Now in west Texas life runs at a simple steady pace. Expectations are clear and can easily be understood. At the Crown Ranch one of the largest ranches in the country, there are so many longhorns that it is difficult to count in a day. The family owned Ranch spreads across the dry desert countryside for miles. As children, the two sons of the Ranch owner are often found spending their afternoons watching the horses be re-shoed by the over-heated wranglers wearing their beige colored Stetsons to protect them from the blazing sun.
The life of a wrangler is not an easy one. One of their responsibilities is to keep the herd from any type of danger. This is a 24-7 type of job in every kind of weather because of thieves, wolves and other local wild life that could cause potential danger to the cattle. Temperatures can be scorching and the hours can be very long as well as not very comfortable riding on a horse all day. The life of a ranch-hand is much further down the ladder of comfort. Cleaning up the barns, barreling hay, fixing stock gates and fences, sweeping out the left over residue of animals that have been cooped up without much flowing breeze are all daily duties of ranch-hand.
Zach and Luke are your average local boys full of mischief and fun. Luke is a little older and more on the quiet side of life. Zach is always running into the center of things and stirring everyone up. He is a bit of a handful but affable and easy to be around. Luke spends many hours studying techniques to further improve the beef industry and dairy production of the ranch. Luke is a natural for business minded adventures.
As the boys grow older life begins to change for them. Zach is becoming more involved in the high school drama club and resents his hours having to spend doing chores that his father has assigned him to do. Understanding that his boys will one day take over the ranch for him, he wants them to work in every area of ranch life so they will understand and have empathy for each specific job on the ranch. Luke although he would like to be in an office analyzing procedures for his dad, still feels that perhaps there is a benefit to learning all sides of ranch life for the future.
As a senior, Zach is chosen as the lead in the high school musical. Many feel he has talent and are awed by his performance. He is charming and easily draws the audience into his character. It is the consensus of the senior class that if anybody is going to become famous, it will definitely be Zach. Luke is well-liked too and a good student. He applies himself and has very successful results. He was even class valedictorian the previous year.
Now Mr. Crown is very proud of both of his sons. Luke is in his first year of studies at Texas A & M and doing quite well. He is already making a name for himself. But as June is fast approaching, he is concerned that local fame has given his son, Zach, somewhat of an inflated ego. Mr. Crown created a trust fund for each boy the day that they were born. Diligently and faithfully he has added generously to both of these funds to lay a solid foundation for the boys’ future.
Upon graduation, Zach valiantly approaches his father about an announcement he wants to make. “I’m going to be famous.” His father reflectively thinks that this is probably a true statement. However Zach continues, “I’m not going to college to your alma mater, but instead I have decided to move to New York. Real actors don’t go to college. They don’t need degrees. I don’t need a degree.” His father quickly tries to dissuade him from what he feels is not a wise decision at this time in his life. Zach rebuts, “You don’t understand me. I know what is best for me.” After many arguments, his father spends hours evaluating the consequences of not allowing his son to at least try. He agrees to let his son go. The son begs to have his trust fund to live on while he is there in New York. His father thinks that perhaps it is best to let him have his money to live on so he can survive in the unknown Big Apple.
Zach immediately packs his bags and takes the first flight he can to Newark Airport. Upon arriving, he rides the train into Penn station. Exiting the train, he sees more people in one area than he’s ever seen in one place at a single time. There are musicians playing electric pianos, one on a recorder, another playing a guitar all asking for money as the crowd swiftly passes by. Zach thinks to himself, “You’ll never find me doing that. No one is paying attention to these guys. No one is going to ignore me.”
He finds quite an expensive place to live on 83rd street and Broadway. It is a rental apartment at an appalling price but has a great view with large windows. He buys new trendy furniture and lots of statues in ebony and class to decorate his home. He picks up a “Variety” paper at the local newsstand which lists all the places to audition for the latest established musicals as well as the up and coming on off-off Broadway.
Zach decides he will start his first audition with “Wicked!” Of course, the part is already filled before walking into the office. He then heads over to “Phantom”, “Mama Mia!” around the block to “Avenue Q” – but no luck. After a few months his cash allowance is getting a little low but not to worry it won’t be too much longer until he is “discovered” by an agent.
By this time he has met many great friends who like to party at his place. Music, girls, dancing, and every thing else is freely available. It is great to have such a life. One day though his manager calls him up. The bank has insufficient funds to pay his monthly rent. He decides it is time to get a job.
