Earl woke up to a cool breeze that promised a hot day. It was time to plow the land and prepare fur plantin corn! He was extra happy fur plantin corn this year and had decided to fertilize with the chicken coop poop! He talked with the boys at breakfast and assigned chores fur the day. Timmy would hitch up the mule to the plow and get the fields started by turnin over the soil. John would get all of the poop and wheelbarrow it out beside the field so it was ready, once the field was plowed. The girls were still in school fur another couple of months, so Lucy was kept busy in the kitchen. Earl had been thinkin that the small corn crop they grew was just not goin to meet the demand of the customers they had built up. He hoped to get more customers this year, so he was goin to need more grain. Now, he figured he could trade some shine again this year with Thomas down in Happy Toe Holler and that would help some, but he was thinkin big and that would require more.
Earl and Carl hitched up Blackie and Youngster and started out. “Are you goin to tell me where we are goin, pa?” Carl asked. “You are seemin a mite mysterious this mornin!”
Earl said, “We need to find some land we can grow a lot of corn on. I have an idea where it might work and wanted you to come along with me to check out the situation.”
Carl asked, “Well, which way are we headed?”
Earl said, “I don’t think anyone has moved onto the old Johnson place where we picked the apples and was thinkin we could check that out; what do you think?”
“Ah, I like the idea, pa, but I just heard at church on Sunday that Mark Callahan’s family just bought the Johnson’s place so that one is off of the plate, I’m afraid.” Carl explained.
“Ok, well, that changes things,” Earl said. “The huntin cabin is not goin to work, even tho there is noone there, because there is no flat land and it would take too long to clear and level a place. Let’s try to think of somewhere else we can grow grain.”
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“Pa, what about on Donna’s land? She hasn’t been stayin there and could probably use the money if we were to pay her rent for the land. She has about 20 acres that has been layin fallow for two years. What do you think about that?” Carl asked.
“That’s a fine idea. Let’s drive over to Happy Toe Holler to talk with her and we can visit Thomas at the same time to see how much he will commit to,” Earl answered. “Giddap,” he said to the horses and they were off.
On the way over to Happy Toe Holler, Carl talked with his pa about his plans fur his new place. “So, pa, Molly and I want to get the house all fixed up first so we can have a place to live while we get the fences and barn and all repaired. The roof is good, but there is a little damage from a leak before it was repaired. There is a main wall in the livin room that is goin to have to be replaced. The appliances are good in the kitchen, except fur the stove. The cast iron stove that’s in there is missin the oven door. Molly wants a gas stove anyway, so we were thinkin to move the cast iron stove to the yard and Molly could use it fur a decoration planter. I already spoke to 4 of my friends and they were willin to help me move that ol heavy thing to the yard when I offered them a moonshine party afterwards!”
“Good thinkin, Carl to get things done by barterin!'' His father praised him.
“I’m thinkin if you can spare me, to get started next month.” Carl said, hopefully.
“Well son, I am goin to have to get used to doin without yore help when you move out anyway, so go fur it!” Earl encouraged him.
By the time they got to Happy Toe Holler, they were both pretty comfortable with the details they had worked out. Thomas’s place was first, but neither he nor his wife were there, so they went on to Donna’s ma’s place. As they drove up, the kids saw them and came runnin. “Uncle Earl, did you bring us some candy?” the kids asked.
“I don’t know, do you have some candy fur them, Carl?” Earl asked. Carl searched his pockets and not finding any, shook his head sadly.
The kids faces dropped, but before they dropped all the way to the ground, Earl reached into his pockets and pulled out two candy canes! The kids whooped and hollered and came up to Earl to claim their treats! Earl said, “You gotta pay…you gotta pay with a kiss!” The two cherubs gave Earl a shy kiss on the cheek and happily received their treats!
