by: Jax
“Hazzard County Commissioner’s office, this is Min how may I help you?” Min Duke stated as she held the phone. Her desk sat in the booking room right in front of the office formally occupied by Boss Hogg. The frosted glass pane now bore the name Cooter Davenport County Commissioner of Hazzard County in bold black letters.
“Oh yes Ms. Davies, I was about to have Cooter check over the list of the volunteers. Yes, let me have him review everything and I’ll call you back within an hour. Okay, thank you, talk to you soon.” Hanging up the black phone, Min slid her brown leather office chair back from her desk and stood up. She picked up a clipboard and flipped up the top page.
“Hmmmm might be a little short in that department.” She muttered to herself as she rounded her desk and knocked on the doorframe than opened the door.
“Cooter?” She asked as she poked her head into the office.
Sitting behind the huge oak desk, Cooter Davenport gazed up from his papers and smiled.
“Hey Min, what’s up?” He asked as he sat up then leaned back in his chair.
“I just got off the phone with Ms. Davies; she wants to know if you’ve had a chance to go over the final list of volunteers for the joint Easter and Civil War Day celebration.”
“Oh right, I did tell her we’d have it done by today. “ He glanced at the clipboard in her hands. “So is that it?”
“Yeah… I was just going over it.” Min said as she flipped up the top page again and gazed at the papers. “Looks like we got mostly everything covered. We have all the volunteers for the Civil War celebration taken care of, including my brother as General Robert E. Lee.” She stated with a small smile.
Cooter chuckled at that and shook his head. “Oh I just bet ol’ Bo Duke is more than happy to be General Lee.”
“He is, he’s going to be good.”
“I bet Luke is green with envy, what General is he going to play?” Cooter began tapping his pen on the desk.
“Actually Luke isn’t playing a General. I’ve been nagging a whole week for Luke to volunteer like he promised but he’s been up to his neck in getting more business for the shop. Bo told me yesterday that Luke told him to just put him down for whatever’s left.”
“All right, so where do we still need volunteers?”
“Uh….” Min began going through the pages again. “Okay the museum pieces are covered, the concessions, fliers being passed out, posters hung, the generals…” She got to the last page and stopped, her dark eyes growing round.
“Uh oh.”
Cooter saw her expression and his brow creased. “You okay?”
The question made her raise her gaze and she nodded. “Yeah I just found the one place we’re lacking a volunteer.” Her mouth twitched as she spoke and she cleared her throat.
“Take a look for yourself. “ She passed the clipboard to Cooter who read down the list. He gazed up at Min in disbelief.
“You think he’d do it?”
“I think he doesn’t have much of a choice. Luke said whatever we needed him to do, he’d do. Besides it serves him right, I tried for awhile to get in touch with Luke. If I had been able to he wouldn’t be stuck with the bottom of the barrel.” Min leaned over the desk and brought up the last page.
“There’s also another supply order for the Boars Nest I need you to sign.”
“Another one?” Cooter reached out to take a pen from a Confederate coffee mug that sat on the corner of his desk and signed the bottom of the page.
“That place sure goes through stuff fast.”
“Come on Cooter ever since you and Daisy bought it and fixed it up its pretty popular.” She took the clipboard back and gave Cooter a smile.
“The new dance floor, the stage, the expanded menu…The Boars Nest is quite a hot spot now. I’ve been in there on a Monday night and it’s packed.”
“Yeah that was a smart move and Daisy’s a heckuva manager.” Cooter tipped his chair back further and tucked his arms behind his head.
“You bet she is which is why I invested while I could.” Min grinned. “I know a golden chance when I see one.” She watched the elected official and shook her head as he rocked the chair.
“Some days I walk in here and expect to see Boss behind the desk.”
“Yeah ol’ JD sure had a way of running things didn’t he?”
“But so do you, and you’ve done a lot for Hazzard Cooter.”
The compliment made Cooter grin as he set the chair back on all fours.
“You really think so?”
“I do…” She nodded then a smile tugged back the corners of her mouth.
“One of these mornings I’m going to get to work and you’re going to be sporting a white suit, a big white hat and smoking a big cigar.”
The idea of wearing one of Boss Hogg’s suits made Cooter laugh. “Me in that white suit? Nuh uh! No way!”
“But that’s what County Commissioners wear!” Min teased.
