Boiled Dinner

© 2011 by Juanita Gill-Schoen. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 11/16/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4670-6499-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4670-6498-9 (ebk)

Printed in the United States of America

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Contents

Forward To Boiled Dinner

Boiled Dinner

Recipe for Boiled Dinner

Books by Juanita Gill-Schoen

Out of the Shadows

Touched by Love

The Tattooed Heart—God

Will Answer 18 Wheels and Bill

Boiled Dinner

Forward To Boiled Dinner

M omma, the little boy called, there is a lady standing in the yard and she wants to talk to you.

Well tell her she’ll have to come back. I’m too busy with the baby now.

But momma… !

Do as I say, Jacob Murray, and right now.

The nine year old boy marched back down the porch to deliver the message.

The young woman looked at Jacob and listened as he told her his momma was too busy with the baby to talk to her now. She could hear the baby screaming as if in terrible pain and she grabbed Jacob by the hand and led him into the house.

Without knocking she confronted the woman.

Hello! she called over the screaming baby’s cries. I’m Erma, I thought maybe I could help.

You can, replied Mrs. Murray, shoving the baby into Erma’s arms. He’s given me nothing but grief since he was born. I didn’t want him and I don’t want him now. Jacob is enough for me.

But ma’am, there such a joy. They…

You got any children Erma? The mother asked harshly.

No ma’am, but perhaps someday I will.

Grabbing a baby bottle full of milk and an arm full of baby blankets and diapers, she shoved them all into Erma’s arms along with the baby.

You want a baby, you got one. Get out of here. I don’t want him, I never did.

But your husband… ! Erma yelled.

My husband died weeks ago in a drunken accident and Jacob here and… this… Go on, take him and don’t bring him back." she shouted.

But Momma, cried Jacob, he’s my brother. I’ll take care of him. Please momma. he cried.

Shaking with shock, Erma ran from the house with the baby in her arms.

Boiled Dinner

Daddy!

What, Amelia?

Why do they call this town ‘Stay Around?’ That’s a funny name.

I don’t know Sweet Pea. But I’ll try to find out.

Kissing his wife Trisha and Amelia, Mike grabbed his hat and whistled his way out the door of the old beat up farm truck that sat near the barn. The door squeaked as he opened it and with a second thought he dashed back to the house.

Hey, anybody want to go to Stay Around with me? he asked.

Not me daddy, replied his seven year old brown haired pigtailed daughter.

Oh, why not?

I have school work and it’s very important because I have a test tomorrow.

Trisha glanced at her husband and winked.

How about you, Trisha? Want to come with me?

Okay, if you’d like.

Let me tell Eric so he can keep an eye on Amelia.

Aw Mom! Cried Amelia. I’m a big girl.

I know Darling, but it’s just better if there is someone else around. Remember Betty down the road? If some one had been home with her when she fell off her horse and broke her arm she wouldn’t have suffered so long.

Mom, let me go visit Betty while you’re gone. She’d probably like some company and we can do our school work together.

Eric will be alright here alone. After all he’s fifteen and he does have a phone.

Alright Honey.

Mom, can I stay overnight?

You had better call Betty first and see if it’s alright with her parents.

Dropping Amelia off at Betty’s, Mike and Trisha drove the dusty road into town.

Parking the pick up in front of the Old Café, Mike pushed open the squeaky door and pulled his long frame out of the truck, walking around to the passenger side he helped Trisha out. Pulling her into his arms he, kissed her and held her a minute longer.

Mike, what’s got into you? She asked.

We’ve been married twenty years today and a—Mike, what are you up to?

It was then Trisha realized Mike was dressed in other than jeans.

Why Mike, you look like you’re going to a party. She exclaimed.

Naw, I was just hopping you’d say yes to coming to town with me. Look how pretty you look in that pink sweater and white skirt. Especially with that flowered apron over it. He laughed.

Oh Mike, I love you so much.

Come on Honey, let’s go in.

The table they were led to in the back of the room was set with candles and a bottle of wine cooling in a silver ice bucket. The table was covered with a white linen table cloth and a bouquet of roses set in the middle.

Mike watched Trisha’s face as the surprise hit her and her hands flew to her face as she gasped.

Her purse fell to the floor as she flew into Mike’s arms, crying.

I’m not dressed for this, my hair—.

Hush darling, you look just great. Now sit. he replied gently.

