by: Essy Jane

Now welcome back to Hazzard, you haven’t been here for a spell have you? Well then, come on over and watch a fun race between father and son. Jesse Duke was as excited as ever racing his Daddy. Bo was known as the best driver in all of Hazzard. Everyone recognized his style and his orange car. Bo would take that car everywhere…well except when he was farming or taking the triplets somewhere.

Now if you know anything about the Dukes, racing is always the first and last thing on their mind. That has been the way it has been since the beginning of time. For a long time, they ran races to see who the best was. Back in the old west, they raced horses over in Hazzard. Yep, the Dukes lived here for a long time.

Jesse was winning at first but ol’ Bo had something on his son, experience. Bo had been driving much longer than Jesse and that was fact. Bo had gone through the NASCAR races and much more. Jesse didn’t want to go and race on the big circuit. It suited him fine being here in Hazzard and racing the locals, some of the best drivers in the world. After all, this was Hazzard County.

The big ravine came up and both Bo and Jesse jumped it, clearing it. “Daddy, you’ll never beat me, you’re too old. Besides, I have got the better General,” Jesse boasted over the CB. He sounded the horn. Bo shook his head and chuckled at his son’s comment.

“You may be younger but I still have a few tricks up my sleeve,” Bo replied as he revved up his engine. He sped ahead of Jesse and of course won the race. Lilly-Rose was the one judging the race. Last time Jesse thought he won and Bo was sure he had. This time judge Lilly made it clear as rain. She looked at the two and laughed.

“You two are hilarious,” Lilly commented.

“Ah only on good days,” Bo replied.

“You were good but next time…” Jesse began.

“Next time I’ll beat you twice.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah, I know it.”

“Why?”

“I’m your father, I am supposed to know it.” Jesse rolled his eyes. Both men were still in their cars.

“You want to go again?”

“A second race? Nah, not now.”

“You’re old.”

“Nope, just not willing to press my luck.”

“You guys really take the cake. I needed some cheering up. You know, I have been pretty down since Mom moved to LA. I thought she would stay in Hazzard County forever,” Lilly commented. Bo pulled himself out of his mustang General and laughed.

“Oh Lilly, your Mom loves Hazzard but sometimes it doesn’t exactly seem like the land of opportunity,” Bo answered.

“Well, I would have thought Mama would have at least stayed for me.”

“Oh Lilly-Rose, you know as well as I do your mama loves you dearly.”

“Not enough to stay here.”

“They offered her a great job in LA. One she couldn’t refuse.”

“She shouldn’t have left. All my brothers moved with her. Now I am the only Hogg in Hazzard.”

“You still have Cletus.”

“Yes, I do have Cletus.” Lilly sighed.

“Daisy still calls you every night doesn’t she?” Lilly nodded softly.

“Dad, would you be upset if I moved away?” Jesse asked.

“Ah, probably but Jess, you couldn’t stay away from Hazzard even if you wanted to,” Bo announced.

“Oh you think I couldn’t make it?”

“No, it’s not that.”

“You think that I wouldn’t be able to get away from this town?”

“Nope.”

“What then?”

“The General stays in Hazzard.”

“Okay, you do know.”

“Besides, I see your eye has fallen on Laurel. You two have been dating for two years now…steady I might add. Jesse, you never date anyone steady.” Jesse laughed. He looked his father in the eye.

“Well I thought it was about time I did. I was thinking about getting married.”

“Oh come on, just because Jose’s engaged, doesn’t mean you have to go off and do it.”

“What?”

“You two are unbelievable. Y’all have been competing since Jose got here. He was the first to want to get married to Paige and now you’re doing it because…”

“I love her, okay?”

“I know you love her.”

“Is that a problem?”

“I know you love her. I was just teasing.”

“Well, Jose has bought a piece of farm property over in Kansas thanks to me helping him make furniture for people.”

“He had enough for the land?”

“No, he had enough for the down payment, Daddy.”

“Well you know, that was nice of you.”

“NICE? Uh huh, that wasn’t nice of me! “He’s getting married in three months and moving away. You know, it’s not fair! He’ll be so far away.”

“Oh Jesse, you’re over reacting,” Lilly said.

