A Conformation of Family
Paul's Testament
by
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It was five o'clock in the afternoon. Grandma Janie, Joyce and I were sitting on the back porch. Grandma Janie was rocking in her rocking chair. Joyce was sitting next to her with a writing tablet in her lap.
"Whut yuh write'n, Joyce?" I asked.
"Ah'm write'n uh ledduh tuh mah frien' back in
Grandma Janie stopped rocking, turned to Joyce and said, "Ah hopes yuh ain't write'n nun-nuh dem lil nasty b'hine boys, back in Georgi."
"No, Grandma Janie, ah'm write'n ah gul dat wuz in mah my class. Huh name Betty Jean Kelly. Huh daddy uh preachuh man."
Grandma Janie began rocking again. She stopped and turned to Joyce once more. "Gul wen yuh gits tuh dat school in Lochuway, don't be let'n dem lil boys git in yo' pants," she said. "Dat's whut messed up yuh momma's life."
"Ah won't, Grandma Janie," said Joyce.
I didn't understand what Grandma Janie was talking about. I turned to her. "Grandma Janie, is Momma gonna git Joyce sum pants, dat's big uhnuff fuh two peoples tuh git in 'um?" I asked.
"Boy, ah fuhgot yo' b'hine wuz out heah. Gwawn out dere sumwhare an' play. Us talkin' gul talk now." I left the porch, and pretended to go to the front of the house. I stood around the corner and listened to their conversation.
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About the Book
This is a work of fiction. It is written from a seven year old, African-American boy's point of view. It's a nine month snapshot of life growing up in a southern farming community, during the early nineteen sixties, prior to integration. This work of fiction characterizes the language, culture and traditions of that era.
About the Author
Bobby C. Jones grew up in a small rural, southern farming community, in North Central Florida during the nineteen sixties. He has written several poems, in which six have been published. He is a United States Marine Corps veteran. For the last eighteen years he's been employed at a Lid Manufacturing Plant. Now, on the eve of retirement, he seeks a career in writing.