The next generation Part II

[Jamanda]

Balladeer: Welcome back folks, to the next generation of Dukes, although only a few are really Dukes.

Cherry Duke, 15, is the daughter of Luke and Amy Duke;

Daisy Mae Duke, 2, is the daughter of Bo and Jill Duke;

Lily, 16, Lucas, 10, and Tommy Strate, 5, are the children of Enos and Daisy;

T.J. Davenport, 15, is the son of Cooter Davenport;

Louie Ledbetter, 17, is the son of "Honest" John Ledbetter;

Regina Hogg, 16, is the daughter of Hughie Hogg;

Jethro Doolin, 16, is the son of Dobro Doolin;

Clifford Hogg, 14, is the son of Cletus Hogg;

Ernie Potter, 18, is the son of Emery and Mabel Potter;

Sam Brodie, 13, is the son of Ol' Brodie;

Otto Avery, 12, is the son of Avery;

These are the main characters in the Next Generation. Now on to Part II

[Jamanda]

Lily was hanging out with Cherry at the Duke farm after school on a breezy October day. Lucas was inside watching Daisy Mae, or rather chasing her out of various corners of the house. Tommy was pestering Jill with questions.

Tommy: Did Uncle Bo really jump over a whole line of motorcycles?

Jill: It was a line of barrels ON a motorcycle.

Tommy: Wow!

Cherry: Does he ever stop?

Lily: Nope. We keep hoping he'll outgrow it but...

Tommy: And did he really get in a fight in a garage with an ugly dude an' get covered in grease?

Jill: Yes he did. Amy can tell you more about that as the ugly dude was one of her old boyfriends.

Amy: (from another room) TURK WAS NEVER A BOYFRIEND!

Jill: <whispers to Tommy> He was too.

Amy: I HEARD THAT!

Cherry and Lily grab their lemonade to sit outside just as Tommy goes off again.

Tommy: An' was he and Luke really on probation?

Jill: Yes dear, and they still are.

Tommy: What's probation?

Cherry and Lily sit out by the tree with their lemonade. As usual, Cherry climbs up and sits on a branch as Lily sits under her.

Lily: How did your dad get on probation?

Cherry: He got caught running moonshine. Then Great-Uncle Jesse made a treaty with the government that if he stopped making whiskey, they'd get off on probation.

Lily: Oh. How'd they get caught?

Cherry: You know...they never did tell us. Everytime we ask, they change the subject.

Lily: Ooooh. Family secret?

Cherry: Hey, I bet your Mom knows. Ask her.

Lily: I should.

[Jamanda]

That evening, Lily decides to investigate further.

Daisy: Sorry honey. They never told me either. I'm guessing it's something they'll take to the grave.

Lily: But why?

Daisy: I can only guess. I think they told Uncle Jesse before he died, but that'd be the only time they ever told anyone.

Enos: (coming in) Told who what?

Lily: I was just wondering how Bo and Luke got on probation.

Enos: (picking up a lemon) They got caught running shine.

Lily: I know that. How'd they get caught though?

Enos: By the police.

Enos walks out of the kitchen, sucking on a lemon. Lily rolls her eyes. The next day, Lily is once again at the Duke farm after school.

Lily: No luck. They never told my mom either.

Cherry: A mystery. What about your dad?

Lily: He said they got caught by the police.

Cherry: <laughs> A typical sherriff answer.

Lily: <grinning> No...a typical Dad answer! That's it!

Cherry: What is?

Lily: Whenever Dad doesn't give a straight answer, it usually means he's hiding something because he never lies. Therefore...

Cherry: He probably knows something!

Lily: But he's not just gonna come out an say it either. He's really good at that.

Cherry: But why is it such a secret?

Lily: I dunno. I really don't know.

[Jamanda]

The next day, Lily actually goes to the sherriff's office after school, much to her Dad's surprise.

Enos: You're not in trouble are ya?

Lily: Oh no, I just wanted to see if I could look at something.

Enos: (raising an eyebrow) What kind of something?

Lily: I'm doing a report on what sort of thing the police did around here thrity years ago.

Enos: Oh. Well, go on in and see if Emery will let you look at any of the record.

Lily: Thank you Daddy!

She gives him a peck on the cheek and goes over to the record office.

Enos: She's up to something.

Emery is perfectly willing to let Lily browse through the records. She finds what she's looking for, copies down the information, and puts the file back. Then she runs over to the Duke farm to tell Cherry.

Cherry: Did ya get it?

Lily: Yep. You know, Bo and Luke have a whole drawer of files down there? It took me forever to find the right one.

Cherry: Well?

Lily: Nothing. It just says they were caught by an Agent Roach on November 22, 1975.

Cherry: Well, it does tell us something then.

Lily: What?

Cherry: Who it was that caught them and when.

[Jamanda]

<FLASHBACK: November 22, 1975>

Luke: He's gaining on us Bo.

Bo: You know Luke, I think we're gonna get caught.

Luke: I know. But let's try to prolong it anyway.

Bo: Uncle Jesse ain't gonna like this.

Luke: None of us are, but it's the only way.

Bo: Yeah I know.

The agents car pulls up and runs them off the road.

Bo: Uncle Jesse isn't gonna like what he did to Black Tillie.

