“I ain’t knockin’ over the stupid Coke” I screamed! “Now young lady, that is no way to
talk to your mama! Now go on outside and play” she yelled, her eyebrows screwed up
on her forehead like an angry hornet. “But...” I tried to say but mama cut me off “No
Buts” she said sternly “and take your coat with you, it is cold out there”. So she cared a
little I thought, I grabbed my coat off the rack by the back door and slunk out into the evening sun
with a defiant look on my face and muttering to myself that I really wasn’t knockin’ over
that stupid Coke, I knew it was there, I was watching it! I was just trying to slide
between the tight space between grandpa’s recliner and the side table where the open
Coke bottle was sitting precariously. I just wanted to get a better look at the Christmas
presents under the tree that was behind his chair. Oh, well I would look later when no
one was around, I decided. I sniffled all the way to the barn behind the house, it was
where I usually went in the evenings after school anyway. I went to visit the only one
who I felt cared if I lived or died. She understood me and did not seem to mind my smart
mouth as some people called it! Better than having a stupid mouth I thought!
The barn door was open so I walked on in, turned on the lights and started to look around for her.
Not seeing her I decided she must be out, so I sat down on an upside down pickle bucket that
I used as a stool when I visited. I began to think and thought she always understands me and I her,
even without speaking, it was like we could read each others minds or something.
I told her of all my hopes and dreams and she shared with me her life with her many “children”.
A rough life it seemed to me! The males in her life not ever sticking around to help with her
offspring and I think they all went hungry a lot. I felt sorry for her and hoped to help in some way
but I was only eight years old so there was not much I could do, I did sneak food to her
when I got the chance. Then I saw a glimpse of her, she was coming out of the dark corner of the barn.
I could tell when we locked eyes that she knew of my woes! I started to get choked up at
just the sight of her, she understood and cared, I could feel it. I knew as my heart warmed
me up from within with affection fighting against the cold air in the barn that I would never
know anyone like her again in my life. As we touched, I said tenderly “Hello, how are you today?”
and a tear of happiness splashed on her leg from my eye ,as my heart ached then with joy I knew I was
forever blessed to have such a soul as her in my life!
talk to your mama! Now go on outside and play” she yelled, her eyebrows screwed up
on her forehead like an angry hornet. “But...” I tried to say but mama cut me off “No
Buts” she said sternly “and take your coat with you, it is cold out there”. So she cared a
little I thought, I grabbed my coat off the rack by the back door and slunk out into the evening sun
with a defiant look on my face and muttering to myself that I really wasn’t knockin’ over
that stupid Coke, I knew it was there, I was watching it! I was just trying to slide
between the tight space between grandpa’s recliner and the side table where the open
Coke bottle was sitting precariously. I just wanted to get a better look at the Christmas
presents under the tree that was behind his chair. Oh, well I would look later when no
one was around, I decided. I sniffled all the way to the barn behind the house, it was
where I usually went in the evenings after school anyway. I went to visit the only one
who I felt cared if I lived or died. She understood me and did not seem to mind my smart
mouth as some people called it! Better than having a stupid mouth I thought!
The barn door was open so I walked on in, turned on the lights and started to look around for her.
Not seeing her I decided she must be out, so I sat down on an upside down pickle bucket that
I used as a stool when I visited. I began to think and thought she always understands me and I her,
even without speaking, it was like we could read each others minds or something.
I told her of all my hopes and dreams and she shared with me her life with her many “children”.
A rough life it seemed to me! The males in her life not ever sticking around to help with her
offspring and I think they all went hungry a lot. I felt sorry for her and hoped to help in some way
but I was only eight years old so there was not much I could do, I did sneak food to her
when I got the chance. Then I saw a glimpse of her, she was coming out of the dark corner of the barn.
I could tell when we locked eyes that she knew of my woes! I started to get choked up at
just the sight of her, she understood and cared, I could feel it. I knew as my heart warmed
me up from within with affection fighting against the cold air in the barn that I would never
know anyone like her again in my life. As we touched, I said tenderly “Hello, how are you today?”
and a tear of happiness splashed on her leg from my eye ,as my heart ached then with joy I knew I was
forever blessed to have such a soul as her in my life!
