Chapter III Dukes and Clampetts

 The next morning Luke and Bo sat around in the hospital room. The two of them had been told that they could go as soon as they had somewhere to go that they would be taken care of.
 “So Luke what was this Granny lady like?” Bo asked his cousin out of their lack of conversation.
 “Well, Bo I guess you could say she was a bit odd, but seemed eager to help us. She said she’d be back this morning with the rest of her family.”
 “Where they from?”
 “Tennessee.”
 Bo nodded apparently liking this answer.
 “Well that’s all I can really--” suddenly the two were interrupted by a knock on the door.
 “Come on in.” Luke told them and the next minute four people walked into his room. There was the lady that they had met the day before, a tall man in a ragged hat and faded blue jeans, a blonde girl in plaid shirt and jeans and a boy dressed mostly the same.
 “I’m guessing yer thet Luke boy Granny was talking about yesterday?” Jed asked.
 “Yes sir--uh”
 “Jed Clampett.”
 “Mr. Clampett. I’m Luke Duke and this is my cousin Bo Duke.”
 “Nice to meet ya. Well I’m Jed and this is Granny. She’s the one you met yesterday. This is my daughter Elly May Clampett and my nephew Jethro Bodine.”
 “Howdy.”
 “Hello yerself.” Elly smiled at the boys
 “Hey Elly.” Bo smiled.
 “So, what brings you boys here to Californy? Granny said you was in some sort of race.” Jed asked.
 “Yeah. A car race. I reckon y’all don’t know what NASCAR is do you?”
 “Can’t say that I’ve ever heard of that type of car.”
 “It’s not a type of car Mr. Clampett. You know horse racing don’t ya?”
 “yeah. A little. Had some back in the hills.”
 “Well Mr. Clampett it’s like that only with cars. That’s how Bo wound up like he is. The doctors said that he could go home anytime and we’re ready, but I’m just wondering how our Uncle and Cousin are going to find where we are. I told him last night which airport to come in, but we’re still wondering if we should wait or if you had anybody who could meet them for us?”
 “Well, Jethro would be glad to drive you Luke or let you borrow the truck if you want.” Jed offered.
 “Thanks Mr. Clampett.”
 “Now when did those Goomers say that you could go home honey?” Granny asked walking over to Bo.
 “Whenever we could get someone to take us. You see our car ain’t really in drivin condition right now.” Luke explained.
 “Well, I reckon this really wouldn’t be proper, but how do you boys feel about sittin on the bed of a truck?”
 “Don’t mind at all. We used to do it all the time in Georgia.”
 “All right then. Jethro and I will go get it and I’ll leave the girls to keep an eye on you.”
 “All right sir.” Luke nodded and between him, Elly and Granny they got Bo into a wheelchair and out to the truck where Jethro and Jed lifted him onto the truck bed.
 “Now you keep a good hold on yer cousin boy.” he nodded to Luke before they headed off.

 When they arrived at the mansion Jethro and Luke helped Bo up to his room while Jed Phoned Miss Hathaway to let her know of their current situation. She agreed to drive him and Luke to the airport.

 “Well honey, here’s you some possum stew.” Granny smiled as she came into Bo’s room with his lunch.
 “Thanks, Granny. Where’s Luke?”
 “Last I checked honey yer cousin and  Miss Hathaway were off doing something. I reckon tryin’ to git thet car of your’n fixed.
 “I reckon so Granny. Say, is Mr. Clampett around here?”
 “He is honey. You want to talk to him?”
 “Actually I do. I’d appreciate if you went to get him for me.”
 “I’ll do thet honey.” and with that Granny left Bo to his stew and went to search for Jed, who when he came up was glad to give Bo a little company until Luke came back.

 Later that evening, just like she had promised Miss Hathaway drove Luke to the airport to pick up his cousin and Uncle.
 “Hey Luke. Glad to see you sugar.” Daisy smiled giving him a hug when she saw him.
 “Hey Daisy.” Luke returned her hug.
 “Where’s Bo?” Uncle Jesse asked joining the two of them.
 “Back at where we’re staying. Uncle Jesse I don’t know what you’re gonna think of California, but around here we don’t have many friends, but when I was at the bank yesterday I met a little lady who was nice enough to take us and you two in.”
 “Now, Luke you know how I raised you.” Jesse warned.
 “I know Uncle Jesse, but these are our kind of people. They’re from Tennessee and if you just saw ‘em walking around in the street you wouldn’t know it either, but they’ve been real kind to Bo and me.”
 Jesse gave Luke a warning look, but was saved by Miss Hathaway
 “He’s right sir. Granny and the rest of the Clampetts are more than happy to house your kind. They’re happiest when they have visitors.”
 “Thank you ma’am for getting us. I reckon you haven’t met my other nephew have you?”
 “No. Can’t say that I have.”
 “Okay. Well I guess we’re ready to head on if you’d be so kind as to drive us to these Clampetts.”
 “Of course.” and with that the four of them walked to the car, loaded the suitcases and off they went to the Clampetts.

