The Last Days of the Farm

It was our last day on the family farm. After Paw died we lost all direction and the bank starting taking things away from us. I wasn’t old enough to know no better. They just took advantage of my Maw. She wasn’t smart by any means but she had a heart bigger than anythin’ I’ve ever seen. I never thought I would see the day a wounded bear would bow to someone ‘til that day she pulled one out da trap one of our neighbor’s had set.

I ain’t seen nuttin’ like it and if you tol’ me ‘bout it, I wouldn’t ‘ave believed you even had you sworn on da word o’ God. Nuttin’ to protect her but the kindness found in ‘er heart. Not even a gun in ‘er hand nor a Bible to keep that demon away. It jus’ goes to show that a wild animal has more honor than a bankin’ man jus’ out fer profit.

There I was out in the orchard in the peak o’ summer during the scorchin’ heat. Sweat formin’ little waterfalls off my brow. Tryin’ to make the last harvest we’ll ever have as independents. It was my father’s dream. His father gave him that dream. Every man in my family had tha’ dream. A long family history fighting for freedoms. So much so, nobody in my family owned slaves. Even stood up against ownership of people when the time was right.

It was deplorable. An’ now people be askin’ to be owned by their debts. The economy and the market demandin’ more from us workin’ folk. Throwin’ debts on us that we shouldn’ need just for a lil’ stability. And it gone and ruined muh family. We all get blinded by our need for more. My father learned that the hard way. Gettin’ things now and not needin’ to pay fer ‘em right away. Thought it would bring us fruitfulness. Leave me a better life. In his passin’ he left me nuttin’ since he owned nuttin’.

I don’t have no animosity to muh Paw. I feel as though tempted by the devil himself without knowin’ the consequences of what I lef’ behind fer muh kin I too would’ve takin’ the offer. The devil’s silver tongue sometimes comes out like words of salvation. Offers ova a better life.

I lifted one of the last baskets we had onto the donkey drawn cart to take back to the barn. Gary usually came ‘round in the morn’ to pick it all up. He has stopped chargin’ anythin’ above cost to help me and maw out. The only skill I had was orchard work. I was hopin’ whoever came and bought up the whole farm would be willin’ to give me a job ‘ere to pay enough to support Maw till she passed.

We don’t expect her to last much longer. But I still intend to give her the best life I could. It is the least she deserved. A woman with a heart as beautiful as hers. Muh father was a lucky man.

Gittin’ to the barn for storage, I could see one o’ them banker types conversing wit’ me muther. I put on muh best fatherly impression to intimidate him. I don’t want him bullyin’ more out of my family. ‘Nd he knew just who to talk to, to get more. That snake. Enjoyin’ the shade from the first pear tree muh father and I planted near the porch. No snake deserves to enjoy somethin’ from the fruits of my laborin’.

“You should know your kind ain’t none to welcome ‘round here.” I had a shovel in hand that I grabbed from the barn. I wasn’t plannin’ on using it for much else than lookin’ the part as the thug type. Papa didn’t raise me to hurt nobody unless I really needed to.

He was obviously a lil’ frightened by my stature. You could hear it in his voice. “Now, boy, I don’t come around often. I do offer some…”

I angrily cut him off. “Get off our property.” I struck the ground with the shovel to show I meant business. I didn’t believe in usin’ fierce language to make my point.

He got up and left post-haste. My mother spoke up to me. “He was offerin’ us up a deal that could have saved us from campin’. You know jus’ us won’t make it long.” I felt she had more to say but she was interrupted by her coughin’ fit.

“He is a servant of the devil people, mama.” I responded. I knew she could hear me through her coughs. I talked over it so she would have time to think her response through.

“No, boy!” She wheezed out at me. “He was offerin’ marriage. He was goin’ to help us keep da danged farm.”

“You’re too good fer him, maw. You deserve better.” I argued back. Emotions wellin’ up inside me.

“It ain’t for me, boy. I was marryin’ him fer you. You’ll be eighteen soon. You’d have somethin’ to yer name.” She tried to tell me that he wouldn’t take anythin’ more from us ‘cause we had nothin’ else to take. I didn’t trust ‘em. I will never trust a man who wears a tie over workin’ gloves. They screwed muh family and I will make sure they never screw nobody never again.

By

Stephen Donnelly