Hipshot Understood

By Ken Hanson

It’s 4 AM on a Sunday morning,
I’m sitting in the middle of the living room floor.
There’s a big pile of rolled up newspapers,
Ready to go just inside the front door.

There’s not a lot of ways to make much money,
When you’re fourteen years old and you don’t have a car,
But a paper route’s a good way to learn life’s lessons,
Apply yourself and it’ll take you pretty far.

It teaches you how to deal with money,
And how to be responsible for what you do.
You’ll learn how to interact with adults,
And how to get money away from them too.

It teaches you how to be self sufficient,
I’m all alone and it’s cold outside,
But I’m pretty good at what I do,
I’m earning some money and a sense of pride.

One of the perks of delivering newspapers,
You’re the first one in town to read the comic strip.
I’ll start my day by having a laugh,
Before I head out on my neighborhood trip.

The characters in those comics were friends of mine,
They kept me company while I toiled away,
I’d share their adventures and laugh at their antics,
It’s a pretty good way to start your day.

Charlie Brown wanted to be a great pitcher,
Dick Tracy wanted to catch the bad guys,
Family Circle showed us a household in chaos,
The children were terrors but the parents were wise.

How could Dagwood eat those sandwiches,
They must’ve been two feet tall,
Dennis the Menace showed us size doesn’t matter,
You can get in big trouble even though you are small.

Beetle Bailey seemed to always get away,
With doing as little as he possibly could,
And the Vicar was always after Andy Capp,
To go to church like he knew he should.

Alley Oop and B C showed us what it was like,
Living way back in the cave man’s day,
But my favorite strip by far,
Was the one called Rick O’Shay.

Rick was a deputy sheriff,
In the town of Conniption a century ago,
There was this crazy cast of characters,
With unusual names, that’s why I loved it so.

There was Gaye Abandon, the dance hall owner,
Deuces Wylde, a gambler with a past,
Basil Metabolism was the town’s only doctor,
With a prescription for Whiskey that would take effect fast.

Mort Gage was the banker, he kept all the money,
Locked up behind a big steel door.
Cap’n Ball was the town gunsmith,
Also a veteran of the Civil War.

There was a young boy called Quyat Burp,
Who would give a kid a name like that?
Stan Lynde, the strips creator, that’s who,
Belle Starr was the town’s only cat.

Belle Starr lived with Hipshot Percussion,
He was my favorite character by far.
Cats choose who they want to be with,
It says a lot about who you are.

Hipshot was a reluctant gunslinger,
And best friend of Rick O’Shay,
He was always trying to escape his past,
Though his reputation followed him every day.

He was something of a loner,
He kept to himself to avoid gun-fights.
But young hotshots came around to call him out,
He was always in some ones sights.

Their strip was the first one I’d read each week,
To see what they had been up to,
Stan had quite the imagination,
It was hilarious what they would do.

About the same time each year, there was a reoccurring strip,
Same as the year before,
I liked the message, I’d patiently wait for it,
Folding papers there on the living room floor.

The scene was near the end of the year,
A heavy snow covered the ground.
The town was decorated in Christmas trimmings,
Not a soul on the streets could be found.

The whole town was in the little church,
The sound of Christmas carols could be heard,
But up on the hill, there was some movement,
One man, riding alone, without a word.

Hipshot knew his presence in the church,
Could invite trouble on this holy day.
He kept his distance to ensure their safety,
He could worship in his own unique way.

Even though alone, he could feel the presence,
Of this living God he worshiped, not one who was dead,
Christ died but arose to pay for our sins,
“Happy Birthday Boss” was all that he said.

Hipshot understood the path to salvation,
Is a relationship between Christ and you,
It’s not necessary to sing a hymn,
It’s not required to warm up a pew.

Hipshot knew, all you have to do,
Is admit your sin and then turn away,
Believe Jesus died and arose again,
Give him control, and you’re saved today.

That lonely gunfighter high on the hill,
Sitting on his horse in the snow,
Understood all about salvation,
It’s not what you’ve done, but who you know.

Christ’s salvation is offered to us all,
The choice is up to you,
With Jesus in your heart, you can’t help but sing,
And you’ll want to warm that pew.

Is it possible for a comic strip character,
To lead you to Christ, even if he could?
Why not, when it comes to salvation,
Even Hipshot understood.