Cooter checked his clothes, because of meeting with other county officials he had dressed up in khaki pants, a blue shirt with a tan vest over it. He shrugged at his choice of attire then motioned to the dark haired woman.
“Yeah well don’t assistants dress in little business suits and wear their hair up in a tight bun and have little glasses on the end of their noses?”
“Power suit?” Min gazed down a moment at her blue jeans and button down red shirt.
“Think of this as the Hazzard version.”
Cooter laughed again then shook his head. “Ain’t nothing wrong with that Min.”
“You’re right; I better give Ms. Davies a call and tell her the volunteers are taken care of.”
“And what about Luke? You going to tell him what he volunteered for?” Cooter stood up and moved out from behind his desk.
“Actually after I leave here I’m having dinner with Bo. I also have to give him his General Lee costume and Luke’s too.”
“I need to stop by the shop one day and give Bo and Luke a hard time.” Cooter walked with Min to the door and opened it for her.
“They’ve really been supportive of me ever since I got elected. In fact, I wouldn’t be here it not for them, Uncle Jesse, Daisy.” A smile came to Cooter’s face.
“And you too Min, you being my assistant has really made this job a lot easier for me.”
Min stepped through the door then turned to face Cooter as he closed and locked his office.
“Hazzard’s been my home and I love it here. I wanted to give something back and I figured helping you would be the best way to do it.” Min set the clipboard down and picked up the phone.
“I’ll see you in the morning.” She said with a smile as she began dialing.
“Take ‘er easy Min.” Cooter grinned as he headed out of the booking room, disappearing through the swinging doors.
Carrying two black garment bags over her arm, Min locked the entrance door to the county building behind her then carefully made her way down the cement steps. With it now being quitting time, Hazzard Square had tons of people lining the sidewalks and cars moved in and out of it in two long lines. The warm afternoon wind blew back the ends of her long brunette hair and she sighed at the comfort it brought. The light scent of blooming flowers filled the air as she walked across the street towards the garage.
The bay doors wide open, Min saw a pair of long legs sticking out from beneath her red Mustang.
Giggling, Min stopped right beside the long legs and knocked on the roof.
“Knock knock!” She said gazing down at the legs.
“Funny Min, very funny.” A voice said from beneath the car. Bo Duke rolled out then stared up at his sister, a grease smudge on his cheek and in various places down the front of his blue jumpsuit.
“Oh so my car isn’t eating you! What a relief!” Min said with a smile.
Bo scoffed at her as he sat up then slowly rose to his feet. “Had a lot of work today so I’m not done, can you leave Darlin’ here for one more day?”
“As long as you can give me a ride back to the farm, you know Daisy is still out of town with Enos.” Min reached out and wiped the stain from Bo’s face.
“Or you can just stay with me in the apartment; Luke won’t be back from Atlanta till tomorrow.” He pulled a red rag from his back pocket and wiped his face and hands.
Nodding Min gave her brother a gentle smile. “Yeah I’ll stay Bo. I don’t think either one of us wants to be alone.”
Relieved, Bo smiled then put his arm around Min’s neck and kissed the top of her head.
“I seem to recall I promised you dinner.”
“Yeah you did.” She leaned briefly into him then back of seeing all the grease.
“But I think you need to clean up first.”
Bo chuckled then brought his hand up to the zipper and tugged it down. He had a blue t-shirt and jeans underneath it and began to shimmy his way out of the jumpsuit then reached down and picked it up as he stepped out of it.
“There! Instantly clean Duke!” He turned and tossed the jumpsuit into the garage and closed the bay doors. He plucked the chain and padlock from the door frame and neatly chained them up.
“So what did you want to do? Eat at your apartment? Or how about we skip cooking and just go to the Busy Bee for supper?” Min asked as she watched Bo lock up the doors then went to the left hand side to the office door.
“What you got there Sis?” Bo asked as he took a set of keys out of his pocket and began to secure the door. He stuck a key in the knob then another in the deadbolt above it.
“Oh!” Min had forgotten about the garment bags and held up her arm.
“Your costume General Lee.”
“All locked up.” Bo gave the knob a jiggle then looked at the bags. “Both of those are my costume?”
“Uhhh….” She gazed down at the second bag and cleared her throat.
“No, that one belongs to Luke.”
“Tell me he’s General Grant? That way we can be rivals, the North versus the South.” Bo replied with a grin as he tucked his keys into his pocket then put his arm around Min’s waist. The two siblings began to walk down the sidewalk, heading in the direction of the Busy Bee Café.
