Bronco of 96: The Siege of Star Fort

CHAPTER 1

It’s April 10, 2010, in the small town of 96, South Carolina. Star Fort Historic Site is holding its annual Reenactment of the Siege of Star Fort. Many people travel great distances to visit the historic site and participate in the activities. The event grows every year.

The Manley family sets up their campsite near the back of the Historic Site so the horses won’t interfere with the other campers. Their campsite is the largest in the encampment because it accommodates several teenage boys. A large baker’s tent stands at the rear of the camp. A large wooden camp table with 10 ladder back chairs stands to the left of the large fire pit. To the right, hammocks hang in the nearby woods. The young boys sleep as far away from Bronco’s parents as possible.

Bronco! Michael! Jonathan! Patsy Manley calls at the top of her voice. We need some firewood.

Oh, mama. We’re going to scour the other campsites in search of young females we can scare tonight.

Bronc, I understand it’s customary for you and your buddies to play tricks on the girls, but do your chores first.

All right, Bronco gives in to his mom’s request. I’ll round up Michael and Jonathan. We’ll have you a stack of firewood before you know it. What’s for supper?

Nothing if I don’t get some firewood soon. I brought the ‘fixins’ for a large pot of vegetable soup. I can cook cornbread in one Dutch oven and apple pie in the other, but it all depends on the firewood. So, hurry up! Chop! Chop! She claps her hands and motions as if to shoo him away.

Bronco disappears into the nearby camps. He races to the stockade-fort where Michael and Jonathan are using binoculars to spy on the girls.

Scan to the right, Jonathan. Do you see the girl with the long blonde hair? Michael is almost breathless.

Jonathan whispers, I see her, but isn’t that Kathy two camps over? She seems to be looking for something.

Yeah, you can bet she’s looking for something. She’s looking for me! I told her I’d be here today. I didn’t really think she’d come. She must’ve talked her mom and dad into letting her camp with Kristen’s family.

Bronco approaches from the rear and yells, What are you doing?

Michael and Jonathan almost jump out of their skin. Don’t do that, Bronco! Michael screams. You nearly caused me to have a heart attack. Seeing Kathy here is enough without you sneaking up on me.

I don’t sneak up. I simply walk up…behind you.

"You and your walking up," adds Jonathan. You walk quieter than anyone else I know.

Bronco slowly stresses, I-guess-it’s-the-Indian-blood-in-me.

It’s either Indian blood or that ‘walk softly on rice paper’ thing you do in Karate class. Jonathan snips, I’m in the same class with you, but I tear holes in the rice paper when I walk over it. And, I don’t sneak up on people and scare them the way you do. It’s just not fair.

With his hand over his heart, Bronco lectures Jonathan. Life is not fair, grasshopper. As you grow older you will learn that very few people can do the things I do so well. It is your destiny to follow in my footsteps…

Michael throws his binoculars at Bronco. Geez! You’re so full of it today. Lighten up, will you? We’re ready to make a plan to frighten some girls tonight.

Wait a minute, Jonathan interrupts. I don’t even have a girl. I’m not going to let you two leave me with all the blame for whatever you do. Jonathan is visibly upset.

Calm down, Jonathan, Bronco pats him on the back. You won’t get all the blame—just your share. Besides, the girls never suspect you of anything. You’re the one who gets closest to them. They trust you.

They won’t after this escapade. Jonathan hands Bronco his binoculars. You watch a while. I’m going to the outhouse.

As Jonathan walks away, Bronco turns to Michael. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

Yeah, Michael’s eyes light up and a sinister grin spreads across his face.

They jump into the air and ‘high five’ each other. In unison they say, It’s outhouse tipping time.

CHAPTER 2

The two pranksters take a circular path to the wooden outhouse. Approaching it from the rear, Bronco and Michael get into the 3-point stance they use when playing on the line of the Wildcat Football team. As they lunge, they yell as loud as they can. They hit the outhouse with more than enough force to overturn it.

Jonathan is on the seat as the outhouse lands face down. A group of people gather as Bronco and Michael stand the outhouse up. They laugh when Jonathan tumbles through the door with his pants down.

He screams, I hate both of you. You don’t play fair. You caught me with my pants down.

Bronco and Michael laugh so hard they get hiccups.

Outhouse At Kings Mt.

Jonathan slowly smiles, turns his back to them, bends over, and drops his pants. The full moon shines over Bronco and Michael. It’s a small victory, but Jonathan and the bystanders count it a success.

Bronco’s dad arrives at the scene. The show’s over. All three of you head back to the campsite. We’ll sort this out, and then decide the punishment.

