Early Memory - First Part

I reckon I’ll start here so here goes. I was born in Company Shops, NC, least that’s what they used to call it. It a was an important railroad hub in the 19th century. It was a national textile center til the late 20th. They call it something else now. It doesn’t matter.

I want to remember my life so others will too. I made mistakes. A lot of people got caught in the crossfire. Maybe next time around it won’t be like that. I’ll be more true to my heart. I wasn’t true to my heart before. I’ll do what I can now I guess.

My first memories are only a shadow. I’m in a house with some family members. I think Grandma Ruth and Uncle Bob were there. It was 1972, short cropped wall to wall carpets, linoleum in the kitchen and flower prints of the walls. They were fussing over me and carrying on. I tried to remember where and who it was for many years and just couldn’t. Finally, I figured it was just shadows of my first memories.

Later, we lived in a little brick house on the E. 5th Street I think. There was a small sofa, no, a couch long enough to stretch out on with trains and lampposts on the print. It was cream colored with deep yellows and greens in the images.

I came home one night with mama and deddy and there were presents everywhere. I didn’t know why they were there. I opened ’em all and was real happy. Birthday, Christmas, I don’t think so, they were just there.

I ran out the back door to play. Almost everyday, I went to neighbor’s house and rapped on the screen side-door. An older man, in his 40’s – 50’s always came to the door, “Yo mama’s callin’ ya.” I listed for here and ran home. She only called one time. His wife stood behind him with a yellow red and lime striped apron. Her hair was curly and she wore glasses. She didn’t smile.

There were dogs. I think that is when I first met Max. He was a black and white hound dog mutt. Short ears, short hair, and sweet. We didn’t know nothing about pure breeds in them days. At least we wasn’t gonna pay for em.

Then we moved again to the Red house. Max stayed gone a long time.