Waters

Once a time long ago, Roy recalled how he had gone to the deep south for a stay at his brother-cousin's place: "Hurry Leroy! There's a car coming! Let's run for the woods!

Roy didn't respond.

"Come on boy get moving or we'll be under a tree!" his older cousin Robert E Lee chided while peering over the bush toward the road.

"Keep your fool head down!: the General whispered hoarsely.

Roy hugged the ground as if it were his mother as bobbing red cheeks went by singing a song about an old man called Joe.

"OK, now we can walk again!" the General ordered.

It was so much fun when his cousin said he would show him the "ole water hole". They went to see and the mud on the sides were thick and black.

"Granddaddy Brown once rubbed himself with that stuff and that's why we this way!" the fifteen year old cousin joked with him and then began slapping his leg uncontrollably as Roy continued to look at the mud and rub his arm.

Five year old Roy never again - that whole summer - went back to the old water hole no matter how many times his cousin asked nor how hot it was.

In his mind Roy tried to flood the old water with new water.

by Jerry Villhoti