Luke: Uncle Jesse isn't gonna like what he's about to do to us.

Roach: All right boys. Get out.

Bo and Luke get out of the car as Agent Andy Roach opens the trunk and sees 10 gallons of shine.

[Jamanda]

<Back to present>

Now that they had a name, it was Cherry's turn. With a little browsing through the phone book, she was able to locate Agent Andrew Roach.

Cherry: I didn't think I'd find him in the cemetery.

Lily: Well, so much for that.

Cherry: Not quite. I was able to get this from the library.

She holds up a news clipping.

Lily: An obituary?

Cherry: It says he has kin here in Hazzard. We just gotta find them and interview them.

Lily: Do you think they'll talk to us?

Cherry: Well you are doing a report right?

Lily: Oh yeah...what's the name here?

Cherry: I think you'll have your best luck with this one. Mrs. Olivia Roach Hogg.

Lily: Uh oh. You don't think she's married to that Hughie guy do ya?

Cherry: No. It says her husband's name is Cletus.

Lily: <laughs> Oh that'll be easy!

Later, Lily catches up to Cliff and asks to interview his mother.

Cliff: Sure, but why'd you want to interview her?

Lily: It's really about Agent Roach, her dad.

Cliff: Oh Grandpa. Yeah, he died two years ago. Mom was real upset.

Lily: Think she'll be up to talking about him?

Cliff: (quietly) Oh she'll talk. You just might have trouble getting her to shut up.

Lily went over the Cliff's house after school and sat in the parlor with his mother. She was a dainty and proper woman, and her son wasn't kidding about her gift of gab. Afterwards, Lily met up with Cherry at the farm again.

Cherry: So what'd you find out?

Lily: <rubbing her ears> Way too much. That woman can talk!

Cherry: Anything good?

Lily: Oh yeah, she mentioned that her father was really proud when he caught the Duke boys. He had been chasing them for about five years but couldn't catch them.

Cherry: Five years? But they would've only been...

Lily: They start running shine at an early age. And did you know my grandfather ran shine too?

Cherry: Of course he did. All the Dukes did.

Lily: I mean on the other side.

Cherry: <wide-eyed> Really?

Lily: Yeah.

Cherry: You don't think your dad...?

Lily: I think enough to wonder.

[Jamanda]

That night, Lily decided to see if she could shuck and jive some information out of her dad.

Enos: (reading the paper) Hey there. You get the information you needed?

Lily: Sure did, although I found out something else though.

Enos: What was that?

Lily: Did your dad really run moonshine?

Enos puts down the paper and looks at her.

Enos: Well, possum on a gumbush. How'd you find out about that?

Lily: I was interviewing Mrs. Olivia Hogg and she mentioned it.

Enos: She would. Yes, my father ran shine. Nearly everybody did back then.

Lily: Well, if everybody ran shine, how'd you become a cop?

Enos: <sighs> I was just different I guess. I wanted a job that was legal, but I wasn't all that smart. All I was good at was driving and shooting, so I figured being a cop was my best bet at an honest living.

Lily: Oh. But I thought people who ran shine didn't like cops.

Enos: Well, they don't.

Lily: Did Grandad not like it when you became one then?

Enos: He sure didn't. Kicked me out of the house and told me never to come back.

Lily: This house?

Enos: This house.

With that, Enos gives off his classic laugh.

Enos: You know, he'd be rolling over in his grave if he knew I was living here now.

Lily: And you're the sherriff.

Enos laughed even harder, which made Lily laugh too. The next day, she informed Cherry of what happened.

Cherry: So your dad got kicked out of the house for becoming a cop?

Lily: That's what he says. And Dad never lies.

Cherry: Well that's funny then.

Lily: What is?

Cherry: If your Grandad...didn't want your dad to become a cop...how'd he get the money to go to school and become one then?

Lily: Well...hmmmm...

Cherry: Did he get a scholarship?

Lily: No...he said he wasn't that smart...maybe a sports one.

Cherry: Where'd he go to school?

Lily: The police acadamy in Atlanta.

Cherry: No, they don't give scholarships for sports. Just grades.

Lily: How do you know?

Cherry: My cousin Cory Duke looked into going there, but didn't have the money. He wound up getting a football scholarship to Alabama.

Lily: Well anyhow, what does it matter? We're trying to figure out how Bo and Luke got caught running shine remember? I don't think my dad had anything to do with it if he was away at the police acadamy at the time.

Cherry: True. But remember what you said? About your dad never giving a straight answer?

Lily: Yeah?

Cherry: You still think he knows something?

Lily: He's got to.

Cherry: I've got a feeling these two mysteries are connected.

Lily: Well okay. But I don't see how.

Cherry: It's just a hunch...but what if...?

Cherry gives a slight grin, just like her father's. Lily is beginning to recognize the look in Cherry's eye that means she's up to something.

Cherry: <snaps her fingers> I got it. Let's go Lil!

Lily: Why do I have the feeling that I'm gonna get in trouble?

[Jamanda]

Cherry and Lily went through the back woods to get to Lily's house.

Lily: Um, remind me again why we're breaking into my house?

Cherry: We gotta get into your parents room.

