am thinking “steak”. I don’t remember the last time I sat down and had meat that wasn’t a fish, squirrel or rabbit.

Journal 38

Casey, Lisa, Tony, Jonas, and I walked out to the Spurs campsite to see Joshua to ask if they needed anything. Actually, curiosity was killing us.  We heard they actually had a herd of cattle. They do have a herd and it’s a very large herd.  We weren’t the only gang to come for a visit. Apparently, people have been dropping by all day.  It was an interesting visit. As soon as we reached camp, we entered the 1800’s all over again. There were cowboys and cowgirls everywhere. I don’t think I have ever seen so many guns and rifles in one place before. It was actually a little scary.  Joshua seems to be a very strong leader, and I could tell that the people in his gang respect his authority.  He was conducting business even as we talked. He invited us to look around but cautioned us to stay away from the herd.

Journal 37

Joshua and his friends were in Bear Country looking for supplies. They were just passing through. Most of the people in his gang were setting up camp on the edge of town. It’s somewhat weird. You don’t see very many people dressed in western clothes and wearing guns. They were real guns. I asked if they had had much trouble along their way. Joshua smiled and simply said “Not Much”. He changed the subject when I asked if everyone in his gang carried guns.

Journal 36

People come and go in Bear Country all the time, so I wasn’t surprised when I saw someone new.  Not surprised but interested. I found that new pair of shoes today and while I was shopping, I ran across a couple of wagons and a team of horses hooked up to each of them. The old west had come to Bear Country. Who would have thought in this day and time that cowboys still roamed the plains or at least Lafayette Blvd? People dress how they feel around here. How you dress is part of your identity, but it is a little odd and strange to see cowboy hats and boots. Curiosity was killing me, so I introduced myself. His name was Joshua. He was tall and he wore a black hat.

Journal 35

I think most of Bear Country is still asleep even though it is almost noon. The festival was a great success. I had a wonderful time. I ate too much and stayed out too late. I watched Bear Country defeat the Dirt Bike Knights in a game of flag football. It was so very funny. Neither team had very athletic players. I think we won by accident. The Dirt Bike Knights have asked for a rematch next weekend. It should be an interesting game.

Sheriff Pete spent a couple of hours in the dunk, your favorite deputy and sheriff booth. Casey was the local fortuneteller. She had a long line of people leading up to her tent. Lisa and her band spent most of the day singing. I think Matt and Jonas spent most of the day making out with their girlfriends or any lonely girl they came across. Mostly Jonas, Matt was only making out with Hemy. The Library Trio had people oohing and aaaahing at their science experiments. It’s actually kind of fun watching a volcano explode. I didn’t see much of Tony or the Runt until the evening hours. They said they had a good time.

When the sun went down the bands began to play slower romantic music. People began to slow dance on the football field. It was interesting to watch. Sometimes the oddest-looking couples hook up. I think I watched people dance for a couple of hours before Tony asked me to dance. It was a nice dance, unexpected. I never really realized how good he smells up close.

Journal 34

Today is the festival. I’m excited. Everyone is excited. People have been awake since dawn. Most people around here usually sleep until at least 10:00. Not today, today it was a race to see who could get to the showers first. I can already smell the food. It smells so good. The bands have already begun to play. I love hearing musicians play. Bear Country has several talented musicians and singers but so do several of the other gangs. I expect to hear a wide variety of music throughout the day. There will be many games to play. There will be several tournaments, just pick your sport and somewhere on Lafayette Blvd. a game will be playing. It’s time to start my day. I love Festival.

Journal 33

I’m having one of those moments of thought when you wonder how you got where you are today. I don’t know the history of everyone that lives in Bear Country. We all have a past that we wish we could have back or one that we wished we could forget. I want mine back. I want the life I had before. I want my parents to help make my decisions. I want to look forward to going to college. There aren’t any colleges anymore. This is a depressing mood. I need to get out of this slump. Ok, what can I do to make myself cheerful? I have an idea. I will go and interrupt the make-out session that Matt and Hemy are having down the hall….and grab Tony and make them play spades with me.