The other day I was visiting with Sam at the feed store. We got to talking about the admission prices at some of the local rodeos. It seems to take a family of four to watch the local rodeo costs the better part of a hundred dollar bill, if they pay admission and eat at the concession stand. We can’t figure out how so many families spend money the way they do. I guess they have money to blow on such things. We both have farmed all our lives and we don’t waste too much on goin out to watch what we do every day on the farm.
It didn’t take long and we got to swapping stories about stuff we did back in the old days when we both rodeoed and were in college. I’ve hid my wife in the horse trailer to save five bucks on getting into the rodeo on more than one occasion. Sam said way back when the national finals was in Oklahoma City him and some of his college buddies snuck in a side door and got to watch for free. One buddy, Jess went way up in the top of the building and slept on a cat walk until the next performance. Jess got to watch twice for free.
Another time while they were in college at Stillwater Sam, Jess and some other young cowboys attended a dedication event at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. There was a big introduction ceremony out in front of the building by a big water fountain. There was a bunch of folks in suits and ties. Sam, Jess and the others were in cowboy hats, boots and pearl snap shirts. After the speech was given everyone headed inside too tour all the new exhibits and what not. That is everyone except Jess, he didn’t go inside he hung around outside. He took off his boots and rolled up his pants as folks were heading in, some folks in suits and ties kind of gave him a dirty look.
Sam and his other buddies went inside the cowboy hall of fame and listened to the speakers and had a good time. They kind of got to wondering if Jess had got hurt or something so they headed back outside.
They found Jess wading around in the big water fountain out in front of the cowboy hall of fame. Jess had noticed the people in suits and ties at the opening ceremony tossing coins into the fountain. When everyone went inside the building Jess took his boots off and waded into the water fountain gathering up coins as fast as he could.
When Sam and the other fellas returned Jess said I couldn’t help but notice all this money just laying around, and fellers I’m about broke. It’s ok though, I’ve gathered up enough so we can get something to eat on the way home.
James Lockhart lives near the Kiamichi mountains in southeast Oklahoma. He writes cowboy stories and fools with cows and horses.
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