Welcome to another ‘Tickle-me-Thursday’ and here is another short story from the upcoming book, Georgia Sunrise.. The author, Don Bowen, has graciously given his permission to share some of his humorous stories exclusively on the Examiner. After the story, there is a recipe for ‘Fried Cabbage.' Enjoy!
The old share cropper house we lived in needed constant repair. The cracks in the walls were big enough that you could see the sun shine through during the daytime and the moon rays at night.
Mother had a wood-burning stove to cook on. It warmed the house in the winter and made it sweltering hot in the summer. The windows had wooden shutters, instead of glass windowpanes. They were closed only during cold weather and rain storms.
We did not have a bathroom in the house and so we used an outhouse. There was always a Sears and Robuck catalog near the seat of the toilet hole. The reading material came in handy for other uses besides reading.
At nighttime children were encouraged to use the slop jar under their beds, whenever they would wake up with the urge to urinate. The slop jar had a cover to it and was always emptied and cleaned out the following morning.
I remember Grandmother used to tell a story about Uncle Robert, who had been drafted in the Army. He was gone for about a week when he wrote a letter home telling her that he missed his family and friends. But, what he missed the most was that little jar under his bed.
Grandmother wrote back saying, “I know you miss your family and friends, but when you were home you still missed that little jar under your bed.”
Mosquitoes were a big problem at night where we lived. Daddy would build a bunch of small fires and put green leaves on them to make them produce a lot of smoke to drive away mosquitoes and other undesirables. We had mosquito nets hanging above our beds and at night you let them down so as to keep them off of you. It was hot, but at least we could sleep without getting bit by mosquitoes.
Mother used to sit around a kerosene lamp and play the guitar and sing until we all fell asleep. Daddy enjoyed her singing as much as I did. He would always ask her to sing his favorite song, The Tennessee Waltz. There was no electricity back then, so we always went to bed early. Mother’s singing would put you to sleep faster than any sleeping pill in the world.
That share cropper house may not have any modern luxuries, but it had the most wonderful element any house could have, it was a loving home.
Recipe for Fried Cabbage by Don Bowen
Chop up one head of cabbage and one small onion. This dish can be cooked in either bacon grease or olive oil, depending on the diner’s diet routine. When the oil in the large skillet is hot enough, stir in the cabbage and cook for about fifteen minutes. Now, stir in the onions. Reduce the heat. Cover the skillet with a domed glass skillet lid. Simmer for about fifteen minutes or until the onions are cooked.
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