by Anne Brown

Created on: April 25, 2008

LIFE WITHOUT POP
It was 1931 when my Pop left and we was a livin' in LaGrange, Georgia. Ma was in the kitchen cookin' supper when he came in.
"I'm goin out fer a bit. Be right back."
"Where ya goin? Supper's almost done."
"Just down to the store. I'm outa cigarettes. Hit won't take me long."
"Well, it better not, cause I ain't a holden supper fer ya," she told him.

Once Ma had the meal done and he still weren't back, she walked to the door to see if he was a comin' down the street, but he weren't there.
"Come on boys, time to eat."
"Where's Pop?" Yank said. He was only seven and had always been a little slow. He was a sweet kid, but never was real fast to catch on ta things.
"Yer Pop went ta the store. He'll be back any minute. You boys go on and eat."
"Yea, he'll be back all right," twelve year old Ernie said with a sneer. "Soon as the Crap Game's over."
"You stop that kinda talk young man, afore I give you a smack upside yer head," Ma scolded him seeing the worried look on Yanks face.
"Don't you worry none now baby, he'll be home soon and don't be payin' no mind to that smart alack brother of yourn."

Yank was the youngest of us three boys. His name was Frank, but when I was little hit always came out Yank and the name just kinda' stuck.

After we ate, Ma put the food on the stove ta keep it warm fer Pop. Then she walked to the door again, but this time she went all the way down the stairs to the sidewalk and down a half a block to see if he was a commin'. When she come back we heard the front door slam hard and knowed she was plenty mad.
"Boy, thay's gonna be a big fight tonight," Ernie said.
"Hope it don't scare Yank. Ya know how he gets when he hears em yellin' at each other."
"Yea, I know. Maybe he won't wake up this time."

Yank didn't wake up and neither did we cause there weren't no yellin' that night. Next mornin' when we went ta the kitchen, we saw Ma dumpin' the leftover food inta the garbage.
"Mornin' Ma," I said.
"Mornin' Jerry. Y'all sleep well last night?"
"Yes'um, sure did," I said seein' her eyes all red and swollen.
"Well, gemmy me a bit and I'll have some breakfast cooked and y'all can go on off to school."

While we walked down the road, Ernie and I talked, trying to keep our voices low, so's Yank didn't hear us.
"Did ja see Ma's eyes? Looked like she'd been a cryin' real hard."
"Yea, I seed em," Ernie said. Don't know why Pop has to go and do that to er.
"Where do ya think he is?"
"Most likely sleepin' off his drunk at some friend's house."
"Don't

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