TRINITY
TEXAS
BY
BARBARA DEMING AND LOREN MOORE
BARBARA
WRITES;
IT SELDOM
SNOWS IN TRINITY, TEXAS, A ONCE-THRIVING LOGGING
TOWN IN EAST TEXAS. BUT IT DID ON JANUARY 22,
1940. MAMA SAID I CAME INTO THIS WORLD ON AN
ODD DAY IN HISTORY AND IF SHE WAS HERE TO TELL
YOU, SHE'D SAY IT SOMEHOW ADDLED MY BRAIN.
I WAS NAMED BARBARA JANE. NEVER DID LIKE THAT
NAME. BUT MAMA USED TO SAY THAT IF I WAS EVER
HALF THE WOMAN MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER CALISTA JANE
WAS, I'D MAKE THE WHOLE FAMILY RIGHT PROUD. I
GUESS I SHOULD BE THANKFUL SHE DIDN'T NAME ME
CALISTA. BUT, ANYWAY, WHEN I GOT OLD ENOUGH TO
THREATEN KIDS WITHIN AN INCH OF THEIR LIFE, I
BECAME BJ.
WHEN I WAS TWO DADDY, TIRED OF WORKING AS A
FARMER, GROCERY DELIVERY "BOY" FOR HIS FATHER,
LOGGING TRUCK DRIVER, AND GENERAL HANDY MAN,
WENT SOUTH, NOT WEST, TO SEEK HIS FORTUNE. HIS
FIRST JOB WAS AS A GUARD IN FREEPORT, WALKING A
BRIDGE OVER THE BRAZOS LOOKING FOR NAZI SUBS
COMING UP THE RIVER TO DESTROY THE NEW DOW
CHEMICAL PLANT UNDER CONSTRUCTION. THE STORY
GOES THAT ONE LATE AFTERNOON HE SPOTTED ONE OF
THOSE CIGARS AND IT STILL LIES AT THE BOTTOM OF
THE BRAZOS.
OF COURSE, THAT COULD BE JUST ONE OF THOSE TALES
MY "ODD" CREATIVE MIND CONJURED UP--AFTER ALL I
DID TELL MAMA WHEN I WAS TEN YEARS OLD THAT I
WAS GOING TO BE A FAMOUS WRITER. NEVER HAD ONE
OF THEM IN THE FAMILY. HAD CREEK INDIANS VIA
FORT MIMS, ALABAMA AND JESSE JAMES VIA MISSOURI
BUT NO WRITERS. YEP, I WAS THE ODD BALL IN THE
FAMILY, FOR SURE.
DADDY MOVED OUR LITTLE TINY HOUSE TRAILER TO
DANBURY, TEXAS, WHEN I WAS THREE. HE SAID IT
WAS BECAUSE HE HAD GOTTEN A "REAL" JOB AS
JANITOR FOR FREEPORT SULPHUR COMPANY (WHEN HE
RETIRED HE WAS THE HEAD CHEMIST) AND THE JOB WAS
JUST ELEVEN MILES OUTSIDE OF DANBURY. MAMA SAID
IT WAS BECAUSE I WOULDN'T STAY OUT OF THE MIDDLE
OF THE HIGHWAY.
YOU SEE, THERE WAS THIS HAMBURGER JOINT ACROSS
THE STREET FROM THE TRAILER PARK WHERE WE LIVED
IN FREEPORT. ANTONELLI WAS A SWEET ITALIAN MAN
WHO ALWAYS GAVE ME A ROOTBEER FLOAT WHEN MAMA
ONLY HAD MONEY FOR ONE SODA. I LOVED THOSE
FLOATS AND THE MAN WHO GAVE THEM TO ME. MAMA
SAID I KEPT SLIPPING AWAY FROM HER AND CROSSING
THE HIGHWAY, AT THE PEAK OF A SHIFT BREAK AT DOW
CHEMICAL, TO GET ANOTHER FREE ROOTBEER FLOAT.
SO, ACCORDING TO MAMA, WE HAD TO MOVE OR I'D BE
"ODDLY" DEAD.