“Not exactly Bo.” Min said with a sigh. “Luke isn’t going to be a general.”
“He’s not?” Bo smiled as they passed shop after shop. He took in a lungful of the spring air and let it out with a sigh.
“I love this time of year.” He whispered. “Grass is green, trees got their leaves back, and Hazzard Pond is so full of fish they’re practically jumping into your boat.”
“And when was the last time you went fishing?”
“Oh Luke and me went in the fall before it got too cold.” Bo moved away from Min just as the siblings made it to the Busy Bee Café. He pulled back the glass door for his sister and gave a bow.
“After you.”
“Thank you.” Min stepped up into the café and looked around. The red booths were mostly empty as were the stools at the long white counter. A young woman with short blond hair and a pink waitress uniform with a white apron and matching paper hat grinned when she saw the Dukes.
“Hey Bo! Hey Min!”
“Hey Becky.” Bo raised his hand to her. “How’s business?”
“Fine Bo, just fine, can’t complain.” Becky picked two menus and walked along the length of the counter then emerged from behind it.
“Got your usual booth ready.” She went down to the far corner of the café to the last booth and set the menus on the table/
“Thank you Becky.” Min draped the garment bags over the end of the booth then slid in.
“Can I have an ice tea?”
“You sure can, you want a Pepsi Bo?”
“Please.”
“Coming right up.” Becky walked away to go get their drinks while the menus were picked up and opened.
“You still didn’t answer the question Min. Did you forget or are you just not answering it?” Bo gazed over the top of the menu at his sister. Min sighed and closed her eyes.
“I’m not forgetting its just…”
“What is Luke going to be?” The tone said it all and Min gave a sheepish grin.
“Ummm….” She curled her finger at Bo and he leaned over the table. Cupping her hand around his ear she whispered into it.
Bo’s dark blue eyes grew to the size of headlights and his mouth dropped open.
“Are you kidding?” He said as Min went back down in her seat.
“No I’m not. Luke said wherever we were coming up short he’d volunteer.”
“Yeah but…” Bo leaned back in the booth and his grin spread wide over his features.
“Sunday is going to be a day to remember!”
Lounging on the tan plushy couch in nothing but blue striped pajama bottoms, Bo held his remote control in his hand. He flipped through the channels trying to find a decent TV show that would help him relax enough to finally go to bed. He always had trouble sleeping when Luke had a business trip and even the presence of Min asleep in the guest bedroom didn’t put him quite at ease.
The door suddenly opened and Bo nearly fell off the couch with his astonishment. He saw Luke come in and drop a brown suitcase on the floor by his feet.
“Luke Duke are you trying to kill me?” Bo shut off the television and set the remote on the coffee table.
“Sorry Bo, didn’t know you were still up.”
“I wouldn’t have been for long with you coming in like a bull in a cow pasture.” He got up and went to the door, closing it behind his cousin.
“Thought you weren’t coming home till tomorrow?”
“Yeah but I decided to cut my trip short.” Luke shrugged off his jean jacket then hung it on the coat rack by the door. He ran his hand through the hair and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Got any coffee?”
“No but won’t take much to brew a pot.” Bo went into the kitchen and took the decanter off the coffee machine.
“Things go all right?”
“Yeah they did, got a few boys in Tennessee that might be interested in the General’s little brother.”
Bo poured the water into the top of the coffeemaker, then put the decanter back in the bottom of it and flipped the switch. The machine began to bubble and make hissing noises as it started to brew. Getting two blue mugs out of the drain board, Bo set them on the counter.
“Luke that engine isn’t anywhere near ready; we ain’t even tested it yet.”
“I know, but our reputation from being in NASCAR precedes us. If we can get this engine in the next big race around here or the next few and win with it, we’ll have a lot of people wanting to buy it.”
“Well the next race isn’t until the Hazzard May Day, I think this year it’s May 5th.” Bo glanced at the coffeemaker watching as the pot began to fill with coffee.
“So we got almost a month to do some road testing here.”
The thought of racing around Hazzard testing out that engine made Bo smile.
“You know me Cousin; I’d be more than happy to put that engine to the test.”
“Yeah that’s what I’m afraid of.” Luke rubbed the back of his neck again. After such a long trip he was glad to be home.
“I’m going to get changed.” Luke turned to leave then began to tug his white shirt out of his jeans. Suddenly remembering about Min, Bo followed him out of the kitchen.
