Small Town America

Just started reading "Eventide" by Kent Haruf. I've only read four chapters and I started thinking about my childhood in small town, Vermont, Illinois. Started out as a farm child some six miles from town. I was too young to be of much account. Had three older brothers and three older sisters and one younger brother to keep me out of trouble. Dad farmed 160 acres and raised grain, animals, turkeys, chickens, etc. Had a large garden. Had a small lake and the neighbors would gather every winter to cut ice blocks and store them in our ice house. We all had ice during the summer for the ice boxes. There were four of our family in grade school at the same time, all in the same school room. I was in the first grade. Rode a horse to school. The school had stalls for the horses while we were in class. There was hay available for them also. We lost the farm in 1937 because of the depression. Dads sister and one of his Brothers acquired the farm with a quick claim deed and kicked us off the farm. I was still in the first grade. I remember going to town to our next home with one work horse and one riding horse pulling flat rack or hay rack with all our possession. We ended up with one riding horse, Old Bob, and one cow, Horny.

Had a big garden. Took up the whole yard. Over the years as things improved the garden grew smaller and smaller.

Dad borrowed money from the bank for the house and paid three dollars a month until it was paid off in 1967.

I started second grade the next year and it was the typical new kid on the block. I guess they didn't like my bib overalls.

I received one bloody nose and the teacher wouldn't let me back in the class room until I cleaned myself up. I saw a movie staring Rody McDow about that time and he had somewhat the same problem. I copied his use of his fists one day and never had any more trouble.

From then on I did what I had to do and far exceeded the expectations of my school teachers,

my parents and my peers. It seems like I always waited toll the last minute to act on the academic side.