Our school was tiny. So tiny that even with two grades sharing a room and teacher, there were still usually less than fifteen students in the two grades. The good news was, if you didn’t learn everything you should have in second grade math, you got another crack at it in third grade while the new second grade covered the same material. Though each class used different books, the lessons sounded much the same. Continue reading
writing
Her Facts Didn’t Run
Our school was tiny. So tiny that even with two grades sharing a room and teacher, there were still usually less than fifteen students in the two grades. The good news was, if you didn’t learn everything you should have in second grade math, you got another crack at it in third grade while the new second grade covered the same material. Though each class used different books, the lessons sounded much the same. Continue reading
Magic Circle
Shay woke early between Kay-Lonnie and Lena but their eyes were already open, waiting for her. They never wiggled till she woke, seeming to breathe the same air, thinking the same thoughts. Susie pulled the quilt over her curly head on the other side of the big bed, grumping about Shay’s cold feet. Shay, Kay-Lonnie and Lena padded barefoot to the kitchen, hugged Mama from behind and found their places at the table as Mama set out Shay’s Campbell Soup Kids’ mug of milk and Minnie Mouse Mug for Kay-Lonnie and Lena to share since they never drank much. After their toast and jam, Shay finished off the milk, helped them wipe their faces, push their chairs in place without screeching and carried their dishes to Mama at the sink. “You’re such a good girl. Oh, and Kay-Lonnie and Lena, too.” Mama smiled.
Racing to the barn, they got there just as Daddy finished milking Jessie. “Heh! Cookie! What got you out so early?” Continue reading
Hard Time Marrying Part 17 a
The spring rains didn’t let up for days, washing out any chance of getting to the Meadow Creek Revival. The small creek near the house swelled till there was no question of fording. Anya was devastated to know she’d be stuck a while longer, but Joe was relieved at the reprieve, having no idea how he’d manage. For the next few weeks, they settled into a routine. Joe tore a strip of the flannel and fashioned a sling so Anya could manage the baby as she worked. She her strength and hearing improved every day, and she was putting on a little weight, something she’d never done. As well as cooking and cleaning, she worked alongside Joe putting in a garden. She felt better knowing Joe and the little ones would have something to eat after she was far way. As they planted beans, squash, corn, cabbages, and spring onions, the boy tagged along, packing dirt over the seed as they planted. With the baby on her back, she had to stop and rest often, but it was pleasant, hopeful work, the type she enjoyed. She thought a few times of the fine crop they’d harvest till she remembered with a jolt, she wouldn’t be there. One day, Joe stood and watched her for a while on his way back from the barn with another load of manure, thinking she and the children on his place was the finest sight he’d ever seen. He strode back to the patch, telling her, “These young’uns has got to have a name. We cain’t just keeping callin’ em The Boy and The Baby. Even my barn cats has got a name.” Anya kept right on with her planting, not bothering to answer. “Let’s call the boy Joe and the baby, Sally.”
As she was coming back from turning the chickens out to scratch one morning, she came around the barn to find Joe in conversation with a man on a horse. She tried to duck out of sight, but the man waved and called out, “Howdy, Ma’am.”
“Anya, this is Rufus Menlo, our nearest neighbor.” Joe introduced her.
“Proud to meet you, ma’am. The preacher told me Joe done got hitched to a widow-woman, but I didn’t expect to see such a purty one. My woman is gonna be wantin’ to git over and meet you soon as she can. She ain’t had a woman to talk to in a while and now there’s one on the next section.” Anya didn’t bother to correct him. “We don’t usually git much news around here, and now there’s a marrying and a killing, all in a few days.” He continued without hesitation. “My boy Melvin was out lookin’ for strays and saw buzzards circling and come over a rise to find a sorry sight. The buzzards had already worked the man over, but Melvin could see his head bashed in. He was a peddler and somebody must’a robbed him and stole his horse. They was a woman’s things in his peddler’s cart. Melvin went for the sheriff, and he’s on the lookout for whoever might’of done ‘em in. Some drifters told the sheriff they’d seen him with a fancy woman a few days before. He’s thinking some lowlife might’of knocked that peddler in the head and took off with the woman, or else the woman did the feller in, but it don’t really seem like something a woman could do, does it? The sheriff’s on the lookout for any folk that don’t fit around here.”
At hearing his news, Anya retched and wiped her mouth on her skirt. “I’m sorry ma’am. I never thought of you being delicate. Let me git on my way. I’ll send my woman over to see you.” Rufus kneed his horse and went on his way.
