Page 118 - From the Outhouse 4 -21

F R O M T H E O U T H O U S E T O T H E L I T T L E R E D S C H O O L H O U S E : | 118

previously. Visiting Jacksonville was a different cultural exposure. I truly enjoyed visiting Jacksonville, except for the attempted rape
incident, but that story will come later in the book. I would visit my Aunt Corrie in Jacksonville, and she was a true baller (an old

term for party person). She loved to play cards all night, and she had many suitors (a nice old word for boyfriends or gentlemen lovers).

Now, let me make it clear to the family ― she was just having fun and was not a prostitute; however, every summer, I would meet
Uncle Bill, Uncle Pete, or Uncle Somebody Else. I loved it because to appease her, they would buy me all the ice cream and cookies I

wanted. These goodies are still my addiction to this day, but now, acid reflux and food sensitivities do not allow me to enjoy such rich

desserts.

During the card playing nights, the games would be hosted by her different friends. I would love to go with her because most of them

had children around my age. Also, my Aunt Corrie would always say, “My niece loves to dance.” After that, they would play music
from Randy’s Radio Program that came out of Nashville, Tennessee. The Rock n’ Roll and Blues songs sung by black people were

played late at night … just the time that the card games got started. When the music began, I would start swaying to the beat

unashamedly. Aunt Corrie would encourage me by saying, “Come on baby, show ‘em your moves!” Quite naturally, I would hit the
floor, ready to perform because I loved to dance. Even now, at 77 years old, I enjoy line dancing.

Around 1 or 2 o’clock in the morning, after the card playing was over, we would spend the night wherever the games took place. We’d

rise early in the morning, around 7 or 8 o’clock, and walk to the Cab Stand Diner. This was where my Aunt Corrie’s husband worked

before his demise; and all the cab drivers knew her. Aunt Corrie’s very close friend, nicknamed Mother, was the head chef and owner
at the Cab Stand Diner. We would stop and eat breakfast before going home, which was one block away. It was great! Breakfast

consisted of all the grits, eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, and jelly that I wanted! Those card-playing nights were a real joy to me.

Before Aunt Corrie moved to her two-level home, she lived in a one-story house, where she worked as a hair dresser. Uncle Bill, as I

called him, was her main man at that time. One evening Uncle Bill came to visit her and before I went to bed, I saw his hat on the
table. When I awoke the next morning, Uncle Bill’s hat was still on the table. Being the nosey person that I was, I tried to peep through