More than 55, but a lot shorter than the original dialogue. A little piece from Tap Dancing at the County Fair.
**
Earl waved from his post next to an old charcoal grill in the backyard. He was tending something and flipped it over carefully. “Squirrel.”
Becca gulped and nodded. Reba came out the back door to watch: “Earl, you eat the brains?”
“Best part.”
“Well, you might just better want to watch it now. Squirrel brains is what makes folks go crazy. That’s what my momma says. Daddy was outright crazy, and Momma said it was from eating squirrel brains. He’d go out hunting and drinking, come home with a big bag full. We’d get the meat, but Daddy always got the brains.
“Momma was a saint to put up with him, I’ll tell you that. When Daddy died, people came up to her, told her how sorry they were. Momma thanked them – but she never once said she was sorry herself. Never once cried.
“I think if people knew the truth, they’d have realized that living without Daddy had a whole lot of good fixed to it that living with him sure didn’t.
“I’m not saying it was just the brains, you know? But I’ll bet they helped. And sometimes it’s the tiniest little thing that pushes someone over the edge, you know?
So just think about eating them brains. That’s all.”
Earl had fastened his gaze on Reba the whole time she spoke. He flipped the squirrel one more time. It was almost ready.
But he thought he’d pass on the brains this time. Just in case Reba was right.
You got my full attention with this piece. Up until today, I’d never given a moment’s thought to squirrel brains. I’ll be careful like Earl to avoid them if ever offered them as a side dish.
Very nicely written as well!
heh heh. Thanks, Shaddy. I suspect they’re not on the Atlanta Bread Company sandwich menu, so I think you’re safe…
Heh heh heh–Thanks! I needed a laugh today.
I liked this because I wasn’t quite sure what would come after. “Earl had fastened his gaze on Reba the whole time she spoke.”
Could have gone either way.
….hmmm. I’ll need to think about changing it….
No need, it’s perfect. I’m just not familiar enough with Earl to know how he would respond so I was anxious for it.
Well, now I’m hooked – need to see more of this story. Who would have thought of squirrel brains as toxic?
That’s what they say. I don’t know personally myself…..
Great stuff! I laughed so hard. Being from the south I can say that many of my relatives have had a squirrel or two in their lifetime and now I am running through the list of crazies in my family wondering just how much squirrel brains they have eaten. I love it!
Well, as a relatively new southerner, I’m gonna pass on the squirrel myself.
Maybe if they were served with hush puppies — nope, not even…..
[...] Friday Flash [...]
Thanks! They have squirrels up north, too, but I don’t think they end up on the menu as often.
Being a full blown northerner, I am completely grossed out at the idea of eating squirrel. Blech. But I think this is great!