My Dog Skip
Memory is a funny thing.
Recollections slip in and out
and around in time...
...leaving plenty of room
to weave and backtrack...
...and drift and glide.
In my life, I've found that...
...memories of the spirit
linger and sweeten...
...long after memories
of the brain have faded.
My fondest memories are
of my childhood days...
...back in Yazoo, Mississippi.
I can still see the town now.
Ten thousand souls, and nothing doing.
Where the old men sat drowsily
in straw-bottom chairs...
...watching the big cars
with out-of-state plates whip by.
Drivers hardly knowing...
...and certainly not caring
what place this was.
There was a war going on then.
And it touched our lives every day.
War, President Roosevelt
reminded us...
...required everybody to make
sacrifices. And boy, we did.
The cotton grew tall that year,
the summer of 1942...
...but I sure didn't.
Matter of fact,
...I was a target
for the neighborhood bullies.
Fortunately, I lived next door
to Dink Jenkins...
...Yazoo's best athlete
and favorite son.
Dink?
Where do you think they'll send you?
Probably Fort Benning for basic,
then overseas, I reckon.
How long will you be gone?
That's hard to say.
If you're not home, who will
show me how to throw a curve ball?
You promised to show me.
Partner, you're gonna do just fine.
While I'm gone, you'll make
friends your own age...
...and who knows,
you might even meet a girl.
Will!
Suppertime!
This was a time of large families.
Four or five kids, sometimes more.
So needless to say,
ours was already unusual...
...what with me being the only child.
My mother was lively and talkative.
Certainly didn't fit
the housewife mold.
And my daddy...
Well, my daddy was
stern and overbearing.
He was a war veteran
and had lost his leg in battle.
And from most accounts,
it changed him.
Sometimes it seemed that
along with that leg...
...he'd also lost
a piece of his heart.
You know I.C.? Colored fellow
at the service station?
Sure.
- His son came back from Europe today.
- Wonderful.
In a box.
Somebody around here's gonna
be having a birthday pretty soon.
You been thinking about
how you want to celebrate?
A party maybe?
Will, your mother
asked you a question.
Stop. You're lucky to have
that food, with the rationing.
Would you like a party?
I guess.
at Carr's drugstore.
Invitations?
You can't very well have a party
without guests, now can you?
After supper, you fill them out and
give them to your friends tomorrow.
Like who?
What about John Abner?
He's 5. He still wets his pants.
There are plenty of children
who would love to attend your party.
Your mother went to a lot
of trouble to get invitations.
And you will fill them out.
Can I be excused?
Yes, you may.
Don't forget your invitations.
What are we gonna do?
He's gonna be so lonely without Dink.
Maybe we should reconsider
Absolutely not.
We've been over this already.
It is not a good idea.
Not for Will, not now.
He is still too young.
- Y'all be careful.
- All right, we will!
Hey, you wait for us!
Smile.
You take care, you hear?
Come on, Jenkins!
Can't keep old Adolf a-waitin'!
Fellas, y'all want to come?
We was wondering...
We wanted you to sign our football.
You know, as a souvenir.
All right.
Beside Slingin' Sammy Baugh.
His name came with the ball.
don't you think?
I ain't even played college ball yet.
Jenkins, come on. Let's go!
- Thanks, Dink.
- Let me see!
Willie-boy, aren't you
gonna wish me luck?
Y'all give me a second, okay?
What's the matter?
When I get back, I'll show you
Really?
Shoot, yeah, really.
Give the letters to my mama.
She'll send them.
I want you to tell me everything
that happens around here, okay?
Don't leave nothing out.
All right?
This is mine.
I hope it'll mean something to you.
You didn't think I'd forget
your birthday, did you?
Thanks, Dink.
I'll see you.
See you!
Good luck!
Here we go now!
Bye-bye, ladies!
Twenty-four, 32,
hut, hut!
Pass it. Here, I'm open!
Hon.
Hon?!
Goofball can't even catch!
Time to come in.
Why didn't you catch it,
you big titty-baby?
Let me see it.
I can't believe that titty-baby lives
right next door to Dink Jenkins.
What a waste!
Here, let me help you.
They say this is what all the dapper
young men in Memphis are wearing.
Thank you, Grandma.
Huck Finn! Thank you, Grandpa!
There's cussing in it.
There.
A pocketknife!
Relax, worry-boy.
It's just fingernail clippers.
It does have a blade, though.
Thank you, Aunt Maggie.
This one's from me.
It was mine when I was a boy.
Thank you, Daddy. It's nice.
Say thank you for your nice presents.
Wait.
There's one more.
I thought we agreed.
You agreed.
This is from Daddy and me.
I hope you like it.
You mean he's mine?!
He's all yours.
I hope you like it.
I'm sorry.
Jack, be sensible.
Your mother made a mistake.
- We can't keep a dog. Not now.
- What?
Maybe next year.
But why?
I know you're disappointed...
...but I want you to know that...
...I'm gonna find
a real good home for him.
I know you're upset with us.
I'm so sorry about what happened.
Did you ever get your birthday present
taken away from you?
Your father just doesn't think
you're quite ready for a dog yet.
I am ready to have a dog. I'm 9.
Lots of kids younger
than me have dogs.
Ralph Atkinson. He's only 3.
He has two dogs, a cat and bird.
He can stick his head
in the dog's mouth.
That's impressive.
I can take care of a dog, Mom.
Really, I can.
You just be a big boy
about this, okay?
He'll be fine.
I don't think so.
You know...
...if anybody here
deserves to be angry, it's me.
You went behind my back.
You didn't give me any choice.
- That was dishonest.
- You want to talk about honesty?
Then you tell the truth.
- Why don't you want him to have a dog?
- I already told you.
He's a little boy,
and a dog is a big responsibility.
He's not a baby. He's a
responsible boy who needs a friend.
And what happens when
he becomes attached to that dog?
Learns to love it?
I thought that was the general idea.
Dogs die. They get sick.
They run away, get hit by cars.
They're a heartbreak waiting to happen.
He's not ready for that.
He's frail, he's sensitive
and he can't handle it.
How do you know what he can handle?
You don't give him a chance.
I know all about loss.
Experienced more than my fair share.
It's hard enough on an adult.
A boy shouldn't have to.
So you're gonna
shelter him from life?
For how long?
He keeps the dog.
For two weeks.
If there's a problem,
I'll take it to the farm myself.
Jack...
...Will deserves this chance.
He needs it.
Wait, ...
- I haven't agreed to that.
- I'm not asking.
Hey, boy!
What's the matter?
You miss your mommy and daddy?
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"My Dog Skip" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 22 Dec. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/my_dog_skip_14322>.
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