by: Essy Jane

Jesse and Jose were let go as the other two headed into a new state and took
on new names. Jesse was sad to see his friend go but knew it was for the
best. Jose kept looking at his cousin. They had almost nothing on. A long
sleeved shirt and a pair of long pants. Up there was ice and snow. It’s not
a good idea to go in the now with out proper foot wear.

“Well we have two choices. One we can go up to a cop and tell him we broke
our parole and get thrown in jail and be brought back that way. Number two
we can find our own way home,” Jesse said as he kept on walking.

“I figure I have been in prison enough. Do you have any cash?” Jose replied.

“Well in a matter of speaking.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I have a credit card in case of emergencies.”

“Well don’t you think this is an emergency? I mean we’re stuck in Montana
and now we have to get all the way back to Hazzard.”

“I guess it is a problem.” Jesse took his cousin closer into town and looked
for a store. Any store that seemed to carry winter wear; there was no way
anyone could survive this. Jesse picked a brown ugly jacket from within the
second hand store and looked at it. “That should do.”

“That is hideous.” Jose found a leather jacket that looked warm but still
was fashionable. He wasn’t about to go out in a brown jump suit like Jesse.
He wasn’t about to let Jesse do it either.

“It’s warm and with.”

“Mine has some taste. This one will look good on you as well. I won’t let
you wear that ugly piece of junk. That has to be the ugliest thing I have
ever seen.”

“Do you want boots with that?”

“I can’t believe you have a credit card and we’re going to a second hand
store.”

“I save my money unlike some people.”

“Do we have family up here?” Jesse thought for a minute. There were many
Dukes and just as many Davenports that Jesse could think of. There was one
in particular who he knew was staying up here. The man looked almost like
his Grandpa. His name was LB Davenport. Someone that was very close to Bo
Duke’s heart. Jessie loved him because LB was neat. He had this way about
him that was like no other.

“We do, let’s go!” Jesse grabbed Jose by the arm and dragged him to the
Garage up here. He looked to see tow legs popping out of the bottom of a
car. That had to be a Davenport.

“Hey those are Duke Boots,” The voice said from underneath the vehicle.

“LB, it’s me,” Jesse stated.

“That sounds like the son of Bo! Come on in boy. You caught me at a good
time. I am here to help you. Say, why ain’t you in Hazzard?”

“We were kidnapped. But we’re okay now.” LB rolled out from underneath the
car. He looked at Jesse and wondered what was going on.

“We’ve got to phone your folks. They’ll be worried sick.”

“You can’t! The boys that kidnapped us are trying to get into Canada and we
can’t let anything go wrong with that.” Jesse didn’t want them to find Jerry
and Derrick. They wanted the boys to live freely in the states. Jesse didn’t
lie that often. In fact he rarely told a lie. When he said something it was
true.

“I understand. Y’all need a place to stay for the night?”

“Yeah I do. Look I am sorry we intruded on you like this.”

“You know I never got to meet your friend here.”

“Oh where are my manners? This is my cousin Jose. He’s Luke’s son.”

“Well boy howdy! Good to meet someone of your stature. Goodness gracious,
you boys must be starved. I will make you a speciality. I know y’all will
enjoy it. I ain’t trusting you two to cook. I heard about that from Jo.”
Jesse grumbles. That girl never kept her mouth shut. She talked too much and
acted too cool for being her. Jo Anna was just…well Jo Anna. That was the
problem. Even when she wasn’t where Jose and Jesse were, someone had to
mention that name.

Back at the Duke farm…

Luke had locked himself in the additional room Bo added onto the house. He
didn’t move from that spot. Luke was sure that Jose was dead. He just cried
and cried all day long. Luke wouldn’t let anyone near him. Not even his wife
who came down with Antonio when she had heard about the shooting. Maria
tried ever single thing she could think of to get him to open the door.

“It’s no use Bo; I can’t get him to open the door,” Maria stated. She looked
at her cousin in law that seemed more like a brother than anyone else she
knew. Nancy was playing a game of Sorry with Antonio to keep him
entertained.

“Well you know what Maria? There is only one person who Luke would get near
him at times like this and that was Uncle Jesse,” Bo replied.

“Bo, Uncle Jesse is gone.”

“There’s another person I can think of Lulu.”

“You mean Lulu Hogg?”

“Yes, she has this tone of voice that caries better than anything I have
ever seen.”

“Are you sure that she can do it?”

“If not her I hope that it will be Daisy but with Coy and Vance around here
I don’t know if that’s possible.”

“I thought that they were friends.”

“They are just starting to get back together as friends and I don’t want it
to be right away. Daisy works through things over time.”

“You’re right; we can’t force Daisy to come here. But we can’t just sit by
and watched Luke breakdown. I mean he’s my husband and I don’t know what to
do.” Bo wondered about his cousin. He was a sweet man but took things to
heart. Bo decided that he was going to talk to Luke first. He didn’t care
how barracked the door was, there was always another way. He went outside
and yanked the window open and climbed in. Luke had not shaven in three
days. He looked almost like a hobo. Luke’s clothes didn’t seem to fit quite
right which seemed weird considering it had only been three days. The room
was in total destruction. You could tell that he was angry. Luke had lost
his rage though. For now he was just staring at the wall.

“You know you can’t keep scaring Maria like this,” Bo commented. Luke kept
staring at the wall. “I am sorry that your son is out here but…”

“My son is dead!” Luke exclaimed.

“Progress you spoke of when I called you about coming down here. I talked to
you about how wonderful he is and how much he’s growing.”

“You mean was. As of now my son is gone. There is no looking back Bo. I know
that they’ll kill him. It doesn’t matter what I hope or what I feel. Every
time I hope for something it never does come true.”

“This is not the Luke Duke that I remember. Weren’t you not the one that
told me to never give up hope no matter how hard it seemed?”

“That was then and this is now. You know things have changed. I had to grow
up Bo we all did. I have children. I don’t have time for these silly boy
chats.” Bo knew that Luke didn’t mean any of this stuff. He was just upset.
Jose had gotten in trouble for the second time and there was no turning
back. Now look at me Luke. Your son is alive and I know it. He’s a fighter.
I think our boys didn’t want us finding out where the chopper landed.
They’re living somewhere in the United States. Maybe eating or sleeping off
tiredness.”

“They’re dead! Those men had no use for our sons after the helicopter landed
and you know it.”

“I am not going to believe what you are thinking. It is not you talking.”

“The one place I thought he would be safe is the one place that he should
never have come to. This is my entire fault.”

“I don’t know why you blame yourself.”

“If didn’t come here then he would…”

“Be in prison. Your son has turned into a wild hooligan to a respectable
wild man. That’s just in a few years. Now if you think about it, he would be
somewhere else right now. You would see him behind bars.” Luke sobbed hard
on Bo’s shoulder. He didn’t know what else he could do for his son but there
had to be something. Anything to ease the pain from Jose’s kidnapping, Luke
wanted his son more than all the riches in the world.

In Montana…

Jesse finished eating five plates of beef on a bun. Its yummy beef smothered
in sloppy barbeque sauce. You stick it in a bun hence the name. Jesse was
getting it all over himself. “You’re what I call an oversized meat loaf,”
Jose grumbled as he wiped the corners of his mouth.

“Well I am a country boy who hasn’t eaten for a while, give me a break
Jose,” Jesse replied.

“He’s a hungry country boy more like it. Don’t badger him,” LB laughed.
Jesse looked at his watch. Jesse yawned from the excitement of the past few
days. Between flying and all the guns, they were lucky to still be standing.

Jesse and Jose were so tired in fact that they fell asleep at the table. LB
giggled to himself knowing that they may have been older boys but all the
same they were still boys. LB picked up Jose and carried him over to the
couch. He then took Jesse and stuck him on a cot. LB kissed both boys on the
head and smiled at them.

LB hopped into bed in his long johns. He smiled knowing that there were
again troublemakers in Hazzard. That place needed another Bo and Luke even
if it was their sons.

The next morning…

Jose jumped up not remembering where he was at first. He looked around the
room and wondered what was going on. Jesse was standing over the young man
watching him sleep. “What are you doing?” Jose asked.

“I was just about to wake you. I swear you have nerves of steel,” Jesse
replied.

“Why were you going to wake me? Was there some sort of need for that?”

“We’re working in LB’s shop the next two weeks in trade for a Junker we can
drive back to Hazzard.”

“Why don’t you buy it off of him with that credit card?”

“I told you that I only use that in emergencies.” Jose rolled his eyes. They
were dragged up here and now he wouldn’t even use his emergency money? Jose
thought his cousin was going insane.

“So how old is this car?”

“He’s going to give us an old neon which I don’t think is that old but I
mean the General has been so well kept up he don’t even look old.”

That day Jose and Jesse worked their tales off. With the way this garage was
set up it was supposed to be like a fifties gas station and garage. So it
was the full service deal. Jesse would wash the widows and Jose would give
air to the people’s tires if it was needed. People loved LB’s idea of the
car wash so much that he made a tonne of money. With money can be opened
chains.

When Jesse and Jose weren’t doing windows and filling tires they would help
with car parts and fixing things. The car wash was always full and business
was always booming. The boys always had to go somewhere or do something for
LB.

“What inspired you for the fifties thing?” Jesse asked.

“Actually it was Uncle Jesse, the one you were named after. He told me that
things were moving way too fast in this world and that more things should be
as they used to be,” LB replied.

“You know, I wish we had one of these in Hazzard. I hate having to do all
the oil change and everything now that we converted the General engine…well
to another engine once more. I mean there are so many other things a person
could do with their time.”

“Now Jesse, you’re sounding lazy. There is far more to this world. I mean
take you’re your Great Uncle Jesse said. The world is just moving too fast
for anyone to even look up. Now don’t you think if people weren’t so worried
about not doing things that half these inventions would be invented?” That
was a smart answer. This whole world was moving too fast to notice the
changes sometimes.

Hazzard still had its CB radios but that was because of influence of living
there. A lot of kids in school would still have overly priced cell phones
and have them on all day long. But the second they would get into their
vehicles, the teens would switch off their phones and do CB radios. It just
seemed a lot more entertaining if you will.

Jesse put down the hood of the simple tune up he had to do. Jose looked at
his cousin. He wondered how the kid could keep up so many hours of this
stuff. To Jose the most work a man should do is putting up his feet at the
end of the day. Jesse had been working hard all of his life and he wasn’t
aiming to stop now.

“LB, why do you work so hard? I mean doesn’t it get tiring?” Jose asked.

“The way I see it, I both work my tail off and just be unsuccessful doing it
or I just lie down and sleep. Either way I am doing something for myself.
But tell me Jose, what is more rewarding? I can feel more confidence if I
have a job then if I sit on my butt and drink beer all day. We all have to
grow up someday,” LB replied.

“I don’t want to grow up. It sounds terrible. I mean you have so much
responsibility and you end up killing yourself because it’s just too hard.
Not me, I am going to stay 17 years old for the rest of my life. Growing up
is like an in grown toe nail.”

“It ain’t. You can still do fun things.”

“Like what?”

“Want to drag race? You have to do it without getting caught. We’re going to
go up to the mountains. But you have to be careful.”

“I am not game but I know someone who is.” Everyone’s eyes point to Jesse.
Now this kid would rather drive then eat. Jesse is one of the hottest
drivers in all of Hazzard. But then again he has to be.

“What?” Jesse questioned as he stuffed a donut in his mouth. LB looked at
him sneakily. Jesse didn’t know what to think. I mean on one hand LB was
crazy. He was loud and liked to crash things just as much as he liked to fix
them.

“Want to do some heavy duty racing?” LB asked.

“Well depends on who’s asking me. You will try to kill me in the snow. Now I
don’t think it is fair to put me out on the snow and ice when I am used to
sun.”

“Okay, I will give you a few lessons, the snow and you.”

“Oh brother, you’re insane LB.”

“When I am done with y’all you’ll see what I mean.” The two Duke boys gulped
and smiled at each other. Being taught by LB was like asking a hunter to
stay in one place while the deer runs off. It just isn’t possible.

by: Essy Jane

6 months later…

Jesse was sitting through another boring day of class February afternoon. He
wished he was out driving the General or even feeding the animals. Jesse
hated school though he was good at it. There was something about this
teacher that gave him the creeps. This was his second semester and he didn’t
have a course he liked. “Now class I want you to write a paper on something
in American history that you find important. It will be due next week,” Mr.
Henderson stated.

He looked at his students just sitting staring at the chalkboard. When the
teacher gave the students the look they all got to work. No one really likes
school all that much. Half of them like to fool around and see their
friends. The other half still wants to see their friends but they also wish
to get far in their careers. In order to do this they needed school.

Jose hated this class also. He hated the teacher but most of all he hated
school period. Jose was happy that Jesse decided to do go through another
year of High school with him instead of applying for a collage or just
staying home. Jose still didn’t feel all that welcome in this place. Since
he was still new, Jose was a fresh face and didn’t have too my buddies. That
would change sooner or later.

“Hey Jess, can you help me out on this paper?” Jose asked. Jessie looked at
his cousin and smiled. “I know you’re good at this and you’re going to push
it in my face later. I just don’t know what to write about at all.

Jesse loved to help people out on things especially homework papers. Jesse
was very skilled in that area. He was a pretty smart person. Something about
school kept Jesse working hard. He loved to show off his work to the world.
Everyone that would look at his work wouldn’t believe that such an airhead
could do so much work. That was Jesse though, he had so much potential.

Jose on the other hand just hated school. He didn’t want to do it and he
couldn’t do it. But Bo wouldn’t accept that from him at all. Jose sneered at
the school work he was given. “If I am going to be a farmer why in the world
do I need school?” Jose would always say. Although he knew better, Jose
wouldn’t let on that school was important. He didn’t put down a point no
matter how important it was to do so.

Jose was a smart kid he just didn’t use it in school. To him school was just
another manual task he had to do. You see, Bo had said it was either books
or a job. Jose would rather be in school than have a full time job at the
grocery store. He would rather play sports than ever getting a good mark in
school. It wasn’t that Jose was crazy or anything he just didn’t like being
judged by a number. It was like his protest. Bo didn’t mind it as long as he
kept a 70% average.

Jesse laughed at him. “Well it ain’t that hard. What’d you like most about
our history? I like when we got the constitution up in order. Think of how
they must’ve felt to be free from the British’s illogical policies. That’s
mine now what would yours be Jose? Come on I would really like to know
before you hit 40. I mean you ought to have something to show for going to
school all those years,” Jesse replied.

“Well let’s see…there’s nothing I could talk about that I don’t really hate.
I could talk about how stupid war is and ask why is every American so for
it.”

“You’re American. Doesn’t helping the world mean anything to you cousin? I
mean in all honesty we’re one of the world powers.”

“So? I am sick of people going off to war. I mean they say they’re making
the world safe. But how is it safe if it’s full of old artillery shells.
What if kids pick up? I mean some don’t even know what it is. I mean look at
World war I. The wars never stop either.”

“It happens a lot too doesn’t it?”

