11-27-08...FROGS AND SNAKES
I am afraid of frogs. My skin just crawls and I can't breathe well If I even see one. Put one on me and I come completely unglued. So much so that I have passed out.
My Brother Brought one in the house one day and I cleared the bed in one bound. I mean I was on the other side. TRUE!!! Why you say? Well I'm'a'gonna tell ya.
When I was a kid we had to improvise a lot in our play. We played with sticks, tin cans, home made sling shots and stilts ect. We had been to Prissy Sillies house and they had a bus outside with pedals and seats. We were just amazed but knew we couldn't have one.
One day we were sitting in the yard and saw a ladder her Daddy had made. A home made ladder. It was two long boards(two by fours? I dont rightly know) but to these two boards were about eight flat planks nailed on at intervals. Wala! When you sit it up against something you could climb the ladder in to trees, the roof, the barn, the chicken roosts,ect. You get my drift. We laid the ladder down flat on the ground and sat on the planks. (our bus seats). Brenda and I took turns being the driver, who stood on the front. Paul, Norman, and the other one of us sat on the planks and called out orders to the driver. We were having a rip roarin good time. YEP! The boys tired of it quick like and left to greener pastures. Brenda's older Sister came out. Brenda was the driver and I was the rider. Tut got behind me and all at once she jumped off and ran in the house like all the demons in hell were after her. Brenda looked back at me and she hightailed it off too. What in the heck is wrong with y'all I hollered. Just bout then My Auntie ran out the door and said, Sit real still Clydene. Well now can you see me sittin' real still? Heck no! I started to get up too. Auntie got serious then. Clydene if you move I'll whip you till you can't move. Well Shoot fire Auntie, What the hecks wrong with you anyway. Auntie gave me that LOOK! You know the ones Mama's give their kids? Don't have to say a word Just that Look stopped you in your tracks. Auntie was talking real low now. She went to the side of the house and got a hoe and started toward me. Well Good Lord surely my Auntie wasn't a goin' to hit me with a hoe. Shoot fire I was still as I could be. Durn, I'm'a'thinkin' I better move, Auntie's went goofy on me. She's a gonna hit me with that hoe sure as shootin I put my hand down to get myself up and touched something so cold and slick, and I thought slimy. I started screamin. I mean I was screechin and hollerin. I felt somethin on my leg then kinda wigglin' and movin' into my lap. I looked down (and it's a good thing I did) just as Auntie brought that hoe down and slung somethin' or other out in the garden. And in my lap was the biggest ol' frog I had ever seen in my life. Sittin' there with its ugly eyes lookin up at me. I was unhinged, unglued, and cock eyed with fear. Couldn't have moved then if it had grabbed me and shook me. They said later that I was as white as a sheet and my eyes were rolling and crossin' and I fell over on my face right on top of that frog. Oh My gosh, Oh my goodness Lord help me was going through my mind though I couldnt say a word . I was petrified. Stone cold petrified. They all finally gathered round me and Auntie carried me in the house while Tut ran down to get My Mama.
Well Folks, That frog was dead. Still don't know if it died of fright from me or that big ol copperhead snake. Yep! Seems the snake was tryin' to swallow the frog and started to crawl under the ladder or over it one I can't remember. But it was comin' on up in my lap. All I saw was the frog cause' Auntie gave me THE LOOK and I froze. She slung the snake away from me and the frog got out of its mouth right there on my lap. Oh jeepers. That durn frog scared me so bad I've been scared of em since. And Brenda is as scared of snakes as I am Frogs. You say it makes more sense to be scared of snakes? For You Maybe. NOT ME!
Everyone kept trying to tell me that frog probley' saved my life cause that snake woulda bit me. But heck fire I didn't even see the snake, didn't touch the snake, didn't see the snake starin' at me either. Auntie said she just knew I was a gonna move and maybe the frog would get away and the snake would bite me. Heck she should'a known just to give me The look in the first place and I'd a never moved. I thought my Auntie was'a'gonna kill me with that hoe just cause I was moving. Everybody else moved didn't they? She never threatened to kill em with a hoe cause they moved?!!! We all laughed at that later but it was much later for me. YEP! Just don't ever put a frog on me or I'll get a hoe after you!!!!!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
CHRISTMAS BLUNDERS
11-25-08...CHRISTMAS BLUNDERS
I'll bet that most memories of Christmas for most of us is warm and loving.
Mine too. I have a memory of a Christmas in 1952 that could have been very different had it not been for the Great Love and forberance of my close knit family.
My Daddy and Brenda's Daddy worked away from home in a coal mine. They left for Okla. on Sunday night and came home on Friday night. The one night of the week that we got to stay up late till Daddy got home.
We had a Christmas eve service at our little Church every year. No matter what day of the week it was we were in Church on Christmas eve. Daddy would be always home for Christmas but sometimes couldn't be there till late on Christmas Eve night. So it was left to Mama and Brenda's Mama to get to the Church. Mama had the car that week. She never was a good" driver but managed. Well what always happened when Daddy wasn't home was that Mama would take us to the car then say. I forgot something in the house. You all sit here and I'll be right back. Sit still and don't touch anything or get out. OK Mama. See What Mama was doing was rushing back to the house and laying out our presents under the tree so they would be there when we got home. Then we'd rush in and find what Santa left. Magical time, but not to be so simple this year. Nope, not with all four of us kids in the car. My auntie was at her house doing all this and would meet us at the lane and we'd all be off. Can you imagine all four of us kids sitting in the back seat together in such close quarters with no adult in sight? SURE YOU CAN!
The gear shift was in the floor between the two front seats. I climbed over the seat in to the drivers seat and pushed in the cigarette lighter which always stuck. Brenda and my brother tried to climb over at the same time and bumped heads. She pushed my Brother back down and he started crying. I reached up and slapped the heck out of Brenda and raised up on my knees to see about Norman. That was my baby brother and I was supposed to take care of him. He was 4 at the time. Brenda came on over on her head and we started squabbling in the same seat just as Her Brother Paul came over the seat too.
Somehow we knocked the car out of gear (I think Paul was sitting on the gear shift and my foot(or maybe it was Brenda's foot) hit the starter in the floor. The car lurched forward just as Mama opened the door and it knocked her down. I guess I still had my foot on the starter because it was making a terrible racket, like a calf bawling for it's Mama kinda.
I heard Mama holler, Clydene Put Your Foot on the brake. Well luckilly for all of us I knew what that was. Daddy had often held me in his lap as he drove and I picked up a few things. Yep thats how we all learned to drive back then. Right there in our Daddies laps. Dangerous? Probably but we are all still here to tell the stories. That is how we learned to survive out in the world. We were tough. Yep! Kids today are too coddled I think. My opinion. Don't jump on me for it.
Anyway back to my story. I did get the car stopped but I had to face my Mama and when I saw blood on her arm I started bellering (like that lost calf again) When I started bellering the other three started bellering just as my Auntie ran up. I tell You I was scared spitless, breathless and every other way you can be scared. Oh My Gosh, we were all scared to death. I'M OK KIDS, my Mama was saying. Auntie was saying, What in the world happened Lucille? Then she looked at us all standin' there and though she didn't really know what happened I guess it dawned on her that we kids were very heavilly involved.
We all got ourselves together. Mamas scratch only required a handkerchief with spit on it.
We got in the car and went on to Church. I was an Angel on top of the Christmas tree that year, but I sure didn't feel much like An Angel,if you get my drift. Daddy got home later that night. We had already discovered that Santa had been there but we were not allowed to touch anything till Daddy got there. Wow! This worked out pretty good> DIDN'T IT? Well not exactly. We knew we would still be in trouble, and when My Auntie showed up on Christmas Morning with Brenda and Paul in tow we knew what was coming. When Daddy Or Brenda's Daddy was home there was never any problem. They did the work inside while our Mama's waited with us in the car. Our Parents recognized this fact even if we didn't and had decided not to be too hard on us. We didn't know why for many years later but at the time we enjoyed the reprieve and was relieved for all of an hour. Yep! This was not to be so easy. An hour later Daddy went out to Start the Car and guess what? Remember that cigarette lighter that got pushed in the night before? Yep. You guessed it. The car wouldn't start. That dad blamed thing always stuck and I knew it did when I pushed it in. UH OH! Yep the battery was down. It wasn't so simple then when the battery was down. Nope sure wasn't. It had to be taken out and took to the station in town to charge. Now the crap would hit the fan for sure. If we'd'a' had a fan. The jig was up. The reprieve was over Yep, I might as well fess up. Daddy I was the one who pushed in the lighter I said, (bellering again). I got my tanning right there and knew I needed it. That is the way it was. We knew we needed the tannins' and we accepted them. We learned from them too else why would we still remember them for all these years. It was good for us in more than one way. YEP!!!! Our wonderful Parents were the very best. SURE NUFF! YEP!
I'll bet that most memories of Christmas for most of us is warm and loving.
Mine too. I have a memory of a Christmas in 1952 that could have been very different had it not been for the Great Love and forberance of my close knit family.
My Daddy and Brenda's Daddy worked away from home in a coal mine. They left for Okla. on Sunday night and came home on Friday night. The one night of the week that we got to stay up late till Daddy got home.
We had a Christmas eve service at our little Church every year. No matter what day of the week it was we were in Church on Christmas eve. Daddy would be always home for Christmas but sometimes couldn't be there till late on Christmas Eve night. So it was left to Mama and Brenda's Mama to get to the Church. Mama had the car that week. She never was a good" driver but managed. Well what always happened when Daddy wasn't home was that Mama would take us to the car then say. I forgot something in the house. You all sit here and I'll be right back. Sit still and don't touch anything or get out. OK Mama. See What Mama was doing was rushing back to the house and laying out our presents under the tree so they would be there when we got home. Then we'd rush in and find what Santa left. Magical time, but not to be so simple this year. Nope, not with all four of us kids in the car. My auntie was at her house doing all this and would meet us at the lane and we'd all be off. Can you imagine all four of us kids sitting in the back seat together in such close quarters with no adult in sight? SURE YOU CAN!
The gear shift was in the floor between the two front seats. I climbed over the seat in to the drivers seat and pushed in the cigarette lighter which always stuck. Brenda and my brother tried to climb over at the same time and bumped heads. She pushed my Brother back down and he started crying. I reached up and slapped the heck out of Brenda and raised up on my knees to see about Norman. That was my baby brother and I was supposed to take care of him. He was 4 at the time. Brenda came on over on her head and we started squabbling in the same seat just as Her Brother Paul came over the seat too.
Somehow we knocked the car out of gear (I think Paul was sitting on the gear shift and my foot(or maybe it was Brenda's foot) hit the starter in the floor. The car lurched forward just as Mama opened the door and it knocked her down. I guess I still had my foot on the starter because it was making a terrible racket, like a calf bawling for it's Mama kinda.
I heard Mama holler, Clydene Put Your Foot on the brake. Well luckilly for all of us I knew what that was. Daddy had often held me in his lap as he drove and I picked up a few things. Yep thats how we all learned to drive back then. Right there in our Daddies laps. Dangerous? Probably but we are all still here to tell the stories. That is how we learned to survive out in the world. We were tough. Yep! Kids today are too coddled I think. My opinion. Don't jump on me for it.
Anyway back to my story. I did get the car stopped but I had to face my Mama and when I saw blood on her arm I started bellering (like that lost calf again) When I started bellering the other three started bellering just as my Auntie ran up. I tell You I was scared spitless, breathless and every other way you can be scared. Oh My Gosh, we were all scared to death. I'M OK KIDS, my Mama was saying. Auntie was saying, What in the world happened Lucille? Then she looked at us all standin' there and though she didn't really know what happened I guess it dawned on her that we kids were very heavilly involved.
We all got ourselves together. Mamas scratch only required a handkerchief with spit on it.
We got in the car and went on to Church. I was an Angel on top of the Christmas tree that year, but I sure didn't feel much like An Angel,if you get my drift. Daddy got home later that night. We had already discovered that Santa had been there but we were not allowed to touch anything till Daddy got there. Wow! This worked out pretty good> DIDN'T IT? Well not exactly. We knew we would still be in trouble, and when My Auntie showed up on Christmas Morning with Brenda and Paul in tow we knew what was coming. When Daddy Or Brenda's Daddy was home there was never any problem. They did the work inside while our Mama's waited with us in the car. Our Parents recognized this fact even if we didn't and had decided not to be too hard on us. We didn't know why for many years later but at the time we enjoyed the reprieve and was relieved for all of an hour. Yep! This was not to be so easy. An hour later Daddy went out to Start the Car and guess what? Remember that cigarette lighter that got pushed in the night before? Yep. You guessed it. The car wouldn't start. That dad blamed thing always stuck and I knew it did when I pushed it in. UH OH! Yep the battery was down. It wasn't so simple then when the battery was down. Nope sure wasn't. It had to be taken out and took to the station in town to charge. Now the crap would hit the fan for sure. If we'd'a' had a fan. The jig was up. The reprieve was over Yep, I might as well fess up. Daddy I was the one who pushed in the lighter I said, (bellering again). I got my tanning right there and knew I needed it. That is the way it was. We knew we needed the tannins' and we accepted them. We learned from them too else why would we still remember them for all these years. It was good for us in more than one way. YEP!!!! Our wonderful Parents were the very best. SURE NUFF! YEP!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
CHEWING THE CUD
11-14-08...CHEWING THE CUD
I was sitting in the dining room this morning looking out at the pasture. Cows were lying down chewing their cud. I will not explain that it would take too long but probably some of you understand what I am talking about. Anyway my mind was transported back to a time when I was young and innocent. (WELL I WAS!!) Brendas Daddy had an old Jersey milk cow that we called PET. She was the most cantankerous thing I have ever seen. Like an old balking mule with a bur in its backside. There was a gate about middle way in the lane between our houses. That ol' battleax would stand there and take the chain loose and walk right out. She got in our gardens and just messed up things. Since it was usually Brenda and I who went after her we were wishing that one day she would just take on off never to be seen again. Now we weren't thinking about the butter and milk she supplied all of us. Heck no. Fartherest thing from our minds.
