Bronco s Voice September 2, 1936 "Life - Long Road Home" This summer I had the opportunity to go to Grand Rapids, Michigan, to visit some family

Transcription

1 Jamiette Wood English 301 Creative Project Bronco s Voice September 2, 1936 "Life - Long Road Home" This summer I had the opportunity to go to Grand Rapids, Michigan, to visit some family members. While there I noticed huge, bright yellow ribbons were hanging outside of the famous restaurant The Sweet Pea. It was then I realized a black and white flyer with the big words "Welcome Home Bud, Not Buddy. Come and join us in the celebration to reunite Bud Caldwell and Herman E. Callaway." My curiosity led to the entrance of the restaurant. Before I could open the door, the sound of an angelic voice serenaded me, La de de da da, la de da da and the sound of a piano, saxophone, trumpet and drums sounding off in the background. The small restaurant was almost filled to capacity with people laughing, dancing and eating the great smelling food that hit my nose as soon as I entered the building. The music that I heard at the door was a live band that sounded great. Then I realized it was Herman E. Callaway and the Dusky Devastators of the Depression, a band that I was all too familiar with. I noticed a small child no older then twelve years of age playing a saxophone. It was not the best performance I have ever heard, but one of the band members look as if they were coaching him. I got this idea in my head. An older man was standing next to me, and I asked in my most professional voice, Excuse me, sir; I could not help to notice, but who is the newest member of the band?" He replied, That s our very own Bud, not Buddy. He has just been reunited with his long lost grandfather Herman E. Callaway. If you only knew the story behind this reunion, you could write a book.

2 I said, Well my name is Jamiette Wood. I am here on vacation. I am a student at Fayetteville State University. and that I write for our school newspaper The Bronco Voice, and I would love to write an article about this reunion. "Would you mind letting me interview you? He said, No ma am that would not be a problem. My name is Mr. Lewis. Now if you were about ten years older, you could call me Lefty. I took out my notepad and pen and begin to think of my first question. Wood: "What relation are you to Bud?" Lewis: "I m just an old friend; I met Bud when I was traveling to Flint, Michigan, on business. He was walking in Owosso, Michigan, very late at night, and no child should be out at that time. So I picked him up and fed him. He told me that Mr. Callaway was his father, but I was in disbelief. However, I took him home to Mr. Calloway where he said he belonged." Wood: "So have you kept in contact with Bud since he found his Grandfather?" Lewis: "This is my first time seeing him since I dropped him off. I just wanted to support the young man." I thanked him for answering a few questions for me. Just then the music stopped. All the band members rushed off the stage and went to the table where the food was being served. Then a tall man came and sat next to me. It was Steady Eddie, one of the band members. He had a toothpick dangling out of his mouth. I politely spoke and told him that my name was Jamiette Wood, a Fayetteville State University student. I was on my summer vacation. I am a member of The Broncos Voice at school, and I would love to write an article about this

3 reunion. Just then the rest of the Dusty Devastators came and sat down at the table. Everyone was at the table except Bud and Mr. Calloway. Then Steady Eddie let everyone know who I was and my purpose for being there. Everyone there agreed to be interviewed. Wood: "How did you all feel when Bud showed up claiming to be the son of Herman E. Calloway?" Steady Eddie: (ha-ha-ha) "I thought the child lost his mind. Maybe he was out to get some kind of compensation from Mr. C. I thought that maybe Thug put him up to it." Thug balled up laughing. Thug: "No, no not me. I have had plenty of good jokes in my day, but I could not pull that one off, even though I, too, really did not believe the child. However, I was shocked by Bud s confidence in believing that Mr. C. was his father, but it was just unbelievable that Mr. C. could father a 10 year old, child, if you know what I mean." Ms. Thomas: "I can feel you on that one Jimmy. I have known Mr. Calloway for a long time. I trust Mr. C. and he has never told us any lies. I thought that maybe the child was just looking for someone to take him up, but Bud was such a gentleman when I met him. You know what, he ate lunch with me in his very first restaurant, at this table in the same seat you are sitting in right now. His mother raised him to be a very fine young man with much respect for his elders. We all love Bud!" Jimmy, Thug, and Eddie (in unison): "Yes we love Bud!"

