[legendsport]

Egypt, Georgia: June 9, 1916:

The first notice Rufus had that something was happening was when 8-year-old Tommy ran into the barn calling out, "Pop! Pop!"

"Whoa, slow down there, youngster," Rufus said with a grin. Tommy and soon-to-be-six-years-old Bobby were Rufus' "rabbits" because they were always "on the hop," hurrying everywhere they went.

"Now, what is it?" Rufus asked as his son slid to a stop in front of him.

Noting that his son suddenly seemed uncertain, Rufus prodded, "Well..."

Tommy took a deep breath, then said, "Well, me and Bobby were pitchin' rocks at a big old bullfrog in the pond...."

Rufus raised an eyebrow. "Did you hit it?"

Tommy said with some pride, "Naw, I almost did... missed by maybe an inch, and then it hopped off the log. Bobby said my aim was bad, but he's just jealous."

Rufus knew that Tommy had all the signs of a good throwing arm, so though he didn't particularly want his boys throwing rocks at the wildlife, he figured he'd let this one slide.

"I'm guessing you didn't come in here pants afire because the frog got away?"

"Naw, I wanted to tell you that some fellow in a fancied-up automobile just stopped in front of the house. I think he's talking to Maw." Tommy rubbed at a red mark on his arm, which Rufus hadn't noticed.

He pointed and asked, "What's that?"

Tommy shrugged, admitting, "Bobby whacked me after I said he throws like a baby."

Rufus shook his head and explained, "Bobby's littler than you. Try to be a better big brother. It's like I tell Danny and Fred when they pick on you, see?"

Tommy nodded and looked chagrined.

"Alright, now git. I'll go see this fellow at the house," Rufus said and added as his son ran off, "And no more pitching rocks at frogs! If you want to throw something, get a baseball and pitch to Freddy!"

Rufus dusted his hands on his pants and stepped out into the sun. Early June, and it was already hot in northern Georgia. He tugged his hat down a bit to cut the glare and gazed towards the house.

Sure enough, there was a bright red automobile parked there. He also noticed that Rollie and Jimmy were walking around it and talking to each other. He headed up the path towards them.

"Hey Pop, look at this!" Rollie said and whistled for emphasis. "This is a really fine automobile."

Jimmy nodded and said, "I do believe this is a Buick D-55. It's got a 130-inch wheelbase and a 331-cubic-inch engine. It's the top-of-the-line for the Buick company."

Rufus frowned. "How in tarnation do you know any of that gibberish?" he asked his son.

Jimmy chuckled, "Aw, Pop, I like cars. Old man Moody threw me out of the General Store for reading his magazines, but I saw an ad for this beauty in one of them before he did," he said and winked at his father.

Rufus shook his head - Jimmy was always full of surprises.

Rollie stopped and stood next to his father. "I don't know about any of that fancy talk, but this is a really fine piece of machinery."

Rufus nodded in agreement - it was a nice-looking car. It certainly put the family's battered old Hupmobile to shame. He had been considering a Model T after seeing them in various spots around the country. The darned things seemed ubiquitous.

Rollie bumped Rufus with his elbow. "Any chance we can get one of these, Pop?"

Rufus was shaking his head as Jimmy joined in, "Yeah, Pop, we need to replace that old jalopy of a Hupmobile anyway."

Rufus raised a hand and sighed then said, "Not now, boys. Did either of you take a gander at the gentleman who owns this 'fine piece of machinery?'"

"That would be me, sir," said a gravelly voice from the porch of the Barrell home.

Rufus, who had been all over the U.S., couldn't quite place the man's accent. He gave him the once-over, noting the fine clothes, the clean and highly polished shoes and silk tie. The man practically screamed wealth. Rufus had been around plenty of wealthy men - after all, every club owner in FABL was awash in money. But this guy had a different energy coming off him. The closest person to that feeling in Rufus' experience was probably Miles Bigsby... And that set him on edge.

"What can I do for you, mister?" he asked in a friendly tone, tamping down the discomfort he felt.

