Jimbo’s Big Day
A man lived in a neatly kept house on a nearly treeless piece of dry scrub land on the edge of one of those towns out in the country. He hardly ever went into town or talked to the people who lived in it. He was just that man out there. The townfolk didn’t have much reason to be out around that way anyhow and so they weren’t.
One morning after the sun had cleared the hills and the first heat hit the buildings in the square the man shuffled into town. He walked to the general store and opened the door and went inside and everyone got quiet and watched him. He walked up to the counter and said Jimbo!
And James said to him yes sir?
He said Jimbo I got to talk to you.
And James said yes sir.
The man said out back.
James said all right sir I’ll follow you.
They got out back and it was just the two of them. The man leaned in real close and he said Jimbo. Tell all these here in town not to come within 100 yards of my house. I booby trapped the entire place with landmines and tiger pits. Them pigfuckers other side of the hill ain’t gonna take mine. And James nodded and said I understand sir. I’ll make sure they know sir.
The man looked at Jimbo hard and took his measure. Jimbo looked back. The man turned to leave.
Sir Jimbo said. You don't want to miss them when they come. You'll need resupply.
One week later in the morning after the sun had cleared the hills and the first heat hit the buildings in the square the man returned to the general store. He opened the door and walked inside and the people looked at him but they kept their distance and their mouths shut too. The man walked up to the counter and said Jimbo!
And James said yes sir?
He said Jimbo I got to talk to you.
James said yes sir.
The man said out back.
James said all right sir I’ll follow you.
They got out back and it was just the two of them. And the man leaned in real close and he said Jimbo. Tell all these here in town not to come within 200 yards of my house. I booby trapped the entire place with landmines and tiger pits. Them pigfuckers other side of the hill ain’t gonna take mine. And James nodded and said I understand sir. I’ll make sure they know sir.
Bring me resupply in 7 days.
I will sir said James.
The man said when you come 200 yards shy Jimbo you announce yourself. And the man turned and went home.
The next day the man didn't come into town. He didn't return the day after that either.
After five more days James approached the man’s house wheeling a barrow full of supplies. James stopped as close as he dared to guess was 200 yards shy. He looked to one side of him then the other. He shouted to the house.
The man in the house squinted toward a figure at the edge of his vision and picked up a rifle. He pointed his rifle at the figure and kept it trained there as he walked carefully to the perimeter where James waited. He lowered his weapon and nodded and James took two sacks from the barrow. The man led James to the house along the winding path he’d memorized. They entered the house and James shot the man in the spine and again in the back of the head after he fell.
I’m them pigfuckers other side of the hill he said.
He stayed for a few minutes to watch the blood. Then he wiped his palms on the legs of his trousers and turned to leave. His last thought before he stepped on the landmine was that he couldn’t believe he’d done it so easy.
