PRECIOUS MEMORIES

I have had ny early morning run around the yard. Today it was Spam in my hand. It is a game to her. I am running after her, shouting in a loud whisper her name. "I" barking loudly at the shadows that hover around our snow filled yard. I am sure that any minute a neighbor will call the police "I" is safely back in the house now, on the bed, under the covers, fast asleep, Our early morning run over for now.I am vowing this will not happen in the morning but I know it probably will.

For some reason memories from my childhood seemed to flood into my mind often lately. Maybe because it is a New Year and I am one year older. Walking into a future that shrinks as I write. My yesterdays lay stretched out behind me , a long winding highway. A highway that has been filled with hills, valleys and also mountain tops.

My childhood was a happy one. I always joke that I didn't know I was poor until I was twenty and my brother told me. We lived on 9Th street, a poor neighborhood .There were four houses,weather worn from many years of not being painted they set on the corner of 9Th and Kentucky. All four of the houses were small but we a family of six lived tucked into the one on the alley. Four rooms, my brother sleeping on a small cot in the kitchen. The house was filled with love, laughter and noisy chatter. It was also filled with the sound of my Mother singing along with my brother, who taught himself to play the guitar at the age of twelve. The first song he learned was, "The great speckled bird". You woke up in the mornings with the bird, and went to bed with it too. My Dad who worked twelve hours a day I am sure prayed for the soon demise of that speckled bird.

We lived four blocks off 9Th and Main. On the corner of Main street was "McGee's" drugstore. Drugstores weren't like they are today. We are not talking Walgreen's. McGee's was run by Mr. and Mrs. Mcgee. Their pharmacy was in the back of the store. When you walked in the front door and there was a soda fountain, just like the ones you see in the movies that were made in the fifties. Mrs. McGee run the fountain, disbursing, cherry cokes, ice cream soda's and the best of all, "green lime aids." I lived for the days I had a dime and would race up ninth street. I would climb up on a stool. Feeling very grown-up. I would say the wonderful words. A green lime-aid please. And drinking that cool sweet treat wasn't even the best part of the experience. Mrs. McGee would chat with me. This straggly haired, boney kneed little girl. She visited with me as if I was a grown-up. Memories of those wonderful afternoon lie in the back of my mind.

Also in the front of the store was a phone booth. A tall wooden booth, with a seat, a light that came on when you closed the door. Oh yes and a fan, a small fan that blew directly on you. I loved that phone booth. I would stand at the door, touching the glass. I wanted so badly to use that phone. But who would I call. We didn't have a phone at home. I dreamed of using it. Sitting down on the narrow seat, sliding the door closed and hearing the operator say, "Number please. The dream of having that experience haunted me for a long time. Then one day the magical happened. We got a phone at home. I was so excited, I could use the phone booth. I could call my Mother. I saved to get that nickel to use the phone. The day arrived, one minute I was playing in the yard. Without telling anyone I ran up 9th street. Carefully crossed at the light. I entered the store, my heart racing with anticipation. I entered the booth. with trembling hands I lifted the receiver. The operator's voice came quickly on the line. My mouth was dry, so dry I could hardly utter the number. I held My breath. Soon I heard my mothers voice, "Hello." "Momma,
I cried gleefully, "It's me Billye." Total silence came across the line. "Then I heard my mother call to one of the other kids, "Check the backyard for Billye. She is suppose to be playing there." I laugh now thinking about it. My Mother was not amused.

Gone are the days of "McGee's" drugstore. The building still sits there, empty and a For Sale sign in the window. The old run down neighborhood doesn't bring in many new business's these days. But locked inside me it still is there. The overhead fans whirling endlessly. The phone booth in the corner. And best of all, Mrs.McGee with her warm smile saying, "Hello there Billye."