Lily: We could use the front door you know?

Cherry: And take all the fun out of it?

Lily didn't always understand Cherry's idea of "fun." They opened a window and climbed through.

Lily: Oh. So this is what it looks like.

Cherry: You've never been in here?

Lily: Why would I want to go into my parents' room?

Cherry: There's bound to be some clues in here.

They snoop around and Cherry finds some of Enos's things from when he was younger.

Cherry: Woah, is that your mom?

Lily: Yes.

Cherry: You've got it made if you're gonna look like that.

Lily: That's nothing. Here's one of my dad.

Cherry: <whistles> Oh wow! He was HOT!

Lily: (disgusted) Oh please. That's my dad!

Cherry: Ha, you should see pictures of mine. He was a hottie back in the day.

Lily: Somehow, I don't think we're here for pictures.

Cherry: Right, back to business...what's that?

Lily: Oh that's the gun cabinet. That's why we really shouldn't be in here.

Cherry: What's in it?

Lily: Um...guns?

Cherry: Anything else?

Lily: I don't think so. What's this stuff?

Cherry: Jackpot!

They pick up an old notebook that says "Atlanta Police Acadamy: 1972-1975" Cherry opens it and they find a lot of old papers, assignments, drills, school bills, and receipts.

Lily: Just his old school stuff.

Cherry: Notice this though. He graduated in the fall of 1975, which is right after my dad and Bo got caught.

Lily: So?

Cherry: He was going to school here when it happened.

Lily: So?

Cherry: You still got that police report from when it happened?

Lily pulls her notepad out of her pocket.

Lily: Just the same stuff we knew before.

Cherry: But look, you also noted that they were making a run that started in Atlanta.

Lily: Well yeah.

Cherry: I think your dad must've known about it. He was in Atlanta and they all knew each other.

Lily: Okay A) They wouldn't have told my dad cuz he's too honest and would've turned them in they wouldn't have told my dad because he was in love with my mom and wouldn't have wanted to turn them in and C) why would they tell somebody who's studying to be a cop?

Cherry: But D) how is it that your dad paid cash for all of his school bills?

Cherry pulls out a stack of receipts for tuition, all of which indicate that they had been paid in full with cash.

Cherry: Not only that, but he paid cash for his uniforms, dry cleaning, rent payments, dental work...

Lily: Dental work?

Cherry: Yeah, this receipt from a cosmetic dentist says he paid over $1000 for dental work.

Lily: What the...? But Dad's always had perfect teeth. There's a picture of him in the high school yearbook that says he's most likely to appear in a Colgate commercial.

Cherry: There is?

Lily: Yeah...I don't get it.

Cherry: Lemme see the yearbook.

They put the stuff away and sneak out of the room, this time using the door.

Cherry: The window would've been funner.

Lily: More fun, not funner. And my room in on the second floor. We gotta use a chair to get up to it.

Cherry: Oh wow!

Up in Lily's room, she shows Cherry the yearbook.

Cherry: That is a funny picture of your dad.

Lily: Yeah, there's not a lot of others.

Cherry: (looks in the index) Well, there is one on page 64.

They turn to that page, which talks about the school play for that year.

Lily: Hey! They did "Grease"!

Cherry: And check it out! Your dad played...

Lily: Kinicke? He is so not like Kinicke.

Cherry: Ironic isn't it? Look. Uncle Bo played Putzie and my dad played Frankie Avalon.

Lily: <sings> Beauty school drop-ouuuuut!

Cherry: Yeah, Dad can sing. That'd explain the teeth though.

Lily: What teeth?

Cherry: Your dad's. I was in a play last year and they wanted Ernie to play the lead part, but he's missing one of his front teeth. So our drama teacher loaned him a set of fake teeth. Frankly, ol' Ernie looks better with the fake ones in.

Lily: You think my dad's wearing fake teeth?

Cherry: Well, he did have a lot of dental work done later. What do you think?

Lily: I think I'll ask Mom about this one. No need to let Dad know we're up to something.

[Jamanda]

That night, Enos wasn't at dinner as he had night patrol. Lily used the opportunity to talk to her mom.

"Hey Mom," she said. "Look at this. I found it up in my room."

"Oh wow," said Daisy. "Our old yearbook. Oh my goodness, this was so long ago."

"You gotta see what Dad did," Lily teased.

Daisy laughed when she saw her own picture and what Enos had written by it.

"Oh Enos!" she cried. "You little...oh I'm gonna have to give him a hard time about this!"

"He had it bad didn't he?"

"Oh he always did," said her mother. "Is this the year we...oh here it is...we did the play "Grease" that year."

"Yeah," said Lily. "Did Dad really play Kinicke?"

"After a LOT of persuasion," her mother laughed. "He turned so red when he read that script. I think the only reason he went through with it is because I was playing Rizzo."

"He liked the make-out scene huh?"

"Actually," said her mother. "We just stage acted that part. I think he would've broken out in hives if I had actually kissed him, he was so nervous."

"Wow," said Lily. "He did have the right smile for it."

"Not really," said Daisy. "Those teeth are fake."

"Fake?"

"Enos was missing a lot of his teeth back then," Daisy sighed. "Miss MacDougal gave him a set of fake ones for the play. He probably kept this yearbook because he was able to wear them for all of his pictures."

