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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.

                                             

  BY LOREN MOORE

COPYRIGHT 2002

MUSIC: ... "DON'T FENCE ME IN" BY GRANDPA FRANK.

LOREN

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