The waiter poured the wine and Mike gave his consent to pour more.

They enjoyed two slow dances before the food came.

Tears streamed down Trisha’s cheeks and she buried her face against Mike’s chest.

Mikes chest rumbled beneath Trisha’s face and she looked up at him and saw a gentle smile on his face.

Oh Mike, thank you.

No, thank you darling for twenty of the best years of my life and for giving me four of the best children around. We’ve had a good life, Trisha.

As they ate, they glanced lovingly into each others eyes. Saying all they wanted to say with a look.

A table not far from theirs held five men, laughing and joking with a glass of golden bubbly beer before them.

The five were wearing nicely trimmed beards and short dark hair with the exception of the younger man.

As Mike and Trisha walked over to them, Trisha noticed they were all wearing faded western shirts and blue denim jeans.

Hey their folks. What can we do for you? Asked the older of the men.

Clearing his throat, Mike asked the man why they called the town ‘Stay Around’?

It’s an awfully strange name, isn’t it?

A loud roar answered him and they started to back away.

No, no, stay. called the older man, reaching out to take Mikes hand in his rough brown one.

You two must be new to these parts. Haven’t seen you around before.

I haven’t been asked that question for a long time. he replied.

Come, sit. he said laughing.

My name’s Duck and these are Waylon, Merle, Hank, Tex and Willie.

Trisha studied the five grinning men.

Waylon, Merle, Hank, Tex and Willie? she replied. H-m-m-m.

The one they called Hank spoke up. All my rowdy friends are here, he laughed, And we just can’t wait to get on the road again, chirped up Waylon and Willie, grinning mischievously.

And how about you Tex? she asked with emphasis, catching onto the jest of the conversation and the way it was going.

Oh, me? replied Tex. I just like to play with my deck of cards.

Mike and Trisha hooted with laughter.

You men are the worst looking Waylon, Merle, Hank, Tex and Willie we ever saw.

Oh now just a minute there young lady. These are the names our momma and poppa gave to us when we were born.

Well that may be, but we have a question for all of you.

And just what could that be, Little Lady? asked Duck.

Can you sing? asked Trisha and Mike together.

At once the five stood up, put their heads together and some one pulled out a guitar and started to strum ‘On The Road Again’ and the men sang along.

Mike and Trisha were amazed and clapped their hands along with the music and soon the whole place was clapping along and some got up and danced.

As the song ended and the men took their chairs, they invited the two to sit with them and offered to buy them a beer.

Thanks, replied Mike, But we don’t drink and we have to drive home. But we will have a Dew and a Pepsi.

What’s a dew? asked Duck.

A lot about a lot. grinned Trisha.

O-h-h, I like this gal. he replied.

Okay Duck. How about that story? asked Mike.

By the way were Mike and Trisha Jordan.

Which is which? the men asked, laughing.

I’m M—. Mike started to answer and then laughed.

Aw get out of here, he mimicked in Ducks style.

Can’t, the men replied, Got to stay around. We live here.

Trisha doubled over with laughter. Enough, enough. she cried wiping her cheeks with the backs of her hands.

Alright, every one ready to hear how Stay Around got its name? asked Duck.

The men took a swallow of beer and got comfortable, leaning back in their chairs.

Hands under her chin, Trisha leaned forward eagerly.

About fifty years ago, began Duck, "this wasn’t much of a town. Maybe a dozen people or so staked out a claim here. The streets were deep rutted and when it rained they were pure mud. They laid planks from one side of the street to get across to the other.

Like I said it was a small town and all the buildings were crowded together. There was only one Hotel but that burned within a month of being built.

Of course there was a Tavern, and a grocery store combined with a What Not Store."

What do you mean, a What Not? asked Trisha.

"Oh, it stocked Jeans and shirts, boots, shoes and clothes for women and children. And even a few trinkets.

They didn’t have to carry much. Like I said there were only a dozen or so people here.

Unless you count that family of twelve that lived about six miles out of town and kept to themselves.

The Pa was the only one who mostly came in for supplies and Ellie the store keeper always kept a fifty pound bag of flour on hand for them and some sugar and salt."

But what about other things? asked Trisha.

Well they grew a garden, had their own cows and pigs and chickens. put in Merle.

Are any of them still around? asked Mike.

Yep, you just met five and here’s another one. said Tex as a tall husky man walked through the door toward them.

Hi George. they called.

Oh my, that must have been quite a life. Just think all those brothers and sisters to play with.

