Just Another Day

Just Another Day

 
Morning breaks with  a fog covering the earth as the  roaster crows,  rise and shine as it vibrates throughout the farm .
Soon the door opens from the house out comes Mama  with her milk pail in hand .
Following her is Papa  murmuring to himself about all  the work  that needs to  be done , hogs need feeding so  does the hens ,genies and that one lonely  turkey, woman when we going  to  eat the turkey ? We now have had that  turkey for years, she has gotten  tough  as leather he said, but  mama didn't  say  a thing..
As she was picking out the chicken to butcher the next day for Sunday's dinner .    Morning was passing  by  fast as papa was hoeing in the garden around the string beans,   corn he also had  planted a late crop of mustard greens.
Swearing he's  going  to  kill  those rabbits if they  ate  those greens again, mama  yells from  the kitchen  door, papa stop  that  swearing you'll kill  the rabbits to  eat  anyway  .
He started murmuring  once again, that old woman  got  good hearing when  she wants to  get  on  to  me, he then chuckle to himself  as old blue lays on the fresh  hoed dirt to cool off.
Papa tells blue we need some rain  or else the garden  going  to  dry  up along with  
the hay fields we use for winter food for the barn  animals.
Then as fast  as it came out his month,  he yells out to Mama a storm  is coming we best put  the animals up  for the day. Mama leaves her unfinished yest bread she hurries out to  help .Suddenly there's a burst of  thunder , Mama proclaims as loud as she could,, I told you old man  if you keep  swearing  God going  to  get  you.
then the first raindrop fail on his head ,hurry  it's about  to pour down.
Soon they had all the farm animals in the barn  with  there feed for the night .
The old couple limped fast  as they could to get  out of the stormy rainy  weather .
Then looking  over toward the west the sun  was setting, painting the perfect  sunset with  a bright rainbow to end the day  with .
As papa lights the lantern  murmuring  it is still deem  in  here ,he reaches across the table  and lite the candle wick.  
It begins to  glow tossing shadows off  the wall's, while  wax's  drips in a old pie pan to  be used another day to remake candle sticks. Mama was finishing  up  the home made bread she had started before the rain then  she places the bread in  the old cook  stove she has had for more than  fifty  years.
then walks over to her man  hands  him  his tobacco pipe as they  both  sat  watching  the shadows dance on  the walls . mama tells papa to lite up the fireplace I have a chill  must  be from  the rain ,he then places the coffee pot above the flames so it will  be ready  after evening meal.
And mean while  the bread was nearly  done from  the scent it gave off.  
Pa says that  sure smell appetizing as his wife was setting  there places.
They both  sat  down  at  the old antique table and healed hands while Papa gave thanks for all  they been  blessed with  to Jesus.
Mama tell  him  after dinner tonight I have a surprise for you,  she then  smiles.
Soon  they  was done with  dinner and he leans back  Moma that's the best  meal  I have ever had.
Moma picking ,  O shut  up old man, you say  that  about ever meal.
Now you go  and set over there while I clean  up  this , I'll  be there soon . Short while later she was in  front  of the nice warm  fire I guess we might have a early  fall  this year  as theirs chill in  the air, papa agreed and said yea I guess so while he was puffing  on  his pipe..  He indicates by pointing to
the coffee pot it is ready as the aroma filled the air.  well  I best  get  up  and get  the cups for the coffee and she  moves toward the kitchen  to  get them  and her surprise, she had made for him.Moma returns and hands papa his coffee  and a plant with  apple pie his face  became brighter than  the fireplace.
He slowly lends back  in the rocking chair.
With a rustic voice he tells her thanks  Mama. After awhile Mama looks up  from her knitting into  his closed eyes , are you going  to  church this Sunday? As always he was playing possum when  he didn't  want  to  answer her about church, she then  said you'll  think  of something  to keep  from  going  anyway, As you always do. Mama stands up stretches then  asked him  did he need anything else I think  I am  going  to  bed.. I am  just  fine you go  on  to  bed I'll  be there shortly . She bends over him  and kiss his cheek and proclaim he needs to  shave and turns and go  off to bed. After a little while mama peeks around the door and finds papa praying  to  God as every night  he does thinking no one knows his love for Jesus, Then  she turns ,climbs into bed with  a smile upon her face snuggling between  her guilt satisfied about  her day. Pa decided he was going  to  bed ,,and murmurs morning  is coming soon as he gets into bed and soon falls to  sleep.

By: Rodney Ray Hatchell