Colonel Billy asks Peach to go undercover.

      While my mother waged her own bizarre private struggle for gratification with the Colonel, I concerned myself with other issues, such as women's liberation.   My best friend, Betty Jean, from back home on the Gulf Coast was my most trusted confidante at Mississippi State.   The week after my trip to Colonel Billy's rally we ended up sprawled on our dorm beds, reading the latest issue of the student newspaper, the Reflector, as a procrastinating tactic to keep from studying.

            "You know that guy, Bobby Joe who sits in front of you, is kinda cute," Betty Jean said.

            "He does have really nice hair.   Wouldn't you just love to get your hands in it?"

            "Only if he would let me wash it first," she responded with a laugh.

            I then saw a column in the paper from some self-styled feminist attacking the University's dress code that required women to wear a rain coat over shorts while   walking on campus.   I could understand her point, but the dorm curfew rules bothered me more. The men on campus had no such rules.   Now if the activists wanted to organize a march on that issue, I'd be there.   

            I almost never looked at the Letters to the Editor section but one of the letters caught my eye.  

Dear Editor,     

            As a former MSU student, I find it disturbing that Americans believe the right-wing diatribes about Viet Nam.   People in the United States are not told the truth about why the Viet Cong are willing to lay down their lives for what they believe.   As a Mississippian who has lived and worked with the Viet Cong I find them to be true freedom fighters in the same spirit as Patrick Henry or Thomas Paine.    They are fighting to free their country.  

            In Solidarity,

            Sidney Bunch

            Class of '65

            I couldn't believe the student newspaper printed this pinko letter by some nut claiming to be an alumnus.   This was precisely what mom's friend, Colonel Billy, had railed about at the meeting.  

            I knew Colonel Billy would love to see a copy so I tore it out and jotted   the date on the top of the letter.   I stuck it in my history book and made a mental note to send it home the next day.  

* * *

            Mom even recorded her reaction when she got my letter.  

            Diary, it really bothers me that I can't find anyone to do the basic repairs around here.   There is so much loose gravel at the bottom of my driveway that if I'm not careful I'll hit the ditch and really mess up my car.  

            Even if I could find somebody to fix the driveway, I couldn't afford them.   Money's tight.   Peach's tuition is over $2000 per year.   As a single mom, with all my expenses, there is nothing left for home repairs.  

            The check from Albert for alimony and child support came today, but it is not enough.   He's such a cheap bastard.   If I didn't have my salary at the Anti-Communist League, I couldn't cover my expenses.   So driveway repairs will have to wait.       

            I was surprised to see a letter from Peach today.   Her note started with the usual chitchat of a college sophomore about classes and friends.   Then she described a newspaper clipping she had enclosed.   She thought CB might be interested in the letter to the editor from the student newspaper.

            I couldn't believe the student newspaper would publish such left- wing   drivel.   I called CB immediately to let him know about it.   I described the Communist traitor's letter and told him it provided the proof we need about the Communists organizing at State.   He was outraged that the letter called for students to support the Viet Cong because they are the real patriots in Vietnam.   He couldn't believe the writer could claim we are on the wrong side and that our boys are fighting against the cause of liberty.

            He speculated that Communists have taken over the paper.   I told him that maybe they were just misguided.   I reminded him that student papers have always been a hang out for liberal campus nerds.

            He couldn't believe a real Mississippian signed the letter.   “What Mississippian in their right mind would think like this?” he kept muttering.   He really wanted to see the letter so I agreed to meet him at the Chuck Wagon for lunch.   

            To my surprise he invited me to go to MississippiState with him and investigate this Sidney Bunch character.  

***

            When I got back to the dorm after lunch I found a message from my mother.   The note said she and Colonel Billy were coming to campus this afternoon and would like to meet me in front of the dorm at 5:30.  

            Her diary chronicled the trip.  

             The drive from the coast to State took over four hours.   Part of the route followed the Natchez Trace, one of America's nicest scenic highways.   As a highway it certainly ranked as one of the most beautiful, but also the slowest with its speed limit of 50 miles per hour.

            After driving most of the afternoon, we arrived at MississippiState.

            As I approached the campus, I began to wonder if I had done the right thing, sending my precious Peach to such a large university, instead of a Christian school for young ladies.   Large universities have too many weirdoes, self-proclaimed liberals, sex deviants, queers and potheads for my taste.   Although I know Peach is a good, Christian girl, the temptations of Communists and Satan can destroy anyone.

            But I can't afford the private school so I guess MSU is probably the best of the lot.   It has some good Christian patriots in charge of the students.   Its Dean of Women, Dean Sims, is a staunch believer in matriculating Southern ladies.   Hailing from old Natchez stock, Dean Sims is one of the last   Southern belles.   Her mission in life is to mold ladies, not the cheap, trashy harlots produced by other schools.

            I know Dean Sims is guided by the slogan, "In by 10, a Bible's distance from men." She tries to instill in the Southern girls proper values so the University has a women's dress code that makes co-eds wear raincoats over their shorts in public even on hot summer   days.   On campus they are never allowed to smoke.   And no skimpy clothing like those revealing miniskirts and halter tops is allowed.   Dean Sims believes a man will play around with fun girls but marry a lady.

            Of course, at the time, I didn’t know Mother had such misgivings about MSU.   I thought they were just coming for a social visit, but I was in for a surprise.  

            From the bench under the giant magnolia tree, next to the dorm I could see Mom and Colonel Billy walking toward me.  

            Her bouffant, bleached hair struck a striking pose in the sunlight.

            "Hi, honey, how are you?" asked Mom.

            "Oh, I'm OK," I answered.

            "You remember Colonel Billy?"  

            "Oh, sure."

            "Well, we're here to do some research, and we want you to help us out.   Tell her what we need, Colonel."

            "The letter you sent your mom confirms our suspicions that Communists are here, organizing to stir up young people.   We need your help finding them.   We want to know what students and faculty are behind this cell that's attacking everything we cherish about America."

            "You want me to be a private investigator?   Why don't you just get the FBI or some group to do it?"

            “Well, I personally know J. Edgar Hoover and I know he shares my concerns, but he’s after the big groups up North like SDS.”

           “ SDS?”

            “You know,” Colonel Billy responded, “Students for a Democratic Society, the pinko flag burners organizing anti-draft rallies.   The FBI could use our help with these local groups.”

            I was shocked he would ask me, but I pretended to be cool about it.   “I don't know if I can be much help, but as a favor to Mom, I'll try to help you.   What do I need to do?”

            “Just find out the name of the instigators and see if you can infiltrate them.”

            “Be a spy?”

            “More like an agent for our group, the Anti-Communist League.”        

            “Well I could ask around to see if I can find out anything, but I don’t think I'll make a very good spy.   You'd be better off getting help from a group like the local Young Americans for Freedom chapter.  You should go to the YAF meeting tonight. If anybody knows anything about   Communists here, I'll bet they do. I know some of the members.   They'd be right honored to meet you, sir."        

            "That’s a great idea," Mom responded.   "Why don't you join us for dinner before the meeting?"

            "First let me call their faculty adviser and tell him you want to come tonight.   He'll be thrilled."