“A little bit too often. I can’t stand thinking about what our society is
coming to. I mean in all honesty, a whole lot of men being dragged into the
army and they don’t even want to be there.” Jesse thought about how it
must’ve felt to be pushed into world war I and II what would’ve it been
like? How would have it felt to win? What was it like to experience it all
first hand? Jesse had always wondered these things. He had always wanted to
know what war was really like for the people that went. Luke was a Marine.
Yes, maybe he would talk to him sometime about it. Then again, when would he
remember to talk to him about it?

“Well you don’t have to write about war in particular. I mean there are lots
of other topics.”

“Slavery is one. Yes, let’s talk about how people were abused because of the
colour of their skins.”

“Another strike on my part I guess but Jose, there were some good things
that came out of America.”

“Like what?”

“You came from here didn’t you? I would think that you would know that.”
Jose smiled.

“Thanks Jesse. I guess I didn’t think of it that way. I don’t know I feel so
negative when I take history. I mean how much have we really learned from
our mistakes?”

“I hope we learn more than we did in the past. I mean all those things that
happened were big. It is because of differences. I think we are doing better
now. You of all people should see that. If everyone had someone like my dad
there wouldn’t be much of this.”

“I hope more people change the world and make it better. You know one thing
I have always wondered?”

“What?”

“Why the heck don’t they teach us about more countries? I mean they touch
base on them but it isn’t that much. My best friend came from another
country and he was way more educated about my country than I was about his.”

“Well I wish they would find a way to change it too. I would love to learn
about other countries.”

The bell rang and everyone rushed to get out of the over crowded classroom.
Anyone that wanted to stay in at lunchtime had to be crazy. Jesse and Jose
were walking through the rotunda. It was calm and cooling to hear the loud
clatter of the school. Jose couldn’t believe how the school grew on him. It
was so much easier just to walk around like that.

Doors open on either side of the hallway. The two young men were dressed in
ebony trench coats. Both seemed to have the rage of fire in their eyes.
Something had been troubling them for months. It wasn’t small either.
Sometimes things gather up into your mind until they burst. These two young
men were brothers and were treated the same way. Both didn’t have respect
and were ignored and not brought into a circle of friendship.

They took out small machine guns. They stripped off their trench coats and
looked at each other. They nodded at each other. No one seemed to notice the
guns. They were too busy talking to each other. Jesse and Jose were the
biggest center of attention as they always were. A big group of girls
surrounded them. Talking and laughing went on in the corner as they were
unaware of what was about to take place.

The young men with the guns glared at each other. Their eyes were full of
rage. Both young men were covered in ammo. They began shooting bullets up in
the air and moderately to students. Jesse pushed Jose to the ground almost
instinctively. “What’d you do that for?” Jose asked his cousin. As he heard
more gun shots, Jose know that Jesse wasn’t about to answer that question.

Minutes later, Jo Anna crawled on the floor towards the boys as the screams
became louder. She looked at them crunched down and silent. Jesse was
letting out long quivering breaths and Jose clenching his fists in anger for
the deed that was taking place. Both weren’t too thrilled of what was going
on. Jo Anna tapped one of them on the shoulder making both jump. “Hi y’all I
thought I would join you on the floor,” Jo commented.

There were sirens all around them as the state police and local police
surrounded the high school.” You shouldn’t be here,” Jesse whispered in her
ear. Jo looked at him angrily. Jo Anna was a part of this family like
everyone else. She could beat up the best of them. However there was no way
Jo was going to stay here. Jesse loved her too much to loose her.

“So I always get help from upstairs, big deal. I thought I could help you
two out seeing as y’all are going to come up with a plan to get out of here.
I know that you two think a little bit slower than the rest of us.”

“Jo Anna, this is no joking matter. If you think about it coming downstairs
when you could’ve gotten out of here seems more appropriate.”

“I don’t think I would feel easy leaving you guys alone. I wouldn’t care to
and I won’t because I just know that you need all the help you can get
especially was all of these bad guys standing around everywhere.”

“I don’t want you to die or get hurt. Jo, go up the stairs if you can and
get out.” Jo Anna looked at Jesse’s pleading eyes and knew that he was
worried for her.

“Besides that I am not going to let you ruin my moment!” Jose exclaimed.

“You are a big brat you know that? I wish I could slug you one Jose,” Jo
commented.

“Jo Anna, pay no attention to Jose, promise me you will get out of here. I
don’t think I need to say it again,” Jesse butted in.

“But Jesse you know…”

“No but Jesse’s. I want you out of here now. I don’t want you in this mess.
We can handle ourselves. You have a good day Jo Anna. Don’t let dad worry
too much.” She did as her brother said but not before hugging him.

“So how are we going to get all these people out with out them becoming
lunch meat?” Jose asked.

“That’s a very good question.”

“You don’t know do you?”

“I will think of something. I have been dealing with problems all my life.”

“Jesse you are a problem waiting to come out. Now, how are we going to do
this? Should I take the first one and you take the second one?”

“I think that will result in tragedy. Something in these guys is making them
want to do this. It just doesn’t come out. I have never seen those two
before. Are they new here?”

“You could be right but why in the world would they want to bomb the
school?”

“I couldn’t tell you for a second.”

“Do you have a plan yet?” Jose was getting just a tad annoying. Jesse had to
think long and hard about this. One wrong move and everyone could be dead.
He didn’t know exactly what to do.

“I am trying Jose; you have to give me a minute.”

“I hate to rush you boy but we are running out of time. I don’t think these
people enjoy lying on the floor. Man I told you that this world never
changes. It must have been from teasing. Or maybe…just maybe someone owed
them money and didn’t pay it back. I have heard about that going on.”

“As have I Jose, now will you be quiet so I can think?”

“Can’t a guy help his cousin?”

“You are not helping me with all of these distractions.”

“Okay, I will be quiet.” Jesse thought for a minute and wondered if they
would do anything awful. He looked at the people in where the bullets had
hit some students. Jesse had to do something. But fortunately, Jose thought
of something. Though it was stupid off he went to go talk to the first gun
handler. Jesse did the same with the second gun handler.

Meanwhile outside of the high school…

Bo had heard about it by now as did the rest of the family. Everyone that
had a radio was down there behind the police tape. Luke came to pay a visit
to his son who was now stuck in some building with two crazy men. Luke
walked under the tape as did Bo. They could see Jo Anna running towards
them. Bo’s eyes widened in shock as his daughter reached his arms.

“Dad, Jesse and Jose are crazy,” Jo commented.

“What are you talking about?” Bo asked.

“They’re staying in there. They want to help out in the only way that they
can what ever that means.”

“You mean they could’ve gotten out?”

“I did, they could’ve too.”

“Oh no, they are crazy. I can’t believe I am hearing this. They’re both in
there?”

“That’s right.”

Cletus suddenly realized Bo and Luke were in the police tape. He didn’t
really like them being there all that much considering they weren’t even law
men. “What are you two doing? This is official police business,” Cletus
commented. Luke stared at him.

“My son is in there and I will just bet that there needs to be something
done here. I am a police officer and I am from New York, if you think about
it that makes me as ready to take on things as anyone else,” Luke replied.

“Cletus he’s right. Luke, I want you to come and help me lead this
operation. We have all sorts of back up. What do you want to do?” Enos
asked.

“I want to save the school. My kid is in there along with a lot of others. I
would never let them suffer because of some kid that wants to take their
revenge.” Luke tried to hide his feelings but somehow he couldn’t manage.
There was something in him that wanted to charge into that building and take
those two guys out. That wasn’t possible though.

“You have a plan Luke Duke? I mean this is going to be a tricky one. I don’t
know…no matter what we do, we’ll have to stand our ground. I can’t think of
anything. So I am kind of counting on you for the ideas.”

“I don’t leave home without at least one in my head. I guess that’s what
happens when you become a police officer in New York. Look, I need to
contact these guys somehow. Can you phone the school?”

“Yeah we can. You’re planning to talk them out of this right? It will work
because you’re a Duke and I know it.” Right then and there Daisy rushed over
to the yellow police tape. She saw Coy and Vance just watching the school
and praying for a miracle. Daisy gave them an evil stare. Coy knew that
something had to be said about this but what?

“Daisy, look, I don’t want to keep fighting with you,” Coy remarked.

“You started it not me,” Daisy retorted.

“We’re family and right now my two cousins are in there. They are going to
do something stupid. I know that because I know them.”

“Okay, we’ll be friends…for now. Don’t think that this will last you two. I
don’t like being friends with cheats and liars. For all I am concerned you
would be better left in a street corner.”

“I thought you said…”

“It’s called a joke.”

“This is no time to be joking about anything.”

“I know that…I was trying to break the mood. I am sorry if I caused you any
distress.”

“You’re forgiven.”

Back inside…

Jesse couldn’t believe he had the strength to do this. He kept on walking
closer and closer towards them. Jesse kept his face blank hoping not to show
any fear towards them. He was shaking in his boots. The thoughts of his
father was in his mind. Everything in the past that they had done together
and everything they were going to do together once he got out of this.
Jesse’s thoughts were then turned to his mother. Her grace and beauty that
she showed everyday was going to make the difference here.

“Keep walking, don’t look back. Don’t look at their faces…you have a goal
and you’re going to have to go through with it,” Jesse mumbled to himself.
Though the odds were purely against him Jesse kept on walking. His eyes were
on the task at hand. Nothing was going to stop him now.

Jose didn’t like doing these kinds of things. He had a memory of doing it. I
guess when you live in New York and move to a small town it grows on you.
Jose didn’t like fighting as much anymore. He only did it when he had to.
“Sit back down you two!” The gun men screamed. But Jose and Jesse walked
closer and closer towards them.

“What’s your name stranger?” Jose asked the first gunmen.

“Jerry Mavis and he’s my brother Derrick, I call him Rick for short,” Jerry
replied.

“Why are you two doing this? I mean there has to be a reason right? You
wouldn’t shoot all of these people with out a reason.”

“How would you know?”

“I am from New York, original tough city where survival is everything. Where
are you from?”

“I am from California. We moved here because I got a new step-father and
he’s a farmer. Everyone here hates us both so it’s time for payback.”

“I haven’t even met you.”

“No one even comes up and says hi. Everyone bullies us. I mean I don’t know
what to do anymore. I tried everything to make friends but we’re outsiders.
We don’t belong here.”

“Well this isn’t the answer is it?” Jerry looked at the eyes of everyone.
The trembling that is rippled through the entire student body. Jerry then
looked at Rick and wondered what they were going to do. Both boys didn’t
have the same anger but one thing remained, they just didn’t want to go to
jail. Who would after all?

“We can’t back out now. If we do, my brother and I get killed.”

“Well request stuff. They will trade you anything to get those people safe.
You can have a get-a-way car or bus.”

“What about a helicopter?”

“Yeah that could work Jerry. Who are you going to get to fly it?”

“Jerry, I can fly it. I know how to fly and I have been doing it since I was
10 years old. I can handle a chopper,” Jesse stated.

“Yeah sure and we can get rid of all the extra hostages,” Jose added.

“What do you mean? Without hostages they will come in and get us! Don’t you
understand that they could shoot us on sight?” Rick exclaimed.

“Haven’t you watched the movies? You get rid of some of them and keep the
rest until your demands are met.”

“I don’t have any demands.”

“Must I do everything for you? Look, they’re going to phone you on the
office phone. After a conversation of trying to calm you down, they will ask
you what you want and give it to you. Be prepared for that.” Rick scratched
his head with his machine gun.

“You’re answering the phone.”

“If that’s what you want me to do it will be done. I have no problem talking
with people. Well you’re lucky that the ball is in your court.”

“What do I do with the rest of these guys?”

“Lock them in the gym.”

“Okay but Jerry is going to keep an eye on you.”

“That’s not a problem I can live with that. We’ll both stay out here and
help y’all.” Rick thought that this was a marvellous idea. He pointed
everyone in direction of the gymnasium and stole all the teacher’s keys. He
locked all of the students and teachers in there.

Jose and Jesse waited for the phone call. They were sat across from each
other by the office doors. Jesse knew that his father wouldn’t rest until
both of them were out of there. The phone rang just as Rick was getting
back. Jerry pointed the gun at Jose’s head and glared at Jesse. Jose got up
like he was supposed to and went for the phone. Shakily he picked it up
putting it to his ear. “Hello?” Luke started out over the phone. Jose was
surprised to hear his father’s voice. He wondered what was going on. Luke
wasn’t supposed to be in Hazzard until spring break.

“Hey Dad, what’s up?” Jose answered his father.

“Jose, you okay?”

“I am fine, now let’s get to business. They want a helicopter and about 10
thousand US.”

“Do they want a driver?”

“No, just the chopper; the boys wish for it to be landed on the roof and for
the pilot to leave.”

“They’ll release all of you then?” Jose was quiet on the other end. He
didn’t know what to tell his father. Jose knew that Luke would be worried
for him and wanted to tell him something but the gun that pointed to his gun
made him think otherwise. “Jose, will they let you all go? Will they let
out?”

“Some sacrifices have to be made Dad. Just get these things done.” Tears
filled Luke’s eyes. He knew what his son was going to do even though he
didn’t mention it. Jesse and Jose were going to sacrifice themselves to save
everyone. That was just how the Dukes are.

“Alright son, I will get what they need. You just hang tight and don’t
forget where you’re from. You can make it.”

“Bye now.” Jose hung up the phone. The gun to Jose’s back was thrust into
his shoulder blade. Jose walked over and sat back down again. Jesse stared
at his cousin honourably. He was proud that Jose had the courage to do what
he did.

“Well what did they say?” Jerry asked.

“They’re going to land the chopper on top of the school.”

“You’re good my friend. If your buddy here can fly as good as you talk then
we’re in business.”

“I fly better than anyone talks. I will tell you that now. I can fly better
than I drive which is pretty scary,” Jesse replied.

“Good, you both are amazing people,” Rick commented.

“We have to be when living here.”

“Well you two are remarkable. Thanks to you we could both be Scott free.”

“You’ll be fine.” Jesse thought about what his father would be going through
right now. Thinking about his two boys saving the world once more or maybe
Bo was crying. Jesse just hoped that he wouldn’t be too worried. Most of the
time Jesse could take care of himself which was great for Bo; he just hoped
it would last.

Outside…

Luke was pacing wondering what he was going to do. Would he send in the
chopper and watch his son fly away? Or would he get killed anyway? Luke had
no idea how these boys worked. Luke had been in a lot of cases like this.
One time a man let his daughter go but killed his son. People were just too
unpredictable. This wasn’t just another case though. It was his son! Luke
couldn’t think of anything happening to his boy. There was something about
it that made him feel like the world was failing him. It was so far out of
his reach.

In one shot they could kill Jose. In one shot Luke’s life could end. It only
took one bullet. Luke didn’t want anything to happen to Jose. He loved his
son. He thought that his son was safe up here. Luke realized that this could
have happened in New York too. It still seemed so horrible. No matter what
Luke tried to think about his mind stayed on his son.

Bo felt the exact same way. He knew though that his son was smart though and
had a great amount of trust for him. Some thoughts never go away though. His
son had a big mouth and leaps before he looks. He is reckless and smart.
Sometimes though the intelligence is replaced by anger; Bo wasn’t sure
though that this was the case. He wanted to know that his son was just
fine…was he though?

Bo walked over to his worried cousin. He knew that the tension was building
inside of him. There was nothing he would like better than to make Luke feel
better. What to say to someone in a time like this? Not much you can say but
hold on and keep going. “So Luke, you have a plan?” Bo asked. Luke glanced
up at his cousin not knowing what to say.

