Clothed in Thunder Read online

  Clothed in Thunder

  In the Shadow of the Cedar

  Book 1

  Sheila Odom Hollinghead

  This is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  This ebook is not for resale.

  Scripture taken from the King James Version.

  In the Shadow of the Cedar describes many events that actually occurred within a fictionalized story. It also tells of several south Alabama towns that actually exist. However, both the unfolding of events and the descriptions of the towns are flavored with artistic license. This is not a history or geography book although I attempted to remain true to the times and places whenever possible. This is a work of fiction that tells a story, one that I lived, if only in my imagination.

  Copyright © 2016 Sheila Odom Hollinghead

  All rights reserved.

  To my readers:

  May you always find rest

  in the shadow of the cedar.

  Thus saith the Lord God; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent:

  In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.

  And all the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the Lord have spoken and have done it.

  ~Ezekiel 17:22-24 (KJV)

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1—The Leaving

  Chapter 2—Missing Michael

  Chapter 3—New School

  Chapter 4—Making a Friend

  Chapter 5—Dan

  Chapter 6—The Visit

  Chapter 7—The Punishment

  Chapter 8—Marla

  Chapter 9—The Office Visit

  Chapter 10—Michael & Dan

  Chapter 11—Dan’s Help

  Chapter 12—The Test

  Chapter 13—Trip to the Office

  Chapter 14—Thunder & Lightning

  Chapter 15—The Fight

  Chapter 16—Visit to Momma

  Chapter 17—Clothed In Thunder

  Chapter 18—The Bus Trip

  Chapter 19—Daniel

  Chapter 20—Daniel’s Friendship

  Chapter 21—Telling Momma

  Chapter 22—Trip with Daniel

  Chapter 23—Michael & Sylvia

  Chapter 24—Not Michael

  Chapter 25—An Opportunity

  Chapter 26—Uncle Howard

  Chapter 27—Beach Trip

  Chapter 28—The Ocean

  Chapter 29—A Hoot

  Chapter 30—The Argument

  Chapter 31—Finding Michael

  Chapter 32—Searching

  Chapter 33—Michael’s Friend

  Chapter 34—The Fortune

  Chapter 35—Returning

  Chapter 36—Another Loss

  Chapter 37—Not Knowing

  Chapter 38—Knowing

  Chapter 39—Aunt Liza

  Chapter 40—Michael Returns

  Epilogue

  Chapter 1—The Leaving

  1937

  The cool morning air did little to clear my head. Although only the middle of October, the temperature had plunged, and I shivered in the shade of the cedar tree. Another step and the sunlight would have warmed me. Yet the shade kept me rooted to the spot and calmed me, although thoughts swirled like clothes stirred in a washtub.

  I had done the right thing. Momma needed help. And there had been no alternative but for her to be committed. My father’s sister, Aunt Jenny, and her husband had taken care of it but a feeling of guilt still lingered.

  And Aunt Jenny and Uncle Colt had been right — living here with my mother’s sister and her husband was the only way.

  Plainsville was a long way from Opp. I sighed. It was a long way from the only home I’d ever known.

  Michael had proposed but that was only a foolish dream. I was just fifteen, and he was seventeen. Still, like Momma had said, lots of girls married at fifteen, but I wanted more than just marriage and children.

  Momma said book learning put crazy notions in my head. Maybe she was right. To be a veterinarian involved a lot of work and expense. And, even if I made it through school, no one would employ a woman vet. At least, that’s what people said.

  Maybe it would be best to forget about school and marry Michael. But what would become of his plans to attend college?

  As if on cue, Michael came out of my uncle’s shop, spotted me, and walked over to where I stood.

  My heart quickened when he reached to take my hand.

  “Good morning, Jay. You’re up early.”

  His hand felt so warm and comforting that I moved closer to him. “I couldn’t sleep.”

  His warm brown eyes studied me. “Worried?”

  “A little.” I reached with my free hand to break a branch from the tree. I twirled it through my fingers, releasing the cedar scent. “Am I doing the right thing?”