"Oh," said Lily, as Daisy turned to the other pictures of Enos.

"He sure hated giving those teeth up," she sighed. "After he left Hazzard for the police acadamy, I didn't see him for four years. The first thing I noticed when I did was that he got his teeth fixed."

"Wow," said Lily. "But isn't that expensive?"

"Oh I'm sure," said Daisy. "He said something about a friend who's cousin was a dentist or something and talked him into it."

"Oh," said Lily, looking up as her dad came in. "Speaking of which..."

"How's my two favorite girls?" asked Enos, happy but obviously tired.

"Just fine honey," said Daisy, letting Lily help her up.

"What's that?" he asked, seeing the yearbook.

"Just something I found in my room," said Lily, holding it up.

"You've got some explaining to do mister," said Daisy. "Making notes around my picture..."

"Uh oh," said Enos, blushing and grinning. "THAT yearbook."

Lily escaped up to her room as Daisy teased her husband, who could only smile and blush in response.

[Jamanda]

<FLASHBACK TO JUNE 1975>

Two young men are sitting outside a supply store in Atlanta.

"You know Bo," said the first. "This really is the life."

"It sure is Luke," said Bo. "Hey look who it is!"

"Hey buddy," said Luke, as a third young man walked up. "What's going on? I thought you were done?"

"I thought I was too," said their friend. "But I have to retake one class."

"One class?" asked Bo. "That's a ripoff!"

"But I gotta do it."

"You uh...still need some help then huh?" asked Luke.

"Just a couple more," said the other young man, keeping his hat low. "And not 'til next fall. I have enough to hold out until then."

"But..." Bo started.

"No buts," said their friend. "I told you already..."

"Only when absolutly necessary," said Luke. "Although you did make one exception."

"Wouldn't you?" asked their friend, giving a perfect smile.

"All right," said Bo. "You just let us know when you need us buddy."

"Yeah," said Luke. "You'd better get back before they miss ya."

"Thanks fellas."

[Jamanda]

Lily was sprinting all the way from the courthouse to the Duke farm, which was quite a ways. She was out of breath when she got there.

"You should run track," said Cherry, chewing on an apple.

"I messed up," said Lily, catching her breath. "Read this."

She handed Cherry her notebook, with some corrections in it.

"Oh," said Cherry. "They were making the moonshine runs TO Atlanta. I guess that makes more sense."

"I found out something else to," Lily gasped. "In the Atlanta paper archives in the library. A copy of it is stapled to the next page."

"Moonshine operation busted," Cherry read. "On 45th street in Atlanta...February 22nd, 1976."

"Not long after Bo and Luke got caught," said Lily, still panting.

"The last moonshine operation running in Atlanta," Cherry read, her eyes wide. "If it was the last one..."

"It had to be the one they were working for," said Lily. "It was the only one operating in 1975 and it got it's moonshine from..."

"Small counties in northern Georgia," Cherry read. "This had to be it."

"And look what else it says," said Lily. "Down at the bottom."

"The operation was going bust anyway," Cherry read. "According to a local witness, all of the runners for the operation had been aprehended late last year."

"Which would include..." said Lily.

"Bo and Luke," Cherry squealed.

"There's more."

"The records kept by the proprietor confirm what the witness has stated," Cherry read. "All but one runner have already been arrested. According to authorities, the last runner escaped when two others were arrested on..."

"November 22nd," said Lily. "1975."

"I was right!" Cherry cried. "That's how they got caught! They must've turned themselves in so their buddy wouldn't get caught!"

"But why would they do that?" Lily asked. "That's what I can't figure out."

"Of course not," said Cherry. "Someone's done a good job of covering it up."

Cherry was smiling to herself and took another bite of her apple.

"But why cover it up?" asked Lily. "Why the secret? From what I can tell, people around here are proud to be old ridgerunners. Why would someone hide it?"

"Think about it," said Cherry. "Think of someone with a good job, an elected position, that would be in serious jeopardy if anyone found out about any kind of illegal doin's in his past...not to mention what it would do to his reputation."

Lily thought for a minute and then it dawned on her.

"You don't mean...?"

"Yep," said Cherry. "He sure is good at avoiding a straight answer."

[Jamanda]

<FLASHBACK TO DECEMBER 24, 1975>

Bo and Luke are decorating an old pine tree for Christmas when there's a knock on the door.

"Hey Enos!" Luke laughs, opening the door. "Well look at that!"

"Hey Luke," said Enos. "I just wanted you to know that I got the job."

"All right Enos," Bo cheered from the living room. "Come on in, Enos."

Enos comes in and takes off his new smokey hat, which is a little difficult as he's carrying two large flat packages. Bo and Luke beam with pride at their friend in the Hazzard county deputy uniform.

"I uh," Enos says, handing a package to each of them. "Got ya'll something."

"Oh you didn't have to do that," said Bo, taking his.

"You didn't have to get arrested for my sake either," said Enos.

"We told you not to bring that up anymore," said Luke, taking his package as well. "I mean, we got off on probation and it's all good. It's a lot better than what would've happened to you."

"I know," said Enos. "I still wish ya'll hadn't a done it."