ANYWAY, WE LIVED IN THAT LITTLE TRAILER PARKED
IN THE BACK OF SOMEONE'S YARD UNTIL THE FOLKS
SAVED ENOUGH MONEY FOR A DOWN PAYMENT ON AN
ENTIRE CITY BLOCK. IT CAME WITH THEIR "DREAM
HOME," AN OLD, TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY HOUSE, SMALL,
ASPHALT-SIDING COVERED, EQUIPPED WITH CHICKEN
YARD, UNATTACHED GARAGE AND OUTHOUSE IN BACK. I
LIVED IN THAT HOUSE UNTIL I WAS THIRTEEN AND THE
FOLKS REALLY BUILT THEIR DREAM HOUSE, ONLY TO
LIVE IN IT FOR A YEAR BEFORE DADDY'S JOB MOVED.
BUT THAT'S A STORY FOR LATER. WHERE WAS I? OH,
AGE, THREE AND IN MY OWN BEDROOM. IN THAT HOUSE
WAS WHERE WORLD WAR II CAME HOME TO ME, MY
SIBLINGS WERE BROUGHT HOME, AND I HAD SOME OF
THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE. EVEN FOR AN "ODD"
KID, THOSE WERE HAPPY DAYS.
WELL, AT LEAST I THOUGHT SO UNTIL THE DAY "THAT
BOY" ENTERED MY LIFE. I HAD NO USE FOR BOYS,
EXCEPT FOR MY COUSIN, MAC, WHO WAS MORE LIKE A
BROTHER AND YOU HAD TO KEEP KIN. THIS LOREN WAS
NOT KIN AND BECAME A BOONDOGGLE WAITING TO
HAPPEN.
LOREN
WRITES;
I FIRST
MET BARBARA WHEN SHE WAS THIRTEEN YEARS OLD.
HER COUSIN, MAC WAS MY BEST BUDDY AND I WAS WITH
HIM ONE DAY WHEN THIS SKINNY, FRECKLE FACED GIRL
WALKED UP TO US AND ASKED ME TO BUY HER A
ROOTBEER FLOAT. I MEAN JUST LIKE THAT, RIGHT
OUT OF THE BLUE. I HAD NO IDEA WHO THIS KID WAS
AND BAM, SHE WANTS ME TO BUY HER A ROOTBEER
FLOAT.
“MAC, DO
YOU KNOW WHO THIS MOOCHER IS?”
“AW
SHUCKS LOREN, THAT’S MY COUSIN. DON’T PAY HER
NO MIND. SHE’S A LITTLE ODD.”
“WELL, A
ROOTBEER FLOAT SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD. LET’S GO GET
ONE. COME ON KID YOU CAN GO WITH US.”
“AWESOME” THIS KID SAYS AND OFF WE GO TO THE
CORNER DRUG STORE.
AS WE
DRANK OUR ROOTBEER FLOATS THIS KID, MAC TOLD ME
HER NAME WAS BARBARA, KEPT TALKING ABOUT ROAD
KILL. MAN THIS IS SOME STRANGE GIRL. AFTER WE
FINISHED OUR ROOTBEER FLOATS, MAC AND I WENT
DOWN TO THE BRAZOS RIVER TO CHUNK ROCKS AT THE
TURTLES. I DON’T KNOW WHERE BARBARA WENT.
BARBARA
WRITES;
MAC
ALWAYS TOLD ME TO STEER CLEAR OF MOST OF HIS
FRIENDS. BUT THAT LOREN WAS KIND OF CUTE AND
BESIDES, HE HAD MONEY TO BUY ME A ROOTBEER
FLOAT. I MADE SURE HE KNEW THERE WERE NO
STRINGS ATTACHED--I WASN'T GOING TO BAIT HIS
HOOK WITH THOSE RED WORMS WHEN HE WENT FISHING
AND I WASN'T GOING TO HELP HIM HUNT THOSE
ARMADILLOS HE LOVED TO TEASE EITHER.
ROAD KILL? WHO BROUGHT THAT SUBJECT UP? I'M
NOT THAT ODD, LOREN MOORE. WELL, MAYBE I SAID
I'D RATHER EAT ROAD KILL THAN THOSE LITTLE CUTE
RABBITS HE AND MAC WERE ALWAYS GOING OUT TO
SHOOT. POOR LITTLE THINGS WOULD NEVER MAKE IT
TO EASTER WHEN THOSE BOYS WERE AROUND, MUCH LESS
GET TO EAT LETTUCE IN MR. MACGREGOR’S GARDEN.
