Mary, Don’t You Weep
Oh, Mary, don’t you weep, don’t you mourn.
Oh, Mary, don’t you weep, don’t you mourn.
Didn’t Pharaoh’s army get drowned?
Oh, Mary, don’t you weep.
Cheer up, sisters and don’t you cry.
There’ll be good times bye and bye.
Didn’t Pharaoh’s army get drowned?
Oh, Mary, don’t you weep.
(Aretha Franklin – Mary, Don’t You Weep)
“Why didn’t he come Lee?”, Bernard asked his older brother plaintively. “Don’t you understand ‘Nard? There ain’t no such thing as Sandy Clause, probably nevah wuz”, replied Leroy, in a voice laden with sadness, disappointment, and a tiny tinge of anger. Always an extremely astute child, in the few hours since finding the empty stockings, he’d come to realize, that Mary’s absence was directly connected to the absence of stuff in their stockings. “Why didn’t Jim tell us?” Leroy whispered under his breath, to no one in particular.
The boys got dressed slowly, lethargically; like two convicts clothing themselves before meeting the hangman. That’s what facing a Christmas Day felt like for two boys begrudged the boon usually associated with Christmastide. Once dressed and outdoors, they sat on the woodpile, staring at the ground; frozen, white breath fleeing their mouths, like souls exiting cold, lifeless bodies.
Then faintly, at first, gradually growing louder, like thunder from an advancing storm, the boys heard it; the unmistakable grumbling rumble of wagons approaching. The boys lifted their heads, straightened their bodies and turned towards the approaching sound. “Hey boys!”, came the liltingly gay voice of Ma Hallie, as her wagon rolled to a halt in front of the house. Pa Babe sat at her side atop the buckboard. Their wagon was followed by the blacksmith’s wagon, the owner of which, pulled sharply on the reins while emitting a hearty, “Whoa mule!”. The sharply dressed figure of Doc McCoo, rode shotgun.
Ma Hallie sprang down from the wagon, dress tail flying, like a sheet hung out to dry on a windy day. She reached in the back of the wagon and pulled out a wicker basket covered with a snow-white cloth. As Ma Hallie approached the boys, the smell of fried chicken marched before her, like an advance guard, striking the boys in their guts, causing their bellies to growl like angered lions. The rest of the group stepped down from the wagons as Jim and Coley exited the house to investigate the commotion.
“Take this basket in the house boys!”, Ma Hallie commanded, an order the boys obeyed with the zeal of Zouaves toadying to some great general. The smithy came forward holding three iron rings of ascending circumference, paired with hooked iron rods, which lengths duplicated the diameters of the hoops. The hoops and rods clanged together musically as the smithy approached Coley and Jim. The blacksmith conveyed the hoops and rods to Coley, along with the instructions; “The big ‘un fer you and the lil’ ‘un fer the youngest ‘un. Give the other’n to that brave boy Leroy”.
The blacksmith’s gifts, forged in his foundry, were called variably; “hoop-and-rod” or “hoop-and-stick”. The rod or stick was used to usher the hoop, as it rolled along the ground in whatever game the hoopsters might be playing; the number and variety of games that could be played with the toy, were limited only by the hoopster’s imagination. They were a common and popular toy among rural children. Some were simply bicycle rims and sticks; few were custom forged like these.
Leroy exited the house, licking his fingers. He’d obviously, taken an advance on a chicken leg, and was now, smiling with satisfaction, but the sight of the hoops elevated his elation. The boys were about to take off down the dusty dirt road with their hoops, when Doc McCoo stepped, abruptly, in front of them. In his hands, he held three, small, burlap bags, which rattled and clicked as he handed them to the boys. “Enjoy”, he enjoined, his grey eyes sparkling over the top of his round, wire-framed spectacles as he looked down at the boys and smiled a huge, pearly-white smile. He then handed Jim a neatly folded, crisp, one dollar bill. Jim thanked Doc profusely, while quickly shoving the buck into his pants pocket.
