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stop by either before church, or grab a fine lunch afterMildred's Dinner down on Main.

"All right now, folks, here's some more announcements before we start out with our Sunday morning Gospel hour, followed by Reverend Stumps services over yonder at the New Life Emmanuel Methodist Reformed Baptist Church of Everlasting Blessing. . ."

"Mom? Is this guy kidding? Why's he talking that way?"

"It's the way people speak down here, Charlie. You remember how your Dad talked from time to time-right?"

"Yeah, but. . .I thought he was just fooling around-ya know?"

"No, I believe this is more or less what you'll hear everywhere down here-maybe some Spanish as well, there's supposed to be a lot of Mexicans down here I think."

The radio said:
". . .and on the subject, Milo Tuck, our mayor, asks that everyone be sure to meet up on Tuesday evening by the old well, where he's having a historical marker placed over the very site where our town was founded. . ."

"I think this is the street," Carla said as she turned onto Sagebrush lane; she cringed at the sight of the few poor houses along the ragged-looking street. It practically screamed slum, yet, it was appropriate within this ugly little town.

Obviously, few steps to add beauty or landscaping around Agony, Texas had ever been taken. Main Street was no more than a few two story buildings linked together without much fanfare or architectural ease.

A gravel drive led up to a small, clap-board house sitting upon raised concrete blocks and looking ill-kept. The front door had its screen hanging off of one hinge; the yard was no more than the same scrub they'd seen all along the lonely road coming into town, and there were absolutely no trees over four or five feet in height; bare briar-covered limbs shimmered under the white morning sunlight.

"This is it?" Charlie asked once Carla cut the engine.

"Yes, this is your Aunt Nelley's house. Our house now."

"Mom! It's falling down!"

"I know it looks bad, Charlie. But don't give up on it yet. We have to make the most of thiswe've no where else to go."

"I know," Charlie said.

"Come on, we have a lot to unload before we can grab some shut-eye."

Charlie opened his car door and got out, standing on Texas soil for the first time, kicking a rock and watching it skitter down to the street as he wished he were still back home in Chicago and his father were still among the living.
~

Learn more about this author, S Bond Herndon.
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