Alabama Roots

Helen served the deep-fried catfish and hushpuppies that she’d prepared for our lunch, and then she joined us at Grandmother’s antique dining table. I remembered Dad’s instructions to treat Helen like family. This was our first visit to Grandmother’s home. I concentrated on sitting up straight and saying “yes, Ma’am,” just as Dad had coached us.

Afterward, Dad took rope and a board and built a swing for my brother Mark and me in Grandmother’s magnificent front-yard tree. Dad then sat on the porch and sipped iced tea with Grandmother and Helen. While we two swung with wild abandon, those three dished and belly-laughed about other people from Headland, Alabama.