Memories...

                       

Sisters Come in Black Bags

     It was January.  There was snow on the ground.  I hardly ever got to go to the far side of the road to play when it was this cold.  But, believe it or not, I was riding on Daddy’s shoulders over that skinny bridge to my friend’s house.

         Well now, the thing was this time I didn’t really want to go.  I wanted to stay at Granny’s house.  Something was definitely up!  Mama was layin’ in Granny and Papa’s bed and Doc Cameron had even shown  up. 

         Usually I would have thrown a little “Judy fit” and Daddy would have taken me back.  When we got to my friend’s front door I could smell cookies, so, I decided I would stay after all.  But, those cookies ran out, we had played all the games we could think of and I was really getting anxious to know what was goin’ on across the road. 

         Finally, Daddy came back and we hurried to Granny’s.  We were too late, Doc Cameron was leaving.  Then he told me he had brought something special in his bag.  Oh boy, maybe not all was lost...I bet he brought me a sucker!!

         When we got inside, Daddy took me straight to the bedroom.   Mama was still in Granny and Papa's bed and she looked kinda funny...all teary eyed like she was cryin'.  But, she was grinnin' too big to be cryin'.  When she saw me she pulled back the covers.  Snuggled up beside her was this pink,wrinkly, little baby sucking her thumb.  Mama said, “See your baby sister?”  Hmmm, well, so much for that sucker!!!  Who knew baby sister’s came in black bags, anyhow.  I figured they woulda’ been under a big patch of weeds or in a hole out in the pasture. Everyone knows that's where you find babies...that’s where Daddy always found the baby pigs and calves! Too bad he couldn’t have gone out and found a puppy.  At least I knew why Mama was cryin'...what in the world were we gonna do with a baby!!

    That was a "few" years ago and a lots more tears have been shed...tears of great joy, tears of great loss.  Those tears you get when you laugh so hard it hurts.  Yep, we have shared our lives and have grown together.  Yep, I figured out really quick that baby sister’s are even better than puppies.  I love you, Juletta...Happy Birthday!

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        Just in case you’re wondering…you have to go to the hospital and pick up baby brothers.  But, that’s another story.

from "Moccasin Holler Memoirs", a collection of my memories.  Copyrighted-do not use without my written permission.