Well gettin' to the cud story. Pet was laying out in the pasture one day busy chewin' her cud and looking too comfortable for us. Ol' bag didn't deserve to rest now did she? Hateful ol' thing anyhow. Brendas brother Paul had gotten a Daisy BB gun that year for Christmas but it was taken away from him because he killed one of Auntie's chickens. Yep, lucky shot. We were happy about that too because he wasn't careful where he shot and my ankle was stung once by it.
Brenda Where did Auntie put Pauls BB gun? It is in Mama's closet. Why? I was thinkin' we could shoot a few BBs at ol' Pet and make her get up. Maybe she'll go on down in the pasture and we won't have to worry bout' her gettin' out. I dont know Clydene, what if we hurt her? Brenda didn't you hear Daddy and Uncle Frank talkin' about leather was made from cow hide? Yep I did Clydene but whats that got to do with it? Brenda didn't you see Paul shootin' at that ol piece of boot? That was leather and it never even made a scratch on it. Then why shoot at Pet. It wont bother her. Well shoot fire Brenda we can try! HUH OH! Wrong decision again!
Brenda went afrer the Bb gun while I asked Auntie for a drink of water. Oh we were sneaky all right. Yep!! We had about 4 bb's and we were gonna' shoot two each. Brenda lets get over there so when she gets up she wont go toward the gate. OK.
Oh My! Were we ever headed for trouble. DOUBLE TROUBLE to be exact.
I shot first and Ol Pet didn't even flinch. Well Shoot fire Brenda, lets get closer. Which we did. Brenda shot next and Ol Pet flinched a little but kept on peacefully chewing that cud. Brenda moved on up right in front of Pet and let one fly, I grabbed the BB gun outta' her hand just as Pet was gettin' up and boy was she bellerin'. Brenda it was my turn durn you. I started to put my last BB in the gun just as Ol Pet tore out right tward' the dad blamed gate. At the same time Auntie was comin' to see what Pet was bellerin' about and there I stood with the evidence. Foot, durn, heck fire. (that was the worse thing I could think to say). Brenda grabbed me by the arm with that vice grip of hers and drug me outta' the way of Ol' pet who was movin' on. ( now when did she start takin' care of me?) Don't know but I spect' we were both protective of the other at some time in our lives.
What in the world are you doin' Clydene. Brenda done it too Auntie. Of course she did, I'm not stupid, and I know what you did too. (Well why the heck did she ask if she already knew?) We didn't think it would hurt her, we were just foolin' round. But Pet was headed down the road bellerin and she stopped and lay back down. See She is Ok. No she is not Ok Auntie said. You girls made her lose her cud and she could die. Now this was gettin' serious and we were gettin' scared even though we had no Idea what it meant to lose her cud. I wont explain that either for fear of turning someones stomach. But if a cow loses her cud she is in danger of dying. We both got our butts busted and Auntie took care of Ol' Pet and she didn't die but we were sooo sorry. And isn't that what learnin' the hard way is all about? Sure nuff' it is. We were so Blessed to have the kind of Parents who allowed us to learn our lessons but to always be there to pick us up and dust us off once we learned. And of course Brenda and I were lucky that we had each other during this time. We fought like cats sometimes but our love for one another never allowed anyone else to hurt us. NOPE. Later on Our Brothers were in on our capers and helped us out of scrapes just as we did them. Don't mess with our gang. We stood togrther. Still do.
By the way I will explain about the cud and what Auntie had to do to help Pet to anyone who wants to know. Let me know OK?
I was sitting in the dining room this morning looking out at the pasture. Cows were lying down chewing their cud. I will not explain that it would take too long but probably some of you understand what I am talking about. Anyway my mind was transported back to a time when I was young and innocent. (WELL I WAS!!) Brendas Daddy had an old Jersey milk cow that we called PET. She was the most cantankerous thing I have ever seen. Like an old balking mule with a bur in its backside. There was a gate about middle way in the lane between our houses. That ol' battleax would stand there and take the chain loose and walk right out. She got in our gardens and just messed up things. Since it was usually Brenda and I who went after her we were wishing that one day she would just take on off never to be seen again. Now we weren't thinking about the butter and milk she supplied all of us. Heck no. Fartherest thing from our minds.
Well gettin' to the cud story. Pet was laying out in the pasture one day busy chewin' her cud and looking too comfortable for us. Ol' bag didn't deserve to rest now did she? Hateful ol' thing anyhow. Brendas brother Paul had gotten a Daisy BB gun that year for Christmas but it was taken away from him because he killed one of Auntie's chickens. Yep, lucky shot. We were happy about that too because he wasn't careful where he shot and my ankle was stung once by it.
Brenda Where did Auntie put Pauls BB gun? It is in Mama's closet. Why? I was thinkin' we could shoot a few BBs at ol' Pet and make her get up. Maybe she'll go on down in the pasture and we won't have to worry bout' her gettin' out. I dont know Clydene, what if we hurt her? Brenda didn't you hear Daddy and Uncle Frank talkin' about leather was made from cow hide? Yep I did Clydene but whats that got to do with it? Brenda didn't you see Paul shootin' at that ol piece of boot? That was leather and it never even made a scratch on it. Then why shoot at Pet. It wont bother her. Well shoot fire Brenda we can try! HUH OH! Wrong decision again!
Brenda went afrer the Bb gun while I asked Auntie for a drink of water. Oh we were sneaky all right. Yep!! We had about 4 bb's and we were gonna' shoot two each. Brenda lets get over there so when she gets up she wont go toward the gate. OK.
Oh My! Were we ever headed for trouble. DOUBLE TROUBLE to be exact.
I shot first and Ol Pet didn't even flinch. Well Shoot fire Brenda, lets get closer. Which we did. Brenda shot next and Ol Pet flinched a little but kept on peacefully chewing that cud. Brenda moved on up right in front of Pet and let one fly, I grabbed the BB gun outta' her hand just as Pet was gettin' up and boy was she bellerin'. Brenda it was my turn durn you. I started to put my last BB in the gun just as Ol Pet tore out right tward' the dad blamed gate. At the same time Auntie was comin' to see what Pet was bellerin' about and there I stood with the evidence. Foot, durn, heck fire. (that was the worse thing I could think to say). Brenda grabbed me by the arm with that vice grip of hers and drug me outta' the way of Ol' pet who was movin' on. ( now when did she start takin' care of me?) Don't know but I spect' we were both protective of the other at some time in our lives.
What in the world are you doin' Clydene. Brenda done it too Auntie. Of course she did, I'm not stupid, and I know what you did too. (Well why the heck did she ask if she already knew?) We didn't think it would hurt her, we were just foolin' round. But Pet was headed down the road bellerin and she stopped and lay back down. See She is Ok. No she is not Ok Auntie said. You girls made her lose her cud and she could die. Now this was gettin' serious and we were gettin' scared even though we had no Idea what it meant to lose her cud. I wont explain that either for fear of turning someones stomach. But if a cow loses her cud she is in danger of dying. We both got our butts busted and Auntie took care of Ol' Pet and she didn't die but we were sooo sorry. And isn't that what learnin' the hard way is all about? Sure nuff' it is. We were so Blessed to have the kind of Parents who allowed us to learn our lessons but to always be there to pick us up and dust us off once we learned. And of course Brenda and I were lucky that we had each other during this time. We fought like cats sometimes but our love for one another never allowed anyone else to hurt us. NOPE. Later on Our Brothers were in on our capers and helped us out of scrapes just as we did them. Don't mess with our gang. We stood togrther. Still do.
By the way I will explain about the cud and what Auntie had to do to help Pet to anyone who wants to know. Let me know OK?
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
DON'T CALL ME ELDERLY PLEASE
11-11-08...DON'T CALL ME ELDERLY PLEASE
How come I didn't realize I was gettin' old? Heck I don't rightly know.
How come someone had to be a smart elec and tell me? Heck, I sure don't know the answer to that. All I know is that some little skinny girl made sure I took the fact to heart right well. Here I've been toodlin' through life as happy as a lark. Most times feelin' just like I always did, cept' for a few more aches and pains.
I went to my Dentists office a couple of months ago to get my teeth cleaned. Now my Mama taught me to take care of my teeth well. Brush twice daily, (more if I ate candy) watch sugars, (heck we didn't have much sugary things then anyway) don't bite on ice or hard candy, just let it melt in your mouth so's as not to break your teeth. Well, You get the picture, I took care of my teeth. My problem was the discoloration that I just could not get rid of. So I had asked that little skinny whippersnapper of a girl if there was anything I could use on my teeth to whiten them. The dentist had already nixed the idea of all the whiteners that are on the market now. Well the little smart elec promptly put her little cleaner thingie in my mouth and started scraping between my teeth. She had my mouth stretched to my eyeballs and she very sweetly said::: No honey I don't know of a thing. I can see that you take good care of your teeth. The dis-coloration down around your gums is just typical in the elderly. ELDERLY! ELDERLY? What did she say. Did she call me elderly? Why I'll--- Heck I couldn't even say a word cause her blamed fist was in my mouth. Well let me tell you, I was steamin' outta the ears. Comin' undone and my head was a'gonna blow if I couldn't make my thoughts known. Couldn't she see my eyes rollin' and feel the steam comin' outta' my ears? Seems she couldn't because she went on with her little tooth lesson she was'a tryin to teach me. As you age the ensamel in your----- Ok that was it I wasn't'a listenin' now. My foot come up and connected with her shin and at the same time my teeth connected with her little skinny hand. I don't think I really meant to kick and bite, but it was a reflex action don't ya know? On the last word out of her mouth came "OWH! And a couple of words I wont repeat. Hateful little thing anyway. She jumped back and dropped her little tool bent down to rub her shin and rubbed blood from her bitten hand all over her sparklin' white pants. She was screamin' at me (not very professional) I was screamin' at her, two more people burst in the room just as that little goofy thing started to slap me. But this elderly ol' woman was faster and wiser that she was. And my temper had let off all its steam too. I wrapped my arms around her and said HONEY I'm Sorry, but you need to learn some manners. Don't ever call a 63 yr. old lady Elderly. I am aged and completely ripe. Maybe even old and matured, Just don't call me elderly. I've been here long enough to be better. I've endured, and gracefully aged and I have more sense in this little finger than you have even learned yet. You hurt my feelings because I never knew I was elderly till' you decided to tell me. Honey I believe that you are smarter than that, and should have known better so I forgive you. I don't think you will do it again. On that note I pushed past the gawkers and walked out to the reception desk to pay my bill. The Dentist came running up and said no charge, which I accepted cause' she really hadn't cleaned my teeth. He gushed and said he was soooo sorry and it wouldn't happen again. I said, Sir, I know it wont cause' I wont be back. I was still a little mad. He told me that the girl would be diciplined. I said, No Sir don't do that, I think she learned a lesson. I left. I don't know what they did but I found another Dentist. Too Harsh? Too sensitive? Maybe. Just don't call me elderly. OK? I'd hate to kick or bite you. HE HE YEP!!!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
MY BABY BROTHER
11-05-08...MY BABY BROTHER
Today is my little Brothers birthday. He is 60 today but he is still my baby brother. I called him this morning as I always do and again told him all about the day he was born. I dug up a picture of him as a baby with big sister standing over him.(See below) I was happy in the picture but I sure as shootin' wasn't happy the day he was born. Nope!! Not happy at all. Daddy took Mama off to the hospital that morning and for the first time I could remember, I didn't get to go. I was madder'n'a'hornet and then some. How dare they go off without me like that. Oh I loved being at Brenda's house but not unless my Mama and Daddy were right next door. Nope, Didn't like this at all.
Daddy came home that night which gave me more cause to be difficult because Mama was not with him. Now what in the world is going on I thought. I asked Daddy where Mama was and he said, "Honey Mama is over at the hospital gettin' you a new little Brother. I'll take you to see Norman tomorrow" Well who the heck Is Norman? I dont wanna see no Norman, I wanna see my Mama. Now I can't remember just how long but I know it was several days before Mama came home. They kept a new Mother a lot longer then, and I was not allowed to go see her.
Next morning Daddy took me to the Hospital and we walked up stairs to an area where there were some windows. Daddy lifted me up and said, "There is your baby brother Norman" . "Well shoot fire Daddy I don't want no brother, lets get Mama and go home" "Baby, your Mama will come home soon and we will bring Norman with us". Well I sure wanted my Mama home but I don't want that thing there in that room. Nosireee! I'll just have to figure out a way to get rid of that thing.
The day Norman was brought home one of my Uncles took us over. Daddy disappeared inside some double doors and came out later. A nurse was pushing my Mama in a wheel chair. I ran to her and slobbered all over her. Tried to get in her lap but everyone said no, that I would hurt her. Daddy said "Look here baby, Here's your new brother". He held the thing in his arms down so I could peek under the blue blanket. "DADDY, Thats the ugliest thing I ever saw in my life, and I dont want it. Take it back in there and lets go". I was almost screaming by now. Norman didn't have a speck of hair. Besides that there were little blue dots all over his nose. (Hey, Thats what I remember! OK?) My Mama (bless her heart) said, "Come here Clydene, You can ride in this chair with me, and sit with me in the car going home. I dont remember how we got out, I do know there was no elevator and we were on the second floor, but we got out with me and my Mama in the wheel chair.
