Tent Men
Blue and red are their names. They're trying to put up a tent. It looks like a tent. A sleeping tent. Red said, "Hold still. I almost have it." Red's a man. I think it's a man. I never thought of it but it might be a woman. He never thought of it that way.
They're putting it up because they want to stay in out of the rain--to sleep. I wouldn't call it a tent because he's going up higher. It's in the woods. There is some timber there. There is a notch out right up here, there is one here higher.
They're having trouble putting it up. Hell no, you can't have a tent look like that. You got to pull that over. They are trying to make something out of that but they are not getting anywhere and the one is not getting anywhere either. He's on his knees. He's threading an eye with some rope so he can pound a stake through it in to the ground and he's not happy about it either. I don't think these 2 would know. A tent, that's it. It's pretty much a mess right now. Get in and out of it. One don't know, but the expertise is not too hot. It's their first time with a tent. It looks like it. Yes. (laughter). "I can't talk." She's laughing too hard. You got me.
It's just outside of Chicago. A thermos jug in red above Blue's shoulder. I thought that looked like a pump-a water pump. A sleeping bag. Right. It's a dog and he's gonna sleep. Fido the dog. Zippity Do Dog.
I'd say they got half of it up and trying to get the other half up. It could be this year. This is an ice cooler. (pointing to the picture) Who told you this would be easy? We're not getting anywhere. The cooler to keep the beer cold. I think they have had too much beer and that's why they can't get the tent up.
And the food--cheese and crackers. Bread. They don't have a place for a fire so they have to have bologna sandwiches.
It's just afternoon. It's a cloudy day because there is no shadow. Good thinking. It's early in the morning because they want to get it all set up. They would have to take it down. They need to tough it out and sleep on the ground. If they can't tough it out, they shouldn't be out there just playing around. They will have to run to the car if it rains. They will get it up, it's happened to me before, they will get it up. Depends if we find out who's the girl and who's the guy. She will sleep on this side (pointing to the left) and he will sleep on this side. (Pointing to the right) Yes, they will get the tent up. Then they knock it down getting in to it! No. The dog's too lazy to get up to get the rest of them up. Only way they can get it up.
Where's the dog?
Are we having fun yet?
September 27, 2007. Written by: Helen, Bob, Richard, Mina, Doris, Hal
Staff who assisted: Kathy, Melissa, Jenny, Liz
The Malloy 3North Storytellers are from the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown
