I remember one day, sitting on a rocky dirt driveway. I was playing jacks with the stones. You see Jean and I didn't have many toys. So we entertained ourselves with whatever we found. It was a little after three o'clock, and the mill had just let out. Looking down the dirt road, as I sat there playing Jack's, I saw grandmother Moore limping down the road. Her plaid dress stuck to her body from the sweat. Cotton lint all in her sweaty hair, and stuck to her body like glue. She walked as if she did not know where the next step would come from. This was in July, and at that time I don't believe the mill had air-conditioning. I can't imagine how hard it was to work all day in temperatures like that. I kind of felt sorry for her, until she took off her belt and started to give me a good old-fashioned whipping. You know, I never knew what that whipping was for. You see while I was sitting playing jacks in the driveway, my sister Jean had a fire built between the stumps of a big tree in the backyard. Now, I truly did not remember Jean getting a whipping, but she said she did.
It was right at this time, that my granddaddy Moore died. I dearly love him. I remember sitting on his lap many times singing old songs. One of the songs was David Crockett. I had a problem speaking clearly then, and I would always pronounce Crockett with the C AND R left out. So it sounded like ockett. I believe the more I tried the worse I got. It was only after he died, that I learned to say it properly. Back then, families that were not well off would keep the bodies of the dead at home rather than a funeral parlor. So granddad's casket was in the hallway. Lying in bed that night, I thought of how I missed him. Now don't ask me whether real or imaginary, but that night I saw my granddaddy standing at the foot of my bed. He was standing there, not saying a word, but looking at me as to say goodbye. I never told anyone this then because I did not believe that anyone would believe me. There are certain people in your life, that you tend not to forget, and he was one of those.
I remember a lady that worked in the cafeteria at school. Back then, you did not get free lunch unless you did not have a car, and many other things. Dad had a car, so free lunches were just out of the question. And I was really tired of that luncheon meat sandwichs that I was getting for lunch every day. So I started working in the lunchroom for free lunch. One of the ladies for some reason took me under her wing. I remember I went by her house one day and she let me cut her hair. I couldn't have been no more than 11 or 12. This Lady was very kind, but very foolish. I gapped her hair up real bad. I noticed the next day, she had gone to the beautician and gotten her hair cut short. But she never said a word to me, and was still very kind to me. This world needs more people like her. Someone to fill empty spaces in hurting hearts.
Tomorrow, how the teacher took my lunch away from me.
Until then God bless and God save.