“Over reacting, I am not over reacting!”

“You told me I was over reacting.”

“Oh that’s different. I am gonna loose my best friend.”

“I lost mine too.”

“Okay, maybe it’s not different.”

“You know what Jesse?”

“What?”

“He’s always going to be your best friend, no matter what you do.”

“Yeah right, Lilly he’s just gonna magically hop over here when he has bills to pay and things to do. It makes total nonsense to me.”

“Jesse…”

“All my adventures are going to end all because he wants to go and get married.”

“Shepard, this is lost sheep three calling, you got your ears on?” Jose said from the CB in the house. Bo picked up the receiver.

“Yeah this is Shepard, come in,” Bo answered.

“The babies are whining, I need our two guitar players to come home so we can calm them down.”

“Ah, no problem we’ll be over there in a jiffy. This is Shepard, over and out.” Bo put down the CB.

“Guess you guys are gonna git going huh?” Lilly asked.

“Yeah, that song is the only thing that calms them down,” Jesse answered.

“You guys did a really good job writing it.”

“Well, I was playing around on the guitar and Jo started humming a tune. Jesse came in and wrote the words.”

“I wish my brothers and I could do something like that. I tell ya, you have all the creative genes on your side.”

“Nah, we just have most of it.”

“You were supposed to disagree with me.”

“What’s the point? You would say you were right anyway.”

“Lilly, you wanna drive General Lee Two home? I need to have a talk with my son,” Bo cut in.

“Yes sir, no problem,” Lilly answered. She got into the General and started it. Bo climbed into the original General Lee and smiled.

“Man I have missed this car.” He revved up the engine and away he went. “Jesse, remember that letter that looked official?” Jesse nodded softly. Bo swallowed hard. “Well, that was Nancy-Lou’s grandmamma, your Great Grammy. She passed away. Anyway, she acquired a small fortune and left it all to Nancy-Lou. A big house and a lot of money, all left to your mama.”

“Is there some sort of point to this?” Jesse asked.

“Son, Nancy’s Granny left me the business…and wants me to run it. Now, I know I wouldn’t usually…”

“You’re leaving Hazzard?”

“Jesse…it’s a good opportunity. I can make some good money for these younger kids and help them out.” Jesse shook his head.

“So everyone’s leaving me?” Jesse slammed on the dash board. “I can’t believe this! You guys are all leaving me. This is like torture.”

“Son, I’m not trying to do this to hurt you or anything…”

“Dad, why? Jo and me, we’s did real well here. Now you’re telling me you’re gonna move those kids all the way over to a strange place?”

“Jesse, it’s not like we’re trying to hurt you or the kids. I have been farming since I was knee high to a grasshopper. It’s all I know. I love Hazzard County.”

“Then why do you want to leave?”

“It’s complicated.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your mom wants to live closer to Daisy and your Grandpa.”

“And you accepted! Dad, this isn’t fair! We have lived on this land for generations. Now you want to throw it all away?”

“No I don’t.”

“I don’t wanna loose you.”

“Son, you’ll never loose me.”

“You’re gonna be in LA.”

“I will still be a father to you and to Jo.”

“Yeah and we have to pick up and move over there with you? I don’t want to leave my home!”

“Jesse, I want to leave you the farm.” Jesse’s eyes widened. He stared at his father. Bo couldn’t help but smile. Jesse shrugged and shook his head. “Look, I know you think this a lot of responsibility…”

“Yeah it is and I can’t BELIEVE you would put us through it. I am not ready to run a farm on my own.”

“I know you can do it. Marry Laurel, bring her here…raise family. You know you’re right, this is the best place to raise a family.”

“Then why are you leaving? You have three new babies.”

“You know, your mother doesn’t want to leave but she also does. It’s a chance to be close to her other relatives they all live out west.”

“I know.”

“I have never wanted to stay more than I do now but I brought your mom here…I worked with her every day. I love her a lot. She wants to try this out. If it doesn’t work, your mama and I will buy a new set of land.”

“Daddy…”

“You’re my son Jesse, you are an amazing person. You’re gonna pull through this. Besides, we’re not leaving for six months.” Jesse sighed.

