October Fields: Doc Bill’s.....

I traveled with my granddad and grandma to visit his good ole Cousin Oma in deep East Texas.  She lived about 5 miles east of Bullard (literally a wide spot in the road).    Granddad stopped at a "gas station/post office/grocery/hardware/dry-goods/feed-store/doctor's clinic" cabin in Bullard to get directions to the old family homestead and farm.  "Let me get Pops," answered the little barefoot, freckled face lad as he ran out the back screen door.

"How ya doin', Sir?" greeted a short white haired, bearded pleasant gentleman, "Ya'll must be lost.  'Cause ever-body else knows their way 'round here!"

 "No, we're here on purpose!" Granddad answered as he leisurely reached out to shake hands.  "We're looking for the old Roper homestead.  It's been a long time since we've been back here.  Brought my little granddaughter to show her where I grew up.  Things have changed a bit from the way I remembered it."

 "You related to Ole Roy?  You know he's dead...been dead about 15 years...mule kick him in the head...really liked him...Roy, that is.....he was ornery from the start.....the mule, not Ole Roy.... he was as gentle as a new born kitten, Roy, not Bill...."
 "My granddaughter, here, needs the restroom," politely interrupted my granddad.
"His boy and mine grew up together....great family!  Oma finished raising those 6 boys and making that farm pay....mighty hard if Ole Roy would have been to help.  She had those boys up and going at first light ever' day sept Sunday.  Then she had 'um dressed in meetin' clothes, in Ole Roy's buckboard on their way to meetin'.  Plus Oma had a fresh lemon pie takin' to the preacher ever week....her contribution, ya' know!"

"Excuse me, could you point us the direction?"  Granddad interrupted, again.
Doc Bill jerked his shoulders up in embarrassment, placed his hand across his mouth, chuckled a little, “Oops, so sorry, Sir.  Sometime I ramble and forget to take a breath.”  Quickly made his way to the front door; pointed down the road, “Take a right at that dirt road.  ‘Bout a mile take a left….”
A little louder Granddad announced, “Bathroom!  My granddaughter needs the bathroom!  Could she use one here?”
Doc Bill trotted through the store to the back door, pointed to an outhouse down a stone path, “Two-holer in the little yellow building!”

I bit my lip, took a deep breath, looked up at Granddad as to say, “Way down that path…..by myself….alone?”

Granddad gently patted me on the head, held open the screen-door, winked our special signal, said, “Right here!”  Turned to Doc Bill and said, “I’ll take those directions to Roy’s place, now, if you will, please…and could we get three cold Cokes?  I’ve got trade bottles in the car.”

“Buster!!  Get these folks three cold bottles out of the ‘fridge, please.  He’ll be back in 30 seconds…guarantee!  He gets the cold ones out of the wife’s house…never put a fridge in here. (with a twinkle) …gives me an excuse to get a little sugar from my sweetie!  …..That’ll be 15 cents, Sir.  And no charge for the directions and history lesson!” Doc said with deep chuckle and a great big grin.


(…continued down the road..)