From his office on the university lyceum building’s top floor, Junior gazed at the hustle and bustle below. It warmed his heart to see bright-eyed, energetic students in “Gar U” sweaters rushing to classes, and from every car waved the school flag, bearing the university mascot, a toothy, evil-eyed gar.
When brisk fall weather overcame summer’s hot days and football was in the air, Junior, Jaybird, their wives and children — sons Garland, Garfield, Garner, Gartley, and daughters Garcinda, Garsilla, Gardenia, and Garlissa — sat in box seats in Gar Stadium and watched their team, the Gar Giants, slaughter young warriors from opposing universities.
Jimmy Reed's Jay's Gar Ponds:
Parts 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6,
“Do you think it’s really possible?”
Everything was going well for the gar men, but Junior noticed that Jaybird seemed to be distracted by a troubling preoccupation. One fine spring day, as they were enjoying what they loved most— fishing — he asked his business partner and best friend what was bothering him. “Jaybird, you have not been yourself lately. You have become wealthy beyond your wildest dreams and are loved and esteemed by people all over the country. What could possibly be wrong?”
Jaybird agonized over a problem that was causing him much emotional anguish. Finally, misty-eyed and struggling for words, he said, “Junior, with these hands I can make anything I set my mind to,” holding before him the two strong, callused, work-worn hands that had created so much over the years. “But, when you and I were youngsters, I never had any interest in school or in learning, while you studied constantly and graduated with honors. All I cared about was fishing.”
With that he hung his head, and tears coursed down his cheeks. Deeply concerned by Jaybird’s uncharacteristic display of emotion, Junior asked, “So what? Being educated is not important now. You have made a huge success of yourself, despite your lack of learning.”
Then, with his shoulders sagging from a burden he could no longer bear and tears streaming from his eyes, Jaybird said, “Junior, I can barely read and write.” One friend put his arm around the other friend, and pointing into the late afternoon haze toward the spires of Gar University, said, “Your answer is right over yonder. I am going to teach you to read and write, and you are going to enroll at your own university and earn a college degree.”
“Do you think it’s really possible?” Jaybird sniffed, looking hopefully at his partner. Then his shoulders lifted in anticipation, determination and optimism, and at the same time he exhaled the kind of long, sustained sigh heard only after one has finally come to the end of a long period of personal struggle and suffering. Cranking the motor and nosing the boat toward shore, Junior shouted, “You bet your empire it is!”
Four years later, Jaybird, dressed in gown and mortar board, beamed in response to the applause and standing ovation he received as he walked across the stage to receive his diploma, a dream come true … all because of Junior’s dream: Jay’s gar ponds.
Jimmy Reed is an Oxford, Mississippi resident, Ole Miss and Delta State University alumnus, Vietnam Era Army Veteran, former Mississippi Delta cotton farmer and ginner, author, and retired college teacher.
This story is a selection from Jimmy Reed’s latest book, entitled The Jaybird Tales.
Copies, including personalized autographs, can be reserved by notifying the author via email (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)).
