Gerry

It took him a lifetime but Gerry the old coot scientist is finally airborne!

Old man Gerry grew up as a humble farm boy. If he wasn't skimming stones across the pond he was helping fix tractors for his old man, Gerry Senior.

One day Gerry met a smooth talkin city slick from back up state, claimed he'd seen men fly with the birds rather than be swimmin with the fish using an apparatus he'd referred to as an Arrowplaine. Figured he'd give it a try, so long as it was pointing up.

Years went by... lots of banging... dinging... heavy lift swinging. Lots a talk round town bout Gerry. Few saw what he had, fewer still believed it but he sure as hell had it. "Sooner or later" they'd say, "He'd cark it like a rabbit."

One day among town the whole ground started to rumble... "Well I'll be darn, it's old man Gerry like an Eagle!" Far from balding yet further still from falling. "That old coot Gerry's got wings, now he's soaring!"

From the skies above Gerry could see the old city slickers chimney stacks in the distance, pluming waste from coal as the railways grew and took hold.

Took him 40 odd years and Gerry had to melt down every pot and pan he could find. Some years the towns supply of kitchenware seemed to vanish and aint no one had a clue it was old man Gerry, or so they thought... just singin away n doing his thang, while building a darn old big machine.

Once he reached the air it was like he finally had the chance to breath! A feat it was to sore and even sorer still, once he'd done landed there was a surprise for him just waiting behind the mill.

Wings of steel were glistening sparkle during the low light of eve, touch down on the field to a shock old angry mob, pitchfork, suspense and unease.

"We darn heard you came onto our land to help yourself to our goods! Made way with 2 pots, 2 pans and on this land aint no general store for 2 miles with any decent cooks!"

Old coot Gerry was set to be hogtied and beat without a word in response said. Truth be told that darn old city slicker sold him pots, pans, cans and without a question Gerry done traded in all his bread.

Darn shame. Took a heavy hit that old Gerry but he's right back on his feet. "Darn city slicker. Always wearing suit and never even seen him in the grease."