  Part of me wanted Michael to rescue me, to sweep me away, to shelter me forever. I held my breath.

  “Yes, you’re doing the right thing.” He pulled away from me and held me at arm’s length. “I did a lot of thinking. You’re right. We’re too young to get married, and, besides, a few months isn’t long. Soon I’ll be back and going to college. We’ll be able to see each other more then.”

  I sighed, slightly disappointed. What did I expect? For him to say he couldn’t live without me, that he would never leave me? Yet I knew he was just being practical, that he was saying the right thing.

  I nodded and released the cedar branch that landed underfoot. He grabbed my hand, and, with our fingers entwined, we headed for the house.

  Smells of cooked bacon and ham drifted to us. The table almost groaned under the mass of food.

  Aunt Liza, presiding over the feast, beamed at us. My little brother, Zeke, was already seated at the table, and I kissed the top of his head before taking my seat.

  “Howard,” Aunt Liza called. “Get in here before the biscuits get cold.”

  Uncle Howard came into the kitchen and slipped a suspender into place. He took his seat at the head of the table and grinned at us. “This table’s been empty of young’ns too long. I’m mighty glad y’all are here.”

  His kind words brought a smile to my face and helped beat down the fear threatening to surface.

  We joined hands, and Uncle Howard blessed our meal.

  The freshly churned butter melted on the biscuits and dripped onto the plate. Aunt Liza had fig preserves, blackberry jelly, and cane syrup. I had a hard time deciding, so I just took a little of each. She had also made red-eye gravy, and I had to have another biscuit to sop that up.

  By the time I had eaten grits, eggs, bacon, ham, and biscuits chased down with buttermilk, I was stuffed.

  Uncle Howard was too. He leaned back and patted his belly. “I’m as full as a tick on a hound dog’s ear. Liza, you outdid yourself this morning.”

  I pushed back the cane-back chair and began to clear the table. Michael and Zeke both jumped to their feet to help. I urged Aunt Liza to leave the cleaning with us, and she reluctantly complied.

  I washed the dishes in the metal wash pan, Zeke dried, and Michael put them away. I couldn’t help but think that this was the way it would be if Michael and I married.

  Of course, I would have to learn to make biscuits as good as Aunt Liza’s.

  Michae
l placed the last dish on the shelf while I wiped off the red-checked tablecloth and wooden countertops. Uncle Howard had made the cabinets and painted them green with a floral design on the drawers between the white porcelain knobs. Had Uncle Howard painted the design or did Aunt Liza lend a hand? I would have to ask her.

  I squeezed the water from the dish rag. When I took the pan of dirty dishwater out the backdoor, Zeke ran past me to play with the dogs.

  When I came back in, Michael raked his hair back. His eyes were full of uncertainty, but his voice sounded confident. “Jay, I need to get going. I know you and Zeke will like it here.” I felt a momentary panic, and Michael must have seen it. He wrapped his arms around me. “It’ll be okay, my girl. I’ll write, and you can write me. And I’ll be back to see you in three shakes of a rooster’s tail.”

  I pulled back so I could look into his face. “I wish you could stay, at least until school starts. I don’t know anyone here, and Aunt Liza told me there are over four-hundred students at the high school.” I gave a little shudder.

  “You’ll make friends. And you have Zeke and your aunt and uncle.”

  “Yeah,” I said, knowing I didn’t have a clue how to make friends. Still, Aunt Liza and Uncle Howard were nice, and Aunt Liza was a great cook. And Michael was right. I had Zeke.

  He cleared his throat and released me, half turning away. “Just send me a letter if you need me. I’ll be here as fast as my old truck can make it.”

  “I’ll write you as much as I can, but I don’t have any money for stamps. I hate to ask Aunt Liza.”

  He pulled a quarter from his pocket. “I wish I had more.”

  I wrapped his fingers around his money. “No, you keep it. You need it. The sooner you can save up enough, the sooner you can move here, and start college.”

