by admin
Chapter 3
Starve a fever
BH was shivering beneath the covers. He was dripping with sweat and red from the fever, yet he shivered with cold. It had been 2 days since the fever had started and the Doctor had told his Ma to starve the fever out of him so he had been fed nothing. He was so hungry he thought he would die.
His sister Clara came into see how he was doing after school and he tried to talk her into saving some of her dinner for him. Clara had heard the Doctor talking to his ma and so she was having no part of it.
“BH the Doctor said that fever has to be starved. It’s the only way your going to get better.”
“I tell you that Doctor is wrong. I gotta have something to eat or I’m going to starve. Please Clara anything, I am so hungry.”
Clara always liked BH because he was always sneaking candy from the counter for her. She hated to think of him starving and couldn’t see how you could starve the fever without starving the person with the fever. The Doctor seemed so wise and her momma trusted him. What should she do?
BH started shivering again and fell asleep. Clara snuck out of the room so as not to wake him. But she kept thinking about him starving right along with that fever.
At dinner she could hardly eat thinking about poor BH starving to death and her doing nothing to help him. She finally made up her mind that the fever wouldn’t be hurt to much by just 2 eggs. She stuck them under her apron of her dress so her Momma wouldn’t know what she was doing and asked to be excused from the table.
She ran straight to BH’s room and woke him. “BH I have brought you some eggs. I didn’t think they would feed the fever to much being as how you were so hungry and all.”
BH sat up and wolfed those eggs down as fast as he could eat them. Clara worried all night if she had made the right choice or not. Starving the fever or starving her brother. It was a hard choice.
The next day the Doctor came and said to her momma “ Keep up the good work starving that fever. You can’t feed him a thing or he could die.” Clara’s heart skipped a beat worrying that she had made the wrong choice.
by admin
Momma’s shoes
BH’s ears were already burning. He knew the other boys would never let him live this down. He looked at his feet and felt utterly ridiculous. He wanted to fake illness. Maybe his Momma would let him stay home. But what good would that do. Tomorrow would be no different.
They had struggled before Daddy had died to make ends meet but it was really hard once he was gone. His momma ran a small country store but they barely had enough for food let alone clothes.
There was no helping it, he would have to wear his Momma’s shoes to school. Billy Hill would have to be beaten at least once about it before the teasing would stop. So he squared his shoulders and marched out the door. A soldier ready for a fight. He walked in the snow the gap between his foot and the shoe more evident with each step, great now his socks were wet. Even with the double socks he had worn, the shoes slopped something terrible. The burn rose to his ears again.
He came into the school yard, head down but shoulders still squared for a fight Johnny came over and said “We’re playing Indian squaw wrestling. Your always the best so come quick.”
Johnny didn’t notice his shoes. Maybe this would be alright after all. How wrong he was.
As they walked into the ring of yelling boys BH noticed Billy was wrestling Andy. They were the best wrestlers except for him in the school. It should be a long match. Andy had Billy half way over but Billy was still resisting. BH walked closer to where the boys were on the ground. As BH came into Billy’s view Billy’s eyes bugged out and he started laughing out loud. Andy flipped him over easily. Billy was still laughing when he came up. Andy couldn’t figure out what he was laughing about he had just lost the match.
BH in the excitement of the match had forgotten all about his shoes and was also surprised that Billy was laughing. Billy started pointing to him and couldn’t talk he was laughing so hard. BH suddenly remembered his shoes and felt the redness rise in his face. He was in the front of the ring of boys and there was no where to run. He would have to stand and face them all. It was not going to be pretty.
Billy finally got in control of his laughter and said “Shoes” pointing at BH. Everyone turned to look at him and they all started laughing. Worse then he could have imagined was the response of the other boys. Most fell to the ground with Billy laughing. He could fight fists but how do you fight laughter. He hung his head in shame. His shoulders slumped from their defensive square and he was horrified by the laughter. It seemed it would never end.
Billy finally in control of himself jumped to his feet and said “Are those your Momma’s shoes. We knew you were poor but that is really to much isn’t it?”
BH could only hang his head. Sometimes there is just nothing to say.
by admin
“Daddy, where are you going so late?” said Bonnie. He was so small and his father so big. He watched as his father took down the gun from over the door. He felt his stomach tighten when he saw the worried face of his mother.
“Son, I have to get the dog.” said his father gruffly.
“Will, don’t you think it could wait until morning?” said his mother’s shaky voice.
“No Rose we have been through this. Jeb should have brought the dog back days ago and I won’t wait another night. I have to go hunting with him tomorrow.” with that he turned and left the little cabin and Bonnie felt small.
“Go to sleep son, everything will be alright.” said his mother but her eyes were wet and said she didn’t believe it.
Bonnie fell asleep despite his fear. When he awoke the next morning his mother was sitting quietly in the chair he had left her in the night before. Her eyes were red and baby Clara was sleeping peacefully on her lap. The cabin seemed strangely quiet and BH knew his father had not returned yet. He knew it would only take an hour to walk to Jeb’s place. He also knew Jeb didn’t want to give the dog back.
Bonnie knew the dog was a good hunting dog and his father fed the family with the animals they tracked together. He couldn’t understand why someone would want to steal an old dog. He was confused that his father had taken his gun also. That must be it, he was going to go hunting this morning maybe that explained why he wasn’t home yet. Maybe he got the dog and just went hunting. They certainly needed him too. Maybe he should tell his mother, Maybe he could wipe that fear off her face.
Ned woke up yelling and mother got up to go comfort him. She started breakfast and Bonnie told Ned where his father went. Loud so his mother could hear he told Ned, “Daddy said he was goin’ hunting this morning that’s why he isn’t home yet.”
He looked to see if this information had any effect on his mother or not. She didn’t look up from the fire but he hoped his words had comforted her.
When the sheriff came to the cabin Bonnie and Ned were out collecting eggs. Bonnie saw him ride up on his big horse and saw his shiny badge. What would the sheriff be doing here. Such a long ride from town. Bonnie ran to the cabin to tell his Ma.
“Ma, the Sheriff is here. He rides a really big horse.”
His Ma sat down hard in the rocker and said “Oh Lord, no.” the tears sprang into her eyes. The sheriff’s boots clomped up each wooden step. Bonnie was suddenly afraid. The sheriff was coming closer and his momma wasn’t ready to talk to him. “Momma, the sheriff is here” Bonnie took her hand in his and it chilled him. She wiped her eyes on her apron and got up walked to the door and said “Sheriff how nice of you to come. My husband is not here. Can I help you?”
The sheriff took his hat into his hands and shuffled his feet. “Ma’am, I know your husband isn’t here. One of the boys found him in the woods up near Jeb’s place. He was shot in the back. He’s dead ma’am.”
by admin
Time line for grandpa’s life
1. Born and given a funny girl’s name
2. Dad shot for a dog
3. Mom’s shoes to school
4. Found shot gun shell
5. Owns store – Mother has immaculate handwriting
6. Mom dies of tuberculosis
7. Moves in with Aunt Mary and Uncle John
8. John steals Bible and family inheritance
9. Johnny has 18 children
10. Potatoes in the back yard
11. Sleeping in the barn
12. Teens years
13. Bushel Britches
14. Plows 6 acres for 1 damn nickel
15. Goes to Berea college
16. Ruth
17. Get shot at by man that killed his pa
18. Apple orchard