The Stuffed Dog That Came to Life

Late one afternoon in early summer, fourteen-year-old Lamar Gowens relaxed in the backyard of his home, daydreaming in his wicker, straight chair. He sat with his feet propped against the trunk of one of the many huge oak trees that surrounded his mother’s house. The paint had peeled off the wood siding years earlier and he could no longer remember what color it had been. His house had a rusty tin roof, as did many of the houses near Cave Spring, Georgia.

Lamar had no idea that a discovery he would make later that day would change his life forever.

As he was about to doze off into a peaceful dream, his mother shouted out the kitchen window, "Lunch, Lamar!"

He sat up straight, and quickly ran barefooted across the yard to the house. He was almost in his seat at the table when his mother, Elaine, pointed to the back door and said, "Lamar, go wash your hands before you sit down at this table. It seems that I always have to remind you, Son."

"I’m sorry, Mom. I was so hungry I just forgot."

His twelve-year-old brother, Elmer, looked up from his plate. With his mouth full of food he said, "You always forget to wash, Lamar."

Lamar glared at Elmer briefly. "Oh, you’re a fine one to talk, Little Brother. You’ve got skin growing over your dirt. It’s been there that long."

Elaine wouldn’t let the boys get into it right then, and she jumped into the middle of their argument. "That’ll be enough you boys. Elmer, stop talking with your mouth full, and you Lamar, get going and wash up . . . now!"

Elmer hid his grin. "Yes, Mom. I’m sorry."

Lamar poured well water from the old metal bucket into a dishpan. He dipped his hands into the cool water and splashed his hot, dry face before joining his family at the kitchen table.

Reba, the four-year-old baby of the family, yelled, "Cabbage! Cabbage!" and held out her plate for her mother to give her some.

"Would you like some more bread, Darling?"

Reba shook her head, and said a quick "No."

Elmer held out his plate. "I’ll take another piece of fatback."

When lunch was finished, Lamar and Elmer helped their mother clean up. Elaine rubbed a badly worn spot on the bottom of a pan with her fingertip. She shook her head and said, "Boys, our pots and pans are almost worn out. I don’t know where we’ll get the money to replace them."

She paused for a second, then forced a smile as she handed Lamar the pan to be dried.

"But what the heck," she added, "we’ll make it somehow. We always do."

"Mom, I’ve been thinking," Lamar said. "There might be some pots and pans at the Tanner’s old house. It won’t hurt to check it out."

"Honey, that old house has been empty for years. I’m sure the kids took everything after their parents died."

"But Mom," Lamar persisted as he handed Elmer a bowl to place in the cabinet. "I peeked in the window when I was a kid, and I saw all kinds of furniture sitting around the room. I was afraid to go in there back then, but I’m not afraid now!"

"Well, as soon as we finish with the dishes, you can go over and take a look, I guess. Who knows what you might find?"