Oh yes, said George, and to fight with. he laughed.

It was quite the life. replied Waylon. I’m glad I was part of it.

Amen to that. they all replied.

We had everything we needed, including a great mother and Daddy.

The only thing we were short on was space. And if you want to know if the spearmint lost its flavor on the bed post over night, well that just depended upon how long you chewed it before it was perched there. laughed Waylon.

Did you ever have to sleep at the foot of the bed like little Jimmy dickens song says? asked Trisha.

Everyone laughed at the question.

No we never did. The little ones got the beds and the older ones slept out in the barn until we added on to the house.

U-M-M, George, I don’t suppose you sing too? asked Trisha, her curiosity getting the best of her.

A-a-h, yes Ma’am, I do.

Are there any more that sing? Mike questioned.

Why yes, our whole family does.

Daddy sings Bass, Momma sings Tenor and the rest of us join right in.

That sounds very familiar. said Trisha.

What are the rest of your brothers and sisters names? she asked.

She was not surprised when Tex named three other brothers. Roy and Johnny. And the girls names are Loretta, Pasty, June, and Emmy Lou. quipped the six men Laughing.

"Mother made us shirts and the girl’s dresses out of flour sacks. We were never ashamed of what we had. We had one store bought shirt and the girls had one store bought dress for our Sunday worship.

You all went to Church? asked Trisha.

Yes Ma’am. replied Waylon.

Where?

Right in our own home.

We all knew that Bible real well and have never resented those Sundays we spent together. It kept us close.

Duck read the interest in Trisha’s eyes and let her go on.

Your Mother and Daddy, where are they now?

Still on the old place. They don’t farm any more, but you couldn’t budge them from there. said Willie.

Mother still has a small garden and Daddy likes to sit and carve replicas of the animals we had and some of the smaller ones that run around there.

Your sisters and brothers? Trisha went on.

Trisha, said Mike, maybe you—.

Oh that’s alright, replied Willie. "Let the little lady ask away.

Most of us are married and live near by. A couple of them moved out of state.

Two of our younger sisters are not married. Their choice. They are still with the folks to help them out with things. But they both work in town, so you’ll probably see them around.

Our families get together quite often. Especially on Sundays when we bring them into Church.

Daddy gets on his high horse once in awhile when the Minister makes a mistake on something in the Bible."

Our Daddy knows the Bible like the back of his hand. replied Tex.

Trisha smiled and knew how proud the men were of their family. I would sure love to meet your mom and dad. she said.

We’ll do that sometime. grinned George. As a matter of fact, come out for dinner on Sunday some time. Our mother makes the best darn boiled dinner you ever tasted.

I remember when we were all home and Momma would decide to make boiled dinner for us all. She’d stand in the kitchen with her hands on her hips and say, ‘June, you and Loretta go get me four large heads of cabbage.

Tex and Willie bring me twenty four nice size carrots and six onions, and not small one’s either. Take a basket to put them in. Oh, and four rutabagas.’

‘Rutabagas!’ Patsy and Loretta would holler. ‘We hate them.’

All the same they helped give a nice flavor to the rest of the food and Momma always said they were good for you.

Johnny and Roy always got the job of digging the potatoes.

‘Now get a move on’ she’d say. ‘It’s getting near time to make supper.’

Momma liked to make supper early whenever she made boiled dinner." said Willie, laughing.

"If we complained about eating early she’d look at us and say, ‘Well you all know what happens when you eat boiled dinner. So we’ll eat a little early and maybe you boys can wear some of it ‘Gas’ off before bedtime and there won’t be quite so much yelling when you’re trying to sleep.’

She’d laugh and go about getting kettles out and putting pork hocks on to cook."

It sounds good. said Trisha. I just got so caught up in the family’s life.

Don’t you be sorry Trisha. he replied. My friends just told me a few interesting facts and I enjoyed them too.

How about that story of yours, Duck? asked Trisha grinning.

Let’s save it for another time honey. said Duck. It’s nine-o’clock.

Shaking hands with everyone, Mike and Trisha promised to come back to the old cafe for Duck’s story of Stay Around.

At their home, Amelia hurried through the door to the kitchen where her mother was preparing the evening meal. What did you find out about Stay Around? she asked.

We didn’t get around to Duck’s story. replied Trisha.

Duck? Who in the world is Duck? asked Amelia.

"I don’t know