I Wish You Well

“1 Wish You Well”

This play in two acts includes actual conversations between Robert Ray Childers and me. I had moved back to Clayton, New Mexico in 1978, where “Old Man Ray” had retired in town after making his living all his 84 years on the land. I was writing my first collection of farm and ranch stories, This Land.

“Mr. Ray” had been born near Stephenville, Texas, in 1892. At that time my Gran’Pa McCook was a young married sharecropper near Hillsboro, Texas. The Scotch-Irish culture spread all over Central Texas. My mentor, Dr. William A. Owens, also came from those same people.

The late 1890s in Texas were devastating to the poor farm families. Cotton wore both the land and the people. Increased taxes and Iow prices drove many, including young Ray Childers, to join the American Socialist Party. During our more than 50 hours of taped conversation, Ray spoke of the revolutionary year of 1912, and he gave me the Socialist Campaign Book he used while organizing for the party. Grand’Pa McCook’s son, born on a Union County, New Mexico homestead, was named Eugene V.Debs McCook. Both Ray and my grandfather were part of that great social and political movement. Act I includes stories from Ray of those distant peaceful times.

Another book, lectures from Robert Ingersoll, forms the other cornerstone. Mr. Ingersoll was a popular speaker and successful lawyer -his words about the farmers’ love of the land are included in the play.

Act II finds “Old Man Ray” close to death, my book published, and our commitment to working people is even stronger.

Kendall is currently seeking production of the play in a theater venue. Interested parties can obtain a copy via email by contacting Kendall at kcmccook@yahoo.com