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Shake Down

After this deluge in the woods, the Hawk Patrol’s soggy weekend ends on Sunday afternoon and Wiley emerges a seasoned scout leader. He has tied the knots, sung the songs, given first aid, and used camping skills, leadership training and stuff like that. When he gets back to his home and kids (Marigold is away) he goes straight to the hearth to light a wood-stoked fire and bring heat back to his weary bones. Within minutes, the living room fills with smoke. ‘Damn the damper’ he curses. Handkerchief to his face, Wiley fiddles with the fireplace and opens the flue. Windows fly open and the kids just laugh at their Dad, the scouting man, trying to asphyxiate his family.

Next Tuesday night, Wiley and 70 scout leader trainees arrive for the graduation class. Lots of high fives, atta-boys and camaraderie of team spirit fill the room. A couple of speeches from the trainers start the program – ‘be proud of yourselves, you’ve completed the course, learned the skills and are ready to be leaders for your own scouting program’. As the names are called, Wiley waits for the ‘Ts’ near the end of the alphabet. ‘Wiley Timmons please come forward’. In front of the assembled audience, Wiley shuffles forward to receive his certificate from Russ. The handshake is offered but just before Wiley makes contact Russ pulls back his hand to remark – ‘you missed the 1^st class right? Sorry, you can’t graduate tonight. You’ll have to come back in the Spring for the makeup program’.

Dazed and confused, Wiley returns to his Hawk Patrol table. WTF. He speaks with the other trainers who advise him to call next week and sort things out. Making the calls he finds that he’s talking to several members of the county police department who have volunteered their time for scout leadership training.The general conversation is like trying to talk your way out of a traffic citation – ‘uh huh, uh huh, uh huh, no’. Come back in the Spring and finish the training’. Mr. C. offers words of encouragement – ‘you tie the knots, sing the songs, and give first aid, master camping skills, and leadership training. You’ll be fine’. Russ sends a ‘mea culpa’ letter. ‘I should have kept a better eye on you so you wouldn’t miss the makeup class. I’m still learning myself. Come back next Spring and finish the training’.

Wiley joins Troop33 as an Assistant Scout Master. He patiently waits until Spring to finish the leadership training program. The agenda for class is to recite and study the Pledge of Allegiance and to fold the American flag. When he passes the class his scouting son consoles him – ‘don’t forget Dad, two thirds of BSA is still BS’.