Cold Sassy Tree

by Olive Ann Burns

Pork didn’t matter all that much to me, but the fact Granny saved me some mattered a lot. It was like getting hugged, or knowing

No matter how bad we recited, Granny always clapped loud.

To mourn is to be eaten alive with homesickness for the person. That

Now that Granny was dead, you’d think he’d ask the Lord to forgive him for not letting her have plumbing, electricity, and a telephone.

“Life bullies us, son, but God don’t.

I can forgive a fool, but I ain’t inner-rested in coddlin’ hypocrites.

And when they come down sick they go’n git well or die, one, jest same as the prayin’ folks. So don’t thet tell you something bout prayin’? Ain’t the best prayin’ jest bein’ with God and talkin’ a while, like He’s a good friend, stead a-like he runs a store and you’ve come in a-hopin’ to git a bargain?”