“Take it easy Luke, Min is in the other room.”
“Min? How come?” Luke looked down the hall to the other room then flipped on the bedroom light.
“Daisy’s still out of town and since I wasn’t expecting you till tomorrow, I asked her to stay.”
“You never did do well on your own did you?” Luke popped the snaps on his shirt in one quick tug then wadded up the white shirt and tossed it at the hamper.
Bo shrugged as he stood in the doorway then leaned against the frame. “Just because you prefer to be alone doesn’t mean I like to.”
“Sometimes circumstances end up turning out that way Bo.” Luke sat on the edge of his bed and pulled off his boots then set them down at the foot of it. He stood up to take off his jeans then paused when he saw the pair of black garment bags that hung up on the back of the door.
“Now what in the world is that?” Luke motioned to the back of the door as he tugged down his jeans then pushed them down his legs.
“What’s what?” Bo glanced around the open door then tugged it closer to him and felt the cold plastic then held it out so he could see what it was.
“Oh that, its our costumes for the weekend.”
“Yeah that Civil War and Easter deal.” Now clad only in white boxers, Luke went to his dresser and got out some grey pajama bottoms.
“So who did I end up playing? Grant? Jackson?” He slipped into his pants then pulled them up and tightened the string around his waist.
“Uh, not exactly Cousin.” Bo grinned sheepishly; the last thing he wanted at that moment was for Luke to find out who he had volunteered to play.
“I wouldn’t worry about that right now Cousin, why don’t we go see if the coffee’s ready?”
“Yeah I could really use a cup.” Luke head out the door and Bo patted his bare back as he passed him. Closing his eyes in relief, Bo sighed then raised his gaze heavenward as he followed his cousin to the kitchen.
“Thanks for letting me spend the night Bo; it really helped me sleep better staying in the apartment.” Min and Bo had left the apartment and walked down the sidewalk that led into Hazzard Square. Having kept a few spare clothes in the dresser of the guest room, Min had on a pair of grey jeans and a white sleeveless shirt.
“You’re welcome, but it wasn’t just you and me. Luke came back around midnight.”
“He’s back?” Min asked, her eyebrows going up. She then gave her brother a sidelong glance. “He doesn’t know about… does he?”
“Nah, I was able to distract him with coffee,” Bo had his hands tucked into the back of his black jeans then moved them around his front and ran them down his orange shirt that had Dukes Custom Racing splashed across his chest.
“Good thing, I don’t even want to be there when he looks in that garment bag.”
Bo made a face at his sister. “Yeah I get to be, thanks a lot. I have to keep him from opening that garment bag until tomorrow.”
“I’m sorry Bo.” They passed the ice cream parlor than stopped in front of the new coffee shop. Min looked up at the huge white cup that read Pot-Holes.
“Say how about I make it up to you, buy you a cup?”
“It’d take more than a cup Min but all right.” Bo smiled then put his arm around his sister’s neck as they pulled back the door and went inside.
The door above the glass door chimed their entrance and the smell of baked goods and coffee quickly made itself known.
Bo breathed in the scented air deeply and smiled. “Mmmmm smells good in here.”
Behind the huge glass display case that had been lined from top to bottom with donuts, croissants, muffins and browns, an older woman with salt and pepper red hair, a blue apron that read the name of the shop and a smile greeted them.
“Good Morning welcome to Pot-Holes, what can I get for you all this morning.” The woman recognized Min and her smile widened.
“Min Duke its good to see you, you ready for tomorrow?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Min stepped up to the case and peered into it a moment before she straightened back up.
“Ms. Williams this is Bo Duke my brother.”
Bo smiled and politely offered his hand. “Pleasure to meet you Ma’am.”
“Oh yes you and your cousin own the garage don’t you? It’s nice to meet you and since this is our first meeting, coffee’s on the house.”
“Well all right!” Bo glanced up at the menu. “Let me have just a large cup of coffee and two sugar cookies please.”
“Now Ms. Williams we do appreciate that but a new coffeehouse can’t afford to be giving stuff away.” Min elbowed her brother lightly at his enthusiastic response to free coffee. “New businesses have a tough enough time, right Bo?”
Clearing his throat, Bo nodded. He remembered how things had been that first year the garage had been open. Despite being the only garage in town, things were pretty slow at first once Cooter had retired.
“Right…thank you kindly though but we’ll pay for the coffee.”
