NO MORE GUMBO PLEASE!

From the early age of seven, Little Subby was a hustler. He would spend weekends during the school year and summer break, doing something none of the neighborhood children ever considered doing. Around 6:00 a.m., he would go hunting with his father's brothers. Little Subby learned how to use a slingshot to catch squirrels and rabbits one day. Then how to use a net for catching frogs and turtles the next day. Little Subby also began his love for fishing at eight years old. Little Subby enjoyed living in Louisiana with his family because there was never a dull moment. Every day he experienced a different adventure and learned something new that remained priceless in his memories. Little Subby even knew how to dig for crawfish in the ditches.

By the age of eight, Little Subby felt that he could hunt without the help of his uncles. This short curly red-headed child would load up a wagon with his slingshot, fishing pole, net, and can of worms every morning at 6:00 a.m. sharp. Around 4:00 p.m., Little Subby would have caught five squirrels, one raccoon, two rabbits, a turtle, seven rainbow trouts, sometimes perch fish and, three frogs. Then he would walk around the neighborhood selling almost everything he had caught to the adults sitting on chairs in front of their houses. Little Subby had a habit of saving one animal for his mother to cook. At his house, any animal could easily find its way into a gumbo. For that reason, he would never bring the same animal home every day.

Two months before Little Subby turned nine, some of his family members went to Houston, Texas, and left him with his grandfather. After a few weeks passed by, Little Subby's mother had settled into a new home and sent for him to join everyone. Little Subby surprisingly did not miss his young sister or brother. He just missed his uncles dearly, especially their adventures.

The first thing Little Subby did when he woke up( in Houston, Texas)was look for all his business supplies. It was the perfect time to teach his brother how to hunt. Subby and Steven spent the whole day catching animals, but something disappointing happened when they tried to sell their goods to their new neighbors. Both boys were hollered at by adults who insisted that they never return. Sad and confused, they returned home and filled the refrigerator with rabbits, squirrels, birds, fish, frogs, and a turtle.

Little Subby's mother was in her room on the phone with her sisters, so she did not see what the boys had done. When it was time to cook dinner, Little Subby's mother opened the refrigerator and let out a scream that her brothers heard down the street. Before the boys could explain, the house was full of uncles, aunts, and cousins who could not stop laughing. We are no longer living in the County, said little Subby's mother, I'll buy food from a grocery store.

Since all the family was at our house, my Uncle Joe suggested to his sisters that they make gumbo with the squirrels and rabbits. Make a smothered gravy with the turtle. While, he and his brothers grilled the birds, frogs, and fish in the backyard. Everyone agreed and started cooking. The children decided to play dominoes and cards while waiting to eat. Little Subby was so happy it felt like being in Louisiana.

Life in Houston took a while to adjust to, especially school lunches. Little Subby had never seen frozen pizza before, but he hated being hungry so, he forced himself to eat it.

When Little Subby was seventeen years old, his father, Subby senior, divorced his mother and left him feeling like he had to take care of her and his siblings. Food was expensive at the store, and Little Subby did not want his mother to be struggling, so his instincts kicked in, and he went back to hunting even though he was told not to. He would hunt birds like morning doves and ringnecks. Then his mother would make the family a gumbo.

One night Little Subby accidentally killed an owl with his BB gun while trying to get a squirrel running from tree to tree. Little Subby felt bad but he did not want to go home empty-handed. The sun was setting and it was getting too late, so he hurried up and cleaned it well enough for his mother to make a gumbo. That night the dinner was tough to eat, and Little Subby could not help but think it was because owls should never be in a gumbo. Little Subby was so stressed out and tired of worrying about adult things. He missed his grandfather and the adventurous life in Louisiana more than anyone could imagine.

Time passed as it always does and Little Subby started to spend more nights with his grandmother. He even stopped hunting and started looking for honest work. Doing yard work with his uncle and cousins was nice, but it did not pay much. At night Little Subby had a bad habit of drinking water before bedtime. Doing so would cause him to wake up in the middle of the night and go pee. One night while Little Subby was handling his business he heard an owl hooting, which scared him. He immediately thought the owl he killed had returned as a ghost and wanted revenge. Little Subby usually peed with the light off because it was easier for him to go right back to bed. Scared Little Subby turned the light on and as he looked upon the shower curtain he saw an owl. Little Subby took off running, jumped in his bed, and forgot all about going to the bathroom. With his shivering body and chattering teeth, he hollered out to his grandmother from under the blankets. Little Subby's grandmother lifted the covers and asked him what he was so afraid of? He told her about the owl in the bathroom. Little Subby's grandmother peeked inside the bathroom and could not believe what she saw. Several frogs hopping in, and hopping out of the tub, but she did not see an owl. Little Subby's grandmother asked him to take the skin off all the frogs so she could fry them for brunch. Little Subby's mother was so grateful because she was tired of cooking gumbos. His siblings were also happy no one wanted to see a gumbo anytime soon. At night Little Subby did not drink any water, but he still ended up getting out of bed because he kept hearing the owl hooting. Little Subby's grandmother entered the bathroom pulled back the curtain, and found two raccoons. She laughed and called her son over, Little Subby's uncle grilled the raccoons for dinner that day and everyone was grateful. When Little Subby told his uncle the full story about how he keeps hearing an owl hooting at night. His uncle out of curiosity decided to spend the night, maybe he could catch the owl, if not then he could at least take some meat home. It was nighttime before he knew it, but uncle had fallen asleep. Little Subby hearing the owl hooting shook his uncle and asked him if he was ready. They both entered the bathroom and found the owl stuck in an opening to the attic above the bathtub. Little Subby asked his uncle to free the owl in the woods, then seal the opening in the ceiling. From that day on Little Subby felt relief and put up his hunting supplies.