When Friends Ain't Friends...

[B.L. Davenport]

The four friends left the house getting into B.L.'s car joking and teasing. The ride to the swimming hole was filled with laughter and banter. Getting out of the car, Daisy and BL set up the picnic blanket leaving the basket next to it. They all sat waiting for Cooter to get there not wanting him to miss out on any of the fun.

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo joined in with the laughter and joking all the way to the lake, settling on the blanket with his bag and guitar and just listening in as they waited for Cooter to arrive...which he did...almost a half an hour later.

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke looked over at the same time as B.L. and Daisy when Cooter arrived.

"yer late, we been here a half hour already"

B.L. said to her cousin as he approached the blanket dropping down beside Luke, laying back on the grass his hands behind his head relaxing.

"Sorry I had to finish Mr. Ruebottom's van he needs it for deliveries."

Cooter told them drowsily

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo smiled and shook his head, chuckling/

"Looks like I ain't gonna be the only one stayin' on dry land..." He said, seeing Cooter's eyes drifting shut.

Daisy smiled and started unpacking the picnic basket.

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke chuckled nodding his agreement with Bo then looked at BL with a evil glint in her eye.

BL prised Cooter's eye open and looked down at him smirking wickedly.

"you go to sleep and ya might end up all wet yer out numbered."

[BoJamesDuke]

Cooter grumbled and pulled away from her.

"Leave off, you been loafing around all day, some of us have ta work ya know/"

[B.L. Davenport]

B.L. frowns at him rolling her eyes arms folded he thought he was the only one ever did any work and it griped her cos she worked just as hard as him. At least he didn't have to put up with men grabbing his behind all day or wolf whistles.

"I work too!"

Luke watched the two cousins arguing before holding up his hands.

"Alright you two no arguin' we're here ta have a good time....B.L. leave Cooter be."

B.L. nodded at Luke, looking over at Bo she pointed to his guitar.

"why doncha play us a song it might soothe the savage beast." *pointed at Cooter when she said savage beast*

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo looked to the guitar too, he hadn't been intending to play it until everyone was away from him because he knew he would be rusty. He hadn't played in months, thanks to his dealing with his fears and everything.

"Well...I..I could but...I....I need Luke's help..."

He admitted, looking to Luke.

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke nodded eagery convinced easily getting up from his spot on the grass he goes back to B.L.'s car reaching in the driver's window to get the keys. Going around the car he unlocks the trunk pulling out his guitar case and something else none of them could see. Making his way back over to the small group sitting the thing they hadn't seen down by B.L. a smaller case that held B.L.'s fiddle.

"How about helpin' us out B."

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo smiled as he saw the two instruments, putting his guitar in position in his hands and practising a few chords.

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke and B.L. took their instruments from their cases tuning them. Luke strumming a few cords to check that the guitar was in tune then fiddling with the tuners on the handle when it still sounded a little out of tune.

B.L. twisted her own tuners on the fiddle strumming the strings and then making a few more adjustments. Satisfied the fiddle was in tune she restrung her bow with a new horse hair string. That done she rosined the bow string and was ready to play.

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo cursed softly as he tried to get one of the chords right, for some reason not remembering how he was supposed to be doing it.

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke lay a calming hand on Bo's arm seeing his distress and frustration at getting the chord wrong. After a few minutes he moved his hand back to his own guitar and began picking the lively notes to Little Jimmy Dickin's " May the bird of paradise fly up your nose." B.L. easily picked up on the song and began to play along with Luke.

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo listened and watched Luke's hands, not having the desire to play anymore at getting such simple chords that he knew wrong. Instead he just put his guitar down and listened to Luke and B.L.

[B.L. Davenport]

As they played Luke sang in perfect harmony with each other.

