I hope you enjoy this story. It is derived from a precious moment in my life, my first taste of freedom. I wrote it as simply and concise as possible in order to simply tell a true story. 

The angel stood before us, not a mystical entity, but a statue. The Saint Francis de Sales church cemetery was Bobby’s and my favorite haunt. Today was a typical day for us and we would soon head for our favorite shop in downtown Houma. 

As we grew up in south Louisiana, we were free. Our borders were only limited to the broad scope of our imaginations. My father let me "play hooky" from school on my 15th  birthday so that I could take the driving test for a license. The car they provided for me was not superb, but it offered the freedom of mobility that I so urgently needed. The summer months would be coming soon, and our first "road trip" would be in play. 

Jimmy asked that I join him in a visit to his prospective "commune" that was "under construction" in Mena, Arkansas. I met Jimmy at his shop in downtown Houma. It was a little boutique that was known as the "Mind Machine". Their inventory consisted of records, ethnic clothing, Mexican footwear, incense, and of course the usual smoking paraphernalia. Yes, it was a proverbial "head shop". I shopped for there for Huarache sandals and tie-dyed shirts and Bobby was drawn to the glassware and carved, wooden items. 

Jimmy and I hit it off stylishly; we had a lot in common, attitudes, music, style of clothing and hair down to the middle of our backs. He was ten years my senior and knew everyone in town - all of the "cool" people, of course. Summer rolled around and I invited David and Becky on the trip to the "commune" for a couple of weeks of rest and relaxation in Mena, Arkansas, so we could shake-off the dust of school and relish a little nature. Bobby was working, sad to say. 

My dad wished me well and offered his usual philosophical advice – “Moderation, son, everything in moderation”. My mother threw a holy tantrum – so, what’s new? “He’s only 15, Carl! Look at that hair! He’ll end up in jail,” she said despairingly.“Why don’t you beat me once more for the road? “ I asked. “The boy’s got to see the world while he’s got the chance", Dad replied, and his word was final. My girlfriend, Anna, whose parents weren’t agreeable at all, had to stay behind. So, I kissed her goodbye, and we were off on our adventure. 

The trip was pretty long, being that we were not used to road trips. We got to the  day. The "commune" was nothing more than a square cabin on stilts with no staircase, only a ladder to the door. The property looked like it had been clear-cut for timber with stumps and fallen trees everywhere. We laughed about the situation. It was nearly noon before anyone stirred from the cabin. Jimmy and a girl named Liz came out first, then another lady named Gloria and then a fellow we called "The Fonz". 

The visit was nice, but there was no room in the cabin for the three of us. We lasted three days and could bear no more. “I need a shower,” I said. The only water supply that was there was a subterranean well that you drew up water with a long metal tube, and it was ice cold. “It is Eskimo time, folks.” I stripped and David baptized me. Lord, it was cold!” While I was enduring that cold, hard lesson of life, Liz walked up. “I’m sick of this place. What does he think he’s got going on here, a freaking harem?” Liz asked. “Hi, Liz. I’m Jackie, and you didn’t see me naked if anyone asks, okay,” I replied. “What’s wrong?” “Jimmy thinks he’s getting a threesome out of this trip. He’s crazy if he thinks I’m playing that game,” she said. “Are y'all leaving? I don’t care where y’all are going. Count me in,” she replied. “Do y’all mind if I get dressed now? David, I need one more arctic blast. I’ve got soap in my hair,” I said. Within an hour we were ready to go. 

We checked out the map and saw our destination – Devil’s Den State Park in the northwest corner of the state. Surely they had cabins there. We would have a blast. “Liz, say our goodbyes for us, because I hate goodbyes,” I said. Jimmy was not a happy camper when Liz told him her plans. Then he confronted me, “I thought we were friends, Jackie?” “Man, I’m just the driver and Liz wants to leave. We are friends, but don’t let the situation cloud your reasoning ability,” I pleaded. “You take Liz and we’re done as friends,” Jimmy said. “Work it out with Liz, Jimmy. Don’t put me in the middle of a lovers’ quarrel,” I said. “I have to report to Anna anyway. Liz will be safe with us, and she wants to leave. I can’t tell her no, and that she can’t come with us. That would be wrong and you know it, Jimmy.” “You still have Gloria, Jimmy,” Liz scowled. Jimmy stormed off without a comment. 

When we were on our way north, Becky finally spoke. “Whew, I didn’t want any part of that conversation.". “I can’t believe he wanted to have two…,” she said, but I interrupted. “Shush! I’m not one for making rules, but here's one that everybody has to follow. No talking about Jimmy or anybody else. That’s in the past. I just lost a friend and don't like the feeling. Anyway, we’re on vacation now, for goodness’ sake,” I said. David replied, “That’s a good idea. Shut your trap, Becky, and roll one up.

”Devil’s Den" was easy to find. Signs were everywhere and to our dismay, it was a dry county. The closest alcohol was in the next state over, Missouri. “Can we can drink here if we have alcohol with us,” I asked the desk clerk?” “Yea, but the closest place to buy some is about twenty miles west. But it’s illegal to cross the state line with alcohol,” he replied. “Wonderful,” I replied. “I’d love to spend a few days in an Arkansas jail – ‘hey boy, you shore got a pretty mouth’,” I teased. Becky, David and Liz told me that I should go alone. “My car, my money, my ass in jail - sorry, folks, we’re all in this together. Let’s take a ride,” I said. 