WHILE THEY WERE CHUNKING ROCKS AT THOSE TURTLES
SUNNING THEMSELVES ON THE BANKS OF THE BRAZOS, I
WAS PUTTING CHUNKS OF SALT-BACK PORK ON BIG
HOOKS ON MAC'S TROT LINE. BEFORE LOREN SHOWED
UP, WE'D BEEN PLANNING TO SET THAT LINE ACROSS
THE BRAZOS, TRY TO CATCH SOME OF THOSE CATFISH
GRANDMA DELLA FRIED UP SO CRISP FOR US. NOW,
MAC'S PLAYING KID'S GAMES WITH LOREN INSTEAD OF
DOING THIS NECESSARY WORK. IT DIDN'T TAKE ME
LONG TO BAIT THOSE HOOKS BUT I GAVE UP WAITING
FOR THEM TO GET SERIOUS SO WENT BACK TO THE
HOUSE TO HELP WEED GRANDMA'S FLOWER GARDEN.
LATER THAT DAY, BOY, AM I MAD! THOSE TWO PILED
THAT LINE IN THE ROW BOAT AND SET THOSE LINES.
THAT WAS MY JOB! WHEN THAT LOREN IS AROUND MAC
ACTS LIKE I'M HIS KID SISTER OR SOMETHIN'. I
NEED TO REMIND HIM THAT I AM ONE YEAR AND THREE
DAYS OLDER THAN HE IS. I WISH THAT LOREN WOULD
GO HOME WHERE HE BELONGS.
IT'S MIDNIGHT WHEN THE SCRATCHING ON THE BEDROOM
SCREEN COMES. I'M SHARING THE ROOM WITH MAC'S
TWO SISTERS BUT THEY ARE YOUNGER AND SLEEP SO
HARD A HURRICANE WOULDN'T WAKE THEM. I JUMP UP
AND PEER OUT. MAC AND LOREN ARE TAKING OFF THE
SCREEN.
"COME ON, BJ, GET YOUR JEANS ON AND HURRY.
WE'RE GOIN' DOWN TO CHECK THE TROT LINES."
ALTHOUGH IF CAUGHT I WOULD HAVE BEEN GROUNDED
FOR LIFE BY MY PARENTS FOR NOT ONLY GOING OFF
WITH THE BOYS AT THAT TIME OF NIGHT BUT, AS A
NON-SWIMMER, GOING OUT ON THAT TREACHEROUS OLD
BRAZOS, I DIDN'T HAVE TO BE ASKED TWICE. I WAS
DRESSED AND OUT THAT WINDOW BEFORE THEY COULD
CHANGE THEIR MINDS. BLUE, MAC'S HOUND DOG,
STARTED TO HOWL AND HAD TO BE HUSHED
WITH...WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK, FOLKS, AFTER ALL
WE WERE IN THE SOUTH...A HUSH PUPPY. WE WERE
QUIET UNTIL WE GOT DOWN THAT OYSTER-SHELL ROAD A
PIECE AND THEN WE TOOK OFF RUNNING FOR THE
RIVER.
THAT LITTLE BOAT REALLY WASN'T MADE FOR THREE.
I HAD TO SIT ON THE FRONT BECAUSE THE BOYS HAD
TO ROW. IT WAS AS DARK AS A WITCH'S CALDREN AND
ABOUT AS SCARY. NO MOON. NO STARS. THAT MAC
AND LOREN STARTED TELLING SPOOKY STORIES ABOUT
MONSTERS IN THE RIVER, SEA SNAKES THAT CAME UP
FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO. I KEPT MY MOUTH SHUT
FOR A CHANGE BUT CHILLS RAN UP AND DOWN MY BACK.
IT HAPPENED WHEN WE REACHED THE TROT LINES.
SINCE I WAS ON THE FRONT AND LOREN WAS ON THE
SIDE OF THE LINE, MAC TOLD US WE HAD TO CHECK
THE HOOKS. HE KEPT US FAIRLY STEADY AND CLOSE
TO THE JOB WHILE HOLDING A FLASHLIGHT. LOREN
AND I WERE DOING JUST FINE, EVEN THREW A COUPLE
OF CATFISH INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT, UNTIL I
TUGGED ON A LEADER THAT SEEMED MUCH MORE HEAVY
THAN NORMAL. WHEN THAT HOOK BROKE THE WATER, IT
HAD A CATFISH ON IT ALL RIGHT, BUT IT WAS IN THE
MOUTH OF THE BIGGEST GATOR I HAD EVER SEEN.
THAT'S WHEN LOREN YELLED, STOOD UP, AND TURNED
THE BOAT OVER.
