Johnson County Arkansas; The summer of 1955

 

Most of my uncles were very intelligent, and successful in their endeavors.

 

Uncle Cecil was an exception to the rule. He only attended school two days in his life; on the first day of his schooling, the teacher didn't show up; on  his second day at school, he decided that he was smarter than the teacher. He quit school. Consequently, he never learned to read or write.

 

The men in his community tended to say and think that Uncle Cecil was "slow" or not very bright. Most of the women simply avoided looking at him or even talking about him.

It seemed; Uncle Cecil failed at everything he ever tried. His first job was as a hired hand. He lost the job because the farmer's wife felt uncomfortable having him around.

 

Over the years, Uncle Cecil tried many ways to earn a living; from raising chickens to Home repairs. But, he failed at everything. He even drove from Arkansas to Los Angeles in search of a job. ........ (He never actually made it to L.A. He got lost on one of the freeways, sold his car, and bought a bus ticket back to Arkansas.) .......  Finally, his four brothers chipped in and "share cropped" him on a small farm; which had only one purpose, to grow and raise food for his four brothers and their families.

 

Surprisingly, his wife was known as the happiest woman in Johnson County. After 20 years of marriage, his

wife died of pneumonia. He then married Aunt Blanch, who for the next 30 years, was known as the happiest woman in Johnson County.

 

         When I was a young boy, I spent a few weeks one summer living with them on their small farm. 

 

They lived in a small unfinished shack-like house (It didn't even have siding). Uncle Cecil simply nailed tar

paper to the outside of the wall studs. Instead of a bathroom, there was a back door that led to the "out house".

 

I slept in the loft of the barn. My bedding was near the rooster nest. I was told that breakfast would be ready shortly after the third crow of the rooster.

 

When the rooster first crowed the next morning, I awoke and went to their house. As I entered their one room living quarters, Aunt Blanch was singing and humming a happy tune as she fixed breakfast. Uncle Cecil was sleeping on a mattress that was lying on the floor in a corner of the room. I noticed that he was wearing long handled underwear.

 

I heard the rooster crow the second time. It wasn't a full crow, like you hear on TV.  It was kind of two half crows, as if the rooster was clearing his throat. About the time Aunt Blanch had finished fixing breakfast, the rooster crowed his full third time.

 

Aunt Blanch went over to where Uncle Cecil was sleeping. She said, "Cecil, breakfast is ready". Without

saying a word, Uncle Cecil pulled on his overalls and went directly to Aunt Blanch and gave her a hug around her shoulders - not a full frontal hug, but a hug from the back and side.

 

He, then, washed his hands and we all ate breakfast. Not a word was said while we were at the table. Occasionally, Aunt Blanch looked over at Uncle Cecil and smiled. He never looked up or smiled.

 

After eating, he grunted, put on his shoes, and went directly to Aunt Blanch and hugged her. I watched very closely this time and I saw him smile as he hugged her.