Grandpa's Stories #2

Another installment of the memoir of Ivan Butterfield, told in his own words. Each story is a continuation of the last, so be sure to read the previous "Grandpa's Stories" post to refresh your memory.


Driving Ms. Eva
    ...For some reason, I don't remember anything about Mother and my sister Mary (who was three years older) until after we had moved to the Frazier place.  They must have been moving small things in our Patterson touring car, although you could have moved larger things in it cause it was huge!  Dad always seemed to be in charge of the upkeep of the roads around our place and since tractors were scarce as hen's teeth, Dad used the car to tow the wooden drag that he used to keep the road smooth.  On occasion, he allowed me to ride on the drag, that is until Mother found out and that ended that!

     There was a lady that lived one mile north of us with her aged mother.  She was so large that when she talked Dad into taking her to Diagonal to shop (which she did periodically) Dad had to help her in and out of the car and she actually broke the rear springs of the car on whatever side she sat on.  Her name has just come to me--Eva Bodie.  Anyway, one time we were taking her to town when another very old lady came out and flagged us down.  We were probably traveling about 20-25 miles per hour when she stopped us and told Dad there was a snake under her house.  Dad went over, found and killed the rattlesnake, and we went on to town.  We broke so many springs on that car that Mother finally put her foot down and told Dad he would have to tell Eva that if she wanted to go to town by car, she would have to buy her own.  I don't remember if she did or not.  I do remember that Dad, Mother, Mary and I went to her house one day and she told Dad that she couldn't find her mother.  Eva was so large she could hardly walk, to say nothing of getting through the door which, by the way, Dad had already made larger for her, so Dad went out to the barn to look for her mother.  He found her dead in the corn crib.  Apparently she must have been out doing chores and had a heart attack or else just died of old age!...

   Grandpa's story pauses here and moves on to another subject.  He does not speak again of Ms. Eva.  While some of you may find this ending shockingly abrupt, I find that the abruptness is what makes the story so interesting and even humorous.  Most of Grandpa's stories share this bluff, forthright attitude.  His frank descriptions of everyday depression era life are endearing and make me want to read more.  I hope you share the same sentiments!  

   P.S. I know this story has nothing to do with the current Christmas season, but it was next in line.  I'm searching for a Christmastime story from Grandpa.  If I find one, I'll be sure to break out of the timeline and share it with you!  Merry Christmas!

-Bethany