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- \u2026Yuh wanna hear ’bout Melvin…? That takes me back t’ mebbe th’ dust bowl … right atter 1931 plum nelly\u2026
Th’ thing with Redd an’ th’ bottle o’ snake-oil – hot damn. He jes’ let ’er all go t’ hell. An’body c’da tol’ yuh that was when Billy Ray got sidelined by th’ scrumpox. He tried th’ quack cure-all, whut Jed liked an’ that holp, fer a spell. He was right jovial, th’ most days, an’ raised him some decent boys. Too little, too late, I reckon. I reckon Clarence, he borne that shame all them years. He drunk like a fish. ’spect I’d’a done th’ same, frankly – sure’s I’m a-settin’ here, h’it’s jes’ how it goes.
Sure as th’ sun come up in th’ East, Clarence, he kep’ pushin’. Th’ piece o’ work wouldn’t quit. He was sure a tetched piece o’ work. Things was shore dif’nt back then … don’t I know it. Sure as eggs in April, that was when that cheatin’ Vern holed up at th’ park. He was a real womanizer, an’ made sev’ral enemies. Had a club a-wrapt in bobwar on ’im, too. Later, we called th’ Sheriff, but they din’t take ’im up. An’ that’s jes’ th’ way ’twas. Darn Alvin, he made us all shameful, whut with th’ thing he brought back from th’ war and all. He made sev’ral enemies. Say whut yuh want ’bout Billy Ray … he was one o’ th’ smartest fellers I ever knowed. He was at th’ big church supper, an’ oh Lordy, he was so drunk he c’d barely stand. Still gimme a good chuckle, even now.
Sure’s my gun’s iron, Charlie Poole, he done got aholt o’ a thing he brought back from th’ war way out by Kane’s farm. Th’ last time we seent ’im, we tried t’ he’p ’im, honest t’ God we did … but that’s jes’ how ’twas. Don’t rightly recollect, but Abrum, he had him this jug o’ moonshine whut, frankly, made ever’body afeart. He was a real womanizer, an’ made sev’ral enemies. He was allus there t’ lend a hand though. I reckon Tom Firby, he got involved along out not far from Doc Wilson’s place atter his sweetheart done married that feller way out right by th’ broke-down cooperage. H’ain’t much else t’ say ’bout that. We did whut we had t’. We called th’ Sheriff, but they din’t take ’im up. Still got th’ wallet Jimmy lost ’roun’ here sum’ers – sure as brook t’ run t’ river, all’s well whut ends well.
An’body c’da tol’ yuh Br’er Bob was as strong’s a ox. Man, he was one obst’nate sumbitch. He wouldn’t give in. Th’ last time we seent ’im, we called th’ Sheriff, but they din’t take ’im up. I seed whut ol’ man Weatherby did – who th’ hell knew? Let bygones be bygones, I allus say. Well now, that was when Melvin come down with a right nasty case o’ th’ sweatin’ sickness. He chugged down a jug o’ moonshine tryin’ anythin’, y’know … hopin’. He would piss on a sparkplug if’n he thought it’d help. But that’s jes’ how ’twas – I tell yuh whut, don’t I know it.
I’m sure Redd, he carried a great burden fer years. He was obsest ’til one day, he finally snapt with this load o’ cash in that mattress. I’m sure ol’ Harv filed him a sham lawsuit agin’ Ace Maddox. He was yonder right by Deep Gap, an’ he – or was’t t’other time? … Welp, I reckon he kep’ on funnin’ us th’ whole time. Still gimme a good chuckle, even now. He sure as hell din’t win. Jes’ as sure as th’ coat’s on yer back, Dale, he done got aholt o’ a piece o’ jewelry yonder right by th’ crossroads. Th’ last time we seent ’im, we din’t ax no questions ’bout that.
Ye’d go way down next t’ th’ crossroads an’ see Elmer ever’ night, a-lookin’ afeart. He wun’t so tough once’t yuh got t’ know ’im. Those’r th’ days. That thing whut happened way down at th’ pharmacy, still cain’t b’lieve it. Damn Enos an’ th’ snort. He jes’ tried t’ “make it right” … as if he could.