That night at home I was sitting in my little rocking chair with my doll in my lap. I was feeling so sorry for myself. There were lots of people in the room and they were all gathered around that dad-burned baby, even Brenda, the little traitor,. Mama had fed Norman in her bed and she was resting. Thats another thing that was different back then. A new Mother had to stay in bed for 5 days. I think it was 5, not sure about that. Anyway I heard my Auntie say, Oh Norman you look just like your Daddy. Hey now, wait just a minute here, Who is Normans Daddy, maybe he will come and take him home. GOOD!! "Well you've got you a boy Clyde", someone said and thats when I come unhinged. Yep completely un glued. If My daddy was Normans Daddy, just where the heck did that leave me. I mean I just started bellerin' then. I screamed out, "Now Who am I Gonna call Daddy". "You are My daddy, Not his". Mama woke up and got up and came to me, at the same time Daddy came to me. They gathered me in their arms and loved and kissed on me. Everyone in the room had a few tears in their eyes, especially my Mama and Daddy and Me. My wonderful loving Parents held me and talked to me for a long time and I never felt such a warm fuzzy safe feeling in my life. I remember that feeling till this day. I dont remember a word they said, just that feeling of great love. My Brother was brought over and Mama and Daddy helped me hold him, and that warm feeling never went away. Norman was my Pride and joy from then on. I fought his battles, still do if need be. He is different from me. I am firey and fisty. Norman is quiet, gentle, and laid back. Even when he towered over me and was strong and a man, he was still my baby Brother. Still is!! I emailed him this picture this morning, all decorated with my own sentiments. My little Brother is 60 today and I love him much. YEP
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
LOCKED IN THE TOILET!!
11-3-08...LOCKED IN THE TOILET!!
Dont know about Y'all but I'm sure enough ready for winter. It is my very favorite time of year. We dont get much snow here some winters so when we do It is a treat.
I was remembering one very cold winter when I was about eight yrs old. It was a very wintry like winter but still not much snow. If there was no snow we didn't get out of going to school. The school wasn't very warm then so we had to wrap up good and keep our coats and scarves on in the classroom. We didn't have water or bathrooms in the school either. We had to carry these foldup cups in our book satchels and get a drink from a big water tank at the high school gym. Well I guess you know we loved that. Getting out of the classroom and going for a drink whether we were thirsty or not. Teachers took us and we lined up for a drink then we went way down below the grade school and lined up at the outside toilet. A one seater so we wouldn't be in there visitin' and dwadlin'. At recess we were free to go to the bathroom as long as the teacher knew where we were. And thats why Brenda and I were in that old toilet when It started to snow.
We were still not supposed to be in there together, but we were. It was cold outside and at recess we wanted outside so we ran to the toilet, locked the door, and sat down on the floor. We were cross legged playing jacks. We must have used up the 15 min. recess but when someone pulled on the door I , thinking it was just someone with the need to go, said , JUST A MINUTE PLEASE. Now wasn't that polite? Well now that might have worked on one of the girls( but then probably wouldn't have) but it didn't work on Miss Hogan. Nope, sure didn't work!
Clydene you come out of there, and you too Brenda. Well how the heck did she know we were in there anyway? Who told? Just wait till I find out, just wait!!
We jumped up and started gathering up our jacks (which were mine by the way) A new set with a multicolored ball with sparkly thingies in it. Brenda bumped me and i dropped my pretty ball. It bounced a couple of times and landed right smack dab in the one hole in the room, (the toilet) Making a sickenin' sploshin' sound. BRRREEENNNDDDAAA! look what you done now! I didn't do nuthin'. Yes you did. GIRLS, Come out of there this minute, it is snowing hard and the buses are loading. Now come on right this minute!!! Whooppee, Brenda wer'a'goin' home, lets go. Unlock the door Clydene. OK. Which I proceeded to do. BUT, I couldn't get the thing to unlock! It was one of those slide locks and no one ever really locked it , they just had a friend to watch the door. The reason being that the dad burned thing was so hard to undo. Yep! Brenda help me, we will both pull on it. Pull on what? Durn it Brenda, help me pull this thing'ma'jigger' over. We tried and tried but it wouldn't budge. Miss Hogan we yelled together, we can't open it. Oh My goodness girls, what have you two done now? When this is over you are both going to get a paddling. (Miss Hogan talked real proper like don't ya know). I'll have to go get the janitor girls, I'll be right back. Let me tell you right here and now , We were panicked big time. Clydene the bus is going to leave without us, Brenda blubbered. Oh My Brenda, Miss Hogan will forget us. Oh no!! We peeked through the cracks and snow was falling fast and pilin' up on the ground. We were gettin' sooo! cold.
We sat back down on the floor and huddled close and got real morbid like. Clydene 'sniff slobber' I'm sorry I lost your ball. Oh Brenda thats ok 'sniffle' I don't need it now. Wer'a'gonna freeze to death, I love you Brenda. 'snot' sniffle' blubber'. I love you too Clydene. 'snot blubber' wipe tears. Bye Brenda! Bye Clydene. Now we were bellerin' wailin' and 'brayin' like two wounded donkeys.
Listen Brenda, is that the bus leavin'? We peeped through the cracks again and there it went. They left us!!! They really left us!!
Now we really come un-hinged. We were screamin' so loud that we didn't hear someone at the door, or hear the boards splittin' in to. or know the door flung open. Someone took us by our shoulders and gave us the biggest hug we had ever felt in our lives. We were pulled up to a warm body and let me tell you we thought we were in heaven.
We looked up in to the face of the most beautiful sight we had even seen in our lives. IT WAS MY DADDY, and he never had been so beautiful to me before. Never!!! I didn't know how my Daddy had shown up but he had and he looked like an Angel to me. I can still feel that wonderful warm fuzzy feeling right now. My Daddy, my Angel, My hero!!!
Daddy took us to the car and we were off toward home. We found out that when it started snowing Daddy had headed out to the school. He didn't trust that bus with us. Nosiree. Not my Daddy. He had pulled into the road in front of the school just as Miss Hogan started up to the High School to get the janitor. Miss Hogan told the bus driver to go on. Daddy pried the door loose with a crow bar and rescued us. When we got home we were wrapped and coddled and warmed up. Boy did that feel good.
Oh yes, we got our paddlins' at school and at home but it didn't really hurt. I suspect it wasn't supposed to hurt. Could be wrong but I dont think I am. NOPE!! Best parents that ever walked the earth. YEP! Sure nuff' were. YEP!!!
Dont know about Y'all but I'm sure enough ready for winter. It is my very favorite time of year. We dont get much snow here some winters so when we do It is a treat.
I was remembering one very cold winter when I was about eight yrs old. It was a very wintry like winter but still not much snow. If there was no snow we didn't get out of going to school. The school wasn't very warm then so we had to wrap up good and keep our coats and scarves on in the classroom. We didn't have water or bathrooms in the school either. We had to carry these foldup cups in our book satchels and get a drink from a big water tank at the high school gym. Well I guess you know we loved that. Getting out of the classroom and going for a drink whether we were thirsty or not. Teachers took us and we lined up for a drink then we went way down below the grade school and lined up at the outside toilet. A one seater so we wouldn't be in there visitin' and dwadlin'. At recess we were free to go to the bathroom as long as the teacher knew where we were. And thats why Brenda and I were in that old toilet when It started to snow.
We were still not supposed to be in there together, but we were. It was cold outside and at recess we wanted outside so we ran to the toilet, locked the door, and sat down on the floor. We were cross legged playing jacks. We must have used up the 15 min. recess but when someone pulled on the door I , thinking it was just someone with the need to go, said , JUST A MINUTE PLEASE. Now wasn't that polite? Well now that might have worked on one of the girls( but then probably wouldn't have) but it didn't work on Miss Hogan. Nope, sure didn't work!
Clydene you come out of there, and you too Brenda. Well how the heck did she know we were in there anyway? Who told? Just wait till I find out, just wait!!
We jumped up and started gathering up our jacks (which were mine by the way) A new set with a multicolored ball with sparkly thingies in it. Brenda bumped me and i dropped my pretty ball. It bounced a couple of times and landed right smack dab in the one hole in the room, (the toilet) Making a sickenin' sploshin' sound. BRRREEENNNDDDAAA! look what you done now! I didn't do nuthin'. Yes you did. GIRLS, Come out of there this minute, it is snowing hard and the buses are loading. Now come on right this minute!!! Whooppee, Brenda wer'a'goin' home, lets go. Unlock the door Clydene. OK. Which I proceeded to do. BUT, I couldn't get the thing to unlock! It was one of those slide locks and no one ever really locked it , they just had a friend to watch the door. The reason being that the dad burned thing was so hard to undo. Yep! Brenda help me, we will both pull on it. Pull on what? Durn it Brenda, help me pull this thing'ma'jigger' over. We tried and tried but it wouldn't budge. Miss Hogan we yelled together, we can't open it. Oh My goodness girls, what have you two done now? When this is over you are both going to get a paddling. (Miss Hogan talked real proper like don't ya know). I'll have to go get the janitor girls, I'll be right back. Let me tell you right here and now , We were panicked big time. Clydene the bus is going to leave without us, Brenda blubbered. Oh My Brenda, Miss Hogan will forget us. Oh no!! We peeked through the cracks and snow was falling fast and pilin' up on the ground. We were gettin' sooo! cold.
We sat back down on the floor and huddled close and got real morbid like. Clydene 'sniff slobber' I'm sorry I lost your ball. Oh Brenda thats ok 'sniffle' I don't need it now. Wer'a'gonna freeze to death, I love you Brenda. 'snot' sniffle' blubber'. I love you too Clydene. 'snot blubber' wipe tears. Bye Brenda! Bye Clydene. Now we were bellerin' wailin' and 'brayin' like two wounded donkeys.
Listen Brenda, is that the bus leavin'? We peeped through the cracks again and there it went. They left us!!! They really left us!!
Now we really come un-hinged. We were screamin' so loud that we didn't hear someone at the door, or hear the boards splittin' in to. or know the door flung open. Someone took us by our shoulders and gave us the biggest hug we had ever felt in our lives. We were pulled up to a warm body and let me tell you we thought we were in heaven.
We looked up in to the face of the most beautiful sight we had even seen in our lives. IT WAS MY DADDY, and he never had been so beautiful to me before. Never!!! I didn't know how my Daddy had shown up but he had and he looked like an Angel to me. I can still feel that wonderful warm fuzzy feeling right now. My Daddy, my Angel, My hero!!!
Daddy took us to the car and we were off toward home. We found out that when it started snowing Daddy had headed out to the school. He didn't trust that bus with us. Nosiree. Not my Daddy. He had pulled into the road in front of the school just as Miss Hogan started up to the High School to get the janitor. Miss Hogan told the bus driver to go on. Daddy pried the door loose with a crow bar and rescued us. When we got home we were wrapped and coddled and warmed up. Boy did that feel good.
Oh yes, we got our paddlins' at school and at home but it didn't really hurt. I suspect it wasn't supposed to hurt. Could be wrong but I dont think I am. NOPE!! Best parents that ever walked the earth. YEP! Sure nuff' were. YEP!!!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
PILLOW FIGHT
10-25-08...PILLOW FIGHT
We sure didn't have a lot when I was growing up but I guess we just never knew that. I thought I was rich, and I was rich just not in monatary ways. My home was old and let in the cold air. But we had a warmth in love that kept that cold at bay. We had feather beds that my Granny made with her own two hands. We saved the feathers from all the chickens we plucked and cleaned for frying. Boy was it ever great to sink down in that bed and cover up with lots of the quilts that my Grandma made. She also made feather pillows. I still have two of those pillows all sealed up in plastic to keep them safe. I can't help but wonder what will happen to them when I am gone, but that doesn't really matter. Young people in my Family just don't have an appreciation for these things the way I do. What a shame, what happened?
Now getting to these two pillows. They had to be re ticked when I was about 12 yrs. old due to a pillow fight. And of course Brenda and I had the fight. Not a fun pillow fight, but a knock down drag out fight. I mean we were rip-roarin' mad!!
Brenda and I didn't have very many clothes. We had to take care of them because there was no money for more. We knew and accepted that. We often wore each others clothes when we were still the same size. I had a beautiful beaded belt that my Daddy got for me. I was so prowd of that belt. And That belt I would not share. No siree. That was my gift from my Daddy and it was mine. Mama shamed me for it but I wouldn't give an inch. Our parents had taught us to share with each other. They shared, and we were supposed to share. But My Daddy got me that belt and it was special. NOPE, Brenda wasn't a'gonna get my belt. What if she lost it, broke it, lost a bead. NOPE NOPE NOPE! It's mine!!
One day Brenda came running in and said "Clydene I want to wear your belt tomorrow." Smart elec. She knew what the answer to that would be. Well your Mama said I could wear it and I'm gonna'. We were in my room and I figuered she was lying like a dog. Mama didn't say that Brenda, and you know she didn't. Yes she did, go ask her if you don't believe me. No I aint'a'gonna ask her nothin' cause she never said that and even if she did, you still ainta' gettin' it Brenda, Now get out of here.
