Convention Story and Theme- KKY/TBS Midwest District Convention 2004

Convention Story and Theme

Episode 1

View Episode 1 - The Phantom Date (AVI 1.8MB).

Our story began many years ago, in a valley much like that which we are in now. As the spring dawn broke over the mountains, casting its glow on a humble cabin, a cry broke the brisk morning calm. For on that very day, a simple farmer and his simple wife were blessed with twin boys, whom they named Jeb and Cletus.

Never were two children shown such love. Although the farmer had little worldly possessions, he and his wife gave the children all they had, and the boys wanted for nothing. Each night, as the nights cover was pulled upon the valley, the boys were tucked into their handmade crib, blankets pulled snuggly under their chins and tummies full of milk, the farmer and his wife would gently serenade the boys into a slumber with a lullaby written just for them.

On a night of no special significance, as Jeb and Cletus slumbered, and the farmer and his wife sat lovingly by the fire, there was a knock on the door. The farmer rose from his chair and walked to the window, peering into the night. "Bandits" he cried, as a rush of fear ran through his body. His wife stood, concerned only for the lives of her babies. She rushed about the cabin not able to find a suitable place to hide her children. Just as the bandits forced their way in, the wife was able to conceal Cletus in the folds of her dress, praying that Jeb would remain unnoticed.

The bandits rushed about the small cabin, opening cupboards and upturning all the family had, all the while keeping their guns fixed tightly on the farmer and his wife. Finding nothing of value, the bandits turned to the farmer and demanded money from him. The farmer turned his pockets inside-out, showing that he had nothing to hide. The bandit's forced the issue but soon realized that the farmer was telling the truth and had no money. Not wanting to leave empty handed, the bandits turned their attention to the crib, were Jeb had begun to stir. One bandit motioned for the other to take the child, saying that the boy would grow strong and could be taught the ways of their gang. The farmer protested, begging for the bandits to spare him his son. But the bandits would not hear it, and taking Jeb under their arm rode off into the cold night.

On that night, as they grieved by the fire, the farmer and his wife vowed never again to speak of their loss, deciding that it would be best for Cletus if he never knew of his brother's existence.

Episode 2

View Episode 2 - Attack of the Clone Logo (AVI 2.4MB).

Many years had past, the farmer and his wife raised Cletus with all the love they could, all the while maintaining their silence. Cletus became a strapping young man and learned well the trait of farming. He could plow a field or harvest a crop faster than any man in the valley; his harvest was always twice as plentiful as any other mans, yet he was not happy. For as long as he could remember, he had felt incomplete. There was something missing, a hole inside of him that could not be filled. Not far away, a similar fate had found Jeb, who in spite of his great accomplishment as a gunfighter, found little pleasure with the life he led.

While the hours of the day saw misery and loneliness on the faces of the two outwardly successful brothers, the rising moon brought with it great joy. For each night the two brothers gathered around a dusty piano, in a dingy tavern, and were serenaded by the melodic melodies of nameless tunes. Strangers to all, including each other, the feelings of isolation were quickly washed away by the waves of laughter, lyrics and dance that accompanied each song long into the night. It was during those moments, when the brothers' emptiness was surrendered to the music and an air of happiness was felt by all.

Episode 3

View Episode 3 - Our First Mistake (AVI 1.5MB)

It was during one of these song filled festivities that Cletus approached the old man at the piano and requested one of his favorite tunes be played, for it had been an exceptionally long day, and Cletus knew that but a few rhythmic strokes of the ivories would ease him of his sorrow. By some remarkable coincidence, but for all the same reasons, Jeb too, approached the pianist.

Although one might have expected this meeting to result in a rekindled relationship some twenty years delayed, it instead brought on strong words and feelings of anger; for while no brotherly bond was then recognized, an overwhelming felling of impatiens was. On that night, each brother desperately trying to recuperate from an exceptionally grueling and pain filled day, there was no discernment about the two, and Jeb and Cletus were soon arguing heatedly about which of the men's tunes would first find its way onto the keys of the piano. Words turned to fists and the normally gentle men were soon tearing the small tavern apart, glass and furniture was turned to shard and kindling and after some time the great brawl finally found its end among the splintered pieces of their once sacred piano.

The air was still, and as the dust settled so to did the men's realization of what they had done. There was no more music. That single entity which had only moments before been the sole element great enough to fill their empty and lonely hearts was forever gone. One by one the tavern patrons filtered out into the street until the once crowded room was all but abandoned, leaving only the two men to grieve over their selfish mistake. Each silently knew that it was their own greed that had led them to the hollowed silence which now overcame them. And each knew that the musical medicine that once cured all would need to be replaced by another unknown cure.