  “It’s just a quarter, Jay. You take it.”

  A quarter would buy a lot of stamps, but I shook my head. “No, it’s a long ways home. You can stop and get a Coke.”

  He stuck the quarter back in his pocket and shook his head. “No, I won’t be getting a Coke.”

  I grinned at him. “Without Zeke along, maybe you won’t.”

  He laughed and went to check the oil in Mr. Drake’s car he had borrowed. I pulled back the lace curtains and watched him from the window for a moment before going to tell Aunt Liza and Uncle Howard that he was leaving.

  They followed me out. Zeke ran ahead of us and threw his arms around Michael’s legs. Michael scooped him up to engulf him in a bear hug before setting him down.

  Zeke looked at Michael with wide eyes. “I don’t want you to go.”

  Michael mussed Zeke’s hair. “I don’t want to go, either, but sometimes we have to do what we don’t want to.” His eyes held mine for a second.

  Zeke kicked the ground before tilting his head, the morning sun bathing his golden hair. “I wish Chance was here.”

  I wished we could have brought Chance, too. But we couldn’t very well bring him in Mr. Drake’s shiny car.

  Uncle Howard gestured around the yard. “Son, we’ve got dogs aplenty for you to play with. And, if that’s not enough, I’m sure we can find you another one.” He laughed good-naturedly.

  Aunt Liza nodded her assent and gave Michael a hug. “We’ll take good care of Jay and Zeke.”

  Michael shook Uncle Howard’s hand and thanked him for everything.

  Michael’s eyes sought mine again. He held open his arms, and I walked into them. He squeezed me tight for a second. “Be good, my girl.”

  Words wouldn’t pass the lump in my throat. He released me, and I stepped back as he climbed into the car.

  I draped my arm over Zeke’s shoulders, and we watched until the car was out of sight.

  Chapter 2—Missing Michael

  I moped around for a while, at a loss for anything to do. My aunt and uncle kept a few chickens, and Zeke and I went into the shed to get a small bucket of corn. The chickens were confined to a chicken coop, not like our chickens at home that ran loose in the yard.

  Zeke scattered the feed on the ground while I held the bucket for him.

  When I put the bucket back, Zeke pulled on my arm. “Jay, can we go see Uncle Howard?”

  “I guess it’ll be all right.” I took his hand, and we walked the few feet to my uncle’s shop.

  The wood-working shop sprawled, untidily, behind the house. When I knocked, Uncle Howard called for us to come in.

  His happiness shown as a beacon. “Come on in, young’ns.”

  “Wow.” Zeke twirled around as he surveyed the tools, neatly hung on pegboards, and the half-finished projects that dotted the floor and benches.

  A nearly finished table sat on the work surface in the middle. Uncle Howard pulled a stool up and patted it. “Zeke, want to help me?”

  Zeke’s eyes widened. “Can I?”

  “You sure can.”

  I wandered away, while Uncle Howard bent his head close to Zeke’s.

  A baby cradle, covered in dust, dangled from the rafters in the back corner. Wooden boxes draped with a cloth stood beneath the cradle.

  A few cane-back chairs leaned against the back wall with a doorway in the exact center. This led to a hall with rooms on each side. I went into the small room where Michael had slept last night and stared at the cot bumped up against the side wall.

  Uncle Howard had told us he kept a couple of cots ready for homeless men that often came by. Although they had their own struggles, Aunt Liza and Uncle Howard still cared for those less fortunate.

  Like us. Zeke and I were lucky to be here, I told myself. But, somehow, this morning, I didn’t feel lucky. This wasn’t home, was it? I missed my old house, my old life—not the part that had driven me here, but all the rest. But I couldn’t go back—not now, anyway.

  I went back to the main area and silently watched Uncle Howard and Zeke. Zeke was still young enough to adjust, to find a place here, by my uncle’s side. But what of me?

  Uncle Howard glanced at me and concern filled his eyes. “What’s wrong, Jay?”

