TAD’S
GREAT ADVENTURES
By
This is a wonderful
collection of short stories chronicling the adventures of a young boy’s journey
through childhood. Tad is the principal
character and his ongoing adventures will remind the reader of similar early
day experiences. Every youth enjoys a kinship because growing up is full of
similar experiences for most every youngster.
The author captures the poignancy of unexpected knowledge and growth
from each new experience and adventure.
About The
Author
Clifford L. Tidd is a Master
storyteller. This exceptional volume of
childhood memories is wonderfully original and refreshing. The author’s style is crisp and well
paced. His vivid recollections will
touch the heartstrings of all who read this stirring account of childhood and
growing up. The author demonstrates a
talent seldom encountered in today’s literary world. Thank goodness we haven’t hard the last word
from Clifford L. Tidd. His next novel
will be, “Mayhem, Mystery and Murder."
e-BOOK
Maverick Publishing
TAD’S
Great
Adventures
BY
CLIFFORD TIDD
e-Book 2004
www.mittymax.com
Copyright
2004
TAD’S GREAT ADVENTURES
By
e-Book
TAD’S
GREAT ADVENTURES
By
INDEX
The Blacksmith Shop
The Chip Yard Circus
The School Bus
The Well
The Pond
Tad’s New
Little Brother
The Sawmill
The Three Little Hens
Tad’s
Imagination
The Robbery
The Big Fire
Saturday Adventures
The Lemonwood Bow
The
The Sunday School Picnic
The Carnival
The Farm
The Train To Nowhere
The Shivaree
May Baskets and Box Socials
The Haunted House
Tad was born in 1927. He had an
older brother named Dan. His father worked on a big farm. Money was scarce and
times were hard. He remembered his mom asking, "Did you get paid today?" His father answered sadly, "Not a red cent!"
His mom would cry and say,"What are we going to do? We don’t have any milk for the boys and
I’m worried about their health."
Tad and his family lived in a
small town. It had only one store and a gas station. Everybody in town was as
poor as Tad. This did not make it easier to live, but everyone tried to help each
other as best they could. Some had hens to lay eggs. Others had small gardens and
shared vegetables.
The storekeeper had been in
business many years. He was very kind and would let folks have groceries with a
promise to pay someday.
One day Tad’s mother sent him to the store alone
for some vinegar. She had dug some fresh dandelions, in the field by the barn,
for supper.
Tad felt very grown up as he walked
barefoot down the road. It was about a half mile to the store. However, Tad had
to walk by the blacksmith on the way. "Boy,
I can do what I want today." He
thought. So he walked over to the open door. The blacksmith was making horse
shoes. He had two of the biggest horses Tad had ever seen. They switched their
tails to keep the flies away. They made a nice swishing sound as they snapped
first one side, then the other.
Mr. Addington the blacksmith
stopped working and pulled a red bandana from his pocket. "WHEW!" He said to Tad. Then smiling he
said, “Are you looking for a job?" At
first Tad didn’t know what to say. Finally,
mumbling he said, “Yeah, I guess so?"
Mr. Addington said, “Run out back
of the shop and across the field to my house. The pump in the yard has good
cold water. There’s a small pail there. Fill it with cold water and bring it to
me."
Tad was off on the dead run across
the field to find the pump. His mind was filling with thoughts of a new adventure.
He raced to the pump and hung the pail on the pump spout.
The well was deep so he pumped
fast to fill the pail. He lifted the pail off the spout and tried to run with
it. Water splashed out soaking his overalls. Suddenly he slipped and fell. He
tried to keep the pail from upsetting. He banged his knee on the ground and his
face bumped the pail. Blood was running down his face. “It has a salty taste,"
he thought as he scrambled to his feet. He wiped off the blood on his arm and
said to himself. “That was a close one."
By the time he got to Mr. Addington,
he was a mess.
“What happened?" Mr. Addington
asked. "Did you get hurt?" Smiling Tad said, “No," and passed him the pail which
only had about a cup of water left in it.
Mr. Addington was very kind.
“Thanks a lot," he
said. He tipped the pail up to his mouth and drank it all in one gulp. As he sat
the pail down he reached for a well worn and battered can on the bench.
Turning, he pulled out a big Canadian penny. "Do you know what this is?" he asked. “It’s called a BUNG." Tad had never seen or heard of
it.
“What’s it for," Tad asked.
“This is money, cash, payola," Mr. Addington said with a
smile. “You can buy some candy at the store with it."
Thoughts of great things raced
through Tad’s head." I’m rich. I probably have more
money than my dad?"
“Thanks Mr. Addington. “I’ll be
back," said Tad politely.
Off he ran to the store to get
the vinegar and see what he could find for a penny.
As Tad entered the store Mr. Vail
who he knew him from church said," Hi, Tad. What can I do for you today?"