"Too late now," said Luke.

"And we forbid you to mention it again," said Bo. "Unless you're trying to arrest us for something."

"Shucks Bo," Enos laughed. "You know I'd never do that. Now open your gifts. I gotta get back on patrol in five minutes."

"Working on Christmas Eve?" Bo asked. "That ain't right."

"I got tomorrow morning off," said Enos. "I'm working tonight so the Sherriff and the other deputies can spend time with their families...seein' as I ain't got one no more."

"Sure you do," said Luke. "You got us."

"Breakfast is at 8 am sharp," said Bo. "And we ain't openin' these until you get here."

"I'd rather you open 'em now," said Enos.

"Well okay," said Bo, who was a sucker for presents.

Bo and Luke tore the paper off their packages to reveal two sets of brand new bows and arrows.

"I figured," said Enos. "Since it's my fault ya'll are on probation..."

[Jamanda]

<back to present, but several months later>

Cherry and Lily didn't tell anyone about what they found out. Lily had a feeling her dad knew, but didn't say anything. He'd just give her a sly grin every now and then and made a comment about her growing up to be a detective. Just to be safe, she and Cherry burned the notebook and asked the librarian to keep the article they found in the locked back room.

Now it was December and everyone was eager for school to let out for Christmas Break.

Lily: I'm surprised ya'll still call it Christmas Break. In LA, they called it Winter Break.

Cherry: That's cuz ya'll city slickers ain't go no religion.

Lily: We do so. They just don't let us talk about it at school.

Cherry: Shucks. Out here, we wouldn't have school without it. Dad told me way back when, they had to attend school in the church as they didn't have a schoolhouse yet.

Lily: Must've been a really long time ago.

Cherry: Not too long ago. He said he went to school in the brand new one-room schoolhouse when it was first built.

Lily: Wow. I wonder what it was like.

[Jamanda]

<FLASHBACK TO September, 1962>

Bo and Luke were racing down the path to the brand-new schoolhouse. It was Bo's first year to be attending school and he was more excited than a hound dog on his first hunt. Daisy had to run to keep up with them. She wasn't looking forward to it quite as much.

"Will you two slow it down?" she cried. "I can't run that fast."

But they had already taken off. Daisy slowed to a walk to catch her breath. She was still a bit down, as her parents died in a car wreck that summer and she had gone to live with Uncle Jesse. At least she was still in the same place, but it wasn't going to be the same.

"Well look who it is!" laughed an all too familiar voice. "Tomboy Daisy Duke!"

Emily Hogg was sneering at her from the front of the schoolhouse.

"Go away" Daisy grumbled.

"No way," said Emily. "I ain't gotta take orders from a girl who looks like a boy."

"I do not look like a boy!" Daisy sneered, even though she kinda did. "At least I don't have my nose stuck up in the air like a pig!"

"Oh yeah?" said Emily. "At least I don't smell like fertilizer from living on a farm."

"Better than what you smell like," Daisy shot back. "Miss HOGG!"

"Well at least I got parents to take care of me!" Emily shot out.

Daisy gasped and couldn't think of anything to say. Her eyes filled up with tears and could hardly see.

"YEAAAHHHHH!"

Daisy wiped her eyes and saw a short skinny kid push Emily into the mud.

"Serves ya right," he spat. "Ya'll don't have da right to talk to Daisy like dat!"

"Enos Strate!" Miss Peabody yelled. "Get in here this instant!"

The boy frowned and marched inside as Miss Peabody helped Emily up. Emily was yelling about her new dress being ruined and Miss Peabody let her go home to change. Daisy slipped into the schoolhouse and looked around for Enos, who was standing by the front desk, waiting for the teacher.

Daisy was about to thank him when the teacher came back. He got several swats across his hands with a ruler, as well as a detention, before he was allowed to sit back down. He took his usual place in the corner and was quiet during lessons.

At lunchtime, Emily was able to come back, but had to go inside to catch up on what she missed that morning. Daisy ran over to find Enos as he ate by himself.

"Enos," she asked. "Why'd you do that?"

"She had no right to say dat," he mumbled, his mouth full of catfish. "Talkin' 'bout yer folks like dat. It ain't right."

"Well," said Daisy, sitting next to him. "Thanks."

Enos looked at her and grinned. He had catfish stuck in his teeth and his face was red, but right then, Daisy thought he was the cutest boy in Hazzard.

[Jamanda]

<back to the present>

Lily and Cherry walk across the square and see T.J., Cliff, and Jethro.

Cherry: Hey guys. What's up?

Jethro: The sky.

Cliff: Clouds.

T.J.: My dad's temper.

Lily: What?

T.J.: He always gets mad when he listens to Rush Limbaugh. Honestly, I don't know why he listens to that anyway. He doesn't agree with anything he says.

Cherry: Oh brother.

T.J.: So what's up with you?

Cherry: Nothing really. I just got done shopping.

Lily: I did too.

Cliff: Shopping?

T.J.: You know...for Christmas.

Jethro: Oh...I guess we should do that huh?

Lily: You haven't started yet?

Jethro: We're guys...

Cliff: and we don't like shopping.