The younger boys opened their bags and reached in. Inside each bag were seven shiny, bright, multi-colored marbles. The joyful shine in the boy’s eyes rivaled that of the marbles’ that they held in their excitedly trembling hands. Leroy, especially, stared; mesmerized at a quarter-sized, green, and yellow, “Cat’s Eye”, marble. “This one”, he spoke quietly. “This one will be my ‘shooter’. I ain’t gonna never lose a game with this”. This declaration proved to be bona fide; that is, until Coley cut off two of Leroy’s fingers.
To be continued…
Reblogged this on O LADO ESCURO DA LUA.
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Thanks for the reblog 😊
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Reblogged this on The Time Tunnel.
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You know what Lady G and Mr Do Ron Ron, I’m going to step away from you two love birds. I can see that I’ve put the cat among the pigeons in trying to get a fiancé from this situation. LOL Killing two birds with one stone on this occasion has not worked out for me. I have a few other interested parties (no not Darryl!!! we would be divorced before the engagement even. He would put ‘debates on black hair and white supremacy’ as part of the pre-nup and if I didn’t carry out that conjugal right, he would divorce me in a heartbeat. LOL) hahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaa
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Yes I admit I was copying and pasting, but it was intentional leaving the “sax” part in, because it is part of the song. Don’t be so fast Lady G! LOL
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Hey Lady G and Mr Ron – that’s so cute. You two are so in tune ( get it??) LOL
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I’ve yet to reference a song that she couldn’t pick it up and go wth it. She has a vast wealth of knowledge on music, as is evident in her “My Jams series”.
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Lady G’s talents are endless, Ron. I love the way you killed two birds with one stone here: bigging up her talent and shamelessly (lol) promoting her blog. What a wonderful cousin you are!
Hey! I met you on a Monday and you looked so fine, dey do RON RON, dey do RON RON…:)))
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Somebody told me that her name was Marie
Da doo Ron Ron ron da doo Ron Ron!!
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Yeah, my heart stood still
Yes, her name was Marie
And when she walked me home
Da doo ron-ron-ron, Da doo ron-ron
(Hope I’m not treading on any toes here: wives, girlfriends, significant others, partners …) lol
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Cousins? LOL!!!!!!
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I knew what she we doing when she caught my eye
Da doo Ron Ron ron, da doo Ron ron
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He looked so quiet but my oh my
Da doo ron-ron-ron, Da doo ron-ron
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Yeah she caught my eye
Yes my oh my
Da doo Ron Ron Ron da doo Ron Ron
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And when he walked me home
Da doo ron-ron-ron, Da doo ron-ron
[Sax solo]
He picked me up at seven and he looked so fine
Da doo ron-ron-ron, Da doo ron-ron
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Copy/ pasting so hard that she ended up including “Sax Solo.”
ROTFLMAO!!!!!!
Just kidding around Lady M!!!!
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Yeah, she looked so fine,
Yes, I’ll make her mine
And when she walked me home
Da do ron-ron-ron, da do ron-ron
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Someday soon I’m gonna make him mine
Da doo ron-ron-ron, Da doo ron-ron
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I told you he was my boo!
No seriously, when I was a kid, I had a major cousin crush on both him and his younger brother.
I love Eric, but Ronnie is my heart!
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Yea I get ya Lady G. I had major crushes on two of my cousins when I was a kid too! We’re not so different you and I. lol
So Eric is looking for a nice hardly used lady from the UK? Two owners, plenty of mileage on the clock (shows I know the way, don’t need no sat nav). LOL!!!!!!!!!!
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Eric is booed up Marie. He’s been married for about 15 yrs, to everyone’s surprise. That boy was a player.
