It was October 19, 1944, when the Bullard’s moved west on SHW-3 to Stonewall. My older brother famously said our move was sort of biblical. We, the Bullards, were like the Children of Israel in the Bible. Dad was our “Moses” and Centrahoma was similar to Egypt. Gerald always said that Dad (Moses) led us from Centrahoma (Egypt) to Stonewall (The Promised Land). I think Gerald liked the Movie Theatre (The Main) dad bought there in Stonewall. He really like our new house, and he loved the fact that Stonewall schools had a football program. Gerald loved movies and football.

I was, on the other hand, not quite as happy with it as Gerald. I found it tough to leave all my 5th grade friends and move into this crowded little oilfield town and its overcrowded school. I had left friends in Centrahoma and I had my routine which included fellowship at the First Baptist Church. My buddies were all there. Friends such as Letha Mae and a handicapped guy named Smith. Smith had operated The First National Bank of Centrahoma. Due to a brush with Polio he used crutches to get around. But then a man walked in the bank one day, tied up his pony and robbed the bank. Cleaned it out and the bank failed.

Mr. Smith was a faithful Methodist but since they didn’t have Wednesday night services he attended the Baptist Church every Wednesday night. Vestal (Smith) heard me talking of my being in a hurry to get home by 8:30 so I could listen to Fibber Magee and Molly’s radio show. He loved the program too and thereafter he always came by after church and we enjoyed the program together.

After our move I never saw Vestal again. He took his own life soon after we moved. It was another saddening part of my move that bleak October day in 1944. I did, however, soon discover that my new neighbor, Charles Acker, while sort of old, seemed to like me OK and we soon became good friends. I was surprised to learn that Mr. Acker had also owned what was now a defunct bank. Like Mr. Smith, a guy named “Pretty Boy Floyd” had cleaned out his bank and the First National Bank of Stonewall had too, disappeared into history. Mr. Acker now worked as an officer of the First National Bank of Ada.

Now the story gets complicated. Pay attention. My mom liked to go to Ada and shop. So did Mr. Acker’s wife. But Mrs. Acker didn’t drive and when mom started to invite her to go shopping with her then she and mom became fast friends. Now, Mr. Acker, for whatever reasons sort of took to me. Taught me how to properly keep a yard. How to repair stuff and we were suddenly great buddies. Meanwhile, mom being an active shopper as well a Baptist was developing a new network of friends. Ladies that liked to gang up and go shopping. She neglected her friendship and duties with the aging Ms. Acker. So, Ms. Acker was sometimes left sitting at home when she would much rather be with mom — shopping in Ada.

Then this happened Gerald was taking algebra and doing poorly but learned Mr. Acker was a college graduate, brilliant in math. Soon they found each other and under Acker’s tutorage soon caught up and was able to pass the course. Meanwhile, Mrs. Acker found me. I was a perfect conduit for her to spy on mom, a lady she no longer loved. My 5th grade brain was not suspicious, but I did love hot chocolate. Still do. Soon Mrs. Acker and I were enjoying hot chocolate together twice daily as we visited. My suspicious mom kept asking me what I was doing over there