Advance: Old Josh and Lula the Cook, on the Hightower Plantation, in Ozark, Alabama, are talking about the relation ship between Bessie and Josh that didn't seem to work out. Josh is getting older but not that old he is around 40. [Written 5/27/06; in Lima, Peru]

Lula [talking to Josh]: I hears de argiment 'twix' Ms Bessie an' you ole man Josh!

Josh: I's no ole man yet. Wuh it is?

Lula: Yous git in an argiment 'bout how yous think you own Bessie an' her fam'ly comes to take her home. Ole man likes you claim Bessie an' you kep's it up all day git me hot.

Josh: I do look like ole man? Bessie have de agvantage. It's hard to keep a good reputation in dis fam'ly ef you talks like dat.

Lula: Well, old man Josh yous got advantage in tongue. Atter ole man Bessies husband, he ain' blame he chillun for wha' is he, an' Bessie fam'ly, but she say: "Josh, you talk about de way he ain't wroth er consideration, like you is. You was drug up, not brung up, in your ways. I reckon dat was wey some folks is, you put your foots to de fie, and git burnt.

Josh: Lula, I tells you Bessie's husband makin' personally remarks 'bout me being ole man likes you. He lives in Orleans, gots lots of gals, comes to Ozark and wans blame me for Bessie and me lov's each other.

Lula: Yous foolish ole man, she loves fire in you and fire in Sam; ole man, she likes you not de way yous like her. She likes you like she likes dhe ole horse in de barn.

Josh: How come?

Lula: I ain't see why yous fret 'about dat. I reckon God Almighty already got her and him headed for hell, an' ef's you keeps it up, you too.

Josh: I reckon dat de main reason dey do so much frettin'.

Lula: Dat nigger say annudder dhink to you, rember he got de constitution er de Nunited States, you gots nothin'.

Dennis Siluk

Writing is more than a hobby for me. It's a passion, one of the ways I capture and celebrate life.