T.J.: Amen. I'm done though. I got my dad a new radio. He keeps busting them when he throws Rush Limbaugh out the window. I get him a new one every year.

Jethro: Well that's easy. I got too many sisters.

Cherry: Ah, girls are easy to shop for.

Just then, they hear a crackle as Bo's voice comes out from over the CB.

Bo: Breaker Breaker this is Lost Sheep calling the Sherriff! Come in Sherriff!

The kids listen in as Enos's voice also comes in.

Enos: This is the Sherriff. What is it Bo?

Bo: Enos, it's your wife! She's...

Enos: I'M ON MY WAY!

Bo: We're headed for Tri-county right now! Meet us there!

The others turn and look at Lily, who stands in a daze.

Lily: But they ain't due for two months yet...

T.J.: (tosses her a helmet) Come on. I'll give ya a lift.

[Jamanda]

As it was a little far for just a bike, T.J. uncovered a small Honda motorcycle in the back of the garage.

T.J.: I'm only supposed to use this if it's an emergency.

Lily: Well this is an emergency!

T.J.: Yes ma'am.

They speed off down the highway as Cherry runs on home. Amy and Jill are there watching the other kids as Bo and Luke had taken Daisy to the hospital. Tommy was crying and Lucas was staring out the window.

Bo was speeding as fast as he could in the General Lee. Daisy had insisted on taking it for speed, even though it took both of them to get her in through the window. Now Luke was with her in the backseat and she was crying out every couple of minutes, making Bo drive even faster. Bo felt relieved when Enos pulled in ahead of them, lights flashing.

Bo: Mrs. Strate, you're husband's here as your very own police escort.

Daisy: He's getting faster at this. It took him nearly an hour to show up when Lucas was born.

They arrived at the hospital and it took all three men, Bo and Enos outside and Luke inside, to get Daisy out.

Enos: Why in Sam Hill did you take this car?

Bo: It was her idea.

Daisy: Shut up and get me out of here!

Enos: Yes dear.

Luke gave a final push and Daisy was safe in her husband's arms. The paramedics came out and put her in a wheelchair and directed the men to a waiting room.

[Jamanda]

Lily ran into the waiting room only to find her dad pacing back and forth, just like before.

Lily: How's Mom?

Luke: They're prepping her now.

Lily: But she ain't due for two weeks.

Bo: We know.

Lily sat down between Bo and Luke as her father continued to pace back and forth. He hadn't been this nervous when either Lucas or Tommy were born, but they weren't this early either. While Lily didn't know it, he was so nervous when she had been born, he broke out into hives that didn't go away for three days. Luke however, did remember this, and took note of Enos scratching the back of his neck.

After about two hours, a nurse came out.

Enos: How is she?

Nurse: We're going to have to stabalize her. It was a rough delivery and she's lost a lot of blood, but she should be fine after a while.

Enos: What about...?

Nurse: A boy and a girl. The boy was first and weighs 2lbs 15 ounces. The girl is 1lb 3 ounces. We have them in the intensive care unit. You'll be able to see them in about two hours.

The nurse left and Enos sat down with his head in his hands. Lily went over and put her arms around him. He hugged her back and buried his face in her hair.

Lily: They'll be okay Daddy. They'll be okay.

Bo stood up and looked out the window while Luke called the house to tell the others. After Luke explained the situation to her, Amy sat Lucas and Tommy down to explain it.

Amy: You have a new baby brother and baby sister.

Tommy: Can we see 'em?

Amy: Not yet. They're still really tiny and they have to grow first.

Tommy: What about Mommy?

Amy: They're gonna have to take care of her for a little while. Giving birth to two babies made her really tired.

Tommy nodded and let Lucas hold him. They both wished they were at the hospital with their dad and Lily.

[Julieduke]

It was a cold day in January and for Luke's mom and dad it was a special day for them, they was expecting a baby and the baby was his way.

The doctor told Layla Duke to push and that her son was his way, and Kenneth Duke asked to say a son doc.

Doc Petticord said yes that I did, and then the nurse had said we had better hurry up. A While later and Layla and Kenneth had their son, but Layla had taken a turn for the worse the doc said that she is bleeding too much for a having a baby and don't think she going to make it. The Nurse had cleaned up the baby and had let Layla hold him before she had died, Layla had told Kenneth that he wanted her son named 'Lucas Kenneth Duke" after her father and him.

Layla had died about two hours later, after having her son she had been such a good wife to Kenneth Duke. Jesse Duke came to see his new Nephew and ask his brother Kenneth Duke what is wrong right now, did the baby die?

Kenneth said "that Little Lucas Kenneth Duke is just fine but his momma died shortly after having him and don't know what I am going to do now.

[Jamanda]

<FLASHBACK TO 1956>

Luke was two years old on his daddy's lap as he sat in the kitchen of the old farmhouse. Jesse was in the bedroom with Peggy Jean Duke as her husband Ray was pacing outside. Ray's brother Kenneth, held on tight to his son.

Before long, Jesse came into the kitchen.

Jesse: Where's Ray?

Kenneth: Outside.

Ray: (coming in) Well?

Jesse: It's a little boy.

Luke: I got's a brother?

Kenneth: A cousin Luke. But you can pretend you're brothers if you want.

Luke: What's his name?

