March 11, 1936

They was asking my all kinds of questions about my mom like what she looked like and if I was sure that her last name was Caldwell. So I went and got my picture to so them so they would believe me. When I went up to my room Mr. C was sitting in there cry and didnt even notice I was in there.

Rule number 39 on my Rules and Things to have a funner like and make a better liar out of yourself was: The older you get, the worse something has to be to make you cry.

I walked over and patted him on the shoulder to let me know things were alright. Then all the sudden I realized I had not been sleeping in a little dead girls room but I had been sleeping in my mommas room! So I asked why my granddad never all me or my momma. and it turns out he did not even know about me! Miss Thomas explained that my dad was hurtin and I was going to have to give him sometime before I could talk to him.
But on a good note the band put some money together and bought me a baby-size horn just like Steady Eddie!!! It was a little old but I was going to shine that think up and it is going to look brand new! When I practice at first it was bad but then I got better and realized I will be as good as Steady!

I've traveled a pretty good distance over the past couple of days, but it was worth it because I'm finally home.

March 10, 1936

Man, we travel alot seven days and three trips alreadyQ I learn something about my dad today, he was a smartman. He always had a white man in the band because blacks can own land so Grnad Calloway Station had to be in a white mans name. Also, Herman E. Calloway sends the white man to get the gigs because he was more likely to get the gig then a black man.
I had to ride back with my dad and I was nervous about it. When we got in the car he popped open the glove box and it was full of rocks just like the ones from my mom that I have in my suitcase! I told him I had some just like that with the writin and eveything, but he didnt believe me. When I did show him my rocks he acused me of taken then from him! Then I told him I wasnt no theif that my momma gave me those So Mr. Jimmy asked my mommas name and when I told him Herman E. Calloway dropped his pipe right out of his mouth. He was shook up! I knew it he was my dad! I told Jimmy I knew I had been right! But Mr. Jimmy told he I was wrong that Herman was not my dad, but as it turns out he is my grandfather.

March 7, 1936

Herman E. Calloway was trying to work me like a dog, mopping the floors, and wiping down the tables and chairs. He is doin a terrible job. Thug, Dirty Deed, and Steady Eddie was playing and man that sound coming from the stage was outstanding. Then everyone else joined and the interments blended together so good you couldnt even tell what sounds was comin from what instrument. Miss Thomas was my favorite she sounded like an angel!

March 5, 1936

I woke up this mornin with no shirt or britches on! and I was inbetween the 2 sheets! Miss Thomas must have came in here and took my clothes off, folded them up just like momma, and tucked me into bed. I know rich folks secret to sleeping so good...Its sleeping between the two sheets! The grown ups were down stairs talking so I was loud when I went to the inside the house outhouse so they would know I was up. When I got down stairs Steady Eddie got me a new suitcase like the funny looking band cases. And I am going to be a part of the band! Got me a recorder and I am gonna practice everyday. I even got a band name! Sleepy La Bone... Sleepy cause I slept til noon between the two sheets and La Bone because I am skinny.

March 1, 1936

It turned out that Sweet Pea was really somebody's living room that had been decorated up real nice. That's where I met Miss Thomas, too. She was asking me a bunch of questions and I kept giving her a bunch of answers. I think she was tryin' to figure out how Herman E. Calloway was my daddy. When she asked me to explain how my mama let me know that Herman E. Calloway was my daddy, I didn't know how to answer. Right then Miss Tyla brought in our food and I was glad for that. Miss Thomas said she would finish questioning me tomorrow. The word "tomorrow" let me know that they really did plan on keeping me here for a while.

I ate my plate of food and, boy, it was the best meal I had ever had! I even had a desert called "On the House" and it was the best pie I ever had! Once I got done eating I started looking around and I got to thinking about all these people around me. One second I was laughing my head of, and the next second I was crying like a baby. I don't know what happened to me. Miss Thomas held me while I cried and that's when I knew I was home.

After we left the restaurant, we went to a house that they call Grand Calloway Station. It was named after the Grand Central Station in New, York City and that's where we were staying. Miss Thomas showed me to my room and I got real nervous. I asked Miss Thomas if the girl who's room it was would get mad if she knew I was sleeping in her bed. She told me not to worry because the girl was gone.

Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things to Have a Funnier Life and Make a Better Liar Out of Yourself Number 28:

Gone=Dead

I was going to be sleeping in a dead girl's room! When I looked around the room I saw one of those doggone Ticonderoga pencils (like the one Todd Amos stuck up my nose). I could smell the rubber all over again.

The bed had two sheets so I climbed under the covers to see what sleeping under two sheets felt like. Next thing I knew, I was fast asleep! 

February 28, 1936

I don't think my daddy really liked me callin' him my daddy. I don't have nowhere ales to go so he's gonna have to get used to it. I think Mr. Jimmy convinced him to keep because one minute they were whispering and the next minute they were introducin' me to Thug, Steady Eddie, Doo-Doo Bug and Dirty Deed. They was even takin' me to eat at Sweet Pea!

February 26, 1936

Turns out Mr. Lewis did a lot more than drive whilst I was asleep in the back seat. He contacted HEC! That’s short for Herman E. Calloway, my daddy. He went off and told him that he had me and was gonna be bringin’ me home to him today. I don’t know if I should be happy, nervous, or scared to death… then I had reason to be all but two of those. On our way down the road, me and Mr. Lewis gets pulled over by the coppers! They were poking around  looking for some kinda labor organizer that I ain’t never heard of. Can’t say the same for Mr. Lewis. He hadn’t only heard of them, but he is one of them. Boy was I glad I didn’t know that before them coppers came along, cause I woulda blew the top right off our lie!

APPEARING FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY IN JULY HERMAN E. CALLOWAYAND THE NUBIAN KNIGHTS OF THE NEW DEAL. Now it was time to meet the man for real. No turning back now. Saying bye to Mr. Lewis was hard, but this was my reason for taking out on the lam. Walking in the place where the sign was hung gave me that nervous feeling again. But I kept my stride quick until I reached the stage. There he was with a group of men, Herman E. Calloway. Looking at him I knew he was my dad. When that snaggletooth guy blurted out his business I didn’t even hear him. I just stood there, glad my eyes didn’t cry no more, and waited for my daddy to recognize me.