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Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: Wilkinson’s Watermelon

May 20, 2020 by Jim Potter 12 Comments

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(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.)


 

· Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: Wilkinson’s Watermelon·

(Conclusion – Part 2 of 2)

It’s Sunday night, August 21, 1927 in Hutchinson, Kansas. Earlier, two boys were caught by Old Man Wilkinson as they were attempting to steal a prized watermelon from his melon patch. Reno County Sheriff Fay F. Brown was called and responded to the scene from his home. He contacted Wilkinson and collected the boys.

*

The boys were eager to leave Wilkinson’s property. When ordered, they jumped into the sheriff’s car as if it was the safest place on earth. Sheriff Brown and Wilkinson, both outside, talked a few more minutes before the sheriff got behind the wheel and started the engine.

Unemotionally, the sheriff said, “We’re off to jail.”

The boys were silent.

“Tell me your names again and your ages,” said Brown.

The tallest boy, sitting next to Fay, answered first, “I’m Chester Miller. I’m fourteen.”

Headed back to Hutchinson, the headlights from Fay’s car reflected off an automobile poorly hidden some distance from the road. As the sheriff’s vehicle picked up speed, he glanced over his right shoulder, towards the boy in the back seat.

The boy was a dark figure without detail. He was quietly sniffling.

“What’s your name?” repeated Fay.

“He’s Billy…” the boy in the front seat started answering.

Curtly, the sheriff said, “I asked him, not you.”

“I’m Billy Benson, twelve years old; when Obee School starts next week I’ll be in seventh grade. I really like school; I want to learn. I love my teachers; I don’t want to go to the reformatory. Just let me go home; I’ll never do a bad thing for the rest of my life. Chester dared me to help him steal a watermelon. He said that a stolen melon taste better than one’s that’s store bought.”

“Tell me what happened earlier with Mr. Wilkinson,” ordered the sheriff.

“Chester drove his father’s car and parked it behind some trees,” answered Billy. “We were really quiet and found the watermelon patch hidden past some rows of corn. We could see the watermelons by the moonlight but we had to decide which one to take.”

“What happened next?” said Fay, as he turned and looked at Chester.

“That’s when the shotgun blast scared us!” said the oldest boy. “It was awful loud and it was nearby. That’s when Mr. Wilkinson told us that if we thought about running, he would plug us with his double ought six.”

“Did he shoot at you?” asked the sheriff.

“No,” answered Chester. “If he had wanted to shoot us, we’d both be dead.”

*

As Sheriff Fay Brown entered town, he decided that any further conversation with the boys was unnecessary until morning, especially since they were both young and it was past their bedtime. The boys didn’t know it, but Wilkinson wasn’t interested in signing a complaint. Waiting until morning would give the boys more time to consider the consequences of their actions, including the possibility that they could have been killed and used as fertilizer for Wilkinson’s pumpkin patch.

Fay caught himself starting to smile as he imagined the startled response of Billy and Chester to Wilkinson’s shotgun blast. If they ultimately survived this adventure, they weren’t going to be feasting on any of Mr. Wilkinson’s watermelons.  

“Boys,” said Fay, “have your parents bring you down to my office tomorrow morning at 9 o’clock and we’ll discuss this.”

“We’re not going to jail?” asked Billy.

“I’m taking each of you home right now,” said Fay. “What’s your address?”

“We’re not going to jail!” said Billy to Chester.

Chester answered, “Well, not tonight.”

*

“That didn’t take very long,” said Cora.

“Lake Bedell Road isn’t far,” said Fay, “plus, I didn’t want to stay in Wilkinson’s house any longer than necessary.”

“How old are the boys?” Cora asked. “Do you know them?”

“One boy’s fourteen; the other’s only twelve,” said Fay. “I’ve never met either one of them before, and I don’t expect they’ll be in any more trouble any time soon.”

“Are you going to get the courts involved?” Cora asked.

“Oh, no,” said Fay. “Wilkinson said he wasn’t going to file a complaint. He just wanted to scare them.”

“Mr. Wilkinson sounds like a nice, reasonable man,” said Cora. “If he’s still living alone, let’s invite him here for Sunday dinner. I’ll bet he’d enjoy someone else doing the cooking. I’ll make cherry pie, or do you think he’d prefer watermelon?”

*

Until next time, happy writing and reading.

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Comments

  1. Alex says

    HA! Great conclusion!

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      Thanks, Alex.

      Reply
  2. Tracy says

    Much needed smile for the day. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      Thanks, Tracy. Glad you had a moment to read/listen.

