May 22, 1935
Late in the morning, John-Boy mounted the family mule Blue and rode over to the Rudge place. The buildings were a little beaten up from the storm but still looked fairly good, all things considered.
A man came out of the front door to the house. He was walking with a cane. John-Boy assumed that this was Mr. Rudge, but he wanted to make sure.
"Mr. Rudge?" he asked. "My name is John Walton. I was down at Ike Godsey's store and he said that you were looking for somebody to help fix up around here."
"I've got no money. Did he tell you that?"
"He said you may be willing to make a trade."
Mr. Rudge nodded. "I might be."
"He said something about an old car you might be willing to trade for the work."
"He's wrong. I've got a good set of machinist's tools. I'd be willing to part with that if you're interested."
"Thank you, but that won't help me out any."
"I got a game leg and I can't manage myself. So maybe I could throw in a Victrola."
"I'm sorry, but a car is really what I need."
Mr. Rudge's tone became surprisingly harsh. "You take it or leave it, Boy."
John-Boy paused. "Thank you. I'm sorry, but I really can't afford to put time in unless I'm working for a car. I'm getting married in three weeks and would really like to have a car then. I'm going to need a car come this Fall when I start school."
"Where are you going to school this Fall?"
"Boatwright in Charlottesville. They have a bus. The time it comes by works with my schedule, but the bus leaves Charlottesville at noon. I have a couple afternoon classes, so that won't work for me. Thank you anyway. Good day to you." John-Boy began to walk away.
"Boy," Mr. Rudge called.
John-Boy turned around. "Yes Sir?"
"If I was willing to strike the bargain that you want, you'd have to do a powerful lot more that just fixing my roof."
"I'll do whatever it takes."
Just as John-Boy said this, a woman who John-Boy was assuming was Mrs. Rudge, stepped onto the porch.
"You'll catch a chill out here." Mr. Rudge told his wife, implying she should go inside.
"When it's 80 degrees?" she retorted. She turned to John-Boy. "You're the Walton boy aren't you?"
"Yes ma'am."
"I was down at Godsey's store the other day. I saw you there."
John-Boy smiled and nodded.
"You gonna help out with the chores?"
"I'd like to if Mr. Rudge would be willing to trade the car you have for the work I do."
"Go in the house, Martha, I've got more to say to this boy here." Mr. Rudge told his wife.
"But Hyder, you're not gonna…"
"I'll talk to you later."
Mrs. Rudge knew by the tone of her husband's voice that she'd better do what he said. She turned to John-Boy before going back inside the house. "Nice to have met you."
"Thank you. You as well." John-Boy smiled.
When Mrs. Rudge was inside, John-Boy asked, "Can I see the car?"
"What for?"
John-Boy sort of laughed. "Well, Mr. Rudge, I'll fix the roof for you. I'll do any other chores you want done. But I'd like to know what I'm working for."
"When can you start?"
"First thing in the morning, if you'd like."
Mr. Rudge was strict. "I'll show you the car then."
"I'd like to see it now." John-Boy insisted.
"If you're so feeble you can't use your feet, I don't see how you can do the work that needs to be done here."
"Mr. Rudge, I don't think you understand. See, I'm gonna be getting married in three weeks. Three weeks from today, to be exact. And I'm gonna be driving back and forth to classes in the Fall. And my family's got a truck, but they need it for work. There's no buses I can take that work with my class schedule, and if I've gotta walk 28 miles back and forth to college every day, I'm not gonna have much time to do any studying. My education is very important to me."
"You'll have to repair the roof, clean up this here yard, and fix up all them windows and doors. Nail down all the loose floorboards in the house, and chop me enough wood for the Winter."
"All right. That's a lot of work. That's an unfair lot of work, but I can't afford to worry about that right now. May I see the car?" John-Boy stood his ground.
"Come along." Mr. Rudge said.
Mr. Rudge led John-Boy to a shed a short distance from the house. He took out a key and unlocked the door.
"Oh, this is beautiful!" John-Boy admired the car. His favorite feature was at the back of the car. "Oh, she's even got a rumble seat!"
"Now you've seen it." Mr. Rudge said.
"How's the engine?"
"In perfect running order."
"Oh my wife will love this. May I try it out?"
"You're just gonna have to take my word on it like I'm gonna take your word on your chores."
"Okay, okay." John-Boy replied. "But after a day's work, if you're satisfied I can do the chores, I'll have to be satisfied with your engine." He wasn't backing down.
Mr. Rudge paused. "What age are you, Boy?"
"18, I'll be 19 in August."
"And your soon-to-be bride?"
"She's 18 as well, she'll be 19 in September, about a month after I do."
"Young love." Mr. Rudge remarked. "What are you gonna do with your life?"
"Well I'm enrolled at the school of journalism at Boatwright University."
"What does your daddy think of your marriage and your schooling?"
"He's for both."
"You be here early." Mr. Rudge said.
"I'll be here at the crack of dawn if you want me to." John-Boy agreed. "Afternoon, Mr. Rudge."
He got on Blue and rode away to tell Jenny about his job and that they would indeed have a car in time for their wedding.