“Well Bo I figure that we have to give them what they want. There’s no other
way to save all of those kids,” Luke replied.

“I guess that’s the only thing we can do.”

“When it gets in the air, we’ll have to shoot it down.” Bo looked up at Luke
in shock. He couldn’t believe his cousin would even suggest something like
that. His kid would be in that chopper.

“Luke you can’t!”

“Bo I know that you’re thinking about Jesse in this but we’re only going to
shoot the fuel supply. We have to stop these two. I have been a police
officer for a long time Bo. I am not going to let either one of our kids get
put in a situation that I know they couldn’t handle. I am not that kind of
person. Now let me do what I have been trained to do.”

“Your son’s going to be on that thing too. You can’t do that. You’ll just
have to let them handle themselves. Both are crafty.”

“I just don’t know if they’re crafty enough.” Bo looked at his cousin. He
remembered all the times that they were in sticky situations and how they
seemed to get through it just fine. Why didn’t Luke trust in his son? Jose
was very smart as was Jesse. The two alone could devise a plan smart enough
to get out of this.

“They are just as smart as us two when we were in our twenties. You don’t
understand Luke, things have changed. There is so much more out there for
them to learn about. I am proud of both of them for avoiding certain evils
of this world.”

“Well this is Hazzard County, I guess anything can happen. Okay Bo, we’ll do
it your way.”

“Bo, Luke, How are you boys coming on this?” Enos asked.

“Well we’re starting to get somewhere. I don’t think that it will be much
longer until they come out. We’re going to have to give them what they want.
Are you okay Enos?” Bo answered.

“I miss DJ, he’s in there and I don’t even know what’s going on. I mean is
he hurt? What’s going on with him?”

“I am sure he’s okay. I know that there have been a lot of things he’s gone
through with my boys. I am sure he’ll be fine.”

“You mean our boys,” Luke cut in.

“Yes Luke, our boys,” Bo answered.

Back inside…

Jesse stood up and stretched. He looked down at Jose and smiled. Jerry
seemed mighty bored. Then again, if you were waiting for a helicopter to
land on your roof you might be just as bored as he was. Jesse was starting
to come up with a way in which he could gain more trust of the two boys.
Right now they were still paranoid beyond belief. Jesse objective was to
keep Jose and himself alive after they dropped off the two boys.

“Hey Jerry, you want to play some basketball?” Jesse asked. Jose looked at
Jesse like he was crazy. Out of all the movies Jose had ever watched you
never played basketball in a hostage situation. How could he have been so
dumb? Jesse just smiled. He didn’t know any other way to gain trust then by
playing sports.

“I like basketball but I can’t play, if I put down my gun you could run off
on me and I need a pilot,” Jerry replied.

“I wouldn’t dare. Look I will make a deal with you, get Rick over there to
put a gun on my cousin and if I run off you can shoot him and me. Is that a
deal?”

“Why are you offering me to be dead?” Jose inquired.

“Well I don’t care why he did…I think that’s a good idea,” Rick replied.
Jose’s jaw dropped. He wondered how in the world was this possible.

“One problem though, the gym is full of people,” Jerry stated.

“What? You let the students go and keep the teachers. You can lock them in
the janitor’s closet,” Jesse suggested. The two gunmen thought about it for
a moment. They still had enough hostages because there were about 15
teachers there. Well Ricky and Jerry agreed to it.

They unlocked the gym and all the students were asked to leave. They ran out
in huge hoards. Jesse was relieved to see none of the teachers had been
shot. They were piled into the change rooms because they only unlocked from
the outside. Jesse didn’t know the Janitor’s closet was didn’t say locked.
But that was okay.

Jesse got a pale and mop washing off the splattered blood of the victims. He
dried the floor using athletic uniforms wrapped around his feet. Jose looked
at his cousin and wondered how he got so smart all of a sudden, though since
he was skipped up a grade Jesse Duke must’ve been somewhat smart.

The game was ready to begin. Jesse picked the best ball out of the whole
ball bin. He had a favourite basketball that no one else was allowed to
touch. Now it was time to play 21 a game where you only need to shoot. They
began playing with Jerry since he was the guy with the guns. He aimed for
the basket and missed. Jesse ran after the ball and grabbed it up fast. He
didn’t want to miss anything at all in this game. It got close to where it
didn’t count in regular basketball. Jesse shot an honest game no matter what
the circumstances were. He wasn’t about to stop now.

Jesse shot the ball and got it in the basket. He grabbed the ball and went
further to shoot it again. He got it in again and smiled. Jesse backed up
again and had the ball thrown to him. Now this shot was out of his league.
He missed the basket but not by much. Jerry grabbed the ball and grinned. He
shot it in. “Nice shot Jerry,” Jesse said. Jerry couldn’t believe that Jesse
was being so nice to him.

“Thanks Jesse,” Jerry replied. Now it was Jerry’s turn to back up. He aimed
for the basket and got it in. Jess threw him the ball. Jerry went a little
bit further back again and got it in again.

“You know if you bend your knees a little bit more you won’t be short.”

“I’ll try that.” He did as Jesse said and found it to be much better. After
about 20 minutes of throwing, Jesse won. But Jerry didn’t mind at all. He
had learned a lot about throwing from his new found friend.

“You’re a good player Jerry.” Jerry was breathing heavily from playing. He
wasn’t in as good of shape as he wanted to be. But he was gifted in the
sports field. All Jerry needed was a little more work. He would go far in
life with a hook shot like that. Jesse knew that some people were made to
play. He only did it for fun.

“So are you. I guess that’s why you were in the basketball team huh?”

“Yeah, I always tried my best to keep it going. Dad always says to put in an
honest effort no matter what. If you do you’re best then you are truly the
winner of that game.”

“Well you’re definitely the winner even if I put in an honest effort. I mean
look at you move.”

“My dad taught me how to play. He told me that it builds character. I love
my father a lot. I am glad to have someone like him. How is your step-dad
like?”

“I don’t really want to know. My mom should never have married again. My
father was the best. In truth, I don’t like him at all. He’s always telling
me what to do and where to go. I hate him.”

“You know what? Sometimes it is hard to get a new person in your home. I
mean with Jose for instance, he hasn’t been here all of his life either.
Isn’t that right cousin?”

“Yeah, I used to live in New York and I tell you there are a lot of
differences. I used to know my buddies names and no one else in New York.
There are just too many people there. Here in Hazzard County everyone knows
my dad or my cousin Bo. I’m somebody here in this place,” Jose added.

“Well I wish I would’ve stayed home still though it was nice to meet you
guys. I wish that we would’ve met before all of this happened. We could’ve
been really good friends. I would have liked that a lot more. I mean you
Jesse are one of a kind. Jose you’re not too bad either,” Jerry replied.

“Yeah I feel the same way about Jose. After talking to you while he was busy
playing basketball I too made a friend. I am so glad that there are people
out there that are like you,” Ricky added.

“I ain’t that good of a guy and Jesse, don’t even say it,” Jose answered.
Jesse laughed. He knew that he was predictable.

“What are you talking about? You’re a wonderful person Jose, don’t you ever
forget it either. Y’all have a good personality.”

“Thank you, I won’t forget it. You two are the most amazing people I have
ever met. I know you shot quite a few but you’re not all that bad.” Jerry
and Ricky heard the chopper above them. They were ready to get out of there
as fast as possible. They begin to walk to the janitor’s closet where there
was another set of stairs that leads up to the roof. Jesse goes first
followed by Jerry, Jose and Ricky.

Jerry wasn’t even pointing a gun to Jesse’s back anymore. He seemed to trust
the young man more now than ever. As the four boys got on the roof, Jose
reminded them that the Duke boys were hostages and that even if they were
friends they had to stage it. Jesse got into the drivers part of the
helicopter and started it up. The fuel was full and everything seemed to be
in working order.

The people watched below as the engine started up and the helicopter took to
the sky. Enos was still holding his son tight. Boss Rosco showed up and
looked at Enos and Cletus. “You let them get away?” Boss questioned.

“We had to do it.”

“You are such an idiot. They have two hostages.”

“What else were we supposed to do? They would have been killed if we did it
any other way.”

“Well fine then but don’t expect any extra pay from me.”

“Look Boss Rosco, I have something I want to say to you. I am resigning as
sheriff. I don’t think I can do it anymore. I am too old for this and you
know it. I think Cletus should be sheriff. It has been his dream for a long
time,” Enos told Boss.

“Enos, why would you want to quit?” Bo demands to know. Enos didn’t answer.
He handed in his badge and his gun and walked away with his son. Now Rosco
would have to find a new deputy but whom?

“Enos had to quit now?” Rosco screamed. He kicked his tired hard and ended
up spraining his ankle but of course, all Boss Rosco could think about was
how much it hurt. Cletus came to his aid naturally and helped him.

“Does this mean I get to be your sheriff?” Cletus asked. Rosco rolled his
eyes.

“Do you think that you’re really qualified enough to be a sheriff?”

“I think so.”

“Then use your pea sized brain and take me to the hospital before I change
my mind!” Bo laughed at Rosco. “What is it that you find so funny?”

“Nothing Rosco, nothing at all I just think that you’re amusing,” Bo
answered.

“Well tell someone who cares. You better not laugh again or I will give you
a ticket. It’s Boss Rosco to you.” Bo crocked an eyebrow and shrugged. Boss
Rosco got Cletus to turn him around. He ended up knocking into a sign.
“Ooooh! That smarts! Cletus, you dipstick I don’t like this at all!”

“Sorry Boss!” Cletus grumbled.

Luke stared into the sky and watched the helicopter move further and further
away from his sight. He wondered if he would ever see his son again. With
Jose gone and Jesse it would be awfully quiet for the Dukes.

Now Bo joined Luke just glaring into what looked like a tiny speck in the
sky as it now was only a bleak memory. Bo wondered if his cousin would be
okay. Unlike himself, Luke didn’t have much confidence in his son. He didn’t
think that Jose could last. But he was wrong. Luke was going to find out
just how resourceful those two boys were.

Daisy was just starting to see that things happen. She wasn’t going to risk
loosing another minute with Coy and Vance. Daisy put out her hand for the
handshake that would make all the difference. “Coy, Vance, let’s start over
again. I am wiping the slate clean. I don’t want to fight anymore,” Daisy
commented. Her eye liner went down her face as the tears swarmed her eyes.

“Jesse was right Vance about the whole thing with Daisy. I can’t believe I
didn’t trust him,” Coy said.

“What do you mean?”

“You did change your mind. Somehow he knew that you would. Jesse is one
smart kid. I think that we’re lucky to have him around. I am going to miss
that kid.”

“If he’s anything like his father he’ll be back.”

“I don’t doubt that for a second. There’s something about Jesse that will
get him in trouble.”

“What’s that?”

“Bo told me that Jesse likes to save the world. It’s a harsh world out
there.”

“I just hope he’s going to be alright.”

“I know he will be,” Vance finally stated. He looked at his cousins staring
into the bleak blue sky. Vance knew that there wasn’t much to worry about
but then again why was he so scared?

by: Essy Jane

The dawn approached as Jose woke up. He hadn’t been sleeping very well. He
watched the sun rise. By the time he would get to sleep, it was about
midnight. Jesse had noticed this sleep pattern and wondered what was up with
his cousin. It had been nearly a year since he had moved in. Luke went back
to New York, maybe that was the problem. Whatever it was Jesse wasn’t about
to sit around and let it get bigger.

He walked onto the porch barefoot. Jose turned around and looked at his
cousin. He didn’t understand why Jesse was up. After all, at least if Jose
couldn’t sleep his cousin could get some. “What’s up?” Jesse asked. Jose
looked at him and wondered why he would even ask. But then again here in
Hazzard people care more.

“Well you don’t really want to know,” Jose replied. He turned from his
cousin. He looked at the trees rustling in the wind. They were moving in
sync with the grass. Jose’s eye was caught at the two friends walking down
the road. His head sunk low onto his chest.

“Come on, you can tell me.”

“My best friend has taken sick. I can’t even go and see him. He lives so far
away and I am on probation! I can’t stand this.”

Jesse remembered his best friend Jason his good buddy. He died before Jesse
could see him. It was after that horrid car race. Jesse’s world crumbled
apart for that moment in time. There was nothing he could do about it. “I
know how you feel, I…”

“No you don’t Jesse. This isn’t one of your small town stories. This very
real; I mean you have no clue. My friend has cancer. This is a friend that
has saved my life many times over. I was almost stabbed to death and he
brought me into the hospital. He gave me his identity so my parents wouldn’t
find out.” Jose lifted up his shirt and showed the giant scar that went from
his left shoulder to his right hip.

“Holy!”

“Yeah I know. I had internal bleeding and it caused a lot of damage. I
should never have gone out there that night. But that was in the past. I am
now going to make good decisions. But it doesn’t mean it won’t haunt me. It
also doesn’t prove that I can’t love my best friend.”

“You don’t have to give up your feelings for friends.”

“Yeah but I might never even look into his face again. I will never be able
to thank him. I will never be able to tell him that what he did for me saved
my life in more than one way. I could’ve been dead. But I could’ve called an
ambulance and still have been alive. He called me stupid that night. I
wondered why he would say such a thing but he did. I didn’t want to believe
him either.”

“What do you mean? You’re one of the smartest kids I know. I mean for crying
out loud, you have a higher grade average than me.”

“That comes with hard studying. I may be book smart but I am not all that
smart. I mean I never took responsibility. Until I was put here I didn’t
even know the meaning of the word.”

“Well you have certainly come far since then. You know it as well as I do,
you are getting better. I mean look at that farming face of yours. You get
up and milk the cows with the best of them. I have seen you come home
earlier than you said you were. I mean Jose; you’re turning into quite the
young man here. I know that I don’t have enough experience to say that but
you should’ve seen yourself when you first came here. Jose, you told me that
you wanted to run away. Did you do it?”

“No, I stayed.”

“See what I mean? You have grown so much.”

“I still don’t think I have. I am worried that I will go back to my old
ways. I almost did when my friends showed up”

“You have learned to control yourself. I mean you aren’t that same person.
Living here has done you a world of good.” Jose thought about that. He
thought about all the people here that were willing to be friends with him.
Jose never met that many people that would just talk to a total stranger.

“I have my dad to thank for that. I mean if he never sent me here than I
probably would have been dead or in jail. As tough as I act, I am just a
scared little kid. I am always trying to hide it with this fancy attitude I
have. I have done it so much that now I don’t think I can go back.”

“You’ll find your way in the end. I know you have the power within you Jose.
Well scared little kid, why don’t we make some breakfast? Dad will be happy
I did it for my sister. Besides, I will give you the credit.”

“Sure, why not.” The two walked inside. Jesse put his hand on Jose’s back as
they walked in the house. Jose wasn’t the best cook in the world nor was
Jesse. They burnt the food that they were making. Jo Anna could smell the
crisp burnt eggs from her room. She walked out and laughed at the two men
with dark smoke residue on their faces.

“Y’all suck,” Jo commented.

“I suppose you could do better?” Jose questioned. Jo smiled and rubbed her
hands together. She had that determined grin upon her face that Jose hated
so much. Jo would do anything to prove those two that she was better and
smarter. But that was just because she had nothing better to do with her
time.