      Reply
  3. Earl says

    Very good once again, Jim. Reminded me of a time when me and another kid took tomatoes from a field and the Farmer shot with salt shot. Didn’t hit us, but we never did that again.

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      Thanks, Earl. Glad you were only scared, not hit. I may want to use your fictitious name the next time I have children getting into trouble!

      Reply
  4. Rock says

    My grandfather put 2 by 10s with sixteen penny nails thru them in the drive-ins of his section of watermelons. Then the family would sit out under the stars and watch the thieves change tires.

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      I like the immediacy of that justice. Better lesson.

      Reply
  5. Louise says

    Enjoyed your story. Thank you for posting it.

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      Thank you, Louise.

      Reply
  6. Marilyn Bolton says

    Sweet story, Jim, from a time that was simpler in so many ways–thank you!!

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      Thank you, Marilyn.

      Reply

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Karleen Wilson-Moon

Terrific story relevant to today’s social issues . . . well written . . . likable characters . . . insightful perspective from an insider in law enforcement.

Larry Kruckman, anthropologist

Jim Potter displays ethnographic skills in Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery, creating vivid scenes and fascinating characters. The Greeks had a word for subcultures and people’s behavior: ‘ethos,’ or ‘ways of being.’ In colorful, sometimes marvelous detail, this novel captures various people and settings . . . the ethos of rural Kansas: a… Read more “Larry Kruckman, anthropologist”

Steve Becker

I’m impressed. It was an excellent read. . . . I hope you continue with more projects in the future.

Morgan Penner

Taking Back the Bullet is a novel that provides the reader with a window into the world of law enforcement. As the novel unfolds, the reader is able to see how split-second decisions alter the lives of the main characters in the story. Taking Back the Bullet also explores how humanity is impacted by mental… Read more “Morgan Penner”

Sean McArdle, Winchester, England

Retired police officer Potter’s novel centers on very disparate characters and through the tried and tested means of gradually introducing each one, builds a sense of anticipation about what is going to happen to them. This often used methodology is not easy to do well but is superbly handled by Potter who knows how to… Read more “Sean McArdle, Winchester, England”

Jane Holzrichter

I finished it last night around midnight. What a great piece of work. It kept me intrigued all the way to the end.

Deb Theis, LSCSW, clinical therapist/hypnotherapist

Jim Potter has done it again! After his book, Cop in the Classroom: Lessons I’ve Learned, Tales I’ve Told, Jim has written another great work. In Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery, Jim Potter takes us on an insightful journey into the lives and relationships of numerous characters. Jim is such a talented storyteller… Read more “Deb Theis, LSCSW, clinical therapist/hypnotherapist”

Diana Dester

Good story line, building the characters along the way. Great job!

Wynona Winn, PhD, retired school superintendent

Three main characters walk different paths but with the same destination – each coping with his or her self-discovery, self-identity, and self-realization. Much like their earlier counterparts – Huck Finn and Holden Caulfield – their journeys are often joyous, often tedious and often tragic.

Judy Hawk

. . . I was impressed with the Native American information as well as the depth of character development . . . .

John & Cindy Morrill, 20 years Air Force retired, 17 years law enforcement

I enjoyed your book. When I am looking for a new read, I always read the first page, last page and choose a random page somewhere in the middle before I decide to buy it. You had me on all three pages. I also like reading a book where you can relate to the characters… Read more “John & Cindy Morrill, 20 years Air Force retired, 17 years law enforcement”

Sheryl Remar

I enjoyed the different stories of this book because Tom, James, and Suanna, the three main characters, represent in their own way the different struggles with themselves and society’s idea of what is normal.

Rebecca Schillaci

As a former law enforcement officer, I found the story very relatable as it details the life of a law enforcement officer and the struggles some face throughout their careers. . . Taking Back the Bullet is a journey of understanding, respect, and forgiveness . . .

Dennis Perrin, educator

Masterful storytelling, exquisite character development, so real as to HURT and HOPE, a real page turner. Begs for stage, screenwriters, and visual episodic development a.k.a. TV series . . . Thanks Jim Potter for telling it like it is AND providing us visions of how it could be. Well done!

Rebecca from Proud Police Wife

Taking Back the Bullet is an emotional, yet captivating novel. Jim Potter does a superb job of intertwining each character and putting their individual identities on display. All law enforcement storylines are a true reflection of Potter’s years as a police officer because they are realistic and relatable. This is a book I highly recommend.

Denise Low, author of Jackalope (Red Mountain Press)

Jim Potter is a cop, retired, but he brings deep understanding of this job to his novel Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery. This layered novel has literary dimensions as characters explore crisis situations. Congratulations to this fine writer for his debut novel.

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