Chapter 8: The "C-note!"

Chapter 8 The "C-note"!

Now we were all set for Turkey Festival!  The day would start with us in the big parade of bikes.  About 1000 Motorcycle-Bikers line up and drive into town to end up at the big park where all the activities take place.  A lot of the bikers dress up in different outfits, adorning their motorcycles with lights, silly things like mannequins, blow-up dolls, teddy-bears and some things that I was told that are "Not proper" for children.  Although the bikers kind of look all mean and ugly, for the most part, they're just old and silly.

"Mr. Papino, Mr. Papino", I yelled out as I ran into his house that morning, all dressed up in my leather jacket, chaps and blue jeans.

"Good Morning" he yelled out from the kitchen.  Are you hungry?" he asked, as if he had something to offer me.

"Well," I began to say, "I just had breakfast, but what are you cooking?"

"Cooking," he said as he laughed joyfully, "I can do better than that, I got some of those fresh apple cider donuts you love so much from the Orchard after visiting with Happy the horse this morning!"

"Oh boy!" I exclaimed as I ran into the kitchen to meet him.  "There's always room in my tummy for Apple Cider Donuts!"

As I began to gobble one down, here came Peppy to join in.  I tore off a little piece of my donut and offered it to Peppy.  He gobbled it down in one piece, then he looked at me as if he was demanding more.

"Go ahead," Mr. Papino begain, "Let him have a whole one of his own!"

With that, I grabbed one from the box and put it on the floor for Peppy, as I continued my savage feast.

"Ummmm!" I moaned as I demolished one after another....

"Wow boy... slow down!" Mr. Papino insisted.... "They're not going anywhere... take your time, chew, swallow, repeat....!"

"Mr. Papino!," I chimed in, "Is there anything around here I can do right now to earn some extra money so that I could have some money for the Turkey Festival?" I asked- now lowering my voice softly, giving him that look I give when I want something.

With that, Mr. Papino replied, "Well Mr. Kyle, the truth is that YES- I do have some things for you to do."

He began to pull of up a chair and turn it around and sit on it in reverse, with his chest pushed up to the back of the chair while he folded his arms around the top of the back.  I knew I was in for a story!

"Kyle," he said softly and sternly, "I am going to need your help today." he went on..., "Today is a pretty big day for me.... we have the parade, and then we have to go open up the stand.  I need your help carrying things, setting up things, and even selling things!"

By now I got the clue that today was going to be a work-day, not a fun-day... but Mr. Papino assured me that we would have a lot of fun in the process!

"So... eat up while I get Peppy ready, and then its show-time!"

I just loved the side car for me and Peppy.  I felt safe in the side car, instead of having to hang on from the back seat of the bike.  It was like me and Peppy's own little world that little side car.  I could sit and relax, wave at people and Peppy just sat there on my lap; and together- boy, we were quite a site with our matching leather jackets, and Peppy's goggles and leather cap!  I wore my chaps which are leather front leg coverings, but they were a bit uncomfortable and as soon as the ride was over, I took them off.

We weren't the only ones in the parade and bike show that looked this way.  Other bikers brought their bikes with their kids or grand kids and their side-cars with their dogs and such.  Actually, there were probably about 10 other doggies there, and Peppy had the time of His life playing with them and hanging out with the people and other pets.  Eventually he grew tired of the jacket and hat and goggles... it was cool and cute at first, but then it just became a pain.

So no, we didn't win the contest... but that was okay.  Some biker had turned his bike into a parade float with wires, Christmas lights, and he turned his bike into Santa's sleigh.  The biker played Santa and his doggie had antlers on his head.  They looked so cool and the dog was so cute, and the biker did look like Santa, with his big belly, his white beard and white hair.

That day I noticed something interesting that I never noticed before.  Most of these bikers were kind of old... not very old, but kind of old; about the same age as Mr. Papino!

They also all kind of looked the same; old, with a belly, bearded, white or grey hair; just like Mr. Papino.... and just like Santa Claus.

After a while, they actually all looked alike, dressed in leather, and most of them had beards and beer in their hands!  The bikers liked their beers.

Most of them had tattoos, except Mr. Papino.....

"Do you have a tattoo Mr. Papino?" I asked

"I do" he replied, "I have one for you!"

I didn't quite understand what that meant?

"A tattoo for me?" I remarked with a questioning tone in my voice.

One of the venders at the event was selling temporary stick on tattoos for kids.  Mr. Papino bought a couple for me and him.
"They would come off with soap and water," he reassured me, because I didn't want to get in trouble with my parents, coming home with a tattoo... but this would be fun!

I kind of licked my arm to moisten it up, and then I stuck the patch to my arm, rubbed it for a few moments, and then carefully pulled it off my arm.  On my arm now was a tattoo of a Superhero with a cape; kind of like my Halloween costume!  I liked that!

So by now the day had warmed up a bit.  The jacket and chaps came off, Peppy was now out of costume, and I kind of rolled up my sleeve like the other bikers, to show off my new tattoo!

