A Montanan's Short Stories

By Harlan Frank Pollmann

This group of short stories are the stories that have taken place during the 80+ years of Harlan Frank Pollmanns life. He is also the author of the autobiography of Uncle Chub".
He has gathered 15 intriguing short stories of his life, that paints you pictures that you may have never seen before. He lets you see into his thoughts, listen to his heart, feel his love, laugh to get her and feel the tears trickledown your face. These are the main elements that he would like to share with you. He would like to have you find yourself in some of these situations.
Harlan thinks you owe it to yourself to give this book of short stories a try, you'll be glad you did.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 15, 2013
• ISBN: 9781479740970

Harlan Frank Pollmann

About The Author Harlan Frank Pollmann, known by most people as Chub Pollmann, is a native Montanan born in Harlowton Montana Feb, 22, 1932. Chub loves fishing more than any one sport but puts hunting right in there as a real second and all other outdoor activities he includes as often as possible. He's a disabled Vet of the Korean War and has had to deal with all of the scars that were left for him to deal with as other Vets do. Graduated from the University of Montana in 1958 with a B. S. in Health and Physical Education, Biological Science with a minor in Education. Has been involved with many professions throughout his 80+ years. Chub has a great zest for life and enjoys sharing amusing stories of his life, always keeping things on the lighter side; he has a great sense of humor. One of his friends, declared" You talk so much your tongue must be sunburned", Chub replied, not sunburned just suntanned."! Chub is an extremely happy man, living in the Mission Valley in Northwestern Montana, with the love of his life and the strength of his soul, Donna Merola, who is an excellent Professional Artist. They couldn't be happier in their cozy little home to spend the rest of their lives' together.

Book preview

A MONTANAN’S

SHORT STORIES

Harlan Frank Pollmann

Copyright © 2013 by Harlan Frank Pollmann.

Library of Congress Control Number:      2012920178

ISBN:                 Hardcover                           978-1-4797-4096-3

                            Softcover                             978-1-4797-4095-6

                            Ebook                                  978-1-4797-4097-0

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Credit to Donna Merola (aka NANNY) for all illustrations.

Contact Chub at [e-mail]

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

116048

Contents

I Got One! I Got One!

Frozen Fingers and Frozen Toes

The Governor’s Race For A Fish

The Skinner Sisters

Bill Ramalley

Anchors Away

Don’t Shoot A Bear, Just Shoot A Hole In The Air

Aunt Hanna’s Pies

The Little S.O.B. Fisherman

The Salmon Snagging Kid

A Puppy For Thanksgiving

Copper Caper

Don’t Let Your Load of Wood Bleed to Death

Let’s Catch A Frozen Pop

Pete And I Seek Our Fortune

Dedication

I would like to dedicate this book of fifteen short stories, to some of the most wonderful people I have had the great pleasure of knowing, though they have passed on, without them there would not be these stories to pass onto you.

My Dad, Louie Pollmann

My sister, Carol Thomas

Uncle Bud and Aunt Buzz

Bill Ramalley

Everett, Loran, and Rindy Evans

Jimmy Powell

Buford Broyles

Governor Hugo Arrison

Ma and Bill Leader

Ann and Edna Skinner

I Got One! I Got One!

To keep my sanity when I was building the Rancho Bernardo Country Club in San Diego, California, I would think of my youth that had been so great in Northwestern Montana: the fishing, hunting, swimming, hiking, and on and on. I didn’t understand why it was so important to be and stay down here in San Diego. I hated every moment of it and here I was, going for the money and a title that didn’t mean very much to anyone but me and a few other people in the business.

What the hell is a golf course superintendent?

Most people refer to it as groundskeeper or golf course caretaker.

Do you know what you have to obtain to get a 4-year degree in golf course management? You must serve a 4-year apprenticeship under a certified golf course superintendent before you get your credentials. I don’t think a lawyer has that much education, yet look at what they charge per hour!

I was so nervous there that some days I thought I would explode. I had Post Traumatic Syndrome and no one knew how to deal with it. Two years prior to this, I had spent six agonizing months at the North Long Beach Veterans Hospital (behind bars) because I asked for help, because I was so nervous.

They did everything to kill me with the things that they did: 28 shock treatments, sleep therapy with Phenobarbital, etc. They kept me asleep for over two weeks, got me to over 20 caps a day, then decided it wasn’t working and cut me off cold turkey. These were 10 of the darkest days of my life. I went through the worst withdrawal that you can have and still be alive, and more things that I don’t want to talk about.

Here I was, working long hours 7 days a week and seeing a VA shrink two days a week and heading back to the ward if I didn’t do something soon. Then, fate took over. We got a new shrink and he had some good common sense. My first and only talk I had with him, he said, You seem to be very sad, where would you be fulfilled? I said, That’s an easy question to answer! That would be Polson, Montana, in Northwestern Montana. I then told him about the Flathead Valley and all of the reasons that I missed it so much. He said, If I had a place to go to like that, I would go there right now. What’s holding you back? I said, That’s the very best advice I’ve ever had, and I’m going to do that very thing tomorrow!

I started home and was I ever happy! I was even singing for the first time in a long, long time. When I got home I told my wife. We’re moving back to Polson, Montana. Start packing!, and she says, If you do that, I will never help you again. I said, I don’t care what you do. You can stay here. Make up your mind. If you want to come, I’m ordering a moving van. If not, I’ll leave the things here. I’m going home for sure! She didn’t like it, but we were on our way home in two days. The people I worked for were happy for me too.

When we got to Polson, I found out they needed someone to take care of the golf course. They had a manager whose name was Lyn Storty. He had to give the OK because I would be working under him. The job paid $1,800 a year. I was making $28,000 down in Rancho Bernardo—just a little cut in pay.

I’ve never been sorry. It was a lot of work and Lyn the manager was very jealous. I put up with him until September, and then went to work at the O.K. Tire Shop. I just enjoyed being home.

This one day in late December we had about four days of real cold weather. I waited as long as I could, then headed out to East Bay to try to catch some perch. I go out to where I know there is about one foot of water. I take my axe and chop to see how thick the ice is. It’s about four inches thick. Then I start out to find a weed bed in about four feet of water. I find a good spot about half a mile out, and start fishing. I’m sitting and looking at the Mission Mountains and thanking God for being home, right where I belong.

I’m looking at the ice crystals in the air mingling with the morning sky, then I hear some voices coming out on the ice. A