Page 19 - July 2020 Barbecue News Magazine

bbq fiction
Billy Jo & Doyle
Henry’s Pandemic
Barbecue Blast (a fictional short story)
Ardie Davis
aka Remus Powers BBQ Hall of Famer ardiedavis@kc.rr.com
Relaxing in his favorite Cracker Barrel rocking chair on the front porch of their rustic getaway cabin near a big lake in the Missouri Ozarks, Doyle Henry was enjoying a hand- made Dominican Republic Hamilton cigar with a triple shot of Pig’s Nose Scotch neat when Billy Jo emerged from the woods. Her willow basket and fish holder bag brimmed full with wild edibles she had foraged from forest, fields and streams.
“I’m glad you’re back, Honey. I was beginning to worry that maybe you met up with a mama bear and cub in the berry patch, or maybe a hungry bobcat.” “Not to worry,” Billy Jo replied. “I’m home safe with lots of good eats for us—wild asparagus, poke greens, fresh morels, wild blueberries and catfish. Plus I’ve got a nice surprise for you from Jeb and Norma Jean.”
“Good for you Billy Jo. We’ll be feastin’ for sure! I just wish we could share some good eats with our neighbors now that everybody’s got to be extra careful about that wicked virus these days.”
“Not a problem, Honey. At least as far as sharing with Jeb and Norma Jean. You know how careful they are, and they know we’re just as careful. And you aren’t too far off with your worry about mama bear. It just so happened that I spied her and her cub when I was about 50 yards from the berry patch. At that very moment I also got a whiff of hick- ory smoke. Jeb Carter come out of some bushes down a ways in the holler and shouted at me to come on over and enjoy some barbecued woodchuck. “Might as well have some of the best barbecue this side of St. Louis while mama bear gets her fill of blueberries. I ain’t braggin’, but Norma Jean really outdid herself with this woodchuck,” he said.
“And that’s the surprise you brought me?” asked Doyle Henry with a face full of hope. “Why of course, Honey. Jeb also threw in a pint of some special corn liquor moonshine
JULY 2020
Photos by A. Davis fresh from the still that he and Hershel were runnin’ while
Norma Jean smoked her woodchuck.”
“Well howdy doody!” exclaimed Doyle Henry. “This calls for a celebration! If you’re okay with it, let’s invite the Carters over tomorrow for a Pandemic Barbecue Blast! Norma Jean can bring more barbecued woodchuck, Jeb and Hershel can bring moonshine, and you and I can cook up some of our famous barbecue bacon wrapped baloney ‘filet mignon’ steaks in a bun, plus smoked catfish with sautéed morels, grilled corn on the cob, wild asparagus and poke sallet on the side. And how about some of your wild blueberry cob- bler for dessert?”
“That sounds like a plan to me, Honey. What with Memphis in May canceled and who knows what else this season, we can at least have a safe social distanced barbecue party with the Carters.” “Yep. I guess we’d best get used to it until it’s safe to get back to normal. The way it’s lookin’ this could become a regular Saturday thing til’ well into next year!”
BarbecueNews.com - 19