Oil Mill Job at Ristine and a Broken Arm 11/04/2011
The first job that Willie took when he returned from the war was at a Soybean Oil Mill at Ristine. It was again a job in the evening...at least it wasn't all night long like the one at the cotton gin when he and Helen first married. Every afternoon around 3:30, he would get a ride from a buddy who also worked there. They would work their shift and head home at midnight. When he got home, he would quietly unlock the door and head to the kitchen to draw some water from the pump at the kitchen sink. After working at the mill all evening, he had to wash a little of the grime off before crawling in the bed next to his wife. He tried to be as quiet as he could as not to wake the children...that would be terrible because they wake up raring to go...and he definately was not "raring to go" at midnight! Working this shift gave him some quality time with the family in the morning, which he enjoyed. Larry loved to help his mom by going to the garden to get whatever she was needing. It made him feel like a big boy and it was something that she wouldn't let Sissy do yet. One afternoon after Willie had already left for his shift at the mill, Helen asked Larry to go across the street and bring home a head of lettuce for her to fix for part of their supper. He quickly climbed over the fence, and found a big ole head of something (cabbage-thinking he was getting what mom wanted). As he turned around to head back to the apartment, he was a little over excited about climbing back over that fence. With the cabbage in one hand he swung over the top and before he could get his footing back...he fell. He came running up the road still carrying the cabbage, but crying hard. He had fallen on his arm and it was broken...Helen could tell. Helen's cousin, Peter Puckett was visiting with her mom and dad and saw it happen. He rushed down to Helen and Larry and put them in the truck. Sissy went to stay with her Grandma Rhodes while Peter took them down Highway 61 to see Dr Smith in Sikeston. Helen felt like they were flying, with him driving so fast. It was so bumpy on the gravel which caused them to fishtail a few times. (61 was gravel at this time) Sure enough, Larry's arm was broken. Dr Smith (the same doctor that gave Larry and Sondra their shots after the dog bite) set Larry's arm and put a white cast on it. The doctor gave him a kleenex to wipe the tears and a sucker for being such a brave little boy. Helen was thankful that her cousin had been there to take them to Sikeston... Peter was the first to sign the cast! Comments Your comment will be posted after it is approved. Leave a Reply |  Author
Paula Tollison Andrews Maupin I am married to Bobby and live in the Nashville, TN area, working as Executive Assistant to both the Director of Sales and General Manager of FOX17, MyTV30 & CW58 television I have 3 wonderful sons and daughters in
love (Brad & Holly Andrews, Bryan & Stacy Andrews and Brandon
& Ashley Andrews) from Tulsa, St. Louis & Springfield
respectively. They have given me 9 precious grandbabies. (Joseph,
Cooper, Margo, Sloan, Jonas, Nora, Everett, Lawson and Blythe & Gma
loves them so much) I also have 2 great stepsons and daughter in love
(Jonathan & Kathryn Maupin and William Maupin) from Lexington,
Kentucky.
As a lady who's lived through both good & bad circumstances in my life, I've learned and continue to learn a lot of "life lessons". Along the way I have been inspired to be a better me. God is faithful in ALL circumstances and His love covers all. My hope is that you will be inspired to be who you were meant to be. I have been writing this blog about my mom and dad since September of 2011. You can find their story from the beginning by going to the Stories link. Happy Reading!!!   ArchivesMarch 2012 |
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