“I do want the farm.”

“Great! I’ll transfer the money I have in this account to yours. That way you’ll have something to start with. I want you to know all the best. Ask Laurel…ask her.” Jesse smiled as they stopped at the farm.

“Daddy?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.” Jesse had his Dad in a big bear hug. Bo grinned as the tears rolled down his face. He tried to push them away but he didn’t know how. The hardest thing he would ever have to do would be to leave Hazzard. As he looked out at the farm, he remembered the grass he had planted. Bo remembered Nancy-Lou planting her flowers in the front yard. He could almost see Jesse and Jo taking their first steps again like it was for the first time.

Bo could see Jesse, on the front porch with a party hat on. He of course was more excited than Jesse was…considering it was his first birthday. Jo kept ripping off her hat. She didn’t like things like that. Bo could remember Lilly-Rose dancing with the chickens when she was three years old. He had to laugh at that one.

Bo thought further back. He could see himself and Luke running across the dirt. He thought about Uncle Jesse screaming for them to slow down. Luke and Bo always did everything together. They played basketball with their Uncle. Bo was a bad player at first but his Uncle worked with him.

Bo remembered when Daisy came to live with them. He recalled every detail, including the color of the ribbon in Daisy’s hair. Bo locked her in the closet the first day. She screamed for ten minutes. Luke let her out and was kind, he didn’t tell Uncle Jesse. Bo didn’t like her at all in the very beginning.

Daisy was a cute little thing and of course no one could deny that. Uncle Jesse and Aunt Livonia always seemed to spend more time with her…well at least that’s what Bo thought. Soon, Bo got used to her and ever liked her. Luke always seemed to have a spot for Daisy.

They became joined at the hip those three. Daisy, Bo and Luke did everything together. When Daisy lost her first tooth, Bo and Luke were the ones that helped her pull it out. When Bo learned to drive, it was Luke and Daisy who were brave enough to get in the car with him. Uncle Jesse always did tell Bo that he was a natural.

Now, Bo was going to leave. How could he even think of such a thing? Leaving a place that he had been a part of his whole life. Sure, he pursued a singing career but he ended up back here. When Bo and Luke went into the NASCAR circuit, they had a lot of fun but missed Hazzard more than anything.

Bo would just have to accept it, he guessed. “Dad, your squishing me,” Jesse said. Bo let go of his son.

“I’m sorry,” Bo mumbled.

“What were you thinking about? Just now, you went into outer space. Are you okay?” Bo sighed.

“Well Jesse, I was thinking about your first party.”

“When Jo hit me?” Bo tried to hold in his laughter but it seemed to come right out. “It’s not funny, Dad.”

“Oh she was always a wild child.”

“She threw cake at the clown.” Bo laughed away. Jesse smiled as he shook his head. He ran his fingers through his hair. “That was the last time I had a clown at my birthday parties.”

“Well, I am going to miss this place.”

“It’ll always be here if you want a visit down memory lane.” Bo began to cry again. He shook his head.

“I’m a dang fool!”

“Dad, a few tears ain’t goanna change how I see you.”

“Son, you’re a wiser man than me.”

“Am not.”

“You are too.”

“Not a chance.”

“No really, I have always tried to teach you three good values but in the end, you were always the ones teaching me.” Bo swallowed hard. He looked up at his son. “Jesse, I wasn’t even gonna have kids, I really wasn’t.”

“Why not?”

“I didn’t think I would be a good father.”

“Well let me tell you, Bo Duke, you are the best father anyone could have ever had.” Now it was Jesse’s turn to cry. “You know, all my life I have had love and adventure. I had peace and war. You know who was there through it all? You, you were the one constant person in my life and that will never change.”

“Make me a promise Jesse?”

“Anything Dad.”

“If anything happens to me or your mother…”

“I will, I promise you I will take care of them.”

“No matter what?”

“Of course Dad, no matter what.”

“Thank you son, now lets go make some babies stop crying.”

“You’ve got it.”

“You know, how you and Jose do it, I’ll never know.”

“It takes a special touch.”

“I’m going to miss you two.”

“I’ll miss you too, Dad.” With that, they made their way into the house. Well, let’s see how this one turns out.