Word Sketch: PKC

Word Sketch by Michael Easterling

11/27/20

My dad’s friend Floyd owned greyhounds.

He was taking six to race at Pensacola,  

Pop was going with him.

He wanted me to go and I said no,

feeling I couldn’t possibly be away 

from my Minnie for a week.

Then  Mom put the pressure on me,

“he really wants you to go with them.”

Dragging my heels I told Pop OK.

So the day came, 

Floyd came by one morning

pulling a dog trailer behind his car

loaded with six amazing greyhounds.

As we drove out of Dallas 

he talked about the trip—

it was 650 miles to Pensacola,

we would stop overnight in Vicksburg,

we would need to walk the dogs every couple of hours,

we would make pit-stops at Dairy Queens

where we could get take out food,

no stopping at cafes or restaurants.

Pretty soon we found out why Dairy Queens—

Floyd loved soft ice cream.

The ice cream, chili dogs, burgers, DPs and fries

were my kind of teen-age junk -food eating.

Walking the dogs was real exercise.

We walked them two at a time.

They were quiet and friendly but super powerful.

Each of us had a heavy lease, one in each hand,  

attached to the dog’s harnesses.

Floyd knew how to do it but 

those beauties dragged Pop and me 

all over those Dairy Queen parking lots. 

We drove through the Big Thicket and over the Red River,

crossed Louisiana and over the Mississippi,

stopped in Vicksburg, drove south and turned east at Biloxi,

made our way along the Gulf coast past Pascagoula,   

Panama City and cruised into Pensacola.

Floyd dropped us at our motel and took his dogs to the track.

The track was called the Pensacola Kennel Club, built in 1932

it’s the Pensacola Greyhound Track today.

Over the next few days watching the dogs

chasing that electronically controlled rabbit 

was fun and exciting.

The dogs are built for running—

lean and tall with super long legs,

gentle and even tempered until the bell rings

when they explode and run 45 mph.

Floyd had two great dogs,the rest weren’t bad,

one was famous and won all the time.

Floyd spent his time in the kennel and on the track.

Pop and I were in the stands placing small bets,

eating chili cheese dogs drinking DP’s and Budweiser.

Most dog races are banned in Florida now but 

the PKC will be open until 2021, then only open

for poker and pari-mutual betting.

300 greyhounds will be needing homes.

The dogs at the track were unforgettable

not to mention the Pensacola beach.

Bright sun, absolutely clear skies, 

crystal clear water and snow white sand.

I did most of the swimming while Pop

contentedly sat on the beach

 a big smile on his face, watching his big boy.

Once while body-surfing I realized I wasn’t alone-

I was surrounded by dolphins.

Scary, thrilling.

The dogs and beach 

almost made me forget about Minnie but not quite.

At times I missed her so much I ached

staying at the motel just to pine.

Every day I scanned radio stations hoping

to hear our song “I Want To Be With You Always”

sung by Lefty Frizzell.

We are talking about teenage angst.

So after five days we retraced our way back to Big D,

repeating the things we did on the way down.

The years have passed now, and I will never forget 

the Dairy Queens, the beautiful greyhounds, 

watching them race, swimming at that perfect beach. 

But what I’ll remember most is that time with Pop.

He was so generous.

so curious and interested in everything.

So kind.

Constantly taking pictures.

Happy talking to Floyd.

Happy eating hot dogs or 

all the shrimp we could eat at the Embassy Cafe.

Happy watching the dogs and betting on them.

And mainly happy being with his selfish, self absorbed,

love-sick 15 year old son. 

God can you take me back on that trip again?

I would cherish every moment.

I would realize how lucky I was.

I would realize what a treasure I had in my Pop.

How beautiful he was.