The old bicycle and the new dog joined up to make a summer that Lowell and I still remember fondly. We managed to see so many neat things. The smell of the ocean, the comfort of home and family will always linger with us.

Any thought of Catalina always includes the sound of the hundreds of Wind Chimes on the island. They were everywhere. They were different than what you can buy today. Made of small strips of glass they had a soft delicate sound. More of a background murmur. Very pleasant, almost hypnotizing. They gave voice to the breeze.

Summer was drawing to its end. Fall and winter in southern California are mostly just days on the calendar. The weather, except for a little rain, stays nice.

Like it or not school was looming bigger than life for brother and me. My mom and dad had gone to the mainland and bought us new clothes for school. Sears Roebuck and JC Penny. No more homemade stuff except for two shirts my mom had found time to make. The rest would be store bought. Got my first Levi's and belt that year. Having to get use to wearing shoes was a pain after spending the summer barefoot.

The school on Catalina was like everything else there nice, clean and very "laid back". There were two buildings located on a garden spot piece of land that bordered the golf course. One newer brick building housed the lower grades.  The middle school and high school were housed in a very nice "Spanish" style building with arches and beautiful tiled floors. Pretty trees everywhere around the buidings. The whole place was so nice that you enjoyed being there even if it was a school.

Because there was not alot of students I wound up in the same room as my brother. Grades one thru three only accounted for twenty kids. We had a teacher named Mrs. Colby. She was new but seemed at ease with teaching three grades. My time at Prospect school in Alabama had been well spent. I was considerably advanced compared to my classmates. I spent lots of time reading. I useally had my home done before class was over for the day.  Of course there was recess and lunch so the days passed. It was mid October and the weather was still nice with temperatures in the 70's. Everything should have been great but I was having a problem.

(OOPS, back to the BOLD type)   Kids at Pebbly Beach were picked up each morning at 7:30am by bus. We didn't have a regular "Yellow" school bus, instead we got to ride one of the tour buses from Avalon. Neat old buses with "Roll Back" convertible tops. An old guy named Dan picked us up in the morning. He was happy go lucky fellow and a good slow driver. Dan showed up every morning dressed in clean light green coveralls and useally with the top rolled back on the bus. I think our bus run was his first chore at work each morning. He knew all us Pebbly kids by name. We had a good time on his bus always arriving at school on time and in a great frame of mind. 

Our afternoon driver was Clyde Nelson. Clyde was in his early thirtys. A slim handsome man. He looked good in the Avalon tour bus drivers uniform right down to his polished black leather boots. The uniform itself was Spanish and pretty much like the style you'd see in a Zorro movie. Compelet with sliver buttons and flaired pant legs.

Clyde didn't like Lowell or me. Almost from day one Clyde was on us. Every afternoon he'd announce that all "Okies" had to sit in the back of the bus, and made brother and me set alone on the back seat. We were told not to talk even though the other kids could talk. The other riders were told to ignore us or else. Useally about half way home Clyde would demand that Lowell and me move toward the front of the bus. He'd do this with the bus in motion. As we tried to comply Clyde would tap the brakes and brother and I would fall because of the sudden slowing of the bus. Everyone would snicker and Clyde would call out "Didn't they teach you Okies to walk where you come from"? One afternoon the sudden stop game caused Lowell to bump his head pretty hard. Brother cried and Clyde was on him right away calling him clumsy and a cry baby. I was mad and screamed out at the driver telling him to stop it. I tried to explain that we weren't "Okies" we were from Alabama. Clyde's reply was that we were all one in the same. Just "white trash". He stopped the bus and made us walk the rest of the way home.


I was taught early on to be independant. I was also taught to take care of Lowell but I wasn't prepared to handle this one on one with Clyde. Telling my dad was out of the question. My dad was a hard to anger person. He could however, be a very violent if need be.  I couldn't cause my dad to get in trouble. So as a result I carried this problem on my own.

Come Monday morning Dan was right on time. We all loaded up and headed for school. When we got to school Dan told me a Lowell to hold up a minute. He asked how little brother had hurt his head and got that bruise. We told him that he fell due to a sudden stop by the bus. He said "that was a shame". He told Lowell to go on but told me to wait. Dan said to me "Little guy is there anything else you want to tell old Dan"? I teared up some but shook my head and whispered no. He sqeezed my arm and said don't worry, "it'll be alright". It was Monday but I was wishing the day would have lasted longer. I dreaded getting on that bus. If Clyde tried to hurt Lowell or me again I would  do what ever possible to stop him.

In spite of my dread, time to get on the bus arrived. I told Lowell not to be scared we'd be okay. Clyde started as soon as we got on the bus. First he asked Lowell if his head still hurt then he said "you little rednecks" get in the back and no talking. Strangely none of the other kids were talking. They were all looking at brother and me. Once we passed the end of the boardwalk at the city limits Clyde started the changing seats game. Me and Lowell had death grip on a seat back so we didn't fall down when Clyde hit the brakes. My my, you punks are learning was Clyde's sarcastic comment. Hate and anger was really welling up inside me. It was actually making me "giddy". I was going to make that son of a bitch regret what he'd done to Lowell and me.  Thankfully, I never got the chance.

Catalina Duke owned an old black convretible. I can't remember what make it was. Everyone on the island knew that car. It had "DUKE" painted in small lettering on the drivers door. As we got nearly to Pebbly I saw the old car parked on the shoulder of the road with the hood up. Duke was leaning against the car with his arms crossed. As the bus got near the parked car Duke began to wave and motioned for Clyde to stop. Duke was dressed in an old tank top and levi's. Funny as it may seem I was struck with how much he looked like "Popeye" the sailor. Clyde stopped the bus and opened the door. Duke told him to come outside so they could talk. The two of them walked over to the car and out of ear shot. In a few minutes Clyde came back and we were on our way again. The only thing else he said to us was "end of the line, everybody off".

Clyde never bothered me or Lowell again. I don't know who our benefactor was but it made a big difference when they sent Duke to have a little talk with the bus driver. I've never forgotten the feeling of being so helpless or the feeling of being ridiculed. I long ago vowed to never let it happen again to me or anyone else. Never ever use children to vent your dislikes or anger nor do you use them as "pawns" to further your personal agenda. Maybe Clyde's terrible behavior made me a better person?? Maybe he lived to regret what he did. Just one of lifes many lessons I suppose.