joseph engraver
08-06-2025, 10:33 AM
December 17 2020
Apache Creek is located high up on the eastern slope of the of the Chiricatua Mountains in Arizona- It has been inhabited by the Apache Indians for centuries .This is the story of a dark skinned Apache boy who wants to be someone special.
Snow in Apache Creek
Part one
I was not quite asleep and still I could hear the radio.
A man was talking about the heavy snowfall that came to Apache Creek that night and the unrest now taking place in the town. He described how the angry citizens were protesting the new regulation that was about to be put in place to prevent them from leaving their homes because of the weather and plague that was affecting everyone’s life there and around the world.
He continued to read a transcript of this edict from the newly elected president...It said “All persons who work for wages and have not contributed to the new political power that is now in office. Will be restricted to their homes for their own well being .To make sure this new ruling is followed, all the working class individuals are forbidden from wearing shoes and must go about their daily lives only in Government provided yellow rubber sandals.
People who work in companies that are government approved and wear suits and ties can wear only black shoes. Owners of small independent business that have paid all the taxes and permits and also wear suits are allowed to wear one shoe and a yellow sandal on the other foot. The new government has established a special branch of observers and overseers to make sure that these rules and the now mandatory, wearing of masks are enforced. We are very sorry to tell you that all holidays except Christmas are to be canceled until next year. Naturally these are temporary restriction and are only for the safety, welfare and good of our citizens. They will of course be amended once we are all safe from this dark winter plague that is upon us.”
As I opened my eyes I remembered that I did not own a radio and I was American not from Communist China. Then I heard my wife tell me that it was snowing and I should get up to see how beautiful the town of Apache looked all covered with pure white snow before it melts away
Then, I suddenly remembered I am too young to have a wife, The hell with the snow, I am also positive that I don’t have a wife, This has to be a very bad dream I thought, I turned over, covered my head and went back to sleep.
Wake up, John White Feather. You lazy lout it is past noon, Get dressed, go out and find a job, the sun is shining the birds are chirping and spring is now in the air
That is my Mom yelling at my father ,she always yells at him but he never listens to her unless, it is her calling him to come and eat,
I am up now looking out the cracked window pane. It is just as I suspected, there is no snow on the ground. Nothing but dust and dry weeds is all there is to be seen along the entire dirt street, with the exception of a skinny black dog pissing on the stop sign in front of my home
That is the exact moment I decide am going to leave Apache Creek and go somewhere, North, South, East, or West, It does not matter where? I have no idea. But I am sure I will go away from here as fast as I can.
First, I need to write my mom so she won’t be concerned when she discovers I have gone to make somebody out of myself
Mom I don’t want you to be worried, I have graduated from school and now there is nothing that can keep me here in Apache Creek. I love you, you are a really good Mom But I don’t think that Pop cares one way or another if I am here or gone...I am going away from here because I feel so useless here; I know that I will never become somebody because I live in this town. I will be seventeen soon and I am sure I can take care myself, So don’t worry I will be OK I love you and I will come back to see you when I really become somebody.
Your son xxx Jimmy-
Once he had written his letter, Jimmy felt better .He looked at himself in the mirror and the boy who looked back was thin, his black hair tied back with a faded red bandanna to keep it out of his dark brown eyes .From the pile of freshly washed laundry in his closet he picked out his best blue jeans two warm shirts, extra pair of sox and underwear, put them all in his back pack along with his baseball and glove, pulled on his baseball shoes. .He put on his Red Sox cap, pitchers jacket and quietly closed the door of the house, took a big breath of frosty morning air and started walking down the empty street.
The local grocery store was already open .he saw his father inside buying a carton of Lone Star beer. He waited unnoticed until his father finished his purchase and left. Then he went in, got a pack of chewing gum and a couple of candy bars .He was going out the door when he noticed the skinny black dog with a star on his forehead that had followed him, was waiting outside, Feeling sorry for it, he bought two beef jerky sticks, stuck one in his mouth and gave the other one to the waiting dog as he exited Then he continued his walk to the nest town twenty five miles down the rocky mountain road-
The day was nice, not too windy or hot. Jimmy had been walking for hours; He was getting tired and had been thinking about stopping, when he saw a farmer’s vegetable stand up ahead. The owner was starting to close his shop as jimmy stopped in front. How much do you charge for apples sir, he asked?
