Several years ago, our son, Bruce, was working in a local video store-physical fitness gym to pay his college bills while attempting to secure a teaching position.
One day, a fitness customer came in, obviously troubled about something. He mumbled something about needing a cook.
Our son inquired, "why do you need a cook?"
The fellow answered, "I bought a partnership in a hunting guide service in Wyoming and I do not have a decent cook for my fall hunt this year."
Our son said, "I can cook. I worked at a well-known area restaurant as a cook for a year during my first year in college. I also worked one summer at a well-known local drive-in restaurant. What are you offering?"
The fellow said, "I can get you an archery elk license but, unfortunately, not a rifle one."
My son said, "keep talking. I'm an avid outdoorsman and especially like archery hunting."
Our son went on to say, "if I don't get a teaching job by the last week of August, you have a deal."
The day after Labor Day, they departed. Several weeks went by and one morning while preparing breakfast for the paying customers, Bruce heard a herd of elk calling not far away. He woke the guide and they went to the door of the tent and listened.
The guide said, "forget breakfast; wake the hunters."
Out they went and, after setting up, the guide began to call. Lo and behold, eerily, through the fog, emerged the silhouette of a beautiful 5x5 bull elk. Of course, he wasn't the herd bull.
With one well-placed arrow, Bruce bagged the object of his dreams. No other paid hunters were successful in tagging a bull that archery season.
He gave it the name, Sneaker, for the way he stalked so quietly through the forest.
Of course, he had it mounted and wanted to display it in our dining room, but Mom said, "No!" For several years, it hung in his bedroom. Now that Bruce is married, it hangs in a prominent place in the family room, along with a turkey and multiple white-tailed deer antlers.
Jack R. Jones and his wife, Carole, live in Hughesville. Their son, Bruce, lives in Montoursville.
