Foxfire
Foxfire
Foxfire
Randmutteredsomethingunder hisbreathandstoppedtoremoveamuddyshoe.Ashesatdownonamossystump, squeezingbrownwateroutofhissock,heheardsomeonenearby.Thesoundofthe streamwasupahead;rainwaterhadspilledoutandspreaddownthepath;hedyet tocomeacrossstonesButthevoicewascloser, Rand,myboy,thevoicesaid.Whachadoinoutthisfarallbyyourself? ItwasMr.Hensley,wellknownaroundtownasbeingalilfunnybuthewasa preacherandsowasrespectedandrevered.RandcouldseethatHensleyhadbeen sittingbehindacurtainofkudzu,andhadrisentospeaktohim.Sunlightslicedthe canopiesabove,spreadingdarkmoisturealongthevinesasthepreacherstepped forward.Inhisapproach,thevegetationseemedtopartandopenwithactivity. RandcouldnowdistinguishfromthevinessnakesmakingtheirwayfromHensleys sleeves,opencollarandpantslegs.Thepreacherheldontoonerattlesnake,roughly midway,allowingtheserpenttoheaveandpropitsbodyintoahorrible,frozenbut cracklingS. ImgointoseeLadyBell,youngRandmanaged,replacinghisshoe. Youthinkyourebigenoughtobesuchafool? Imsorry,Mr.Hensley,butmyfolksvetoldmetogettoGrannyscabin,andget awaybackhome. Whachafolkssendyoutoseethatwitchfor? Well,repliedRand,onaccountmynosewontstopbleedin.Threedaysago, Randhadwokenearlyinthemorningtoasoaked,redpillow. YouthinkLadyBellsgonnacureyou?askedHensley.Despitetheirbest efforts,hisparentswereunabletoremedytheirsonscondition.Onthethird morning,hismothergavehimsignstofollowupthemountainthepathto GrannysCabin.Hedheardstoriesofthemountainwitchhisentirelife.LadyBell iswhattheoldtimerscalledher.Noonetookthewalktoseeherlightly.Like Hensley,theBellswererespected,butwithcautionanddistance. Masaysshellstopmynosebleedin,saysIjusgottadowhatshesays. Ireckonshemight,Iheartell,saidHensley.Youcouldsitaspellwithmy brothersandsisters.Wecouldprayforyou.Howlongyousayyournosebeenbloody? Randtoldhim,adding:Notgushin,butitjuswontquit.Atnight,whenIm sleepin,Igetchokedup.Hensleyclosedhiseyesandsaid,
Signsshallfollowhewhobelieves.Heposed,ThenameofGodshallcastout devils,begantodanceeversoslightly,slowly,andallowedthesnakestongue tobrushhislips.Believersshalltakeupserpents,theyshalllayhandsonthe sick,andthesickshallrecover.Hensleylookedhardattheyoungboy.Icancureyou. Imsorrysir,myfolkstoldmewhatIdbetterdo,andIwannagetbackfore dark.So,ifitwontoffendyounone,Idliketobeonmyway. Well,relentedthepreacher,youbestdowhatyourfolkstellyou,boy. Thankyou,sir,saidRandasheturnedupthepath.Lookingbackoverhis shoulder,hecastthepreacherawavebutHensleyhadbeguntodisappearbeneath shiny,greenbrowntendrilsofshadowysnakeearth.
