I SMELLS "AROMA"
BACK IN THE
EARLY 1970's I WENT TO LAKE OF THE PINES IN EAST TEXAS,
FISHING. I WENT TO A PLACE CALLED "POP'S LANDING." THEY
HAD THREE PICNIC TABLES SPREAD OUT ALONG THE SHORE OF THE
LAKE WHERE YOU COULD CAMP OUT. I LAUNCHED MY BOAT AND
PULLED MY PICKUP AND BOAT TRAILER DOWN TO THE THIRD PICNIC
TABLE. THE ONE FURTHEST AWAY FROM THE BOAT RAMP. I
INTENDED TO CAMP OUT THERE THAT NIGHT.
THEN I WENT
FISHING. IT WAS ALREADY THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON. I
FISHED UNTIL SUNDOWN ( BUT THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER STORY FOR A
DIFFERENT TIME) AND CAME IN OFF THE LAKE. I HAD CAUGHT A
BUNCH OF BASS AND I WANTED TO CLEAN THEM AND GET THEM ON ICE
BEFORE IT GOT PLUM DARK. BY THE TIME I FINISHED CLEANING
THE FISH IT WAS DARK AND I WAS HUNGRY. I DECIDED I WOULD
COOK SOME OF THE FISH FOR SUPPER.
I GOT OUT MY
COLEMAN LANTERN AND LIT IT AND SET IT ON THE END OF THE
TABLE. THEN I GOT OUT MY COLEMAN STOVE AND SET IT UP ON THE
OTHER END OF THE TABLE. I PUT A CAST IRON POT ON THE STOVE
AND POURED IN SOME PEANUT OIL. WHILE THIS WAS HEATING I
ROLLED SOME OF THE PIECES OF FISH IN CORNMEAL AND WHEN THE
OIL WAS HOT I DROPPED THEM IN. I HAD DECIDED ALL I WANTED
WAS FISH AND BREAD.
ALL OF A SUDDEN
I HEARD THIS VOICE COME OUT OF THE DARK SAYING; "I SMELLS
AROMA." I LOOK UP AND ALL I CAN SEE ARE TWO EYES SHINING IN
THE DIM GLOW OF THE LANTERN. "WELL COME ON IN HERE AND LETS
SEE WHO YOU ARE." I SAID. THIS SMALL BARE FOOT BOY OF
ABOUT 12 YEARS OLD WALKED UP TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
TABLE. HIS CLOTHES WERE RAGGED AND HE LOOKED TIRED.
I ASKED HIM WHAT
HE WAS DOING OUT HERE. HE TOLD ME HE WALKED HERE EACH
MORNING AND TRIED TO HELP FISHERMEN LAUNCH AND LOAD THEIR
BOATS FOR WHAT EVER TIPS THEY WANTED TO GIVE HIM. HE HADN'T
EARNED ANY TIPS THAT DAY BECAUSE THE OLDER BOYS RAN IN AND
PUSHED HIM ASIDE AND MADE ALL THE TIPS. HE HADN'T HAD ANY
THING TO EAT SINCE BREAKFAST AND THAT WAS BEFORE DAYLIGHT
THIS MORNING.
I THOUGH THERE
BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD GO I.
"IF YOU'LL SIT
DOWN AT THE TABLE, I'LL HAVE US SOME OF THAT AROMA TO EAT IN
JUST A MINUTE." I PUT THE LOAF OF BREAD ON THE TABLE AND
TOOK UP THE FIRST PAN OF FISH. I SET IT IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE TABLE AND PUT PAPER PLATES IN FRONT OF BOTH OF US.
THE BOY JUST
SITS THERE AND LOOKED AT ME. I TOLD HIM TO HELP HIMSELF
WHILE I PUT ON ANOTHER PAN OF FISH TO COOK. IN A VERY SMALL
VOICE HE ASKED IF HE COULD SAY A BLESSING.
WELL IT WASN'T
HE THAT RECEIVED A BLESSING THAT NIGHT, BUT ME. I WILL
NEVER FORGET THAT ENCOUNTER WITH A 12 YEAR BOY THE REST OF
MY LIFE.