Appalachian Heritage

Rumblings I wanted bad to keep it together—even moved back up the holler to what's left of the homeplace. Had the roof covered in shiny green tin and spent my last dime reflooring yellow-poplar walls that appeared to be the only things not rotted after sixty years of neglect, anger, and bad decisions. But I ain't Scarlett O'Hara, and this over-grown hillside sure don't look too much like Tara. To tell you the truth, I swear I'd rather let the bank take it all back than clean up another pile of trash dumped too near my front porch for comfort. I was just tellin' myself last night how I didn't give a fiddle-de-dee anymore if these eighteenwheelin ' coal trucks screech away the last ounce of peace this old holler road ever once knew. Ah, but who knows? Come tomorrow—I just might be seein' things another way. —Bonnie West Hall 55 56 ...