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Closing the Ranks

In the sad summer weeks ahead, a proper memorial is arranged for Mr. D. and dozens of tributes pour in, testimony to the years of community service Mr. D. has given to Troop33. A new scoutmaster steps forward, Frankie Cloud (Mr. C), himself an Eagle Scout, now a government attorney with his own son part of the program. Other parents, new to the troop, step forward to offer volunteer service. Wiley Timmons is one of these new recruits. A former public school teacher, with a teenager in Troop33, his experience is zero (“my mom paid me $5 to quit cub scouts”). No matter. Wiley’s wife, Marigold, gives him plenty of encouragement. Her dad, Lloyd, had been a Colorado scoutmaster for twenty years, a Norman Rockwell type of ‘knowing and capable’ leader. ‘You’ll figure it out as you go’ she says.

Encouraged by Marigold and welcomed by Mr. C., Wiley asks for advice. “So what do I do next?”. Mr. C. recommends Wiley to a Scout Leadership program and asks him to enroll, accompanied by Eddie, a college dropout on his second (or third) drug rehab program. .Mr. C. is plain in his motives. “Looking to you two to ‘learn the ropes’ so to speak and maybe help Eddie get his act together. How’s that sound? By the way, you’ve already missed the first class but I’m sure you can figure this program out. You know, ‘tie the knots, sing the songs, learn some first aid, camping skills, leadership training and stuff like that”. Wiley is ready to go. He’s moving forward, all the time.