LOREN WRITES,
LOREN YELLED,
“SWIM FOR IT, THAT OLE’ GATOR MAY DECIDE HE
WOULD RATHER EAT ONE OF US INSTEAD OF THAT
CATFISH.”
“BUT BJ CAN’T SWIM.” MAC
CRIED.
“YOU GET THE BOAT AND
I’LL GET HER.” LOREN SAID. WITH THAT HE
GRABBED BJ BY THE BACK OF HER SHIRT AND STARTED
SWIMMING FOR SHORE. OLE’ BLUE WAS STANDING ON
THE SHORE HOWLING LIKE SOME BANSHEE.
WHEN I GOT US IN SHALLOW
WATER WHERE WE COULD STAND UP, BJ STOOD UP
SPITTING AND SPUTTERING AND SWATHING AT ME.
“TURN ME LOOSE, YOU BIG
RAT FINK BEFORE I SICK BLUE ON YOU.”
“AW. YOU COULDN’T SICK
BLUE ON A BISCUIT.” LOREN SAID.
BJ TOOK A WILD SWING AND
WALLOPED LOREN ON THE EAR. “WHY YOU LITTLE
SCAMP!” AND HE REACHED FOR HER. BUT SHE HAD
ALREADY TAKEN OFF RUNNING. LOREN STARTED TO GO
AFTER HER BUT BLUE WAS STANDING THERE GROWLING,
SO HE KICKED AT HIM. BUT HE MISSED AND FELL ON
HIS BUTT IN THE MUD.
“AW SHUCKS, THIS JUST
AIN’T MY NIGHT.” LOREN SAID, AS HE GOT UP AND
STARTED WALKING DOWN THE RIVER BANK LOOKING FOR
MAC.
MAC HAD HELD ON TO THE
FLASH LIGHT WHEN THE BOAT TURNED OVER. HE HAD
CLIMBED UP ON THE OVER TURNED BOAT AND WAS
DRIFTING DOWN STREAM. HE FOUND ONE OF THE
PADDLES WITH THE FLASH LIGHT, AND MANAGED TO GET
HOLD OF IT. HE STARTED PADDLING TO SHORE, JUST
AS LOREN WALKED UP. WHEN HE GOT THE BOAT IN
SHALLOW WATER LOREN WADED OUT TO IT AND THEY
TURNED IT BACK UP RIGHT.
FIRST THING MAC WANTED TO
KNOW WAS WHERE WAS BJ. “SHE WALLOPED ME ON THE
EAR” LOREN SAID “AND TOOK OFF. THAT GIRL IS
ODD!”
“OH SHE’S ALRIGHT WHEN
YOU GET TO KNOW HER.” MAC ANSWERED.
“WHO SAID I WANT TO GET
TO KNOW HER? NOW START PADDLING. WE’VE GOT TO
GO BACK AND FINISH RUNNING OUR TROT LINE. WE
LOST THE TWO CAT FISH WE HAD IN THE BOAT WHEN IT
TURNED OVER. THAT OLE’ GATOR WILL BE GONE BY
NOW.”
“LOREN AIN’T YOU GOING TO
HELP PADDLE?”
“WITH WHAT? YOU ONLY
FOUND ONE OF THE PADDLES.”
WHEN THEY GOT BACK TO
THEIR TROT LINE, THEY FINISHED RUNNING IT. THE
GATOR WAS GONE, BUT THEY HAD SIX CAT FISH. ONE
OF THEM WEIGHED NINE POUNDS. “NOW WE CAN HAVE A
FISH FRY” MAC EJACULATED “AND I KNOW WHERE WE
CAN HAVE IT. BJ’S MOM-MA IS THE BEST FISH
COOKER IN THIS TOWN.”
“BUT THAT MEANS THAT ODD
GIRL THAT LIKES TO WALLOP ME WILL BE THERE.”
MAC GOT THIS WOEBEGONE
LOOK ON HIS FACE AND CRIED “BUT BJ’S MOM IS THE
BEST. COME ON, I’LL KEEP BJ AWAY FROM YOU.”
LOREN LOOKED AT MAC AND
SAID, “PROMISE?”
“CROSS MY HEART.” CAME
BACK MAC.
BARBARA WRITES;
THAT LOREN MAKES ME SO
MAD! AND MAC IS JUST AS BAD. WHY DID HE HAVE TO
INVITE LOREN TO GO OUT IN THE BOAT? THAT GUY
WAS BAD NEWS. I KNOW WHAT I'LL DO. I'LL JUST
DISAPPEAR AND THEY WILL BE IN BIG TROUBLE."