“Oh I could do way better. I have made dog food better than how your dish
looks. What do you call it anyway?”

“This happens to be…umm. Jesse what were we making?” Jo laughed. She grabbed
a fresh pan and put it on the stove.

“You better open the door to let the smoke out. Y’all are lucky Mom and Dad
are on vacation or they’d both have your hide. Jesse, Jose, my word of
advice to you is stick to farming. At least that’s one thing y’all can do
with your hands. I will tell you some good honest truth; you’ll never be
good cooks.”

Both Jesse and Jose didn’t like that comment. They were about to prove Jo
wrong. Even if it meant talking to someone about cooking; that was always
hard. They knew one person who could cook well. This one person was one of
their best friends in the world. Denver-Jones Waylon Strate or as they
loved to call him DJ; he had to teach them how to cook. DJ was the only one
with enough patience to teach Jose anything.

Jesse missed his parents. Sometimes Jo was so bossy when Bo and Nancy-Lou
went away. She was always pretending she was Jesse’s mom when Jesse was like
ten minutes older than her. It didn’t make poor old Jesse too happy to be
left with her.

Jose looked at his younger cousin and wondered what he was thinking about.
But he kept it to himself. Jesse was complicated. He always had his moods
where some days he was happy and others he was a grump. Jose thought that’s
the way some people are. But no matter what type of mood Jesse was in, his
older cousin still liked him. He was a very kind and wonderful person. Jesse
was wise beyond his years.

Jesse sat down on the ground and bunched himself in a ball. Jose knew
something was wrong but didn’t know if he should ask him. Jesse began to
make a groaning noise to himself. “Yo Jesse, are you okay?” Jo Anna asked.

“Don’t worry about it, I am sure it’ll pass,” Jesse replied. He began to
breathe deeper and harder. You could tell that the pain was becoming worse
as Jesse’s breathing became irregular. He rocked back and forth hoping the
pain would just go away. Jesse’s eyelids clenched together tightly.

“Where does it hurt?” Jose asked. He remembered one of his friends on the
street that was sitting the same way and doing the same sort of motion. He
was very sick and Jose had to get him to the hospital fast.

“My stomach,” Jesse replied.

“Have you had your appendix removed?”

“No why?”

“I am having the same pains and I haven’t had it removed either.” Jo looked
at Jose wide eyed and wondered about the current situation. The boys got
into her Jeep and they all sped away.

Over at Boss Rosco’s house…

Destiny was working out with her favourite personal trainer. The music was
killing Rosco’s ears. Perry P. Coltrane was laughing at his mother for all
the push-ups she had to do. “Go suck a lemon Perry. I warn you, one of these
days I am going to wipe that smile clean off your face!” Destiny exclaimed.

“One of these days I will be in the police force. I will be Daddy’s top
deputy. We will be able to rule the world together as father and son!
Jit-Jit,” Perry remarked.

Perry was a little bit too much like Rosco. The way he bumped into walls to
the way he crashed his car. It must’ve gone right down the line. Coltrane
women with their brains in tack and Coltrane men with well…scattered brains.
But hey friends, that is just Hazzard life. Rosco grew out of it a bit with
greed. He couldn’t replace who he was.

“Turn off that music woman! I can’t concentrate,” Rosco yells as he comes
down the stairs. Destiny threw her towel down and gave her husband an evil
glare.

“Concentrate on what my pet? Putting your pants on one leg at a time?”
Destiny replies through her teeth. She hated when her sessions were broken.

“No my flying squirrel, I am working on important stuff to make us rich
jit-jit.”

“Well we need more money. I can’t stand being this poor.” Rosco looked at
her with baffled eyes. They were rich. Some people had nothing but others
had lots. Boss had enough to live off of for the next 50 years. It was more
than enough. But his wife wanted more. She was always twisting his arm just
a little bit more. Destiny wouldn’t stop until she had a big 24 karat gold
house. That’s basically what she aimed for and she wouldn’t stop reaching
until she got it. That was just what greed did to you. But not even the late
Boss Hogg with this ruthless, yes he did love money but no he wouldn’t rob
people of everything.

“We’re not that poor plum cake.”

“Well maybe not but we need more to be known throughout the world.”

“We’re known throughout Hazzard.” There was a knock at the door. As Perry
went to get it, the door swung open. In came a woman that had brown curly
hair and a big appetite for life, Mrs. Lulu Hogg. She walked in and dropped
her bags on Rosco’s toes. She glared at him with that mean stare she used to
give J.D.

“You germanous pigheaded low life scum! There are millions of more names
that I could come up for you. What’s this I hear about probation on Bo
Duke’s son?” Lulu screamed.

“Well…umm….you see…” Rosco began to explain. But Lulu was used to this sort
of vile behaviour. She wasn’t about to take Rosco’s excuses.

“Now you listen here, when my husband sold you all his ownin’s in Hazzard I
thought you would be responsible with them. But now I hear what you are
doing to Dukes still?”

“Butterball…let me explain.”

“How dare you use J.D.’s Pet name for me. You know perfectly well that I
didn’t stand for what he did and I won’t stand for what you’re doing. Now
you did wrong to those boys and I feel it in my bones.”

“But Jesse’s a scandalous teenager and a brat…”

“Yeah sure he is and that’s what I like about him.” She walked up the stairs
to the spare bedroom but not before kicking Rosco hard in the leg. Destiny
laughs at Rosco and keeps working with her personal trainer. He couldn’t
believe that Lulu was back in town. This would make things different in
Hazzard again.

Meanwhile at the hospital…

Jesse woke up and looked at Jose who was already awake. “Wasn’t that just
weird?” Jose asked. Jesse smiled groggily still stunned by the drugs. He
pulled the blankets off and lifted his hospital attire. He wanted to see his
scar.

“I wonder how we both managed that. I mean how many cousins get the same
thing at the same time?” Jesse laughed. Daisy walked into the hospital room
and smiled at the two. She knew that the two were becoming good friends. It
made her heart rest at ease.

Daisy sat in between them and looked at Jose. “How are you doing my cousins?
I hope it doesn’t hurt too much. I wouldn’t know because I never had my
appendix out before. Bo did and so did Luke,” Daisy started the
conversation.

“How long do we have to stay here?” Jose asked.

“Well a week but that’s not that bad.”

“Dang it Daisy I want out now! This isn’t fair you know that. I thought
doctors were supposed to patch up and send out. Now we can’t show Jo whose
boss.”

“I think y’all scared her with that double appendix thing. You already
showed her enough.”

“No way, we need to show her still. She told us that we could never learn to
cook.”

Daisy laughed. Memories of teaching Bo and Luke were stuck in her mind. She
remembered how long it took her to teach Luke how to make an omelette. To
this day that is the best thing he made. Y’all can ask Jesse if you don’t
believe me. Bo on the other hand went after one of his much-loved
girlfriends and her favourite thing to do was cook. He dated her for three
months and ended up learning how to cook better than Luke. Bo was lucky on
that end.

“Y’all have to understand that you both come from men that are cooking
impaired. Luke couldn’t make a salad without something not tasting right. Bo
learned in the end. It takes a while when you don’t practice. Who are you
going to get cooking lessons from?” Daisy asked. She looked at her gold
watch with wandering eyes. Daisy hoped they would ask her. She loved
teaching people things.

After Daisy opened that dance academy she was sure that this was all the
teaching experience she needed. She grew to love dancing by minute. Teaching
it was a passion. The students loved her more than anything. But from then
on Daisy knew her life was to be devoted to students. She loved to teach.

“Well Daisy we’re going to ask DJ. I mean there aren’t many people that can
stay that calm for that long with Jose. This guy’s not only the king of
intolerance but he has a temper when things don’t go good,” Jesse replied.
Daisy frowned but understood. She would still be there if DJ didn’t work
out.

“If all else fails I am here for you,” Daisy remarked.

“Thanks cousin, I love you for being more like an aunt to me than someone I
am sure I wouldn’t ever see. I am happy you’re so wonderful cousin Daisy.”

“Well Jesse, I am glad to be here for y’all. You better get your rest.”

“Yeah okay we will. Just don’t tell my dad about this. He’ll come all the
way back from New York just to make sure our scar is heeling properly. Dad
can’t enjoy anything without worrying about his kids.”

“Your father is a worry wart. Now go to sleep or I’ll come in after you with
a sleeping pill.” Daisy winked and waved. She walked out of the room. Her
high heel shoes went clip clop on the cold tiled floor. Jose smiled. He
really likes Daisy even though she was so much older than him.

“I tell you Jesse, if I were a few years older. That girl has one heck of a
smile,” Jose remarked.

“Well she’s also your cousin and to top all of it off she’s married you big
jerk. Her daughter is older than you,” Jesse replied.

“Well then, maybe Lilly-Rose likes younger men.” Jesse roared with laughter.
He knew that not even Jose’s charm could win over Lilly-Rose especially when
she was he cousin.

Lilly-Rose was different from most women. For one thing she beat all of the
mechanics out of Hazzard. She could fix cars faster than the average
mechanic. People trusted her more as well. It was because she had Duke
Blood. Dukes rarely lie. They’re true to their customers and to themselves.
Lilly was also a great looking person. People loved to go in there just to
see her smile. She could make the saddest man smile.

“You’re funny Jose. That’s one thing you know will never happen,” Jesse
commented.

“What ever happened to the whole second cousins marrying each other thing? I
thought that happened a lot in hick towns,” Jose grumbled.

“First off we’re not a hick town. Secondly, we don’t marry our cousins; it’s
just a fact of life.”

“Why do all the good looking people have to be in our family? I mean look at
Lilly’s long tanned silky legs. She has a nice figure too. This girl’s
fixing cars? She should be a model somewhere.”

“Well you never know what your future will bring when fixing a car. I know
that my grandpa was a congressman.”

“Well I don’t want Lilly-Rose to have that job. I want her to be on the
front of a swimsuit edition. Jo can join her that is if she ever wears one
of those two piece swim suits.”

“You are nuts, I mean not even I want to think of Jo Anna in a two piece.”

“That’s because you are her brother.”

“Even so, that’s just sick to even think about. I don’t care if I am her
brother or not. You’re her cousin and you still have those dirty thoughts
floating through your head. There are plenty of pretty girls in Hazzard. You
don’t have to go after your cousin to get a date.”

“Maybe you’re right. But you better let me date a few girls. Pick them up in
the General and have some fun…”

“You better not think you’re going to harass them. I will not allow you to.”

“Oh come on Jesse I just…”

“If my great Uncle Jesse ever heard you saying that he would tan your hide
so fast.”
“I would think he would be proud.”

“Don’t you know anything about this family?” Jose wondered about his late
Great Uncle Jesse. His dad had a hard time mentioning him but Jose didn’t
know why. Luke just had some left over baggage that he wasn’t willing to
deal with. Every time Jose would mention his Uncle or anything about the
farm, Luke would almost crawl into a ball and die.

“Well I don’t even know that man.”

“I do by all the stories I am told about him. Didn’t your dad say anything
about him?”

“Only that he raised him and that he was an amazing man.”

“Boy oh boy, that’s not enough information to write a paragraph on. Well
your Uncle Jesse was the one that got my dad and yours out of trouble.”

“I didn’t know my Dad was in trouble a lot.”

“Yep, it’s just like us running from the law all the time. I mean they were
always chased by Rosco. Boss Hogg blamed them for so much. Dad and Luke got
hauled into the station more in one day then the average person would be
hauled in over a life time.”

“How much did Bo tell you about my dad? I mean I really never heard
anything. All I know is how my parents first met.”

“Well Luke was in the marines. He hated it and came back with a lot of
battle scars that were further than skin deep. Luke was distant from my dad
until one day Dad got in trouble. He was getting beaten up by a bunch of
goons and Luke punched them out. Dad had to get stitches after that one.”

“Dad was a pretty tough guy?”

“Yeah, kind of like you. He was quiet though and spoke his mind when ever it
was needed. But Luke had a wild streak to him. I mean wild. When Dad would
get into trouble, Luke would be there to get him back out. I mean it was
amazing how they were always there for each other. Why are you asking me all
of this?”

“I never really talked to my dad about his past. I didn’t care to know. He
mentioned Hazzard a few times. But as soon as he was getting to what he said
was the good part I would end up running off.”

Jesse thought about how hard it would be not to talk to his father. Bo was
too amazing to shut out. If you didn’t want to listen to his story, he would
show you in the General. It was something that Bo was good at. He loved his
kids and everyone else’s for that matter. Bo would baby-sit at the drop of a
hair pin.

Jesse also wondered how Jose could isolate himself from his family the way
he did. No matter how much Jo drove Jesse insane, he always loved her. Jo
Anna was overbearing sometimes almost crazy but Jesse would drop everything
just to show that he cared. Jo treated him with enough respect for it too.

Jose sat in his hospital bed just staring at the wall. He wondered why he
hadn’t told anyone anything like this before. Even when Jose talked to his
mom it wasn’t a normal conversation. He didn’t talk about his feelings at
all with her. Jose just talked about how he wished he was on his own. But
Jose didn’t feel like that anymore. In fact he knew he needed people.

Jo Anna walked into the hospital room and looked at the two boys. She
wondered what they had been talking about. Both were really quiet so Jo knew
it was something good and emotional. Jo Anna didn’t like any mushy stuff.
She liked cold hard fact. “Hey Jesse, hi cheese ball, how y’all doing
today?” Jo asked. Jose didn’t like his nickname one bit.

“Now that’s what makes Jo loose her girlish charm,” Jose joked. Jesse began
to laugh as did is cousin. Jo Anna looked at them with a puzzled tone
painted across her face.

“Male bonding,” Jo mumbles softly to herself.

“What’s that sugar lips?” Jose asked.

“You ever sugar lips me again, hospital bed or not I will strangle you!” Jo
Anna exclaimed.

“You egg her on too much Jose,” Jesse laughed.

“Well it’s all part of the trade. Who does she get this rage from?” Jose
replied.

“As far as I can tell, your father told me that Dad used to have the same
temper. It got him in trouble a lot.” Jo Anna stormed out of the room.

“That’s the last time I am nice to anyone that’s sick,” Jo Anna grumbles.
She stomps off in the pit of rage. Jesse reaches over and high fives Jose.
The two finally settle down and get to sleep.

Two days later…

Jesse and Jose were pushing two little girls around the hallways of the
hospital. “Faster Jesse faster you can do it!” April exclaimed.

“Okay April! Here we go,” Jesse remarked. He pushed on the wheelchair a bit
harder.

“Are you going to let him win Jose?” Emily remarked. Jose laughed.

“That boy couldn’t beat me in a wrestling match,” Jose commented.

“Prove it!” Jose started to move a little bit faster. He waved to his cousin
who was inching more and more behind him by the second. Jesse grumbled at
the sight. He began to run just a little bit faster. Jesse was getting
faster by the second.

Jose could see his cousin through the corner of his eye. They were both
almost totally out of breath. But what was worse was that food carts that
were in their way. Both Jose and Jesse turned the wheelchairs around and
ended up smacking right into them. The boys were covered in food.

