PART 5

THE BUMBLE

Next morning, after the hunt was finished and the guys returned to camp to have breakfast, they talked about their morning experiences, and about what they saw. Nobody eyed a buck, but several does were spotted. Tony saw 2 does, Steve saw a doe and yearling, Tom jumped a doe, and Hoss saw a family of coons. Dom said he didn’t see anything.
Dom was awfully quiet, and said nothing about the deer crossing sign. Tony, Steve, Hoss and Tom kept eyeing each other trying to figure what went wrong. 
Tony figured a bear could have gotten the scent of the sign and knocked it over by accident while inspecting it. Steve figured Dom probably just didn’t see the sign. Hoss figured one of two things could have happened: 1. Dom didn’t see the sign, or, 2. Dom saw the sign, and he figures that he’s in a glory hole location for deer, and he’s going to keep it all to himself.
In the middle of the afternoon, after Dom had a few more hits on the wine flask, and Tony and Hoss hit the peanuts and beer, the camp was paid a visit by Game Officers Clancy and Davis.
Usually the officers check licenses and permits, but they didn’t bother this day. They know the guys quite well, and they just came by to pay a visit, chat, drink a coke and see if anything was harvested. After the talk was finished the officers got up to leave. When they did, Dom got up from his chair and said to the officers, “I want to thank you boys and the Commission for putting out the deer crossing signs this year. You put one right near my tree stand, and I saw 2 does and a button buck this morning…right by the sign.”
The officers were taken by surprise, and Clancy said, “Uh yeah, right…anytime”. Officer Davis, smelling the wine on Dom’s breath, said, “Sir, could I please see your license and permit”. Dom obliged and all was in order. Dom said, “I don’t mind at all. You boy’s are doing us hunters a service by at least tipping us off to where the deer might be. I appreciate it.”
Officers Clancy and Davis, backing away from Dom, again said, “Yeah, ahhh, our pleasure. Glad to be of service. Well, we gotta go now.” Officer Clancy pointed a finger at Dom and said, “And you, Sir, be careful out there.” Then he looked at Hoss and said to Hoss, “Be careful with this old guy, ya’ here!”. 
The officers left, Dom turned around to walk back to the guys, and he saw Tony laughing so hard he was crying. Steve was laughing and stumbling back to the kitchen. Hoss was rolling on the grass peeing in his pants, and Tom was slumped over a chair gagging on the chaw in his mouth. Dom looked at the sight, quickly put 2 and 2 together, and said, “Why you son’s of bitches. You got me good, didn’t you?”

End of Story

Page created 9/30/00 Story By Tony Lepri