“I’ll have the same as my brother Ms. Williams but I’ll have a banana muffin instead of the cookies.”
“Coming right up.” Ms. Williams went to get their order and Min turned back to the door and peered out of it at the town square. Even though it was barely after seven, some orange trucks and men in white coveralls began to fill the square.
“Right on time, looks like the crew is about to start decorating things for tomorrow.” Min’s tone got Bo’s attention and he came up behind his sister. He recognized the worry in her voice and put his arm around her.
“It’ll be all right Min, you’ll see. Things will go off without a hitch tomorrow.”
“I hope so, Cooter and I have put a lot of time and work into this.” Min said over her shoulder with an affectionate smile.
“And thanks Bo for helping out, you volunteering to be General Lee got the rest of the town to start volunteering too.”
“You know me and Luke had to help Min, Cooter’s helped us more times when we can count.” Bo drew his sister closer and touched his head to hers. “And besides, you know I’m kinda partial to General Lee.”
Min started laughing at that and shook her head. “Gee you are? I really have no idea why you would be.” She teased then sighed, visibly relaxing. Her brother’s reassurance made her feel somewhat better and the tension left the back of her neck and shoulders. Maybe things were going to go all right after all and she smiled gratefully at her brother.
“Thanks Bo.” She said sincerely.
“Anytime.” He said with a wink.
“Your coffee’s ready.” Ms. Williams’ announcement made the two siblings part as they went back up to the counter to get their coffee and pastry.
“Luke Duke what in the world is taking you so long!” Bo called out from the spare room. Dressed as General Lee he wore a long gray double breasted coat that hung to his knees. Below the coat he wore tall black leather thigh high boots that mostly covered his grey pants. There were two rows of heavy buttons that shone with a dull gold luster that went down his chest all the way to his waist. He had a black belt around his midsection and a single strip of black leather went diagonally across his chest to his right hip to a black holster that contained his prop gun. Tucked into the belt, Bo had a pair of light grey Calvary gloves and on the other side he had the sheath for the sword he carried in his hand along with his grey slouch hat. The leather creaked with each step Bo took as he went to the bedroom door and knocked on it.
“Luke it’s almost 15 till 8 you know we have to be there right at 8!” He sighed audibly when he heard no reply. Finally he reached down and gave the knob a turn and pushed open the door.
“Luke we got no time for this!” He said as he walked in then literally stopped right in his tracks. The sight before him made him pause and draw in a deep breath.
“I swear Cousin if you say one word…You’ll be meeting General Lee for real.” Luke’s voice had an edge and it took every ounce of self control Bo Duke could muster for him not to burst out laughing.
Before him stood a six foot rabbit, the costume covered every inch of Luke Duke in white fur and had a pair of blue jean overalls over it. Turning slowly around, even Luke’s face was obscured by the big head that contained a pink nose, and large blue eyes. Atop the bunny’s head was a straw hat complete with ear holes and blue ribbon around it that matched the overalls and multicolored flowers around the brim.
Bo cleared his throat as he gazed at his cousin from head to toe. A large smiling daisy had been sewn into the center pocket of the overalls and the flowers around the brim of the hat also matched the flowers on the side of the large basket filled with plastic eggs.
“So…” Bo’s voice quivered and he cleared his throat again. “So that’s what was in the box Min left.” He looked into the big blue eyes of the rabbit, grateful he couldn’t see his cousin’s face. He imagined Luke’s angry scowl beneath the costume’s head.
“Easter Bunnies need baskets of goodies, don’t they?”
“Bo…” Despite Luke’s low and deep tone, Bo began to shake as his resistance slowly started to crumble.
“I’m trying Cousin, I’m really trying.”
“You best try harder.” Luke stated and Bo wiped his hand back and forth across his mouth.
“10…9…..8…” Bo began to count backwards and squeezed his eyes shut.
“7…6…5…” Right when he got to four the blond man burst out laughing. He laughed so hard he doubled over, holding his stomach.
“Here comes Luke Duke Cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail!” He managed to sputter out.
Luke strode angrily over to his cousin and whacked him with his basket, all the bright colored plastic eggs flying out of it and landing onto the floor.
“Oh no! Bunny Foo Foo dropped his eggs!” Bo only laughed harder and Luke whapped him again. Finally dropping onto his knees, Bo managed to get a hold of himself and began to gather up the fallen eggs.