Kristen and Kathy are among the spectators to this gross display of adolescent humor.

With a smug look on her face, Kristen declares, "There is no way those two clowns could catch one of us in the outhouse. Girls never go alone. One of us always stands at the door so no one can walk in. I guess it’s a ‘girl thing’."

Kathy agrees, Girls are much more careful than boys. We don’t find humor in such infantile pranks as turning over an outhouse while a friend is in it. Do boys really find these things funny?

Of course. It’s just like classroom farts. Guys are proud of their farts. And when one starts, they all join in. Kristen ponders for a moment. Actually, that’s one positive reason why schools should have all-girl and all-boy classes.

Kathy nods. I agree. It’s very hard for me to stay on task when the guys stink up the room. I don’t know how the teachers stand the smell.

Kristen reacts, I heard Mrs. Manley say that teachers have perfected the skill of breathing through their mouths, not their noses.

That makes sense. I’ve noticed teachers keep going with the lesson. Kathy giggles. If they stopped every time a boy farts, they’d never get anything done.

After the giggle session, Kathy adds, I hope 96 High School will make some of our classes all-girl. I think I’d do better in math and science if the silly little boys weren’t there to distract me. They’re so loud and blurt out the answers before I even have time to think. They’re such show-offs.

I know exactly where you’re coming from, Kathy. I don’t speak up either. I don’t want to be wrong and have the guys laugh and make fun of me. They embarrass me and make me feel like a dunce, so I just sit back and let them work all the problems. Even when I don’t understand, I’m too shy to ask the teacher for help. That would make me look even dumber.

The girls continue their conversation as they near the stockade fort. Little do they know that the boys wait just inside the fort.

Bronco dominates the conversation. Let’s be really nice to the girls and invite them to tonight’s bonfire. Then, we’ll take them to the observation tower. We can tell them about the ghosts that haunt the battlefield.

Jonathan, you’ll sneak away from the bonfire and set up some white silhouettes in the trees. Then, Michael and I will bring the girls to the field where you’ll make noises and throw things.

You and Michael always set me up for the blame, Jonathan fumed. I don’t like being the one who sets up all the scary stuff. I’m never close enough to enjoy the girls’ reactions. Why can’t you or Michael work the spooks in the woods?

Why don’t you get a girlfriend, Jonathan? Then you can stay with us and we’ll find someone else to do the grunt work. Michael’s proud of that retort.

Don’t listen to Michael. Bronco whispers in Jonathan’s ear. I’ll set you up with a date next weekend. Then you won’t feel so left out.

Jonathan speaks sarcastically, "Gee thanks, Bronco. You really have a way of making me feel important. Why don’t you just take out an ad in the 96 Beacon? It could read: Jonathan needs a girlfriend so he will fit in with Bronco and Michael. No thanks! I’ll just let things continue as they are. I’ll find a girl without your help."

Jonathan walks toward the largest tree in the park. The material for the ghostly apparitions is hid inside the hole in the front of the large oak.

Bronco looks at Michael. Do you think we are too harsh on Jonathan?

Nah, Michael says. He looks up to us as older brothers. Besides, why mess up a good thing? Let’s keep treating him like a younger brother. If he grows up and finds a girlfriend, then we’ll reconsider his part in our trio.

Michael, you’re all heart. What would I do without you?

You’d probably be a pushover for every bleeding heart in the world. They both laugh and head toward the large oak.

CHAPTER 3

In daylight, there’s a great view of the battlefield from the observation tower. It is located just a few feet behind the 1st parallel—160 yards away from the fort. Here the Continental Army officers were safe from cannon and musket balls.

As the girls approach the tower, Kathy turns to Kristen. I can’t believe I let you talk me into coming out here. The sun’s just about to set, and it’s getting cold. I know the boys will try to scare us. They might succeed!

Now, Kathy, Kristen speaks soothingly. It’s all in fun. We’ll pretend the ghosts scare us so we can snuggle up to the guys. It’ll be great to let them protect us. It’ll feed their egos, and they’ll feel like prehistoric men who slay the dinosaur and provide food and shelter for their women.

Oh, pl-ea-se, Kathy begs. Why are you obsessed with prehistoric men slaying dinosaurs and providing for their mates? I don’t want to be a cavewoman! I want to be a young lady with a crush on Michael, and I’d like for him to hold me close and kiss me. Am I asking too much?

No, you’re not. But remember, girls mature earlier than boys; so, it’s our responsibility to encourage our guys to act like men.

"Ah, get real, Kristen. You’re just flapping your lips in the wind. You know as well as I do that boys never grow up. My three brothers are older than I