For sometime after that, Jeb and Cletus went about a great search for a means to fill their empty souls. Jeb, a lover of all things beautiful, tried his hand at painting, only to find that the beauty seen through his eyes was unable to filter through his empty heart and onto the canvas. Cletus, a true romantic, found his way to the theater, but soon discovered that his longing had left him with little passion. So it seemed that the two were cursed to a life of self pity and outward blame, as each was to proud to admit their own fault in the tavern brawl, to shamed to collaborate a solution.

Episode 4

View Episode 4 - No Hope in Sight (AVI 2.8MB)

Like the dust that follows a wagon, tension held thick in the air, slowly choking the spiritual life from the depths of the men. It seemed that they could not escape each other, two men, whom before scarcely noted the others presents now shared a common bond of despair and despise. Until one day, when a strange man came to visit the small Montana town. A tall and gangly fellow, with dark setback eyes and a slick complexion dressed in an all too fine jacket and polished boots, the man was a merchant of peculiar things. Made of brass and silver, the molded metals attracted much of the town, and as the man stood to demonstrate his wears, a shortness of breath was felt by all. From those sculpted tools came a slue of angelic sounds unlike any ever produced by the once revered tavern piano. To amazed to react, Jeb and Cletus stood among the astonished crowd as the slick stranger demonstrated the wondrous abilities of these shiny musical "instruments" as the man called them.

Searching their pockets for change, the men found that they lacked the cash to purchase any of the pieces demonstrated in such musical splendor by the polished peddler. Just as all hope again seemed to be lost, the salesman offered Jeb and Cletus each a deal that they were happy to accept. For the small amount of money they had, each received a horn; while not nearly as shiny and splendid as those before demonstrated, the two men were happy to get what they could before the peddler took his cart and rolled out of town.

Cletus was the proud owner of what the salesman had called a "trumpet" and Jeb of a "tuba". As neither of the two had ever set eyes on such peculiar instruments each was quite eager to create the joyous sounds they had heard from the stranger's demonstration. But upon placing the horns to their mouths, and much to the town's dismay, the men soon realized that their purchases were broken, as the sounds that they produced were far from the angelic tones that only moments before filled the air with musical majesty.

It was with heavy hearts that the men went home that day. Once again, sorrow filled their hearts. Despite the great success each had found in their respective careers, those triumphs could not please them. And the single joy they once had, the notes of a dusty piano, were lost as well.

What then will become of Jeb and Cletus, their souls are lost among great success' that would please many others. There exists a sense of loss in their lives of which even they are not aware, and their single joy was destroyed by their own overly anxious hands, and all with which they try to fill these holes results in further despair.