  I shrugged my shoulders.

  He got up and moved to me. “Jay, are you feeling homesick?”

  “A little.”

  “I know it’s a big change for you,” he said.

  I nodded my head. “I’m sorry, Uncle Howard.” And, I truly was. Wasn’t this better than on the farm working from dusk ‘til dawn? Yet, I missed my home, missed Poppa, and, most of all, missed Michael. I tried to be thankful but failed miserably.

  Uncle Howard rubbed his chin and looked from Zeke to me. “Did you two ever hear ‘bout the frogs that fell into the churn?”

  Zeke shook his head.

  Uncle Howard drew another stool to his workbench and motioned for me to sit. He remained standing in front of us.

  “Now let me see if I can recollect it.” He hesitated another moment, still rubbing his chin, before beginning. “Two frogs hopped around one day and kerplunk! Would you believe both of them jumped right into a churn full of cream?” Here he paused while Zeke sucked air between his teeth. Uncle Howard suppressed a grin and continued. “One of the frogs just moaned and groaned. ‘There’s no way out,’ he cried. The other, wiser, frog replied, ‘I don’t see a way out either, but, by gum, I’m going to keep trying.’ But the first frog just wouldn’t listen. He just plum felt sorry for himself. He quit swimming and sunk to the bottom of the churn. And, you know what happened to him?” He cocked an eyebrow at Zeke.

  Zeke almost popped off his seat. “Did he drown, Uncle Howard?”

  “Yes, siree, he drowned. But that wise frog, even though he felt sad for his friend, kept a swimming. ‘Round and ‘round he swam in that churn. And, guess what happened?”

  Zeke’s brow puckered. “What?”

  I couldn’t help but grin at Zeke’s concern.

  “That cream slowly changed into butter. The more that long-legged frog swam, the more butter formed. So much butter, the frog climbed right to the top of the churn and hopped out.”

 
Zeke’s eyes shone bright.

  Uncle Howard looked directly at me. “Do you know the moral to the story, Jay?”

  I straightened on the stool. “Yes, sir. Even when we’re in a bad situation, we can’t give up. We have to keep trying.” Easy words to say. Almost impossible to do when the pain of loss threatened to suffocate me.

  A look, almost of sorrow, clouded his eyes for a second before Uncle Howard nodded at Zeke. “Your sister’s right. Now, you both need to just keep swimming. Don’t ever give up.”

  “And things will get better? Will Momma get better?” Zeke asked.

  “I’m sure she will, son. One way or t’other.” Uncle Howard sat on his stool and picked up a piece of sand paper.

  “Thanks, Uncle Howard, for the story.” I got up and held out my hand for Zeke. “Come on. We’ve bothered Uncle Howard long enough.”

  Distress filled his eyes. “Can’t I stay?” He glanced from me to Uncle Howard.

  “Sure, you can. And you, too, Jay.”

  I shook my head. I wanted to get out into the fresh air, into the sunshine.

  Uncle Howard waved a hand at me. “He’ll be fine.”

  I smiled through my sadness. Zeke didn’t need me. Again, I tried to shake off my depression. He loved me. Just because he wanted to spend time with Uncle Howard didn’t mean he didn’t love me.

  Still, tears pricked my eyes when I left to walk down to the barn.

  The ruts wound between a thick strand of pine trees. The grayed walls of the old barn suddenly loomed in front of me when I emerged from the pines.

  Spider webs covered the building, inside and out. Empty stalls stood on each side along with a couple of padlocked rooms. Uncle Howard probably kept his tools in them. I walked down the center of the barn, batting away spider webs. With nothing to see, the dry, unused smell soon drove me back to the fresh air.

  If the barn held life, pigs and cows like the barn at home, maybe it would ease the ache within. But, the farm was gone. And, this old barn held nothing of value.

  Everything I loved, gone. I shook my head at myself. Not everything. I had Zeke. And Michael. And, Aunt Liza and Uncle Howard seemed nice enough, didn’t they?