Directions

As y'all know, my great nephew Hollis is off at college learning how to be a writer. He says one of the hardest things about getting through to the reader is understanding that they don't know everything you do about what you are trying to tell them. That's one of the bad things about people around here. They do a lot of talking, no doubt about that, but they don't always give you all the facts. Like when you ask for directions. Yesterday I overheard Jethro Pullback telling a man in a new, black Buick how to get to Stoney's Mill Park.

Here's how it went:
"Well, just head out down to the red light and if it's green just keep going. About a spell down the road you'll come to a fork. Take that fork and go on down to you get to where the old Mill Park Baptist Church used to be. You know where it was before they moved it. There, and this is real important, you turn. After a while you'll come up on a farm  what has lots of cows standing around. Keep going. After a mile or so you'll come to where that big oak tree fell over the road during Katrina. We couldn't get past it till they move it a week later. Got ever bit of it off. Why you can't even tell it was there. Well, keep going till you get to the river. Now the bridge is out. Been about a week now. Now that's the scenic route. Not a prettier path in the whole country. But if you're in a hurry to get down to Stoney's Mill Park you can just turn right here. This way. Keep on this road for five miles and you'll be there. Straight as a arrow. It's quicker but it sure ain't as pretty."

So if you're coming to visit us here in Harper, and I hope you will, be sure to come prepared. I recommend maps, a compass, a GPS if you have one, and a full thermos of coffee or your favorite beverage. You'll need at least those aids if you hope to find your way around here.

Tales of Harper, short stories and poems about the fictional town of Harper, Mississippi is available on Amazon Kindle