Ray: We're gonna name him Beauregard.

Luke: Borewhat?

Ray: You can call him Bo, Luke.

Luke: Okay.

Ray goes in to see his pretty wife Peggy Jean and the little baby boy. The baby already has a bunch of pretty blond curls.

Ray: Almost looks like a girl, don't he?

Peggy Jean: Well he's not. He's our little Beauregard.

Ray: Yeah. I had to tell Luke he could call him Bo.

Peggy Jean: Well all right. But Luke better call him by his full name when he's older.

Ray: All right then.

Of course Luke never did. Two years later, Peggy Jean, Ray, and Kenneth were killed in a car wreck. Both Bo and Luke had to live with their Uncle Jesse after that.

[Jamanda]

<Back to the present>

Bo and Luke sat together, Luke remembering when Bo was born.

Luke: I never did call you Beauregard.

Bo: Well I appreciate that.

Luke: Your mama wanted me to though.

Bo: <sighs> I guess it would have been worth it. Having a lousy name is a small price to pay for having a mama.

Luke: I just hope these kids still have a mama.

Bo: Now don't you talk like that Luke. Enos is worried enough.

Luke: Remember when Daisy was born?

Bo: I remember Uncle Jesse talking about it.

[Jamanda]

<FLASHBACK TO JUNE 1962>

Uncle Jesse sat in his rocking chair, watching the kids running around. Bo was five now and as fiesty as ever. Luke was seven and somewhat bullheaded. Neither paid much attention to the little girl sitting on the porch.

Daisy had just came to stay with them, as her parents had died in a train wreck just two weeks ago. She was still down about it. Her boy cousins never really paid much attention to her before, and didn't understand that she needed it now. Uncle Jesse did though.

"Daisy Mae," Uncle Jesse said. "Did I ever tell you about how you were born?"

"No," said Daisy, as Bo and Luke came running up.

"I was born in a doctor's office," said Luke. "But my mama died."

"I was born in Uncle Jesse's bedroom," said Bo.

"What about me?" asked Daisy.

"Daisy," said Uncle Jesse. "You were born in the back of Black Tillie."

Daisy's jaw dropped and Bo and Luke's eyes popped open.

"What?" asked Luke.

"No fair," said Bo.

"I was?" asked Daisy.

"Sure you was," said Uncle Jesse. "See, your mama didn't care for no doctors so your daddy was bringing her over here. But a couple of revenuers started chasing them, thinking they was running shine. Your daddy didn't feel like stopping and well, he just let them chase them and your mama had you in the back of that car."

"Did she have help?" Daisy asked.

"Oh yes," said Uncle Jesse. "Her best friend, Emma Strate, was with her and delivered ya. Only made sense as your mama delivered Emma's son two years before."

"My mama delivered Enos?" Daisy asked.

"Sure did," said Uncle Jesse. "Except that was in the middle of the woods by a still."

[Jamanda]

The nurse came out of the room.

Nurse: Mr. Strate? You can see your wife now.

Enos: Thank you.

Lily patted his arm and he looked at her.

Enos: Hang tight. I'll see if they'll let you in in a minute.

Lily: Okay Dad.

Enos went into the room. Daisy looked as beautiful as ever to him, even if she was sore and weak. He grinned and sat next to her.

Enos: How you feeling?

Daisy: Enos...please tell me we won't have any more.

Enos: <laughs> I promise honey. I had that procedure done two months ago.

Daisy: Oh Enos. Have you seen them yet?

Enos: No. They said it'll be a couple of hours.

Daisy: They were so tiny. So perfect...but so tiny...

Enos: They'll grow Daisy. I was an early baby too and look what happened to me.

Daisy: <smiles> Oh Enos...you were also born in the woods by a still.

Enos: Well you were born in the back of a car. I don't see why we gotta worry about the twins. They'll be fine.

Daisy: Did you think of names?

Enos: I still like George and Georgia.

Daisy: Me too.

Balladeer: I like them names too. A state and a country singer.

[Jamanda]

After Enos visited with Daisy, he let Lily go in and see her mother. Then the nurse took him to the nursery. There, in two little incubators, were his two small children. He wasn't able to touch them yet, but he just watched them. George kept looking over at his sister. Georgia hardly moved at all, except her tiny mouth.

Bo and Luke had called the house and Amy brought Lucas and Tommy to see their mother. After a while, Enos brought all three of them to see the twins.

Tommy: Are all babies that little?

Enos: No, just early babies.

Tommy: Will they be okay?

Lily: They'll be fine. They'll just have to live in those boxes for a while.

Tommy: Why?

Enos: So they can stay warm.

Tommy: Will they be home by Christmas?

Lily had nearly forgotten about Christmas.

Enos: I don't think so. But Mommy should be.

Lily looked up at the calendar. It was December 15th, ten days before Christmas.

Lily: <thinking to herself> Won't be hard to remember this birthday.

[Jamanda]

Lily will always remember it as one of the hardest Christmas's to wake up to, but one of the most worthwhile.

Daisy was still in the hospital and they were going to visit her later in the day. Enos sat on the couch, sipping his coffee, as Tommy and Lucas came down the hall and Lily jumped down from the ceiling.

