Arkansas Rain
Betty Overstreet
Arkansas Rain is a "True Life Fiction" story. Based on a visit to my Grandparents farm in Arkansas when I was a little girl but fictionalized because of course my memory conjures up images that are somewhat different than the actual events! Fun, frolic and a bit zany!

Price:  $3.95

book excerpt

As the sun disappeared under a flaming orange and purple sky we all climbed into the back of Papa's wagon. The blackberry pies packed into the wicker picnic basket smelled so good we could hardly wait to eat a slice. Jerry the big old mule and Sam, the huge brown horse, started pulling us down the hill and through the empty creek bed to go to the church. As we rode over the dry creek bed Grandma looked up and said "Will, I sure hope them clouds up yonder ain't full of water. You know how fast that there creek can rise and this is the only way home". Papa replied," Now Clyde, it ain't likely to rain this early in the season so jest don't you fret 'bout it and spoil the evening for the young’uns." Papa was always right in our minds, so we didn't think anymore about it. We just sang ‘Yes, Jesus loves me’ and told jokes until we got to the church. It seemed like the whole county showed up for that Pie Social. The room was nearly bursting at the seams with folks, from tiny babies to old men and women who looked like they should have been dead and buried! In fact, that very night old Mr Williams was celebrating his 105th birthday! We sang gospel songs and then Papa did his famous “Fire eating” trick --he never would tell us how he did it-- and then we ate so much pie that Grandma was sure we would have bellyaches all night. All of a sudden one of the big kids came bursting in yelling," it's raining, everybody better head home before the creek rises".