1. Name: Benjamin Clayton

"Can I have your middle name?" -EJC

Why? Ain't you already got one?

"Yes, yes I do. Now then, please tell me your middle name."

I ain't got one. The only person I heard saying my name when I was a kid was my Uncle Brad. He always called me 'Benjamin' or 'Benny' or… other names I ought not to say in front of a lady. So, I plum don't have a middle name. How does Abraham sound?

"Good enough. Benjamin Abraham Clayton."

No. Make is Abraham Benjamin Clayton, that way my initials will be ABC. Hey, if I married a lady named Darlene Edna Ford that'd be a funny looking wedding cake. By the way, wedding is spelled with only one 'e'.

"Yes, I know that already."

2. Date of Birth: I don't remember, I was just a kid.

"What's your birthday?"

It's that day when people serve cake to you and you open gifts.

"No, no, no. Benny, my birthday is April 9, 1894."

Oh, I forgot to get to you a present. Hey, wait a minute; I didn't know you back then.

"Let's see. Were you born in January?"

Nope. I was born in February.

"On the tenth?"

Nope, on the twelfth. Boy, you're a good guesser.

"Eighteen ninety-eeeeeeeeeeeeee?"

Eeeeeeeeeeeeee.

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeee. Stop it!"

I win!

"1895?"

Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive.

"This is not a contest!"

Well, dang, you're a sore loser.

3. Place of Birth: Outside of my mother. I don't see how one can be born any other way.

"In what county?"

Oh, Pennington County, South Dakota. Why didn't you just guess where I was born? You got my birthday right.

4. Parents: Yes. I had parents. Everyone whose ever been born's got them too.

"What are your father's and mother's names?"

They're dead. So, if you're gonna tell on me….

"Benny! My father is called William. My mother is called Jean."

Ok, I understand now. I called my mom "mama" and my dad… wait, I can tell by the expression on your face. That wasn't the answer you were looking for. My mother was named Terry. My father was named Walter.

5. Siblings: None. Did I answer that one right?

"You certainly did, Benny. I'm proud of you."

Thanks. You wanna get married?

"Um… no."

Rats. Well, if you change your mind, let me know. Ok? We could save money on a ceremony cause I already know preacher Sam. You could get me a free cake. That's most of a marriage right there. It's very practical.

"I'll keep that in mind."

6. Describe your childhood. I was small but I eventually grew up.

Good enough for me.

7. What did you enjoy doing as a child? Not much actually. My folks died in a fire when I was five. I went to live with my Uncle Brad and he put me to work on the farm.

8. What is your earliest memory? I opened my eyes. Turned off the alarm clock. Went to the bathroom and….

"Not your earliest memory from today! What is your earliest memory from childhood? Ahhhh!"

Being carried in my mother's arms. I don't have too many memories of my parents. I forgot what my mom and dad sounded like.

9. How old were you when you went on your first date and where did you go? Right now.

"Benny, we are not on a date! I am interviewing you."

So, you're trying to get to know me better?

"Obviously!"

Sure sounds like a date to me.

"We are not dating!"

So we broke up? I never even got to kiss you. I overheard Mrs. Conrad say once that you'd kissed every boy in town.

"What? That's not true!"

But she said it in church. Mrs. Watson replied, 'Ain't that the truth.' Are you calling them liars?

10. Married? How could we if you don't want to go out with me?

11. Pets? I live on a farm with a couple of cows and a horse named Clarabel.

"Good answer."

12. Education: Yup. That's a good thing to have.

"Where did you go to school?"

A small schoolhouse in Briarwood, a couple of miles from the farm. I got kicked out of second grade for fighting. Uncle Brad taught me to read so I could keep track of his money while he drank. That was one of the few nice things the old rattlesnake ever did for me.

13. What brought you to Eagle Creek? Feet.

"Never mind."

14. Current friends: Abraham Windsor. He's my best friend. He's the one who lets me live in this house. Abraham also teaches me stuff at night. He used to be a school teacher.

"I had him in seventh grade. He retired that year."

