Turkey Hunting

 Way back in the Trout Cove during the 1930s, my mama and her siblings decided to go turkey hunting.  Blanche, brother George, and sister, Oma headed up the mountain trail the day before Thanksgiving.

They decided to stop at Hazel Henson's house and invite her to go turkey hunting with them.  Blanche and Oma wore feed sack dresses.  Patches dotted George's overalls.  

Night fell and they still hadn't spied a turkey.  A Full Harvest Moon ricocheted through the pine trees and an owl screeched in the holler.  Blanche grabbed Oma's arm and they screamed at the same time.

George laughed and slapped his knee.  "What's wrong with you chickens?  I was just mocking a hoot owl."

Blanche and Oma tried to hit George, but he took off like a racehorse through the woods.  He reached Hazel's house before they could catch him.  Hazel joined them on the turkey hunt.

Since they didn't have any weapon, Oma suggested that they stop at Jim Power's log cabin.  They stepped on the rickety porch and knocked on the door.

"What brings you younguns out on this fine night?  Ought you be home getting ready for Thanksgiving?"

"We wanted you to bring your shotgun and join us turkey hunting," said George.

"All right.  I'll be glad to go.  Just let me finish my supper."  The old gentleman crumbled cornbread into a glass of buttermilk and wolfed it down.

He grabbed his shotgun, put on his cap and got a lantern.  He whistled for the hound dogs and they headed up the mountain.  Oma, Hazel, and Blanche followed the guys.  Old Blue, Spot, and Buck spied a squirrel and chased him through Greasky Creek.  Their howls resounded across Brasstown.

They came to Pauline Payne's house and stopped to ask the family if she was still in the hospital.  Her daughter invited them into the house.  She said Pauline was feeling better, but still in the hospital at Murphy, North Carolina.

Oma asked Mr. Payne if he still owned a fiddle.  He got the instrument and asked Jim Powers to play it.  Jim started making music and they danced all night long.  They never got around to turkey hunting.

by:  Brenda Kay Ledford

I hope all my blogger friends will have a

Happy Thanksgiving!