The sunset was rare, as rare as one could expect in this part of the world.  I had combed the plains in search of the same type of persons I was akin to; those enjoying a solemn and quiet existence. I had found this in Joe and Andy. These fellows were straight out of Stienbeck’s Tortilla Flat. Each day was happily dedicated to the apprehension of suitable and effective libations. Of course, this led to many misadventures and dangerous near misses. This fine day, we were sitting on the hood of my first car, smoking dope, drinking, and exchanging tales of ugliness and cruelty.

The conversation inevitably led to the obligatory quiet break in substantive criminal chatter. The sun was steadily vanishing as our movements began to die without daylight. “Should we tell him about the creature?”, Joe had asked, quite out of the blue . I eyeballed them both, as I was on the immediate left. “What? What the hell are you talking about? WHAT creature?” I was immediately intrigued. Joe shot a pained look toward his  guilty accomplice, Andy. In turn, Andy looked thoughtful , moreover, mournful as he gazed into the sunset. “It’s a creature”,  He finally admitted. After some browbeating, the duo finally divulged some of the more than strange details.

It was certainly a creature, that was evident. I had no idea that the specimen that I was to later encounter, and closely examine, would befuddle my near-perfect intellect. After some random phone calls, we drove straight for the location of the creature’s last known whereabouts.  It was close, as this is an Island. I was instructed to stop in front of one of the oldest and arguably the most famous properties on Vashon Island:  The Jesus Barn House. Built by one (1)of the earlier settlers of Vashon, it has hosted over one (1) hundred years of assorted farm-driven craziness and  unimaginable fuckery.  Why, coincidentally, the house I grew up in was right around the corner, built by the same enterprising lad, Fred Sherman.