Qwill it were nigh around 10 years ago, when I encountered the big feller, big foot, sasqwatch and I will never forget it. I was out on the lake fishing in a small skiff, catching some perch just for the fun of it, when my dog, his name was "chicken leg" began to bark. Now "chicken leg" got his name because of the day he stole a chicken leg off the kitchen table. The preacher was eating with us that day, it were a Sunday and well that is another story. Anyway chicken leg would go out on the boat with me, he loved fishing. He was just a mutt, but the smartest dog I ever had. We were inseperable. When we was out on the boat, he would bark a certain bark to tell me he needed to go to the bathroom. So this day he barked and I took my boat to the shore, at the edge of the woods, we must have been a good 20 miles from Brr, and old chicken leg ran up in the woods to use the bathroom. Well, he went so far into the woods I could not see him and he began to bark and bark and his bark sounded like it was getting fainter, like he was going up farther and farther in the woods. I gave my whistle for him to come back and he did not come. I whistled and whistled, then I decided to go ashore myself and find him. I walked weren't more than a 100 feet in and I heard chicken leg yelping in pain and a hollering up a storm and I took of running in the woods, fighting my way through pretty thick brush and I came up in a clearing and as I broke through the last of the brush it was there I seen him. The ugliest, hairiest, monster walking up on two legs, but haired up like a grizzly bear, with yeller eyes and he had blood dripping from his mouth, and there was old chicken leg, tore up and bleeding on the ground, when that monster took off running and I was so scared I just stood there, frozen, I could not retreat, I just stood there. After a few minutes, I got my wits about me and went over and picked up chicken leg and took off running back to the boat. We got back and I drove him to the vet, but he were dead. I burried him right over there, under an oak tree. Want to see his grave. Qwill nodded, shutting off his tape recorder silently in his pocket. Well no one would believe me. I got some men to go look up there with me for tracks, but it had rained alot and we could not find anything. People tried to tell me it was a bear, but I knowed what I saw. Qwill looked down at the grave stone under the large old oak and read:
"Here lies old Chicken Leg, best dog a man ever had"
He thanked Oscar for sharing his story and declined coffee. He rarely declined coffee, but he was ready to go. He did not know if Walley and Gary were pulling his leg. His chicken leg. He thought about it on the way home and decided the old man was on the up and up. He must have encountered a Grizzley, and believed in all his heart it was Big Foot. He questioned his sanity in letting Arch talk him into this. It was not to late to put an end to it. He would not pursue anymore big foot story interviews. If Homer Tibbetts were still alive he could confirm or deny if this were a practical joke or note.

Qwilleran would table the story as a Qwill Pen column and save it for a second volume of short and tall tales. He would begin work on this second volume this fall and winter and dedicate it to Homer Tibbets. The more he rolled this idea around the more he liked it. He drove down the country roads, with a light heart, yes, that would be a great idea. He needed a long range project. With no one in the "favorite woman status" in his life he had time on his hands to pursue this. He stopped by the Moose County Something in Pickax and invited Hixie to lunch at Lois'. He suggested to her to use the apartment over the carriage house behind the theater club. She jumped at the idea. Honestly Qwill, it will be a God send, Dr. Snodgrass has been calling and pressuring me to move in with him. He wants to "protect me". This will be the perfect solution! Thank you. No problem Hixie, you are a Moose County treasure now and we want you safe and secure. I will go over to the police station and let Andy Brodie know you will be there. I will call the cleaning service to spruce up the place and you can move in this afternoon. Qwill used the phone in Jr. Goodwinter's office and told the cleaning service to do a rush job, as he left, he ran into Jr. Hey Qwill, I have another lead on a Big Foot story Jr. said, barely containning a laugh. Thank you Jr., Qwill said in a formal voice, mail it to me, and he walked out the office. Jr. ran behind him, Joy and the kids are attending a function at the church tonight, want to have dinner? Qwill agreed and they decided to meet at the Grist Mill later. Jr. Goodwinter was one of the youngest editors of a newspaper in the state and he looked like a high school kid. He was the closest thing Qwill had to a son and they were good friends. Qwill headed to the police station to talk to Brodie.

Beth, this is just delightful and so entertaining; very much like LBJ! I hope you don't mind me commenting after section, but I am so enjoying your story, and hope that you will finish it. You are bringing so much of the rich history and background that LBJ created. I still don't like that Snodgrass character and for once Hixie is doing the right thing by staying away from him! I do feel bad that Oscar lost his beloved dog.

And I quite agree with you - tarot cards, UFOs and such - it is only natural that Bigfoot should enter the Moose County story!

Beth, I need to correct LBJ to LJB! Good grief! One would think I was trying to reincarnate our former President - Lyndon Baines Johnson, and I would rather not go there.

Can't wait to read your next installment! Qwill having dinner with Junior and meeting with Chief Brodie before that. I wonder what info Qwill will be able to ferret out on the latest happenings in Moose County?

beth said:

I can’t write, that is obvious, but I like to think LJB might have gotten around to a big foot story if time had not swallowed her up and age overtaken her. Perhaps big foot has followed Qwill from the Potato mountains, lolololol what fun

Beth, you are totally wrong. You CAN write, and with a vengeance. You have channeled LJB so well that I keep thinking if put in book form and the usual polish added, it would make a heck of an LJB book.