MAC'S DADDY OWNS A PIECE OF LAND JUST DOWN THE
RIVER. IT'S COVERED WITH HUGE PECAN TREES.
I'VE ALWAYS LOVED THAT LAND--GO DOWN THERE AND
CLIMB UP THE GRAPEVINES TO SIT IN A BRANCH OF A
HUGE PECAN TREE, READ MY NANCY DREW BOOK OR
WRITE IN MY BIG CHIEF TABLET. EVEN IN THE DARK,
I WASN'T SCARED TO WALK DOWN THAT OYSTER-SHELL
COVERED ROAD AND FIND MY FAVORITE TREE--AND
THAT'S WHAT I DID. AND I FELL ASLEEP UP IN THAT
TREE--I WAS POOPED OUT FROM ALL THAT GATOR AND
RIVER STUFF.
THE SUN WAS JUST PEEKING OVER THE TREES ON THE
OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE RIVER WHEN VOICES WOKE ME
UP. MAC AND LOREN WERE IN A PANIC.
"WHERE COULD SHE HAVE GONE? DO YOU THINK SHE
TRIED TO FOLLOW US WHEN WE WENT OUT ON THE RIVER
AGAIN?" LOREN WENT ON AND ON. "MAYBE SHE FELL
IN? DROWNED?"
"WILL YOU COOL IT,
LOREN! BARBARA KNOWS SHE CAN'T GET IN THAT
RIVER--NOT ON PURPOSE, ANYWAY. DO YOU KNOW WHAT
TROUBLE WE ARE IN IF SHE DOESN'T SHOW UP FOR
BREAKFAST?"
"WE'LL JUST SAY WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
HER."
"LIE TO MY MOTHER? OR TO MY AUNT? I'M DEAD
HERE, MAN, IF SHE DOESN'T
COME HOME."
"WHERE COULD SHE BE? WE'VE BEEN ALL OVER THE
WHOLE DARNED AREA. YOU'RE SO DUMB, MAC. WHY
DID YOU HAVE TO INCLUDE HER ANYWAY? GIRLS
AREN'T ANYTHING BUT TROUBLE."
"SHE'S MY FAVORITE KIN. SHE'S NOT LIKE OTHER
GIRLS, NOT SCARY OR SQUEAMISH. SHE'S MY PAL."
LOREN SHOOK HIS HEAD. "BAD CHOICE."
"NEVER MIND LOREN. WE CAN'T SEEM TO FIND HER."
MAC'S VOICE SOUNDED LIKE HE WAS REALLY DREADING
WHAT HE KNEW HE WOULD HAVE TO DO. "WE'VE GOT TO
GO TELL AUNT LUCY AND MAMA WHAT HAPPENED LAST
NIGHT."
"I THINK I'LL GO HOME."
"NO CHICKENIN' OUT ON ME, LOREN. MAMA CAN'T HIT
YOU."
"BUT MY MAMA CAN," LOREN GROANED. BUT HE DID
FOLLOW MAC BACK DOWN THE ROAD.
I SAT IN THAT TREE AND GIGGLED. THEY WERE IN
FOR IT NOW. I'LL JUST SIT HERE IN THIS TREE FOR
AWHILE AND LET THEM GET IN TROUBLE. THEN I'LL
JUST HAPPEN TO SHOW UP, SAFE AND SOUND, AND
EVERYONE WILL BE SO HAPPY THAT I'M NOT DEAD,
THEY'LL FORGET THAT I CLIMBED OUT OF THAT
WINDOW.
I HOPE.
LOREN WRITES;
MAC AND I WENT TO HIS
AUNT’S PLACE FIRST. WHEN MAC WOKE UP HIS AUNT
LUCY AND TOLD HER WHAT HAD HAPPENED, IT MADE HER
SO MAD THAT ALL SHE COULD SAY WAS, “WAIT UNTIL I
GET MY HANDS ON THAT GIRL.”
NEXT WE WENT TO MAC’S
HOME AND HE WOKE UP HIS MOTHER. WHEN HE TOLD
HER WHAT HAD HAPPENED, HIS MOTHER ASKED WHAT
LUCY HAD SAID. I TOLD HER AND SHE SAID, “IT
DOESN’T SOUND LIKE BARBARA’S MOTHER IS TOO
WORRIED. SHE WILL SHOW UP WHEN IT’S TIME TO
EAT.”