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Randstucktothepath,followingthesignshismotherhadgivenhim.Hecametothe stonesinthestream,tookadeepbreath,andcrossedthroughmorningsunlight illumingcool,clearwater Fromtheotherside,hecontinuedupthemountain,passingliteralsignsnow, fadedandillegible.Soon,hecaughthisfirstglimpseofLadyBellscabin,fixedaways upyet,atinythumbnailinstonycotton. Roughlytwentyminuteslater,andRandhadslippedwheremossyground gavewaytoblackcakedrockonlytwice.Hisfingernailsweresoiled,andhishands werescuffed,buthemanagedtopreservetheragwithwhichhefrequentlydabbed hisnoseSoon,hewasupthechutesinthecliff,andcomingtorestattheedgeofa smallplateau. Onlywithhisfolkshadheseenthemountainslikethis.Hesuddenlyrealized hewasdetached.Helearnedtheurgencyofreturn. Randapproachedthecabin.Hetooknoteofthedilapidatedfrontporch,crumbling; bustedoutrockingchairs;coloredupjarshangingeverywhereAcarpetofbees inacornersuppliedwhitenoise.Behindhim,fromundertheporch,something rappedwherehehadstepped,andcaughtuptohimquickly. Bebravemylittleman,hismotherhadsaid,noteveryonebelieves,andtheymustbe scaredawaytoplummettotheirdeaths,speakingofthegreatlengthstofindthe cabin.OnlyabelievercanapproachGranny,andonlyinyourwillingnesscanshecure you. Randknockedonthewitchsdoor,andfrownedatthebelchingechoesissuingfrom thecabin.Asthedoorcrackedopen,thesoundsdeepened,growingextraordinarily loud.AsRandpeeredinhefeltsomethinglikeaspiderwebcatchhisface.Inan instant,beforehecouldsummonhishandtowipethewebaway,whirlsofsmoke obscuredanenormouswhiteandgraybirddancingandflappingaboutmadly(the
subjectofhisonlyarticulationinthisbriefmovementinthedoorway:Howdoesit getout?)Thenhesawthewitch, whowascomposedentirelyoftwistedandpointed,wrinkled,whiteface andimpossiblylong,silverhair,theendsofwhichreachedacrossthethresholdand blendedwiththewebinhiseyelashes.Thenoiseended,andRandrealizedthedoor hadslammedshutbehindhim. Completelyoutofsorts,hestoodontheporchlookingathishands.He realizedtheylookedclean.Hisnailswereclean.Therewasnowebonhisface. Wheresmyrag?Hemovedhishandstohisnose.Theysmellclean.Randsnosehad stoppedbleeding. Helookedacrossthesky,realizingnowthathedlostmostoftheday.It wouldbedarksoon,andtheforestwoulddarkenquicklyHedspenthoursinside thecabin. Ashemadehiswaybacktothestream,carefullydescendingthecliffs,hediscovered afoldedpieceofpaperinhispocket 3Chickens
Frogs
Musthavebeentheearlyforties, wewerestilllistenintothewarontheradioAraincameonesummer.Idnever seensomuchwater.Irememberthecatswouldntlookatme.Iremembertheway mydadspantslegssoakedsomeofitup,halfwaytohisknees.Wasntsodeep everywheretherewerelowandhighpointstotheyard.Iwokeonenightfrom what,hail,somepummelingontheroof,andthroughthewindowIcouldseeitwas rainingbutraininglargedarkchunksofsomethinsideswater Igotouttabed.Checkedonmomma.Shewassleeping.CheckedonthebabyforeI realizeddadwasmissinSawhimoutintherain,sawhimpickinupandstuffin intoafeedsack,bullfrogs,itwasliterallyrainingbullfrogs. Hespottedmeneaththeporchlight, andsmiled,holdinuphisbooty.
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Thefirstthingiskillinthefrog.Inthekitchen,mommausedahammer.Iremember howtheirtongueshungout.Shedhitemtiltheydid. Watchedhercuttheskinroundeachfrogshead,makinitlikeamaskor helmet.Shepulledtheskinofftheirbodieswithpliers.Irememberthecontrast,not likefur:greenskinandwhite,slimyinsides;withtheskinofftheylookedliketiny angels(orMartians).Thenshetookitbythejaws,madeanotherincision,and rippedtheheadoff,twistinandwrenchinasshewent. Sheremovedtheheadslikecorkscrews,cuttinintoem,thenturnintiloff itpopped,oftendragginentrailsbehindShemadetinyVsoftheirjointsand removedtheirfeetwiththelargeknife.Shethentooktheknifeandsplittheribcage. Shepinchedemtogetthroughthebreastbone.Sheemptiedtheremainingcontents. Shecoatedthemeatinbutter.Therewereeggs,flour,salt,garlicand mushroommixedintoabatterinwhichshedrubthem,andlaterdrizzle.Probably somebacongreasetoo,intheskilletwheretheyfriedonthestove. Alittlelater,wewereeating.