“You have anymore smart ideas like this and I will kill you,” Jose grumbled.
Jesse reached over towards Jose’s face and spooned off some jell-o with his
finger.

“Mmmm, fruity,” Jesse remarked. Jose rolled his eyes and tried some of the
jell-o on his face. It was rather tasty. But the chocolate pudding on
Jesse’s face looked much more appetizing.

“Yours tastes better.”

A few hours later…

The doctors had decided to let the boys out early. They seemed to be
recovering faster than the doctors had expected. Jose and Jesse were also
too wild to keep in a hospital. When they phoned Daisy to pick them up,
Jesse made her promise to bring the General by. She agreed of course.

As Jesse saw the sight of the general pulling up he almost cried. “What are
you crying for, it’s only a car,” Jose remarked.

“The General Lee is anything but a car Jose! He’s a friend of the family…no
he is family,” Jesse retorted.

“Whatever you say Jesse, but I still think that a thing made out of medal is
a thing and not a family member.” Daisy moved into the back seat of the
General.

“I know that he may not seem like family to you but you haven’t been around
him long enough.” Jesse revved the engine and smiled. He grasped the
steering wheel tightly as he put on his driver face. Jesse was ready to
speed home. But he would take it a step at a time.

At least that was his plan until speed trap number 2 was taken place. Cletus
was getting even more creative lately. This time he didn’t turn on his
sirens. Jesse didn’t notice him on his tail. But as soon as Jesse went a
little over the speed limit, that’s when Cletus went for the police lights.
Everyone in the vehicle jumped, looking back to see who it was. Sure enough
there is dipstick two, Cletus. He looked determined to catch someone.

He wasn’t having a good week. Cletus wanted to lead Hazzard County with Boss
by his side. But that couldn’t happen. Boss Rosco said it was passed down
from commissioner to sheriff not deputy to commissioner. He wasn’t too happy
about that in any way. He deserved to help Boss Rosco. But instead he was
chasing the Duke boys. But that was fine too.

Enos didn’t do it very often. He was a law biding man after all. Enos was
lucky he had Cletus. Without him, Enos would be fired faster than you can
say it’s harder to tutor two tutors to toot the tooting tooters flute. Boss
liked Enos simply because he was Rosco’s very first dipstick. It didn’t
matter if he was gone or not, he would always be Boss’ partner.

“Why does he try this?” Daisy asks.

“Just to bug us,” Jose replies. He moves his foot onto the accelerator and
pushes down on it hard with his foot.

“What are you doing? I am the one that’s driving here!” Jesse exclaimed.
Jose knew that this was true. He stopped going a little ways.

“He has nothing on us.”

“Yeah and that’s why we’re going to pull of to the side and see what Cletus
wants. I mean in all honesty it shouldn’t be as bad as other times; unless
you really want to avoid a ticket.”

“Well it’s your money because I ain’t paying your ticket again.”

“Oh come on Jose.”

“No I mean it. I am putting my money into that mustang too. You think for
one second I would be able to put my money into your tom foolery?”

“Okay, we’ll speed it up.” Jesse pushed down on the gas and let the General
fly, thanks to the dip provided. Cletus did the same. He flew up in the air
and crashed the front of the car. It was a wonder these cars didn’t die out
on them. But Boss Rosco would just patch them up and pay expenses.

“Is he okay?” The boys saw a door open and a man slip off the edge of it.
Cletus landed on his bum. He didn’t move really.

“Come on boys! Help your friend Cletus. Please! I am sorry I chase y’all. I
was just doing my job. You know I want to be sheriff someday. Enos gets to
hog all the glory while I am stuck working deputy,” Cletus winded.

“Well we have our work cut out for us getting your car out of the air. I am
surprised this thing lasts the way it does,” Jose laughed.

“Yeah no kidding Cletus, when’s Boss going to get y’all new ones?” Jesse
asked.

“When they’re too damaged to fix,” Cletus replied. Jesse walked over to the
radio as Jose climbed into the police car to grab Cletus’ lunch. He was
quite hungry and didn’t want to wait for Lilly-Rose or Cooter to some and
his car. It was the way poor Cletus was. Jesse and Jose would wait until
one of the Hazzard’s finest mechanics were there to get the cars down.

Jose jumped out of the car and handed Cletus his lunch. “Thank you kindly
Jose. Man, am I ever hungry. I could eat a mountain full of ice cream though
I might get a little cold. You want a trout sandwich Jose?” Cletus took it
out. The aroma of the sandwich filled the air. Jose’s face went bitter and
sour. He pushed Cletus’ arm away hoping the smell would go away.

Just then, another car was speeding though Hazzard County. But as the driver
caught sight of the orange car he slammed on his breaks. A man set around
Bo’s age was sitting in the driver’s seat. Jose walked up to the car and
glared in, wondering why he had stopped. “Hi there, I was heading for the
Duke farm when I saw the General Lee. Is Bo Duke around here?” The stranger
asked.

“No, he’s on vacation believe it or not,” Jose replied.

“Then why is the General out here?”

“Well the General Lee is mine and that guys over there. You know the one on
the CB? Anyway, I have been driving it for a bit over a year now.”

“What’s your name?”

“Jose, Jose Duke. I am the son of Luke Duke.”

“Oh, Luke’s little boy Jose? Well how about that who’s in the back of the
General?”

“That’s my cousin Daisy.” The door opened slightly. Jose moved over so that
it could swing open. The blonde hair man came out. His moustache stuck out
more than anything else. Another door was open and a wheelchair brought out.
A man, around the same age as his dad was wheeled out.

“Thanks Coy,” Vance stated.

“You’re welcome cuz, you know I wouldn’t leave you in there don’t you?” Coy
replied.

“Yeah I guess you wouldn’t.” Vance scratched his head and wondered what
coming back to Hazzard like this would be like.

“I ain’t a mean cousin you know. I am just worried about you sometimes.
Daisy’s in the General.”

“Now there’s a person I haven’t seen in a while. She must still look the
same.”

It had been quite sometime since the accident. Vance didn’t have any breaks
on his car and ended up rolling it. As it finally stopped, he was hit about
four more times by oncoming traffic. He was lucky to be alive, so the
doctors said. But one thing would remain and that was his paralysis. He
would never drive again. Never get behind a wheel watching the country
before him. He had to count solely on someone else.

Coy didn’t mind helping him after all they were as close as Bo and Luke.
But both cousins came to realize that their personalities would change. They
had to change. It wasn’t because they didn’t like who they were it was that
for so long they were trying to live up to their cousins. But somehow it
didn’t work. All that they knew was crumbling past their eyes.

Daisy got out of the General at sight of them. Neither she nor any of the
other Dukes were ever told about the accident. “What happened to Vance?”
Daisy asked.

“Well Daisy girl, I did something awful. I did a flip cycle on the free way.
It wasn’t very good that’s for sure,” Vance replied.

“When did this happen?”

“A long while back is when it happened! We were just worried about if I
could even make it. Coy didn’t want to tell anybody so we didn’t. Left it a
complete secret all that time because of fear; besides that we didn’t want
y’all to be our supervisors in everything we did.”

“Now that’s not the way to look at it Vance Duke and you know it. We were
family. That is until you lied to us. Now you’re just a couple of strangers
in my book.”

“Daisy, we’re sorry.”

“Well we didn’t know where to find you when Uncle Jesse passed on. You
should’ve been there at his funeral!”

“He’s dead?”

“That’s right! You weren’t around for it. You missed out on everything
because you didn’t call or even write. Bo got married and so did Luke. I
mean come on really! I couldn’t even find y’all because of your partying all
the time. I can’t believe how much you two changed and it’s not for the
better either.”

“We’re good guys again honest Daisy.”

“When are you going to grow up Vance? I bet you were drunk when you rolled
your car. I don’t want you near those boys. I don’t want you to even look at
them. It isn’t right for you to come waltzing back here with that same
attitude and expect someone to change it for you. You know that’s not
right.”

“I am not trying to mess with everyone again. I am a changed man, no matter
what you say. I know what I am doing Daisy.”

“That’s what you said last year when you left that part of the family. Do
you know what happened? Their house burnt down.”

“I am sorry.”

“Daisy, he is sorry, so am I,” Coy mumbled.

“As for you, well you can just stay out of our Hazzard!” Daisy screamed. She
climbed back into the General Lee and called for the boys to come too.

With trying to be like Bo and Luke, the other two boys lost what was
important to them, their identities. Coy and Vance did some awful things
while they were away from the farm. One of the things they did was they
would go on all night drinking binges. It got so bad that they were sent to
prison on many occasions. It wasn’t for being drunk. It was the destruction
they cause while in a drunken state.

The two could wreck whole bars and topple over pretty fast afterwards. They
were too drunk and too stupid to know any better. It was like the whole
thing didn’t even happen. Now you hear many people tell others that they had
a good time because they couldn’t remember a thing. Well does that really
make sense? How is it a good time if you can’t remember how wonderful the
time was?

Well Coy and Vance dried out in those prisons. The bail was always set high
and as usual, they couldn’t pay it. They didn’t hold jobs nor would they
hold jobs. They couldn’t do it because of their alcoholism. When they did
get jobs it lasted for two weeks to a month. It wasn’t long enough to keep
them on their feet. Every cent they did get went for another bottle of suds.

The police had to call their next of kin. That had to be Uncle Jesse. Uncle
Jesse had to drive all night long to bail them out of prison. But it wasn’t
the last time. Jesse had to take another mortgage out on the farm just to
make ends meat.

It got so bad that Bo started working at the construction site with his
friend Birdie. Luke had already left by then. He couldn’t stay any longer.
Luke’s dreams were waiting for him. Bo was soon to follow but now without
getting his Uncle out of the hole. Bo worked two jobs after that, getting
his Uncle that much closer. When Bo left, Jesse had hired help. He couldn’t
do as much as he used to. About a year later Bo returned to Hazzard County
when Jesse took sick.

“Look, I am sorry for what we did in the past. I am sorry we hurt you all.
But Daisy, this is crazy. You can’t hate your family. I can’t let this go
on. Vance was drunk when he had the accident. We have learned out lesson,”
Coy commented.

“Well you should both be ashamed of yourselves. I don’t even know why you
came back to Hazzard. You were just wannabes from the start. I can’t think
of how many ways you have hurt me. I don’t want to deal with you anymore!”
Daisy exclaimed. She walked off. Jose went after her and Jesse stayed there.
He didn’t want Coy and Vance to go running off on them. Coy slammed his fist
hard on the handle bars of Vance’s wheelchair.

“I am sorry about what happened Daisy’s set in her ways,” Jesse apologized.
Coy lowered his head.

“No Jesse, I deserved it. You have to understand that what I did is
unfixable. Some things just can’t change on their own,” Coy tried to
explain. But Jesse wouldn’t take that as an answer.

“You’re spending the next couple of nights around my house. I don’t even
want to think that you have left. If you have a problem with that then
become the quitter you once were. Remember though Coy and Vance, you need to
prove yourself and this is the only way.”

“You don’t think that for one second that this would bring her thoughts to
ease do you? I mean you know that she’s set in her ways, why don’t you just
accept it Jesse?”

“Why would y’all come back if you weren’t any different? You can spend the
night okay? Just drive over to the Duke farm and wait for us. Don’t go in
because there is a person that could rip your head off better than Daisy
ever could.”

“Who’s that?”

“My sister Jo, man alive she’s a wonderful person and all but her temper
gets the best of her. I mean she beats up some of the toughest guys in
Hazzard.” Coy laughed. He was reminded of himself but more of Bo. Bo was the
ultimate forceful guy. He wanted everything to be his way. But Bo grew out
of it and Coy knew that Jo would grow out of it too.

After those last few remarks, both Jesse and Jose got into the car and drove
Daisy home. The stubborn woman refused to say a word all the way there. She
was angry about them even showing their faces in Hazzard. As far as Daisy
was concerned the Coy and Vance she knew were dead. Their acts seemed not
very Duke like.

Daisy wasn’t about to stand by those two if they were to double cross the
family again. It was bad enough when Uncle Jesse had to go and bail them out
for things. Daisy didn’t want Bo to have to do the same thing. The Duke farm
was becoming better and better everyday. Bo was making quite a name for
himself in the farming world. His crops had been successful even with the
drought and everything else.

Both Jesse and Jose were on probation now and Bo could only afford so much.
Sometimes the tickets Cletus gave out were horrendous. It wouldn’t be fair
for him to have to bail Coy and Vance out too; though it didn’t look like
Vance couldn’t get in much more trouble.

Daisy wasn’t willing to risk her heart either. The worry and the pain were
just too much to deal with a second time. She loved her cousins more than
anything. However, there were some things that she just wouldn’t do. Taking
those two back would be the biggest mistake of her life. She didn’t care how
much they supposedly changed.

Coy was a great guy when he wasn’t drunk. He took care of Uncle Jesse when
he was ten after he took sick. But when he left the farm, Coy beat people up
until they couldn’t move. It was wrong and hard on the people around him.
Coy wasn’t as much like Bo as he pretended to be. Inside he was a joker but
serious. Coy was caring and happy. He had this problem calling up girls
sometimes. You wouldn’t be able to tell that with how he was acting. But
trying to be Bo was hard work. Coy loved to drive just as much as any other
Duke but he was no Bo no matter how hard he tried. Coy worked as a mechanic
and tuned up cars to the best out of the whole staff of Lou’s auto body and
garage.

Vance too was a great guy when he showed his true self. Inside he was
compassionate and had a great love for people. Vance was emotional sometimes
and but otherwise very serious. He didn’t like when people made wise cracks
about people. That’s when his short string of anger would blow. Vance his a
pretty normal guy though. He fixes clocks for a living. It doesn’t seem like
much but it’s a job.

Hours later at the house…

All were eating at the supper table. Coy and Vance were eating Jo’s cooking
like they hadn’t eaten in weeks. “So where have y’all been in the last 16
years of my life?” Jesse asked. Jose rolled his eyes. Sometimes Jesse seemed
like the smartest person in the world and the next time he asked the dumbest
questions. Jose knew when to keep his mouth shut.

“Well we have been in prison a lot. For about the last six years, Vance was
in a comma. He didn’t seem to be doing any better and somehow my cousin just
got up and started to fight,” Coy replied.

“You know, I heard that you two were wannabes from a certain someone.”

“Yeah we both were. You see Jesse, it’s hard to live up to someone as great
as Bo and Luke and well…we had problems with it. Coy and I tried too hard to
become people who we weren’t. In the end we both failed miserably. Don’t you
two ever be someone you are not otherwise I will have to hire someone to
kick your butt. It didn’t do anything good for us,” Vance answered.

“Yeah, it just made us jealous. Oh did you hear the boys saved this person?
I mean we were so caught up in fame that we were competing with them. That’s
when we turned to alcohol.”

“Worst thing anyone could do is touch that stuff. I am not talking about the
watered down stuff that Boss Hogg serves at his bar either.”

“You mean Boss Rosco. Boss Hogg has been dead for quite some time now,”
Jesse corrected them.

“Man, I thought that guy would live forever,” Coy commented.

“The good lord takes people when he wants them. But I know my Uncle was a
good man and always will be. He’s sweet and loving. I think my Dad got the
good end of the deal.”