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Oh what a shame both you and Eric are taken! There goes my Green Card. LOL!!!!!! Are there any other brothers in the family that aren’t booed-up, or is there any chance of an un-booing any time soon? LOL
Ron, it’s good to have a laugh! There is so much heartache and sadness out there, so it’s good to have some fun here.:)
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I’m not booed up…yet
P.S.: “un-booing”? Simply hilarious!!!!😂😂😂😂😂
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You’re not booed up?? What we waiting for then?? Psst … don’t tell Lady G!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Lady G sees…..
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🙂 🙂 🙂
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… and later much later Lady Marie sees too! I saw that little comment you tole Ron to hide from me …
You sho playin’ dirty LOL!!!!!!!!!!
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Lady G a trip! You ain’t know?
🙂
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Lady G is all that and more! 🙂
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Uh…you can say that again 🙂
YAAASSSS!
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Lady G is all that an more! There, I’ve said it AGAIN!!! hahahahah
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…an’ another thing! I know you been real busy lately, but I wrote a post (my latest one) and mentioned you an’ you ain’t even graced that page with a like. I sho am disappointed …LOL
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Okay
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Okay what? We’re on then? Or we’re not? You need to be clear Ron. I have several offers on the table, and I can’t afford to mess about with ambiguous statements … 🙂 🙂
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Playa ain’t the word for it!
Those dreamy eyes…….
Both of Jet boys got them pretty eyes tho’ !
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🙄😎👀👁
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Lady G!!!!! I just seen this! Forget what I said about ‘stepping away’. I want me somma dem dreamy eyes … lol
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Dreamy for real!
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Like ‘how’ dreamy? Dream-boat dreamy? Go -weak-at-the-knees dreamy? Drop-dead dreamy? or just plain dreamy?
I’m not fussy! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Like ethereal-like dreamy……
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That sho is some kinda dreamy ….
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LOL!!! I am dying laughing!
“Hardly used!”
We’d call it “slightly used!”
Anyway, Eric is married but Ron is SINGLE!!!
YAAASSSSS!
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ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!! That’s what I meant Lady G! I’ve forgotten current car parlance.
You gotta keep up m’lady! Me and Ron are already engaged. LOL
You need to catch up with the comments! You been fixing dinner for the family? Or watching a soap?
Me and Ron are engaged and singing alternate verses to ‘da do ron ron’. hahahahahha
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If you an’ Ron wuz already engaged why was you axing ’bout Eric den?
OOOOOH…. Lady M got a wandering eye!
Ron you better watch your bequeathed!
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I meant betrothed! LOL!!
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Do you know I’m usually quick to pick upon things like that! But I didn’t notice that you had bequeathed me to Ron. Does that mean your earlier ‘crush’ is dead and buried and I can now lay hold of my inheritance? Haaaaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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ROTFLMAO!!!!!
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Me too
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😂😂😂
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You’re still a little behind Lady G. Me and Ron got engaged AFTER he informed me that Eric was booed-up and he was NOT.
So of course, I took advantage of the situation.
Ron knows I’m all his! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!
Do I detect a frisson of jelly osie? ?
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Yeah you right! I’s jealous!!😂😂😂
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No need to be jealous Lady G. You know you are my first (platonic) love. Girl, if you want me to get un-booed from Ron – it’s done!
I just hope I haven’t broken his heart.:( It was such a short engagement – I guess he may not have bought the ring yet …. LOL
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Girl, Ron gon’ be alright!
We back together again!
YAAASSSSS!!
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You sho Lady G? I wouldn’t like to thank ah broke his heart …lol
But most important we back together again and that’s all that matters.
YAAAAASSSSS! Hey haaaaayyyyyy!!!!!!
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You never know what’s lurking in the mind of that one.
He’s a sly little fox 🙂
Something tells me he’ll bounce back 🙂
LOL!!!
Either way, little cousin will nurse him back to health if he needs it 🙂
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You are so funny! One minute you are all loved up. The next minute he’s a sly little fox. The minute after that, you’re going to nurse him back to health if necessary. Lady G – there’s a lot of mixed messages you’re feeding me. LOL
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🕵
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😇😷🤕
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😶😮
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On my way to the pawn shop now. 😣
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I don’t want no pawn shop ring, Ron. If you can’t get me a decent ‘rock’, better we call the whole thing off! da do ron ron da do ron ron
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Nah, I was pawning the rock I had already bought you😂😂😂😂😂
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Why? 🙂 🙂
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U said we weren’t engaged.
