Valley Rat — Small-Town Revenge and Murder Along Highway 421

Transcript prepared from a new automatic transcription of this episode’s released Spreaker recording. Separate host introductions, closing remarks, and identified advertisements are omitted. Reviewed for the previously flagged gaps and repetition; not checked word for word by a human against the audio. Some transcription errors may remain.

Valley Rat by Charles Campbell. What exactly is a valley rat? The first prerequisite for being a valley rat is that you live in one of the tiny towns along the length of road, Highway 421. The second prerequisite for being a valley rat is that you've struggled in life without realizing it. Hot dogs on loaf bread, Vienna sausages and soda crackers, bare feet and sand spurs, stealing kisses from a little girl you like before she pops you in the nose because valley girls were tough.

You grin back with a bloody nose because it was worth it. Valley rats are mostly kind-hearted, but some have mean streaks, and a few are downright cruel. This story is about what happens when a kind-hearted valley rat crossed paths with a particularly cruel valley rat It started one hot summer day in 1981 at the Minute Shop Charles Proser was behind the counter watching the kids flip through the comics Dusty Turner walked in covered in dirt from head to foot He looked like he was wrestling in a pig pen Dang Dusty, what'd you get yourself into?

Charles asked from behind the counter. I got in a fight with one of the Elliot boys, Dusty replied. His filthy t-shirt was ripped at the collar and the beginnings of a good shiner circled his right eye. Just one? Was it Jesse or Johnny? Charles asked as a grin crept across his face. Well, before he was done, it was both of them, Dusty answered.

That's what I figured. Them boys go everywhere together Let me guess You started whooping on one of them pretty good And the other jumped in That about the size of it? Yes sir But I beat the snot out of Jesse before Johnny jumped in And he didn't jump in wholehearted, I can tell you that They ripped my shirt and Johnny popped me in the eye first thing He ain't too bad off But Jesse probably had to go in the house and lay down Dusty finished with a grin of his own That's good them boys ain't nothing but trouble glad you handled yourself dusty it'll make them think twice before they mess with you again pick yourself a free comic charles said in total admiration of the boy thank you mr proser dusty beamed and joined the other kids at the comic rack he grabbed the first batman comic he could get his hands on this is the one mr proser dusty said and held the comic in the air.

Charles didn't speak but nodded as Dusty smiled. The next person to walk into the store was a Burnett Town police officer named Margie Ursi. Margie's look was solemn and her attention was immediately on Dusty. Dusty, you getting a scrap with Jesse a little while ago? she asked there was concern in her face with her furrowed brow and serious demeanor yeah he started with me though i promise johnny jumped me too i was just taken up for myself dusty said he felt just by the look of things that he may not be going straight home when he left the minute shop well i'm sorry to break the news to you like this but jesse's dead he fell to the floor when to their trailer and he didn't make it his brother said you killed him when the ambulance got there now wait a minute charles proser started in dusty's defense you know them elliot boys both of them valley rats both of them always up to their ears in trouble you know as well as i do that dusty was just defending himself and if the boy got the worst of it and paid the ultimate price for it then it's on him charles said he was firm with it when he locked eyes with margie look Charles I'm not saying you're wrong but the fact of the matter is that that boy is dead and Dusty she turned to face the boy still clutching his Batman comic yes ma'am he replied you're going to have to come with me to the precinct we'll call your mama when we get there Margie said in motion toward the door Dusty walked out the door with Margie right behind Charles Proser was shaking his head behind the counter.

As soon as Dusty stepped outside, he felt the stone crack against his forehead. It broke skin and the blood flowed down his nose just before the next rock cracked him in his right cheek. It was Johnny Elliott and his valley-famous homemade slingshot. Johnny was deadly with that thing. Many squirrels and a few cats fell to his aim. Margie saw Johnny and turned to holler for him to stop when the rock popped her in the left eye.

She would lose it later on the operating table. Margie fell to her knees. Come on, Dusty! You killed my brother! There's only one way this is gonna go! Johnny screamed from Addie's gas station across the street. Dusty was pawing at his bloody forehead. Charles Proser came running out of the minute shop with his Remington pump. Johnny pinged Charles on his shoulder, causing him to drop the shotgun.

