---OFF THE CHOPPING BLOCK~~

--Rooster not ready for Judgment Day~~/ -

~~Charlotte and I made our debut as cooks for an important church dinner. We lived in Happy Valley, on the Tennessee side of the Smoky Mountains. At the end of World War II, like most country folks, we were poor, but proud. Our white farmhouse was cleaned every Saturday, laundry was hung out each Monday, and a full meal was on the table three times a day. Mother trained us early for all sorts of work, and if Daddy told you to do something, he expected it to be done well, trained or not.

Each summer there was a weeklong revival. The deacons' wives took turns feeding the Evangelist and his entourage, and competition was fierce to offer the best meal. In 1950 my mother, who was pregnant, signed up to host. We were all excited to do the honors, but the night before the dinner, she went to the hospital to have the baby. As they left, Daddy woke us. "The preachers are coming for supper," he said. "Take care of it."

I was 13 and Charlotte 14, but she was a good cook. She decided to make chicken and dumplings. Out in the yard, we looked over our choices. The hens produced eggs, so they had to be spared. One rooster was much larger than the others, and we decided the bigger the better. We lured him with corn, grabbed him and tied his feet.

Our plans was that I'd hold him on the chopping block while Charlotte used the ax. We knew how to split wood, but this poor thing looked so trusting we didn't want to hurt him. Charlotte lowered the ax gently. Then again, a little harder. In addition to being big, the rooster was very strong. After a few of Charlotte's gentle chops, the rooster, injured but able, gave a mighty lunge and ran for his life. -

As we watched our dinner run away, our neighbor, Uncle Jim, came to help. He got us a chicken, and even helped pluck it. Charlotte outdid herself with the chicken and dumplings; everything was devoured to rave reviews.

Our failed attempts to kill the rooster, whom we'd named Dumplin', left him blind in one eye, and he became as mean as that old devil the Evangelist preached about. After that, when Charlotte and I ventured out of the house, Dumplin' was there to torment and chase us, though he never bothered anyone else.

'Twas good chicken and dumplings. -- ~~
--Reminisce ~~
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