Mr. Conrad is a friend because he didn't turn me in when I tried to rob his bank. Oh, wait… I wasn't supposed to tell anybody about that because they'll think I'm a bad guy.

"Mr. Conrad told his wife on the condition that she'd never tell another soul. An hour later, I heard about it from Sarah."

15. Occupation: What does that mean?

"What do you do for a living… wait, before you give the answer, 'breathe, eat and sleep.' Let me just go ahead and answer. Your occupation, Benny, is… farmer."

Wow! You knew my birthday and my occupation. Can you read minds?

"Sure, why not?"

16. What was your first job? Sweeping the kitchen floor.

17. How much did you make? A dustpan of dirt and scraps of old food. I then put it in the pit out back.

18. What did you like to do in your free time? You mean I got a pay somebody for my time?

19. What are you doing now? Trying to figure out why you think we should get married if you won't go out with me.

20. Do you admire a famous person? Yes. I admire you.

"Really? Benny that is so sweet."

21. What makes them admirable? Well, Russell told me

"That's mostly not true!"

22. What is your favorite food? Apple pie.

23. What is your favorite color? Your eyes.

24. What is your favorite song? That one we sang in church last week. Remember, it was something about God?

25. Hobbies: Don't have any. I'm busy on the farm all day.

26. Name of the last book you read? Never read a book. But Mr. Windsor and I are reading a book about American history. Did you know that the Indians discovered America first?

27. Tell me about a memorable moment in your life; a time you will never forget. I guess that would be the day I woke up and found that Uncle Brad had died. He didn't have any money in the house. He made me sell the horses and cows and chickens so he could buy liquor. I didn't know anybody in town, so, I just set the house on fire and walked away. I went west for some reason. I walked and walked and walked until it got dark. It then occurred to me that I hadn't brought any pillows or blankets with me. I spent the night in a small cave. I'd almost gotten to sleep when I heard a noise outside, growling. I realized that I was in a bear's cave. I'd heard about Jesus and God through my uncle's foul mouth and some anonymous Christmas presents that town folk would leave on our door. So, I prayed to God and asked Him to help me out and I promise to never ever mistreat anybody. The bear stepped into the cave but then stopped all of a sudden. He turned around and just walked away. I like to think that was God's way of telling me that I wasn't so bad after-all. A couple of days later, when I was tired from walking and very hungry, I tried to rob Mr. Conrad's bank, but, somehow, God turned that around and I ended up here on the farm with Mr. Windsor.

28. What things do you find yourself doing that you said you'd never do? Nothing. I try my best to do good. I live out of town and the only person I see outside of church is Mr. Windsor, so I don't have any ways to really get into trouble.

29. What are the goals you are still working toward? I want to run the farm well enough so Mr. Windsor and I can take in a couple of more boys. I can't be the only one who needs a home.

30. When people look back at your life, how do you want to be remembered? Hard working and charitable.

31. What is your favorite outdoor activity? I like turkey hunting with my bow and arrow.

32. Do you attend church or religious services? I try to go to Eagle Creek Memorial Church every Sunday. I've missed a couple of times because Mr. Windsor's been getting sick recently. I hope God understands.

"I'm sure He does."

33. What is your favorite Bible verse? Matthew chapter 5 verse 44. Jesus said, ‘But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.’ Mr. Conrad told me that one the day we met. I wrote it down on a piece of paper I keep in my shirt pocket.

34. What makes you happy? Talking to girls.

35. What makes you sad? Being rejected for marriage proposals, although, you're the only one I've ever asked.

36. What frightens you? Losing Mr. Windsor. If he were to pass away, well, I don't have any place to go.

37. What is there about you that would surprise people if they found out? I like to look at art. I think there is something beautiful in this world just about anywhere you turn. I see green trees, blue skies, even pink pigs are pretty to me because they're all designed by God to be that way. Even you. You're pretty Emily.

"Thank you, Benny."

Even though you won't marry me, I know you'd look pretty in a wedding dress.

"You're very kind."

There's loveliness all around, folks just need to open their eyes to it.