Biscuits & Gravy & Remembering

BISCUITS & GRAVY
by RODNEY ICE c. 1996

I would walk all the way
To Barbour County
For the taste of
A no-bake cookie
And I'd savor it
As my finest wish

I would crawl on
My grumbling belly
For biscuits
And sausage gravy
I'd prop my elbows
On the table by my dish

I would drive till the sun
Has lost it's glow
For a square skillet of
Fried potatoes
And I'd be glad
To have made the ride

I'd run from Cleveland
To Elkins
For a slab
Of homemade bread
And still be hungry
For coffee and pie


THE CITY R. D. ICE 1998

I like the city.
I don't know my neighbor
But I know my friends at work
And the people at church
And I see people I know
At the supermarket
And some I do not know
But see them all the time

I do like to think of the
Old days and old ways, but
I have a job and a family
And I can run down to the
Corner market and buy
Most any thing I need

There are doctors and
Drug stores - pharmacies
A hospital with all the latest
Things, very up-to-date
Mom and Dad will have to
Come here some day

The hills are beautiful, but
They need what we have
In the city
The city is beautiful
In its own way
And it is home
To me


BISCUITS & GRAVY
R. D. ICE

A motorcycle came up the road, the sound echoing among the trees. The sun was just coming up. Mom was in the kitchen getting things ready to mix up a big pan of biscuits.

The motorcycle turned in the driveway and parked under the pine tree.

Dad looked out the window. "It's Rod," he said. He went to the door. Mom followed.

"Rod!" Mom said. She gave him a big hug. "It's so good to see you! Jamie didn't come?"

"She had to work this weekend. I have to be back Sunday night. That's life for us."

"Dad!" Rod said, and gave him a big hug.

Rod took off his helmet and leather jacket and dropped them on the couch.

"I took off just as soon as the shift ended. There's sure a lot of big trucks on the road at night. But I made good time. I was sure happy to see that Barbour County sign!"

"Come in the kitchen," Mom said. "I'm just getting things ready to bake biscuits. The coffee's done. I'll give you a cup."

Dad and Rod watched as Mom poured flour and other things into the mixing bowl. She mixed it all with her hands, then took the dough out and put it on some waxed paper. She patted it down and began cutting out the biscuits with a glass turned upside down. She arranged the biscuits on the baking sheet and popped them in the oven.

"I made the sausage gravy last night," Mom said. "And I have potatoes frying in the skillet. We were expecting you to get here early this morning."

"I see you still have that funny square iron skillet," Rod said. "I got one myself now. Found it down in Cumberland, Tennessee, in one of those Old Time Stores. You always had the best fried potatoes and I thought it was that square skillet that made them so good."

"How're things up in Cleveland," Dad asked. "Is work still good up there?"

"Still is. McDee's fast food is starting people out at $6.50 an hour. That's how good. I wish I could live down here. But I can't give up the money I make. Especially since we have a house to pay for now."

"You sure couldn't get money like that here," Mom said.

"And anyhow it gives you an excuse to get out and ride!" Dad said. "I remember how much I liked to get out and ride the roads on my Iron Mustang."

"I sure like coming down here! I still love the hills and rocks and all that beauty. You can't see much at night, but I like to think about it as I come down the road."

"I used to ride at night when I could see better," Dad said. "It was beautiful at night and there wasn't so much traffic. I didn't mind the big trucks. I just didn't argue the right of way with them. And they didn't poke along either. It sure made for good traveling."

"I remember some other things," said Rod. "Didn't you get us kids up one morning about 3 a.m. and start for the Farm at Columbus."

"When we lived at Owingsville, Kentucky. We had that Corvair Greenbriar Van. You kids would lay down on a mattress over the motor, which was in the back of the van. You must have slept most of the way."

"It was good and warm. The hum of the motor was so peaceful. And the sun would be coming up when we got to the Farm. Grandma and Granddaddy would be just getting up."

"Those were good days! It's been a while. Must be thirty years?"

"The biscuits are ready," Mom said. "I'll get it all on the table just as quick as I can."

Mom set a big bowl of fried potatoes on the table. Then she gave Rod three biscuits on a plate, and set the bowl of gravy near him. She gave Dad two, then took two for herself, and sat down.

Dad led the prayer. "Heavenly Father, we're so glad you sent Jesus into our world. We're so happy Rod came down today and that You gave him a safe trip. Bless this food and bless all of us. In Jesus' Name, Amen."

Rod spooned gravy over his biscuits, then put a few shots of Tobasco © on them. "My, that's good eating! It sure makes me happy to get down here to get some home cooking! Jamie isn't a biscuit baker. I don't ask her to bake any. I use frozen biscuits sometimes. But Rebecca is almost as good as you Mom. You taught her well."

Mom smiled. "There's still more coffee. And pie! Mary Edith gave me a big bag of those Transparent Apples. They make the best pies."

"How's your writing coming along?" Dad asked.

"I keep getting rejection slips. But I did get a letter from Easyrider ©. The editor said he liked what I wrote, but it needed stretched to about 4,000 words. I wrote it up and sent it back quickly."

"You're getting up there!" Dad said. Easyrider © pays some serious money for stories. If you get in with them, you've got it made!"

"Things have really worked out for me since I went to Ohio. I wasn't too happy at first. But I've worked at this job twelve years now. The Supermarket has changed hands twice. But I'm still there. For now, at least. I suppose I will be transferred. This store is to close soon. But they have others all around the Cleveland area."

Dad sighed. "That's the city for you. But there are jobs! Maybe some day when they have paved over all of Ohio they will come back and farm these hills again."

"Tourism must be doing things. I saw an ad on TV about Canaan Valley or something. And West Virginia is going to run steam trains again to give rides to tourists! I remember Cass Railroad some years ago when Jamie and I were down here. We rode the short tour to Whittacre Station."

"We rode all the way to the top one time," Dad said. "That was interesting. They had the long trip on WNPB-TV once. I recorded it and it is in the office somewhere. It is a beautiful view of the mountains."

"I wish you were back up in northern Ohio so you would be close to us. But then again, I'm glad I get to come down here to visit. We all like to come back to West Virginia."

"We may come back," Dad said. "We think about what we would do if I couldn't drive and get around. A city bus is mighty handy. I found that out when we were in Ithaca, New York, before I had my cataract surgery."

"You always have a home with one of us, Rod said. We all love you and Mom!
[I wrote this as my son, Rodney, would write.] RDI


FAMILY
R. D. Ice c. 1998
Something in a hill child dies
When taken to level land.
Maybe it's how you think
About things, about the past.
I grew up in the north.
Gotta have a job,
Gotta eat and pay bills.
But somtimes I come back to
See that Covered Bridge
Mom's biscuits and gravy
Eat beans and corn bread
And sauerkraut
Hear Dad's guitar, and tales
About the Old Days.
But home is Lake Erie too
My family is there
My children tell different tales
But we are Family
Stretching back to ancient days
Trying to remember
Soaking up the feeling
Of what might have been.