Paul Newman

As a way of paying honor to the wonderful Paul Newman,can you write a little story that includes these titles?

This is all just for the pure fun of being creative.

RACHEL’S WILD WEST ADVENTURE

It was nearing the end of THE LONG HOT SUMMER and Rachel was dreading going back to school. Most of all she disliked studying history. “I’d rather live it, than study it,” she thought, while suppressing a yawn, as she climbed into bed for the night. “History is just so boring. It seems like all we did last year was study BUFFALO BILL AND THE INDIANS, OR SITTING BULL’S HISTORY LESSON.”

“I think it would have been way more interesting to have studied about Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show,” thought Rachel sleepily, as she started to drift off to sleep.

Suddenly, Rachel found herself riding in a wagon train on THE ROAD TO PERDITION. An advertising poster for Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show caught her eye, and the appearance of the driver, made her realize she was riding with Buffalo Bill himself. “How the heck did I get here?” was her first thought. “This is very strange indeed–almost surreal!”

Since Buffalo Bill was NOBODY’S FOOL, he immediately saw Rachel’s potential as a member of his troupe, but he also couldn’t help but wonder where she had come from. It was if she had dropped from the sky into his wagon!

“Tell me what’s a pretty little filly like you doing in a place like this?” Buffalo Bill asked Rachel, as he removed his hat in deference to a lady. Taking note of her surroundings, Rachel replied, “What year is it?”

“1885,” answered Buffalo Bill, thinking it odd that she would ask such a thing. “In that case, to answer your question,” replied Rachel, “I have no idea why I’m here, except I vaguely remember thinking it would be more fun to experience things first hand than to just study about them.”

“Maybe that was a dumb idea,” Rachel continued, “considering how things have turned out.” …. “SOMETIMES A GREAT NOTION begins with a dumb idea,” replied Buffalo Bill thoughtfully, as he stroked his beard.

“For instance, my dumb idea of the moment is to offer you a spot in my show, as a trick rider, even though I know nothing about you, or your talents. Your red hair and svelte figure are sure to be crowd pleasers,” offered Buffalo Bill. “What do you say?”

“What about Annie Oakley?” asked Rachel, remembering that she was the star of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. “Do you think she would be jealous and hate me because I am younger than she is?”

Just then Annie Oakley, herself, rode up on her horse along side of the wagon. “Did I hear someone mention my name?” she asked smiling warmly at Rachel. “Let me introduce Rachel, darling,” replied Buffalo Bill affectionately “She is concerned that you might be jealous and hate her because I offered her a job in the show.”

“Just call me Annie, and I‘m very pleased to meet you,” said Annie Oakley, as she tied her horse to the side of the wagon. Then, she climbed into the wagon with Buffalo Bill and Rachel and said, “Allow me to quiet your fears, Rachel, and be both the judge and the jury in your case….. THE VERDICT IS IN!! Rest assured I hold a complete ABSENCE OF MALICE towards you. The truth is, I‘m pregnant and we‘ve been looking for someone to take my place.”

“Um! Er!” stammered Rachel. “I think I should phone home. My mom might be getting worried about me when she sees I’m missing.”

Annie and Bill just stared at each other blankly for a moment, until Annie finally spoke, “Phone? We don’t know what you mean, dear.” …. “Oh! Yeah!” I forgot!” declared Rachel. “The telephone was only invented in 1876. I’ll bet it took awhile to catch on.”

“How would I get a message to my mother then?” asked Rachel. “Western Union would be the quickest,” advised Annie. “Of course, in order to send a telegram, we‘d have to be in a city…. We should reach Perdition in a couple of days.” …. “There’s always a MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE, if you are in no hurry,” joked Buffalo Bill.”

“What about the Pony Express?” asked Rachel. “Maybe I could send her a letter. “They’ve gone out of business, dear,” advised Annie. The telegraph took its place. That–and the trains.”

Rachel began to cry as she realized how ridiculous her inquiries about phones, telegrams, and the Pony Express were. She was a time traveler and her mother hadn’t even been born yet. “I just…. Want…. to go ….home,” she sobbed convulsively, fully realizing her dilemma. “There’s no place like home.”

“WHEN TIME RAN OUT” is but a metaphor for the abrupt end of Rachel’s Wild West adventure. “RACHEL, RACHEL, time to get up,” Rachel heard her mother calling, seemingly from far, far away. Then, she heard the birds chirping outside her window and realized she was snug in her own bed. It had all been a dream.

THE VERDICT – 1982 – PAUL NEWMAN