Romance in ‘Redneck’ Country
Thank you Lord, it’s finally Friday night.
I got a date with Joey. He’s gonna hold me tight.
I am getting prettied up and ready to go.
Papa said “Baby, are you putting on a show?”
I said “I got a date with Joey tonight.”
He said “You mean that kid whose always gettin in fights?”
“Yes Papa, but, they weren’t his fault.” “The other kids wouldn’t stop when he said halt.”
“You don’t a be listenen to a kid like Joey.”
“Ifin he comes around I don’t want ya ta go, see.”
“Papa we’ve been through this before.”
“I’m old enough ya don’t tell me what ta do no more.”
Papa went in his room and slammed the door.
I just stood there starin at the floor.
Pretty soon I hear Joey on the porch.
He was a whistling at the horse.
I ran out and said “Let’s hit the road.”
“What’s the hurry gal? You swallow a toad?”
“Papa is mad and he might come out.”
“What’s this all about?”
“Tell ya later. I think I heard his voice.”
We were out of there laying rubber, of course.
We went to dinner then took in a dance.
What a way to start a romance.
Spinning and twirling around the floor.
Then dancing real slow. We yelled for more.
He dropped me off a little after eleven.
I went floating in the door feeling like I’d been to heaven.
Papa met me in the hall.
He was mad enough to make me bawl.
He yelled & hollered & stomped his feet.
Said if I kept this up he would toss me into the street.
I ran to my room crying all the way.
After awhile, mama came in to pray.
“Give him time dear and he will calm down.”
“Sometimes he’s more of an ass than a clown.”
“Mama, Joey’s not a bad boy”
“I know dear. Just, around papa you must be coy.”
I loved my mama. She was the best.
I often wondered why she was different than the rest.
She said ”When papa and I first met”
“My dad felt the same way. He’s still mad yet.”
“He said papa was no good.”
“Ifin I stayed with him it would come ta no good.”
“Your papa was determined ta prove him wrong.”
“That is why we have been together so long.”
“Papa sees himself when he looks at Joey.”
“When papa was young he was quite the bully.”
“You just hang in there, but be very coy.”
“I’ll talk to papa & remind him of when he was a boy.”
“In the long run it will work out.”
“Papa won’t want ta be like my dad, he will shout.”
Mama was right. I always knew she was.
Papa even gave me away because.
No matter what anyone could say.
He wasn’t like his father in law in any way.
—————————————————-R. W. Johnson—–(2014)