MAC’S MOTHER FIXED US
SOME BREAKFAST AND AS WE ATE I TOLD MAC THAT IT
DIDN’T SEEM LIKE WE WERE IN TROUBLE. IF
ANYTHING IT SOUNDED LIKE BJ WAS THE ONE IN
TROUBLE.
“JUST THE SAME, I WANT TO
GO BACK TO THE RIVER AND LOOK SOME MORE NOW THAT
IT IS DAYLIGHT” MAC SAID.
SO WE WENT BACK TO THE
RIVER AND WALKED THE BANK AGAIN LOOKING FOR FOOT
PRINTS. BUT WE DIDN’T FIND ANY.
“MAC IF YOU HADN’T
INVITED THAT ODD GIRL WE WOULDN’T BE IN THIS
FIX. SHE’S NOT THE KIND OF PERSON YOU OUGHT TO
BE HANGING OUT WITH.”
“OH SHUT UP LOREN, YOU
DON’T KNOW DOODLEY SQUAT ABOUT BJ.”
“DO TO, I KNOW SHE LIKES
ROOTBEER FLOATS AND SHE HAS COOTIES IN HER
HAIR.”
“HOW DO YOU KNOW SHE HAS
COOTIES IN HER HAIR?”
“BECAUSE THEY GOT ON ME
WHEN I WAS PULLING HER OUT OF THE RIVER.”
BARBARA WRITES;
I WAITED UNTIL THE BOYS
WERE WAY DOWN THE ROAD BEFORE I CLIMBED DOWN OUT
OF THAT TREE. I WAS REAL CAREFUL GOING BACK--I
DIDN'T WANT THOSE TWO TO SEE OR HEAR ME.
I HID BEHIND THE CHICKEN COOP AND STRAINED MY
EARS REAL HARD TO HEAR WHAT MAMA HAD TO SAY.
SHE WAS STANDING ON THE SCREENED-IN PORCH TALKIN'
TO MAC AND LOREN--AND SHE, AS I SHOULD HAVE
KNOWN, WAS MAD AT ME! NOT AT THE BOYS, BUT ME!
AND SHE DIDN'T SOUND HYSTERICAL OR ANYTHING
ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT I MIGHT BE AT THE
BOTTOM OF THE BRAZOS. WELL, MAYBE THAT WAS
BECAUSE THOSE TWO WERE PROTECTIN' THEIR BEHINDS
AND DIDN'T TELL HER WHERE WE WERE THE NIGHT
BEFORE. THEY JUST TOLD HER WE HAD GONE OUT AND
I GOT LOST. COWARDS!
WHEN THEY HEADED TO AUNT VERA'S, I SNUCK UP AND
HID BEHIND UNCLE HERMAN'S STUDEBAKER WHERE I
COULD HEAR WHAT WAS GOING ON.
AUNT VERA HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY FAVORITE AUNT.
SHE'S REAL COOL--LET'S MAC GET AWAY WITH FAR
MORE THAN MAMA WOULD EVER ALLOW ME. I SAID A
SILENT "YES" WHEN SHE SAID IN SO MANY WORDS TO
JUST LEAVE ME ALONE AND LET ME BE.
"YOU BOYS TORMENT THAT GIRL TO DEATH."
DEATH? WHEN I HEARD THEM DISCUSS GOIN' BACK TO
FIND ME, I TOOK OFF LIKE A SCALDED CAT. I
HEADED FOR THE RIVER, TAKING OFF THE DENIM SHIRT
I WAS WEARIN' OVER MY T-SHIRT. AT THE WATER'S
EDGE I SWISHED THAT SHIRT IN THE WATER UNTIL IT
WAS SOPPIN' WET, THEN SPREAD IT OUT ON THE BOAT
RAMP, MAKIN' IT LOOK LIKE IT HAD BEEN WASHED UP
RIGHT THERE. A LITTLE FURTHER AWAY, I JUMPED UP
AND DOWN IN THE WATER, THEN PULLED OFF ONE OF MY
CANVAS SHOES AND DROPPED IT ON THE BANK.
OUCH. OUCH. THOSE DARNED ROCKS HURT THE
SHOELESS FOOT AS I GO BACK TO MY HIDING
PLACE--DON'T WANT TO LEAVE ANY FOOTPRINTS NEAR
THOSE REMAINS OF MY BODY.
THAT WILL FIX THEM. LET'S SEE HOW THEY CONFESS
TO THE KIN THAT THEY TOOK OFF AN INNOCENT
GIRL-CHILD AND LET HER DROWN IN THAT BIG BAD
BRAZOS RIVER.
