Junior, the Pet Monkey

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Junior Monkey

I have mentioned in several of my stories that Grandad Jack had a pet monkey. Some friends ordered it in his name as a prank. He taught the monkey to work at his Phillips 66 service station, and the two of them became quiet an attraction in the local area.

I was looking through some old boxes trying to find some more pictures of Grandad Jack, and Junior his monkey. In looking through old boxes and trunks, I found a letter that my Grandfather had written about Junior, his monkey. I thought it was a wonderful letter. I wanted to share the letter with you, so have transcribed it below:

My Monkey, Junior

Elmo Jackson Elder

Like one hundred million other Americans, I once went to the zoo to laugh at the monkeys. A few years ago some prankster friends sent me a baby Java monkey anonymously. For six years I have kept this little fugitive of the jungle and have been around him fourteen hours each day. At the time I got him I operated a wholesale and retail Service Station and Bus Station. I had a good opportunity to observe people and their reactions, and a monkey and his reactions. It is my firm opinion that my monkey, Junior, showed more intelligence and common sense than fifty percent of the people I see.

When only about six months old, I would take Junior on oil deliveries to the oil rigs in the district. I had taken him in the truck with me three times to one particular rig I was servicing. One morning I started to the rig with Junior, as usual, sitting on the back of the seat by my shoulder. I was driving down the highway, my mind wondering when suddenly he starts chirping and chattering, and looking out of my window. I looked around expecting to see a dog or some other animal in the barrow ditch, but much to my surprise I noticed I was passing the gate where I was supposed to turn in. I thought to myself, "Mr. Monk I'll have to give you credit for having more sense than I have."

I left my house one morning at about 5:00 AM going to Austin, Texas. As it was in the winter, it was still dark and I was driving unusually fast. Junior as usual was sitting behind my right shoulder on the back of the seat with his feet on my shoulder, and his chin on his hands, looking straight down the road. Being sleepy I was not observing the rod as I should have been. Suddenly he screamed in my ear. Immediately I was alerted to the danger before me. A horse had walked onto the highway and barely was I able to veer off and miss it. Junior had done it once again.

My children once gave me a can of salted nuts for Christmas. When I opened it, a three foot spring-loaded worm popped out and hit me in the face. It was a prank can. They got me pretty good, so I wanted to see if I could pull the same trick on Junior. I brought the monk in the living room and gave him the can. A monkey just has to screw the lid off of anything he is given. He opened it, and the worm jumped out and scared him to death. He made a circle around the room and ended up on the back of a chair and chattered for a full minute. About a year later, I brought him in and gave him the same can again. He started to open it, and then suddenly pushed it away. He got a newspaper and covered the can up with the paper. Then my cat walked in, and Junior grabbed the cat, and pulled her back away from the can. Just about any joke that can be pulled on a person can be pulled on a monkey, but you can never pull the same joke on a monkey twice.

(End)

I was delighted to find this letter written about the monkey. I was also able to find the following picture of Junior working at the gas station.

Pet Monkey

Junior Working at the Eldorado, TX Phillips 66

The picture shows the little guy checking the tire pressure for a customer. Junior loved his job, and was popular with customers and coworkers alike.

contact: paul@american-indian-artwork.com