Squirrels
Upforethesun,meanddad, walkinslow,realquiet,takininallthesoundsroundusBackthen,youcoulddo that,didnthavetheinterstate,therewasntanytraffic,ourclosestneighborwas, well,halfamilemaybeWehadtogetupearly.Ifitwasaweekend,wehadwork todointhefieldsafterbreakfast.Orwewouldbegointochurch.Anddurinthe week,Ihadschool Wedidnttalkmuch.Thehousewasquiettoo.Inthekitchen,dadfilleda thermoswithcoffee.Iusedafunnel,andfilledasmalleronewithmilk.Weputon ourboots.Ifitwaschilly,wemightbundleupjustabit,knowinitdwarmupinalil while. Weslungourriflesoverourshoulders.Wemadethewoods.Andwewalked slowerandslower,mindfulofourstepsthebranchinfrontofus,pilesofleaves wemovedwatchinthecanopiesallround;andwelistened;youcouldactuallyhear them.Youcouldhearwoodpeckers,allsortsofbirdsyoucouldhearmanysmall animals,thecattlebeginningtorustle,theroosterAndyoucouldheartinyclaws clenchedintobark.Youcouldheareensyteethchippinwayatnuts. SometimesIdtapdadonthearm.Sometimeshedsimplypoint. Aheadshotwasbest.Veryeasytoclean.Ifwewerelucky,innotimewehad threeorfour.Isaynotimewemightstayoutanhour,maybetwo.Irecallone morning,weeachkilledthree.Cameuponabunchacornhusks,earsofitlyin roundDadandIputourbackstogether,andwaited. Dadsplitemopen,andIemptiedtheirbodies.(Isavedtheliversandhearts. Mommausedeminthekitchen.)Fromthroattoasshole,eachwassplit.Icanstill rememberthesoundofemcrackinopen.Then,theheadscameoff,thetails,the paws. [Laughing]Irecallsomethingfunnyboutwalkinwaythatdaywiththecorn littletailsandpaws,squirrelheadsscatteredingrassandweeds,leaves,grainsof cornIthoughtboutothersquirrelscominuponthesceneafterwedgone. Dadusedhishuntinknifeanddidmostofthework.Iwrappedthemeatup inwaxpaper,andweheadedhome.
Dinnerw/Farkle
Ahadntbeenslingingthedrinks whenIlefttheTrophyandheadedupBrannontowardRandyshome,butI reckonedshewouldbelater.Idputawaytwobeerswritinginmyjournaltiltime tohookupwithRandy,hopefullyplaysomechess.RandyandIhadbeeninthehabit ofplayingchessnearlythreeyearswell,westartedplayingthreeyearsago.Isplit lastsummer,beeninAbilenemostly.Justbackafewweeksago Funny,thoughtIwasfinallyputtingthatBckpgshitbehindme. DidsomefinewritinginTX.WrappedupadraftofmynovelaboutSolomon andRobertHoward.TotallyexecutedRevoltintheFifthDimension,butMarvels legaldepthasthatshitwrappedtighterthanthegirdleofVenus. (Ontopofallthis,Imcominguponthesecondanniversaryofmydivorce.) Needingthebeerlately.ThatshowImetA.Randysheard HisopinionsImafoolforhavingnothitonthisadorableyoungcreaturesooner. ThinkingIwonttalkaboutAtonight.Iwannareallychewthefat.Ireallywanta distraction.Andgoodcompany.AndImhopingKevinsleftbeerinthefridge RandyandIaremembersoftheBigLegged,GayBoyPokerClub.Heisafounding member.Itformednearlythirtyyearsagoandhasanimpressivecastofmembers. Ivebeenplayingforalmostnineyearsnow.InmytimeIveseenasmanyas fourteensittingroundthetable;butstill,everynowandthenIcancatchathree handedgame,whichisswell,betteroddstoo.Goodtimes,nohighstakes.Weplay forchange,nickels,dimes,quarters;wehavequarterlimitbets,andathreeraise limit.ButIwontboreyouwithsuchdetails, threeorfouryearswevebeenplayinginRandysbasement.Hemadea delightfulspaceforeveryone.Nicerails,beautifultable,thererecansandplastic containersofchangeeverywhere.Therearealsocalendarsofbeautifulwomen, anoriginalBlasingamepaintingandscadsofTarrantPhotography mostlydepictingtheAmericanWestYellowstone,Glacier,Grand,others IcantrecallTheresaradiotoo,andIbelieveitneverstraysfrom103.3. Thereisbeerinthefridge,soIopenone,stowmythingsandtakeaseat.Randy, takinghischair,sitsdownthecupofdiceandapadofpaper.Ivegottwoquartersin
Sowhatsnew?Iask. New?saysRandy.Hell,Idontwantnew,lifekeepsonrollinlongandthatsuits mejustfine!Randysclosetothirtyyearsmysenior.Ikeepwakinupeverymorning, heshrugs YouhearJohnHughesdiedtoday? Whosthat? BreakfastClub,WeirdScience,FerrisBeullersDayOff Ohreally, Yeah,Isay,heartattackwalkininthecityDontwantnews, Randyinterrupts Funnyhowtheeightiesarereemergingbeforeoureyesinfashion,inrecent nostalgiaMr.Jackson,nowHughes,twoincrediblecontributors. Youlivetogettobeanage,smilesRandy,interruptingagain,youllseetheres nearlynooneleft. Ifinallygetontheboardrollingastraight.Thatsworth1500.Iholdaniceposition throughmanyfarklesandRandygetson.Thenitsastruggle.Itryandtakerollsthat keepmyscoreoverorveryclosetohis.