Brenda just walked on over to where the belt was hanging and reached for it. Well now let me tell you fire jumped outta' my eyes' and ears. I pounced on her back like a cat, got her around the neck and was a'gonna choke the ever lovin' stuffins' outta' her. We both went down to the floor, I got up first and the only thing I could see to use was Grandma's feather pillow. Brenda still had my belt in her hand and she warped me across the arm with it. Well I really came un-glued then and started warping her with the pillow as hard as I could. I snached the belt outta' her hands and slung it over my head. She wadna' gonna' get my belt. Nope! It would be over my dead body. Brenda got the other pillow and we were a' warping like crazy when feathers started flyin'. I mean looked like snow a comin' down. Mama was at the door soon as she heard the comotion and got hold of us both at the same time. Now I wuuldna' known that my Mama was that strong but she lifted us both and slammed us down on the feather bed where we sunk in, face to face, nose to nose, forehead to forehead, spittin' and sputterin' feathers. Let me tell you we got our hides busted red with my belt right then and there while we were a' still sputterin in the feather bed. Mamma hauled us back up outta the bed and her face was redder'n' our butts were. She was steamin' mad. Of course with GOOD reason, don't ya know?!
My Gosh, that was the worst mess we ever had to clean up. There hadn't better be one little pin feather in this room. I want them all picked up and put in a sack, and you two are gonna' put them in new ticks before the sun sets tonight. WOOOO, Mama was mad. It wasn't easy but we fixed those pillows and Mama couldn't find nary' a feather left over. Believe me she tried.
Now, Mama said she didn't tell Brenda she could use my belt, but I already knew that. Still I looked at Brenda's neck where you could see my claw marks and she was looking at the welp on my arm from her warping me with my belt, and we both started cryin' and huggin' and sayin I'm sorry. I guess you're'a thinkin' I let her wear my belt aint ya'. Well I sure nuff didn't right then and there but the next time she asked real polite like I let the little nut wear it. And guess what, She never asked to wear it again. HMMMMM! Now whata you make of that. Don't know but I got my suspisions. Yep!!
We sure didn't have a lot when I was growing up but I guess we just never knew that. I thought I was rich, and I was rich just not in monatary ways. My home was old and let in the cold air. But we had a warmth in love that kept that cold at bay. We had feather beds that my Granny made with her own two hands. We saved the feathers from all the chickens we plucked and cleaned for frying. Boy was it ever great to sink down in that bed and cover up with lots of the quilts that my Grandma made. She also made feather pillows. I still have two of those pillows all sealed up in plastic to keep them safe. I can't help but wonder what will happen to them when I am gone, but that doesn't really matter. Young people in my Family just don't have an appreciation for these things the way I do. What a shame, what happened?
Now getting to these two pillows. They had to be re ticked when I was about 12 yrs. old due to a pillow fight. And of course Brenda and I had the fight. Not a fun pillow fight, but a knock down drag out fight. I mean we were rip-roarin' mad!!
Brenda and I didn't have very many clothes. We had to take care of them because there was no money for more. We knew and accepted that. We often wore each others clothes when we were still the same size. I had a beautiful beaded belt that my Daddy got for me. I was so prowd of that belt. And That belt I would not share. No siree. That was my gift from my Daddy and it was mine. Mama shamed me for it but I wouldn't give an inch. Our parents had taught us to share with each other. They shared, and we were supposed to share. But My Daddy got me that belt and it was special. NOPE, Brenda wasn't a'gonna get my belt. What if she lost it, broke it, lost a bead. NOPE NOPE NOPE! It's mine!!
One day Brenda came running in and said "Clydene I want to wear your belt tomorrow." Smart elec. She knew what the answer to that would be. Well your Mama said I could wear it and I'm gonna'. We were in my room and I figuered she was lying like a dog. Mama didn't say that Brenda, and you know she didn't. Yes she did, go ask her if you don't believe me. No I aint'a'gonna ask her nothin' cause she never said that and even if she did, you still ainta' gettin' it Brenda, Now get out of here.
Brenda just walked on over to where the belt was hanging and reached for it. Well now let me tell you fire jumped outta' my eyes' and ears. I pounced on her back like a cat, got her around the neck and was a'gonna choke the ever lovin' stuffins' outta' her. We both went down to the floor, I got up first and the only thing I could see to use was Grandma's feather pillow. Brenda still had my belt in her hand and she warped me across the arm with it. Well I really came un-glued then and started warping her with the pillow as hard as I could. I snached the belt outta' her hands and slung it over my head. She wadna' gonna' get my belt. Nope! It would be over my dead body. Brenda got the other pillow and we were a' warping like crazy when feathers started flyin'. I mean looked like snow a comin' down. Mama was at the door soon as she heard the comotion and got hold of us both at the same time. Now I wuuldna' known that my Mama was that strong but she lifted us both and slammed us down on the feather bed where we sunk in, face to face, nose to nose, forehead to forehead, spittin' and sputterin' feathers. Let me tell you we got our hides busted red with my belt right then and there while we were a' still sputterin in the feather bed. Mamma hauled us back up outta the bed and her face was redder'n' our butts were. She was steamin' mad. Of course with GOOD reason, don't ya know?!
My Gosh, that was the worst mess we ever had to clean up. There hadn't better be one little pin feather in this room. I want them all picked up and put in a sack, and you two are gonna' put them in new ticks before the sun sets tonight. WOOOO, Mama was mad. It wasn't easy but we fixed those pillows and Mama couldn't find nary' a feather left over. Believe me she tried.
Now, Mama said she didn't tell Brenda she could use my belt, but I already knew that. Still I looked at Brenda's neck where you could see my claw marks and she was looking at the welp on my arm from her warping me with my belt, and we both started cryin' and huggin' and sayin I'm sorry. I guess you're'a thinkin' I let her wear my belt aint ya'. Well I sure nuff didn't right then and there but the next time she asked real polite like I let the little nut wear it. And guess what, She never asked to wear it again. HMMMMM! Now whata you make of that. Don't know but I got my suspisions. Yep!!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
OH MY GOSH NO!!!
10-21-08...OH MY GOSH NO!!!
We had basketball in our school. No football or anything else. We had activities at gym period when basketball was out of season but we mostly practiced basketball year around. When we had games away from home we went on the school bus. In juinor high (in the same building as Senior high) we had white suits with red letters. They were old and many others had used them over the years. I loved my uniform. Button up long tailed top, bloomer like bottoms. The shoes were like tennis shoes but had high tops and we bought them ourselves. Anyway I took my suit home after a game and Mama washed and ironed it up real nice for me. She also kept it mended when needed. Brenda and I would walk up to the bus stop just like we did when we were going to school and wait on the bus. Then we walked back down the lane home when we got back.
One evening we were getting things ready to go on a ball trip. Mama had not felt well so I had ironed my suit and hung it up on a hanger. I noticed that both buttons were loose and in need of fixing but I just ignored it. I could only find one safety pen so I told Brenda to bring one for me. OK she said I'll See you later. Some of the players had overnight bags to carry their socks and stuff in but we didn't have one so we used paper sacks.
I got all my things ready, hung my uniform over my back and hollered at Brenda to come on. Always had to do that. I don't remember where we went that night but it was way up yonder in the mountain. The school used a pot bellied stove and heated with coal. This was their fist time lighting it for the season.
When we got there and went to our dressing room I said, Brenda where is my safety pin. What safety pin? She answered. Now Brenda you know durn well what safety pin. You said you would bring me one. Well I sure don't remember that Clydene. We argued a bit more and asked but no one else had a safety pin either so I decided that one would hold my britches on for tonight.
We were in the middle of the first quarter and we were ahead which was an uncommon thing for us. Most of the other teams around were big ol' girls. (Daddy called em' corn fed) We were a'struttin' around there real prowd of ourselves. Now if you don't know already I'm here to tell you, those pot bellied coal stoves get red hot. I mean that literally, they turn red hot. It was heatin up in there real fast and we were all startin' to complain, even the home team girls. Their coach got up and was walking toward the stove I guess to shut the damper down when we saw what we thought was smoke comin' out toward the top of the stove pipes. Shoot I had the ball and I was about to pass it on to another girl so I wasn't paying much attention. Heck I'd seen stoves smoke before.
Brenda was a forward and I was a guard so we played on opposite ends of the court. Girls didn't play the whole court then. I heard her hollering at me, Clydddeeennneee, watch out. Well now what in the world is wrong with that girl. She knows we aint supposed to talk across court. Shut up Brenda!!! I raised the ball up to pass it to a girl and she wasn't there anymore. Well Good Grief. What tha' heck? When I had my arms in the air to pass the ball I felt the second button come loose. The other side that was pinned sure wasn't'a holdin' my britches up. Nope! They were down to my knees and still goin'. Yep I dropped my drawers right there. They were around my ankles and I bent over to pull em' up when I felt that dad blamed pin sticking me on the backside. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE PIN!!! But it sure nuff' wasn't a safety pin, Nosireee. It was a hornet!!!! Seemed like someone forgot to clean out the stove pipes before the stove was fired up for the first time. A hornet had built a nest in the pipe I guess and when it heated up they came out. Oh my Gosh, Oh my goodness. Come on Clydene lets go. She grabbed me and I started to run but my drawers were down there around my feet and of course I went down draggin' Brenda with me. Clydene get up and come on. Well durn it Brenda wait a minute, I can't go outside with my britches down. Brenda, Bless her heart, drug me across the floor to the dressing room and we got in there. Brenda, this is your fault. No it aint Clydene. Yes it sure is you didn't bring me a pin for my pants. We argued back and forth for a while about who's fault it was but now both pins were gone and we looked around and found out we were in the wrong dressing room. Brenda go get my clothes. I aint goin' out there Clydene and get stung, we'll just havta' wait. It seemed like hours later when we heard someone out in the gym hollerin' our names. Everyone seemed to have come back in and our coach and team mates were lookin' for us. Brenda opened the door a smidgen and peeped out. I had to use both hands to hold my britches up.
I was soooo! embaraced! Brenda finally went and got my clothes and I got dressed and went to the bus. Of course the games were over for that night. Seems no one really got stung very much. Guess those bees were a'tryin' to get out of there too. There were a lot of dead ones on the floor.
Now I guess you know I had figuered out by then that my pants falling down was my fault, not Brenda's. And the hornets weren't either of our faults. YEP. I told Brenda I was sorry and thanked her for helping me get away. YEP! I sure did, about a month or so later cause my Mama made me. HE HE!!!
We had basketball in our school. No football or anything else. We had activities at gym period when basketball was out of season but we mostly practiced basketball year around. When we had games away from home we went on the school bus. In juinor high (in the same building as Senior high) we had white suits with red letters. They were old and many others had used them over the years. I loved my uniform. Button up long tailed top, bloomer like bottoms. The shoes were like tennis shoes but had high tops and we bought them ourselves. Anyway I took my suit home after a game and Mama washed and ironed it up real nice for me. She also kept it mended when needed. Brenda and I would walk up to the bus stop just like we did when we were going to school and wait on the bus. Then we walked back down the lane home when we got back.
One evening we were getting things ready to go on a ball trip. Mama had not felt well so I had ironed my suit and hung it up on a hanger. I noticed that both buttons were loose and in need of fixing but I just ignored it. I could only find one safety pen so I told Brenda to bring one for me. OK she said I'll See you later. Some of the players had overnight bags to carry their socks and stuff in but we didn't have one so we used paper sacks.
I got all my things ready, hung my uniform over my back and hollered at Brenda to come on. Always had to do that. I don't remember where we went that night but it was way up yonder in the mountain. The school used a pot bellied stove and heated with coal. This was their fist time lighting it for the season.
When we got there and went to our dressing room I said, Brenda where is my safety pin. What safety pin? She answered. Now Brenda you know durn well what safety pin. You said you would bring me one. Well I sure don't remember that Clydene. We argued a bit more and asked but no one else had a safety pin either so I decided that one would hold my britches on for tonight.
We were in the middle of the first quarter and we were ahead which was an uncommon thing for us. Most of the other teams around were big ol' girls. (Daddy called em' corn fed) We were a'struttin' around there real prowd of ourselves. Now if you don't know already I'm here to tell you, those pot bellied coal stoves get red hot. I mean that literally, they turn red hot. It was heatin up in there real fast and we were all startin' to complain, even the home team girls. Their coach got up and was walking toward the stove I guess to shut the damper down when we saw what we thought was smoke comin' out toward the top of the stove pipes. Shoot I had the ball and I was about to pass it on to another girl so I wasn't paying much attention. Heck I'd seen stoves smoke before.
Brenda was a forward and I was a guard so we played on opposite ends of the court. Girls didn't play the whole court then. I heard her hollering at me, Clydddeeennneee, watch out. Well now what in the world is wrong with that girl. She knows we aint supposed to talk across court. Shut up Brenda!!! I raised the ball up to pass it to a girl and she wasn't there anymore. Well Good Grief. What tha' heck? When I had my arms in the air to pass the ball I felt the second button come loose. The other side that was pinned sure wasn't'a holdin' my britches up. Nope! They were down to my knees and still goin'. Yep I dropped my drawers right there. They were around my ankles and I bent over to pull em' up when I felt that dad blamed pin sticking me on the backside. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE PIN!!! But it sure nuff' wasn't a safety pin, Nosireee. It was a hornet!!!! Seemed like someone forgot to clean out the stove pipes before the stove was fired up for the first time. A hornet had built a nest in the pipe I guess and when it heated up they came out. Oh my Gosh, Oh my goodness. Come on Clydene lets go. She grabbed me and I started to run but my drawers were down there around my feet and of course I went down draggin' Brenda with me. Clydene get up and come on. Well durn it Brenda wait a minute, I can't go outside with my britches down. Brenda, Bless her heart, drug me across the floor to the dressing room and we got in there. Brenda, this is your fault. No it aint Clydene. Yes it sure is you didn't bring me a pin for my pants. We argued back and forth for a while about who's fault it was but now both pins were gone and we looked around and found out we were in the wrong dressing room. Brenda go get my clothes. I aint goin' out there Clydene and get stung, we'll just havta' wait. It seemed like hours later when we heard someone out in the gym hollerin' our names. Everyone seemed to have come back in and our coach and team mates were lookin' for us. Brenda opened the door a smidgen and peeped out. I had to use both hands to hold my britches up.