LOREN WRITES:
“MAC, WE ALREADY WALKED
THAT RIVER BANK TWICE AND WE DIDN’T FIND BJ.
I’VE GOT TO GO HOME AND CHECK IN. MY FOLKS LET
ME STAY OUT ALL NIGHT FISHING, BUT THEY EXPECT
ME TO CHECK IN EVERY SO OFTEN. BESIDES I’VE GOT
TO TELL THEM WE’RE ALL THREE INVITED TO THE FISH
FRY AT YOUR AUNTS HOUSE TONIGHT FOR SUPPER.
MAMA WILL WANT TO MAKE A BIG BANANA PUDDING FOR
DISSERT.”
“OK, I’LL GO WITH YOU.
LOREN, BANANA PUDDING SOUNDS LIKE A HUMDINGER OF
A DISSERT TO ME. RECKON IF WE HANG AROUND FOR A
WHILE SHE WOULD LET US SAMPLE SOME OF THAT
PUDDING?”
“I WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO
GO TO THE STORE FOR SOME BANANAS BEFORE SHE CAN
MAKE IT. IF I DO YOU CAN COME WITH ME AND WE
CAN GET US A MOON PIE AND R C COLA.”
“THAT SOUNDS BETTER THAN
A ROOTBEER FLOAT, LOREN.”
MEAN WHILE BJ WAS SITTING
IN HER BIG PECAN TREE HIDE OUT WAITING FOR LOREN
AND MAC TO COME FIND HER DENIM SHIRT AND SHOE.
AFTER SITTING THERE FOR AN HOUR AND NO LOREN AND
MAC, SHE DECIDED THEY WEREN’T COMING. “THOSE
RAT FINKS ARE UP TO SOMETHING. I BETTER SNICK
BACK HOME AND SEE WHAT’S GOING ON.” SHE SAID TO
HER SELF.
BJ WENT BACK TO THE BOAT
RAMP AND GOT HER SHIRT AND SHOE. SQUISH PLOP,
SQUISH PLOP, SQUISH PLOP WAS THE SOUND SHE MADE
AS SHE WALKED WITH ONE WET SHOE AND THE OTHER
ONE DRY. SHE HADN’T PUT HER WET AND MUDDY SHIRT
ON, SHE JUST CARRIED IT IN HER HAND.
AS BJ ROUNDED THE LITTLE
CORNER GROCERY STORE SHE LOOKED IN THE WINDOW
AND THERE WAS LOREN AND MAC EATING A MOON PIE
AND DRINKING R C COLA. SHE COULDN’T BELIEVE HER
EYES. THERE WAS HER FAVORITE COUSIN EATING AND
DRINKING AND ENJOYING HIMSELF INSTEAD OF
SEARCHING FOR HER DEAD COLD BODY.
BARBARA WRITES;
THOSE DARNED FELLAS DON'T EVEN CARE IF I'M DEAD
OR ALIVE! AND THEY'RE HAVING A MOON PIE. NEXT
TO ROOTBEER FLOATS, MOON PIES ARE MY FAVORITE.
I WANT ONE TOO!
BUT, IF I GO INSIDE, THEY WILL KNOW I'M NOT
DROWNED DEAD AND I'LL GET IN TROUBLE AND...GEE,
WHAT A MESS!
I SNUCK BACK AROUND THE CORNER OF THE STORE AND
HURRIED TOWARD LOREN'S HOUSE. HIDING BEHIND A
TREE ON HIS FRONT LAWN, I PUT ON MY WET SHIRT
AND SQUISHY SHOES. WHEN I HEARD THEIR VOICES AS
THEY CAME UP THE STREET, I THREW MYSELF DOWN AT
THE EDGE OF THE YARD NEAR THE MAILBOX--A
BATTERED OLD BLACK THING THAT LOREN'S MAMA KEPT
BACKING INTO WHEN SHE DROVE THE OLD FORD TRUCK.
"HOLY COW, LOREN, THERE'S BJ!" MAC BENT DOWN
OVER ME AND STARTED TO SAVE MY LIFE WITH
MOUTH-TO-MOUTH--YUCK, HE'D EATEN ONE OF THOSE
PICKLES AFTER HE HAD THE MOON PIE.
I GASPED, STRUGGLED, FLUNG MY ARMS AROUND, THEN
OPENED MY EYES EVER SO SLIGHTLY. MAC WAS
WORRIED. THAT LOREN LOOKED BORED.