The man stood up from his work, stretched his sore back then put on his checkered wool hunting coat., and with a piercing glare he looked at the boy, then replied, A nickel apiece son, and where in the world are you going? You look a bit lost, Are you?
No sir I am not lost, I am only finding my way, and you see I want to be somebody.
I am from Apache Creek and I know that you cannot ever be someone if you are from there.
Covering the sacks of potatoes he nodded, Yes, it is a sad town-The saying is, if you are born there, you can never leave because you will never have enough money to do so-Agreed the farmer. Night is coming soon boy, where do you plan to spend tonight? If you have no place, then I suggest you sleep here in my stand. It is dry and you will keep the petty thieves from stealing my goods, in the morning I will bring some food for you and the dog that is with you. What is its name?
I have no idea Sir. He is not my dog. He just followed me here from Apache and doesn’t want to go away
Tonight you can eat as many apples as you like- and you need to give that dog a name. He is not from Apache creek now, and every decent dog needs a name .Why don’t you Just call it Star because of the white star on its forehead? Good night boy, sleep well, Then he was gone into the dark –
Jimmy was still asleep when the glow of morning sunrise made the big man quietly approaching the vegetable stand with a knife in his hand visible to the dog.
Star was instantly on his feet as he growled menacingly at the stranger. The thief turned around and without hesitation kicked Star in the ribs, dislocating his front leg. The cry of his pain awoke the boy, he looked at the man .Why have you have hurt my dog?
He is just a damn dog and you are just a damn snot nosed black kid, now shut up, and come over here before break your skinny neck. He grabbed Jimmy by his ear put the razor sharp hunting knife next to it and said give me all your money or I will cut it off. Jimmy dug into his jeans pocket and pulled out what money he had. Mister if you take this, then I won’t have anything left to buy something to eat.
You are a really stupid kid. I have this money now and I have this knife, I need some whisky to drink and you can eat dirt... The thug laughed, ready to walk away when Jimmy yelled. Hey Mister can you catch this?
The six ounce leather covered baseball was traveling at almost ninety miles an hour when it hit his forehead dead center, right between the thugs’s eyes knocking him unconscious to the ground.
His heart was pounding wildly and his hands were shaking. But Bliley laughed as he picked up the knife and his money that now lay on the ground next to the out cold thug. When he recovered his baseball he cursed, and said. That will teach you to k.ick my dog you cruel bastard.
The headlights of his new black pickup truck were still on when the famer Alvin Gray stopped next to the man lying unconscious in the middle of the road.
What has happened here boy? And who is this man. Is he dead or alive, he asked as he got out his truck and called the police and ambulance. on his call phone
I don’t know who he is Sir, but he came into your stand in the middle of the night. He kicked and hurt my dog. Then he said he would cut off my ear if I did not give him all my money. I hit him on the head with my baseball as he was leaving. It knocked him out and now you show up. I don’t know what to do with him now.
Don’t you worry boy, the police, will handle everything. Now gather your things together, as soon as they are here we will go down to the police station and file a complaint.
What should I do about Star Billy asked?
Alvin smiled as he said .Pick him up and put him in the back of my truck, then we can take him to the vet on our way to the station.
Doctor Martha Andrew had been the towns vet for twenty six years she had a plain clear honest face, always dressed in brown coveralls and wore a straw hat covered her short grey hair. She has been a true animal lover since childhood.
From the moment Billy carried his dog in to her waiting room she could see how much the child cared for the suffering pet he held in his arms –
Bring him into my examination room please so I can find out what is hurting him so she said. To the boy
And tell me what happened to him, you don’t need worry, Now that he is here, I can fix whatever is wrong.