I was soooo! embaraced! Brenda finally went and got my clothes and I got dressed and went to the bus. Of course the games were over for that night. Seems no one really got stung very much. Guess those bees were a'tryin' to get out of there too. There were a lot of dead ones on the floor.
Now I guess you know I had figuered out by then that my pants falling down was my fault, not Brenda's. And the hornets weren't either of our faults. YEP. I told Brenda I was sorry and thanked her for helping me get away. YEP! I sure did, about a month or so later cause my Mama made me. HE HE!!!
Friday, October 17, 2008
CANT BELIEVE WE WENT THERE
10-17-08...CANT BELIEVE WE WENT THERE
When Brenda's older Sister started driving she sometimes would take us places that we could not go by ourselves. That is when we started seeing how other people did things that we were never allowed to do and indeed did not even understand. She knew better than to do anything wrong because she knew that we both had motor mouthes and the first thing we would do was spill the beans. She didn't want us with her anyway but my Auntie would say, Either you take them or you don't go. And of course she was threatened to within an inch of her life if she didn't watch us. She had a boyfriend and wanted to see him but my Auntie didn't like him and said no. She took us to the Little Big town of Altus one night with the intention of dumping us at "Teen Town" and going off with her boy friend. Well we were good babysitters for her and watched her close but she was there one minute and gone the next.Clydene we better go find her or we will all get in trouble. We are supposed to stay close to her. Brenda she probably got in (i'll call him Terry) Terries car but I know what it looks like, Lets go outside and look.We walked up and down the street which was only about one block with stores on only one side of the road. We didn't see the car or her so we walked across the road to the Park where some couples were sitting on the picnic tables smooching. "OMG" Did you see what they were doing. My sister sure better not be doing that. Well they were not in the park but I saw the car, I thought. It was parked on over across the highway in front of a place called (I'll call it BUBBA JOHNS). Brenda look where they are. Well I'll tell you right now, she is gonna' get in trouble. Just wait till we tell. Yep, just you wait till we tell.Boy we went prancing across the park to the Highway, crossed the highway,( which we were not supposed to do) and went right on up to the door. Clydene it sure is loud in there, I don't wanna' go in there. Brenda we gotta get her out of there or we are'a'gonna be late gettin' home and we will all be in trouble.Now it's not that we didn't kinda know what we might see in there, that was just it, we kinda' knew. We opened the door and peeked in. The building was a long one. As I remember the bar was right across from the door. People were sitting there on stools. Then there were booth's all along the walls, red I think' and the wooden floor looked slick. Smoke and other smells blasted us in the face, and loud talkin' and laughin' like you never heard. It just scared the ever lovin' tar out of us. Of course Brenda was behind me and I turned around to run and we hit head on smack dab, forehead, nose, chin, smack! I saw stars and she said so did she. Clydene, I see her, there she is, go get her. Heck no I aint'a gonna go get her, she's your sister, you go. OK, but you gotta come with me. Well go on then and I foller' ya'. No, Clydene you stay right beside me. She grabbed hold of my arm with her vice grip that she always used on me and off we went. Well we were about half way there when the one we thought was Brenda's sister looked around at us. OH MY GOSH, that was the ugliest woman I had ever seen, and it sure nuff wasn't who we thought it was. HECK FIRE NO. That woman woulda' scared the britches off a witch. PSEW I mean ugly. I turned round and dug out on that dad-blamed slick floor with Brenda draggin along behind me stuck to my arm as usual. We both hit the floor with Brenda on top of me still holdin' on to my arm. She was'a holdin' on so tight my arm was goin' to sleep. That girl had a grip I tell ya'. Brenda get off of me and turn me loose, durn you anyway. I'd a been out side by now if it hadn'ta been for you! As I lay there squashed on the floor under Brenda, I saw a big ol' pair of boots a'comin' towards us. I mean to tell you now I was gonna' move and Brenda better not be there when I did, cause she would'nt see anything but my dust as I left. Yessiree! I was'a leavin'. I come up and dumpped Brenda off my back but that little nut still had my arm. Heck I couldn't feel the durn thing by now, and I don't think she coulda' turned loose if shed'a wanted to cause her fingers were already sunk to the bone in my flesh. I mean we were growed' together, smack-dab growed' together. Now Brenda was under me. Two big ol' hands reached down and picked us up and pulled us toward a big ol body. Couldn't see the face, didn't wanna' see the face. I started kickin the shins and stompin on them' ol' big boots, heck I even bit that big meaty arm. Hey Clydene, calm down now and quit bitin' me. What in the world are you two girls a'doin' in here anyhow? Now I thought I knew that voice but I wasn'ta staying round' to be sure so I kept up my attack. We were 13 I think and with us growed together the way we were it was not easy for him but he picked me up with Brenda danglin' on and looked me right in the face and said STOP IT AND STOP IT RIGHT NOW!!! Well heck fire Brenda it is (i'll call him Jack), It's our Aunts husband. He was the Deputy in Altus at the time. Brenda's sister had gone back in the Teen Town and we were gone so she'd sent Jack to find us. He was frantic, big sister was frantic, and we were just relieved that some big monster didn't have us in his grip. Jack took us outta there fast as he could. He put us in his car and drove us across the highway, marched in there and got big sister by the arm and brought her out. Now you girls have got some big explaining to do. You two stay in my car and You big sister get in that car and I'm'a gonna' follow you home and we are gonna' talk to your Mamas and Daddys. Which he did, and we did, and big sister did. Seems she had been in the shadows smooching her boyfriend when we went a lookun' for her. We all three got in a big heap of trouble but big sister got the most trouble over it cause me'n' Brenda told the whole dang story to our Parents. Yep told ever last detail and enjoyed the tellin of it. YEP!!! I never was in that place any more, NO WAY NO HOW! NOPE NEVER!!!
When Brenda's older Sister started driving she sometimes would take us places that we could not go by ourselves. That is when we started seeing how other people did things that we were never allowed to do and indeed did not even understand. She knew better than to do anything wrong because she knew that we both had motor mouthes and the first thing we would do was spill the beans. She didn't want us with her anyway but my Auntie would say, Either you take them or you don't go. And of course she was threatened to within an inch of her life if she didn't watch us. She had a boyfriend and wanted to see him but my Auntie didn't like him and said no. She took us to the Little Big town of Altus one night with the intention of dumping us at "Teen Town" and going off with her boy friend. Well we were good babysitters for her and watched her close but she was there one minute and gone the next.Clydene we better go find her or we will all get in trouble. We are supposed to stay close to her. Brenda she probably got in (i'll call him Terry) Terries car but I know what it looks like, Lets go outside and look.We walked up and down the street which was only about one block with stores on only one side of the road. We didn't see the car or her so we walked across the road to the Park where some couples were sitting on the picnic tables smooching. "OMG" Did you see what they were doing. My sister sure better not be doing that. Well they were not in the park but I saw the car, I thought. It was parked on over across the highway in front of a place called (I'll call it BUBBA JOHNS). Brenda look where they are. Well I'll tell you right now, she is gonna' get in trouble. Just wait till we tell. Yep, just you wait till we tell.Boy we went prancing across the park to the Highway, crossed the highway,( which we were not supposed to do) and went right on up to the door. Clydene it sure is loud in there, I don't wanna' go in there. Brenda we gotta get her out of there or we are'a'gonna be late gettin' home and we will all be in trouble.Now it's not that we didn't kinda know what we might see in there, that was just it, we kinda' knew. We opened the door and peeked in. The building was a long one. As I remember the bar was right across from the door. People were sitting there on stools. Then there were booth's all along the walls, red I think' and the wooden floor looked slick. Smoke and other smells blasted us in the face, and loud talkin' and laughin' like you never heard. It just scared the ever lovin' tar out of us. Of course Brenda was behind me and I turned around to run and we hit head on smack dab, forehead, nose, chin, smack! I saw stars and she said so did she. Clydene, I see her, there she is, go get her. Heck no I aint'a gonna go get her, she's your sister, you go. OK, but you gotta come with me. Well go on then and I foller' ya'. No, Clydene you stay right beside me. She grabbed hold of my arm with her vice grip that she always used on me and off we went. Well we were about half way there when the one we thought was Brenda's sister looked around at us. OH MY GOSH, that was the ugliest woman I had ever seen, and it sure nuff wasn't who we thought it was. HECK FIRE NO. That woman woulda' scared the britches off a witch. PSEW I mean ugly. I turned round and dug out on that dad-blamed slick floor with Brenda draggin along behind me stuck to my arm as usual. We both hit the floor with Brenda on top of me still holdin' on to my arm. She was'a holdin' on so tight my arm was goin' to sleep. That girl had a grip I tell ya'. Brenda get off of me and turn me loose, durn you anyway. I'd a been out side by now if it hadn'ta been for you! As I lay there squashed on the floor under Brenda, I saw a big ol' pair of boots a'comin' towards us. I mean to tell you now I was gonna' move and Brenda better not be there when I did, cause she would'nt see anything but my dust as I left. Yessiree! I was'a leavin'. I come up and dumpped Brenda off my back but that little nut still had my arm. Heck I couldn't feel the durn thing by now, and I don't think she coulda' turned loose if shed'a wanted to cause her fingers were already sunk to the bone in my flesh. I mean we were growed' together, smack-dab growed' together. Now Brenda was under me. Two big ol' hands reached down and picked us up and pulled us toward a big ol body. Couldn't see the face, didn't wanna' see the face. I started kickin the shins and stompin on them' ol' big boots, heck I even bit that big meaty arm. Hey Clydene, calm down now and quit bitin' me. What in the world are you two girls a'doin' in here anyhow? Now I thought I knew that voice but I wasn'ta staying round' to be sure so I kept up my attack. We were 13 I think and with us growed together the way we were it was not easy for him but he picked me up with Brenda danglin' on and looked me right in the face and said STOP IT AND STOP IT RIGHT NOW!!! Well heck fire Brenda it is (i'll call him Jack), It's our Aunts husband. He was the Deputy in Altus at the time. Brenda's sister had gone back in the Teen Town and we were gone so she'd sent Jack to find us. He was frantic, big sister was frantic, and we were just relieved that some big monster didn't have us in his grip. Jack took us outta there fast as he could. He put us in his car and drove us across the highway, marched in there and got big sister by the arm and brought her out. Now you girls have got some big explaining to do. You two stay in my car and You big sister get in that car and I'm'a gonna' follow you home and we are gonna' talk to your Mamas and Daddys. Which he did, and we did, and big sister did. Seems she had been in the shadows smooching her boyfriend when we went a lookun' for her. We all three got in a big heap of trouble but big sister got the most trouble over it cause me'n' Brenda told the whole dang story to our Parents. Yep told ever last detail and enjoyed the tellin of it. YEP!!! I never was in that place any more, NO WAY NO HOW! NOPE NEVER!!!
Monday, October 13, 2008
HEY YOU ARE NOT WELCOME
10-13-08...HEY YOU ARE NOT WELCOME
Now I am from the South and we fellers down here are full of Charm and Hospitality. We welcome people in with a smile and a friendly howdy, com'on in sugah'. Well now it takes a lot for me to go back on my rasin' but a lady came to my door this past week that just wouldn't let me be charming or gracious.
She drove right on up to my door in a big white van. Moses didn't like her right away and started showin' his teeth and growlin' real low like. She came up to the door with a big false smile pasted on her face. I know about fake smiles cause I've seen a few. A fake smile just don't make it all the way up to the eyes. The lips are puckered out and the teeth are'a'showin' but look in the eyes. A real smile lights up the eyes and this lady was fakin' it big time. I was taught to always say Please and Thank you mam or sir but no thanks, and to say it sweet like. She had a big ol' book of some kind and I knew right away she was gonna' try to sell me somethin'.
She walked on up to the door with that fake smile on her face. I opened just the storm door a smidgen and stuck my head around the door with the sweetest smile on my face I could muster. Yep" A fake smile! YEP! What's good for the goose. Right? She said "Good afternoon Mam. Could I talk to you for just a minute or two"? Yep I said. And you never heard such a speel in your life as that ol' heiffer' started puttin' out. Oh My what a beautiful dog you've got there. She reached toward him and he snapped at her so I had to pick him up to keep him from wiping that fake smile off her face. Mine was gone a'ready. She didn't miss a beat. "Oh You have such a beautiful entryway. Can I come in and take a better look?" "Well I don't think that's" I started to say necessary but by then she had her foot on the floor just inside the door. She just walked right on in gushin' the whole time. "Oh your walls are so pretty! Is that cedar"? Well any fool outta' know cedar when they see it. Wouldn't you think? YEP! Moses was growlin' and snappin' and I was hanging on tight but he wanted a piece of her arm so bad it was gettin' harder." Oh she said "Could you do my eyelashes like yours"? Now come on, my southern charm was'a'goin' north fast. In fact it was almost to the north pole by now. "I have a chance to take all my family on a free trip to Las Vegas if I win this" (now by now I was not even listenin' to her prattle' and I wanted her gone.) I said "Honey I don't even know what you want with me. Could you please just tell me why you came to my door"? You notice I didn't say "And force your way into my house with no invitation"? Nope My charm was still working even if it was gettin' thin. "I'll go get the boy who came with me and have him bring the cleaners in"she said.