1=100.5=50.Anythreeofakindrolledsimultaneously=facevalueX100,except 1s(31s=1000).Rollingtwo3oaKsimultaneouslyreceives+1000bonus.Rolling 6oaKsimultaneouslyreceives+2000bonus.Astraight=1500.(Astraightcanonly beachievedwithsixdice.) Anexampleroll:(one)sixdie,2,3,3,5,6,6=50points(keepthe5).Noneofthe remainingdicescorepoints,orplay.Theyarepickedupandtheplayermay continue.(two)fivedie:5,5,5,1,1=800points(3oaKin5s,500+thefirst5,now 100insteadof50,+100foreach1.)Thisisaperfectroll.Alldiceareinplay.The playerhastodecidewhethertokeeprolling(bypickingupthediceandrolling
allsixagain)ortakethe800pointsandstop.Remember,afarklewillstopaplayers turn,andresultinthelossofpointsearnedduringthatturn.
WewatchalotofHistoryChannel,Discovery,etc.Wediscusstheprogramsweve recentlyseen.RandysbeenwatchingSurvivorman.SeemsRandydmakeafine survivor.Itellyou,IcouldsurvivewithagunandwhatIgotroundhereforalong time. Randytellsmeastoryofeatingsquirrelasrecentlyassixorsevenyearsago(down attheLakelot).Hegardens.Hasalong,rectangularyardonegardenscloseto thebackofthehouse(Randyhasacuriousarrangementpartitioningawaythe businessofhisdogs;plexiglass,chainlink,plywood)buttheplantscontinueinto thebasement.Eachyearhepullsmastomatoes,cucumbers(hemakespickles), lettuce,spinach,potatoes,carrots,allkindsofpeppers,cilantro,basil,cantaloupe, watermelon,pumpkinHecallsithishobby,gardens.Therearetimesweleave pokerwithproducebythesackload.Therearetimeshestockshissandwichshop withthesefixins. Itellyou,IcouldsurvivewithwhatIgotroundhereforalongtime. Whachatalkinbout? Well,whenthebigonecomes.Thisoneheremighthitustonight,slappingthe topofthetable,theNewMadridSeismicZoneproducedfourofthelargestquakesin NorthAmericanHistory.Iwaswatchinsomethinghereafewdaysback,PBS, something,theyhavealist,youknow,thisgovernmentoutfitwatchinfornatural disastersIthinkNewMadridsinthetopfive. Whatarethetopfive? Oh,IcantrememberSanAndreas,maybeNewOrleans Katrina? Well,anotherKatrina.Icantrecallthetops,butNewMadridsupthere WhataboutYellowstone? Randypauses,givingmeagiggleandcockinghiseyesovertherimofhis spectaclesOh,noonecanprepareforYellowstone.Thenhegoestotalkingatsome lengthaboutthequakein1812,inNewMadrid.Heassemblesafamilystory,agreat greatuncleorsomesuch MississippiMan,ariverworker,playedthebangiebutthatwasyearslater,Randy adds,whenthesteamerstookoverseemshewasstillayoungmanwhenhegot startedin1812,workinghiswaysouthfromSt.LouistoNewOrleans;workingasa handonakeelboattransportinggoodstovariousportsonthewaytotheGulfof Mexico.(Hedhadaneyeforfishing,andwashopingtotakethatupabitwhenhe arrived.)