"YOU'RE ALIVE! DARN IT, BJ, WE THOUGHT YOU WERE
ALLIGATOR BAIT. WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?"
I MOANED. "I DON'T KNOW. I...I THINK I HAVE
AM...AM.."
"SHE'S TRYIN' TO SAY SHE'S LOST HER MIND, MAC.
THAT AIN'T NO SECRET."
I KICKED LOREN IN THE SHINS. HE HOLLERED BLOODY
MURDER. MAC JERKED ME TO MY FEET AND PROCEEDED
TO MARCH ME BACK TOWARD HOME. LOREN'S MAMA CAME
OUT TO SEE WHAT THE COMMOTION WAS, SCOLDED ME
FOR ATTACKING HER PRECIOUS BOY, AND SENT HIM OFF
TO BUY BANANAS.
MAMA SENT ME OUT TO GET A PEACH TREE SWITCH BUT
JUST AS SHE WAS READY TO REALLY DO SOME DAMAGE,
WITH MAC YELLING THAT IT WAS ALL HIS FAULT
BECAUSE HE'D TAKEN ME OUT IN THAT BOAT, LOREN
SHOWED UP.
"MRS. MIMS, PLEASE DON'T SWITCH BARBARA. WE
WERE JUST GOIN' OUT TO GET SOME FISH FOR THIS
FRY TONIGHT AND, WELL, YOU KNOW HOW GIRLS
ALWAYS WANT TO HAVE THE SAME KIND OF FUN WE GUYS
DO? AND WE WON'T LET YOU MOST OF THE TIME?
WELL, WE THOUGHT MAYBE SHE'D BE ONE OF THE FIRST
WOMEN TO GET TO DO SOME GUY STUFF."
MAMA LOOKED AT HIM, THEN AT MAC, LAST AT ME.
NOW, MAMA HAD ALWAYS BEEN PUT DOWN BY BIG
BROTHERS WHO EXPECTED HER TO COOK THEIR MEALS,
WASH AND IRON THEIR SHIRTS, EVEN WENT SO FAR AS
INSIST SHE HAD TO QUIT SCHOOL, GO TO WORK
TENDING A SICK WOMAN'S KIDS SO THE BROTHERS
COULD STILL GO TO HIGH SCHOOL --IN ORDER TO PLAY
FOOTBALL. THAT STILL STUCK IN HER CRAW! SO JUST
THE THOUGHT OF HER LITTLE BJ BEING AN EQUAL TO
BOYS WAS ENOUGH FOR HER TO THROW THAT SWITCH
RIGHT DOWN.
THAT'S WHEN I FLUNG MY ARMS AROUND MAC AND GAVE
HIM A BIG HUG.
LOREN SORT OF LOOKED LIKE HE EXPECTED SOMETHING
TOO SO...I STOOD ON TIPTOES AND PLANTED A BIG
KISS RIGHT ON THE END OF HIS NOSE.
BOY, DID HE HOWL AND SCRUBBED AT HIS NOSE UNTIL
IT WAS ALL RED AND RUNNY. AND HE KEPT MUMBLING,
"COOTIES, I JUST KNOW SHE'S GOIN' GIVE ME THEM
LITTLE CREEPY CRAWLY THINGS AND I'LL BE RUINED
FOR LIFE."
COOTIES! I NEVER IN MY LIFE HAD COOTIES. BUT
AT THE FISH FRY THAT NIGHT, I DID GIVE LOREN
SOMETHING HE WOULD REMEMBER...WELL, NOT FOREVER
BUT FOR HE'D HAVE A WEEK TO REMEMBER.
I THOUGHT HE DESERVED A REWARD FOR BEING SO
"GALLANT." I PICKED SOME OF GRANDMA DELLA'S
PURPLE HOLLYHOCKS, WHITE QUEEN ANNE'S LACE, A
SCATTERING OF ORANGE ZINNIAS, AND FOR THE
GREENERY...I GRABBED DADDY'S GLOVES AND ADDED
SOME OF THOSE VINES CLIMBING UP THE OAK TREE IN
THE BACKYARD, THE ONES MAMA TOLD ME TO STAY AWAY
FROM.
POISON IVY MAKES A LOVELY ACCENT TO FLOWERS--BUT
THAT WHIMPY LOREN MUST HAVE BEEN ALLERGIC TO THE
BEAUTY OF THAT BOUQUET OF THANKS.