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I got up this morning and I changed my mind
Da do ron ron da do ron ron
I realise I’ve been foolish and so unkind
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Don’t be Cuz. I love you right down to the genes!!!😷
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💋💋YAAASSSS!
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Whoops!😂
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Not like you not to be in on the action! hahahahahahahaa
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I know but you just wait until I catch up! LOL!!!
I’m doing birthday stuff with my daughter.
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Is it your birthday today?
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No, I was talking about my daughter 😉
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So it’s your daughter’s birthday? You both have January birthdays? I could’ve sworn that you mention that your birthday’s in January in an earlier post. You sure are making me work to get this information out of you Lady G! LOL
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In the words of the great RuPaul….You betta WORK!!!!
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Lady G, me and you were getting on so well. Why can’t you just answer a straight question? Is it or is it not your daughter’s birthday?
I don’t want no riddles for an answer!!! LOL !!!!!!!!!!!!
I might just go and ask Ron if he still wants us to get together …. hahahahaha
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And we gon’ continue getting along well and you know it!
We are in too deep Lady M!
You CANNOT quit me now…I won’t have it!
LOL!!!
Our birthdays are this week but not today! LOL!
I try to keep the real date on the low-low for privacy reasons 🙂
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I had a feeling that was the reason Lady G. When the actual days come, make sure you have a drink on me! 🙂
Yea, we in reaaaal deeeeeeeep!!! LOL
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Girl you know I will!
Thank you baby!
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🤔
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😂😂😂😂
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She can’t have both of y’all now!
Don’t tell her I said that! LOL!!!
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Awwwww,,,,,love you too Cuz
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I love you more!
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Now that’s a LOT!😁
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I can take it!
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That’s not true about the ‘fingers’ is it Ron? Were they ‘hanging’ like you’re going to keep us hanging until the next episode ? I hope it’s a clever ploy to keep us in anticipation …
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I’m afraid so Marie! It’s a true story, but I’ll have to go back to our sources to check on the hanging part, but I think it was a clean cut. 😁
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Ron, you are a scream!!! I love your sense of humour! As my old Jamaican ancestors would say: “We tekkin bad tings mek joke!” (Translation: we are using serious matters to make a joke out of it).:))
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Yes, “We telling de bad things meal joke!” I love it. Sometimes we have to laugh to keep from crying. Me tink det be one of me grandma’s seyins. LOL (I know said it wrong, but no Jamaicans on my vine unfortunately) 😂😂😂
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Man I messed that up. Me tekkin de bad tings and mekkin jokes
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Ron, you have not messed up. A baby has to crawl before he can walk. How can you just start speaking fluent Jamaican patois while you are still in nappies?! Behave yourself! hahahahaha
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LOL! Keep teaching us!
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Is that an order? Yessir!! (I’m saluting you!) hahaha
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It is NOT an order…it is a command! Thus saith Lady G!
LOL!!!
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Lady G, you knows ah always do as you say girrllll! When Lady G speaks, lady M jumps! ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!
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And you know it’s mutual! LOL!!!
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☺
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I’m returning the salute! 😉
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Ron, I’m clickin’ those heels and lookin’ straight ahead, jus’ like in the movies! Yes sir !!!! hahahahahha
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Good soldier!!!! You pass inspection
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Permission to stand at ease! SIR!!!!
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AT EASE!
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Chile what is really goin’ on?
I mean….Ron…Lady M…all this military chatter…
Is there some kinda code happenin’ here?
LOL!!!!
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Dot dot dit dit dot dot dash!
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Dit dit dit dit dash dash dash dit dit dit!
S-O…S S-O sending out an S-O-S!
