Another Autumn Day

My brother-in-law Don wrote this story when I asked for some stories about Doug...

"If you've ever lived on the prairies, you will know the kind of day I'm talking about. Crisp, clean air. Not a cloud in the sky. Wear a sweater if you're out walking, but just a t-shirt if you're in the car as the sun beating through the window will make you feel like a meatball on top of a plate of pasta right off mama's stove.

Anyway...it was a nice day. JC beach (that is where this all takes place) is a municipal park. It has a mad-made lake, picnic areas, trees and gravel roads winding through the forest.

Now..to the story. First let me introduce the characters. There is Doug. He is the main character and without him I would not be telling you this story. There's Deb (Doug's main squeeze) who is probably reading this story to you. And the's Deb's friend, Julie. Okay..before we go any further, it must be said that Doug was not really a big fan of Julie. Not that Julie wasn't a nice person, but Julie could talk and talk. Julie could make a telephone solicitor hang up on her. But that wan't the real problem. The real problem was that wherever Deb was, Julie was. And Doug wanted to spend some time with Deb, without Julie. He had to discourage her from tagging along. But what could he do?

Enter Rick. Without Rick, this story would not be half as funny. Actually it would not be funny at all or make any sense.

Our story begins as Doug, Deb, and Julie are driving along a windy gravel road at JC Beach. Doug had a hot Camaro SS (this was a HOT car!). They are driving along, Julie is talking as usual and then...

Let me explain a few pertinent facts. In Saskatchewan at that time (early 70's) police cars and government cars could be identified by an "X" on the license plate. Rick;s father was a veterinarian for the government and, therefore, had a 4-door sedan with an "X" on the license plate. It looked just like a police ghost car.

Doug has arranged with Rick that he would park on a side road just barely hidden off the road, and that is what he did.

So...here come Doug, Deb and Julie chatting away. They pass Rick and he pulls out behind the. Doug looks in his rear view mirror and states that he thinks there is a cop behind the. Julie stops talking. Then Rick, the guy in the fake cop car, pulls out one of those flashing read lights that you can get from a safety supply shop and places it on the dash of his father's car.

Doug looks in the mirror again and states "*&@*! It is a cop!" and starts to speed up the Camaro. Julie is now freaking out.

After a few laps, Doug declares in a rather loud voice, "That's it!" and slams on the brakes.

Dust flying, Doug reaches into his glove box and pulls out a revolver. He jumps out of the car just as Rick pulls up in a cloud of dust from the gravel road. Doug aims the gun at Rick..."Bam".

And Julie? She is hysterical in the back seat. And then...she fainted. (Deb adds--Julie was dramatic!)

Doug's gun was an air pistol and only the sound was real.

Doug laughed, Rick laughed, Deb...well, you will have to ask her. And Julie? I don't think she ever tagged along again.

*This is the was the story was told to me by Doug himself. It might have been embellished a bit for effect, or perhaps the years have changed some of the true sequence of events and actual truths. I don't know. But knowing Doug...it sounds like something he would have don and every time I think about him, I can see his big grin as he stood there on that autumn day a long time ago.

IMPORTANT!!!!

Kids, this was a long time ago. DO NOT attempt this now! Fake guns, fake cops and fake car chases on sunny autumn days should only be performed by professionals.

Love,

Uncle Don.

Thanks Don...I'll share my version another time!