“Here, sit down. Let me get you some water.” Joe steadied her to a chair at the table and poured her a glass of water. “Drink this. It ought to steady you a bit.”
Hard Time Marrying Part 17 a
The spring rains didn’t let up for days, washing out any chance of getting to the Meadow Creek Revival. The small creek near the house swelled till there was no question of fording. Anya was devastated to know she’d be stuck a while longer, but Joe was relieved at the reprieve, having no idea how he’d manage. For the next few weeks, they settled into a routine. Joe tore a strip of the flannel and fashioned a sling so Anya could manage the baby as she worked. Her strength and hearing improved every day, and she was putting on a little weight, something she’d never done. As well as cooking and cleaning, she worked alongside Joe putting in a garden. She felt better knowing Joe and the little ones would have something to eat after she was far way. As they planted beans, squash, corn, cabbages, and spring onions, the boy tagged along, packing dirt over the seed as they planted. With the baby on her back, she had to stop and rest often, but it was pleasant, hopeful work, the type she enjoyed. She thought a few times of the fine crop they’d harvest till she remembered with a jolt, she wouldn’t be there. One day, Joe stood and watched her for a while on his way back from the barn with another load of manure, thinking she and the children on his place was the finest sight he’d ever seen. He strode back to the patch, telling her, “These young’uns has got to have a name. We cain’t just keeping callin’ em The Boy and The Baby. Even my barn cats has got a name.”
Anya kept right on with her planting, not bothering to answer. “Let’s call the boy Joe and the baby, Sally.”
As she was coming back from turning the chickens out to scratch one morning, she came around the barn to find Joe in conversation with a man on a horse. She tried to duck out of sight, but the man waved and called out, “Howdy, Ma’am.”
“Anya, this is Rufus Menlo, our nearest neighbor.” Joe introduced her.
“Proud to meet you, ma’am. The preacher told me Joe done got hitched to a widow-woman, but I didn’t expect to see such a purty one. My woman is gonna be wantin’ to git over and meet you soon as she can. She ain’t had a woman to talk to in a while and now there’s one on the next section.” Anya didn’t bother to correct him. “We don’t usually git much news around here, and now there’s a marrying and a killing, all in a few days.” He continued without hesitation. “My boy Melvin was out lookin’ for strays and saw buzzards circling and come over a rise to find a sorry sight. The buzzards had already worked the man over, but Melvin could see his head bashed in. He was a peddler and somebody must’a robbed him and stole his horse. They was a woman’s things in his peddler’s cart. Melvin went for the sheriff, and he’s on the lookout for whoever might’of done ‘em in. Some drifters told the sheriff they’d seen him with a fancy woman a few days before. He’s thinking some lowlife might’of knocked that peddler in the head and took off with the woman, or else the woman did the feller in, but it don’t really seem like something a woman could do, does it? The sheriff’s on the lookout for any folk that don’t fit around here.”
At hearing his news, Anya retched and wiped her mouth on her skirt. “I’m sorry ma’am. I never thought of you being delicate. Let me git on my way. I’ll send my woman over to see you.” Rufus kneed his horse and went on his way.
“Here, sit down. Let me get you some water.” Joe steadied her to a chair at the table and poured her a glass of water. “Drink this. It ought to steady you a bit.”
Lou and Lynn Part 20 Facing the Bully: A Tale of Frogs and Friendship
The next morning right after breakfast, Aunt Kat told the girls she needed a favor. “I need you girls to go to Miss Betsy’s and borrow her steam iron. Mine is still in the repair shop and I have to catch up on my ironing today.”
”Can I go?” wheedled Billy.
”Sure, if you promise not to fight with Lynn.”
”Okay.” he answered happily.
It was a wonderful day to be out for a ramble. The sky was a brilliant blue and the day not too hot yet. As they neared Miss Betsy’s, Billy said,”I hope that old mean Chris ain’t in the yard.” He seemed a little anxious.
”It’s okay if he is. He’s not gonna bother us. Don’t you remember?” Lynn said. Y’all just do what I say. When I give the signal, pretend to pull a frog out of your pocket and holler ‘Ribbit!’ It’ll be fine.”
”Who’s Chris? What does he do?”
