Working in the Fields

When I was 12 or 13 years of age, I was expected to do a little work in the field. I recall my dad planting a small acreage of peanuts. My sister, Dessie, and I were the ones who were put to work hoeing those peanuts.

On occasion I would chop down too many of the plants.  I could imagine that my dad would be very upset if he came along and saw all those bare places where the plants should be growing. I would stop chopping, get down on my knees, and very carefully try to re-plant the peanut plant! Of course it had no chance of living because the roots were already gone!

I don't know if he every knew what I did, but if he did, he never said a word to me.