The Club House

Not too far beyond the pink and white play house Jarreds dad built for his Baby Girl, and only daughter Sandy, was the club house he helped the boys build on the family planted Oak Tree. He insisted on helping so as not to have the boys come falling down to the ground with a plank of wood sticking out from some part of their body. The club house consisted of a trap door with a rope (For those fireman type exits, though if you weren’t too careful you would burn your hands and as Jarred can attest, you can burn a hole in your favorite Wranglers.), 3 windows (Each with a curtain made of denim patches. Stephen’s mom insisted on helping despite the boys many protest that the curtains would make it look like a sissy club house), and there were five apple crates for sitting, storing, playing checkers and card games on, and oh yeah the club house also had 'the shelf of wonder'. Upon the final “Fathers” inspection, the shelf earned its name because everyone wondered how that thing stayed attached to the wall with nails that didn’t seem to quite go in all the way. But it did stand firm, and miraculously could hold the weight of a pair of binoculars and the hammer that the boys broke – taped – and broke again – replaced the handle – and once again broke. Also on the shelf was the junk the boys thought would come in handy if there was an invasion. A box of BB pellets and two slingshots inside the ammo box Stephens Grandfather gave him.

The roof was strong, for those extra hot nights when the boys would want to go up top and stare out at the stars. The boys could also hide up there when they had that feeling that someone would actually look IN the club house while hunting them down . The boys had all their "war" gear up in the "fort" (of sorts), just in case. You know, just as a precaution to Canadian, alien, or female invasions. Semi organized, semi strewn about were 2 sleeping bags, a few flashlights, several bottles of flat paint in dark colors to use for camouflage along with an old military instruction book on how and when to use it. And flanking the door were the two rusted horse shoes the boys found on the floor of the pond, while once trying to recover a bike they rode off the end of the dock. The boys were in a habit of only spending an hour or so up in the club house before dinner each night. They had too many things to do on the ground and the tree would be more of a get-a-way, hide out, or summer sleep over location for them. Fishing, riding their bikes on the south trails far behind the Grishum's farm that take the long way to the pond, and spying on the Smither's Twins when they weren't at ballet class, or piano lessons, or archery practice were just some of the many things to keep them busy in Gruberville. "What babes" the boys would say in stereo about the Smithers twins. But they were still a bit too shy and awkward to out right talk to the girls. You know boys?! They think that their flipping their eyelids trick is equally funny to girls as it is boys.

Most recently the boys were up in the club house recounting their stash of comic books, and baseball cards. "Elly heard you call her 'Snot Licker' yesterday." Jarred said. "I know! She punched me in the stomach." Stephen replied. You see, Elly's last name is Brotsnicker. And the boys have a really dumb habit of rhyming names to gross, silly, or even evil sound-a-like type things. So when Elly had over heard Stephens so called nick name for her this last time, she walked up to him and said "Astupidboyabouttogethitinthebreadbasketsayswhat?" and Stephen replied "What?" and UMMMPH, he now understood what she said, and instantly was thankful that she didn't kick 10 inches lower, or punch 20 inches higher. "Yeah, a black eye would have been hard to explain to everyone. Ya know?!" Stephen said sorting out his rookie cards. "Oo oo oh yeah!" Jarred giggled back.