AMERIQUE:


A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: It is the unspoken statistic, but it is as real as anything to do with the lingering U.S. war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to the military, 1,800 American servicemen have killed themselves since the initial invasion of Baghdad. That is in addition to the more than 4,000 who died in battle. This week, families of the soldiers who committed suicide asked President Barack Obama to change the government policy of not forwarding letters of appreciation to mothers and fathers of these servicemen. By week's end, the White House had reversed the policy and agreed that such letters are needed, as well... - Eduardo Paz-Martinez, Editor of The Tribune

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Looking For Something, Tribune Writer Junior Bonner Says Adios To City Life...

By ELIOT ELCOMEDOR
Editor-In-Chief

COMBES, Texas - Junior Bonner wanted to talk. It was danged late in the day and, as happens with writers, he was yapping away about this book he is writing, talking as if the best thing to do at the time was to release unneeded words from the creative caverns of his grass-whorled brain. "Time, man," he was saying, "...time holds the key to Life. You grab at time and you're ahead of the game. You gotta collar it. You let it collar you and there goes your Life."

His book is a run-through everything that represents Life, from birth, to journey, to death.

And he's fast at working it, even if the damned book is still in his brain. It's not that unusual for paperback writers to spend a year - or more - with a subject without putting a word down on paper. Ideas have to germinate. Plots have to be hatched. Characters have to fit-in. It takes time and thought, absolutely.

For the moment, Bonner's biggest hassle is finding a place to live, a place to sit down at his computer and begin the book. "I looked at Brownsville, but that town is too noisy with whimperings and, well, clearly depressing. Harlingen was no better, and McAllen is simply not who I am. Too many shiny, washed cars there. I need a town not afraid to wear its loneliness, its poverty, its dirty shirts, its struggle to survive."

So, he's come to Combes, a city of barely 1,500 residents - most seemingly uninterested in the political doings of Washington, D.C., the problems of the Jews in Israel, the drug war in nearby Mexico, the Afghanistan adventure, unemployment, Wall Street, the Tea Party or any such faddish pop-culture stuff.

"I'm where I should be," Bonner said as he wheeled out of this town's only convenience store, a bag of Bugler and a six-pack of Lone Star beer at his side. "My gal Sissy & I are going to enjoy this place, man. You know it..."

Junior Bonner switched on the ancient radio in his two-tone, 1967 El Camino and was rewarded with a song by country crooner Mickey Gilley. "Yes, sireeee, that music takes me back to my Urban Cowboy days," he said as he rolled the driver's side window down and spit out a golf ball-sized wad of saliva. "Life don't get no better'n this, Eliot..."

- 30 -

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Combes, Combes Texas, are you serious, Mr. Bonner wants to live there. That town is ugly, just ugly.

Anonymous said...

eliot, if jr. bonner, wants a nice place to write tell him, Arroyo City is the place, a couple of stores, two bread and breakfast homes, two stores, I don't know if they still sell lone star bruskies, no schools, mostly adults.
He looks about 70 and there are plenty of people around his age. He would just love the place. Plus, there is a big arroyo to fish, if he so desires.

Patrick Alcatraz said...

ANONYMOUSES: (1.)...There are times in a man's life when a little town offering little is the best place for his mind. That is why I came to McAllen after living in the Big City. (2.)...Arroyo City sounds lovely. I'll check it out... - Editor

Anonymous said...

I agree with one of your comments, Combes does struggle to survive, the closest Sturbucks is in harlingen, about 5 miles away. I know that is too classy for Jr. and his cowboy hat.
Combes,is like the hood. Junk yards, run down dance halls, a small post office, a couple of mobile home parks. And tell Jr. to becareful, they do have a police dept. and a city hall, if you can believe that. The Truck stop, is the restaraunt. A couple of chicken fried steaks, and Jr. will join the valley obese people. Good luck Mr. Bonner.

Anonymous said...

Eliot, find out where Jr. Bonner, got an El Camino like that. Nothing against Jr. But that car is to good for him.
I expect him, to be driving an old 1989 beat up chevy truck, with no windows an out dated safey sticker and expired license plates.
That ugly hat, just doesn't go with such a nice car. I say that car is way too classy for him.
Can you please talk to him. And let him know, it is hurting his image. And please tell him, in Combes he can find a car like the one I describe. Damn, he actually drinks,Lone Star Beer, and smokes Buglers, what era does Mr. Bonner belongs to. The 1800's or close to the 1700's no offence Jr.

Patrick Alcatraz said...

Anonymous:...I'm laughing, 'cause, truth be told, the photo of Junior's car was taken when he bought it some 10 years ago. It does not look anything like that today. You'll see more mud and rust on it. The chrome is pretty much gone. But he did install a neat-looking, two-cup ash tray that comes in the shape of a woman's bra - for his Bugler ashes... - Editor

Sessi said...

I feel sorry for the car. That man sure is goofy and scary looking. Mr. Bonner, you don't need a holloween outfit, just be yourself on October 31st. Can he actually use a computer key board or does wife do it for him. Isn't Buglers the type of cigarretes you roll???? I didn't even know, they still made that stuff. Where has this man been in the last 20 years?????????????????/

Patrick Alcatraz said...

SESSI:...Junior Bonner is a kind and generous man. He took it upon himself to send a bouquet of flowers to Elaine Benitez's funeral, and he did the same thing when Ron Mexico was murdered. The woman he is dating, Sissy, is a Hispanic woman from Rio Hondo. She says he's a nice guy, or as she put it, "He walks funny, but he's a big-hearted cowboy."... - Editor

sessi said...

You mean to tell me, Mr. Bonner has a girl friend??? Someone better check the nursing homes.
And believes in sending flowers, Eliot, if he can barely afford Buglers, because that is the cheapest form of Tabacco, and he send flowers over seas. Wow weee.
What did he do, hock the hat at the pawn shop???
He will fit right at home in Combes.

Patrick Alcatraz said...

SESSI:...Give Junior a break. He's a great conversationalist and an accomplished skirt-chaser. The guy loves his Bugler! And, no, he'd never hock his beloved hat. According to Sissy, his galpal, Junior begins the day with a cold crossaint and a shot of whiskey... - Editor

sessi said...

Drinks Whiskey, probably Jim Beam, that stuff is cheap, I just can't imagine anyone smoking buglers. How is old is the girl friend,around 65, he looks in his mid 70s.
I don't know where the Tribune, collects or finds this crazy characters, or writers, but man, you guys went to the bottom of the barrel to bring Jr. Bonner back to life.
He looks weather beaten, you sure Jr. is not a wino, he sure likes one. If I ever see him at Americas or Mi Rancho, I will buy him a big breakfast plate with potatoes and beans,;ham and eggs.
I swear I thought I saw, a man just like him at Gem's Pancake house. I was going to ask him if he was the writer for the Tribune, but looked kind of shakey, while drinking coffee.
The man had a large black hat, and look skinny, just like Jr. Bonner.