Jimmy explained to her about the robbery and how the dog was kicked in the body by the thief and now he can hardly stand up.
-Mister Grey brought him here for you look at; I hope he will be OK. He followed me all the way from Apache Creek and now I have kind of adopted him.
Mrs. Andrews looked the dog over carefully then said. I don’t think he has anything more than sore ribs. But, he is a stray and needs looking after .You leave him with me for today I will see that he is fed and taken care of.
I don’t have a lot of money to pay for your help Doctor. How much will this cost?
It is going to be free for you; we have a fund set aside to help those with a low income and I am sure you qualify, so my treatment will be free. Now stop worrying and be glad you have Alvin Grey as your benefactor, Leave the dog to me, He will be fine, I am sure that the soreness is from bruised ribs, there is nothing broken-
Later when Billy came to pick the dog up from Mrs. Andrews’s clinic Star was patiently sitting in the waiting room, wearing a new leash and a bright red collar, His coat had been washed and he had received all the vaccinations and medications needed to prevent rabies, distemper and parasites
He hugged the dog and with teary eyes thanked the doctor –Then he went to the police station to file his complaint
Alvin Grey was seated comfortably in the waiting room when Billy and the dog entered the police headquarters building. And he had a very large grin on his suntanned face as he a stood to greet Billy
He said, come this way Billy. I have something important to show you son, then he took him by the arm and led him to a large bulletin board in the hallway. There in the center of the Arizona State Police wanted posters was the picture of the thug with a notice.
Five Thousand dollar rewards for information about this the man George Woodward .He is s wanted in five states for assault with deadly weapon. , Intent to kill. Armed robbery, and escape from the Tucson, Arizona prison.
Billy, This story is going to have the whole county talking when it is makes the front page of The Voice of the West newspaper tomorrow. I can visualize it already, Thief Captured by Apache boy with Baseball; .You are going to be the hero of Powell, and the talk of Arizona. Now before you talk to the arresting officers and reporters want to help you a bit.
First stop calling yourself Billy, you are not a child you are a young man. What is your first and last name, and are you an Apache Indian?
I am named William White Feather, sir. My father is a full blooded Apache, his name is Charles White Feather, My mom is originally from Jamaica and her name is Mary, before she married my father her name was Mary Callahan
Alvin rubbed hands together then said, that is very good and extremely unusually interesting, and From now on you are seventeen year old William White Feather. You are working on my ranch while you are waiting for the Community College classes to begin, The reason I am telling you this, is there will be at least one interviewer who is looking to make a name for themselves and usually they have a political axe to grind .They will always ask questions to help sharpen their axe, and make you a pitiful victim for their cause. Whenever this happens all you need to do is answer by saying that you have not enough experience to give an opinion on the subject and you have never found the color of your skin a problem for anyone.–You are a good young man and I hope to be able to help you be somebody. Now let’s go and meet the press and get your well deserved reward from the State of Arizona.
Dear Mom, I am sending you this copy of a news paper that has a story about me in it .and will explain how my life has changed a lot since leaving Apache Creek .I will be going to the Community Coolidge In town. I will work hard there so I can get a degree in applied sciences, I am sure that will make you proud of me. I have a job now, I work on a cattle ranch ,It is hard work but I don’t mind ,I have a place to sleep and food to eat every day, I made the baseball team here and have been selected to play on the Junior league teams. It will give me the chance to become a major league player in about five years. That will pay me more than a million dollar season .So keeps me in your prayers. And hope for the best. I am sending you this money. But, I don’t think you should tell Pop
Love your son, William
William White Feather graduated with honors from The Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. When. He was thirty four he played professionally for the Diamondbacks Major Baseball team in Phoenix, until he retired when he turned forty seven. Then he returned to his home town built the Apache senior canter to care for the elderly like his mother and donated generously to repairing the streets, sewer, and water and school system in Apache Springs. There is a monument on the hill overlooking the ballpark dedicated to William White Feather
I hope you enjoyed reading this fictional story as much as I did writing it
Joseph, Engrav
Apache Creek is located high up on the eastern slope of the of the Chiricatua Mountains in Arizona- It has been inhabited by the Apache Indians for centuries .This is the story of a dark skinned Apache boy who wants to be someone special.
