What Are You Doing Here?!!. . . .

My wedding was not without it's share of drama and humor. In addition to the drama of me getting caught in a sudden, and isolated,

thundershower a scant hour before the wedding ceremony, another

incident occurred which was hilarious and quickly became a favorite

story for both the Wadsworth and Wimsatt families.

George's sister, Margaret, worked for quite a few years at the El

Rancho Drive-In Restaurant in Las Vegas as a Car Hop. It was

located on Charleston Blvd. and Main St. and was a popular hangout

for the young people, both local and out of town.

One day in February of 1951, a car load of young men from Panaca,

who were in Las Vegas to watch the Lincoln County Lynx play in

the Regional Basketball Tournament, pulled into one of the drive-in

stalls. The driver was my brother David. Now, anyone who knew

David, also knew that he had the enviable reputation of being the

world's greatest tease. Well, at least Lincoln Colunty's greatest

tease. He was always at his happiest, and his best, if he had what

he considered the perfect subject upon which to work his magic.

A pretty dark haired woman came bouncing over to take their

order. The story goes that David immediately began to work his

wiles. He soon found that this vivacious, enthusiastic woman

could dish it out with the best of them. They bantered back and

forth as she took their order, and again when she delivered it.

After they had eaten, she handed David the bill and started to

remove the tray. David grabbed it and said, "I've always

wanted one of these. How much will you charge me for it?"

Pretty Woman, "I'm sorry, the trays are not for sale."

David, "Aw, come on, I'll buy it for more than it is worth."

Pretty Woman, "Sorry, can't do it."

David, "Okay then, what if I just drive away with it?"

Pretty Woman, "Are you trying to get me fired?"

David, "Heck no, they aren't going to fire their prettiest and

best car hop over one cheap tray."

Pretty Woman, "Want to bet on that, and I need this job!"

David, "Spoil sport, what if I just do this?" And with that,

he handed her the money plus a generous tip, pulled the

tray into the car and as they roared away, heard her yell,

"You'll be sorry! I'll find you!

Fast forward three months and we find David sitting in the

living room of his parents home on Ina's wedding day. He

was joshing with his sisters and teasing Ina about marrying

a 'Rock Eater' and living in Pioche for the rest of her life.

"A fate worse than death", he said.

Someone knocks on the front door and David saunters over

to answer it. He opens the door and stares into the brown

eyes of a familiar looking pretty woman. They look at each

other in shocked silence, and then in unison, young man and

pretty woman exclaim, "What are you doing here?"

As his family sits with open mouths, and without missing a

beat, Pretty Woman says, " I came for my tray."

David, innocently, "What tray?"

Pretty Woman, "The one you stole."

David, "I didn't steal any tray and besides how did you know

where to find me?"

Pretty Woman, "I have my sources."

David, now a bit rattled, "Seriously, what are you doing here?"

Pretty Woman, "I came to see Sheriff George Wimsatt."

David, "Ah shucks, don't tell me you've come to have me

arrested over a cheap tray, which by the way, I was always

planning on returning. But really, what are you doing here?"

Pretty Woman, "Yeah, I just bet you were planning on re-

turning it, but besides meeting with Sheriff Wimsatt, I am

here for my little brother, Junior's wedding. He is going to

marry Ina Wadsworth today."

David, in shock, "Ina is my sister and she is certainly not

going to be marrying anyone named Junior, she's going to

be married to George Wimsatt."

Pretty Woman, "What? You mean my little Junior is

marrying the sister of a soon to be convicted, thief?"

David, trying to fit it all together...Junior...George...

Sheriff Wimsatt..."Who the heck (I'm not sure heck is the

word he used but for my story, it is the one I will use) are

you lady?"

Enjoying every minute of David's discomfort and laughing so

hard she could barely stand, Pretty Woman says, "I guess I

had better introduce myself. I am Junior's, I mean George's

sister, Margaret Garrison and I'm here with my daughter

Todd Ann, to make sure her Flower Girl dress fits."

As his family were overcome with helpless laughter, a redfaced

David mutters, "Pleased to meetcha" and under his breath,

"Not really."

David did try to return the tray. Margaret refused saying it

was worth every cent that was deducted from her pay check

to watch him squirm. "Besides", she said, "He really is a cutie

and his generous tip paid for the tray.

This is a true story. It is written from my memory and the

accounts of those who witnessed it on that fateful day. Some-

times the Devil really does get his due, but oh how I, and

everyone who knew him, loved that handsome Devil!

A bit of trivia; George was christened George Paul Wimsatt, Jr.

Much to his dismay, as he was growing up, his three older sisters

called him 'Junior'. He hated it. While living in Las Vegas, he and

his sister Betty, often walked down So. 5th Ave. to Anderson's

Dairy where Margaret worked, to get milk and cheese. The

dairy made ice cream, which they sold there, and supplied to

stores throughout the area. Margaret would usually give them

a pint of soft ice cream before it was completely frozen, for

them to eat as they walked home. One day, as they left the

dairy, Betty handed the bag containing the glass bottles of

milk to George and said, "Here, Junior, you carry the milk."

He said, "Don't call me Junior, and why do I have to carry

it?" She answered, "Because I told you to, that's why!"

Thoroughly angry, George said, "No, I won't," put the bag

down on the curb and bolted for home like a frightened deer.

Being an athletic sixteen year old tomboy, she would have

soon overtaken this eleven year old boy, but after chasing

him for a few blocks, she reluctantly went back to retrieve

the milk. Knowing his parents weren't home to protect him,

he ran into the desert by the trailer park and hid until they

returned. Even after his show of defiance, Betty still continued

to call him Junior and insist that he carry the milk.