Tad said, “Mom wants some vinegar."
"Did you bring a bottle," he asked?
Tad said," no," and ran back to the small assortment
of penny candy by the counter
Mr. Vail walked over with a small
canning jar full of vinegar. “Here he said passing it to Tad. “Do you like candy,"
he asked. Tad had eaten candy once at the Sunday school party one Christmas.
He thought long and hard. He
eyed every piece of candy carefully. “Do you have a penny?" asked Mr. Vail.
“Yes," Tad replied wanting
the candy but not wanting to part with his treasure.
Mr. Vail waited patiently Tad
looked up with tears in his eyes and said, “I’ve got to get home."
As he hurried back by the blacksmith
shop, Mr. Addington came out and asked, “What did you buy?"
Tad, gripping the penny in one
hand and the jar of vinegar in the other said, "Nothing! I’m going to give it to my dad."
Mr. Addington patted Tad on the
head and said, "You’re a good boy Tad, come by and see me again.
It was late in the afternoon
when Tad got home. "Where have you been, his mother asked? "I have been worried about you."
“Look what I have?" Tad said, beaming all over. "I earned this from Mr. Addington.
“He held up the shiny penny. He told her the whole adventure. "I want to give this to dad. Is
that OK mom?"
Tears came to her eyes as she
scooped him up in her arms. She hugged him and gave him a big kiss. “Your dad
will be very proud of you," she
said squeezing him gently
Dad arrived just as mom was
putting Tad down. "I think Tad has a surprise for you," she said.
“Look what I earned today, dad!
You take it because I don’t really
need it."
“This is what makes life worth
living. Having a family and caring about each other."
The phone rang and Tad ran to answer
it.
"Hello, he said, this is Tad."
“Hi Tad, this is uncle Andy. How
would you like to go to the circus tomorrow?"
“Tomorrow," asked Tad? “I’ll have
to ask mom or dad, but yes I want to go."
"Well Tad, go ask your mother and
I’ll stay on the phone."
"Okay"
"Hey mom, Uncle Andy wants me
to go to the circus with him tomorrow. Can I go, please mom?" Tad tried to sound calm but he
could not help begging a little.
"I guess it will be okay," said his mom.
"Oh boy mom, you’re the greatest!" Cried Tad. He ran back to the
telephone and shouted, “Yes! Yes, I can go."
"I will be at your house about
Tad had never been to a circus
but he had heard folks talk about it. He started to imagine all sorts of things
he could see tomorrow.
That night he dreamed of lions and
tigers and tightrope walkers.
Next morning he got up early His
dad was getting ready for work.
"Tell me about the circus
dad, please? I’m
going today with uncle Andy."
Dad related stories he knew about
the circus and said, "be careful,
don’t get lost and obey Andy, Okay?"
Right at twelve Tad heard uncle
Andy’s car drive up and stop.
"Peep--Peep," even his
car horn sounded excited, thought Tad.
He kissed his mom goodbye and was
off on another adventure.
As they arrived at the park, he
could see the big tent. People were going in early to get good seats. Tad
looked and looked. Everywhere there were signs and banners, strange looking
people and a lot of cages with animals. Inside they found a seat near the big
ring in the center.
Tad’s imagination was starting to
grow. He tried to lock every scene in his mind. There were trapeze artists,
tightrope walkers, jugglers and a man being shot out of a big cannon, and so many
animals. Tad and Larry couldn’t count them all.
The time passed so fast that
when uncle Andy said it was time to go home Tad looked up and said, “So
soon?"
On the way home Tad and Larry
thought about all they had seen.
“Why can’t we have our own circus, Larry?" asked Tad. His eyes got big as
he thought about all the fun they could have.
Larry was not as sure as Tad,
but said, “Let’s talk to our dad’s
tonight."
Tad and his dad talked a long
time after supper. They thought about a tent, the animals, making signs and
where they could have it.
Finally dad said, “Sure son, I
know you can do it. I’ll help some but you boys must do most of it. Mr. Ingraham
has a lot of empty grain bags. I’ll ask
him if you can have some to make a tent. You will need to start with a tent.
The rest of it we will think about tomorrow. Now go to bed and try to sleep, Tad." Dad gave him a kiss and a pat
on the head.
Tad thought to himself, if I
could just shut off all these thoughts, I might get to sleep."
The next day Tad talked to all
his friends about having a circus. Everyone thought it would be fun. No one had
any idea how to start a circus.
Larry said, “Tad you can be the ringmaster We
will do what you say and this will be fun."
“Can we charge money for people
to come?" asked Annie.
“Well maybe," said Tad.
That evening Tad saw his father
coming home with a big bundle of burlap bags.
“Wow," said Tad, “Did Mr.
Ingraham give you all of these?"
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