The Point (standard:drama, 2139 words)
Author: stanley mcqueen kentucky backwoods writer	Added: Jul 18 2007	Views/Reads: 3483/2376	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
backwoods tales

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there way our of our shack , each of them rides off toward their shacks 
and families Maw she crys as we watch from the yard knowing what paw 
asked them to do for him. Paw said he never wanted a tear to fall from 
nary eye at his passing away and wanted folks to laugh and have a good 
time before his corpse, paw said when the lord calls a man number his 
time is soon up and that folks should not fret when a man soul is pure 
and good and Godly and that there isn't no crops to tend around God 
throne .paw don't act like he nary bit scared of the death angle and 
that is something I don't quit understand , guess my age is against me 
being just sixteen to understand such things as that, the next morning 
come and the three men showed up with picks and shovels and maw made 
them some breakfast and coffee and they talked a spell with paw , 
before climbing the steep ridge do dig paw grave.. It was almost two in 
the evening when they come down and told paw the grave was done just as 
he asked and they said they told all the near by neighbor that they was 
to come this very evening that maw was setting a big supper  and paw 
wanted to be around his neighbors one more time before he passed on. 
They went away toward there home and evening wore on and maw was busy 
cooking with large pots for we had many neighbor and friends that would 
be coming along about supper time,   folks come in wagons pulled by 
mules and people all respected paw and our family and I felt proud of 
them all, maw had help paw to a chair on the porch stoop and so many 
come our shack could not hold all the folks and children , all the men 
folks shook paw hand and told he that hated he was sick and was praying 
that God would spare his life and make him well. Paw told them that God 
had other plans for his up yonder in glory land and that should not be 
sad or grieved at his parting these ridges, Tom who help dig paw grave 
told paw that the neighbors was all going to pitch in and help gather 
the fall corn crops whether he agreed with them to do so or not .. Paw 
said back to Tom I hate to be beholden to anyone but that would be a 
sure burden off him shoulder if they would do that.. And Tom said to 
paw it will be done as I have said .. A tear fell from paw pale 
wrinkled face and disappeared on the wooden planks of the porch stoop.. 
Tom reached down and hugged paw neck and now he has tears boiled in his 
eyes.. Never before had I ever seen paw cry but this night I did and it 
touched my heart and made me want to weep , but I held my tear inside 
and never wanted paw to see grief in my face...never had I see Tom weep 
who had been so strong a man as folks was here in the Kentucky 
mountains... The fact of paw dying was hitting home in my heart and 
fear was could I handle a man plow at the age of sixteen. These thought 
haunted me as I wondered how could we make it without paw,, it was 
after ever one had eaten that paw has all the folks to come to the yard 
and he was going to make a talk. Every one listen as paw made his 
talk.. Folks and neighbor paw starts his talk, I have  been a neighbor 
to each of you and have found you all to have grace in your hearts and 
lives. We are hill folks and hill folks stick together as we are 
assembled here at my shack tonight , tonight I want to tell you all 
this that I never meet a better bunch as you all are and have proved 
down threw the years we have been neighbors, we hill folks hardy ever 
say we love anyone , we love in deed more that with the mouth like some 
folks love.. But this evening im going to tell you out right I love you 
my neighbors.. Just like the good book said for me to do,,, folks 
clapped at paw words, woman shed tears and hugged , tears streamed down 
my face and mamma , the spirit of love had swooped down like a giant 
eagle and filled each heart right before our yard,,, folks stayed late 
and the night wore on and soon folks headed home . It seem sort of sad 
when they was all gone , but paw seem pleased at getting to see his 
neighbors one more time.. That next evening the death angle swooped 
down and took paw soul while we all three stood beside the paw 
bed...there was a stillness in the room ,on paw pale face was a smile 
and peaceful grin, maw took each of us in her arms and said children 
paw is home now.... and maw then pulled the sheet over his face, Martha 
asked maw was paw ever coming back and maw answered and said no 
daughter we will go to him,,, somehow I was peaceful knowing what paw 
had told me before he died ... he said son God don't  need us so bad , 
but don't forget this son we sure need him... then I wonder to myself 
what has God got paw doing up yonder before his mighty throne, that 
next day all the neighbor come to help bury paw on the point as he 
requested,, six strong men made paw coffin and they loaded it  on his 
corn wagon and the mules pulled hard against the wagon and all the 
neighbor followed as they drove the team to the new grave atop the 
point where paw bones will lay .. As we followed behind paw coffin 
there was a feeling come inside my heart that I had never felt before.. 
I was proud to walk among these fine neighbors and proud to be called a 
Kentuckian...


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