A blue northerner keened with the intensity of a lost soul and the wind bit with an edge to eclipse a straight razor. Every brass Billy goat in Comanche County molted its horns at the onslaught. As one local stated “It was a mite chilly.”

It was reportedly on December 21st of 1956 that the Christmas respite would begin on the morrow. Every able bodied student had amassed at DHS and it was a day unlike any before or since, if all reports are true.

Thelma Chupp managed to fire up her ancient fliver out on Poverty Knob, and with that mighty engine firing on three cylinders, loaded Little Benny Wayne, her son, and Thomas Gregory for delivery to the Educational Edifice two miles distant to the west. Little Benny Wayne held the gear shift in high as they labored up the rise in elevation at what is now the western rim of the Peach and Melon Festival grounds. Thomas was trying to get his shoes on as that intrepid trio topped out and began the approach to the school building. Thel slowed, and both boys hied themselves for the classroom door, just as the tardy bell activated. They’d made it!

Ms. Roger Mae Smith’s class was already seating when those lads charged in with sunshiny faces and scurried to their places.

A might blast ensued and rattled the timbers, the bricks and the student body. A dozen windows imploded and shards of glass showered like confetti. Pandemonium reigned, and even the brave ones sought shelter beneath their desks. Richter Scales in Limestone Maine and Eugene Oregon showed blips from that fearsome detonation at the northeast corner of De Leon High School. Fortunately, the only fatalities were windows.

K.H. Rowland, Jefe Grande of DHS, was on the case immediately and rushed outside to see what devastation and ruin had ensued. Wailing and gnashing of teeth could be heard from stem to stern as the thick black cloud hovered over the entire facility momentarily, but the wind swept the evidence away.
“Round up the suspects!” Mr. Roland ordered his investigative force, “But first bring me Benny Wayne Chupp and Thomas Gregory. That bomb exploded when they were entering the building.”

Evidence revealed that an Aerial Bomb, of the sort that has a propulsion apparatus at the bottom end, was the cause. Oddly enough, lift off failed to get it airborne once the cigarette put fire to the fuse. Either it was faulty, or the wind blew it over, but the fact that it detonated was evidence enough for the forensic department to give testimony that the bomb part functioned beyond the shadow of a doubt.

Little Benny Wayne and Thomas Gregory were cleared, and as a matter of fact, the entire enrollment walked away uncharged.

I interviewed a goodly number of the class that will be on exhibit on August 9, 2008, and came away without arriving at irrefutable proof of the mad bomber’s ID, but several names were offered as possibilities. Strangely enough I am led to believe that it was a boy of the celebrant ranks of the class celebrating their fiftieth this year.

The Skulls and Bones organization of George Bush or John Kerry ain’t any more of a hand at keeping a secret than the ones you’ll behold at this year’s gathering of graduates.

And one of them will bear watching!

Let me hear from you.

My phone number is 254-893-5063.

My postal address is 333 W. Ayers, De Leon TX 76444.

You can e-mail me at Charles@CharlesChupp.com.

By Charles Chupp, Copyright ©2008 Charles Chupp