Story session led to creation of popular character in books

Inspiration can strike at any moment and any age.

Take, for example, Bob Marquette. Though he was aging, he came up with a timeless character, Honky the Donkey, for a book.

"The book was intended to be a one-and-done. The short story about the death of Honky was revised into two parts, the first part becoming the prologue and the second the epilogue to the story," said Marquette, who is 90. "My sister, Trudy Calvert, an artist and sculptress, agreed to illustrate the book, which added immeasurably to its readability.

"Copies of the book were distributed to family and friends. It was received quite well and I was encouraged to consider writing another story."

As of October 2021, Marquette has written and self-published three books about his beloved donkey, a character that began because he needed something to share at story time with friends.

"The group was called The Dynamic Diners. I wanted my participation in the story line to be humorous," he recalled. "I knew the theme would be Western, and I prepared by creating in my mind a few quirky Western type characters that might be used. Among them was a tall, skinny cowboy bounty hunter who rode a small donkey named Honky."

That was 2006 and Honky became quite popular after that within Marquette's circle. Though it wouldn't be until 2018 before Marquette put his character into book form, requests to tell about Honky became more and more.

 "I had participated in several humorous programs over the years, but the only character my friends have consistently wanted to talk about was Honky," he said. "Having a little donkey ridden by a tall, skinny cowboy is ridiculously humorous.

 "And if the storyteller, who is neither tall nor skinny, tries to demonstrate how the tall, skinny cowboy might mount, ride and dismount the little donkey, then the story apparently becomes hilarious."

Later, Marquette joined a group at Pecan Plantation known as the Grumpy Old Men. They, likewise, loved his tales of Honky. And though he moved from Granbury to Dallas in 2010 after 21 years to be closer to medical facilities and family, his friends and family continued to encourage him to put Honky in print.

 "Since leaving Granbury, I have kept in touch with my friends there and continued to meet with the Grumpy Old Men whenever I could. Each time we met, the subject of Honky came up," he said. "It was about 2017 that I returned from a gathering of the Grumpy Old Men where once again Honky was a part of the discussion. I felt the need to write something about the little donkey as now I had some time.

"After thinking about it a bit I wondered how my friends would react if the donkey met its demise. Would they then quit talking about him, or what?"

So he wrote a short story titled "The Death of a Donkey."

"Honkey’s untimely death occurred in a most unusual way. I emailed the story to my friends. They laughed but didn’t drop the subject," Marquette said. "It was a short time later that one of my ‘Grumpy’ friends (John Pelham), an award-winning cowboy poet, wrote a poem about Honky and included it in a special edition of his poems. The poem emphasized the sweeter side of the little fellow.

"After the poem, I wanted to write something positive about the little fellow, so I wrote a short story about his birth, early childhood and how he met the tall, skinny bounty hunter. It had humor but also had a more serious tone."

EXPANDING THE STORY

In late 2017, Marquette's two daughters and two of his granddaughters read the two short stories and liked them. They encouraged him to write more Honky stories in longer form.

After considerable thought, he decided to write a full-length story about Honky’s adventures for his grandkids and great-grandkids who, by then, were quite numerous.

"Of course, this would be more challenging than writing a short, funny story. The characters would need to be more fully developed, as well as the where and when of the story. I had never attempted this before," he said.

But, as do many writers, he drew upon what he loves — and he loves being a Texan.

"Most of my progeny lived outside the state of Texas and some as far away as Europe. I wanted them to know things about this great state I call home and its colorful history. So, I decided to include such information in the story," Marquette said.

The effort resulted in a book titled "Unsung Heroes, a Tall Texas Tale." It tells the story of Honky’s birth and his life growing up on the Bar M ranch near Big Spring in West Texas. The story is set in the 1870s, with a time frame between the Civil War and the end of the 19th century.

"Honky looks like any other donkey except he is a little on the small side. He loves music and dances to songs sung by the ranch hands. He has one little problem. He loves prickly pear cactus but eating it gives him gas," Marquette explained with a chuckle. "He meets Jake, a tall skinny bounty hunter, at the ranch. Through a series of unfortunate circumstances Jake takes Honky as his ride.

"Jake then learns of Honky’s digestive problem in an unexpected way, has an unusual gunfight with an outlaw named El Gordo and the town bank is robbed by the Skuggs gang. The Sheriff asks Jake to find the gang and bring them to justice."

The next book, "Big Thicket, A Tall Texas Tale 2," is set in the Piney Woods of East Texas. Our heroes are traveling from Big Spring to Tyler, where the sheriff has been killed. A new principal character is introduced, Molly the Mule.

"When they arrive in Tyler, Honky is sick and near death. While he recovers, Jake learns the killers have already been caught and punished. He has not been in this part of the state before and has to decide whether to stay or go back home to the West Texas frontier," Marquette said. "Jake decides to go back home. When Honky is recovered they begin their journey."

And what a journey it is. They are kidnapped by a band of thieves named the Barker Gang, with leader Clive and unable assistants Hog and Snake. They enlist Honky to carry the loot from a stagecoach they just robbed, leaving Jake and Molly tied to a tree to die.

Jake escapes and with Molly’s help and the help of Tom, a lost young boy whose parents are former slaves, tracks Honky and the gang to the hideout in the Big Thicket. There they have the most terrifying experience of their lives, facing creatures from pre-historic times, a bayou of boiling water, flesh-eating plants, and an eerie light that shows them the way. Jake encounters Bigfoot and Honky tangles with a black cougar.

BETTY’S PASSING

This story was finished in the fall of 2019, but not immediately published. Marquette had started another book and was on the third chapter, when his wife of 67 years, Betty, suffered a major stroke. She passed away in early March of the following year.

The COVID-19 pandemic also took hold. He did not resume work on the third book until late in 2020, at which time he also published “The Big Thicket.”

"Second Chances, A Tall Texas Tale 3" is the longest and most complex story of the three. The idea to write the story was prompted by a suggestion by his daughter, Debbie Garvin, that Honky fall in love.

There are five storylines that eventually merge. Jake wants to capture Bad Bart. Honky has fallen in love with a wild Jenny donkey he thinks of as his “Pink Angel” and has left Jake to live with his love among a large herd.

Johnathan Lawful is a Pinkerton detective, who has also been trying to capture Bad Bart. And then there is the War Party, led by a Cherokee brave named Running Wolf. He leads a small group of misfits from different tribes who have escaped from Fort Sill in Indian Territory.

"The story is set in El Paso County in far West Texas and at a time when an ethnic war is being fought over access to salt deposits," Marquette said. "And, of course, Honkey saves the day."

END OF HONKY?

Marquette once said it's not likely he'll write any more books, but lately has been considering more adventures for Honky and Jake.

“I have given some thought to another book and have made a few notes. If I can find the time I may give it a go,” he said.

In fact, Marquette’s life has been on quite an upswing. He remarried last October after being single for a few years following the death of his wife of 67 years.

So, don’t be surprised if he brings the little burro back for more thrills — even if he has served his purpose, entertaining those Marquette loves most.

"He was always meant to be enjoyed, to brighten the imagination, and I believe we accomplished that," Marquette said. "I never had aspirations of being famous or such, I just wanted to make some folks (are) happy, especially my grandkids, with a cute little character."

To order the book, contact Marquette via email (ermj399@gmail.com).