The bike show was awesome!  Mr. Papino's bike was a hit!  He didn't win any prizes, but some rich guy did pay him thirty-thousand dollars for his designer customized Harley Davidson!  ....30,000 dollars....WOW!  I had no idea that bikes were worth so much money....no idea!

So he was very happy... and, all day long we sold his leather items at our booth, under the canopy.  The bikers stood in line to get some of those weird turkey parts that were breaded and deep fried.  They use the weird parts, gizzards, livers and other weird turkey parts.  They kind of looked like breaded mushrooms; and I hate mushrooms so I did not try any of the weird food.... Mr. Papino told me that it was more for "An adult pallet", whatever that meant.....

There was a line at our table and booth for several hours.  I was happy when we sold out the last item because it was hard work.  A couple of people were talking to Mr. Papino like he was famous; and he even signed a couple autographs for them.  That was weird; it was like he was somebody.... somebody famous our something.

Mr. Papino looked a little concerned, as we were taking down the canopy that covered our booth.  He waved me over to himself, because the music was so loud.  I approached him and he bent down to say something in my ear....

"You see that policeman over there", he said into my ear?  I shook my head up and down - yes.  "Can you run over to him and ask him if he would come over here, that I want to talk to him".

So I ran over to the policeman, and he too had to bend down and lend me his ear because the music was so loud.  

"Yes son", he said to me, "My friend Mr. Papino over there needs your help or something" I shouted into the policeman's ear!

The policeman looked up to where I was pointing, and started to proceed towards the table and booth where we were set up.

"I could see them talking closely to one another, mouth-to-ear.  The music was so loud I couldn't hear what they were saying.  Then Mr. Papino and the officer started walking together away from the festival and he called to me, shouted and motioned, "Stay here.... I'll be right back!"

What they were doing was a mystery to me... but I stuck around and eventually Mr. Papino came back, joined me, and we began to walk around enjoying the festival.  He bought me some cotton candy, and then pulled me aside.  By now it was getting a little chilly out and I had my leather coat on, but Peppy didn't want to wear his any more.

We went to a park bench, by now we were far from the band and the loudspeakers, and we could finally talk without shouting in one another's ear!

"You did very well today Kyle," he started to say, "Thank you for all your help, we had a very good-day!" 

With that, he secretly handed me a crispy one-hundred-dollar-bill!

"What?" I said as I looked at him in amazement!  "A hundred dollars for me?"

He replied, "It's called a "C-Note".....

I was in disbelief, and although I knew I worked hard, I didn't work that hard!

I felt bad....  deep-down, I knew that I didn't deserve 100 dollars.... I was thinking more like 20 bucks... I would have been happy with twenty.

Why was he being so generous to me?  Instead of me being happy- I felt guilty... I don't know why.

"This is too much money" I said to him, handing it back to him in protest.  I just didn't feel right taking all that money.... and, I was also wondering about why he left with the policeman.  I had too many questions on my mind, and instead of me being grateful and joyful, instead I was suspicious, and I just simply didn't feel right.

Mr. Papino was now looking sad or not right.  His smile turned into a frown, and this great day was now turning into something weird.

"Where did you go with the policeman?" I then asked him, trying to figure all this out.

"Kyle," he said to me, now opening my zipper on the front of my leather jacket, placing the bill in my pocket and zipping it up, "When you go home, give this to your parents and they can save it for you so some day you can buy something or spend it however you want!  You deserve this, 'We had a good day!'"

"Do you know why I left with the policeman?" he then asked me.

"No" I replied, "Why?"

He replied, "Because we took in over $40,000 dollars today.  Thirty-thousand was a check for the bike, but we sold over $10,000 dollars worth of product today, and I had $10,000 dollars cash on me, and I didn't want to get robbed... so- I asked the policeman to escort me out of there so I could go put the money in a safe place!  Kyle, we had a very good day today!"  Then he said something I never heard before: He said after a big-wink in-his-eye, "Easy come, easy go!"

With this I began to feel good again.  Now I knew why he left with the policeman, now I didn't feel bad about taking the $100 dollar bill, and now things began to make sense!  I really was a big help today, helping Mr. Papino set up the booth, carry the stuff, sell the items, collect the cash, watch Peppy, and hang out with him all day!

By now I was beat, it was a long day and I actually worked and got paid for my efforts.... WOW!

The sun started setting, the people started leaving, the festival was over, but- WOW- what a day!

When we got home, I was so excited to tell my folks about all that happened that day... from the Parade to the carnival to the bike show and then the sales booth.  From the weird turkey parts to the big day Mr. Papino and I had.  I showed them my tattoo and then.... I unzipped my leather front pocket, and pulled out the $100 dollar bill, and with a big smile on my face I said handing them the bill, "And this is for you... I earned it, but I want you to have it!"   

With that, my parents replied, "This is a lot of money for one day's work, are you sure you want us to keep this?"

I turned and looked back at them and replied with a big-wink in-my-eye; "Hey, it's just a C-note,,,,, easy come- easy go!"