Winter Season

In walks mother

She spoke like a child, “I have a rumbly in my tumbly.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Have you eaten anything today?”

She smiled, patted her stomach and said, “I could stand to miss a few meals.”

“Well Chet, let’s go have some dinner.” He looked at his watch. “It’s 8:30pm.”

“Time flies when you’re having fun.”

“So I’ve heard.” He smiled.

They went over to Oscar’s house. They were just about ready to sit down to eat when a noise like a jet plane filled the house. “Oh, goodie. This night has gone to hell.” Oscar lowered his head.

His brother got out of the truck followed by an older woman. “Your mother?”

“Yes,” he hissed.

“Let me have some fun.” There was a faint knock at the door.

He looked bewildered, “what do you mean?”

“You go to the bathroom and let me open the door. Follow my lead, I promise I won’t do anything horrible.”

“No maw, you gotta do it like dis.” There came a thunderous pounding at the door. Oscar jumped. She squeezed his shoulder as the pounding repeated.

He quickly left the room. She screwed on her biggest smile and opened the door wide. “Howdy y’all. O’s in the bathroom. Come in. Come in. We are gettin’ ready to have a mouth full of sup-pa. Come join us.”

Otis about fell through the door and his mother had her mouth open so wide that she could have walked on her bottom lip.

“Who is it?” Oscar called from the bathroom.

“Oh honey, it’s your brother and I’m assumin’ your mother.” She shut the door as she talked and pointed them to the kitchen. “I’ve invited them to stay for sup-pa.”

“As you wish.”

“What do you want to drink?”

“Whatever you’re having,” was followed by the flush of the toilet.

The stunned family sat around the table filled with sandwich makin’s. “Help yourself,” she instructed.

The doorbell rang. This time it was Chet. “Hello, come in. O’s in the bathroom. We are just sitting down for sup-pa,” she raised her eyebrows. Then thought about how pointless it was since there was another vehicle in the drive. No, it was parked in the road? How rude! She thought. “Will you join us?” She took Chet by the arm and escorted him into the kitchen.

“No, Bell and I just ate. I just dropped by to check on the progress of the house.” He winked at her.

“When I get it done, you and Bell come over for sup-pa.”

“That would be mighty fine.” As Chet entered the kitchen, he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. There sat Otis and Pam.

“Chet I think you know these folks?” She tapped him playfully on the shoulder, “of course you do. Silly me, you’re the sheriff.”

Chet swallowed hard, “Otis, Pam.”

Pam snorted, “a proper gentleman would take his hat off, or at least tip it when he addressed a lady.”

It was all Chet could do to hold his tongue. He wanted to say, ‘show me one.’ But he did tip his hat to her.

Oscar walked into the kitchen with his old work clothes on covered with dust and paint. He had a dish towel draped over his shoulder.

“See der ,” Oat roared, “women folk do dat?”

Winter Season