“Yeah we too were lucky in that sense. I didn’t think so at first. I
thought we had a terrible life when we had to come to Hazzard. I mean when
you come from a big city and you’re now in a town that has a low population
and farmland,” Vance replied.

“I know where you’re coming from there pal. Look at me, on probation in this
place. My father’s a cop and my brother gets all the attention. I go from
sky scrappers to elevators,” Jose said.

“We don’t use grain elevators as much any more,” Jesse retorted.

“You want a slap in the chops?”

“No.” Coy and Vance looked at each other. They both agreed that those two
were totally Bo and Luke in every way. They had it down to the very seam.

“You’re not supposed to correct me.”

“Well someone’s got to do it Jose and it might as well be me. I mean think
about it, if I didn’t do it Jo would.” Jo Anna smiled at Coy and Vance, she
was in the whole thought pattern too. That’s about the time when the door
swung open and the luggage was dropped. Bo and Nancy-Lou were home. Bo
looked at the two men sitting at the table. Vance wondered what his reaction
was going to be if Daisy’s view point was that strong. They were both ready
for a blow up.

“Daddy’s home and yes I got presents for everyone. Jose I am sure you will
like yours the best. I mean it’s from New York and all. Jesse and Jo I know
y’all will be happy with whatever I bring you,” Bo commented. As soon as
Nancy dropped her bags the kids snatched them up and took them into another
room.

“Them kids are vultures,” Nancy grumbled. She looked at her two guests. “I
don’t think we have met before. I am Nancy-Lou Duke.”

“I am Coy and this is my cousin Vance,” Coy replied. They shook hands.

“More of your cousins Bo Duke? Well I have never heard of y’all.” Bo sat
down at the table beside his wife. He looked at the dirty dishes on the
table that were left by the kids. Bo knew that Nancy and he would have to
pick up after their children.

“Well darling, these two are the black sheep of this family. They decided
that they were going to be booze hounds. But I won’t hold that against you
two, after all, you’re family,” Bo answered. Vance and Coy looked at him in
bewilderment. They wondered what changed to make Bo so different.

“Is this the same Bo that made that beautiful orange car out there?” Vance
questioned.

“Yes, I have changed a lot. Some people do change. I mean take my better
half’s father for instance. I never thought Cooter would let me marry his
daughter.”

“Wait a minute, you do look familiar. Cooter’s daughter, you married
Cooter’s daughter?”

“She’s only three years younger than me.”

“I never thought you’d marry your best friend’s kid.” Bo goes up and looked
at kids in his bedroom. They were picking out which clothes were clean and
which were dirty. Jose was supervising since he hated going through people’s
stuff. Bo was happy to see them all getting along so well. He never thought
in a million years those three would become such good friends. Jo Anna was
always trying to kick everyone’s butt and Jose with his wisecracks.
Sometimes people like that don’t mix.

Bo looked back at Coy and Vance with big eyes. He knew that he couldn’t kick
the two out. There was something in them that had changed for the better.
“Look you two; I am letting you stay here not because you’re the best people
in the world but because I know that people can change. That includes you.
But both of you are going to help with the work around here,” Bo stated.

Coy couldn’t believe how much Bo sounded like their dearly departed Uncle.
But he was right about one thing, they needed to earn back their status.
When you’re the black sheep of the family you really have to work your way
up. You just didn’t get respect suddenly.

“I wouldn’t think of staying here if I wasn’t going to work for it,” Vance
replied.

“Good thing Vance. You two are grown men and know how to do farming. I know
that you Vance can still do some things even if you are in a wheelchair.
There will be no slacking. Coy you can work out in the field with Jesse. You
can give him tips and he can help you get reacquainted with the art of
agriculture.”

“Yeah well I will work hard Bo and you can count on me,” Coy responds. He
knew that this was one time he couldn’t let anyone down. Bo smiled at his
cousin.

A few days later…

Vance was working with Jo in the kitchen as Jesse and Coy walked in. Sweat
rolled down their backs as they sat down. “Boy I haven’t worked like that in
ages,” Coy commented as he put his feet up.

“Well Jo is teaching me how to cook and I ain’t ever been so confused in my
life. It’s like you need a dictionary for a cook book,” Vance answered.

“Y’all ain’t complaining are ya?” Jesse laughed. They both shook their heads
no.

“You know school is just around the corner,” Coy said, trying to make
conversation.

“Don’t remind me Coy. We have to go there and listen to some teacher blab. I
hate being younger than everyone else in my class. They all call me brainy
and other cruel things,” Jesse remarked.

“Your daddy was in higher classes though he didn’t tell anyone in his
family. He skipped up two grades when he first started high school. That was
when Luke was in Vietnam.”

Jose walked in and kicked off his boots. “You’re mentioning school around
me? Boy y’all have a screw loose!” Jose exclaimed.

“You say y’all, you’re turning into one of us,” Jesse laughed.

“Don’t you rub that in my face Jesse Duke! I thought we agreed that I will
never be one of you.”

“You may never be me, but you’re becoming one of the family.”

“Sure I am.” Jose got up and washed his hands. He used Jo Anna’s shirt as a
towel. Jo smacked him hard.

“You use your own shirt next time doorknob!” Jo exclaimed. Jose laughed. Bo
walked in and looked at everyone. He smiled to see such a family meeting. It
was missing one thing, Daisy. But she wouldn’t come near Coy and Vance. That
wasn’t very good on her part. She wasn’t willing to forgive no matter what.
But Coy and Vance were showing their changes within the Duke home. Now the
men were equals. They didn’t have to pretend to be Bo and Luke anymore. In
all reality they are Coy and Vance nothing would change that.

“She’s keeping her distance, it doesn’t matter how much I talk to her. Daisy
is convinced that you two are the biggest scum of the Universe. I tried
everything I could. Daisy just ain’t willing to be hurt again,” Bo
commented. Coy frowned. He didn’t know what to say to her to make Daisy
change her mind. There wasn’t much either of them could do.

“Bo I am sorry we came back to Hazzard,” Vance mumbled.

“Why are you sorry? The harvest is going faster than planned and y’all are
showing me the true meaning of love within a family,” Bo retorted.

“We’re causing you so much trouble with Daisy.”

“You’ll just have to wait. Daisy may be set on her ways but she can see
through things just as well as Uncle Jesse used to. That’s something about
her that I love.”

“I still can’t believe he’s gone.”

“I know that was hard for me to even think about. Jesse JR here is like the
man he was named after.” Coy looked at Bo in confusion. Jesse reminded Coy
more of a spider that tricked people. Jesse wasn’t the calm one; he had a
temper like Bo a lot of times. The young man seemed to be the type that
jumped into things without thinking. But Bo had a reason for saying what he
did. Uncle Jesse used to be as wild as Bo at one time. It wasn’t until Uncle
Jesse’s dad died he settled down.

by: Essy Jane

Three weeks later…

There was a curious doctor strolling through the hospital with his mask on.
He inspected the rooms of the hospital and looked at Jesse’s room. There was
only one person in there. His name was Leonard and he had the same mop of
blonde hair as Jesse.

A lot of times people had mistaken them for brothers. Jose pulled the
curtain around Jesse’s bed and looked at him with his deep russet eyes.
Leonard wondered what was going on. Jose removed his mask. “Hey aren’t you
like wanted by Rosco and stuff?” Leonard asked. Well they looked like
cousins I didn’t say he was smart.

“No I am wanted by my Mom and Dad,” Jose replied.

“Oh okay.”

“Did you know that chocolate cures pimples?” Jesse looked at Jose with
sarcasm in his face. Jose knew not to try to tease Lenny.

“Oh wow! There’s something I never heard of. I think I am going to give that
a try. I mean think about being full of pimples I don’t want that to
happen.”

“Who would?”

“I don’t really know Jose. I mean in all honesty my brother pops his all
over the place. It entertains him for hours.”

“Did your parents drop you on your head when you were a baby?”

“Golly I don’t know, maybe I should ask my mama.”

“Not now though. I don’t want to see you move a muscle.”

“Is that a new game or something because I would love to play with y’all?”

“It is a game. I bet you’ll win.” Jose rolled his eyes and sat on the edge
of Jesse’s bed. He looked into his cousin’s deep blue eyes and wondered if
he was okay. Jose didn’t have to say a word. Jesse could almost read his
cousin’s mind. Now that my friend is how close to people can be. These two
cousins seemed like they had known each other all of their lives when it had
only been for a little while.

“I am fine. Look we have to find something on Boss. That’s the only way to
clear you of jail time,” Jesse stated.

“But how would we be doing that? It all honesty I still don’t know this
town. I mean I know it but I don’t know where Boss keeps all his goods and
hides his industry. I am good about finding stuff out about people. I just
need to know where to find it that’s all,” Jose answered.

“Well we just need to figure a way out of here without my dad knowing.” Jose
took out another pair of medical scrubs with a mask. “Hey Leonard, we have a
job for you.”

Ten minutes later…

Jesse and Jose were all masked and ready to go. They stepped outside and saw
Luke and Bo out in the hallway talking to each other. Jesse put his eyes
straight to the ground as he knew that Bo was familiar with his eyes.
Nothing would give him away except Jesse’s eyes. Jose bumped into his Dad
accidentally. “Sorry doctor, I didn’t mean to bang you,” Luke said.

“Just watch your step next time little lady,” Jose replied in his best John
Wayne voice. That was one thing that Luke didn’t know about his son, Jose
was a voice actor. He could do an assortment of different voices.

“You just called me a lady, I am a guy fella.”

“Sorry.” Jose walked away and prepared to get out the door. Luke stared at
the small doctor as he walked out the side door.

“There was something about those two doctors that seemed kind of fishy,” Bo
remarked. He tilted his body to see if Jesse was still in bed. There was the
blonde mop of hair that Bo always looked for when he tried to find his son.

“Well your son’s still there so I don’t see how there can be any problems
associated with it. I mean how could Jose possibly get in here without being
spotted?” Luke reacted. He suddenly paused and thought about the time Uncle
Jesse was sick and those boys were in trouble for moonshine carrying. They
snuck in anyway.

“There is no way they could be as crafty as us is there? I mean they haven’t
turned into us have they?” Luke glared at his cousin. He knew that Jose
would rather not sit around and do nothing.
“That ain’t Jesse.”

“What do you mean by that? He wouldn’t just up and leave the hospital…would
he?”

“They’re out searching for clues and you know it.” Bo didn’t like the sound
of that. If this were true then the boys were headed out to find black mail.
Something that could hook Boss Rosco in jail for a very long time; it was
exciting wasn’t it? It proved that their sons became more and more like them
at every passing moment.

Bo walked over towards the room and pulled off the sheets. Lenny popped up
and started waving. “I lost the game didn’t I?” Lenny asked.

“Leonard! You have to be the weirdest child I know. Now go home and eat some
candy!” Bo exclaimed.

“Yee-ha Bo, my pimples will be gone.” Bo wondered what in the world Lenny
was talking about. He didn’t care to ask. Well they had to do something
about their boys. Going after them was the only way. How would they find
them? Well where there is trouble there is Dukes. Where there is big trouble
there is Boss Rosco.

At an old barn next to the Duke Farm…

Boss Rosco was doing a happy dance as the metal was cut and shaped into
dollar coins. Now friends, it looked like the mint had landed in Hazzard. It
was so amazingly stupid but it seemed to be making Boss Rosco money. He was
making commercials and ads on the internet. The customers really did receive
old money. Well old in the sense of metal from scrap cars he couldn’t sell
in his used car lot. Boss made $119.97 every time he got a sale. Now Boss
was charging three payments $39.99 for pieces of scrap metal that you could
by for $50.

“My money has many names. I love my Benjamin Franklins. Lots of little
hundred dollar bills just for me. I mean…for all of you too,” Boss Rosco
stated. He looked at all his sour workers. But giving them a small piece of
the pie wasn’t any skin off of Rosco’s butt.

Jose and Jesse were watching up from above. They had the bodies leaning
against barrels of hay. “What a dork. He just wants his millions,” Jesse
whispered.

“Well my Dad said that Rosco is a dumber version of Lilly-Rose’s dearly
departed Uncle. Though if this Boss Hogg creature would’ve thought of this
it might have driven our parents’ totally up the wall,” Jose replied
quietly.

Outside…

Bo and Luke drove around looking for Boss Rosco’s car. “There it is BMW 330
CI, Rosco’s car,” Bo commented.
“Oh goody, now to get inside,” Luke replied. From the opposite side from the
other boys, Bo and Luke climbed through the window. “I’m getting too old for
this.”
“You’re joking right? Has the city really done that much damage to my
cousin?” Bo questioned.

“No it hasn’t. I was jokin’.” Bo gave Luke a stern look and Luke shrugged.
He propped himself flat on the wobbly boards.

“This don’t seem too stable.” Luke jumped on the boards a little.

“If we lay flat we’ll do fine.”

“Well I will stay down but if these boards break you owe me $20.” They shook
on it. Bo always knew when to make the deal. “Hey look over there. That
black curly hair sticks out funny.” There was another thing Bo was good at,
making crack jokes. But sometimes what jokes you make are used against you.

“Well look at your boy’s hair. He’s basically camouflaged. I mean he matches
with the hay over there. That’s why I used to send you into places like that
first. If they looked towards you that yellow shirt would blend in along
with your hair.” Bo just nodded his head and smiled. They looked at their
sons and as they did, Bo and Luke both heard that little creak in the
boards. The beams broke and the two both went falling down on the sticking
boards. Hay flew everywhere. Jose and Jesse watched their Dad’s and wondered
how they ever found this place out.

“Well I’m going down. I mean my Dad’s there and all. You want to stay up
here? I mean you were shot,” Jose mumbled.

“I wasn’t shot up in the fists. I can fight just fine,” Jesse retorted.
Rosco looked at Bo and Luke as they got up from the ground. He glared at
them with his sapphire eyes twinkling like they always did when he caught
the Duke boys.

“Y’all don’t know when to stop meddlin’ huh? Bo and Luke Duke, you would
think you men had grown up by now. But no, you’re still boys,” Rosco stated.

“You have certainly changed Rosco. You’re certainly the big man on campus
now. You’re giving people charges and to top it off my own son? Rosco
that’s sinking pretty low,” Luke said. Jesse was about to jump off the ledge
when Jose grabbed him by the shoulder. Somehow Jesse was as impatient as his
father. Jose was a Luke just trying to be cool and natural without breaking
the law.

“Well Luke, you know these sales are finalized and I won’t have you Dukes
interfering where you don’t belong. Tie them up Larry and Mitch. When you’re
done that, stick them in the back room of the bank.” Rosco’s henchmen took
out their pistols and looked at Bo and Luke with worn eyes. Bo kept
eyeballing up wondering when their sons would create a diversion so that
Luke and himself could grab guns.

“Okay, now we jump,” Jose whispered. Both boys leaped off the edge of the
boards and ended up on the bad guy’s shoulders. Both Jesse and Jose covered
the men’s eyes. Bo and Luke grabbed the guns and emptied the bullets out of
them. They began punching the other two men in the face.

Jesse and Jose went flying through the air as they both were flung off the
two henchmen’s shoulders. Jose was stunned but Jesse got right back up. He
head butted Mitch in the stomach.

“Dukes are better seen and not heard,” Larry grumbled as he went for Jose.