One fine day as I was a-walkin' down the street

Spied a beggar man with rags upon his feet

Took a penny from my pocket

In his tin cup I did drop it

I heard him say as I made my retreat

"May the bird of paradise fly up your nose"

"May an elephant caress you with his toes"

"May your wife be plagued with runners in her hose"

"May the bird of paradise fly up your nose"

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo smiled as he lay back and listened, handing Daisy his guitar to either put back or play. After picking a few chords along with Luke she gently put Bo's guitar back in its case, wishing he had more confidence in the things he did like he used to but she knew that his fears had killed a lot of that.

[B.L. Davenport]

B.L. too had noticed Bo give up after a few missed chords and that wasn't like him at all. It wasn't like they were trying a new song either they had played this one lots of times, she hoped he would regain his old confidence and be able to join in these sing alongs again one day. The act didn't go unnoticed by Luke either but he didn't want to call attention to Bo's fears today he wanted him to hopefully relax and forget just for one day. So the two picked up with the next verse entertaining the other three.

The laundry man is really on his toes

Found a hundred-dollar bill among my clothes

When he called me I came a-runnin'

Gave him back his dime for phonin'

I heard him sayin' as I turned to go

I was way behind one day to catch the train

Taxi driver said "We'll make it just the same"

The speed cop made it with us

And as he wrote out the ticket

I stood by politely a-waitin' for my change

"May the bird of paradise fly up your nose"

"May an elephant caress you with his toes"

"May your wife be plagued with runners in her hose"

"May the bird of paradise fly up your nose"

I was way behind one day to catch the train

Taxi driver said "We'll make it just the same"

The speed cop made it with us

And as he wrote out the ticket

I stood by politely a-waitin' for my change

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo laid back and looked up at the sky as he listened to them singing, finding himself dozing off lightly in the warm sunlight and the cool creeze that whipped through his hair.

Cooter had already gone way past that stage and had fallen nearly completly asleep.

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke and B.L. finish the song the last chords fading through the stillness around them. As the last note dies away B.L. picks up right into Charlie Daniels 'Devil went down to Georgia'. As she concentrates on playing Luke sings the verses.

The devil went down to Georgia, he was looking for a soul to steal.

He was in a bind 'cos he was way behind: he was willin' to make a deal.

When he came across this young man sawin' on a fiddle and playin' it hot.

And the devil jumped upon a hickory stump and said: "Boy let me tell you what:

"I bet you didn't know it, but I'm a fiddle player too.

"And if you'd care to take a dare, I'll make a bet with you.

"Now you play a pretty good fiddle, boy, but give the devil his due:

"I bet a fiddle of gold against your soul, 'cos I think I'm better than you."

The boy said: "My name's Johnny and it might be a sin,

"But I'll take your bet, your gonna regret, 'cos I'm the best that's ever been."

[BoJamesDuke]

Daisy sang along with Luke as she cuddled into him gently, resting her head on his shoulder, something she hadn't done since before he went away to 'Nam.

Bo was still listening and hummed a long a little to the tune.

[B.L. Davenport]

Finishing the song BL layed her fiddle back in its case grinning. It was great to be able to do this again it seemed like the times before Bo's problems all started. Luke put his arm around Daisy as they sang along to the song.

[BoJamesDuke]

Daisy smiled up at him softly before the finished the song, seeing Cooter deeply asleep and Bo just gently dozing as the sunlight shone on him and made his hair shine like gold.

"Well...they're asleep...shall we go fer a swim?"

[B.L. Davenport]

"Yeah sounds good to me,we can eat then when they wake up"

B.L. said as she and Luke set their instruments aside getting to their feet nodding. Luke pulling off his t-shirt and BL stripping to her bathing suit.

[BoJamesDuke]

Daisy stripped down to hers too and was the first one to dive into the water from the rock that hung over it on the right side of the pond, gasping a little as she came up at the shock of the cold water but smiling.

[B.L. Davenport]

B.L. and Luke followed Daisy into the water, B.L. yelping from the coldness of the water soon getting used to the temperature swims over and dunks Luke. He comes up spluttering splashes her.

"Hey!"

B.L. only smirks at his protest splashing him back laughing.

"Hay is fer horses."