"HEY WHAT IN THE STUFFINS ARE YOU'A TALKIN' ABOUT LADY"? Now I was gettin steamed and my hackles were up worse that Moses's was. " I'm going to clean this floor for you" She said as she started out the door. Well I was gettin' a big mad on now and my southern charm was replaced with some good red faced, madder'n a hornet. down home fightin' mad. "NO I DON'T THINK SO THANK YOU ANYWAY". "Oh it will just take a few minutes with our new" ( don't know what she called it cause even my ears were poppin' by now) "No, Lady, I don't want you to clean my floors" "OK"? Moses was gettin' really mad now and when he gets too upset he has seizures "Lady if you start up some kind of machine in here Moses is going to bite you". Heck fire he has had all his shots so maybe her sour blood wouldn't kill him. I was about ready to tell him to bite the heck outta' her. "Well can't you put him in another room until we are done"? Well that done' it up good. Sorry Daddy but this time I think you would approve> "Now listen to me you hussy. You forced your way in to my house with your big motor mouth and fake smile, Started lying like a mangy dog with all that sweet talk, and now you tell me to lock my dog up so you can do what I done told you I don't want you to do! This is my house, this is Moses' home and my floors are already clean, my entryway aint nothin special, just the room where I hang my plants, and I don't want to buy your fancy machine, I just want you out of my house. RIGHT NOW! "Oh wont you just let me do the carpet in your entryway? You could put your dog in another room couldn't you"? " Now lady I'm about to unleash my dog on you. You dont have much sense do you? You don't even know the meaning of NO!!!" I started toward her .(now Daddy you know I wouldn't hit her, Don't You?)
"You are without a doubt the most stupid woman I have ever met. Now if you are not out of my house in 2seconds flat I will put you out and my dog will bite your butt as you go" "GOT IT"? She opened her mouth like she was gonna' argue with me but she was backing toward the door and all she did was splutter a tad bit.
I don't like to get mad and lose my manners with anyone but that ol' hag was just all I could handle. YEP! Funny thing is My floor really did need cleanin' but I'll do my own cleanin' THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Now I am from the South and we fellers down here are full of Charm and Hospitality. We welcome people in with a smile and a friendly howdy, com'on in sugah'. Well now it takes a lot for me to go back on my rasin' but a lady came to my door this past week that just wouldn't let me be charming or gracious.
She drove right on up to my door in a big white van. Moses didn't like her right away and started showin' his teeth and growlin' real low like. She came up to the door with a big false smile pasted on her face. I know about fake smiles cause I've seen a few. A fake smile just don't make it all the way up to the eyes. The lips are puckered out and the teeth are'a'showin' but look in the eyes. A real smile lights up the eyes and this lady was fakin' it big time. I was taught to always say Please and Thank you mam or sir but no thanks, and to say it sweet like. She had a big ol' book of some kind and I knew right away she was gonna' try to sell me somethin'.
She walked on up to the door with that fake smile on her face. I opened just the storm door a smidgen and stuck my head around the door with the sweetest smile on my face I could muster. Yep" A fake smile! YEP! What's good for the goose. Right? She said "Good afternoon Mam. Could I talk to you for just a minute or two"? Yep I said. And you never heard such a speel in your life as that ol' heiffer' started puttin' out. Oh My what a beautiful dog you've got there. She reached toward him and he snapped at her so I had to pick him up to keep him from wiping that fake smile off her face. Mine was gone a'ready. She didn't miss a beat. "Oh You have such a beautiful entryway. Can I come in and take a better look?" "Well I don't think that's" I started to say necessary but by then she had her foot on the floor just inside the door. She just walked right on in gushin' the whole time. "Oh your walls are so pretty! Is that cedar"? Well any fool outta' know cedar when they see it. Wouldn't you think? YEP! Moses was growlin' and snappin' and I was hanging on tight but he wanted a piece of her arm so bad it was gettin' harder." Oh she said "Could you do my eyelashes like yours"? Now come on, my southern charm was'a'goin' north fast. In fact it was almost to the north pole by now. "I have a chance to take all my family on a free trip to Las Vegas if I win this" (now by now I was not even listenin' to her prattle' and I wanted her gone.) I said "Honey I don't even know what you want with me. Could you please just tell me why you came to my door"? You notice I didn't say "And force your way into my house with no invitation"? Nope My charm was still working even if it was gettin' thin. "I'll go get the boy who came with me and have him bring the cleaners in"she said.
"HEY WHAT IN THE STUFFINS ARE YOU'A TALKIN' ABOUT LADY"? Now I was gettin steamed and my hackles were up worse that Moses's was. " I'm going to clean this floor for you" She said as she started out the door. Well I was gettin' a big mad on now and my southern charm was replaced with some good red faced, madder'n a hornet. down home fightin' mad. "NO I DON'T THINK SO THANK YOU ANYWAY". "Oh it will just take a few minutes with our new" ( don't know what she called it cause even my ears were poppin' by now) "No, Lady, I don't want you to clean my floors" "OK"? Moses was gettin' really mad now and when he gets too upset he has seizures "Lady if you start up some kind of machine in here Moses is going to bite you". Heck fire he has had all his shots so maybe her sour blood wouldn't kill him. I was about ready to tell him to bite the heck outta' her. "Well can't you put him in another room until we are done"? Well that done' it up good. Sorry Daddy but this time I think you would approve> "Now listen to me you hussy. You forced your way in to my house with your big motor mouth and fake smile, Started lying like a mangy dog with all that sweet talk, and now you tell me to lock my dog up so you can do what I done told you I don't want you to do! This is my house, this is Moses' home and my floors are already clean, my entryway aint nothin special, just the room where I hang my plants, and I don't want to buy your fancy machine, I just want you out of my house. RIGHT NOW! "Oh wont you just let me do the carpet in your entryway? You could put your dog in another room couldn't you"? " Now lady I'm about to unleash my dog on you. You dont have much sense do you? You don't even know the meaning of NO!!!" I started toward her .(now Daddy you know I wouldn't hit her, Don't You?)
"You are without a doubt the most stupid woman I have ever met. Now if you are not out of my house in 2seconds flat I will put you out and my dog will bite your butt as you go" "GOT IT"? She opened her mouth like she was gonna' argue with me but she was backing toward the door and all she did was splutter a tad bit.
I don't like to get mad and lose my manners with anyone but that ol' hag was just all I could handle. YEP! Funny thing is My floor really did need cleanin' but I'll do my own cleanin' THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
GET OUTTA MY TERRITORY
10-6-08...GET OUTTA MY TERRITORY
My growing up years were happy. I did not know what I would have to face when I was out from under my Parents protection. I skipped down dirt roads, got dirty, got honery, got in to trouble often, got out often, but my deeds were all really harmless. I just lived in a fairy tale world with no cares,or worries of any kind. Kids today just have too much to get them in trouble that is not so easy to put behind them. What a shame. I get so homesick sometimes for those good old days of my childhood. Reliving the memories makes me happy. I can put everyday problems aside for a spell and just enjoy. So today as I am feeling low and fighting a heartache that I can do nothing about I can go back in time and stay for a spell. We were always so excited when the March of Dimes came to our school. They gave out cards that held ten dimes. We were to go through our neighborhoods and collect dimes for the cure of polio. Brenda and I knew where to go and we always got our cards full for which we got a prize when we took them back to school the next day. I can't remember what the prize was but it was a good'n we thought.One day we messed around too long and as we started up the road we saw Travis going to our houses! How dare he to invade our territory! That smart elec had already sold all his garden seeds in the spring and beat us out on that. Well! This just wadn't a'gonna work, No sireee. Nope, not this time.It was cold that day but we had our mufflers on to keep our hands warm. Well we wer'a gonna need our hands so the mufflers were left by the road hangin' on a tree and we tore out. By then we had learned how to protect what was ours and that house was ours and he wadn'a'gonna get it this time.Heck fire no!! Durn him anyhow. Brenda, I've just plain had it with him aint you? Yep sure nuff have Lets get em'! Like I said, we knew what to do and we knew how to do it fast. We also knew that we really shouldn't do it. Yep. But we done it anyhow. We went charging up the road intending to hit him in the back and knock him down, then we were'a'gonna run up to the house and beat him to the draw. Well just as we got there Travis heard us coming and turned around and run toward us. Well durn him anyway, he wasn't supposed to do that. He knew bettern' to try to out do us now didn't he. Yep! Nope! Guess he didn't. We had to do some fast thinkin' there, and we didn't have no time to talk it over. We were gonna' sidestep him and go on up the road while that rat went on the other way. Good plan, but it didn't work out quiet the way it shoulda'. Brenda was too close to the ditch on her side and the goof just ran on off in there. When Travis turned round to laugh at her, I shoved him right on in there with Brenda. Come on Brenda hurry will you. I grabbed hold of her outstretched hand and tried to help her up but the dad blamed little nut caused me to fall in there with her and Travis. We were all a squabling to get out at once and just kept tumblin back down. There was no mud or water in the ditch this time so we didn't ruin nuthin' but our pride. We both pushed Travis down and slung dirt in his face and up we came. Lets go Brenda. We got'im' beat now by golly. Well we had beat Travis again but when we got to the house there were three durn kids already there and it was too late. Our neighborhood was gettin too many people movin in now. It was never the same any more. Our territory wasn't just ours anymore. We no longer got to roam all over and not be bothered with outsiders. We thought every nook and cranny around there was ours exclusively. Was for a few years but no more. Nope! we had to learn the world didn't spin around us. We had to learn to share and have lots of other friends. Wasn't easy and didn't come fast. We didn't give up easily. Still had to defend our territory from time to time. Yep. Got lots more tannins' with peach tree switches. We were just plain hard headed. At least that was what my Daddy said. To which Mama replied, Well she learned from the master hard head now didn't she Clyde? HE HE HE
My growing up years were happy. I did not know what I would have to face when I was out from under my Parents protection. I skipped down dirt roads, got dirty, got honery, got in to trouble often, got out often, but my deeds were all really harmless. I just lived in a fairy tale world with no cares,or worries of any kind. Kids today just have too much to get them in trouble that is not so easy to put behind them. What a shame. I get so homesick sometimes for those good old days of my childhood. Reliving the memories makes me happy. I can put everyday problems aside for a spell and just enjoy. So today as I am feeling low and fighting a heartache that I can do nothing about I can go back in time and stay for a spell. We were always so excited when the March of Dimes came to our school. They gave out cards that held ten dimes. We were to go through our neighborhoods and collect dimes for the cure of polio. Brenda and I knew where to go and we always got our cards full for which we got a prize when we took them back to school the next day. I can't remember what the prize was but it was a good'n we thought.One day we messed around too long and as we started up the road we saw Travis going to our houses! How dare he to invade our territory! That smart elec had already sold all his garden seeds in the spring and beat us out on that. Well! This just wadn't a'gonna work, No sireee. Nope, not this time.It was cold that day but we had our mufflers on to keep our hands warm. Well we wer'a gonna need our hands so the mufflers were left by the road hangin' on a tree and we tore out. By then we had learned how to protect what was ours and that house was ours and he wadn'a'gonna get it this time.Heck fire no!! Durn him anyhow. Brenda, I've just plain had it with him aint you? Yep sure nuff have Lets get em'! Like I said, we knew what to do and we knew how to do it fast. We also knew that we really shouldn't do it. Yep. But we done it anyhow. We went charging up the road intending to hit him in the back and knock him down, then we were'a'gonna run up to the house and beat him to the draw. Well just as we got there Travis heard us coming and turned around and run toward us. Well durn him anyway, he wasn't supposed to do that. He knew bettern' to try to out do us now didn't he. Yep! Nope! Guess he didn't. We had to do some fast thinkin' there, and we didn't have no time to talk it over. We were gonna' sidestep him and go on up the road while that rat went on the other way. Good plan, but it didn't work out quiet the way it shoulda'. Brenda was too close to the ditch on her side and the goof just ran on off in there. When Travis turned round to laugh at her, I shoved him right on in there with Brenda. Come on Brenda hurry will you. I grabbed hold of her outstretched hand and tried to help her up but the dad blamed little nut caused me to fall in there with her and Travis. We were all a squabling to get out at once and just kept tumblin back down. There was no mud or water in the ditch this time so we didn't ruin nuthin' but our pride. We both pushed Travis down and slung dirt in his face and up we came. Lets go Brenda. We got'im' beat now by golly. Well we had beat Travis again but when we got to the house there were three durn kids already there and it was too late. Our neighborhood was gettin too many people movin in now. It was never the same any more. Our territory wasn't just ours anymore. We no longer got to roam all over and not be bothered with outsiders. We thought every nook and cranny around there was ours exclusively. Was for a few years but no more. Nope! we had to learn the world didn't spin around us. We had to learn to share and have lots of other friends. Wasn't easy and didn't come fast. We didn't give up easily. Still had to defend our territory from time to time. Yep. Got lots more tannins' with peach tree switches. We were just plain hard headed. At least that was what my Daddy said. To which Mama replied, Well she learned from the master hard head now didn't she Clyde? HE HE HE
Friday, October 3, 2008
OUR WORM FARM
10-3-08...Our Worm Farm
We never had any spending money and never really expected any. No one else had any either. At least not anyone we knew or was friends with. A friend of ours told us that the big red worms we often found to fish with could be raised and people from the cities would buy them. He said we had to get something big and fill it with dirt from the creek. We got an old iron kettle that Mama had discarded cause it had a crack in it. We filled it with some slimy slippery dirt and we were all set. Travis said if you break the worms in two pieces then two worms would grow ,and to keep it watered. He also said that we could get hair from a horses tail and put it in water and it would become a worm. He told us we could sell city folk a worm for one cent. Well Heck fire we were a'gonna get rich by golly. Yep Rich! We dug a bunch of worms and put em' in the big potfull of dirt. Now we counted them every day and seemed like they were not making more. Heck fire there were less one day. Well Shoot fire Brenda, that ainta'gonna work. Durn that Travis anyway. Next day in school we cornered Travis and called him the worst thing we could think of. You liver lillied liar Travis. He asked us a few questions and said, You goofy girls, I told you to break em in two. When we got home from school we run down in the pasture and was a'gonna break them things in two but we didn't have a dab blamed worm to break. We checked our bucket of horse tail hairs and no worms there either. Well we just proceeded to dig us more worms and break em in two. Well I guess you know that those dead worms didn't get away like the live ones had. Nope they just sat there in that slimy dirt that was green and stinky by now. Several days later in school we spotted Travis talking to some other boys on the playgroung. Come on Brenda were'a'gonna beat the daylights outta him. We started over there and heard what he was saying so we just stood there and listened. That dad blamed lilly-livered skunk was a'makin fun of us. Boy I got them ol' girls good. Them boys was'a'laughin' their goozles off. Lets get em' Brenda said. Oh no Brenda, wer'a'gonna get him all right. We're gonna get him good. But not here cause we'll get in trouble. We'll do it at home. We had to wait several days but we knew Travis would come riding down on his bicycle one day, and he did. He was a skinny ol' thing and we knew we could over power him. Heck I coulda' done that by myself. Heck yeaw. He started tellin' our Brothers what he had done and how he had fooled them stupid girls and they were all'a laughin'. We just waited till he got through with his tale and we put our plan in to fast action. We had that pot of slimy, stinky, green by now and slightly stagnated with a film on top. Kinda thick and easy to manage. Throw him down Brenda and hold on. (Brenda was bigger than me then and a lot heavier) She ran and pounced on his back and knocked him to the ground. We both sat on him and rubbed rotten worm smush all over him, heck we even put a few hands full in his mouth. Now you smart elec swamp rat that'll teach you to laugh at us now wont it? Huh? Wont it. We were 10 and Travis was 8, all old enough to know better but boy was that sweet revenge. Boy howdy was it fun. Travis shoulda known Brenda and I didn't get mad, We Got Even. Our Brothers laughed, and the kids in school all laughed the next day when we told em'. Our Mamas didn't really see much humor in it but our Daddies sure did. Heck our Daddies laughed harder than the kids did. So did Travis's Daddy. Now his Mama was a different story. I recon she carried a grudge against us for many years. I worked with her when I was 18 yrs old. I helped her cook in a Nursing Home. She threw a big spoon of hot mashed potatoes on me one day and claimed she didn't mean to do it. Well I just smiled and said Oh I know you didn't. Oh but she wasn't foolin' me, that ol' bag did it on purpose. I got her back but good a few months later. But that's another story for another day. Yep Dont mess with me'n'Brenda. NOPE! You could really raise worms that way but not broke in two and it had to be a lot bigger container than we had. Travis's Dad was doing that but we didn't know the details at the time. I really dont know if Travis even knew how but I suspect he did cause he thought it was so funny. Well you smart elec, We got the last laugh. YEP!
