Part Twenty Nine

  Situated back in Louisiana again, Virginia and the children adapted to the slow, country environment. Mike's deepest regret about leaving Texas was the fact Louisiana is so slow on the education level, he was placed in the seventh grade and not allowed to remain in the eleventh grade. He took it pretty hard yet life had to go on. Jimmy Don continued his drug use and Ricky and Ronny began smoking marijuana. Their mother started back drinking and bar hopping, then Arlis moved back in with the family. In a few short weeks Arlis lost all patience and belief that he could keep the family together. His dad sick and dying, he decided to purchase a home for Virginia and the children and he moved in with his parents to help care for them. His dad a great businessman whom owned his own car lot, buying and selling automobiles. He's also part owner of a long established body shop near the downtown area of Monroe. Henry Richard Russ took to drinking hard liquor and high stakes gambling just before he got sick. He'd invented an auger shaped pontoon that he installed on a large custom built pontoon boat. His invention allowed the boat to maneuver over any type of surface, land or water. He was great friends with one of the two Louisiana senators Otto E. Passman, hunting, fishing, drinking, playing poker and such. Henry having come from strict family values and believing in loyalty in friends introduced his innovative invention to Otto for Otto's help to get a patent for his invention. Otto and some other government officials arranged a meeting at the warehouse where Henry had built his invention to view a demonstration. The boat was so large the building's endwall had to be taken off so the boat could be rolled out for the demonstration. Excitement filled the air since the demonstration was a huge success and Otto gave Henry his word that a patent would be forthcoming. Henry's trust did him in, Otto stole his invention claiming it was in the best interest of national security and Henry's invention was immediately put to service for the military. Henry never received a nickel for his magnificent invention and he began drinking heavily. He started losing more and more in high stakes poker games until he lost one of the largest, most beautiful brick homes on South Grand Avenue beside the Ouachita River where Indians and French settlers used to barter. Henry's health began deteriorating rapidly after this and Arlis purchased a home for his dad and mother, Mabel to live in. Mabel and Henry had such a difficult time trying to adjust to living in a mobile home after having lived in the lap of luxury so very long. Many a time Mike and his siblings would visit them and swim in their swimming pool when they'd owned the landmark home which was directly across the street from Layton Castle, the only castle existent in North Louisiana. Mike could never forget how his step-grandparents could have it all and lose it all in the blink of an eye.

  Henry's hard drinking and declining health sent him into a tailspin and he began abusing Mabel. It was common to see her with bruises so it was no wonder Arlis felt the urgency to do his all to protect her and to also try to comfort his dad. Henry being the genius he was, Mike asked him if he'd teach him body work. Henry once again had a gleam in his eye and readily said yes. Henry had two 1949 Hudson automobiles, one was damaged on the front half and one was damaged on the rear half. He and Mike cut the two cars in half and he showed Mike how to straighten the frames underneath both good halves. Once they were straight he pulled the good front and rear halves together with chains anchored along a metal track in the concrete. After beating the heated frames with a sledge hammer to align them as close as possible, he then welded the frame together and continued rebuilding the car. It took several months to bring the Hudson as far as he did and he died just before being able to completely finish it. It was an absolutely beautiful car and Mike was glad to have had the opportunity to get to know his step-granddad a little better before he passed away. Jimmy Don, Ricky, and Ronny had been given the opportunity to help him before Mike asked if he could help. Between the drugs and marijuana and not showing up to work with their granddad, none of Mike's brothers stuck with the job so he seized the opportunity to ask. It was a learning experience Mike will never forget, nor would he ever forget the weekend cookouts at his step-grandparents when Henry and Arlis would barbeque and hand churn the best tasting homemade ice cream one could imagine. Mike thought to himself how badly he'd miss the good times shared with his step-granddad and treasure each and every memory.