Chapter 3
Adeline was only about seven at the time.
Geraldine was the oldest at about 12, and Delphine and Laura were somewhere
in-between. Walking through the gaggle of Sassafras trees cut off the cool
flowing breeze and the humidity level began rising. The sisters were accustomed
to this.
It was Adeline who indicated that life in
the holler could get dangerous while trekking through the bramble and saplings.
“Don’t go that way Delphine and nobody get too close to that big rotten stump.
I’m a smellin’ cucumber and you know what momma says about that. There’s a rattler
somewhere.
While yanking out a sassafras sapling,
Laura’s foot slid on a patch of slippery moss and landed on her side. Out of
irritation she snapped at Adeline. “At least we won’t have a gaggle of admirers
hanging all over you today. I’ve seen the way you’ve been looking at Frankie
Buckner. Heard you calling his name last night in your sleep too. Bet you’d
wish Frankie would come an visit too.”
“Momma says Jesus doesn’t like us teasin’
each other like that” indicated Adeline as she quickly ducked her head to keep
from getting hit by Delphine throwing an old acorn.
“Stop it, momma says I’m in charge since
I’m the oldest,” stormed Geraldine stopping everyone in their tracks in front
of the family cemetery.
“Here we go again with the, I’m the oldest
lecture,” moans Laura.
“Keep it up and you’ll wake up to find
your knickers filled with beans an poking you right in the rear,” replied
Geraldine as she smacked her sister across the head causing the auburn pony
tail to tilt lopsided.
“That hurt you prat. I’m gonna tell mom
when she gets home.”
“Little good it’ll do ya. Now, we need a
plan for the night. The fields are full of ripe beans with no one to harvest
them an someone needs to look after Lourie.
“I’ll look after Lourie,” yawns Laura
while looking for a place to sit down and rest for a spell.
“No way,” shoots Delphine. “You’ll just
take a nap an Lourie will be soaked by the time we get back. I’ll stay and
watch the house.”
“Then we’ll all starve since everything
that’s cooked by you comes out hard as a rock” Laura spats back.
“Adeline will watch Lourie and tend to
the house while the rest of you will help in the fields. That’s the way mom and
dad would work things out” implies Geraldine with a strong hint of finality and
authority in her tone.
“But wait, what am I gonna fix for
supper? Momma hadn’t been shoppin yet” pleads Adeline.
“You’re the one who’s always going around
saying that the Lord will provide. Go and ask him.” Then grabbing Delphine and
Laura’s arm, Geraldine walks off with her sisters to the barn to so they can
get ready to tend the fields.
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