Worms at half-Time
Posted: Wednesday, July 15, 2009
by Maxine Headd
It was in the early summer of 1965. We had cleaned a half field of cotton that day, by chopping the rows of a field of cotton. We were taking two rows at a time to make an honest effort to clear this field. We had another field, the owner also wanted to be cleared before the beginning of next week. We were on a time schedule and we knew it. Daddy was at home today with Mom. The two of them were making plans to go to a church singing that night. A new singer was in town at the Baptist church and they wanted to go and meet them and of course to hear them sing. We were busily working away at the grass that grew along side of the cotton plants. We were working to separate the grass plants away from the little cotton stalks that were growing in the grassy field.
Eugene was keeping us occupied by singing loudly, "I got a Gal, her name is Sal." "singing Pooly Wolly Doodle all day," "oh, I went down South, to see my gal singing Polly wolly doodle all day." "Oh, my Sal, she's a spunky gal." "Sing Poly Wolly doodle all day." "He was having a good time trying to get us to sing in harmony with the song as we chopped cotton that day in Peach Orchard.
Time was moving on and lunch time, was passing us by, when Gerald returned with the sodas and candy bars. We were more than ready for them; a good cold drink was just what we needed on that very hot day out in the field. It was about 95 if you were in the shade. We were all standing there in the field, drinking our soda and eating our candy bars, when I looked down at my own little half of a candy bar. I turned my candy bar, over a little nonchalantly, and what I had seen turned my face turn green indeed. Well, what I saw was just what I needed to see right then. There were two lowly worms lying on the half of the candy bar that I had not eaten yet.
Oh my gosh, I thought, did I eat the other worms? Were there two other worms? Oh, my gosh, did I eat the other worms? Were there two other worms there? I did not know. I didn't remember if I had tasted the worms or just enjoyed the chocolate of the candy bar. I didn't know whether I ate the worms, or if there were other little worms on that half of a candy bar. Stunned and speechless, I turned and showed my older brother (Eugene) the worms. I stood there and I watched him silently, as his face turned from questioning to starting to grin, then he just started laughing at me. My face felt green, and then my stomach turned bad and sour. I could just barely stand up using my hoe as a leaning tool. I couldn't think of anything except that there might be some worms missing on the candy bar. I tossed the candy bar away. I wondered if I did I eat them. I didn't know if I had or not.
Eugene, by this time was holding his sides, until he couldn't stand still any longer, then would you know he rolled down into the cotton rows giggling at me and pointing at me. Oh how I wished I could just slap him and make him stop laughing at me and my ill felt stomach. I still felt very ill. My face had gotten white; my stomach was turning, and Lord I thought I would lose all of it. But I didn't. However, I did resent my brothers having such a good time laughing at me at my own expense. I thought, oh my? What a way to learn what it is that your brothers will laugh at.
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