OLD LINE SHACK (5)

 

OLD LINE SHACK (5)

 

We called it the Swim`n hole.

 

The Swim`n hole was about a mile

from the shack and on the way were

dozens of buffalo berry bushes.

 

When the buffalo berries were ripe

one could have a nice lunch, just

going from one bush to the next,

then we would wander down to the

creek and have desert.

 

Wild currents were the desert in area

of the old line shack.  Those currants

grew in profusion and they were

absolutely delicious , no seeds, just

juicy goodness.

 

I had a willow stick with store twine

attached to it and a bent safety pin for

a hook.  One day I sat there on the bank

and pulled in suckers, bullheads and

many others.

 

When I had a string in the water with

about 20 nice fish a couple of strangers,

Easterners by their looks, approached and

stood near me while I fished.

 

One said, what you using and I said, grubs.

The other said mind if we fish here and I

said, no.  After a half hour the strangers

were getting kind of antsy and offered to

buy my fish.  No, I was not selling.  That

was during hard times and those fish were

going to supply our best dinner in a while.

 

On the way back to the shack, I stopped at]

the spring and had the best drink.  That

water was ice cold and tasted better than

any pop or soft drink I ever knew.

 

The Old Mexican Longhorn was waiting for

me as I approached the house and the chase

was on .   She ran me to the front door

where I dashed inside and slammed the

screen.   For some reason or other she

never figured out she could have chased

me through that screen door with no trouble.

 

Everybody was gone when I got home.

I scaled the fish and had them fry`n when

the folks drove up.  That was childhood

at the old line shack.

 

------ Eagle Cruagh

Reviews

[Emily Rae]

This is a touching write, you share of childhood memories like they were yesterday? You always offer great imagery and nostalgia in your work, which I adore. I love to fish myself so I was pleased to learn that you creatively pulled together a make -shift hook & line :)