Daddy always raised a hog for winter meat. Usually he and Brenda's Daddy got together and helped each other on their hogs. But this one year both of them were working in the coal mines in Oklahoma and they hired a man to do it for them. He brought some people with him and of course Brenda and I and the boys were there to watch. No need to explain the procedure to the ones who already know about killing hogs and I doubt the rest of you really want to know.  I'll just say it was a bloody job.  These men were German and lived on what we called Catholic hill, the reason being that the big beautiful Catholic Church sat atop the Hill and looked down on the town of Altus. Hence, CATHOLIC HILL.   Anyway this old man did a few things different than we did. First thing was they drank some of the blood and saved some for blood puddin' Yep, sure did.  I nudged Brenda and said lets ask for a drink of that. YEWWW Clydene I aint'a gonna drink blood. Well I am I said.  I asked if I could have a drink and (i'll call him Frank) said, Are you sure? Yep I'm sure. Then go ask your Mama first. If she says OK then I don't care.  How does it taste? Sweet he said. OH Boy I sure nuff' liked sweets. Come on Brenda Lets go ask.  Mama said no don't do that I'm afraid it will make you sick. But Mama. No buts you just do as I say.  Well shoot fire I said to Brenda, Im'a gonna' get me a drink of it anyway. Well Frank probably knew that Mama would say no cause he said you girls better not try it.  Well Heck, I wanted a drink of that pretty sweet red blood. ( i gag just thinking about it now) The blood for the puddin' was in a white bucket. The men had drank right out of the bucket so By Golly I could to. RIGHT? WRONG! Brenda come on and help me. No Clydene I said I aint'a gonna' do it. You don't have to drink none just help me hold the bucket. NO! Clydene you better not. Shut up Brenda and come help me. You Shut up Clydene. Of course Brenda did help me. Brenda take hold of the bottom of the bucket and help me hold it up to my mouth. When she started up to my mouth we both spotted the tattle tail boys running likity' split' toward the house. Hurry Brenda there a gonna tell. No Clydene don't do it. To which I jerked the bucket up to my mourh, Brenda turned loose and I not only got a drink of blood but I got a blood bath. Yep, the bucket was on my head like a big hat comin' down over my face and Brenda took off.  Little traitor took off home as fast as she could go and left me there with a bucket on my head and that sticky stinky blood all over me. Brenda's Brother and My Brother Norman both took off with Brenda and left me to face Mama alone.  It was chilly outside then being early fall so Mama took me to the back porch and cleaned me up the best she could. Then she heated water for a warm bath which felt great. When I was finally clean and dry I got a blisterin' on my backside and I threw up like a buzzard. Nope, Don't want no blood puddin, and no sweet blood to drink ever again.  I spilt' the man's puddin' blood too which I had to tell him I was sorry for doing.  Frank was laughing so hard at me  he could hardly answer. By then Brenda,her Mama and the boys were back and they all laughed till they cried. HECK! Weren't funny to my way of thinkin'.  I think I need to vomit so excuse me Please!!!  SHOULDA LISTENED  YEP SURE SHOULDA' LISTENED!!!

Tags: MEMORIES