A few years in the past I knew just a little woman named Betty Jean. One summer season, one thing particular occurred to her. She found one thing about her mama she had by no means recognized earlier than.First, let me inform you that Betty Jean lived close to the Verdigris River in a home constructed earlier than Oklahoma turned a state.Give it some thought…. no electrical energy. no working water, no TV, no electrical iron, no toaster, no microwave, no hair dryer, no indoor lavatory….. Get the thought?Why their mailbox was even 2 miles away, on the freeway. Betty Jean lived two miles farther than the united statesPost Workplace might ship mail!When the rains got here, as they at all times did, she was much more remoted. The varsity bus couldn’t cross the low water bridge. Generally weeks glided by and the one individual Betty Jean noticed was her mama or her dad or her brother.She was typically very lonely; particularly as her mama was so quiet.This summer season mama appeared particularly quiet.Betty Jean had moped for days ‘trigger it regarded as if there could be no journey.Take many of the day to get there within the outdated truck, however that didn’t matter. Simply trigger she was eight years outdated didn’t imply she didn’t perceive. She understood all proper. They didn’t get to go yearly. Certainly, Dad and Mama would resolve they might pay for the fuel for the outdated pink truck.The mud billowed as Betty Jean danced within the dusty highway in entrance of the home. Mama stated, “Get your clothes packed. We’ll be leaving for Arkansas in less than a week.”Betty Jean knew to get a few modifications of garments for herself, simply as Dad, Mama, and brother would do. Oldest brother would keep at house and take care of “the place”. You might not simply up and go away the livestock; somebody needed to keep behind. The outdated wood wagon seat was put within the mattress of the truck up in opposition to the again of the cab. Center brother would experience again there as common.
The morning lastly arrived. Betty Jean had been so excited she tossed and turned all night time.Earlier than daylight, Dad and Mama loaded the truck. They even tied a package deal to the skin of the cab, as there was not sufficient room contained in the cab for another thingl The outdated pink truck groaned and creaked for may close to seven hours.Betty Jean was so bored with being jostled on these roads. Dad referred to as them “washboard roads”.”Only have to ford one more creek and go up the mountain and we will be there” stated Dad. Aunt and Uncle lived on the “flat” of the mountain. (The highest of the mountain) Betty Jean puzzled if the “town kids” knew issues like that.She noticed just a few scattered cabins. Often she would glimpse youngsters and grown-ups peeking across the fringe of damaged windowpanes and from behind the timber and corners of the buildings. By the point they arrived, neighbors knew strangers have been on the mountain.Mom was quiet… by no means did discuss a lot. Sister type of raised her after their mama died. Mama stayed together with her older sister a lot of instances after their mama died. Frankie was such a lonely little woman after mama died…being the youngest and all. Mama instructed Betty Jean about her mama’s lovely lengthy hair and the way fairly mama was; however she received sick and was in mattress for a protracted, very long time. Her papa even took mama to the Mayo Clinic however they might not assist Margaret.Betty Jean knew her Mama had pleased instances when she was just a little woman. Mama instructed Betty Jean that she visited her older sister, Floy, or performed with the cousins up and down the valley. Dropping her mama was sooo unhappy, however going to highschool and church and taking part in up and down the valley with so many cousins was a lot of enjoyable; and typically, she even forgot, for just a bit whereas, how a lot she missed her mama, Margaret Houston Casey. Betty Jean had seen the images of her grandmother together with her hair so lengthy she might sit on it.FINALLY! “Ohh, Sis!” Aunt was looking ahead to them and noticed them coming.Betty Jean thought her Aunt regarded so drained. However, that did not cease Aunt! She ran and threw her arms round Betty Jean’s mom. There have been instances that Betty Jean puzzled what it will be prefer to have a sister. The 2 ladies held on to one another for a couple of minutes, not saying a phrase. Have been these tears coming down mama’s face….Betty Jean’s Mama instructed Sister, “I have brought something for you.”Betty Jean couldn’t think about what it will be. There was not cash to purchase something they didn’t HAVE to have…. And, her Mama had introduced a “present!”Mom turned and walked proudly again to the outdated pink truck and untied the package deal from the skin of the cab. What was happening?It regarded like a jug! Mom had wrapped newspaper round a glass jar earlier than placing it into a number of brown grocery sacks. There was string wrapped round and across the paper wrapped jug.All of them went contained in the log cabin. Mom was smiling so sweetly as she lower the string from the skin of the package deal, Mama stated the jug held recent milk. and knew her sister might use it. She additionally knew the paper would hold it good and funky on that lengthy journey. It nonetheless felt cool! She unwrapped the jug, and unscrewed the lid to search out recent…….churned butter! The again roads of Newton County, Arkansas had churned mom’s recent milk to recent nation butter!Betty Jean would bear in mind the dismay on mama’s face so long as she lived.WAIT! Aunt and Uncle vowed as how one factor they might use extra’n recent milk was recent churned butter!Betty Jean was so pleased they’d determined to come back. She had already forgotten about how drained she felt when she arrived. Everybody needs to be as fortunate as Betty Jean to get to experience in a cramped outdated pink truck and experience over “wash board roads” to go to an “Arkansas Aunt and Uncle”.
The morning arrived. They have been to go away the mountain. Betty Jean puzzled about her Mom…she had been completely different all throughout their go to. Earlier than she was quiet. However, when she got here to Ark, Mama was completely different. Mama and her sister talked all day. and Betty Jean suspicioned all night time!Abruptly, Betty Jean knew! She knew with out being instructed. Mom was house. Possibly that’s the reason they did not come actual usually. The approaching was great; it was the leaving that was virtually greater than Mom might handle to do.Sure, Frankie Casey Brown moved away to Oklahoma. Arkansas held such recollections and with no cellphone and little exterior communication, she felt lower off from her household. Poor mama, would she ever be contented?Betty Jean contemplated these items. Mama was pleased, however one thing was lacking; now Betty Jean thought she understood. Possibly mama would get higher. Betty Jean hoped so. She considered that summer season often, however she by no means talked about it to mama. She puzzled if mama ever give up lacking her lovely delivery place.Solely mama knew the reply. Mama by no means talked about it, and neither did Betty Jean.After Betty Jean’s Dad retired; mama and pop would go to Arkansas. Mama would cellphone Betty Jean and say we’ll be house in just a few days.All of a sudden, Betty Jean realized…mama referred to as Oklahoma “home”.Mama had discovered contentment…Mama knew she liked that tall Indian she had married so a few years in the past. Mama had come house to Oklahoma!Some referred to as them Frankie and Arthur; some referred to as them Toots and Jum. They each referred to as me Betty Jean.