"Get dressed ya'll," said Enos. "We're going over to the Dukes for Christmas."

Lily couldn't interpret that tone of voice. It was somewhat sad, but had another element to it she hadn't heard before. At the Dukes, they arrived in time to watch Cherry and Daisy Mae open their presents (although Daisy Mae was more interested in the boxes).

"Did Santa forget to come to our house?" Tommy asked.

"No," said Enos. "He got something for all three of you, but I told him to leave it here. Now all of you close your eyes."

Lily knew that money had been tight, with the move and the hospital and the twins and all. She hadn't really been expecting anything. She had Tommy on one side and Lucas on the other as they all closed their eyes and let Enos guide them outside.

"All right," said Enos. "You can open them now."

They all opened thier eyes and cheered. There, sitting by the barn, was their mother.

"Well come on," Daisy laughed. "Come see what your daddy got you!"

"MOMMY!" Tommy cried, running up to her.

"Now take it easy," said Enos with a grin. "We don't want to hurt Mommy either."

They all ran over to Daisy and saw she had something wrapped up in her coat.

"What is it?" asked Tommy.

Lucas picked at the bundle.

"Oh wow!" said Lily.

Poking it's little black nose through the coat, was a tiny wee puppy. It's eyes weren't hardly open yet.

"Now be careful," said Daisy. "It was just born yesterday."

"It's so tiny," said Lily. "Like the twins."

"It was the runt," said Enos. "It's mama won't take care of it."

"We'll take care of it," said Tommy, letting the puppy suck on his finger.

"It'll be a lot of work though," said Daisy. "Just like those doctors are working hard to help the twins grow, you three need to work hard to help this little puppy."

She handed the puppy to Lucas, who held it up to his face. The puppy barely opened it's eyes and licked his nose. Lucas laughed.

"What are we gonna call him?" asked Tommy.

"First make sure it is a him," said Lily.

Lucas checked and nodded.

"How about it Tommy?" Lily asked.

"I dunno," said Tommy.

"He should have a big dog name," said Lily. "If he thinks he's a big dog, he'll grow."

Lucas grinned and held the puppy. He'd already picked out the perfect name. Once Lily and Tommy knew what it was, they couldn't argue. And that was the Christmas they brought home their mother, as well as a tiny bloodhound puppy named Hercules.

[Jamanda]

Things were pretty rough on the Strate family for the next couple of months. Daisy kept having to go to the hospital for check ups and to feed the twins, which left Lily playing Mom for Lucas and Tommy half the time. Lucas came down with the flu and had to stay home for a week, so Jill came over to take care of him, and then came down with the flu herself. Tommy wasn't his normal cheerful self without his mommy and kept asking when she'd be home. And once again, Lily and Enos were at each other's throats.

Lily: He's driving me nuts. Doesn't he know I'm doing the best I can?

Cherry: Sure he does, but he's worn out too.

Lily: Well that's not my fault.

Cherry: It's no one's fault. He's probably just grumpy without your mom around.

Lily: I guess. I still don't want to go home yet.

Cherry: Then stick around a while.

Lily: Can't. I told Lucas I'd help him with math and I gotta make dinner.

As Lily trudges her way home, Cherry sighs.

Cherry: I wish I could help.

T.J.: (walking up) Help with what?

Cherry: Lily. Everybody at her house is all stressed out with her mom gone all the time.

T.J.: Well...let's do something.

Cherry: Like what?

T.J.: I dunno...but what say we ask our folks if they got any ideas. Your dad and Bo are already at the garage.

The two of them go over to the garage, where the three men are chatting about cars.

Luke: I must say, that old blue plymouth was a beaut.

Bo: Yeah. Too bad we had to blow it up.

Cooter: Held a lot of shine too.

Luke: Which you should have told us was in there.

Cooter: Hey, it worked out didn't it?

Bo: Yeah, with us almost becoming midwives in the process.

Luke: What's up Cherry?

The kids explain the situation to them.

Luke: Is it that bad?

Bo: Cletus did mention that Enos's been a bit...cranky.

T.J.: We think he misses his wife.

Luke: Well shoot, that'd make anyone cranky.

Cooter: So how 'bout cheering him up a bit?

Bo: How?

Luke: Lemme think...We can't very well give him what he wants...

Cooter: Yeah...Daisy needs to take care of the twins...

Bo: Well...what else would cheer him up?

Luke: <snaps fingers> I got it...Let's go Bo.

Bo: Oh great...Now I'll get in trouble.

Cherry: What is it Dad?

Luke: We'll just give Enos something to cheer him up like we used to in the old days...

Cooter: Like the old days before he got married?

Luke: Exactly...Remember what used to make him happier than a hog in slop.

Bo: Do I ever! I think it's time we took out the General!

Bo and Luke run to the back of the garage and take a tarp off of the famous orange Dodge charger, with on 01 on the side, a confederate flag on the top, and the words GENERAL LEE on the sides.

T.J.: Wow!

Cherry: Sweet!

Cooter: You kids can ride with me in the truck. Ya'll are about to get a good ol' fashioned history lesson.

Bo and Luke climb in through the windows of the General Lee and take off, blowing the horn.

<DIXIE PLAYS REALLY LOUD>