“Well I say henchmen can’t do their job right unless they’re buying
groceries,” Jose exclaimed. He did a jump kick making poor old Larry land on
his face. He tried to get up but Mitch landed right on top of him.

“That’s the only way to take out the garbage,” Jesse remarked as he gave his
cousin a high five.

Bo and Luke were busy team fighting two other men, Ryan and David. They were
doing quite well. Bo got the guy a few times in the stomach. Luke caught the
guy in the face. All the fighting came to a stop as a gun shot went off.
There was another man to the party now this guy was mean. Pete was his name.

“Well y’all can stop what you’re doing. Mitch, Ryan, David and Larry grab
your guns. These guys could kill you,” he said as he gave them their loaded
guns. The Dukes put their hands on the back of their heads. “We better cuff
them together instead of tied knots. They’s seem tricky.”

As Larry got all the Dukes in handcuffs, they heard a faint noise. It was
revving and slowing down about every 10 seconds. They wondered what it was.
Everyone heard the sound get louder as it went right over their heads. There
was a crash landing followed by a stop. The Dukes moved towards the door a
little. Somehow they knew what was going to happen. There was the nose of
the engine once again. One whole wall was completely torn down as the big
tow truck ran through it. It was Lilly-Rose to the rescue. She backed up to
clear off the access debris. “Hey family, how are we in trouble this time?”
Lilly asked.

“Well…” Luke started to explain.

“No time for that now. Two in the front two in the rear and let’s get out of
here.” Luke couldn’t think of anything else to say so he just got in. There
were two sudden jumps as they all got in the car. Jose kept pushing on his
Dad and Bo couldn’t stop smacking Jesse in the nose. It was a little cosy
and Lilly knew it too.

“Where are you going Lilly?” Luke questioned the young mechanic.

“Well to my garage,” Lilly-Rose remarked. She kept on driving trying to make
sure they weren’t being followed. Bo gave Luke a sour look. He knew what
Luke was thinking before he even opened his mouth.

“You’re right Luke; they’ll be looking for us. Lilly, go to the side
entrance of the Duke farm,” Bo commanded. Everyone looked at Bo funny. They
wondered why they were going back to the farm when that was the first place
they would look. But Lilly-Rose knew not to argue with her cousin. Bo was a
man that liked things done his way. Besides that, Bo was her elder and Daisy
taught her well about things like that. A Duke always has manners taught to
them whether they take it with them or not. Jose used to live them and now
he was beginning to use them again.

“Are you going off the deep end Bo? I am sorry to be rude but isn’t that
where Cletus will look first?” Jose questioned.

“That’s where they will think we won’t be.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well usually we go somewhere else thinking that he will be looking out for
the Duke farm. The law never seems to show up because they know what we’re
thinking so what is the point of that?” For once Bo had a very logical
answer.

Bo and the rest of the handcuffed gang slipped out of the tow truck door. Bo
didn’t like being handcuffed to someone else. He enjoyed his freedom. But
being cuffed to his son wasn’t so bad. The men slid along the slender stalks
of grass. They moved along like slithering snakes aiming towards their prey.
It wasn’t an easy job to stay out of sight but it was working. The men
worked in sync to try to stay on the right path.

As they reached the doors of the house, there stood Jo Anna striking Luke’s
head with strong force. Luke fell unconscious. “Nice job Wonder Woman, you
just knocked my dad out. My dad is handcuffed to me so I have to drag him
across the room. It’s your fault,” Jose mumbled. Jose tried to get up but
his father naturally weighed him down. “Bo I can’t get into the house. Kung
fu princess decided to crack my dad’s skull.”

“That’s not funny dork burger,” Jo Anna grumbled as she yanked Luke and Jose
in the house. She wasn’t too please with Jose so naturally she stepped on
his chest. Bo and Jesse were the next to come in. They slithered on the
ground and got up as the door was closed. “Jo go and get my bolt cutters. I
have to get out of these before I go nuts,” Bo said.

Jose was slapping Luke’s face trying to get a response from him if nothing
else. But Luke was out cold. “Why does your sister have to hit that hard?”
Jose asked Jesse. He just laughed. Jesse didn’t know what to say to his
cousin.

“I have been asking myself the same question for 16 years. She has always
been a little bit tougher. I hate that. I was the one that was wrapped
around the chord. I was the one that was in ICU and I was the one that
almost died. She had no problems. She got to go home with Dad while I was
stuck in a hospital,” Jesse complained.

“Well I was in the hospital with Juntas if that makes you feel any better.”

“At least you were yellow. I was hooked up to breathing machines.”

“Well I am so glad you lived. If it wasn’t for you I would have run away
ages ago cousin. I just hope you’ll always be nice to me. I mean I wasn’t
too nice to you.” Bo looked at Jesse wondering what his son would say next.

“You know Jose I don’t judge people on first impressions. You’re one
interesting person and I think that you’re going to become something great.”
Jose looked at his Dad. The words Jesse said were the exact same words Luke
had used on him many times over. Jose never believed it. He always thought
he was too stupid. But now somehow Jose knew he could do better. Maybe it
was a wish to become something more than a drug dealer.

Luke’s eyes fluttered open just as Jo walked in with the bolt cutters. Luke
stared at his son and wondered why his smile was so big though he didn’t ask
because of the throbbing headache that he had. Luke wondered about that
boy. He had seemed to change since Luke last set eyes on him. Jose had
changed a lot too. He got a lot smarter.

Jo cut off the handcuffs and everyone rubbed their wrists. “It’s a shame we
didn’t get it taped. I mean if we had proof then we could’ve had at least
Jose not in jail anymore,” Bo grumbled. Jesse and Jose looked at each other
with mischievous grins. They brought out the small disposable cameras they
had in their hands. Jesse also took out the little tape recorder from out of
his coat pocket.

“Is that enough evidence for you?” Jose asked. Bo let out one of his famous
yahoos and jumped up and down.

“Y’all are smarter than you look. This is perfect. I think they’re just like
us after all.” Luke sat up and hugged his son. He knew that Hazzard was
going to change him for the better. Well the better Jose got the better Luke
felt about leaving him there.

Well as the Dukes threatened Boss Rosco with the state police, the charges
were dropped against Jose but Boss refused to take the probation off of
Jesse. This was for a reason. Dukes with guns are worse than Dukes with Bow
and Arrows. Even Rosco knew that. But one thing was for sure, he hadn’t seen
the last of the Duke boys. They may have had different names but the General
was still around.

Well Jesse didn’t mind much with being on probation much. He just had to
learn how to get better with shooting arrows. It would also bring Jose and
Jesse closer together than ever before.

Sometimes bad things happen. But those bad things bring people closer
together. The General had the lost sheep. With Bo and his family what could
go wrong? Well anything can go wrong. That’s Hazzard for you. It’s full of
mistakes. But people come out of Hazzard with twice the amount of sense as
any person in the city.

by: Essy Jane

It had been close to three months since Jesse had been shot and there was
just no change. He didn’t move once. Bo was so worried that he never left
the hospital that night. Bo would just sit by Jesse night after night.
Sometimes Jo Anna would sit there and bother her dad until he smiled at
least once. That was always her greatest challenge. Bo wasn’t too happy
about what was going on. Who would be?

Jose was still in jail and to make things worse, those two men robbed Boss
Rosco’s bank for the second time. Jose was sleeping that afternoon in the
jail cell when he heard foot steps coming down the stairs. Jose looked up to
see it was Enos.

Jose wished that Enos was carrying good news or at least some news. He just
wanted out. Maybe Jose could prove his innocence. Would it work though? Boss
Rosco was crazy and weird all at the same time. Goofy yet smart; hard to
beat that’s for sure. Dukes were always smarter though when it came to
stuff like that. Now the only way to innocence was freedom. Jose had to
manage that somehow. “Hey sheriff,” Jose mumbled as he stretched. Enos had
Uncle Jesse’s checker board in hand.

“You know this was your great Uncles?” Enos asked. Jose nodded as he
recalled the stories that Bo spoke of. The ones that were spoken must’ve of
been way too hard for Luke to speak of but easiest for Bo. “Well he used to
beat me every time. I wasn’t too happy about it because well, it happened
too often. But I tried everyday to get better. It just plain old never
happened. So would you like to challenge me to a game?”

“Can we make a bet on it?”

“Sure, why not.”

“Okay if I win you let me escape from the prison. It will be your little
reward to a new person in town.”

“Jose, now you know I can’t do that.”

“Sure you can. You just simply open the door and say ‘oh you are free’.
After that sudden glorious moment you do a little dance and turn your back.”

“I can’t let you loose.”

“Well when in Rome you have to wear a toga.” As they were talking, Jose
snagged the keys and opened the door slowly. He grabbed Enos and locked him
in.

“Now Jose, don’t do this to me now! Come on buddy don’t leave me.” Jose
waved as he ran outside the door. Thank goodness Cletus was too busy writing
fake tickets to make Boss Rosco rich.

Now Miss Tizdale was gone but her niece took over the mail service for her,
her name was Essy-Jane Tizdale Duke. Now Essy was a big part of everyone’s
life. She was their connection and a good friend. It was a good thing she
was. “Hey Essy, can I have a ride from you?” Jose asked.

Essy looked at her motorcycle and then looked at her car called ‘Uncle Sam’.
Every car had a name whether it was dusty or oil spill. Some even had names
like ‘stupid piece of junk’. But all cars in Hazzard were called something.
Essy’s was special.

“Well sure sweetie, but there’s one thing you must do. Choose our weapon,”
Essy replied. She pointed to both of the vehicles.

“You don’t fly in Sam do you?”

“Of course I fly! This car is almost exactly like your General Lee. Now what
you have to do is get in Uncle Sam. We can loose anyone in that feller. This
is my baby. I painted the flames on the sides myself. I put in my own engine
too.”

“Okay we’ll take the car.” Jose figured that the doors were bolted on and
climbed right through the window. Cletus turned just as he saw Jose’s dark
hair. He got into his police car and drove on after them. The sirens wailed
behind them. “Not Cletus!” Jose smacked his forehead.

“Well I guess we’re both fugitives now. I’ll have to use some of my Hazzard
skills for this one.” Essy pulled a big u-turn and headed back towards
Cletus. He backed up and kept going until he flew backwards into a ditch.
Now Uncle Sam was safe to make his get-a-away.

“Have you been hanging out with my cousin?” Jose asked.

Essy smiled. She kept the car right on going. Over the hills and deep into
the country. She was going quite the odd route but Jose didn’t care. He
would rather ride in a flying car any day than be stuck in some old dirty
prison cell.

Essy took many jumps in Uncle Sam. Sam always did ride well on ground. Jose
held on for dear life. He was learning how to deal with the other people’s
jumping style. Jose did small jumps. This was only because he wasn’t willing
for the whole nine yards so to speak.

When Essy finally came to a stop they were in the middle of nowhere. There
were lots of trees and many distinctive caves all around them. These weren’t
just any caves. Essy had taken Jose the Indian caves. “What are we doing
here?” Jose asked. Essy rolled her eyes and wondered why in the world Jose
didn’t know about these caves.

“This is where your father took me on our first date. This is where Bo took
me on his first date too. They said if ever they were in trouble, here’s the
place to find them. But I thought for sure I was going to marry one of those
fellas. I married Judd Duke Instead,” Essy joked.

“Your daughter is related to me?” Jose questioned.

You could barely tell at all that Essy was close to 39. Bo was about six
years older than her and Luke about ten. It was a love at first sight deal.
Both Bo and Luke when they dated her figured she was much older considering
her figure. Essy was quite crafty too. But that comes with living in Hazzard
for any length of time.

Essy’s skin tone was light. She didn’t always go out of the house. Her
mother and father died in a car crash and Essy lived with her Auntie in
Oklahoma for a long time. She loved it up there. The farmland was beautiful
and she worked harder than any other person on that farm. Essy came to
Hazzard when she was 16 years old and that was the first time the boys ever
layer eyes on the girl. She had a lot of fun playing with their minds; there
was no doubt about that one. Bo and Luke had a lot of fun with Essy too. She
loved people.

“Why didn’t you marry Bo?” Jose inquired. Essy smiled. She looked at him
with soft eyes.

“I couldn’t marry him. He had his heart set on Nancy-Lou. I guess when I met
Esmeralda; I had to adopt her on sight. That was when I was in 1997. Boy do
years pass by,” Essy replied. She looked at the fascinated Jose just sitting
there. “Oh listen to me babble, come on and I’ll show you where you will be
sleeping tonight. Make the moves on me and I will kill you.”

“What about Esmeralda?”

“She’s over at a friend’s tonight. Besides that Alda, that’s her nickname,
knows that if I am gone for more than two days to call Cletus and Enos.”

“Why two?”

“Well in Hazzard County, things are beyond crazy. So she knows what to do.”
Jose leaned on the rocky walls of the cave. It was noticeably relaxing
considering it was a cave. Jose thought about how worried Bo would be about
him. He wondered if Jesse was okay. The problem that comes with being in
jail is Jose hadn’t gotten the chance to sit with Jesse.

He wanted just to hold his hand. Jose longed to tell Jesse just how brave he
really was. Suddenly, Jose heard footsteps. He popped his head out of the
cave door and ended up getting kicked in the face. Jose tried to attack this
masked person. But unfortunately he was foiled.

The masked person punched Jose in the nose. He didn’t like that too much.
Jose hated to be challenged. There was just something in him that always
seemed to stop any sort of emotion in this boy. When someone hit Jose, the
anger filled within him and ate at his heart.

Jose was lifted up over this person’s shoulder, facing upwards and his back
was held over the shoulder of the enemy. The masked person holds Jose in
place and spins around a few times, this person ends up tossing poor Jose
into the air dropping and drops him on the ground. Jose lied there
motionless. He was breathing hard. Jose managed to sweep the masked person’s
leg just well enough to get the person down on the ground.

He wondered who in the world would do such a thing. But then the thought
crossed his mind and he knew there was only one that would ever pull any
moves like that. “Jo! I am going to kill you!” Jose stated. Jo Anna took off
her ski mask. Her hair swayed as the wind lifted it in the air.

“Well I thought there was some bum staying Duke Territory and I was right,”
Jo stated. She gave Jose a hand up. Jose was still mad at her. He fixed his
eyes on her making sure she didn’t pull another move on him. Jose was smart
but he didn’t always put it to good use. “So what are you doing here? I
thought you was in the slammer.”

“I were in the slammer…I mean I was in jail. I couldn’t stay in there for
something I didn’t do. I mean why would I shoot Jesse?” Jose replied.

“I don’t know why would you shoot him? Humour me; I would like to know your
socialistic views on murdering people. Why do you like to use machine guns?”

“Why do you think I did it?! I didn’t do it at all. I like Jesse. I mean at
first he seemed like a big idiot but he grows on you. Jesse’s pretty smart
too. But man is he ditzy. I like him and I wouldn’t shoot someone I liked.”

“Why is that? I mean in all honesty you have shot one of your own friends. I
heard you talking to Luke about it when y’all got here.”

“I shot him in the knee. He was trying to kill me.”

“That’s some friend you got there. Man alive I wouldn’t be sticking around
people that I knew were going to kill me.”

