Hallelujah!

“Have thy tools ready and God will find thee work,” Pa yelled, as he removed his belt from his britches and walloped my hin’ end. “I’se told you time and time ag’in that yo' has to git the tools clean after you uses ‘em.” Pa was a big ol’ giant of a feller and I cringed as he backhanded my mouth, causing a little trickle of blood to run down my chin.

“But Pa,” I sez, “I was goin’ to clean ‘em but yo' was in town fer a spell so I stops choppin’ the wood, thinkin’ I gonna clean the axe after I goes to the ole swimmin' hole with Bubba. It was so dang hot! I thought I’d scrub it afore you got back!”

“There aint’ no excuse for sloth,” snarled my Pa. “If yo' wants to be ‘round here a little longer, yo' has best learn to min’ your manners and take care of yo work if yo' be wantin’ some vittles.

Well, I shore was hongry so I decides to do what he tells me 'til I be grown. I’se already eight so thas only ‘bout six more years. In this here county, tha’s considered ol’, fer sure.

I bides my time, doin’ mos’ all of the work, cleanin’ the tools and tryin’ to make ol’ Pa happy or at leas’ not stompin’ mad all the time.

But I’se angry inside, I kin feel it boilin’ aways. One day I decides I can’t take it no mo’ so I do what I has to do! But I cleans the tools after, until they shines, not a speck of blood, jes like ol’ Pa always sez to do. I had my tools ready and God did find me work so hallelujah and Praise the Lord.

**This is my imitation of the work of Andy Betz – first a ‘bon mot’ of wisdom, then a dark story, then the twist!  I noticed that he usually uses first person. Love his work and hope that I have been able to capture it!