“Are you happy now Bo? Did you get it out of your system?” Luke’s muffled voice rang out from the big bunny head.
“Mostly Cousin…” He said shakily, his grin still wide as he took the basket from Luke and put the eggs back in it. Finally as this last of his laughter died away and he could breathe again, Bo stood up and presented Luke with the refilled basket.
“Here you go.”
“Thank you!” Luke said sarcastically as he practically snatched the basket out of Bo’s hands.
“Hey now Cousin, who’s fault is it they ended up being the Easter Bunny? Didn’t Min try to call you for a solid week to see what you wanted to volunteer for? And who was it that told her to just put you down for whatever was left?”
“Yeah I know Bo all right? It’s all my fault I’m dressed like this!” Luke went out of the room and into the bathroom. He gazed in the mirror and sighed.
“I look like a fool.”
“No you don’t, you really got a swelled head now!” Bo said with a grin, then patted Luke on the back.
“Seriously Cousin, no one’s going to know its you unless you tell them.”
“I ain’t saying a word!”
Bo reached into the pocket of his coat and pulled out his watch and looked at it.
“We have to go Luke, Min and Cooter are going to meet us in front of the courthouse.”
Luke sighed heavily. The last thing he wanted to do was go out in public like this. The one consolation he had being the fact that the costume did obscure his face. He also realized that Min and Cooter were counting on him to help make the celebration a success and their disappointment would be great if he left his pride get in the way.
“We best go Bo.” He said quietly.
Bo slung his arm around Luke’s furry shoulders. “Besides Luke, you’re the star of the show. Who’s going to get the kids attention better? A bunch of dead generals or the Easter Bunny bearing plastic eggs filled with candy?”
“Guess I never thought of it like that.” Luke patted Bo in the stomach.
“Come on General Lee.”
“10-4!” Bo tucked his sword into the sheath then put his light grey slouch hat over his head then adjusted it.
“Do I look like a proper general?”
“Don’t forget your gloves.” Luke motioned with his basket to Bo’s belt and he plucked the Calvary gloves from them and slipped them on, then tugged on the bottom of each one as he flexed his fingers.
“All right, let’s go.” Bo said as he touched the brim of his hat.
The gazebo in Hazzard Square had been decorated with bright red, white and blue banners running all around its top and bottom. It had also been equipped for a brief speech that the county commissioner of Hazzard wanted to make; a microphone stood right near the black railing. At exactly 8 o’clock on the nose, Cooter dressed like Abraham Lincoln with his long black coat, dark beard and black top hat, went up the steps and stood in front of the mike.
“Four score and seven years ago…” He began then grinned. “Just kidding y’all!”
The crowd burst into laughter and Cooter raised his arms to silence them.
“Seriously folks, I want to welcome you all to Hazzard’s Easter and Civil War celebration. If you notice there are booths all around the square for various items of interest, exhibits, food, games and in the very center of town is a tent for the Easter Bunny. For a one dollar donation to the Hazzard Orphanage you can take your picture with him.” Cooter started to speak then closed his mouth briefly.
“Am I missing anything?” He said over his shoulder and Min stepped out. She had dressed for the occasion in an off the shoulder hoop dress. The pattern of the material was silk organza, the pattern had bouquets of flowers covering it and there were ruffles going along the arms and across her chest and a thick velvet belt around her waist.
“Don’t forget later on in the day, our Civil War generals will tell you a little about themselves and we will have the famous Battle of Hazzard reenactment.” She spotted Bo and Luke just behind the crowd and smiled at them. Bo touched the brim of his hat and Luke waved to her; Min felt her cheeks grow hot as they returned her smile.
“Thank you Min.” Cooter said as he once more faced the crowd.
“Well that’s all folks, enjoy the celebration and have a Happy Easter!” Cooter said as the crowd began to clap and cheer. Once the applause died down and the crowd dispersed, Min touched Cooter on the arm.
“Wow I don’t know how those women did it back then. This thing weighs a ton!”
“And I feel like I’m stiff as a board in this thing.” Cooter tugged on the lapels of his coat.
“But we all gotta do what we gotta do. I’m going to check with everyone and you best go check on those cousins of yours.”
“I will, thanks Cooter.”
Min watched Cooter head down the steps and she followed. She got to the edge of them and lifted up the bottom of her dress then carefully stepped down them. Crossing the street, she stepped up onto the grassy area and made her way across it to the large white tent in the center.