“And I am glad that he helped me out on that. If it wasn’t for Dad I would
be dead right now! I promised I would never use a gun again. I may be a big
man on the streets of New York but I always keep my word. I didn’t shoot
Jesse.”

“I don’t think you did it. But you can you prove it? There was a pair of
gloves on the floor smothered in blood. But I know they were yours because
you are too cool for those. In fact, you think that you are too cool for
anything Jose.”

Jose sat back down on the ground. Her words touched him in a way that
nothing has before. Jose knew that he used to be cold hearted. He didn’t
want to think about things like he should’ve. September 11th 2001 was the
hardest thing he ever had to deal with. The thought of his own flesh and
blood being trapped under the rubble; it scared him. Dreams came after that
almost killed him inside.

Jose didn’t want to think of how many people came out of that alive. He
didn’t want to think about the many that didn’t come out at all. Jose didn’t
want to look at the cloud of smoke that surrounded the city when he was let
out of school early. He wanted the shakes to go away many days after when
they wouldn’t. To him the United States had let him down. He could never
feel safe again.

“I was but now I am different. I have changed beyond the ways of being a
crook,” Jose commented.

“I don’t know, you still think like a crook don’t you?” Jo Anna asked.

“Sometimes I guess Jo. But why do you ask?”

“Have you ever read those corny novels where Don kills Drake and many others
are expected of killing the same person?”

“Well I read something along those lines. But I don’t see how that has to do
with anything.”

“Put two and two together and you get four. Jesse was shot and Boss Rosco
saw that you were getting on the floor.”

“Yes he did. But he won’t admit to it.”

“Exactly, he’s trying to keep you occupied. You see the Dukes of Hazzard
County are generally meddlesome and testy people. They can solve a case like
detectives. Dukes are also addicted to trouble.”

“Yeah well I learned that the hard way. You’re saying that Boss is planning
something?” Jo nodded her head. She looked at Jose who had a horrified look
on his face. “Does that mean that he planned on having Jesse get shot like
that?” Jo Anna gagged.

“Not a chance! Boss Rosco is tricky and money seeking. He most certainly is
not a murderer. He wouldn’t kill anyone, not even a Duke and boy does he
hate us Dukes. Not really hate but doesn’t like. I mean we don’t like him
much either but if Boss ever were drowning, we’s stick together to save his
life. You New York boys ain’t that smart.”

“Don’t make fun of the city that never sleeps. I used to live there.”

“Sorry, we country folks are just happy being us.” Jose never thought of it
that way. He always wanted to be more than what he was known as. Jose was
not a big fighter until his friends laughed at him for having a cop Dad.
They told him that he would be bide by the law for life. Jose didn’t want to
be known as someone who has to do everything his parents say. That’s when he
started to get into fights with the boys that teased him. But as time went
on, Jose got better. But when the news went off about the two buildings
being hit by planes, the younger Jose would never be the same again. That
was the trouble with this tragic world. Everything that happened to people
would have an impact on people. Especially with those very events that
surrounded the attacks.

“I had a reason to be cold hearted. Your Dad had never had his life
threatened I was sure he was dead. Have you ever experienced that?”

“Yes I have. We went to California and there was a bank robber. Dad stepped
in and took the bullet for a total stranger.”

“He’s a good man.”

“Dad’s more than a good man. Dad is tops, number one. He helps everyone in
need. As does Jesse; but that kid is reckless. He is always stepping in
front of things so that others won’t get hurt. I hate it and it does scare
me. Jesse’s too reckless for me.” Jose elbowed Jo Anna in the ribs. He knew
that this young woman was more reckless than both Jesse and Jose put
together.

Jo Anna knew it too. She loved being wild because it made her feel natural.
It wasn’t a girl thing it was a Duke thing. It was because Bo taught his
children to show their emotions. He told them if they didn’t like something,
stand up for their rights. This is exactly what Bo’s children did. It was
something Luke’s children didn’t have as much say over. Living in Hazzard
County compared with the big city of New York is a big difference.

“You are way crazier than Jesse could ever be.”

“I didn’t jump in front of Rosco did I?”

“Well you better get back, I have company, and I’ll be fine. Just tell
Nancy-Lou and Bo where I am. I don’t want them to worry about me. I mean
they’re so nice to me and all.”

“Well okay, but you asked for it. They’ll get you. No one in this house has
gone to jail out of us kids. You did and you make a break for it.”

“I didn’t shoot my cousin!”

“I know that but the justice system works and sooner or later you would have
gotten out.”

“Not a chance.”

“Well you would have. Jesse will testify that you didn’t do anything wrong.”
Jo walked away. She didn’t want to leave Jose and she wished to say more. Jo
wasn’t pure evil. She loved to help people more than anyone else. But then
again so did a lot of other people. Jose didn’t feel alone at all though. He
was aiming to see Jesse in three weeks. There was nothing that could keep
him from his cousin.

5 hours later at the hospital…

Jesse was awake and sitting up. He was talking away about everything. Jesse
loved to talk though. That kid talked more than a girl on a telephone. Now
that’s a lot of love for one conversation.

Jesse wondered most about Jose. His cousin didn’t get to see him and of
course that would scare him. Jesse wanted Jose to be here and see that
nothing can keep a good boy down. He wished that he could see his cousin.
But with the law on his tail it was bad. Bo sat beside Jesse and just
listened to him as he talked about everything. It was a miracle that he even
woke up.

Just then Rosco walked into the room. He knew now that Jesse was awake, he
could testify about Jose not shooting anyone. But Rosco had another trick up
his sleeve. “Hello Bo, Jesse. How are you feeling? Do you know where your
cousin Josie is? Thank you for saving my life. I was wondering if you could
answer a few questions,” Rosco began.

“Slow down Boss. I am feeling just dandy. His name is Jose and no I don’t
know where he is. You are very welcome and if you want me to answer
questions that would be fine with me as long as my Dad is with me,” Jesse
replied. It was lucky that Jesse knew his rights or Boss Rosco could really
play with his mind.

“Did your cousin shoot you?” Boss Rosco knew the answer to this one but
wanted to ask anyway.

“No he did not shoot me. I know the people that did.” Though that seemed
like a point for the Dukes don’t be surprised when it isn’t. This is what
Boss Rosco hoped for. You see he did learn a few trick from Boss Hogg that
seemed to rub off on him. Others he learned in the courses he took in
school.

“Were they his friends? You have to tell the truth now.”

“Yeah they were his old friends. He hadn’t associated with him in…”

“He knew about this shooting and failed to report it?”

“Jose would have been killed if he did.”

“Well just the same I could’ve been killed because of his overlook. I am
charging him with being an accomplice because he knew and didn’t report of
it. Since you saved my life I am dropping those charges well kind of. You
will now be placed on probation just like your cousin. As they say in Rome,
an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth and that’s how it is with Josie.”

“It’s Jose and you can do that to him!”

“I already did. Enjoy the relaxation of the hospital. You’ll be here for at
least three more weeks for observation.” Rosco stared at the Duke family to
see their reactions. If he would’ve paid attention, Boss Rosco would have
noticed the door wasn’t opened. He hit the door hard. “Jit-jit OoooOoooOooh
boy does that smart.” He opened the door and walked out.

Bo hit his head hard. He wondered how such a dope like him could be so
smart. Boss Rosco really had the Dukes where he wanted them. Bo knew that
this would take a master mind to get him out of this. He broke down and was
ready to call Luke. That was a big step even for him. Bo told Jess to take
it easy and he walked out of the room. As Bo approached the phone,
everything got shaky. He dialled 1-800-collect and soon after dialled Luke’s
number. “Hello?” Luke answered.

“Hey Luke, how is everything in the big apple?” Bo asked, trying to make
conversation. He didn’t want to jump right into his problems. I mean Luke
had a lot to deal with as it is. Bo just wanted to crawl in a hole and die.
He promised Luke that everything would be better here. Bo promised that Jose
would stay out of trouble. Then again this is Hazzard. The day people stay
out of trouble is they day you never need to eat again.

“Oh it’s great. Now that we know that Jose is in a good place everything is
so much easier. Maria sleeps nights and Antonio isn’t so tense.”

“I can’t believe your son and one of Jose’s friends have the same name.
Jesse was telling me about that.”

“I never liked that kid though. Antonio was one of the people that could
always make Jose do stupid things together. I just hope he ain’t causing
you as much trouble I hope.”

Well there’s a problem with that actually. Jose got into some trouble over
here. Not purposely but it still happened.”

“Was he arrested?”

“Yeah, he didn’t try to get in prison. Some kids showed up from New York
and…”

“So he hooked up with his buddies again? I can’t believe this! I thought he
gave up on this stuff. I am so sick of this happening to my family. He’s
going to be in jail faster than you can say where the shrimp’s pizza pies
are.”

“No, he did not hook up with his buddies. But he was convicted of being an
accomplice because of not telling the police force about his buddies’ little
bank robbery and murder strategy. Jesse was shot.”

“When did this all happen?”

“It happened about three months ago.”

“Why did you call me about this before? It might not have been so bad.”

“I am sorry Luke; I wanted to but something along the lines of pride stopped
me.”

“Well cousin you haven’t changed a bit.”

“Neither have you, that’s why I called you. How do we solve this Hazzard
style?”

“Rosco has to be up to something to even consider looking up something like
that. I think that he wants both boys out of the way.”

“Yeah well Jesse is on probation now for also knowing about it. But since
your son knows about it, he could go to jail for it because he’s already on
probation.” Luke was silent for a moment. He thought about what his son
must’ve been going through. Luke remembered how it was like when he was on
probation. But it is a lot different than it was all those years ago.

“Okay so wait for me, I will be coming in three weeks anyway. Where’s Jose?”
Bo thought of what to say to him. He laughed at first and scratched his
head. “What’s so funny Beauregard Duke?”

“I am not Beauregard my name is and forever will be Bo.”

“Sorry Beauregard, where’s my son.” Bo sneered over the phone. He wasn’t too
happy that Luke called him that on those rare occasions. It was a cursed
name to him. Bo wished that his father had the sense to just name him Bo.

“He did a jail break. I don’t know exactly where he is. Essy Duke is missing
too. I think she brought him somewhere.” Luke stopped and remembered the red
headed bomb shell. He thought of how wonderful she was at getting rid of
Rosco when the boys were in trouble.

“Oh Essy knows exactly where to take him. That girl is great and knows where
to hide. She is a smart cookie you know.”

“Yeah I know she is. We both dated her before. She took us both for saps. I
mean how we were supposed to know she was only 16 years old?”

“We weren’t I guess. When she was working at Miz Tizdale’s Post office I
thought for sure that girl was at least 22 years old. She knew the mail
better than anything.”

“That she did Luke. But then again she was a Tizdale. You know how those
women work. They’re so smart about their mail. But back to what we were
discussing before. It regards to Jose. So what are we going to do with your
son?”

“You have to find some kind of black mail I guess. I don’t exactly know how
but do it. You know like we used to. He has to be up to something. I know
that this wouldn’t be Hazzard without the few illegal money seeking
actions.”

“Oh of course; I will probably wait for you though.”

“Okay I will talk to you later then?”

“Yeah okay bye now.” Bo leaned against the wall and took a deep breath just
to let it out again. He just didn’t know what to do right now. With Jesse in
the hospital and Jose on the run it seemed like old times. Bo remembered
back when Luke was in the hospital when trying to catch the ones that framed
both boys. It was quite the scandal. Luke didn’t wake up until the case was
solved which was good for him. Daisy and Bo had to go and play detective.

Just then Nancy-Lou walked in. She had a big smile on her face until she saw
her husband’s dim expression. It was low and dismal. It wasn’t cheery like
it had been in the past. Nancy knew something was wrong. But what was wrong
she could quite figure out. Nancy-Lou knew that she had to lighten his
trail. She grabbed Bo and tightly embraced him. Nancy-Lou drove her lips
into his, a kiss that wouldn’t soon be forgotten. She rubbed his back
softly.

“Everything will turn out okay. You know it Bo. It always does in this
family. I mean take Jesse and our Jo Anna. They were born pre-mature and the
doctors said they wouldn’t live past two weeks. But Jo Anna was strong. She
got healthier by the minute. They then told us that Jesse wouldn’t live past
the age of 13. Here he is standing before us,” Nancy-Lou

“I just don’t know what to do anymore. I feel so helpless. I mean here’s our
son and he is in a hospital bed. Now we take Jose and he’s out fending for
himself. That’s just not right.”

“Sometimes the most horrible things happen for the worst reasons. Boss Rosco
knew that Jose could’ve died if he told the law. They could’ve prepared for
it.”

“Yeah but it still seems like no matter where Jose goes he has to be shunned
by someone.” Bo thought back to when he was in school. He thought about all
the things other boys loved to tease about. It wasn’t that Bo wasn’t a good
person or that he didn’t have anything that was worth speaking about either.
Bo just had a lot of problems with being shorter than everyone else.

But Nancy-Lou was right. They always did find a way out of their despair.
The Dukes seemed to be lucky in that aspect. It wasn’t like they had all the
problems in the world but somehow it seemed to get worse when the kids were
around. Why? They just wanted things to be different. The kids didn’t think
it was right for anything illegal to take place in their home. In all truth
they were right.

Bo and Luke loved to fight the system. They did it so often that people
would give the boys those nicknames. Sometimes they would just become the
double duel. Fighting for the rights of the people and hoping they didn’t
get jailed for it. Now Bo and Luke were grown men with families. But times
never change. There will always be another person in the light. There will
always be another Duke to take over the pride of Hazzard.

“Nancy? You want to talk to Jesse? He’s kind of angry right now but I am
sure a talk from the world’s greatest mother would do him some good,” Bo
mumbled.

“Yeah I would love to talk to our super son. You take it easy Bo and don’t
think too hard,” Nancy-Lou replied.

“I won’t take it too hard. I just wish I could change something that I
can’t.”

“Not possible and you know it.” Nancy-Lou pulled her husband down to her
level and kissed him on the forehead. She walked into his room. Bo watched
his lovely wife sit there and talk. He loved the expression on Nancy-Lou’s
face as she continued to talk to her son. It was almost like magic. It
seemed that all his hopes and dreams were in her. They loved each other that
much. In truth their wedding vows were always kept. Bo knew that this was
what he always wanted.

Nancy-Lou then looked over at Bo. She saved at him and smiled. Bo laughed.
That was one thing Nancy knew how to do was make people laugh. She was
amazing in all aspects. The way she used to give Jesse and Jo Anna a bath
when they were younger to the way she snored ever so softly. Nancy-Lou was
amazing with kids as well. She knew what to do with crazy insane teenagers.
It wasn’t her place to control them. But Nancy would just love them.

Nancy saw many things in Bo that she just adored. He had a fighting spirit.
No one could put him in a cage because he was a free bird. Not many people
were like Bo was. If someone said something that wasn’t true he would stay
and prove them otherwise. But if he was wrong, Bo would recognize it and
change. It was never that he couldn’t do it. Bo would do anything if dared.
That was one thing that Nancy-Lou didn’t like about her husband. He scared
her a few times with that one.

But all the same both of them together made the perfect parents. Sometimes
they made mistakes, what family is complete without their flaws? Overall
they were fun. Bo seemed to understand a lot of stuff and what he didn’t
Nancy-Lou did get. So no matter what happened it was wonderful.