We never had any spending money and never really expected any. No one else had any either. At least not anyone we knew or was friends with. A friend of ours told us that the big red worms we often found to fish with could be raised and people from the cities would buy them. He said we had to get something big and fill it with dirt from the creek. We got an old iron kettle that Mama had discarded cause it had a crack in it. We filled it with some slimy slippery dirt and we were all set. Travis said if you break the worms in two pieces then two worms would grow ,and to keep it watered. He also said that we could get hair from a horses tail and put it in water and it would become a worm. He told us we could sell city folk a worm for one cent. Well Heck fire we were a'gonna get rich by golly. Yep Rich! We dug a bunch of worms and put em' in the big potfull of dirt. Now we counted them every day and seemed like they were not making more. Heck fire there were less one day. Well Shoot fire Brenda, that ainta'gonna work. Durn that Travis anyway. Next day in school we cornered Travis and called him the worst thing we could think of. You liver lillied liar Travis. He asked us a few questions and said, You goofy girls, I told you to break em in two. When we got home from school we run down in the pasture and was a'gonna break them things in two but we didn't have a dab blamed worm to break. We checked our bucket of horse tail hairs and no worms there either. Well we just proceeded to dig us more worms and break em in two. Well I guess you know that those dead worms didn't get away like the live ones had. Nope they just sat there in that slimy dirt that was green and stinky by now. Several days later in school we spotted Travis talking to some other boys on the playgroung. Come on Brenda were'a'gonna beat the daylights outta him. We started over there and heard what he was saying so we just stood there and listened. That dad blamed lilly-livered skunk was a'makin fun of us. Boy I got them ol' girls good. Them boys was'a'laughin' their goozles off. Lets get em' Brenda said. Oh no Brenda, wer'a'gonna get him all right. We're gonna get him good. But not here cause we'll get in trouble. We'll do it at home. We had to wait several days but we knew Travis would come riding down on his bicycle one day, and he did. He was a skinny ol' thing and we knew we could over power him. Heck I coulda' done that by myself. Heck yeaw. He started tellin' our Brothers what he had done and how he had fooled them stupid girls and they were all'a laughin'. We just waited till he got through with his tale and we put our plan in to fast action. We had that pot of slimy, stinky, green by now and slightly stagnated with a film on top. Kinda thick and easy to manage. Throw him down Brenda and hold on. (Brenda was bigger than me then and a lot heavier) She ran and pounced on his back and knocked him to the ground. We both sat on him and rubbed rotten worm smush all over him, heck we even put a few hands full in his mouth. Now you smart elec swamp rat that'll teach you to laugh at us now wont it? Huh? Wont it. We were 10 and Travis was 8, all old enough to know better but boy was that sweet revenge. Boy howdy was it fun. Travis shoulda known Brenda and I didn't get mad, We Got Even. Our Brothers laughed, and the kids in school all laughed the next day when we told em'. Our Mamas didn't really see much humor in it but our Daddies sure did. Heck our Daddies laughed harder than the kids did. So did Travis's Daddy. Now his Mama was a different story. I recon she carried a grudge against us for many years. I worked with her when I was 18 yrs old. I helped her cook in a Nursing Home. She threw a big spoon of hot mashed potatoes on me one day and claimed she didn't mean to do it. Well I just smiled and said Oh I know you didn't. Oh but she wasn't foolin' me, that ol' bag did it on purpose. I got her back but good a few months later. But that's another story for another day. Yep Dont mess with me'n'Brenda. NOPE! You could really raise worms that way but not broke in two and it had to be a lot bigger container than we had. Travis's Dad was doing that but we didn't know the details at the time. I really dont know if Travis even knew how but I suspect he did cause he thought it was so funny. Well you smart elec, We got the last laugh. YEP!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
MISS DODD
9-29-08...MISS DODD
Miss Dodd was a small woman, all crippled up so she walked like a spider. She had a walking stick that she would sometimes swing around like she was going to hit someone. She had a big smile always on her face with snuff stains on her chin, down each cheek, and all over her dress. Miss Dodd couldn't talk plain and her voice was gravelly. We were scared spitless of her. When we would go with our parents to Keys store(the only one close enough to walk to) sometimes she would come down the road talking to herself. I tell you now my bones would shake and my chin would quiver. Our parents tried to tell us she was a gentle soul and wouldn't hurt a fly but we were not having any of that business. Nosireee, We were just flat out scared. No two ways about that. Nope. As we got a little older we were allowed to walk up to the store by ourselves but if we saw Miss Dodd coming down the road we just very politely turned around and went right on back the way we came, faster than we came. The four of us were in the store one day and Miss Dodd just rumbled in the door singing. Now at the time we thought she was screechin' at us. She swung her stick in the air like we had seen her do before. Still dont know what that was all about, dont guess anybody did. She was just accepted the way she was. Well by most people she was but when it came to Brenda and I, now that was a different story! Yep. Clydene lets run! Brenda grabbed her brother and went draggin' him and I did the same with my brother. The boys were protesting big time. They were planning on a strawberry drink and just wasn't scared of that lady. Goofy things anyway, didn't they know she would probably boil and eat them. Lela Key knew we were scared of Miss Dodd so she tried to stop us, but heck fire we were gettin' outta there. Only problem Miss Dodd had stopped right inside the store and there was no other way out. Lela was talking but Miss Dodd couldn't hear good and we weren't listinin', we were planin' our great escape. Mama had told me that Miss Dodd was confused but she was a sweet lady. Shoot! Did she think I believed that? Heck no i never believed that and neither did Brenda. The boys were too goofy to know any better. They'd believe anything long as they got that strawberry drink. We ground to a halt about halfway to the door where Miss Dodd was standing and just stood there not knowing what the heck we were'a gonna' do. Miss Dodd looked at us and smiled that big snuffy smile and started toward us. Brenda grabbed hold of my arm and started trying to drag me back the other way, Clydennneee come on. I still had hold of my little brother but when Brenda jerked me he jerked free of me and took off to the drink machine where Brenda's brother already was. I froze, I mean slap'dab froze till my bones locked up. As Miss Dodd came forward Lela Key took hold of us and I think I must have flew in the air a foot or two, sure seemed like it. Breeennndddaaa, Her helper came I told you she had a helper, I just knew she did. Lela wrapped her big arms around us and held on tight talking in a soothing voice. She turned us around and hugged us to her ample boosm and kept talking till we calmed down. She led us over to the drink machine where our Brothers waited and got us all a strawberry drink. She took us out on the high porch where there was a bench built across the front and stayed with us till Miss Dodd got what she came after, paid Wallace Key and came out the door, smiled at us and just went on down the steps like nothin' had happened. I dont know what Lela said to us that day, think it must'v run off my brain but I do know she talked to our Mama's about it and it was several years before we got to walk to Keys Store alone again. I don't know what happened to Miss Dodd either, wish I did. We saw her several times after that but we were not quiet as scared of her again. Now I said "NOT QUIET AS SCARED" Did ya notice that. we were still scared, just not as much. I'm happy that Miss Dodd didn't really know how scared we were of her. Poor old lady. Didn't seem to have anyone to take care of her. I really dont know about that. Wish I did. Bless her heart.
Miss Dodd was a small woman, all crippled up so she walked like a spider. She had a walking stick that she would sometimes swing around like she was going to hit someone. She had a big smile always on her face with snuff stains on her chin, down each cheek, and all over her dress. Miss Dodd couldn't talk plain and her voice was gravelly. We were scared spitless of her. When we would go with our parents to Keys store(the only one close enough to walk to) sometimes she would come down the road talking to herself. I tell you now my bones would shake and my chin would quiver. Our parents tried to tell us she was a gentle soul and wouldn't hurt a fly but we were not having any of that business. Nosireee, We were just flat out scared. No two ways about that. Nope. As we got a little older we were allowed to walk up to the store by ourselves but if we saw Miss Dodd coming down the road we just very politely turned around and went right on back the way we came, faster than we came. The four of us were in the store one day and Miss Dodd just rumbled in the door singing. Now at the time we thought she was screechin' at us. She swung her stick in the air like we had seen her do before. Still dont know what that was all about, dont guess anybody did. She was just accepted the way she was. Well by most people she was but when it came to Brenda and I, now that was a different story! Yep. Clydene lets run! Brenda grabbed her brother and went draggin' him and I did the same with my brother. The boys were protesting big time. They were planning on a strawberry drink and just wasn't scared of that lady. Goofy things anyway, didn't they know she would probably boil and eat them. Lela Key knew we were scared of Miss Dodd so she tried to stop us, but heck fire we were gettin' outta there. Only problem Miss Dodd had stopped right inside the store and there was no other way out. Lela was talking but Miss Dodd couldn't hear good and we weren't listinin', we were planin' our great escape. Mama had told me that Miss Dodd was confused but she was a sweet lady. Shoot! Did she think I believed that? Heck no i never believed that and neither did Brenda. The boys were too goofy to know any better. They'd believe anything long as they got that strawberry drink. We ground to a halt about halfway to the door where Miss Dodd was standing and just stood there not knowing what the heck we were'a gonna' do. Miss Dodd looked at us and smiled that big snuffy smile and started toward us. Brenda grabbed hold of my arm and started trying to drag me back the other way, Clydennneee come on. I still had hold of my little brother but when Brenda jerked me he jerked free of me and took off to the drink machine where Brenda's brother already was. I froze, I mean slap'dab froze till my bones locked up. As Miss Dodd came forward Lela Key took hold of us and I think I must have flew in the air a foot or two, sure seemed like it. Breeennndddaaa, Her helper came I told you she had a helper, I just knew she did. Lela wrapped her big arms around us and held on tight talking in a soothing voice. She turned us around and hugged us to her ample boosm and kept talking till we calmed down. She led us over to the drink machine where our Brothers waited and got us all a strawberry drink. She took us out on the high porch where there was a bench built across the front and stayed with us till Miss Dodd got what she came after, paid Wallace Key and came out the door, smiled at us and just went on down the steps like nothin' had happened. I dont know what Lela said to us that day, think it must'v run off my brain but I do know she talked to our Mama's about it and it was several years before we got to walk to Keys Store alone again. I don't know what happened to Miss Dodd either, wish I did. We saw her several times after that but we were not quiet as scared of her again. Now I said "NOT QUIET AS SCARED" Did ya notice that. we were still scared, just not as much. I'm happy that Miss Dodd didn't really know how scared we were of her. Poor old lady. Didn't seem to have anyone to take care of her. I really dont know about that. Wish I did. Bless her heart.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
THE BULLY
9-26-08...THE BULLY
I don't know exactly when it happened but at one point Brenda decided she needed to take care of me instead of the other way around. She matured way before I did and that was probaby where she got that protective Mother instinct. We were in Jr. High and we both played on the basketball team. There was a big (and I mean big as in strong muscled up) girl on the team. she was older than us and she was a bully in capital B's. Seemed everyone was afraid of her and she knew she was the best player on the team. She pushed all us smaller girls around. We were in the gym practicing one day and she decided I wasn't doing what I should. She said, Clydene why don't you quit this team you aint no good anyhow. Well the coach usually took care of things but I was fed up to my eyeballs with her stuff. She reached to take the ball away from me and I flew at her with my spurs all out and I had daggers in my eyes I know. Now I'm here to tell ya I was fed up and I wasn't a takin' this any more. I threw the ball and hit her in the face and pounced on her like a cat. Well my head came to about her waist and my hard head hit her belly and she went WHOOSH as the air left her rotten body. I grabbed on to something and held like a vice. Now it didn't take long for her to get her wind back and she was probably gettin' ready to skin me like a cat fish. The coach was there but he was useless to my way of thinkin', little wimp was probably fraid' of her too. Anyway just as she started to pick me up and slang me to kingdom come, I heard Brenda, She's not a gonna hurt my cousin and I felt the bully grunt and come forward a tad as Brenda jumped up on her back and climbed on up a ways till she could get her around the neck and choke the stuffins out of her. Well heck fire if Brenda can climb up that mountain so can I. I wrapped my legs around and ooched' my way right on up there to her face and started workin' her over. Now she was a BIG! strong girl and she was stumblin around like a buckin' horse tryin' to slang us off. Coach was ringin' his hands and hollerin' GIRLS GIRLS Now stop this right now. Well heck fire he'd outta' stopped her before we had ta' do it now shouldnt' he. HUH? This ol' bully was mean and ugly but we little bitty things were a force to be reconed with and we were madder'n'a'ol'wet hen! Finally someone or perhaps all three of us wore out and we all fell to the floor in a heap. I heard the Coach sigh a big sigh of relief as he said You all get up right now and get to the Principal's office. Which we proceeded to do with the whole team right behind us. Seemed they all wanted to see that the Bully got what was comin' to her and tell Miss Sula Kate it was all her fault. Coach made them all sit in the study hall and took us on in. We were all kinda' nervous now. Never knew what Miss Sula Kate was gonna' do. Well we were all three lookin' at each other and we got tickled. I mean lose your breath giggles. Coach didn't think it was funny and was explaining what had happened while we three just got hysterical with the giggles. Well you'd have to know Miss Sula Kate to understand this, but she got tickled to. We each got a lick from a paddle which did hurt a little bit but heck fire didn't matter to us. I'd like to say the bully was reformed after that but NO, didn't happen. But if she even knew how to be friends with anyone (which I doubt,) she was almost friendly with us from then on. Still picked on all who would let her but not us. NOPE NOT US. We had learned a long time ago how to take care of bullies, only now Brenda didn't run off on me the way she used to. YEP We were quiet a pair. YEP SURE NUFF WERE.