 When they arrived Jed was there waiting for them out front. He smiled when he saw Miss Hathaway’s car.
 “Hey there Miss Hathaway.” he called.
 “Evening Mr. Clampett.”
 “So this here is them two boys’ kin huh?”
 “Exactly Mr. Clampett.”
 “You wouldn’t happen to want to stay and have vittles with us would you?”
 “Oh, thank you Mr. Clampett, but no. I have to be going.”
 “All right. Well you’re always welcome to it.”
 “Right. Hope to see you some other time Mr. Duke, Daisy.” she nodded and left.
 “Well, nice to meet ya. I’m Jed Clampett.” Jed introduced himself turning to Uncle Jesse.
 “Well same to you Jed. Jesse Duke and this is my niece Daisy May Duke. I reckon you’ve been getting to know my nephews Bo and Luke.”
 “That we have Jesse and it’s been right nice.”
 “Hello Mr. Clampett.” Daisy smiled cocking her head slightly to one side.
 “Well come on in.” Jed smiled taking their suitcases “You can meet the rest of the family and I reckon Granny has vittles all ready.” Jed nodded and led them into the house.
 “Mr. Clampett, I’d be happy to help with supper.” Daisy offered.
 “Thank you Daisy, but my daughter has thet taken care of. Besides I figured you’d want to see yer cousins.” Jed chuckled to himself, not having any company this pleasant in a while.
 “Thank you Mr. Clampett. I know and Uncle Jesse does too that Bo and Luke are perfectly capable, but sometimes that soft side shows even if I don’t like it to.”
 Jed only nodded and led her up to where Bo’s room was and pointed to the door beside it “them two rooms is fer you and yer Uncle, Daisy. I reckon Granny’ll have vittles ready in about half an hour.”
 ‘All right. I’ll put our suitcases away and then. I’m going to check on Bo. Where’s Luke?”
 “Last time I saw him he was out in the cement pond with my nephew Jethro. I reckon Bo‘s getting a little bored.”
 “Mr. Clampett, Bo’s bored if he’s doing nothing for two minutes much less two days.”
 “Same with Jethro.” Jed chuckled and headed back down to the kitchen.
 Daisy sighed and after setting her and Uncle Jesse’s suitcases in the two rooms that Jed had told her to she walked back to what Jed had told her was Bo and she guessed Luke’s room. For as long as she could remember the boys had shared a room. She opened the door and looked over at her cousin sitting up in the bed, a car magazine in his hands.
 “Hey there sugar.” Daisy smiled sitting down on the bed beside him.
 “Hey Daisy.” Bo smiled laying the magazine down.
 “How you feeling?”
 “Oh, fine. Luke’s finding lots of things to do without me and that ain’t exactly my way bein’ left out.”
 “I know. It ain’t my way of being left out either that you two run off to join the circuit while I have to stay in Hazzard.”
 “Ok. I guess you have a point there. But Daisy, remember you are Uncle Jesse’s only girl so he can’t let nuthin’ happen to you. You know Luke and I love ya.” he smiled reaching up to stroke her cheek.
 “I guess. What happened to your wrist?” Daisy asked suddenly aware that Bo had a bandage around his hand.
 “Oh, that. Same wreck that caused everything else.”
 “So what did the doctor say?”
 “Wants me in bed for a week and then I can get up on the crutches. I’m getting up now, but only when I absolutely have to.”
 “Well how are these people?” Daisy asked trying to change the subject.
 “They’re nice Daisy. That man you met first, Jed. The last couple of days he’s been talking to me whenever I feel like. Real nice people Daisy. Think you’d get along well with his daughter Elly May. Tho, I will tell you that last night I was up here and she came up here with this cute little monkey she calls Bessie. There’s Jethro who’s his nephew apparently. Daisy I’d watch out for him if I was you. He does every dumb thing you can think of. Then there’s Granny. Sweet little lady. She brings my food up whenever it’s time to eat.”
 “They sound friendly Bo.” she smiled taking his hand in hers.
 “They are Daisy. I mean you know all those times in Hazzard, who would have ever thought that I would wreck the General?”
 “Not me Bo. Well I hate to leave you alone again, but I have to go down for supper. I’ll bring you some back sugar.”
 “Thanks Daisy.” Bo smiled.

 Downstairs, Daisy found Uncle Jesse and Jed talking in the kitchen. Luke and Jethro had just come in and both were heading up to change before supper.
 “Hey Daisy how’s Bo?” Jesse asked.
 “All right Uncle Jesse, but I think his pride’s hurt a little.”
 “I suppose so darlin’. it’s the first crash he’s had.”
 “I know Uncle Jesse. I just hate to see him like that. He’s not Bo if he ain’t drivin the General or getting into trouble.”
 Uncle Jesse could only chuckle.
 Daisy sighed knowing that even though she knew how Bo was it didn’t ease her nerves much because she knew he was hurting. She sighed when suddenly Elly came in and looked her way.
 “Howdy. You must be thet Daisy May Pa was telling me about.” she smiled “And you’re Uncle Jesse?”
 “That’s right Elly.” Jesse smiled.
 “Guess Granny’s got vittles all ready?”
 “Purt’near Elly.” Jed answered.”

 So for the rest of the night the Clampetts and the Dukes talked, ate and Jed even got them into a little square-dance. Unfortunately Bo wasn’t too happy about being left out of the festivities of everybody making friends with each other, but was glad to have his Uncle Jesse to talk to for a change.

 (Now y’all have seen how the layout has gone so far, but just how will Mr. Drysdale deal with the Clampett’s new friends especially once Luke gets the General fixed. Y’all know Ms. Drysdale’s gonna have herself a fit.)

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