McGee’s Story~~~ Bethany’s Version

By:Bethany

So you probably have read my dad’s version of McGee’s Crossing. I, though have a completely different version.

So once upon a time……

There was a man named Bill McGee, short for William.  He decided he wanted to be the successful and famous one, out of his other 2 brothers. So he decided to be successful you can not fall in love. He also decided you can not waste time in anyway. So that meant he did not have time to be courteous or amicable to anyone. What was famous and successful? Bill decided that to be successful and famous he had to have things named after him, go down into history, become rich, and then be able to brag over his other 2 brothers.

Being successful and famous lead to another problem for Bill. His problem was, how can he become successful and famous. So he thought and thought. Well he could become a cloth maker, since he was taught how to make it as a young lad. “Nah, cloth is boring,” Bill said. So he thought and thought some more. Then an idea came, he could go on The Oregon Trail and become rich by selling water to other famished travelers. “Nah, traveling The Oregon Trail is work,” said Bill.  So Bill thought and thought some more (his brain was starting to hurt by now). He thought for 3 days straight. Then he had another idea. He thought, “Well maybe I can become successful and famous if I am not near this shore and living with my parents.”

Bill decided he would first need a wagon. So he went into his mother’s kitchen and asked if they had a spare wagon. She then went into asking him all these questions and after finding out he wanted to leave home, he got a stern lecture. So he decided he should ask his father instead.

So he asked his father and he said, “There is one in the back but it needs some repair.”

Bill asked if could have it and his father agreed. He repaired the wagon and it was now ready to load.

Now Bill needed some food to take. So everyday he took a very small amount of these various items; tobacco, corn meal, bacon, sugar, dried fruit, flour, salt, baking soda, tea, rice, and beans. After finally having enough to last him for a long time. He then went to pack the rest of needed items. So he put in the wagon 2 pairs of clothes, 3 pairs of boots, washboard and tub, thin mattress, blanket, feather pillow, the Bible, ink, paper, tools, and finally some water. The final thing he needed was two oxen to pull the wagon. After some time he found these and was ready to go.

So he said good bye to his family (with his mother still lecturing him). He traveled for days and months. He finally passed a little creek. So he stopped and filled his water jug.

He thought to himself, “This would be a great place to cross, due to it’s shallowness.” So Bill did. He then found himself in a very poor village. The village people then swarmed around his wagon. The were all shouting for his food in his wagon. Bill felt a little guilty for not giving them any, but he did not have time to be courteous.

So he thought and said to the starving people, “I will only let you have my food if you give me something else in return.”

The village all made a small circle and whispered among themselves.

One of the older men said to Bill, “We will name that shallow creek that is a little north of here after you. In return for one of your oxen and most of your food.”

Bill then thought about this offer and said, “Okay.”

The old man then asked his name and Bill said, “William  McGee.”

The man then replied, “That creek will now be named, McGee Crossroads.” Bill then gave them one oxen and most of his food and left back for home. He decided that he was successful enough and could now be nice and get married (on the plus side his brothers never had anything named after them).