Snow in Apache Creek
Part one
I was not quite asleep and still I could hear the radio.
A man was talking about the heavy snowfall that came to Apache Creek that night and the unrest now taking place in the town. He described how the angry citizens were protesting the new regulation that was about to be put in place to prevent them from leaving their homes because of the weather and plague that was affecting everyone’s life there and around the world.
He continued to read a transcript of this edict from the newly elected president...It said “All persons who work for wages and have not contributed to the new political power that is now in office. Will be restricted to their homes for their own well being .To make sure this new ruling is followed, all the working class individuals are forbidden from wearing shoes and must go about their daily lives only in Government provided yellow rubber sandals.
People who work in companies that are government approved and wear suits and ties can wear only black shoes. Owners of small independent business that have paid all the taxes and permits and also wear suits are allowed to wear one shoe and a yellow sandal on the other foot. The new government has established a special branch of observers and overseers to make sure that these rules and the now mandatory, wearing of masks are enforced. We are very sorry to tell you that all holidays except Christmas are to be canceled until next year. Naturally these are temporary restriction and are only for the safety, welfare and good of our citizens. They will of course be amended once we are all safe from this dark winter plague that is upon us.”
As I opened my eyes I remembered that I did not own a radio and I was American not from Communist China. Then I heard my wife tell me that it was snowing and I should get up to see how beautiful the town of Apache looked all covered with pure white snow before it melts away
Then, I suddenly remembered I am too young to have a wife, The hell with the snow, I am also positive that I don’t have a wife, This has to be a very bad dream I thought, I turned over, covered my head and went back to sleep.
Wake up, John White Feather. You lazy lout it is past noon, Get dressed, go out and find a job, the sun is shining the birds are chirping and spring is now in the air
That is my Mom yelling at my father ,she always yells at him but he never listens to her unless, it is her calling him to come and eat,
I am up now looking out the cracked window pane. It is just as I suspected, there is no snow on the ground. Nothing but dust and dry weeds is all there is to be seen along the entire dirt street, with the exception of a skinny black dog pissing on the stop sign in front of my home
That is the exact moment I decide am going to leave Apache Creek and go somewhere, North, South, East, or West, It does not matter where? I have no idea. But I am sure I will go away from here as fast as I can.
First, I need to write my mom so she won’t be concerned when she discovers I have gone to make somebody out of myself
Mom I don’t want you to be worried, I have graduated from school and now there is nothing that can keep me here in Apache Creek. I love you, you are a really good Mom But I don’t think that Pop cares one way or another if I am here or gone...I am going away from here because I feel so useless here; I know that I will never become somebody because I live in this town. I will be seventeen soon and I am sure I can take care myself, So don’t worry I will be OK I love you and I will come back to see you when I really become somebody.
Your son xxx Jimmy-
Once he had written his letter, Jimmy felt better .He looked at himself in the mirror and the boy who looked back was thin, his black hair tied back with a faded red bandanna to keep it out of his dark brown eyes .From the pile of freshly washed laundry in his closet he picked out his best blue jeans two warm shirts, extra pair of sox and underwear, put them all in his back pack along with his baseball and glove, pulled on his baseball shoes. .He put on his Red Sox cap, pitchers jacket and quietly closed the door of the house, took a big breath of frosty morning air and started walking down the empty street.
The local grocery store was already open .he saw his father inside buying a carton of Lone Star beer. He waited unnoticed until his father finished his purchase and left. Then he went in, got a pack of chewing gum and a couple of candy bars .He was going out the door when he noticed the skinny black dog with a star on his forehead that had followed him, was waiting outside, Feeling sorry for it, he bought two beef jerky sticks, stuck one in his mouth and gave the other one to the waiting dog as he exited Then he continued his walk to the nest town twenty five miles down the rocky mountain road-
The day was nice, not too windy or hot. Jimmy had been walking for hours; He was getting tired and had been thinking about stopping, when he saw a farmer’s vegetable stand up ahead. The owner was starting to close his shop as jimmy stopped in front. How much do you charge for apples sir, he asked?