	Convention Story and Theme Episode 1 View Episode 1 - The Phantom Date (AVI 1.8MB). Our story began many years ago, in a valley much like that which we are in now. As the spring dawn broke over the mountains, casting its glow on a humble cabin, a cry broke the brisk morning calm. For on that very day, a simple farmer and his simple wife were blessed with twin boys, whom they named Jeb and Cletus. Never were two children shown such love. Although the farmer had little worldly possessions, he and his wife gave the children all they had, and the boys wanted for nothing. Each night, as the nights cover was pulled upon the valley, the boys were tucked into their handmade crib, blankets pulled snuggly under their chins and tummies full of milk, the farmer and his wife would gently serenade the boys into a slumber with a lullaby written just for them. On a night of no special significance, as Jeb and Cletus slumbered, and the farmer and his wife sat lovingly by the fire, there was a knock on the door. The farmer rose from his chair and walked to the window, peering into the night. "Bandits" he cried, as a rush of fear ran through his body. His wife stood, concerned only for the lives of her babies. She rushed about the cabin not able to find a suitable place to hide her children. Just as the bandits forced their way in, the wife was able to conceal Cletus in the folds of her dress, praying that Jeb would remain unnoticed. The bandits rushed about the small cabin, opening cupboards and upturning all the family had, all the while keeping their guns fixed tightly on the farmer and his wife. Finding nothing of value, the bandits turned to the farmer and demanded money from him. The farmer turned his pockets inside-out, showing that he had nothing to hide. The bandit's forced the issue but soon realized that the farmer was telling the truth and had no money. Not wanting to leave empty handed, the bandits turned their attention to the crib, were Jeb had begun to stir. One bandit motioned for the other to take the child, saying that the boy would grow strong and could be taught the ways of their gang. The farmer protested, begging for the bandits to spare him his son. But the bandits would not hear it, and taking Jeb under their arm rode off into the cold night. On that night, as they grieved by the fire, the farmer and his wife vowed never again to speak of their loss, deciding that it would be best for Cletus if he never knew of his brother's existence. Episode 2 View Episode 2 - Attack of the Clone Logo (AVI 2.4MB). Many years had past, the farmer and his wife raised Cletus with all the love they could, all the while maintaining their silence. Cletus became a strapping young man and learned well the trait of farming. He could plow a field or harvest a crop faster than any man in the valley; his harvest was always twice as plentiful as any other mans, yet he was not happy. For as long as he could remember, he had felt incomplete. There was something missing, a hole inside of him that could not be filled. Not far away, a similar fate had found Jeb, who in spite of his great accomplishment as a gunfighter, found little pleasure with the life he led. While the hours of the day saw misery and loneliness on the faces of the two outwardly successful brothers, the rising moon brought with it great joy. For each night the two brothers gathered around a dusty piano, in a dingy tavern, and were serenaded by the melodic melodies of nameless tunes. Strangers to all, including each other, the feelings of isolation were quickly washed away by the waves of laughter, lyrics and dance that accompanied each song long into the night. It was during those moments, when the brothers' emptiness was surrendered to the music and an air of happiness was felt by all. Episode 3 View Episode 3 - Our First Mistake (AVI 1.5MB) It was during one of these song filled festivities that Cletus approached the old man at the piano and requested one of his favorite tunes be played, for it had been an exceptionally long day, and Cletus knew that but a few rhythmic strokes of the ivories would ease him of his sorrow. By some remarkable coincidence, but for all the same reasons, Jeb too, approached the pianist. Although one might have expected this meeting to result in a rekindled relationship some twenty years delayed, it instead brought on strong words and feelings of anger; for while no brotherly bond was then recognized, an overwhelming felling of impatiens was. On that night, each brother desperately trying to recuperate from an exceptionally grueling and pain filled day, there was no discernment about the two, and Jeb and Cletus were soon arguing heatedly about which of the men's tunes would first find its way onto the keys of the piano. Words turned to fists and the normally gentle men were soon tearing the small tavern apart, glass and furniture was turned to shard and kindling and after some time the great brawl finally found its end among the splintered pieces of their once sacred piano. The air was still, and as the dust settled so to did the men's realization of what they had done. There was no more music. That single entity which had only moments before been the sole element great enough to fill their empty and lonely hearts was forever gone. One by one the tavern patrons filtered out into the street until the once crowded room was all but abandoned, leaving only the two men to grieve over their selfish mistake. Each silently knew that it was their own greed that had led them to the hollowed silence which now overcame them. And each knew that the musical medicine that once cured all would need to be replaced by another unknown cure. For sometime after that, Jeb and Cletus went about a great search for a means to fill their empty souls. Jeb, a lover of all things beautiful, tried his hand at painting, only to find that the beauty seen through his eyes was unable to filter through his empty heart and onto the canvas. Cletus, a true romantic, found his way to the theater, but soon discovered that his longing had left him with little passion. So it seemed that the two were cursed to a life of self pity and outward blame, as each was to proud to admit their own fault in the tavern brawl, to shamed to collaborate a solution. Episode 4 View Episode 4 - No Hope in Sight (AVI 2.8MB) Like the dust that follows a wagon, tension held thick in the air, slowly choking the spiritual life from the depths of the men. It seemed that they could not escape each other, two men, whom before scarcely noted the others presents now shared a common bond of despair and despise. Until one day, when a strange man came to visit the small Montana town. A tall and gangly fellow, with dark setback eyes and a slick complexion dressed in an all too fine jacket and polished boots, the man was a merchant of peculiar things. Made of brass and silver, the molded metals attracted much of the town, and as the man stood to demonstrate his wears, a shortness of breath was felt by all. From those sculpted tools came a slue of angelic sounds unlike any ever produced by the once revered tavern piano. To amazed to react, Jeb and Cletus stood among the astonished crowd as the slick stranger demonstrated the wondrous abilities of these shiny musical "instruments" as the man called them. Searching their pockets for change, the men found that they lacked the cash to purchase any of the pieces demonstrated in such musical splendor by the polished peddler. Just as all hope again seemed to be lost, the salesman offered Jeb and Cletus each a deal that they were happy to accept. For the small amount of money they had, each received a horn; while not nearly as shiny and splendid as those before demonstrated, the two men were happy to get what they could before the peddler took his cart and rolled out of town. Cletus was the proud owner of what the salesman had called a "trumpet" and Jeb of a "tuba". As neither of the two had ever set eyes on such peculiar instruments each was quite eager to create the joyous sounds they had heard from the stranger's demonstration. But upon placing the horns to their mouths, and much to the town's dismay, the men soon realized that their purchases were broken, as the sounds that they produced were far from the angelic tones that only moments before filled the air with musical majesty. It was with heavy hearts that the men went home that day. Once again, sorrow filled their hearts. Despite the great success each had found in their respective careers, those triumphs could not please them. And the single joy they once had, the notes of a dusty piano, were lost as well. What then will become of Jeb and Cletus, their souls are lost among great success' that would please many others. There exists a sense of loss in their lives of which even they are not aware, and their single joy was destroyed by their own overly anxious hands, and all with which they try to fill these holes results in further despair.