Charlene never realized how much there was to being a woman of the hills. “Anytime you want to back out and be something besides a woman, you can,” was the words of Lizzie Jane. No way was Charlene going to go back to her old life. If the things she was being taught were what rural women needed to know, she was all for it.
A Lizzie Jane Story
Chapter 6
By Billie Sue Pilgrim
Lizzie Jane was true to her word. Charlene received the same hillbilly education that all mothers taught their daughters — cooking, sewing, keeping a reasonably clean house, sweeping the yard (back in those days many rural women kept their yards clear of grass and kept the yard swept) and, most important of all — how to please a man.
Charlene never realized how much there was to being a woman of the hills. “Anytime you want to back out and be something besides a woman, you can,” was the words of Lizzie Jane. No way was Charlene going to go back to her old life. If the things she was being taught were what rural women needed to know, she was all for it.
Lizzie Jane decided that school was important, too. All women needed to learn to read and write, how to take care of family finances (since so many men squandered their money on moonshine and wild living), and the proper way to raise a family. So, the next step was to introduce Charlene to Sally, the teacher in the one-room schoolhouse.
Putting on her new print dress that she had made with Lizzie Jane’s help, Charlene began to nervously get ready for school. The dress was made from flour sacks imprinted with dark blue flowers on a lighter blue background. Charlene thought it was the prettiest dress she had ever seen, partially because it was a product of her own hands.
Lizzie Jane drove Charlene to school the first day in Jake’s old rusty pickup truck. They walked into the school building together, hand in hand. In Charlene’s free hand, she carried a lard bucket with a couple of buttered and sugared biscuits, two apples (one for the teacher) and sweet tea in a pint mason jar.
“This is Charlene,” said Lizzie Jane, speaking to Sally. “She is staying with us for awhile.”
”Welcome Charlene,” said Sally, holding out her hand. Charlene felt weak all over, so her handshake was not very strong.
“And you, Lizzie Jane — I have arranged for you to attend Howard College in Birmingham if you wish to go. They have moved to Shades Valley and that is just south of Birmingham. It took some doing on our pastor’s part, but I believe you can get in.”
“I don’t know what course to take,” replied Lizzie Jane. “What do you suggest?”
“Well, they have a teacher education program. Since it is a Baptist College, you can learn teaching and take Biblical studies, too.”
“How about money? Doesn’t it cost something?”
“We thought about that and believe that we might be able to get you a scholarship. At least, we could try.”
“Well, maybe later. I have a young lady to see about right now.” A smiling Lizzie Jane, assured that Charlene was in good hands and after the usual farewells, turned and walked back to the pickup.
“Well, young lady,” said Sally handing Charlene a few papers. “Let’s take a test and see how much you know.”
Charlene sat down at her assigned desk and stared at the papers. She looked up at Sally writing on the blackboard, then around the schoolroom, before her eyes settled back on the papers. She sat there for fifteen minutes with her hands folded on the desk.
Lizzie Jane’s adopted daughter — Linda — walked over to Charlene’s desk. She felt that she needed to get acquainted anyway, so she introduced herself. “Hello, I am Linda — Mother Elizabeth’s daughter — and you are…?”
“Charlene,” came the reply.
(Linda knew Charlene's name, but thought some kind of self-introduction would be proper.)
Looking down at the papers and back at Charlene, Linda asked, “You cannot read, can you?”
“Ah — I didn’t bring my glasses.” That was the standard answer she had learned from her father.
“Now, please tell me the truth. You cannot read, can you?” Linda repeated the question.
With a blush and looking down at the desk, Charlene answered, “No, I can’t.”
Sally heard the conversation and walked over. “I am so sorry. I didn’t know.” She quickly added, “But it is nothing to be ashamed about. A lot of children come here that cannot read. We will teach you.”
“Let me help her. After all, she is almost my sister,” requested Linda.
“I need you to help the other students with their science,” answered Sally. After thinking about the matter a moment, she said, “Okay, you can pull double duty.”
Linda, because of her advanced studies in the field of science in the school of her future world, was a lifesaver for Sally. Linda was able to explain things that college professors had not learned yet. Sally was sure that many great minds would come out of her little one room schoolhouse.
“Let’s go outside and sit under a shade tree,” suggested Linda,
“Okay,” agreed Charlene. She did not seem to be as embarrassed as before.
“I am staying with Aunt Maudie while you are here,” said Linda as she smoothed her skirt out and sat down with her legs folded under her. Charlene tried to do the same, but was having a little difficulty.
Linda smiled. “This is the way many girls sit in this age. It covers their legs since girls wear longer dresses than they will thirty years from now.”
Charlene was as confused as she appeared.
“Oh, I am sorry. I need to explain. I am from the future and got trapped in this time, so that is why I know so much about what will happen. Some things I don’t want to think about -- for instance, terrible disasters that will occur.’
“Anyway, back to you. I know about your problem, so you don’t have to worry about keeping your secret from me. Right now, I realize that you could face difficulties. Things will get better in a few years, but we are in the here and now. I desire to be of help if I may.”
Charlene smiled. Not only did she have a sister, but a friend. That made the day a little better.
Linda was an expert teacher. She used the accelerated methods that were part of her advanced educational training and, by noon, Charlene was reading on a second grade level.
“Lunch time,” stated Linda. “What do you have in your box?”
“Biscuits with sugar and butter and some tea,” answered Charlene.
“Sounds like Momma Elizabeth. I have a ham sandwich and a sausage sandwiches. I will swap you one for a buttered biscuit.”
“Okay.”
“Which would you rather eat?’
“I think I would like the sausage sandwich. Hope it has ketchup on it.”
“No, it doesn’t, but it is good anyway.”
The girls quietly enjoyed their lunch. Finishing, they laid on their backs looking at the clouds scattered around the blue sky.
“Where I used to reside, we could see vehicles flying around up there,” said Linda.
“What kind of vehicles?”
“Similar to your automobiles. We still have small vehicles that could be considered automobiles, but they are only used for short trips — only carries about one or two persons. If we are traveling, we have our flying vehicles. They are faster — and safer. We don’t need roads up there.”
“How do you like it here?” asked Charlene.
“I appear to be getting accustomed to this primitive life style. I am trying to learn and use your language, too.”
“Our language? We speak English.”
“Oh, I know, but we used different words. Everyone here seem to use simple words — but I am learning.” Smiling, Linda said, “Y’all say things like ‘don’t’ for ‘does not’ and ‘ain’t’ and such words like that.” She added, “We never say things using ‘like” as I just did, either.”
“Oh — okay — I guess.”
“Well, we had better get back in. I got some science lessons to teach,” said Linda, sounding as much as a southern country girl as she could.
Sally was happy for Charlene while listening to her read a story about Peter Cottontail. Charlene was proud of her accomplishment and her face beamed with joy.
Looking across the room, she noticed a boy wink. Her smile faded. ‘What could that mean?’ she thought to herself. She enjoyed being a girl, but was she ready for boys yet?
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Linda was introduced in an earlier story and more complete detail about her travel through time can be read at Ficioneer.org. in the "Gorilla Island" stories.
http://fictioneer.org/content/gorilla-island
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Note that may be of interest:
Howard College in Birmingham was later changed to Samford University.
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--To be continued
Copyright 2008 by Billie Sue Pilgrim