The man stood up from his work, stretched his sore back then put on his checkered wool hunting coat., and with a piercing glare he looked at the boy, then replied, A nickel apiece son, and where in the world are you going? You look a bit lost, Are you?
No sir I am not lost, I am only finding my way, and you see I want to be somebody.
I am from Apache Creek and I know that you cannot ever be someone if you are from there.
Covering the sacks of potatoes he nodded, Yes, it is a sad town-The saying is, if you are born there, you can never leave because you will never have enough money to do so-Agreed the farmer. Night is coming soon boy, where do you plan to spend tonight? If you have no place, then I suggest you sleep here in my stand. It is dry and you will keep the petty thieves from stealing my goods, in the morning I will bring some food for you and the dog that is with you. What is its name?
I have no idea Sir. He is not my dog. He just followed me here from Apache and doesn’t want to go away
Tonight you can eat as many apples as you like- and you need to give that dog a name. He is not from Apache creek now, and every decent dog needs a name .Why don’t you Just call it Star because of the white star on its forehead? Good night boy, sleep well, Then he was gone into the dark –
Jimmy was still asleep when the glow of morning sunrise made the big man quietly approaching the vegetable stand with a knife in his hand visible to the dog.
Star was instantly on his feet as he growled menacingly at the stranger. The thief turned around and without hesitation kicked Star in the ribs, dislocating his front leg. The cry of his pain awoke the boy, he looked at the man .Why have you have hurt my dog?
He is just a damn dog and you are just a damn snot nosed black kid, now shut up, and come over here before break your skinny neck. He grabbed Jimmy by his ear put the razor sharp hunting knife next to it and said give me all your money or I will cut it off. Jimmy dug into his jeans pocket and pulled out what money he had. Mister if you take this, then I won’t have anything left to buy something to eat.
You are a really stupid kid. I have this money now and I have this knife, I need some whisky to drink and you can eat dirt... The thug laughed, ready to walk away when Jimmy yelled. Hey Mister can you catch this?
The six ounce leather covered baseball was traveling at almost ninety miles an hour when it hit his forehead dead center, right between the thugs’s eyes knocking him unconscious to the ground.
His heart was pounding wildly and his hands were shaking. But Bliley laughed as he picked up the knife and his money that now lay on the ground next to the out cold thug. When he recovered his baseball he cursed, and said. That will teach you to k.ick my dog you cruel bastard.
The headlights of his new black pickup truck were still on when the famer Alvin Gray stopped next to the man lying unconscious in the middle of the road.
What has happened here boy? And who is this man. Is he dead or alive, he asked as he got out his truck and called the police and ambulance. on his call phone
I don’t know who he is Sir, but he came into your stand in the middle of the night. He kicked and hurt my dog. Then he said he would cut off my ear if I did not give him all my money. I hit him on the head with my baseball as he was leaving. It knocked him out and now you show up. I don’t know what to do with him now.
Don’t you worry boy, the police, will handle everything. Now gather your things together, as soon as they are here we will go down to the police station and file a complaint.
What should I do about Star Billy asked?
Alvin smiled as he said .Pick him up and put him in the back of my truck, then we can take him to the vet on our way to the station.
Doctor Martha Andrew had been the towns vet for twenty six years she had a plain clear honest face, always dressed in brown coveralls and wore a straw hat covered her short grey hair. She has been a true animal lover since childhood.
From the moment Billy carried his dog in to her waiting room she could see how much the child cared for the suffering pet he held in his arms –
Bring him into my examination room please so I can find out what is hurting him so she said. To the boy
And tell me what happened to him, you don’t need worry, Now that he is here, I can fix whatever is wrong.
