The Water Jug

It was the summer of 1956 and my dad had rented some ground from Slim Limbaugh down on section 14 south of Bell City. Now this old ground was gumbo. For those that don't know what gumbo is, it is black clay like ground that when it gets wet sticks to anything. Well it was a very hot time of summer and we were chopping cotton as most people in our area and economic world had to do to survive. One day we were at least a 1/4 mile from the old pitcher pump and the water jug was empty. Well dad had my little brother Pete takgallon jug to the pump to get us a cool drink of water. Now the ground was flat and we could see Pete all the way to the pump and back. It was so hot the grasshoppers were riding double to conserve energy. Well Pete gets to the pump and pumps it off as directed by dad, this makes the water get cool. He fills the jug and starts back to where we were chopping. Now he is only 10 years old and a gallon of water gets pretty heavy walking in plowed ground and 100 degree heat. He gets tired and deceides to roll the jug. Not having the big mouth gallon jug lid on real tight a little water seeps out from around the lid. The further he rolls the jug the more gumbo sticks to it. Finally when he gets the jug back to where we were chopping he was a muddy mess and the jug was as big as he was. This got us a much needed break from the heat as we all got to go to the pump where a big shade tree and an old red barn were. We stayed until we got cooled off and rested. As we rested a dark cloud began to form over the hill about where the Kitty litter plant is located now. We went back to chopping after our break and the cloud got darker and darker. Now dad had this old woman hired to help us, and she weighed about 225 and stood about 4'5". Someone looked over at the cloud and yelled it looks like a tornado was hanging down. Everyone threw down their cotton hoes and started to run for the barn. We all made it pretty quick "save one" this old woman was trying get to the barn as fast as her short legs would allow her. Some of the older ones was yelling that the storm was about on her and she fell down. I still remember her trying to get up. Damnedest sight I think I have ever seen. She finally made it to the barn but never came back to cotton patch with us. I dont think she ever picked a hoe after that.