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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.


 

  BY  BARBARA DEMING & LOREN MOORE

COPYRIGHT 2004

LOREN

 GOTTA GO - SEE YA

 

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