Ducks were ready for the rain

Rain is moving in tonight. Ducks are checking out the ditch and a gaggle of wild Canadian geese are resting on a flat roof of Brownsburg High School. The construction continued today and school is back in session.

The tennis courts are in use as well. Some kids are dressed for winter and others not so much.

Moms aren’t around to complain, “This is fool’s weather, you will catch a cold or worse, pneumonia!” I am not sure if moms worry about that anymore.

Mom used to have a list of does and don’t for her ‘Mairzy Doats’ your truly. “ Watch when you cross Hendrix Street. Those cars and trucks may hit you , they move so fast.

Red Brammer’s team of horses may knock you down when go up the road. Red keeps them moving much too fast for this old rough road. He may turn over that wagon and those wild red horses could break out of their harness.

Watch out for Art Steele in that old tin trash truck. He has some age on him. He may not see so good and run over you.

Don’t get in a car with someone you don’t know or speak to strangers. If you sense danger run to the nearest house. Good people live in this end of town. ” She was right about most of them.

One ‘don’t do’ that mom spouted when I went out and about was very important to her. It always brought about a smile and a nod from me. Years later, I penned a poem about the subject and added it to my book, ‘Simple Poetry and Other Things’ I hope you can envision little Mary Lou’s trips up Elm Street, back when Heck was a pup.

“Don’t Tell”

By Mary Lou Lynch Sartor

Mother always said

Don’t tell your business

when you go to call

I wondered what my business was

Because I hadn’t worked at all.

I couldn’t figure out what I did

I knew for sure I was just a kid.

So, I couldn’t tell mine

I reckoned hers would do.

They ask me how I was

I’d say “I’m fine , but I’m not sure,

The other night at my house

There was such a stir.

My mother and dad

Had an awful fight

They fought like cats and dogs

The whole night through

I covered up my head

Because I didn’t know what to do.

My mother was so mad

She hit him in the head

Scared me so bad

I ducked beneath the bed.

Folks chuckled when I told them

All the things I knew

Everything I heard

And I made up a little too.

I went home feeling really fine

I had told them her business

Never telling mine.

Well, Red’s horses did break harness one day. They did not tip the wagon or run me down, but they did give him a workout before he could bring them back to the bend in the road.

And, Art’s old tin truck rolled right past me several time , the engine purring like a kitten. I can still see him tip his hat in passing. I didn’t ever except rides from strangers either.

And, about those good folks in Stringtown. They were the makers of some of my happiest memories, my forever friends.

Most of them , like my family, are gone now. They are still alive and well in my store.

Thanks to The Brazil Times and Facebook I can still connect with extended family members and that is a blessing. If Mother were here she would give that blessing a nod and a smile.

Now I must check on the kids.

I can be reached by phone at 317 - 286 -7352 or drop me a line to 649 South Grant Street, Brownsburg, IN., 46112.