The State Line Bar and Grill was just across the Missouri border. Liz and I bought a case of wine and drove up the rode further west so not to look obvious. As we were driving back, a bottle of wine later, the entire bar was standing outside, waving to us! “I guess we didn’t have an original idea,” I laughed as I blew the horn and the girls waved both arms out of the windows and yelled RAZORBACKS. 

Devil’s Den State Park was great. There were caves with ice-cold jets blowing from the walls, and the cabin had two huge bedrooms with a kitchen. The thought of our sleeping arrangements had me in a quandary, and so did the fire trucks! We lit a fire in the fireplace and didn't know of such things as louvers in a fireplace – it was closed, creating ;a billowing cloud of smoke.“Liz, I’ll sleep on the floor,” I said. “I don’t bite,” she replied. “And, I could use some company anyway,” she hinted. “Thanks for the invitation, but I have enough problems without creating more,” I replied. “Jimmy and Anna are going to think we had sex anyway. We just as soon,” she said as a matter of fact. “But, I would have to lie to Anna, and that just wouldn't do. “Damn, you’re the first man that has ever turned me down,” she boast “I’m not turning you down. I’m just not going to have sex with you,” I replied. “We can share the bed.” 

I’ve always been an early riser. The next morning I woke at 5:00 a.m. and set off alone to explore the locale. I found a place on a mountainside that overlooked a valley blanketed with mist, beautiful, and on the other side of the road was a lush, green pasture. Parking my car on the shoulder, I found a comfortable spot next to a fence post. A quick scan of the area and I saw no life. My Craig Powerplay 8-Track tape player sang out some Zeppelin tunes – what a way to wake up in the morning! About two minutes into the second song, I heard a noise that startled me. It was a horse neighing with his head over the fence about one foot from my shoulder. I thought he was trying to bite me! “Good Lord, you scared me ole boy,” I said as I stood up to greet my new friend. The horse was black as night with no detectable white markings – jet black with a long mane and tail with feathery hair growing over his hooves. All of a sudden he reared-up on his hind legs, pawed the air with his muscular front legs and whinnied. He threw his long, black mane from side to side as he shook his head, as if to say, “This is my pasture; I own this place in the world and in it I am king!” It was obvious that this majestic animal had never tasted the bit. I spent the better part of two hours befriending this gallant steed. 

Life could have not been kinder to me than to allow me to meet a creature whose demeanor reeked of freedom and virility. “I’ll be back tomorrow, big fellow, with a few more friends who would love to meet you,” I promised him. I told the tale of the steed to David, Becky and Liz. We couldn’t have had a better plan than to meet one of the locals – a black stallion. That afternoon, I bought a box of sugar cubes and a bag of red apples to offer as a gratuity for my new friend allowing us to share his little paradise with him. 

The next morning, we all went to the spot where I had seen the stallion before, whistled, yelled and yet he was nowhere to be found. “I have an idea. Let’s play a song for him. It worked yesterday,” I exclaimed. “I know just the song for a cool stud like him." And I cranked it up!One minute into the song and here he came at full gait! “Look, there he is y’all. Isn’t he beautiful? Becky said, “He’s black as midnight” “Midnight, that’s his new name, folks – Midnight,” I said. 

As if he was showing his stature off to his new friends, he once again reared up on his hind legs and pawed the air. I took a risk and climbed over the fence with my treats, which Midnight accepted graciously. He was so gracious, in fact, that when the entire box of sugar and bag of apples were gone, he kept nuzzling his nose against my chest, back and shoulders asking, “Is that all you have, dude? I want more, now!” 

As we drove off some hours later, Midnight ran alongside the fence following us in our car. I just knew what he was going to do, so I told everyone to watch. And, as he reached the end of the fence, he did it – he reared up and waved goodbye to us … “What a beautiful and wonderful creature he is,” I said solemnly to myself. “I’m going to miss that creature.” Liz said, “You’re going to miss that horse more than you are going to miss me, aren’t you", I said earnestly, “You are not only a beautiful woman, Liz, you are really smart, too,  as well.

The ride home was uneventful, except for running out of cash in Arkansas, winging it home with the Gulf credit card my Daddy slipped me on the sly away from Mama and then blowing the engine in my Toyota Corolla two blocks before reaching home. I walked home, and Daddy towed my car home. He eagerly listened i to the story of our grand adventure and congratulated me on a job well done. Daddy said, "When you befriend one of God's creatures, it special, it's spiritual, it's a gift from God ... His blessing for you. "There’s a lot to do in this world, but when you befriend one of nature's creatures, it’s a grand experience that won’t soon forget.

My mother berated me and complained about everything. “You’re going to pay for that damned car and I mean it, and you should have gone to jail for buying that alcohol,” she yelled. “I can’t believe that you took my car to Missouri. And, your hair, it’s disgusting!” 

Yes, Midnight is one free-spirit that I won’t soon forget. I’m going to always remember my dad’s wise words and the gallant steed, as well.

I really loved that black stallion ...





Jesus was watching over me then, and He is guiding and protecting me to this day…

Amen, Brother Jesus! I truly appreciate Your loving protection...then, now and forevermore.