"Ah, I'm sorry, Mr. Barrell. I should have introduced myself," the man said as Alice Barrell came out onto the porch and stood behind him. Two-year-old Betsy followed her mother and grabbed a tiny fistful of her mother's skirts, eyeing the stranger with a thumb stuck in her mouth.

Rufus winked at his daughter, then nodded to the stranger and the man went on, "I'm Jack Connolly. I'm sure you haven't heard of me. I'm fairly well known back in Canada, but this is about as far south as I've ever been."

Alice stepped around the man and said to Rufus, "Mr. Connolly owns some silver mines in Ontario."

Rufus reckoned that explained the fancy car and nicely tailored clothing. It didn't explain why he was in Egypt, Georgia standing on Rufus' porch. Jimmy, feeling the same, whispered, "I guess silver can buy some very nice things, Pop."

The man smiled at Alice then turned back to Rufus, "As I was explaining to Mrs. Barrell a moment ago, I am here about your son John."

Now Rufus was surprised. Jack? What could Jack be involved with that would interest a silver magnate.

The question showed on Rufus' face. Even Jimmy was stunned to silence.

"Jack? What's he got to do with anything?" Rollie Barrell blurted out.

Connolly grinned at Rollie. "I know, from speaking with John, that this must be Roland." Then he raised a hand and said, "And you must be James."

Jimmy, now that he had been included, immediately asked, "Say, Mr. Connolly, how fast can this here automobile go anyway?"

Connolly laughed, but Rufus noticed the smile didn't quite reach his eyes.

"I'm not sure, young man. I purchased it just this morning in Atlanta."

Jimmy's eyes widened and a whispered "Wow" escaped his lips.

Connolly addressed Rufus, "I am here because I am offering a contract to John to play for my hockey club."

"Really?" Alice asked.

Connolly nodded and said, "Yes, really. He is a fine player. I own two clubs in the NAHC and would like to have him play for one of them."

Rufus knew, thanks to Jack's infrequent (and often poorly-spelled) letters that the NAHC was hockey's answer to FABL - that is, the top pro hockey circuit in the world.

He squinted and said, "Well, that's mighty fine. Jack is eighteen now though, so I reckon he can make that decision himself."

"Yes, that is true, sir, but your son's grandmother, Mrs. Reid, advised him not to sign the contract."

"Really?" Alice asked again. Her mother's penchant for interference was perennially frustrating, but sometimes useful. "And why would she do that?"

Connolly looked a bit uncomfortable for a split second, but recovered quickly and said, "Apparently she made the acquaintance of a certain Mr. Max Dewar."

Rufus shrugged, "That name doesn't mean much to me, Mr. Connolly. Who's Mr. Dewar?"

Connolly took a deep breath and said, "Well, he's a hockey player. A very fine player, in fact. But he and I.... well, suffice it to say there's no love lost between us. I believe he's poisoning Mrs. Reid, and through her, John, just to spite me."

Alice harrumphed. She said, "My mother is a woman of strong opinion, and not easily fooled. I think this is something we need to discuss as a family."

Connolly smiled again - and again Rufus was reminded, briefly, of Miles Bigsby who also had the smile of a tiger sizing up its prey.

"Fair enough," he said. Then he added, "Please, accept this Buick as a gift in thanks of your consideration in this matter."

Smiling at the stunned look on all the Barrells' faces, he added, "I really can do great things for young Jack. I only ask for the opportunity to do so."

He walked down the road and a few moments later he whistled. Another Buick, this one blue, appeared and coasted to a stop beside him. Connolly climbed into the passenger seat, waved at the Barrells and sat back as the driver expertly turned the car around and drove off in a cloud of dust.

"Holy cow!" Jimmy said as he climbed into the Buick, with Rollie right behind him. Rufus and Alice exchanged a look that was a mixture of disbelief, wonderment, and more questions than answers.


NOTE: You can read more about the North American Hockey Conferderation (NAHC), Jack Connolly, Max Dewar, and eventually Jack Barrell on the legendsport.com website which has stats and info about the entire Figment Universe, of which the Barrells are a big part. I'm also looking for two more GMs for the upcoming Figment Hockey League, so shoot me a PM if you're interested. Thanks, as always, for reading!