Jimmy explained to her about the robbery and how the dog was kicked in the body by the thief and now he can hardly stand up.
-Mister Grey brought him here for you look at; I hope he will be OK. He followed me all the way from Apache Creek and now I have kind of adopted him.
Mrs. Andrews looked the dog over carefully then said. I don’t think he has anything more than sore ribs. But, he is a stray and needs looking after .You leave him with me for today I will see that he is fed and taken care of.
I don’t have a lot of money to pay for your help Doctor. How much will this cost?
It is going to be free for you; we have a fund set aside to help those with a low income and I am sure you qualify, so my treatment will be free. Now stop worrying and be glad you have Alvin Grey as your benefactor, Leave the dog to me, He will be fine, I am sure that the soreness is from bruised ribs, there is nothing broken-
Later when Billy came to pick the dog up from Mrs. Andrews’s clinic Star was patiently sitting in the waiting room, wearing a new leash and a bright red collar, His coat had been washed and he had received all the vaccinations and medications needed to prevent rabies, distemper and parasites
He hugged the dog and with teary eyes thanked the doctor –Then he went to the police station to file his complaint
Alvin Grey was seated comfortably in the waiting room when Billy and the dog entered the police headquarters building. And he had a very large grin on his suntanned face as he a stood to greet Billy
He said, come this way Billy. I have something important to show you son, then he took him by the arm and led him to a large bulletin board in the hallway. There in the center of the Arizona State Police wanted posters was the picture of the thug with a notice.
Five Thousand dollar rewards for information about this the man George Woodward .He is s wanted in five states for assault with deadly weapon. , Intent to kill. Armed robbery, and escape from the Tucson, Arizona prison.
Billy, This story is going to have the whole county talking when it is makes the front page of The Voice of the West newspaper tomorrow. I can visualize it already, Thief Captured by Apache boy with Baseball; .You are going to be the hero of Powell, and the talk of Arizona. Now before you talk to the arresting officers and reporters want to help you a bit.
First stop calling yourself Billy, you are not a child you are a young man. What is your first and last name, and are you an Apache Indian?
I am named William White Feather, sir. My father is a full blooded Apache, his name is Charles White Feather, My mom is originally from Jamaica and her name is Mary, before she married my father her name was Mary Callahan
Alvin rubbed hands together then said, that is very good and extremely unusually interesting, and From now on you are seventeen year old William White Feather. You are working on my ranch while you are waiting for the Community College classes to begin, The reason I am telling you this, is there will be at least one interviewer who is looking to make a name for themselves and usually they have a political axe to grind .They will always ask questions to help sharpen their axe, and make you a pitiful victim for their cause. Whenever this happens all you need to do is answer by saying that you have not enough experience to give an opinion on the subject and you have never found the color of your skin a problem for anyone.–You are a good young man and I hope to be able to help you be somebody. Now let’s go and meet the press and get your well deserved reward from the State of Arizona.
Dear Mom, I am sending you this copy of a news paper that has a story about me in it .and will explain how my life has changed a lot since leaving Apache Creek .I will be going to the Community Coolidge In town. I will work hard there so I can get a degree in applied sciences, I am sure that will make you proud of me. I have a job now, I work on a cattle ranch ,It is hard work but I don’t mind ,I have a place to sleep and food to eat every day, I made the baseball team here and have been selected to play on the Junior league teams. It will give me the chance to become a major league player in about five years. That will pay me more than a million dollar season .So keeps me in your prayers. And hope for the best. I am sending you this money. But, I don’t think you should tell Pop
Love your son, William
William White Feather graduated with honors from The Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. When. He was thirty four he played professionally for the Diamondbacks Major Baseball team in Phoenix, until he retired when he turned forty seven. Then he returned to his home town built the Apache senior canter to care for the elderly like his mother and donated generously to repairing the streets, sewer, and water and school system in Apache Springs. There is a monument on the hill overlooking the ballpark dedicated to William White Feather
I hope you enjoyed reading this fictional story as much as I did writing it
Joseph, Engrav