Birdie

            Donald and I would hang out at a couple of gas stations at night. We had a friend that worked the late shift so we would go and hang out with him at night. During the night there was little activity, a few people stopping by to get gas. To get gas, you pulled up to the pumps and the gas station attendant would go out and pump the gas for you. No one pumped there own gas, and you didn’t get out unless you were using the rest room, or buy a snack. The gas stations carried a few snacks and cold drinks.

            Often late at night we would use the car lift to work on Donald’s car. It made it convenient to lift the car to change the oil or work on the car. Our friend enjoyed having company while he worked late at night by himself, and we would run errands for food. Often I would nap in the car or on a sofa that was in the station. In cold weather this provided a place to be out of the cold at night.

            In the day time the station had an attendant that went by the nickname “Birdie”, after Tweedy Bird the cartoon character. He was called this because he had a very large head. He was known around town because his looks and he did odd jobs for people. During this time, men would hang out at the court house picking up day work from people. Birdie and another character would hang out at the court house to escort couples that had driven down from Kentucky or Ohio to get married. In Livingston you had no wait period and you could get married at a younger age. These guys would take you through the process, getting your license, VD test, and someone to marry you. You could come to Livingston and in a few hours go home married. The guys charged a fee for their time.

            Birdie worked at the gas station in the afternoons after anyone looking to get married where finish with his duties. He would sleep in a back room after his work hours where finished. On one such night, a gas leak exploded and burned the station. Birdie survived the fire, but was burned and left scared. Afterwards he was unable to work. The town collected money to help him, but he wasn’t seen hanging out at the court house after that.