You remember that jam by the S-O-S band! It was the JUNK!!!
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Yep, that’s the old SOS. I sho do remember! The code I tapped out, according to Gil Scott Heron, means; “Damned if I know”. I think it was “H2Ogate Blues”. I think.
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Cool, check out..”THE GHETTO CODE”. https://youtu.be/iZuP-7UI0Xo
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You know I will 🙂
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What’s funny is a few days ago, I quoted GSH on T. Wayne’s blog…”Whitey on the moon.”
Truly, great minds think alike 🙂
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We always in a zone!
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Yep!
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I love you Ron!!!! LOL It takes a pretty wonderful sort of person to talk Jamaican (when it isn’t your first language lol) to another Jamaican.
Your first attempt is Iree (ask Lady G what Iree means lol)
How you know say, no Jamaicans no dey pon you vine? Jus becarse dem no delare it like me, no mean say you no have none! You mighta surprise when you find out, ya. (How do you know that there are no Jamaicans on your vine? Just because other Jamaicans haven’t declared it like I have done, does not man that there aren’t any. You might be very surprised when you find out.)
You’re a real sport!!! lol
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Well, dem hiding if dem dere LOL! But who knows. Dey may jes be pon me vine. I welcome them if they are. We ALL have common origins in the Motherland though.🤗
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Well I certainly hope that there are other Jamaicans out there on your vine Ron. Anyway, you have me – so that’s a bonus! LOL
I do love talking with you – such fun! 🙂
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Yep, we’ve got you. That’s good enough. 😁
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Aww… Ron! You are fast becoming very important to me! Thanks so much. Have a good day. 🙂
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He’s wonderful, isn’t he! That’s my sugar pie!
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Can I have a bite now and then Lady G??!!!! Yes Ron’s all kinds of wonderful – no doubt about that, Lady G. :)))))
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I don’t know…..maybe for you I’ll consider it! LOL!!
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ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! don’t take too long. I like my sugar pie while its still hot! hey haay!
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Hey HAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!
I got it now sista!
LOL!!!!
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YAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!! Hey HAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!
LOL!!!!
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Awwwwwww,😄
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Sugar Pie Honey Bunch…
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You know that I love you…..I can’t…..
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Help myself. I love you and
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And NO one else! LOL!!!!!!
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I almost had to go back and re-read the previous installment, but then I picked right back up where it left off. Can’t wait to see/read more…
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Thanks for stopping by T Wayne. More to come, for sure brother.
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You had me beguiled right through that jolt at the end. I especially loved that line about the smell of fried chicken marching like an advance guard. Can’t wait to hear more.
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Thanks Anna! More to come.😊
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I really do love the way you ended this, Ron. It made my hair whip back and forth. It was like a record on a turntable screeching to a halt. I elated the boys got a present and now this…..you have my attention, sir! Another fine installment.
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Thanks Susan, Grandaddy’s youth was certainly eventful!
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Yes, eventful is a good word…
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😁
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Yes, what she said….but now gosh darn it you’ve got me hanging again with “what’s up with the two fingers cut off”? sigh….such a happy story but now I think you’ve got something up your sleeves……waiting….patiently as always and with a smile. 🙂 Kim
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Muhahahahahahaha!!!!
Hi Kim!
That’s my evil professor laugh by the way.
Rest assured that my cuz has something up his sleeve! LOL!! 💞
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Ha, I’m sure he does…..it seems to be his MO, always something good simmering in the thought pot😀💕
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You got him pegged just right my friend 🙂
LOL!!!🌹
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Ron!
Bravo! Bravo!
This piece speaks so beautifully to the tradition of helping one another. In those days, we were our brother’s keeper–better yet, we were our brother.
As your story indicates, there is no way in the world that Ma Hallie and Pa Babe would have knowingly allowed these boys not to have some semblance of Christmas-albeit without their Grandmother.
I only wish that we could revive this spirit of community and generosity.
Excellent post Cuz 💋
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