I have been busy Corianne, sorry. I will get back to it soon. I am eager to have a murder happen in my next chapter and I know who and I know the suspect(s) and I know the real killer. I just have to find time. I am working full time and keeping my daughters children after work and with a husband, I have not had a minute to myself.
Joyce, thanks, I am having fun. I think there is a writer in all of us who love to read books and find joy in different authors and their styles. Thank you to you and your lovely daughter for the cat who rooms to chat and write. More later from old Oscar, Hixie, Dr. Snodgrass, but I fear it will be the last we hear of old chicken leg. I got that name from one of my kindergarten students. We were talking about pets and I asked them the names of their cats or dogs and when he raised his had, he said, my dog is called "Old Chicken Leg". You never know when you ask a kindergartener, what you might get!

Beth, no problem! Patience is a virtue, unless one is waiting for the next installment of Cat Who? I laughed when I read your inspiration for Old Chicken Leg! Reminded me of Art Linkletter and "Kids Say the Darnedest Things!" I am looking forward to your next installment and seeing who gets offed!

When Qwill got to the police station, Brodie was busy,but gave him a few minutes, offering coffee. Qwill told him Hixie was moving into the garage apartment and questione Brodie about the case. Brodie said, Qwill, we have a good bit of evidence, no fingerprints, the scoundrel wore gloves I am guessing. We lifted a bit of DNA from the soda can left in the attic and looking into where the sleeping bag and camera was purchased. It is sick Qwill, someone out there with video tapes of Hixie sleeping or undressing. We are guessing it is some sort of pervert from Bixby or even down below. I am not sure anyone in Bixby is smart enough to plan and pull it off. Just then the police radio on Brodie's belt went off and the phone rang and the dispatcher was yelling and the police station came alive and several officers rushed to their cars. Brodie barked tersely into his microphone, it is Hixie, Qwill, out of my way.
Qwilleran hopped in his car and drove behind several patrol cars. They sped toward Indian Village. They pulled up about the time an ambulance arrived. Sirens were wailing and several older people living in Indian village that did not work during the day came out to see what was going on. Brodie told Qwill to stay on the sidewalk and he and 3 officers went into Hixie's condo. The parmedics were the next to go in, and just when Qwilleran could stand it no more, they rolled someone out on a stretcher. The person's face was covered up by a sheet.

A second ambluance pulled up at the condo and medical personnel put Hixie on a guerny and as she rolled by Qwill grabbed her hand. Hixie, are you alright? Qwill asked. Oh Qwill, Ohhhhhhhhhhhh she wailed. Qwill said, I am following you to the hospital Hixie, don't despair. Qwill got in his car and Brodie walked over. Qwill put the window down and said, Is he........dead? I am afraid he has peeped for the last time Qwill. Well, Brodie it was a clear case of self defense. She can't be in trouble, can she. Well, Brodie said, the grand jury will be convened and I am sure it will be a clear cut case of self defense and they will drop it. Well I certainnly think they should, Qwill said. Poor Hixie! Qwill, she was not concerned over herself, she just said over and over, Brodie, I killed a man, I killed a man. She may need some help getting over that fact.

As Qwill drove to the Pickax hospital he wondered, what do we know about this man. How long has he been in Pickax. Where did he come from and what kind of references did he submit. Qwill's mustache tingled and he tamped it with his knuckles.

When Qwilleran pulled up to the hospital, Jr. Goodwinter was getting out of his car in the parking lot. Qwill had stopped by his condo long enough to phone the newspaper and give them the tip about a shooting in Indian Village. Qwill, what happened, Jr called as he rushed up to him. Qwilleran said, Jr. apparently Snoddgrass, the man Hixie had been dating as of late, broke into her apartment and she felt threatened and discharged a firearm, accidently hitting the man. Is he dead, Qwill, Jr. asked in surprise. I am afriad so Jr.
Come on in the hospital and let's see what we can find out about Hixie's condition. As they entered the hospital Mildred Riker ran behind them from the parking lot, hey, I heard about HIxie, is she okay?

They entered the waiting area to the sounds of shouts and yells. A hospital security guard and several nurses were trying to calm an older man, dressed in an imaculat suit, with a head of finely coiffed silver hair. He bellowed and tried to push past the nurses. Qwill, Jr. and Mildred stood back and watched, their path was blocked by the irrate man and they did not want to turn and retreat.

Mr. Snoddgrass, one of the nurses was saying, please sir, just sit down and Dr. Lanspeak will be right out to talk to you.

Suddenly two Pickax policman burst through the hospital door and took over the scene, leading the man to a chair as he yelled and tried to shake their hands off. The trio from the Moose County Something went to the reception desk and asked about Hixie. At the sound of her name, the man being talked to by the two policeman came out of his chair once more screaming, Hixie, that is her name, the hussy, the retrobate, she has hurt my poor son. Where is she, are you protecting her, arrest her officers, where is she.................