My brothers and I were sweet adorable little boys who never gave our mother a single minute of trouble. Never. That I can recall. Must be the result of how hard she swung the belt when dealing with our little "mistakes." That was how I learned that a good hard spanking could cause memory problems. Wonder what she'd have done if we'd all be bad little boys? Maybe funerals?
My father? He never laid a finger on us. He used the belt that held up his pants. At least he used it on my brothers. I have no memory of him using it on me.
Later, when my twin brother and I were older, the belt routine was not so effective. One afternoon while doing some contract work at an apartment complex, my father told me to go finish cutting a large hillside. By that time I was taller than my father and outweighed him by maybe 20 pounds. My exact reply was, "Yah suh missa boss man." I don't remember what he did. I just remember looking up to him as he stood over me and said, "Go ahead and get that hill finished." My brothers just watched and kept their mouths shut. Me? I got up and went to work finishing the hillside. He never brought the subject up to me. I guess he figured I would not need a remedial session in obedience/respect.
Now I am 68 years old. My mother and father and twin brother are deceased. Only my little brother and I remain. Strange that he remembers everything about that Friday afternoon. My memory is a little foggy. I can't even remember the name of the girl I was going to take out that evening. I just remember the asphalt was really hot. And, I remember that my father surprised me with how he could reach up so far and get my attention. Never saw it coming. Good thing he didn't try it a second time. He'd have had to bend down! Sincerely. bruce.
