BLACKBERRY PICKING

1-13-09...BLACKBERRY PICKING

We used to pick the wild blackberries that grew thick along the fence between the garden and the railroad track. Every evening after supper we all lined up and filled buckets. They were plentiful but so were the big wasp nests just covered with big ol' red wasps. Now let me tell you those darn things were mean. They would chase you to get to sting you. The boys were too little this particular time so it was My Parents Me And Brenda. Of course we were not doing much work. I suspect they had us with them to keep an eye on us. We kinda got sidetracked as usual. We poured what berries we had picked in to one bucket and took turns sitting on the other bucket. Well that got old fast. We knew we'd better stay close to my parents so what the heck could we do sides' pick berries. We decided we might as well pick some more and both picked into one bucket for a while.
We were going on pretty good till a wasp started buzzin' round' our heads. We spied a big ol' nest in the vines and decided to knock that sucker to kingdom come. Yep, we sure did! We found some rocks along the edge of the garden and took turns throwing them at the wasp nest. Daddy'll be glad we got these rocks outta his garden was my thinking. We didn't have very good aim and we were just makin' them' wasp mad I guess. I took my turn at throwing and decided to get a little closer this time. It was becoming a game of wills. We both wanted to be the one who knocked the nest down. Brenda was ready with her rock and she threw it before I got backed up enough. By Golly she knocked the nest down, and the race was on. Those things came outta' there like a bomb. I was still close so guess who they nailed first. Yep ME!!! I turned to run and hit head on with Brenda who was standing there proud of herself for knocking the wasp nest. We both were knocked backwards by the force of the hit. Brenda went on the ground and I landed in the bucket of blackberries. I can still feel myself sinking down in there, squashing berries as I went. For some reason the wasp went after Brenda instead of me. She was tearin' out across the garden screamin' with my parents following saying "What's wrong" I guess they figerered' out what is was cause' I saw them slappin' and jumpin' around swattin' off the wasps. Well I got the giggles. I started to get up and found out I was stuck tight in that bucket of berries. No way, no how, could I get up and I had laughed so hard I peed in my 'britches'? Well really I peed in the bucket of smashed berries. Oh My gosh, now what. Brenda, Mama, and Daddy were fightin' wasp and here I am stuck in a bucket of berries. Good Grief!!! I got tickled again but it didn't last long when I looked and saw a few wasp seemed to be comin' back where I was. At the same time Daddy started back to get me. Well let me tell you I got up then bucket and all and duck walked to meet Daddy. He picked me up bucket and all and started toward the house. The bucket jarred loose and hit the ground spillin' those smushed' up berries. Off we went and the wasp decided to stay with the berries saving us any more indignities from stings. We all had a bath with rubbin' alcohol poured in the tub. Course I had to be cleaned a little more than the rest cause' I had a purple butt! Did we ever try and knock a wasp nest down again? Well Sure we did. YEP!!! Just made sure our parents were not around. Didn't want them stung again. NOPE!!!