”He’s a horrible bully.” Lynn said. “He’s so mean he hits his own dog with a stick. He used to throw rocks at us when we walked in front of his house. One day, Mother was drinking coffee with Miss Betsy next door to his house. Billy and I hid in the bushes and spied on him. His mama was making him help her in the flower bed and a frog jumped on him. He was scared to death of that little, old frog. He was jumping around and screaming his head off! “Get it off me! Get it off me!” He was screaming like a devil had him. It was hilarious to see a
bully act like such a scaredy cat! Early the next morning before school, me and Billy went to the pond and caught a big frog. I put in in my pocket. When I got to class, I slipped it in Chris’s jacket pocket hanging on his desk chair. I kind of forgot about it. Miss Jones had us taking turns reading aloud. When it was Karen’s turn, the frog made a big old ‘Ribbit’ frog sound. Everybody laughed. Miss Jones said’Who did that?’ Nobody said anything. Karen started reading again. Suddenly ‘Ribbit’ again! Miss Jones said,’Whoever did that is going to be in big trouble.’ The frog let out another big ‘Ribbit!’ and hopped out of Chris’s pocket. He went crazy screaming’Get it off me! Get it off me!’l
Then the frog jumped up on Chris’s collar. Chris went wild, knocking over his chair and scattering his books. The other kids were acting like clowns. Finally, someone caught the frog and put it out. Miss Jones was furious! She thought he’d sneaked a frog in to disrupt the class since his behavior was always so bad. He got in so much trouble. I wanted to laugh every time I thought of it the rest of the day.
Sure enough, Chris was in his front yard, watching them walk toward him. “Where do you think you’re going?” He demanded.
”We’re going to Miss Betsy’s but we all brought you a little present. You want to see? With that, all three pretended to pull a frog out of their pockets and called out ‘Ribbit! Ribbit!’
Chris took off, bellowing “Mama! Mama”
They all nearly collapsed, laughing.
English Professor
What alternative career paths have you considered or are interested in?
Had I chosen at a more expedient time, I would have done well to pursue a PhD in Literature. Literature and writing were my first loves. My initial degree was English Education. I was an abysmal teacher. At the time I entered nursing, I wanted no more to do with teaching. Now I write because I must.
The Best of the Afternoon Funnies
Have you heard about the dyslexic devil worshipper?
He sold his soul to Santa!
If life gives you melons then you’re probably dyslexic!
Have you heard about the guy who discovered that he’s both dyslexic and gay?
He’s still in daniel!
Did you heard about the dyslexic alcoholic?
He walked into a bra?
Have you heard about a guy who used to have dyslexia?
He now has dailysex instead!
Did you hear about the dyslexic Rabbi?
He walks around saying “Yo.”
A dyslexic boy who asks his mother for McDonald’s?
She said: “You can have one if you can spell it.”
The boy replied: “Fine, I’ll have a KFC!”
Two dyslexic guys were riding in a car.
One turned to the other and said, “Can you smell petrol?”
The other replied, “Don’t be a moron, I can’t even smell my own name!”
A dyslexic robber ran into a bank.
He screamed: “Air in the hands mother stickers this is a f*ck up!”
What happens if life gives you melons?
You’re dyslexic.
What does DNA stand for?
National Dyslexics Association
Have you heard of the cow who attained spirtual enlightenment?
She was dyslexic and kept on repeating OOOOMMM!
If you’re cross-eyed and have dyslexia, can you read all right?
Did you hear about the dyslexic agnostic, he suffers from insomnia because he stays up all night wondering if there is a dog.
Right Now
How are you feeling right now?
Right now, I feel good. I was wide awake at one thirty, so I got up to write. I love it when writing kicks me out of bed! For so many years my soul was yearning to write but I was caught up in what had to be done. I was married with two children. Bud and I worked alternate shifts to care for them. I suppose I did write a lot out of necessity, now that I think of it. We both wrote a lot of notes.
“Make sure Kate doesn’t get off without her $12 dollars and permission form for the field trip. It’s in an envelope in her backpack. She has to wear that red Tshirt and white pants I left on her dresser. Don’t let John get off without a belt. He got a warning note yesterday. Matt Ford’s mother is going to drop him off for a ride to bus stop if it’s raining. Remind kids to get lunch money out of cup in kitchen window. I left a roast in crockpot for dinner. Please make sure it’s heating up before you lie down. Please have kids fold towels in dryer. Love you.”
I’d find a note from Bud when I got in. He would have just lain down for a late nap after the kids got in from school.
“John has to turn in his book report tomorrow! Don’t let him go out doors till he finishes it. He will get an F! I washed a load of jeans. They’re still in dryer. I forgot to call you, we need bread, milk, apples, and Kate needs posterboard. Can you run to Walmart? Sorry. She didn’t tell me till I was getting ready to lie down. Love you.”
Now the kids are long grown, we are both retired so I write what and when I want. Everything in its time.
Nutsrok 