You get down to Caver Park, Dusty! We're gonna finish this thing there! You get there by three o'clock or I'll come and find you! Johnny shouted before disappearing behind the gas station. With Margie still on her knees and Charles bending over to pick up the shotgun, Dusty took off toward Addie's. Johnny already disappeared in the woods behind the station, and Dusty knew it was useless trying to follow the boy.

Johnny knew those woods better than anybody, now that his brother was deceased. dusty couldn't believe that jesse was dead sure they were in a good scrap and dusty got some good licks in but he'd seen jesse in bigger and dirtier fights than what they had it didn't make sense to dusty but the words of johnny echoed in his mind you get down to caver park dusty he wondered if margie heard the challenge probably not an approaching siren snapped dusty out of his thoughts.

It had to be coming for Margie. He didn't know if Johnny meant to hit her square in the eye but he sure did and Dusty knew it wasn't anything she could rinse out with water. A glass eye or a pirate patch was in Maggie's future. Dusty looked down and realized he was still clutching the Batman comic in his hand. He tossed it on the ground and stayed under the cover of woods but close enough to 421 so he could hear the cars zoom by.

He'd start heading to Caver. He was going to keep his date with Johnny. He just didn't know what he was going to do when he got there. Would he have to kill the other valley rat too? Dusty walked a couple of miles. The blood had dried on his face and forehead. He was thirsty as all get out and the back of the convenience store called Balls stood out like an oasis in the desert.

Dusty rummaged through his front pockets and pulled out all the change that he had. Dusty stared at his palm and counted 78 cents. That was enough for a Coca-Cola. He stepped into the shop and heard the distinct accent of Venkat Jaganathan, the owner and operator of this establishment. Hello, Dusty, Venkat said when Dusty entered the store. Hey, Mr. Venkat, just need a Coca-Cola.

Dusty, you don't look well. Are you all right? I'm fine, Mr. Venkat. It was a bike accident. Seeming convinced, Venkat dropped it and took two quarters from the rough-looking boy. Dusty took long gulps and the 12-ounce can was empty in seconds. He was even thirstier than he thought. but Dusty could see the sign for Harrison Caver Park at the top of the hill.

Dusty sighed and continued his walk. Whatever happens was going to happen anyway is what he kept telling himself. He wasn't going to his mama or the police. This was between two valley rats, and it would be settled between two valley rats. It was 2.45 when Dusty made his way onto the walking track at Caver Park. There was no sign of Johnny and Dusty felt a bit of relief He figured the Burnett Town PD was looking for both of them by now Margie was in an operating room at Aiken Regional at that very moment having her eye plucked out Dusty walked toward the back of the park where the short nature trail began There was a tiny man-made creek that ran through to Langley Pond Dusty figured Johnny would come through that way less eyes to spot him so Dusty would be right out in the open for him to see that he wasn't running he wasn't hiding he would fight to the death if that's what it took what happened to Jesse was a shame but it was Jesse's fault Dusty saw him strolling towards him traveling right beside the creek as he suspected Johnny was whistling but it wasn't just any whistle Dusty recognized it immediately as the whistle that he heard in an old Eastwood Spaghetti Western.

I'm here, Johnny! Dusty yelled in Johnny's direction. I see that! Johnny replied with a serpent's grin. You better drop that slingshot on the ground! I'm here with these! Dusty raised his fists. Johnny held the slingshot up in the air and tossed it. Dusty could hear it splash into the creek. This made Dusty feel a bit better, He was confident he could whoop Johnny one-on-one.

Johnny's grin is what turned Dusty's confidence into hesitance. Johnny began running toward him, and Dusty took a fighter's stance, left foot out front, fists in front of his face, ready to pop a jab when Johnny's face got close enough. Johnny was within reach, and Dusty popped the jab. Surprisingly, it didn't connect. Johnny ducked the jab and slashed at Dusty's belly with the concealed switchblade Dusty didn't feel it at first He spun to try to catch Johnny with the left hook And he missed again Johnny sliced him across the cheek That's when Dusty felt the pain in his gut You didn't think I was that fast, did you, Big Dust?