“Bo? Luke?” She said as she entered the tent, a fancy gold and red velvet throne had been set up in the center surrounded by large wooden tulips covered a white picket fence. Bo and Luke were just inside the fenced in area.
“Bo you look great!” She smiled as she looked at his costume.
“Thanks Min, so do you!” Bo kissed her cheek.
“Yeah you look like Scarlet O’Hara.” Luke commented then set his basket down and opened his arms.
“Aww the Easter Bunny wants a hug.” Min teased as she stepped into his arms and gave him a hug. “Thanks for doing this Luke I know you’re embarrassed but we really needed someone to volunteer. Without you there’d be no Easter celebration.” She kissed his large pink nose.
Bo smiled at the appreciation Min showed then looked at Luke. “She’s right Cousin, and you know how much that orphanage really needs money.”
“I know. Well I’m here aren’t I? So embarrassed or not I gave my word.”
Luke picked up his basket and sat down in his throne. He placed the basket down beside him and sighed.
“So let’s get hopping.”
By the time the sun had set, the crowd had begun to empty out of Hazzard Square. When the last of the cars disappeared from sight, Cooter took off his coat and his hat and ran his hand through his hair.
“Man what a day!” He said as he climbed up the gazebo steps.
“You can say that again.” Luke sat in one of the chairs that had been placed there, his costume head sat on the concrete beside him. All day being in that large head, his cheeks were branded red and his damp hair stuck to the sides of his face.
“And again.” Bo unbuttoned his coat and left it hanging open, then pulled off his hat and gloves setting them in the empty chair next to him.
“Long but good.” Min reached around her and unbuttoned her hoop skirt and shimmied out of it; beneath the skirt she had on pink cotton shorts and folded up the skirt then draped it over the railing.
“I think it was a real success.”
“We won’t know it’s a success for sure till this time tomorrow Min. It’s a two day celebration remember?” Cooter plunked down in one of the white folded up chairs.
“I know but if the crowd was this good today I’m sure it’ll be even better tomorrow.” Min sat down finally and crossed her legs; she leaned over and began to unlace her boots.
The night began to settle in, the sky now a navy blue color as twilight dissipated and the darkness took over. The sounds of crickets began to drift lazily through the air and with it came a gentle cool breeze.
“That helps cool things down.” Luke stated as he finger combed his wet hair.
“Yeah it does, these uniforms sure are stuffy.” Bo turned to the side and put his feet up on a vacant chair.
“I really do want to thank you all for helping me out with this.”
“Aw come on Cooter, you’ve helped Luke and me a thousand times.” Bo picked up his hat and swatted Cooter in the arm.
“Bo’s right it’s the least we can do.” Luke felt a little bad for his earlier complaining then turned to look at his cousin and gave him a wink.
“I thought you made a fine General Lee Bo.”
“And you were pretty popular as the Easter Bunny, your line was the longest and it never let up.”
“I bet you raised all kinds of money for those kids.” Min reached down to rub at her tired feet.
“And tomorrow being Easter, the crowd will be twice as long.” Cooter pointed out and Luke shrugged.
“That’s all right, I’m sure I can handle it and if I can’t I can always call in the Calvary.” He turned again to look at Bo. “Literally.”
That made Bo laugh and he drew his sword. “I’ll battle them back for you Cousin”
“Save it for the reenactment General Lee.” Cooter picked up his hat and coat and slowly stood up. “I don’t know about y’all but I’m plum wore out. I’m going to go back to my place and crash.”
“Yeah I’m tired too.” Min got to her feet then got her skirt and draped it over her arm.
“You’re welcome to stay with us again Cousin.” Luke collected his bunny head and then bent over and picked up Min’s shoes by the laces handing them to her.
“Thanks Luke, I’d really like that.”
Bo gathered up the pieces of his costume. “It’d also be easier to stay with us since we live right here in the square.”
“You do live close but not close enough.” Min put her arms around both of her kin.
“Okay so which one of you is going to carry me to the apartment?”
“Neither.” Luke scoffed. “You got legs, use them.”
“Luke! Hey as the Easter Bunny I thought you were supposed to be nice!”
“Easter ain’t till tomorrow Min.”
Cooter listened to the banter as the three Dukes headed down the steps and in the direction of the apartment building. He shook his head as they went on and on then looked up at the dark night sky. He thought of Jesse Duke and a smile came to his face as he slowly walked down the gazebo steps and over to his car.
END.