Cotton & Corn: A Place, A Life, A Memory - Chapter 19

Nineteen

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Fried Green Tomatoes & Watermelon

Farm life was always hard and very busy. Laundry was done using a washboard and water was heated in a large black cauldron outside. Baths were only taken once or twice a week in a galvanized tub with water heated on the cook stove. The cellar was used for canning and storing vegetables, as well as a refuge during cyclone season. In the fall Ma made sausage and also canned some meat. Nothing went to waste. Ma even boiled the head and made headcheese. I remember it being very good, but can’t even imagine eating it now.

The one souvenir I have from Eakly is my Keen Kutter meat grinder. When we moved into the house there we found it, I still use it today. I recently used it to make green tomato mincemeat. Speaking of green tomatoes, we often had fried green tomatoes to eat back in them days and, of course, watermelon for dessert sometimes.

That spring I sold packs of needles. I think most of the folks felt sorry for me since I had been so sick all winter. I earned a Shirley Temple doll, which I still have today.

One afternoon every student was given clothing at school. Pa hated it ‘cause he didn’t like receivin’ handouts from anyone of any kind. I was thrilled though ‘cause I got a corduroy suit with a black twill pattern, a khaki skirt, and a beige blouse that buttoned under the crotch. That part my Ma cut off as soon as I brought it home. Most of my dresses up to that point had been made out of printed flour sacks. It felt like bein’ rich or somethin’ to get such pretty clothes.

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“Pa,” Rae Ann inquired, “are we headin’ to the Cobb Creek store today?”

“Yep, I got some cream and eggs for tradin’, maybe for a hunk of beef and some flour. It wouldn’t hurt none to get some petrol in the Model T either, plus I want to check out those folks playin’ that croquet game.”

“Hittin’ that ball around through those tiny goal lookin’ things, Pa?”

“That’s the game. They play pert near every Saturday about this time. Go and get your sister and brothers. We all might as well go. I’ll fetch your mother.”

Rae Ann hurried to tell her siblings of the adventure that awaited them. Mary was first and was very excited, “I wonder if the monkey is still there… and that cute little squirrel.”

When Richard entered the room Rae Ann joked with him and said their father was taking him with him to shovel coal for the cotton gin. Richard grumbled until Rae Ann informed him that she was only teasing him. He relaxed when he learned about a trip to the store. Teddy did not care one way or the other for some reason, but said he would go just to see if the store still had the monkey.

Rae Ann gently tucked her Shirley Temple doll into its bed and skipped out to the car and climbed in along with her siblings.

“Everybody ready?” Mr. Charlton questioned.

Rae Ann replied, “Yeah, Pa, but what about Ma?”

“She’s got some things to tend to here.”

Rae Ann asked quickly, “Can I sit up front then, Pa?”

To the moans of Richard, Mr. Charlton replied, “Of course, but one of you other youngins can ride in front when we return home.”

“Me, Pa?” Richard asked.

“We’ll see. Depends how everyone acts today.”

The bumpy ride was swiftly quelled by the excitement of the trip to the Cobb Creek store. After parking the Model T John Charlton entered the store with his children.

“Good morning, R.J.,” John greeted the man behind the store’s counter.

“I’ll be hog tied,” the storekeeper replied, “If it ain’t John Charlton and his brood of hard working youngins.”

Mary whispered to her father to ask about the monkey and squirrel.

“I bet you youngins want to see the critters,” the storekeeper said. “In the back, go ahead, you all can take a peek.”

The four Charlton children ran off to see what animals the man currently had in his back storage room before heading out to the porch area to see if anyone was playing croquet this day. 

The gentleman behind the counter smiled and inquired, “What brings you to this fine establishment today, John… some good ol’ bartering?” He laughed.

“That’s exactly right.”

Always doing everything in his power to help the local struggling farmers, the man gave John a great deal for his goods in exchange for some flour, poultry and beef before continuing with conversation, “How about those peanut farmers, ya think they are better off with their crop than with corn or cotton?”

John looked around the store before answering, “I just don’t imagine how. This drought ain’t no better for peanuts than it is for pert near anything else. I just don’t know what a man’s to do these days.”

“A lot of folk are headin’ out, I mean far away in hopes of better weather and better payment for their labors. How about you, John… ever think of packin’ it all up and just startin’ over somewhere else?”

“Yeah, I can say that I have given that idea some considerable thought these past few years. It’s just a Charlton thing, we don’t give up, we’re fighters to the end.”

The storekeeper understood how difficult it was for a family with a heritage and roots in an area, as well as being masters at a trade, to just go and root themselves up and transplant their lives somewhere else.

John continued, “A man just keeps hopin’ things are gonna change back to the way they was; rain’ll be plentiful, prices will return to normal, money will flow again, you know. It can’t be all that good for you either.”

“No, not like it was,” R.J. agreed, “not at all.”

John reflected his feelings, “I’ll have to see what happens when I finish the spring plantin’. Almost done now, in fact. Who knows?”

After trading his goods, John Charlton placed the items in his car. Looking around and seeing no one, he kneeled down to pray. He prayed for wisdom and guidance, he prayed for help and mercy, he just prayed.

Rae Ann rounded the corner of the store and informed her siblings that they may be leaving soon.

“How do you know?” Teddy asked.

Rae Ann did not wish to tell about everything she had just observed, but answered, “I saw Pa puttin’ stuff in the car, that’s how.”

Mr. Charlton stepped up onto the porch and said to his children, “About fifteen minutes we’ll be headin’ home. But until then let’s watch these fellas play this game.”

Later that afternoon, Rae Ann went out to sell more packs of needles even though she already had earned a doll for her efforts a few weeks prior. She felt she could do more to help her father with the family finances. When she returned home just before supper, she handed over the proceeds to her father and mother saying, “This is money I made sellin’ needles. They was the extra needles I had left and was told I could just have ‘em to sell on my own.”

Feeling touched of heart, Hilda Charlton replied, “Thank you so much, Rae Ann. This will be a big help.”

Mr. Charlton gave his daughter a long, firm hug. Hugs were not the norm for the men of the Charlton clan, but John felt deeply blessed to have such a daughter.

Richard and Teddy ran into the living room and asked simultaneously, “What’s for supper?”

“Chicken and spuds,” their mother replied. “You boys can start peelin’ the spuds once you get them from the cellar. Rae Ann can fetch Mary and we womenfolk will start cuttin’ up the chicken. Maybe we’ll have some canned greens too.”

After supper Rae Ann was tasked with using the Keen Cutta to grind up the leftover fried up chicken after Mary deboned it all. Hilda would add a few spices to the ground meat and make a delicious spread to put on bread later that evening. It was always a nice late-night snack for the family to enjoy on weekends.

John and his sons tended to the evening chores. Their time together meant a lot to their father and he knew it would to them one day also.

Chapter Twenty: Corn on the Cob