The only thing he is qualified to do is to be a bus boy at a local family Italian restaurant around the corner. One morning after a heavy night of partying, awaking in a dizzy haze he realizes that he has missed hearing the alarm clock scream the morning hour. On arriving late at work, he finds that he has been replaced. Since he does not make enough in tips and spends what little he has made to buy drinks for his parties, again he cannot make the monthly rent payment.
After a third month of this same routine, he is kicked out. He doesn’t want to call home. He will find another place to stay. But doors began to close when he tells his “friends” that he cannot foot the bill for any more parties. Steadily his friends dissipate. After a few more months even his closest friend kicks him out from staying on his couch when he can no longer chip in for groceries because he can’t hold down a job.
He finds himself staying at a men’s shelter just to have a place to keep out from the cold and rain. The volunteers provide a cold breakfast and warm dinner meal for free. But the days start drifting one into another. He is only 20 by now, but what has he gained in two years? He is living in a shelter and trying to make the next day quickly pass into another waiting for fame and fortune to strike.
One day a buddy at the shelter invites him to go “out” with him for the day. He tells him of a ‘hot spot’ where he has made more money than any one else. Zach agrees with this since the man seems to always have enough money for cigarettes and a new pair of shoes. He brings Zach to Penn Station where the man digs deep into the pockets of his fur bound coat. He first brings out a knitted dark blue cap which he tells Luke is to keep his ears and head warm in the cool moisture of the wind and also so he doesn’t catch a cold. Then he brings out a red and white striped six-inch harmonica. Just like an unwanted nightmare, the man begins to play. He chides Zach to join him in singing some of his Broadway tunes. Before he realizes it, Zach is singing “I’m Singing in the Rain” and “Don’t Rain on my Parade.”
Suddenly Zach realizes that this wasn’t the life he has dreamed of. If this is all there is going to be, he wants no part of it. This brings him to his senses. Even the wranglers on his father’s ranch get three meals a day. They have homemade biscuits & gravy for breakfast with grits. Dinner is usually some of the choicest T-bone steak and fully loaded baked potatoes with bacon bits just about every night. There has to be more to life than this. His buddy was right that his is a good location. His pal splits the profits with him which is enough for Zach to buy a Greyhound bus ticket back to Texas.
Boarding the midnight express, Zach thinks about all the angry words he said to his father when he left. In anguish Zach wonders if his father will even want to see him. But even if he is hired as a ranch-hand it will be better than what he is experiencing on the streets of the city.
Upon arriving he takes the local bus to the nearest stop from the ranch which is about a mile away. After pulling out his worn-out creased cowboy boots from his faded backpack, Zach decides he will walk the rest of the way towards home.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Crown has been asked to check on an automatic feeding trough that is having some issues functioning properly. It is near the outskirts of the property line. While Zach is walking far in the distance by the wood barbed wire fence, his father wipes the sweat from his brow and rubs his eyes to make sure that what he is seeing is real. He has ached and longed to see his son for two very long years. Zach hasn’t called, emailed, text, or anything – just silence. Could it be? Could it really be?
It is Zach! He is coming home! Mr. Crown takes off as fast as an old man can and heartily embraces his precious son. All Zach can repetitively respond to his father is “I’m sorry dad, so sorry!” When he can breathe for a moment between his sobs, Zach tells his father “you don’t have to call me son. I’ve spent everything you gave to me. I’ll work for you. I’ll be a ranch-hand if you will just let me stay.” But his dad isn’t listening. He is sending out orders, “Invite everyone around! Find the prize steer, bring the best in our chicken coops, bake some home-made pies, we’re having a hoe-down! My son is home!”
Now Luke has been helping the wranglers that day on the opposite far corner of the ranch. He has helped in every facet of the ranch as he has every single day in between his college classes while Zach has been gone. Luke has been learning every branch and avenue of the family business. He has been consistent in his loyalty to his father and to the ranch.
As Luke arrives back at the ranch house also affectionately known as the Hacienda, he hears loud dance music and voices of laughter which is completely different than any other time in the last two years. Running outside to fetch more supplies from the cellar, Luke asks the ranch-hand what the ruckus is all about. Then to his disgust, he understands the reason for the festivities. His lazy brother who has betrayed the family is now home.
Luke stalks off in an angry sulk. He refuses to join in the party. His Father comes outside looking for him. Walking directly up to Luke, his son asks “Why have you not thrown a party for me or my friends? You waste our best heifer on this toad stool of a brother! He spends all your money on women, beer, and who knows what else and now you’re throwing a party like he is some ‘gift from God’ on him?”
Gently and compassionately his Father replies, “All I have is yours and will always be yours. But celebrate with me for at this moment, your brother is lost and now he is found!”
No comments:
Post a Comment