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IaskhowlongitwouldhavetakentotravelbyboatfromStltoNewOrleans. Randysaysacoupleofweeks,pauses,squintsandcorrectshimself:perhapslonger, hecantremembereverything. ThepointisMMwasontheMississippiinearlyFebruary1812.Hetoldstoriesof lightsreflectedalongthewater,roundshoreandoutasfarashecouldsee; lightningonclearnights.Therewerenoises,grumblesandgroansthelikesofwhich youdassociatewithnausea,gastrointestinalissues.Thethirdquakeinthesequence (Randysholdingupthreefingersnow,remindingmethatthefirstquakeoccurred inDecember,1811)hitonenightwhenhewasstillnorthofNewMadrid.Theboat hadbeentiedtoshore.ThenoiseRandyplaysMMexclaiming,MyGod,thesound Itwaslikecannonfire,butsubterranean.Thenthecrewcouldseetheriverdidnt lookright.AndtheboatwasbeginningtowagviolentlyThatswhentheysawthat theshoresportingthelargetreetowhichtheydtiedtheboatwassinking. MMcuttheboatloose,andtheshoredisappeared.Hesaiddowntheway,it keptgoingunderuntiltheboatwasnolongernearlandatall.Thewaterhadadark streamflowingnorth,andsoontheboatwasgoingbackthewayitcame.MMstuck hishandsinthewaterandtheyfilledwithsoggycoaldust.Theymanagedtocross theriver,flowingnorth,buttheclosertheygottoland,themoretheshore retreated,brokelooseandsank.ThewaterhadrisenandriverwideneduntilMM reckonedtheriverhadswelledtooveramilewide. Finally,freeofthecoalstream,theycouldheadsouthagain.Itwasntaday beforetheycameuponothers,wreckedorhomeless,draggingallkindsofthings fromthewater.MMlistenedtotheirstories.Houseshadcrumbled,entire settlementsweregone.WhenhefinallymadeittoNewMadrid,itwasmostlygone. Hethenheardstoriesthatconfirmed,yes,theMississippihadindeedflowed backwards;yes,thebottomoftheriverjuttedoutofthewater,andcausedtheriver tospillover,andbackup;yes,waterfallsappearedintheriver,andholesintowhich theMississippi,andmanyapoorboat,poured.AfterafewdaysindevastatedNew Madrid,MMwasmakingthelongtrekbacktoSt.Louisonfoot.
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Randy&Irollfor25cents.Ifoneplayerhits10Kbeforeanotherreaches5K,that playermustthenpaydoublewhentheylose;ifaplayerhasyettogetontheboard whenanotherreaches10K,thatplayermustthenpay$1ifheorshefailstogeton theboardduringtheirlastturn.Ifaplayerreachesorexceeds10Kanddoesnotwin, thatplayermustpay50cents.
deepchromecontainersofbologna,sausage,ham,chickenandturkeyslices; provolone,cheddar,swisscheese;pickles,lettuce,tomatoes,bananapeppers, onions,olives,crumblesofbacon,bleucheese;mustardandmayo.Randywarms breadinatoasteroven.Wemakeplates.Wetakeindividualsizepackagesofchips. Wetaketinycheesecakedessertsinclearplasticcontainers.Whenheofferssoda, Isay,Nothanks,theresbeerinyourbasement. Man,itllbeamess.Wecontinueconversing,rollingthroughourmeal.Thishouse, yourhouse,mightnotbeanythingleft.Youmightbeluckyjusttobealive. Irollthreeacesandthreesixes.1600+1000bonus. RandyshakeshisheadwhenIpickthediceup,androllagain.Imeantosay, Icouldsurvive.Icouldgoouttomybackyard,shootsomesquirrels,cleanem,cook emaneatemRandysmilesbig,Mmmm,Iusedtolovemesomesquirrel. Neverissued,takingthreefives,andpushingthediceaway.Onthescorepad, Iadd3100tomyscore.NowIvegotabitofbreathingroom Andfrogs,afterthatstormafewnightsagoItellyou,sometimesitsjustfunny goinroundthecornertoSchnucksforfoodHell,theresfoodeverywhere.
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ImtooyoungtorememberitRandysays,tellingmeaboutthe1968quakeSome damagetohisbuilding,nothingtooseriousbutsomeseriousshaking.Ithinkthat wasthelast,weighinghishands,biggerones,notable.Herubshischinandsays, Aprillastyearmaybe,beenafewsmallones Irecallhearinboutthat,butImustvesleptthroughit.Didnttakenotice. Kindaearlyinthemornin,no? Iwasup,Icouldtellthingswereshakingabit. Turnsout,Iwon.IvetakentwoofRandysquartersHesnotdown.Hescored nearly12K,butIhitthirteeneightwiththehelpoftwosetsofaces,someothersets andmasymasrollingWeveputuptwomorequarters.Wereplayingagain.Right now.
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Youvehadyourshareoflucklately,Randysays.Ivetakenfourofhisquarters tonight,andIsmileathim,droppingthemoneatatime intomycontainerofgamblingmoney.Helaughs,Illgetemback.Heasks whatitwaslastweekend,Onefifty?hadtobeclose DidntcountthelittlejarIsnaggedwiththosefourthrees,butitwasheavy,and thetournamentspaidcloseto30,andthatonehandofDimeswith,howmanywere playin?eight,nineofushalfthatpotwasover30bucksmaybeOnetwenty? Andgoodrollintonight,Randylamented.Well,Ihopethatstheend ofyourluck,man!helaughs.Oddsvecertainlybeenwithyou. Iconsiderit,maybetheoddsarewithme andIwonderifAsbacktoherusualdutiesattheTrophy.
August6,2009 StlMO