If you have been following these stories you have read about Gary the tent scholar. Yesterday, Gary related to Kadizzle some of the unfolding of his life. As Kadizzle suspected Gary came from an abusive home. His father beat him regularly and also was abusive to his mother. Gary first ran away at twelve, and then two more times until he finally left home for good at 15. Gary related a series of stories about how he survived. One trick he developed to stay on the move was to hitch hike. As he rode he would break down and cry and when the driver asked what was wrong he would confess he had run away from home, and was trying to get back. Usually the driver would feel sorry for him and give him money, the reality he was using the money to go farther from home. Gary was caught breaking into box cars looking for food. The FBI let him go after they gave him bus ticket home and told him he better not get off the bus.
This morning Gary explained to Kadizzle what a Murphy scam was an how he would pull them. Gary would dress nicely and go to a hotel where a convention was being held. He would go to the bar and buy drinks for a couple conventioneers. After a while he would ask them if they wanted a prostitute. If they did Gary would give them a card after they paid him and direct them to any single women sitting in the bar. Gary would slip out of the bar with their money. Once Gary was pulling this scam on a couple merchant marine sailors. Gary did not realize it, but he had scammed the same sailors a year earlier. The sailors gave Gary a serious beating, which Gary acknowledged was the cost of doing business.
Another con Gary pulled in Chicago was to go into a large nice department store dressed nicely around Christmas time carrying a briefcase. Gary would find a salesperson new to the job. Gary would say he was with upper management and wanted to audit the cash register tape. After the clerk opened the cash register and gave Gary the tape, he would tell the clerk to help a customer. You figure the rest, both Gary and the money were soon gone.
Gary had a sad childhood with no affection from his father whatsoever. Gary was not allowed to speak to his father. He could approach his fathers chair and wait for his father to address him. He was beat if he did not get strait A's and just about for every infraction. When he ran away the last time his father told him never to come back. Gary said he would never come back unless he found out his father abused his mother, then he said to his father "I will come back to kill you".
Over the years Gary always called his mother to check on her. After many years he called and his father answered. His father asked if Gary was living with anyone. Gary said no. Gary's father told Gary his mother was dying of cancer and he should come home to see her. Gary complied. When the day came for Gary to leave, his mother and father had to go some where before he caught the bus a noon. So they said their goodbye's. Gary hugged his mother and wished her well. His father shook his hand and went out the door. As Gary sat there his father came back in and hugged Gary, and kissed him and told him " I love you". Gary said he forgave his father that moment.
Gary keeps a journal, and after all his reading, he should surely have some concept of how to write. Kadizzle suggested to Gary he write about his life. From what little Kadizzle has learned about Gary, the book would be very interesting.
Every morning on the way to the office to fire the cannon, Kadizzle stops at Gary's campfire and we have a chat. Before Kadizzle left the Earth Module today The Commander said " I can't believe you and Gary were both comparing notes on how to rob a bank yesterday". For better or worse Kadizzle finds he has a lot in common with Gary. Remember the old saying " But for God's grace there would I also be".
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