4 Wood: "He sounds like a great child. How did you find out that Bud and Mr. Calloway were, in fact, related?" Eddie: "Well, Bud kept a suitcase with all of his mother s personal belongings. Inside of the suitcase, he kept three rocks. One day he saw Mr. C. writing the date on a rock and Bud said, I have some rocks just like that. From that point on, we knew that Bud was Angela s son (Calloway s daughter)." Ms. Thomas: "Bud also had a picture of his mother, when he had all of that evidence, that we knew that Bud was related Mr. Calloway." She paused for a brief second. Tears welled up in her eyes. Eddie and Jimmy rubbed her on her back as if to console her. Ms. Thomas: "Angela sent us Bud. God bless her soul. We had not seen her in eleven years, but she sent us Bud. Mr. C. did not know where she was. It was hard for all of us to find out the devastating news. Mr. C. is a very stubborn and hard man, but the news brought both joy and sorrow. He did not trust Bud, but after he saw the rocks, he had no choice but to eat crow." Wood: "Does Bud and Mr. Calloway remind you of each other?" Thug: "Ha! They re both stubborn as a mule and very strong willed people. We are teaching Sleepy Labone (Bud) how to play the sax, he has not put that saxophone down since we gave it to him. He is destined for a great future. He might even be as good as me some day." (Saying that in a very sarcastic tone.) Wood: "Well, thank you for your time, but do you think that Mr. C and Bud would let me ask them a few questions. They all looked at each other and laughed.

5 Eddie: "As we said earlier, they re both stubborn, but I ll go and see." They got up like they all had somewhere important to go. Eddie asked Bud and Mr. C. if they would do the interview. They both looked my way and I nodded my head. They looked for a few seconds and slowly walked over as if they were reluctant to come. Bud was carrying a suitcase in one hand and his saxophone gently tucked under his arm. I stood up and introduced myself and told him what my purpose was. Then, they both agreed that it would be okay. Wood: "How does it feel to have found each other?" Bud: "Rule #35, what do I say when being interviewed by a reporter?" We all started laughing. Bud: "Here we go again. Even though I did not find my father who I was looking for, for such a long time, I found my granddad. That s pretty swift because I get to travel with the band and have a real home again. My father is out there somewhere, and there is a new seed that has been planted in my head and is growing into a big oak tree." He put a big sneaky smile on his face. Mr. Calloway: "I am still in shock, but I have to adjust but I am coming around. Since Bud could not find his father, I have to take on the role. It s only been two weeks since I met Bud, then we have already taken two fishing trips and next week we plan to go and visit some of our relatives in Chicago." He rubs Buds head. Bud: "Bud, what would you tell someone who was in the same situation you are in?" Bud: "Never give up, not even if you are scared or hungry. Just follow what you believe in you heart."

6 Wood: "Mr. Calloway what do you have to change now that you are a grandfather?" Mr. Calloway: "Well, I have not been a parent for a long time now. I just have to take it one day at a time. I have to practice patience and not make the same mistakes that I made with my own daughter. However, I will have to teach him how to be a man." Wood: "Bud, I hear you are the newest member of the band." Bud: "Yes, I might be the next best thing." Mr. Calloway: "You will be the next best thing." I thanked them for their time. The flyer that I brought in with me was on the table. Bud looked at it and and asked me if I needed it. I did not, so he picked it up and smoothed it out with his hand and placed it in his suitcase. They went back on stage to perform their last number, which I enjoyed the most. I always thought that I have had a hard life but when you hear what other people have been through, your problems really don't seem a big deal anymore. Just like Bud says, "Never give up and keep fighting." Jamiette Wood