by Huckster

Created on: August 15, 2008

A Secret From a Wheatfield

As they trod along the loose gravel of the country back road, Bo looked over the tall wheat that waved in the breeze. The fields in this area were ripe for harvest, but Bo's dad and uncle weren't due to bring the swather or combine to this area for a week.

"It seems like summer barely got here, and already school has to start," Bo's friend, Runey, remarked as he shaded his eyes and looked down the road.

Bo looked ahead toward the bus stop over a mile down the gentle slope, dreading the thought of riding to town and sitting in a classroom for hours on a nice day. Yes, summer vacation ended too soon. But it didn't have to end just yet. They wouldn't flunk the sixth grade by skipping a day or two.

Bo smacked Runey's shoulder with the back of his hand, then stopped and faced his friend.

"You're right," Bo said.

"What?" Runey replied, cocking his head.

Bo gestured toward the field to their right. "Let's go see if Mr. Briansen needs some help with his cattle or pigs this morning."

Runey lowered his gaze as he shook his head. "We already caught hell for driving the four-wheelers in his pasture," he said as he glanced in the direction of Briansen's farm. "He isn't going to want to see us around for a while."

"Aw, we'll apologize and offer to help out. Besides, we're on foot. When he sees that
we can't tear up the ground and terrorize the animals, he won't mind that we're around."

"We'll just catch hell for not going to school," Runey remarked. "He'll probably take us there himself, if we get him mad again."

"Why would we get him mad again? We're going to work and make it up to him."

Runey put his fists on his hips. "Work. What fun is that?"

Bo sighed and said, "Would you rather go to school and sit on your butt all day?"

Shaking his head, Runey eyed Bo. He seemed to doubt every plan Bo came up with.

"Come on," Bo said. "It'll be our excuse for skipping class. We'll tell the teachers we had to work."

"Would you quit it?" Runey said. "You've been listening to your dad's stories of when he was a kid. It doesn't work these days."

Bo looked at the gravel and kicked a rock. "Fine," he replied. "We'll just sit at a desk all
day, doodling on papers. Is that what you want?"

"No," Runey admitted and turned in the direction of Briansen's farm. "If he did let us work, it would just be for a while anyway. Then we could take off and bum at my place. Both my folks will be busy this afternoon."

"Now you're talking."

Bo led Runey along the deep tracks cut between two fields. Striding

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