Johnny asked as he stepped back to admire his work To tell you the truth? No, no I didn't held his stomach as he felt the blood pouring from the wound i should have known you wouldn't do this straight up dusty said and continued i didn't mean for your brother to die johnny that's the god honest truth dusty johnny started with that same grin just so you know before i kill you you didn't kill jesse johnny ran his fingers through his buzz cut and continued i killed jesse wait what dusty was puzzled the fire in his gut was raging now yeah i killed him jesse was always the pussy now you you ain't no pussy i always had to jump in on his fights he never had to jump in on mine and i'd be embarrassed if he did jesse was a cry baby and big dust you gave me the out i needed you beat the bejesus out of him i'll give you that might have busted a couple of his ribs was holding his side and whining like a little bitch when he was walking back home well i went ahead and finished him off i cracked him in the back of the head with an axe handle and we both know who i said did it big dust i was helping my brother i mean you were wailing on him when i walked up on y'all and you cracked him in the back of the head before i put that shiner on you Johnny finished proudly you killed your own brother Dusty asked clearly flabbergasted nobody ever saw Jesse without Johnny they seemed like two peas in a pod yeah and now I'm gonna kill you and it ain't gonna be no secret you think they'll put me away for killing the one that killed my brother?

Dusty felt anger. This valley rat was going to kill him and tell the world he was a murderer. Dusty blocked out the pain and got back in his fighting stance. Well, Johnny, you done cut me. You gonna be a pussy now and not face me straight up? You see the blood on my hands? I might bleed out before it's over, but I ain't hiding behind a knife.

Let's do this, pussy boy. Dusty snarled and held his fists in front of him. With his manhood challenged, the valley pride within Johnny came to the forefront. He tossed the knife into the creek and charged Dusty. His intent was to bear tackle him and get the wounded boy on the ground. Instead, he got a straight right hand to the bridge of the nose.

Johnny saw stars and dropped to his knees. Dusty kicked him in the face and Johnny rolled down into the shallow creek. creek. Dusty was right behind him, still ignoring the pain from his gushing wound. Dusty grabbed Johnny by the back of his head before he could rise from the creek. With the full weight of his body on Johnny's back, he held Johnny's head under the water.

Johnny bucked underneath, but Dusty's grip was firm and he had the full advantage of weight on his side. He was going to kill this valley vermin and he would just have to explain what happened later. Everybody knew Jesse and Johnny were scum of the earth. There was a noise in the air that Dusty didn't register. His focus was making sure Johnny was dead before he lost consciousness from blood loss.

Crack! Dusty fell with a splash. Johnny jumped from the creek, holding his neck and gasping for air. He was on the brink of filling his lungs with water, and that would have sent him on his way. Dusty lay still in the creek bed. The bullet went through his back and straight through the center of his heart. Charles Proser stood at the top of the hill, his dirty, hairy-style 357 magnum now at his side.

Johnny saw him and took off through the woods. Charles didn't want to kill Dusty, but there was one thing that neither Jesse nor Johnny knew. Their last name should be Proser. Their mother, Jessica, had a one-night stand with Charles after a night of drinking at Glenda's, and Charles did the math. It was right at nine months later when the boys came. While Frank Elliott's name was on their birth certificates, Charles and Jessica both knew whose boys they really were.

Charles could see his eyes in theirs and it made his stomach turn every time he saw them. He wasn't proud at all of the valley rats that they were turning into. He'd heard Johnny yell out to Dusty back at the minute shop. He knew they'd be here. He'd let them But if things weren't going Johnny's way, he'd jump in and save his last surviving son.

He would never tell Johnny why he saved him, and Johnny would avoid Charles through the years. Johnny would be questioned about Dusty's death, but they wouldn't find a .357 in Johnny's possession, or dumped in the creek. Without that, they couldn't make anything stick. Valley rats keep things between valley rats especially in the matters of life and death