I don't know exactly when it happened but at one point Brenda decided she needed to take care of me instead of the other way around. She matured way before I did and that was probaby where she got that protective Mother instinct. We were in Jr. High and we both played on the basketball team. There was a big (and I mean big as in strong muscled up) girl on the team. she was older than us and she was a bully in capital B's. Seemed everyone was afraid of her and she knew she was the best player on the team. She pushed all us smaller girls around. We were in the gym practicing one day and she decided I wasn't doing what I should. She said, Clydene why don't you quit this team you aint no good anyhow. Well the coach usually took care of things but I was fed up to my eyeballs with her stuff. She reached to take the ball away from me and I flew at her with my spurs all out and I had daggers in my eyes I know. Now I'm here to tell ya I was fed up and I wasn't a takin' this any more. I threw the ball and hit her in the face and pounced on her like a cat. Well my head came to about her waist and my hard head hit her belly and she went WHOOSH as the air left her rotten body. I grabbed on to something and held like a vice. Now it didn't take long for her to get her wind back and she was probably gettin' ready to skin me like a cat fish. The coach was there but he was useless to my way of thinkin', little wimp was probably fraid' of her too. Anyway just as she started to pick me up and slang me to kingdom come, I heard Brenda, She's not a gonna hurt my cousin and I felt the bully grunt and come forward a tad as Brenda jumped up on her back and climbed on up a ways till she could get her around the neck and choke the stuffins out of her. Well heck fire if Brenda can climb up that mountain so can I. I wrapped my legs around and ooched' my way right on up there to her face and started workin' her over. Now she was a BIG! strong girl and she was stumblin around like a buckin' horse tryin' to slang us off. Coach was ringin' his hands and hollerin' GIRLS GIRLS Now stop this right now. Well heck fire he'd outta' stopped her before we had ta' do it now shouldnt' he. HUH? This ol' bully was mean and ugly but we little bitty things were a force to be reconed with and we were madder'n'a'ol'wet hen! Finally someone or perhaps all three of us wore out and we all fell to the floor in a heap. I heard the Coach sigh a big sigh of relief as he said You all get up right now and get to the Principal's office. Which we proceeded to do with the whole team right behind us. Seemed they all wanted to see that the Bully got what was comin' to her and tell Miss Sula Kate it was all her fault. Coach made them all sit in the study hall and took us on in. We were all kinda' nervous now. Never knew what Miss Sula Kate was gonna' do. Well we were all three lookin' at each other and we got tickled. I mean lose your breath giggles. Coach didn't think it was funny and was explaining what had happened while we three just got hysterical with the giggles. Well you'd have to know Miss Sula Kate to understand this, but she got tickled to. We each got a lick from a paddle which did hurt a little bit but heck fire didn't matter to us. I'd like to say the bully was reformed after that but NO, didn't happen. But if she even knew how to be friends with anyone (which I doubt,) she was almost friendly with us from then on. Still picked on all who would let her but not us. NOPE NOT US. We had learned a long time ago how to take care of bullies, only now Brenda didn't run off on me the way she used to. YEP We were quiet a pair. YEP SURE NUFF WERE.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
OL' TIP
9-24-08...OL' TIP
As I look out my kitchen window across the field there are trees and a fence. There is a small outbuilding of some kind there also and it looks for all the world like the view from our back porch when i was a child. That view was the big persimmion tree where Brenda and I played, ate green persimmons, made a fort of saplins underneath it. We spent many a day in that special place where we told secrets, hid our goodies, and watched the sow have 6 little piglets one day. Facinating. A paradise all our own. The railroad track was just to the right and that was where we first met Ol Tip. Tip was a big beautiful Collie dog of unknown age. He was walking down the track. We heard a train coming and started calling the dog to come to us, which he did. Waggin' his tail and lickin' our faces. He was skinny and started drinking out of the glasses of kool-aid we had brought out with us. We poured both glasses out in an old pie pan we had been making mud pies in. He drank it all and kept licking the dirty pan. Brenda go ask Auntie for something to feed him. No she will tell us to run him off. She wont let us keep him. Then I'll go ask my Mama. Clydene how many times have I told you not to pet strange dogs. She came with me to see the dog and I guess she had in mind to run it off and save us from a mean dog. Ethel, Come down here Mama hollered. Auntie came and either cause' Tip won them over or because we begged so convincently Tip got to stay. He lived at both houses. He was at the bus stop with us every morning and there to meet us every evening. We both claimed him but I sure thought he loved me more. I did all I could to keep him at my house and Brenda did the same. Even the boys got in on this and it soon was an all out war between the clans. One day Brenda and I had a knock down drag out brawl. Scratchin' and clawin' and smakin', and even some of my famous bitin'. We were like two wild cats. Of course the boys ran and got our Mamas and the fight was over, but not for long. We would let it go for a day or two and here we would go again. Mama told me one day,"Now Clydene if this don't stop your Daddy is going to give Tip away". Oh No Mama, I love Tip and he's mine. Clydene he was a stray and Brenda loves him too. You two are going to have to share him or he can't stay. I guess auntie told Brenda the same thing cause' the fighting stopped. At least it stopped till' I heard Brenda outside one day calling Tip. "Brenda, shut up, Tip is here eating his supper. You shut up Clydene, He's my dog and you know it. Tip got started out there and I was callin' him back, Brenda was doing the same. Poor Ol' Tip got so confused, he'd start toward Brenda, I'd call him and he'd turn toward me. We just kept on till' Tip just turned and ran off the other way. Tip ran out to the Railroad track and started running up the way where we had first saw him. We both watched in horrow as a train bumped him and threw him over in the grass. He's dead we both hollered and ran toward him. We were both cryin' and slobberin' all the way. When we got there Tip was laying on his side whinning and his leg was bleedin'. We fell down on our knees there in the grass and stickers of some kind. Brenda grabbed hold of me as usual. (In crisis grab Clydene) I threw my arm around her and we cried and hugged for a long time. The boys and our Mama's came. Auntie went and got an old quilt that we had for a pallet in our fort. She rolled Tip over on the quilt and she and my Mama Carried him over to our fort which was the closest place. Tip wagged his tail and looked at us with love in his big brown eyes. Auntie got a straight board and Mama got some rags and they made a cast for Tips leg and tied it on with some elastic. Most dogs would growl or bite when they are hurt, but not Ol' Tip. Nosireee. Tip knew we all loved him and wouldn't hurt him. That night Brenda and I got to stay in the fort with Tip. The next night our Parents had a serious talk with us and we learned a hard lesson. We were so busy being jealous that we almost got Tip killed. Maybe He was running away from us and our bickering over him. We all worked at nursing Tip back to good health and he once again was our faithful companion but he walked with a limp the rest of his life. That was our reminder of how we had acted and we were sorry. We loved each other but we had our squabbles just like all kids do. Didn't matter though. I could call Brenda right now and ask for anything and she could do the same. The bond is strong in our family. Very strong! YEP!!!!
As I look out my kitchen window across the field there are trees and a fence. There is a small outbuilding of some kind there also and it looks for all the world like the view from our back porch when i was a child. That view was the big persimmion tree where Brenda and I played, ate green persimmons, made a fort of saplins underneath it. We spent many a day in that special place where we told secrets, hid our goodies, and watched the sow have 6 little piglets one day. Facinating. A paradise all our own. The railroad track was just to the right and that was where we first met Ol Tip. Tip was a big beautiful Collie dog of unknown age. He was walking down the track. We heard a train coming and started calling the dog to come to us, which he did. Waggin' his tail and lickin' our faces. He was skinny and started drinking out of the glasses of kool-aid we had brought out with us. We poured both glasses out in an old pie pan we had been making mud pies in. He drank it all and kept licking the dirty pan. Brenda go ask Auntie for something to feed him. No she will tell us to run him off. She wont let us keep him. Then I'll go ask my Mama. Clydene how many times have I told you not to pet strange dogs. She came with me to see the dog and I guess she had in mind to run it off and save us from a mean dog. Ethel, Come down here Mama hollered. Auntie came and either cause' Tip won them over or because we begged so convincently Tip got to stay. He lived at both houses. He was at the bus stop with us every morning and there to meet us every evening. We both claimed him but I sure thought he loved me more. I did all I could to keep him at my house and Brenda did the same. Even the boys got in on this and it soon was an all out war between the clans. One day Brenda and I had a knock down drag out brawl. Scratchin' and clawin' and smakin', and even some of my famous bitin'. We were like two wild cats. Of course the boys ran and got our Mamas and the fight was over, but not for long. We would let it go for a day or two and here we would go again. Mama told me one day,"Now Clydene if this don't stop your Daddy is going to give Tip away". Oh No Mama, I love Tip and he's mine. Clydene he was a stray and Brenda loves him too. You two are going to have to share him or he can't stay. I guess auntie told Brenda the same thing cause' the fighting stopped. At least it stopped till' I heard Brenda outside one day calling Tip. "Brenda, shut up, Tip is here eating his supper. You shut up Clydene, He's my dog and you know it. Tip got started out there and I was callin' him back, Brenda was doing the same. Poor Ol' Tip got so confused, he'd start toward Brenda, I'd call him and he'd turn toward me. We just kept on till' Tip just turned and ran off the other way. Tip ran out to the Railroad track and started running up the way where we had first saw him. We both watched in horrow as a train bumped him and threw him over in the grass. He's dead we both hollered and ran toward him. We were both cryin' and slobberin' all the way. When we got there Tip was laying on his side whinning and his leg was bleedin'. We fell down on our knees there in the grass and stickers of some kind. Brenda grabbed hold of me as usual. (In crisis grab Clydene) I threw my arm around her and we cried and hugged for a long time. The boys and our Mama's came. Auntie went and got an old quilt that we had for a pallet in our fort. She rolled Tip over on the quilt and she and my Mama Carried him over to our fort which was the closest place. Tip wagged his tail and looked at us with love in his big brown eyes. Auntie got a straight board and Mama got some rags and they made a cast for Tips leg and tied it on with some elastic. Most dogs would growl or bite when they are hurt, but not Ol' Tip. Nosireee. Tip knew we all loved him and wouldn't hurt him. That night Brenda and I got to stay in the fort with Tip. The next night our Parents had a serious talk with us and we learned a hard lesson. We were so busy being jealous that we almost got Tip killed. Maybe He was running away from us and our bickering over him. We all worked at nursing Tip back to good health and he once again was our faithful companion but he walked with a limp the rest of his life. That was our reminder of how we had acted and we were sorry. We loved each other but we had our squabbles just like all kids do. Didn't matter though. I could call Brenda right now and ask for anything and she could do the same. The bond is strong in our family. Very strong! YEP!!!!
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